The big headline from the August jobs report released this morning will probably be that the unemployment rate rose to 9.7% (from 9.4% in July). But as I’ve written before, the better month-to-month measure of the state of the job market is the change in nonfarm payroll employment, and that showed modest improvement—or more accurately, …
Shout-Out: Kiplinger’s Fabulous Freebies 2009
Kiplinger offers a handy roundup of 30 websites, restaurants, stores, and services that are legitimately giving stuff away. The third annual list features free e-books, free video games, free ATMs, free phone directory assistance, and more.
But the economists DIDN’T get everything wrong
Paul Krugman has an epic, and really great, dissection of the state of economics in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine—headlined “How Did Economists Get It So Wrong”—that has already gone up online (thanks to Daniel Lippmann for letting me know about it). For those who only know Krugman from his NYT columns, it’s a wonderful glimpse of …
Breaking news! Credit analysts aren’t journalists!
A federal judge in New York ruled today that credit ratings aren’t necessarily First-Amendment-protected “speech.” According to the WSJ, the ruling, by U.S. District Judge Shira Sheindlin (apparently no relation to Judith “Judge Judy” Sheindlin), only applies to ratings that aren’t publicly distributed, and for the moment is binding only …
How Many Tomatoes Can You Really Eat?
This year, tons of people planted their own vegetables in backyard gardens—to double up on saving money and eating healthy at the same time. But now that harvest season is upon us, if you’ve had any luck you’re eyeballing an overabundance of cucumbers, zuchini, squash, tomatoes, and peppers that are going to spoil unless you do …
Tradio: The Garage Sale That’s on the Radio
“Long-time listener, first-time seller.” A radio program in Ohio invites callers to make pitches on the air to sell whatever they want—motorcycles, rocking chairs, wedding rings, air-conditioners, family heirlooms, cars, high school yearbooks, even pets and cemetery plots.
Cheapskate Wisdom from … a Professional Organizer
“People need to be responsible for what they own. If you don’t know what you have and where it is, you end up buying duplicates or not using your things, which is nuts.” —New York City-based professional organizer Ann Sullivan, quoted in a NY Times story about end-of-summer organizing.
He’s Not a Starchitect. He’s a Garbage Architect
What rubbish! Dan Phillips has to be the hero of everyone who has ever pulled over to pick something out of a heap waiting for garbage pickup on the side of the road. For a dozen years, the now 64-year-old Phillips has built homes in Huntsville, Texas, using license plates, old picture frames, shards of ceramic tiles, wine bottle corks, …
It’s a Deal: Kids Eat Free at IKEA This Weekend
From September 5 through September 7 at most IKEA stores, you can choose any three kids-size items to put together a customized kids meal—for free. Lower prices have been announced on dozens of household items too. More details here.
Making the switch from nice to the big banks to tough on them
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is going to propose (to his colleagues in the Group of 20 nations), that banks—especially really big ones—be subject to much higher capital requirements. Adair Turner, chairman of the U.K. Financial Services Authority, wants big banks to have to prepare “living wills” that lay out how they will be …
Labor Day Money-Saving Party Planning Committee, at Your Service
Here’s a last-minute round-up of ideas to save on food and drink at barbecues, picnics, and any other sort of gathering this holiday weekend. One easy way to save: Go for store brands.
Two-Foot-Long Receipts: Love the Coupons, Hate the Waste
You pick up a few items at the supermarket or pharmacy, and what comes out of the register? A receipt that curls and streams out to a yard or so in length. There has to be a better way, no?