Right after the Federal Open Market Committee makes its post-meeting announcement this afternoon, I’m going to walk into Google’s San Francisco office to jabber about my book (as part of the Authors@Google program). This means it would be very convenient for me if the FOMC’s announcement weren’t particularly newsworthy. So you may want …
The Battle of the $1 DVD Rentals Heats Up
Redbox, the $1 per day DVD rental kiosk business, is a runaway success. It’s perhaps experiencing even more of a recession boom than mail-DVD-rental service Netflix. Redbox kiosks will soon be opened in supermarkets like Albertson’s and Kroger, bringing its total number of vending machines to 22,000 nationwide, up 61 percent from last …
How to Cook Like a Gourmet—When You’re Broke
Gabi Moskowitz is a food blogger known as the BrokeAss Gourmet. She’s the latest frugal gastronomist to discuss with The Cheapskate Blog strategies for cooking and eating well without breaking the bank.
Why I Enjoyed Reading About My Credit Card’s Fee Increases
I just got a letter in the mail stating that the APR and late fees on my American Express card are being jacked up. I rarely use our AmEx, and when I do, I always pay the bill in full and on time, so this doesn’t really affect me much. And you know what? I’ve become so accustomed to breaking out the magnifying glass to figure out what …
It’s a Deal: Free Mint Cookies ‘n Cream Shake at Steak ‘n Shake
When you sign up to receive promotional e-mails as part of the eClub from Steak ‘n Shake, you’ll receive a coupon good for one free mint cookies ‘n cream shake. Sign up here.
Cash 4 Anything
We’ve collectively got cash on the brain. People want cash—and businesses want “cash” in the name of their companies. Preferably, the business name should start with the words “Cash for …” or, for those who favor numbers, “Cash 4 …”
This Isn’t Monopoly Money: Reacting to Recession, U.S. Communities Adopt Local Currencies
In Detroit, a few Cheers will get you a beer. In Pittsboro, N.C., Plenties are accepted as payment in the food co-op and at Piggly Wiggly. And in western Massachusetts, BerkShares are as good as greenbacks in local businesses. These and other local currencies, created by grassroots groups and given names like the Cheer or the Mesa Buck, …
Good news! Corporations are wringing more out of us workers!
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that labor productivity rose at a sizzling 6.4% annual rate in the nonfarm business sector in the second quarter. To put it in ever-so-slightly less jargony terms, corporate America squeezed dramatically more output per hour out of its employees.
This is partly just a cyclical thing. …
GM Starts Selling Cars on eBay: Should You “Buy It Now”?
Troubled car giant General Motors is starting an experiment today, becoming the first manufacturer to sell new cars on auction site eBay. But before you get ready to bid $2 for a Chevy Camaro, however, note two big caveats: There are no true auctions or bidding (“Buy It Now” is the only option listed), and for now, cars are only being …
Freegans: The Ultimate Anti-Consumers
There’s something very American about being self-sufficient and living off of the land. There’s also something quite wonderful about people who salvage the discards of society and make use out of stuff that otherwise would have piled up in landfills. But freeganism, an anti-consumerist, anti-materialist, anti-capitalist movement followed …
Cheapskate Wisdom from … J. Paul Getty
“My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil.”
It’s a Deal: 40 Free Tokens at Chuck E. Cheese
Bring in a coupon and you get 40 free tokens ($10 value) when you buy 40 tokens (for $10). Valid through October 31. Print the coupon here.