The ‘Racession’: Asians Are OK, Mexicans Aren’t, Blacks and Whites Suffer Together and Sympathize
Reports seem to show that the economic crisis hurts some racial groups far more than others. Is the recession racist?
Articles from Contributor
Cheap Funerals
When a loved one dies, comparison-shopping is probably not the first thing that comes to mind.
Cell-Phone Bills: Even Economists Can’t Make Sense of Them
You’re charged a lot if you use a cell phone a little. You’re charged a little if you use your cell phone a lot.
Last One to Turn on the Thermostat Wins
The competition is, um … heating up? Around the country, anti-consumer websites and community forums are hosting “no heat” challenges. The winners—who win bragging rights, perhaps a trophy, certainly lower utility bills—are the households that leave their heat in the off position the longest.
‘Expert’ Wine Sippers Take Us All for Suckers
Studies show that there’s not much rhyme, reason, or consistency to how judges and critics rate wines and decide who gets the gold medals. This means that we can basically tell this snobby “expert” breed to put a cork in it.
Dream a Littler Dream Home
The gargantuan, 3,500-square-foot boom-time McMansion is so 2007. Its replacement? The 2,500-square-foot recession-era McMansion.
This Just In: Cable TV Is Not a Necessity
When people are beating the rugs hunting for little ways to improve their financial statements, cable TV is generally considered untouchable. Why?
Self Mag Tells You How to ‘Save $656 This Month (At Least)’
A story in this month’s issue of the magazine lists ten tiny, very manageable strategies—some are obvious, some a little peculiar, all with the potential to save you some money.
Debit Card Overdraft Reform Gets the OK. Now What?
When Congress introduced credit card reform, the banks and credit card issuers reacted by jacking up rates and adding new fees. Likewise, with the Federal Reserve ruling that banks must reform the way debit card overdraft fees are assessed, there will certainly be unintended consequences: Banks are sure to react with new strategies that …
Dunkin Donuts’ New 99¢ Menu Items
This week, the donut and coffee chain made some hoopla by offering a few snack items for 99¢ during a trial run in Chicago only. Am I totally out of touch? Shouldn’t everything in Dunkin Donuts cost less than $1?
Stuff You Won’t Be Buying this Holiday Season
This could be a very, very long list.
Cheapskate Wisdom from … a Sex Toy Store Executive
“If people are going to spend their dollars, they want to know it’s a good product. People are staying home more, so we’ve directed more marketing efforts toward cheap date nights — for the price of a movie and dinner, buy a vibrator, stay home and have fun.”