The American Dream has been downgraded, too.
Budgeting
How Consumers Are Coping: Layaway, More Gardens and Pet Adoptions
Consumer activity gives a good indication of how the economy is holding up, and here are five trends indicating that consumers are having a particularly hard time lately.
New Hybrid Card Convenient But Potentially Expensive
Fifth Third bank has debuted a hybrid credit-debit card called Duo, which is linked to both a checking account and a line of credit. But beware: Using the card could be costly.
Why Are So Many People Freezing Food?
Frozen dinner … again. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing. For busy families hoping to save time and money, a favorite new meal-preparing strategy involves setting aside one day a month to cook—and then freeze—an entire …
Extreme Couponers Dumpster-Diving for Sunday Newspapers
Who says newspapers are dead? Some editions are so popular these days that people are digging through others’ trash for them. Long live print!
A Good Problem to Have: What to Do with a Windfall
I make a living by telling people how to get rich slowly. But every so often — admittedly a little less often these days — I hear from somebody who’s been able to do the opposite. They’ve actually managed to find sudden wealth, …
12 Things You Should Stop Buying Now
There’s no shortage of experts offering advice about where to buy things and how to score the best deals. But sometimes, shopping smarter means not buying at all. As satisfying as it might feel to get a great deal, sometimes the …
How to Boost Your Income
I’ve written a lot — at TIME Moneyland and other sites — about the importance of taking charge of your own financial life. Nobody cares more about your money than you do. If you’re not willing to be smart with your money, you …
10 U.S. Retailers That Are Thriving During Tough Times
In much the same way that outlet malls are booming due to a combo of a shaky economy and shaken consumers, retailers that cater to thrifty-minded shoppers have benefited during an era that’s been mostly bad for business. Here are …
When is $11.4 Trillion in Debt an Improvement?
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released a report on Monday that shows America is chipping away at its collective debt — but slowly. According to the Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, overall consumer debt was down by $50 billion at the end of June. If that seems like a lot, it’s not; in fact, it’s a measly 0.4 percent …
“At this point, consumers can’t be expected to lead the economic recovery.”
This Is an Emergency Fund Emergency: 64% of Americans Don’t Have $1,000 in Savings
If you suddenly needed $1,000 to cover an unexpected expense, how would you come up with the money? In a new survey, only 36% of Americans said they’d simply turn to their trusty savings accounts. The rest would be forced to hit …