I know that when I lost my full-time job a few months ago, few of my colleagues bothered to utilize the outplacement firm paid for by our former employer. And almost all of the people who did use the firm found the experience of little help, with “tips” on job databases available to anyone and advice on networking that most people already know.
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Words of the Recession’s Prophets Are Written on the Van’s Walls
He’s got a van, a plan, and a Sharpie. An unemployed former paint store worker from Oregon is traveling around the country, inviting people to write how the recession has affected them in black marker on his van.
What’s the Hottest Summer Tour? Remote Area Medical!
Dude, you shoulda been there! People were lined up overnight just to get inside. Some people showed up day after day. It was amazing. Craziest of all—there was no charge to get in.
Can I Get Your Co-Payment? And Your Deductible and Co-insurance Fee? And Your First-Born Child?
The routine at the doctor’s office used to end by patients forking over the $20 or $35 co-pay at the receptionist’s desk. Weeks later, patients could expect a letter in the mail from their insurers, filled with inexplicable details regarding how much more the patient had to pay—10 percent of one set of charges, 50 percent of another, …
It’s a Deal: First-Class Flights On Sale from $199
United Airlines is hosting a “Taste of First Class Sale” on several routes within the U.S. Fares for seats in first class start at $199 each way, and must be purchased by July 31. More details here.
It’s a Deal: Up to 60 Percent Off Women’s Clothes at Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer’s end-of-season sale offers discounts of up to 60 percent off of women’s shirts, skirts, dresses, shoes, sandals, and more. More details here.
Netflix and Crocs: Recession Boom and Recession Bust
Tough times have a huge impact on what we buy, and what we don’t. In light of recent sales figures related to the brightly colored foam clogs known as Crocs and the mail-order DVD service known as Netflix, we’ve got two interesting recession case studies.
The Business of Medicine: Dollars Make the Decisions
“It is doubtful that doctors and other medical professionals would voluntarily cut their own income (even if some of it is generated by profligate spending). Most doctors I know say they are not paid enough. Their practices are like cars on a hill with the parking brake on. Looking on, you don’t realize how much force is being applied …
It’s a Deal: Fares from $30 on Southwest Airlines
Flights from every city are on sale for $30, $60, or $90 one-way on Southwest Airlines. Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday July 8, for travel between September 8 and November 18. More details and a full list of cities, routes, and prices here.
Q&A with The Innovator’s Prescription Author Jason Hwang
Health care in the U.S. needs more than a gentle tweaking. It needs to be disrupted, updated, and reinvented to provide better care at a price that the individual and society as a whole can afford. When it comes to health care, we as consumers simply aren’t getting our money’s worth. Health care is crying out for innovation, and the …
Cheapskate Wisdom from … Steven Wright
“If it’s a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone, somewhere is making a penny.
Free Gas with a New Suzuki SX4
Suzuki is promising a summer or free gasoline for anyone who buys a new SX4. What the promotion amounts to is a gas debit card worth little under $300—not exactly a reason to buy a car you wouldn’t have normally purchased. But combined with up to $2,000 factory cash back, perhaps potential buyers on the fence will be nudged over into …