Americans know that IKEA can be a great place for a cheap date—with free babysitting included via the Smaland childcare center. At an IKEA store in Beijing, however, thousands of Chinese shoppers take the IKEA experience a step further.
families & children
The Wheelchair Recycler
Even if you’re not remotely green, you just gotta love the way David Heim recycles. He takes in donated and banged-up wheelchairs, repairs them, and either sells them for cheap or simply gives them away to folks in need.
Back to School, but Hopefully Not Back into Credit-Card Debt
The second part of the new credit-card law is aimed at helping college kids and other younger folks stay out of debt. Banks aren’t allowed to issue cards to anyone under age 21 unless the person has a co-signer or demonstrates independent means to pay bills. That part of the law won’t go into effect until February. Until then, kids can …
Ten Odd Lessons the Recession Has Taught Us
The recession has provided a moment to step back and contemplate, to come to a truer understanding of life lessons like that happiness is not derived from material things. The financial downturn has also passed along some slightly odd teachings, like that fewer people die at the workplace when there are fewer people actually at work.
Paying Thousands to Get Your Kid into an Elite Private School, or to Get Yourself a Job
There’s been a fundamental shift in how people are spending money; unnecessary expenditures on things like pricey, high-end children’s clothing are out of favor. What may be replacing those “treats” are mini-splurges, on things like donuts, fast food, and a night out at the movies. That’s not to say all hefty expenses—ones that seem …
When Will God Fix the Economy?
Even though God may occasionally punish the self-interested followers of capitalism, the Divine One can still make you rich beyond your wildest dreams. Huh? Throughout the recession, various religious leaders have voiced their opinions about what God does and doesn’t do, and how believers should respond to the crisis at hand. To no …
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.
Grocery Stores React to Cheapskate Shopping Habits
Shoppers are closely watching what they buy, and supermarkets are watching and quickly reacting to how those shoppers spend. The result is change in grocery store aisles: Nowadays, you’re more likely to find discounted items (even in Whole Foods) and inexpensive store brands, and you’re much less likely to see fancy coffee bars or pricey …
Recession or No Recession, Come On, Get Happy!
Could the onset of the recession actually make people happier? In fact, it could—if only because it can remind people of what’s really important in life. And truth be told, buying stuff doesn’t make folks happy in the long run.
It’s a Deal: Up to 40% on Kids Apparel at Old Navy
Bartering for Health Care: ‘Hey Doc, I’ll Design Your Website if You Remove This Cyst’
A lot of people have been decrying health care reform as socialism. They’re begging our political leaders to restore the nation to its original state and purpose. Well, in some cases, the patient-doctor relationship is returning to something that might have been seen in early America, with patients “paying” for health care services with …
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 …