Yes, it’s possible to survive in New York City—and even sock away $6,000 in savings—making less than $30,000 a year.
food
Bad Credit: Not So Bad After All?
The authors of a new book make the case that life can be good—great, even—while your credit score is in the dumps. In spite of bad credit, you can still buy a home, take a vacation, start a business, and most importantly, not be depressed all the time. And the writers should know what they’re talking about: One of the authors had to …
Save Money Simply By Timing Your Purchases Right
It’s all in the timing: When supply is high and demand is low, you can save a ton on everything from cars to sneakers, furniture to homes. So when are the optimal times to buy?
More Than 100 Ways to Spice up Your Sad Homemade Sandwich
Bringing your own lunch to work rather than eating out is an easy way to save some cash. And brown-bagging it doesn’t have to be a glum PB&J affair.
How the Different Voices in Your Head Affect What You Eat, Drink, Wear, Drive, and Buy
A new study tries to explain the complicated reasons for how people make decisions to consume everything from Doritos to hybrid cars, Victoria’s Secret lingerie to New Balance sneakers.
What’s the State of Our Union? Thrifty, for One Thing
A new infographic from the The Atlantic cites a mess of stats that indicate Americans can be described as twitchy, suspicious, admired, filthy, and thrifty, among other adjectives. Just how thrifty are we? In 2009, 42.8% of groceries were sold on promotion, and 2.4 billion coupons were redeemed, up 26% from the year before.
Downsized? Why Not Become a Homeless Squatter?
After a 26-year-old woman in London lost her job and her apartment, she decided to squat in abandoned buildings and live off of food, clothes, and household goods that’d been thrown away. The takeaway: Living on less than $2 a day isn’t so bad.
Free Food! If You Can Stomach It, That Is
A roundup of 40 restaurants that will cover your tab—but only if you manage to wolf down a gluttonously mammoth meal first, often within a specific time constraint. Haven’t you always wanted to chow down on a Big Fat Ugly?
What You Might Soon Be Tempted to Buy: Marijuana-Chic ‘Relaxing’ Soda, $6 Donuts
When one fad succeeds, you can be assured that similar ones will follow. New anti-energy drinks are being marketed as alternatives to (what else?) energy drinks like Red Bull, while designer donuts that cost $5 or $6 a pop are playing off the upscale cupcake craze.
It’s a Deal: $4.99 All-You-Can-Eat Pancakes at IHOP
For a limited time, all-you-can-eat pancakes are available at IHOP restaurants starting at $4.99. More details here.
Scams to Avoid, Stuff Not to Buy, and a Bunch of Ways to Save
The list of tips starts by doing nothing.
Boo Berry Is No Substitute for Franken Berry
To save money, create a more simplified shopping experience, and potentially even increase sales, Walgreens, Kroger, Wal-Mart, and other stores are whittling down the options on their shelves. It’s a move that most consumers appreciate, at least in theory: Now they only have to consider 187 varieties of shampoo, rather than 248. But if …