In terms of value, a fancy $100 dinner at a restaurant just can’t compete with a good $30 brunch.
recovery
Walmart Goes Old School, Promises “Low Prices. Every Day. On Everything.”
During the recession era, Walmart made a distinct shift upscale in an attempt to woo more affluent consumers. The move proved to be a disaster, and the world’s largest retailer has suffered through an extended sales slump amid accusations it betrayed blue-collar shoppers everywhere. To bring the masses back, Walmart is now promising to …
This Week in Mostly Awful Job News
Plummeting employee moral, the job fair cancelled because of lack of jobs, a study showing that crappy jobs are as bad for your mental health as being unemployed, and more.
10 Questions: What Makes a Pasta Worth $26? Do Health Insurers Owe You a Refund? What Is Money Anyway?
For thoughtful, insightful answers—or at least discussions with some funny comments—about these and other pressing consumer issues, here’s a roundup of recent posts and stories. The list even includes a special bonus question: What’s the difference between a collection and junk?
What Ever Happened to Overdraft Outrage?
Who would voluntarily pay $38 for a $3 cup of coffee? Apparently, tens of millions of American bank customers—that’s who.
Walmart’s Identity Crisis, and the Betrayal of the Blue-Collar Shopper
The world’s largest retailer is suffering through its worst-ever sales period on home turf. Why?
Race & Recession: How Skin Color Affects One’s Perception of the Economy—and Its Recent Collapse
A new poll brings to light big differences in who whites, blacks, and Hispanics blame for the recession, whether the nation’s economic policies have us on the right track, and how optimistic (or not) they are that things will get better. Curiously enough, the groups who were hardest hit by recession, and who are the least likely to hold …
Return of the Flashy Spender
A long time ago—way back in 2009—frugality was cool, and showing off luxury items and high-end brands in conspicuous fashion was, well, unfashionable at the very least. There was talk of an entire “recession generation,” whose consumer behavior would always be affected by the era’s dramatic financial collapse. Yet in recent surveys, …
9 Quirky Signs of the Times
A still-struggling, still-uncertain economy has increased the chances that you can’t help dreaming about the recession, your workspace is shrinking, your roommate could be a millionaire (on paper anyway), and you’re so sick of neighborhood potholes you’re considering filling them in yourself.
Who Are the ‘Thieves’ in the Modern-Day Economy?
“You know many of them: phone companies, cable operators and cellular companies are the obvious ones.”
66% of Americans Are Sick and Tired of Pinching Pennies
And here’s another hint as to why the national savings rate has decreased: According to a recent survey-two-thirds of Americans are suffering from “frugal fatigue.” In other words, they’re sick of maintaining careful budgets, abstaining from fun splurges, restricting spending, and all that business about responsibility and living below …
Luxury Purchases Are Up, But It’s Not Just the Rich Doing the Buying
Spending on luxury goods during the peak holiday shopping weeks of 2010 rose 8.5% compared to the year before. Jewelry sales were up even higher, rising 10.4%.