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Did Spain Do the Right Thing by Cutting Wages? - Jun 10, 2010
To avoid becoming another Greece, Spain announced an austerity program that would save 15 billion Euros from its budget. Part of the package included a wage cut for public sector workers. The figure for the pay cut appears to be between 5% - 15%, although other figures say that 5% is the average. .....
A Glimpse of Europe's Austerity Programs - Jun 09, 2010
We keep our eye on Greece and Europe because many of the things happening there could be the model for our own financial, economic, and perhaps political future. As New Hampshire governor Judd Gregg put it, “If we continue to spend much more than we take in ... we'll double our debt in five years....
State Workers, Beware: Gov't Shenanigans Abound - Jun 08, 2010
What happens financially at the Federal level has a “trickle-down effect” that impacts our daily lives. Staying abreast of financial developments won’t stop bad things from happening, but at least we can brace ourselves for the fallout. On June 7, 2010 the NY Times reported that states that were....
Frugal Living: Ode to the Rubber Spatula - May 28, 2010
As far as kitchen tools goes, my cupboards are fairly bare. I’m a kitchen minimalist. The few tools I do own are there for very good reasons. First example: the rubber spatula. A few days ago, as I scraped the last bits from a jar of spaghetti sauce with a rubber spatula, I marveled at its simple....
Public Payouts Rise While Private Paychecks Peter Out - USAToday
The recession and the stimulus package are reasons why we are receiving less money from business-sector jobs, and more money from the government. Private paychecks account for 41.9% of our income (down from 44.6%), while income from government assistance rose to 17.9% (up from 14.9%).
While some economists predict that the economy will rebound and this problem will right itself, others have noted that this trend is unsustainable, as the source for government funding - private wages - shrinks.
Gold's High Price Corresponds to Our Rising Doubts - May 12, 2010
If you have followed the investment world in the last week or so you know gold has received more press coverage because it hit a new all time high as priced in US dollars. It currently trades at around $1,240 per ounce, up quite a bit for the last 12 months. Gold has been hitting new highs against....
New Frugality May Outlive Recession - MSNBC.com
It's believed that the economy is recovering, but it's not recovering faster because of you, you frugal people! When you decided to spend less money over the past 3 years, you realized that it was a great idea and so you still live frugally even though things are looking up! From a survey of 44 "leading economists," 66% of these economists believe that the "new frugality" that developed during the recession will persist into the future.
Frugal Living 4: Frugality Out of Necessity - Apr 29, 2010
One definition of living frugally means saving money by investing in quality products that you need. But the problem with this definition is that it assumes that you have the money to make those investments. In reality, most people don't become frugal just because they are fed up with living an....
Frugal Living Tips 3: What Is Cheap? - Apr 28, 2010
Living frugally means many different things to each person, but in general to live frugally means living within your means, to practice self restraint in buying, and to be resourceful with the things you do own. The purpose of living a frugal life is not to cloister oneself, but to enjoy a better....
Frugal Living Tips 2: Making Frugality Work - Apr 27, 2010
If you are trying to live a more frugal lifestyle, you may be faced with a conflict. On one hand, you are attracted to the frugal ideal. On the other, you are pulled back into the comfort of spending. This conflict is what causes frugal fatigue and guilt which is preoccupying and seems like more....
Frugal Living Tips: Frugality vs. Consumption - Apr 26, 2010
It's not easy to adopt a frugal lifestyle. Even though the economic downturn of the past few years has made frugality a good thing, people who want to live frugally often experience burnout, aka frugal fatigue . Even though many of us are trying to save money, the consumer goods that we didn't....
Guide to the Web's Best Personal Finance Blogs - LA Tmes
There's a blog for anything and everything - and one major topic is personal finance. This article mentions several well known (and some more obscure) personal finance bloggers - writers we happen to enjoy reading because of their dedication to personal responsibility, frugality, and self-knowledge as essential components of taking control of your money. Read this article for great bloggers to check out.
Frugal Consumers Accelerate Coupon Use - Bakersfield.com
We've been busy clipping coupons! 2009 was the first year in almost two decades in which coupon use increased from the year before. Over 3 billion coupons were redeemed in 2009. The increase in coupon use began in October 2008, which coincides with the onset of the economic downturn. Coupons are easier to find than ever - they come in the mail, in the newspaper, and online. To save even more money, use coupons for items that are also on sale.
Unemployment Compensation: When Do the Checks Stop - Apr 13, 2010
by Jim Ingham This fellow hits the nail on the head regarding self reliance and how it relates to unemployment compensation. In a letter to the editor to his local newspaper, he writes about unemployment compensation and who really wins and loses. Unemployment compensation is certainly a sticky....
When Reviewing Your Assets, Consider Silver - Apr 09, 2010
by Jim Ingham Part of self reliance is making sure that the assets you have work for you. It may be that the asset is land, which might be great for growing things. It might be skill sets, which allow you to earn a living usually regardless of the overall economic landscape. It might be....
