Mad Libs for Saving Money

Our friends at Wisebread, the funnest frugal living site we know, posted this little contest earlier this week to find out what kinds of spending trade-offs the recession had inspired. (On Recessionwire, we call these dilemmas “Recession Concessions.”)

Wisebread asked readers to fill in the blanks: “I used to _____, but now I ____ to save money.” A handful of the 144 responses are below. Read them all here.

“I used to leave my electronics running on power supply, now I charge them in the office and run them on batteries to save money.”

“I used to spend money on gas getting to and from work. But now that my company has gone belly up and I’m unemployed, I’m staying at home and saving all that gas money!”

“I used to have no idea where my money went every month but now I write down *every* expense.”…

From Dual Income to No Income

When couples get hitched they agree, often in front of large audiences, to support each other through the thick and thin. It’s well understood that there will be times when one of the partners in the union will need a bit of propping up. But what happens when both partners need a boost? As the nation continues to wade through waves of unemployment, many households are going from two regular paychecks to no paychecks at all, reports Joann Lublin in The Wall Street Journal.

Talk about putting a strain on a marriage. In April, the national unemployment rate continued its climb to 8.9 percent as the number of jobless Americans went from 563,000 to 13.7 million according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics. …

White Collar Day Laborers (Video)

Remember the days when you practically had to fight off recruiters? The relentless calls, the wooing lunches, the promises of huge salary jumps?

These days white-collar jobs are a lot harder to come by. They’re so scarce, in fact, that some workers have taken to the streets.

Recession Briefing 5.29

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Publishers are seeing strong sales in the romance genre as other categories decline and consumers cut back on spending. (Associated Press, Recessionwire)

The U.S. economy sank at a 5.7 percent pace as the recession carried over into the start of the year. It marked the second straight quarter where the economy took a huge tumble. (Associated Press)

The turn of the century saw a huge burst of babies, worldwide, conceived with assisted reproductive technologies. But now, in the United States, infertility treatments are down due to the recession. (Los Angeles Times)

Screwed: 850 at HP in Scotland

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

HP intends to lay off 850 employees in Scotland… Fairfield Manufacturing is laying off more than 200 production and administration workers… Kentucky Mayor Jerry Abramson’s 2009-2010 budget calls for 119 layoffs and the elimination of 400 unfilled positions… In another round of layoffs, Sovereign Bank will let 81 Rocky Hill employees go in July… Allstate Insuranace Co. plans to lay off 55 employees in South Portland… TM Advertising laid off 35 employees yesterday…

Love in the Time of Layoff: 5 Dating Tips for the Recession

First dates at Le Cirque and second dates in St. Barth’s are out (for me, and maybe you, they were never in, but you get the point). Everyone’s feeling pressure on their wallets, and so for a lot of folks, that means pressure on the dating budget. What are the dating experts advocating in the downturn?

Mainly: Be cheap and be wary. Be very wary.

We don’t really agree with the sentiment of “being cheap” – no one should blow their wad on a few casual dates, of course, but a relationship is an investment and “being cheap” might not be a great way to start. But who are we to say?

Here’s how the pros see it:

* Curb your dating. According to dating expert David Wygant, there are some compulsive daters out there…

Lemonade Maker: Ken Gullette, Online Martial Arts Master

Ken Gullette, 56
Silvis, Illinois

In April 2008, after more than two decades in media and communications, Ken Gullette was laid off from his job at the University of South Florida. He decided to try turning his small side business—shooting and selling martial arts DVDs online—into a full-fledged company. Within several weeks, he had launched Internal Fighting Arts, a website that provides long-distance instruction in Chen Tai Chi, Hsing-I Chuan and Baguazhang to subscribers around the world.

You launched your business on the Fourth of July?
It was my metaphor for being independent of the man. The other day on IM one of my friends typed, “Oh shit, tomorrow’s Monday.” I thought, Yeah, tomorrow I get to work harder! When Friday comes I’m almost disappointed…

Tim Ferriss, 15% Off

Just the other day, I disparaged 4-Hour Workweek author Tim Ferriss for being part of the problem of the boom times. But maybe I was wrong. Ferriss is due to headline the upcoming Mediabistro Circus conference next week and he’ll be talking about using social media and blogging to help you succeed. Let me tell you – social media and blogging ain’t four hours per week. Try four hours per daypart. If that’s not a move away from the shortcuts of the last several years, I’m not sure what is…

We’ll be on hand to blog or Tweet (or — both!) Ferriss’s speech. You can come, too, with this discount from the Mediabistro folks:

Recession Briefing 5.28

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

At a time when consumers are in a serious saving mode, why are sales of $100 yoga mats soaring? (Time)

Retailers and service technicians have long advised that it often makes sense to buy a new product rather than repair a broken one. But repairmen say many consumers are rejecting this suggestion and trying to spend as little as possible. (New York Times)

Nouriel Roubini, the famously glum economist who predicted the financial crisis, said that while the recession in the United States may well be over at the end of the year, another dip was still possible next year. (Reuters)

Screwed: 1,200 in Los Angeles

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

The Los Angeles 2009-2010 budget has been approved and it includes the call for 1,200 layoffs of civilian employees… The Saint Joseph Mercy Health System plans to lay off 350 employees… Fish & Richardson lays off 120 employees, 35 lawyers and 85 staff… British Colombia based Catalyst Paper plans to lay off 100 employees… Harris Bankcorp Inc. will cut 60 management positions, most of which are coming from Chicago…