The Most Amazing Restaurant Deal EVER

I just bought $200 worth of meals at great New York restaurants for $16.50. Seriously.

The website Restaurant.com offers discounted gift certificates at establishments around the country–usually $10 for a $25 credit. Now, it is offering an additional 80% off with the code “FUN.” That means meals for just a few bucks…

The Way to Yard Sale Success

We may not have yards in Manhatttan, but we do have sales–stoop sales. I stopped by one in my neighborhood recently, where cute women’s clothes were hung on racks and laid out on blankets. Not one item had a price on it, but heck–it was a yard stoop sale! So I picked up several things, then asked the price of a sundress. Then, I put everything back–starting with the $40 used dress–and went on my way.

There are lots of ways to unload your unwanted stuff–we covered a bunch of them here–and that’s a good thing in these still-tough times. But there are just as many ways to botch a sale, resulting in wasted time and dollars lost. Our friend Bargain Babe has some useful tips for making more money from your yard (or stoop) sale…

Big Layoffs at Wells Fargo and Merck

Two major companies announced major changes today. San Francisco bank Wells Fargo is eliminating 3,800 jobs as part of a “restructuring”–a small number compared to the 278,000 who work for the company, but big for the people who will lose jobs. More than 638 independent consumer finance offices will be closed.

Meanwhile, pharma firm Merck is closing eight plans and eight research sites, including two outposts in the US. It’s canning a whopping 16,000…

America is On Time–with Credit Card Payments

Way back in 2009, we noted that Americans were–finally–learning to use credit wisely, and were paying off their balances on time.

Well, guess what, USA? You’re continuing to kick credit card butt. According to the American Bankers Association, late payments for bank-issued credit cards hit an eight-year low in the first quarter of this year.Just 3.8 percent of accounts were 30 days past due.

That could mean that more people are employed or…

Most Depressing–No, Recessing–Quote of the Week

From a Sunday New York Times story on how the economic recovery has slowed down in the U.S.:

“We may have seen the best of employment for some time,” said Paul Kasriel, chief economist at Northern Trust. “In general the economy is downshifting, maybe to stall speed, or just above stall.”

Ugh.

Government Layoffs Looming

Here’s some discouraging news about the direction of the economy: An economist predicts that up to 400,000 government workers could lose their jobs over the next year, because state and local governments will be laying off people en masse to close budget gaps.

According to a story in USA Today, New York City is planning 4,500 layoffs

8 Great Dates Across America for Under $20

Recession Lesson Numero Uno: A great date isn’t about the amount of money you spend, but rather the thought you put into creating a day or night filled with fun.

A date’s purpose is to get to know someone. And while you don’t want to come off a cheapskate, if the first impression you make is that you’re the kind of chap who thinks with his wallet (among other nefarious things), you have a better chance of finding a suitable mate by clubbing them over the head and dragging them back to your cave.

Exciting, inexpensive outings can happen anywhere, anytime. To prove it, here are eight high-octane adventures in cities that span the nation.

New York City: Samurai Sword Class and Sushi

Wax on. Wax off. And learn some kick-ass street-fighting skills while you’re at it…