Swap Parties for Small People

Even a bad economy can’t stop parent peer pressure—those overpriced strollers and designer baby sneakers are a persistent part of the dynamic. But for some frugal parents these pint size luxuries don’t cost quite that much, or anything at all.

Even while retailers like Carter’s and Gap are posting solid sales in baby apparel, an increasing number of parents say they’re cutting costs on high-end purchases like strollers and cribs by shopping secondhand. An even cheaper—and more fun—option is the growing number of swap parties for people with kids.

The clothing swap concept has been written about a ton, and is fairly simple. Groups of friends come together to trade duds they no longer wear. The kids’ version is pretty much the same, with parents exchanging strollers, clothes and toys they don’t need.

Hosting a swap can be tricky if you don’t know what to expect, which is why we’ve put together a handy guide for throwing your first kids’ swap party…

Laid-Off Workers’ Call of Duty

Curious as to what the legions of laid off workers around the country are doing with all their free time? Playing video games, apparently.

A new study released this week by the Nielsen Company, shows that video game enthusiasts have spent more hours playing since the recession began than ever before. They’re trying to cut back on gaming expenses by renting titles or buying used rather than spending $60 or more for a new game.

So what does all this mean? Well for starters, it looks like the recession hasn’t lessened the amount of playing time gamers are spending in front of their consoles, as some gaming executives had previously worried. More than that, thought, it shows that people don’t mind spending on video games even when their budgets are tight—and may oftentimes be spending even more than they were previously—so long as they feel like they’re getting a good value for their money…

Madoff’s Gluttonous Competition

In Dante’s fourth circle of hell, we might well find Bernie Madoff—but while he’s the first name that comes to mind when you think of greed these days, he’s up against a lot of competition when measured against the paragons of financial fraud and all-around selfishness over millennia. Remember Genghis? No slouch of avarice. Or Pope Sixtus? Lest you forget, he built his fortune on the backs of brothels.

Bernie and the rest of Wall Street’s recently exiled heavyweights are just the latest in a long line of titans who let greed and excess get the best of them. Here are some stars from that hall of fame…

Recession Bullies at Work

If you’ve been feeling picked on at work lately, you’re hardly alone. The Associated Press reports that workplace bullying is on the rise thanks to the recession, due in part to how difficult it can be to find a new job in a tight economy.

And while workplace bullies may not be stealing your homework or your lunch money, the mental pain they can inflict is often much worse in the long term, according to Workplace Bullying Institute director Gary Namie, who defines the practice as any verbal abuse, humiliation, career sabotage, or intimidation an employee may experience in the office.

So what should you do if you’re feeling bullied at work? Namie offers some advice …

Budget Beauty: Home Economics and More

The fact that we’re in a recession is no excuse for looking poorly groomed and shabby these days. After all, when else are you ever going to have this much time to obsess about your looks? Certainly not once you’re back to being employed and locked inside a cubicle 10 hours a day.

From beauty store discounts to “recessionista specials” at some of New York’s poshest salons, the opportunities to look good for less are endless during this economic downturn, so long as you know what you’re doing, when to splurge, and where to find the best deals.

A roundup of some of our favorite tips and tricks…

Easy Etiquette, Recession Approved

You may have lost your job recently, but that’s no excuse to lose your manners, too. Of course, with so many friends and family members struggling with unemployment and financial woes, you may not be sure exactly what proper etiquette even entails anymore.

After all, who’s supposed to pick up the check at dinner now that all of your i-banker friends aren’t feeling so flush? And when is the right time to start networking at a party? Today’s recession is quickly changing all the rules, and bringing up questions that no Miss Manners book in the library is ready to answer.

Luckily, a bevy of “etiquette experts” have been doling out recession-friendly advice over the past few weeks and putting together some general guidelines…

Are You Being Economically Abused?

It feels like we all are, thanks to the bank failures, massive layoffs and precipitous stock market drops. We have seen jobs vanish and savings diminish—and even if things seem to be getting slightly better, doesn’t that count as “economic abuse?”

Lots of people seem to think so. According to a recent survey by the AllState Foundation, for 75 percent of Americans, the term “economic abuse” (not a new term) brings to mind Wall Street woes or irresponsible spending.

Here are other responses in the survey, which was part of its campaign to support domestic violence survivors…

Spitzer’s Cabbie Econometer

How can you tell when the recession is really over? Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has an idea, and it doesn’t involve asking any economists or financial analysts for help. Spitzer thinks we should look to cabbies, instead.

“The moment that I can’t get a cab anymore, I will feel the economy is picking up. Right now, it’s raining this morning, but I have no doubt I can get 10 cabs in 30 seconds. That’s a bad sign for the economy.” (via The Takeaway)

As silly as it sounds, Spitzer does have a point. Luckily, the folks over at Kiplinger have taken it a step further, putting together a list of a handful of economic indicators that just might be as good an economic barometer as any stock picker on TV.

So what exactly are the everyday life clues we should be using to judge the economy? Glad you asked. Here are some of our favorites…

Buy Now or Pay More Later

The economy may be looking up as of late, but that’s not necessarily good news for everyone. Or for shoppers, at least. That’s because many of the “recession discounts” and super sales that have been going on at stores across the country will most likely become a thing of the past once stocks go up and consumers return to their usual ways.

So what goods and services should you start buying now before the bargains dry up? Forbes has a rundown:

Real Estate: The combination of falling interest rates, discounted foreclosure properties, government incentives, and bottoming home prices is making this a great time to buy. Not that this news is especially shocking to you, we’re assuming …