Best Twitter Feeds for the Recession

Still getting used to the verb “tweet?” It seems like practically everyone is Twittering.

If you haven’t set up a Twitter account yet, here’s a good reason to do so: people are putting great information out there that can help you get through the recession. Everything from finding a job to shopping deals and the latest recession news. We combed the Twittersphere to find useful, unique and consistent feeds…

Pluses of the Pinch

Spring’s here, so even in the face of endless lay offs, the mortgage meltdown, and the tax collector’s knock, I’m convinced there’s something worth celebrating. Maybe it’s because mom always said, “When you’re upset put on a smile, think of something you’re grateful for, and soon your expression will be genuine.” An annoying exercise in fakery perhaps, but it often works.

So, with an acknowledgment to mom, let’s review some of the changes that have smile-inducing side effects:

The Tour de France-Style Commute
People have less money to spend on gas/parking/tolls/trains. In New York the MTA is threatening another fare hike. But bike commuting is booming—up 35 percent over 2007, according to the New York City Department of Transportation.

Pluses: It’s scenic, it’s free and since it’s a commute-workout combo you can save even more money by ditching your gym membership. (If you’re jobless, substitute “commute” for “errand running.”)

Lemonade Maker: Greg Stallkamp, Fitness Entrepreneur

Profiles of people who turn economic lemons into lemonade.

This week’s Lemonade Maker: Greg Stallkamp

Location: Chicago

Before recession: Financial Consultant

Now: Founder, Holosfitness.com, a social networking website for the fitness community.

When did you notice a shift in the economic climate?

I first noticed clients were planning to scale back their budgets at the end of 2007. By the beginning of 2008, clients were already starting to cut back in terms of head-count and use of outside consultants. My firm saw several clients leave by February and March of 2008. Basically, I saw the writing on the wall and decided it was time to leave.

What was your “aha” moment?

From a needs standpoint, I realized that there was a need for the services offered by our website several years ago. There simply was no way for regular individuals who practiced active lifestyles (in terms of sports and fitness) to track their progress…

At the End of Your Robe: Nine Savvy Spending Tips for Spring

Stylist Julie Greene offers expert advice on looking fierce in a financial crisis.

If you are like me (and lots of other people) your spring clothing budget isn’t what it used to be. I’ve had to accept the fact what I already own will, for the most part, have to get me through summer. Any dollars I do drop, I want to go as far as possible. And, I want to be sure every penny is well spent—on clothes I’ll love and wear, not items that I’ll find in a year with the tags still on. That means shopping thoughtfully and strategically, using these nine tips for getting the most out of spring spending.

Middle Class Guilt Attack? Yuppies and Food Stamps, Part 2

Our recent post on yuppies and food stamps generated a lot of lively discussion, both on and off-line. My own first reaction to my colleague Sara’s question of whether yuppies should take food stamps was a resounding “no” coupled with a feeling of indignation. But when I started asking around, I found that lots of smart people had a wide range of views on the subject. A British friend surprised me by saying: “Oh, that’s just your middle class guilt. You should examine it.” Living through a crisis has the fortunate byproduct of getting all of us to ask ourselves questions and consider why we think the way we do. So examine it I will…

Jeffrey’s Recession Dinner Makes Ends Meat

During the Depression, Jeffrey Ruhalter’s grandfather would send 20 pounds of ground beef each day to a tent city in New York, to help feed the hungry. “They would mix it with sawdust to feed more people,” Ruhalter said.

Today’s situation has affected many New Yorkers, though it isn’t quite as dire, as evidenced by the Recession Dinner the fourth-generation butcher sponsored at the Hotel on Rivington last night. On the menu were homemade ravioli, New York strip steak, and cupcakes from Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery.

But that doesn’t make Ruhalter’s gesture any less generous. He fed 150 people, including laid-off retailers, publicists, journalists, painters and lawyers, charging just $10 for the dinner…

Recession-proof Romance

Fancy being swept away by a billionaire? Harlequin is happy to oblige.

Last week while waiting for the subway, I was assaulted.

The attack was purely visual. An onslaught of cheesy posters promoting bodice-rippers wallpapered my train stop. Before I averted my eyes, I saw that the posters were ads for the latest Lifetime movie-of-the-week series, a collection of Nora Roberts romance novels brought to life on the small screen.

Over four million viewers tuned in to the first of the series “Northern Lights” two Saturdays ago, topping Lifetime’s list of 2009 movie premiere ratings. The project stars LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian, (who, according to tabloid reports, had an affair during the shoot). Whatever the real temptation of this Lifetime series, the cable network might be on to a recessionary trend. Sales of Harlequin novels are on the upswing—for the fourth quarter of 2008, the publisher reported a rise of at least $3 million. Despite the recession, romance titles as a whole have seen a steady increase in sales, according to Borders Books and Music…

Timothy Noah Calls Out Repubs on Health Care Shenanigans

Want to pay less for health care? You won’t if certain senators have their way. Slate’s Timonthy Noah follow the threads of some weird and wily arguments about health care today in his “Lemon Economics.” He calls attention to five senate Republicans who are planning to defend the private health insurance industry to the last breath and vow to block the creation of public plans. Noah catches these lawmakers in a specious argument: They are finally owning up to the fact that government health insurance programs like Medicare out-perform their private counterparts both in delivering benefits and in keeping prices down. But get this: The senate Republicans use that as an argument against them…

Haiku You – Poetry for the Impoverished

There’s something about hard times that makes a weary soul wax poetic. The haiku is the ideal form for expressing the deep feelings stirred by the downturn. Its compact form (typically a 5-7-5 metrical pattern), simple language and habitual twist give a sense of the unexpected that seems to fit uncertain times.

I got inspired last night while doing my taxes…

Can’t get paid today –
But who am I to complain?
Color me freelance.

This, admittedly, is nothing compared to what our colleagues at Unemployment Haiku Weekly are turning out. The new blog brims with poignant pieces that deploy a mischievous sensibility, paired with exquisite drawings depicting the down-and-out.

In one piece, the poet offers a plaint to the 80s hair-band Loverboy…

At the End of Your Robe: Spring’s Five Best Buys

Stylist Julie Greene offers expert advice on looking fierce in a financial crisis.

Spring has finally sprung, and the urge to shop for new clothes is almost as strong as the need to find a way to pay for them. Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot to look great this season. The biggest looks combine versatility with all-American style, and you only need five must-haves to update your wardrobe. Armed with these lists of essentials for him and her (and where to get them), you can even sneak your look into fall without spending a fortune.

Men
1. Cool Cardigan
Grandpa’s cardigan isn’t what it used to be; find one that flatters your shape and wear it all year round—the layering trend isn’t going anywhere. H&M, Bannana Republic and The Gap all have great options.