My Husband Loses Money on Stocks-And I Don’t Mind

My husband loves to play the stock market. He picks what he considers to be up-and-coming companies that few people have heard of yet, or undervalued blue chips, and buys up their shares. As he puts it, he likes feeling like he has an “ownership stake” in companies.

Sometimes, his strategy pays off. His initial investment of $5,900 more than doubled between 2005 and 2007. He bought Apple at $65 a share and watched it climb to $190. The start-up 24/7 RealMedia doubled and he sold it before it plunged. His oil companies enjoyed record profits. But he often loses big, too…

Love in the Time of Layoff: Desperation Dating

Getting laid off in the throes of a recession is tough, but getting laid in a recession is, well, not.

It’s true: unemployment has done wonders for my dating life. Had I known it ten years ago, I would have surely done everything within my power to get canned. But like most women, I had rent to pay and dead-end jobs to contend with until I got kicked out of both places on the same day.

Now that I have all the time in the world to kill, there’s no end to the possibilities.

I’ve got a laptop and libido, what more do I need? Whether it’s online or on the streets of Boston, I’ve dated more men in the last six months that I have over the course of six years. Maybe it’s the fact that there are lotsa people out there with lotsa time on their hands. And because dating is so similar to the job search process they almost seem to go hand-in-hand (minus the alcohol). I toggle between Monster and Match…

PONO Giveaway Winner

Yes, we wanted to keep it for ourselves–but we didn’t! We picked a winner for last week’s giveaway, so if Zoe Benfield sees this post before she checks her email, she should contact us to get her lovely PONO necklace.

If you missed out, you can always try to win the Tiger Balm shoulder rub we’re giving away this week. More to come…

September Stress-Fighting Giveaway

Summer’s over, job losses aren’t, and despite Ben Bernanke’s statements this week, your 401(k) isn’t bouncing back to 2006 levels anytime soon. You could spring for a massage, but it’s way cheaper to tweet your way to some free massage cream, and convince a friend to use it on you.

We’re offering tubes of Tiger Balm’s new Neck & Shoulder Rub to two Recessionwire readers. It’s non-greasy, helps ease stiff or sore muscles, and smells like–well, like Tiger Balm.

Enter by following Recessionwire on Twitter. If you’re already a follower, tweet about an RW story of your choice…

Last Day for Necklace Giveaway

New York’s Fashion Week extravaganza is coming to a close, but there’s still a chance to win this gorgeous necklace from PONO by Joan Goodman.…

Eating for Free

Restaurant owners certainly aren’t having a good year. From widespread job loss to lingering worries about the country’s economic future, record numbers of families have begun cooking at home rather than spending money eating out—leading to a 14 percent drop in business at fine-dining restaurants so far in 2009.

For customers still going out on a regular basis, however, the dining scene has never looked better.

That’s because many restaurants are finding that coupons and discounted specials just aren’t enough anymore. Instead, they’re being forced to go the extra mile and get creative—letting kids eat free, giving away discounted tickets to movies, and even throwing in complimentary cocktails and wine…

5 Questions to Ask Before Relocating for Love

Michelle did it for Barack. Brad does it at least twice a year for Angelina. And thousands of non-famous people do it everyday for the people they love. We’re talking about relocating, and in these economically volatile times, a lot of people are doing it for the sake of work or a lower cost of living. But before you pick up, say goodbye to everyone you know, and move across the world for your partner, be sure to ask yourself and him (or her) some very important questions. Read: How To Make Long-Distance Love Work

1. How long will this relocation last? There’s a big difference between living in Florence for three months (romantic!) and moving to Sheboygan Falls indefinitely (quite possibly a tad less romantic). Consider what kind of trip this will be and be honest about yourself about what you and your relationship can handle. Scenarios with a light at the end of the tunnel often go more smoothly than those that go on forever, but every situation is, of course, different…

Fashion Week Necklace Giveaway

New York’s Fashion Week extravaganza started this week, and in recognition we’re giving away one necklace from PONO by Joan Goodman.

The colorful, sculptural jewelry was inspired by the island locations where the designer came of age, and is made from materials like Italian resin, wood, shell and horn. Normally the pieces are priced at $350 and up, and sell at high-end stories including Neiman Marcus and Saks. But PONO just launched its annex, which has jewelry for a very budget-friendly $12 to $66.

Or, you can get this chain-and-resin necklace for free…

Why Pink Slips are Good for Pets (and What to Do When You Get a Job)

Sure, losing your job was stressful. For you. But for your pet, the longer you sit on the couch in a savings-sucking stupor the better.

Laura Goldstein left her post at This Old House magazine in March 2008 to become editor-in-chief of the start-up magazine Jewish Living. When Jewish Living folded six months later, Goldstein began working from home, cobbling together editorial projects while sending out resumes.

Unemployment was a shock and disappointment to her. Not so for her white-capped pionus parrot, Peewee…

Love to Spend? Your Best Match Should, Too

We’ve all heard (and perhaps lived by) the motto: opposites attract. Maybe we’ve only leaned on this old cliche in order to quiet naysayers and excuse an illogical attraction to somebody so obviously wrong. Opposites Attract When It Comes To Spending Money

A recent study by the University of Michigan proves (once again) that when it comes to spending and saving, those with a strong inclination to either financial style end up attracted to their opposite. Out of a pool of 1,000 married and unmarried adults, the researcher found this attraction has roots in the individual’s discomfort in his/her own ways. In other words, spendthrifts who feel extreme guilt for their extravagant ways tend to be attracted penny pinchers. A wild shopper who beats herself up for collecting racks of pricey shoes may find solace in the coupon-cutting mate who rationalizes holes in his sneakers in lieu of a heftier savings account…