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…

Downturn’s Up!

The Sex and the City ladies may have been content sipping on Cosmopolitans at the city’s poshest restaurants on a nightly basis, but today’s economy calls for something different.

Luckily, savvy bartenders from around the country have stepped in the fill the void, creating recession-themed cocktail recipes that anyone can make at home.

Whether you’re throwing a recession-themed party or drowning your sorrows with a group of recently laid off friends, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite downturn drinks from around the Web…

8 Recession Road Trip Games

Even with the emergence of the “staycation,” many families will be hitting the road this Labor Day. So after the Harry Potter series ends on the DVD player, we suggest some timely car games to keep the fun rolling along. Print this guide and take it with you.

Spot a Sign
This one’s easy. In the wake of mortgage defaults and foreclosure-o-rama, for-sale signs dot the landscape like a new mutant weed. In a twist on “punch Buggy” or “slug a bug”—in which you punch the person next to you when you spot a VW Beetle—tag (we prefer it to a punch) the person next to you to signal you spotted a for-sale sign first…

7 Tips for Living with the Unemployed

The economy is supposedly in recovery, but layoffs are still prominent in virtually every industry. Many more people than usual can relate to a phenomenon usually restricted to the over-60 set: living with an unemployed spouse.

While being laid off and entering into retirement are far from the same, they both often leave one half of a couple with extra time on their hands, and plenty of pent-up energy that their significant other, coming home after a long day at work, can’t handle.Read: 4 Reasons To Date The Unemployed

WSJ.com recently wrote an article that shared a few words of wisdom on how to deal with this situation. Here are a few of their tips, plus some of our own…

Love in the Time of Layoff: Truisms from Our Time

Okay all you lovers out there, so what do you know about dating, living and loving in the recession? Budgets for lavish dates and gifts have shrunk; long-term plans for established relationships have been somewhat downsized; and we’re all perhaps a little more deliberate in our dating than we were in the boom times. Things have changed–not least in the way you appreciate your mate. Below, some of the new realities that have emerged in these tough times:

You don’t need to spend a lot to get a lot. In a guest post, “Funky Brown Chick” Twanna A. Hines wrote about getting laid without laying out too much for it. Try renting porn flicks, buy sex toys, and try mixing it up by getting out of town on the cheap.

There are countless options for romantic dates on a budget…

Dating on a Dime

Let’s face it: The economy may be improving, but blast that lagging economic indicator—unemployment is around to stay, at least for a little bit. And while you may have plenty of time on your hands, the reality is that, more likely than not, your pockets will be a little bit emptier than desired.

Never fear, necessity is the mother of invention! And there are plenty of ways you can save money on a date (without looking like a cheap skate). Clever, low-cost date ideas will get you out and about in the world with your sweetheart and allow you to get to know each other better than any fancy-schmancy dinner could ever facilitate…

Cheap Date: Blog with your Sweetie

Hey hey. Good news. Over at the New York Times, super sourpuss Paul Krugman thinks the economy may have cratered. Mr. Brightside warns that before we all buy jet skis and charter flights to Monaco to realize things are still grim. Saving more and spending less is a pretty good policy. But dating, mating and the whole relating shebang are tough to do without spending dough. That’s when you gotta get creative…