Free Dates at Friendly Stores

Good news: the economic big brains (except for Dr. Doom(s), Nouriel Roubini and Marc Faber) think the market is heading for a rebound and that typically precedes a general rebound by 12-18 months. Bad news: joblessness has hit 9.5%. While the statistics and methodology for determining joblessness borders on pseudo-science, it’s a bad sign indeed. So people will have to continue drinking powdered water (just add water) for the time being. But how do you keep the relationship (the old ball and chain) fun during these times of woe? “Be creative and keep your peepers peeled” is how.

Our pahtnahs (sound it out) over at Shine are reporting that Ikea (the Swedish furniture brand that allows you the freedom to construct your own furniture and invariably give you enough extra parts that you’re convinced you did something wildly wrong during the assembly) in New York offers childcare services to customers. In fact, the “customers” need not be even actively shopping to receive 45 minutes of free couch time.

Recessionary Travel Devices

Ah, summer. A time of travel, fun — and trying to cut down on staycations. If you’re getting away this summer, or even thinking about it, The Simple Dollar has these rules for keeping costs down. The list was written for businesses, but it seems useful for anyone heading out on the road:

Plan around public transportation. Before you leave, figure out how to get to your hotel using public transportation in the city, print out the route, and keep it with you. Do the reverse for the return trip as well.

Make lodging reservations directly with the branch you’re staying at. Use web sites to identify places to stay, but before reserving a room, call the hotel directly before using the online reservation system and don’t hesitate to ask for a reduced rate while on the phone. You’re likely to get a much better rate, particularly if it’s out of season, during the week, or you’re staying for a longer period.

Don’t spend a dime in the airport. Throw a few granola bars and an empty bottle into your carry-on bag…

Love in the Time of Layoff: Man Behind the Curtain

Note: Deborah Siegel was due to submit her post today, but her growing responsibilities in a rapidly developing venture have precluded her doing so. In other words— the twins are really kicking her ass. Despite being deep into the second trimester, her “morning sickness” hasn’t let up, and she is currently sitting up in bed with a cold compress on her fevered brow. She has thereby ceded the reins of “Love in the Time of Layoff” to me. You, dear reader know me as her house-husband, Her Man Godfrey, her Sancho Panza, her sometimes Bartleby. And now I’m honestly maybe a little too giddy with power. I am Marco.

Yes, I do exist… even as I eliminate the last traces of my existence in our little one-bedroom apartment.

I spent the afternoon yesterday dismantling my desk and bookcase and moving them out of our bedroom: we are staging our apartment yet again. It’s been on the market for months, and with a looming move to bigger digs in Park Slope we’ve redoubled our efforts to get it sold. New broker, new price, new priorities: we needed to let in more light and air, make the place roomier. It became obvious that my office away from work, my study and refuge from a crazy world, my anchor, was doomed. Into the boxes with my design books, my graphic novels and old Tarzan pulps. Reality beckoned…

Fun and Free: Couples Coupons

You know what’s a real bummer? When the economy is depressed and the only fiscal Prozac we’ve been prescribed is time-released, baby (Did you only an estimated 11% of the “Stimulus” dollars will be disbursed in 2009, per the Congressional Budget Office?). But, we’re humans so we do what men and Muppets do best: persevere. We take joy (not just solace) in small pleasures and learn from the situation (note: savings have increased over the last year and spending actually increased in May 2009, hopefully a portent of good things). But, for now, we have to make romance on the cheap.

But cheap doesn’t have to mean crappy. And a little creativity can be even more precious than all that material stuff (except diamonds from Zimbabwe, they were paid for with blood). Next time when you’ve got to show old girl or old boy that you appreciate her or him, hook her or him up with coupons…

Love in the Time of Layoff: First Money, Then Love

They say you’re never supposed to talk about money, but in the recession, it’s kind of hard not to. Despite a growing savings rate, there has been massive income loss and a dramatic devaluing or even obliteration of assets. For a lot of us, money is forefront and ever-present on our minds.

But should you bring it up in relationships? Absolutely, say CPAs, therapists, love coaches and relationship experts. In marriages, money has always been the number one cause of tension, regardless of whether we’re rolling in it or dining on Ramen noodles…

Recession Obsession: Forever 21

I wouldn’t mind being 21 again, to see what it’s like through wiser eyes and maybe correct some of my youthful screwups. But I don’t think I could take it for more than a few days. On the other hand, I could spend a week in Forever 21.

During the boom, when some fashionable friends started pushing the teen store as a source of cheap, trendy duds, I popped my head into New York’s Union Square location. It was loud and so packed with adolescents I didn’t even check out the merchandise. “I like to shop with grownups,” I said.

But when the recession rolled my clothing budget back to where it was when I was 16, I took another look at Forever 21—and discovered its discount charms. The shop is a great source of sexy summer dresses, shorts and accessories…

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…

Money Saving Tips from the Military

I belong to a military spouse club here in Camp Lejeune, and every so often they email you helpful news letters.. this week I got one about different ways to save money around the house. In these hard times we all know a little extra money goes a long way. Matt and I use most of these tips at home and some of them take a little extra effort but they are worth every penny.

Laundry- If you use an electric or gas dryer for your laundry, consider hanging them up outside or purchase an in home clothes hanger. ( Personally, Matt and I bought two, and they are 9.99 plus tax at Wal-Mart. They have paid for themselves. And, the great thing about them is, you can set your clothes outside to dry or if you have a rainy day they work just as good indoors. We cut our electric bill by almost 15 percent, thats almost 40 bucks extra a month. . yes, electricity is that expensive here.. )

Check your house for air leaks. Fixing them can cut cost on your heating/cooling bill BIG time! We live about 12 minutes away from the beach, and it is already 80 degrees average a day here. We had some missing insulation pieces from under our back door. We spent 2 dollars in supplies to fix it and now our AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool down the house…

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…