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…

Recession Obsession: Groupon

In a downturn, a little deal won’t do ya.

To get my attention, it has to be a steal. And a low price alone won’t convince me to pry open my wallet; the discount has to be on something really good. Like, say, two one-hour massages for $75—which is what I paid last week through Groupon.

My new favorite bargain source, Groupon is sort of what is sounds like …

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 …

My Wife is My Boss: An Entrepreneur Couple’s Tale

“Let’s go over this again: you’re going to spend our life savings on dried fruit?” I asked my wife, Noha, in 2004 when she first pitched me the idea of starting Peeled Snacks, a fruit and nut snack company.

Earlier in the year we’d both quit our jobs to go traveling before I started a stint as a public school teacher, but I’d assumed that she’d get back to work with a position lucrative enough to offset the modest teacher’s pay I’d soon receive. Instead, she decided to become her own boss and make negative money.

Though those first days truly did gobble up our savings at a frightening rate, watching a company grow and flourish from the front row is exciting. It was a real kick when people started to actually buy these treats…