Downturnaround Deals: Victoria’s Secret, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Foot Locker, Crayola

Every week, we post online deals hand-picked for Recessionwire readers by the nice people over at Savings.com. Feel free to pass them along, and if there’s something you’d like to see, let us know!

Get 15% off orders of $100 or more at Victoria’s Secret. (See more Victoria’s Secret Coupons.)…

No Comeback for Credit Cards

In case you haven’t heard, Americans are plunking down their gold (and blue and red and green) cards a lot less. And it looks like some of us are swearing off them altogether.

Almost a quarter of people said they had permanently changed their attitude towards credit cards and would not be using them anymore…

Lost Your Job? Tell Your Landlord.

Sure, he jacks up your rent, ignores your calls about vermin and takes two days to get the toilet fixed. But your landlord (or lady) is really nice.

In fact, two-thirds of small, independent landlords say that they would reduce rents to help tenants stay in their homes, according to a new survey by the National Association of Independent Landlords. And a third say they already have…

Complain, Complain, Complain

If you’ve ever sat on hold with the cable company for 40 minutes while you tried to get an issue resolved, you already understand the agony involved in most customer service interactions. But with more and more people cutting down on non-essential costs—like cable, gym memberships, and weekly blow-outs at the salon, to name a few—due to the recession, an increasing number of companies are ramping up their customer service efforts as a way to keep people coming back for more…

Win $1,000 for bills, $2,000 of Gear, or a Book (Yes, Last One’s From Us)

We wouldn’t advise counting on contests for income, but the way things are still going in the employment market, you might be more likely to benefit from a sweepstakes than a jobs site.

Has the downturn has turned you into a “Digital Nomad”? Nomadesk is giving away $2,000 worth of gear, including a Dell notebook and a Blackberry Bold…

Downturnaround Deals:

Every week, we post a handful of online deals hand-picked for Recessionwire readers by the nice people over at Savings.com. Feel free to pass them along to your friends. And if there’s something you’d like to see, let us know!

Get an exclusive 20% off your entire order of fabulous beauty products at Bliss. (See more Bliss Coupons.)

Get 20% off sitewide at Sephora. (See more Sephora Coupons.)

Take 10% off hotel bookings at CheapTickets. (See more Cheaptickets coupons.)…

Ditch the Downturn, Go to… Zurich

From the picturesque buildings to the awe inspiring landscapes, there is a reason people like Zurich so much. Designer boutiques and culinary treasures lie behind every corner, while world-class ski resorts are just a short ride away. Meanwhile, with the unemployment rate in the U.S. rising to 9.8. percent last month, abandoning the States for a better life overseas may have never sounded like a more rational decision. Of course, picking up and leaving isn’t quite that simple.

Job prospects in many exotic locales are even bleaker than they are in the States, while the benefit from a low cost of living could easily be offset by high taxes or low wages in other cities across Europe…

Avoiding Bank Fees: The App Solution

When money is tight, small expenses add up fast. $3 fees for ATM withdrawals, $12 checking account service charges, and $30 penalties for bounced checks and overdrafts can put a real dent in anyone’s monthly budget. Unfortunately, this situation looks like it’s only getting worse now that recession-weary banks across the country have begun upping their service charges to levels never been seen before. According to a new survey by Bankrate.com, ATM fees are up 16 percent since 2004, bringing the average cost of a non-network ATM withdrawal (i.e. using an ATM at a bank other than your own) to $3.54.

By going digital and putting your iPhone to work, you can avoid irritating fees and organize your finances at the same time. After all, if you’re paying a hefty bill for that cell phone plan every month then you might as well use it. Here’s a run-down of sites and apps that may help reduce the fees you have to pay:…

Downturnaround Deals: SpaFinder, Saks, Esprit, David’s Cookies, Dell, AT&T

Every week, we post a handful of online deals hand-picked for Recessionwire readers by the nice people over at Savings.com. Feel free to pass them along to your friends. And if there’s something you’d like to see, let us know!

We could use a massage, a facial, a manicure, and everything else…take 10% off all orders at SpaFinder. (See more SpaFinder coupons.)…

Downturnaround Deals: Secret Spoon, Apothica, Wine.com, Puma, Linea Pelle

Suffering from austerity exhaustion? Got the urge to splurge? We’ve been there. If you’re going to start spending again, make it thrifty and pay a little less for your indulgences. Every week, we post a handful of online deals hand-picked for Recessionwire readers from Savings.com. Feel free to pass them along to your friends. And if there’s something you’d like to see, let us know!

Brownies, truffles and hand-dipped strawberries are relatively inexpensive indulgences. Especially with a 15% discount on all orders at Secret Spoon. No code needed. See more Secret Spoon coupons.)…