Why Daddy Has Time to Eat Fruity Pebbles Till Noon

As a kid, I always hated it when my parents spelled out words they didn’t want me to hear. Back then it was b-e-d-t-i-m-e, or g-r-u-m-p-y. Now it’s words you won’t even need to spell. B-e-r-n-a-n-k-e. C-r-i-p-p-l-i-n-g U-n-e-m-p-l-o-y-m-e-n-t.

Why bring little Timmy or Madeline out of their world of ice cream and action figures and into your world of calling that guy you played club soccer with in college to see if his management consulting firm has any entry-level positions to fill? How to explain, or not explain, the recession to your children:…

Recession Briefing: Job Doesn’t Equal Happy

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Hit by the recession, many families are moving their children from private to public schools. The shift is already bringing subtle changes to the culture of many public schools as some families seek the personal attention they received from private schools. (USA Today)

As the sour economy leaves people less and less able to pay their debts, the abuses by debt collectors have become so flagrant and numerous that authorities have moved to shut down several agencies where the most heartless and bullying telephone calls originated. At least 20 people have been sued or arrested on criminal charges. (Associated Press)…

Recession Briefing 10.8: Parents Keep Spending on Kids

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Consumers refused to cut back on one thing last year: their kids. Families spent almost the same amount on kids — boys and girls — younger than 16 last year as they had the year before. (Wall Street Journal/The Juggle)

Is the “man-cession” a myth? “Men have not been doing so badly by historic standards,” writes Christopher Swann. “Nor have women been making great breakthroughs.” (Reuters)

It’s bad enough that folks out of work have to deal with an unemployment rate that is pushing double digits, but now they also have to watch out for a growing wave of fraudsters who are looking to take advantage of their desperation. (Time)

Recession Briefing 8.7: Recession Brings on a Baby Bust

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

For the first time since the decade began, Americans are having fewer babies, and some experts are blaming the economy. (New York Times)

The American economy lost 247,000 jobs in July, and in a reversal, the unemployment rate fell slightly, to 9.4 percent, the government reported Friday. (New York Times)

Americans have been losing their jobs in droves, yet one group has gained ground in employment during this recession: workers 55 and older. The reason is economic necessity. (McClatchy)

The No Insurance Survival Guide

Cobra coverage is supposed to provide relief from health insurance worries after you get laid off, but it’s no panacea. First off, it’s expensive: A study by Families USA found that Cobra premiums eat up 30 percent of unemployment benefits for the average American; in some states, a family policy can cost more than your total benefits. Not everyone who loses their job is eligible. And, as we have personally learned, it’s not always easy to get the coverage you’re entitled to.

But what if you were never eligible in the first place? What if your company went bankrupt, or your coverage has expired? You could go uninsured, but if you’re hit with a medical crisis, you’re screwed. You could try to get individual insurance, but be prepared for sticker shock. Instead consider these creative strategies.