According to news reports, the recession is over. However, new research by the Pew Research Center says that only 3 percent of Americans buy that. A little over half (55 percent) say we’re still in the thick of it; 41 percent say we’re beginning to come out of it. The survey highlighted several ways we’ve […]
Archive | Miscellaneous
The Price of Getting to Work
While plenty of people would like to get back to work, many of those who are working may be damaging their health just getting to and from their jobs. According to a new IBM global commuter study, over half of all commuters says roadway traffic has negatively impacted their health. A Mainstreet.com story about the […]
The Best Corporate Job Sites
In a still-tough job market, here’s some good news. Job openings are at a 16-month high. And, numerous forward-thinking companies are investing in their job sites, making it easier for job seekers to search for opportunities and even providing job-hunting advice. As highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, here are the ten best company career […]
The Complaint Department is Open
Got a complaint about something you bought? Or are you thinking about buying something but wondering how well the product worked for previous buyers? There are numerous complaint Web sites. However, as with the items criticized on the sites, some of the sites are better than others. According to a report by the Consumer Federation […]
Building Your Networking Skills
One of the recession’s harshest lessons is just how fragile a job can be. A related lesson is the importance of continuous networking. Forbes.com recently presented a handful of networking essentials, including: Be more interested in others than you are in yourself. Learning to ask good questions and take a genuine interest in others will […]
What We Didn’t Give Up During the Recession
Recessions have a way of helping people distinguish needs from wants. However, analysis from U.S. News & World Report has resulted in a somewhat surprising list of products and services where sales over the past few years have either grown or at least have not declined, including: Notebook computers. Sales have skyrocketed over the last […]
Keep Your Number to Yourself
The best way to guard against identity theft is to guard your Social Security number According to the Social Security Administration, relatively few organizations actually need your number. Your employer needs it in order to pay you. Financial institutions such as banks and brokerage firms need it because they report interest earned to the IRS. […]
Reshaped by the Recession
The Great Recession has impacted all of us. For some, the impact has been painful (think job losses). But the financial downturn also seems to be fostering widespread personal changes that, if they stick, have the potential to improve our lives. U.S. News & World recently summarized some of the key recession-induced changes that researchers […]
Worker Sentiment Sours
In an era of high unemployment, it’s not very wise to complain about your job. However, there’s a lot of dissatisfaction out there. According to a survey by the Conference Board, just 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs. That’s the lowest rating in the 22 years that the organization has been surveying […]
Clutter is Money
Clutter can either cost us money in the form of wasted time spent searching for stuff or it can generate money when we put some of our unused stuff up for sale. A helpful article on Mainstreet.com offered several good ideas and web sites for organizing, repurposing, or selling our stuff. Among the recommended sites […]