Mending is Better Than Ending

Lots of businesses are hurting right now, but not those involved in fixing and mending our stuff. According to an article in Time magazine, cobblers and tailors are thriving as people opt to repair old shoes and alter ill-fitting clothes rather than replace them. The...

How to Spot a Lemon

This sure seems like a good time to buy a car with all the incentives being offered by ailing carmakers. However, a deal isn’t a deal unless you were in the market for the item anyway. And I’m a strong believer in keeping vehicles as long as possible. But...

When Smart Shopping Becomes Disturbing

A new study of Wal-Mart shoppers (and that’s 9 out of 10 of us) shows that the economy is reshaping how we shop. As reported by USA TODAY, Wal-Mart has seen a double-digit decline in credit card use, a noticeable shift from the sale of discretionary products to...

Economizing Now and Forever

In the last issue of this eNewsletter, in an article about changes people are making in response to our tough economy, I asked what changes you’ve made that you believe will be permanent. Among those who wrote, Maria says she’s been taking a bus to work...