The unemployment rate has officially surpassed the 10% mark.  In actuality, the number is probably much higher considering the unemployment rate doesn’t include people who have been unemployed for a longer period of time and have just given up. There are people who are employed but not earing enough to make ends meet.     If 90% of the labor force is working and sectors such as construction, manufacturing and retail trade are losing the majority of jobs, where will the gains be made? Manu... Read Full Story

    Starbucks is discontinuing its Gold Card program which offered a 10% discount for an annual fee of $25. I do go to Starbucks but my local coffee house which roasts their own beans and is independently owned. When you buy a pound of coffee you get a free cup of drip coffee free. When you buy loose tea, you get a free cup of tea. If you don’t want the coffee, you can get the discount instead. Recently I went to Starbucks and used a gift card for my purchase and discovered that my local coff... Read Full Story

Thanks again, Fed, for not raising the interest rate again. The low interest rates are not making it attractive to save money in a bank. The rate has stayed in the same range for about three quarters. Low interest rates are fine if you are paying interest, but not so great if you want to earn some. Read Full Story

    The recession’s end would feel differently if there were more people employed and finding a job weren’t so difficult. But even for those who are employed, it is difficult to say that the recession is over given the fact that there are so many examples of people who are out of work and the businesses large and small are still struggling.     Not everyone has been affected by the recession, not because of anything they have necessarily done, but because of luck and good management on the pa... Read Full Story

    Some of the best coupons used to come by mail, especially for local businesses, now they come via email and text message.   Sometimes you don’t feel like being bothered by wading through dozens of advertising emails though the payoff can definitely be worth it. Instead of having to search for coupons for items you purchase often and stores that you frequent, sign up for the email list when asked in stores. Some places send too many coupons but for places that you like to shop receiving fr... Read Full Story

  Online isn’t always the best price.     I was looking to buy some tights before all the good colors were gone for the season and decided to check Amazon.com. After reading a few reviews I saw that the retailer didn’t go by the MSRP. Many times the manufacturer’s suggested retail price is higher or the same as what you actually pay, not less than unless the item is imported. The tights that I wanted to buy were higher than I the regular price at a brick and mortar store including tax. ... Read Full Story

Need to make a costume for a last minute party? If you have old clothes around the house, you are one step closer to a great costume… Check out these videos for more ideas! Read Full Story

    Would you change your spending habits of the past?     Many people I know learned from their bad habits by not spending a lot of money on credit cards or not wasting their money on things they really can’t afford.     If nothing else comes out of the recession the greatest gift will be teaching people to have better money management skills and not to overspend.     I’m happy with my spending habits and my saving habits. There are some things that I think I probably should have bought (ge... Read Full Story

    Halloween is Saturday and I’m not buying candy. It’s not that I am anti-Halloween. The decorations are up and a Halloween sign on my door. It’s just that there are very few kids who live in my building and no one has ever come to my door for candy even though I have participated the Halloween candy giveaway several times with the friendly ghost sign on my door like all the other participants.     So, I’m going to save the money that I would use for trick or treaters and just buy myself a ... Read Full Story

  Since the savings rates are so low, why bother even putting money into a bank for an emergency fund? Of course the money will be insured but it is really worth the hassle just to earn 2%?   Low interest rates are not an incentive to save especially for those who have little debt. Having an emergency fund is important but putting that money into a bank to earn a pittance is not necessarily what people think of when they wave. I know I don’t…   “It’s a direct wealth transfe... Read Full Story