During an economic upswing, people are totally cool with going to Best Buy when they're bored and buying five DVDs, or copping a few books on Amazon to put on their shelf to make it seem like they read. In a recession, such extravagance is frowned upon

There is a silver-lining to the news that the US has been in a recession since last year: it means that if you’re reading this, you’re already surviving a recession, so keep up the good work.

Christmas and Hanukkah are rapidly approaching and there are thousands of shoppers who plan on invading the stores over the next ten days to go shopping for the folks on their gift lists. If you're one of the unfortunate few who have hours of hectic holiday shopping ahead of you, you may want to keep the following money-saving tips in mind as you search for the perfect gift.

A friend of mine just lost his job and is very concerned about making his December rent payment. So what can he do to raise some cash? Throw a houseparty! (We can easily figure out where this road can take us from watching any of the college moves we've come to love.) Surprisingly enough, there's actually a history behind this concept, AND an official name: "Rent Party."

We're now entering the peak of holiday season, and you may be struck with the sudden urge to throw a holiday party or just make your apartment a little more Christmasy...or Hannukah-y...or Kwanza-y...or whatever. The good news is, it doesn't have to break the bank. Tiny Tim is in fashion this year, so don't be ashamed to make a budget and check it twice.

It’s fun to live in times like these when you can open up your browser and read articles with titles like Why the Jobs Report Is So Ominous. It really brightens up the day and puts a spring in one’s step

There are few things as annoying as suffering the consequences for doing something you didn’t know was wrong, or something you sort of did know was wrong but happened during reckless, irresponsible phase that totally has nothing to do with the person you are now. But that, as devil’s advocates like to tell us, is life. And it’s particularly relevant when it comes to credit.

The hour draws nigh for “Black Friday," the post-Thanksgiving free-for-all where everyone celebrates the previous day’s gluttony by going on a huge holiday season shopping spree. If you want to snag the best deals, you’ve got to combine patience with a take-no-prisoners attitude—be prepared for traffics, crowds, and split-second spending decisions.

One time I was staying with a high school friend in his college dorm room and I noticed that there were coins scattered all over the floor. When I asked him why his carpet was covered with change, he replied nonchalantly, "The trash can was full."

This past weekend, I headed to Macy's to pick up a new pillow. I spent an hour looking for the perfect one, and as I was waiting in line getting ready to check out, I noticed that everyone in front of me, right before completing their transaction, whipped out a shiny new coupon from their wallet, slapped it down next to the register, and BAM: 20% OFF!