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Do You Feel Like the Economy Is Getting Better?

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:15 -0800

Word on the street is that the worst of the recession is over. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke declared as much in mid-September, and the economy actually grew instead of shrinking in the third quarter of this year. So, in theory, things should be on the upswing.

But firsthand experience tells us maybe not so much. Consumer spending is down over last year as we all try to keep our holiday spending in check, and there hasn’t been much new job creation.

In fact, I’m still hearing stories from friends, state employees in particular, who are experiencing layoffs, pay cuts, and involuntary furloughs. What has your personal experience been?

Lack of Communication With Husband After Layoff

Tres Community — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

This post comes from Group Therapy in our TrèsSugar Community. Feel free to add your advice in the comments!

My husband recently got laid off from his job. He is lucky because he was given 30 days to try and find a new position within the company before he's officially let go. He has a prospective job in another area of the company, but I am not sure where everything stands. He just won't communicate with me and let me know what's going on. It's very hard for me to be in the dark about whether or not he will have a job in a couple weeks, and it feels like he has completely closed off communication regarding this job situation.

When I ask if he's heard anything, he is always very vague and claims that he doesn't have any new information, but there have been a couple times when I have seen over his shoulder that he has gotten emails from the people involved with this potential job, so there must be some sort of news. How do I explain to him that behind left in the dark about our situation is really stressing me out?

There's lots of fun stuff going on in our community - join it, check it out, share your posts or advice in the great groups and maybe we'll feature it here on TrèsSugar!

Is McDonald's Launching a Dollar Breakfast Menu?

YumSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:56 -0800

In this economy, even the savviest of fast food diners have a hard time stretching their dollar. But if the rumors are true, value-seekers may soon find it a lot easier to fill up for a buck early in the day. According to the Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal, McDonald's plans to reveal a nationwide breakfast dollar menu.

Based on internal documents obtained by the two publications, the McDonald's breakfast dollar menu will begin a national advertising run in January 2010. Although McDonald's has declined to comment, the burger giant tested a breakfast menu with $1 items in August in its Chicago stores, offering items such as a sausage McMuffin, breakfast burritos, and hash browns.

The chain, which is also rolling out the Mac Snack Wrap nationwide in January, will face some stiff competition.

Burger King recently added the quarter-pound Double Cheeseburger to its menu through March, and Dunkin' Donuts just rolled out a temporary $0.99 menu in Chicago. If two leading newspapers are publishing stories on it, the alleged menu can't be too far from the truth. What would you hope to see on a $1 breakfast bonanza?

Say What? Recession or No, Women Love Their Sex Toys!

TresSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0800

"[Y]eah, money's tight. If people are going to spend their dollars, they want to know it's a good product. People are staying home more, so we've directed more marketing efforts toward cheap date nights - for the price of a movie and dinner, buy a vibrator, stay home and have fun."

- Good Vibrations rep Jackie Strano, responding to a question about what the sex business is like during the recession. Good Vibrations is a popular woman-friendly adult sex toy store in San Francisco, CA.

Photo by Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera

Would You Enlist Your Child's Talent to Pay the Bills?

babysugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

No doubt about it, some families have been faced with some tough times during our recession. The jobless rate keeps rising causing many children to claim homeless status or opt out of extracurricular activities. So what if their beauty or talent could earn the family a roof over their heads or pay for their schooling? It seems many moms and pops are turning to their tots to help foot the bill. Mothers who might not normally enter their babe into a modeling competition are taking head shots and driving to auditions with dreams of childhood stardom. While some criticize the parents for putting their babies to task, others say the actions are harmless and even beneficial. What say you?

Source

Front Page: 20-Year-Old Whose Father Ran Her Over Is Dead

TresSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:36 -0800

Arizona woman Noor Faleh Almaleki is pronounced dead after being in a coma for weeks. Her Iraqi-born father ran her over in a parking lot to protest her becoming "too Western." - New York Daily News
Half of US kids, and 90 percent of black children, will be on food stamps at some point during childhood, according to a study that looked at 30 years of national data. - AP
Two women got in a fight on the NYC subway over fears of catching swine flu, after one of them refused to cover her mouth when she coughed. - NBC
NYU has confirmed that a student died in its Bobst Library this morning, a location that has a reputation for student suicides. -WSN
Senator Joe Lieberman apparently decided not to filibuster the public healthcare option after all. - The Hill
Hillary Clinton announced today that the US will offer aid to help boost America's ties with the Muslim world. - Reuters
Here are 10 races to watch in today's off-year election. - CNN

Front Page: Recession Spooks Halloween Shoppers

TresSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Halloween spending is down 15 percent this year compared to last according to the National Retail Federation. - KSFM
Drug companies might be coming closer to a miracle pill that helps patients safely lose weight. - USA Today
Dick Cheney is accusing President Obama of "dithering" by failing to make a decision yet about sending thousands more troops to Afghanistan. – LA Times
By welcoming married Anglican priests into the Catholic Church, the Pope might be setting up an end to celibacy among Catholic priests. - New York Times
A new wave of mortgages should be headed toward foreclosures soon. – Wall Street Journal
A new lawsuit alleges that Bernie Madoff financed a cocaine-fueled work environment and a culture of sexual deviance at his former company. - CNN

Front Page: CEOs at Bailed-Out Banks Increase Their Perks

TresSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:59 -0700

The good times are still rolling for CEOs at bailed-out banks: they received huge perks last year while taxpayers footed the multibillion-dollar bill. - Washington Post
Afghanistan will hold a runoff presidential election on Nov. 7 following allegations of fraud that tainted the previous results. - AP
An Iranian-American academic has been sentenced to 12 years in Iranian prison for contributing to unrest after the last election. - AP
It appears less likely that international leaders will sign a comprehensive treaty against climate change when they meet in Copenhagen this December. - New York Times
States cannot afford the death penalty, according to a new study. - CNN
Check out the original balloon boy! - SFGate

7 Small Ways to Save Big When You Eat Out

SavvySugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:30:19 -0700

People are definitely eating differently thanks to the recession. But cutting food costs doesn't mean you still can't enjoy eating out. Tough times for consumers means empty tables at restaurants - and to fill them, restaurants are making menu changes and slashing prices, or offering discounts. Just take a look at how you can save on your next meal out.

View Slideshow ›

Front Page: Unemployment Might Create a Lost Generation

TresSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

The job crisis is hitting young people just out of college especially hard, which could have a long-term negative impact on an entire generation. - Business Week
American Elinor Ostrom has become the first woman to win the Nobel prize for economics. - BBC News
Iraq's National Theater has opened again for the first time in six years, as nightlife begins to return to Baghdad. - Telegraph
Hillary Clinton says President Obama's attitude toward America's role in the world won him the Nobel Peace Prize. - AP
Couples Retreat starring Vince Vaughn had a big opening weekend to come in first place at the box office. - BuzzSugar