household budgets

In this economy, cash-strapped consumers have become more budget conscious and less concerned about appearing cheap. As a result, better-known brands have steadily been losing ground to store-branded food products.

U.S. consumer spending grew about 7% in October from September, but remained down 5% from the same month last year, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday. The figures could indicate more financial comfort heading into the all-important holiday shopping season.

Banks that gave loans to people who couldn't afford them. People who leveraged way too much on their credit cards. Real estate bubbles. There are a lot of reasons given for our current economic mess, and each of them definitely contributed to the mess we're in today. But I'd like to throw out...

I'm all for public education, but yesterday's local school operating and capital improvement levy passage means my wife and I will have to come up with another $800 a year, or $66 a month, to cover the increase in taxes. This means it's time to look for fat to trim from our monthly budget. I'm sure...