photo credit: daryl_mitchell

A troubled economy has affected life in many ways, and has now begun to influence neighborhood real estate. Empty strip malls, fueled by a need to collect rent, are now filling their spaces with nontraditional tenants, like libraries and churches. (more…)

credit: Steven Fernandez

If you’ve purchased an airline ticket recently, you’ve likely been unhappily surprised by soaring rates and a list of surcharges that literally pours off of the page. Unfortunately, as oil costs go up, surcharges will continue to rise and, in many cases, multiply. (more…)

credit: thebittenword.com

During World War II, U.S. citizens were encouraged to cultivate personal fruit, vegetable, and herb gardens in order to reduce pressure on the public food supply. And though it was a secondary reason, the war gardens also served as a morale booster and sense of pride for all who grew them. Today, though we don’t have victory gardens, Americans are showing their patriotism through their spending habits. (more…)

credit: Bob Jagendorf 

World food prices are on the rise, and consumers are beginning to feel the pinch. The rising cost of flour has made the price of bread and cereals begin to climb, higher meat prices have caused many third world consumers to up their vegetable consumption, and now increased rice costs in Asia are cause for concern and, in some cases, riots.

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credit: Joshua Davis (articnomad)With all the bad financial news in the press today, filling up your local news and the front page of your favorite paper, you’re bound to be wondering how bad the shape of the economy is. MSNBC’s John Schoen says that though a storm is on the horizon, it’s hard to say how bad it’ll get.
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