Being on a tight budget can have its value for a while, like how it teaches you to do a lot of things for yourself because you simply can’t afford to pay someone else to do them for you. So you learn to do your own taxes. You learn to hem your own pants. You make all of your own meals. You clean your own home. When you make good money, you start calculating what your time is worth. If you make, say, $35 an hour and can hire a housecleaner for $20 an hour, you actually save money by hiring a housekeeper and getting your own work done while someone else cleans your place. Or, you may decide to relax then, which is something you can afford to do.
(Businessweek) — For many Americans, thinking back to the days of 99¢ gas and 50¢ cups of coffee, it may be cathartic to grumble about how expensive life has become, especially during the current economic downturn. The reality, however, is that a lot of things aren’t as expensive as we think—and many things actually cost […]
(WSJ.com) —Personal income in 42 states fell in 2009, the Commerce Department said Thursday. How state personal income changed in 2009 from 2008. Read More…