(If you need a primer on Occupy Wall Street and what it’s protesting, check this out.)
Retailers are concerned that the American consumer has permanently changed his/her ways.  Take this recent article in the Wall Street Journal:
“They are trading down, consolidating shopping trips to save on gas and generally not spending a lot on discretionary purchases,” (Target CEO and Chairman) Mr. Steinhafel said.
That’s the best news I’ve heard all week!  It may not have happened by choice, but a state of permanent frugality is actually very good for the average consumer.  Why else would …

This is just a quick post to start the week off in the right direction: the biggest change I’ve had in my personality has been learning to follow through with things.  I actually had the idea of starting a blog over 3 years ago.  It was not a very clear idea (just a personal blog with guest posts by my friends) but I wonder if it would have grown if I had done it and stuck with it.  Then I had the idea for a shower foot-scrubbing device I coined …

I used to despise Lauren Conrad.  Like, couldn’t stand her.  But I’ve since realized that I didn’t like LC of The Hills and Laguna Beach.  She may or may not be this person in real life, but her character on TV always seemed to be annoyed with everything, unimaginative and dull, dull, dull.  I’m definitely in the minority here because I know she has a lot of fans, but to me, carrying a Chanel bag and being obsessed with fashion does not make you “classy”.  LC refers to herself as …

This update is coming a little late for September, but the month was pretty good.  Remember my updated debt strategy of paying off my smallest bill first?  Well here’s an update on that account, which is at 0% interest:
August 2011: $2,100
September 2011: $1,815
Pretty good, right?  My goal for finishing October is to get it to $1,400.  I can easily do it if I don’t pay small amounts to other accounts as well.  Now for the overall debt update:
Total Debt Update:
September 2011: $37,084
% change from August 2011: 1.26% Decrease
OK, that doesn’t …