The signs seem to be everywhere: We are becoming a more frugal nation that needs to be fed deals and discounts as we plow through increasingly difficult financial times.

According to a new report by the Associated Press, frugality is the now the new norm in America and it stems from necessity. We are working less and earning less while the costs of food, schooling and housing remain pressing obligations we struggle to meet. So everyone seems to be cutting back across the board – white collar, blue collar, …

Tags: auto sales , baby boomers , budget , economy , fashion , hard times , recession , retail , saving , spending , taxes , unemployment

2 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Is the economy keeping you awake at night?

You are not alone. A recent National Sleep Foundation poll has found that one in four Americans say worries over personal finances, layoffs and the state of the economy at large are keeping them up at night.  These numbers are reflected in an increase in audiences for late night television shows.

But these aren’t the only numbers that are increasing.

Prescriptions for sleep medications have also grown, topping 56 million in 2008. Good news, I guess, for the pharmaceutical companies selling those GABA-enhancing  …

Tags: economy , increase in insomnia , insomnia , sleep , sleeping pills and the economy , sleepless , sleeplessness , worry

2 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

In the worldwide struggle to get clean water to those in need, it’s people who are the biggest problem.

That’s the conclusion of the World Water Forum, which met this month in Istanbul to examine global water supply problems and offer suggestions to world governments. At the Forum, the United Nations published their summary of the state of world water supplies. In a word – mismanaged. The summary pointed toward the lack of international cooperation, the often unbalanced allocation between commercial, food-producing and domestic supplies and, in particular, the absence of …

Tags: economy , government , local government , politics , united nations , water , water management , water reclaiming

1 Comment |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Our planet is in peril and it seems there’s more grim environmental news every day. Of course, it’s important we recognize the gravity of the situation so we can change rather than continuing blithely in our old, polluting habits. But the relentless delivery of bad news makes it easy to succumb to despair and the natural human reaction to despair is inaction.

We need hope. Not blind optimism that it’ll be all right in the end, even if we don’t change our ways. But genuine hope that if we all pull …

Tags: animals , conservation , economy , energy , environment , news , Obama , pollution , sustainability

2 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark