I'm a worrywart by nature, and these days more people can identify with that feeling of general anxiety. According to recent polls, 30 percent of Americans are worried they'll lose their jobs.
CNN Money points out that while current and projected unemployment rates aren't the worst we've seen, workers are scared for three main reasons. White-collar workers are enduring longer job searches — unemployed workers have a 22 percent chance of finding a new job within a month; some jobs won't be replaced, like many in the financial sector; and the outlook for job-market recovery is slow. Are you fearful that your job may be in jeopardy?
The queen of 30-minute meals, Rachael Ray, is an expert on whipping up family meals, and in her life outside the kitchen she loves to share more than just food with her own family. When Bankrate asked her if she treats herself to many extravagances, Ray said that now she's able to take her entire family on an annual Italian vacation and she enjoys doing things that are "emotionally profitable," like starting the Yum-O! organization.
While she's all for going splurging on her family and giving generously to charity, the bubbly cook doesn't spend much on her wardrobe. She said that she certainly has "more shoes than she did 15 years ago," but most of her shopping habits haven't really changed.
But in our everyday life, I wear literally the same pants I've had for 10, 12 years. I still shop at TJ Maxx and Marshalls and Target, and I do my own grocery shopping. I wander around in Adidas sweats and wear bluejeans most of the time.
Bankrate points out that we can all learn from Ray's habits of living below our means and sharing what we do have when possible.
You know that going through life with constant deprivation is really no way to live, and this year 28 percent of you chose to splurge on clothes, shoes, bags, or jewelry. Vacations were also a very popular splurge in 2008, capturing 26 percent of your votes.
The easiest way to splurge without guilt is to save up for the things that we covet. In fact, I think that I end up loving something more because I've worked hard to save for it, and having to wait to make a purchase prevents impulse spending. Do you already have your eye on another splurge-worthy expense?
Real estate news has kind of been buried in the news lately as other economic issues have been dominating the headlines. Not much has changed on the housing front, as experts predict the fragile market to suffer further declines in the new year. Out of the 100 top real estate markets, experts have selected the ten cities anticipated to have the worst declines.
If you live in these places, you might have to hold on to your home a while longer, and if you're thinking of moving, next year could bring some more affordable deals. See the list of the ten worst real estate markets in 2009 when you read more
Saving up for a trip is one of the best types of saving, in my opinion. The majority of you spent somewhere between $500 and $3,000 on travel this year, so let's just call it an average of $1,500, shall we? Eighty-seven percent of you traveled away from home at some point in 2008. An equal percentage of you either took staycations this year or spent more than $5,000 on travel. Those opposing groups make up approximately 25 percent of the total.
What does your travel schedule look like for 2009?
We want to make sure you are getting the most out of Savvy and the entire Sugar Network. In order to do so, we need to know what you like, where you spend your time online, who you like, and even things you may dislike. Sounds a lot like a job interview, doesn't it? Only I can promise our casual survey will only take you a couple of minutes, versus a sweaty, stressful meet-and-greet you have to get dressed up for.
You are invited to participate in our quick and painless 2008 Sugar reader survey. Through this feedback we'll be able to make sure your Sugar experience is the very best possible.
I moved back in with my parents about a year and a half ago to get my finances under control. I want to move out in the next few months but don't have a clue what my budget should look like. I want to live on my own (or with roommates) and be financially solvent — unlike the last time I was on my own. My current "living with the parents in the suburbs budget" is working great but I don't know how to translate it into a "living on my own in NYC" budget.
Because I have been home I haven't had to pay for groceries, trips to the laundromat, and utilities. I am lost in terms of how much to budget for each of those categories and I don't even know what is the maximum amount of rent I can afford. My current monthly income is about $2,000 a month. I want to be able to save money, continue to pay off my debt but not feel like I'm depriving myself. I also want to figure out if it would be worthwhile to continue living with my parents until I get a raise.
I'm a worrywart by nature, and these days more people can identify with that feeling of general anxiety. According to recent polls, 30 percent of Americans are worried they'll lose their jobs. 
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