Pinched: Tales from an Economic Downturn

When my job stopped paying

After a year of unemployment, I landed a contract gig. Then the paychecks stopped coming -- but the work didn't

Catherine Lane Friday, Feb 10, 2012 1:00 AM UTC 48
Life F**ked, Pinched, Great Recession

When I learned to scrape by

Hungry, jobless and pinching pennies to print resumes, I started to lose hope of ever finding a job

Tiffany Brubeck Saturday, Feb 4, 2012 6:00 PM UTC 69
Life F**ked, Pinched, Life stories

The shame and pride of joining food stamp nation

For me, signing up for the most stigmatized benefit felt like a defeat and a victory VIDEO

Christopher D. Cook Friday, Jan 27, 2012 4:00 PM UTC 253
News F**ked, Pinched, Great Recession

How did I end up at Mom and Dad’s?

My job took me around the globe. But the recession took me to the one place I never thought I'd go: My folks' house

J. M. Henderson Monday, Sep 5, 2011 11:01 PM UTC 47
Life Life stories, Pinched

The devastating layoffs that shook our lives

After 15 years, I lost my job at an Austin school. Then something even worse happened: My wife lost hers, too

Byron Browne Wednesday, May 25, 2011 1:01 AM UTC 68
Life Life stories, Pinched, Education

How to make the perfect recession martini

It may not sound like a budget drink, but in this economy, we all need a way to unwind

Felisa Rogers Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 1:01 PM UTC 40
Life Scavenger

How I became a hillbilly

Once, I was a city slicker living beyond my means. Now, I live in the woods and make risotto with nettle broth

Felisa Rogers Saturday, Apr 2, 2011 1:01 PM UTC 52
Life Scavenger, Great Recession

Scavenger: How my grandmother taught me to eat weeds

Maki showed me miner's lettuce during long rambles in the woods. Now, it's how I make a simple, cheap spring salad

Felisa Rogers Saturday, Mar 26, 2011 6:01 PM UTC 29
Life Scavenger, Pinched, Life stories

Scraping by on stinging nettles

As a child, I avoided these prickly greens like the plague -- now I'm foraging for them to feed my family

Felisa Rogers Saturday, Mar 5, 2011 12:01 PM UTC 37
Life U.S. Economy, Life stories

How the recession turned me into a scavenger

After my husband and I were laid off, I discovered an unlikely way to put food on our table -- I scrounge for it

Felisa Rogers Wednesday, Mar 2, 2011 12:01 AM UTC 54
Life Scavenger, Great Recession

A mortgage broker with no apologies

To hear public outrage, you'd think I forced people into homes they couldn't afford. But my job was to help them

Neil D. Parry Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011 10:20 PM UTC 127
Life Mortgage Crisis

Regrets of a subprime mortgage lender

The job was easy and ridiculously lucrative. But it didn't take long to see what was really going on

Paul Jacobs Tuesday, Feb 1, 2011 9:01 PM UTC 44
Life Mortgage Crisis, Pinched

Putting down the vet clinic I loved

When our California community hit hard times, so did its pets

Christy Corp-Minamiji Tuesday, Jan 25, 2011 1:30 AM UTC 42
Life Life stories, Great Recession

Regrets of a stay-at-home mom

Consider this a warning to new mothers: Fourteen years ago, I "opted out" to focus on my family. Now I'm broke

Katy Read Thursday, Jan 6, 2011 2:01 AM UTC 244
Life Real Families, Pinched, Divorce

My blessed budget Christmas

I was laid off two years ago, and I hate not having money. But being freed from consumer frenzy is a strange gift

Josh Max Saturday, Dec 25, 2010 6:01 PM UTC 50
Life Christmas, Pinched, Life stories

Hard times? TV can be your lottery ticket

If you can get your sob story on the tube, you're gold. But what about the other millions of desperate Americans?

King Kaufman Thursday, Aug 5, 2010 7:06 PM UTC
Life Great Recession

Young, overeducated and selling pot

Squeezed by college debt and the recession, these Californians found a way to get by -- unless it gets legalized

J.B. Powell Monday, Aug 2, 2010 11:01 AM UTC 43
Life Drugs, California, Pinched

I will write your college essay for cash

I'm a broke writer who can't find a gig in the recession, so I decided to save myself -- by helping students cheat

Emily Brown Monday, Jul 26, 2010 11:01 AM UTC 198
Life Life stories, Education, Pinched

I thought I’d beaten the foreclosure crisis

When the first wave hit, I shook my head at irresponsible Americans. Then I lost my income -- and my home is next

Christy Corp-Minamiji Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010 12:20 AM UTC 248
Life Mortgage Crisis, Pinched

“Cheapskate Next Door”: The cheapskate’s revenge

The recession turned scorned penny pinchers into heroes. We look at why they're happier, and greener, than you

Sara Eckel Wednesday, Jun 16, 2010 1:01 AM UTC 31
Life Consumerism, Great Recession

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