7 Overlooked Benefits of the Recession

Nothing is easier than identifying problems during recessions. In fact, one might argue that what is truly difficult is avoiding mention of these problems, which are shouted from the rooftops daily by politicians and journalists. (Many of whom harp on problems even during prosperous times.) Still harder is calling attention to the overlooked benefits that economic downturns can bring. In this recession as in others past, opportunities have opened up for consumers, investors and businesses positioned to capitalize on them. Typically, these opportunities require seeing the recession as it specifically relates to you, rather than the all-encompassing malaise often seen by others. Here are 7 of the most appealing recessionary opportunities.

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The Impact of the Recession on Different Age Groups

These days, the words “the recession” call to mind ubiquitous images of  anxiety, hardship and worry. Bemoaned daily by our leaders and cultural spokesmen, the recession has become almost an abstraction, synonymous with generalized dread rather than specific problems experienced by specific groups of people. However, recent surveys show that not everyone is being affected equally or even in the same ways. Today we will summarize some of these findings in order to pinpoint recessionary pressures on particular age groups.

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10 Behaviors that the Recession Made More Acceptable

Historically, recessions always vindicate the frugal. Dismissed as penny-pinchers during prosperous times, economic despair makes frugality the center of media stories and casts it in a newly positive light. Whether it’s brown bagging, dumpster diving or even gardening, these previously “weird” behaviors suddenly come into vogue, serving as models for the rest of us to emulate. Our current downturn is no different, and today we will examine 10 behaviors that the recession has made more palatable to the consumer mainstream.

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$700+ Billion Later, How Are We Doing?

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Despite scathing criticism, the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) is part of today’s reality. Therefore, it is now important to determine just what we, the taxpayers, have gotten for our money. We need to know how the bailed-out companies and institutions are performing now that the funds have been dispersed. It wasn’t an easy job, but we trudged through the murky swamps of vague press releases and media spin to get the unvarnished facts about post-bailout performance. Here is how various bailed-out entities are doing today.

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Predicting a ‘Modest’ Recovery Soon

The most positive thing to be said of recessions is that they eventually end. As bad as the Great Depression and other downturns were – and for as long as they lasted– the country ultimately emerged stronger, and grew more prosperous after each one. This has led some to wonder if a recovery from today’s recession is on its way. We are not out of the woods yet, but certain data and media reports do seem to indicate a modest recovery in the not too distant future.

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How the Recession Has Impacted The Way We View our Jobs

This is a guest post from Kathryn Vercillo, who writes for The Money Saving Blog.

The recession has impacted almost all of us. Some people will find that the impact is temporary, and when the economy improves, those people’s lives will return to the way that things were before the recession hit. Unfortunately, that’s not going to be the case for many people, who will discover that the impact of the recession has changed their lives forever.  One of the major changes is the way some of us will now view our jobs.

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10 Products and Innovations From Recessions Past

“Man built most nobly when limitations were at their greatest.”

- Frank Lloyd Wright

We all associate recessions with negative things. Unemployment, slowdowns, and lost profits dominate the headlines and color most every recession-themed discussion. But this is only part of the story. Desperation breeds creativity, as many know. And as a testament to this timeless axiom, a number of the world’s foremost innovations came about during recessionary times. From increased convenience and food products, to formidable technological advances, the following represent some of the most noteworthy recession-borne innovations.

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12 Mistakes Businesses Should Avoid During a Recession

What characterizes a recession? Panic, desperation, overreacting - in other words, the opposite of clear thinking. This is especially the case in the business world. Unfortunately, many companies fall victim to mistakes that are a result of allowing the market to wholly dictate their business moves. Because often times, what seem like good ideas at the time, simply are not. The following are some of the most common mistakes that businesses make from this paradigm, that actually end up costing them in the long run:

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