the buzz log

Frugal, thrifty... forget about that. These days we are cheap. As covered in a previous Buzz Log, penny-pinching has become a way of life, but it has gone way beyond fashion. Here's how we're counting our change.

Deals or no Deal
In the innocent days of 2006, a "coupon" search list usually revolved around the retailer. Now, with retailers going out of business, store loyalty is crippled, if not dying. Sites like RetailMeNot, SlickDeals, CouponCode, DealNews, CouponSuzy, DealCatcher, and CouponMom have all registered Search traffic among the frugal-minded. Coupons.com just bought the Grocery IQ iPhone application, to make coupons-on-the-go all the easier.

Reap the Cheap
Outright cheapness particularly abounds, as the frugal-minded scour the most for "cheap flights," followed by hotels, car rentals, used cars, cruises, train fare, and laptops. In yet another Search-sign-o-the-times, "cheap romantic getaways" queries have spiked as Valentine's Day beckons. Speaking of Feb. 14, remember it's the thought that counts when you receive that "cheap lingerie" (+155%), "cheap flowers" (+99%), and "cheap jewelry" (off the charts).

Thrill of the Bargain Hunt
Of course, there's a difference between needing to save money, because you're one of 7.6% of unlucky Americans on the official unemployment rolls, and the adrenaline rush of getting more for less. Coupon clipping has become somewhat of a sport, as people still peruse deals that don't qualify as dire necessities: For instance, a 221% spike in "velveeta coupon" might bespeak desperate times, whereas "victoria's secret coupon codes," "cheap unlocked cell phones" and "cheap hand guns" probably reveal more a bargain-hunting mindset. Among other things.

The Clipping or Pinching-Free Zone
For shoppers who want to be financially conscious but hate clipping (or downloading) coupons, retailers like Safeway allow customers to load discounts onto their grocery club cards, which then get rung up at check-out. For others who absolutely despise the whole nickel-and-diming concept, an AP story outlines other ways to save.

The Paradox of Thrift
Of course, all this has introduced one question above all: Should one shop at all? A few searchers have been pondering the "paradox of thrift," an economic theory which the San Francisco Chronicle contemplated around the holidays: Bad times means savings, but no spending can spiral into job losses. Being cheap may be one way to have it both ways.

And now, a Buzz Cheap Sheet.

1. Cheap Bedroom Sets
2. Cheap Audio
3. Cheap Florida Beach Weddings
4. Cheap Furniture Stores
5. Cheap Hand Guns
6. Cheap Jewelry
7. Cheap Nike Shoes
8. Cheap Romantic Getaways
9. Cheap Valentine Ideas
10. Send Cheap Flowers

Filed under: Money, Coupons, Economics

As a nation of people weened on validation, Americans should have been pleased with the news that, yes, they are officially in a recession.

From the "Tell-Us-Something-We-Don't-Know" files, the National Bureau of Economic Research had to wait for its dating committee to get together to read the economic signs. The declaration sparked questions like "what is a recession," "define recession," "economic recession definition," and "what is a recession economy." (Time does a good job explaining why December 2007 was chosen as the official start of the Economic Doomsday.)

However, the plain old reality—and keyword—"recession" had long been floating around in the cyber ether. People were already asking "what is a recession" back in September 2007, more than a year ago. Then, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan played the Grinch last December by mouthing off the r-word.

All-time Search highs for "recession" hit in January 2008. That means people were feeling the pain one month into the official slowdown. By March of '08, people were even tossing around stupefying economic terms like "stagflation," "economic stimulus package," and "rebate checks."

Another way to say "we told you so"—"recession" look-ups from Dec. 2007 to now are nine times higher than the previous time period (Dec. 2006-2007). (That's not even including queries for "recession proof jobs.")

Yet even though the news merely confirmed what was already known, investors tied an anchor around the Dow Jones and threw it overboard on Monday. The Buzz reaction has ranged from dour to falsely optimistic. USA Today noted that stocks usually "hit bottom" about five months before a recession ends. A "but" followed that cheery outlook, with an analyst pointing out the lack of "historical precedents" of an economy maimed by a bursting credit bubble.

New York Magazine, while admitting to looking forward to this reality check, sunk to a great depression. Meanwhile, the Huffington Post decided that this was a time for gallows humor with its article, "China Buys Naming Rights to U.S."

So, what to do now with this old-found knowledge? Investopedia briskly and poetically suggests girding one's portfolio against this "fact of life" that's "unavoidable as the setting of the sun." EHow dispenses contrarian advice on "how to make money in a recession." And, in defiance of another Grinch visit, Yahoo! Finance offers up "12 recession-proof holiday gifts." Yes, gifts. After all, it's not like you didn't see the recession coming a year away.

Filed under: Money, Economics

From Olympic highs to financial lows, "fall" took on a whole new meaning this harried September. Among the many events that befell Search, hurricanes hit fragile coasts, politics went into overdrive, and bailouts tried to stop a sinking market. Glumly mull over what the world was searching for in September.

Path of Resistance
Like the grotesque nursery rhyme of the old lady who swallowed a fly, it seemed inconceivable how formerly redoubtable Wall Street firms had to be swallowed up by fellow firms or the government itself. As names like Lehman Brothers, AIG, and Goldman Sachs rippled into everyday consciousness, it was Washington Mutual's teetering collapse that truly captured people's online attention and brought uncertainty into the pocketbook. People keep close tabs on a proposed massive bailout and the man behind the plan (+14,762%), and introduced the dread phrase "u.s. financial crisis" into the Search vernacular.

Path of Glory
Mother nature and father finance disrupted the presidential campaigns, so people really had to rely on the Web to keep track on the candidates, the debate, and most importantly whether Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin was indeed Tina Fey's alter ego. The countdown to the Nov. 4 elections dropped into mere double-digit days, pressuring searches to investigate rumors, media appearances, family members, religious affiliations, voting records, personal history, and porcine make-up tips.

Path of Destruction
Hurricane Ike followed closely behind Tropical Storm Hannah, but he gave fair warning of his category 4 visit. People monitored the impending disaster and its "projected path" (top 500 searches), but still its sheer, kinetic intensity resulted in a death toll of 67 and a devastated Texas coastline. A hopeful but critical eye turned to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (+23,989%) and searches popped up for food stamps and other aid. Many organizations, private citizens, former presidents and undocumented laborers came to clean up what was left behind. Small miracles did surface, from a single Gilchrist house withstanding the impact to a mystery ship unearthed, and a lionness seeking sanctuary.

September 2008 Fastest Movers in Search
Search Terms with the Biggest Percentage Changes

1. Hurricane Ike (Mega Mover! See above.)
2. Hurricane Ike Projected Path (Mega Mover! See above.)
3. Sarah Palin Tina Fey (See above)
4. Don LaFontaine (+80,143. The deep-throated trailer guy spoke his last.)
5. Shackle (+64,991%. The lionness sought refuge from Ike in a church.)
6. Jerry Reed (+45,657%. The country singer died Aug. 31)
7. Eva Longoria Parker (+36,182%. Pregnancy rumors surround the actress, but it could be just lots of M&Ms)
8. FEMA.com (+23,989%. See above)
9. New iPod Nano (+21,843%. Its slim figure debuted at Apple's developer conference.)
10. Atom Smasher (+20,949%. Flouting doomsday predictions, the world's largest debuted to Search fanfare, then promptly got glitches.

September 2008 Top 10 Personalities
People Commanding the Most Searches Overall
(parenthetical refers to percentage change in searches compared to previous month)

1. Sarah Palin (+138%)
2. Britney Spears (+24%)
3. Obama (+32%)
4. Jessica Alba (+38%)
5. Lindsay Lohan (-15%)
6. Kim Kardashian (+7)
7. Miley Cyrus (-36%)
8. John McCain (+91%)
9. Paris Hilton (-9%)
10. Lil Wayne (+7)

Filed under: Politics, Monthly Wrapup, Recaps, Money, Hurricanes, Elections, Wrap Up, Economics