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