With the recession certain consumer items will be too expensive and others will prove to be relatively recession-proof. Look at our handy guide and find out how you can save thousands of dollars and lower your carbon footprint at the same time!
| Tobacco Products |
Candy |
 |
| Carton of 200 Cigarettes |
$59.99 |
|
| 2 Pound Bag of Candy |
$2.99 |
|
|
With taxes on cigarettes andincreased insurance premiums for smokers candy can save you thousands of dollars. Sure obesity and lung cancer both will probalby lead to early deaths, but think of all the cash you will have saved.
Carbon Offset:
NA |
| Restaurants |
Pasta & Pasta Sauce |
 |
|
|
| Dry Pasta & Pasta Sauce |
$7.00 |
|
|
It all depends on where you eat out, but eating in can save thousands a year. You can even microwave leftovers for lunch.
Carbon Offset:
 |
| Department Stores |
Walmart |
 |
| Outfit at Department Store |
$79.99 |
|
| Cheaper outfit at Walmart |
$34.99 |
|
|
* Walmart advertises that you can save $2,500 a year and $700 in groceries alone. Actual mileage may vary, but based on the trail of bankrupt competitors and vendors Walmart will save you some cash. We guesstimated an annual savings of $1,250 if you do all your shopping at Walmart.
Carbon Offset:
NA |
| Plastic Surgery |
Cosmetics |
 |
| Average Nose Job (Rhinoplasty) |
$3,250 |
|
|
|
Cosmetics are considered recession proof items, and for a fraction of the cost they can obscure your unseemly beast like nose long enough to save up for a corrective surgery.
Carbon Offset:
NA |
| Recycled Products |
Cheapest Available |
 |
| Box of 100% Recycled Paper |
$51.99 |
|
| Box of Standard Copy Paper |
$35.99 |
|
|
You can save 25% or more by ingoring the environment and ignoring recycled products. The planet is doomed so why pay extra for it.
Carbon Offset:
NEGATIVE |
| Premium Drinks |
Generic Beer |
 |
| Bottle of Dom Perignon |
$98 |
|
|
|
Beer is cheap and will make you forget how broke you are. On the plus side it’s got enough nutritional value you can skip on food too for even more savings!
Carbon Offset:
NA
|
| Carbonated Drinks |
Tap Water |
 |
|
|
| 5 Gallons of Tap Water |
$.05 |
|
|
Carbonated drinks are in the top 5 consumer items vulnerable to recession. Besides the calories might make up for some of that candy you’ve been shoveling down since you gave up smoking.
Carbon Offset:
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Research from Nielsen’s
Carbon neutral pledge:
loved your advice. hated your title.
what’s the point of using the word retards here?
Good job Mary. You just won the retard award. Try not to hurt yourself trying to read any other great advice columns.