Self Reliant Living

Rural Living for less than $2,000 a month

Harold Carey Jr

Saving versus spending, American-style

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When times are tough, people are more likely to save or at least spend less.In 1944, during World War II, the personal savings rate -- defined as the ratio of personal savings in the country to disposable personal income -- was about 25.5 percent, according to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Compare that to the low point of personal savings for Americans in July … [Read more...] about Saving versus spending, American-style

How a Dick’s Sporting Goods thrived while others crashed

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It's a common tale these days -- legacy department stores and famed luxury retailers going belly-up. But Dick's Sporting Goods, the nation's largest sporting goods retailer, has continued to thrive as it responds to the changing economy and consumer needs, according to a report from MIT's Sloan School of Management. How has Dick's managed to beat the odds for … [Read more...] about How a Dick’s Sporting Goods thrived while others crashed

Battle of the ‘marts: One chain booms; the other fades

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It has been a slow, painful death, and unfortunately, it's still ongoing.Kmart, the storied discount retailer that boasted thousands of locations, is down to its last 34 stores, according to Forbes. From its humble beginnings in Detroit as the S.S. Kresge Company, the chain, which changed its name to Kmart in 1977, once dominated the discount store market, according to the New … [Read more...] about Battle of the ‘marts: One chain booms; the other fades