The big buzz on the internet yesterday was Danielle Staub’s sex tape. The 48 year old erstwhile member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey has added her name to a long list of people/celebrities/wannabes who managed to have had their sexual exploits filmed for posterity and then surprise, it ends up on the internet for millions to get a salacious kick out of it. Remember the films Sex, Lies and Videotape? In these days Sex, Tapes & Money.

Let’s take the Kendra Wilkinson sex tape. Ms Wilkinson, another ‘reality’ TV personality, was taped by her now ex-boyfriend having a romp in bed. She sure knows how to pick’em. After they broke up, he sold the tapes to porn studio Vivid. Ms Wilkinson believing the old adage about making lemonade from lemons, cut her own deal. She reportedly has gotten $680,000 in payment and 50% of all future sales. That’ll buy a lot of lemonade.

Everywhere there are TV, radio, and newspaper ads touting the benefits of debt settlement. Companies are offering their services to help Americans deeply in debt. The enticements offer “pennies on the dollar” for the cash strapped. There was one radio ad which carefully parsed words like bailout, debt and settlement inferring there had been Congressional monies set up for the debtor to take advantage of. It sounded enticing. It even sounded like you’d be a fool not to take them up on this offer, but it also sounded like a standard infomercial come-ons including a “call to action” and an “act now, don’t delay”.

Throughout history there has always been people who were rip off artists. These not so nice people felt it was their duty to separate your money from your pocket. They would devise schemes, plans, tricks, ruses and blatant thefts to do exactly that. In more modern times, some of these sneaky people organized themselves. They became institutions. In our capitalist society, many of these ‘institutions’ are legal.

The recession has changed America. The country is returning to the thrifty ways of our parents and grandparents. One way many family budgets are helped is through store coupons. In the past 18 months, coupons have grown as a business. More shoppers clip coupons. They eagerly await mailed circulars looking for deals. They know there are good deals on the internet. Soon more and more people will be using Cell Fire and other smart phone coupon services. It sure is making life easier for the poor beleagured shopper looking for that good deal.

But. It isn't as simple as it appears.

Every week or so, the Frugal Yankee editors look for the very best deals in Boston and the surrounding communities.

Check out what has has to say on a variety of topics. Heck, you might even save some money. Go figure!

This week's topic: SUPERMARKET SCORES THIS WEEK This is a new feature where the Frugal Yankee scours Boston's supermarket circulars looking for the best deals.

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CLOTHING SWAPS • GROUPONS
BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY, are they worth it?
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