It has been a rough few years for the economy, with the recession and increased unemployment rate of 9.6%. With around 95,000 jobs lost in September 2010 alone, this news is causing quite the commotion.
Though an unemployment rate of 9.6% may not affect Oprah or Lady Gaga, the unemployment rate is not unlikely to have hit home. These featured inexpensive purchases will help you through tough times. From penny jewelry to trash can couture, these frugal finds will make you and your wallet smile.
44 Frugal Finds
Sure to Come in Handy for the Increased Unemployment Rate of 9.6%:
Armida Ascano — Oct 8, 2010 — Eco
44
Cheap Sneakers
Payless to Brand Hip $35 Shoes
43
DIY Screen Printing
The Yudu Machine Makes Sweet Custom T-Shirts
42
Cardboard Origami Shelters
The Tine Hovsepian 'Cardborigami' Unfolds for the Homeless
41
DIY Air Conditioning Units
The Homemade Air Conditioner is Inexpensive and Easily Assembled
40
Fierce Adhesive Fashion
These Duct Tape Dresses Stick it to Simplistic Style
39
Trash Can Couture
Simon Rasmussen Promotes Fashionable Upcycling for Spring 2011
38
Video Tape Tables
Luisa Montealegre Turns Old VHS Tapes into Awesome Tables
37
$10 Hand-Held Braille Writer
36
Thrift Store Fashion Labels
Cheap Monday Launches Grunge-tastic Fall Line
35
Disposable Wedding Cakes
Credit Crunch Bridal Baked Goods for Rent
34
Cardboard Home Decor
Recession-Friendly Interior Design From Giorgio Caporaso
33
Corrugated Cat Habitats
Caboodle Eco-Friendly Cardboard Feline Furniture
32
Electric Styrofoam Appliances
The Little Fat Fridge from Promise Design
31
Penny Jewelry
Coin Accessories for Fashionable Recessionistas
30
Recession Conscious Footwear
Uniqlo Shoes is the Latest from the Japanese Mega-Retailer
29
Solar Parking Garages
The Car Arc Solar Shelter Harnesses Solar Energy for e-Technologies
28
Recyclable Folding Cardboard Stool
Flat mate
27
Paper Bag Fashion
Sasha Pivovarova Wears High Fashion Scraps for W Magazine
26
Recession-Proof Cars?
Lexus HS250 Hybrid Projected to Sell 25,000 Units in First Year
25
Office Supply Couture
The Giles Fall 2010 Line Utilizes Everyday Materials
24
Frugal Vegan Photoblogs
Melody Polakow Shares How to Make Healthy Meals for $3.33/Day
23
DIY Laptop Blankets
Ars Technica Shows You How to Turn Your Favorite Blanky into a Useful Case
22
Frugal Lamp Design
Bic Pens Light Fixtures
21
$1 Starbucks + Free Refill
Starbucks Fights to Keep up with McDonalds
20
Recession-Proof Drugs
Sleeping Pills and Antidepressants Are Immune to Economy
19
Recession-Proof Footwear
Shoes for Crews Flourishes During Economic Downturn
18
Pet Recession Blankets
Snuggie Dog Matches Owners' Snuggies, Keeps Pooches Warm
17
DIY Presents
Budget-Friendly Holiday Gifts
16
Extreme Self-Sufficiency
Glue Assisted DIY Hair Transplant for Male Pattern Baldness
15
iPads as Bookends
Dominic Wilcox's iBookends ‘For the End of Books'
14
Credit Crunched Toys
The Secret Life of Toys Proves That Action Figures Feel the Recession Too
13
Modern Recession Recipes
Budget-Friendly Ways to Beat Hunger
12
Recession Era Toys
Discovery Paper Recycling Studio Is An Eco-Friendly, Fun DIY
11
Automotive Algae Fuel
Bill Gates Funds Sapphire Energy
10
Recession-Proof Flea Markets
Troubled Times Make Brooklyn Flea More Popular Than Ever
9
Unemployment Tomatoes
Colorado Man Continues Family Tradition to Ease Hard Times
8
Inexpensive 3D Camcorders
The Aiptek 3D Camcorder Turns a Regular Joe into James Cameron
7
Group-Based Deal Delivery
Groupon.com's Discounts Encourage Word-of-Mouth Promos
6
Revivals of Secondhand Books
Used Book Sales Surge During Tough Economic Times
5
Brewable Water Purifiers
Nanofiber-Lined Tea Bags are Efficient, Inexpensive and Easy to Use
4
Crowd-Funded Startups
Outvesting Helps Irish Companies Using a Grassroots Approach
3
Recession-Friendly Restaurants
Potager Natural Cafe Has Mismatched Furniture & No Prices
2
Recession-Friendly Greeting Cards
Hallmark Wants You to Feel Better for Under a Dollar
1
Recession Wienies
DIY Homemade Sausages For Easy Credit Crunch Munching
Related Ideas
Repairable 3D-Printed Purses
The MALINKO Design Reusable Bag Prioritizes Style and Sustainability
Highly Affordable Fashion Launches
Kanye West Alters Prices to $20 On YEEZY SUPPLY Drop
Authenticated Luxury Shops
The eBay Luxury Exchange Accepts Pre-Owned Luxury as Currency
Fashionable Inflated Phone Cases
The 'Air Case 2' Offers Stylish Protection for the iPhone
Festively Fashionable Cafe Kitchenwares
Starbucks Holiday Drinkware Comes in Many Styles
Teddy Bear Outerwear
Build-A-Bear Cuddly Couture Shares Cozy, Warm Styles
Exaggerated Reclaimed Leather Totes
'The Bag' by Oson is Oversized and Unstructured
Retro Sporty Luxe Accessories
adidas Presents a New Series of Nostalgic Retro Accessories
Food Waste Sneakers
Hellmann's Canada Launched 1352: Refreshed Sneakers with Food Waste Items
Inclusive Singer Clothing Collections
This New Jessica Simpson Collection is Arriving at Walmart
Uplifting Gen Z Fashion
Boohoo & Pantone Created a Collection for Mental Health Awareness Month
Tech-Themed Fine Jewelry
Accessories Brand Oushaba Turns E-Waste Into Fine Jewelry Pieces
Crystal-Adorned Crushed Cans
Sam Keller Glamorizes Food Products and Packaging
Repurposed Sustainable Apparel
Toast Launches a Collection of "Creatively Repaired" Garments
Sustainable Luxury Handbags
The First-Ever Reformation Handbags Just Dropped
Sustainable Crochet Unisex Handbags
Our Legacy Launches a New Range of Handmade Crochet Bags
Bedazzled Beverage Jewelry
7-Eleven Created a Sparkly Slurpee Jewelry Collab with King Ice
High-Fashion Workwear Collections
Gucci and Dickies Deliver "Ultra-Ornate Luxury Workwear"
Post-Depression Jean Styles
The Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1937 501 Jeans Revive a Classic
Inclusive Beauty Campaigns
The e.l.f. 'Judge Beauty' Campaign Will be Featured at Super Bowl 2024
Repurposed Patchwork Footwear
ReImagined by UGG Gives New Life to Leftover Leathers & Suedes
Eco Storytelling Workwear Campaigns
Patagonia's We Can Get There From Here Tells is Inspiring
Hilarious Judicial Beauty Ads
e.l.f. Cosmetics Debuts "Judge Beauty" Campaign
Anti-Burnout Beer Campaigns
Heineken Canada Encourages End of 'Hustle Culture'
Heritage-Inspired Shopping Bags
The Porter Yoshida & Co The Grocery Bag is Made in Japan
Excuse-Providing Mock Cans
Like a Magic 8 Ball, Samuel Adams' 'I CAN't' Can is Ready to Shake
City-Inspired Glasses
GlassesUSA.com Launches Champion Eyewear Collection for Urban Lifestyles
Undone Luxury Fashion
AVAVAV FW23 Ripped Clothing Right Off of the Runway
Time Travel Fast Food Ads
These McDonald's Ads Take People Back in Time to Escape Inflation
Circular Workwear Resale Platforms
Carhartt Customers Can Trade In Used Apparel For a Gift Card
Rewarding Travelwear Collections
Fruit of the Loom and Southwest Airlines Made Travel Uniforms
Fantastical Hyper-Utility Fashion Liness
Outlier's Fall 2024 is Titled IDEAS 7 - Dirty Dirty Jobs
Film-Themed Cookbooks
A24's Scrounging Cookbook Takes Cues from Unusual Movie Meals
Chunky Musician-Inspired Sunglasses
The Jacques Marie Mage x Johnny Cash Collection is Retro
Million-Dollar Bags
Louis Vuitton's Millionaire Speedy is an Exclusive Style with a High Price Tag
Tomato-Themed Y2K Apparel
Lisa Says Gah Taps Hunt's for the 'Tomato Girl' Collaboration
Whimsical Jelly-Style Eyewear
Gentle Monster Releases the New GENTLE JELLY Collection
Recipe-Suggesting Web Browsers
The Inflation Cookbook has a Tool to Monitor Ingredient Prices
Modern Women-Exploring Luxe Fashion
The Fendi SS24 Series was Unveiled on the Runways
Filmmaker-Inspired Apparel Collections
Uniqlo Reveals a Collection Featuring Sofia Copolla
Whimsical Garbage Bags
Staff Expands Its Collection with Playful Garbage Bags
Affordable Artisan Handbags
Patricia Nash Designs Offers a Line of Artisan Handbags & Accessories
Heiress-Created Homeware Collections
Walmart is Launching Paris Hilton's Be An Icon Collection
Cardboard Cosmetics Refill Pouches
Freshly Refills Reduce Cosmetics Industry Waste
Augmented Outerwear Mirrors
Ugg's Flagship Highlights Cold Weather Apparel with a Zero10 Mirror
Posh Plastic Shopping Totes
The Givenchy G-Shopper Tote Shopping Bag is Humbly Haute
Reliable Utilitarian Workwear
Carhartt Unveils Premium Workwear for Fall Season
Grocery Store-Branded Apparel
ALDI Has Launched the 2023 ALDI Gear Collection of Clothes & Goods
Experiential Social Clubs
Marshalls' Good Stuff Social Club Empowers & Connects Women
Small Business Grants Program
eBay Kicks Off Its Fifth Annual Up & Running Grants Program
Food Waste-Crafted Shoes
Frank and Oak Showcase a New Circular Zero-Waste Sneaker
Affordable Home Fragrance Collections
Dollar General Debuts a Fragrance Line with Slatkin + Co.
Boldly Patterned Puffer Jackets
The Very Warm Puffer Jackets Come in a Range of Styles
Organizer-Approved Home Products
The KonMari x 3Coins Collection is Low-Cost
Co-Branded Collaboration Fashion Products
The Wasted Youth x G-SHOCK Collection is Laidback
Luxury Resale Fashion
Luxury Resale Platform Open for Vintage Launches in the US Market
Doll-Themed Secondhand Shops
ThredUp's Barbiecore Dream Shop Shares a Selection of Thrifted Goods
Pink Cosmetics-Matching Bags
Trader Joe's Large Reusable Insulated Bag Comes in Brazil Nut Colors
Fortune-Telling Cereal Tools
Lucky Charms Creates the New Charmology Tool to Scan Cereal Bowls
Vintage Americana Fall-Ready Fashion
Universal Works Unveils Far From Memphis for FW23
Eco Tech Accessory Pop-Ups
The CASETiFY Style Lab Highlights the Work of Gen Z Fashion Students
Spring-Inspired Lifestyle Lines
BAGGU Collaborates with Laura Ashley on a Floral Spring Collection
Housing Crisis Presentation Campaigns
IKEA Woks with Shelter to Create Four Real Life Roomsets
Racism-Combatting Handbag Designs
Grey Brazil Has Designed the Anti-Racist Handbag
Pop-Up Interview Stores
Trainline's Fashion Pop-Up Preps Gen Z for Interviews with Free Clothing
Retro 3D-Printed Bags
Coperni's CD-PLAYER Swipe Bag Resembles a Portable Music Player
Nostalgic Fragrance Campaigns
Impulse & Frankie Bridge Faithfully Recreated Iconic 90s Looks
Artist-Inspired Lifestyle Collections
Dumbgood Releases a Range, Inspired by Paul Frank
Functional Accessible Leather Bags
HOBO Offers Stylish Leather in Belt Bag, Tote, and Sling Bags
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Eco-Friendly Glam Fashion
The H&M Studio S/S23 Collection Converges Wearability & Glamor
Secondhand Fashion Editorials
Vinted Styled a Shoot Exclusively with Vinted Finds
Handpicked Vintage Collections
Thrift+ Launchers a New Partnership to Source Vintage Fashion
Upcycled Tent Fabric Gear
The iKamper ReCovery Collection Makes Use of Waste Fabric
Low-Cost Cereal Promotions
The Lucky Charms 60th Anniversary is Being Celebrated with $0.60 Boxes
Thorough Tech Repair Toolkits
This Kit Offers Everything You Need to Repair Laptops, Phones & More
Gorpcore-Inspired Retailer Fashions
The ALDI Fall Merch Collection is Arriving with Many Styles
Luxurious Graphic Retro-Tinged Fashion
YSL Presents The Vintage Collection of Band Merch
Purpose-Driven Popcorn Snacks
Gourmet Popcorn is on a Mission to Create Jobs
Minimal Affordable Sub-Labels
Target Presents its Own No-Frills Brand with Minimal Design
Reloadable Contactless Keychains
Zara is Replacing Single-Use Gift Cards with Keychains
Workwear-Inspired Fashion Collections
The Fendi Spring/Summer 2024 is Chic and Ultra-Functional
Revamped Private Label Ranges
The Target up&up Collection Has Been Expanded and Updated
Stress Reduction Finance Apps
The 'MoneyCoach' App Takes the Anxiety Out of Money Management
Reclaimed Brass Jewelry
Rocksbox Redefined Was Inspired by the Imperfect Beauty of Nature
Artist-Crafted Upcycled Fashion Collections
Noel Mercado Launches the 'Earth Tones' Capsule
Shade-Finding Foundation Sets
Haus Labs' At-Home Discovery Sets Help Shoppers Find Their Shade
Hourly Job-Finding Apps
Gigs is a Job Platform for the Gig Economy
Pop-Up Fashion Websites
Asos' Sample Sale Website Prices Everything at £5
Secondhand Archival Clothing
Tommy Hilfiger Launches a Depop Shop in Support of Circular Fashion
Playful Eco-Friendly Tech Accessories
The Samsung Eco-Friends Collection Has 55 Products
Wasteful Fashion Campaigns
Vestiaire Collective Reminded People to Shop Mindfully on Black Friday
Premium Fall-Ready Workwear
Carhartt WIP Presents its Latest Collection for FW23
Comforting Financial Pop-Ups
Experian's Credit Paws Café is a Place to Chat About Money Worries
Scuffed-Detailed Fall-Centric Boots
The Elder Statesmen Presents a New UGG Collaboration Series
Blockbuster Shopping Campaigns
Walmart Reunited the Mean Girls Cast for Its Black Friday Ads
Pre-Loved Wedding Hubs
eBay is Meeting the Growing Demand for Secondhand Bridalwear
Tax-Season Online Campaigns
These Video Ad Spots Urge Canadians to Take Advantage Of Tax Benefits
Jazz-Inspired Apparel Collections
The National Jazz Museum and Book Works Launching Tee Collection
Nostalgic Shopping Ads
The Rakuten Big Game Campaign Revives Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz
Luxury Consignment Services
eBay Offers Luxury Consignment for Designer Handbags
Rejuvenated Fuel Loyalty Apps
The 'Gulf Pay' Program Offers Savings to New & Returning Customers
Upcycled Automotive Couture Collections
This Collection is Made With Discarded Auto Components
Gargantuan Sustainable Jeans
These Gigantic Jeans Will Be Upcycled Into Other Products
Wax Jacket Rental Services
Barbour Teams Up with Oxfam at Glastonbury on a Charitable Initiative
Sustainably Upcycled Jeans
These 'Diesel' Jeans Reuse Textile Cutting Waste Materials
Affordable Lifestyle Directories
'I Have This Friend' Makes Aspirational Living More Accessible
Small-Format Retailers
Nordstrom’s Small-Format Strategy 'Closer to You' is Expanding Until 2025
Luxury Resale Memberships
Rebag's Rebag+ Membership Offers Unprecendented Flexibility
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Youth Intern Social Stunts
Louis Vuitton Hires a 13 Year Old Intern After Sketches Went Viral
Celebrity-Backed Vacation Collections
Joe Fresh and Roxy Earle Launch a Vacation Capsule
Joy-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
Ulta Beauty Launches the Joy Project, a Ground-Breaking Study
Convenience Chain Golf Collections
7-Eleven Unveils its new Convenience Tour Golf Collection
Festive Grocer Product Lists
These Seasonal ALDI Finds Have Been Unveiled for the Holidays
Actress-Backed Retail Giveaways
The Target Circle Holiday Giveaway Stars Hilary Duff
Contemporary Workwear-Inspired Fashion
Madhappy Debuted Its Utility-Focused Pre-Fall 2023 Range
Money-Saving Holiday Meal Deals
The Kroger Freshgiving Meal Feeds 10 for Less Than $5 Each
Hobby-Funding Sweepstakes
Starburst's Pink Passion Protection Program Fuels Creativity with Cash
Film-Inspired Cookbooks
The A24 Cookbook 'Scrounging' Boasts Unglamorously Photographed Meals
Lucrative Sunglasses Promotions
Neven Offers a Buy-One-Get-Two-Free Promotion
Budget-Friendly Makeup Collections
Revolution Beauty Releases New Cosmetics Collection at Walmart
Money-Saving Grocery Apps
Schnuck Markets and Upside Launch a Co-Branded App for Rewards
Charitable Hygiene Supply Initiatives
Purse Project Collects Personal Care Goods for Those in Need
Holiday Meal Savings Campaigns
The Dollar General 'Decked Out In Deals' Campaign is Cost-Conscious
Leather Waste Beanbag Chairs
Studio Simone Post Joins Yoon Seok-Hyeon on Four-Tenths
Complementary Financial Literacy Courses
Walmart & Khan Academy Offer Free, World-Class Education
Wedding Day Emergency Kits
The Stylish Bride Aims to Alleviate Wedding Day Anxieties with This Kit
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Last-Minute Gifting Ads
Uber Eats' Money Can Buy You Class Features RHoNY Stars
Temporary Retirement Sweepstakes
Coors Light is Helping Adults to Experience the Retiree Life
Money-Saving Shopping Extensions
The Karma Extension Tracks Price Drops for Online Shoppers
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Low-Cost Cosmetic Retailer Expansions
Dollar General is Rolling Out a New Beauty Layout
Tax Season Cocktails
TGI Fridays is Serving The Tax Break to Alleviate Adult Stresses
Accessible Retail Memberships
Walmart+ Assist Offers a Discount for Those on Government Assistance
Holiday Grocer Affordability Guides
The Kroger Holiday Shopping Guide Helps Shoppers Save Money
Dollar Store Cash-Back Programs
Dollar General and Ibotta Partnered to Offer Rewards to Shoppers
Girls' Night Wine Discounts
Une Femme Wines' Project Gather Offers Wine for Up to 95% Off
Ontario Living Standard Protests
We Say Enough is Fighting Against the Cost of Living Crisis