I know they're just throwing numbers around, but I'll take the $50 and I'm no teenager.

A couple things:

First, for some of us it's not about chocolate vs diamonds, it's buying an ounce of regs for 100 bucks or mids for 140 instead of chronic for 60 an 1/8th.

Another point: 50 bucks to shovel the driveway? Where do you live richie rich? The going rate in my neighborhood is 10 bucks and that gets the driveway shoveled PLUS all the dog crap in the backyard from a St Bernard and a Rottie cleaned up by the friendly neighborhood homeless dude.

He'll do any little yard job for 5 bucks. Awesome.

$50 for shoveling?! Wow, now I feel old when $10/day was the normal. :-(

I feel as if the price for shoveling has gone up exponentially in that past few years, I'm only 21 and was lucky to get $10 a driveway + sidewalk + car.

I'll throw out stocks as another thing that should be on that list: Buy American. I Am. [NY Times]

Sure, Buffet just issued a mea culpa, but it's still good advice.

@dragonpup: I still pay the neighborhood kid $5-$10. I figured the $50 was the "New York City Upcharge" :)

@sicknick: lmao! Gotta agree. Last time I shoveled a driveway the going rate was $5-$10.

Well, if you live where the money in that picture is from...$10 to shovel a driveway is a freaking bargain.

I disagree with #1. Most people, if can easily do their own taxes and handle their own investment accounts if they do a little research. Neither is hard. Most "so-called experts lost lots of money for clients in the past year.

If you're a good person, try knocking on your elderly neighbor's door and offer to do it for free. You'll likely get cookies or PIE in addition to good will and karma, which beats $10 any day.

@humphrmi: Wall Street Journal people have driveways 5x as big as yours, as well as $35000 commodes, paid for by your BofA late fees!

@sicknick:

always go for the chronz. we aint in hs no mo.

@kwsventures: hah, strongly disagree... how could any of those experts lose money for their clients? The value of everything that is worth anything is subjective (always changing)... 1)The stock market crashing was predetermined, 2)The fact that the banks and the government in the US would eventually have to pay for their irresponsibility was predetermined, 3)The value of property has always been volatile, again the general public should be aware of this fact.... I am sick of people not taking responsibilty for their own actions. When dealing with any of these professionals there are laws that state that the client/annuitant/customer has to sign and date and acknowledge any and all agreements. Frustrating!!

6) Move to a neighborhood where they pay $50 to shovel the drive.

Also: Renters Insurance!

Wow, an article in the WSJ on how to spend more money. The nerve!

I'm half surprised pets weren't on this, considering the Consumerist's infatuation with cats :)

@kwsventures: I was coming to say this same thing. Has anyone's financial planner earned their fees in the past year?

@nybiker: Heart attacks and back injuries are not cheap. The $50 may be far cheaper in the long run.

@Xkeeper: We started buying a better quality more expensive dog food. Finally after years the dog quit shedding undercoat all year long. The hair problem was probably the reason the motor in our vacuum finally died and we are now using fewer of those hair pick up roller refills.
The dog is probably healthier too, hopefully lowering the vet bill potential.

@b612markt: That should be on the list before any of the 5 mentioned.

@chiieddy: I'll shovel driveways for pie!

I'd gladly live thru two Depressions* if it meant my cats would sit still long enough for me to lard them up with that much moolah.

* Which, considering the 22nd Amendment and the DNC's gift for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, wouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibility.

i'd have to say spending money on maintenance is worth the most to me.
keep the car maintained, the washer, dryer, fridge and a/c-heater running in top condition and your repair and power costs will be offset

oil change: $30.
new engine: $700- god knows how much

fridge door seal: $15- $20
cold air leaking out around a bad seal can really run up the power costs to run it and result in wasted food

a/c - heater air filters: $5
keeping them clear keeps the unit from having to run harder to pull the air through. last a/c unit i had to price was $700

@sicknick: I agree. The only person that pays kids $50 to shovel the driveway is that odd guy living across from the playground with the elaborate video setup.
Happily, it's California, so performing the chore shirtless isn't much of a hardship. Although we're puzzled: what snow is that guy worried about?!

@chiieddy: Even better, she could be a cougar! Rarh!

@kwsventures: Given the recent track record of these "financial planers" not dealing with them would probably be a prudent thing to do.

Apprently the number 6 thing to do is cover you cat in various currencies.

Also try knocking on the MILF neighbor's door.

@JeffMc: Understandable but a good financial planner can help you effectively manage your losses with respect to your taxes. I would argue they may be more important in bad years than good depending on how complicated our tax situation is

@CreativeLinks: It is a new form of hedging :-)

@bohemian: Here is a tip I learned for dealing with lots of pet hair:

Twice a year, take your vacuum cleaner to the local vacuum repair shop. There is usually a little old man in a tiny shop who will disassemble your entire vacuum, clean the hair and dirt out, replace the belt, and reassemble it for about $10 or $20.

It will run like NEW with greatly improved suction, and with this maintenance it will last nearly forever. Plus, the little old man is thrilled to have the business.

@CreativeLinks: Well, it's important to keep their spirits up.

@alarmpro: Err, wouldn't it be more "productive" (wink!) to knock on the MILF's door?

@metsarethe...: Technically, the Golden Retriever, also buried under currency, in the second picture is hedging. :)

@chiieddy: there's no such thing as karma.

@chiieddy: I live in Hawaii, do you think anyone nice old lady would make an agreement with me that if it snows, Ill shovel her driveway in return for fresh pie twice a month?

@rfjson: My friend asked me to tell you right after he posted this his pc blew up. LOL

@Trai_Dep:
...
...
...

It's been less than two months since Obama was elected and you're already hoping he could stay in longer than two terms?

The Internet wonders why some people, conservative or not, worry about a seeming cult of Obama. Thanks for proving the point of allegiance by charisma rather than by trend of action.

I find that booze is missing from that list and consumerist should be ashamed of it. Best investment of my life is a fifth of jack Daniels after my 401 took a nose dive

That cat is rolling in hard currency!

Speaking of hard currency, what about buying gold coins?
Would that be a good thing to buy now or would it be too expensive in a recession?

These all sound like things to benefit Wall Street, NOT YOU and I.

What about investing for the long haul? It's like salmon, right? Everyone jumping out of the market means it's a good time to swim against the current and buy, right?

Yes, some of us will be eaten by bears. But some of us will get to the lake and spawn like there's no tomorrow.

Food/water. Shelter. Clothes. Heat. All else is negotiable. The five things listed above are WAY up on Maslow's Hierarchy - WSJ again proves its ridiculous degree of separation from realities of the average citizen, who can't afford an attorney under any circumstances, would be laughed out of a financial advisor's office (if not escorted out by security), and must cross their fingers and pray each year at tax time. Savings? What savings? Maslow's Hierarchy again...you have to make enough money to pay for basic necessities before you can save - or borrow. When they write about paying down debt, they didn't have paying down arrears on utility bills in mind. And you have to be able to have at least basic food on the table every day before you can indulge in chocolate. And I promise you that there are a lot of real Americans out there who would think they'd hit paydirt if offered a snow-shoveling gig for $50, and they would take it in a heartbeat. (I might move north that money, myself.) These are the same folks whose DIY accomplishments often include minor self-surgery as required because they don't have health insurance and "make too much money" to get public assistance for health care, but nowhere near enough to pay for it out of pocket.

@RodAox - pass the bottle, will ya? ;o)

when the pensions fail, wet cat food will go up in price as it flies off the shelves. It's not that bad if you heat it up and use some garnish.

@xtc46: There is always clearing the walks of sand. I live down on the 3rd coast (Gulf coast, that is) and sand encroachment is always an issue.

I know the Canadian Dollar has taken a beating (for no apparent reason) but to shower your cat in money doesn't seem too cost effective. And the going rate in Canada for shoveling is 10 bucks unless you have a REALLY big ass driveway.

I've found one of the things worth paying for in a recession is something you were going to buy anyway but that is now cheap or cheaper (assuming you still have the money of course).

I've picked up a good deal on a truck and an absolute steal on a repossessed boat in the past few months. Also great deals on used shop tools.

One thing that isn't dropping in price: firearms.

and then there's my father in law who says ... "you can't spend your money when you're dead, might as well go out in debt ..."

I have a feeling that's going to bite me when he dies ...