The Economy Issue

The Babble Editors

The media never saw the recession coming, eh? Well, not to be obnoxious, but Babble did. Back in March, we ran Melissa Rayworth's "New Economics of Parenthood," which warned that our generation was living on credit and that there would be hell to pay.

And here we are. Unemployment, foreclosures, loss of health care: it's a bleak time financially speaking. So let's talk about it.

Babble went to the playground and got financial advice from kids. (Big surprise: they think we should buy less coffee.) We visited three families: a well-off Connecticut family, a working-class Nebraska clan, and a middle-class Georgia household, to photograph them and see how the economy is affecting them in little ways (no more shopping at Whole Foods) to big (moving in with the folks).

We also have some fun, original tips for saving money and for handling college funds (if you're lucky enough to have one of those). And we have great essays by Nan Mooney, who's raising her toddler in an austere, toy-free environment, and by Shelley Abreu, who did everything right financially but now finds herself broke and supporting three generations of her family.

AND be sure to check out our upcoming Gift Guide, which has a million cheap gift suggestions, plus a few hilarious selections in the "What recession?" category. Because nobody may be buying Bugaboo rims these days, but we can all enjoy gawking at them. — Ada Calhoun

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Financial Advice from Kids

By Brett Berk

No more candy, coffee or child labor laws.

Babble Best: Piggy Banks

Jeanne Sager

Beat the recession with our five favorite kid ATMs.

Bad Parent: The Minimalist

By Nan Mooney

Is my anti-materialism hurting my child?

Scenes from a Recession

By Brett Berk