NYT full of tearjerkers today

I hate to highlight the same newspaper two days in a row, but I can’t resist. I also can’t ignore three links I saw on Twitter this afternoon, all for New York Times articles, all relating to finances.

There are times when I think that NYT is purposely ridiculous, just to get people talking–and it works. For example:

1. This essay about a man’s realization that organic food is expensive seemed reasonable enough. Reasonable, that is, until I got to the part where he admits to regularly paying $14 for a gallon of organic milk. Are you kidding me? Are people that concerned about hormones in regular milk? I feel ripped off paying four dollars a gallon. And I thought newspaper reporters and editors were perpetually poor…
2. This sociological trend article about college students unable to find their ideal summer jobs or internships is a big “cry me a river” fest. Am I supposed to feel sorry for the girl who was “reduced” to working at a suburban amusement park? The shock. The horror. Excuse me while I wipe away my tears. The article manages to paint an eye-roll inducing stereotype of Millennials: that before the recession, everyone in the Millennial category had everything paid for by Mommy and Daddy–including college and summer living expenses and trips–and it was just recently that we’ve been thrust into the harsh, cold, real world. I’m sorry, but it really annoys me that the New York Times chooses to ignore all the average Millennials out there who have always been expected to work and pay their own way. Just because you happen to have been born in a certain range of years does not make you automatically wealthy and spoiled. And for all the young people in this article who truly cannot find any type of job this summer, why don’t volunteer if you’re so bored? You’d probably learn the same skills you would at an internship.
3. This article about the reaction to the Bravo series NYC Prep (think a reality TV version of Gossip Girl) basically serves as a platform for private schools and parents to shake their heads disapprovingly at the behavior in the show. Psssstt, kids, there’s apparently an unwritten code that you don’t flaunt your wealth, and you’re pissing off your schools and parents with all your flaunting. Yawn.

I’m interested in sociology and finances and personal essays and all of that, but I wish these three articles had been replaced with news about Iran or profiles of the thousands of Americans who are actually, literally, struggling in this recession. Like, can’t-pay-the-electrical-bill struggling, instead of can’t-fund-Susie’s-summer-trip-to-Europe struggling. But I admit these inane articles get people talking and posting links on Twitter and Facebook–and isn’t that what newspapers desperately need these days (well, that and ad sales)?

I have to say this book review of Methland, by Nick Reding, was the most interesting thing I read from NYT today. Read it if you’re interested in small Iowa towns being rapidly destroyed by meth.

Is anyone else sick of the Times’ blowing minor inconveniences way out of proportion? How should they be covering the recession’s impact on everyday people? What topics would you like to see covered?

Financial health day

As I was reading the nytimes.com coverage of Sarah Palin’s resignation, something else caught my eye: this column. It’s about a NYT employee who took an entire day to tackle all the financial things we put off, such as changing phone plans to save money and finding a savings account with a higher interest rate. This guy also needed to draw up a will, even though he’s been a father for over three years (helloooo, irresponsible–but at least he admits it’s pathetic).

He hoped his efforts would offset the 5 percent pay cut he had to take this year. Although he fell short of that goal, he wrote, “I got enough done that I now plan to take a fiscal health day at least once a year, 10 hours on a weekday when all phone lines and financial institutions are open, with no interruptions except for e-mail.”

Doesn’t this sound like a smart idea, even if it might make for the most annoying, boring day ever? I don’t know if I could deal with customer service reps for 10 hours straight, but I usually do end up using at least part of my days off to clear up mistakes on bills. (I swear I’m billed incorrectly practically every time I use my health insurance.) I mean, how annoying is it that these offices are only open during business hours? Who wants to haggle over a medical bill during their lunch hour while your coworkers can’t help but listen? No. Thanks.

When do you guys deal with these financial annoyances? Would you ever devote an entire day to it?