The Other Cost of Living
Property taxes in the Chicago area are high, especially compared with how much we earn to pay them
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The Great American Novelty
The Fluffy Ball? Check. The Robolite Pop Up Book Light? Been there, done that. This time around, JD Ma, a Darien entrepreneur who connects American sellers with Chinese manufacturers, is on to something that just might revolutionize … your closet?
Good Deal
Don’t forget about everyday retail discounts, which aren’t strictly recession relief but have sprouted like mushrooms since the recession began.
The Recession: What’s In It for You?
The sluggish economy isn’t all bad—tax incentives and seller discounts mean bargains for consumers
Life in the Big City
What does it really cost to live here, anyway?
March 2009 Table of Contents
Cover Story Who Makes What Even in bad times, you can count on our salary survey for an opportunity to peek at the paychecks of hundreds of Chicagoans—you might even spot your neighbor’s. PLUS: Life on the other side Five laid-off Chicagoans talk about coping with the new economic reality. Can Cameras Replace Cops? by … Read more
Ticket to Ride
CTA fares went up again. Once you figure in inflation, though, are we really paying more than we used to?
Ill Bills
Lack of health insurance isn’t a problem just for the uninsured
Double Down
Politicians seeking new revenue without raising taxes are fond of the old adage that the gambling industry is recession-proof. Wanna bet?
Babysitters’ Club
You’d never skimp when it came to your precious bundle of joy, of course, but childcare is expensive, at virtually all levels of the economic spectrum.