DIY Projects Go Frugal

Columbus, Indiana, and Casper, Wyoming top employment list

(NEWSER) - Recession—that's a big-city thing, right? Several mid-size cities around the US are making an argument for their economic superiority, boasting job growth higher than the 1.5% national average in 2011. You may not know these cities well, but the Christian Science Monitor recommends them:

1. Columbus, Indiana: No, not Ohio's Columbus: Indiana's version had 10% growth from 2009 to 2010, making it the best economic rebounder during the Great Recession. Jobs are up 6.4%.

But most remain upbeat about their future: Pew survey

(NEWSER) - The economy is doing a number on those aged 18 to 34, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center :

• Half say they have taken a job they didn't want.
• More than a third have gone back to school because of the job market.
• Nearly a quarter have taken unpaid work to gain experience.
• About a quarter have moved back in with the folks.
• More than 1 in 5 have postponed having a baby, and about the same number have put off getting married.

Ex-rapper's renovation show will run on DIY Network

(NEWSER) - Stop, collaborate, and set your DVRs. Ice is back with a second season of "The Vanilla Ice Project," a show on the DIY Network that stars the 44-year-old rapper as he renovates a run-down mansion in Palm Beach County, Florida. Returning on the heels of a hit first season, the peculiar home improvement show will run 13 episodes beginning tomorrow, reports AP . More»

Dilley family wins massive gift certificate from Home Depot

(NEWSER) - 'Tis the season ... to report on really great stories like this one. Santa came early for one military family, who found themselves the recipient's of Home Depot's first "Give the Gift of Good" campaign—and walked away with a $20,000 gift certificate for much-needed repairs to their home. The months-long web-based contest, which relied on DIY and military bloggers, set out to find the military family with the greatest need. The eventual choice: the Dilley family. Sgt. Kevin Dilley is currently stationed in Greenland; he's done three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Back home in Utah: His wife, Tyrena, and their five kids, two of whom have spina bifida and are in wheelchairs. More»

...according to economists, who share their forecasts with WaPo

(NEWSER) - We know the "what": The payroll tax cut is set to expire within days, meaning changes to jobless benefits and doctors who treat Medicare patients will kick in, and the average American will miss out on $40 a paycheck . The Washington Post explores the "what does it mean" side of things, discussing the consequences with economists. Should the policies be extended, about $140 billion would get pushed into the economy. In coming up with their calculations, economists have to make some assumptions about what Americans would do with that $140 billion, but the Post reports that growth would likely slow by 1% to 1.5%, and between 500,000 and 750,000 new jobs that would have been created won't be. More»