USA Today recently ran an article highlighting the tactics retailers are using to get consumers to open up their pocketbooks. Stores around the country are emphasizing value, prices, and green practices in an effort to entice (or entrap?) shoppers.

Companies are appealing to the collective conscientiousness of the consumer by showcasing local ownership, sustainable products, and organic produce. While these are all positive attributes, sometimes it feels as though retailers are pandering to the consumer, branding themselves to be an eco-friendly organization rather than a for-profit business.  

As someone who comes from a quasi-marketing background, I tend to be a bit critical of advertising campaigns. Let’s not forget, the purpose of advertisiments is to sell, sell, sell.

So, when I read that retailers are changing their selling tactics in order to appeal to consumer attitudes, it tells me that their green practices are less about being environmentally friendly and more about selling the product. When I add to this the fact that retailers are employing these tactics among reports that consumer spending is down, it makes me wonder if retailers are attempting to declare a war against frugality.

Then again, consumer spending is still necessary to drive forward our economy. If this offers an incentive for companies to clean up their practices and start thinking green(er), all the better for all parties involved.

More room in the marketplace for green products and practices is Sweet, but luring consumers to spend more money seems a little Bitter to me.

I am yet again embarking on a special project, this on dubbed Frugal Nation. The idea for Frugal Nation came from several recent reports on the rising trend of frugality, as well as personal observations of the contradictory nature of these reports.

Some reports state frugality will only make the current economic crisis worse, while other applaud individual efforts to reduce spending and debt. I read articles about declining sales, yet continue to see retail stores full of people. What am I to believe?

You may have seen this commercial for KFC where an adorable family goes to a “big box” style grocery store and attempts to find a family chicken dinner for less than $10. After failing to find all the ingredients for less than $10, mom says “oh well!” and takes said adorable children to KFC.

When I saw this, I felt like the family wasn’t even really trying (of course, that’s the point of the commercial!). Apparently, I wasn’t the only one. Read Colonel of Truth from Kurt Michael Friese on how he beat the KFC challenge, and even had money left over for some vegetables on his plate (something that was startlingly absence from the KFC family chicken dinner).

Well, if he can do it, maybe I can too! In Frugal Nation, I have challenged myself to make tasty, balanced meals for under $10. As the author is quick to point out, this might take a little more time than heading through the drive-thru window after work, but the extra time is well worth the effort.

The economic maelstrom has settled down in the past few weeks, but many of us are still feeling the ramifications. As I embark on this new special project, I invite everyone to join me in my Sweet little piece of Frugal Nation.

The other day, I was completing my weekly venture to the grocery store when I heard another customer ask an employee for greek seasoning. Right away, I knew what she was asking for: a blend of seasoning (spices and dried herbs) that most likely is only available at specialty stores. The employee was a little more than confused.

I interjected, asking if the woman had tried the spice aisle. She had looked but greek seasoning is not an item normally carried at the store. I suggested trying a specialty store but she shrugged it off, obviously not wanting to go too far out of her way (and in all fairness, we kind of live out in the sticks compared to where I used to live).

Then, I had an idea: surely she could find a recipe online for Greek seasoning. Most likely, Greek seasoning is comprised of items she already owns. I made the suggestion and she seemed genuinely grateful.

When I got home, I did my own quick Internet search and sure enough found several blends for Greek seasoning. Just as I suspected, it was comprised of dried herbs and spices I already own, and most likely she did too.

There are many “recipes” for spice blends, such as Greek seasoning, Cajun spices, curry powder, and more exotic blends like Ras el Hanout, available online for free. Anyone with a well-stocked spice rack should own most to all of the ingredients. If not, there are plenty of free substitution charts also available online.

Basically, there is no need to spend extra money on expensive spice blends if you already own an extensive collection of dried herbs and spices. Look for spice blends, sometimes called dry rubs, on recipe collection websites. Since most recipes call for such small amounts of these expensive little blends, all the better to make your own mixture at home.

Here are some Sweet spice mixtures than are anything but Bitter:

Greek Seasoning Blend

Homemade Curry Powder

Cajun Spice Mix

Garam Masala

Paprika Spice Blend

Dry Jerk Spice Rub

Caribbean Spice Rub

Pepper-Garlic Spice Rub

Mix tapes caught a small amount of flack from record companies, though not to the extent of burning CDs or file sharing/swapping. Mix tapes were not meant for mass production, but more as works of art. The music industry, however, has viewed these outlets as a threat. Chris Pirillo recently wrote an excellent article on the subject for CNN, targeting DRM: Digital Rights Management.

Many artists have taken aim at the recording industry by offering their music online for free, or cutting ties with their labels to be independent. Other artists, who shall remain needlessly nameless, have fought the digital music revolution tooth and nail, as if their very livelihood depended on it.

Since the 80′s, the recording industry has been waging war against the mix tape, but how exactly are mix tapes killing music? It seems the only folks not benefiting from mix tapes are the industry executives who made money on CDs and digital music purchases. Perhaps the only thing this will spell an end to is over-produced, stylized, and largely commericial acts created to make money for music executives.

It is well known that most artists, particularly new artists, do not profit from album releases but rather tours and merchandising. If anything, consumer-driven outlets like mix tapes seem to benefit artists: the more people are involved in the music, the more likely they are to attend concerts or purchase other products, including future albums.

Maybe instead of staking claim to digital music rights and limiting licenses to the consumers, music executives can think of a way to make music more accessible and increase the diversity of artists available. The landscape of music is changing, and increasing industry salaries on the backs of consumers is Bitter. Give the consumer something worth buying, and we are more than willing to pay.

And I know that you’re a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let’s keep in touch,
I really mean I wish that you’d grow up.
This is the first song for your mixtape.
And it’s short just like your temper,
but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool…
“Mix Tape” from Brand New

Maybe you have seen the commericals (sponsored by corn refineries) about how high-fructose corn syrup is not as bad as we have been lead to believe. Maybe you have also read reports condemning HFCS. You may also be having flashbacks to the 80′s and 90′s debate of eggs-are-good-no-eggs-are-bad-no-eggs-are-good-again fiasco.

So what is the deal with HFCS? The Mayo Clinic acknowledges these conflicting reports, and suggests moderation is the key when it comes to HFCS. The article does suggest, however, that there could be link between HFCS and obesity, diabetes, and other diseases.

The Washington Post offered another perspective: regardless of the effects of HFCS on the body, environmentalists are quite certain it is having an adverse impact on the planet. The article quotes Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food:

“The environmental footprint of HFCS is deep and wide,” writes Pollan, a prominent critic of industrial agriculture. “Look no farther than the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, an area the size of New Jersey where virtually nothing will live because it has been starved of oxygen by the fertilizer runoff coming down the Mississippi River from the Corn Belt. Then there is the atrazine in the water in farm country — a nasty herbicide that, at concentrations as little as 0.1 part per billion, has been shown to turn male frogs into hermaphrodites.”

The article continues to suggest some natural sweetners with less of an environmental impact: organic honey, pure maple syrup, and agave nectar.

The jury may be still be out on the health effects of HFCS, but it appears the verdict is loud and clear for its effects on the planet. And let’s be honest: it might not be hurting the body, but it certainly isn’t doing anything to help. In the meantime, rather than spend money to create a more eco-friendly process or investigating if their product truly is harmful to people, the corn refineries are sinking millions of dollars into advertising propaganda. HFCS and corn refineries: I’m calling it as I see it, and I see it Bitter.

Want to read more? Check out the Murky World of High-Fructose Corn Syrup  and The Double Danger of High-Fructose Corn Syrup for other opinions.