Not quite a month ago, I decided to buy a Concept2 rowing machine. We’ll have had it in the house three weeks as of tomorrow, and I absolutely love it. It’s a very efficient machine in that I can get a full body workout in about 30 minutes, and it’s actually kind of fun (to me).

One of the nice things about Concept2 is that they have a fantastic online community, complete with discussion forums, an online logbook (you can upload your workout data automatically), worldwide rankings, and virtual teams with a variety of different goals. All in all, the community aspects of their online presence are very motivating.

Anyway, with that said, here are some articles that caught my eye over the past week…

» Top Career Choices in a Recession: But is This How We Should Be Selecting Jobs?
Flexo talks about recession-proofing your career, but then wonders whether or not concerns over the economy should be a guiding principle when making career decisions. He closes with a particularly wise thought… “If you have a boss other than yourself, you don’t have job security.”

» Five Strategies to Survive and Economic Slowdown
While we’re on the subject of economic troubles… Pinyo provides a nice list of tips for surviving and thriving during an economic slowdown.

» Eleven Ways to Ease Your Commute
Do you hate commuting? If so, then this list should be right up your alley. You’re not allowed to complain about it unless you try to do something to change it!

» It’s Not Always Necessary to Shoot for the Moon
JLP cautions against taking unnecessary risks when trying to meet investing goals. Not everyone needs an uber-agressive portfolio to reach the promised land.

» The Hidden Costs of Cash
An interesting perspective on how cash purchases subsidize credit card purchasers.

» Do You Spend More With Credit Cards?
While we’re on the subject of credit vs. cash… Despite all the oft-cited studies claiming that people far more money when they use credit cards vs. cash, there’s a surprising lack of available data out there on this topic.

» Amazon Grocery: When Is It More Cost-Effective Than the Local Supermarket?
Trent takes a critical look at the Amazon grocery service. Since joining Amazon Prime, Amazon has become my go-to place for shopping of all sorts. We still haven’t dabbled in their grocery service, but it’s certainly intriguing.

» 100 Ways to Cope With Inflation
A nice collection of tips for fighting back against inflation.