The third instalment of this series starts with a riddle, about which I am slightly too excited about.  Seriously, get ready!

What’s almost the length of a sonnet, yet spans two countries – and can’t be held in the palm of your hand?

Let me save you the suspense:  My Blogroll!  That’s right – fifteen wonderful PF blogs representing the best of both sides of the Atlantic.  Sure, we may be separated by an ocean, but many things have brought the UK and the US closer together: an unabashed love of reality television, a taste for the Big Mac, and, naturally, shopping as a national pastime!

I thought it might be interesting to look at what is especially buzzworthy among PF blogs written in the US vs. those in the UK – all from my relatively objective point-of-view as an Aussie.  Of course, each observation will ring true to many of us, especially since the credit crunch has reared its ugly head on all of us.

1.     The Rise and Fall of the Luxury Latte: Americans by and large are learning to live without their luxury espresso fix.  Budgeting Babe, for instance, swore off ‘expensive lattes in favor of home-brewed java’ in an effort to pinch pennies.  And if Starbucks’ recent quarterly report is any indication, she’s not the only one – the coffee conglomerate experienced a hefty fall in profit, in large part because of slow US sales.  I was shocked (but a little bit happy) when I read this – wasn’t Starbucks indestructible just a few years ago?

2.    When it Rains, it Pours: I think that the demise of Starbucks speaks to a general trend in America at the moment.  USA Today (via BostonGals) writes that Americans went from “spendthrift to frugal, in record time” – tons of people are selling their belongings via eBay and second-hand shops in order to pay their bills.  BostonGal rightly points out that the rush to sell used items might mean fewer buyers.  To all my American readers: are you finding it harder or easier to sell your hand-me-downs?

3.    Student Loans . . . and Moans: I am always surprised at how much my American friends have to pay back in student loans – why is University so much more expensive in the US?  Ryan and Leslie at Spilling Buckets have made paying back their high-interest student loans their first priority now that they’ve built their emergency fund.  Even American studying in the UK are required to pay a higher fee – as are all international students.  No wonder American PF bloggers almost unanimously have student loan repayments in their sidebar budget planners.

4.    Coupon Clipping as a Second Job: Did you know that September was National Coupon Month?  Me neither.  According to the PMA Coupon Council, Americans are increasing their coupon use – for the first time in 15 years!  Connecticut Mom is a diligent coupon clipper, and she writes that even her grocery delivery service accepts them.  Though it seems like a lot of effort, using coupons at the supermarket has more immediate pay-offs than swiping point-based club cards.  From what I can tell, the grocery coupon culture isn’t nearly as big here in the UK as it is in the US; we seem to be more into the point-based schemes here – however, even though I dutifully collect them I’ve yet to redeem any points for anything! Does anybody?

In addition to making me feel a part of an online community, PF blogging has made me feel a part of a global community.  In what other time and place would it have been so easy to receive financial tips and new insights from people overseas?  I love knowing that other people around the globe are as concerned about their finances as I am.

What do you think?  Has the general swing from spending to scrimping has been more dramatic in the US?  Or are we all reeling from a spending hangover?

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