{"id":89814,"date":"2025-12-06T01:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T09:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/?p=89814"},"modified":"2025-12-10T07:26:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T15:26:04","slug":"black-coffee-the-raven-speaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/id89814-black-coffee-the-raven-speaks.html","title":{"rendered":"Black Coffee: The Price of Cheese"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe …<\/em><\/p>\n

Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what’s been going on in the world of money and personal finance.<\/p>\n

I’ve got another busy weekend ahead of me, so let’s get right to this week’s commentary …<\/p>\n

It’s diamonds in your pockets one week, macaroni & cheese the next.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2013 Jolene Blalock<\/strong><\/p>\n

The only free cheese is in a mousetrap.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2013 Anonymous<\/strong><\/p>\n

Credits and Debits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> Did you see this? Black Friday shoppers were seeing red last week after Walmart customers quickly discovered that Kraft\u2019s new limited-edition \u201cMac Friday Box\u201d had sold out only seconds after going on sale for $19.37 at midnight Friday. The novelty item, designed to look like a 65-inch flat-screen \u2013 no, really<\/a> \u2013 featured 65 boxes of classic Kraft Mac & Cheese inside. Savvy shoppers recognized that, at that price, each box inside cost approximately 29 cents \u2013 which is 75% off the regular grocery shelf price.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Speaking of the holiday shopping season, temporary Christmas hiring in the US is at its lowest pace<\/a> since tracking began in 2012. In fact, retailers are expected to bring on as few as 265,000 seasonal workers this year, compared to 442,000 in 2024. And that\u2019s really<\/strong><\/em> bad news for this recently-unemployed magician…<\/p>\n