25 Recessionista Slang Terms You Need To Know

The recession has created double-digit unemployment, a new class of poor and, happily, a wealth of new slang terms. "Frugalista," "permatemp" and "staycation" are so pervasive  they might just be here to -- well -- stay.

In the spirit of attempting to laugh at our collective condition, we've compiled a mini-lexicon of 25 terms birthed by the recession. Enjoy -- if you can.

1. Approval From Corporate
A term used to designate the spouse who controls the household finances has given approval to make a large purchase.

Usage: "Did you get approval from corporate to purchase that $10,000 3D DLP HDTV?"

2. Blark
Mashup of "bleak" and "dark."

Usage: "My finances are pretty blark at the moment."

3. Dead Cat Bounce
Investor slang referring to a brief recovery in the price of a falling stock. Derived from the concept that, "Even a dead cat will bounce if it falls from a great height."

Usage: I tried to buy GX on the dead cat bounce but got burned.

 

 

4. Debtcade
Proposed name for the 2010-2019 decade of consumer and governmental debt. First used in 2010 by The Economist Editor Adam Roberts.

Usage: "I don't think I'll ever get a real job until the debtcade is over."

5. Decruited
To be fired from a position you haven't even started.

Usage: "Man, they decruited me before I finished the orientation."

 

 

6. Not With This Economy
A multi-function excuse applicable to absolutely anything.

Usage:
Uggo: Do you want to go get some dinner on Friday night?

 

You: Not with this economy.

7. Fakation
An unpaid, company-mandated vacation, more commonly used by employers as the economy sours.

Usage:
"Dude, why aren't you working today?"

"I'm on fakation. I can't afford to go anywhere 'cuz it's unpaid."

 

 

8. Frugalianotastical
Something that is so incredible that -- even when used frugally -- remains super fantastic.

Usage: You just have to try this online coupon. It's frugalianotastical!"

9. Full Walton
Depression-era type poverty.

Usage: "My finances have gone Full Walton since I lost my job, house and dignity."

10. Funemployment
Taking advantage of unemployment to have the time of your life.

Usage: "I spent all day Tuesday at the pool. Funemployment rocks!"

 

11. Job-Job
A real job with health insurance and benefits, as opposed to interning, schlepping coffee or working retail with a master's degree.

Usage: It took 232 applications and 45 interviews but I finally landed a job-job."

12. Job Stopper
Tattoos or piercings that are exposed all the time and make securing a job-job difficult.

Usage:
"That's the best job stopper I've ever seen!"

"Thanks. That's why I play in a band."

 

 

13. Lotting
The act of transferring debts to credit cards; a mashup of "allotting" and also ties in with "lottery."

14. Money Bomb
A very brief, organized and massive online fundraiser for a non-profit organization or political campaign.

Usage: "Our university organized a Money Bomb for the Red Cross and raised $100,000 in two hours."

15. Moneymoon
The period between making a purchase and the onset of buyer's remorse.

Usage: "The moneymoon is over. I now realize buying that boat was a waste of money."

16. NASSN
Internet speak for the three most important pieces of a consumer's financial information: Name, Address, Social Security Number.

Usage: To collect moneys owed by the deceased relative who died intestate, please forward you NASSN to this email address."

17. NMNHNBLM
An acronym for "No money, no honey, no body loves me." The condition of feeling deprived, disadvantaged and denied affection due to limited finances.

18. Peanut Butter Challenge
A period of time in which you're forced to entirely subsist on peanut butter sandwiches. Typically found with students and low-paid workers when finances are low. Also known as the "Pasta Challenge."

Usage:
"Hey man, wanna' go out and grab a pizza tonight?"

"Can't mate. I'm on the peanut butter challenge."

 

 

19. Recession...
Adjective describing anything stingy or lacking.

Usage: "Look at this recession biscuit. It's only got three chocolate chips."

20. Recession Porn
An obsession with the darkest and ugliest charts, articles and anecdotes about the recession.

Usage: “I used to read that blog all the time but I got bored with all the recession porn.”

21. Slot Machine
A device into which Californians insert the money financing Nevada's schools.

 

 

22. Spendurance
An amount of money large enough to sustain one’s activities and needs for a specified time frame.

Usage: "My income and bank accounts need to have increased spendurance if I’m going to go to school and survive next year."

23. Thrift Card
A leftover gift card with just enough money to make you feel bad about throwing it out, but not enough to actually buy anything.

Usage: "There's 25 useless cents left on my Starbucks thrift card."

24. Thrift Score
Finding something of value at a killer price in a thrift store or at a yard sale.

Usage: Check out this thrift score! Leopard print platform shoes for just $2!"

25. Wonderbreading
When someone is unemployed or barely making ends meet and is "wondering" when they're going to make enough money to live.

Usage:
"How's it going since you got canned?"

"I'm 'Wonderbreading' right now but have a job interview next week."

 

 

 

Photos by: ericskiff, liam-manic, alvi2047, hedonaut, tunnelarmr, cobalt, abbeychristine.

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