"That issue, published just about 84 years ago today, also includes advice on "putting up" your car for the winter ("the shortage of anti-freeze compounds and the high cost of fuel may make it worthwhile"), warns against purchasing "hosiery made by joining rayon tops to nylon legs" ("the nylon price situation isn't any more reassuring than it's been"), and stresses the importance of making do with the carpets and rugs you already have ("Bread & Butter readers don't have to be told the difficulties of the cotton and linen situation")."
"Though the World War II-era, hosiery-centric specifics of Bread & Butter are dated, worrying about prices is back in style for 2025: Americans are deeply concerned about grocery prices and are losing confidence in economy. At the same time, shopping recommendation sites like Wirecutter are trying to cut through the clutter and pull in affiliate revenue at the same time. No wonder Consumer Reports decided it was the right time to revive Bread & Butter for a 21st-century audience."
"This time around, rather than being sent via mail for $0.05 per copy or $1 per year, the newsletter comes to subscribers for free via Substack each Wednesday, written by Consumer Reports home and garden writer Yasmeen Khan. The first issue, out today, delves into deals - the best ones staffers have ever gotten (like a $10 Le Creuset Dutch oven) and how Consumer Reports "filters out the noise" of supposed good deals online."
Bread & Butter began in 1941 offering wartime thrift advice such as eliminating Christmas ties, winterizing cars, avoiding rayon-nylon hosiery blends, and conserving carpets and linens. Rising 2025 price concerns and eroding consumer confidence have renewed focus on frugal shopping and deal scrutiny. Consumer Reports revived Bread & Butter as a modern weekly newsletter distributed free via Substack, highlighting staff-reported bargain finds and explaining how Consumer Reports filters out misleading online deal claims. The revival responds to increased attention on grocery prices and the role of affiliate-driven recommendation sites in shaping purchase choices.
Read at Nieman Lab
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