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Join me today for a chat with authors Laurence Shatkin and Sue Pines about their book "150 Recession-Proof Jobs," this month's Color of Money Book Club selection. Check out my column on the book: Recession-Proof Jobs.

Certainly, the 50,000 Citigroup workers set to lose their jobs could have used this advice. So, talk to me. The chat starts at Noon ET.

Do They Think We Are Chumps?

When I wrote my column today I was steaming. Now that I know the three chief executives from the Big Three U.S. automakers flew to Washington on private jets to ask for a handout, I know these people think we are chumps.

In a statement to CNN GM's spokesman said: ""Making a big to-do about this when issues vital to the jobs of millions of Americans are being discussed in Washington is diverting attention away from a critical debate that will determine the future health of the auto industry and the American economy."

They don't get it. It's about appearances. You can't say you're poor and act rich.

Read my column today and let me know what you think. Are we being played for chumps? Send your e-mail to colorofmoney@washpost.com.

The New Hustle

In this economy, people are serious about hanging on to their money. To make some extra cash, many Washington area residents are listing their homes as rentals for the inauguration. Craigslist has seen a host of postings ranging from less than $5,000 to $50,000 for a four-day stay.

If you are thinking about renting, Elizabeth Razzi cautions rookie landlords to keep negotiations businesslike. For example:

* Write up a contract.

* Require the full deposit before Inauguration Day.

Get more details from Razzi's column Want to Be an Inauguration Day Landlord? Good. Just Be Careful. (Nov. 16).

For more information on the inauguration, go to Inauguration Watch where you can find the latest news on anything and everything relating to the inauguration, from possible ticket scams to reports that four million people are expected to descend on our nation's capital.

The Depression Era

We can learn a lot from our elders. I certainly have. I learned most of what I know about money from my grandmother, Big Mama. Big Mama had a lot of money sense and it's probably because she grew up during the Great Depression.

Of course there are other Big Mamas out there with lots to say about how recent generations have lost their financial way. For example, a recent article in the Post profiled 98-year-old Leon Malkin, an economist, professor and entrepreneur. Malkin says he reads constantly and recently began rereading Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" because, he says, "that's what's happening to us right now."

Malkin lives his life by simple ideologies. If he doesn't need it, he doesn't want it. When Malkin was told he needed a second pacemaker, he told his doctor, "Don't give me top of the line; I don't think I'll need the 30-year model," reports Post columnist Marc Fisher.

Read more about Malkin in So Much to Do, So Little Time (Nov. 16).

Post reporter Donna St. George profiled other Great Depression seniors in The Great Depression, Not So Far Away (Nov. 16).

I also recommend you read In Tough Times, Rethinking Wealth (Oct. 19).

And, check out these articles by editorial columnist Robert J. Samuelson for more about American economics.

* As the Rich Get Poorer (Nov. 5)

* A New Specter: Deflation (Nov. 10)

Bailout Shell Game

The debate continues on Capitol Hill and at kitchen tables about who the government should bail out. Unbelievably, now Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says we need to bail out credit card companies.

So what do you think? Here's what some of you wrote:

"It is appalling to me that every industry that has failed to manage its business is now looking to the taxpayers for a handout," wrote Deborah Brougher in Houston, Tex. "And I think it is even more disgusting that credit card companies who, in my opinion, have preyed on their customers with usurious interest rates and obscenely high fees, want their customers to now give them a helping hand."

Judy Kline of Bowie, Md., wrote: "I hope you're wrong, I hope we're not going to be bailing out credit card companies so people can still charge on their Visa or MasterCard. That is more than outrageous, it borders on criminal!"

Art Lynch says some of the interest rates have gone up on his credit cards. Earlier this year he lost three quarters of his income. "But I have kept cards current and under control. Why bail out companies that exist as bloodsuckers and treat their loyal customers as trash? I say let them fold! Let those that are customer service centered survive!" says the Boulder City, Nev., resident.

"The credit card companies have been making money hand over fist off of consumers," says Pepper Dittinger of McLean, Va. "I am fast trying to pay off my credit card debt and not charging anything else. The last time I got my bill, guess what? They increased my limit."

Kenna Giffin says, "We won't help ordinary citizens who got tricked, trapped, or bilked, but we'll give greedy corporations billions of dollars just because." The Denton, Tex., local continues, "Individuals who mismanage their money have to suffer the consequences, so why don't big companies? The sooner the big boys fall, the sooner we can start rebuilding."

Tom Brown of Daytona Beach, Fla., says, "I don't buy the assertion that credit card companies have tightened up. My daily junk mail still brims with offers of "zero interest," complicated rewards plans and the other con games these companies have been promoting for years."

Now we have the American auto industry looking for a bailout.

Columnist Robert J. Samuelson says that auto companies should be rescued, but he favors strict bailout conditions. Take a look at How to Bail Out GM (Nov. 17). Also check out Business columnist Steven Pearlstein's take on the issue and his recent Web chat.

Blu-ray v. DVD

In last week's e-letter I asked if you were planning to upgrade from DVDs to Blu-ray format, a move that is likely to cost you a pretty penny.

Well, I was floored by the number of responses. It seems people are sick and tired of costly upgrades.

The overwhelming majority of responses -- and did I mention there were a lot? -- came from people saying they're holding on to their DVDs.

Here's a sample of the comments:

"Some people just have to have the latest gizmos," wrote Roderic and Nancy Krapf. "It's a compulsion, like those who must wear the latest fashions. Business depends on these types of people. Read more books," says the Kalamazoo, Mich., residents.

Malinda Giannetti of Roseland, N.J., says, "I don't want another piece of electronic equipment. In fact, I feel that Hi-Def is overrated. I don't want to see all the wrinkles, blemishes and effects of Botox on actors."

"DVD for us 2" says Mogens Rendboll of Den Haag, Holland.

"Sign me up on a protest sheet or your poll," says Lorraine Woods of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Blue-ray is only an enhancement, not an advancement. Although consumerism drives the economy, I think this is one item we can put on the back burner. People need to concentrate on more quality and less quantity at least for a while."

Nancy Deane of S.C., says, "In today's economy, I have no intention of running out and buying a new DVD player. Worst case, I will do without."

Atlanta, Georgian Greg Jordan wrote: "I still use my VCRs and VHS tapes! As long as Wal-Mart continues to sell them, I will continue to buy them and re-record on them. I am 'studying' the Blu-ray technology before I take yet another [upgrade] plunge!"

"When they no longer make DVDs, then I'll have to break down and buy a Blu-ray," says Teresa Woods of Omaha, Neb. "Luckily, they make DVDs in HD!"

Waneta Achaj in Alexandria, Va., says "I broke down and bought a new HDTV for the bedroom because of the upcoming digital conversion, mainly because there was no place to put a converter box...The 10-year-old, 19-inch TV in the living room has been judged worthy of a converter box, but is hardly material for a Blu-ray player."

Barry Hottle says, "As for Blu-ray, it is impressive. The difference was definite, but not dramatic." The Livermore, Calif., resident says "we usually draw upon our DVD library and constantly update it with films that we have enjoyed. So purchase a Blu-ray player? Not yet!"

Filip Simetin of Zagreb, Croatia says, "While it was quite logical to make a step forward and abandon VHS movies for DVDs, I cannot see any real enhancement with Blu-ray. It seems to me they just want to find another way to make you buy more and more."

"Non Blu-ray DVDs can be played on any Blu-ray player," says Peter Lopez in Brooklyn, N.Y. "So you do not have to surrender your library."

Jackie Bland agrees with Lopez and says that her family spent $4,000 on a Blu-ray upgrade, surround sound and more. The Reston, Va., local says, "you get a really beautiful picture and it plays audio DVDs. With Circuit City in dire straits and consumers not spending, there are some real bargains being offered - your readers won't have to kick in near the investment we did."

Mark Feblowitz says we shouldn't be bullied into an upgrade. "If [the movie industry] ignores us in our time of reduced means, they'll get stuck with a lot of product on the shelves and we'll all see even more rental stores going under. And it will be all the more reason to watch on-demand movies and use DVRs." The Winchester, Mass., resident says "Without an HDTV and with all discretionary cash (make that all cash) going to college tuitions and into our gas tanks, we'll have to pass."

Craig Bradley from Philadelphia, Pa., says he works in the IT field and offers this advice. "Consumer electronics do not pay off. Hang on as long as you can -- technology always, always gets better and cheaper over time."

Move Over Cable

Last week, I asked you to contact tech columnist Mike Musgrove if you had foregone cable for the free entertainment services of Hulu.com.

In his article TV Breaks Out of the Box (Nov. 16), Musgrove reports that a growing number of consumers have switched to Hulu and other internet entertainment providers, including Netflix, but cable is still hanging in there.

You Asked

With so many people fearing the loss of a job in this economy I decided to answer two questions on this issue from my most recent online discussion. If you missed the chat, here's the transcript.

Q: I think my job may be in jeopardy, although I think I would get some severance based on the company's past practice. All of our debts, except the mortgage, are paid. My husband has a stable job with the federal government and we have emergency savings of about seven months (and another life happens account). We have continued to invest in our 401(k)s but we also have a little money we invest each month in a 529 for our daughter and for our retirement. Should we continue investing in the 529 and our other investments or add that money to our emergency savings given my concern about my job?

A: You are very fortunate to have prepared for a possible job loss. You've done all the right things. You have not only the three to six months of living expenses saved up, but seven! Good for you. And it seems you married well -- a spouse with a government job.

Further, you've followed my advice and created a "Life Happens Fund." It's a concept I developed so that people could save up for regular and expected expenses such as car repairs. This way you don't have to tap into your emergency money, which is there for something like a job loss.

So unless you are in a field in which you think it will take more than 7 months to find another job, I wouldn't dial back contributing to your retirement or to your daughter's 529 college savings plan. Although the market is having horrible down days, it's also an opportunity to buy up good stocks that are undervalued because of the economy. If you aren't retiring soon and you don't need the money to pay for college expenses soon, keep saving. You've covered your bases well.

Q: I like your advice. I would like to know what kind of savings one should have in the case of a job loss. I have mortgage payments and car payments to the tune of $2,500. My child has a health condition and his medicine costs $1,600 per month (covered by medical insurance now). If I lose my job and medical insurance, what kind of savings is a minimum requirement for us to survive this recession?

A: Depending on your occupation, you should have at a minimum three months of living expenses saved up. If you work in an industry that has been hard hit by the economy or if you're a highly compensated individual and it would take you a while to find similar work aim for at least six months of living expenses. And by that I mean save up enough to cover all of your household expenses -- rent/mortgage, utilities, cable, cell phone, food, etc. -- for six months.

If your job is providing the health insurance coverage for your son, and if you're married, see if you can switch to your spouse's health insurance plan. If you aren't married, you need to save a great deal of money to pay for the health insurance payments, something you need to have in place because your child requires so much medication.

As it relates to your health insurance, read this article about COBRA. COBRA allows you to keep your health insurance when you lose your job, but you have to pick up the total amount of premium payments, including what your employer had been paying, which can be very costly.

Here's a helpful link on How to Survive a Company Layoff.

You are welcome to e-mail comments and questions to singletarym@washpost.com. Please include your name and hometown; your comments may be used in a future column or newsletter unless otherwise requested.

Charity Brown contributed to this e-letter.