Archive - Retail Therapy

The Stuff We're Getting Rid Of, and the Lunch We're Keeping

The Return Window with Laurel Cummings of Free Puppies: returns designed to wear you down, Poshmark roulette, and why comedy writers belong in corporate…

20 hrs ago • Rani Monson and Laurel Cummings

29:22

Holiday Budgets Stick to $20. So the Gift Shrinks.

Retailers are betting the season on $20. A $35 candle showed me what that doesn't buy.

Nov 2 • Rani Monson

Holiday Gifts they Won’t Want to Send Back. Live on The Return Window.

John Brewton joins to talk about how to buy presents they won’t return. Live Dec. 3 at 7:15 PM Central

Nov 2 • Rani Monson

October 2026

The Return Window live with Jennie Egerdie & Rani Monson

A recording where we talked about...pretty much everything!

Oct 30 • Rani Monson and Jennie Egerdie

1:13:56

Why We Pay to Be Scared When Reality Does It for Free

The horror business booms when times are uneasy. Maybe you’ve noticed what kind of year it’s been.

Oct 29 • Rani Monson

The Return Window with Jennie Egerdie

Live Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:15 PM Central with the writer of Best Party, Worst House

Oct 29 • Rani Monson and Jennie Egerdie

3 Keepers & a Regret: Elian Monjack

Her rule: a year unworn and it goes. Mine: buy, return, reconsider next week.

Oct 28 • Rani Monson

The Return Window with Laurel Cummings

2 days after the midterms: we’ll discuss what we’re stuck with. Live Thursday, Nov. 5 at 1:15 PM Central

Oct 24 • Rani Monson

The Return Window: what we do with the stuff Substack said we need w/ Ronit Plank & Rani Monson.

A recording from Rani Monson's live video

Oct 23 • Rani Monson and Ronit Plank

57:40

Holiday Flights Are a Fright. We’re Taking the Subaru.

Thanksgiving airfare is at a 10-year high. Book before Halloween, or pack the dog’s frozen food and drive.

Oct 22 • Rani Monson

Tonight! The Return Window with Ronit Plank of Let’s Talk Memoir

The Return Window: how we deal with everything Substack told us we needed. Live Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:15 PM Central with Ronit & Rani

Oct 22 • Rani Monson

3 Keepers & a Regret: Ronit Plank

I signed up for her workshop without knowing where I was going; she bought a necklace she couldn’t afford.

Oct 21 • Rani Monson

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