Ben Franklin once said ?a penny saved is a penny earned.? In this era of advertising and prominently-placed product logos, though, can we say that thrift is still a fundamental American Value? Or is conspicuous consumption more in keeping with what it means to be an American?

In today’s installment of our American Values series, we talk with Lauren Weber, author of ?In Cheap We Trust,? about our national relationship with thrift.

We also talk with Amy Halloran. A self-proclaimed thrifty American, she joins us from Troy, NY.