WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Debtors Anonymous helps stop the urge to splurgehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/group-helps-you-stop-the-urge-to-splurge/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/group-helps-you-stop-the-urge-to-splurge/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/group-helps-you-stop-the-urge-to-splurge/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

shoppingMove over AA, NA and other 12-step programs, now there is Debtors Anonymous for those addicted to overspending. Patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous, DA is a 12-step program to help spenders recover from chronic debt and compulsive spending.

In DA, the first step for recovery is accurately tracking every dime, nickel and penny of spending for 90 days. The new DA member is then paired up with two or more veteran members who assist in formulating a new plan for spending and budgeting. The weekly meetings offer support and encouragement to members, particularly if there is a spending relapse.


Continue reading Debtors Anonymous helps stop the urge to splurge

Debtors Anonymous helps stop the urge to splurge originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>budgetdebtdebt adviceDebtAdviceoverspendingSavingsspendingBarbara BartleinThu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 ESTAmazon helps avoid 'wrap rage'http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/amazon-helps-avoid-wrap-rage/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/amazon-helps-avoid-wrap-rage/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/amazon-helps-avoid-wrap-rage/#commentsFiled under:

At last someone is addressing the problem faced by millions every holiday season -- wrap rage.

Amazon has launched a program to get rid of the frustrating and expensive packaging that drives consumers mad. It's new Certified Frustration-Free Packaging Program provides manufacturers a simple, efficient process for getting packaging analyzed and modified to make it more customer-friendly.

Manufacturers interested in getting their packaging Certified Frustration-Free can now submit packaging, at no charge from Amazon, to Amazon's Packaging certification lab, where a team of packaging engineers will analyze the current packaging and either certify it or recommend modifications.


Continue reading Amazon helps avoid 'wrap rage'

Amazon helps avoid 'wrap rage' originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>amazonamazon.compackagingBarbara BartleinWed, 18 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST5 strategies for saving money in a divorcehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/5-strategies-to-saving-money-in-a-divorce/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/5-strategies-to-saving-money-in-a-divorce/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/5-strategies-to-saving-money-in-a-divorce/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The honeymoon has been over for a long time and in spite of your best efforts, the marriage is too. As you and your spouse approach the legal, financial and emotional issues of getting divorced, you can save a lot of money by working together.

Yes, I know, "If we could work together we wouldn't be getting divorced." But sometimes when people aren't trying to make the marriage work anymore, they can approach problems and discussions under a new light. And it is critical.

Divorce is very expensive and can have a long term impact on a family's finances. Here are some strategies to try before your day in court.

Continue reading 5 strategies for saving money in a divorce

5 strategies for saving money in a divorce originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>collaborative divorceCollaborativeDivorceDivorcemarriageBarbara BartleinTue, 17 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST10 tips to cut your expenseshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/10-tips-to-cut-your-expenses/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/10-tips-to-cut-your-expenses/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/10-tips-to-cut-your-expenses/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

building blocksWhile some are declaring that the recession is over, the good news has not trickled down to my pocketbook. My husband and I are looking closely at all our expenses to cut our overhead. Our wages have decreased in the last year, mostly due to the slow down in my business, but costs have continued to rise. Utilities, gas, taxes, and food are taking more and more of our shrinking paychecks. We decided to take some action after looking at every expense in our budget. Maybe some of these tips can help you too:

Continue reading 10 tips to cut your expenses

10 tips to cut your expenses originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>BargainsbudgetbudgetsdebtDebtCollectionSavingsBarbara BartleinMon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST'Who's Who' ripoff preys on your egohttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/whos-who-ripoff-preys-on-your-ego/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/whos-who-ripoff-preys-on-your-ego/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/whos-who-ripoff-preys-on-your-ego/#commentsFiled under: ,

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3396540397_009a24dcac.jpgI must be really important, because two "Who's Who" publications have chosen me for inclusion in their publications. The e-mails arrived in my mailbox this week.

They read, "Recently you were selected as an inductee into Who's Who. In spite of this, we have yet to receive your information in order to build your basic membership profile. In the business and professional world it isn't what you know, it's who you know...and who knows you. Social and business networking is the modern standard in developing relationships throughout the world. The potential for recognition and developing networks within a community of 400,000 working professionals in numerous fields on a global scale is unlimited."

Continue reading 'Who's Who' ripoff preys on your ego

'Who's Who' ripoff preys on your ego originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>consumer spendingConsumerSpendingfraudripoffscamsBarbara BartleinMon, 16 Nov 2009 13:00:00 ESTExtreme home makeover, Part V: $55,000 later, we're finally donehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/15/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-v/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/15/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-v/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/15/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-v/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This is the last of a five-part series about how the writer and her husband, Charlie, tackled a major overhaul of their home and the pitfalls they faced along the way. To read the first installment click here.

The workers are gone, the dumpster was picked up, and we are touching up the stain and paint. Now that things are finished, we are so glad that we put in the quality finishes and the extra touches we wanted. The total cost was around $55,000 -- twice as much as we had originally planned.

The investment is definitely worth it. Now we have new plumbing throughout the house, updated electrical, refinished floors, and a state-of-the-art kitchen -- all upgrades that are bound to boost the value of our home if we ever decide to sell.

Continue reading Extreme home makeover, Part V: $55,000 later, we're finally done

Extreme home makeover, Part V: $55,000 later, we're finally done originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>home improvementHomeImprovementreal estateRealEstateremodelingBarbara BartleinSun, 15 Nov 2009 06:00:00 ESTExtreme home makeover, Part IV: Progress at last, but roadblocks remainhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-iv/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-iv/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-iv/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is the fourth part of a five-part series about how the writer and her husband, Charlie, tackled a major overhaul of their home and the pitfalls they faced along the way. To read the first installment click here.

We continue to eat dust and stumble through piles of stuff. In spite of the inconveniences, I was starting to feel positive about the progress -- that is, until a large semi-truck pulled up to deliver the dome that goes over the tub.

Rick, our contractor, and my husband soon discovered the dome weighed close to 400 pounds. With daggers in their eyes, they asked, "And just how are we suppose to get this thing out?" Fortunately. I remembered reading on the website that the dome was actually quite light -- it was the packing that was so heavy. Grumbling and swearing under their breath, they emerged about 15 minutes later with a fiberglass dome to be temporarily stored in the living room.

Tom's Take: It always makes sense to add the cost of a few visits with your chiropractor to every home improvement budget.

Continue reading Extreme home makeover, Part IV: Progress at last, but roadblocks remain

Extreme home makeover, Part IV: Progress at last, but roadblocks remain originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>home improvementHomeImprovementreal estateRealEstateremodelingBarbara BartleinSat, 14 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTExtreme home makeover, Part III: Falling victim to project creephttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-iii/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-iii/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This is the third part of a five-part series about how the writer and her husband, Charlie, tackled a major overhaul of their home and the pitfalls they faced along the way. To read the first installment click here.

The situation is deteriorating fast. A large part of the problem is our fault, we're falling victim to an all-too-common disorder in the industry called project creep.

It works like this: If we are going to put in a new hallway floor, why not rip up the carpet upstairs and do all the floors there, too? And if we are going to do the upstairs, then it only make sense to do the downstairs as well. Since we got such a good deal on the granite, why don't we put new counter tops in the kitchen? For that matter, why not get new appliances? After all, the plumber and electrician are already here. They can get things hooked up. Don't you think the whole thing will look lousy if we don't re-tile the kitchen back splash? Why not, it already has a hole in it from the plumber. And so on...

Continue reading Extreme home makeover, Part III: Falling victim to project creep

Extreme home makeover, Part III: Falling victim to project creep originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>contractorselectricalgeneral contractorsGeneralContractorshome improvementhomebuyingHomeImprovementplumbingplumbing-repairreal estateRealEstateremodelingrenovationBarbara BartleinSat, 14 Nov 2009 06:00:00 ESTExtreme home makeover, Part II: Demolition ensueshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-ii/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-ii/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This is the second part of a five-part series about how the writer and her husband, Charlie, tackled a major overhaul of their home and the pitfalls they faced along the way. To read the first installment click here.

Now it was onto the next step: Demolition. The destruction was scheduled to begin right after the holidays.

Tom's take: Good idea to hold off on demolition until after the holidays. I can't tell you how many panicked calls I've received on my radio show from folks that absolutely had to get a major project done before an event (a holiday, wedding, anniversary party, sweet-sixteen, whatever). It never makes sense to put that kind of pressure on yourself -- or your contractor. Build a fudge factor into the schedule and the stress factor goes way down.

Continue reading Extreme home makeover, Part II: Demolition ensues

Extreme home makeover, Part II: Demolition ensues originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>home improvementHomeImprovementreal estateRealEstateremodelingremodeling older homesRemodelingOlderHomesBarbara BartleinFri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTExtreme home makeover, Part I: Decision timehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-i/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-i/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/extreme-makeover-building-a-new-house-for-55-000-part-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Our house is a beautiful, 3,000-square foot home built in 1918 that sits across the street from South Shore Park and Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. But after living in our home for 25 years, we were faced with a difficult decision: Do we spend a chunk of money to fix up the place or move? We had done some remodeling in the past, but it was looking tired and the bathroom upstairs still had all of the original (read: very old) plumbing.

As much as we loved the place, the thought of undertaking another remodeling project was too overwhelming. I embarked on a house-hunting mission in nearby Madison and Middleton, WI, but soon discovered that to recreate anything close to what we have -- easy access to downtown, shops within walking distance, lake view, bike path and a quick commute to the airport -- was going to cost $1 million or more. So we reversed course and decided to remodel -- again. Our initial budget was $25,000 and our sights were on that horribly outdated bathroom upstairs.

Continue reading Extreme home makeover, Part I: Decision time

Extreme home makeover, Part I: Decision time originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>budgethome improvementHomeImprovementhomesreal estateRealEstateremodelingBarbara BartleinFri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:00 ESTNo more Starbucks - we can't afford ithttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/11/no-more-starbucks-we-cant-afford-it/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/11/no-more-starbucks-we-cant-afford-it/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/11/no-more-starbucks-we-cant-afford-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Starbucks cupEvery morning my husband and I drive through Starbucks and get a latte. Great way to start the day. I can sip a Venti most of the morning.

After looking at our budget, however, we found it was time to evaluate this little habit. Our daily stop was costing close to $8 per day or almost $250 per month. When the economy was great and my business was booming, I rarely gave the money a thought. In fact, I thought I "deserved" this little luxury because I worked so hard.

Continue reading No more Starbucks - we can't afford it

No more Starbucks - we can't afford it originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>budgetcoffeestarbucksBarbara BartleinWed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 ESTHow to avoid surgery mistakes that could cost you and arm or a leghttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/how-to-avoid-surgery-mistakes-that-could-cost-you-and-arm-or-a-l/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/how-to-avoid-surgery-mistakes-that-could-cost-you-and-arm-or-a-l/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/how-to-avoid-surgery-mistakes-that-could-cost-you-and-arm-or-a-l/#commentsFiled under: ,

surgeryWhat do you call someone who graduates from medical school at the bottom of the class? Doctor. Yes, an old joke but it rings true. So how can you avoid the kind of surgical mistakes that plague one Rhode Island hospital? Find a hospital with an excellent safety records about their procedures. That was just what I did before I entered the Orthopedic Hospital in Glendale, Wisconsin, for rotator cuff surgery.

Continue reading How to avoid surgery mistakes that could cost you and arm or a leg

How to avoid surgery mistakes that could cost you and arm or a leg originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>malpracticemedicalmedicinepatientsphysiciansBarbara BartleinMon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTWant H1N1 vaccine? Rob a bankhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/want-h1n1-vaccine-rob-a-bank/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/want-h1n1-vaccine-rob-a-bank/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/want-h1n1-vaccine-rob-a-bank/#commentsFiled under: ,

My family has been trying for weeks to get the H1N1 vaccine but the few clinics that have been held around the Milwaukee area have been mobbed.

Now we learn that all clinics for the next few weeks are cancelled because there is no vaccine to be had. Even high risk groups such as pregnant women are learning that the vaccine is not available at their doctor's office or anywhere else.

So imagine our surprise when we learned that the H1N1 vaccine is available for prisoners in Wisconsin's correctional system. Apparently, prisoners throughout the system have had access to the vaccine

Continue reading Want H1N1 vaccine? Rob a bank

Want H1N1 vaccine? Rob a bank originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>h1n1prisonswine fluSwineFluvaccineBarbara BartleinTue, 03 Nov 2009 12:30:00 ESTH1N1 vaccine needed? Good luckhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/28/h1n1-vaccine-needed-good-luck/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/28/h1n1-vaccine-needed-good-luck/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/28/h1n1-vaccine-needed-good-luck/#commentsFiled under: ,

It was confirmed a world wide pandemic almost six months ago, and a national medical emergency last week, but where are the shots for the H1N1 vaccine? With widespread infection in 46 states, school closings, and employees missing work, it would be nice to have the H1N1 vaccine about now.

"This is a challenging time," Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a press conference Tuesday. "We wish we had more vaccine available."


Continue reading H1N1 vaccine needed? Good luck

H1N1 vaccine needed? Good luck originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>fluh1n1influenzaswine fluSwineFluBarbara BartleinWed, 28 Oct 2009 13:30:00 ESTNo gasoline for me: MasterCard cancels my cardhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/no-gasoline-for-me-mastercard-cancels-my-card/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/no-gasoline-for-me-mastercard-cancels-my-card/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/no-gasoline-for-me-mastercard-cancels-my-card/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Stopped at my local Shell station recently to fill up my van. I have used my Shell MasterCard for almost six years due to the discount that it offers for Shell purchases.

Much to my surprise, the pump refused to authorize my card and said, "See Attendant."

Well, I HATE going into the stations, that is part of the reason I like to pay at the pump. I talked with the attendant who informed me that my card was declined.

What? I have never missed a payment, never been late, and always paid my balance in full. I quickly got on the phone to the credit card company who informed me that a "recent full review of my credit resulted in the cancellation of my card." When I tried to press them as to what was the issue, they suggested I review my credit information. I informed them that it would have been nice to know I was canceled BEFORE I went to the gas station to get the gas. She said, "A letter will be coming shortly."

Since both of my college kids are on my gas card, I quickly got calls from them wondering if we were going into bankruptcy. I dodged their questions while I looked up my credit information on the internet. Yes, there was a very old bill that I had refused to pay because I didn't owe it from 2006, but also a recent entry from Boston Store. Now, I have no idea why Boston Store reported me to the credit agencies. I don't owe them money, paid them on time, and have never missed a payment.

Continue reading No gasoline for me: MasterCard cancels my card

No gasoline for me: MasterCard cancels my card originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>consumer complaintsConsumerComplaintscreditcredit card deniedcredit closedCreditCardDeniedCreditCloseddenied creditDeniedCreditgasoline cardGasolineCardshell cardShellCardBarbara BartleinTue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 ESTMining old gold -- think twice before mailing your jewelryhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/mining-old-gold-think-twice-before-mailing-your-jewelry/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/mining-old-gold-think-twice-before-mailing-your-jewelry/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/mining-old-gold-think-twice-before-mailing-your-jewelry/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The ads are all over the TV and the Internet -- "Turn your gold into cash!"

All you have to do is call and they will send you an envelope to collect your "unused" jewelry and turn it into money. Some even show you how you can watch every step of the way to make sure your gold is handled "correctly."

Hang on to your jewelry box -- this may not be such a great deal.

There are hundreds of complaints registered against these companies, including Cash 4 Gold, Gold Kit and Get Gold Cash. Consumers are complaining that they have been fleeced and are sent a check for only a fraction of what the gold is worth. No kidding. It is amazing that people will simply send their jewelry trusting that they will be given a fair price. Once in the post box, you really have no control over what they will reimburse you.


Continue reading Mining old gold -- think twice before mailing your jewelry

Mining old gold -- think twice before mailing your jewelry originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>goldjewelryBarbara BartleinThu, 20 Aug 2009 17:00:00 ESTDreaming of being a teacher? Federal grants may helphttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/18/dreaming-of-being-a-teacher-federal-grants-may-help/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/18/dreaming-of-being-a-teacher-federal-grants-may-help/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/18/dreaming-of-being-a-teacher-federal-grants-may-help/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Do you picture yourself in the future standing in front of about 20 little faces, filling their minds with the information that will make them successful in their lives? If so, teaching may be for you.

There will always be teaching jobs, and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for educators will grow an estimated 12% through 2016. This need is fueled by the large number of teachers expected to retire in the next seven years, with the highest demand for elementary education, math, science, reading, special education and foreign languages.

It may even be possible to get funding to help you achieve your goal. The federal government has created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program offering undergraduate and graduate students up to $4,000 per year for tuition. Students who receive the TEACH grants sign an agreement to serve as a full-time teacher for four years at a low-income school in a high-need field once they're finished with school.

The only downside? It is really a hard job. I know, my husband has been teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools for the last 15 years. The turnover rate is very high, with almost half of new teachers leaving within five years with their passion for teaching extinguished.

Continue reading Dreaming of being a teacher? Federal grants may help

Dreaming of being a teacher? Federal grants may help originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>careersfederal grantsFederalGrantsteachingtrainingBarbara BartleinTue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:00 ESTFrugal is the word for back-to-school shoppinghttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/23/frugal-is-the-word-for-back-to-school-shopping/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/23/frugal-is-the-word-for-back-to-school-shopping/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/23/frugal-is-the-word-for-back-to-school-shopping/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Four out of five Americans surveyed this summer by the National Retail Federation say the economy is affecting their plans for the new school year. Spending is expected to decline by 7.7% with many families planning to buy only what they need and shopping sales. Discount stores continue to be a favorite choice to find bargains, but the NRF survey found that drug stores are gaining in popularity for back to school items.

While spending in most back-to-school categories is expected to decrease, one area continues to grow: electronics. With prices for laptops, iPhones, and other equipment decreasing, many families are taking advantage of the opportunities to get technology for their kids, especially those going off to college.

When we went to school, we did very little back to school shopping. Yes, new paper in a shiny new loose leaf was fun, but my mom always thought we should start school and see what we really needed. Often, the required list was quite small or could be bought in stages. There really was no need for expensive trips to stock up on junk.

Continue reading Frugal is the word for back-to-school shopping

Frugal is the word for back-to-school shopping originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>back to schoolBackToSchoolbudgetshoppingBarbara BartleinThu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:00 ESTA sure fire way to stay in debt-Use Payday lenders http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/15/a-sure-fire-way-to-stay-in-debt-use-payday-lenders/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/15/a-sure-fire-way-to-stay-in-debt-use-payday-lenders/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/15/a-sure-fire-way-to-stay-in-debt-use-payday-lenders/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A full three-quarters of the payday industry's loan volume is generated by borrowers who, after repaying one payday loan, must take out another before their next paycheck, according to the Center for Responsible Lending.

The report examined the loan activity of the more than 80% of borrowers who take out more than one payday loan a year. The borrowers generally opened new loans soon after repaying the old one, with 87% of all new loans occurring during the next pay period.

Nearly 59 million loans totaling more than $20 billion fit this pattern, accounting for three-quarters of all payday loan volume, the study found. The loans resulted in $3.5 billion worth of fees each year.

Payday loans require borrowers to sign over their next paycheck in exchange for a cash advance of a few hundred dollars with an interest rate as high as 400%.

Continue reading A sure fire way to stay in debt-Use Payday lenders

A sure fire way to stay in debt-Use Payday lenders originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>borrowingbudgetsdebtloansrecessionBarbara BartleinWed, 15 Jul 2009 15:30:00 ESTMichael and money -- Let's let MJ rest in peacehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/michael-and-money-lets-let-mj-rest-in-peace/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/michael-and-money-lets-let-mj-rest-in-peace/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/michael-and-money-lets-let-mj-rest-in-peace/#commentsFiled under: ,

Michael Jackson was exploited while he was alive -- now it continues after his death. Family members cannot agree on where to bury him so his remains are presently being housed in Berry Gordy's crypt.

According to a New York Post report, patriarch Joe Jackson and Michael's brother Jermaine want the late Jackson buried at Neverland Ranch, which would then be turned into a museum a la Graceland.

However, Michael's mother Katherine and the rest of the family wants Jackson buried elsewhere, as he vowed to never return to Neverland following his child molestation acquittal in 2003.

Unfortunately, no one really ever considered Michael's wishes while he was alive, so why should they in death? For years, Michael was no more than a meal ticket for a brutal, demanding father. Michael previously described how his father would drive him to perform as he insulted him about his "big nose" and personal appearance. No wonder that MJ could never find peace with his appearance, his talent or his relationships.


Continue reading Michael and money -- Let's let MJ rest in peace

Michael and money -- Let's let MJ rest in peace originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Michael JacksonMichael Jackson diesMichaelJacksonMichaelJacksonDiesBarbara BartleinMon, 13 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST