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/The Black Friday (Can't Get No Zhu Zhu Pet) Blueshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/the-black-friday-cant-get-no-zhu-zhu-pet-blues/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/the-black-friday-cant-get-no-zhu-zhu-pet-blues/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/the-black-friday-cant-get-no-zhu-zhu-pet-blues/#commentsFiled under: ,

When you have shopping on the brain, it helps to have a song in your heart. Presented with the challenge of crafting a ditty about that crucial day after Thanksgiving--the busiest shopping day of the year--WalletPop columnist and award-winning songwriter Lou Carlozo set to work.

The result is "Black Friday," his ode to the kickoff of the 2009 shopping season: "It was tough because everyone knows Steely Dan wrote the definitive Black Friday song," Lou says. "But let's see them work zhu zhu pets and eBay into their lyrics."



More Black Friday coverage

Continue reading The Black Friday (Can't Get No Zhu Zhu Pet) Blues

The Black Friday (Can't Get No Zhu Zhu Pet) Blues originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Lou CarlozoTue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 ESTThe Man in the Van travels the Great Recession's long, long road, returns rich with storieshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/the-man-in-the-van-travels-the-great-recessions-long-long-road/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/the-man-in-the-van-travels-the-great-recessions-long-long-road/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/the-man-in-the-van-travels-the-great-recessions-long-long-road/#commentsFiled under:

As he nears the end of the line for his Man in a Van Project, Aaron Heideman of Grants Pass, Ore. has only begun to process the stories he gleaned from his cross-country recession odyssey. After losing jobs himself due to the sour economy-not once, but twice-the 29-year-old set out to chronicle the tales of people whose lives have been affected by the Great Recession. From Florida to California and many points in between, people scrawled their stories onto a large roll of Tyvek paper. Some even scrawled notes and missives on the van itself, turning it into a rolling chronicle of continued economic woe, and the hope that survives amidst it.


In an exclusive interview with WalletPop, Heideman discussed the project, what it's meant to him and what comes next for a young man who, for now, still lives in his orange Dodge van, hoping to land permanent employment soon.


The Man in the Van travels the Great Recession's long, long road, returns rich with stories originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>man in a vanManInAVanrecession diariesrecession storiesrecession talesRecessionDiariesRecessionStoriesRecessionTalesLou CarlozoMon, 09 Nov 2009 15:30:00 ESTExclusive: Anti-kid vid group ponders forcing name change for all 'Baby Einstein' videoshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/exclusive-antt-kid-vid-group-ponders-forcing-name-change-for-al/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/exclusive-antt-kid-vid-group-ponders-forcing-name-change-for-al/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/exclusive-antt-kid-vid-group-ponders-forcing-name-change-for-al/#commentsFiled under: ,


Call it the E = MC squareoff.

Bolstered by its successful anti-screen media campaign that led Baby Einstein to offer a refund for its kid videos, leaders at a Boston-Based non-profit are weighing whether to fight on -- and demand that Walt Disney Company drop "Einstein" from the name altogether, WalletPop has learned in an exclusive.

"We absolutely think they should change the name, but we haven't decided yet what we're going to do with our campaign," says Josh Golin, associate director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC). "We also think that Hebrew University, which licenses the rights to the Einstein name, should reconsider what kind of product they want his name associated with."

At issue for CCFC is whether it thinks continued use of "Einstein" in the megabrand's moniker constitutes a continuing claim of educational value in the videos, targeted largely at kids aged five and under. While "pleased" with Disney's offer to refund $15.99 each for up to four Baby Einstein videos, Golin says he'll watch the campaign closely "to see how things play out."

Continue reading Exclusive: Anti-kid vid group ponders forcing name change for all 'Baby Einstein' videos

Exclusive: Anti-kid vid group ponders forcing name change for all 'Baby Einstein' videos originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Albert EinsteinAlbertEinsteinAmerican Academy of PediatricsAmericanAcademyOfPediatricsBaby EinsteinBabyEinsteinbrandsCCFCconsumer complaintsConsumerComplaintsDisneyfeaturedKids and MoneyKidsAndMoneyLou CarlozoMon, 26 Oct 2009 20:15:00 EST'Baby Einstein' didn't make my kid a genius ... duhhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/24/baby-einstein-didnt-make-my-kid-a-genius-duh/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/24/baby-einstein-didnt-make-my-kid-a-genius-duh/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/24/baby-einstein-didnt-make-my-kid-a-genius-duh/#commentsFiled under: ,

A recently closed pizza place just a lonnnng dough toss from my home on Chicago's North Side bragged that it served "the best pizza on Earth." And a Mexican joint not far from there advertises "burritos as big as your head."

In both cases, I chalk it up to hyperbole: I'm sure the owners of Katacomb never won a smackdown against any Roman pizzeria. Nor will a lawsuit force La Bamba to correct its slogan to read, "Burritos as big as a rhesus monkey's head."

So sloganeering represents nothing new, though the fine line between bragging and outright lies can prove a tricky, treacherous balance -- especially where our kids are concerned. Now it comes as no shock to me that Baby Einstein has admitted that it won't make my kid into Albert Einstein, Albert Schweitzer or even Al Franken. Truth be told, never did I expect to stick my kid in front of the vids, leave him in the cathode-ray oven for a few hours, then have him emerge as one smart cookie.

But here's what I do find disturbing, and why I suggest you put in for the $16-per-video refund (limit four) if you bought between June 5, 2005 and Sept. 4, 2009. The name "Baby Einstein" (concocted by creator-mom Julie Aigner-Clark at her home in Alpharetta, Ga. in 1997) implies an undeniable connection between the product and some sort of brain development Junior would enjoy from watching it.

And according to a New York Times piece, the videos could have the exact opposite effect on kids under two. The Times quotes a letter from lawyers for the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood: "The Walt Disney Company's entire Baby Einstein marketing regime is based on express and implied claims that their videos are educational and beneficial for early childhood development. [Those claims are] false because research shows that television viewing is potentially harmful for very young children."

Ugh. I have to lie enough to my kids, what with the Easter Bunny, Santa and all that. Now Mickey Mouse is lying to them, too. (Disney bought Baby Einstein in 2001, and created a spinoff for older kids, "Little Einsteins.")

Continue reading 'Baby Einstein' didn't make my kid a genius ... duh

'Baby Einstein' didn't make my kid a genius ... duh originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Baby EinsteinBabyEinsteinDisneyfeaturedJulie Aigner-ClarkJulieAigner-clarkKids and moneyKidsAndMoneyrefundsTV and kidsTvAndKidsLou CarlozoSat, 24 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST'My Sharona' co-writer shares on his rock star richeshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/15/my-sharona-co-writer-shares-on-his-rock-star-riches/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/15/my-sharona-co-writer-shares-on-his-rock-star-riches/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/15/my-sharona-co-writer-shares-on-his-rock-star-riches/#commentsFiled under: ,

Several weeks ago, WalletPop tracked down pop-culture personality Sharona Alperin, the namesake of The Knack's smash hit "My Sharona." She's now in celebrity real estate, and was gracious enough to tell us about the decided downs in that market, all while reminiscing on the 30th anniversary of her song hitting No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Thanks to Sharona, WalletPop landed an interview with Doug Fieger, the founder of The Knack and co-writer of that song. Among other things, we wanted to know how a timeless hit changes a musician's bottom line. To find out, and learn what Doug has been up to since his power-pop masterpiece "Get The Knack" ruled the Summer of 1979, read on ... and if you like, imagine that slammin' "Sharona" drumbeat in your head.

WalletPop: Thirty years after it hit No. 1, "Get the Knack" still sounds as fresh as the time you recorded it. It's aged much better than other records of that era. Why do you think so?

Fieger: I believe that our recordings are timeless. They don't have any schmaz that makes them sound dated. "Get the Knack" could've certainly been recorded last year. We recorded "My Sharona" and "Good Girls Don't" [another hit] in one day, in one take, with a live lead vocal. We went from beginning to end of the song, and that was it. [Guitarist] Berton Averre and I put in the background vocals, and it was mixed in about 15 minutes total. The whole album took 11 days to record and two days to mix.

Continue reading 'My Sharona' co-writer shares on his rock star riches

'My Sharona' co-writer shares on his rock star riches originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>celebs and moneyCelebsAndMoneyfeaturedKnackMy SharonaMySharonaLou CarlozoThu, 15 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTSave hundreds with these small changes to your budgethttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/13/save-hundreds-with-these-small-changes-to-your-budget/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/13/save-hundreds-with-these-small-changes-to-your-budget/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/13/save-hundreds-with-these-small-changes-to-your-budget/#commentsFiled under: ,

Back in January 2009, the Chicago Tribune asked me to have my family finances revamped by a series of experts. The exercise proved challenging, to say the least: Baring your financial foibles to the world is like waving a red flag in front of every hater on the Internet, and then begging them to ridicule you for foolish purchases and the like.

But it also proved a boon that I wouldn't take back for anything. It allowed me to pick the brains of some very smart money people in my quest to get the Good Ship Carlozo righted and sailing toward financial security. One of those experts, Julie Murphy Casserly, a Chicagohealers.com wealth and asset specialist. Casserly gave me the most to think about in terms of my wasteful habits. (Like: Eating out for lunch every day.)

Casserly thinks most families mired in the Great Recession -- the longest economic downturn since the Great Depression -- can save $500 or more a month by making a few simple adjustments. So if you're still struggling to manage and cut down your household budget, here's how you can do it -- making small changes with variable expenses such as groceries, food, clothing, shopping and entertainment:

Continue reading Save hundreds with these small changes to your budget

Save hundreds with these small changes to your budget originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>budgetfamilyLou CarlozoTue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTExclusive: The sad story of a fallen millionaire...his full story of losing it allhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/06/exclusive-the-sad-story-of-a-fallen-millionaire-his-full-stor/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/06/exclusive-the-sad-story-of-a-fallen-millionaire-his-full-stor/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/06/exclusive-the-sad-story-of-a-fallen-millionaire-his-full-stor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

recession diariesThe Great Recession of 2008 and 2009 has hurt not just the everyday working person, but also those who harbored big dreams in real estate, only to see fortunes vanish as the bubble burst. In this Recession Diaries special, developer Paul Pierce, whose name has been changed, shares his story of boom-to-bust through exclusive WalletPop interviews and excerpts from the diary he began writing hours after the biggest deal of his career fell through -- leading to losses in excess of $40 million.

On Saturday, Nov. 1 -- All Saint's Day, as he knew from his Catholic upbringing -- Paul Pierce walked into a Philadelphia Rite Aid store, plunked down two bucks, and bought a notebook with a marbled red-and-white cardboard cover: the kind grade school students use to do homework.

Then he returned to his luxury home in the Society Hill neighborhood just a few blocks away, a double-lot house that developers like Pierce dream of building or buying for their families once they hit it big.

His stomach in a knot, he sat alone at the island in his spacious, modern urban kitchen, and scrawled:


Continue reading Exclusive: The sad story of a fallen millionaire...his full story of losing it all

Exclusive: The sad story of a fallen millionaire...his full story of losing it all originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bankruptcyfallen millionairesrecession diariesRecessionDiariesLou CarlozoTue, 06 Oct 2009 08:00:00 ESTThe sad story of a multi-milllionaire's downfall, Part 1http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/30/a-real-life-hank-the-sad-story-of-a-milllionaires-downfall/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/30/a-real-life-hank-the-sad-story-of-a-milllionaires-downfall/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/30/a-real-life-hank-the-sad-story-of-a-milllionaires-downfall/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Great Recession of 2008 and 2009 has hurt not just the everyday working person, but also those who harbored big dreams in real estate only to see fortunes vanish as the bubble burst. In this Recession Diaries three-part special, developer Paul Pierce (whose name has been changed) shares his story of boom to bust through exclusive WalletPop interviews and excerpts from the diary he began writing hours after the biggest deal of his career fell through -- leading to losses in excess of $40 million.


On Saturday, Nov. 1, -- All Saint's Day, as he knew from his Catholic upbringing -- Paul Pierce walked into a Philadelphia Rite Aid store, plunked down two bucks and bought a notebook with a marbled red-and-white cardboard cover, the kind grade school students use to do homework.

Then he returned to his luxury home in the Society Hill neighborhood just a few blocks away, a double-lot house that developers like Pierce dream of building or buying for their families once they hit it big.

His stomach in a knot, he sat alone at the island in his spacious, modern urban kitchen, and started scrawling:

Continue reading The sad story of a multi-milllionaire's downfall, Part 1

The sad story of a multi-milllionaire's downfall, Part 1 originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hankrecession diariesRecessionDiariesLou CarlozoWed, 30 Sep 2009 12:00:00 ESTWhen COLA goes flat: Social Security checks not increasing for first time in 35 yearshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/24/when-cola-goes-flat-social-security-checks-not-increasing-for-f/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/24/when-cola-goes-flat-social-security-checks-not-increasing-for-f/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/24/when-cola-goes-flat-social-security-checks-not-increasing-for-f/#commentsFiled under:

In the next few weeks, Social Security trustees should make official what retirees have seen coming for some time: Starting in 2010, the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security will go on hold first the first time since 1975.

To put that in perspective: Anyone turning 65 next year would've been just 30 in '75, the year cost of living adjustments started. And while federal officials argue that a COLA is hardly needed next year, given the lack of inflation in our recession, others wonder if it overlooks a key fact: Health care expenses and doctor co-pays continue to far outpace inflationary pressures for seniors.

With all the debate and drama surrounding President Obama's health insurance overhaul, the COLA freeze could, at least in the short term, have a profound affect on seniors and their bottom line -- even though it has gotten far less press compared to the rancorous health care town hall meetings.

Continue reading When COLA goes flat: Social Security checks not increasing for first time in 35 years

When COLA goes flat: Social Security checks not increasing for first time in 35 years originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>social securitySocialSecurityLou CarlozoThu, 24 Sep 2009 17:30:00 ESTThe fine art of thriving in a recessionhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/23/the-fine-art-of-thriving-in-a-recession/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/23/the-fine-art-of-thriving-in-a-recession/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/23/the-fine-art-of-thriving-in-a-recession/#commentsFiled under: ,

Just west of Chicago's Austin neighborhood, a stretch of Harrison Street in Oak Park, Ill. is revitalizing once-sleepy (and empty) storefronts with a force retrograde to any Great Recession.

On Oct. 2-4, the Oak Park Arts District will hold its first Arts Retreat Weekend. The idea, as community events go, is to provide a "staycation" experience for locals whose funds have been tapped out by the recessionary drought. And to that end, the culinary, musical and artistic events typify anything that you'll see in any of the Chicago area's arts-rich areas.

If this feature concerned yet another weekend arts festival, we could stop the story right here. But the nine blocks of boutiques, art galleries, cafes and restaurants speak volumes about what a determined group of citizens, business owners and artists can do to cultivate hope, life and promise amidst economic turmoil and uncertainty.

Continue reading The fine art of thriving in a recession

The fine art of thriving in a recession originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>artrecessionLou CarlozoWed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:00 ESTLet go my LEGO: British TV host fights to save huge toy homehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/22/let-go-my-lego-british-tv-host-fights-to-save-huge-toy-home/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/22/let-go-my-lego-british-tv-host-fights-to-save-huge-toy-home/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/22/let-go-my-lego-british-tv-host-fights-to-save-huge-toy-home/#commentsFiled under:

And now, a housing crisis story that does not involve greedy bankers, bad mortgages or even a recession: just a whole lot of teeny weeny bricks about to get scattered unless someone steps in with either a lot of cash or a storage shed the size of a jumbo jet hangar.

In fact, by any child's standard -- especially those crazy for Bionicles, Duplo and LEGO Agents -- this endangered property represents the ultimate dream house. But the address in question, a two-story Lego domicile in England, faces certain demolition Tuesday unless a last-minute reprieve comes through.

The house, built from more than 3 million LEGO bricks, is the brainchild of James May, host of the forthcoming BBC-TV series "Toy Stories." On that show, May takes a nostalgic look at classic toys and concocts challenges based on them. About 1,000 volunteers helped May build the LEGO house, which sits on a British wine estate in Dorking, Surrey.

Continue reading Let go my LEGO: British TV host fights to save huge toy home

Let go my LEGO: British TV host fights to save huge toy home originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>legolegosLou CarlozoTue, 22 Sep 2009 15:30:00 ESTI've got a song to ... sell: Mary Travers' passing and the pricetag of celebrity deathshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/17/ive-got-a-song-to-sell-mary-travers-passing-and-the-price/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/17/ive-got-a-song-to-sell-mary-travers-passing-and-the-price/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/17/ive-got-a-song-to-sell-mary-travers-passing-and-the-price/#commentsFiled under: ,

Peter, Paul and Mary
The Hollywood cliche is that artists experience new life in the afterlife. So expect a lot of selling and swapping in the days ahead, as collectors check their record bins and sellers scour the Internet for Peter, Paul and Mary valuables.

Take a quick cruise on eBay on this morning of mourning, and you will see evidence of Mary Travers' passing in the new tems up for auction -- everything from the Peter, Paul and Mary "Moving" album signed by all three members ($32 and counting) to a signed Travers photo (at a "buy it now" price of $20).

"When Michael Jackson died, there were people who did go out and tried to buy up all his stuff," says Roger Voegele, owner of Harbert Antique Mall, in Harbert, Mich. The mall, open for 15 years, remains a top-flight destination for vacationing Chicagoans and Michigan residents in search of collectible treasures.

Voegele says that when an artist dies, it leads to what he calls a "stampede effect."

Continue reading I've got a song to ... sell: Mary Travers' passing and the pricetag of celebrity deaths

I've got a song to ... sell: Mary Travers' passing and the pricetag of celebrity deaths originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>celebrity deathsCelebrityDeathscollectiblescollectingeBayfeaturedMary TraversMaryTraversmemorabiliaPaul and MaryPeterLou CarlozoThu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST'My Sharona' shares her knack for celebrity real estate in a recessionhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/17/sharona-of-my-sharona-fame-shares-her-knack-for-celebrity-re/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/17/sharona-of-my-sharona-fame-shares-her-knack-for-celebrity-re/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/17/sharona-of-my-sharona-fame-shares-her-knack-for-celebrity-re/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you want to know how the celebrity real estate market is faring in this Great Recession, who better to ask than a mini-celebrity herself?

Sharona Alperin was only 17 when The Knack's song "My Sharona" shot straight to the top of the Billboard charts -- and became a pop music classic. Knack leader Doug Fieger, who had a crush on the teenager, co-wrote the song about Sharona before she was old enough to vote or drink.

"Is it really the 30th year anniversary of 'My Sharona' coming out?" Alperin said when reached in Los Angeles, where she works as a real estate agent for Sotheby's. "Oh my God! You're absolutely right. I'm not sure that I realized that. I talk to Doug quite often and we never discussed it." (The two remain good friends to this day; Alperin and her husband Jason have a 10-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.)

Today, Alperin sells homes to all sorts of Hollywood A-listers we can't name here. (Trust us, rock stars and movie idols populate her lengthy list of clients.) Here, she talks about how the Recession has changed the real estate game, even for the entertainment elite -- and what it's like to be celebrated in song.

WalletPop: So what is it like, exactly, to be immortalized in a timeless pop music hit?


Continue reading 'My Sharona' shares her knack for celebrity real estate in a recession

'My Sharona' shares her knack for celebrity real estate in a recession originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Celebrity real estateCelebrityRealEstatefeaturedMy SharonaMy Sharona 30th AnniversaryMySharonaMySharona30thAnniversaryQ AQAreal estateRealEstateSharona AlperinThe KnackTheKnackLou CarlozoThu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 ESTGo West, young man: 49 jobs in 49 states in 49 weeks down--and one to gohttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/09/go-west-young-man-49-jobs-in-49-states-in-49-weeks-down-and-o/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/09/go-west-young-man-49-jobs-in-49-states-in-49-weeks-down-and-o/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/09/go-west-young-man-49-jobs-in-49-states-in-49-weeks-down-and-o/#commentsFiled under: ,

A little more than a year ago, Daniel Seddiqui was just another post-college grad with an economics major from USC -- the "U" perhaps standing in his case for Unlucky in the job market, Unable to find full-time work, Unemployed after 40 interviews.

So, perhaps figuring that 50 outranks 40, Seddiqui set an outlandish goal: working 50 jobs in 50 states in 50 weeks. His parents thought he was nuts. Friends tried to talk him out of it. Walletpop even wrote a story on his plan. And as for nightmares about sleeping on park benches? "That was a daymare," Says Seddiqui, 27.

Continue reading Go West, young man: 49 jobs in 49 states in 49 weeks down--and one to go

Go West, young man: 49 jobs in 49 states in 49 weeks down--and one to go originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>careerDaniel SeddiquiDanielSeddiquijobsRecession DiariesRecessionDiariesLou CarlozoWed, 09 Sep 2009 18:30:00 ESTGravy for grades? Experts say beware of pouring it on too thickhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/gravy-for-grades-experts-say-beware-of-pouring-it-on-too-thick/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/gravy-for-grades-experts-say-beware-of-pouring-it-on-too-thick/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/20/gravy-for-grades-experts-say-beware-of-pouring-it-on-too-thick/#commentsFiled under: ,

A few weeks back, Susan Beacham was returning to the Chicago area from Charleston, S.C. in the family's Toyota minivan when she heard a teenage question that, for many of us, would kill any summer vacation buzz.

"My 15-year-old girl is startlingly bright, but she isn't that excited about breaking loose and coming home with straight A's," says Beacham, CEO of Money Savvy Generation and a financial literacy expert who works with parents and educators. "So she turns to me and says, 'Mom, I'd really love an iPhone.' She's been bugging me forever. 'What if I get straight As?'"

For Beacham, the $500 question (it all depends on which iPhone you get, actually) boiled down to a teaching moment centering on an all-important issue for today's parents, especially at back-to-school time. That is: To what extent should kids expect -- and parents dish out -- financial and material incentives in exchange for great grades?

It's not just parents getting into the act; before he became the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan experimented with and supported cash bonuses for high marks in the Chicago Public Schools system. But the Great Recession -- as well as the gnawing feeling that mounds and mounds of gifts may condition kids to act like salivating Pavlov's dogs -- has parents rethinking the wisdom of gravy for grades.

Continue reading Gravy for grades? Experts say beware of pouring it on too thick

Gravy for grades? Experts say beware of pouring it on too thick originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bribing kidsBribingKidsfeaturedkids and moneyKidsAndMoneyschool gradesSchoolGradesLou CarlozoThu, 20 Aug 2009 11:00:00 ESTFrom unemployed to overjoyed: Photog student finds recession relief in Seoul http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/06/from-unemployed-to-overjoyed-photog-student-finds-recession-rel/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/06/from-unemployed-to-overjoyed-photog-student-finds-recession-rel/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/06/from-unemployed-to-overjoyed-photog-student-finds-recession-rel/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's two-thirds of a day by plane to slingshot halfway around the world from Chicago to Seoul, South Korea -- a monumental distance, by any reckoning, to escape the throes of the Great Recession.

But when Elizabeth Groeschen, a single 26-year-old Kentucky native, couldn't get anything going on the employment front, she decided to leave Chicago and return to Seoul, where she had spent two years traveling and working through 2008. And to hear Groeschen tell it, the everyday hazards of South Korean life -- everything from North Korean weapons tests to swine flu quarantines for travelers -- were worth braving to recover the sense of hope she'd lost trying to pursue her photography dreams in America.

"I had a free flight to Korea, a settlement allowance, free time to work on my photography and writing, four weeks of paid vacation and a bonus after completing the year contract," says Groeschen, who's teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Seoul through 2010. "Then there's the convenience of life in Korea: walking to work, [free] school lunches ... and I found an affordable dance studio membership."

A church-going, affable graduate of Loyola University Chicago, Groeschen by no means fits the stereotype of a young, disgruntled American expatriate looking for the high life. Last year, she enrolled in Chicago's School of the Art Institute to gain more experience in photography, and found a job working for a production company.

Then came 2009, with a series of dark dominoes toppling in Groeschen's financial life. Let go from her job in January, she was then unable to qualify for financial aid at school, having lost her full-time student status. What savings she had left depleted in mere weeks and, as she put it, "I fell into a deep economic and emotional slump."

Continue reading From unemployed to overjoyed: Photog student finds recession relief in Seoul

From unemployed to overjoyed: Photog student finds recession relief in Seoul originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>eslrecession diariesRecessionDiariessouth KoreaSouthKoreaunemploymentLou CarlozoThu, 06 Aug 2009 09:00:00 ESTNot-so-friendly skies: United gives to itself, not musician whose guitar it brokehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/not-so-friendly-skies-united-gives-to-itself-not-musician-whos/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/not-so-friendly-skies-united-gives-to-itself-not-musician-whos/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/not-so-friendly-skies-united-gives-to-itself-not-musician-whos/#commentsFiled under: ,

What you probably know, along with millions of other YouTube viewers, is that a young man named Dave Carroll has written and filmed a cheeky, catchy little song called "United Breaks Guitars" after the airline socked a hole in his $3,000-plus Taylor acoustic guitar in 2008, then refused to replace the cherished instrument -- or even pay for the repair.

The country-esque music video has fast become one of the most popular submitted by a little-known musician in YouTube's history, and made Carroll a folk hero to frustrated air travelers everywhere.

Now here's what you don't know: In an interview Monday with WalletPop, the Canadian singer-songwriter and member of the group Sons of Maxwell disclosed many previously undisclosed details behind his beloved guitar. Too bad United honchos didn't know those details, for they'd be rushing to replace Carroll's busted axe faster than you can say "clear for takeoff"-- though that's not about to happen anytime soon.

"I'm not sure what they're going to do at this point," Carroll said while on a break from touring the Taylor Guitars facility in El Cajon, Calif., at the invitation of owner Bob Taylor. "What I suggested is that they find someone who is a musician, and might not have the money to fly for medical reasons, and just give them the money to give them a lift -- no pun intended. I thought that would be a fantastic idea."


Continue reading Not-so-friendly skies: United gives to itself, not musician whose guitar it broke

Not-so-friendly skies: United gives to itself, not musician whose guitar it broke originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>dave maxwellDaveMaxwellguitarsluggageunited airlinesUnitedAirlinesLou CarlozoWed, 22 Jul 2009 15:30:00 ESTFrom thrift shop to employment opp: Lou Carlozo tries on his WalletPop duds for a high-stakes job interviewhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/from-thrift-shop-to-employment-opp-lou-carlozo-tries-on-his-wal/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/from-thrift-shop-to-employment-opp-lou-carlozo-tries-on-his-wal/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/from-thrift-shop-to-employment-opp-lou-carlozo-tries-on-his-wal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Forget Armani, Zegna or Versache: For my fashion dollar, there's only one Italian I'm sticking by as I walk into the job interview vortex, and that's Marco Liotta.

Liotta, you may recall, was the suave New York City fashion maven (and consultant to shows such as "Sex and the City") who took me to a Goodwill store in SoHo to see if we could find clothes worthy of GQ and a job interview for less than $50. Hey, Liotta must know something: He owns two uber-hip Amarcord Vintage Fashion shops in the Big Apple.

Sure enough we did it, snagging two shirts, dress pants and a pair of black leather shoes with the allotted dough and change to spare. You can view the original piece, and the video where I do the Best Mannequin Impersonation Ever, by clicking here.

But it's one thing to buy these clothes as an exercise in thrift -- and quite another to put them to the test in a real-live, every-impression-counts job interview. Call me fixated on getting the real story, but do WalletPop readers deserve any less? So I donned the stud duds for a Tuesday, July 21 job interview at Concordia University in River Forest, Ill.

The position: Assistant professor in charge of building a new journalism program.

Continue reading From thrift shop to employment opp: Lou Carlozo tries on his WalletPop duds for a high-stakes job interview

From thrift shop to employment opp: Lou Carlozo tries on his WalletPop duds for a high-stakes job interview originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>careerfeaturedinterviewsLou CarlozoLouCarlozorecession dudsRecessionDudsshoppingLou CarlozoWed, 22 Jul 2009 11:00:00 ESTLaughing all the way to the bank: My one-week tally of Internet 'lottery winnings' http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank-my-one-week-tally-of-internet/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank-my-one-week-tally-of-internet/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank-my-one-week-tally-of-internet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

On Monday of last week, I was just another laid-off guy trying to pay off credit cards and find full-time work. But what a difference a week makes: By Friday, I found myself awash in lucrative overseas job offers ... and rolling in dough as multi-multi millionaire.

Well, at least that's what my spam said.

We've all fielded dozens of those Nigerian scam emails, the creepy ones usually titled "DEAR LOVED ONE." Or: "Congratulations on your lottery prize." Or start off: "I am most humble seeking your assistance with a matter of a great importance." (You don't have to be an English professor to know the grammar gives those ones away.)

Continue reading Laughing all the way to the bank: My one-week tally of Internet 'lottery winnings'

Laughing all the way to the bank: My one-week tally of Internet 'lottery winnings' originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>419 Eater419Eatercomputer scamsComputerScamsemail scamsEmailScamsfeaturedfraudmoney scamsMoneyScamsNigerian emailsNigerianEmailsspamLou CarlozoMon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST20 most worthless pieces of junk: #12 -- bargain DVDshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/14/20-most-worthless-pieces-of-junk-12-bargain-dvds/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/14/20-most-worthless-pieces-of-junk-12-bargain-dvds/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/14/20-most-worthless-pieces-of-junk-12-bargain-dvds/#commentsFiled under: ,

bad dvdsLet's face it: An outstanding film DVD can't hold a candle to an outstanding album. When you own a favorite piece of music, you may not tire of it after thousands of listens, whereas even the best films on DVD lose their sheen after maybe six plays. That is, unless you're trying to memorize every splinter of dialogue from "The Big Lebowski."

This is why bargain DVDs, even if you pay just a dollar for them, represent nothing more than stealth, dust-gathering clutter slabs. Almost always, the novelty of seeing Sarah Jessica Parker or Brad Pitt in their first motion picture roles wears off after five minutes-and that's if you've landed a title with at least some curiosity factor.

Continue reading 20 most worthless pieces of junk: #12 -- bargain DVDs

20 most worthless pieces of junk: #12 -- bargain DVDs originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bad dvdsBadDvdsbargain dvdsBargainDvdscheap dvdsCheapDvdsdollar dvdsLou CarlozoTue, 14 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST