Game show contestants can now spin for a higher prize this season on Wheel of Fortune.

In July, Wheel of Fortune increased its Bonus Round winnings from $100,000 to $1,000,000 for the new season that began airing in September.

The first person to win the fatter prize from game show icons Pat Sajak and Vanna White? Michelle Loewenstein, a California resident recently transplanted from New Jersey. She'd just returned from her honeymoon when she was contacted to be on the show.

A Wheel of Fortune fan for years, she said she prepared for her appearance by watching the show every day.

The 24-year-old teacher and floral shop-worker is now a part of Wheel of Fortune History, which includes 16 winners of the $100,000 bonus round. Taxes will be deducted from her winnings, but she's still planning on buying a house with her bounty. And maybe a new car. Or maybe a dog.

Will the great recession of 2008, result in school children spending less hours in school? Due to record fuel prices and the mortgage crisis, school districts have less funds to meet budgets.

As a result, some are fewer daily bus routes, the loss of field trips, and shorter school weeks. school days. The result has put the brakes on some school bus companies, and caused students to start walking.

FIELD OF DREAMS
Long a reality of the learning experience, exploration outside of the classroom has been common practice at most schools for years. Feeding the imagination and a world beyond neighborhoods, visits to other cities and national capitals have been increasingly a part of the learning experience. Less so now. In a survey by the American Association of School Administrators, 44% of school systems are cutting back on student field trips to help minimize the impact of rising fuel and 32% were considering cutting field trips for the upcoming school year.

Nine Inch Nails' latest album "The Slip" hit retail stores last week, but devoted fans have owned the tracks for months, and for free.

In May, the band released the album on its website with a note from lead singer Trent Reznor. "Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years -- this one's on me," wrote Reznor.

And he's not the first to give fans free tunes. Music veterans Radiohead and Prince are also music heavyweights redefining the pay model of music online.

Nine years after Napster shook up the music industry, artists are now determining how and when to monetize sales, and giving consumers an opportunity to glimpse musical jewels without a price tag. "We put the artists and the label in control," says Ali Partovi, CEO of Seattle based iLike.

As artists and fans continue to restructure the age-old business model of record labels, some major outlets are struggling to generate album sales. But many are capitalizing on marketing platforms and Web sites that allow artists to make music available on their own terms.

For music-heads, take a look at where you can discover music online before a financial transaction.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt may score millions for their twins but there are tons of opportunities for non-celebrity new parents to earn rewards. While little Junior (or June) might not generate $14 million, there are numerous freebies offered by large conglomerates that don't include selling the 8lb 7oz tyke. That's right --you can keep 'em. Whether your sleep-deprived brain can focus long enough to find these deals is another matter. That's where we come in. Here are a few of the great freebie finds we've found for you and your newest addition:

Enfamil Family Beginnings program offers free gifts for expectant parents. If you register for free at enfamil.com, or at many doctors offices across the country, new parents will receive a diaper bag with samples, a feeding kit, and a free portrait offer from JCPenney. Parents can also receive up to $60 in formula rebate checks.

Not to be outdone, in May rival formula-maker Similac relaunched its Welcome Addition Club as Strong Moms to connect mothers online. In addition to advice, the Web site provides month-by-month guides on pregnancy and baby development, as well as many free samples of its product.

Gas prices are not only hurting millions financially, but it may be costing some seniors their lives.

As gas prices rise to astronomical heights -- The national average price of gas reached $4 last week -- and consumers get hit with high grocery bills, some of the nation's most defenseless are left to fight a battle: Against hunger.

This is clearly seen in nonprofit food delivery programs to home-bound seniors, such as Meals on Wheels. In these programs, oft-times volunteers deliver meals to the elderly. Nowadays, volunteers are finding it hard to afford the gas needed to make these trips.

The Meals on Wheels Association of America has seen a 58% loss in volunteers in May due to gas prices alone. "Our programs have to cut back on everything," said Enid Borden, President and CEO of the MOWAA. Now, "sometimes volunteers are only able to go out once a week or every other week.."

The one meal a day can turn into no meals a day, or a meal and frozen meal (per day). 4 out 10 seniors sit on a waiting list waiting and/or hoping to be one of the million to receive a meal each day.

It's not just meals that the elderly are missing out on. Also, there's missed or reduced human contact for seniors that are often considered "shut ins." The loss of volunteers that offer a friendly hello or can look at the health of seniors can be devastating. One Meals on Wheels program that had to minimize its senior visits was informed of two deceased senior citizens left for as many as seven days.

Rising food and gas prices are leaving American homeowners with less money to spend and more concerns about the future. As some homeowners lose credit lines due to a loss of equity, some are looking for ways to stretch a dollar or increase the value of a home.

The perfect place to start may be your insurance. "People have a lot of opportunities to reduce their homeowners insurance premium if they invested in certain equipment and protective services in their house," says Peter Spicer of Chubb Insurance. And, well, now is a good time to see if you can save money and place your money elsewhere.

You might think about starting with an alarm. Not only can safety save you from physical harm, it can also offer monetary savings. Did you know that your premium can dip by as much as 20% if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system, and a fire and burglar alarm system that rings directly to a monitor station, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The cool crowd has made museum going hip again. Coast to coast, museums across the country are offering events that cater to the 21-45 year-old crowd in an attempt to win over a new audience. And, their attempt may be paying off. The young and artsy or the "creative class" has taken notice and begun to flock in hundreds, and even thousands, to the monthly events held at the Seattle Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and more.

The traditional date of dinner and movie may be seem too stale for many, and some couples may be looking to make their date night just a little more interesting. That's why singles and couples alike are going out for free events at their local museums, which offer events dubbed "first Fridays" or "first Saturdays". While some museums may cost a few bucks, there are many that are free. These parties are offering cultural and pop exposure by merging art and a turntable master together for a night at the museum. Now, various museums across the U.S. are offering ways to party on the cheap. There may be a cultural explosion in your neck of the woods , and tonight might be the perfect night to party. (Save your money for other things.) And, this weekend might be your local museum's night to party.

Photo by Tim Aguero

As the dollar declines against the Euro, the price of champagne is expected to increase this year. In a USA Today article, the President of Zachy's predicted an increase in prices from 10% to 30%. Despite the increase, there is bubbly at various price points that can compliment not just a wedding but a summer picnic at the park, evening out with friends or a graduation.

Often times, champagne or sparkling wine is reserved as a wine for a special occasion, but why can't every day be a special day? For some, the reservation about buying everyday bubble comes mainly because wine designated as champagne is from the champagne region of France, and tends to be more expensive than, say, sparkling wine. But there are ways to minimize your costs and find the wine that suits you.

For instance, champagne is not the only bubbly. There are numerous labels: Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Sparkling. Once you determine the type of wine you would like, the search for the perfect bottle within your price bracket can begin. You can find a sparkling wine for less than $20 or a cava for less than $10. While "Cava is not as complex as champagne, it's terrific if you're on a budget," says Ray Isle, deputy editor at Food & Wine Magazine. (There is even affordable champagne.)

So why not then make this libation a part of your life. Where to begin? Segura Viudas, Pol Roger, and Roederer are just a few suggested labels.

Lyneka Little previously worked as an assistant to Tastings columnist John Brecher and Dorothy Gaiter.

Sex and the City is making a leap to the big screen today. Did you hear that? Sex and the City is officially premiering on the big screen. In case you didn't get the memo, Sex and the City will be in theater. Has there been more hype surrounding a movie since, um, Snakes on Plane?

While Sex and the City: The Movie may not be as forgettable as Snakes on a Plane, the viral and media blitz surrounding the show may have annoyed more than just a few people. Particularly since, well, none of the actresses are what some consider household names. In the four years since most viewers last saw the girls, millions of degrees have been earned by people across the nation, and millions have been married. Many young girls attached to the show have, essentially, moved on with with their lives. Of course, so have the Sex and the City ladies, I'm sure. Unfortunately, the careers of the ladies from Sex and the City hasn't been as eventful.

Sarah Jessica Parker can be considered the most successful of the stars -- but measuring success is up to the viewers. A pulled Gap Ad and a clothing line at a discount store may not be what some define as a success for someone considered a fashion icon. And, making Maxim's unsexiest list isn't exactly an accomplishment.

Can Cynthia Nixon be a consider a big draw when the most buzzed about topic following her most memorable role is her lesbianism? Who knows? What will bring you out?

Neighborhoods across America are changing their landscape, as more homeowners default on loan payments and experience some form of foreclosure.

The welcome wagon generally comes with hot apple pie and wonderful well wishes, but what happens when your neighbor is forced out of their home? With around 1 out of 538 households in the United States experiencing some sort of foreclosure, I think there needs to be some way to say goodbye to your neighbors without causing them more pain and suffering.

For some it's all about lending a hand, and for others it might be as simple as avoiding placing politics into the situation. Regardless of the method, there's no reason to make goodbye as tragic as the loss of a home. Check out more ways to say goodbye here.

Photo by Jeff Turner