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Wheel of Fortune spins up its winnings to a cool million originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Too fuel for school: Gas prices causing changes in school districts around the country

Too fuel for school: Gas prices causing changes in school districts around the country originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Years after Napster, music lovers find freebies on the web

Years after Napster, music lovers find freebies on the web originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Continue reading Freebie deals for moms-to-be (and new moms)

Freebie deals for moms-to-be (and new moms) originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Continue reading Gas Prices a Killer for the Elderly

Gas Prices a Killer for the Elderly originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Continue reading Value in your house: Recession-proof your home

Value in your house: Recession-proof your home originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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

Party on the Cheap: The Creative Class Parties for Free originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Affordable bubbly for every day originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

Sex and the pity party originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 30 May 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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

So long, neighbor! Do you know proper foreclosure etiquette? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 28 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's nearly summertime, and that means you can look forward to hours on the road, on the rail or in the air. Of course, there's no way to completely cut gas out of your life when talking about transportation, but there are ways to cut gas out of your vacation: Public transportation.

Now, sure, the New York subway transportation can be frightening to visitors not familiar with mass transit, but that doesn't mean it's not safe and cheap. As a matter of fact, it's cheaper than renting a car and filling your tank up with $4/gallon gas, driving in circles and shelling out for a GPS.

While you have your vacation planner out, prepare for hot spots to visit. If you're considering the nation's capital, consider seeing the sights on the metro system that can transport you from downtown D.C. to the outskirts of Maryland and Virginia, all for a low price of $7.80. And, if you think getting around is going to be hard, well, there are now web sites that can give directions from point A to point B. Despite the ads around NYC, you shouldn't have to rely on celebrities to help get you around. There are ways you can navigate the city, save on gas, and have more money to splurge on the kids.

Take a look at 5 major cities, and the estimated costs to get around. Traveling just got a little easier.

How to vacation without buying gas...too much originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 28 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not long ago, on a brisk day in New Hampshire, Thomas Popik was taking a tour of foreclosed homes in a middle class neighborhood. While the temperature outside was far from warm, the inside of the home he entered was freezing. Unsure of why the temperature inside the home was so cold, Popik ventured downstairs with a Realtor and discovered a missing furnace. "It's going to be hard to sell a home without a furnace," he said. The previous homeowner had violently removed the furnace after losing his home. Yikes.

These types of actions come as no surprise to Mr. Popik. In the last few months, his company was studying foreclosured property, and damages done by previous owners. More than just disgruntle, homeowners are piping mad about the loss of their property and showing it by ripping up carpet, punching holes in the wall, and removing important appliances, like, the heating system. In order to stop the destruction, lenders are offering cash for keys.

Home destructions lead to cash for keys originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 28 May 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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