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/Podcast: How I made my first million with Mitch Freehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/podcast-how-i-made-my-first-million-with-mitch-free/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/podcast-how-i-made-my-first-million-with-mitch-free/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/podcast-how-i-made-my-first-million-with-mitch-free/#commentsFiled under:

WalletPop's Lan Nguyen chats with Mitch Free, founder and CEO of MFG.com, a global online marketplace for manufacturing. A college dropout, Free started his career as a machinist. That background helped fuel his idea to create a Web-based market for manufacturing in 1999. He shares his story and what it took to make it.

Podcast: How I made my first million with Mitch Free originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>millionmillionairesmillionspodcastLan N. NguyenMon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:00 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 ESTTravel is still smoking hot (at the fire sales, that is)http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/travel-is-still-smoking-hot-at-the-fire-sales-that-is/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/travel-is-still-smoking-hot-at-the-fire-sales-that-is/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/travel-is-still-smoking-hot-at-the-fire-sales-that-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

tahitiTravel may be down in this economy, but there's one area where business is booming: discount booking sites. With travel providers desperate to unload unused rooms and tickets, it seems like the only sectors of the travel industry that are exploding are the ones previously seen as a last resort by the industry.

Priceline.com reported that bookings through its site, which offers steep discounts on hotel rooms and other travel products, are at their best levels in nine years. Hotwire.com, which is owned by Expedia, reports a similar boost in revenue. Its hotel room sales over 12 months have exceeded $250 million for the first time, and the site told WalletPop that compared to last year, hotel bookings in the biggest markets (meaning the most popular travelers' cities) are up between 20% and 30%.

Continue reading Travel is still smoking hot (at the fire sales, that is)

Travel is still smoking hot (at the fire sales, that is) originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hotelshotwirepricelinetravelJason CochranMon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:00 ESTFHA going broke? How to qualify for a home loan anywayhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/fha-going-broke-how-to-qualify-for-a-home-loan-anyway/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/fha-going-broke-how-to-qualify-for-a-home-loan-anyway/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/fha-going-broke-how-to-qualify-for-a-home-loan-anyway/#commentsFiled under: ,

shackAs the economy is supposed to be emerging from the dark cave of deep recession, you might expect it would become easier for you to secure a mortgage in the months ahead. The truth is, however, that unless you start taking some key steps right now, you may find yourself still in that recessionary cave instead of a new home, because the Federal Housing Administration is running out of money. For many potential home buyers, that's a bit like your rich uncle Sam, who was always a soft touch for a few extra bucks, filing for bankruptcy and leaving you in the lurch.

Continue reading FHA going broke? How to qualify for a home loan anyway

FHA going broke? How to qualify for a home loan anyway originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>f.h.a.federal housing administrationFederalHousingAdministrationfhamortgageCharles FeldmanMon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 ESTReally want to save the world? Quit having kidshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/really-want-to-save-the-world-quit-having-kids/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/really-want-to-save-the-world-quit-having-kids/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/really-want-to-save-the-world-quit-having-kids/#commentsFiled under:

The IRS recently updated consumers on all the tax savings you can get from making your home more green-friendly. Installing energy efficient windows and doors, insulation, roofing, HVAC, water heaters, and biomass stoves can save you a boatload of money on your taxes.

But will doing all those things really help the environment? Yes. But ya know what will help mother nature a hell of a lot more?

Not breeding.


Continue reading Really want to save the world? Quit having kids

Really want to save the world? Quit having kids originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>carbon footprintCarbonFootprintoverpopulationprocreationserilizationtube tyingTubeTyingvasectomyZac BissonnetteMon, 16 Nov 2009 11:30:00 ESTTwitter: Time's Person of the Year or yesterday's fad already?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/twitter-times-person-of-the-year-or-has-been/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/twitter-times-person-of-the-year-or-has-been/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/twitter-times-person-of-the-year-or-has-been/#commentsFiled under:

twitterAccording to Folio magazine, the Internet microblogging site Twitter is in consideration to be named Time Magazine's Person of the Year (yeah, I think the idea is silly too).

However, the magazine's timing could be poor, as Mashable.com has pointed out that Twitter visitor numbers have plateaued and even declined slightly in the past five months. The site hit 23,579,044 unique visitors in August. By October, this number had dropped by over half a million.

Continue reading Twitter: Time's Person of the Year or yesterday's fad already?

Twitter: Time's Person of the Year or yesterday's fad already? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>microbloggingsocial networkingsocial siteSocialNetworkingSocialSitetwitterTom BarlowMon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 ESTMyth Buster: No jail time for uninsuredhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/myth-buster-no-jail-time-for-uninsured/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/myth-buster-no-jail-time-for-uninsured/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/myth-buster-no-jail-time-for-uninsured/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You'll find numerous blogs out there threatening jail time for the uninsured, but don't believe them. This is just another scare tactic to prevent health insurance reform.

While it's true there are penalties for those who choose not to get insurance, that penalty is 2.5% of one's income and the penalties will be collected by the IRS. Jail time is not likely. In fact criminal prosecutions by the IRS are rare. Of 156 million individual tax returns filed in 2008, only 100 resulted in criminal prosecutions for those who willfully defrauded the system. The penalty will only impact those who are wealthy enough to pay for insurance and choose not to pay. The intent is that this penalty will be used to pay for the medical needs of those who choose not to get insurance.

Continue reading Myth Buster: No jail time for uninsured

Myth Buster: No jail time for uninsured originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredhealth insurancehealthcare reformsHealthcareReformsHealthInsurancejail timeJailTimepremiumsLita EpsteinMon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTOverdraft protection coming ... at a snail's pacehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/overdraft-protection-coming-at-a-snails-pace/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/overdraft-protection-coming-at-a-snails-pace/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/overdraft-protection-coming-at-a-snails-pace/#commentsFiled under:

As we told you earlier, the Federal Reserve just announced it would begin reigning in the scourge of debit-card users nationwide: overdraft charges. The good news is that the new ruling will prohibit banks from foisting this so-called protection on customers automatically; instead, consumers will have to voluntarily sign up (don't all line up at once, now!) The bad news: It's going to be another eight long months before this relief comes.

The government is making Americans wait until July 1, 2010, to get the relief they've been literally begging for, even though Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke called the new ruling "an important step forward in consumer protection."

Continue reading Overdraft protection coming ... at a snail's pace

Overdraft protection coming ... at a snail's pace originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>BanksConsumers UnionConsumersUnionfeaturedOverdraft protectionOverdraftProtectionMartha C. WhiteMon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 ESTNational Association of Realtors predicts 4% gain for housing in 2010http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/national-association-of-realtors-predicts-4-gain-for-housing-in/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/national-association-of-realtors-predicts-4-gain-for-housing-in/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/national-association-of-realtors-predicts-4-gain-for-housing-in/#commentsFiled under:

The good news: National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun is predicting that home prices will rise 4% in 2010.

The bad news: Lawrence Yun has never been right about anything in his entire life, ever.

Yun predicted that sales volume will also rise about 14%. I'm definitely not smart enough to try to make short-term predictions about what will happen with home prices or sales volume. But the track record suggests that Lawrence Yun isn't smart enough either.

In July of 2008, Yun opined that "I think we are very near to the end of the housing downturn. In June of 2008, Newsweek guru Daniel Gross wrote that "Yun is the Little Orphan Annie of forecasters. He's always sure the sun will come out tomorrow." Lawerence Yun Watch is an entire blog devoted to exposing Yun's track record of poor predictions.

And as much as it pains me to link to a video of Glenn Beck, he actually has a pretty good exploration of the disastrous predictions of the National Association of Realtors' economists. (see below)

So what will happen with housing in 2010? I have no idea. But don't get your hopes up based on Little Orphan Annie's mumblings about price increases.

National Association of Realtors predicts 4% gain for housing in 2010 originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>HousingLawrence YunLawrenceYunNARReal Estatereal estate bottomRealEstateRealEstateBottomRealtorsZac BissonnetteMon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 ESTFaces of loan modification: Christine Attalla, Bolingbrook, Ill.http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/15/faces-of-loan-modification-christine-attalla-bolingbrook-ill/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/15/faces-of-loan-modification-christine-attalla-bolingbrook-ill/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/15/faces-of-loan-modification-christine-attalla-bolingbrook-ill/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

How well is the government's loan modification working? WalletPop's four-part special report continues with profiles of some of those trying to get help. To read the overview, click here.

Christine Attalla is among the lucky. The suburban Chicago homeowner not only got a temporary loan modification, but she's on track to convert it to a long-term adjustment before Christmas.

She even calls herself lucky, although when she does there's a quiver in her voice. That's because in the process, her credit took a beating.

For a solo entrepreneur -- Attalla, 38 and divorced, runs her own public relations company -- poor credit is a serious problem.

It all began last spring, when Attalla realized the economic downturn was making it increasingly difficult for her to manage her $3,000-a-month payment on her Bolingbrook home. And she was pregnant, so she knew she'd have less earning power later in the year.

Attalla heard from a friend about the modification program, applied in April through her lender, CitiMortgage, and waited.

She was approved for a three-month trial reduction -- for June, July and August -- which cut her monthly payments in half. If she kept current, she said, she would qualify for a permanent modification that started with a 2% interest rate and tiered up after a decade. So far, so good.

Continue reading Faces of loan modification: Christine Attalla, Bolingbrook, Ill.

Faces of loan modification: Christine Attalla, Bolingbrook, Ill. originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredloan modificationLoanModificationreal estateRealEstateAmy PyleSun, 15 Nov 2009 10:00:00 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 ESTE-filing tips that should save time, if not moneyhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/e-filing-tips-that-should-save-time-if-not-money/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/e-filing-tips-that-should-save-time-if-not-money/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/e-filing-tips-that-should-save-time-if-not-money/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If the trend in e-filing continues, the IRS expects more than 100 million individual taxpayers to file their tax returns electronically for the 2009 tax year.

More than one-third of those taxpayers will file by personal computer; the remainder will use a professional tax preparer or free file at an IRS site. No matter how you choose to e-file this year, following are some tips to make it as easy as possible.


Continue reading E-filing tips that should save time, if not money

E-filing tips that should save time, if not money originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>e-filingIRStaxKelly Phillips ErbSat, 14 Nov 2009 10:01:00 ESTIRS' e-file program gaining usershttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/irs-e-file-program-gaining-users/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/irs-e-file-program-gaining-users/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/irs-e-file-program-gaining-users/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chances are, you filed your federal taxes electronically this year.

According to the IRS, about two out of every three individual taxpayers elected to e-file in 2009, up almost 6% from returns filed electronically in 2008. That works out to just a few million returns shy of 100 million individual returns, or 67% of tax returns.

It's a pretty incredible increase for the IRS e-file program which began just more than 20 years ago. In 1986, the first year of the program, just 25,000 refund-only returns were accepted in three locations, less than 1% of the returns filed in 2009.

Continue reading IRS' e-file program gaining users

IRS' e-file program gaining users originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>e-filingIRStaxKelly Phillips ErbSat, 14 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTFaces of loan modification: Kathy Partak, Auburn, Calif.http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/faces-of-loan-modification-kathy-partak-auburn-calif/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/faces-of-loan-modification-kathy-partak-auburn-calif/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/14/faces-of-loan-modification-kathy-partak-auburn-calif/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

How well is the government's loan modification working? WalletPop's four-part special report continues with profiles of some of those trying to get help. To read the overview, click here.

Kathy Partak went into loan modification armed with the powerful combination of knowledge and motivation. She had worked in the mortgage business, so she knew her rights and the right vocabulary to use. And she had a step-rate loan that was about to step up dramatically.

Add to that an on-the-job shoulder injury that left her unemployed and Partak figured she was a perfect candidate for modifying the loan on her three-bedroom home in Auburn, Calif.

But Chase Manhattan Bank denied her a modification, Partak said, telling her, "Unemployment is not a permanent hardship."

"Hopefully not!" said Partak, 42. "But it's one of the reasons they allow for on their paperwork of qualification."

Continue reading Faces of loan modification: Kathy Partak, Auburn, Calif.

Faces of loan modification: Kathy Partak, Auburn, Calif. originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredHAMPloan modificationLoanModificationmortgagesreal estateRealEstaterefinancingAmy PyleSat, 14 Nov 2009 09:00:00 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 ESTCall of Duty: Retail's silver bullet to boost sales figureshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/call-of-duty-retails-silver-bullet-to-boost-sales-figures/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/call-of-duty-retails-silver-bullet-to-boost-sales-figures/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/call-of-duty-retails-silver-bullet-to-boost-sales-figures/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lovers of Activision Blizzard Inc.'s latest offering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, propelled the first-day sales numbers into the record books, raking in an estimated $310 million in North America and the United Kingdom alone. A move sure to help the gaming industry's slumping October sales.

Fans of the game waited in lines for hours to for the clock to strike midnight on Tuesday, November 10, contributing to Activision's estimates that it sold about 4.7 million copies of the game in the first 24 hours it was available. That makes Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 the biggest-selling launch in the history of entertainment.

The game, which sells for $60 and plays on Windows-based computers, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3, is sure to be at the top of many Black Friday shopper's lists.

Shoppers hoping to save a Black Friday buck or two on Call of Duty should check Best Buy's Black Friday ad. And not just for Call of Duty deals. The retailer will be offering several hot new releases at reduced Black Friday prices. For instance, Left For Dead 2, which will debut on Nov 17 for $60 will list 10 days later for $34.99

For other red-hot Black Friday deals and news coverage stay tuned to WalletPop's Black Friday Deals 2009.

Call of Duty: Retail's silver bullet to boost sales figures originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Activision BlizzardActivisionBlizzardBlack Friday dealsBlackFridayDealsCall of DutyCallOfDutyshoppingvideo gamesVideoGamesGina Roberts-GreyFri, 13 Nov 2009 18:30:00 ESTGreen shoots: Clean tech is the fastest growing job markethttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/green-shoots-clean-tech-is-the-fastest-growing-job-market/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/green-shoots-clean-tech-is-the-fastest-growing-job-market/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/green-shoots-clean-tech-is-the-fastest-growing-job-market/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jobs in the clean technology industry are growing twice as fast as the national average. So that's where the jobs are. Walletpop spoke with Ron Pernick, co-founder of West Coast-based Clean Edge and the author of The Clean Tech Revolution, to find out what these jobs are, how to land one, and, most importantly, how much they pay.

Here are some highlights from Clean Edge's recent report, Clean Tech Job Trends 2009, which I highly recommend you read if you want to know if this industry is for you. There are lots of resources for clean tech job trainings, education and job search engines, after the jump.




According to the report, jobs vary from accountant -- there's one we've heard before -- to wind turbine technician. From the report, here's a sample of jobs and their salaries:
  • Hardware Design Engineer, Smart Grid $87,700 Mid-Level; requires Engineering Bachelor's
  • Welder, Cutter, Solderer, or Brazer, Wind Power; salary: $50,300 Mid-Level; requires: High School/Associate's Degree
  • Wind Turbine Technician, Wind Power; salary: $52,600 Entry-Level; requires: Bachelor's Degree
  • Construction Superintendent, Wind Power; salary: $74,000 Senior-Level; requires: Bachelor's Degree
  • Field Service Engineer, Wind Power; salary: $62,400 Mid-Level; requires: Engineering Bachelor's Degree
But can these jobs be outsourced?

Continue reading Green shoots: Clean tech is the fastest growing job market

Green shoots: Clean tech is the fastest growing job market originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>careerclean jobsCleanJobsColleges for green jobsCollegesForGreenJobsfeaturedGreenGreen jobsGreenJobsjobs in green techJobsInGreenTechAndrea ChalupaFri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST$1.6 million raised for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 'Taste of New York'http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/1-6-million-raised-for-st-jude-childrens-research-hospital-at/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/1-6-million-raised-for-st-jude-childrens-research-hospital-at/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/1-6-million-raised-for-st-jude-childrens-research-hospital-at/#commentsFiled under:

Raising money for a good cause and eating your heart out is a pretty powerful combination.

In its 20 years, the Wall Street "Taste of New York" has raised nearly $30 million to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital continue its groundbreaking research and lifesaving care for children battling cancer and other deadly diseases.

The "Taste of New York" is the largest single fund-raising event held on behalf of St. Jude each year. The engine behind it consists of the restaurants that donate their time and food, and the Wall Street Committee that garners the support of companies and colleagues who sponsor the event and purchase tickets.

The event brings the financial community together, with committee members and co-chairs hailing from Goldman, J.P. Morgan, SAC Capital Advisors, AllianceBernstein, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Zweig-DiMenna Associates, and many more.

The money helps St. Jude continue its commitment that no child is ever turned away because of a family's inability to pay. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance.

Continue reading $1.6 million raised for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 'Taste of New York'

$1.6 million raised for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 'Taste of New York' originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>charityhospitalAmanda GordonFri, 13 Nov 2009 17:45:00 ESTFaces of loan modification: Mark Bonacorso, Tucson, Ariz.http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/faces-of-loan-modification-mark-bonacorso-tucson-ariz/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/faces-of-loan-modification-mark-bonacorso-tucson-ariz/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/faces-of-loan-modification-mark-bonacorso-tucson-ariz/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

How well is the government's loan modification working? WalletPop's four-part special report continues with profiles of some of those trying to get help. To read the overview, click here.

Public relations consultant Mark Bonacorso faced the good and bad news of divorce with resolve. The good: he got the 3,500-square-foot adobe in northwest Tucson. The bad: he also got the first and second mortgages and the $2,700-a-month payments.

He wanted to make it work, especially since his home was worth less than he owed.

At first, with business strong at his firm, Media Ink, this seemed feasible. Then, as the recession slowed work, forcing him to lay off his two employees in March, those payments became daunting.

Bonacorso was not looking for Bank of America, his lender, to cut his principal. He called hoping to reduce his monthly payments by combining his first and second mortgages, lowering their interest rates -- now 5.875% on his first; 7.625% on his second -- and extending the loan's term from 30 years to at least 40.

Continue reading Faces of loan modification: Mark Bonacorso, Tucson, Ariz.

Faces of loan modification: Mark Bonacorso, Tucson, Ariz. originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Bank of AmericaBankOfAmericafeaturedforeclosureloan modificationLoanModificationmortgagereal estateRealEstaterecessionAmy PyleFri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST