Portfolio Dilemma

Filed under: Debt , Personal loans If you're a parent and have grown kids, have you ever paid off a debt of theirs? That's a question that GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media recently posed to 1,004 adults in a survey for CreditCards.com. Two out of five adults, or 42%, said that they had paid off a debt for a grown child at some point. Auto loans topped out the most likely to be paid (40%), with medical debt close behind (37%) and utilities (31%) following. Credit cards were next (30%), followed by student loans (29%) and the mortgage (11%). The entire story can be found here . Continue reading 42% of parents have paid off an adult child's debt 42% of parents have paid off an adult child's debt originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Debt , Saving Money , Retirement advice WalletPop's Lan Nguyen chats with Frank Armstrong -- founder of Investors Solutions and author of several books including "Save Your Retirement" (FT Press) -- on what Gen Xers and Gen Yers need to do to have a happy retirement. Open a 401(k), but only if your company matches and the cost isn't too high. Otherwise, open your own 401(k) or IRA. Most importantly, pay down credit card debt and "rights-size" your life. Podcast: Tips for Gen Xers and Yers on saving for retirement originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Career , Recession Unemployment isn't a disease that needs a 12-step program, but let's face it, being broke and trying to feel festive around the holidays don't exactly go hand-in-hand. Which is why a California business coach got my attention. Deborah Gallant normally commands big bucks for telling people what they need to do to start up a business or grow the one they already have. She has first-hand experience dealing with professionals who got the axe in the recession during the past year: Her husband was laid off from his big-deal job in finance 16 months ago and is still looking. She also coaches people who are frustrated with their job search. And she does that for free. Heck, she's even helped me for free. Gallant runs a free group hug every Tuesday morning called the Conejo Jewish Support , held at Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks, CA. You don't have to be Jewish to attend and nobody expects you to actually cry or bare your soul. She arranges free speakers about different aspects of the job search, serves free coffee and has one rule: When you get a job (notice, she says "when" not "if") donate a few bucks from your first paycheck to the coffee kitty. The woman is Santa with a New York accent.Continue reading Tips for the unemployed to stay sane during the next two weeks Tips for the unemployed to stay sane during the next two weeks originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Food They have long served the professional and student demographic. Now, quick service restaurant Qdoba Mexican Grill wants to appeal to families. The restaurant chain debut a kids meal option, and is marketing it by having a "Kids Eat Free" weekend Dec 19-20, offering one free kids' meal to children 12 and younger with an order of one regular entree, according to a press release . "We found that parents who come to our restaurants want fresh and nutritious choices for their children," said Gary Beisler, president and CEO of Qdoba, in the press release. "And, we found that children are engaged in making healthier meal decisions when they can be creative and make their own choices."Continue reading Qdoba introduces kids meal Qdoba introduces kids meal originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Shopping , Health My mom lived out the last few years of her life in a nursing home. The question, "What can we give Grandma?" was one I would hear every year about this time. I knew that Mom loved chocolate, playing Bingo and word find puzzles. A rare debilitating disease had robbed her of her fine motor skills and her speech. So much for Bingo and puzzles. With each passing month, it became more and more difficult for her to swallow. So much for giving a box of chocolates. Even without physical limitations, it can be a real chore figuring out what to get our elderly relatives. In my mom's case, I could buy her a new nightie and she loved getting new tops (clothes tend to get lost in a nursing home.) Another good choice seemed to be body wash that the staff would use for her shower and body lotions as the air is often dry during the winter months. Continue reading What can we give Grandma? What can we give Grandma? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Bargain Babe Get a free photobook from MyPublisher when you order a second copy of one paid photobook. Use code FREEGIFT. Expires Tuesday, Dec. 15. New customers only. The photobooks are $13-$60 depending on whether you go with the pocketbook, hardcover or deluxe hardcover. Each can hold 20-100 pages with up to 12 photos per page. The latest you can order your free photobook and get it on time for Christmas is Dec. 20, and that means you'll have to pay for FedEx overnight. Caveats: one per person. To get the freebie you'll need to download their photo software, which takes about three minutes. Continue reading BOGO free photobook offer BOGO free photobook offer originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Bargain Babe The cash back shopping site eBates has ramped up its rebate offers for one day - today, Monday Dec. 14 -- as part of a Cyber Monday II promotion. Which means you can save even more when you shop online. Remember, these cash back rebates can be combined with coupon codes, sales, and free shipping deals. Here are some of the percentages you earn back in cash when you shop today on eBates: Barnes & Noble is 10% -- up from 4% Cost Plus World Market 6% -- up from 4% DSW is 12% -- up from 6% Godiva is 11% -- up from 5% Nordstrom is 7% -- up from 3% North Face is 12% -- up from 4% Old Navy is 10% -- up from 2% Sephora is 10% -- up from 4% Snapfish by HP is 18% -- up from 10% Walmart is 3% -- up from 1% See the entire rebate list here . Sale ends at 11:59 p.m. today. If you are not already a member, join here . It's free. Caveats: the downside to eBates.com is that it takes awhile to receive your money -- about 90 days. But that's better than not getting it at all. Continue reading Double cash back offers from eBates today only Double cash back offers from eBates today only originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Budgets , Credit , Debt Pop culture is poised on the precipice of a mid-season replacement lineup as networks get ready to roll out their latest offerings, hoping millions will tune into their channels. Many will watch in the hopes of sharpening their punch line delivery skills or getting a hearty chuckle. But few viewers realize that the laughable and lovable characters we welcome into our homes once a week can actually teach us some valuable lessons about managing money and protecting our credit. Whether they're fiscally frugal or free-spending, here's some practical advice from a few classic characters.Continue reading Could sitcoms help you get out of debt? Could sitcoms help you get out of debt? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Saving Money , Investing Bryce Dallas Howard has a film career that includes roles in the megahit "Spider-Man 3" and the upcoming "Twilight: Eclipse." Her father, Ron Howard , has won an Oscar and directed worldwide blockbusters. But it seems even Hollywood royalty can feel the economic pinch. Bryce said she and her husband, Seth Gabel , have had to readjust their lifestyle. "We're needing to be significantly more responsible than before," Bryce told WalletPop in an interview to promote her new movie, "The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond, "opening Dec. 30. The 28-year-old actor said she had a recent conversation with her father in which he described his philosophy of personal finance. She listened. Bryce said she has no trust fund and has been financially independent from her family since leaving New York University in 2003. Continue reading Saving money, the Ron Howard way Saving money, the Ron Howard way originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Recession Diaries As a record industry executive and owner of Minty Fresh Records , Chicago's Jim Powers has proved his creativity and eye for talent time and again. He discovered the Cowboy Junkies, was one of the first to sing the praises of Liz Phair, brought the music of the Cardigans to America, and turned Ralph Covert from an aging club rocker into a kids-music phenom. So why is a guy like Powers dabbling in the world of iPhone apps, especially those designed to sniff out beer? It turns out that Powers, a beer connoisseur, found himself intrigued by the possibility of turning a pastime passion into a viable cash cow. And so, BeerCompass was born -- an app that locates suds and pubs anywhere on the planet. WalletPop spoke with Powers not long after BeerCompass went public to find out what inspired his sudsy smart-phone creation, and how his detour into applications has fared financially. WalletPop: Where did the idea for BeerCompass come from? Where were you, how did the idea come to you, and what was your first impulse once the light bulb went off? Powers: I was talking with someone who was looking for marketing ideas for an app they were making for a festival, and I blurted out the idea of a compass dedicated to finding beer ... a "beer compass." I loved the idea and thought the compass had potential, so I made one. Continue reading Will Jim Powers' BeerCompass point the way to money? Will Jim Powers' BeerCompass point the way to money? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Technology The Google Phone is real after all. And it is likely to hit the market soon, maybe as early as the beginning of 2010. Over the weekend, Google announced that it handed tons of phones to company employees worldwide for testing and feedback. The news set the Internet agog with Tweets and messages about the phone, with folks labeling it as a "sexy beast" and an "iPhone on beautifying steroids." Engadget has some photos of the new phone, which WalletPop wrote about earlier today. The initial reaction has been a big thumbs up. According to Cory O'Brien, a San Francisco-based blogger, the phone is like an iPhone plus extra screen, scroll wheel and a great touch screen, and which runs on Android. The Wall Street Journal reports that it is called Nexus One, a model manufactured by HTC but which will run on hardware, software and user interface that are designed entirely by Google and will be sold unlocked online. If this is correct, than Google will follow a practice that is rare in the U.S. market. Most phones are sold via a carrier. The unlocked phone will run on the T-Mobile network that follows the GSM protocol. Currently, Google partners with Verizon and T-Mobile and they offer a number of phones that run on Google's Android Operating System. It is unclear how they will view this unlocked offer. But, if this phone can successfully compete against the iPhone that runs only on the AT&T network, they should not have too many complaints. Would Google Phone be the next big thing? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Recession The House finally passed its financial regulatory reform bill today by a 21-vote margin. Apparently, there are 202 members of the House, Republicans and Democrats, who aren't interested in clamping down on the too-big-to-fail financials that helped to get us into this mess. While there are a lot of great things in the bill, there are also some gigantic loopholes.Continue reading House passes bank regulatory reform bill, complete with a gaping loophole House passes bank regulatory reform bill, complete with a gaping loophole originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Technology According to Google's Mobile blog , the company distributed a new mobile phone running the Android platform as part of its mobile lab -- a process they call "dogfooding." The employees will test the beta-version smart phone in an attempt to improve it.Continue reading Google's new phone may be for sale by January Google's new phone may be for sale by January originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Real Estate Headlines in the mainstream media are often notorious for getting it wrong. But in the case of the recent Wall Street Journal story about how renting is the "new American Dream," the questionable premise could be suggesting that the real estate market is finally approaching a bottom. First, some historical backstory. On Aug. 13, 1979, BusinessWeek ran the now infamous headline "The Death of Equities," proclaiming that "The masses long ago switched from stocks to investments having higher yields and more protection from inflation. Now the pension funds -- the market's last hope -- have won permission to quit stocks and bonds for real estate, futures, gold, and even diamonds. The death of equities looks like an almost permanent condition -- reversible someday, but not soon." That article marked, almost exactly, the bottom in the stock market -- and the beginning of a 20-year long bull run that would provide investors with the highest rate of return in U.S. history. In other words, the BusinessWeek piece couldn't have been more wrong, but actually offered some value as a contrarian indicator. Continue reading Is 'default, then rent' the new American Dream - or sign of a bottom? Is 'default, then rent' the new American Dream - or sign of a bottom? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments