When a mortgage company says 31% of your income do ...

Filed under: Food , Health The New York Times reports that one of the main suppliers of processed beef filler to fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King -- not to mention school lunch and grocery store meat -- had been using ammonia as a means of killing E. coli O157:H7 and salmonella. Yes. Ammonia. Years ago, the supplier, Beef Products Inc., figured out a way to process and treat the inedible bits from the carcass -- bits that "typically include most of the material from the outer surfaces of the carcass," the article reports. The processed filler, when mixed into ground beef, is intended to reduce the cost of beef and thus boost profit margins. However, a considerable amount of dangerous bacteria like salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 is present in the "outer surfaces" such as the skin itself. So Beef Products began to blast its filler product with ammonia to kill the bacteria. Ammonia. And they're still doing it. Continue reading I'll have a burger and fries with everything -- hold the ammonia I'll have a burger and fries with everything -- hold the ammonia originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Home , Real Estate , Health A fairly large percentage of homes selling nowadays are so-called "distressed properties" -- homes that were lost to their previous owners through foreclosure. Their prices are lower and, without doubt, there are bargains to be had so long as you are employed (or have a thriving business) and a decent credit rating --- not to mention (though I am about to) the ability to make a handsome down payment on the mortgage. But as tempting as these bargains might be, you will do yourself and your family a service by first doing some detective work to make sure the existing house doesn't come complete with tons of existing -- and potentially costly -- health problems. Continue reading A sick house is no bargain -- here's what to look for A sick house is no bargain -- here's what to look for originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Bargain Babe Kicking your New Year's resolutions into high gear is, well, not easy. If one of your goals is to get in shape and/or lose weight, here's a financial incentive to motivate you. Get $5 off five Healthy Choice frozen meals or get $1 off a Healthy Choice fresh mixer with this coupon , which is good for two weeks after you print it or until Jan 31. You will need to install a coupon printer if you don't already have one. But don't worry, the site will walk you through it.$1 off coupon for Healthy Choice meals originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Home , Recession These aren't foreclosures or short sales. That's so 2008 and 2009. These are half-built houses that could be yours on the cheap if you have the finishing touch. The housing bust has spawned another bargain-habitat hunt: people trolling for homes under construction that were abandoned by the contractor or buyer, according to an article in the Orlando Sentinel . Sometimes the blueprints are left on the table. There are probably lots of hard feelings left, too, from owner insolvency and/or builder neglect.Continue reading Unfinished, abandoned houses at basement prices Unfinished, abandoned houses at basement prices originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Tax , Fraud , Investing , Consumer Ally H&R Block agreed to refund up to $19.4 million in fees to settle charges the tax preparation giant steered hundreds of thousands of customers to put money into its "Express IRA" program knowing it was virtually guaranteed to lose money, the New York Attorney General's Office said. Low interest rates and an array of fees prevented the accounts from benefiting the investors, primarily lower and middle income families, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said in a written statement . Continue reading H&R Block pays millions to settle complaints about 'Express IRA' offer H&R Block pays millions to settle complaints about 'Express IRA' offer originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Budgets , Debt , Home , Recession Recession seems to be helping couples stay together. The divorce rate is now at its lowest level in 30 years and it may be related to money problems. Per Center of Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics data , the numbers of divorce filings have plunged or at least remained roughly the same in every single state in the 2006-2008 period, which includes the recession. These statistics are remarkable, considering United States population continues to grow. Interestingly, divorce filings have been slashed by one-third in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York -- northeastern states with heavy exposure to the financial industry that has been battered by today's credit debacle.Continue reading Divorce rate drops -- should we thank the recession? Divorce rate drops -- should we thank the recession? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Bargain Babe It goes without saying that every fitness gym is offering a New Year's special now, when our motivation to lose weight and get in shape is at a peak. Here are five simple steps to get an even better deal than what they are offering. 1. Scope out the deals at three or more gyms. Calculate the total yearly cost of joining each by adding up the signing fee, monthly fee, and extra fees for towels, classes, or parking. 2. Order the gyms by how much you want to join them. Does one have a hot tub or special feature that is important to you? Is one much closer than the others? Does one have classes you are interested in?Continue reading How to get a great fitness gym deal How to get a great fitness gym deal originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Bargain Babe Get a dose of monthly motivation to be healthy and fit with a handful of magazine subscriptions for just $5 each . These are one-year subscriptions that include 6-12 issues. The selection includes: Fitness (orig. $38.50) Eating Well (orig. $30) Vegetarian Times (orig. $49) Backpacker (orig. $30) Yoga (orig. $48) These prices expire Jan. 9, 2010, so don't wait if you are interested!Lose weight with $5 magazine subscriptions originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Technology , Travel Air travel gets you where you want to go, but with airlines charging more for checked baggage, ever-changing restrictions on number of carry-ons and new regulations that may keep some travelers in their seats for an additional hour of flight, air travel has definitely become more burdensome. But, with the help of a cool piece of clothing from a company called ScotteVest, you'll be zipping through security faster than Ryan Bingham did in "Up in the Air." ScotteVest clothing started out as something of a geek's dream; a vest with enough pockets to hold almost any gadget and the ability to connect them together to form a personal area network of concealed wires and even a headphone holder for easy access to your music. Since the first version, ScotteVest clothing has matured into a sleeker, stylish line of clothing including everything from coats and jackets to hoodies and hats -- and they aren't just for geeks like me. Continue reading Wear your extra carry-on with a ScotteVest Wear your extra carry-on with a ScotteVest originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Banks Well, the numbers appear to be in: The bank total failure for 2009 stands at 140 . So what exactly does that mean? Let's take a look. It was a bad year for banks, but it could have been worse. In fact, it could have been much worse. For instance, during the Great Depression, we lost approximately 9,000 banks , most of them collapsing in the first few years of the 1930s. And if you go back just 17 years to 1992, we lost 181 banks, thanks to the infamous savings and loan crisis , which was nothing compared to 1989 (also due to the S&L crisis) when we lost 531 banks . Continue reading A look back at the bank failures of 2009 A look back at the bank failures of 2009 originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Celebs & Money Tiger's problems have only worsened over the past few weeks, and they don't seem to be getting better. Accunture has now announced that it no longer wants the golf star to represent its company. Gatorade already had made the same decision and a number of sponsors have "temporarily" pulled the ads featuring Tiger until things quiet down. Tiger makes approximately 90% of his income through such endorsement deals, so this may end up a very big issue. His top endorsements include: --Nike: a $30-million deal --Accenture: a $20-million deal --Gillette: a $15-million deal --Electronic Arts : an $8-million deal Nike has the most to lose by Tiger's transgressions because it built its brand around him. Who can forget the ball hovering on the edge of the cup with the Nike symbol clearly in view, and then magically dropping in the hole? Tiger has the Nike symbol on everything he does and he was its top prize. Continue reading Tiger's transgressions will hurt his bottom line Tiger's transgressions will hurt his bottom line originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Extracurriculars , Home I admit it. This holiday season, I skipped sending out holiday greeting cards. I told myself it was because I was too busy -- but I'm not sure that's the real reason. Granted, I was busy this year, but was I busier than years past? Or, was this the first step toward turning my back on a ritual long-steeped in history? And a few warm and fuzzies, too. The first signs of Americans mailing cards to each other came around 1845, but those cards were imported from Europe. They also cost about 5 cents to mail if the recipient lived within 300 miles . In 1875, Louis Prang, a German immigrant, published the first line of U.S. Christmas cards and we've never looked back. Today we send family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers cards adorned with pictures of Santa, our kids and pets, and our kids and pets dressed like Santa. Or at least we were doing that before the bottom fell out of the economy.Continue reading Where have all the Christmas cards gone? Where have all the Christmas cards gone? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Borrowing , Budgets , Mortgages Happy New Year, senior citizens! 2010 should be a good year for you, thanks to an increase in funding for what is known as the Section 202 program. For the first time in six years, Congress approved a hike in the Section 202 program, which takes effect with the new year. It is a $60 million increase in fiscal 2010. The Section 202 program, reports the Associated Press, "provides grants and rental help through nonprofit sponsors of low-income senior housing." Under the Section 202 program, a person usually pays no more than about 30 percent of their income on rent, according to the AP. Continue reading Increased "Section 202" funding good news for senior citizen housing Increased "Section 202" funding good news for senior citizen housing originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Banks , Real Estate , Credit Reports , Mortgages For some time now, I -- and others here at WalletPop -- have argued that the Obama administration's mortgage modification plan has largely been a dismal flop, with many distressed homeowners unable to get even a temporary three month modification, let along the desired permanent fix that would keep them in their homes. I have repeatedly argued here and elsewhere that just lowering a home-owner's interest rates a few months would do little good and maybe even do harm. The only real solution would be a change in the bankruptcy laws to allow judges the flexibility to actually lower the loan's principal. Banks objected. The President first seemed to back that fix but then apparently caved to lobbyists. Congress this month ended up nixing a measure that would have changed the law. Continue reading Another reason to doubt mortgage modification: It will wreck your credit score Another reason to doubt mortgage modification: It will wreck your credit score originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments