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Filed under: College In a report that is a study in obviousness for most families currently putting kids through college, a new report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education suggests that soaring college costs threaten to make college unaffordable for the majority of Americans. College tuition and fees rose 439% from 1982 to 2007 while the median family income rose just 147%, without adjusting for inflation. What is to be done? In recent years, students and families have been financing college with debt, and the federal government has been making this possible with increased in various federal loan programs. The government is trying to help students but the reality is that they're making it worse. By offering ever-increasing amounts of debt to families all too willing to take it, our elected officials are eliminating the natural ceiling on price, allowing colleges to continue to manage their costs irresponsibly. There is no good reason that college costs should be rising so fast except that they can. With the recession socking it to state aid for public colleges and hefty losses for endowments at private colleges, the college cost picture is about to get a lot worse.Report says college is too expensive originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams According to The Register as reported in the Washington Post, one of the biggest bill-paying sites on the Internet, CheckFree.com, has been hacked, potentially opening up its customers to malware. On Tuesday, December 2nd, customers logging in to pay their bills were apparently redirected to a Ukrainian server which attempted to infect their computer. A CheckFree spokesperson acknowledged the attack and claimed that the company wrested control back from the hackers by dinnertime the same day. While CheckFree has not yet finished analyzing the uploaded malware, the spokesperson told the Post that the severity of the infection would be related to the anti-virus software running on the customer's computer and the browser used to access the account. A researcher for Trend Micro told the Post that the virus was a Trojan horse program designed to obtain the customer's user names and password. According to CheckFree, almost a third of all Americans now pay bills online. CheckFree accepts payments for hundreds of companies, includes AT&T, Bank of America, Chevron, DIRECTV, and Time Warner. I don't see any Ukrainian companies on the list, though. Yet. I'm awaiting a return call from Checkfree to learn what actions customers concerned about the security of their data might take, and will update this post as soon as I have this information. The company's published guarantee states that, when notified within two business days of a unauthorized transaction, your liability will be limited to $50. If you pay through CheckFree.com, I'd suggest checking your linked accounts regularly through the day until this situation is resolved. Checkfree.com hacked: users financial info could be at risk originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams , Shopping With the gift giving season in full swing it's no doubt that many consumers will turn to gift cards for hard to buy for friends or as last minute gifts. While there are many caveats regarding gift cards , including inactivity fees and the ease with which they are lost, sometimes they are the best gift for the situation. But you need to know how to avoid common gift card scams and issues. One of the most prevalent types of gift card scams involves the activation process. An unscrupulous employee can swipe a card first and then swipe the gift card you are "purchasing". By swiping their card first, they end up with an excellent stocking stuffer while you're left with a hunk of plastic. This scam can be done by sleight of hand but many times the clerk will disguise the extra swipe as a step in the activation process. To avoid being taken by a gift card activation scam make sure the number on your activation receipt matches the gift card the cashier hands you. You can also check the balance at another register or call the card balance hotline before you leave the store.Continue reading Everything you need to know about gift cards scams in 2008 Everything you need to know about gift cards scams in 2008 originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Extracurriculars , Retire , Career , Wealth President George W. Bush is headed toward ending up the most disliked president in American history, with an approval rating which has slowly declined to somewhere around 25%. The media scorns him, the liberals scoff at him, and he's still a favorite mud-slinging target of David Letterman. He doesn't ad lib well. He is unable to successfully tell a joke. But you do have to admit that the guy has some stones. Does a soon to be former president with a spine but no friends, stand a chance at success in the presidential memoirs market? According to an article by Duncan Greenberg at Forbes.com, George W. Bush might see some better offers if he puts off accepting them for a while. It's pretty much a given that George Bush isn't cut out for the public speaking circuit. I've never seen him attend a speaking engagement with anything akin to poise, power, or emotion. He certainly can't give insight into team building. He'd not be considered an authority on the art of negotiation. About the only point of expertise that I think G.W. could successfully lecture on would be the proposition of setting your jaw and holding your ground. No, there's not much future in public speaking for our pending former president. Perhaps it would be best if George W. Bush sets his sights upon a few ineffectual board appointments and some blessings of coin from the honorarium crowd. I'm sure that many strong minds among the conservative circles are hoping that their associative attachments to George W. Bush shall quickly fade away. The report from Forbes states; "Laura Bush will write her memoirs first. She reportedly has been entertaining publishers at the White House to discuss a possible book deal, which will likely fetch at least $5 million." I personally think that G.W. should let his wife's book clear the shelves before he even takes a stab at attempting anything like it. It's really of no earthly consequence what George W. Bush chooses to do in his semi-retirement. I don't read books from former presidents, so I honestly don't care if G.W. authors one or not. However, there is one thing that I'm almost certain of when it comes to the subject of the memoirs of George W. Bush: If he authors them, and they're published, and they sell, and you read them, I believe that you can rest easy in the assurance of this one single fact: President George W. Bush really couldn't care less whether or not you have ever liked what he has found necessary to say to you. That's exactly why I still like him. The polls be damned. Should George W. Bush wait on book deals? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Shopping Tis the season for holiday craft fairs. No, they're not just for knitted chimney stockings and tree ornaments. Many talented craftspeople and artisans show cool wares good for year-round use that you won't find anywhere else. I went to the Feria Urbana in Oakland, California last year and found lots of wonderful, small gifts: one-of-a-kind art prints for framing, hand-knit scarves, jewelry boxes and vases made from all types of materials, cute baby Onesies and fruitcakes that actually looked good enough to eat. Wares probably won't be marked down as much as they are at Wal-Mart or even Nordstrom but most sellers are willing to lower more luck this time around. But the main reasons why I love craft fairs is because I can give unique gifts that my recipients can brag about, and I can support my local craftsperson, a dying breed in this technological age. Craft fairs start up with a vengeance this weekend, and there's got to one in your area. Decorating blog Shelteriffic highlights a few well-known ones in urban settings like L.A, Minneapolis and Seattle, and IndieCraftsShows.com gives a list of more shows happening nationwide, starting today.Holiday shopping hotspot: Indie craft fairs originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Transportation , Career , Recession , Bankruptcy The United Auto Workers Union has now given new meaning to the old saying; "Bend over, and we'll do the driving." The UAW has made a good faith pledge to the auto industry, regarding moves to shave employee benefits in exchange for the possibility of preserving jobs through a massive $34 billion government bail out. Unfortunately, those people who may be affected by the proposed UAW concessions shall most likely include auto industry workers who are sick or indefinitely laid off from work. According to a report from Bloomberg, money-saving union agreements which will delay contributions to medical funds and suspend a program that pays laid-off workers, have been offered as sacrifice to the bail-out gods of congress. Bloomberg quotes Harley Shaiken, a labor relations professor at the University of California at Berkeley as stating: "This should be interpreted as a meaningful and a painful sacrifice.'' However, no one seems to truly take notice of exactly who is doing the sacrificing here. Continue reading UAW hands auto workers a double whammy UAW hands auto workers a double whammy originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Extracurriculars , Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Actually, just to get it out of the way, Blackle is powered by Google . But according to my friend's 11-year-old kid, using Blackle instead of Google will save the planet. Gee, that sounds good. So naturally, I went and checked out Blackle.com. As it turns out, it's a search engine -- again, powered by Google but owned by Heap Media -- however, the screen is black, and the font is white. And that is about the only big difference between Google and Blackle that I can tell.Continue reading Could Blackle be the new earth-friendly Google? Could Blackle be the new earth-friendly Google? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Extracurriculars It's always boggled my mind how some people will pay thousands of dollars for items that once sold for just pennies. It would be neat to see a 200-year-old rare coin, or a collection of commemorative stamps from the early 20th century, but I just don't see spending the equivalent of a vacation house on my own private island to own these things. Nevertheless, if you've got a collection of some sort, there is probably someone out there who will pay you for it -- and you might be surprised at just how much money some things will fetch. When I first noticed this phenomenon as a child, I started hoarding pogs . I never played the game and in fact couldn't even tell you the rules, but I owned thousands of those stupid discs, because I was told that one day they would be very valuable. (I still have them and I'm still waiting for that day to come. Something tells me it won't.) My mother has a whole cabinet full of salt cellars , but I'm pretty sure none of them have ever been used. My in-laws have a salt and pepper shaker set for any theme or occasion. And there's a guy I know who has every issue of Playboy magazine ever printed. Now I can see someone forking over big bucks for that collection!Continue reading Could your weird collections be worth millions? Could your weird collections be worth millions? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Sex Sells , Bargains , Shopping The NY Times reports that many small businesses are taking a creative approach to luring in shoppers this year, focusing on special events and social networking instead of traditional advertising. By targeting niche groups and catering to their interests small business are able to pull in otherwise reluctant shoppers. In most cases business are using food and entertainment as their main motivators. Using events to draw in customers isn't a new phenomena of the economic downturn. Coffee shops have been holding open mic nights and art shows ever since Starbucks made barista a household word. My busiest nights while working my way through college occurred every Tuesday when "musicians" descended upon our local coffee shop. What is changing is which small businesses are turning to these events for sales. The Times spoke with one lingerie store in Albuquerque, NM that is using Facebook and sex to drum up business. Seventh Goddess recently held a Sex and the City party and has plans to offer "Men's night" later this month complete with a lingerie fashion show. Sales at similar events in the past have been very successful proving that sex sells even when money's tight. Independent bookstore has been offering movie screenings, book readings and other events which provide the community with excellent opportunities for free entertainment. With the National Small Business Association reporting a 5% drop in the number of businesses who plan to start new advertising campaigns this year more of these events from all types of businesses will likely show up in the coming months. While some stores will continue to advertise these events in the newspaper one of the best ways to find out about such happenings is to join your city's network on Facebook or to start following people in your area on Twitter. In most cases the entertaining and food will far outweigh any salesmanship going on ensuring a fun and cheap evening out. You might even get a good deal while you're there!Small businesses getting creative to draw in customers originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Budgets , Entrepreneurship , Shopping , Transportation , Career , Recession With the national unemployment rate at 6.1% , chances are that you know someone who is jobless. And for someone without money coming in, getting help finding a job, or at least making it less stressful, is the best gift you can give. As someone who is approaching six months since being laid off, I've learned a few things about what jobless people need. A lot of it is help that you can offer without spending a lot of money. Kind of like the coupons you made when you were a kid to give your parents as gifts -- washing the car, babysitting, making breakfast, the things you can't buy in a store. So here's my list of Christmas gifts for the unemployed, from the goofy to the practical to the simply fun things to break up the monotony of the job hunt. Like getting socks from your grandma for Christmas, some of these ideas may be a bit too practical, so still consider trivial and fun gifts for the jobless people in your life. But for someone without a steady income, getting something practical that can help them in their job search is probably what they want. Continue reading Christmas gifts for the unemployed Christmas gifts for the unemployed originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Kids and Money , Saving , Recession Being in my 30s, I'm one of those Gen X-ers older people look down their nose on for my flashy spending, addiction to bling and Starbucks lattes, and preference for credit card over savings account. I'm actually not a coffee drinker and I prefer planting flowers to purchasing flashy bling, but people my age and younger are becoming more like their elders than ever. It may have taken a Great Recession to wean us off the credit cards, but a USA Today/Gallup poll states that people in their 20s and 30s are scrimping and saving like those who lived through the Great Depression. And twentysomethings are more likely to be doing it than anyone else. While only 32 percent of all Americans are saving more because of the recession, 44 percent of people ages 18 to 29 were cutting back. Another survey from the Conference Board about holiday spending found that while the average American was going to cut back on holiday spending by 11 percent, youngsters ages 25 to 34 are cutting their gift budget by 19 percent.Continue reading It took a recession for Gen X and Y to start saving. Now will it stick? It took a recession for Gen X and Y to start saving. Now will it stick? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle , Saving With so many constants -- 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year and almost most always 365 days -- it seems surprising that we need to buy a new calendar every year. Even though you can't reuse your 2008 calendar this coming year, thanks to their cyclical nature you can use it again in 2036! More importantly this means you can use many old calendars in 2009. Finding a retro calendar is simple and with plenty of years to choose from for 2009 it's sure to be a fun adventure. The first thing to do is to find out what years have the same distribution of days as 2009 by using the repeating calendar calculator . Now that you know what years to look for, hit up eBay or your local thrift store to find a suitable calendar from years gone by. In just a few minutes I was able to find a cool vintage advertisement calendar on eBay from 1942 for only a few bucks. I also found a Spice Girls calendar which would make an excellent gag gift for my sister! Looking at the recent years that are repeating in 2009, I found an abundance of pop culture, advertisement and "pinup" style calendars. With this much diversity and rock bottom prices you're sure to find a cheap gift for anyone on your list. Don't forget to include "calender" in your eBay search as I found plenty of interesting retro calendars under this common misspelling. Just be sure you correct the holidays or warn your recipient since the dates won't always match up. There's no need for them to lose their job for taking the wrong day off on Easter!Save money and go retro by reusing an old calendar in 09! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Saving , Wealth , Investing With all the confusion in the financial markets these days, the good old, reliable United States Savings Bond comes through once again as the absolute best investment available today. Because of all the bank failures and consolidations, many individuals have reservations about placi