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/Debtors diet, week 2: Curb your enthusiasm at grocery storehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/20/debtors-diet-week-1-curb-your-enthusiasm-at-the-grocery-store/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/20/debtors-diet-week-1-curb-your-enthusiasm-at-the-grocery-store/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/20/debtors-diet-week-1-curb-your-enthusiasm-at-the-grocery-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The thrill of the hunt is compelling, especially when your grocer's ads tout "BIG SAVINGS" on favorite holiday meal fixins.

But even if you're just shopping for your weekly groceries this weekend instead of the trimmings and trappings for turkey day, it's still tough to say no to a good sale. And with most of us on strict, self-imposed budgets because of the current recession, shopping on the weekend becomes an even bigger temptation, a time to say, "But I've been so good all week, I deserve a little splurge!"

Tossing sale items in your cart can blow your budget if you're not careful. "I find it hard to resist great sales, so I'll buy far more than we need or than I can fit in my freezer," says frequent sale-shopper, Barbara Nelson.

Continue reading Debtors diet, week 2: Curb your enthusiasm at grocery store

Debtors diet, week 2: Curb your enthusiasm at grocery store originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Debt DietDebtDietGina Roberts-GreyFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:30:00 ESTEven without eating junk food mummies had heart disease, toohttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/even-without-eating-junk-food-mummies-had-heart-disease-too/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/even-without-eating-junk-food-mummies-had-heart-disease-too/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/even-without-eating-junk-food-mummies-had-heart-disease-too/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Heart disease, it seems, doesn't discriminate, striking not only both men and women. Now, scientists have learned not even Pharaohs were spared of hardened arteries.

And they developed heart disease despite the absence of super-size fries paired with a sugary soda and greasy burgers, one of today's popular heart disease scapegoats. No doubt music to Ronald McDonald's ears.

"We think of it as being caused by modern risk factors," such as fast food, smoking and a lack of exercise, but the findings show that these aren't the only reasons arteries clog, said Dr. Randall Thompson, a cardiologist at the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City who found signs of heart disease in 3,500 year-old mummies, told the Associated Press.

Continue reading Even without eating junk food mummies had heart disease, too

Even without eating junk food mummies had heart disease, too originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>heart diseaseheart disease on the riseheart disease preventionheart disease statisticsHeartDiseaseHeartDiseaseOnTheRiseHeartDiseasePreventionHeartDiseaseStatisticsMcDonaldsGina Roberts-GreyThu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:00 ESTA sticky breakfast crisis: Eggos to be rationedhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/a-sticky-breakfast-crisis-eggos-to-be-rationed/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/a-sticky-breakfast-crisis-eggos-to-be-rationed/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/19/a-sticky-breakfast-crisis-eggos-to-be-rationed/#commentsFiled under:

Frozen waffle fans of all ages may be left scrambling, wondering what to eat (eggs perhaps?) for breakfast. On Wednesday, Kellogg's said it's facing an unprecedented shortage of its frozen Eggo waffles -- a situation it expects to last through mid-2010.

Oh, what will breakfast lovers do?

Flooding at an Atlanta plant forced Kellogg's to shut down a bakery. A move that impacted production of the frozen food favorite. Pouring hot maple syrup on the already sticky situation: equipment repairs to the company's biggest waffle bakery in Rossville, TN. which further impacted production.

But soggy weather isn't the only reason the Atlanta facility closed. The Eggo makers shut-down during much of September and October to sanitize the plant after inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes -- bacteria that can cause serious infection -- according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

"We are working around the clock to restore Eggo store inventories to normal levels as quickly as possible," spokesman Kris Charles said. The currently available Eggos will be rationed to stores nationwide "based on historical percentage of business," Charles said.

The "temporary supply disruption" contributed to a 3% decline in sales in Kellogg's North American frozen and specialty channels division in the third quarter, Kellogg CEO David Mackay said on a conference call in late October.

One can only imagine it won't be long before resourceful entrepreneurs start auctioning Eggo they're willing to "leggo" on eBay.

A sticky breakfast crisis: Eggos to be rationed originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Eggo shortageEggoShortagefoodKelloggsshoppingwafflesGina Roberts-GreyThu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 ESTRod Stewart gets servedhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/rod-stewart-gets-served/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/rod-stewart-gets-served/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/rod-stewart-gets-served/#commentsFiled under:

It's a good thing Rod Stewart appears to be ageless. If a prominent entertainment law firm has its way, Stewart -- who can't seem to avoid lawsuits -- is going to need to keep on rockin' for several years in order to pay off a lawsuit.

Tuesday, the firm Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard & Shapiro filed a $3.3 million lawsuit against the British crooner, claiming he owes them for work on three cases.

One of the cases involved Stewart's cancellation of a December 2000 show in Las Vegas. If that case's outcome is any indication of Stewart's luck in court, he better be prepared to whip out his checkbook. A federal jury decided in favor of the Rio hotel-casino, awarding a $2 million settlement for the canceled show.

The phrase "you've been served" is a familiar one in the Stewart family. In 2007, Stewart's son Sean was sued for "shock, horror, fright, worry, grief, shame, embarrassment, anger, chagrin and nausea" experienced by Toluabus and Ericka Stein. Sean Stewart also did a stint in the slammer in 2002 for drug and assault charges.

Rod Stewart gets served originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>rod stewartRodStewartGina Roberts-GreyWed, 18 Nov 2009 16:30:00 ESTNo more mammograms for young women, panel recommendshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/no-more-mammograms-for-young-women-panel-recommends/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/no-more-mammograms-for-young-women-panel-recommends/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/no-more-mammograms-for-young-women-panel-recommends/#commentsFiled under: ,

On Monday, the American Cancer Society was seeing red courtesy of a new set of government guidelines for breast cancer screenings that sent shock waves through the organization -- and the entire country.

Recently, the American Cancer Society backpedaled on screenings for some screenings. But they've remained consistent on their position on mammograms.

A government panel consisting of doctors and scientists has issued their guidelines for mammograms, stating most women should skip the screening until age 50 -- something that sharply conflicts the American Cancer Society's decades old recommendation for all women age 40 and over to be screened annually.

Continue reading No more mammograms for young women, panel recommends

No more mammograms for young women, panel recommends originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>breast cancerbreast cancer awarenessBreastCancerBreastCancerAwarenessmammogrammammogramsGina Roberts-GreyWed, 18 Nov 2009 15:15:00 ESTExpanding waistlines will cost the U.S. $344 billionhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/expanding-waistlines-will-cost-the-u-s-344-billion/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/expanding-waistlines-will-cost-the-u-s-344-billion/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/expanding-waistlines-will-cost-the-u-s-344-billion/#commentsFiled under:

If the waistlines of Americans continue to expand, the U.S. will fork out about $344 billion in medical-related expenses by 2018. That will use up about 21% of health care spending, according to the first analysis that examines just how heavy the price tag of being overweight is.

The projections accompany another startling could-be statistic: in 10 years 43% of American adults -- more than four out of every 10 -- will be obese.

This report comes as the country struggles to find ways to curb medical costs and Congress debates health care legislation.

Continue reading Expanding waistlines will cost the U.S. $344 billion

Expanding waistlines will cost the U.S. $344 billion originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>health carehealth care reformHealthCareHealthCareReformobeseobesityobesity epidemicObesityEpidemicGina Roberts-GreyWed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:00 ESTFed reading the fine print on gift cardshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/gift-card-fine-print-draws-feds-scrutiny/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/gift-card-fine-print-draws-feds-scrutiny/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/gift-card-fine-print-draws-feds-scrutiny/#commentsFiled under: , ,

giftcardsThe Federal Reserve this week proposed rules that would protect gift-card users from exorbitant fees and other restrictions. A move aimed at protecting the 95% of Americans the Fed says use them.

"Concerns have been raised regarding the amount of fees associated with gift cards, the expiration dates of gift cards and the adequacy of disclosures," the Fed said. "Consumers who do not use the value of the card within a short period of time may be surprised to find that the card has expired or that dormancy or service fees have reduced the value of the card."

Continue reading Fed reading the fine print on gift cards

Fed reading the fine print on gift cards originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>gift cardsGiftCardsGina Roberts-GreyWed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 ESTCoca-Cola's Velcro ads create a sticky situation for bus ridershttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/coca-colas-velcro-ads-create-a-sticky-situation-for-bus-riders/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/coca-colas-velcro-ads-create-a-sticky-situation-for-bus-riders/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/coca-colas-velcro-ads-create-a-sticky-situation-for-bus-riders/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've heard of sticky advertising campaigns before -- those that try to get you to stay transfixed on an ad for just a little longer -- but Coca-Cola has taken the concept to a whole new level. To generate buzz for its new "grip bottle" packaging, the soft drink giant has unveiled giant posters made of Velcro in bus stations throughout Paris.

Designed to create an interactive experience with consumers, the Velcro ads are instead like a spider's web awaiting unsuspecting commuters.

Continue reading Coca-Cola's Velcro ads create a sticky situation for bus riders

Coca-Cola's Velcro ads create a sticky situation for bus riders originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>coca colacoca-colaCocaColacokevelco adVelcoAdvelcro adsVelcroAdsGina Roberts-GreyTue, 17 Nov 2009 17:45:00 ESTSmall Paws shares the love by cutting dog adoption fees in halfhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/small-paws-shares-the-love-by-cutting-dog-adoption-fees-in-half/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/small-paws-shares-the-love-by-cutting-dog-adoption-fees-in-half/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/small-paws-shares-the-love-by-cutting-dog-adoption-fees-in-half/#commentsFiled under: ,

The recession saw many losing their homes and wondering where -- or if -- they'd get their next meal. And we're not just talking about people.

Shelters and rescue organizations continue to see an increase, some as much as 10%, of homeless dogs file into their doors. Many have been surrendered by their human families who can no longer afford to care for them.

In the hopes of placing some of these furries in "forever homes," some clever groups are looking to Black Friday's example of deals and "deep discounts."

Continue reading Small Paws shares the love by cutting dog adoption fees in half

Small Paws shares the love by cutting dog adoption fees in half originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>adopt a dogadopt an animalAdoptADogAdoptAnAnimalbichon friseBichonFriserescue dogRescueDogshelter dogShelterDogSmall PawsSmallPawsGina Roberts-GreyTue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:00 ESTJobs could be on the way if the midwest becomes the new Gitmohttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/jobs-could-be-on-the-way-if-the-midwest-becomes-the-new-gitmo/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/jobs-could-be-on-the-way-if-the-midwest-becomes-the-new-gitmo/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/jobs-could-be-on-the-way-if-the-midwest-becomes-the-new-gitmo/#commentsFiled under:

jail cellIf some Democrats in Illinois have their way, a prison in the rural, western part of the state could become home to detainees currently housed at Guantanamo Bay.

The move has local leaders seeing dollar signs. Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, both Democrats, told the Daily Herald "the potential sale could be a once-in-a-lifetime economic opportunity to help create about 3,000 jobs in the economically depressed area."

Continue reading Jobs could be on the way if the midwest becomes the new Gitmo

Jobs could be on the way if the midwest becomes the new Gitmo originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>detaineesGitmoguantanamoGuantanamo Bayguantanamo bay prisonGuantanamoBayGuantanamoBayPrisonjobsGina Roberts-GreyTue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 ESTAmerica's health report card: D-http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/americas-health-report-card-d/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/americas-health-report-card-d/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/americas-health-report-card-d/#commentsFiled under:

Americans are paying billions for what experts call "treatable illnesses." But the exorbitant amount we're paying, a new report says, is growing exponentially.

Currently, the U.S. is spending more per capita on health care than any other nation. And much of this excess spending is going to treat preventable diseases linked to smoking and obesity.

As the health care reform debate wages on, the 20th anniversary edition of America's Health Rankings, a 20-year scorecard of our nation's health has been published in partnership by United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention.

Obesity is projected to be the biggest and most costly public health issue of the next generation. It's also the one that's the easier to prevent.

Continue reading America's health report card: D-

America's health report card: D- originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>health carehealth care reformhealth care reform billhealth care reforrmhealthcareHealthCareReformHealthCareReformBillHealthCareReforrmobeseobese kidsObeseKidsobesityobesity epidemicObesityEpidemicsmokesmokingGina Roberts-GreyTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTSmartyPig offers Black Friday cash boosthttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/smartypig-offers-black-friday-cash-boost/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/smartypig-offers-black-friday-cash-boost/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/17/smartypig-offers-black-friday-cash-boost/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Looking to boost your Black Friday budget? SmartyPig is upping its current ante -- offering customers the chance to cash in on a hefty cash bonus this holiday shopping season.

The new bonus offers customers using the on-line piggy bank some extra coin - up to 12% - when they meet their savings goal and shop at one of SmartyPig's retail partners like Macy's, Barnes and Noble and GameStop.

"The holidays can put a financial strain on anybody, and using credit cards for purchases can add to a person's debt 'holiday hangover'," SmartyPig CEO Bob Weinschenk told WalletPop.

The goal-oriented online savings program currently offers a competitive 2.01% (APY). And until Monday, November 17, had also offered the option to add 6% to your savings when shopping at one of SmartyPig's retail partners.

"Now, when customers meet their savings goal, they may be able to earn double the bonus -- 12%," says Weinschenk.

The 12% bonus is applicable to funds withdrawn from accounts that are transferred to retail partner gift cards. "The cards never expire, so they don't have to be spent just on Black Friday or during the holiday season," says Tiffany Spencer, spokeswoman for SmartyPig.

SmartyPig is also rolling out a new added incentive for consumers looking to stash cash for a vacation. Customers can now earn up to a 10% cash bonus when they meet their savings goal and opt to book through one of SmartyPig's retail partners Travelocity or American Airlines.

Continue reading SmartyPig offers Black Friday cash boost

SmartyPig offers Black Friday cash boost originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>holiday shoppingHolidayShoppingonline savingsOnlineSavingssaving moneySavingMoneySmartyPigtechnologyGina Roberts-GreyTue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 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.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Retail's silver bullet to boost sales figures

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 ESTThe debtor's diet, week 1 -- Money traps that don't have to trip you uphttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/the-debtors-diet-week-1-money-traps-that-dont-have-to-trip/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/the-debtors-diet-week-1-money-traps-that-dont-have-to-trip/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/the-debtors-diet-week-1-money-traps-that-dont-have-to-trip/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Budgets are like diets. Both are tough to define. And neither one is easy to stick to -- especially when you're tempted over the holidays.

Experts say just like diets, budgets tend to be blown more often on the weekends than during the week. The theory: You've deprived yourself all week, so when the weekend hits, your will-power splits.

"It's easier to stick to a budget during the week than on the weekends," says certified financial planner Julie Murphy Casserly, founder of JMC Wealth Management in Chicago and author of The Emotion Behind Money: Building Wealth From the Inside Out.

Continue reading The debtor's diet, week 1 -- Money traps that don't have to trip you up

The debtor's diet, week 1 -- Money traps that don't have to trip you up originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>budget adviceBudgetAdvicecontrolling spendingControllingSpendingDebtors dietDebtorsDietsaving moneySavingMoneyGina Roberts-GreyFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:30:00 ESTParents: Don't fight with your veggie kidshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/parents-dont-fight-with-your-veggie-kids/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/parents-dont-fight-with-your-veggie-kids/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/13/parents-dont-fight-with-your-veggie-kids/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Parents are no strangers to squabbles with kids. For some, it's cleaning their room. While others fight over their kid's homework.

While those can be logical battlegrounds to enter, experts say arguing over food -- specifically if it's over your child being a vegetarian -- aren't worth the fight.

According to Jennifer Nelson, director of clinical dietetics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, food battles can be stressful for kids. Especially if they involve peers.

Continue reading Parents: Don't fight with your veggie kids

Parents: Don't fight with your veggie kids originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>fighting with kids over foodFightingWithKidsOverFoodfoodKids and moneyKidsAndMoneyvegetarianvegetarian dietvegetarian foodVegetarianDietVegetarianFoodGina Roberts-GreyFri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:00 ESTBlack Friday: Debit card 'don'ts'http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/debit-card-donts-for-black-friday/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/debit-card-donts-for-black-friday/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/debit-card-donts-for-black-friday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

checkout counterEven though the most recent consumer credit reports show credit card debt is declining, consumer's debit cards are getting quite a workout. Debit card transactions recently surpassed credit card transactions for the first time ever.

Experts are forecasting debit card transactions to surge even further past their credit card siblings on Black Friday -- and caution that consumers need to be cautious when wielding their debit cards (on transactions requiring a PIN number) this holiday shopping season.

"Consumers are trying to keep their credit card balances low," Carrie Coghill Kuntz, spokeswoman for CreditFYI.com said in a press release. "So many are using debit cards."

There is a difference
It's important to understand, even if your debit/credit card has one of those cute little VISA logos plastered on the bottom right side, if you complete a transaction using your PIN (personal identification number) number, you're NOT covered under VISA's liability policy.

And those PIN-based transactions - not ones where you swipe your debit/credit card and opt to complete the transaction as a "credit" purchase - can wind up costing you a lot more than you'd expect.

Continue reading Black Friday: Debit card 'don'ts'

Black Friday: Debit card 'don'ts' originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Black FridayBlack Friday 2009Black Friday SalesBlackFridayBlackFriday2009BlackFridaySalesdebit carddebit card chargesdebit card fraudDebit Cardsdebit-cardDebitCardDebitCardChargesDebitCardFraudDebitCardsGina Roberts-GreyThu, 12 Nov 2009 17:00:00 ESTLight cigarettes won't help you kick buttshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/light-cigarettes-wont-help-you-kick-butts/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/light-cigarettes-wont-help-you-kick-butts/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/light-cigarettes-wont-help-you-kick-butts/#commentsFiled under:

Looking to quit smoking? Don't look to "light" or low-tar cigarettes as a way to lessen your dependency or kick the habit.

A study has found smokers who use light and low-tar cigarettes don't quit, citing a 50% lower chance of giving up smoking.

The research from the University of Pittsburgh, published in the November issue of Tobacco Control, analyzed survey data from about 31,000 smokers who were asked whether they had switched to a milder or low-tar brand of cigarettes and if they had, what were the reason(s) for the switch.

Continue reading Light cigarettes won't help you kick butts

Light cigarettes won't help you kick butts originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>healthsmokingGina Roberts-GreyThu, 12 Nov 2009 16:30:00 ESTWhat's the deal? Where does the money go on Kiva.orghttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/11/whats-the-deal-where-does-the-money-go-on-kiva-org/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/11/whats-the-deal-where-does-the-money-go-on-kiva-org/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/11/whats-the-deal-where-does-the-money-go-on-kiva-org/#commentsFiled under: ,

Rice farm

In an October 2009 blog post, David Roodman, a research fellow at the Center for Global Development, had no idea he'd set a chain of events in motion that would rock the world of person-to-person lending. But that's exactly what happened when Roodman questioned how the popular non-profit charity, Kiva.org operates.

In the past, celebrities like Oprah Winfrey had extolled Kiva's virtues. But with one seemingly simple blog post, Roodman got donors and interested bystanders asking "where's all that money really going?"

Continue reading What's the deal? Where does the money go on Kiva.org

What's the deal? Where does the money go on Kiva.org originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>kivaperson-to-personGina Roberts-GreyWed, 11 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTHow to avoid Black Friday credit blundershttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/10/how-to-avoid-black-friday-credit-blunders/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/10/how-to-avoid-black-friday-credit-blunders/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/10/how-to-avoid-black-friday-credit-blunders/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

black FridayBlack Friday can certainly net shoppers some great holiday gift deals. But if you're not careful, experts say those "deals" could wind up costing you big in the long run by damaging your credit score.

Steve Schwartz, executive vice president of consumer services at Intersections, Inc., in Chantilly, Virginia, told WalletPop that it's easy to get caught up in the adrenaline-filled rush of Black Friday shopping. "But without a plan," Schwartz says, "consumers frequently end up with buyer's remorse." And a plunging credit score, too.

Continue reading How to avoid Black Friday credit blunders

How to avoid Black Friday credit blunders originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>black fridayBlackFridaycredit cardsCreditCardsGina Roberts-GreyTue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 ESTGrant money awarded to prove video games are good for your healthhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/grant-money-awarded-to-prove-video-games-are-good-for-your-healt/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/grant-money-awarded-to-prove-video-games-are-good-for-your-healt/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/grant-money-awarded-to-prove-video-games-are-good-for-your-healt/#commentsFiled under: ,

WiiRecently nearly $2 million in grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation were awarded to nine research teams working on strengthening the evidence that playing games - video games that is - is good for your health.

The awards, which come from the Foundation's Health Games Research national program based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will be used to research how gaming supports the development and use of digital interactive games to improve players' health.

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Grant money awarded to prove video games are good for your health originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>nintendonintendowiivideo gamesvideogamevideogamesGina Roberts-GreyMon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST