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/Go for Less: Cruising on the new Carnival Dreamhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/23/go-for-less-cruising-on-the-new-carnival-dream/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/23/go-for-less-cruising-on-the-new-carnival-dream/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/23/go-for-less-cruising-on-the-new-carnival-dream/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's definitely cruise ship season. Royal Caribbean just made a major splash by launching the largest cruise ship in the world, Oasis of the Seas. That made headlines, but there have been other news stories in the industry. Last week, the huge Carnival line also had an unveiling of its own in New York City. Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden was the godmother for its new ship, the Dream.

WalletPop was invited to take a two-night ride on the ship, which is impressive but no record-breaker, as a guest of Carnival. Since the ship was packed with die-hard cruisers and travel writers eager to get their first peek at Carnival's newest vessel, it was the perfect opportunity to ask experienced cruise travelers for their favorite money-saving tips for taking a cruise.

Once you've paid your fare, your room is taken care of. So are your meals, provided you stick to the few on-board restaurants that are included in your ticket price. But after that, the costs start mounting. WalletPop's Jason Cochran, who has taken quite a few cruises himself as a travel writer, asked passengers on the sparkling new Dream for their best money-saving tips.


Go for Less: Cruising on the new Carnival Dream originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cruise ship tipsCruiseShipTipsfeaturedGo for LessGoForLessRoyal CaribbeanRoyalCaribbeantravelJason CochranMon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 ESTOn board the new Oasis of the Seas: Is it worth the money?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/21/on-board-the-new-oasis-of-the-seas-is-it-worth-the-money/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/21/on-board-the-new-oasis-of-the-seas-is-it-worth-the-money/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/21/on-board-the-new-oasis-of-the-seas-is-it-worth-the-money/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So here I am, writing this from off the coast of Florida as part of the first two-day preview cruise of the magnificent Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has launched the largest cruise ship in the world, a towering dagwood of action-packed decks and over-the top superlatives: longest cruise ship, widest cruise ship, tallest cruise ship, heaviest cruise ship.

And as of today, the coolest cruise ship. Rihanna was on here yesterday, and I'm told Richard Branson has come and gone, too. By now, most of America has seen the particulars of this gargantuan, billion-dollar chunk of devil-be-damned engineering. Here on board, one of the stateroom TV channels plays, on a loop, the segments of yesterday's Good Morning America in which Sam Champion and his crew romped around the Aqua Theatre, the Solarium, the cocktail bar that rises and falls between three decks (pictured above), the huge Central Park and Boardwalk atriums (atria?) that carve an airy middle into the ship.



The ship is, simply put, astounding. I have never seen anything like it in my years of cruising. It took me about six hours to explore fully from Deck 3 (the Studio B ice rink) to Deck 17 (the stunning, and ridiculously expensive, duplex loft suites with two-story sea views). There's nearly no way to take in the enormity of the endeavor. If you could pack a small shopping mall together with a 2,400-room resort and send it off to sea, you might start coming close (one cynic described it as "a hotel on a barge," which omits the considerable frills and dazzle), but you'd still have trouble wrapping your head around it all.

It is so big as to be humbling, and sometimes, that makes it a little frightening. As we left Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, a police boat rushed a smaller craft that was approaching us and warned its captain to back off, as it was entering "restricted waters." Something this big and this audacious would be an obvious target, and local police are clearly taking no chances.

Royal Caribbean, ever adept at cleverly harnessing social media (remember that unfortunate recent case in which it was nabbed giving freebies to people likely to populate user-review boards with praise?), has invited large numbers of journalists, travel agents, and VIPs to take part on two, back-to-back, two-night cruises. Attending for WalletPop, I'm on the first one. For this run only, alcohol is free.



There were some early reports this week that the line would be, in effect, bribing the press for good stories by plying them with booze and by giving them stuff that will actually cost passengers on "real" sailings. Although alcohol is free, I can't say I've seen this accusation to be the case, and the crowd is a lot less drunk than it was for a paid sailing on the Carnival Dream a week ago. Not everything is handed out: I've had to pay for things such as a $2.50 coffee on the Royal Promenade or $2.50 for a hyper-sweet cupcake from its on-board cupcake shop. Whenever anything is offered to us, I ask what the price will be for paying customers.

Again and again, the answer I get tells me that many of the things we're getting are included in the fare anyway. That includes midnight pizza at Sorrento's, afternoon burgers at Johnny Rocket's, and twilight doughnuts on the Boardwalk (where there's a working carousel), and even rides on one of the twin FlowRider sheet wave machines, provided you can score a time slot. So although Royal Caribbean is pioneering obnoxious fees such as surcharges for late-night room service and hefty upcharges for the privilege of eating better food than its main dining regularly serves, I can't say it's using the launch of the Oasis to foist a lot of new ones on us.

There are some issues, of course. The first is lines. Royal Caribbean was wise enough to only pack this ship about half-full, which means we're all likely to get into the shows we want to see and we won't write reviews complaining about crowds. When it's full of paying guests, though, you'll have to make many of your reservations online or in a queue, adding another layer of hassle to what's supposed to be your break from it all. I also suspect the main pool area, on Deck 15, will not be able accommodate everyone who wants to swim. On balance, though, this is a pretty dazzling achievement, and diversion is around every corner.

When I see a ship as marvelously bloated as this one, I have to separate my sense of travel snobbery from my admiration for what Royal Caribbean has done here. I can't deny that passengers who immerse themselves in this floating circus might as well not be at sea at all. It's less a ship than a floating resort, and most of the passengers seem to be hanging out below decks than enjoying the sun and the sea.

Today, while I was having lunch in the Windjammer Marketplace buffet on Deck 16, I looked down at the smooth blue water to see dolphins playing alongside the ship. While I was admiring that sight, the couple behind me was engaged in a lively debate about the quality of this buffet compared to those on other ships. They were oblivious to their surroundings. It's typical of the attitude on board the Oasis, which is so loathe to share any glory with the oceans than most of its vantage points over the seas are sheathed in glass.

That's all right. This ship is a product, and whether you're a theatre reviewer or a travel writer, you have to remember the audience for whom you're reviewing the product. This audience is agog. I myself can't help but be impressed. For the next year or so, until its sister ship the Allure of the Seas matches her feats, this will be the ship to book, and rates are likely to be at around $150 a night or more (I wrote about upcoming deals to be had that were even better). I can't say that if I paid that price, high for the industry right now, that I would ever find that I was feeling ripped off.



Now that I've seen this ship, though, I might consider any other vessel that dared to charge me so much would be a rip. In this way alone, the Oasis may have changed the industry: It will be difficult for less exuberant ships to charge the same price, and if they do, they'll have to find some other hook, be it a boast about smaller crowds, better food (Royal Caribbean's food is not widely considered its strong point), Mickey Mouse appearances, or larger cabins. The sheer magnitude of the Oasis, its biggest selling point, will also be the very thing that convinces some customers to choose a sailing with more modesty.

And more importantly, remember that traveling is not always the same thing as vacationing. Not everyone wants to engage with other cultures; for many people, the floating fishtank of a cruise ship is all the exploration they need. The Oasis is a fabulous vacation machine, but it's about the universe it has created for itself, not about its place in the outside world. In that, it's a home run.

On board the new Oasis of the Seas: Is it worth the money? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Jason CochranSat, 21 Nov 2009 17:10:00 EST'Up' selling: Disney forces its biggest fans to upgrade to Blu-rayhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/up-selling-disney-forces-its-biggest-fans-to-upgrade-to-blu-r/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/up-selling-disney-forces-its-biggest-fans-to-upgrade-to-blu-r/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/16/up-selling-disney-forces-its-biggest-fans-to-upgrade-to-blu-r/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When I rent movies, do I devour the DVD extras? Sure, lots of times the audio commentary is just a track of actors and directors waxing important and mostly ignoring the images on the screen, but they can still be dishy and insidery, and for my favorite movies, they can almost make purchasing the DVD worth the money.

Disney DVD knows there are lots of fans like me. For years, it has released its biggest titles in a variety of volumes. There's often a simple one-disc version for people who just want to see the movie without any extras, and maybe a two-disc version loaded up with more outtakes and mini-documentaries.

Continue reading 'Up' selling: Disney forces its biggest fans to upgrade to Blu-ray

'Up' selling: Disney forces its biggest fans to upgrade to Blu-ray originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Blu-Rayblu-ray discblu-ray playerBlu-rayDiscBlu-rayPlayerDisneydvdJason CochranMon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:00 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. The Hotwire Group's sales over 12 months have exceeded $250 million for the first time, and reps 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>hotelshotwirepricelinetravelJason CochranMon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:00 ESTCheapest colleges: 13 standup schools that cost less than $5,000 a yearhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/cheapest-colleges-13-standup-schools-that-cost-less-than-5-000/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/cheapest-colleges-13-standup-schools-that-cost-less-than-5-000/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/09/cheapest-colleges-13-standup-schools-that-cost-less-than-5-000/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A good buy doesn't always end up on your receipt at the register. Sometimes it winds up on your résumé.

According to the College Board, the average college tuition in the United States is $26,273, up more than 4% from last year. But not all universities cost that much, and not all cheap colleges give you junk degrees. Sprinkled across America you'll find some discount degrees that are actually worth just as much as the highest-priced ones.

Tuition at all of these colleges can be had for under $5,000 a year -- and a few are completely free. If your kid's in high school, now is the time to start thinking about how to afford their next big step. Start planning your applications now, because the competition is tight:

Continue reading Cheapest colleges: 13 standup schools that cost less than $5,000 a year

Cheapest colleges: 13 standup schools that cost less than $5,000 a year originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cheap tuitionCheapTuitioncollegedebtfeaturedkids and moneyKidsAndMoneystudent loansStudentLoansuniversityJason CochranMon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:00 ESTDesign simply! It costs less and lasts longer, says Michael Moloneyhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/06/design-simply-it-costs-less-and-lasts-longer-says-michael-molo/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/06/design-simply-it-costs-less-and-lasts-longer-says-michael-molo/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/06/design-simply-it-costs-less-and-lasts-longer-says-michael-molo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MoloneyMichael Moloney, the prolific Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer, recently contacted WalletPop by Skype to divulge a few choice tips for renovating your home on a budget. One of his essential suggestions: When you've got no money to transform your surroundings, you can achieve a dramatic effect by simply painting them.

Moloney's ideas were so good that this week, in advance of Sunday's episode on ABC featuring country music ditz Kellie Pickler, WalletPop's Jason Cochran wanted to talk with Moloney again to get more. Today, Moloney has a few words for all the people who pester him on the street to ask him to work his magic on their own houses.

Continue reading Design simply! It costs less and lasts longer, says Michael Moloney

Design simply! It costs less and lasts longer, says Michael Moloney originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>decorating tipsDecoratingTipsexpire-images:2010-9-2home decoratingMIchael MoloneyMichaelMoloneyJason CochranFri, 06 Nov 2009 14:45:00 ESTGo for Less: Buenos Aires, Argentinahttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/06/go-for-less-buenos-aires-argentina/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/06/go-for-less-buenos-aires-argentina/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/06/go-for-less-buenos-aires-argentina/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After the peso crisis of 2001, Argentina became the destination célèbre for Americans, who flocked to South America to revel in the astonishing buys that a devalued currency can yield. Time has passed, and now we're slogging through our own economic turmoil. So is a trip to Buenos Aires still a great buy, or have the locals caught on to the influx and jacked up rates to milk tourist dollars?

Michael Luongo, author of Frommer's Buenos Aires, visits WalletPop's studios to tell us that the answer is a little bit of both. He lets us know what the situation is in the storied colonial capital of Argentina, and he fills us in on how a first-time visitor there can still find deals without losing the authenticity of the local culture. Sure, you've seem washed-up reality stars do the tango on Dancing with the Stars, but is it feasible to dance it in the real Argentine milongueros?

As part of our ongoing series, WalletPop tells you how to go for less:





Go for Less: Buenos Aires, Argentina originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>ArgentinaBlogtalk radioBlogtalkRadiobudgetsfeaturedGo For LessGoForLesstangotravelJason CochranFri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 ESTMickey Mouse gets his edge backhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/05/mickey-mouse-gets-his-edge-back/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/05/mickey-mouse-gets-his-edge-back/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/05/mickey-mouse-gets-his-edge-back/#commentsQuick! Describe Mickey Mouse's personality in six words or less. Having a hard time? All right, what was the last wacky thing you saw him do? Still stumped?

Mickey is a lot of things, but specific he isn't. One of the world's most identifiable characters has become little more than a corporate mascot who is rolled out whenever the Disney company needs to sell something. Mickey is a placebo, a blank slate of a cherub upon whom children and adults alike can project their fondest make-believe fantasies. Even when he makes personal appearances, he's usually silent.

Mickey could be said to be stuck in 1955, but Disney is aware it's nearly 2010. So its image-makers, aware that Mickey's "aw-shucks" act has grown stale and won't last forever in a world filled with ironic and savvy kids, are taking a risk with their flagship character. Breaking the code Mickey has followed for the past half-century, it has authorized a new image for His Mouseness, which could turn off millions of parents who treasure the genial personality they're used to. Harking back to his early years, he'll become a colorized version of his 1930s self: wiry legs, sharp angles, a stockier belly, a whip-like rodent tail, and a peaked brow that can twist into a variety of perturbed expressions to match his flashing temper.

Continue reading Mickey Mouse gets his edge back

Mickey Mouse gets his edge back originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Jason CochranThu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:00 ESTWhy you can afford to cruise on the mighty Oasis of the Seashttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/why-you-can-afford-to-cruise-on-the-mighty-oasis-of-the-seas/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/why-you-can-afford-to-cruise-on-the-mighty-oasis-of-the-seas/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/why-you-can-afford-to-cruise-on-the-mighty-oasis-of-the-seas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Royal Caribbean's newest behemoth, the Oasis of the Seas, doesn't arrive in our waters for another couple of weeks, but pictures of the awesome cruise ship are already appearing in the news.

How could they not? She's the largest cruise ship on the planet, towering 20 stories over the waves and cutting a 1,180-foot-long profile against the horizon. On board, there's space for 6,300 paying guests, 2,000 crew members, a 1,300-seat theater (larger than some on Broadway), some duplex cabins, an ice rink, an indoor/outdoor park, and a cocktail bar that travels from deck to deck via an elevator system.

WalletPop will be on board for her maiden voyage out of Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 20, and our own Jason Cochran will bring you video proof of this astonishing new feat of engineering.

Continue reading Why you can afford to cruise on the mighty Oasis of the Seas

Why you can afford to cruise on the mighty Oasis of the Seas originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Oasis of the SeasOasisOfTheSeasoceanJason CochranTue, 03 Nov 2009 17:45:00 ESTRecession tales: The world gets a little smallerhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/recession-tales-the-world-gets-a-little-smaller/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/recession-tales-the-world-gets-a-little-smaller/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/03/recession-tales-the-world-gets-a-little-smaller/#commentsFiled under: ,

Survey after survey confirms what you and I already know: Staycations are stupid. You and I don't just hate the stupid word, which was dreamed up by opportunistic marketing departments to sell old things in a new way. We also hate the idea of them, and as soon as the money starts flowing again, we're outta here.

But there's also no doubt that more of us are staying closer to home right now. Due both to a downturn in personal spending and a cutback in business travel expenses, America's hotels and airlines are dramatically less full nowadays than they were three years ago.

The urge to explore, being an inherent and eternal quality of mankind, hasn't left us; only the means to explore have. Still, it's also true that the longer this mess persists, the more travel will be changed forever. Some shifts have already been cemented into place.

Continue reading Recession tales: The world gets a little smaller

Recession tales: The world gets a little smaller originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>recessiontravelJason CochranTue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 ESTDisney Cruise Lines - inside cabins dismal no morehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/30/disney-cruise-lines-inside-cabins-dismal-no-more/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/30/disney-cruise-lines-inside-cabins-dismal-no-more/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/30/disney-cruise-lines-inside-cabins-dismal-no-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Disney virtual portholeIn the next generation of Disney Cruise Line ships, the windowless inside cabin may be the ones kids beg their parents to book. In a boon to budget travelers, the cheapest, least desirable cruise stateroom category will be getting a major sexing up in January of 2011, when the Disney Dream, now under construction, is christened.

All inside cabins on the new Dream will be equipped with an oh-so-Disney innovation: the "virtual porthole." Above the bed, a round TV window will be embedded in the wall, made to look like an old-fashioned ship's porthole. Through it, the tenants in the modern equivalent of steerage will be able to watch live, streaming high-def images of the ocean outside, just as the guests in more expensive cabins see it for real.

Continue reading Disney Cruise Lines - inside cabins dismal no more

Disney Cruise Lines - inside cabins dismal no more originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>AquaDuckDisney Cruise LineDisneyCruiseLineinside cabinsInsideCabinsvirtual portholeJason CochranFri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTExtreme Makeover's Michael Moloney: If you can't afford to renovate, then edithttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/30/extreme-makeovers-michael-maloney-if-you-cant-afford-to-renov/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/30/extreme-makeovers-michael-maloney-if-you-cant-afford-to-renov/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/30/extreme-makeovers-michael-maloney-if-you-cant-afford-to-renov/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lots of us find that at the end of the month, we don't have any money left. The recession has forced millions of Americans to put off dreams of renovating or redesigning their homes. Designer Michael Moloney has a gift for quick and effective decor. After all, he whips up stunning new rooms within days every week on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Taking off from the show's episode this Sunday, in which a family's plans to build their dream home are derailed by a freak accident, Moloney calls in to WalletPop's studios to talk with Jason Cochran about the things you can do if you find you can't afford that dream makeover anymore.

You can whittle down the things you already own. You can freshen things up by moving your stuff all around the house to new locations. Or, if you have $14 left in your pocket by the 31st, you can give any room a dramatic new look with one simple solution.

Watch our conversation with the design whiz below. You can also watch our conversation with music star Xzibit, who is making his second appearance on the show this weekend as he pitches in to help another needy family.




Extreme Makeover's Michael Moloney: If you can't afford to renovate, then edit originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Extreme Makeover: Michael MaloneyExtremeMakeover:MichaelMaloneyhome decoratingHomeDecoratinghouse renovationsHouseRenovationsXzibitJason CochranFri, 30 Oct 2009 12:30:00 ESTSave yourself trouble and book Disney dining reservations onlinehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/online-dining-reservations-the-best-way-to-dine-at-disney/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/online-dining-reservations-the-best-way-to-dine-at-disney/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/online-dining-reservations-the-best-way-to-dine-at-disney/#commentsFiled under: ,

When we were kids, a visit to Walt Disney World was a carefree affair. We could drift into the park like sleepwalkers, point to where our fancy led us, and explore without agenda until the fireworks kissed us goodnight.

Today, it's not so much fun. Disney has chosen to survive the recession in part by giving away food through its Disney Dining Plan, and the influx of hungry guests demanding their free meals has further clogged the sit-down restaurants. You can no longer walk up to any restaurant and expect to be seated. In fact, you'll often be turned away.

The value of the Disney Dining Plan is one of the most hotly debated issues in all of Disneydom. (My verdict: It's rarely worth it unless you're a huge eater, and it will slow you down if you're very active.)

Continue reading Save yourself trouble and book Disney dining reservations online

Save yourself trouble and book Disney dining reservations online originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>diningdining outDiningOutDisneyDisney WorlddisneylandDisneyWorldfeaturedJason CochranTue, 27 Oct 2009 15:30:00 ESTKansas City BBQ is the ultimate budget meal, but why is it so cheap?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/kansas-city-bbq-is-the-ultimate-budget-meal-but-why-is-it-so-ch/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/kansas-city-bbq-is-the-ultimate-budget-meal-but-why-is-it-so-ch/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/27/kansas-city-bbq-is-the-ultimate-budget-meal-but-why-is-it-so-ch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BBQ platterAmericans, we have something of the caveman in us. We, like our furry forebears, regularly gather the family around an open fire, where we roast meat for ritual consumption. From flaming pit to flaming pit, fierce rivalries have developed between clans over the right way to prepare and devour the kill.

Yes, when it comes to cheap meals that satisfy our bellies, there's nothing quite as fundamental, or as all-American, as barbecue. Despite its long preparation time and complicated and guarded seasoning methods, BBQ is also one of the most reliable budget meals available.

Continue reading Kansas City BBQ is the ultimate budget meal, but why is it so cheap?

Kansas City BBQ is the ultimate budget meal, but why is it so cheap? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bbqbudget mealsBudgetMealsfoodfood and drinkFoodAndDrinkmealsmeatJason CochranTue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTLosing 30 pounds could make him $180,000: Cactus Jack and Barbara Corcoranhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/23/losing-30-pounds-could-make-him-180-000-cactus-jack-and-barbar/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/23/losing-30-pounds-could-make-him-180-000-cactus-jack-and-barbar/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/23/losing-30-pounds-could-make-him-180-000-cactus-jack-and-barbar/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

On a recent episode of Shark Tank, inventor Cactus Jack was faced with two offers that would yield him $180,000 for his product, a device that makes it easier for heavy people to do push-ups.

Barbara Corcoran, taken with this big guy with a big personality, offered to give him the cash -- provided he lose 30 pounds. Otherwise, she said, who could take a weight-loss guru seriously? If he didn't lose the weight, he'd lose the deal. (Watch back episodes of the ABC show at this link.)

"There's no way in hell he's losing 30 pounds," kvetched fellow Shark Kevin O'Leary after Cactus Jack had left the room. "The 30 pounds is gonna keep it off the table forever."

Flash forward. Months later, Cactus Jack has flown to New York City from Iowa to meet with Corcoran and hash out the future of his business. Critical to the next stage is the big test: Has he lost the weight contingent to the deal?

Corcoran invited WalletPop to her penthouse office for the big moment. At stake: A comically large novelty check made out for $180,000, and potential infomercial involvement by TV impresario Kevin Harrington.

Was this medical check-up a photo op for the media? Of course it was, but it was fun. And did this larger-than-life guy prove Kevin "Mr. Burns" O'Leary wrong? Watch and see.

It was a moment worth $6,000 a pound.

Losing 30 pounds could make him $180,000: Cactus Jack and Barbara Corcoran originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>abcshark tankSharkTankJason CochranFri, 23 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTFood Network's Sandra Lee: 'No way' smart shoppers should buy generichttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/23/food-networks-sandra-lee-no-way-smart-shoppers-should-buy-ge/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/23/food-networks-sandra-lee-no-way-smart-shoppers-should-buy-ge/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/23/food-networks-sandra-lee-no-way-smart-shoppers-should-buy-ge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This Sunday evening, Food Network star Sandra Lee appears as a volunteer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and she'll be pitching in to collect something she knows a lot about: canned foods.

Lee has crafted a mini-empire out of her DIY advice that teaches people to take economical shortcuts with pre-packaged foods. Her expertise runs from gardens to drapes -- she helms two Food Network shows, Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee and Sandra's Money Saving Meals, a magazine (Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade), and three recently released books, Weeknight Wonders, Money Saving Slow Cooking, and Cocktail Time. And, of course, on ABC this Sunday, when she helps re-make the lives of some dedicated community volunteers.

In a video chat with WalletPop's Jason Cochran, Lee talks candidly about her youth spent on food stamps and working in food banks with her grandmother.



Continue reading Food Network's Sandra Lee: 'No way' smart shoppers should buy generic

Food Network's Sandra Lee: 'No way' smart shoppers should buy generic originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>foodsandra leeSandraLeeJason CochranFri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTIs 'cheap' a dirty word? Being a cheapskate is an all-American virtuehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/is-cheap-a-dirty-word-being-a-cheapskate-is-an-all-american-v/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/is-cheap-a-dirty-word-being-a-cheapskate-is-an-all-american-v/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/is-cheap-a-dirty-word-being-a-cheapskate-is-an-all-american-v/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When it comes to being frugal, Lauren Weber wrote the book.

As the author of "In Cheap We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue," just published by Little, Brown, she takes a long, affectionate look at thriftiness.

She was raised by a dad who was so cheap, he would literally ration toilet paper in the family home. But she didn't spend her life complaining about it. In fact, her dad's miserly ways inspired a thoughtful, researched book about his mentality. Weber learned that while it annoyed her as a child, now that she's an adult who pays her own way, she sees virtue in being careful about wasting what you buy and in re-using what you already have.

Weber, looking like a million bucks in a smart thrift-store outfit, paid a visit to WalletPop's studios to talk about the culture of thrift. In a conversation with Jason Cochran and Andrea Chalupa, Weber reveals some surprising facts about skinflints in the United States.

Cheap is not a dirty word! For one, did you realize that we owe our nation's independence to the fact that our Founding Fathers were devoted to stretching every pound they had?

When did we become so wasteful as a country? How can we save money and still look respectable to our friends and family, and is it possible to take thrift too far? Is it cool to be cheap again (oh, please, say it is)?

Join the fun with our podcast. After all, it's free!

And ration your toilet paper with pride!

Is 'cheap' a dirty word? Being a cheapskate is an all-American virtue originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cheapcheapskatecheapskatesJason CochranWed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:00 ESTOne way to spend $500,000 in reality TV winnings: 'Big Brother' champ in drug stinghttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/one-way-to-spend-500-000-in-reality-tv-winnings-big-brother/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/one-way-to-spend-500-000-in-reality-tv-winnings-big-brother/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/one-way-to-spend-500-000-in-reality-tv-winnings-big-brother/#commentsFiled under: ,

Adam JasinskiMove over, Richard Hatch. Adam Jasinski is the latest reality TV winner to allegedly use his jackpot winnings in ways that are outside the law. Last year, he won $500,000 on the CBS show Big Brother.

How would you use that kind of windfall? Well, Big Brother (the government one this time, not the network show) thinks he knows how he spent it.

Continue reading One way to spend $500,000 in reality TV winnings: 'Big Brother' champ in drug sting

One way to spend $500,000 in reality TV winnings: 'Big Brother' champ in drug sting originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>arrestarrestedcelebritiescelebritycelebscrimedrugsreality showreality showsreality televisionreality tvRealityShowRealityShowsRealityTelevisionRealityTvJason CochranWed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:00 ESTAfterShark: How the guys from JumpForward made $600,000 in 10 minuteshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/aftershark-how-the-guys-from-jumpforward-made-600-000-in-10-mi/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/aftershark-how-the-guys-from-jumpforward-made-600-000-in-10-mi/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/aftershark-how-the-guys-from-jumpforward-made-600-000-in-10-mi/#commentsFiled under: ,

On last night's season finale of ABC's Shark Tank, two guys walked in the door with empty pockets and walked out with $600,000. Just who out-sharked whom here?

Brian Duggan and Adam McCombs were willing to give the Sharks 10% of their company, JumpForward, in exchange for "only" $150,000. Their subscription-based website is designed to make it easy for colleges to recruit high school athletes by giving them a place to post profiles of their achievements. So far, 30 colleges have signed up, and 60,000 students were represented, which helps universities live by the strict and complicated rules that govern contact between college recruiters and students. Using their proprietary system, colleges can relax, knowing they're not likely to run afoul of violations, and therefore incur steep fines, if they go about recruiting athletes in the wrong way.

In three months, they've made $150,000 in contracts, and they see it going to $35 million. Instantly, Barbara Corcoran didn't trust that the costs wouldn't inflate, and so did Harrington, and they went out. "You guys are way too smart for me," Daymond John admitted, and he left the table, too.

And they are, too. As part of our popular AfterShark video series, WalletPop's Jason Cochran caught up with them in the wake of the show to find out what was going through their minds during the big moment. It turns out there was plenty of action that network TV audiences didn't get to see.



Continue reading AfterShark: How the guys from JumpForward made $600,000 in 10 minutes

AfterShark: How the guys from JumpForward made $600,000 in 10 minutes originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>ABCAdam McCombsAdamMccombsAfterSharkBrian DugganBrianDugganJason CochranJasonCochranVideoJason CochranWed, 21 Oct 2009 00:02:00 ESTAfterShark: Mr. Poncho, a home-grown business, hits the big time (sort of)http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/aftershark-mr-poncho-a-home-grown-business-idea-hits-the-big/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/aftershark-mr-poncho-a-home-grown-business-idea-hits-the-big/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/21/aftershark-mr-poncho-a-home-grown-business-idea-hits-the-big/#commentsFiled under: ,

So we've seen the season finale of Shark Tank. It makes me sad to admit it, but it was possibly the series finale, too, if ABC can't find a more hospitable time slot for it. Most of the people I've talked to who have stumbled on the show have been surprised to admit how gripping it is, and in fact, ratings have climbed ever higher with every airing in the past few weeks -- although possibly not high enough to satisfy perpetually panicking network execs.

As WalletPop readers know, we have been fans of the show since the first episode, and we've been consistently impressed with its intelligence and real-world lessons even as we've documented its dramas. The season finale, the eleventh episode of the show, was just more proof that the show deserves to live to swim another day.

Two of the most memorable entrepreneurs from the broadcast dropped by WalletPop's studios to fill Jason Cochran in on the experience. Sandy Hyun and Roman Peters know nearly nothing about how to gear up a new business and work with manufacturers to create their iPod covers, but they were smart enough to seek assistance in the Shark Tank. How did it go? They dropped by WalletPop to talk about their experience so far.



After the jump, find out what went down on the show:

Continue reading AfterShark: Mr. Poncho, a home-grown business, hits the big time (sort of)

AfterShark: Mr. Poncho, a home-grown business, hits the big time (sort of) originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Jason CochranWed, 21 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST