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The real dish on mommy bloggers, payola, and ethical creation of blogging income

Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Kids and Money, Career, Video

amy lupold bairWhen the concept of "Mommyblogging" first hit big, scoring a payday meant getting a book deal, and the only scandal was how some of the novels produced pumped up the sex content over the spit-up.

But then the tables turned and somehow the term became a pejorative for "sell-out." Now moms who blog stand accused at every turn of taking freebies, shilling products while secretly on the company payroll and of profiting from a huge payola system of their own devise.

There must be money involved if the Federal Trade Commission saw fit to intervene and start requiring bloggers to disclose freebies or financial relationships as of Dec. 1. But is a pot of gold really out there for bloggers?

What you need to know about the mortgage process

Filed under: Borrowing, Real Estate, Video, The2MortgageGuys, Mortgages, Refinancing, 101 mortgages

You're buying a house, your offer is accepted, but you still need to secure a mortgage -- now what? Check out this week's episode of Show & Tell with The 2 Mortgage Guys and we'll walk you through the steps of processing your loan application and explain what happens at the closing table.




Ryan Minick and Steve DeLon are The 2 Mortgage Guys. Subscribe to their newsletter or visit them at www.The2MortgageGuys.com.

How was your last mortgage loan application?

Go for Less: Cruising on the new Carnival Dream

Filed under: Bargains, Transportation, Travel, Video, Economizer

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.


Ask the Dolans: How does the tax free gift exclusion work?

Filed under: Tax, The Dolans, Video

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's first family of personal finance, answer your questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Everyone should be so lucky as to know some one like Maria! Maria is about to make some friends and family members very happy. Her generosity is incredibly uplifting in today's tough times. Watch this week's video to hear her plans and Ken and Daria's advice.

Dear Ken and Daria,

How much money can I gift to someone without anyone having to pay taxes, and how many people can I gift money to?"

--Maria



To learn more about taxes, retirement planning and debt management, visits Dolans.com.

Savings Experiment: Which shipping option is the cheapest and fastest?

Filed under: Video

Our own Jane Tuv put FedEx, UPS and the US post office to the test for the latest savings experiment to find out how to best get your gifts to their intended recipients this holiday season. Her results may surprise you -- watch below and see how waiting it out in line at your local post office may not be the best option. For the details of her experiment, click here.


For more savings experiments, click here.

Why we must keep the virtual experience alive

Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Extracurriculars, Kids and Money, Technology, Video

Looking back at my childhood during the 1990s, I now realize that the Internet and I have a pretty good relationship – we grew up together.

As trite as this may sound, the Internet targeted everyone, but more specifically generation Y. I remember rushing home from school to plug the modem into the phone jack, creating a dead line that blocked all incoming phone calls, all to get connected to the Internet.

I lived for that free flow of information and connectivity to the world outside of my enclosed bedroom. That AOL voice that said 'Welcome' opened the doors to a central nucleus in which I was granted access to everyone from around the world at my fingertips.

The good thing was that it was all free. Even as a child, I understood that these "free" Web sites made money from those pop-up and banner ads that appeared everywhere. I knew that I was being targeted by outside companies, but I understood the value of the Internet, and continued to log on and participate.


The Black Friday (Can't Get No Zhu Zhu Pet) Blues

Filed under: Black Friday, Video

When you have shopping on the brain, it helps to have a song in your heart. Presented with the challenge of crafting a ditty about that crucial day after Thanksgiving--the busiest shopping day of the year--WalletPop columnist and award-winning songwriter Lou Carlozo set to work.

The result is "Black Friday," his ode to the kickoff of the 2009 shopping season: "It was tough because everyone knows Steely Dan wrote the definitive Black Friday song," Lou says. "But let's see them work zhu zhu pets and eBay into their lyrics."



More Black Friday coverage

Ask the Dolans: How can I boost my CD returns?

Filed under: The Dolans, Investing, Video, Retirement advice

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's first family of personal finance, answer your questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Are you still licking your wounds after suffering big stock market losses? Looking for a safe investment in this tricky market? You're not alone.

After the brutal losses so many of us suffered in the market downturn, many investors -- especially those nearing retirement -- are looking for safer ways to grow their money. Today, the Dolans help a Walletpop reader make the most of her CDs without sacrificing safety.

Dear Ken and Daria,


I am 54-years-old and took a beating when the market nose-dived. My retirement funds are in shambles now and I am not getting back into the market at this late date. I would like your opinion on laddered CDs. I need something mega-safe.

--Patricia

For more advice on how to invest wisely and adjust your retirement planning in these tricky times, visit Dolans.com.

Home buyer tax credit extended & improved!

Filed under: Borrowing, Real Estate, Tax, Video, The2MortgageGuys, Mortgages, Taxes-advice, Taxes-tax credits

The first time home buyer tax credit has officially been extended. If you're an existing home owner you may also qualify for the tax credit if you're planning on buying a new house! Check out this week's episode of Show & Tell with The 2 Mortgage Guys and we'll fill you in with the "nuts & bolts" of this new program. You can also get the complete details by visiting federalhousingtaxcredit.com.

Ryan Minick and Steve DeLon are The 2 Mortgage Guys. Subscribe to their newsletter or visit them at www.The2MortgageGuys.com.

Bank of Mom & Dad's Money Coach: The truth about debt

Filed under: Credit, Debt, Kids and Money, Saving Money, Health, Bankruptcy, Video, Credit cards

My task each week on SOAPnet's Bank of Mom and Dad is to provide young women with solid advice that will improve their messy financial lives. In return I've received quite the education on some of the reasons we, as a society and particularly women, overspend and compile debt.

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

Filed under: Home, Celebs & Money, Video

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.

Go for Less: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Filed under: Travel, Video, Economizer

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:





Ask the Dolans: Can my credit card company change the terms on account I have closed?

Filed under: Credit, Debt, The Dolans, Video, Credit cards

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's first family of personal finance, answer your questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question

Credit card companies are on a tear, raising rates, slashing credit lines, increasing minimum payments and closing accounts in advance of the new credit card legislation that will restrict their more outrageous behavior. Today, Ken and Daria Dolan of Dolans.com help a WalletPop reader decide if she has any recourse against her credit card company's latest trick.

Dear Ken and Daria,

We got a letter from our credit card saying they were changing the terms on our card. We still have a balance on the card, but we opted out and closed the account. They STILL upped the minimum payment required on our balance. Can they do that?

You'll find simple, proven solutions for managing your credit card debt at Dolans.com.

The 2 Mortgage Guys: Fixed vs. adjustable mortgage rates

Filed under: Borrowing, Real Estate, Video, The2MortgageGuys, Mortgages, Refinancing

Not all mortgage rates are created equal. There is a time and a place to consider an adjustable rate mortgage vs. a fixed rate.

If you have short term plans to pay off your loan in full then an adjustable rate may save you money over the term of the mortgage. If you're planning on keeping your mortgage for a longer period of time then an adjustable rate may be too risky considering today's evolving stock market.

Check out this week's video and we'll explain a few more scenarios to help determine which option is right for you. Ryan Minick and Steve DeLon are The 2 Mortgage Guys. Subscribe to their newsletter or visit them at www.The2MortgageGuys.com.

Ask the Dolans: Is my bank calculating my mortgage correctly?

Filed under: Banks, The Dolans, Video, Mortgages

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's first family of personal finance, answer your questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Can you please help me understand how my bank calculates my mortgage interest and principal? Even when I pre-pay my mortgage, they seem to put most of it toward interest.

--Penny

For more answers to your debt management questions, visit Dolans.com

What are the Next Hot-Spots in the Luxury Resort Scene?
Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the ...
The Luxist Awards for Best Accessories
Do you know of a magnificent jewelry line with pieces that are to die for? Which is the finest ...

Julia Scott
Julia Scott Filed under: Bargain Babe

Free coffee for USPS mail carriers Wednesday

On Wednesday, Nov. 25, any letter carrier for the United States Postal Service can get a free cup of coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. Any size! The company wants to give back to the folks who make it ...
Diane Wedner
Diane Wedner Filed under: Bargains, Real Estate

Beachfront properties you can afford (prepare to travel)

For sale: Three-bedroom homes with heart-stopping ocean views. Big properties. Resort nearby. Price: $139,000 Location: Not the Hamptons (or Malibu or Palm Beach) What, you thought it was 1950? ...
Tom Barlow
Tom Barlow Filed under: Celebs & Money

50 Cent smacks down Taco Bell for stealing his image

Pity clueless musicians who spend more time on their music than their image. If they want to be rich, really rich, they should follow the model of one of rap's richest stars, Curtis James Jackson III, ...
Julia Scott
Julia Scott Filed under: Bargain Babe

Get $10 off Marie Callender's turkey feast

Get $10 off any Marie Callender's turkey feast ($99-$149) with code FEAST. Expires at the end of today, Nov. 24. The price of the five feasts on the menu really depends on what meat you buy. Each ...

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