A new report from the Associated Press says that nearly half of the 1.3 million homeowners who initially tried to get help from the Obama administration’s mortgage relief program have left the program due to difficult paperwork and red tape. The $75 billion program was created to help those at risk of foreclosure avoid losing their homes by lowering their mortgage payments. But experts say it doesn’t seem to be slowing the foreclosure rate.

According to RealtyTrac Inc, there have been more than 2.3 million homes repossessed since the recession began in December of 2007. That number is expected to grow through 2011. “The government program as currently structured is petering out. It is taking in fewer homeowners, more are dropping out and fewer people are ending up in permanent modifications,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told the Associated Press.

Around 630,000 homeowners who tried to get assistance from the government have been cut loose from the program through July, according to a report released by the Treasury Department. The report also says that around one out of three people who started the program are successfully making their payments on time, thanks to permanent loan modifications that lowered their monthly payments. Officials believe that only half a million homeowners will be helped by this government program– a small percentage compared to those have lost their homes through foreclosure or short sale. “We still have a lot more foreclosures to come and further home price declines,” Zandi told the Associated Press. Officials say the government program is too complicated and homeowners often get bogged down with paperwork. But if the homeowner does qualify and complete the paperwork they can receive an interest rate as low as two percent for five years. Those who have made it through have had their payments lowered by an average of $500.

How can you help your kids become more fiscally responsible?  Sit down with your children on Sept. 16 for National Money Talk Night. This website can help provide you with resources and instructions asking you to pledge to talk about money with your children.

Check out these statistics:

Only four out of 10 kids have a budget to work with and only seven out of 10 18 to 22-year-olds say their parents have discussed financial responsibility with them. Thirty-seven percent of parents with kids not yet in college say say their kids will pay for their own education. However, 53 percent of kids that are already in college say they are paying for their own schooling.

A survey was done of 800 parents and teens by Echo Research for American Express and Jean Chatzky, an author and motivational speaker.

Chatzky has put together some free tool kits for parents to use when having these discussions on Sept. 16. One for middle schoolers, high schoolers and college kids and they have videos along with them. For middle schoolers, it discusses setting financial goals, family bills and allowances. The high school kit has information on paying for college, getting a job and how to pay for things. The college student guide discusses sticking to a budget, avoiding identity theft and information on credit scores. The tool kits are endorsed by the Council on Economic Education.

Today, August 19, is Cost of Government Day. Every year two organizations, Americans for Tax Reform and the Center for Fiscal Accountability, come together to calculate the day on which the average American has earned enough gross income to cover their share of government spending at federal, state and local levels. According to these organizations, this year that day falls on August 19. That means working people have put in 231 days of work to meet all of the government costs. Here is a chart that shows where Cost of Government Days have fallen since 1977.

According to these groups, this year Cost of Government Day calls eight days later in the year than 2009. And it’s 32 days later than 2008. Cost of Government Day falls later and later as more money is required by the government to cover costs. Officials say the government consumes 63.41 percent of national income. To learn more about their calculations visit CostofGovernmentDay.com. Between 1977 and 2008, Cost of Government day never fell later than July 20. Officials say the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, all contributed to the additional government consumption.

I saw a story that reminded me that no matter how much money, property and stuff you have, it will never be enough. The only thing that can truly satisfy us is the Lord. Heiress Huguett Clark owns two huge mansions and a 42-room apartment overlooking Central Park in New York City. But the 104-year-old is living out her days in an ordinary hospital room. She hasn’t been to any of her properties in decades– the only people there are the caretakers. Storyteller Bob Dotson tells her story in an attempt to find out why someone would leave these huge properties vacant for so many years.

It may sound too good to be true, but there are some jobs out there that can bring in significant salaries without a college degree. However, these careers do require specialized training. Payscale recently put together a list of jobs that don’t require a degree.

1. Freelance Photographer: Median Salary $47,800 Along with strong photography skills and special equipment, you’ll also need to be business savvy to get your business off the ground.

2. Private Detective: Median Salary $50,600 This one may sound exciting and glamorous but it will require a lot of work. You need to have knowledge of the law, psychology and critical thinking skills.

3. Elevator Mechanic: Median Salary $61,500 You may be required to work odd hours for this job and you must be knowledgeable of complex mechanical systems.

4. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator: Median Salary $79,100 This one is definitely a well-paying job, but you need to make sure you have an understanding of physics and engineering.

5. Personal Trainer: Median Salary $37,500 A lot of trainers have college degrees, but you can get a certification instead. Make sure you have skills in nutrition, anatomy, first aid and customer service, says the article.

6. Director of Security: Median Salary $62,400 This job really requires a lot of on-the-job training. You may start as an assistant and work your way up to director.

7. Air Traffic Controller:  Median Salary $60,200 This is a competitive field and requires special testing from the FAA. It can also be a stressful one.

Along with the Best Places to Live, CNNMoney also released the Top-Earning Towns across the United States.

The highest is Bethesda, MD where residents make more than $170,000 each year! Here are the other top cities:

2. Greenwich, CT: Median Family Income is $164,000

3. Palo Alto, CA: Median Family Income is $153,000

4. Newport Beach, CA: Median Family Income is $145,000

5. Lower Merion, PA: Median Family Income is $144,000

6. Newton, MA: Median Family Income is $138,000

7. Fairfield, CT: Median Family Income is $128,000

8. Greenburgh, NY: Median Family Income is $127,000

9. Burke, VA: Median Family Income is $127,000

10. Naperville, IL: Median Family Income is $125,000

Have you ever thought about how much you spend on razors? Some couponers are able to stock up on razors without paying anything. In fact just yesterday I walked out of the grocery store with four razors and I actually made $.24 just by taking them home. But those that aren’t into couponing find themselves frustrated with constant upgrades and product changes that force them into spending more money on razors in order to keep up with the trends.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, 43-year-old Jeff Hagan figured out a way around the system that razor companies force people in to. On a recent trip to Costco he stocked up on a four year supply of razors– 100 Gillette Mach3 blades to be exact. “I’m basically investing in blade futures,” Mr. Hagan told reporters. “That’s my hedge against getting forced to upgrade.”

And even if couponers are getting their razors for free, plenty of people aren’t. Gillette brings in more than $4 billion in annual sales while reports show that Schick takes a cut of about $1 billion in razor sales each year. As the companies bring out new products, they phase out old ones which leads men like 52-year-old Mr. Neibart to stockpile. “They keep trying to improve something that they already had perfect,” he told the Wall Street Journal. He worried that the razor he loved, the Platinum Plus, would disappear he stocked up on blades every time he went shopping. He now has a reserve of about $1000 worth. “I’m shaving with a dinosaur, but now I’m set if it goes extinct,” he says.

The Mortgage Bankers Association announced this week that the demand for home loans in the US slid to a 13-year low, despite record-low mortgage rates. According to Reuters, requests for mortgages fell by 3.1 percent in early July which was the lowest level seen since December 1996. Refinancing has also slowed down, falling 2.9 percent.

Those that are looking for mortgages are enjoying extremely low rates. The average 30-year mortgage rate is currently at 4.69 percent which is just slightly higher than the record low set back in March. But experts say high unemployment rates and foreclosures mean many people aren’t taking advantage of those low rates. Interest in home buying also slowed when the homebuyer tax credits expired at the end of April.

Some experts are predicting another drop in home values, but most economists say they don’t think it will be nearly as bad as previous declines. “It’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy, but if there’s going to be a double-dip you might as well stay on the sidelines as opposed to coming in to buy,” Taylor Woods, president of Genpact Mortgage Services in Irvine, California, a unit of Genpact Limited (G.N), told Reuters. “With as much turmoil as there is around loans that need to be modified, short sales, foreclosures — all of those signs really indicate to buyers and investors that there will be better prices come tomorrow,” he said.

CNN Money just released it’s annual list of the top 100 best places to live. Here’s a look at the top 25 and their current population:

1 Eden Prairie, MN 64,000
2 Columbia/Ellicott City, MD 155,000
3 Newton, MA 82,000
4 Bellevue, WA 124,000
5 McKinney, TX 125,000
6 Fort Collins, CO 141,000
7 Overland Park, KS 175,000
8 Fishers, IN 69,000
9 Ames, IA 60,000
10 Rogers, AR 57,000
11 Plymouth, MN 76,000
12 Highlands Ranch, CO 98,000
13 Woodbury, MN 58,000
14 Carmel, IN 67,000
15 Eagan, MN 64,000
16 Allen, TX 84,000
17 Shawnee, KS 61,000
18 South Jordan, UT 51,000
19 Broomfield, CO 55,000
20 Apple Valley, MN 50,000
21 Missouri City, TX 75,000
22 Irvine, CA 208,000
23 Cary, NC 130,000
24 Rowlett, TX 58,000
25 Gaithersburg, MD 59,000

CNN Money says Eden Prairie, Minnesota snagged the top spot because they have a low unemployment rate, great facilities and a good economy. The suburb of Minneapolis is attractive because it has great schools, great parks, and big employers. It’s not a typical suburb full of strip malls and subdivisions. It operates more like a real community with friendly people and family-oriented leadership. But take a look at what the average listing price of a home is in the city’s that snagged the top four spots:

1. Eden Prairie, MN $430,710
2. Columbia-Ellicott City, MD $487,602
3. Newton, MA $989,445
4. Bellevue, WA $801,423

So if you’re looking to move to one of the best places to live, you may want to save up for a little while.

Do you know how many zeros it takes to make a trillion? The national debt is now over $13 trillion. According to Dave Ramsey, one trillion dollars would pay the rent of every renter in America for three years or pay every US mortgage for 14 months! If you stacked a trillion worth of one dollar bills that would wrap around the equator 2.72 times. Wow.

In 2008, just two years ago, the national debt had reached $9 trillion. In two years the national debt increased by nearly 50 percent– by $4 trillion. In just six months the national debt bumped up from $12 trillion to $13 trillion. Soon the minimum payments on this debt will be more than the revenue collected by the government. Just like running a household, if you continue spending more than you’re making eventually you’ll end up in financial ruin. And some believe that’s where America is heading.

Currently there is no requirement that the government needs to work on a balanced budget which means it continues to grow as long as spending surpasses income sources from taxes and other revenue. Experts believe this will be a season of change as Americans become more upset about politicians’ out of control spending.

What do you think? Are you upset with the way America is spending money?

Tired of having to pay for your bags when traveling by air? I’ve heard of people who ship their items ahead of time to avoid baggage fees. UPS has come up with a solution – Luggage Boxes.

They look like cardboard suitcases and have a handle. A small box is $12.95 and a large is $17.95 and doesn’t include shipping. But is this really going to save you some money? Wallet Pop isn’t so sure.

Most airlines charge about $25 to check your bag. With a small luggage box, which can hold up to 55 pounds, it would cost you $66 and take five business days to ship from San Francisco to Atlanta. That seems like more of a hassle to me.

According to Wallet Pop, UPS says it does save the consumer money when looked at comparable luggage… heavy or oddly sized bags. The large luggage box can hold up to 95 pounds but will cost you quite a bit and ship for about $92.

Shipping can be difficult and you’ll have to do it twice to take your stuff back home, explains the website. UPS also says they shouldn’t be used internationally. Seems to me that paying that extra $25 really isn’t that bad after all.

More than 100,000 Christians belong to the Biblically-based medical bill-sharing group called Medi-Share, according to Wallet Pop. It’s one of the largest Christian programs in the country. How does it work? Members agree to help pay each other’s medical bills but also live a Christian life. And the use of these type of programs has increased 150 percent, says Medi-Share.

Why are they on the rise? Well, the premiums are quite a bit cheaper than traditional health insurance. Family rates start at $109 per month. Members can go onto the website and see who they are helping and are encouraged to pray for them. Members get notices each month showing the amount of their “share.” Each household starts a bank account with a Christian Care Ministry Specified bank.

However, there are some drawbacks you should be aware of. The program, which has been around since the early 1990s, requires that you choose a healthy lifestyle. That means no drugs, alcohol or smoking. Also, things such as birth control, abortions or medical issues that come from not living a Christian lifestyle. You also must attend church regularly and have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The members make the rules on what to cover. So do some research and make a decision yourself to see if it might be right for you.

As we all continue to follow this tragic story of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as Christians we can pray but  there are also many ways we can give back financially to help the wildlife and the surrounding communities affected by the oil spill. Many of us may not be able to physically travel to the area and help clean up, but donating some money to these organizations can be very helpful.

Organizations Helping Wildlife:

National Wildlife Federation Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund

Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research

Audubon Nature Institute

Environmental Defense Fund

Friends of the Earth

EarthShare

Organizations Helping Surrounding Communities and People Affected by the Oil Spill:

Greater New Orleans Foundation

Oxfam America

Catholic Charities

Seedco Financial

If you’d like to keep track of how the clean-up efforts are going, you can check out the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Volunteers Facebook page. The Better Business Bureau suggests you do some homework before donating lots of money to an organization. Be careful of those that are inexperienced and brand new and know exactly where your money is going.

Musicians are coming together to raise money for the victims of a May flood that caused more than $2 billion in damage. Super stars Faith Hill and her husband Tim McGraw are organizing the Nashville Rising concert. “The musicians on stage have gone through it. Some of them have lost every instrument they ever owned, and some in the audience have lost their homes and their businesses. So we’ve been through this together, and we’re going to pull ourselves up,” Hill told Yahoo! News.

Performers include McGraw, Hill, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Lynyrd Skynrd, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and ZZ Top. Perfomer Julie Roberts is one of the flood’s victims, too. “We went upstairs to the second floor and had to wait to be rescued for about 5 1/2, 6 hours. We lost our home that day. We lost all of our belongings, all of our cars, but we were rescued and my four dogs were rescued,” she told Yahoo!. In addition to losing her home she broke her ankle. “It can heal. I’m alive and my mom’s alive and my sister’s alive, and I’m here to talk about it, and I’m here to sing tonight. So I feel very blessed.”

Ellen Lehman, president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, says Nashville’s flood victims are starting to feel a major financial pinch. “Since the flood, (families) are not only required to pay their mortgage and the rest of their bills, but they’re also needing to pay rent,” she told Yahoo! News. “Going forward…they’re going to have to find the money to rebuild. That is a huge unexpected burden, and there will be people who can’t financially put together a package that will allow them to do that, and they’re going to have to walk away from their homes.” More than 37,000 people have filed claims with FEMA. Concert organizers hope to raise $2 million to help.

Have you ever thought about how the economy and morality are linked? In a recent email Governor Mike Huckabee outlined his thoughts on how these two things are closely related. The comments come in the wake of statements made by Governor Mitch Daniels who said the next president, “would have to call a truce on the so-called social issues” so he or she could put their focus on the country’s economic problems.

Huckabee, a friend and colleague of Daniels, says voters are not single-minded and do not want their elected leaders to focus on one important issue, while turning their backs on others. While he was governor, Huckabee says he learned that poverty and crime stem from broken families and values. Broken values lead to lack of work and overflowing prisons. It all starts with morality. Here are some examples Huckabee provided:

• Greed and the collapse of morality lead to unethical business practices and the collapse of Wall Street.

• A lack of morality means more prisoners and a bigger strain on state budgets, which will lead to higher taxes.

• Not emphasizing character in public schools leads to higher drop out rates which impacts the economy in multiple ways from increased poverty to a poor work force.

Huckabee says a strong moral fiber will prevent economic downfalls. And that’s why morality issues and economic issues can not be separated. Both need attention and focus.

We’re all looking for ways to save money, but sometimes it’s at someone else’s expense. That’s the case when it comes to illegally downloaded movies from sources like BitTorrent. Sure, it’s expensive to go to the movies. Taking a family of four to the new Shrek movie can cost as much as a week’s worth of groceries (if you use coupons!) and popcorn costs as much as a steak at Outback. But if you’re considering or have tried watching movies for free on the Internet, you may want to reconsider this risky move for saving money.

Tens of thousands of people who illegally downloaded Academy Award winning movie The Hurt Locker are being sued. The Hurt Locker only made $16 million at the box office, the lowest in history for an Academy Award Winner. But leaders behind the film said it could have made more if it weren’t for those who illegally downloaded the movie. That’s why Voltage Pictures and US Copyright Group have decided to sue. According to reports, they’ll use technology that collects IP addresses of those who downloaded the film. Once it collects those it emails the Internet Service Provider, asking them to retain logs of the IP address during the time of the illegal download. ISP’s will then be forced to hand over subscriber information so the perpetrators are identified.

Often we can justify downloading a movie for free because we feel like the movie theaters are ripping us off, but in reality it’s no different than stealing a DVD from Wal-mart or Target. And now that the movie industry is fighting back, identifying those making the illegal downloads and taking action, does it really make sense to download a movie illegally just so you can save money at the theater?

Some good news was recently released by the Labor Department. State unemployment rates dropped in April, as compared to March 2010. However, when compared to April 2009 levels, the unemployment rates this April were higher in 38 states. Twelve states had lower unemployment rates. However, jobless rates in 11 states were above the US rate of 9.9 percent. Here are some key points of the Labor Department’s April report:

* In Michigan the unemployment rate dropped slightly, from 14.1 percent in March to 14 percent in April. Michigan continues to have the highest jobless rate, as it was hit hard by job cuts in the auto market.

* Nevada also had one of the highest jobless rates. It increased to 13.7 percent in April from 13.4 percent in March.

* California’s rate remained unchanged, holding at 12.6 percent.

* North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates. In March the rate was at four percent and in April it fell to 3.8 percent.

* South Dakota’s rate is also among the lowest. It fell to 4.7 percent in April from 4.8 percent in March.

* Among regions, the western states of the US have the highest unemployment rate in April at 10.9 percent. The Northeast was the lowest with an 8.9 percent jobless rate.

* Eighteen states added lots of jobs in April. Ohio added 37,300 jobs and Pennsylvania added 34,000.

* Other states dropped jobs including 6,500 in Maine and 4,400 in Rhode Island.

It’s hard to believe that millions of Americans have unclaimed money waiting for them. But that’s what CBS News says. Here are the websites they’re telling people to check out:

1. MissingMoney.com: Bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, mutual funds, uncashed checks, utility deposits, escrow accounts and more.
2. Unclaimed.org: $32.877 billion in forgotten assets.
3. PBBC.gov: Unclaimed pension benefits.
4. IRS.gov: Unclaimed tax refunds.
5. TreasuryDirect.gov: Uncashed savings bonds.

All of these searches are free and take just a few minutes. You’ll need to put in basic information including your name and social security number. CBS News says it varies from state to state, but if you discover that some money is owed to you you should receive it within a few weeks. “The Early Show” says a lot of viewers found money ranging from $10 to several hundred. After the segment on missing money aired, the website MissingMoney.com saw an increase of two million searches on their website with about 85,000 people finding unclaimed money.

The Sportsman Channel is in Chicago today feeding the hungry with meat and fish donated by hunters and fishermen. The Hunt. Fish. Feed. initiative is a unique program that is providing thousands of meals to America’s hungry. Residents at Chicago’s Cornerstone Community Outreach shelter will be eating a dinner of game meat and fish donated by sportsmen. It’s just one stop in a multi-city tour to bring nutritious meals to those in need. “We’re thrilled to bring our Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative, a program that in its first year provided thousands of the nation’s hungry with nutrient-rich meals, to the Chicago community, especially during an economic time that finds more and more people in need every day,” said Todd Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer of Sportsman Channel, in a company news release. “We look forward to working with our partners at Comcast and Cornerstone to make this a successful and impactful event that will hopefully make a difference for Chicago-area residents.”

A green-living website Care2 wrote this about the program:

Why shoot an elk or a black bear though, when you could spend the money used for gasoline, bullets, permits, beverages and other hunting gear, on some much more affordable produce from a local market? And avoid killing wild animals. There’s already a massive food production infrastructure available that generates tremendous volumes of affordable food. In others words, it’s much cheaper to support people in need by donating food purchased from a local market.

But supporters argue that hunting and fishing will go on whether this program exists or not. This initiative provides a way for people to donate the wild game as a way to help others. Sportsman Channel started this multi-city tour in January, and will continue visiting one city each month.

Changing one activity in your daily life could help you lose weight, save money and go green. Roughly half of Americans’ commute to work is less than five miles, which means taking a bike instead of a car is definitely doable. This is National Bike to Work Week, which means bicycle groups all over the country are trying to get people to dust off their bikes and push the pedals.

Three anchors of the Today Show recently took the commuter challenge. One person drove a car, one took the subway and one rode a bike. Wondering which one came in first? It was the bike. According to some commuters who have switched from driving to biking, they’re saving hundreds of dollars a month by giving up their cars. Not only are they cutting car payments, but they’re avoiding the high price at the pump, car maintenance and they’re putting a high value on the exercise they’re getting while riding a bike.

According to experts, if you bike to work three times a week you’ll lose an average of ten pounds a year. And perhaps you’ll be able to cut back on other expenses like a gym membership or fitness classes. So you’ll be saving gas and money while losing weight.

Need help finding a route to work that is bike friendly? Check out Google Maps’ enhanced biking directions feature. It will tell you which roads have bike lanes and where the bike trails are located. And why not show your support of two wheels by signing the online petition at PeopleforBikes.org. You’ll even have a chance to win a new bike which may make that commute to work even more exciting.

Based on information gathered by Payscale, Money College has put together a list of the highest and lowest-paying college degrees. Here are the Top 10 that can lead to better-paying jobs. Looks like engineering tops the list.

1. Engineering: Aerospace is at the top of the list for engineers, followed by Chemical, Computer and Electrical. The average salary for the first year is $59,000 and the average mid-career salary is about $101,000.

2. Economics: This career also incorporates other topics like social science and history. Economists are also needed to create public policy. Average first-year salary – $50,200, average mid-career salary – $101,000.

3. Physics: With a bachelors in physics, students can go into careers like science teachers, lab technicians, computer programmers and meteorologists. The average starting salary is around $51,000 and the mid-career is $98,800.

4. Computer Science: It seems IT people are always in high demand. Besides IT you can also be a software designer or a freelance computer programmer. Average starting salary is $56,400 and the mid-career is $97,400.

5. Statistics: In this career, you observe patterns in numbers and analyze data and you can do this for a variety of groups. Average salary is $48,600 and mid-career salary can be as high as $94,500.

6. Biochemistry: Try your had at a lab technician, analytical chemist or researcher assistant with this degree. It’s also great for pursuing a medical degree. Average beginning salary is $41,700 and goes up to $94,200.

7. Mathematics: A lot of degrees on this list have math in common. You can go into a wide range of fields with a degree in math, such as banking, insurance and computing services. $47,000 is the average salary starting out and it can go up to $93,600 mid-career.

8. Construction Management: If you are thinking of pursuing this degree, you would be overseeing a construction project from beginning to end. The University of Denver and Southern Polytechnic University are some of the best. Starting salary is about $53,400 and it can go up to $89,600 mid-career.

9. Information Systems: All businesses use information systems to keep track of products and payroll. Average starting salary: $51,400 and average mid-career salary is $87,000.

10. Geology: This is one you may not have thought would be on this list, but it’s a growing field and always needed. Average starting salary: $45,000. Average mid-career salary: $84,200.

A list of popular brand names was recently put together by Wallet Pop and each one is named for its founder. Check out the list and see if you knew these were actually named after real people.

Taco Bell: Believe it or not this fast food Mexican restaurant wasn’t just a simple name but it was named for Glen Bell who owned taco stands and hot dog stands in California before opening Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, CA.

Baskin-Robbins: Irvine Robbins and Burton Baskin started this ice cream company. Robbins worked in his dad’s ice cream store and Baskin used to make ice cream for his fellow troops in the Navy. They both started separate ventures and then joined together in 1953.

Tupperware: The year was 1946 when a man named Earl Tupper came up with plastic storage ware. The first Tupperware Home Party was held in 1948.

Welch’s: We all know this name and relate it to grape juice. Back in the late 1800s a well-known dentist and doctor, Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch, was able to pasteurize Concord grape juice to produce an unfermented sacramental wine for his church. That was the beginning of the processed juice industry.

Chef Boyardee: Yes, those famous cans of Italian food, especially popular with kids, is actually named after a real chef. Hector Boiardi, who later spelled it phonetically for Americans, opened a restaurant in Cleveland in the mid 1900s. He ended up packaging uncooked pasta, cheese and sauce into milk bottles.

Hallmark: Joyce C. Hall overcame poverty and founded Hallmark Cards, Inc. In the 1920s, he substituted “A Hallmark Card” for “Hall Brothers Company” on the back of greeting cards.

IKEA: This well-known store’s name is an acronym for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd, the founder’s name. It began in 1931 when he started selling matches to his neighbors at the age of 5.

MAX Factor: Max Factor, Sr. started out as a makeup man for the Royal Ballet in Russia. When he moved to the United States, he opened a small perfume, makeup and hair goods store at the St. Louis World’s Fair.

Converse: Falling down a flight of stairs is what started this shoe company. Marquis M. Converse was the one that fell and it gave him the idea of rubber soled shoes. That was in 1908 and soon after he began making shoes for men, women and children.

Crabtree & Evelyn: The 17th Century renaissance Englishman John Evelyn was the inspiration for this shop. He’s famous for Sylva, the first important work on conservation. He had beautiful gardens and the Crabtree is native to England.

Prices are being marked down as much as 40 to 60 percent for tickets to Major League Baseball games throughout the nation. From the Giants and Cardinals to the Braves and Padres, you can score cheap tickets online. And it’s thanks to TravelZoo which is a website devoted to helping you find deals on packages overseas to cheap flights to Las Vegas and other destinations. I booked a trip a few years ago to Paris through TravelZoo. I had to act fast, but for a quick getaway it was perfect.

Now you can enjoy “Hot Baseball Deals” throughout the season through TravelZoo. This week’s picks include:

* Fifty-five percent off Dodgers tickets for select games through June 7.

* Forty percent off field seats to see the Mariners through May 5.

* VIP seats for a Braves game with a $30 food credit May 1 and 2.

* Go see the White Sox in Chicago with game and food tickets through June 24.

* Get up to sixty percent off tickets to catch the Marlins through May 6.

* Forty percent off Astros tickets through May 9.

Make sure you keep checking back with TravelZoo for weekly specials. When you buy tickets it is actually through the teams themselves, so will have to pay some extra fees, but there are still great deals to be had.

If you simply fill out a pledge that you won’t talk or text on your cell phone while behind the wheel, you can receive a free FabJob Guide. Oprah has a No Phone Zone Pledge that you must sign and fax, mail or email a copy to FabJob by Friday, April 30. FabJob provides books, e-books and CD-ROMs to help you learn how to have your dream career. FabJob guides include jobs such as an actor, bakery owner, cake decorator, daycare owner, food critic, home stager, massage therapist and the list goes on and on. Go to their website and they also offer quick tips and career advice.

According to a survey done earlier this year, only 45 percent of the nation’s workers are satisfied with their jobs. With FabJob you can browse information about tons of job ideas that might just make you happier and more fulfilled.

And to help make our roads safer FabJob is teaming up with Oprah. The first National No Phone Zone Day will take place tomorrow April 30. To get a free e-book from FabJob follow these steps:

1. Visit the website and pick which career guide  you are interested in.

2. Click on the link to sign the NO Phone Zone pledge.

3. Then send it out by fax, mail or email. It’s as simple as that!

Forbes magazine recently compiled a list of the best areas for economic opportunity and it seems that the Midwestern states may be doing the best. At the top of the list is Des Moines, Iowa. Employment and household incomes are rising and business costs are 15 percent below the national average, according to Forbes. Housing is also very affordable in Des Moines and the area has a well-educated workforce.

The ranking of the best places for business and careers takes a look at the 200 largest metro areas in the nation. They take a look at costs, job and income growth and education. Quality of life is looked at as well as colleges and sub-prime mortgages.

Other cities on the list:

2. Provo, Utah

3. Raleigh, North Carolina

4. Fort Collins, Colorado

5. Lincoln, Nebraska

6. Denver, Colorado

7. Omaha, Nebraska

8. Huntsville, Alabama

9. Lexington, Kentucky

10. Austin, Texas

Some experts believe people who are able to meet their weight loss goals will have a better chance of achieving their financial goals, too. That’s according to an article in the latest issue of Women’s Health. So whether your goal is to shed a few pounds or save some more money here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Get Ready: Remember that change is a process, not an event, according to Dr. James Prochaska. That statement explains why so many New Year’s resolutions end by February. People don’t spend enough time preparing for change, whether it’s a change to their diet or a change to their spending habits.

2. Go Slow: Stick to smaller goals like losing 10 pounds or saving an extra $3,000 and spread them out over time. You’ll have a much easier time losing two pounds a week over five weeks or saving $300 a month for ten months. The article mentions a recent study that showed people who aimed to save a lot of money actually saved less over time than those who set goals for saving smaller amounts.

3. Hang Out with the Right People: Self-control is contagious. So if you’re hanging out with people who spend lots of money or always order dessert, you may be less likely to stick to your fitness and money goals.

4. Hang Out in the Right Places: Your physical environment impacts your success. If you find yourself tempted to cheat based on your environment, try changing it.

5. Set Rewards: Rewards are great for kids and adults. Give yourself a weekly or monthly reward when you meet your goals. The treat doesn’t need to be fancy to help you stick to your goals.

6. Cut Yourself Some Slack: If you slip a little, don’t be too hard on yourself. Focus on of your goals one day, and on the next goal tomorrow. Soon it will be easy to lose weight and gain wealth at the same time.

Right now is a great time to purchase a house. Not only are the prices right, but first-time home buyers can get credits of up to $8,000 and $6,500 for repeat buyers. But you must have a signed contract by April 30 in order to qualify for the credits.

Here are some tips on things to consider as outlined in a Florida Today article. Go to Federal Housing Tax Credit for more details.

Contingencies

When negotiating a contract, it might be a good idea for it to be contingent on the property appraising for at least the amount of the purchase price. If an appraisal shows that the price offered is more than the value of the property, the buyer can cancel the contract or renegotiate, says the article. Make sure you also have a home inspection before signing any contracts. But keep an eye on the deadline of April 30! Adding contingencies can make it a more drawn out process.

Earnest Money

Earnest money, or a deposit toward the purchase of real estate, is generally 1 percent of the amount offered  for the property. The money is held in escrow and then credited to the buyers at closing.

Deadlines

Not only is there the April 30 deadline, but you should set a deadline for the home inspection like 10 days. Closing dates are also important. To qualify for the tax credit the closing will need to be by June 30. At this point, trying to do a short sale probably won’t work or a foreclosure because of the April 30 deadline.

Personal Property

This includes items such as appliances, sheds, ceiling fans etc. If you want these items, put them in the contract. You may want to take pictures of what’s in the home.

Special Requests

You can ask sellers to pay for a home warranty or cover some closing costs. These are called concessions. Be patient. There is always some back-and-forth time between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent.

Ready to Close

Make sure there are no undisclosed liens on the property or title defects which could delay the closing process, says Dan Overstreet, with Atlantic Mortgage Services. A tax credit of $8,000 is a lot of money, so make sure you have a good title company. So get out there and make some offers. You still have 8 days left!

Late last year about 15 million people were out of work and the national unemployment rate is in double digit numbers, according to Parade magazine. The publication recently put together an article that shows what people around the nation are earning from teachers to famous people and reporters to bus drivers. Here’s a look at some people with a variety of jobs in a variety of towns.

David Currin, bus driver in Harvey, Ill. – $67,000

Carole Matte, ad consultant in Wilmington, Mass. – $110,000

Andrea Debs, teacher’s aide in Middleton, Wis. – $19,800

Elizabeth Belmonte, 911 dispatcher in Derry, NH – $67,000

Peter Ambrose, park manager in Greeley, CO – $23,100

Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight series – $50 million

Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox in Rochester, NY – $900,000

Mario Ray Vallejo, pharmacist in El Paso, TX – $143,000

Richard McKenrick, humidor maker in Seffner, FL – $28,000

Sanchez Gardner, poet and speaker in Greenville, SC – $21,000

Tiger Woods, golfer in Windermere, FL – $110 million

Sandi Murphy, registered nurse in Seymour, TN – $53,400

Gloria Ward-Ravenell, food-bank coordinator in Oxon Hill, MD – $20,600

Lynn Espy, Habitat for Humanity director in Clarksdale, Miss. – $50,000

Leigh Burgess, pastor in Wichita, Kan. – $5,800

As you can see, wages vary across the board. According to the article, some of the safest jobs are education, health care and federal government jobs. Many workers are hunkering down and being careful with their budget, others are working part time to help make ends meet and some are even starting their own business, says Parade. Apparently the recession is hitting men harder than women. In 2007, the jobless rate was about the same for men and women. Earlier this year it was 10.8 percent for men over the age of 16 and was 8.4 percent for women, says the article. More women tend to be in recession-proof jobs like education and heath care. If you’re out there looking for a job, I’ve seen more “hiring” signs up recently, so maybe that is some proof that things are picking up. Good luck!

Listed below are some special offers for National Park Week.

Death Valley National Park, CA

Furnace Creek Resort is offering a discount on its earth-friendly organic t-shirts. You can get them 2 for 20 bucks.

Dry Tortugas National Park, FL

From April 17-25 if you are riding the Yankee Freedom II Ferry you can win two free passes for a return visit.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, AZ, UT

If you are staying at Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, you can buy one ticket and get the second free during National Park Week. Check out Aramark Parks and Destinations.

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts is offering $5 coupons for shopping, dining and recreational activities. And in recognizing Earth Day you can get an eco-friendly reusable bag.

Mesa Verde National Park, CO

Book a night at the Far View Lodge and get the second night free. This offer is good April 22-30.

Mount Rainier National Park, WA

Reserve two nights at the historic National Park Inn during the week and get a second night for free.

Shenandoah National Park, VA

Book one night at Skyland Resort and get the second night free April 18-29.

Yellowstone National Park, WY

Stay at the Togwotee Mountain Lodge and get a second night free. The offer is good May 21- June 28.

Yosemite National Park, CA

Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts is also offering $5 coupons at this location as well as an eco-friendly green bag.

For more information and special deals check out Park Partners.

The new Apple iPad was just released and Wallet Pop recently put together a list of the top applications you’ll need for your new gadget. All of them are free unless otherwise noted.

Kayak Flights: This app offers iPad users an easy way to search for flights by using the large screen.

iBooks: You can have access to thousands of books at prices that range from $9.99 to $14.99. Every book offers a sample to help you decide if you want to spend the full amount on it.

Kindle: This app offers you savings on the hardcover price and helps you keep your place in sync across multiple devices, says the article.

E*TRADE Mobile Pro: With this application, you can make trades and track stocks and the larger screen really helps to see all of the information.

ABC Player: Now you have access to the latest episodes of your favorite ABC shows for free!

Netflix: My husband and I recently joined Netflix and love it. With this application, you can easily navigate through movies using your iPad.

Craigsphone: Anyone can log onto Craigslist but this app makes it easier for iPad users to search for free stuff and help wanted ads.

Dragon Dictation: Typing on the iPad is an experience some like and some don’t. If you want to try something different, you can get Dragon Dictation and dictate your thoughts to the iPad.

iDisplay: For $4.99 you can connect your iPad to your monitor using iDisplay.

Desktop Connect: This app, which is $11.99, is for anyone who is needing access to their desktop running OSX or Windows 7 to accomplish more than what the iPad allows on its own, says the article.

Could you go a whole day without wearing shoes? That’s what TOMS Shoes is asking you to do today, April 8, 2010, as a part of One Day Without Shoes. So what does being barefoot accomplish? It spreads awareness about the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. Here are some facts from OneDayWithoutShoes.com about the importance of shoes:

* In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
* Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
* Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
* In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
* Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

You can help by getting involved in local events or buying a pair of TOMS Shoes. For every pair that you buy, another pair is given to a child who needs them.

For those wanting to adopt children, the new health care bill has some added benefits. Adoption can cost more than $10,000, so these new rules will make it more affordable for more families. the adoption tax credit has been extended through December 2011. It was previously set to expire on December 2010. And the credit has increased by $1,000 from $12,170 to $13,170. While that extra $1,000 is a nice added bonus, a bigger change is that the tax credit is now refundable.

Parents can apply up to $13,170 of their adoption expenses towards the taxes that they owe. If the couple owes less than $13,170, or is already expecting a refund, they may receive some or all of that money as a Federal tax refund.

If you adopt two children, you could have a tax credit up to $26,340 if your adoption-related expenses are equal to or more than that. If you adopt three children you could receive as much as $39,510 if your expenses are that high. However, if your income is too high you may not be eligible for the tax credit. This will likely help more families dreaming of adoption, finally add a new child to their family. It could also help more children find permanent homes.

Perhaps it’s the fact that money is tight for millions Americans, but a study released last month shows that fewer of us are putting away money in savings. From 2008 to 2010, Americans with a specific plan and set of goals for saving money fell from 62 percent to 55 percent. Those who save for retirement fell from 55 percent to 49 percent. The study also showed that most Americans, 71 percent, are still concerned with the recession’s impact on their personal finances. Fewer people say they are greatly concerned, though which shows some improvement. The survey was conducted by ASEC and America Saves. They questioned 1,000 American adults in February.

How’s your emergency fund doing? The survey showed that over half of families who have a household income less than $25,000 don’t have enough of an emergency fund to pay for unexpected expenses like car repairs. Thirty-nine percent of those who earn between $25,000 and $50,000 say they don’t have sufficient emergency funds either. Those two groups also say they’re not saving enough for retirement– over half of those earning between $25,000 and $50,000 and almost three out of four of those earning less than $25,000.

Here is what the survey uncovered as far as financial habits of various groups of Americans based on income.

Financial Practice Under $25k $25-50k $50-100k

Savings plan with specific goals 33% 44% 68%
Spending plan allowing saving 28 36 56
Save for retirement at work (non-ret.) 15 38 70
Outside work, save automatically 24 38 51

How are you doing with your saving? Do you have an emergency that will cover three to six months of expenses? Are you putting away money for retirement? Has the economy altered your savings habits?

Would you do the same job for less money? Dozens of America’s top executives would. According to Reuters, when the government slashed executive salaries at US companies that benefited from bailout funds, most stayed. Despite predictions that they’d leave for better money somewhere else, most of the executives stayed, earning pay at levels far below industry averages and much lower than they were used to. In fact 85 percent of the executives stayed with their companies.

Officials say they’ve told AIG, General Motors Co, GMAC Inc, Chrysler Group LLC and Chrysler Financial Corp to lower salaries for 2010 by one-third. However, companies like Bank of America and Citigroup have repaid the bailout money they received which means they’re not subject to as much regulation in salaries.

I have many friends who have experienced pay cuts, furloughs and loss of benefits in the past year. But I’ve also had other friends who have lost their jobs altogether. I don’t know of any friends who used reduced pay as a primary reason to leave their job, but it may have been a factor. I think deciding whether or not to stay when a company announces pay cuts largely depends on how the subject is approached. For companies who cut pay to certain employees, but not executives, it’s a bit harder to swallow. But for companies who announce cuts with positive attitude that lets everyone know all employees are in this together it may be more motivation to pitch in and turn the situation around. What do you think– would you do the same job for less money?

This Saturday, for one hour, lots of lights will go off around the world. Even the Empire State Building will go dark. It’s called Earth Hour and the idea was started by the World Wildlife Fund. You are asked to turn your lights off for one hour, at 8:30pm local time in a joint effort to show your support for making a positive impact on climate change and helping our planet.

In 2009 nearly one billion people from 4,100 cities in 87 countries participated in Earth Hour. Here in the US 80 million Americans in more than 300 cities participated by turning out the lights, according to Hornall Anderson. Want to get involved in making Earth Hour a success?

* Download a toolkit to help you organize an event with your friends, school or church.

* Show your support by buying some Earth Hour gear. Twenty percent of each sale goes to the World Wildlife Fund’s efforts.

* Make a secure donation to the WWF.

* View the “Lights Off” video. You can control whether the video is light or dark by clicking a virtual switch. Or you can turn on your web cam and control it by the lights in your room.

Not only does turning out the lights save you money on your energy bill, but you’ll also be helping the environment.

Coupon crimes are becoming more common. With more people than every before clipping and printing coupons to cut costs on groceries and other household products, there are more scammers taking advantage of the system. For instance, in Wisconsin eight men were found guilty of wire fraud. They received millions in coupon reimbursements from companies like CVS, Food Lion and Winn-Dixie for coupons that were never used to purchase the products. According to the non-profit Coupon Information Corporation, there has been more than $500 million in coupon fraud, involving hundreds of defendants and
organizations, since the CIC began operations in May, 1986.

You may be unknowingly using fraudulent coupons or committing coupon fraud. Here are some guidelines to consider:

* You should not sell coupons. Often those who purchase coupons are associated with organized criminal activities. Like the case mentioned above, people buy coupons and try to redeem them from the manufacturer without purchasing any products.

* You should never buy coupons. Coupons sold on the internet may be stolen or counterfeit. And if you use a counterfeit coupon you may be subject to prosecution.

* Watch out for coupons with spelling or date errors. These can be indicators that a coupon is counterfeit.

* Be cautious of coupons with extremely high face values. This can be another clue that a coupon is fake. If a deal seems too good to be true it probably is.

* Review the CIC’s list of counterfeit coupons to make sure you aren’t using any fakes.

The penalties of coupon fraud are tough. So far, the longest prison sentence for coupon fraud is 17 years. The highest financial penalty is $5 million and according to the CIC, three to five year prison sentences are not uncommon. And of all the cases that the CIC has pursued, not one has been acquitted.

The average credit card rate in the U.S. is almost 16 percent, according to a recent article in Good Housekeeping. There’s a new act out there, the CARD Act, that gives credit card holders protection from unfair practices. The CARD Act stands for Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure. This act will help you save.

No more retroactive rate increases. Now changes to your interest rate won’t affect previous purchases, says the article. Credit card companies can only increase your rate on new purchases. Here’s an example: if you’re paying the minimum due on $5,000 at an old rate of 10 percent instead of the higher one at 15 percent, you can save $541 in interest charges.

You now have options for over-limit buys. You can choose to let the purchases go through and pay a fee or the transactions will be declined. Before the act was put into place, you would just find out about the fee when your bill arrived.

Pricier balances get paid first. If you pay more than your minimum that is due, the rest goes toward the portion of your balance with the highest interest rate, according to the article.

Get used to more generous deadlines. Now, under the new act, any payment arriving by 5 p.m. on the due date is on time! Issuers also have to mail statements 21 days before the due date.

Say good-bye to universal-default clauses. Credit card companies can no longer increase your rate because of a late payment on say, your electric bill. If you have questions or concerns, call the card’s customer service number.

About a year ago Cinda Baxter wrote a blog post about the importance of supporting local businesses. Soon that idea blossomed into what is now The 3/50 Project. Here’s the lowdown:

3: Think of three local businesses that you love. What would happen if they shut down? Make a commitment to stop into those stores this month.

50: If half the employed population spent $50 a month in those businesses that would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.

Wondering what’s the big deal with shopping locally compared to shopping in chain stores? Well much more of your money sticks around your community when you shop in locally owned stores. According to the 3/50 project, for every $100 you spend in local shops, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other ways. If you spend that same $100 in a chain store, only $43 stays local.

Here’s how you can support local businesses through the 3/50 Project:

1. Find out who’s involved in your community. The 3/50 Project has a list of local businesses who are supporting this movement according to each state. Search for those in your area and do your part to get behind them.

2. Become a supporter. Even if you don’t own a local brick and mortar shop, you can still be a supporter. Print out the free flyers, hand them out and spread the word.

3. Promote the movement. There are also ways you can promote the movement through social media. If you have a blog, consider putting a badge promoting The 3/50 Project on your website. You can even promote the movement on your Facebook page.

Still feel like you need more information about the benefits of shopping local? Check out the frequently asked questions page of The 3/50 Project.

A recent article on Yahoo! Hot Jobs listed job sectors that aren’t so hot. In fact, these ten industries are experiencing significant declines and many of these jobs are expected to disappear over the next eight years.

1. Department stores: Projected to drop 10.2 percent of the 1.56 million jobs they had in 2008.

2. Semiconductor manufacturing: Estimated to lose 33.7 percent of the 432,000 jobs it had in 2008.

3. Motor vehicle parts manufacturing: Projected to reduce its force by 18.6 percent of its 544,000 jobs.

4. Postal service: Expected to drop 13 percent of the 748,000 jobs it had in 2008.

5. Printing and related jobs: Projected to reduce 16 percent of its 594,000 jobs.

6. Cut-and-sew apparel manufacturing: Anticipated to lose 57 percent of its 155,000 jobs.

7. Newspaper publishers: Projected a 24.8 percent reduction of its 326,000 jobs.

8. Mining support jobs: Expected to lose 23.2 percent of its 328,000 jobs.

9. Gas stations: Estimated to reduce employment by 8.9 percent of its 843,000 jobs.

10. Wired telecom: Projected to drop 11 percent of its 666,000 jobs.

So what do you do if your industry is on this top-ten list?

1. Don’t Panic: Just because you’re in an industry that’s experiencing a decline in demand or scaling back doesn’t mean you need to panic right now. Try to focus on the present– you have a job when many workers do not! Just because your industry is cutting back its workforce doesn’t necessarily mean you will lose your job.

2. Prepare: There are plenty of employees who are laid off unexpectedly. But using this knowledge of industry trends, you can prepare for the future. Think about beefing up your resume with volunteer work, additional education or another part-time job. You may want to discuss options with a career counselor and find ways to make yourself more marketable just in case you do lose your job.

3. Set Yourself Apart: Because your industry may be looking to lay off employees, start thinking of ways to set yourself apart from others that work in your company. Are there additional responsibilities you can take on? Do you have ideas to share? Make yourself even more valuable to the company.

4. Get Ready for Change: Someone once said the only constant in life is change. Once you realize that you can embrace it more easily. And just remember to put your faith in Jesus Christ because he is a steady rock you can always depend on.

People tell me all the time that they think it’s great that I use coupons but that they have no time to do it. They think it’s not worth the hassle it takes to save a buck or two here and there. Of course, I always have my arguments about how my cupboards are stocked with stuff I paid pennies for, how I am able to donate hundreds of dollars worth of food to shelters because of coupons and how I would rather spend 25-cents on deodorant and put the $2 I saved towards something fun like a trip to Ireland. But now I’ve got some real data to back up my coupon use thanks to the Wall Street Journal.

Writer Brett Arends used some real math to figure out just how much couponing is worth. Because even though Americans redeemed 3.3 billion coupons last year at a 27 percent increase from 2008, 99 percent of coupons get tossed in the trash– 99 percent!! So although many of us have discovered the gold mine that coupons hold, there are plenty who haven’t. And maybe it’s because the average coupon saves consumers just $1.44. That’s not a number that will motivate many people. But hold on, the good part is coming.

Arends looked at the time it takes to clip and use a coupon, assuming that the more you use the less overall time you will spend per coupon. He figured about a minute is spent on each coupon. That’s $1.44 for each minute of work, or $14.40 for ten minutes. That equals an hourly rate of $86.40. I don’t know what you earn, but I do know that the average American makes about $20 an hour. But the great thing about the money you save with coupons is that it’s tax free. Taking home $86.40 would actually mean you’d have to earn over $100 before taxes.

Arends says that someone who saves $25 a week with coupons could easily grow that money to more than $100,000 over a lifetime. That’s not a bad salary for something you can do while sitting on the couch! So the next time someone tells me they don’t have time to clip coupons I may just ask how earning $86.40 an hour sounds.