Looking for work? You’re not alone. Unemployment has hit a 14-year high. That means hoards of people are heading to the Internet with hopes of finding a new job. There are lots of job listing sites and resources for the unemployed online. But where do you turn for reliable, up-to-date information? Here are some sites to consider when looking for work online:

Indeed.com

The site says it’s posted nearly a million new jobs in the past week. But it’s how you sort through those listings that makes this site so great. It works pretty much like the search engine Google. Put in keywords, job title or company name along with a city, state or zip code. You’ll then be able to search through the listings you like.

MarketVendorJobs.com

This is a great site for anyone looking for a job or looking for an employee in the financial sector. With so many banks getting hit hard, this is a popular area for job seekers. If this is your industry, you’ll definitely want to check out MarketVendorJobs.com.

Vault.com

Research is key for staying on top. Head to Vault.com for valuable data on industry trends, companies your targeting or schools you may want to attend. Search jobs, get help with your resume or network on the message boards.

LinkedIn.com

Networking is a great way to find a new job. Use LinkedIn.com as a social networking tool to reconnect with old co-workers or meet new people in the field you are targeting. Soon the site will let users notify members when they’re on the hunt for a job.

GlassDoor.com

This site offers a free inside look at over 18,000 companies. Find out how much businesses are paying for people in your position. Read reviews about different companies.

Credit card users have someone on their side– the Federal Reserve, the Office of Thrift Supervision and the National Credit Union Administration. Those government organizations are supporting new rules to regulate practices of credit card companies. Here are a few of the new rules expected to go into effect mid-2010:

1. Interest Rate Changes: Credit card companies must disclose the annual percentage rate (APR) at the time the account is opened and if they plan on raising the rate, that must be clearly communicated when the account is opened.

2. Reasonable Time to Pay: Credit card companies can not treat a payment as “late” unless the consumer has at least 21 days to pay it.

3. Payment Allocation: If you have account balances with different Annual Percentage Rates and you pay more than the minimum, that extra money will go towards the account with the highest balance or it will go equally to all of the accounts.

4. Double-Cycle Billing: Credit card companies cannot do this anymore– it’s when they tack on finance charges based on balances associated with previous billing cycles.

These new laws are the most strict regulation efforts against the credit card industry in decades. Although the rules take effect July 1, 2010, the Office of Thrift Supervision hopes credit card companies will start complying as soon as possible.

Photo Courtesy of Andres Rueda

The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates this week, which is good news for home buyers and owners. The National Association of Realtors released a statement saying that the lower rates make the dream of homeownership attainable again. “That is the lowest rate in nearly 50 years and will bring buyers back to the market,” NAR President Charles McMillan said. “We are pleased that the government heard our message and responded to our call for action.” Rates had averaged 6.3% in the third quarter, but have now fallen into the 4% range in some parts of the country, making it the lowest rate in nearly 50 years. That has enticed many homeowners to consider refinancing.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications rose 2.9% last week. Refinancing made up 76.9% of mortgage activity last week, bringing it to a five-year high. The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate dropped to 5.18% last week. What does that mean as far as potential savings? On a $165,000 loan, the payment would be $906 with current rates, down from over $1000 a month just a month ago.

So how do you know if refinancing is right for you? Try this Mortgage Refinancing Calculator. It will tell you what your new monthly payment will be as well as how much in interest you can save over the course of the loan. That way you will know if refinancing is right for you.

More rate cuts ahead. The Feds are doing everything imaginable to try and dig the country out of a recession. The question has to be asked, “Should they?”

The experts have been warning for several years that the stock market could not continue to rise. Eventually the things that go up MUST come down. It is just the way things work. The coming down from any high can be scary for all involved, but it can’t be avoided. The only thing to consider is do you come down with parachute or do you come down with a bang.

The different plans the Feds are implementing are an attempt to stop the recession. They need to be working on plans to cushion the recession and allow the natural order of things to progress. It may be time that some of the giant corporations and greed of this society be called to task. It may be time for certain industries to change the way they do things despite those seven dreaded words “we’ve never done it like that before.”

Good news has come out of all of this. The President Elect has said that he intends to cut taxes. History has shown that this is the best way to stimulate growth and recovery. History has also shown that when times get tough this nation has a way of pulling itself up and pushing on. Maybe the Feds should focus more on encouraging that effort than on bailing out companies that refuse to change and grow to a healthier way of life.

Here’s an option you may not have considered for holiday shopping: layaway. It’s a practice that was popular before credit cards found homes in just about every wallet. It basically allows the shopper to set aside the item they wish to buy by giving the retailer a small amount of money. Then the shopper makes payments towards the item when they have the money. But they don’t walk out of the store with the item until it’s paid in full.

Since banks are lowering credit limits and consumers seem more hesitant to rack up credit card debt, the Detroit News reports that layaway is becoming a popular option once again. In fact, Sears started offering layaway again for the first time since 1989 and it’s been a good move this holiday season. Kmart has had layaway for decades, but started an advertising campaign in October promoting the service prominently. So far it’s paid off.

There are some things to know before trying layaway according to creditcards.com:

1. Does the retailer provide full or partial refunds if the layaway is not completed? (Many stores charge a penalty for not completing the purchase. Kmart, for instance, keeps 10% of the purchase price.)

2. Does the retailer provide store credit toward future purchases if the layaway is not completed?

3. What is the payment amount?

4. When is it due?

5. How often must the payment be made — weekly, every other week or monthly?

6. Are any service or layaway charges added to the purchase price?

7. Are there additional charges, such as for shipping?

8. Will the layaway item be physically separated from other store merchandise, or marked “sold”?

9. If the item is not in stock and needs to be ordered, under what circumstance (such as once half the purchase price has been paid) will the order take place?

10. What are the product’s details (color, size, stock number, model number, trade name or manufacturer, etc.)?

There are also websites that offer layaway services including lay-away.com. Shop for the item you want and lay-away.com will help you buy it without using credit cards. They don’t charge a fee, because they make money off commissions from selling certain products. So if you’re giving up credit cards, but you’re a little short on cash, layaway may be a good option.

Looking for a job? The US Census is hiring thousands of people around the country for full and part-time work. The pay is good, the job is flexible and it won’t require a long commute. According to the website, it’s a great opportunity for retirees, college students, people who want part-time work, or people who are between jobs.

Every ten years, a census is conducted. The results from the census determine representation in government, and how funds are spent on things like roads, parks, schools, and public safety. As a census worker you will be helping to update address lists and conduct interviews with residents in your community. The great thing about the job is that you are paid weekly and you are reimbursed for mileage and expenses.

Requirements:
You must speak English, but bilingual speakers are encouraged to apply.
It is best if you have a driver’s license, but in some cases public transportation can be used.
You must bring two forms of approved identification.

To apply contact your local Census Office or by calling 1-866-861-2010. You can also print out an application, fill it out, and take it with you to the Census office. Just to make sure you are ready, take this practice test before you go.

Less than two weeks before Christmas, toy retailer KB Toys files for Chapter 11. This isn’t the first time KB has been in hot water. The toy retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2005. The difference is this time, they are undergoing liquidation. According to NY Times reports, KB said in its filing in US Bankruptcy court in Delaware that it was struck by “a sudden and sharp decline in consumer sales due to macro-economic concerns.” Holiday sales fell by 20 percent this year over 2007.

KB Toys plans to close all of its retail stores. That includes 277 shopping mall locations, 114 outlets, 40 KB Toy Works stores and 30 holiday stores. Plus it will sell it’s wholesale distribution business. The “going out-of-business” sale is expected to begin immediately. That could be good news for shoppers looking for Christmas bargains and for competitor Toys “R’ Us, which has $6 billion in debt. Toys “R” Us hopes reduced competition impacts their sales.

Photo Courtesy of AdamL212

Everyone’s slashing budgets including those trying to outfit nativity scenes according to this article in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Apparently camels aren’t as popular this year, but donkeys and sheep are in high demand in the nativity-animals-for-hire business.

According to Jo-Don Farms owner Kathy Meyer, she charges $500-$700 a day for camels. But sheep are cheap. You can book two or three, plus throw in a few goats for half the price of a camel. The price drops even further if you’re willing to pick them up yourself and can do without a handler.

At Glacier Ridge Animal Farm, three of the farm’s five camels are booked for a 40-day stint at the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights. The fourth camel doesn’t get along well with others and won’t be leaving the farm. The fifth camel is still looking for holiday work. So if you’re looking for a camel-for-hire, you may be able to get a bargain this Christmas.

Photo Courtesy of elgin.jessica

My sister unexpectedly lost her job last summer. She was working at the headquarters of a major retailer and was taking in a great income. Now she’s unemployed in one of the toughest markets in her lifetime. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate is at 6.7%. Another 533,000 people lost their jobs in November alone. That means there are a lot of people out there like my sister. Here are a few things she’s doing to make the best of this tough time.

1. She’s scheduling doctor’s appointments. Thankfully, my sister’s employer offered good insurance that stayed in tact for several months after her job loss. So before it expired she scheduled lots of doctor’s appointments, routine exams and teeth cleanings. If she ends up buying her own insurance, she probably won’t have the high level of coverage her employer offered.

2. She’s reconnecting with former co-workers. My sister still has many contacts in her industry. She’s been reconnecting with them through e-mail, telephone and social networks like LinkedIn. This is a great way to get a heads up on any job leads.

3. She’s starting an online business. Using some of her savings, she’s starting a new business. While this may seem like a risky move to some, she’s using her extensive knowledge in her industry to develop a new business idea that doesn’t require much start up. It’s something she may never have had the motivation to do if she hadn’t been laid off.

4. She’s looking for other income. She recently went on a trip that was planned before she lost her job. In order to earn some cash to pay for that trip she sold Christmas ornaments on Ebay and made over $200 to offset expenses.

5. She’s shopping wisely. While she never used to care about clipping coupons or shopping sales, she’s now spend more wisely when it comes to groceries. She’s using online coupon websites and looking for rebates.

6. She’s having fun. My sister is making the best of this situation by exercising regularly and making time for things she enjoys. It’s a great way to stay positive and turn a less than ideal circumstance into an opportunity.

Photo Courtesy of Bredgur

Unexpected money is always exciting. Of course most of us expect the bonuses that have become such a traditional part of the holidays. While a nice big turkey may have been enough for the Cratchets’ for Christmas I would like something a bit more substantial.

What should you do if your bonus comes through like it did for a number of families in Illinois (the bonus were based on the number of years of employment and came from the owners’ sale out to new owners).

It is tempting to spend any “found” money from raises to bonuses to tax refunds but there are so many better ways to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

1. Pay off revolving credit and debts so you don’t have to stress over those payments.

2. Put some of it in an emergency savings account (be working towards three to six months worth of expenses).

3. Set aside about 1/3 for any additional taxes that may come from the bonus especially when it is unusually large.

4. Indulge with around 10 to 25% of the bonus so you don’t feel like you are deprived and become overwhelmed with the urge to spend it all out of spite.

There is nothing wrong with spending part of the bonus that you receive but you may want to reserve the largest portion for savings and debt reduction to give you a long term peace of mind.