The future of America's job growth is in the clean tech industry, according to a new report by Clean Edge. Walletpop talks to Ron Pernick, author of The Clean Tech Revolution, about one of the fastest growing job markets in the world.Read more about it here.

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How much mistakes can really hurt your credit score

Geoff Williams Nov 16th 2009 @ 3:30PM EST Filed Under: Credit, Credit Reports, Credit cards

This isn't quite the falling of the Berlin Wall, but in the credit scoring world, it's close. Apparently, for the first time ever, FICO, the company that has its famed credit scoring model, has released details on how a financial goof-up actually affects your credit score.

First, before I go on, credit for making credit scores a little less mysterious goes to Liz Pulliam Weston, a prolific and well respected columnist with MSN Money. She asked FICO for details on how they determine how late fees, bankruptcies, foreclosures and so on affect one's credit score, and they decided to actually be upfront about it. Or at least more upfront than they used to be.

Every time you make a financial mistake, these are known as "damage points." And the higher credit score, the more points these mistakes will cost you, which is interesting. In other words, the slide descending into bad credit can be faster and more pronounced than someone already on their way down.

Continue reading How much mistakes can really hurt your credit score

Pinkberry coupons for signing up

Julia Scott Nov 16th 2009 @ 3:15PM EST Filed Under: Bargain Babe

Sign up to become a "groupie" of Pinkberry on Facebook and you will get coupons via e-mail today.

But you have to sign up today. Joining requires you to share your name, e-mail and ZIP code. DOB and address are optional.

My favorite is original with raspberries, almond slivers, and chocolate cookies bits. The problem with the mini chocolate chips is they get cold and stick to the top of your mouth instead of blending in with the yogurt.

Want to pay down the national debt? Here's where to send your check

Geoff Williams Nov 16th 2009 @ 3:00PM EST Filed Under: Debt

For years, I've wondered if anyone ever just sent the government money and said, "Here, apply it to the national debt." After all, our national debt's a big problem, and if you're the charity-giving sort, you might want to make the United States your charity.

And then Reuters goes along and does a story about people who do just that. As it turns out, there's a government office that will be more than happy to take your check, should you decide your pet cause this year is going to be the United States' debt.

Continue reading Want to pay down the national debt? Here's where to send your check

Make Thanksgiving meal, and not just the turkey, a deal

Julia Scott Nov 16th 2009 @ 2:45PM EST Filed Under: Food, Shopping, Economizer

Is it possible to make Thanksgiving dinner for eight with all the trimmings for less than $20? Walmart says yes, but I think you can bring the cost down even more by shopping at multiple stores.

Walmart is selling select birds for 40 cents a pound, which means a 12-pound bird is less than $5. You can buy up to two of them. Here's how they figure you can spend your other $15 to create a big 'ol turkey meal. Buy...

Canned Green Giant vegetables (check if fresh, in-season veggies like Brussels sprouts are cheaper).
Canned cranberry sauce (again, I wonder if fresh berries would be cheaper).
Stove Top stuffing (with a coupon and/or sale this is your cheapest option).
A 5-pound bag of red potatoes (or whatever is on sale, but either way don't pay more than 99 cents a bag).
A 12-count package of Sara Lee dinner rolls (If you have flour on hand it is cheaper to make them yourself.
One 22-ounce pumpkin roll cake.

Continue reading Make Thanksgiving meal, and not just the turkey, a deal

Cash, credit cards to give way to cell phones? Not tomorrow

Tom Barlow Nov 16th 2009 @ 2:15PM EST Filed Under: Technology, Credit cards

Free range cash has several drawbacks. For the user, carrying a wad of cash can be hazardous; for banks, cash is cumbersome and offers no opportunity to charge interest; to the merchant, paying cash turns buyers annoyingly frugal; for the government, cash greases illicit business operations.

Credit and debit cards are better, but still require a physical item that can be stolen, scratched or altered.

In a digital age, therefore, you should expect a digital solution to transactions, and it looks like it might come in the form of the cell phone.

Continue reading Cash, credit cards to give way to cell phones? Not tomorrow

Top Chef's Carla Hall cooks up dinner for $15

Lan N. Nguyen Nov 16th 2009 @ 2:00PM EST Filed Under: Food

Top Chef finalist Carla Hall thinks the simplest dishes can give us the greatest pleasure. Here is the Washington D.C.-based caterer's take on a roasted chicken with tomato-olive relish and roasted potatoes. Not only is the recipe easy, it clocks in at about $15.

Butterflied Chicken

4-pound chicken
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
3 tablespoons butter, softened
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 lemon, halved
1 small onion, quartered

Continue reading Top Chef's Carla Hall cooks up dinner for $15

Podcast: How I made my first million with Mitch Free

Lan N. Nguyen Nov 16th 2009 @ 1:30PM EST Filed Under: Career

WalletPop's Lan Nguyen chats with Mitch Free, founder and CEO of MFG.com, a global online marketplace for manufacturing. A college dropout, Free started his career as a machinist. That background helped fuel his idea to create a Web-based market for manufacturing in 1999. He shares his story and what it took to make it.

'Who's Who' ripoff preys on your ego

Barbara Bartlein Nov 16th 2009 @ 1:00PM EST Filed Under: Saving Money, Fraud

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3396540397_009a24dcac.jpg

I must be really important, because two "Who's Who" publications have chosen me for inclusion in their publications. The e-mails arrived in my mailbox this week.

They read, "Recently you were selected as an inductee into Who's Who. In spite of this, we have yet to receive your information in order to build your basic membership profile. In the business and professional world it isn't what you know, it's who you know...and who knows you. Social and business networking is the modern standard in developing relationships throughout the world. The potential for recognition and developing networks within a community of 400,000 working professionals in numerous fields on a global scale is unlimited."

Continue reading 'Who's Who' ripoff preys on your ego

Travel is still smoking hot (at the fire sales, that is)

Jason Cochran Nov 16th 2009 @ 12:30PM EST Filed Under: Bargains, Extracurriculars, Technology, Transportation, Travel, Economizer

Travel 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. Its hotel room sales over 12 months have exceeded $250 million for the first time, and the site 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)

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