Ohio CollegeAdvantage $25 Systematic Savings Incentive

Along with the $25 “Refer a Friend” bonus for new members (possibly more if you have more than one child), the Ohio CollegeAdvantage 529 plan is giving out an additional $25 “Systematic Savings Incentive” if you start a new automatic transfer from your bank account or payroll deduction. Here is the fine print, but the major points are below.

To earn the $25 bonus, the electronic funds transfer (EFT) or payroll deduction must be started between September 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010. The bonus will be applied to your CollegeAdvantage account 90 days after you start the EFT or payroll deduction and meet the following requirements:

• A minimum of $25 must be deducted per month.
• The EFT and payroll deduction must still be active at the 90-day mark.
• For EFT only, a minimum of three EFT pulls must have occurred within the 90 days.
• For payroll deduction only, at least one payroll check must be applied within the 90 days.

Got two 529 contributors? You can get $50:

More than one Systematic Savings Incentive bonus may be awarded per account in the case where the Account Owner and other Contributors sign up for a recurring EFT or payroll deduction for the same account. For example, the Account Owner could start a recurring EFT and the spouse could also start a recurring EFT or payroll deduction as a Contributor for the same account. In that case, the account would receive a total of $50 if all other criteria for the bonus are met.

If you are like me and already have an automatic transfer in place:

CollegeAdvantage direct accounts with a current recurring EFT or payroll deduction are eligible for the bonus offer if a "new" recurring EFT or payroll deduction is started for the Account by either the Account Owner or Contributor, provided they are not the party currently responsible for the current recurring EFT or payroll deduction. For example, if the current recurring EFT was established by the Account Owner, a Contributor could also start a recurring EFT or payroll deduction and potentially qualify for the bonus as a "new" recurring EFT or payroll deduction. In this case a $25 bonus would be applied for the new recurring EFT or payroll deduction. The Systematic Savings Incentive bonus is intended to reward new systematic savers. The account will not qualify for the bonus if a current recurring EFT or payroll deduction is stopped and a new one started between September 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010.

By this, I read that my wife could start contributing an automatic amount as well, and we could get one $25 bonus. However, stopping and re-starting an existing automatic transfer won’t work.

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Podcast 21: Student Saving Tips and How to Survive on a Teacher’s Salar0y0

In today’s Consumerism Commentary Podcast, I offer a number of suggestions for students heading back to school, particularly for new college freshmen. Tom Dziubek and I discuss tips that will help students take small steps now to ensure they will start the rest of their lives on a sound footing.

After the discussion for students, we offer tips for teachers with our guest, Danny Kofke. He is the author of How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary.

To listen, use the player above (Adobe Flash required), download the podcast here, subscribe to the podcast RSS feed, or use the iTunes link. Note: open links in a new window (Ctrl-click or Command-click) to avoid interrupting the podcast.

[00:00] Introduction from Flexo
[00:43] Interview with Flexo about money saving tips for new college students
– [01:45] What new students should be thinking of
– [02:21] Budget planning
– [04:05] Savings and checking accounts
– [06:34] Using a Roth IRA
– [08:36] Acquiring college textbooks
– [16:44] Online budget resources
[18:39] Interview with Danny Kofke, author of “How to Survive (and perhaps thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary”
– [18:53] Danny’s teaching experience
– [19:16] Starting salaries
– [22:09] Ways for teachers to reduce expenses
– [23:32] Danny’s tips from his book
– [25:58] How teachers can increase income
– [26:41] Danny’s experiences teaching special education students
– [28:12] Career recommendations for new teachers
[34:53] End

We always welcome feedback from listeners. If you have any comments for this episode or for any other, or if you have suggestions for future episodes, please leave us comments here or email us at podcast at this domain name.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Podcast 21: Student Saving Tips and How to Survive on a Teacher’s Salar0y0

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A No Fax Cash Advance for the Keys that Got Away

Well, they didn’t QUITE get away, but…

They were so close, I could almost touch them – if my hand could blast through that brand new brick wall I'd built! (Photo: flickr.com)

They were definitely toast by the time I’d chipped the dried cement off of them.

Here’s the deal. I work for a landscaping business in City of Industry. One day, I’m doing some brickwork for a customer, minding my own business, when his dog comes tearing out of the house in hot pursuit of a squirrel. The parade rips past where I’m working, and knocks over a small trowel. Nothing big; I picked it up and kept working. However, I didn’t realize until it was too late that my keys had been sitting on top of the trowel, and when the dog and squirrel knocked it over, the keys fell into the mortar mix. I didn’t notice, and now they were a part of the wall. I took a hammer and chisel to start chipping away. I managed to find them and repair the damage to the wall, but my automatic starter no longer functioned.

Those things aren’t cheap

I needed to buy another from the dealer, and are they expensive! I had no idea something so small could cost so much; I also had no idea that my bank account had so little money in it at the time. Luckily, I was familiar with Personal Money Store from having used them before, so I filled out an application and managed to get a no fax cash advance by the next day. Thankfully, my customer didn’t mind my leaving my big truck in their yard for a day. … click here to read the rest of the article titled “A No Fax Cash Advance for the Keys that Got Away“

'9' Movie Reviews Are Mixed: Great Visuals, Not Much Else

‘9′ gets a 6.2 from critics

I think the whole plan for “9″ the movie started with the date. I would bet a big payday cash advance they came up with the release date before they came up with the idea for the movie. On 09-09-09, Tim Burton, director Shane Acker and Focus Features released “9″ the movie, and for all the hype and planning, the “9″ movie reviews were decidedly … mediocre.
The bevy of critics at both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic gave “9″ an average score of 62 percent. While that is not great news for a $33 million film, 62 percent also means more than half the critics who wrote “9″ movie reviews liked it. To use Metacritic’s terminology, it got “generally favorable reviews.

Despite the reviews, I am certain the “9″ movie will make its $33 million back, and I predict it’ll make another $50 million or $60 million on top of that. If it weren’t for the fact that critics have made it clear this PG-13 film is too intense for young kids, I think it’d crack $100 million.

Good review

The New York Post compares the movie “9″ to another recent sci-fi release “District 9.” The major difference between these flicks is that “District 9″ is live-action, while “9″ the move is all CGI, with characters that resemble crocheted dolls.

“Where the two films differ are Acker’s intoxicatingly rich visuals for the devastated world of “9,” which draw extensively on the steampunk style. “9″ may not be an instant classic like “Wall-E,” but it signals the arrival of Shane Acker as an audacious new talent to watch.”

Bad review

New York Magazine says this about “9″: “The movie is dreary and monotonous, the vision junky in more ways than one.”

“It’s hard to get worked up about yet another post apocalyptic fantasy in which it’s the machines that have exterminated mankind.” But even New York Magazine’s bored critc admits the visuals are stunning.

National Affairs magazine a mind-blowing business decision

Will National Affairs magazine survive the economy?

Times are tough for established newspapers and magazines just trying to stay afloat. Nonetheless, editor Yuval Levin and some gutsy colleagues have started National Affairs magazine, and the first issue printed Monday.

National Affairs is a quarterly magazine meant to continue the work of The Public Interest, a magazine that shut down in 2005.

The public interest

Apparently online loans were no help for The Public Interest, which lasted 40 years, from 1965 to 2005. The Public Interest Closed when the last of the original editors retired. The New York Times says the goal of The Public Interest was to overcome the ideological clashes between socialism and capitalism and focus on an age of consensus with a policy journal that would objectively weigh costs and benefits.

Operating at the crossroads

The New York Times says the first essay in National Affairs magazine focuses on how we can tackle the recession by creating a sustainable middle-class social contract. It weighs the benefits and downsides of both direct democracy and concentrated power.

9 Reminders to Help Avoid IRS Audits

Many people are scared of the IRS even if they did nothing wrong. If you want to avoid IRS audits, remember that taxes should always be on the back of your mind, not just during April. Furthermore, here are nine precautions you can take to avoid those dreadful meetings with Uncle Sam.

1. Tax returns with mistakes and miscalculations are much more likely to trigger an audit than returns with complete and accurate information. Double checking your tax return before sending it to the IRS!
2. Never complete a 1040X to amend your original tax return unless absolutely necessary. Why? Because 1040X forms are viewed with much more scrutiny than original tax returns. If the original tax return and the 1040X differ substantially, your return will be referred to the audit department for further review.
3. Avoid newer "green" deductions such as the energy tax credit unless you have documentation to substantiate these deductions. Newer deductions are often selected for audits at a higher rate than older deductions so if you're claiming a newer credit or deduction, be prepared to show proof when you receive a letter in the mail from the IRS.
4. Try not to add a new dependent to your return unless you experience a justifiable life event, i.e. adoption of a child, birth of a child, care of an elderly or disabled parent. If you are adding a child as your dependent, remember that he or she must have lived with you at least six months plus one day during the tax year for which you're filing.
5. Think $1,500. Many IRS deductions have a threshold of $1,500 before a return can be selected for an IRS audit. Therefore, any deduction above $1,500 should be documented with receipts and invoices.
6. Remember, the only person who has your best interest at heart is YOU. Your tax preparer is often bombarded during tax season and prone to making mistakes, any one of which could trigger audits. You should always sit with your preparer and review your return together before signing it.
7. Be on the lookout for scams. In the 2008 filing season, many people fell for a scam and filed a form 8888 to request an additional $8,000 stimulus payment which they believed the IRS was refunding. The only problem was that there was no IRS form 8888 or any additional $8,000 stimulus payment. Many of the taxpayers requesting the fake payment were selected for audit.
8. NEVER mail more than one tax return for each filing season. If you are unsure whether the IRS received your return, allow 4-6 weeks, then call to verify receipt of the return. Receipt of duplicate returns can trigger your return being flagged for an audit.
9. If you've ever been audited before, it's much more likely that you'll be audited again. So be extra careful to keep receipts for all deductions if you've ever been audited.

Lastly, if you were selected for an IRS audit, don’t fret because Uncle Sam is actually reasonable and pleasant. Remember to read the letters from him carefully and submit anything he ask for. If you filed a legitimate tax return, there’s nothing to worry about.

This post is written by Yvette Carnell, who wrote this article for TaxMattersSolutions.com, which helps people with IRS problems.

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UPDATE On Steven Tyler Fall | Condition and Future Concerts

Details on Steven Tyler fall

The last I heard about the Steven Tyler fall was that he took a tumble off the stage, was airlifted to the hospital and had minor injuries. Now, details are in from MTV on his current condition.

Of course, the concert Aerosmith was scheduled to play in Winnipeg tonight is postponed. Steven Tyler’s next performance with Aerosmith was set for Sunday in Regina, and that show has been postponed as well.

Have an Aerosmith ticket? Hang on to it

Aerosmith is scheduled to play three other shows in Canada before returning to the U.S. on Aug. 17 to play a show in Seattle. However, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry told the Associated Press that Steven Tyler’s fall might keep him from performing for up to two months.

If you’re worried because you spent a cash loan on an Aerosmith ticket, don’t despair. All shows will be postponed — none canceled. Hold on to your ticket, because the band will reschedule the show and honor tickets at the later dates.

Injuries from Steven Tyler fall

The reason Steven Tyler might be out of commission for a couple of months is his broken shoulder. he also got stitches in the back of his head and in his back, according to Billie Perry’s Twitter account. Billie Perry is Joe Perry’s wife, and she gave several updates during the few hours after the Steven Tyler fall.

He is now out of the hospital and back home in Boston. Anyone who has had a broken bone knows that although that sort of injury is classified as “minor,” it doesn’t feel minor. Billie Perry wrote that he is “very sore,” and I imagine that a broken shoulder would make singing painful — especially the way Steven Tyler does it.

Is Steven Tyler falling apart?

This isn’t the first time this year’s Aerosmith tour has been interrupted by a Steven Tyler injury. The Associated Press reports: … click here to read the rest of the article titled “UPDATE On Steven Tyler Fall | Condition and Future Concerts“

New Reverse-Mortgage Rules Let Seniors Squeeze More Cash from Their Home

Reverse mortgages have been around for nearly 20 years, but it wasn’t until the current financial crisis that they caught on. Seniors are turning to these loans to tap the equity in their homes and generate tax-free income to help them ride out hard times.

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Haggling Picks Up Steam During Recession

Haggling is an increasingly popular sport among some people these days. Customers are haggling the price to pay at gas stations, chain stores and other places you might not think to negotiate. The key says one pro, is always ask for a discount. If you don’t ask, the answer already is no.

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The Little Budget Travel Book is Going Out of Stock Again

If you are thinking about getting The Little Budget Travel Book from Amazon, you may want to do it quick because there’s only five copies left until it goes out of stock again. Many people agreed that the book is packed with tons of useful and proven money saving traveling tips, so the sooner you grab your copy and apply, the more money you save!

Click Here to Go to Amazon To See For Yourself

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UPDATE On Steven Tyler Fall | Condition and Future Concerts

Details on Steven Tyler fall

Earlier today I heard a rumor that Steven Tyler was dead, but I think we all know -- this man will never die.

The last I heard about the Steven Tyler fall was that he took a tumble off the stage, was airlifted to the hospital and had minor injuries. Now, details are in from MTV on his current condition.

Of course, the concert Aerosmith was scheduled to play in Winnipeg tonight is postponed. Steven Tyler’s next performance with Aerosmith was set for Sunday in Regina, and that show has been postponed as well.

Have an Aerosmith ticket? Hang on to it

Aerosmith is scheduled to play three other shows in Canada before returning to the U.S. on Aug. 17 to play a show in Seattle. However, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry told the Associated Press that Steven Tyler’s fall might keep him from performing for up to two months.

If you’re worried because you spent a cash loan on an Aerosmith ticket, don’t despair. All shows will be postponed — none canceled. Hold on to your ticket, because the band will reschedule the show and honor tickets at the later dates.

Injuries from Steven Tyler fall

The reason Steven Tyler might be out of commission for a couple of months is his broken shoulder. he also got stitches in the back of his head and in his back, according to Billie Perry’s Twitter account. Billie Perry is Joe Perry’s wife, and she gave several updates during the few hours after the Steven Tyler fall. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "UPDATE On Steven Tyler Fall | Condition and Future Concerts"

How and Why Do Rumors Like 'Steven Tyler's Dead' Get Started?

Steven Tyler dead from a little tumble? No.

Aerosmith frontman dead from a scratch and some bruises? No. He's a live and well.

The world was aghast yesterday when Steven Tyler fell off the stage while performing at a motorcycle rally. But word got out quickly that his injuries were minor, and he was fine.

However, Steven Tyler did go to the hospital, and pretty soon the “Steven Tyler’s dead!” rumor started to fly. It seems any time a celebrity is admitted to the hospital, somebody out there decides that person is dead. The  more famous the person is, the more likely there will be rampant rumors of death.

Who first said “Steven Tyler’s dead”?

So, I know that this happens. I remember rumors recently that Jeff Goldblum died and lots of other instances of fake celebrity deaths being widely reported. So I understand that this happens, I just don’t understand why.

What’s the motivation for spreading “Steven Tyler’s dead” rumors? Most things can usually be traced back to money. Is there someone out there saying, “Hey, I’ll give you a cash advance if you spread a rumor that Steven Tyler is dead”? Somehow I don’t think so.

Making waves in the media

I know that magazines and newspapers and online publications make money if they break a big story. However, that usually only works if the story is true or if somehow one publication can maintain control of the story. Sure, the National Enquirer prints false stories on a regular basis, but people buy the magazine because it’s the only one reporting on the Bat Child or that Patrick Swayze is a woman. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "How and Why Do Rumors Like 'Steven Tyler's Dead' Get Started?"

Tax Hike? Some Say Now's The Time To Pounce

On ABC’s This Week, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner opened the door to a middle-class tax hike. The White House quickly slammed it shut. But many experts say Geithner was right to leave the idea on the table, and a recent Gallup Poll shows Americans are generally satisfied with the amount of taxes they pay.

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Rick Scott: Multimillionaire, Mastermind of Town Hall Riots

The $1.7 billion man

Rick Scott, multi-millionaire lover or Medicare fraud (Photo: open.salon.com)

If you’re wondering who is primarily responsible for organizing the barbaric efforts to sabotage the Democratic town halls across the nation, wonder no longer. The man’s name is Rick Scott, and he is in charge of the Web site Conservatives For Patients Rights. He is a multimillionaire ex-hospital CEO whose company was charged with the largest case of financial fraud committed against the government in United States history.

Yes, the former CEO of the Columbia/HCA hospital system was at the helm during a span of 10 years when his company defrauded Medicare for $1.7 billion dollars. They were found guilty and that amount has been repaid - yet the conservative GOP pick Rick Scott to lead them into battle for responsible medical spending? Payday loans with no faxing and short term loans used responsibly help in a pinch, but I’m talking responsibility on an entirely different level.

Something stinks here, and the people deserve to know

According to various sources, Scott’s company was so brazen that they stamped certain documents with warnings that those documents should not be shown to Medicare auditors!

The practice that appears to have gotten Rick Scott’s company in trouble is something known as “upcoding.” Essentially, hospitals under Rick Scott’s watch were treating patients for minor ailments, then charging the Medicare exorbitant fees for much more serious (imaginary) illnesses. In addition, they reported the costs for things like employee functions, holiday parties, catering and other things unrelated to the expense of treating patients. Knowing this, would you trust Rick Scott to tell you what is or isn’t too expensive when it comes to health care? And the man’s level of honesty! He told CNN’s Rick Sanchez (see video below) that he “had no idea” about upcoding. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Rick Scott: Multimillionaire, Mastermind of Town Hall Riots "

Arby's Free Wednesday | Get A Free Roast Beef Sandwich Today

Arby’s holding month long promotion

Customers can get a free roast beef sandwich at Arby’s today with purchase of a beverage. But wait! There’s more! This marks the start of Arby’s Free Wednesday, a promotion that will continue each week for the month of August.

There will be a different free item available each week. I know what they are, but to find out you’ll have to read all the way to the end! Or, you know, skip to there. The last Arby’s Free Wednesday will be Aug. 26.

Increasingly popular marketing technique

Arby’s isn’t the only chain giving out free stuff this month. Domino’s is promoting its new Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake by offering a free piece with purchase of a PastaBread Bowl. The PastaBread Bowl is also a relatively new item at Domino’s, so a little cross-promotion might help.

Arby’s Free Wednesday does follow the common free-with-purchase rule, so if you’re living on a short term personal loan, you might want to think twice before spending borrowed money on a soft drink. Still, if you’re a soda drinker anyway, the free sandwich is a great deal. Baja Fresh had a similar promotion to Arby’s Free Wednesday recently when it gave out free burritos with purchase of a drink.

Internet promotion

A lot of chains have been offering free stuff lately, including Chick-Fil-A, which gave customers free chicken for dressing up like cows last month. Many chains, including KFC and Jack in the Box, are using a different method that’s becoming more popular.

Both of those chains offered free stuff — totally free, not with purchase — but you had to download and print out an online coupon. Yesterday Jack in the Box held free taco Tuesday using the internet coupon method. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Arby's Free Wednesday | Get A Free Roast Beef Sandwich Today"

Is Bachelorette's Ed Cheating On Jillian?

Will honeymoon be over before it starts?

Will they make it to happily ever after?

I don’t know how much it cost ABC or the producers of “The Bachelorette” to make the show, but the good news for them is that now that “After The Final Rose” has aired, they get to keep all of their money, even if “The Bachelorette” winner Ed is cheating on Jillian.

Rumors are going around that even after Ed Swiderski got engaged to Jillian Harris on “The Bachelorette” he continued to have contact with two women — contact that was more than friendly — or so the women say.

Will another one bite the dust?

The relationships forged on “The Bachelorette” do not have a good track record of working out. I certainly wouldn’t bet my cash until payday on it. In this case, the first time was the charm, and only the couple who met in Season One of “The Bachelorette” are together to this day. Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter met on “The Bachelorette” 2003, got married and now have two kids.

Fast forward to the current “Bachelorette” cheating scandal, and you have a better idea of how the rest of the couples fared. None of them are together now. Despite the dismal marriage rate on this show, ABC keeps shelling out the money to make it, people keep watching in record numbers, and advertisers keep gobbling up air time during the show. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Is Bachelorette's Ed Cheating On Jillian?"

Scoot Coupe | New Transportation Technology

Scoot Coupe combines motorcycle, car

I have seen a vehicle that crossed a plane and a car before. The maker called it more of a “roadable aircraft” than a flying car. Today, I came across the Scoot Coupe, which is basically a combination motorcycle and car, but it’s really more of a motorcycle with bucket seats.

The Scoot Coupe has three wheels and handlebars like a motorcycle. However, it carries the passenger and driver side-by-side in car seats. It gets great gas mileage, much the same as a regular motorcycle.

Slow going

A Scoot Coupe can only go about 40 to 50 miles per hour. Also, the Scoot Coupe has already been outlawed for safety reasons in some U.S. cities, so before you go blow your paycheck or loan on a Scoot Coupe, make sure you’ll be allowed to drive it.

A Scoot Coupe will run you between $5,000 and $10,000, so it’s no an ultra-cheap way to travel. But it is less expensive than a new car, and of course it gets 70 to 80 miles to the gallon.

Price disadvantage

Of course, the only way the Scoot Coupe is really a realistic idea is if you like to invest in stuff just because it’s cool. Obviously, because of the speed, the Scoot Coupe can’t go on the highway.

So the Scoot Coupe is neither an alternative to a car nor a replacement for a motorcycle. So, given the fact that you’ll have to spend between $5,000 and $10,000 on this thing on top of your regular transportation costs, it’s pretty pricey. At least, to me it’s pretty pricey. I am aware that some people spend that much on clothes any given day of the week.

Details, details

Scoot Coupes come in two models. The smaller one, which does not require you to have a motorcycle license, is the 50cc model. The larger size, 150cc, requires a motorcycle license to drive it. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Scoot Coupe | New Transportation Technology"

Chuck Norris: Crackpot Birther

The eyes of a Ranger are upon your birth certificate

(Photo: bildungblog.blogspot.com)

Apparently, Chuck Norris took too many blows to the head during his climactic fight with Bruce Lee in “Way of the Dragon.” That’s the only way to explain his link to one of the most pointless mass hallucinations in far right wing-nut history. He doesn’t seem to be able to tell the difference between “refusing to release a birth certificate” and “it’s already been released, move on and go play Karate Commandos with Mike Huckabee.”

Why don’t you show me your karate certificate, Chuck?

I claim that as my Constitutional right! If you require money from me to print it, I’ll take out payday loans with no faxing and cash advances if need be.

The blog Think Progress draws our attention to a column written by Mr. Norris. Couched as a “Happy Birthday” message for President Obama, Norris officially joins the now-sputtering “Birther” movement by agreeing with CNN’s Lou Dobbs that Obama should produce a birth certificate that has… already been produced. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Chuck Norris: Crackpot Birther"

Reading the paper in detail

Now that I think about it, I would prefer someone who is reading my paper to say a lot about it, and in detail. Vague ideas or comments haven't really helped me in the past, so the natural assumption would be to be precise and specific in commenting on others' papers, because I know that if you're not specific, it doesn't really provide much help to the writer. I also have found that you can't force someone to do something a certain way, so why even bother trying to force ideas on someone? A more effective way get your ideas out there is to suggest them and then explain them a bit without sounding like you absolutely believe that it should be done this way and that the world will come to an end if it's not. Forcing things on people more likely will cause them to turn away from that idea and just do it their own way. It's not very effective.

Aw Darn

When Straub said that it's not a good idea to be short and sweet I could hear myself saying "Aw darn". I personally am one to be short and sweet when it comes to reviewing things, but when I have to go into detail and stuff like that, I can come up with things to talk about. I like how Straub went into detail about comments and what they should be like, how they should be presented and where they should be. Personally, I wouldn't know all this stuff if I hadn't read it. I mean, I probably would have done some of them, just because they make sense, but for some of them I don't think I would have ever thought of them. I probably would leave out a whole bunch of stuff like how I understood the writing and what I got from it, and it probably would be really short and not really specific. I probably would focus more on grammatical corrections, because I do that. Now I know more about responding to my classmates' writing so that they can have relevant infor! mation concerning their papers so that they can make it better.

Jack in the Box Giving Out Free Tacos Today

Jack in the Box’s mystery giveaway

Two dudes eat tacos at Jack in the Box.

Is it because of Obama’s birthday? Is it just because “Free Taco Tuesday” has a nice ring to it? Whatever the reason is — and they’re not telling — Jack in the Box is handing out free tacos today.

If you have had Jack in the Box tacos before, you know that they are as far from being Mexican food as you can get while still using a tortilla, but free food is free food — right?

Tempting trends

Giving a way free food has quickly become a widely used method for generating business. Of course, this promotional tool has been used since long before we were in a recession, but it appears to me to be more common now.

Of course, only businesses that can afford to give out free products can do this, otherwise they’d have to hand out payroll loans in place of their employee’s paychecks. But big chains like Jack in the Box don’t even flinch about handing out a few thousand free tacos.

Free food frenzy

Case in point, Jack in the Box isn’t the only place handing out free grub today. The other free food distributor today is Domino’s, though the pizza chain is only giving out free stuff in Washington, D.C.

To celebrate Obama’s birthday, Domino’s is giving out free Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake, a brand new menu item they chose to introduce on Obama’s birthday. All month long, anyone can get free cake with order of a BreadBowl Pasta. To sweeten the deal, everyone who can prove it’s their birthday can get a free piece of cake this month. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Jack in the Box Giving Out Free Tacos Today"

Reading in Mexico

Something new I experienced in New Mexico was at the beginning of one period of school we would have a reading time. I forget what it's called, but I remember that we all read for fifteen minutes each day, and we had to keep track of what we read too. I didn't like that part so much. It was kind of annoying. So I got in the habit of reading everyday. That was fun. When I got home I would do my homework if I had any, and then I would read. I would often fall asleep reading and leave the light on and then end up having to wake up in the middle of the night to turn it off.

Games in school

When I was in middle school, and my pre-algebra teacher would let us play games, (which were somehow related to math of course) I would often read instead of play games. I don't know if it's because I didn't want to play, or if it was because there weren't really any good games. The other kids thought I was just I tad bit weird for wanting to read instead of play games. I myself liked it just fine, because I love to read. I would also read during lunch. I would sit with my friends of course, although I'm sure some of them weren't really my friends, but rather my friends' friends. Sometimes a few of them would read too, but for the most part it was just me. Maybe I just didn't have the right communication skills to participate in their conversations, so I buried myself in a book.

More on Unemployment Benefits

After writing last week’s post about unemployment benefits by state, I checked in with Mortimer to get his take on the subject, as he is still collecting unemployment himself. Here’s what he had to say:

Benefits don’t change at all based on single/family. It varies by state, so if you work in NJ you get more $ than NY and Mass gives even more $ than NJ (close to $600 per week I believe). Then most states calculate based on your last salary — I think it’s some sort of time frame involved like how much you made over the last 3 quarters. Most folks will get the maximum unless you are making like 30K or less. Max now is $405 plus the feds are adding $25 (not sure how long the $25 lasts). So single person making 200K and a family of 7 making 50K will get the same $405.

Not sure if there is a fair way to do it re families — they would have to look at household income because you could be a family of 7 with another income in the house. Too complicated. NYS needs to up what it is paying — they haven’t done that in a number of years. They aren’t even making inflation adjustments.

And while we’re on the topic, there was an article this past weekend about unemployment benefits running out for a lot of people:
Prolonged Aid to Unemployed is Running Out

Over the coming months, as many as 1.5 million jobless Americans will exhaust their unemployment insurance benefits, ending what for some has been a last bulwark against foreclosures and destitution.

That’s pretty scary. There may be some signs of light at the end of the economic tunnel, but stats like that don’t bode well. If your job is gone and your savings are gone and you lose your umemployment benefits, what’s left? Here’s a few examples cited by the article:

Ms. Lampley, 40, who is married with three children, lost her job as a human resources officer in January 2008 and had been receiving $351 a week, which covered the groceries and gas. Even so, she and her husband, who still has work as a machinist, were sinking into debt. Now, still poorer, she feels devastated because they cannot buy their son a laptop to take to college and she cannot give her 9-year-old son money for the movies.

In Ohio, where unemployment is 11.1 percent, Cathy Nixon, 39, a mother of four teenagers from Lorain, has been out of work for much of the time since June 2007, and her benefits — $313 a week — run out in September. Ms. Nixon is already fighting foreclosure and said she feared that when the benefits end, "we'll be homeless." She was unable to afford summer camp and baseball activities for her children, despite scrimping on basics.

Raymond Crouse of Columbus operated heavy construction machinery but has found no work since 2007. Mr. Crouse is 72 and receives Social Security but said that was not enough to live on. The $190 a month he has received in unemployment benefits enabled him and his wife to hang on to the house they bought 15 years ago, he said. But with the benefits ending next month, he fears that they will not keep up.

The comments on the article get into quite a debate over some of these quotes, such as whether or not it’s trivial to worry about getting a laptop for your child to take to college, or giving a kid money to go to the movies. (A lot of colleges require students to have a laptop these days. But while it sucks to have to deny a child little things they want, saying no to a movie might be a good lesson in reality.)
What if this situation goes on for many years? What do we now take for granted that we’ll have to give up? Will we see more extended families living together under one roof? At some point, will our whole definition of middle class life change?

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