It’s another airfare wars Tuesday and airlines are nearing the frenzy point, so if you plan to jet this summer – I can’t imagine the fares getting a whole lot better. (And if they do, see this post.) Southwest has flights starting at $49 each way from BWI to Albany, Buffalo, Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Hartford, Long Island, Manchester, Norfolk, Providence and Raleigh. Flights to Florida start at $69 each way. And $99 each way to the West Coast. All for travel through mid-August. Book by April 6 because if you don’t they’ll just drop another sale.

AirTran’s sale is through April 9 with flights from BWI starting at $49 for – you guessed it – Burlington. Their flights to California are priced at $129 each way, about $30 more than Southwest. Just sayin. But the airfare prices are good for travel through Oct. 30 – scary, right? JetBlue is in the fray too with one-way airfare starting at $39 each way from Dulles (IAD). Other airlines like United and American are probably matching on some routes, also. Whew.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Airlines
        

Ford Motor Co. has joined the list of companies trying to encourage spending by covering car payments if you lose your job, the Associated Press reports. And General Motors may soon offer a similar deal.

According to the AP story, Ford will cover payments of up to $700 each month for up to a year on new Fords, Lincolns or Mercurys after a job loss, through June 1.

In January, Hyundai started a program allowed drivers to return vehicles within a year if they could no longer make payments due to job loss or disability, the AP story states.  The "Assurance Plus" program now will cover your payments for three months, according to the Web site, and after that you can still bring the car back.

Then JetBlue got on the bandwagon, making its own announcement last month.

JetBlue will refund tickets if you lose your job after Feb. 17.

And two weeks ago, Jos. A. Bank promised to refund the price of a suit if a buyer loses his job --- and you get to keep the suit!

Retail reporter Andrea K. Walker reported that for the Jos. A. Bank program,

the suits must be purchased during the retailer's $199 sale, through April 9. Customers have to show proof that they lost their job between April 16 and July 1 to get the refund. Jos. A. Bank will pay a refund up to $199.

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cars, Economy, Energy/Utilities
        

Green parcel tracking notices have shown up in Howard County mailboxes, instructing the recipients to pay $6.95 in "processing and delivery fees" by calling a telephone number.

Don't do it! The Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs says that these parcel tracking notices are  a scam that has been tried elsewhere in the country. You might have thought that the package came from a friend or something you yourself ordered. Instead, you've been "specially selected" to receive a cultured freshwater pearl necklace supposedly worth $50, but is really worth far less.

Plus ... 

... “In addition to losing $6.95, consumers who respond may end up losing a lot more,” advised Rebecca Bowman, the county’s Office of Consumer Affairs Administrator. “By giving out your credit card information, you are setting yourself up to be a victim of identity theft.”

The bottom line? Don't give out your credit card number to people who ask you for it. And report scams such as these to the Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs for county residents, or the Maryland Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

This is no April Fool's gag. It's the real deal. Beginning tomorrow, a San Francisco hotel (two of them actually) will offer one guest room for $1 per night for each night in the month of April. The offer is from the Orchard Hotel Group, owners of two "green" boutique hotels on Bush Street - one near Chinatown and the other closer to Union Square.

It's first come, first served at their Web site starting at 10 a.m. PDT and using promotional code FOOL! . With tax, the total price of the one-night package is $1.16. Of course, you only get one room per reservation for one night at that rate with additional nights beginning at $159. Still not bad for San Fran. The LEED-certified hotel uses recycled fabrics, organic bath and cleaning products, recycled toilet paper, in-room recycling etc. So if you're headed to the San Francisco soon, don't be foolish - go for it.

Photo of the rooftop deck at the Orchard Garden Hotel courtesy The Orchard Hotel Group

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Travel
        

What happened to Natasha Richardson at a Canadian ski resort was a tragedy. Unavoidable? No one knows, but Quebec, where Mont Tremblant is located, is now thinking about mandatory helmets for skiers and there's been debate about the availability of helicopters for medical transport in Canada. Facing a medical emergency as a traveler is a scary thought. Especially if you're in a foreign country where you don't speak the language. That's why it may be a good idea to purchase travel medical insurance, a relatively inexpensive coverage, to give yourself peace of mind.

I spoke with Jim Grace, president of insuremytrip.com about medical coverage for travelers, including some options that provide for airlifting a vacationer to the hospital of their choice and also policies that will provide additional coverage for adventure travelers who engage in extreme sports. Accidents do happen, so it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Read the interview here.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Travel
        

Make your Making Work Pay tax credit work for you, recommends Eileen Ambrose in her Sunday column.

Sure, it's not a ton of money --- $15 per week --- but our smart colleague Dave Zeiler at Apple a Day plans to sock away that extra cash by increasing his 401(k) contribution.

Eileen offers some great ideas ...

... including investing in yourself by taking a class at a community college. I bet you could also take continuing education classes at local colleges and universities to expand your skills to either argue for a raise or try to get a side hustle -- an extra gig to bring in some more money or expand your resume.

Are you going to do anything special with your tax credit? 

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Taxes
        

First it was, if you shell out bucks for a trip and you lose your job, the airline would give you your money back. Now thanks to new online price-tracking services, customers are getting refunds or vouchers for airline tickets that have dropped in price - after they bought them.

This New York Times story details the various ways travelers can track the price they paid for an airline ticket and then if (more like, when, nowadays) the price drops, you can get a refund or credit toward a future purchase. Travelocity, Orbitz and Priceline are all on board with varying plans to make sure you feel safe booking your trip early rather than waiting till the LastMinute.com. And Yapta.com will track your flight and send you an email or tweet if the price drops low enough to make it worth your while. You can also pay Yapta $15 to have them make the change for you.

Now some airlines, like American, Delta and United, will charge a big fee for re-ticketing, basically eliminating your savings and discouraging travelers from beeing price saavy. Others, like JetBlue and Southwest, apparently want to keep their customers happy. 

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Travel
        

Grocery auctions are the newest way bargain hunters in states like Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania are saving on food, according to the Associated Press.

We told you before about salvage grocers up in Pennsylvania that deal in products that are close to or beyond their manufacturers' suggested "best-by" date, which ensures best quality but not food safety. These stores also deal in items discontinued due to seasonal or promotional packaging, bulk foods and more. 

Now, some salvage dealers have gone a step further ...

... by letting customers bid up prices on products. They even accept food stamps for such purchases, according to the story.

I'm not sure if I like this idea. It's hard enough to compare grocery prices using a grocery price book when shopping in a supermarket the traditional way. Adding the element of auction excitement or pressure could result in people spending more on an item than they would in the store.

Like any auction, grocery auctions aren't automatically a bargain. Savvy bidders should know what things cost at the supermarket to make sure they're truly saving money. The excitement sometimes leads bidders to overpay.

"Every once in a while, a customer bids it, and you're going, 'I'm pretty sure that's cheaper in the store,'" said Schleeter, the Ohio auctioneer.

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Economy, Food, Shopping
        

Here's some coupons to help you through the weekend:

--- 40 percent off a single item at Borders or Waldenbooks bookstores, valid today through March 28, courtesy of Dealnews. Hey, did you hear there are rumors Borders might go bankrupt?

--- Click around at www.oldnavyweekly.com to find Old Navy coupons valid through April 2. 

--- $5 off a $50 order at Home Depot with the code DEPOT49, courtesy of CouponTweet. UPDATED: just to be clear, this coupon is for HomeDepot.com.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Shopping
        

So here's a real "consuming" interest. When I was in New York City recently, I was planning to meet up with a friend arriving at the Port Authority. While I was waiting, I decided to have a drink at a restaurant - OK, it was Chevys - but give me a break, it was nearby and the margaritas are pretty darn good. Well, the first sip was good. Then I noticed that the caloric content of every item was listed on the menu. Including the margarita. What fresh horror is this?

Well, as of last year, New York became the first city to implement a law forcing chain restaurants to include the calorie count of each food item in the same font, right next to the price. Right where you can't miss it. Don't these people realize I'm enjoying a rare day off work - I need to relax not hyperventilate over the calories in a quesadilla (more than 900). The law only affects about 10% of the city's restaurants, which means the other 90% are safe for vacationers avoiding stress.

Nonetheless, I was obsessed with reading every inch of the menu, quickly realizing that there were very few meals below 1,000 calories. Even some of the salads were more than that. Way more. I hadn't planned on ordering dinner anyway, so I choked down my 450-calorie drink and went to join my friend. We decided to go to a smaller restaurant. A one-of-a-kind place where dinner would be completely calorie-free.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Travel
        

Musicians in many music genres are releasing songs celebrating the frugal life and lamenting corporate greed and government bailouts, writes Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac.

Rappers like Young Jeezy and Jadakiss aren't talking about spending cheese --- now they're talking about economic matters in "Circulate" and "Hard Times".

But it's not just hip hop --- rocker Neil Young, folk singer Tom Paxton have penned their own financial and economic laments. Despite his name, even country star John Rich got into the act with "Shuttin' Down Detroit".

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Economy, Odds & Ends
        

Today, I got word that Megabus.com is increasing service from Baltimore to New York. That's awesome, I thought. The company runs a clean, tight, friendly and cheap (sometimes for just a buck) service from White Marsh to Penn Station. And now they're more than doubling the number of trips departing each day from 14 to 32. Great for cash-strapped travelers, i.e. all of us.

The change happens in April, so I went to the Web site to check it out. I was surprised to see that nearly half of the trips being offered as of April 5 were buses operated by Eastern Travel, which is now partnering with Megabus.com. Oh. Each scheduled trip has an icon of a blue bus = Megabus.com or a red bus = Eastern Travel. Also, the blue bus picks up at White Marsh Park&Ride while the red bus picks up at Cherry Hill Light Rail station in Baltimore. That's new, too.

Last time The Sun did a story on taking the bus to New York, our reporter didn't have the best experience on Eastern Travel. Let's just say it stunk. But that was nearly a year ago, and I'm told that CoachUSA now owns and operates Eastern Travel, which has been "updated and brought to the same level of quality service" as Megabus.com (also a subsidiary of CoachUSA), according to a spokesperson. Hmm. Let's hope so.

Photo courtesy Megabus.com

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Travel
        

Free ice cream! Get a coupon for a free three-scoop sundae from Friendly's by signing up for their Best Friends of Friendly's Club.

I'm still waiting for mine to arrive in my inbox, so I can't tell you yet whether there are caveats such as a minimum purchase.

The registration has a nice feature: you can indicate how you'd prefer to receive coupons and information --- via e-mail, snail mail or as a text message on your phone.

Thanks to the Free Stuff Times for sharing this offer.

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

We've told you about Spa Week before --- when participating spas and salons discount certain services to $50.

If you've been denying yourself, Spa Week might be the time to indulge in a more affordably priced massage, facial or pedicure from April 13 to 19.

Then again ...

... more and more people are doing their own nails and other beauty stuff to save some cash, like Jill, who commented last fall, and Grace, who even enlisted her son to help her trim the back of her hair.

Need DIY ideas to relax? Check out these tips from the Akron Beacon Journal for creating a spa experience at home.

But it'd be better to enjoy a discounted service than pay full price. Book early, because fewer Baltimore-area salons are participating now than in the fall, and appointments fill up.

(photo: Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal
        

Michelle Deal-Zimmerman covers travel for The Baltimore Sun. She'll be posting here about travel steals, deals and more. So welcome her as she cruises on over to our blog.

OK, cruise fans, it’s a year-round showdown here in Baltimore: Carnival vs. Royal Caribbean. Today, Royal Caribbean International announced it would offer cruises year-round from Baltimore beginning in June 2010. The cruise line had previously scheduled next year’s sailing season to end in November 2010, but now itineraries will be available through April 2011.

And to top that off, Royal Caribbean is replacing the Grandeur of the Seas ship, which has sailed from Baltimore since 2004, with the Enchantment of the Seas, a bigger ship that underwent an "extreme makeover" back in 2005, a process that added 73 feet to the ship’s length. So technically, it’s not a newer ship (it began sailing in 1997), but it is more recently updated and has more features (pool, splash deck, bungie jumping, specialty restaurants) and more staterooms than the Grandeur. Royal Caribbean will still offer sailings to Bermuda, the Eastern Caribbean and New England/Canada but in fall 2010 will add 9-night cruises to Florida and the Bahamas (similar to what Carnival is offering this year).

So, a royal treat is in store for cruise lovers as Baltimore hosts four cruise lines this year, (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity) offering twice as many cruises as in 2008. And cruises remain a great value for all-inclusive travel, especially from our home port, which allows us Marylanders to simply park and ride. Now, the only thing left to decide is which cruise line will get your business?

Photo of the solarium aboard the Enchantment of the Seas courtesy of RCI

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Travel
        

Are you a part of a community or network that you want to see using the Internet better to organize events and information? Do you have a real world social network that you want to take online -- with virtually zero cost?

(Not sure what the heck I'm talking about here? Watch this "Social Networking in Plain English" video)

Are you back? Now, here's a short list of sites that can enable you do launch a network -- within a matter of minutes. These online social networking sites enable you to build forums, groups, discussions, photo- and video-sharing, networking and membership -- with frightening ease and speed. And, for a monthly or annual fee, these sites give you more features and more controls over the way you choose to display your content and your members' participation.

Such networking apps are natural tools for all sorts of groups, from volunteer organizations to sports fanatics to news junkies to tech geeks to professional association and organizations. Below is a short list of online networking sites (in alphabetical order) that offer you some potent tools if you wish to build a network. By no means is this a complete and exhaustive list, so feel free to add your own favorites in the comments.

* CollectiveX -- Hey, here's a group-building site that's based right here in Maryland. The site allows you to host a group blog, discussion forums, calendars, photos, videos, and member profiles. It operates on the "freemium" model, offering basic functionality for free, and charges for more functionality (more than $2,500 a year, if you want a lot of bells and whistles.)

I first learned about CollectiveX at the Ignite Baltimore event on February 5th, where I met Shaun Callahan, a company employee. (Ignite Baltimore, an event where people give rapid-fire slideshow presentations on topics they're passionate about, has a CollectiveX site, too. It's here.) Another example of a popular Baltimore-area social network is B'more Creatives -- for women who work in graphic design. As of this morning at 9:13 a.m., they had 404 members. More Baltimore-related sites are here.

* Google Groups: Google Groups has been around for awhile, and it seems like Google hasn't invested much into adding the kind of features and functionality that other group sites have. That said, it's free, easy to use, and quick to set up. It may be the ideal site if you're looking to build a group quickly, with an audience of people who may not be very tech-savvy. What Google Groups doesn't do -- and which is becoming more popular among social networks -- is offer an "activity feed" of some sort (a la CollectiveX, Facebook and Ning), so group members can see how other members are interacting with the site.

* NING -- Ning.com is the biggie, the first site that comes to mind for most people who are looking to build a social network with group-building features. They're hosting over 600,000 groups and use the "freemium" model -- where you can set up a basic network for free, and then pay monthly fees to remove ads and gain more functionality. If you look closely, some big companies use Ning to build out their own social networks. For instance, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network uses it for the MyMASN online network. Other Baltimore-area networks on Ning include: Baltimore Slim, Baltimore Club Music, Patterson Park, and B-More Dog.

* Webs.com -- A blog I follow, Beltway Startups, had a short item today that mentioned how Webs.com had introduced a new feature. I had never heard of Webs.com, but lo and behold, they're based in Silver Spring, Md. Webs.com has a lot of similar features compared to the other sites I've mentioned above, with some fairly competitive pricing for premium features. (For $250 a year, you can get a fair amount of bells and whistles.)

If you're looking to sell stuff within your group, Webs.com also allows you to set up an online store that, they say, integrates with Google Checkout and PayPal. I haven't seen that kind of out-of-the-box integration offered yet on the other sites I mention here. (Please correct me if I'm wrong?) That said, the site doesn't seem to offer a way to search through the online networks it hosts -- at least I didn't spot it.

** Looking for more social networking websites? Check out this list on Wikipedia. For more background info on social networking services, check out this Wiki.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Computers
        

Auto warranty calls continue to be one of the topics that regularly draw people to Consuming Interests --- calls about warranties for cars you don't own or for which you do not need a warranty. Tons of readers have shared their complaints about auto warranty calls, which seem impossible to shake.

As Dan Thanh Dang discovered last year, if they're calling a number registered with the Do Not Call database, you can take the identity of the caller and the number and file a complaint with the consumer protection division of the state attorney general's office.

And the Federal Trade Commission ruled last year that by December these callers had to give you an option to get off their calling list. 

For those of you experiencing this torture on your cell phone, a Consumerist reader offered this idea to get some relief:

... save the number in your cell phone, and assign a silent ring tone to it. That way, should you receive a call from that number again, it will ring without disturbing you and then continue to voice mail.

That way, you'll avoid wasting your minutes on those callers. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Complaints
        

Donate a pair of gently worn or new shoes to charity at Foot Solutions in Annapolis and save $10 off the purchase of a new pair on Wednesday, March 25.

Consider it an excuse to clean out your closet. The store is collecting for Soles4Souls, an organization that has distributed more than 4 million pairs of shoes to needy people in more than 100 countries, including the United States, Sudan, Honduras, Vietnam and Mexico, according to a news release.

As the release points out:

"The gift of shoes does more than lift the spirits of those in desperate need. It also reduces the risk of puncture wounds, scrapes and burns to the feet, and stops hookworm infections.  Also, by donating shoes to needy people, Annapolis residents can greatly reduce the number of perfectly good shoes being wasted in their local landfills."

Updated: Special thanks to reporter Tyeesha Dixon, who covers Annapolis, for sharing this. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

As promised, here are the doctors and other medical professionals sanctioned in February by the Maryland Board of Physicians:

Francyne O. Anderson, M.D.
Area of Practice: Family Practice (Cheverly, MD)
Fine of $25,000; terms and conditions; the physician may not apply for reinstatement until terms and conditions have been met. The physician practiced medicine without a license. Date of Action: February 26, 2009

Michael A. Cadogan, M.D.
Area of Practice: Diagnostic Radiology (Princeton, NJ)
Reprimand; terms and conditions. The Board concluded that the physician failed to
meet the standards of quality care in that he failed to correctly identify and diagnose the
abnormal mass on a patient’s CT scan. Date of Action: February 19, 2009

Shireen R. Collins, R.T.
Area of Practice: Radiation Therapy Technology (Sharpsburg, MD)
Stay of Suspension of the February 27, 2008, Consent Order is lifted; Certificate
therefore is suspended. The healthcare practitioner violated the February 27, 2008,
Consent Order by testing positive for cocaine and her admission that she ingested cocaine
prior to being scheduled for a chemical screening. Date of Action: February 10, 2009

Adrienne Feldman
Area of Practice: None (Baltimore, MD)
Fine of $1,000 to be paid in full no later than 30 days from date of order. The
individual practiced medicine, attempted to practice or offered to practice medicine; and
represented or implied she was a physician assistant. Date of Action: February 17, 2009

Debra J. Freeman, M.D.
Area of Practice: Pediatrics (Oldsmar, FL)
Revocation. The Board’s action is based on the physician’s psychiatric conditions,
criminal conduct, and care and treatment of a newborn. The February 14, 2008, Order
for Summary Suspension is now moot because the physician’s license is by this order
revoked. Date of Action: February 2, 2009

Maria C. Gaviria, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Glen Burnie, MD)
Suspension; suspension stayed and probation for 2 years subject to terms and
conditions that include to cease and desist from internet prescribing. The Board
found that the physician violated the standards of quality care, failed to maintain adequate
medical records, and engaged in unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine based
on her practice of internet prescribing. Date of Action: February 26, 2009

Duleep J. Pradhan, M.D.
Area of Practice: Thoracic Surgery (Pikesville, MD)
Reprimand; Surrender of license; the physician shall not apply for reinstatement of
his Maryland medical license for 5 years; if reinstated, Probation for 3 years subject
to terms and conditions. The board concluded that the physician engaged in
unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine by failing to provide emergency life
saving assistance to a patient of another physician who requested his assistance. Date of
Action: February 17, 2009

Jean W. Pribadi, M.D.
Area of Practice: General Practice (Columbia, MD)
Permanent Surrender. The physician surrendered her license to avoid further
prosecution of charges for failing to meet the standards of quality care in her care and
treatment of cosmetic surgery. Date of Action: February 25, 2009

Helmy Qurtom, M.D.
Area of Practice: Pediatrics (Laurel, MD)
Reprimand; Probation for 1 year subject to terms and conditions. The Board
concluded that the physician engaged in unprofessional conduct in the practice of
medicine based on its investigation of a complaint by a medical office employee that,
while on duty, the physician grabbed the employee’s breast. Date of Action: February
26, 2009

Darshan S. Saluja, M.D.
Area of Practice: General Practice (Baltimore, MD)
Termination of Stayed Suspension of the July 27, 2005, Order of the Board. The
physician has met all the terms and conditions of the Board’s July 27, 2005, Final
Decision and Order. Date of Action: February 5, 2009

David T. Schwartz, M.D.
Area of Practice: Urological Surgery (Ashburn, VA)
Application for Reinstatement Denied. The applicant failed to demonstrate good moral
character because the physician was convicted of tax evasion and, as a result, his license
was revoked by the Virginia medical board. Date of Action: February 17, 2009

Raymond M. Shapiro, M.D.
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Gaithersburg, MD)
Application for reinstatement of license granted subject to completion of an application process; Probation for a minimum of 3 years subject to terms and conditions. The physician was sanctioned by the medical boards of other states, and as a result his practice will undergo peer review in Maryland. Date of Action: February 17, 2009

Rajan Sood, M.D.
Area of Practice: General Practice (Bowie, MD)
Summary Suspension. The Board took emergency action based on its investigative
finding, including but not limited to the physician being addicted to CDS, having
difficulty working due to a physical ailment, overdosing on narcotics in December 2008,
writing multiple prescriptions to family members and office staff without maintaining
medical records, and allowing patients to create and keep their own medical records.
Date of Action: February 13, 2009

Alvin A. Stambler, M.D.
Area of Practice: Pediatrics (Baltimore, MD)
Reprimand; Probation for a minimum of 2 years subject to terms and conditions;
fine of $20,000. The physician practiced medicine with an unauthorized person or aided
an unauthorized person in the practice of medicine. Date of Action: February 17, 2009

Carl W. Strawberry, M.D.
Area of Practice: Otolaryngology (Annapolis, MD)
Reprimand; terms and conditions. The physician violated the standards of quality care
with regard to a patient on whom he performed surgery. Date of Action: February 17,
2009

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Digital converter coupons are available again! If you didn't get one before, you can apply now, and if you were on the waiting list, they're mailing one to you. You also can apply for replacements of expired converter coupons. 

Here's the link to check the status of a converter coupon application that has already been submitted.

This time, they may prioritize requests from people who rely on over-the-air signals to watch television who will be affected by the change, unlike those who have cable or satellite television.

You can request two coupons per household, but if you or your relatives live in a nursing home, you need to fill out the converter box application for nursing home residents.

Here's a recap of the converter situation: 

The transition from analog to digital broadcast television signals takes effect June 12, although here's a list of television stations are making the digital switch (pdf) earlier.

If you have cable or satellite television, you won't be affected. If you bought your television after 2004, you *probably* won't be affected, although you should confirm that your television has a digital tuner.

Also, here's an FCC Web site to how powerful an antenna you will need after the digital television transition that we featured as last week's Consumer Web Site of the Week, and Consumer Reports' advice and reviews of different converter options, including set-top converter boxes and outdoor antennas.

For even more details, instructions and help, go to dtv.gov. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Digital television, Technology
        

Some shopping malls in Maryland, including Towson Town Center, The Mall in Columbia and Westfield Annapolis, are limiting store hours to save money, writes Andrea Walker, who covers retail on the business desk.

Other big-box retailers are also cutting back. Barnes and Noble in Towson and Ellicott City are closing an hour earlier, according to her story. And this is just a small difference, but the Borders bookstore in Timonium now stops selling food and coffee in its cafe an hour earlier on weeknights.

I was definitely surprised by this news, especially since Towson Town Center just opened a new addition with high-end stores.

You might wonder whether this is a wise move in a struggling economy when fewer people are making purchases at all, but for some shopping centers lowering the cost of staffing and utilities could mean the difference between a store closing for good, analysts told Andrea.

Not every shopping center is switching things up. Arundel Mills and Marley Station Mall, both in Anne Arundel County, are maintaining the same hours.

I'm wondering ...

... whether changes such as these will encourage even more consumers to shift their habits to online shopping, where the stores never close (well, as long as you're not shopping for electronics at B&H) and the products are delivered right to your home.

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Economy, Shopping
        

Some doctors are taking action to protect themselves against a patient population increasingly accustomed to online research.

The docs are apparently asking  patients to sign waivers promising not to post an online review of their treatment or the doctor's expertise, as first reported by the Associated Press. If patients don't like it, they suggest they find a different healthcare professional.

NPR's On the Media tackled the First Amendment implications of physician review waivers on its show last week, as well as the value of such online reviews, which are often anonymous and can easily descend into vitriol.

Although there are questions about whether physician review agreements would hold up in court, I'm curious how you'd react if presented with such a document.  

Whether you would or wouldn't sign such a form, check out Consumer Reports' advice for choosing a doctor, including how to check a doctor's credentials. Then, read the list of the doctors and medical professionals sanctioned by the Maryland Board of Physicians in January, and stay tuned for the February list later today.

Shelly-Ann V. Hope, M.D.

Area of Practice: OB/GYN (Lanham, MD)

Suspension; immediately stayed; Probation subject to terms and conditions. The Board took action based on disciplinary action by the North Carolina Medical Board for the physician prescribing medications to patients without performing a physical examination and in the absence of a prior physician-patient relationship, i.e. via the internet, and assisting the unlicensed practice of medicine. Date of Action: January 20, 2009

Benigno P. Lazaro, Jr., M.D.

Area of Practice: Family Medicine (Baltimore, MD) Reinstatement of License; Probation for 3 years subject to terms and conditions. The Board reinstated the physician’s license subject to Probation, and terms and conditions, based on its determination that after a significant history of sexual boundary violations, the physician has taken responsibility for his actions, obtained appropriate treatment and counseling and successfully completed the tutorial course in professional ethics. Date of Action: January 30, 2009

Saleem I. Sharar, P.A.

Area of Practice: Physician Assistant (Boyds, MD) Suspension. The Board took reciprocal action based on disciplinary action by the Florida Medical Board for the physician’s prescribing CDS to patients or undercover detectives without being licensed or authorized to write prescriptions for CDS and on prescription forms that were presigned. Date of Action: January 20, 2009

Ruby M. Tucker, M.D.

Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Chesapeake, VA) Reprimand; terms and conditions should the physician apply for and receive reinstatement of license in Maryland. The physician violated the standard of quality care when she failed to refer her patient for a surgical biopsy despite evidence that the patient’s breast lump was growing and that the clinical symptoms called for such a biopsy. Date of Action: January 30, 2009

(photo: Andre F. Chung/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Healthcare
        

Double-coupon savings at Kmart through Saturday, March 28! Check the Kmart Web site to ensure your local store circular includes the special.

Save twice as much as you would redeeming coupons at other stores by doubling them up to and including $2. Thanks to Money Saving Madness for the heads up.

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

Financial aid departments are inundated with requests for additional assistance from families reeling from problems in the woeful economy, Eileen Ambrose writes.

The tragic stories about lost jobs, foreclosed home and other financial issues just keep coming in, according to staff at the University of Maryland, Towson University and others. 

How do you ensure that your questions --- and requests for additional aid --- will be honored? 

Try some of these tips from Patrick O’Connor, independent college counselor and former president of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, shared via a newsletter from CollegeisYours.com.

Read the letter many times, over many days. “Your heart is racing because your child has been admitted to their dream school, so you skim the award letter twice, and you think you can afford to pay what you believe the letter says,” O’Connor warns. “Put the letter down and celebrate the good news, then pick up the letter that night, and read it again — then again the next morning, and again over the weekend. If the letter is unclear to you, write down your questions.”

Use the tools. Colleges often send along worksheets on how to read the letter; some have more information on the web, and others simply say “Call us.”  “This is no time to not ask for directions” says O’Connor. “Use these financial accessories to learn where you are, and what you're committing to."

Call anyway. Even if you’re sure you understand what the letter says, use the expertise of the financial aid office to double check what you think you know.  If you’re not sure what to say, O’Connor suggests this: “We received my daughter’s acceptance letter, and we’re so thrilled about her getting in, I’m not sure I completely understand her award letter. As I read it, she’ll receive $5,000 in grants we don’t have to pay back, she’ll work 8 hours a week at an on-campus job, she needs to get $500 in a student loan, and we have to take out $700 in a parent’s loan.  Is that right?”

Listen, and let them work for you. Once you tell the financial aid office what you see, give them time to pull up your child’s file and double check it.  “It’s not uncommon for aid officers to bring up a file and find a different way to package your aid, or new money that’s just become available” says O’Connor.  “Financial aid officers are good at their job, and they want to help you — be patient, listen and let them help you.”

Update them. Your financial picture may have changed dramatically since you filled out the financial aid application — things like that happen in these times. Be sure the college knows how things have changed, and be ready to send documentation to support your claims.  “Your financial aid package may increase, or it may stay the same,” says O’Connor, “but the only way something good might happen is if you tell them about your situation.”

Compare and consider. Once you understand the financial aid offers from all of the colleges, have an honest conversation with your child about their college goals and interests.  “It may seem hard to compare the value of a college education against your budget,” says O’Connor”, “but in many ways, it’s like buying a house. If you balance the qualities you’re looking for in a home with what you can afford, you find a way to make a good decision.  After all, that’s what college really is — your child’s next home.”

(photo: Larry C. Price/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, College/Financial aid, Personal finance
        

Keith E. Huebel, a certified public accountant with Huebel & Associates in Bel Air, answers this latest round of questions:

Q. Like several of my co-workers, who received a decrease in the federal income tax withheld from our paycheck today, I am concerned that I will not have enough funds deducted from my paycheck to cover the taxes I owe when I file my 2009 tax form. You mentioned earlier that my employer will be receiving a new withholding table, but does that mean that the tax tables for 2009 will also be changed? I honestly do not understand the object of the stimulus if I have to return the funds that weren't withheld now, next year.

A: The reduced withholding per pay is an advanced receipt of the "Making Work Pay Credit" as passed in the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. Unlike the 2008 Stimulus Rebate received in the form of a single check, this benefit (stimulus) is received periodically throughout the year in the form of reduced withholding in your paycheck.

Your federal withholdings are reduced and a corresponding credit will be permitted to "qualifying" individuals when the 2009 return is filed. If you "qualify" for the credit, then it should wash.

As you note, it is possible to receive the reduced withholding throughout the year, and not qualify for the credit and wind up having to pay when you file the return. If you feel you'll owe, you can adjust your withholding allowances to compensate.

Q. I had my house before me and my wife married. I bought it in 2002 and in 2005 we had to file bankruptcy. My house was not re-affirmed thus included, but we lived in it till now making normal payments to the bank but it doesn’t show on my credit, it shows included in bankruptcy. She has been approved for a new home and would be first-time homebuyer. Would we still be able to get the credit? Any help would be great. The company she is buying it from and the mortgage lender are saying she can, but I have my doubts.

A: Your doubts are justified. First, if the lender never foreclosed on the mortgage, you technically still on the home. Your credit report is not the deciding factor. Land records reflect the proper ownership. Therefore, if you still own the property, you would be disqualified from the new first-time homebuyer credit.

The second issue is whether your ownership effects your spouse’s qualifications and the answer is yes. Under IRC Sec 36(c)(1), which governs the new credit, states: "The term “first-time homebuyer” means any individual if such individual (and if married, such individual's spouse) had no present ownership interest in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of the purchase of the principal residence to which this section applies." Additionally, Section 36 refers to Section 121 in defining a principal residence which states when filing a joint return, each spouse is treated as owning the property during the period either spouse owned the property.

There are special provisions for unmarried couples who jointly purchase a principal residence where attribution from one to the other does not apply. This could be easily be confused by the Realtor and lender since the deed was not in both names.

Q. I want to cash in an IRA and use it as toward a home purchase. It would put me above the $75,000 income limitation in 2009. If I buy a house, can I take the credit on my 2008 return since my income will be under this threshold last year?

A. To specifically answer, yes, you can elect to claim the qualified 2009 purchase of a first time home credit on your 2008 return. A couple of issues, though, warrant discussion here.

First, if you are under the age of 59 1/2, the IRA distribution is not only subject to income tax, but subject to a 10% penalty. A special provision permits taxpayers under this age to waive the 10 penalty on up to $10,000 of early IRA distributions if they are a first-time home buyer. So depending on how much of an IRA distribution you plan to take and your age, the 10% penalty will apply to distributions over $10,000.

Second, if such taxes and penalties apply to 2009 from the IRA distribution, it may be advantages to claim the credit in 2009 to offset the additional tax from the IRA distribution.

Third, the $75,000 "modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) limitation is starting point for the credit to be phased out. It is fully phased out when MAGI reaches $95,000. So as long as your MAGI is below $95,000, you should be entitled to a portion of the credit in 2009.

You should run the numbers both ways, 2008/2009 and see which year provides the better benefit.

Q. Confusing, but here goes. I owned a home with my spouse, we filed for divorce. I moved out and rented for the past four (4) years. When it says, first-time homeowner, it says owned a "principal residence" in the last three years. I did not sign over the house until 2-1/2 years ago because of his stall tactics. Again, I did not live there. If I buy a home now, will I qualify for the $8,000 credit? I think so, but wanted another opinion. Thank you.

A. Additional facts may be necessary to properly answer your question. You indicate you filed for divorce four years past, but when was the divorce finalized by the courts? Did the divorce decree require transfer of the house from you to your ex-husband?

The new credit falls under the guidance of Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 36 which then utilizes the definition of "principal residence" under IRC section 121. This section states "..., an individual shall be treated as using property as such individual's principal residence during any period of ownership while such individual's spouse or former spouse is granted use of the property under a divorce or separation instrument ...".

The code and regulations are very date specific, so possibly you could purchase your home before 12-31-09 but after the three year period lapse from divorce and title transfer.

UPDATE: Don't miss Eileen's other Q&As on the economic stimulus plan, the $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and more.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 6:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Taxes
        

You should be receiving extra dollars in your paycheck soon, if you haven't already seen an increase.

What are your plans for it?

I'm writing an article about what you can do with your extra $15 or so per paycheck and am looking to talk to readers about their plans.

One of my colleagues, for example, increased his 401(k) contribution by 1 percentage point. That's not going to stimulate the economy, but will be beneficial to him.

Let me know if you're interested in talking. Post a response here, or write to me at eileen.ambrose@baltsun.com.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Personal finance
        

If you want to spend less, carry big bills. That’s the latest research from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Researchers say if you carry a $20 bill, you’re less likely to give into temptation and spend it, than if you had a wad of 20 singles. And people who had to save $100 were more likely to choose a Ben Franklin bill than five 20s.

“In the face of the temptation to spend, you’ll be more reluctant to break that hundred-dollar bill so you’ll end up saving it,” says Joydeep Srivastava, associate professor of marketing and co-author of the research in a prepared statement.

But, of course, it’s not as easy as that. Once you break a big bill, you’re less likely to pay attention to your spending, the researchers found.

“You’re more likely to throw self-restraint to the wind once you’ve released the impulse to buy,” Srivastava says.

Previous research by the Maryland associate professor showed we spend more using credit cards and gift cards than when paying with cash.

Bottom line for wannabe savers: “Leave both your credit cards and small bills at home,” Srivastava says.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Personal finance
        

Your questions are answered here by Bob D. Scharin, Senior Tax Analyst from the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters:

Q. I am aware that the up to $8,000 tax credit applies to building a home. I was hoping you could clear up the time frame necessary to qualify for the loan. Must construction begin by a certain date? Must you reside in the house by a certain date? Under a construction loan, the bank would make partial payments to the builder as the job progresses. Is the tax credit for that portion of the loan taken in 2009? I apologize if my questions are unclear. My wife and I are planning to build a home starting in the fall. We are wondering if we need to move the starting date up to qualify for the first time home buyers tax credit.

A. The up-to-$8,000 first-time homebuyer credit applies to principal residences purchased before December 1, 2009. In defining the term “purchase” for this purpose, the Internal Revenue Code states that a residence you construct is treated as purchased on the date you first occupy it. Thus, the date you move into the new home is the relevant one.

Q. After twenty years of marriage my husband and I are getting a divorce. My husband has left the country for a job promotion, our new house we purchased together in 2004 has been listed on the market for the last seven months, once the house sells, I will need to purchase a much smaller home I can afford on my own. I will have full custody of our two children ages 14 and 18. Would I still qualify for the $8,000 tax credit? I have gone on HUD's Web site and they have a listed several criteria. you have to meet just one that would qualify as a first-time homebuyer. One of the listed is as followed: A single parent who has only owned with a former spouse while married. With meeting the criteria, I would think I would qualify, it is very confusing. I had asked my Realtor and she thought I would not qualify.

A. For purposes of the first-time homebuyer credit, the tax law defines a first-time homebuyer as someone who has not had an ownership interest in a principal residence during the three-hear period ending on the date of the purchase of the principal residence for which the credit is being claimed. (If the homebuyer is married, the spouse must not have had an ownership interest in a principal residence during that three-year period either.) Thus, if you are selling the house now, you would not meet the three-year rule in the tax law and could not claim the credit for a subsequent home purchase.

I am not familiar with the HUD Web site, but suspect that the rules you read there refer to eligibility to participate in a first-time homebuying program that is separate from the income tax credit.

Q. My now ex-husband and I foreclosed on a home on May 10, 2006. That is the actual date that it went to the trustee. I was out as of January 1, 2006. I plan on buying a condo and will close on March 24th 2009, as a single woman. Do I qualify for the 2009 tax credit for first time home owner?

A. To qualify for a first-time homebuyer credit, you must not have had a present interest in ownership interest in a principal residence during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase. If your ownership interest ended on May 10, 2006, you will not have met the three-year requirement on March 24, 2009, so you will not be eligible to claim the credit. If you delay the closing for a couple of months, however, your purchase may be eligible for the credit.

Q. My husband and I purchased a house Jan. 2nd, 2009 but did not get married until Jan. 10th, 2009. He currently owns another home in a different state and I have never owned a home. We tried to get the mortgage together but since I had no credit the mortgage company would only let my husband obtain the mortgage. I am on the deed but not the mortgage. I put $60,000 for the down payment that was gifted to me by my mother. Since she is claiming the gift on her taxes to me... and the mortgage company has it recorded that I put the down payment down am I able to claim the any of the $8,000 for the 2008 taxes and if I am, am I able to claim it all since he can not?

A. Congratulations on your marriage on the timing of your home purchase. Because you were not married at the time of the purchase, the homeownership status of your now-husband does not affect your eligibility for the credit. IRS guidance indicates that when two individuals who are not married to each other collectively purchase a residence, the credit may be allocated among them in any reasonable manner—provided none of the credit is allocated to someone who is not eligible to claim the credit. Because your husband is not eligible to claim the credit, you should be able to claim the full amount.

Q. My husband and I are remodeling our lake cabin, and want to take advantage of the credit for nonbusiness energy property for 2009. He is at the cabin approximately three to four days a week, all year. Can we file separately, with me using our home as my primary and he using our cabin as his primary?

A. Determining which home is your husband’s principal residence depends on a variety of facts and circumstances. According to IRS regulations, if a taxpayer alternates between using two properties as a residence, the property that the taxpayer uses the majority of time during the year generally is considered the taxpayer’s principal residence.

The IRS, however, also lists these relevant factors that may (among other things) be considered to determine which property is the taxpayer’s principal residence:

• The taxpayer’s place of employment.

• The principal place of abode of the taxpayer’s family members.

• The address listed on the taxpayer’s federal and state tax returns, driver’s license, automobile registration, and voter registration card.

• The taxpayer’s mailing address for bills and correspondence.

• The location of the taxpayer’s banks.

• The location of religious organizations and recreational clubs with which the taxpayer is affiliated

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 6:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Taxes
        

The Sun's Taste section this week suggested many good ways to use up excess ingredients in your kitchen or pantry before they go to waste --- ideas for things as universal as bananas and stuff that you might have bought for just a recipe or two, such as coconut milk or capers.

Of course, the best method to avoid waste is to plan your meals so you don't have ingredients lying around without a plan for them ... but bunches of cilantro only come in one size, whether your recipe calls for 1 tablespoon or 1/2 cup of tightly packed leaves.

Another option ...

... is to freeze your excess ingredients, whether we're talking about celery or even milk and eggs, says Erin Huffstetler of the Frugal Living blog. This is a good idea if you are about to leave for vacation or for some other reason won't be eating stuff out of your fridge before it spoils.

Find more ideas for minimizing food waste by thinking like a kitchen manager over at Home Ec 101. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Mark March 21 on your calendar. That’s when Marylanders can get lots of free help with their taxes and finances.

The Baltimore CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Campaign is hosting “Money Power Day” which will feature financial workshops, free tax preparation for those earning less than $42,000 and more than 40 exhibitors offering on-site education and financial services.

You also will be able to get your free credit report and one-on-one credit counseling.

Got sensitive papers you need to throw out but worry about identity theft? You will be able to shred you papers at the Shred-It Truck. Dogwood Cafe will offer demonstrations on healthy cooking on a budget. And there are workshops for teens, as well as a raffle for a laptop computer.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute at 1400 Cold Spring Lane in Baltimore.

Get there by 9:30 a.m. and you will hear “inspiring speeches” by Representatives Elijah Cummings, John Sarbanes and others, the group promises.

Also on Saturday, the IRS is offering free tax preparation at seven Taxpayer Assistance Centers in Maryland for those eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or those with incomes under $42,000. On top of that, the IRS promises to resolve tax issues, answer tax law questions, accept payments, establish payment agreements for those who can’t pay their taxes and work with those having a hard time paying. The tax centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at these locations:

190 Admiral Cochran Drive, Annapolis

31 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore

1260 Maryland Ave, Hagerstown

8401 Corporate Dr., Landover

14701 National Highway, Suite 4, LaVale

212 W. Main St., Salisbury

11510 Georgia Ave., Wheaton

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 6:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Personal finance
        

Can peer pressure be positive?

ING thinks so. The financial institution has launched INGCompareMe. This allows you to plug in some details about yourself and compare how you rate among others on saving, spending, investing, debt and other areas of finance.

“For example, if investors determine they’ve saved less in their workplace retirement plans than their counterparts, it may inspire them to save more,” says ING in a prepared statement. “If they come out ahead of the curve, it may encourage them to continue their good habits.” (Or, it could make them slack off.)

ING collected data on 5,000 adults who contributed to retirement plans at work for the basis of the new tool. The information will be expanded and updated as time goes on.

Check it out, and let us know what you think.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Personal finance
        

If you rely on over-the-air signals to watch television, Congress gave you a little more time last month to figure out how you're going to continue to follow your favorite shows after the digital television transition takes place on June 12.

Remember, if you have cable or satellite TV, you don't need a converter. And if you bought your television in 2004 or more recently, you *probably* don't need a converter (here's instructions for confirming whether you have a digital tuner).

Here's some information to help you decide what kind of converter you need to buy.

Consumer Reports offered this link to an FCC Web site that will help you determine how powerful a digital antenna you will need to continue to watch your favorite channels.

Then ...

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer Web Site of the Week, Digital television, Technology
        

Student loan guru Mark Kantrowitz says he got a sneak preview of Sallie Mae’s new private student loan that will become available next week.

Kantrowitz says in an he likes some of the features of the “Smart Option Student Loan” and encourages other lenders to adopt them:

For one, the Sallie Mae loan requires borrowers to pay at least the interest while they are in school, so that interest doesn’t snowball while students are in school. If you can’t pay the interest while attending classes, you don’t get the loan unless you have a co-signer.

Secondly, the loan term is 5 to 15 years, not the usually 20 to 25 years of other private loans.

This new loan will replace Sallie Mae’s Signature Student Loan, says Kantrowitz, who publishes FinAid, an online provide of financial aid information.

Requiring interest payments while in school will keep the loan costs down for students, but it also helps Sallie Mae’s cash flow and will keep the borrower in touch with the lender through monthly statements, Katrowitz says.

Katrowitz crunched some numbers and found that the new loan could cut the interest paid over the life of the loan by about two-thirds compared the standard private loan.

 The major drawback, he says, is that borrowers usually want to defer interest payments while in school, even if it costs them more over time.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Student loans
        

Shocking! Several Burlington Coat Factory stores in Connecticut were caught by a local TV news station selling men's coats supposedly by "famous makers" such as Perry Ellis. Except, these fake fancy labels were just sewn over tags showing they were from Walmart!

Burlington Coat Factory ended up pulling the entire shipment of coats from stores nationwide according to the story, discovered via Consumerist.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Shopping
        

Talk to financial planners, and they will often tell you that people underestimate how long they will live.

That means they likely underestimate how much money they will need to save for retirement.

Northwestern Mutual has come out with a lifespan calculator to help you estimate how long you are likely to live based on your eating, driving, exercise and other health habits.

Calculators such as this one are sort of fun, and it could be an eye-opener for those who have no idea of how long they could live.

Northwestern Mutual calculates your life expectancy in about a dozen questions. (My age: 90)

Check out other sites like such as Dr. Thomas Perls’ Livingto100 calculator and the David Demko’s Death Calculator.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Personal finance
        

Meet Jim Wang. You've read the Columbia resident's comments here at Consuming Interests, and we've certainly cited Jim's blog bargaineering.com along with his peers in the personal finance blogging world, including J.D. Roth from Get Rich Slowly and Trent from The Simple Dollar.

Read Eileen Ambrose's Sunday column to find out how these personal finance bloggers shared their experiences getting themselves out of the red... and have earned some green in the process.

As for Watchdog ...

... this week we focused on a broken grate over a storm water inlet in Southeast Baltimore. The person who reported it to Watchdog never called 311. Please, folks --- this is your first outlet to get results for problems within the city. If you don't get a response after weeks of calling, then certainly, it's time to sic Watchdog on the issue.

(photo: Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

Tons of people blog, but some people save you money while doing it.  

Eileen Ambrose talked with three personal finance bloggers who have cultivated an audience by sharing great advice about their own experiences digging out of debt. Now, they're helping others change their own financial outlook for the better --- and bringing in bucks while doing it.

Check out Eileen's Sunday column to find out how they corrected some big money mistakes.

As for Watchdog ...

... we check in with a reader who has been worried about the open grate over a storm drain in his community for weeks.

Here's a public service message from Kurt Kocher, the city public works spokesman: if you see a problem like this, call 311. Or, if you prefer to type, submit a report in the city's online 311 system, which we have told you about before.

I think filing online is better, because then you receive an e-mail with the confirmation number, which you can use later to check the status of a 311 complaint you've submitted.

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Personal finance, Watchdog
        

Snap up this free trial for Sam's Club, one day only, courtesy of Allstate, discovered via A Steal of a Deal. Register to receive the e-mailed coupon, which expires March 31.

But don't go crazy: we've told you before to watch what you spend at warehouse stores --- avoid the impulse buys!

Here are Consumer Reports' tips on warehouse store shopping.

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

Manufacturers of cleaning products have never been required to list their ingredients on the packaging, a fact that has troubled people with respiratory problems and rare allergies, or worse --- parents of children who have injested something potentially poisonous.

A 1976 New York state law does compel companies to file semi-annual reports about ingredients, although  manufacturers have never complied, according to environmental law firm Earthjustice. So, last month Earthjustice sued four companies, including Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive, to get them to 'fess up.

Other companies chose to cooperate with Earthjustice ...

... such as Sunshine, which makes Simple Green products (see the ingredients of Simple Green products here) as well as SCJohnson.

That company created a Web site, what'sinsideSCJohnson.com, for consumers to search and find out what their products are made of. It's also making the info available via a toll-free number (1-800-558-5252) and eventually on product labels for air-care and home cleaning products.

Or, you could avoid these store-bought products entirely in favor of a few spray bottles loaded with common household items such as vinegar or baking soda, such as these homemade cleaning product recipes from Consumer Reports.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Consumer safety
        

Boston Market coupons, Victoria's Secret coupons, Office Depot coupons. Enjoy!

This is just a quick post to call attention to Consuming Interests' Twitter feed in the righthand rail. When we get too busy or find something quick to share, we'll post them there. For example, I found that Boston Market coupon for $3 off a $6 meal yesterday morning, via Twitter user @bobsdeals. It's valid through April 12.

As for the other coupons ...

... it's 25 percent off any one item at Victoria's Secret through March 29, courtesy of Donna Montaldo's bargain blog at About.com. And, $10 off a $50 purchase at Office Depot coupon from SdShoppe.com.

Confession: I detest when people refer to Victoria's Secret as "Vickie's". It's a store, not your friend.

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Wine discounts abound in this recession, said oenophiles at several local wine shops. 

Matt Wood, a manager of The Wine Source in Hampden, said some bottles are available for as much as 50 percent off. "There are some serious bargains to be had because distributors having trouble moving things," he said.

Vicky Schassler at Spirits of Mount Vernon suggested wines from regions such as Chile, Argentina and South Africa, because they are not affected by the Euro.

But if you're in the market for deals on some bottles, where should you go?

When we put out the call for wine discounts and free or cheap tastings, several commenters suggested The Wine Bin on Main Street in historic Ellicott City as a destination for daily wine tastings and discounted bottles.  

Also in Ellicott City, The Wine Seller on Richards Valley Road offers free tastings from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily, as well as 10 percent off mixed cases of wine and spirits. Don't forget to print the comment to receive 20 percent off 12 bottles or more.

Let's not forget local wineries. Linda Andersen suggested a trip out to Mount Felix Winery in Havre de Grace, where you can taste seven wines for $5 and take the glass home with you and learn about some local history along the way.

Sign up for Spirits of Mount Vernon's e-mail newsletter to find out about upcoming complimentary tastings, Schassler said. Cases are always 15 percent off, and the whole neighborhood comes out for "10% off Tuesdays"  at the store at Charles and Read streets, she said. 

Urban Cellars holds wine tastings monthly -- the next one March 27 -- and discounts those bottles 10 percent, said manager Ed Eccleston. Sign up for their newsletter for more information. The Charles Center shop offers 10 percent off a mixed case and 15 percent off "solid" cases, he said.

The Wine Source in Hampden hosts free wine tastings, as well as free beer tastings, free sake tastings and more, Wood said. At Wine Source, mixed cases are 20 percent off.

Beltway Fine Wine and Spirits, on Loch Raven Boulevard in Baltimore County, often hosts winemakers' tastings on Saturdays. The store also offers 10 percent off cases, but all bottles have to be the same. Those with prices that end in a "7" are already discounted and so are not eligible for additional discount, said manager Tom Becker.

Okay, I know there are plenty of other deals, discounts and free tastings out there. Please share your favorites below.

UPDATED: Don't miss this suggestion from Kristina, about V-NO on South Ann Street in Fells Point. As she says, "They have at least 2 wine-tastings every other Thursday. And you can enjoy the gorgeous waterview."

(photo: David Hobby/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 5:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Job hunting? Polishing up your resume just in case you need it?

Attendance at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Job and Career Center events has surged, according to the library.

Library staff also offer free resume reviews. Test study guides for graduate entrance exams and licensing or certification tests are available at the center. 

If you need the basics or a refresher on topics such as writing resumes or cover letters, interviewing or networking, check out some of the upcoming programs:

RÉSUMÉ 101
Monday, March 16, 2 p.m., Light Street Branch, 1251 Light Street
Find out what goes into a résumé and the different ways résumés can be formatted. It includes hands-on practice on a computer typing an actual résumé.

10 STEPS TO A FEDERAL JOB
Sunday, March 22, 2 p.m., Central Library Wheeler Auditorium, 400 Cathedral Street
Kathryn Troutman, author of Ten Steps to a Federal Job, will help you through the federal job application process.

INTERVIEWING BASICS
Monday, March 23, 2 p.m., Light Street Branch, 1251 Light Street
Find out how to prepare for an interview, including how to answer the most frequently asked questions and “red-flag” questions. You’ll also learn the proper follow-up to an interview and how it can help you get the job.

JOB SEARCHING 101
Thursday, March 26 & Wednesday, April 15, 1 – 5 p.m., Central Library Wheeler Auditorium
Want to jump start your job search? Learn more about job searching, networking, résumé writing, and interviewing.

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: How To
        

Baltimoresun.com now has a way to compare grocery store sales online. The Grocery Guide allows you to browse and compare supermarket circulars from around the region and create a personalized grocery list.

It's an option to start your meal-planning and coupon-stacking. You can click the "details" button to get a price history for the product.

Two things you should know: 

The "Giant" circular is for the Pennsylvania-based chain, which has a location in Eldersburg. And, the coupon button doesn't do much, right now.

Give it a try and then come back and let us know what you think. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

The Federal Trade Commission today released two videos spoofing commercials that promise free credit reports, but in reality try to sell you other products.

See the videos here.

The FTC videos appear to be a take off on freecreditreport.com’s ads, like the one featuring a guitar strummer wearing pirate clothes and singing in a fish restaurant. The FTC video features a kilt-wearing guitarist singing in an restaurant with step dancers in the background.

The guitarist sings: “Beware of the others. There is always a catch. They claim to be free but there are strings attached. Their ads can be funny, but don’t be deceived. Hold onto your money. There is one site you need: annualrecreditreport.com.”

That site is the only one where you can get free reports from all three major credit bureaus.

However, go to freecreditreport’s site, and here is what you’ll find:

“When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 7-day trial period, you will be billed $14.95 for each month that you continue your membership.”

Wow, with a free offer like that, you can end up in debt.

The FTC says it is releasing the videos as part of National Consumer Week, although an agency official says that many consumers confused by sites purporting to offer free reports.

In 2005, the FTC reached a settlement with the parent company of freecreditreport.com, after the FTC accused the company of deceiving consumers.

Read the story below:

A subsidiary of Experian, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, which accused the company of deceiving consumers with offers of "free credit reports" while signing them up for a monitoring service that cost nearly $80 a year.

Consumerinfo.com Inc. agreed to make refunds to customers, to stop the misleading claims and to turn over $950,000 in ill-gotten gains that may be used for consumer education, federal regulators announced yesterday.

Additionally, the FTC is sending letters to operators of more than 130 Web sites that mimic the official site where consumers get free credit reports under federal law. Often these impostor sites market credit-related services for a fee.

The FTC settlement with Consumerinfo is the first since the passage in 2003 of a federal law that entitles consumers to one free credit report a year from each of the three national credit bureaus.

The federally mandated reports began rolling out in December on the West Coast. Next month, Maryland and other Eastern states, and the District of Columbia will be the last to become eligible, although Marylanders already are entitled to them under state law.

In its complaint against Consumerinfo, the FTC said the company steered consumers to two Web sites - www.freecreditreport.com and www.consumerinfo.com - through ads promising free reports and a free trial of a credit-monitoring service. Customers were asked to supply their credit card information to establish their account.

But the company failed to adequately disclose that consumers must cancel the monitoring service within the 30-day free trial or be charged $79.95 for a yearly membership, the FTC said. Memberships sometimes were automatically renewed and customers were billed for another year without being told, the FTC said.

Consumerinfo's freecreditreport.com Web site also misled consumers into believing it was associated with the free reports mandated by federal law, the FTC added.

"There is only one official source for free reports authorized by federal law," said Lydia B. Parnes, director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection during a news conference. That site, www.annualcreditreport.com, is the only U.S. government site where consumers can get a federally mandated credit report.

"We absolutely regret any confusion or concern caused by our product offers," said Peg Smith, executive vice president with Experian, which acquired Consumerinfo in April 2002. Smith said the company has worked to improve disclosure.

As part of the settlement, Consumerinfo will send about 1 million letters to consumers who are eligible for a refund, she said. Refunds could be as high as $79.95, although consumers will see less if they've already received a partial refund.

The FTC's other worry is about impostor Web sites that imitate www.annualcreditreport.com. The World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit research group in California, reported it found 112 active impostor credit report sites as of June.

The FTC will write to operators of more than 130 sites, telling them to fix problems that might lead to consumer confusion, Parnes said. "We will be monitoring the Web sites," she said.

Also, the FTC is purchasing sponsor links on search engines that will warn of impostors and link consumers to the right site. An FTC consumer alert on the subject is available at www.ftc.gov/freereports.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection
        

These answers to your questions come from Theresa M Bandell, certified public accountant and director of Stegman & Co. in Baltimore:

Q. I currently own a home. But if I buy another home this year with my future wife who will be a first time homeowner, will she be able to file an amended return and claim the $8000 credit (as a co-signer) in 2008 since she already filed as a single person, and since she can't claim it in 2009 since she will be married to a person that already has a house? We are about to be a newly married couple but are planning to buy the house before we are officially married. We will both be living at the new house, and I plan to keep my old house (that only has my name on the title) as an investment property. Any insight you can provide will be most helpful.

A. As long as they purchase the house before they are married, the future wife would be able to claim the credit on her 2008 return. If they were both eligible for the credit, they would have to allocate the credit between the two individuals based on a reasonable method.

Q. I own several older rental properties. I would like to replace the furnaces and air conditioning units, windows, roofs, and perhaps hot water heaters. Can I get a deduction for each expenditure for rental properties? What are the guidelines for "energy efficiency"?

A. The nonbusiness energy property credit for energy-efficient improvements is only available for the taxpayer’s principal residence; therefore, it would not be available for the improvements to rental properties.

Q. Regarding the homebuyer credit: My wife and I are building a home that we started in 2008. It will be completed and ready for our occupancy in May 2009 at which point we will get permanent financing. Is this considered a purchase that qualifies for the credit?

A. A home under construction by a taxpayer is treated as purchased by the taxpayer on the date of occupancy.

Q. I filed my taxes on Feb 12th and claimed the $7,500, but I am not closing on my house until Feb 26th, are my taxes going to be rejected? Will I just get the amount of my refund minus the $7500? Or will I have to amend my taxes to claim the $8,000?

A. Don’t worry, your taxes are not going to be rejected and you will receive $7,500 credit. To receive the additional $500, you need to file an amended return.

Q. My husband and I have had a construction loan since August 2008, and have also been living in the house since September 2008. Within the next few weeks, we will be signing a 30 year mortgage. Is there any way to make 2009 the year we are considered "first-time home buyers", so we can get the $8,000 tax credit?

A. Sorry, no you cannot make 2009 the year you are considered a first-time home buyer. A home under construction is treated as purchased by the taxpayer the date of occupancy, since you took occupancy in September 2008, that is your date of purchase.

Q. I presently am on a tax repayment plan with the IRS. I will be closing on a house in 2009, will I receive the refund or, will IRS take the refund as payment on the taxes that I am in repayment agreement for. I am not delinquent on my repayment agreement.  By the way, I am receiving gift money for the down payment and, the closing cost is being paid by the builder.

A. The refund would be treated as any other tax refund and applied to outstanding liabilities with the IRS, child support or possible state tax liabilities.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Taxes
        

Home energy audits can help homeowners identify improvments that could shave their utility bills and use fewer resources, according to Scott Calvert's story today.

I've been talking with Dan Holohan of heatinghelp.com, a site where consumers and contractors discuss heating issues. He says there's a lot of "low-hanging fruit" amid the housing stock in the Baltimore area --- opportunities where some changes could result in big returns.

Unfortunately, however ...

... both the audits and the improvements themselves require money, which is scarce for many families these days. However, as Scott notes in the story:

More low-income owners will be eligible for weatherization grants. A revolving loan fund might be started to help owners tighten their homes or install renewable systems such as solar ... TerraLogos (the company in the story that performed the audit) estimates that even a $5,000 investment can pay for itself in five years through lower bills. And Woolf noted that a federal tax credit for energy-efficient retrofits has been tripled to $1,500.

Unemployed construction workers could benefit as well.

Maryland officials say the state will receive $173 million over 18 months to boost energy efficiency and develop "green-collar" jobs. About 300 lobbyists, businesses and others attended a Maryland Energy Administration forum yesterday in Annapolis to discuss the likely impact of stimulus funds.

The funds will also train workers in the burgeoning weatherization field.

"We do not have enough auditors and retrofitters trained in Maryland to do all this work," said Maryland Energy Administration Director Malcolm Woolf. "An unemployed construction worker in a matter of weeks can get retrained so he learns about insulation and ductwork and gets put to work implementing these retrofits."

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Energy/Utilities
        

Readers, this week we're looking for cheap wine events and sales: inexpensive tasting flights and discounts off cases or other deals that help stretch your wining-and-dining dollar.

Free or cheap wine tastings are an inexpensive entertainment option that can be educational for your mind and your palate. And, a quality bargain wine found at a local store or winery would be an excellent accompaniment to a meal at home.

Please share your favorite destinations for oenological research,

... whether they be wineries that are less than a day trip's distance, or liquor stores that offer deals, or wineries that offer deals ... you get the idea. Then check back Thursday for a complete list.

UPDATED: Don't forget to check out the other options we discovered and readers shared for free wine tastings and wine discounts.

Posted by Liz Kay at 5:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

Print your resume for free at FedEx locations tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10).

The offer is good for 25 free black-and-white, single-sided copies on resume paper. You must bring your document (either printed or digital form) into a FedEx location (find a FedEx location) to take advantage of the deal.

UPDATED: Discovered this deal via Lifehacker, where a commenter asked if anyone even prints out resumes, these days.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

RegW had a great question last week about estimated versus actual electric meter readings:  

"... I'm far more inclined to believe that BGE is estimating meter readings instead of actually reading them, and that the estimates are in BGE's favor rather than the customers'. Can someone explain to me how the meter reading is carried out these days? I can't remember a single time in the past 5 years that I've actually seen someone from BGE reading a meter ...

Do they carry out these readings under the cloak of night? Or are they conducted remotely via ESP? Is the process completely automated these days, and therefore doesn't require a BGE employee to come out and actually read people's meters?"

He guessed partially right ...

... more than half the meters for Baltimore Gas & Electric's 1.8 million customers are read remotely, according to Baltimore Gas and Electric spokeswoman Linda Foy.

She wrote:  

BGE's goal is to read every meter every month (including Budget Billing customers). There are times, however when meters are not read and a bill is generated based on an estimated reading. Usually estimated readings are conducted due to operating conditions or safety concerns (storms, icy roads, etc.). Estimated readings are based on previous usage at that location and the weather.

More than 1 million gas and electric meters are read by "drive-by" meaning a meter reader drives a vehicle equipped with a radio signal that automatically records the reading without having to stop at individual addresses. Additionally, there are about 800,000 meters that are read by meter readers who enter the readings into a handheld device. In those cases the meter reader must access the meter.

Also, over the past 12 months, 79% of all residential meter reads were actual reads. An additional 16.4% had only one estimated read. In other words, more than 95% of our residential customers had at least 11 actual reads over the past 12 months and the vast majority had actual reads every month.

RegW, hope that answers your question.

The Maryland Public Service Commission also has information about state regulations for estimated vs. actual meter readings.

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Energy/Utilities
        

Some people may have seem to have the frugal gene, and don't need to nurture these instincts, according to Eileen Ambrose's column Sunday. But others can also learn to develop the habits of savers, her experts say.

Savers wouldn't waste money on bottled water or credit card fees but they also invest wisely, according to the column.

Sometimes outside forces can encourage saving, such as the grim economic news these days, which correlates with the personal saving rate increasing by 5 percent, Eileen said.

You know what else also helps?

Having a goal --- knowing why you're putting aside the money: a downpayment, an emergency fund, paying cash for a vacation or a car instead of borrowing to pay for it --- can help encourage saving, too.

Speaking of saving, did you catch the article about no-frills health clubs? It might be an option if you're trying to save some cash and don't use all the features that some fancier clubs, such as day care or the swimming pool.

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Watchdog
        

Excellent Eileen tackles an intriguing topic on Sunday: why some people are savers despite modest incomes, while others can't save a penny even on healthy salaries.

I'm not sure whether nature or nurture has a bigger impact on developing a frugal philosophy. However, you often hear stories about how living through the Great Depression, when people had to quit high school because they couldn't afford the socks (check out episode 3). It made people appreciate what they had and taught them not to waste anything. They fixed broken things and reused everything before recycling was trendy.

Anyone believe the current economic climate will help people form frugal habits they will practice for a lifetime? Check out what Eileen thinks on Sunday.

And as for Watchdog, we see how long it takes for someone trying to be a good neighbor to succeed in his quest to remove a handicapped parking space that his family no longer needs.

This week we're ending on a public service announcement:

Sunday is the day to spring forward for daylight savings time. The Consumer Product Safety Commission doesn't want you to forget to check your smoke and carbon monoxide batteries. The Maryland Emergency Management Administration also reminds you to rotate the food and water in your emergency kits to ensure it's fresh, although we hope you won't need it.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Personal finance, Shopping, Watchdog
        

So many people are struggling with utility bills, and have been for so long, that 84,000 Marylanders are at risk of having their electric and gas services cut off once winter restrictions are lifted on April 1, Laura Smitherman reports.

April 1 is the key date, because ...

Utilities can halt service when a customer's balance exceeds $200 for electricity or natural gas, or $300 for both; and when the total due is greater than the deposit. Rules are more lenient for low-income customers who apply for aid, the elderly and those on life support.

State regulations impose further restrictions on utilities during cold weather months for safety reasons. From Nov. 1 to April 1, service terminations are limited when the weather forecast does not exceed 32 degrees for 24 hours. Utilities also must file affidavits confirming that they made personal contact with customers before shutting them off and explaining the reason for doing so.

Now, a number of factors are affecting our bills this winter, including the colder temperatures. While everyone's situation is different, here are a couple of ideas to try to minimize your bills while staying warm:

If you have electric heat with a heat pump, your system is going to be struggling to heat your home when the temperatures fall below freezing, said Tom Reddoch of the Electric Power Research Institute. The system will expend a lot of energy to create a supplemental form of heat when it's that cold and therefore isn't as efficient as it is when it's warmer.  

Consider keeping your thermostat set to a reasonable or even low temperature when you're at home, and using sweaters and blankets as well as using a space heater to keep the limited area where you're located comfortable. That way, you're not heating the entire home to a higher temperature, including the rooms where you're not hanging out.

Those with baseboard heaters could do also try this "zonal heat" approach by turning them on only in rooms that are being used, and turning them off as they leave, he said.

And if you turn down your thermostat for a heat-pump system at night or when you leave the house (say, 60 degrees) and then raise it eight or 10 degrees when you get back, the supplemental heat is likely to kick in again to get the house warm right away. Consider raising it more gradually or if you can, installing a programmable thermostat that can handle that task for you.

If you have gas heat, take a look at the gas supplier listed on your bill. Business columnist and blogger Jay Hancock has been trying to warn people for months that many people locked into 12-month contracts that cost them more per therm --- as much as $1.59! --- whereas their neighbors are paying less than a dollar. He has advised canceling the contract, even if it means paying an early termination fee, because if you're paying the higher prices you'd make up the difference in just a few weeks. Do the math for yourself and decide.

But let's be honest: since we started writing about this issue, we've all heard so much from people who have made sacrifices --- including investing thousands in energy-efficient improvements --- but haven't seen much relief in their bills.

If you have reason to believe your electric meter is malfunctioning, you can call your utility company for a test. HOWEVER. Tech guru Gus warns that according to BGE, the meters are almost always accurate, and if they are inaccurate, they're running slow --- so you may end up paying even more. Check out BGE's powerpoint presentation on high utility bills, presented to the PSC last week. 

The Maryland Public Service Commission can also conduct an independent "referee test" of your meter but some readers have told me they're told that the backlog is so high they will have to wait months until those can be scheduled.  

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Energy/Utilities, Gas prices, Home/Real Estate
        

Thanks to Cindy Hockenberry, research coordinator with the National Association of Tax Professionals, for the answers to these questions:

Q. I sold my home in May 2006. I purchased a new home on February 27, 2009. Does this mean I am not eligible for the credit? Is it exactly 3 years to the date?

A. A “first-time homebuyer” is an individual who had no present ownership interest in a principal residence during the three-year period ending on the date of the purchase. This means that you count back three years from the date the home was purchased. Since you had an ownership interest in a principal residence during the three year period from February 2006 to February 2009, you do not qualify for the credit.

Q. I receive SSDI benefits. If I'm entitled to the $250 one-time payment, what about my children?

A. The $250 payment is only available to adults and retirees. If you are collecting Social Security disability payments, you qualify. Your children do not.

Q. My son closed on a house 2/27/09. He is married and neither he or his wife have ever owned a primary residence. The deed and loan are in both of our names. His wife is not on either. I currently own a home and will continue to live in it. Can he claim the $8,000 credit?

A. Yes. He will qualify for the full $8,000 credit. The fact that your name is on the title and mortgage does not matter.

Q. Under new the stimulus package, will persons turning 65 who lose their health and dental plans be able to get help with COBRA for their spouses who are not, yet 65? I am covered under my husband's health and dental plans. He will turn 65 in October 2009. I will not be 65 until November 2010 and will need to find dental and health care coverage. We are way under the $250,000 adjusted gross income.

A. Yes. A spouse or dependent of a terminated employee can independently elect COBRA coverage and can independently receive a subsidy.

Q. I presently own a co-op. Is this considered a "home," thereby disqualifying me from the credit if I purchase a home this year?

A. An ownership interest in co-operative housing is considered a personal residence if you live there as your home. If you sell the co-op and buy another home, you are not eligible for the credit.

Q. I understand that self-employed people will get a stimulus payment, but in what form will that be? I am hearing that people will receive a lowering of their withholding tax. But if we don't have a "paycheck," will we receive a check in the mail or a deduction on the taxes we file or some other means?

A. A self-employed person can claim the credit when they file their 2009 tax return. If they want the benefit in advance, they can reduce their estimated tax payments for the remainder of 2009.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Taxes
        

Kids eat free in some unexpected places that readers pointed out.

Cici's Pizza, a buffet restaurant, has free and low-cost meals for kids, recommended Judith. This Motley Fool article on free kids meals confirms that deal, with free meals for kids under 4 and reduced prices for ages 5 to 10.

The article points out some logical advice: you'll have better luck finding deals mid-week when restaurant business is slower, like Tuesdays. Also, watch out for minimum purchases of adult meals, drinks or other exceptions.

I'd add that some chain restaurants that operate franchises may not honor deals offered in other parts of the country, or the rules may have changed. Verify to see if the location is still offering the deal ahead of time.

If you're up in Harford County, CR Wings in Bel Air serves $1.99 kids meals all day Sundays, said loyal reader Holly. 

And thanks, Drew, for the tip about ... 

... Fogo de Chao, the Brazilian churrascaria steakhouse where kids 5 and under eat for free and kids 6 to 11 eat for half price. Of course, you'll be paying more than $40 per adult, here, so it's definitely pricey enough to make you glad that children's meals won't be adding to the bill, too.

Some other restaurants with kids meal deals include: 

--- Denny's: up to two kids 10 and under eat free 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, with purchase of adult entree;

--- Lone Star Steakhouse: up to 2 kids under 12 eat free all day Tuesday.

--- Casa-Rico in Westminster and Frederick:  Kids eat for 99 cents on Tuesdays with every paid adult entree.

--- UPDATED: At Nacho Mama's on O'Donnell Square in Canton, kids under 10 eat free on Wednesdays.

--- UPDATED again: Applebee's offers $1.99 kids meals with purchase of an adult entree.

The last two updates come courtesy of CityPaper's Eat dining guide.

Other sites: Allkidseatfree.com

Kids eat free at Mommysavers.com

Kids eat free at CouponDivas.com

Did I miss any great specials? Please share them below!

(photo: Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Folks, if you or your family needs some new clothes this season, you might want to wait until next week and print out this in-store Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic coupon, which business columnist Hanah Cho so kindly shared.

In the Give & Get Event, save 30 percent off from March 12 through March 15, and 5 percent of what you spend goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

  Thanks to Mark Steber, Vice President of Tax Resources for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, for answering this latest batch of economic stimulus questions:

 Q. I receive SSDI (social security disability income). Will I get the $250 one-time economic stimulus payments? I'm reading that supplemental security income recipients qualify, but I'm on SSDI. It's Social Security, but not the same. Do I still qualify?

A: Those individuals receiving SSDI will qualify for and should receive the $250 payment. Generally, beneficiaries of all forms of Social Security payments are eligible for the $250 payment.

Q. When will the $25 per week payment on unemployment start? Will it be retroactive to the first of the 2009 year?

A: The specific start date and retroactive date of the additional $25 per week is determined by each individual state.

Q. If they take less federal income tax out of our paychecks this year, when we go to file our taxes next year we will receive a smaller refund. Because when you figure out your refund, if you qualify you can get back all the federal tax they withheld. So unless they do something different, all you are doing is getting some of the money that you would have gotten next year at tax time now.

A: The amount of reduced withholdings per pay period is generally going to be equal to the amount of credit taxpayers would otherwise qualify for when they file their 2009 tax return. As long as the change in withholdings is equal to or less, the lower withholdings amount should not affect the potential refund next year. Of course, if there are other changes to the tax situation including increased income, income from multiple sources, income with no withholdings and lower deductions the potential refund, the potential refund could be reduced.

Q. I receive only pensions and Social Security (no earned income). Will the new tax tables be used on my pension income? If so, I'll have less tax withheld this year, I won't be eligible for the credit, and have a tax bill next year. Is my only option to change withholding this year?

A: The tax tables are the same for pension withholdings and wage withholdings. You can either submit an updated W-4P so your withholdings remains the same or you can make quarterly estimates to cover the expected shortfall. If you choose to submit a new W-4P, you should calculate the difference between the old withholdings and the new withholdings and adjust your allowances accordingly. You can leave the status and allowances the same and request an additional specified dollar amount be withheld also.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Taxes
        

Folks, we here at Consuming Interests, The Sun's consumer blog, are always trying to help you get the most value for your money, whether we're alerting you to free stuff from national retailers or giving you tips about discounts closer to home. 

In keeping with that mission, we're launching a new feature to highlight the different specials and deals around the area. Here's how it will work:

Each week on the blog we'll select a specific type of discount, whether it be double-coupon days at your local store, dry-cleaning deals or dinner specials at a favorite restaurant.

You let us know where you've found such specials, and we'll compile a list each Thursday.

The lists will be archived here on the blog in addition to our Riding out the Recession Web site, where we've also posted 50 tips for living for less.

This week, we're wondering where kids eat for free. Where are the best kids meals and dinner specials, and are there any caveats --- such as purchase of an adult entree? Let us know in the comments below, and check back Thursday to see the final list.

UPDATED: Here's a link to our list of free and cheap kids meals. Happy eating!

(photo: Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Mark Steber, Vice President of Tax Resources for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, answers more questions about the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyers credit:

Q. I am planning on purchasing a home in June 2009. I am getting married May 23, 2009. My fiancé has owned a home in the past three years. I am not planning on putting his name on anything. If I buy the house after we are married but amend my 08 taxes do I still qualify since I was single in 08? I am trying to figure out if amending to 08 will qualify me even after we are married. I forgot to mention I have never owned a home. I think I am in a gray area and no one has an answer.

A. Unfortunately you will not qualify for the First-Time Homebuyers credit if you buy the house after you are married, even if you claim the credit on your 2008 tax return. The qualifications for married taxpayers are you both have to qualify as first-time homebuyers when you buy the house. To qualify, neither of you could have owned an interest in a personal residence any time in the three years prior to the purchase date of the new house. However, if you buy the house before you are married, you will qualify for the credit.

These are similar questions, and the answers are the same:

Q. I may need to have my sister co-sign a loan for me. She does own a home already and will not be living with me in the house I am buying, would I be able to receive the $8,000 tax credit?

Q. I am closing on our house February 25, 2009. I am a first-time homeowner but my fiancé co-signed the home with me and he has owned a home before. Do I qualify for the $8000 credit on my income tax?

Q. I am looking to buy a house and get a loan under my name (primary) and my mom's name (secondary). My mom will not be living in the house. If I am a first time home buyer but my mom isn't, am I still eligible for the tax credit? Her name won't be on the deed.

A. You would be able to claim the First-Time Homebuyers credit of 10% of the purchase price up to $8,000. You also have the option of waiting to file your 2009 tax return to claim the credit, or claiming the credit on your 2008 tax return and receiving the money now. If you have already filed the return, you may amend your return to claim the credit.

Q. My wife and I got married in August 2007. At that time, I was the owner of a house where we lived for some time. The house was foreclosed on in the middle of 2008. Is my wife considered a first time home buyer? She never bought any property.

A. Unfortunately you will not qualify for the First-Time Homebuyers credit. The qualifications for married taxpayers are you both have to qualify as first-time homebuyers when you buy the house. To qualify, neither of you could have owned an interest in a personal residence any time in the three years prior to the purchase date of the new house.

Q. I'm scheduled to be married in June, 2009 and have never owned a home, but my fiancée has. Can we still qualify for this deduction if we are not married before we purchase the home? Can we still qualify if I leave her off the deed but keep her on the loan? Alternatively, could we just amend our 08 filings to include the home?

A. You would be able to claim the First-Time Homebuyers credit of 10% of the purchase price up to $8,000. You also have the option of waiting to file your 2009 tax return to claim the credit, or claiming the credit on your 2008 tax return and receiving the money now. If you have already filed the return, you may amend your return to claim the credit.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (102)
Categories: Taxes
        

Quick! Take a look at the Apple Store today and the new iMac and Mac Pro, as well as updates for Apple's Time Capsule and Airport Extreme. Come back here when you're done for some chatter.

You'll find a bunch of new product updates that just went up for sale this morning. A good day for an impulse buy?

There's a new Mac Mini (still starting at $599) a new selection of iMac desktops (starting at $1,199), and new Mac Pros (starting at $2,499).

I'm interested to check out the new Time Capsule and the new Airport Extreme, both with some new features. (Eye-catcher: Time Capsule will now allow you to set up a "guest network", so guests can access your wi-fi, without having access to devices on your network you want out of their reach.)

For all your uber-geeks, I'm sure David Zeiler, over at the Apple a Day blog, will cover the nuts and bolts of what these new gadgets mean and how they compare to their previous versions.

But for all you impulse buyers out there, what do you think of Apple's latest product roll-out -- which happened a little more quietly than in the past, I think.

Any interesting or exciting upgrades to Apple's offerings of desktop computing and wireless networking?

UPDATE 1: Looking for some other articles covering the launch of new Mac products today? Here are offerings from CNET and Macworld.

UPDATE 2: VentureBeat notes how Apple released news of their new products today with little fanfare. Indeed they did. They link to the two press releases Apple put out, which are here and here.

For more updates, hit the jump:

UPDATE 3: Engadget points out that Apple took away the number keypad on the standard keyboard, for the iMac desktops. But it's apparently giving the consumer an option, as a free upgrade, to get the longer keyboard with the number pad. So, if you don't use the keypad, and prefer some extra desktop real estate, it's your choice on how to configure the keypad. Good or bad idea?

UPDATE 4: ZDNet weighs in with the question: Is the Mac Mini irrelevant? That's what reader/comment Jeff S. wonders in the comments below. PCWorld also covers the new Mac stuff. How about that?

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Technology
        

Southwest Airlines was fined $10.2 million for safety violations by the Federal Aviation Administration last year, but that's not what the company will be ultimately paying for missing inspections.

Officials said last March that 46 planes had gone into the air for nearly 60,000 flights in 2006 and 2007 without safety inspections for potentially dangerous cracks in the fuselage.

Southwest said that the lapse stemmed from overlapping maintenance schedules that overlooked some parts. The company stated then that it completed the inspections less than two weeks later.

The fines were the largest ever levied against an airline. 

Now, about a year later ...

... it seems that Southwest successfully settled with the FAA, negotiating the fines down to $7.5 million to be paid in three $2.5 million installments over two years, according to the Associated Press.

According to the story,

Federal investigators charged FAA's cozy regulatory climate with airlines led to the suppression of whistle-blower complaints against Southwest. After the allegations were made public, FAA announced stepped-up inspection efforts of all carriers' maintenance records, leading to hundreds of planes being grounded in early 2008.

Southwest must also complete 13 additional safety changes, according to the story, including adding eight onsite Southwest technical representatives at companies that perform major maintenance on its airplanes and allowing FAA inspectors better access to maintenance tracking and engineering activities.

Thanks to Michelle over at What's the Deal, The Sun's travel blog, for the heads up on this one.

(Photo: Chiaki Kawajiri/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Airlines, Cheap/Frugal, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Travel
        

With 28 days without spending (okay, little spending) under his belt thanks to his No-Buy Month spending challenge, Brent contemplates the savings on the horizon. --- lfk.

I crawled across the finish line of my No-Buy Month not with an overwhelming urge to reach for my wallet but relief that I'm nearing the end of a nagging cold. I spent $20 visiting the doctor Friday only to have him tell me that I did not have the flu. I had no appetite nor energy until Sunday night.

Thankfully, my condition made it easy to not spend money. The only thing I overindulged in was time on my couch. It did give me a chance to think about what I will do going forward now that February is over.

However, I'm starting off all wrong. I ordered from Paul Chen's Hong Kong restaurant last night and ate at The Sun's cafeteria today, already dropping about $20. 

But I have a plan ... 
 

... I'm going to devote Monday mornings to going grocery shopping. If I buy food for the week, I'll be less likely to order out at nights. Previously, I'd go grocery shopping about once every five weeks, and I'd load up.
 
I'll still allow myself two restaurant dinners a week. No other part of my spending is out of control. I believe I saved close to $300 last month from what I usually spend in eating out and in entertainment. The surplus will rest in my bank account. It's a surprisingly satisfying feeling. If you don't believe me, it's not too late to sign up for March.

Check out other installments of the No-Buy Month spending challenge:

1. No-Buy Month, the 28-day spending challenge

2. Day 5: Rationale

3. Day 9: Withdrawal

4. Day 10: Boredom

5. Day 12: Resolve

6. Day 16: Accounting

7. Day 18: Self-Examination

8. Day 20: Temptation

9. Day 25: A stumble

10. Day 28: Brent's sick

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Baltimore taxi riders will continue to pay the same mileage rates when they hop in a cab, for a few more weeks, at least.

You may have read the story last week about a taxi mileage rate decrease set to take effect March 1, based on a semi-annual review of gas prices. If you heard a lot of honking at the intersection of Baltimore Street and St. Paul Street on Wednesday, that was a protest by taxi drivers calling attention to their situation.

Well, late on Friday afternoon, a group of taxi drivers incensed about the decline obtained a temporary injunction on taxi mileage rate decreases from a Baltimore Circuit Court judge.

As a result ...

... rates will remain at $2.20 per mile until a March 25 hearing, rather than decreasing to $1.65. Also, the flat rate for trips from downtown hotels to BWI Marshall Airport will remain $30. That rate was set to decrease to $22.

The automatic fare adjustment stems from a 2005 agreement between taxi associations, the Office of the People's Counsel and the state Public Service Commission, which regulates taxi rates in Baltimore and Baltimore County didn't include taxi drivers, many of whom are independent owner-operators, said cabbie Goitom Gebre-Ab.

Although gas prices have come down, most of their other expenses have increased, such as maintenance, insurance and the price to belong to associations such as Yellow Transportation. Paying association dues allows drivers to pick up passengers at stands at Penn Station and hotels downtown.

Drivers also say that taxi rates have increased in other jurisdictions, including Anne Arundel County. As a result, a metered taxi from BWI to downtown Baltimore costs at least $35.

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal, Gas prices, Travel
        

Milk prices worldwide are decreasing to reduced demand and increased production overseas, and Maryland's dairy farmers are worried, my colleague Scott Calvert reported last week.

But this appears to be spelling some relief for consumers, in Baltimore at least.

It was just 2007 when the average price of a gallon of milk crested higher than $4. But now, average retail prices for a gallon of whole milk have declined, according to the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which surveys milk prices in selected cities nationwide.

According to their assesment, average prices for a gallon of whole milk decreased to $3.04 in Baltimore. Reduced-fat milk (2 percent) decreased to $3.16.

Check out these charts below. 

USDA AMS average whole milk prices 2008 - Free Legal Forms

USDA AMS average whole milk prices 2009 - Free Legal Forms

If you're curious about the methodology, the AMS

"surveys one outlet each of the largest food store chain, the second largest food store chain, and the largest dairy/convenience store chain in the city or metropolitan area ...  The survey is conducted on one day between the first and tenth of each month, excluding Fridays and weekends. The price obtained is for the most common brand, based on shelf space, and does not represent a temporary special price, or one that is dependent on the purchase of other food items or the use of a cents-off coupon."

Scott, thanks for the link!

UPDATED: Just noticed how much milk costs in New Orleans. $4.55, ouch! Better find something else to dip your cookies into, in the Big Easy. --- lfk.

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Out-of-work Americans will pay a lot less for COBRA health coverage under the stimulus plan, thanks to a government subsidy that will reimburse former employers for nearly two-thirds of the cost for nine months, according to Excellent Eileen's Sunday column.

Normally COBRA allows out-of-work employees keep their former health coverage for up to 18 months by letting them play their share as well as the amount the employers used to pay, as well as an administrative free. 

That can be an amazingly expensive outlay of cash each month, particularly when you're not receiving your regular paycheck.

Of course, there are a number of things to keep in mind, Eileen said.

Your employer won't get the subsidy for you if you quit voluntarily or if you were fired.

The subsidy starts to get phased out starting at those who earn $125,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married couples. 

And if you hadn't yet signed up for COBRA, you'll get another opportunity.

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Healthcare, Taxes