Mainstreet - Family

The Best Maternity Leave Policies in the World

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:40 -0500

by Cait Flanders for LearnVest

For more about the maternity leave policies in the U.S. and abroad, visit LearnVest.com

Maternity leave is a hot topic with us.

The short, unpaid leaves that most mothers are forced to take when they have a baby is one of the main factors leading to America’s ranking as 31 out of 43 developed countries in terms of being a good place to have a baby (we talked about that here).

That, and the fact that the U.S. is one of the few developed countries that does not have a national policy on maternity leave.

Because of this, Working Mother is trying to make a case for paid maternity leave to be mandated in the U.S.

Now, we aren’t in the business of feeling jealous over what others have. However, after pulling data from the 2011 State of the World’s Mothers report, and piecing that together with the maternity leave policies from the top 10 countries, it’s easy to feel a little green. From receiving up to 100% of their wages to getting as much as 480 days of parental leave, check out what the rest of the world is offering moms. (Countries are ranked based on their maternity leave policies and are not in the same order as presented in the above report.)

Denmark
Maternity Pay: 100%
Duration: 18 weeks

Paternity Pay: 100%
Duration: 2 weeks

Parental Leave: 100%
Pay: 32 weeks *
*The leave period may be extended if the worker returns to work part-time, and the payment is then spread over the longer period. In certain sectors, fathers are entitled to additional non-transferable leave.

France
Maternity Pay: 100%
Duration: 16 Weeks

Paternity Pay: 100%
Duration: 2 Weeks

Parental Leave: Variable*
Duration: 3 years
*Entitled to leave or to work part time until the child is 3 years old. Varying flat-rate payments depending on size of family and leave circumstances.

Netherlands
Maternity Pay: 100%
Duration: 16 weeks

Paternity Pay: 100%
Duration: 2 days

Belgium
Maternity Pay: 75%*
Duration: 15 weeks
*82% for first 30 days, then 75%

Paternity Pay: 100%**
Duration: 10 days
**100% for three days, then 82%

Parental Leave: Fixed amount ***
Duration: 12 weeks ****
***Approx. EUR 653 per month net of taxes
****Was in the process of being extended to four

New Zealand
Maternity Pay: 100%
Duration: 14 weeks

Paternity Pay: 100%*
Duration: 1-2 weeks
*Paid if the partner transfers the statutory entitlement after taking less than 14 weeks of maternity leave.

See the other five countries with Swoonworthy Maternity Leave Policies at LearnVest.com!

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Want Your Kids to Do Their Chores? Use Technology

Brian O'Connell — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:43:49 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) – Getting kids to stay on top of their chores has always been a challenge for parents, but it seems new technology is allowing today’s moms and dads to find clever ways to make sure those dishes get washed and beds get made.

According to data from DoughMain, a Princeton, N.J.-based family financial software provider, parents are increasingly using online chore charts kids can access from their smartphones and iPads to remind them to do their chores.

“Using online chore charts, parents can teach kids about their responsibility to contribute to the household and keep track of these efforts with a digital tool,” DoughMain says in a statement. “By connecting chores to allowance or a rewards program, parents can also teach kids about the fundamentals of money management through real-world experiences.”

The company reviewed 1,500 families who use DoughMain’s “Chores Tracker” tool to uncover the most common types of chores parents are assigning their kids via digital devices.

Here are the most popular items on that list:

Brush and floss teeth

Clean bedroom

Do homework

Make bed

Be on time for bus/school

Clean bathroom

The trend in household chore assignments is reminiscent of the line from an old bank robber named Willie Sutton. Asked why he robbed banks, Sutton memorably replied, “Because that’s where the money is.”

A similar philosophy applies to parents and chore lists: Reaching out to kids on their digital devices is smart household business because, to paraphrase Sutton, that’s where the kids are.

There seems to be plenty of incentive for kids to stay on top of their tasks: Accordingly to a June survey from American Express (Stock Quote: AXP), a whopping 71% of parents paid their children to do their chores last summer.

9 Money Lessons Financial Experts Teach Their Kids

LearnVest — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:30:00 -0500

By Cheryl Lock for LearnVest

For more about how financial experts educate their children about money, visit LearnVest.com.

We go to great lengths to teach our kids about money.

We know the importance of setting them up with savings accounts, introducing them to the idea of charitable giving and teaching them good and bad ways to use credit cards.

Still, we’re always interested in how other people teach their kids good money habits … especially when those people are financial experts.

So we asked a whole bunch: Ranging from LearnVest experts, who are there to help you create a financial plan that works for yo u any day of the week, to other CFPs® out in the field, to be sure we turned up all of the best tricks for raising financially-savvy children.

Here are the most valuable lessons they’ve put in practice with their own families. Read and learn.

1. You Have to Earn to Spend

I have two college-aged kids and one who is a senior in high school, and I’m really into having them budget. I give them a monthly allowance at college that covers the basics, but they have to earn money to pay for anything extra. I’ve never made them work, but in order to have money to spend, they’ve chosen to … even at McDonald’s. Teaching kids the value of a dollar is important: I’ve also taken my son shopping and when he really wanted a particular shirt, I suggested he buy it himself. Surprise! He didn’t want it as much then. —Cindy Golub, principal with G-Squared Advisory and LearnVest advisor

2. Money Is About Making Choices

Since my daughter is only 4, it’s difficult to teach finance in terms she can understand. She has offered to buy her babysitter a car (it’s going to be red) and a house (she needs more bedrooms). It’s sweet and unselfish, but a little on the impractical side. So now we’re teaching her about waste, and why we buy one thing instead of many when we’re at the store. We instill in her the idea that there are choices to make to live a healthy financial life, rather than “having it all.” —Amy Banker, Director of Client Services at retirement planning firm

3. Delaying Gratifications Can Pay Off

We helped our son relate the idea of earning money for doing specific tasks or goals by paying him for extra chores he did around the house. So for example, we would have him scoop dog poop for $0.50 per pile. He got smart and figured out that if he waited a week, then he’d have more to scoop, and he’d get a bigger payout. Gross, but it worked. —Brian Tinker, CFP® with Penniall & Associates

Check out this story for more about how (or whether) to give your kids an allowance.

4. Count Your Blessings (Literally!)

We had some talks with our 3-year-old around Christmas about what Toys for Tots really does, and the fact that he helped make a child’s holiday by donating a toy. My wife put all his gifts on the dining room table to show him just how many he got from his family, and that he should understand how lucky he is, because not every kid out there is as fortunate. —Daniel D’Ordine, CFP® with DDO Advisory Services, LLC

5. Keep Innovating

My 5-year-old son Nolan loves making stands to sell things. One day he decided to try to sell his artwork. When he noticed people walking by without buying, he went into the pantry and started putting his favorite snacks into baggies to sell with the artwork. When that still didn’t work, Nolan didn’t get discouraged. We sat down and talked, and I asked him how he thought he could make his business better next time. He came up with the idea that next time he should place his stand right on the sidewalk, as opposed to more in the driveway where it was before. That way people couldn’t walk by without seeing what he was selling. Sometimes being an entrepreneur requires a little outside-the-box thinking. — Michael J. Keating, CFP®, Managing Partner with InnerHarbor Advisors, LLC

6. Work for What You Want, and It Will Mean More

A couple of years ago, my younger daughter, who was 10 at the time, asked for a guitar. We talked about it and decided that to earn it she would pick out some of the toys and books she no longer used and have a yard sale to earn the money for the guitar. She did it, enjoyed the preparation for the yard sale and made enough to buy the guitar, which made her feel really good about getting it. — Zelijka Kulusic, CFP® and MBA student at NYU

7. Even the Young Can Invest

I think 13 is a great age to start teaching kids about stocks—they should be old enough by then to grasp a lot of the concepts. My son opened his first account when he was 13, and my daughter, who is 12, will be opening one soon. I had each of them pick one or two companies that make a product or service that is of interest to them. For example, my son has several Apple devices and really enjoys using them, so I opened a brokerage account for him using his money, and we bought a couple of shares of Apple. Every time the statement comes in, we sit down and review the account and discuss the company, and I answer any questions that he has. This is a great way for him to learn how to select and evaluate companies, as well as get familiar with basic financial concepts, all while having fun with something he is interested in. —Mark J. Feldman, CFP®, CLTC with Northwestern Mutual

8. Budgeting Is a Family Affair

We bring the kids into the discussion of how the family money will be spent and what the priorities are. My kids are now 13 and 16, but we have always talked to them about the fact that we save for retirement and for their college. We also talk about spending when it comes to vacations, home improvements, furniture, electronics and other things we want. They get to help decide if we are going somewhere for spring break, or what our summer plans will be.—Jalene Thompson Hahn, CFP® with Warren Ward Associates

9. A Little Goes a Long Way

I have three teenagers, and my kids often hear me talking to clients about the importance of an emergency fund. They have also been told numerous times about how expensive college is, and that they will want some spending money all their own. So each time they have made some money, we reiterate the importance of savings. My oldest son has recently gone off to college and has been so happy to find that he has a pot of money stored away that is all his own. My other two children have seen this and are further motivated to keep saving most of their earnings from any of their jobs to use when they are on their own. —Laurie Girsky, principal with G-Squared Advisory and LearnVest advisor

What do you do to teach your kids about money?

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10 Affordable Valentine’s Day Getaways

Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0500

Looking to whisk your sweetie away on a romantic retreat this Valentine’s Day, but don’t want to empty your pockets? Here are 10 affordable destinations to rekindle your romance without going broke.

The Worst States for Kids

Greg Emerson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:59:14 -0500

Using a comprehensive set of indicators, the Foundation for Child Development paints a diverse picture of children’s well-being in the U.S. While some states excelled, these 10 failed miserably.

Lunch Boxes Recalled for Potentially Poisonous Gel Packs

Jeanine Skowronski — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:54 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Cooler and food bag manufacturer California Innovations recalled approximately 248,000 expandable lunch boxes after discovering that their freezer gel packs could be poisonous, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday.

The gel in the pack contains diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can leak if the package is damaged and can cause harm if ingested by children or adults.

The recall was issued after the company received reports that two dogs had chewed on the gel packs, causing one to die from ingesting the gel.

The lunch boxes were sold at Costco Wholesale Clubs, Leon Korol and Cost U Less stores between May 2007 and September 2008 for about $10. They were sold under the name Ci Sport as a three-piece insulated lunch box set, which includes the lunch box, aluminum bottle and the freezer gel pack. The code "1-61731-99-57" can be found on one of the two white labels sewn under the white fastener inside the main compartment.

Anyone who bought the lunch boxes is being advised to stop using the gel packs immediately and to contact their local waste disposal authority for instructions on how to dispose of them, since regulations vary from state to state.

Consumers may return the lunch box sets to Costco for a full refund, or they can receive a $5 cash refund for the gel pack only by contacting California Innovations.

For questions call California Innovations at (800) 722-2545 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or send email to ci-recall@ca-innovations.com. Consumers can also visit the company's website for more information.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

Baltimore: the Best City for Hospital Care

Jeanine Skowronski — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:01:00 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Residents of Baltimore have access to the best hospital care in the country, according to rankings released on Tuesday by HealthGrades, a health care information Web site.

Baltimore came out on top after nine of its 19 full-service hospitals got HealthGrades’ award for clinical excellence. The distinction is based on a comprehensive study of patient death and complication rates at the nation’s nearly 5,000 hospitals.

“We’re looking at the end point,” says Kristin Reed, vice president of hospital ratings for HealthGrades. She adds that Baltimore, overall, has the lowest death and in-hospital complication rates related to 26 of the most common diagnoses of Medicare beneficiaries, including heart attack, stroke, pneumonia and complications related to diabetes.

To put the city’s stellar performance in perspective, only 263 hospitals got the Web site’s clinical excellence award. These hospitals have a 30.07% lower risk-adjusted mortality rate and a 1.86% lower risk-adjusted in-hospital complication rate among Medicare beneficiaries compared with all other hospitals captured in the study.

Reed says these distinguished hospitals also tend to have strong leadership and dedication to quality, and often track mortality and complication rates on their own.

Based on the rankings, the top 10 markets for hospital care are:

Baltimore
Phoenix-Prescott, Ariz.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Richmond, Va.
Cincinnati
West Palm Beach, Fla.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
St. Louis
Hartford-New Haven, Conn.
Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, Minn.

Which states are the healthiest – and unhealthiest – in the U.S.? Find out in this MainStreet roundup!

The Drunkest States in America

Jeanine Skowronski — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0500

New CDC data show that America’s alcohol consumption is on the rise. Which state has the most binge drinkers? MainStreet takes a look at the data.

4 Steps to Take as Soon as You Say 'I Don’t'

MoneyTalksNews — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:59:31 -0500

By Angela Colley

The end of 2011 seemed to be all about the end of marriages. Last week alone, Newt Gingrich had to revisit his first divorce right before the Iowa caucuses, Mel Gibson lost half his $850 million fortune to his ex, Maria Shriver was rumored to be reconsidering her divorce from cheating hubby Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a 99-year-old man in Italy divorced his wife after learning she had an affair – in the 1940s.

When a good friend of mine went through a divorce last year, it didn’t make headlines, but it did make for tough times. She thought she was headed toward an amicable settlement. But as often happens, emotions ran high, and what started out as a seemingly easy split ended up being a financial disaster – one she’s still dealing with today.

There’s no shortage of divorce advice on the Internet and from attorneys. Some is good, some bad. But here’s what worked for my friend – and what she wished she would’ve done sooner. Take these steps to protect your newly single self…

1. Separate your bank accounts

At the beginning of my friend’s divorce, she decided to leave their joint checking account open because she didn’t want to seem spiteful. Unfortunately, her soon-to-be-ex-husband wasn’t too concerned with appearances. He cleaned out the checking account and her linked savings account – which she only found out about after having her debit card denied at a restaurant.

If you asked her now, she’d tell you it’s better to separate the checking accounts and deal with the fallout. Sure, her ex would’ve been angry when it happened, but they could have saved themselves a lot of fighting (privately and in court) had they just separated their money from the beginning. After all, she had to deal with a financial crisis, and her ex ended up having to pay back everything he took anyway.

When you decide to make the split, Kiplinger suggests withdrawing half the money from any joint accounts and placing it in your own checking account. And if you don’t have one already, see our banking page for tips on finding the right checking account.

2. Protect your credit

Those credit scores you spent years building will go kablooey the second your ex decides to go on a shopping spree and ignores the bill. You need to separate your credit and loan accounts quickly.

You may know all of your credit information, but you should still look at an official report. Order a copy of all three credit reports – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax – and go over them carefully. Highlight the names and numbers of each creditor you share with your spouse.

While it may be the last thing you want to do, discuss credit accounts with your ex. Decide who keeps what and ensure both of you still have an open line of credit in case of an emergency.

Unfortunately, turning joint debts into single debts isn’t easy. You can’t just call the lender and ask to have a name removed. It generally means either paying off the debt, or having one party reapply and refinance it in their name alone. If they can’t qualify, the debt should be paid off, even if it means selling the house, the car or using assets to pay off the credit card.

The dumbest thing you can do is sign over ownership of an asset like a house or car, but leave your name on the mortgage or car loan.

In my friend’s case, she kept any accounts she had pre-marriage and removed herself from any accounts her ex had or they had signed up for together.

3. Check on your insurance coverage

If you’re on your spouse’s insurance plan, you may find yourself suddenly without coverage. Instead of risking it, negotiate a time with your spouse to change the insurance information, and make sure you have your own by that date. You’ll need health, auto, and homeowners (or rental) insurance. Check out our insurance page for tips on providers, coverage, and limits.

It may not seem like your biggest problem during a split, but you never know when you’ll desperately need that coverage – and the insurance company won’t care that you’re going through an emotional crisis and didn’t have time to worry about it. When my friend finally decided to call it quits, her ex moved out and canceled their renter’s policy. She figured she’d deal with it later, but then Hurricane Katrina hit – and suddenly she had a devastating amount of damage to everything she owned with no insurance to protect her. Moral of the story: Don’t go without insurance.

4. Don’t forget the taxes

The year your divorce becomes final is the year your tax status changes to single. You may have new income and deductions to deal with – like alimony.

The first year you file will be the hardest, so start working on it early. You may want to hire a tax professional to help you sort through all the changes, but read 9 Tips to Find a Tax Pro before you do.

In my friend’s case, I’ve heard her say more than a few times how hard it was to do her taxes herself that first year. If you do decide to go with a pro, watch what they do. The more you know, the better chance you’ll have of filing your taxes yourself in the future.

In theory, separating money shouldn’t be the hardest part of a divorce. In practice, everything is hard during a divorce. But you need to do it quickly to avoid bigger problems later on. After all, credit problems will follow you for at least seven years, and you don’t want to start your new life with that weighing you down.

8 Simple Ways to Save at the Vet

Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0500

Studies have shown that many pet owners are choosing to forgo the veterinarian to save money, but you don’t have to be one of them. Here are some easy ways to save on vet costs.

7 Ways to Teach Your Children to Save

LearnVest — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:58:21 -0500

By Cheryl Lock for LearnVest

Read more about kids and money at LearnVest.com.

With all the begging for things that kids tend to do, introducing the concept of saving money may seem like a tough sell.

You already know how important it is to start getting your child used to the idea of saving at a young age, of course, but aside from the obvious—the goal of raising financially responsible children—there may be some hidden benefits to starting them early.

According to new research from the Center for Social Development at Washington University, kids whose parents opened a savings account in their name were actually six times more likely to go to college than those who had no savings account. Although there may be a number of reasons for this correlation, it’s heartening that the habits we teach our kids now have a real impact on their lives in the future.

“It was literally just having the account that mattered, not necessarily how much was in it,” said William Elliot III, the study’s lead author and assistant professor at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.

While there are plenty of other factors that could have played a part in why kids with savings accounts were more likely to go to college (although the study did account for things like income, parent’s education level and children’s academic achievement), the study found that having an account to call their own taught the kids good savings patterns, which is a habit that would make a difference in any child’s financial future, whether that means going to college or not .

So while your first step is to open the account, don’t stop there: Try these tips from Laura Fisher, executive director of the American Bankers Association Education Foundation, to get your kids hooked on saving.

Pick the Best Bank

When your kid is around eight or nine, find a bank that is invested in helping children start saving—whether or not that’s the bank you already use. We recommend finding one that is actively engaged in financial education for children (more on that below) and has a kid’s account program that offers incentives (such as points that are redeemable for prizes) and that has no minimum balance and no fees (click here for a list of over 1,500 banks with kids’ programs). At this age, you’ll be opening a custodial savings account with your child, which you can learn the ins and outs of here.

Get the School Involved

Some banks can set up lessons at local schools (which usually start in second or third grade) or help you start an in-school savings club. “More and more research is showing that even once kids start saving, they still need a nudge to keep doing it,” says Fisher. “So peer pressure in this situation is a positive thing—if your kid’s friends are saving through these programs, she’ll be more likely to hop onboard.”

For example, kids might bring in portions of their allowance to deposit into their savings accounts, and the bank would dispatch someone to collect it (check out answers to any allowance questions you might have here). If your bank doesn’t have experience with these programs, you can point a manager to the ABA Teach Children to Save program for help in implementing one.

Create a Savings Support Group

Tell your extended family that your child is starting to save, and ask relatives to support him by asking about his account and giving cash gifts instead of presents for birthdays or holidays. This will help him make regular deposits and see his balance go up—and that positive reinforcement will make it fun for him to stick with the program.

Pay the Piggy

While setting up a savings account is hugely important, an old-fashioned piggy bank—where kids can make deposits of even a few cents a day—is a great way to help them reach their goals. If you have a young child, buy one that he can decorate himself, and show him how it gets heavier as he increases his “deposits.” Once he’s saved up a certain amount—say $10 or $15—then it’s time to take him to the bank.

Go on a Financial Field Trip

Have your child make all her deposits at the bank in person. Get her to take the money right up to the counter and become used to dealing with the teller. If it’s her first visit, call ahead and see if someone can give you a tour of the vault—kids are often fascinated with that. Then, when you get home, log in online and show her where money is, and how it shows up in her account after she makes a deposit.

Set Goals

It’s hard for kids to think ten (or even two!) years down the road, so sit down with your child and help him set both short- and long-term savings goals, using the S.M.A.R.T. system, a technique for creating goals that actually stick. Especially since younger kids are more likely to afford quantity rather than quality, let them spend their short-term savings at the dollar store or a garage sale every few weeks to gain a sense of how much a certain amount of money will buy.

Encourage Competition

You may be trying to get your kids to stop squabbling over, say, who’s better at swim practice, but up the ante when it comes to savings. Set a challenge for your kids to see who can follow a budget the best, or offer to match the weekly winner’s savings contributions.

Savings is a huge part of financial responsibility—find out what other milestones are important to hit at what ages.

Tell us—what are some creative ways you’ve found to get your kids interested in saving?

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Have you checked your life insurance policy lately? Our breakdown will help you figure out which policy would work best for your life, and how to figure out how much you might need to pay. Is holiday spending putting your credit score at risk? Our chart will help you find out. Use our eight family-friendly ideas to get into the holiday spirit.

38 Million Americans Binge Drink 4 Times a Month

Jeanine Skowronski — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:30:51 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) —New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate binge drinking is becoming a big problem in the U.S.

According to the agency’s latest Vitals Signs report, more than 38 million adults nationwide binge drink an average of four times a month, consuming at most an average of eight drinks during each sitting.

The report defines binge drinking as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on an occasion. The CDC says binge drinking can lead to various health problems, including other unintentional injuries, liver disease, certain cancers, heart disease and sexually transmitted diseases, though it also carries economic implications.

Earlier data from the CDC indicates drinking too much costs the nation more than $223.5 billion in lost productivity and other miscellaneous economic costs.

The report, based on self-reports of binge drinking within the past 30 days for about 458,000 adults nationwide, found binge drinking is actually most prevalent among those with household incomes of $75,000 or more. However, the largest number of drinks consumed per occasion is significantly higher (an average of eight to nine drinks) among binge drinkers with household incomes of less than $25,000.

Similarly, the CDC found that while binge drinking is more common among young adults ages 18-34, individuals of retirement age or older who are prone to binge drinking will actually over-imbibe more often, at an average of five to six times a month.

The CDC says it is looking to take steps to address the problem.

“CDC is working in collaboration with our partners to strengthen binge-drinking prevention through improved public health surveillance of excessive alcohol use and by supporting the implementation of community-based prevention strategies that can reduce excessive drinking,” CDC spokesman Robert Brewer said in a written statement.

What does your vice cost you? Check out our rundown of some common vices like smoking and drinking and their cost to your health and your wallet.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

Novartis Recalls Potentially Mixed Up Meds

Jeanine Skowronski — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:23:31 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Novartis Consumer Health Inc. has recalled certain packages of Excedrin, NoDoz, Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention products because they may contain foreign tablets or pieces of foreign tablets from other over-the-counter meds.

The recall applies to certain Excedrin and NoDoz products with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2014 or earlier as well as Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention products with expiry dates of Dec. 20, 2013 or earlier distributed nationwide to wholesalers and retailers.

A full list of the over-the-counter medications included in the recall is available on the Novartis website.

The mixed medications can cause someone to take a higher or lower strength than intended or cause the consumer to ingest an unintended ingredient, both of which can lead to overdose, harmful interactions with other medications a consumer may be taking or an allergic reaction, Novartis said in a press release issued on Sunday. However, thus far the company is not aware of any adverse reactions as a result of the recall.

Consumers are being advised to stop using the products. To receive a full refund, you can contact the Novartis Consumer Relationship Center at 1-888-477-2403 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

Consumers should also contact their physician or health care provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these drug products. They can report any adverse effects to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration online.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

IKEA Recalls 169,000 High Chairs for Fall Hazard

Jeanine Skowronski — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:22:43 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — IKEA is recalling approximately 133,000 high chairs sold in the U.S. after discovering that they pose a fall hazard to children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday. The recall also includes 36,000 chairs sold in Canada.

There have been eight reports of the high chairs’ restraint buckles coming undone, and three children have experienced minor injuries after falling from the high chairs, says the CPSC.

The chairs were sold under the ANTILOP brand name in red, blue and white at IKEA stores nationwide from August 2006 through January 2010 for about $20. They have a manufacture date between 0607 and 0911 (YYMM format) from supplier number 17389 written underneath the seat. Model numbers involved in the recall include 701.467.92 (for the blue chairs), 501.467.93 (for the red chairs) and 300.697.24 (for the white chairs).

Consumers are being advised to stop using the high chairs immediately and contact IKEA to obtain a free replacement seat restraint.

The company can be reached at 1-866-966-4532 or via its website www.ikea-usa.com at any time.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

5 Weird Ways to Cut Calories

Jeanine Skowronski — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:02:00 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — While the tried and true method to lose weight is through diet and exercise, some studies have found offbeat ways to lower your calorie consumption. Here are some odd methods that those looking to shed some weight in the new year might consider trying out.

Journaling. A new study set to be published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that women can lose weight by writing down in a journal their most important values, like close relationships, music or religion, for 15 minutes a day. The trick, though, is to write about something you truly care about. The women in the study were asked at the onset to rank what was important to them, and those who wrote about lesser values actually gained an average of 2.76 pounds over the course of the four-month study. Comparatively, those journaling about their true passions lost an average of 3.41 pounds.

Visualization. According to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, you don’t have to actually eat food to be satisfied – you can simply imagine you’re consuming it. The conclusion was based on the results of a study that found participants who mentally visualized eating M&M’s ultimately ingested fewer of the candies than their non-imaginative counterparts when presented with an actual bowl of them.

Sleep more. Research suggests that adding a few hours of sleep to your nightly repertoire could help curb your appetite. According a study from Columbia University, sleep-deprived individuals don’t only consume more calories, they also generally eat more junk food, which tends to contain saturated fats.

Ditch the distractions. Eating while distracted increases meal size and can contribute to obesity, say researchers from the University of Bristol in the U.K., who analyzed the effects of playing solitaire during a lunch break. The study revealed that those who engaged in the activity went on to consume twice as many cookies as those who actually paid attention to what they were eating, which researchers surmise is due to a link between appetite and memory. As such, you may want to eat your lunch away from your office computer.

Don’t eat potatoes. You may think that candy and cake are the biggest culprits for adding on pounds, but a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in September found that potatoes are the food most likely to contribute to long-term weight gain. Harvard researchers discovered weight gain was significantly increased with the consumption of potato chips, French fries and potatoes, largely due an abundance of fat calories.

Which other foods aren’t good for those on a diet? Find out in MainStreet’s roundup of eight foods that make you eat more.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

Top Scam of 2011: Job-Hunting Schemes

Jeanine Skowronski — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:30:35 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Job-hunting scams were named the top scam of 2011 by the Better Business Bureau, which reviewed complaints to determine the most reported cons of last year.

The more notable job-hunting scams included secret shopper schemes, work-from-home scams and other phony job offers. However, the BBB said the most egregious versions are ones that allow targets to interview for a phony job in an attempt to get them to provide their Social Security number and bank account information upon “hire.” The scams are designed to prey on folks desperate to find work in a slow economy.

The other top scam categories of the year are, in order of popularity, as follows:

Sweepstakes and lottery scams. Scammers trick victims into thinking they won a large sum of money to get personal information or to get them to click on a link that downloads malware onto their computer.

Social media/online dating scams. Scammers get victims to click on links posted on social media sites by offering coupons or the opportunity to see footage of big news event, such as the death of Osama Bin Laden, then spam all their friends via the same social network.

Home-improvement scams. Especially prevalent following natural disasters, these scams feature phony contractors going door-to-door offering cheap repairs that ultimately never will be completed.

Check-cashing scams. These scams typically involve a phony cashier’s check to pay for goods or services. Scammers send fraudulent checks for more than the item or service is worth, then ask you to wire back to the difference, only to have the original check bounce days later.

Phishing scams. Thieves send emails under the guise of being a legitimate company, often using the name of a well-known brand, to get victims to give away personal information or click on links to malware.

Identity-theft scams. Scammers steal someone’s identity either through email, regular mail, fax, phone or even someone’s trash, then use this information to apply for credit cards, loans, or even to commit crimes.

Financial and loan-modification scams. Scammers pose as fake mortgage relief companies or government agencies in an effort to get those already in dire financial straits to part with their money.

Sales scams. Scammers advertise a product at a discount to get consumers to bid on it in bogus penny auctions.

Imposter scams, grandparent scams. This recurring scam, which popped again this past August, sees scammers calling and posing as a grandchild in distress in an attempt to get seniors to wire them emergency money.

What other cons commonly prey on the elderly? Find out in MainStreet’s roundup of 10 scams targeting seniors.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

Uninsured Turn to Daily Deal Sites for Health Care

The Associated Press — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:00:00 -0500

By Joseph Pisani, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The last time Mark Stella went to the dentist he didn't need an insurance card. Instead, he pulled out a Groupon.

Stella, a small business owner, canceled his health insurance plan more than three years ago when his premium rose to more than $400 a month. He considered himself healthy and decided that he was wasting money on something that he rarely used.

So when a deal popped up on daily deals site Groupon for a teeth cleaning, exam and an X-ray at a nearby dentist, Stella, 55, bought the deal — which the company calls a "Groupon" — for himself and another for his daughter. He paid $39 for each, $151 below what the dentist normally charges.

Daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are best known for offering limited-time discounts on a variety of discretionary goods and services including restaurant meals, wine tastings, spa visits and hotel stays. The discounts are paid for upfront and then it's up to the customer to book an appointment and redeem a coupon before it expires. Merchants like the deals because it gives them exposure and a pop in business. Customers use them to try something new, to save money on something they already use, or both.

The sites are increasingly moving beyond little luxuries like facials and vacations and offering deals that are helping some people fill holes in their health insurance coverage. Visitors to these sites are finding a growing number of markdowns on health care services such as teeth cleanings, eye exams, chiropractic care and even medical checkups. They're also offering deals on elective procedures not commonly covered by health insurers, such as wrinkle-reducing Botox injections and vision-correcting Lasik eye surgery. About one out of every 11 deals offered online is for a health care service, according to data compiled by DealRadar.com, a site that gathers and lists 20,000 deals a day from different websites.

"I was accustomed to going to the dentist every six months," said Stella who owns SmartPhones, a store and wholesale business in Miami that sells mobile phone covers and accessories. "This filled the gap."

The deals are popping up across the nation. In New York, a full medical checkup with blood, stool and urinalysis testing sold for $69 in December on Groupon — below the regular price of $200. In Seattle, a flu shot was offered on AmazonLocal for $17, down from $35. In Chicago, LivingSocial sold a dental exam, cleaning, X-rays and teeth whitening trays for $99, a savings of $142.

About 9 percent of all offers on daily deal websites in November were for dental work or some kind of medical treatment, up from 4.5 percent in the beginning of 2011, said Dan Hess, CEO and founder of Local Offer Network, which runs DealRadar.com. The growth in health-related deals is good news for millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 46.3 million Americans under 65 have no health coverage.

The number of health care deals began rising as copycat websites attempted to get a piece of the market. Search leader Google and shopping site Amazon.com have recently gotten into the game.

Not all have been successful. In August, social networking site Facebook dropped its plan to start a daily deal business, and Yelp, a site that allows customers to write reviews of restaurants and other businesses, scaled back its daily deal efforts. Many smaller sites have closed. But the shakeout in the industry hasn't hurt the number of health deals being offered since the industry leaders, like Groupon, are offering more deals and are moving into more markets, Hess said.

The health care deals may be attractive for people with gaps in their coverage or no insurance, but jumping from one health care provider to the next isn't ideal. Visiting the same doctor or dentist makes it easier to monitor how a patient's health is progressing, said David Williams, co-founder of medical consultancy group MedPharma Partners and author of HealthBusinessBlog.com.

Also, it's important for patients to do their own research before buying a medical or dental deal, Williams said. "A referral from someone you trust is the best path," said Williams.

Dental deals are the most popular among users of local deal websites — likely because even more people lack dental insurance than health insurance. Among the 172 million people under 65 who have private health insurance in the U.S., about 45 million don't have dental coverage, according to the CDC.

Dentists have traditionally offered deals by mailing out coupons, but paper coupons have a low redemption rate, Williams said. Local deal sites are more attractive to doctors and dentists because they get paid up front and they reach new clients.

"We reached a whole new demographic who otherwise wouldn't find us," said Dr. Gregg Feinerman, an ophthalmologist who runs Feinerman Vision Center in Newport Beach, Calif. He offered a 58 percent discount on Lasik eye surgery through Groupon. "It's a better way to market," he said.

He used Groupon as a way to bring in patients under 30-years old with the hope that they would recommend his services to friends and rate him on review website Yelp. A good review might persuade someone else to visit his office, Feinerman said. He charges $5,000 for the surgery on both eyes; a price that he said can be "overwhelming for 20-to 30-year-olds."

Feinerman approached Groupon about listing the eye surgery for $3,000. Groupon, which is based in Chicago, pushed him to lower the price to $2,100.

Feinerman got exactly the type of patient he was looking for in Thomas Cho. Cho, 29, bought the offer and after the surgery wrote a review on Yelp. He gave the vision center five stars — the highest rating on the website.

Cho said in an interview that his health insurance plan only covers 20 percent of the regular price of Lasik since it is considered a cosmetic procedure. He would have paid about $4,000 if he had used his insurance discount.

Cho decided to buy the Groupon, paying $2,100 initially. After consulting with the doctor, he upgraded his surgery to an all-laser procedure for $1,000 more. At the time, Cho's credit card issuer was offering a 20 percent cash back promotion on Groupon purchases. In all, he saved more than $1,300.

"I had my post-op checkup and I am seeing 20/20," Cho wrote on Yelp. "I couldn't be happier."

—For the best rates on loans, bank accounts and credit cards, enter your ZIP code at BankingMyWay.com.

Recall Roundup: Canopies, Heaters & Bears (Oh My!)

Jeanine Skowronski — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:33:24 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Retailers added a few recalls to the list of those taking place in 2011. MainStreet rounded up a few of the bigger ones.

Pottery Barn Kids is recalling approximately 7,700 bed canopies sold in its stores nationwide as well as on its website from December 2003 until August 2011 for $150 to $300. They are being recalled because the connections of the posts to the top rails of the canopy can come apart, allowing components of the canopy to fall on consumers.

The canopies are part of the Madeline Bedroom Collection. It was sold separately or with twin-, full- and queen-sized Madeline Beds in white, antique white, blade green, Sun Valley blade green, Sun Valley light green and Sun Valley espresso.

Consumers are being advised to remove the canopy from the bed and contact Pottery Barn Kids to schedule a free repair. They can do so by calling (855)662-4114 between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. PST daily or by visiting the retailer’s website.

Navien America Inc. is recalling approximately 13,000 tankless water heaters due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The water heaters have an unstable connection that can cause the vent collar to separate or detach if pressure is applied. A detached collar poses a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to the consumer, though no injuries have yet to be reported in relation to the recall.

The water heaters were sold by wholesale distributors to in-home installers nationwide from February 2008 through March 2009 for between $1,500 and $2,100.

Consumers can identify the water heaters, which are white with "T-Creator" and "NAVIEN" on the front, by checking for the model numbers CR-180(A), CR-210(A), CR-240(A), CC-180(A), CC-210(A) and CC-240(A) manufactured in 2008. These numbers can be found on a label on the side of the water heater.

Consumers who own one of these heaters should stop using them immediately and contact Navien to schedule a free repair. They can do so by calling (800)244-8202 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday or by visiting its website.

Finally, Build-a-Bear is recalling 284,000 Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears because they pose a choking hazard. Though no injuries have been reported, the bear’s eyes could loosen and fall out.

The bears were sold at Build-A-Bear Workshops nationwide and online from April 2011 through December 2011 for about $18 in the U.S.

Consumers are being advised to take the recalled teddy bear from children and return it to any Build-A-Bear store to receive a coupon for any of the retailer’s available stuffed animals. They can contact at the company at (866)236-5683 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CST Monday through Friday, on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST and on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. CST. They can also contact the company through its website or by emailing colorfulhearts@buildabear.com.

This year saw some major recall action. Here are the biggest recalls of 2011.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

The Biggest Recalls of 2011 (Correct)

Jeanine Skowronski — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0500

As the new year approaches, MainStreet looks back at some of the larger and more memorable recalls of 2011.

12 Million Motrin Bottles Recalled for Working Slowly

Matt Brownell — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:57:55 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) – Another day, another recall by Johnson & Johnson (Stock Quote: JNJ). The company announced Wednesday that it was recalling certain lots of its Motrin pain-relief pills, asking retailers to pull 12 million bottles off store shelves due to concerns that the pills aren’t dissolving fast enough.

The good news is that consumers aren’t being asked to pull their own Motrin out of the medicine cabinet. In its recall announcement, Johnson & Johnson stressed that “this is not a consumer-level recall, which means that consumers do not need to dispose of or return the product.” It goes on to note that the pills do not pose a risk to your health, but that pain relief may be delayed due to the medicine not dissolving quickly enough. The issue primarily affects pills approaching their expiration date.

While no one’s health seems to be in danger, it’s the latest bit of bad news for the recall-plagued company. This is the sixth recall of 2011 for Johnson & Johnson’s medical products division, McNeil Consumer Recall, which previously had to recall thousands of bottles of Tylenol due to a musty smell emanating from the pills. Those continuing issues led the Food and Drug Administration to shut down one of McNeil’s manufacturing plants back in June.

The products involved in the recall are Motrin IB tablets and caplets. While consumers don’t need to take any action, the company has nevertheless posted the lot numbers and UPC codes of the affected products on its site.

Matt Brownell is a staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach him by email at matthew.brownell@thestreet.com, or follow him on Twitter @Brownellorama.

The New Multitasking: How Moms Do It Differently Than Dads - And Why They Don’t Like It

LearnVest — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:30:00 -0500

By Cheryl Lock

Learn about the challenges working moms face when juggling multiple tasks from LearnVest.

Multitasking. As a mom, you might as well put that talent on your résumé.

Take an average working mom’s morning, for example. It’s 6 a.m. You’re checking your BlackBerry work messages while talking your 6-year-old out of the same pink tutu she’s worn for the past three days, before heading to the kitchen to make everyone’s breakfasts and lunches.

And all this before your morning coffee.

A new study published in the American Sociological Review found that while moms and dads spend more time working on two or more things simultaneously at home and at work, working moms not only multitask more frequently (at a rate of 48.3 hours per week compared to 38.9), they also experience more negative emotions as a result.

His and Hers Multitasking

“Working moms in our study experienced higher levels of stress regarding multitasking activities at home,” says study co-author and sociologist Barbara Schneider, Ph.D., of Michigan State University. “And even though dads have increased the time they’re spending on their children and helping, their ‘multitasking’ at home often includes paid work experiences, like being in front of the computer or talking to a client on the phone. Mom’s multitasking is different.”

According to the study, based on urban and suburban middle-class families, both mothers and fathers work about 64 hours a week on job- and home-related duties, but that’s where the numbers diverge: Moms report that housework accounts for 53% of their multitasking at home, as compared to just 42% for dads. And even the way parents divvied up the time they devoted to childcare (36% for moms, 28% for dads) varied, with fathers reporting that their time was focused on ‘fun’ activities, like coaching a sports team or playing games with their kids.

That’s not all. The fact that we’re more likely to be stressed by our at-home multitasking suggests that the balancing act makes us feel like we aren’t being good mothers. “The bar is rising on what it means to be a good parent,” Dr. Schneider says. “Moms don’t feel the number of hours they are spending multitasking count as spending quality time with children, even when it involves childcare.”

In a separate interview, Shira Offer, lead author of the study and assistant professor of sociology at Bar Ilan University in Israel, said that this emotional component is an essential takeaway of the study. “This helps explain why women feel more burdened than men. It’s related not just to the amount (of work they’re doing), but to their experience when they multitask.”
How to Do Two Things at Once … Better

In an era where most moms wouldn’t dare be caught without their “workloads” (aka iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smartphones), it can be hard to know when it’s time to focus on one task at a time. “Your brain is conditioned to want to make switches between jobs, and the key is to stop the conditioning by turning off the buzzes, vibrations and beeps that distract us,” says Dave Crenshaw, author of “The Myth of Multitasking: How ‘Doing It All’ Gets Nothing Done.”

We tapped Crenshaw for other helpful tips to make the most of multitasking:

Flip the Switch

Activities can be divided into one of two categories—”switch” or “background.” Switch multitasking occurs when a person tries to do two or more things at the same time that both require attention, like having a phone conversation while getting her kids dressed for school. Background multitasking occurs when two things happen at the same time, but one doesn’t require much thought, like running on a treadmill while watching TV. “Background tasking can actually be very efficient,” says Crenshaw. “The problem occurs when people try to do switch tasking.”

Make Conversation King

Multitasking while engaged in your favorite form of media is almost always a no-no, say the experts. Turn off the radio or television and put down your book when someone is trying to have a conversation with you. “You can do a lot of damage to a relationship if you multitask when someone is trying to talk to you, because that communicates that the person is not as important as your other task,” says Crenshaw.

Give Yourself Time Limits

Set clear boundaries at work and at home, and commit to a schedule that works best for you. Oftentimes we try to be two places at once, and wind up being fully in neither. For example, say that from 6 to 9 p.m. you will not touch a computer or pick up your phone. Then, from 9 to 11 p.m. you can check back in on work if you need to, once the kids are in bed.

Leave a Buffer

People frequently schedule appointments back-to-back to get the most out of a day, but that can lead to you having to rearrange often, says Crenshaw. Instead, try allowing at least a 15-minute buffer between all of your activities. That way you won’t be stressed if a meeting goes a bit over, and, should you find yourself with a spare window of time, you might even be able to tick another small task off your list. (For how to invest your time to reap maximum rewards, read this).

Schedule a One-on-One

Particularly important for spouses, keep track of all the ‘tasky’ items the two of you might usually try to discuss while doing other things or in passing. Although it might not seem like attention is required to answer the question, “Can you pick up Sarah after ballet on Wednesday?”, Sarah will beg to differ when ballet ends and neither parent is there to pick her up. Keep a running list of all the things you need to talk about, and schedule the same time every week to sit down together and go over all the family questions that deserve both of your undivided attention.

Put Your Attention on a Diet

There are so many different things you could read about or focus on, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of haphazardly paying attention to as many things as possible, try choosing a couple of outlets to really dive into. For instance, if you’re trying to improve a certain skill at work, focus your reading on things that relate to that topic as opposed to consuming five different books all at the same time.

Tell us—what are your tips for making the most out of multitasking?

More From LearnVest

Your kid is bound to ask you some awkward money questions … we’ll help you answer them.
Check out the surprising way your job might be affecting your marriage.
See how one mom makes the case for being a working mom, while another one explains why being a stay-at-home mom is the only type of mom she could be.

2.5M Young Adults Gain Health Care Coverage

The Associated Press — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:03:15 -0500

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of young adults lacking medical coverage has shrunk by 2.5 million since the new health care overhaul law took effect, according to a new analysis the Obama administration is to release Wednesday.

That drop is 2½ times as large as the drop indicated by previous government and private estimates from earlier this year, which showed about 1 million Americans ages 19-25 had gained coverage.

Administration officials said they now have more data. They say they're also slicing the numbers more precisely than the government usually does, trying to pinpoint the impact of a popular provision in an otherwise politically divisive law.

Under the health overhaul, children can remain on their parents' health insurance plans until they turn 26, and families have flocked to sign up young adults making the transition to work in a challenging economic environment. But the fate of President Barack Obama's signature domestic accomplishment remains uncertain, with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear a constitutional challenge next year, and

Republican presidential candidates vowing to repeal it.

"The increase in coverage among 19- to 25-year-olds can be directly attributed to the Affordable Care Act's new dependent coverage provision," said a draft report from the Health and Human Services Department. "Initial gains from this policy have continued to grow as ... students graduate from high school and college." A copy of the report was obtained by The Associated Press.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is scheduled to release the findings Wednesday.

The health care law's main push to cover the uninsured doesn't come until 2014. But the young adults' provision took effect last fall. Most workplace health plans started carrying it out Jan. 1.

Using unpublished quarterly statistics from the government's ongoing National Health Interview Survey, analysts in Sebelius' policy office determined that nearly 36% of those age 19-25 were uninsured in the third calendar quarter of 2010, before the law's provision took effect.
That translates to more than 10.5 million people.

By the second calendar quarter of 2011, the proportion of uninsured young adults had dropped to a little over 27%, or about 8 million people.

The difference — nearly 2.5 million getting coverage — can only be the result of the health care law, administration officials said, because the number covered by public programs like Medicaid went down slightly.

Overall, nearly 30 million Americans are between the ages of 19 to 25. For those who are little older, ages 26-35, the uninsured rate went up during the same period.

"From September 2010 to June 2011, coverage rose only among those adults affect by the policy," said the HHS report.

The National Center for Health Statistics has documented a broadly similar trend in its official publications, only it's not nearly as dramatic.
Administration officials said those statistics do not focus on the change from calendar quarter to calendar quarter, as does the report by Sebelius' staff. Instead, they pool data over longer time periods. That has the effect of diluting the perceived impact of the law, administration officials said.

Traditionally, young adults were more likely to be uninsured than any other age group.

Some are making the switch from school to work. Others are holding down low-wage jobs that don't usually come with health care. And some — termed the "invincibles" — pass up job-based health insurance because they don't think they'll use it and would rather get extra money in their paychecks.

Other early coverage expansions in the health care law have not worked as well, including a special program for people with health problems who got turned away by private insurers. Many applicants found the premiums unaffordable.

Young adults are a less expensive group to cover than people who are middle-aged, and many companies have spread the extra premiums among their workers. Benefits consultant Delloite LLP has projected additional health plan costs in the range of 1% to 2% for covering young adults.

‘A’ Is for Freebies: 7 Perks You Can Get for Good Grades

Jeanine Skowronski — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:18 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — As finals approach and the first half of the 2011-2012 school year draws to a close, MainStreet rounds up a variety of incentives that businesses are offering students who earn good grades. Here are some freebies that a good report card can net you:

Pizza and soft drink. Pizza Hut will give elementary and middle school students that earn three As (or an equivalent mark) a free personal pizza and small soft drink when they present their report cards to a manager. The offer is valid at participating locations for dine-in only.

Video game tokens. Students can exchange good grades for up to 15 game tokens at their local Chuck E. Cheese, as long as they also make a food purchase.

Movie rentals. Blockbuster will give out one free non-new release movie to students in grades K-12 who present a report card with a collective B average grade (Satisfactory, 2.7 GPA or 80% grade) or better to a manager on duty. Family Video also lets students from kindergarten through college earn one free overnight rental of a movie or video game for each A (or equivalent mark) they receive in any core subject.

Cookies. Ohio-based bakery chain Cheryl’s gives students who present their report cards at retail locations a cookie for each A earned.

Doughnuts. Krispy Kreme is known to give out free sweets to students of all ages who receive good grades. The number of treats you are eligible to receive varies by location.

Kids’ meal. Teachers should consider participating in Applebee’s A is for Apple program, which provides educators with gift certificates for free kids’ meals that the educators can then give to students as an incentive for students to achieve a specific goal.

What other freebies can students score that aren’t necessarily contingent on good grades? Find out in this MainStreet roundup!

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

Final Toll From Melon Listeria Outbreak: 30 Dead

The Associated Press — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:58:59 -0500

DENVER (AP) — Federal health authorities say the final death toll from an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe is 30.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta issued the final update Thursday and said the outbreak is over.

The agency says 30 people died, and a woman pregnant at the time of her illness had a miscarriage. Last month, the CDC put the death toll at 29.

The CDC says a total of 146 people were sickened in 28 states.

The melons came from Jensen Farms in southern Colorado, which recalled the cantaloupes Sept. 14.

Symptoms of listeria can take up to two months to appear.

How to Burn Through That Extra FSA Money Before You Lose It

Jeanine Skowronski — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:31:39 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Flexible spending accounts, which let consumers set aside up to $5,000 of pre-tax wages, are becoming more popular as Americans look for a way to help offset expenses not covered by their insurance, like doctor’s co-pays or contact lenses.

One drawback, however, is that the unused funds in these accounts are lost after Dec. 31 each year. So if you’ve got money still hanging out in an FSA, now is the time to use it. While new laws went into effect in September 2010 that put more restrictions on how these dollars can be applied – most notably, over-the-counter drugs are no longer an option unless you have a prescription – consumers still have a long list of items they can purchase.

MainStreet reviewed some plans to round up expenses particularly relevant to this time of year. Here are some items might make good stocking stuffers or Secret Santa gifts and are applicable New Year’s resolutions. You should ask your provider for a list of what items your dollars can be specifically used toward. (Aetna has a full list available for plan participants on its website.)

Bandages. This can include brands like Band-Aid, Curad, Johnson & Johnson, Ace bandages or generic medical tape.

Reading glasses. You can also purchase a new pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses, but you will need a prescription.

Flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend anyone 6 months or older get their annual flu shot, so if you haven’t gotten yours yet, now is a good time.

Nutritionist. If your weight is an issue, you might want to ask your doctor to write out a recommendation for a good nutritionist. You could also put dollars toward certain weight-loss programs if your doctor recommends you start one due to conditions like obesity or hypertension.

Smoking cessation treatments. Those who are thinking about kicking the habit in 2012 might want to ask their doctor to write a prescription for aids like nicotine gum and patches or recommend a cessation program.

Orthopedic inserts. You can also purchase yourself a pair of orthopedic shoes, though many plans will only reimburse the difference in costs from regular footwear.

Sunscreen. Just make sure it’s the kind that actually screens you from the sun, as many plans only cover sunscreens with a high SPF (usually 30 or higher).

Thermometer. Thermometers are included as long as they’re for medical purposes. For instance, you won’t be able to get reimbursed for the turkey thermometer you bought before Thanksgiving.

Vaporizer/humidifier. Some FSA accounts might also cover air conditioners or purifiers if a medical condition warrants it and a physician recommends one.

Warranties. If you never bothered to buy a warranty for your contact lenses, eyeglasses or hearing aid, now might be the time.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

More Than 1 in 5 Americans Live in ‘Poverty Area’

Jeanine Skowronski — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:01:20 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Americans who live in poverty tend to be clustered in certain neighborhoods rather than evenly distributed across geographic areas, according to new data from the Census Bureau.

An analysis of American Community Survey data from 2006 to 2010 revealed that 67 million people in the U.S. live in “poverty areas,” which are defined as areas where 20% or more of the population live in poverty. That totals 23% of the U.S. population. The prevalence of these areas varied among states: Mississippi had the highest level of concentrated poverty at 46%, while New Hampshire had the lowest level at 15%.

In 15 states, including the District of Columbia, more than one-quarter of the population resided in poverty areas.

The census says that measuring the concentration of poverty is important because research indicates that high poverty levels (40% or more) within neighborhoods result in higher crime rates, underperforming public schools, poor housing and health conditions and limited access to private services and job opportunities.

It appears that concentrated poverty in the U.S. in on the rise. An analysis of census data conducted by the Brookings Institution found that the nationwide rate rose to 10.5% at the end of 2009, up from 9.1% in 2000, with rates increasing rapidly in the Midwest.

—Jeanine Skowronski is staff reporter for MainStreet. You can reach her by email at Skowronski.jeanine@thestreet.com, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanineSko.

Parents Finding It Harder to Get Full Child Support Payments

Kristin Colella — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:07:55 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) -- As if being a single parent isn’t hard enough, a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau paints a grim picture of child support in this country. The report found that just 41.2% of custodial parents received the full amount of child support owed to them in 2009, down from 46.8% in 2007. In all, $35.1 billion in child support was owed in 2009, and only 61% of that total was received.

The economic repercussions on the custodial parent and their children appear to be severe.

“Child support income is especially important to families in poverty, and the report shows that increasingly, custodial parents find themselves below the poverty level,” said report author Timothy Grall, a survey statistician in the Census Bureau’s Program Participation and Income Transfers Branch.

According to the report, 28.3% of all custodial parents had incomes below poverty levels in 2009, up from 23.4% in 2001.

What’s also interesting is that about half (50.6%) of custodial parents had a court order or some type of agreement to receive financial support from the noncustodial parent. The majority (90.9%) of these agreements were legal, while 9.1% were informal agreements or understandings.

The report, Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2009, focuses on the child support income that the nation’s 13.7 million custodial parents reported receiving from noncustodial parents living elsewhere and other types of support, such as health insurance and noncash assistance. These custodial parents had custody of 22 million children under age 21 while the other parent lived somewhere else, and 82.2% of custodial parents were mothers.

Health Care's Global Warming: Obesity

Jeanine Skowronski — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:28:41 -0500

Dr. Reed V. Tuckson, chief of Medical Affairs for UnitedHealth and board member of UnitedHealth Foundation, talks about what issues are causing so much strain to our health care system.

The Healthiest States in America

Jeanine Skowronski — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0500

MainStreet breaks down which states are the most and least healthy based on the latest data from America’s Health Rankings.

Report: Dads Taking On Larger Role in Child Care

Matt Brownell — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:28:25 -0500

NEW YORK (MainStreet) – As more women move into the workforce, dads are playing a more active role as caregivers to their children.

Today the Census Bureau released a new report exploring a simple question: Who is taking care of America’s children? As it turns out, the answer is increasingly “Dad.”

According to the report, 32% of fathers with wives in the workforce were a regular source of child care for children under age 15 as of spring 2010. Only 26% of fathers with working wives said the same in 2002.

The Census Bureau specifically points to the recession as one of the factors in this shift.

“[A recession] can trigger unemployment or changes in work hours, thus increasing the availability of fathers to provide child care,” points out Lynda Laughlin, one of the bureau’s family demographers. “It also can reduce available income to pay for child care outside of the home.”

That was particularly true for men at the height of the recession, which some media outlets dubbed the “mancession” due to the concentration of job losses in industries traditionally dominated by male employees. Still, that trend has begun to reverse itself, as men have gained back jobs at a faster pace than women since the recession officially ended in June 2009.

In any case, dads aren’t the only ones picking up child-rearing responsibilities while Mom’s at work. The survey found that 30% of preschoolers were regularly cared for by their grandparents. And 36% of the nation’s 21 million working mothers said that they paid for child care for at least one of their children.

—For the best rates on loans, bank accounts and credit cards, enter your ZIP code at BankingMyWay.com.