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

WalletPop Wire

5 words never to say to your lender

Lita Epstein Nov 16th 2009 @ 2:30PM EST Filed Under: Banks, Credit, Debt, Fraud, Recession, Credit cards

Getting a loan or a credit card can be a difficult task in this economic environment. Many lenders won't even consider an application for a credit card or mortgage unless your credit score is above 740. Others will consider an application, but zap you with an outrageous interest rate, such as 29.9% if your credit score is under 680.

Even if you have excellent credit, there are some phrases you should never say when trying to get a loan. For example:

1. "Primary residence"

Don't ever lie on a loan application. If you're applying for a mortgage on a property you intend as an investment, don't lie on your loan application and say this property will be your primary residence. This whopper can come back to haunt you.

Continue reading 5 words never to say to your lender

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Butterflied Chicken

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

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

Podcast: How I made my first million with Mitch Free

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

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

'Who's Who' ripoff preys on your ego

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travel may be down in this economy, but there's one area where business is booming: discount booking sites. With travel providers desperate to unload unused rooms and tickets, it seems like the only sectors of the travel industry that are exploding are the ones previously seen as a last resort by the industry.

Priceline.com reported that bookings through its site, which offers steep discounts on hotel rooms and other travel products, are at their best levels in nine years. Hotwire.com, which is owned by Expedia, reports a similar boost in revenue. Its hotel room sales over 12 months have exceeded $250 million for the first time, and the site told WalletPop that compared to last year, hotel bookings in the biggest markets (meaning the most popular travelers' cities) are up between 20% and 30%.

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

FHA going broke? How to qualify for a home loan anyway

Charles Feldman Nov 16th 2009 @ 12:00PM EST Filed Under: Real Estate, Mortgages

As the economy is supposed to be emerging from the dark cave of deep recession, you might expect it would become easier for you to secure a mortgage in the months ahead. The truth is, however, that unless you start taking some key steps right now, you may find yourself still in that recessionary cave instead of a new home, because the Federal Housing Administration is running out of money. For many potential home buyers, that's a bit like your rich uncle Sam, who was always a soft touch for a few extra bucks, filing for bankruptcy and leaving you in the lurch.

Continue reading FHA going broke? How to qualify for a home loan anyway

Really want to save the world? Quit having kids

Zac Bissonnette Nov 16th 2009 @ 11:30AM EST Filed Under: Tax

The IRS recently updated consumers on all the tax savings you can get from making your home more green-friendly. Installing energy efficient windows and doors, insulation, roofing, HVAC, water heaters, and biomass stoves can save you a boatload of money on your taxes.

But will doing all those things really help the environment? Yes. But ya know what will help mother nature a hell of a lot more?

Not breeding.

Continue reading Really want to save the world? Quit having kids

Twitter: Time's Person of the Year or yesterday's fad already?

Tom Barlow Nov 16th 2009 @ 11:00AM EST Filed Under: Technology

According to Folio magazine, the Internet microblogging site Twitter is in consideration to be named Time Magazine's Person of the Year (yeah, I think the idea is silly too).

However, the magazine's timing could be poor, as Mashable.com has pointed out that Twitter visitor numbers have plateaued and even declined slightly in the past five months. The site hit 23,579,044 unique visitors in August. By October, this number had dropped by over half a million.

Continue reading Twitter: Time's Person of the Year or yesterday's fad already?

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