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personal finances help

May 15th

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Most readers here at Get Rich Slowly have their own tale of a financial turnaround. Many of us were just plain dumb with money when we were younger, and it took us years (or decades!) to realize the error of our ways. But what if somebody had cared enough to intervene before we got into serious trouble?

Corinne wrote yesterday looking for help. She’d like to help steer her younger sister in the right direction before she has financial trouble. But how should she do it? What’s the best way to reach a teenager who doesn’t even know they’re financially irresponsible? Here’s Corinne’s question:

I come from a wonderful family, with parents who are great in many ways, but are also just terrible with money. Fortunately, I’ve managed to avoid following in my parents’ footsteps — I’m 25, with a well-paying job, and have started really organizing my finances well and planning for my future.

My younger sister, however, may not be so lucky. She’s 18, about to start college, and just couldn’t care less about being smart with money. I want to guide her and inspire her to learn about personal finance sooner rather than later because I wish someone had done that for me. Do you know of any personal finance books that would appeal to a teenager? Any thoughts on how to frame my advice so that it’s well-received?

This is a great question, especially for this time of year. And while I’d love to be able to say, “Go buy Your Money: The Missing Manual — that’s the best choice!”, I don’t actually think my book is good for a kid out of high school. (My book is good for folks who are serious about their finances, who are motivated to succeed. It doesn’t sound like Corinne’s sister qualifies.)

So what books about money are good for teenagers and young adults? Here are a few top choices:

  • I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. My friend Ramit set out to write a money book for young people, and he succeeded admirably. Even if I had no idea who he was, this would be the first book I’d recommend for most students. Two drawbacks to note: Not everyone likes his tone and style, and the book doesn’t really address the psychology of spending. (Here’s my review.)
  • Debt is Slavery by Michael Mihalik. I raved about this book a few years ago. Of all the personal finance books I’ve read, I think this would have been most useful for me when I was in college. It’s not a comprehensive guide to IRAs and stocks and bonds; it’s a short treatise on how to take control of your financial life.
  • The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke by Suze Orman. This is a pretty comprehensive introduction to personal finance aimed specifically at young adults. There’s almost too much information.
  • Reality Check: The Student’s Guide to the Real World by Grant Baldwin. I haven’t read this book; the publisher sent me a copy, and I’ve leafed through it. It gets great reviews at Amazon.
  • Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties by Beth Kobliner. This book comes highly recommended, but I haven’t read it.

The second part of Corinne’s question is tricky. How can she give advice to her sister without angering her or making her turn away? I’ve found from my own experience (and from chatting with others) that it’s difficult to get somebody to heed your advice until they’re ready to hear it. They have to come to it on their own. In fact, it’s possible to alienate the person you’re trying to help if you come across as an evangelist. If you push personal-finance books on somebody, they may be offended.

Instead, I think it’s best to lead by example. If Corinne thinks her sister should change, she should subtly show her what smart personal finance looks like, and then contrast that with how her parents are doing. Or maybe Corinne could pick up a copy of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, read it, and then offer to pass it on when she’s finished.

Another smart technique is to think out loud in front of the person you’re trying to help. Say Corinne is buying a car, for example. Even though she may know perfectly well what she wants to do — buy a late-model used car with cash — she might approach her sister and say, “I’m not sure what to do.” If Corinne lays out her options and her thought process, asking her sister’s help, she might be able to help her sister see how she arrives at her eventual decision. (Please note that the car thing is hypothetical; it could be any other sort of financial dilemma.)

The key in these situations is finesse. You want to get your message across, but you want to do it from a position of equality, not superiority. And, if possible, you want to do this so that the other person “owns” the action. That’s how I’d approach it, anyhow.

Have you faced this situation in the past? How did you handle it? How do you think you’d handle it today? How would you try to talk about money with a teenager? What books would you recommend? How would you get them to even care?

On average, 1.5 million people graduate from college every year in the US. In our current environment, many of these recent graduates are struggling to pay down their credit card debt and student loans, searching for jobs and trying to desperately to figure out how to gain financial independence. According to a recent study by Sallie Mae, college seniors graduate with an average of $4,138 in credit card debt, up 44% from 2004. Further research shows that people in the 18 to 24 age bracket spend nearly 30% of their monthly income just on debt repayment. (A recommended amount for debt obligation stands at 10% of net income.) If that doesn't strike a chord, the number of 18 to 24-year-olds declaring bankruptcy has increased 96% in 10 years. As our nation strives to find solutions for the dire state of the economy, many recent graduates attempt to find solutions for their financial burdens without any educational background in personal finance. If we can bring financial education to the 1.5 million people who graduate each year in debt, we could prevent them from making future financial mistakes and empower them with greater financial well being. Then, I believe, we will have found a solution for their financial problems and a great way to improve our current economy.

Without any formal personal finance instruction in our high school or college curricula, many college seniors who graduate in the red will continue to make common financial mistakes that only exacerbate their debt burdens. To illustrate this problem, consider the following example. Take Jane. Jane has just graduated college with $3,000 in credit card debt and $20,000 in student loans. She hopes that with her new job in the big City and a steady income, she can pay down her debt slowly over time. Due to the economic downturn however, Jane loses her job. Now, without any stream of income, Jane can barely pay her monthly rent and cannot afford to pay down her debt. With eighteen percent APR, Jane's credit card debt is quickly increasing. Unaware of the implications of mounting debt payments on her credit score and future financial health, Jane is not only in big trouble but must continue to live on credit in order to get by.

Unfortunately, it appears this Jane example is not a rare one! Without any formal personal finance education or trustworthy resources to tell them otherwise, the majority of people in the 18 to 24 year old age bracket do not know how to use credit effectively, tackle debt or make wise decisions when it comes to spending. In the 2009 study of undergraduate credit card spending by Sallie Mae, the majority of undergraduates students polled reported they lived beyond their means and eighty-two percent carried balances and incurred finance charges each month. Interestingly enough, eighty-four percent think they needed more education on financial management topics to better manage their finances. I believe we can positively affect these young individuals' financial well being and in effect, the future state of the economy by providing them with access to basic, trustworthy personal finance education.

By teaching twenty-somethings year olds responsible debt management practices, we can help them create a balanced lifestyle and find peace of mind through increased financial awareness, smart saving and long-term investing. As a result, we can create a new generation that is both financially savvy and financially positive – a generation financially empowered to take on the future. Obama – how's that for food for thought?!

As a twenty something year old trying to master my own personal finances, I am intimately aware of the lack of educational resources focused on personal finance. As an entrepreneur, I want to do something about it. For the past two years, I have dedicated my time and energy to building a Company that offers a solution for young people and the nation at large by way of trustworthy personal finance education. LearnVest provides women with the necessary tools and resources to manage their personal finances; it's core mission, to positively contribute to society through education and ultimately, the promotion of self-sufficient and financially aware women. At the same time, the Company hopes to raise awareness on the state of financial literacy in America and the need for personal financial education across all age groups and genders.

LearnVest is trying to make a difference and like our subscribers, we are continually trying to learn. I wrote this article with the hopes that it would open up discussion so please feel free to comment below. We welcome your feedback and your thoughts on this pertinent topic.

Generation Broke: The Growth of Debt Among Young Americans.
Richmond Credit Abuse Resistant Education (CARE) Program.

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strategic internet marketing

May 12th

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We're delighted to be celebrating our 25th anniversary… and, by
happy coincidence, the HuffPost's 5th anniversary. Ours is a silver
anniversary, I guess, but it's difficult to digitize silver, certainly
by voice, so we turned to somebody who has followed the company
virtually since its inception, since it was a wire basket
manufacturer 25 years ago, when we started out as two people in one
room in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London.

We've asked Professor Joe Bower, professor at the Harvard Business
School, who has been writing about WPP, using video digital case
studies for 15 or so years. And Joe's done a little retrospective on
the company, and we thought that the readers of the Huffington Post
would be interested in reading his thoughts on WPP.

I think WPP's halfway there; our objective is to be the best marketing
services company in the world, and by best we mean the natural choice
of both clients and people; the natural choice of clients when they
select an adviser or a partner in the area of advertising and
marketing services and of people when they select brands or companies
to go to build their careers in advertising and marketing services.

We think we're there in some parts of the world and in some functions,
but we have a long way to go, and our strategic focus remains the new
markets, the fast-growing markets of the world (the BRICs and
Next-11), the new media, the new digital opportunities (in personal
computers, the internet, mobile, video content, social networks) and
last but not least, consumer insight. By consumer insight we mean
understanding how consumers are changing their purchasing habits for
products and services, how they're changing their media consumption
habits and how we can apply that data through technology to improving
the return on investment for our clients in their industries. So I
hope you enjoy Joe's thoughts, and we're delighted to celebrate our
anniversary on May 9, 2010.

And here's the video case study on WPP by Sonja Ellingson Hout:

Michael Sinkin, D.D.S. practices dentistry near Grand Central Station in New York City. He took over his practice from a dentist who retired, and inherited many patients who were near or past retirement themselves. So Sinkin set out to add some younger patients to round out the practice.

Reaching this age group meant going online. “No one uses the phone book anymore; everyone is Googling,” he notes. But that presented a marketing problem, because other, much larger practices in midtown Manhattan were making heavy use of Google AdWords, in which advertisers bid on such search terms as “New York City dentist.” “A lot of these practices were investing $25,000 to $30,000 a month in pay-per-click advertising,” notes Betsy Kent, president of Be Visible Associates, an Internet marketing firm that works with Sinkin. “That just didn't make sense for us.”

Instead, they devised a social media-based strategy with the goal of bringing in new patients, especially those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Sinkin was already writing short items about amusing or interesting things he encountered in the course of his work, so they began publishing these as blog entries. In addition, Kent began searching Twitter for local tweets with the words “dentist” or “dentistry” in them. When she found someone complaining of a painful trip to the dentist or dreading an upcoming visit, she would send words of comfort and commiseration.

Some of these tweeters appreciated the kind words, followed the links to Sinkin's website, and liked what they saw. “We've been doing this for about 10 weeks, and I've already gotten four new patients,” Sinkin says. In his profession, a new patient can become a lifelong customer, as well as a source of ongoing referrals, so the increase is very significant. “And I'm not even counting two patients who just came in for emergency service,” he says.

Who says you can't measure ROI for social media?

As Sinkin's experience shows, it's perfectly possible to set concrete goals for social media, beyond the vague “increasing visibility.” In fact, it's imperative, says Dallas Lawrence, chair of the social media practice at Levick Strategic Communications. “Be wary of the salesperson who says social media isn't trackable,” he says. “It's absolutely possible to calculate the return on investment (ROI) for a social media campaign.”

Here are some tips for making sure your social media efforts really do have a positive effect on your company's P&L:

Set goals, not just benchmarks. “It's critical to establish an objective in advance,” Lawrence says. “That objective has to relate to your business model, to whatever your ultimate goal is. So setting a target for, say, 10,000 Twitter followers is not a goal in itself, though it can be a good benchmark for whether the campaign is working.”

At Home Creations, a home builder in Oklahoma that caters to people building their first homes, marketing director Jan Astani recently achieved her goal of 1,000 fans on Facebook. To get there, the company offered incentives, such as a $50 Target gift card for two randomly selected Facebook members who became fans during December. But the goal serves a business-focused purpose. “For 2009, our goal was to put an emphasis on Internet marketing,” she says, noting that at least 75 percent of Americans start their search for a new home online. “We're trying to drive traffic to our website with everything we do.” It appears to be working: Website traffic was up 50 percent in 2009 over 2008, Astani reports, and there were a record number of sales that began as Internet-based sales leads.

Think long-term vs. short-term. “Decide up front if you're trying to reach a long-term goal or a short term objective, because the approach will vary dramatically,” Lawrence says. “For instance, if you've got a promotion or a new store opening coming up, you can jump-start something very effective with Twitter, but it might not have a long term effect. If you want to build sustained momentum, you might want to think about reaching out to the blogosphere with thought leadership.”

Whatever you do, he adds, don't look at your various social media efforts in isolation. “A big mistake that I often see is when customers say, 'Give me a Twitter program, give me a Facebook program, give me blog outreach, and let's do SEO.' They're not separate. In order to get the impact you want, you have to intertwine all those pieces and let them build on one another.”

Use the Internet's power to reach precisely the audience you want. “People are shocked when I tell them that, with Facebook's user applications for small businesses, I can find my key customer base right down to the block he or she might be on,” Lawrence says. “I can find the information they readily provide: age, race, single or dating status, ethnicity, parents or childless, military or civilian, based on the groups they've self-selected to follow. And you can often figure out income status from the other information.”

Be prepared for a mid-course correction. What if you fail to meet the goals for your social media campaign? “Take another look at your goals,” Lawrence advises. “Make sure that they were reasonable.” Perhaps a different goal would be more appropriate realistic. But, he says, “Make sure your overall objectives are never forgotten.”

 

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Marketing directors whose job is to promote desktop publishing software, web developing software or word processing software need to explore as many different ways as possible to communicate the benefits of their communication tools to the public. When you understand that every person on the planet learns new information via auditory, kinesthetic and visual processes, it makes sense that you will want to utilize all three in explaining your communication tools to potential clients. You can cover the visual aspects of your marketing ideas very effectively through utilizing custom Microsoft Visio programming.

While auditory learning occurs when people take in new information by hearing and kinesthetic learners gain new ideas by using a hands-on approach, visual learners hone in on your creative use of pictures and diagrams. Strategic communication tools marketing campaigns utilize MS Visio because the drawings and diagrams take hard to understand data and transform it into capsules of information that can be grasped in a single glance.

There is limited space available on packaging and a brief amount of time available to put your communication tool's best foot forward, so the flexible diagramming available with Visio makes it easy to get your message across quickly.
Visio Templates offer an instant way to get started with diagramming your
visio drawing. Using a variety of visio shapes, they are ready-to-use pictures that communicate complicated and technical information from tables and spreadsheets quickly. Use the diagrams to show how the processes in your communications tools work, because when clients understand your tools, they will see the value to be gained by their use.

When your client can visual the specific information on how your tools can help them solve an issue their company faces, they will act on that information. This aspect of visualizing is crucial to the effectiveness of your marketing campaign, and any resource you can use to help your clients see why your tools will help them can only be to your benefit.

If you have specific diagramming needs that go beyond the scope of the traditional Visio program, you will be pleased to find out that there is a wide range of customizing that can take place with Visio. Your specific marketing needs unique to each product that you are placing can be met with customized Visio development.

Internet marketing of communications tools is made more cost-effective when using customized diagramming in Visio. Your diagrams and shapes can be viewed by your audience online on your web pages as well as on e-mail. You can customize the program yourself, if you wish, although Visio developers can perform this service as well. The versatility of Visio shines in connecting your important data to the unique shapes that are customized to your exact specifications.

Heavenly Dessert by julie.softscribe


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Product Review & Consumer Opinions

May 9th

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I recently read an interesting article by Umair Haque called “The Case for Being Disruptively Good.” He's a leading blogger about competition and global business for the Harvard Business Review. The author argues that in a highly connected world companies will experience the amplification of any good or evil that they do so that businesses that do more “good” will excel and those that do “bad” will fall.

This is an interesting premise. After all, we know that companies that survive and thrive are those that continue to generate profits. This requires them to provide goods or services that customers are willing to pay a premium to purchase. Companies values can lead, lag or reflect the values of society. As America developed, the society forced the elimination of the evils of slavery, reduced child labor, created safer working conditions, reduced corporate pollution. Companies that refused to move with the changing moral demands of society lost out but companies were often laggards not leaders in driving the changes.

Companies sometimes settle into a mode of profitability where they generate minimal good for their client but rather succeed through industry collusion, leveraging dominant industry positions and quashing competition. These companies usually eventually lose their dominant positions not because they are doing evil, but more simply because they are failing to provide value to their customers.

I recall during my time in the corporate world a primary focus on short term profitability and a general look towards longer term profitability. We tried developing financial products that would be profitable and have some appeal to the customer but I don't recall challenging ourselves as to whether our products were “good” or “evil” though the cost of capital certainly seemed less than altruistic as the most profitable customers were those that teetered on the edge of bankruptcy.

Let's starting with a fun example of doing good, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. They are well known for being an early mover in the world of corporate responsibility. Their company has a three-part mission, one dedicated to social responsibility, one dedicated to product quality and one dedicated to profitability. Why all three? If the company puts out mediocre ice cream then they will soon become unprofitable and eventually struggle to continue functioning. Social responsibility is a worthy goal but the company exists to generate profits first and foremost, without the profits the company and its social vision will disappear. The customer enjoys the “good” from the product while the company is able to provide social value.

Moving on to one that is near and dear to anyone with a PC's heart, Microsoft. Microsoft certainly has been accused of doing plenty of “evil” in the past, most notably in their browser war with Netscape. While they certainly pushed the bounds of ethics and the law in bundling their products, Microsoft eventually developed their browser to the point where it was a superior product. When Microsoft released Vista, a relatively unpopular product, and announced the impending retirement of XP, customers were displeased. Microsoft released Windows 7, a much more popular operating system in late 2009. A typical Microsoft customer cares little of the corporate good or evil Microsoft does, but rather cares about the product they provide and how they feel about the products/services. If Microsoft continues to try forcing unpopular products, the users will look to its competitors thus damaging Microsoft's profitability.

Lastly, let's look at Walmart. Mr. Haque argues that they are at the top of the rung, “rule making” due to its Sustainability Index being pushed on its suppliers. Walmart is the certainly the 800 pound gorilla, crushing competition while creating millions of jobs and enabling millions to purchase inexpensive products, whether they need them or not. Along the way it has definitely created its detractors due to its weak health care package, antiunion policies, supplier manipulation and other issues. The good Walmart has created in the past has been focused on low prices to its customers but Mr. Haque is correct that Walmart is better positioned than most countries to impact the environment in a positive way, creating good for the world. Let's hope he is right because if the world waits for Nopenhagen agreements to make a difference we'll be enjoying oceanfront property in Arizona.


For those of you who play, having the right boots is essential. Aside from the ball, they are the only other piece of equipment you really need to compete. They are what you move with, plant with, pass with, shoot with. Everything happens through the boots and you need the right pair.

Unfortunately, there are more brands/models/styles out there than any player could hope to keep track of. A certain boot may not be right for one person, but perfect for another. It really depends on who’s wearing them, their foot and the game they play.

When I was given the new PUMA Power Cats to try out, something felt right from the start. Traditionally a Nike wearer, I’d never dipped into PUMA’s range before. These boots certainly changed that.

As I do with most of my reviews, we’ll break it down into a few sections, grade out of 10 and then give some final overall impressions. Let’s say, comfort, breaking in, control, style and intangibles. Not really sure how each will turn out, given this is my first boot review, but hey, let’s go with it.

Comfort

Easily one of the best things about these particular boots, they seem to mold to your foot as soon as you put them on. The insoles are cushioned nicely and sink in around your foot. Some boots I have worn don’t give a whole lot, but these certainly have that little bounce that makes them a dream to wear. When playing in a match, it helps to have that bit of added support when sprinting or cutting so from this aspect I was quite pleased. They tie up nicely and the top of my foot felt supported as well.

Note: My feet are a bit wider than most and PUMAs tend to run small so if considering them, be sure to try on a size up and see how they fit before committing to your normal size.

They get a high grade for comfort because, well, they are damn comfy 10/10

Breaking In

Straight out of the box, these cleats weren’t really all that stiff or formed. They had some flexibility and seemed like they’d be pretty easy to break in. That was pretty much the case once I started wearing them and playing. It didn’t take long for them to mold to my feet and feel smooth.

I did some running in them and played four matches, both indoor and outdoor and they began to feel natural and right for my feet. Even the lacing process became natural as when I tightened them up, they seamlessly gripped around the arches and tops of my feet. May not seem like much, but having them feel right in that respect is a big deal. Also, no blisters. Not one.

Another solid score as this boot adapted to my awkward hobbit feet flawlessly 9/10

Control

Now, let’s make something clear right off the bat: I’m no Lionel Messi. I’m not even Dean Windass. My skills aren’t exactly what you’d called ‘world class’. Nowhere close.  Having said that, I’ve played for a while and know my way around the pitch well enough to compete and make some things happen.

All that aside, they do handle well with the ball at your feet. Adjusting naturally and fluidly, my first touch was smooth and my shot received a nice boost from specifically the PUMA 3D Power Shooting Technology. The power released using the 3D PST is really noticeable compared to other boots I’ve worn.

They aren’t the as best in this category, but do a nice job of keeping things in order 8/10

Style

Obviously, it’s not about the look. When is it? It’s about the performance and how they work on your feet, etc. Well, you all may say that but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a nice looking boot to wear that maybe even makes you feel a bit more confident when you have them on.

In the case of the PowerCat 1.10, they have quite a distinctive look. Depending on which colors scheme you go for (I was given the black/white/‘wild lime’ pair) they are catchy from a visual standpoint. Two prominent PUMA logos coming from the heel to the side of the body transition into the side-oriented laces structure. The main part of the boot is the gill-like 3D PST mentioned earlier and that works. Subtly stylish, gills look sleek and well-placed. Not sure if that makes sense, but they just look good on your feet.

Being as vain as I am, I like attractive boots. These fit the profile 9/10

Intangibles

This is just the random other stuff I like about the boots section. The little parts that push them over the top or really get on my nerves.

Firstly, this may not seem like much, but the studs are unique. They are bladed in a way that they have tiny grooves cut into each one so that when you plant or are grinding out that loose ball, you get a bit more stick. I could be making that up, as could PUMA, but regardless, had me fooled.

One thing I’m not a fan of are the laces. They are way too long and way too flimsy. They are flat and pretty slippery and that all means they’re hard to tie, especially for someone who has big clunky hands like I do. Just can’t get a good grip on them and makes things difficult. They are useful for tucking into the boot as they’re so slim, but that wouldn’t be an issue if they weren’t as long.

Final little bit is the heel area. Very comfortable and contours well to the back of your foot. Even got some cheeky back heels to go off with them. It's a reach, I know.

As mundane as they seem, the laces really bothered me. Enough so to drop this score a bit 7/10

Pros & Cons

Pros: Very comfortable, easy to break in, stable on your foot, nice control (even for amateurs), little stud blade things

Cons: Wonky laces, hard to tie, sizes run a bit funny, side-lace orientation is a bit of a pain at times, did I mention the laces?

Overall: 43/50

They are a quality boot and serve their purpose well. Definitely an upgrade some of the previous models put out by PUMA, the PowerCat 1.10 are a must have if you want your money to be spent well. I may have worn better boots in the past, but I’ve also worn way worse. They have more ups than downs, and in the end they are worth having and should definitely be given a chance when you are considering a new pair.

Looking to score a pair? Text PUMAKICK to 21534 to be entered to win PowerCat 1.10 cleats for you and your team. Message and data rates may apply.  For official sweepstakes rules and regulations, visit www.mogreet.com/pumasweeps

For the latest news and updates from Goal.com, follow our Twitter account and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!

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I was in the mood for chicken for supper tonight. Being a cold, blustery winter's evening, I didn't feel like trudging out for fast-food chicken. Then, I remembered I had a meal kit in the cupboard and a pack of boneless, skinless chicken breast in the freezer; I was in business. Read this food product review for Campbell's Supper Bakes- Traditional Roast Chicken and Stuffing and find out if you should buy it as well!

Price and Availability
By looking at the price tag, I can tell I bought this meal kit at my local Big Lots. It cost $1.70. I've bought this brand and type before at my local Kroger store. I'm sure it cost considerably more. If I remember correctly, it was around three or four dollars. Still a good deal for an easy-to-make dinner that feeds four hungry people.

If you're in the mood for something else besides chicken and stuffing, Campbell's has several other varieties as well. They include Cheesy Chicken with pasta, Creamy Stroganoff Sauce with pasta, Garlic Chicken with pasta, Herb Chicken with rice, Lemon Chicken with herb rice, Savory Pork Chops with herb stuffing and Southwestern-Style Chicken with rice.

Product Description
Campbell's Supper Bakes- Traditional Roast Chicken and Stuffing comes with baking sauce, stuffing, seasoning and crumb topping. All you need to provide is 1- 1-1/2 pounds of raw skinless, boneless chicken breasts, two tablespoons butter and 1-1/3 cups hot water.

1-2-3 Baking Preparation
You can prepare this product in the microwave oven, on the stovetop or in your baking oven. I prefer the latter. The box boasts a five-minute prep time. In my mind, if chicken is going to be truly roasted, it needs to be baked in the oven.

Basically, for the oven method, all you do to make Campbell's Supper Bakes- Traditional Roast Chicken and Stuffing is to preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13X9 pan with cooking spray, then mix together the butter, hot water, seasoning and stuffing. Push the stuffing into the middle of the pan. Place your chicken pieces to the sides and pour the baking sauce over them. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the chicken and pop the whole thing in the oven for thirty minutes, or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Tonight I used a pack of Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The pieces weren't thick, so they were done baking after thirty minutes. However, as I said, I have made the Campbell's Supper Bakes- Traditional Roast Chicken and Stuffing before. If you use thick pieces of chicken, it will take longer to bake it. The problem with that is, the stuffing ends up being baked too long and it becomes hard and dry. So, keep that in mind.

Nutrition Facts
The box states there are six prepared servings, with each serving being 330 calories; 110 calories are from fat. There are 12 grams of fat, 5 grams saturated and 0 grams Trans fat. There are also 75 grams Cholesterol, 830 milligrams sodium, 29 grams Total Carbs, 2 grams Dietary Fiber and 2 grams Sugar.

Conclusion
I highly recommend buying Campbell's Supper Bakes- Traditional Roast Chicken and Stuffing. This meal is pre-seasoned, and, I think, seasoned perfectly. Make this meal kit and you end up with a full pan of moist stuffing and tender chicken with sauce and a crumbly topping.

The calories, cholesterol and sodium is a little high, but the meal kit still makes a hot, comforting meal on a cold winter's night, or any night you need a quick supper that will satisfy hungry appetites.


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How much is this asset worth?

Apr 11th

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The US has .5 trillion of household assets, including real estate, equipment, financial assets like mutual funds (wikipedia). Consumers produce about 70% of the US economy (the news). US assets, then, should be worth about trillion.

The world economy is worth about 60 trillions/yr. plus or minus a few (wikipedia). America’s economy is worth trillion/yr (wikipedia). Does this mean the world is worth 0 trillion?

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What are the best options for a new investor?

Apr 11th

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I am wondering whether stocks and mutual funds, commodities, foreign currency, or real estate is the best option for a new investor.
My goals are not that of the standard investor. I am looking at this as a business and seek large short term gains with even larger long term goals. I want to be able to build a comfort zone so I can concentrate on my chosen career of acting.


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Stocks? Annuities? Mutual Funds? Advice, please!?

Apr 10th

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I found out yesterday that I own about ,500 worth of stock in a local bank. My dad bought the shares for me when I was a kid, and now that’s how much they’re worth. I’m trying to decide what to do next. I was thinking about selling the stock and putting the money into a CD, because I really don’t trust the stock market all that much. A family member suggested an annuity, and others have suggested more investments. Investing the money in anything but real estate isn’t an option. I just want some advice about my options from someone who knows. Again, I don’t trust the stock market…What’s the best thing to do?


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Working From Home & Making Money Online

Apr 10th

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Jerry Traunfield, one of this season’s contestants, offers tips on how to master the art of the herb in your kitchen.

Jerry Traunfeld is chef and owner of the Seattle restaurant Poppy. Prior to opening his own restaurant, he received national acclaim as the chef at The Herbfarm, which was voted one of the top 10 restaurants in the United States in the 2007 Zagat Survey, is a Gayot’s Top 40 U.S. Restaurant, and is the only AAA 5-Diamond restaurant in the Northwest. He was a 2000 recipient of a James Beard Award for Best American Chef: Northwest and Hawaii. He is the author of the award-winning books The Herbfarm Cookbook and The Herbal Kitchen. Jerry also can be seen on this season’s Top Chef Masters on Bravo.

1. Slow Roasted Salmon with Spring Herb Sauce

It is this recipe that inspired me to write The Herbal Kitchen. When I began thinking of writing a second cookbook about 10 years ago, I was experimenting in my restaurant kitchen with roasting salmon at a very low temperature. The gentle heat consistently turns out perfectly done, moist fish, and miraculously it’s one of the easiest and most foolproof ways you can prepare it. Most home cooks had never heard of the technique, but it translates flawlessly to the home kitchen and I felt the world needed to know about it. I thought of how great it would be to put together a collection of many recipes with similar magic, borrowing techniques I discovered as a chef, translated into extremely simple and quick home recipes, and all made fabulous with fresh herbs.

2. Dilled Celery, Asian Pear, and Hazelnut Salad

This is has been my go-to cool weather salad for many years, and it’s a favorite in my cooking classes, where students are amazed at how such little effort can turn out such an amazing salad. It has celery, nuts and winter fruit in common with the classic Waldorf, but choosing Asian pear, hazelnuts, and mustard vinaigrette to replace mayonnaise gives it swank. I love to use the Duchilly variety of hazelnuts that are grown in Washington state for this dish. They have such thin skins that don’t need to be removed, and their glossy rich brown color is gorgeous with the green and gold of the other ingredients.

3. Parsley and Mint Soup

Many chefs use potatoes to thicken pureed soups like this one, but I always find the potato flavor noticeable and the texture never completely silky and smooth. I prefer to use a tiny bit of rice. It gives the soup a velvety body, almost as if it were enriched with cream, without contributing a taste. This takes lots of parsley, but after all, it is a parsley soup—just the thing to begin a lovely spring dinner.

4. Mushroom Marjoram Bread Pudding

When I was working on the recipe mix for The Herbal Kitchen I tried to think of recipes that would be most valuable to someone who loves to cook at home but has limited time. Everyone needs side dishes for holidays and dinner parties, things that you can prepare ahead, throw in the oven, and bring to the table along with your roast or turkey. A savory bread pudding is just the thing. For this one I use dried porcini, my precious pantry staple, which brings savory depth of flavor to dishes that are rich with cream and eggs. And I use generous amounts of fresh marjoram, the herb I always consider first when I cook with mushrooms.

5. Rhubarb Mint Cobbler

I’ve never been big on sugary, gooey desserts. Instead, give me tangy warm fruit, buttery crisp crust, and a creamy cold scoop of something on top. That’s why I’m a big fan of rhubarb cobbler. Rhubarb is so easy to prep, you just wash and slice, and cobbler biscuits come together in an instant, which means this is a dessert you can indulge in with about 20 minutes of effort.

Click here for more of Jerry’s recipes on Cookstr.com.

Plus: Check out Hungry Beast, for more news on the latest restaurants, hot chefs, and tasty recipes.

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For the most part markets were little changed overnight with investors largely sitting tight ahead of Friday’s all-important US non-farm payrolls report. Indeed the S&P 500 closed exactly unchanged, with some strength in the industrials offset by some weakness in the financials. Stock-wise. 3M (MMM) rallied 3.6% as Morgan Stanley said profit may top estimates after Danaher (DHR) boosted its earnings forecast. Home Depot (HD) and Lowe’s (LOW) climbed as the S&P/Case-Shiller index of home prices in 20 US cities and the Conference Board’s confidence gauge topped economists’ estimates.

Today the US ADP (ADP) private sector payrolls report disappointed coming in at -23k against expectations for a 40k rise. This news allied with Moody’s rating agency who has further downgraded the credit ratings of five Greek banks is giving the Dow a red hue.

Today’s Market Moving Stories

  • Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency said it would apply an average discount of 47% on the first block of loans that it will purchase from the local banks, compared with the Government’s earlier estimate of a 30% discount. Ireland’s regulator estimates that the local banks may need at least €31.8bn of new capital, with banks given 30 days to submit capitalisation plans. I won’t bore you with too much NAMArama analysis as it’s well covered elsewhere. I just want to say, on the all the hype about the larger than expected haircut, it should be noted that this discount applies to the initial tranche only (constituting around 20% of the total), which is likely to disproportionately feature development land loans that face larger writedowns. Future loan tranches are yet to be valued by NAMA, though it is expected that the eventual average discount paid for its entire loan portfolio will be lower than today’s announced level.
  • The IMF scaled back its forecasts for growth in Germany this year to 1.2% (from 1.5% previously), with growth expected to strengthen to just 1.7% in 2011 (from a forecast of 1.9% previously).
  • German labor market data again came in better than expected this morning as today’s unemployment data surprised again positively. In March the unadjusted number of unemployment declined by 75,000 to 3.568mln, due to the normal spring recovery. The ILO measured unemployment rate stagnated the fourth month in a row at 7.5% in February.
  • UK consumer confidence deteriorated in March, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he prepares to call what promises to be one of the closest general elections in years. The GfK NOP showed its consumer confidence index slipped to -15 in March from -14 in February. Nick Moon, the managing director of GfK NOP social research, said that although the drop was small, it was significant because confidence had risen in the first two months of the year.
  • Greece may pay about €13 billion more in interest on the debt it sells this year than it would have if yields had stayed at their pre-crisis levels relative to Germany’s. Interest on the three bonds it sold this year, including a seven-year note offered this week, will amount to €7.7 billion over the life of the securities, compared with €3.8 billion if they had sold them at the average extra yield, or spread, over German debt that prevailed between 2000 and 2008. Greece will incur a further €18.9 billion of interest on this year’s remaining issuance, compared with €9.4 billion before the crisis began.
  • Chinese PBOC Vice Governor Zhu Min said that “there remains the latent risk of asset bubbles. The rapid rebound for the better in market risks after the financial crisis has led to the threat of asset bubbles in capital markets”. He added that “what is worrisome is that once the US Federal Reserve embarks on interest rate increases, this USD arbitrage may return [to the US], causing these bubbles to burst.” He concluded that “fluctuations in the USD have worsened… This financial crisis has again demonstrated that a currency regime dominated solely by the USD is unstable, and the big fluctuations have had quite a big impact on the global economy and financial markets.”
  • The Nomura/JMMA Japan manufacturing PMI fell to 52.4 in March from 52.5 in February. However, the index for new export orders rose to 55.7 from 55.2 – the highest level since May 2004.
  • Australian retail sales fell 1.4% mom in February thereby offsetting gains in January. This was the first fall in twelve months and in the face of a consensus forecast for a 0.2% gain. Separate data showed that approvals for new homes dropped 3.3% mom in February to a four month low (despite a consensus forecast of +2%), although private credit grew as expected, rising by 0.4% mom.
  • Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher told a conference that, “I’m not advocating for an increase in interest rates right now.” He added that raising interest rates was "not on the central bank’s front burner right now" as there was plenty of slack in the US economy.

Greece Still In The Mire
My initial reaction to the details of the Greek support package hammered out in Brussels last Thursday was that they didn’t materially add to what was already known about the European bailout package for Greece (first announced in mid-February). More specifically, other than the fact that the European Commission and the ECB seem to have the final say in when the funds could be called and the report that 2/3rds of the loans would come from Greece’s eurozone partners, we actually learnt nothing new. Certainly, no detail was provided as to what would actually provide the trigger for a bailout (A failed auction? The subsequent threat of default?) or what options would be considered to “reinforce the legal network” of the fiscal stability pact (the ultimate threat of expulsion?). As importantly, nothing was said (or even intimated) about what would happen were another nation were to find itself in trouble. Given that it is now 18 years since the Maastricht Treaty was signed, these signs that the eurozone still lacks a carefully thought out crisis management program that can swing into action at a moment's notice does little to inspire confidence.

It seems that I’m not alone in feeling disappointed with the outcome from last week if the results of Greece’s auction of €5bn of 7-year bonds on Monday were anything to go by. Not only did this auction price at the same level as the 10-year auction in early March but, more importantly, demand proved far more modest this time around (1.4 times coverage compared the 3.2 seen on March 4th). Worse, while much was made of the high demand from foreign investors at the previous auction (77%), Monday saw demand from this sector fall to a rather more modest 57% (with buying from outside of Europe amounting to no more than 10% of the whole).

Yesterday saw further evidence of rapidly waning interest as the unexpected reopening of an earlier issue of 12-year bonds (with the yield capped at 6%) only managed to raise €390mln compared to the €1bn available. Given that Greece has only raised about half of the €35bn they need this year, these signs that investors are increasingly shunning its debt despite the apparent promise of a eurozone backstop are ominous. Little wonder that the benchmark 10-year Greek/German yield spread on government bonds has started widening out once again (hitting 340bp this morning) and look set to continue to do so.

This remains a bearish backdrop for the EUR/USD and EUR/GBP.

Company News

  • Ryanair (RYAAY) is suing the French government this month for what Ryanair considers illegal aid to Air France-KLM (AKH), CEO Michael O’Leary said. The lawsuit, filed March 10 at a Paris court, seeks €113 million in damages and interest. O’Leary said his company estimates that Air France has received more than €1 billion in illegal state aid since 1994. He didn’t provide details.
  • Tate & Lyle (TATYY.PK) reported performance in line with guidance given in January, with EU sugar margins in line with Q3, although the stronger USD will benefit the Q4 results. The currency impact will also have increased debt, although this was offset by stronger cash inflows, meaning net debt at March 31, 2010 is expected to be “broadly similar” to the £864m at Dec 09.
  • Ofcom completed its review of Sky Sports packages compelling the satellite broadcaster to offer these channels wholesale to other operators at a discount of between 10% and 23% to current prices. This is roughly inline with expectations, although it is a positive for BT that they can now anticipate offering live Premier League football from next season.
  • Anglo American (AAUKY.PK) and Xstrata (XSRAF.PK) have had their rating outlooks from Moody’s and S&P, respectively, improved from negative to stable essentially on the back of improving commodity prices, the more constructive economic outlook, along with the companies’ proved and expected flexibility to manage their balance sheets in order to support credit metrics.
  • Volkswagen (VLKAF.PK) is speeding up a facelift of the $88,000 Phaeton sedan in time to unveil the model at the Beijing auto show next month and target China’s millionaires.
  • Traffic volume at Dublin airport fell 16% in February (to 1.2m), continuing the dire trend set in January (-17%). It contrasts sharply with airports elsewhere in Europe where stability and growth returned at year end. Continental EU traffic was back 16%, the UK -8% and North America -19%. Domestic Irish volume fell 31%. These figures underline yet again the crisis enveloping Irish aviation in general. Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair are also experiencing tough Q1s in Ireland but their market shares are expanding as other carriers and charter volumes are extracted at a faster rate. The data shows how challenging the Irish market is for Aer Lingus, which has a 90% exposure to Irish airports.
  • Yesterday it was announced that the Quinn Group had entered administration at the behest of the Financial Regulator. The group will continue to operate but under different management. The group had gone from having assets over liabilities of some €200m to an excess of liabilities of more than €200m. Shares in FBD rose 5.8% after the news, with expectations that the administration provides an opportunity to grab market share.
  • BP (BP) awarded $500 million in contracts to drill wells in Iraq’s giant Rumaila oilfield, the first step in a mammoth initiative by foreign oil companies to revive the country’s energy industry. If successful, the effort at Rumaila and several other fields near Basra could be one of the largest expansions of crude-oil production ever achieved anywhere. Increased Iraq production could be the difference between a well-supplied global market with oil steadily trading below today’s $82 a barrel and a tight oil market with triple-digit prices, struggling to meet rising Asian demand.

And Finally… A Musical Parody About The Banking Crisis

Disclosures: None

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FOX <b>News</b> Radio – » America&#39;s Talking

America speaks out… As the “Baby Boomer” generation gets older, FOX News Radio wants to know what YOU think… Does today's younger generation have as bright a future as today's older generation did growing up? …

Thai Forces Clash With Red Shirt Protesters – AOL <b>News</b>

(April 9) — Thai soldiers and riot police used tear gas and water cannons against anti-government protesters today, marking the first use of force during month-long demonstrations aimed at seeking new elections.

Job <b>News</b> | Operations Management Careers in Business

Select Category, 18504, Accounting Jobs News, Administration Jobs News, Automotive Jobs News, Banking Jobs News, Biotech Jobs News, Business Development Jobs News, Business Opportunity News, Clerical Jobs News, Construction Jobs News …


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Real estate capital gains? $250K exclusion?

Apr 10th

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1) So, I have lived in my home for 7 years. in ‘99 it was purchased for 5K. it is now worth 0K. I simply want to live in an apartment and invest this money in mutual funds. How can I calculate the capital gains I need to pay out?

2)
0K-5K=5K That is under 0K, what exactly is the 0K exclusion?


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What's the best way to invest?

Apr 10th

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Real Estate?

Stock Market?

Mutual Funds?

Other?

I’m open to all ideas, I’d like to hear yours.

Please include as much information as possible on your suggestion and why you suggest it…

And, if you are investing that way yourself right now.

Thank you.


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Financial advice for young adult. Investing in stocks, mutual, and etc?

Apr 9th

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I’m 23 and will be debt free in a few months; did some stupid stuff with my money in the past. I’ll have a little over 0 savings after I pay my bills which includes entertainment and etc. That’s like 33% of my income.
How much should I use from that to invest?
How about stocks, mutual funds, forex, and etfs?
Real estate sounds like a hassle so I don’t think that I’ll touch that unless you guys say otherwise.
Tips and advice appreciated..
Thanks.
How about a house?
I currently rent at an apartment.
Sorry, I meant that I have 0 leftover every month for savings…


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