DailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comDailyFinance.comhttp://o.aolcdn.com/os/df/2013/img/2-dailyfinance_logo_m.pngDailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comen-usCopyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Senior-Only Discounts and Dealshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/18/senior-only-discounts-and-deals/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/18/senior-only-discounts-and-deals/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/18/senior-only-discounts-and-deals/#commentsFiled under: , ,

older couples dining out - senior discountsWith age comes some privileges, and chief among them may be getting discounts just for being older. And just how old is "older?" AARP, the country's largest lobbying group, considers you a senior when you turn 50.

But if that insult can be forgiven, then you can expect to be rewarded -- with deep and far-reaching discounts on everything from cruises, rental cars, outlet mall shopping, hotel room rates, books, groceries and even meals at Denny's (and not necessarily that Early Bird Special, either).

Stemming from the cultural belief that our elders deserve respect -- and a lingering bottom-line belief that seniors may be the last ones standing with any discretionary dollars left to spend -- there are discounts targeting seniors with age qualifications ranging from 50 to 65. AARP, which offers an annual $16 membership to those 50 or older, is a great place to start, but it isn't the only place to find deals.

Here are some of our other favorites:

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]]>AAAAARPAARP discountsrental carsRentalCarssenior discountsshoppingtravelturning 50Ann BrenoffMon, 18 Apr 2011 11:15:00 ESTWill Your Hanes Tighty Whities Soon Offer More Fiber?http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/13/will-your-hanes-tidy-whities-now-be-crunchy/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/13/will-your-hanes-tidy-whities-now-be-crunchy/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/13/will-your-hanes-tidy-whities-now-be-crunchy/#commentsFiled under: ,

LINSEEDSHanesBrands, the maker of cotton-based undergarments and active wear, is developing new products made from flax -- a crop used more often in cereal than in underwear.

What's behind the innovation? Price, of course. Hanes' action is a direct response to the rising costs of cotton prices. Prices of cotton have doubled since August of last year. About 60 percent of Hanes' products contain at least 90 percent cotton. Last January, Hanes Chief Executive Richard Noll predicted that the price of certain cotton items would rise by as much as 30 percent by the end of the year.

And why not look at flax?

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]]>Ann BrenoffWed, 13 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTDogs Getting Upgraded Accommodations in 7 Pennsylvania State Parkshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/12/dogs-getting-upgraded-accommodations-in-7-pennsylvania-state-par/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/12/dogs-getting-upgraded-accommodations-in-7-pennsylvania-state-par/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/12/dogs-getting-upgraded-accommodations-in-7-pennsylvania-state-par/#commentsFiled under:

couple hiking with dogFinally, an enlightened state. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced a pilot program to begin in 2012 that will allow dogs to stay with their owners in select state park cabins and cottages.

Pets are currently permitted at designated sites in 47 Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but under the pilot program, they'll have upgraded accommodations at seven state parks. They're not permitted to be left alone in the cabin or cottage and must stay on leash.

The dogs' presence will cost an extra $5 per night for the modern and deluxe cabins and $2 for the the standard cottages. No more than two dogs will be permitted per cabin; other rules will apply.

Still, for pet owners who've been forced to leave Fido at home or in a more expensive kennel, the news is good. Reservations for all state park overnight accommodations can be made online or by calling toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757).

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]]>Ann BrenoffTue, 12 Apr 2011 14:30:00 ESTAn Essay: Lessons From the Recession, Learned the Hard Wayhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/10/an-essay-lessons-from-the-recession-learned-the-hard-way/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/10/an-essay-lessons-from-the-recession-learned-the-hard-way/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/10/an-essay-lessons-from-the-recession-learned-the-hard-way/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Notice of termination - pink slipThe pain caused by the recession can't be minimized: millions of homes lost to foreclosure, 8 million jobs erased from the landscape, families displaced, lives disrupted.

But there are a few linings to the recessionary dark cloud that don't get discussed that much. There are people who have been dealt economic blows and have found the mechanisms -- and the strength -- to cope. A few have even thrived with the discovery that less can indeed be more.

Let's face it: Conspicuous consumption has been around for as long as the Joneses and our need to keep up with them. Bigger homes, newer cars, better labels on our jeans, vacations taken with such frequency that you'd think Tahiti was sinking away were all part of the code we lived by.

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]]>careerconspicuous consumptionfreelancingfrugalityliving with lessrecessionsaving moneyspending moneyunemploymentWalletPopAnn BrenoffSun, 10 Apr 2011 12:00:00 ESTSave $1,000 on Real Estate Purchase With Grouponhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/10/save-1-000-on-real-estate-purchase-with-groupon/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/10/save-1-000-on-real-estate-purchase-with-groupon/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/10/save-1-000-on-real-estate-purchase-with-groupon/#commentsFiled under: ,

groupon real estate purchaseDream Town Realty, a full-service real estate office in Chicago, is offering $1,000 cash at closing to buyers or sellers who purchase a $25 Groupon coupon. It is believed to be the first brokerage in the country to try Groupon.

Less than 12 hours after the offer was presented, it had almost reached its 50 person minimum and there is no ceiling on the number of Groupon offers that will be sold.

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]]>group closeing costsGroupCloseingCostsgroupon house buying coupongroupon real estategroupon real estate purchaseGrouponHouseBuyingCouponAnn BrenoffSun, 10 Apr 2011 09:00:00 ESTOpen Wide for William and Kate Pez Dispensers on eBayhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/08/open-wide-for-william-and-kate-pez-dispensers-on-ebay/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/08/open-wide-for-william-and-kate-pez-dispensers-on-ebay/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/08/open-wide-for-william-and-kate-pez-dispensers-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: ,

William and Kate Pez dispenserExpect to open your wallets and your mouth wide for the coolest royal wedding souvenir: William and Kate Pez dispensers, now being auctioned off on eBay for charity.

Riff-raff need not apply. Bidders must be pre-qualified and the current bid is already above $10,000. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Starlight Children's Foundation, which grants wishes for terminally ill children and provides hospital entertainment for them in the United Kingdom.

The iconic candy company is headquartered in the U.S. and says this one-of-a-kind pair won't be mass produced. Predictions are that the set, commemorating the April 29 wedding of the century, might break price records for a Pez dispenser.

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]]>pez dispenserPezDispenserroyal weddingRoyalWeddingwedding commemorationWeddingCommemorationwilliam and kateAnn BrenoffFri, 08 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTSocial Security 'What You'll Get' Statements Going Onlinehttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/08/social-security-what-youll-get-statements-going-online/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/08/social-security-what-youll-get-statements-going-online/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/08/social-security-what-youll-get-statements-going-online/#commentsFiled under: ,

social securityEvery year, Social Security snail-mails 150 million workers a statement estimating what their payments would be if they retired at age 62, 66 or 70. In our household, we call it the annual fantasy letter, trying to imagine that Social Security won't go bust before we reach those ages.

Now Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue has announced that in an effort to save money -- $70 million a year -- the agency is going to provide these statements online by the end of the year.

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]]>social securitysocial security amountsocial security benefitsocial security statementSocialSecurityAmountSocialSecurityBenefitSocialSecurityStatementAnn BrenoffFri, 08 Apr 2011 08:00:00 ESTIs Disability Insurance the Post-Unemployment Check? Not for Manyhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/01/is-disability-insurance-the-post-unemployment-check-not-for-man/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/01/is-disability-insurance-the-post-unemployment-check-not-for-man/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/01/is-disability-insurance-the-post-unemployment-check-not-for-man/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guy in a wheelchair - disability insuranceAs the jobless run out of unemployment benefits, many may be turning toward the Social Security Disability office hoping to find some relief. Officials report that initial claims are up from 2.5 million in fiscal year 2006 to 3.25 million in fiscal year 2010 -- a 30% jump during the recession.

But filing a claim doesn't mean that financial relief is just a few tall stacks of paperwork away. Social Security Disability insurance is one of the really hard assistance nuts to crack; the screening process is so stringent that it even makes qualifying for a mortgage these days look easy. Only about 40% of those who apply get approved in the first step. And that step takes three or four months to process, although the program has a list of 88 diseases and conditions on a sort of fast-track system to speed up the process for those with the most serious needs.

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]]>99er clubdisabilitylong-term unemployedRecessionsocial security disabilityunemploymentunemployment benefitsworkers compAnn BrenoffFri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 ESTSix Ways to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Mortgagehttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/25/six-ways-to-improve-your-chances-of-getting-a-mortgage/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/25/six-ways-to-improve-your-chances-of-getting-a-mortgage/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/25/six-ways-to-improve-your-chances-of-getting-a-mortgage/#commentsFiled under: ,

New homes for saleRemember how Spring was always the home-buying season? Don't count on that happening this year and you can point the finger, at least in part, at the new lending hoops buyers must jump through. According to MortgageMatch.com, one out of three home buyers will fail to get a mortgage this spring.

Understanding the mortgage process and meeting lenders' more stringent qualification requirements have become big obstacles for applicants, according to a survey the site conducted. Most recent home buyers -- 70% -- described the mortgaging process as more difficult than they expected. And those who bought homes during the bubble years, when mortgage loans were given out like candy at Halloween, are especially shell-shocked by the new lending standards.

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]]>mortgagereal estateAnn BrenoffFri, 25 Mar 2011 13:00:00 ESTSection 8 Tenants: the Housing Market's Salvation?http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/21/section-8-tenants-the-housing-markets-salvation/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/21/section-8-tenants-the-housing-markets-salvation/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/21/section-8-tenants-the-housing-markets-salvation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In what may be one of the strangest twists to the housing market crisis, Section 8 housing tenants are moving from urban housing projects and into high-end condo complexes and single-family McMansions that just a few years ago sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The reason? Landlords are grateful to have a steady rent check and a tenant whose rent doesn't fall whim to a job loss.

Gallery: Florida's "Section 8" Housing

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]]>economyreal estaterecessionrentingsection 8tennisAnn BrenoffMon, 21 Mar 2011 10:00:00 ESTFargo, North Dakota Has What You Need -- Jobshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/17/fargo-north-dakota-has-what-you-need-jobs/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/17/fargo-north-dakota-has-what-you-need-jobs/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/17/fargo-north-dakota-has-what-you-need-jobs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fargo, North Dakota, may be having the last laugh. The 1996 black comedy "Fargo" brought the expression "Yah, you betcha," into popular joke vernacular. But there was some sobering Census data just released about the city we've so enjoyed poking fun of.

Fargo grew by about 15,000 people to a record high of 105,549 residents, says the Census Bureau. And more people means -- please sit down for your own safety -- a housing boom. The estimated median house or condo price in 2009 was $147,400. In 2000, it was $94,000.

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]]>FargoFargo jobsFargoJobsNorth Dakota jobsNorthDakotaNorthDakotaJobsAnn BrenoffThu, 17 Mar 2011 13:00:00 ESTIf the Shoe Fits, You Still Probably Don't Need Ithttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/15/if-the-shoe-fits-you-still-probably-dont-need-it/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/15/if-the-shoe-fits-you-still-probably-dont-need-it/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/15/if-the-shoe-fits-you-still-probably-dont-need-it/#commentsFiled under: ,


table of shoesOn average, women own 17 pairs of shoes and spent, again on average, $49 on each pair, according to ShopSmart Magazine, a publication published by the company that produces Consumer Reports.

But here's the recessionary twist: Just four years ago, women owned 19 pairs, so they clearly are shopping less for shoes to decorate the closet. By the way, 13% of all women own more than 30 pairs of shoes, not counting athletic shoes. That's a lot of shoes.

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]]>buying shoesshoe shoppingshoesAnn BrenoffTue, 15 Mar 2011 12:00:00 ESTWork From Home: Five Ways to Convince Your Bosshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/04/work-from-home-five-ways-to-convince-your-boss/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/04/work-from-home-five-ways-to-convince-your-boss/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/04/work-from-home-five-ways-to-convince-your-boss/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Working from home can save you and your company moneyYou would think that with all today's technology, employers would see the value in letting people work from home. Yet even in this era of Skype, videoconferencing and cellphones that we sleep with, some bosses cling to the idea that it is somehow better to have all the sheep report to an office where they can be seen.

Are you at a loss about how to convince your Luddite boss to let you work from home? Here are WalletPop's top five arguments to present to The Man.

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]]>careermanagementtechnologytelecommuteworking from homeAnn BrenoffFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:00:00 ESTFive Signs That the Economy Is Improvinghttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/25/five-signs-that-the-economy-has-improved/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/25/five-signs-that-the-economy-has-improved/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/25/five-signs-that-the-economy-has-improved/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Signs that will tell us when our nation's economy is improvedForget the Consumer Index and those ubiquitous spending reports. There are some very simple homespun ways to know when the economy is improving. And based on our methodology, which is at least understandable to laymen, if not scientifically accurate, here are the signs to look for:

1. When the Gym is Empty in the Middle of the Day Again

Long, long ago when people had full-time jobs, they went to the gym either early in the morning before work or on their way home from the office. Somewhere around 2009-2010, it became near impossible to get a treadmill at 11 a.m. Gym use, for those who could afford it after their morning latte stop, became a late-morning or early afternoon activity.

Truth is, gym memberships in this country has held steady, which speaks volumes about our commitment to burn off the fat and stay healthy, even when we are financially circling the drain.

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]]>constructioneconomic recoveryfoodgym membershiplendingmortgagesreal estatesigns of recoveryAnn BrenoffFri, 25 Feb 2011 11:00:00 ESTFive Things You Should Spend Money on When You Are Joblesshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/16/five-things-you-should-spend-money-on-when-you-are-jobless/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/16/five-things-you-should-spend-money-on-when-you-are-jobless/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/16/five-things-you-should-spend-money-on-when-you-are-jobless/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

job fair today sign - joblessThe natural inclination when you lose your job is to tighten your belt and reduce your spending. Nights are more typically spent lying awake figuring out how to make ends meet -- not looking for ways to part with your last remaining disposable dollars.

Yet that's precisely what the jobless need to do, agree employment and job counselors. The logic is this: If you've been unemployed for months, chances are, you are stuck. If you aren't getting traction in your job search, you may need a professional make-over. And contrary to instinct, this may be the time to spend a little money on getting yourself over the hump.

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]]>business cardscareercareer coachesdomain registrationjob searchingnetworking eventspersonal emailsspending to get a jobwardrobeAnn BrenoffWed, 16 Feb 2011 11:00:00 ESTTwo Things You Must Do to Sell Your House Fasthttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/09/two-things-you-must-do-to-sell-your-house-fast/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/09/two-things-you-must-do-to-sell-your-house-fast/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/09/two-things-you-must-do-to-sell-your-house-fast/#commentsFiled under: ,

weichert sign in front of brick and white house - sell your houseForget location, location, location. In today's real estate market, there are two things you need to do if you want to sell your house quickly.

Thing Number One: Pricing. When your agent says to "price it right" or to "price it aggressively," what he really means is to price it low. Lower than what your neighbor sold his for. Lower than what the house up the street is listed at. So low that it makes your teeth hurt.

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]]>listing photospricing real estatereal estatesell your houseAnn BrenoffWed, 09 Feb 2011 17:00:00 ESTA Snow Job on Low Jobs Creation Datahttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/04/a-snow-job-on-low-jobs-creation-data/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/04/a-snow-job-on-low-jobs-creation-data/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/04/a-snow-job-on-low-jobs-creation-data/#commentsFiled under: ,

shoveling snow - jobs dataThe latest economic news out of Washington caused some head-scratching: The unemployment rate has dropped to 9% but only 36,000 jobs were created last month. Think about it. The government expected 145,000 new jobs to be created and the actual number fell way short. And yet the number of people considered unemployed was reduced.

Where did all those out of work people go, since it clearly wasn't to newly created jobs?

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]]>jobs creation dataunemployment rateAnn BrenoffFri, 04 Feb 2011 17:00:00 ESTA Comedian's View: Seven Things You Better Not Give for Valentine's Dayhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/02/a-comedians-view-seven-things-you-better-not-give-for-valentin/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/02/a-comedians-view-seven-things-you-better-not-give-for-valentin/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/02/a-comedians-view-seven-things-you-better-not-give-for-valentin/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Humorist and author Gina Barreca - valentineAs humorist and author of "It's Not That I'm Bitter," Gina Barreca (right) puts it, Valentine's Day is ripe for wrong turns, especially if you're attempting to cover your bases on a budget. Here are her helpful hints about what to avoid in the gift department, with the caveat that these rules apply to everyone except George Clooney, who, she says, could open a can of lentils over the sink for her V-Day dinner and she'd find herself thinking "How did George know this is what I've always wanted!?"

Gina offers seven rules for what to avoid in your Valentine gift-gifting, even when on a budget.

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]]>valentines dayvalentines day giftsAnn BrenoffWed, 02 Feb 2011 14:00:00 ESTMeet Josh Altman, the Newest 'Million Dollar Listing' Starhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/01/meet-josh-altman-the-newest-million-dollar-listing-star/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/01/meet-josh-altman-the-newest-million-dollar-listing-star/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/01/meet-josh-altman-the-newest-million-dollar-listing-star/#commentsFiled under: , ,

josh altman in jacket and jeansOK, we have the drop-dead gorgeous Madison Hildebrand who revealed on national TV that he's gay so now he gets fan mail from both sexes; the scruffy-bearded Josh Flagg who's best friends with his grandma who brought polyester to America; and now we have Josh Altman -- a.k.a The Shark.

Welcome to season four of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing," which premieres Feb. 3, and is expected to top more than 1.2 million viewers per episode this season as the three rock stars of the high-end real estate world clash, close deals and clink glasses to celebrate -- only generally not with one another.

Tensions between the three are expected to be a large part of this season's drama. Truth is, the three of them are cut from distinctively different cloths and if there is any character casting to be had, figure Altman to be the aggressive cut-throater out to make a killing. In his own words -- "the shark." Speculation is he's the guy viewers will love to hate, a role that some say he relishes.

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]]>BravoJosh AltmanMalibuMillion dollar listingreal estateAnn BrenoffTue, 01 Feb 2011 10:30:00 ESTWhat's Missing From Obama's State of the Union Speechhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/01/24/whats-missing-from-obamas-state-of-the-union-speech/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/01/24/whats-missing-from-obamas-state-of-the-union-speech/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/01/24/whats-missing-from-obamas-state-of-the-union-speech/#commentsFiled under: , ,

obama hugs intern Daniel Hernandez - state of the unionRep. Gabrielle Giffords' doctors and the intern who rushed to her aid when she was shot in Tucson will be honored guests at Tuesday's State of the Union address. Without taking anything away from the doctors' skills or the young hero's bravery, what message does this send to the 1 million families who lost their homes to foreclosure last year or the 15 million people who lost their jobs and can't find new ones? I hope it's not "Take a back seat, chumps, I've moved on to something else."

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]]>jobsState of the UnionunemploymentAnn BrenoffMon, 24 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST