Five Industries That Are Leading The Economic Recovery

A new report reveals the fastest-growing industries from 2010 to 2020 - and the importance of a college degree to pursue a career in one of them.

By Terence Loose

After the Great Recession of the past several years, the country seems to finally be getting back on its feet. But will it look the same in terms of employment?
A new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce* says no. And there are two factors that are driving this conclusion: a shift in industries that are projected to be the fastest-growing in the U.S. from 2010 to 2020, coupled with the increasing importance of a college degree for many jobs in these industries.
For example, in a different Georgetown report from 2010**, the industries that topped the fastest-growing list from 2008 to 2018 were health care and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). But neither of these industries is first on the list in the 2013 report.
And the importance of a postsecondary education continues to grow. "What's clear is that in the past decade, the entry-level skill and education requirement has gone way up," says Anthony P. Carnevale, the center's director and co-author of the study. In fact, of the 55 million job openings that are forecasted from 2010 to 2020, 65 percent - or 36 million - will require some college education.
We dove deeper into the report and took a look at the five fastest-growing post-recession industries, along with the education you may need to pursue a career in one of them. So read on, because some of the information may be quite educational.

#1: Private Education Services

Rate of Growth from 2010 to 2020: 28 percent*
With parents more concerned than ever about the quality of their kids' education, private education has grown rapidly in the past few decades, Carnevale says. And since it shows no sign of slowing down, he doesn't see it as a surprise that this was the number one fastest-growing industry in the Recovery 2020 study.
Why It's Growing: "More and more people recognize that the quality of their children's education will pretty much determine their ability to pass on their middle-class status - or to leverage their kids into the middle class, if they themselves aren't in the middle class," says Carnevale. So, parents are taking more control of their kids' education through private schools, he says.
Why College Is Required: The vast majority of the workers in this group are teachers and principals, says Carnevale. "And they're very highly educated. The overwhelming majority has at least some college and often bachelor's and graduate degrees," he says.
Potential Career: Elementary school teacher
Love the idea of helping the next generation learn new concepts and skills? How about working with individual students to challenge them and developing and enforcing classroom rules? That's what the U.S. Department of Labor says teachers do. And according to the Department of Labor, private elementary schools typically seek teachers who have a bachelor's degree in elementary education.
Next step: Click to Find the Right K-12 Program Now.
The Department says that job opportunities for elementary teachers (both public and private) are expected to grow by 17 percent from 2010 to 2020, or by 248,800 jobs.

#2: Health Care Services

Rate of Growth from 2010 to 2020: 26 percent*
With just about every person in America needing some kind of health care service, this has long been a big growth industry, says Carnevale. Perhaps the only shocker, then, is that it came in at number two, not number one.
Why It's Growing: One of the biggest drivers of growth has been nurses, says Carnevale. "Nurses have been a big growth profession for a very long time, for the last decade or two," he says. Another big reason is an aging nation. Baby boomers are hitting retirement age, but are living longer and needing more health services, because they want to stay healthy and active into their twilight years, he says.
Why College Is Required: Although there are many jobs in health care that don't require college degrees, says Carnevale, more and more jobs require some post-high school education. As for that big job driver, "[nursing is] moving toward a bachelor's requirement more and more," says Carnevale.
Potential Career: Registered nurse
If you've always enjoyed helping people get well or educating them on how to stay healthy, a career as a nurse could be a good fit. To prepare, the U.S. Department of Labor says most nurses take one of three educational paths: a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN), an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma from an accepted nursing program. Registered nurses also must be licensed.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
According to the Department of Labor, job opportunities for registered nurses should be "excellent," with a growth of more than 700,000 jobs, or 26 percent, from 2010 to 2020.

#3: Professional & Business Services

Rate of Growth from 2010 to 2020: 25 percent*
This category includes the army of mostly college-educated workers that both big and small companies hire as independent contractors, says Carnevale. These contractors can be anything from paralegals and lawyers to architects and managers, says Carnevale.
Why It's Growing: "This category didn't even exist prior to 2000," says Carnevale. "So the growth in business services really reflects that there's a fundamental structural change in our economy." That change is a trend toward businesses contracting out as much work as they can, says Carnevale. "So the contracting out of technical, managerial, professional, and support workers has been enormous."
Why College Is Required: Carnevale says that this group is made up of a lot of white-collared workers, including a lot of management positions [that require college degrees]. "They are mostly professionals, so it's a huge employer for college graduates," says Carnevale.
Potential Career: Paralegal
If you're not ready for years of law school, a career as a paralegal may be a good alternative for entering this booming occupational group. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, paralegals investigate facts for cases, help lawyers prepare for trials, and even assist them in court. The Department of Labor says most paralegals have an associate's degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree in any subject with a certificate in paralegal studies.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Paralegal Program.
According to the Department, job opportunities for paralegals are projected to grow by almost 46,900 jobs, or 18 percent, from 2010 to 2020.

#4: Financial Services

Rate of Growth 2010 to 2020: 25 percent*
Did you think that the collapse of Wall Street a few years back meant the collapse in demand for those skilled in finance? Well, think again, says Carnevale. "It always surprises people that this sector is growing, but it is," he says.
Why It's Growing: "Financial structures became more and more complicated - so complicated they eventually collapsed. But as a result of that complexity, every institution has a finance person. That wasn't true 20 years ago. But now, it's a must," says Carnevale.
Why College Is Required: Carnevale says that this group is a very educated one, with many bachelor's and master's degrees in finance, business, and other related fields. He says these workers need to be educated in not only finance and business economics, but also the latest government regulations.
Potential Career: Financial analyst
Do you like the idea of studying economic and business trends for a living? How about suggesting investment strategies to businesses and individuals?  Those are just a few of the things financial analysts do, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Many positions require a bachelor's degree in a field such as business administration, accounting, finance, economics, or statistics, says the Department of Labor.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Finance Program.
According to the Department, financial analyst jobs will grow 23 percent, or by 54,200 openings, from 2010 to 2020.

#5: Leisure & Hospitality

Rate of Growth 2010 to 2020: 18 percent*
This industry is a lot more than a battalion of maids and tour guides making your vacation memorable. In fact, the leisure and hospitality industry, says Carnevale, is made up of 30 to 40 percent college-educated professionals. And thanks to the end of the recession, it's growing fast, says Carnevale.
Why It's Growing: "This industry is one of the first to get hit in a recession, because it's the first thing you don't do - take the family trip to the national park. So it takes such a heavy hit in the recession that when the recovery comes, it recovers stronger than a lot of the other industries, because there's a pent-up demand," says Carnevale.
Why College Is Required: You might think that the leisure and hospitality industry has a lot of low-wage, non college-educated workers - and you'd be right. "But they also support a managerial group and technical people, a real mix of professional people that any industry needs to run. So a large number of the industry jobs require college," says Carnevale.
Potential Career: Lodging Manager
These professionals are the people who make sure your hotel stay is a pleasurable one, while also ensuring the efficiency of the hotel and its staff, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Most full-service hotel chains hire managers with a bachelor's degree in hospitality or hotel management, says the Department of Labor. At hotels that provide fewer services, the Department says applicants with an associate's degree or certificate in hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management may qualify.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Hospitality Management Program.
The Department says lodging manager jobs should grow by 8 percent, or more than 4,300 jobs, from 2010 to 2020.

* "Recovery 2020: Job Growth and Education Requirements Through 2020" predicts the state of the U.S. economy in 2020. The report offers insights on the labor market, such as which fields are expected to create the most jobs, the education requirements required to gain employment in the U.S., and the employee skills most desired by employers. All industry growth projections from the "Recovery 2020" report.

** "Help Wanted: Projecting Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018," forecasts the fastest-growing industries from 2008 to 2018 and looks at the impact of a college degree on hiring in those industries.

Next Article: Five Dead-End Jobs You Should Avoid

Source(http://education.yahoo.net/articles/fast_growing_industries.htm?kid=1O19N)

Obama has 40 months left in office: Nine scenarios on his future

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President Barack Obama waves to the media as he walks from Marine One to the Oval Office of the White House (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

Walter Shapiro September 26, 2013 9:41 AM

In April, with his domestic agenda stymied in Congress, Barack Obama tried to channel Mark Twain when he declared, “Rumors of my demise may be a little exaggerated at this point.”
For the president, those were the good old days. In the early spring, his approval rating was still over 50 percent in some surveys and he clung to hopes for legislative victories like immigration reform. Since then, on almost every front, things have gotten worse politically for the president. Obama’s popularity in the polls now averages 44 percent, close to the nadir of his presidency.
It’s not only the polls. Immigration reform is dying in Congress. And not even last week’s massacre at the Washington Navy Yard could revive efforts for limited gun legislation, a cause that earlier this year aroused Obama’s deepest public emotions.
October could bring both a government shutdown and an unprecedented default on the national debt, though the fractious and sometimes unreasonable Republicans would bear a heavy share of the blame. But it was the congressional Democrats, who, earlier this month, torpedoed Obama’s favorite for chairman of the Federal Reserve (Larry Summers) and balked at the president’s request for legal authority to bomb Syria.
In short, Obama appears reduced to reciting the lame-duck lament. But is the president truly doomed to brooding irrelevance during his final 40 months in the Oval Office?
Forty months can be an eternity in the lives of presidents and nations. By way of comparison, 44 months was what it took America to win World War II from the attack on Pearl Harbor to Emperor Hirohito’s radio broadcast announcing the Japanese surrender.
The rest of the Obama presidency is unlikely to be a replica of what we have seen so far. Obama’s second-term poll numbers, which are a rough measure of the success of his presidency, might improve or they might continue to plummet as they did for George W. Bush and Harry Truman. But change is almost inevitable with volatile, short-attention-span contemporary politics.
Maybe the only certainly in American politics is that Obama’s reputation and the perceptions of his presidency will be different on the day he leaves office (Jan. 20, 2017) than they are today.
So here are nine plausible scenarios — both positive and negative for Obama — that might put the power back in POTUS or turn him into the 21st century’s version of Millard Fillmore.
1. Obamacare works

Scenario: Even though there inevitably will be technical glitches and coverage gaps, by mid-2015 the Affordable Care Act (its formal moniker) will be as popular as the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Fine Print: Even if Obamacare reduces costs and increases coverage, Republicans might still battle to repeal it for years. Success will ultimately burnish the president’s reputation, but gratitude for Obamacare will probably do little to boost Democratic turnout in the 2014 congressional elections.
2. Obamacare implodes

Scenario: Because of both the law’s complexity and administrative errors by the government, the rollout of Obamacare is the rockiest launch since Clint Eastwood’s 2012 GOP convention speech. With the president’s legacy in tatters, even Democrats start to wonder if the benefits of Obamacare were worth the political cost.

 Fine Print: Rather than prompting the Democrats to give up on health care reform, the 2016 presidential contenders start talking about a single-payer plan like Medicare. And in political terms, it is hard to imagine the Republicans more enraged about Obamacare than they are already.

3. Obama the peacemaker
Scenario: The surprising diplomatic flurries of the past few weeks yield lasting results. Iran agrees to abandon its nuclear program in return for ending its status as a pariah nation. Syria, with continued Russian prodding, does give up its chemical arsenal, and eventually Bashir Assad steps aside in favor of a transitional government.
Fine Print: Obama gets to reframe his second term as the Foreign Policy Presidency. But these successes buy him little domestic political support, because Iran and Syria are not voting issues at a time of economic hardship.
4. Obama the global blunderer

Scenario: Nothing works for Obama on the international stage. The overtures from Iran are derailed by theocratic hard-liners, while Assad finds new ways to massacre Syrian civilians. Secretary of State John Kerry accomplishes little besides racking up frequent flier miles.
Fine Print: After eight years in the White House, Obama leaves office with little beyond his 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. But even though Republicans like John McCain ridicule Obama’s fecklessness on the international stage, most voters turn out to care little about any global issue that doesn’t involve American casualties.
5. The Obama recovery — at last

Scenario: It might have more to do with the Federal Reserve and global trends than any second-term Obama policies, but the economy moves into overdrive for the first time since the 2008 economic collapse. Not only does the jobless rate sharply decline, but increased tax revenue also dramatically improves long-term deficit projections.
Fine Print: Nothing could do more to burnish Obama’s presidential record — and help the Democrats hold the Senate in 2014. Finally, there is a narrative to the Obama Years: He brought America back from the Great Recession.
6. The Obama downturn — again
Scenario: A global recession brought on by cutbacks in China and renewed austerity in Europe spreads to America as joblessness rises. Partisan gridlock rules out any form of stimulus from Washington, as even extended unemployment benefits can’t make it through Congress.
Fine Print: Even though Obama inherited the 2008 financial crisis, he goes down in history as the Hard Times President. The 2014 congressional elections are a GOP sweep like 2010. And Obama becomes so unpopular that he is asked to not appear at the 2016 Democratic Convention.
7. Obama wins budget battle 

Scenario: Congressional Republicans, torn between their tea party wing (Ted Cruz, please pick up the white courtesy phone) and mainstream conservatives such as House Speaker John Boehner, blunder into shutting down the government for most of October. They back down only when international credit markets panic that America will refuse to increase the legal debt ceiling.
Fine Print: Even with everything breaking politically for Obama, the Democrats are unable to win back the House in 2014, although they come close. But the GOP congressional leaders are so scarred by their party’s fiscal fiasco that 2015 proves to be a fruitful year of let’s-make-a-deal compromises with the president.
8. Obama hoists white flag over budget

Scenario: Obama, as he has so often in his presidency, retreats in the face of unified Republican opposition on the budget and the debt ceiling. No, the president doesn’t abandon Obamacare, but he does delay its launch for three months and agrees to a new round of GOP-mandated budget cuts.
Fine Print: Not that much changes in the Capital. Obama continues to be perceived as the Incredible Shrinking President, and empowered congressional Republicans concoct outrageous new schemes to thwart governmental business as usual. Voters in 2014 express their frustration with Washington gridlock by defeating prominent incumbents in both parties.
9. Obama shakes up White House staff
Scenario: Learning from his political missteps, Obama does what Ronald Reagan did after the Iran-Contra scandal — and brings in a team of Washington wise men (and women) to bring new direction to the White House. The president puts his golf game on hiatus to instead devote his time to personally wooing Congress.
Fine Print: Now that’s implausible. We can file this scenario right next to the idea that national unity will be achieved after little green men from Mars land on the White House lawn. Some things in Washington will never change — starting with Obama’s personality and his detached approach to governing.

Source (http://news.yahoo.com/obama-obamacare-syria-iran-recovery-recession-134107522.html)

Four Degrees That Could Ruin Your Career Chances

Your college major might have serious implications for your future career, so choose wisely.

By Jennifer Berry

If you're going to spend the time and money to go to college, you're probably going to expect to see a good return on your investment. But here's something you might not expect: Some degrees could actually hurt your chances of getting the career you want.
Unemployment figures can range widely depending on the major, according to a 2013 study by the Georgetown University study titled "Hard Times: College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings." To understand why, it helps to look at a degree in the same way an employer might.
"Your major provides two key elements of job readiness: subject matter expertise and essential skills and training," says Carol Barash, founder and CEO of Story To College, which teaches students how to use storytelling tools to advocate for themselves in school, work, and life.
And those skills need to be in demand, too. “If you want to be employable upon graduation, you have to learn tactical skills that are needed by companies that are growing,” explains Michael Staton, partner at Learn Capital, a venture capital firm focused on funding entrepreneurs with a vision for better and smarter learning.
The good news is that for many majors with a statistically high unemployment rate among recent graduates, there are similar alternatives with lower unemployment rates. Read on to learn about a few majors with high unemployment rates - and some potential alternate degrees with better prospects.*

High-Unemployment Degree #1: Economics
Unemployment Rate: 10.4%

You're fascinated by the life-blood of our economy: money. A degree in economics might seem like a perfect fit, but think twice before you get started: With so many people pursuing this degree, you could be left high and dry after graduation.
"Economics is a very popular major - at many universities it is the most popular major," says Barash. "But there are very few entry-level jobs as economists." Why is that? "An economist is someone who analyzes and predicts trends," says Barash. "Most people right out of college don't have enough analytical experience to work as economists."
This degree can also be heavy on the theory and light on the practical know-how, says Staton. According to the College Board (a nonprofit organization committed to excellence in education), some of the classes economics majors take include comparative economic systems, economic theory, and econometrics.

More Promising Alternative: Finance

Unemployment Rate: 5.9%
Looking for an alternative degree where you can still explore the impact of money on our modern life - but also prepare to pursue a career after graduation? Check out finance.
According to the College Board, a degree in finance can prepare you to make financial decisions for companies, raise funds, and invest wisely - all practical know-how skills that potential employers might be looking for.
How It Improves Your Odds: "Economics teaches market forces, but finance teaches you how to manipulate spreadsheets, package and evaluate financial products, and handle operational concerns of companies," explains Staton.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Finance Program.
Just look to the College Board for evidence of what you could learn: Typical major courses are accounting and statistics for financial analysis, financial management, and investments.
"Finance is replacing economics as a high-impact, high-salary career choice," adds Barash. And while Barash notes that your first job will probably be mostly working with Excel manipulating numbers, she also notes that these jobs tend to be compensated well.
Career Options**:

• Financial analyst
• Personal financial advisor

High-Unemployment Degree #2: Political Science and Government
Unemployment Rate: 11.1%

Are you a political junky, addicted to blogs and political news outlets? Before you jump into a political science and government degree, you might want to do some serious thinking, as its unemployment rate suggests it might not put you in the best position to get a job.
Why? It's another degree focused more on academics and less on applicable skills. As Staton says, "Political science covers high-level theory and research methods." Just look at some of the courses listed by the College Board: political theory, judicial processes, and contemporary political ideologies.
And while the degree may have some important application, its job potential is very narrow. According to Barash, "These are great degrees if you want to run for public office - and we definitely need young people committed to this type of public service - but not for very many other entry-level jobs." 

More Promising Alternative: Criminal Justice

Unemployment Rate: 8.9%
Want to check out a related degree with a lower unemployment rate? Why not consider criminal justice?
Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary major where you might study everything form law to psychology, says the College Board. Some of the typical classes for this major include criminology, juvenile justice, criminal law, and the U.S. criminal-justice system.
How It Improves Your Odds: Why might this be a better choice than a poli-sci degree? "Public service is out - but catching criminals and terrorists is in," says Barash. In other words, job prospects for people who get out in the world and stop the bad guys might be better than job prospects for people who theorize about political ideologies or judicial processes.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Criminal Justice Program.
"Criminal justice teaches you how to enforce and work within the growing justice system," says Staton, highlighting another benefit to this degree.
Career Options**:

• Probation officer
• Police officer

High-Unemployment Degree #3: Information Systems
Unemployment Rate: 14.7%

Given the tech-driven world we live in, you may think any computer-related degree could help pave the way to a great career. Think again. Not all computer-related degrees are created equal - and if you choose to major in information systems, you could be limiting your future career options.
"Information systems is conceptual work around information management and computer systems in the corporate environment (which is moving to the cloud, so very few people will be employed in information systems like they are now)," says Staton. In other words, with more information being stored off-site, there will be less need for people employed on-site.
Barash also points to rapid changes in technology as one reason why this degree is not what it used to be. "People with degrees in information systems used to plan the computer programs and systems that other people built," she says Barash. "But everything moves more quickly now, and the whole tech world is much more entrepreneurial." Instead of one set of people planning programs and systems and another set building them, Barash says, the builders are becoming the designers as well, so they might have degrees in electrical engineering and/or computer science.

More Promising Alternative: Computer Science

Unemployment Rate: 8.7%
Compared to information systems, computer science has a much less frightening unemployment rate, and it could be a great alternative degree for anyone interested in computers.
If you want to design computer programs, impact the way humans and computers interact, or help pioneer artificial intelligence (all what the College Board says you could learn in this program), a degree in computer science will get you a lot further than a degree in information systems. Some of the courses typical for this major include digital system design, software engineering, and artificial intelligence.
How It Improves Your Odds: "Computer science teaches you how to write the code that makes the whole Internet work," says Staton. Demand for this degree is high, he continues, but there aren't enough qualified graduates to fill the open positions in the growing internet sector.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
Barash shares that sentiment: "Computer science is a great degree because you get actual experience writing computer code and building things," says Barash. "This is so important that we should be teaching more of it in high school."
And why is coding so important? According to Hadi Partovi, founder of Code.org, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to growing computer programming education, "Learning to code unlocks creative thinking and opens unparalleled career options. Coding is the new American Dream and should be available to everybody, not just the lucky few."
Career Options**:

• Network and computer systems administrator
• Software developer

High-Unemployment Degree #4: Architecture
Unemployment Rate: 12.8%

Do you dream of creating landmark buildings or custom homes to delight your clients? Think carefully before you sign up for that architecture degree - in the "Hard Times" study architecture has one of the highest unemployment rates among recent college graduates.
One of the main drawbacks of this degree is what it doesn't teach you. "Architects are planners, designers," says Barash. The trouble is that in today's market, she says, there's a demand for people who can design and build. "Often people with training in the build side gain the design skills later. It's much harder to do the reverse."

More Promising Alternative: Civil Engineering

Unemployment Rate: 7.6%
So what should you consider as an alternate degree that could help prepare you for the "build" aspect of the job? Why not look into civil engineering, which reports a much lower unemployment rate among grads?
Rather than focusing primarily on design, as a civil engineering major you might study crucial practical skills which according to the College Board might include structural analysis and design, strength of materials, and environmental awareness for engineers.
How It Improves Your Odds: Civil engineering majors learn to build projects in addition to designing them - a marketable skill that many architects lack coming out of school, says Barash.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Engineering Program.
And the practical skills you learn can help prepare you to pursue a career creating buildings - or even designing communities.
"Unlike an architect who designs and plans on a small scale (think one building), a civil engineer plans and implements on a much larger scale: town and city planning, roads and bridges, redevelopment, even green urban planning," Barash says.
Career Options**:

• Civil engineer
• Construction manager

* All unemployment rates included here are from the 2013 Georgetown "Hard Times" study and are associated with recent college graduates of each major. The report defines recent college graduates as bachelor's degree holders ages 22-26.

** All potential careers listed from the 2012-2013 U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook. The Department of Labor cites the associated degrees as common, required, preferred, or one of a number of degrees acceptable as preparation for the potential career. In some instances, candidates might require further schooling, professional certifications, or experience, before being qualified to pursue the career.

Next Article: Six Smart Degrees You Could Earn in Two Years »

Source( http://education.yahoo.net/articles/degrees_with_poor_job_prospects.htm?kid=1O16C)

The best shopping deals in August

By Victor Paul Alvarez | Yahoo! Shopping – Fri, Aug 2, 2013 6:58 PM EDT

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Your August days and nights may be obscured by hazy weather and back-to-school mania. However, our shopping guidelines are clear about what you should, and should not, buy this month.

Many of these deals are obvious – patio furniture and grills. But 3D HDTVs are also at an all-time low.“For example, this month grills and patio sets will see red-hot discounts, but it would be smart to avoid buying a new tablet,” says Dealnews.com.

Back-to-school basics
It seems retailers are starting back-to-school sales as early as possible these days, but August is the best month for discounts. Back-to-school means more than cheap notebooks and pencils. Keep an eye out for cheap dorm furniture from retailers like Walmart — which offered futons for $89 last year, as well as computer desks for $29 — and special sales on backpacks and computer cases for as little as $10. However, be warned: You get what you pay for. A cheap backpack might not make it through the first semester. A solid one, however, will be with you for life. For some of the best backpacks for all your tech gadgets, you can't go wrong with Kensington. Check out their Kensington Contour Overnight Backpack. In this writer's humble opinion it is the best of its kind. And if you need a solid and fun speaker/radio for the dorm, check out the iHome iBT4, or any product from iHome. Again, I've never had a problem with any of the iHome products I've tested.

Also, Deals2buy.com says major retailers like Target and Office Max will run sales on everything from supplies to shoes to backpacks, offering a great opportunity to save on school necessities or even new purchases for the home office.

AcerBack-to-School Laptop Deals

Classes start soon, so August is your last chance to score a laptop deal for school.“Look for deals on 15" Core i5 Ivy Bridge laptops with prices ranging from $299 (the all-time low we've seen) to $323, which was June's best laptop deal,” says Dealnews.15" AMD dual-core laptops have remained below $300 this summer, averaging $237. Quad-core 15" AMD systems have been hovering around the $375 price point for the same time period.

“If you're particularly tight on cash and can't wait until September to see if Intel prices plummet to $299 again, an AMD system can save you a few bucks — or in the case of the quad-core systems, provide more power than a dual Intel notebook of the same price.”

If you want all the bells and whistles, check out the Aspire S7 Ultrabook. If anything is going to convince an Apple user to abandon the MacBook Air, this is it. Acer's focus on the "Touch and Type Experience" shows in the repositioned keyboard and high-definition touchscreen.

Summer fashions fly off the racks

Look for aggressive clothing discounts this month as retailers prepare for autumn apparel.

“Apparel retailers like American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch slashed an extra 30% to 50% off sale items last year, and we anticipate seeing similar trends in 2013. That said, keep in mind that last year the best time to buy jeans was July through mid-August; after that, discounts from popular jeans brands dropped off. In the final days of July, we saw numerous Editors’ Choice deals trickle in that offered enormous stacking coupons, and we expect to see much of the same in August. Look for base sales that take 40% to 70% off.”

The same goes for swimwear. If you live in a part of the country where the beaches are open year-round, this is good news. Stellar swimwear deals tend to dry up after August.

“Now's a great time to look for sales that take up to 60% off or more from department stores and retailers like Victoria's Secret.”
Yahoo!Patio furniture
If you’ve been looking to spruce up your patio but were patient enough to wait for rock bottom prices, now is the time to strike. Well, not right now, but soon.

“If you truly want to pay the absolute least amount of money for a new set, wait until the end of the month. Retailers like Sears and Home Depot will be exceptionally eager to clear out any remaining stock at this time, and discounts can reach as high as a staggering 90% off come September.”

Deals2buy agrees that August is the time when retailers are making way for fall inventory, so look to score deals on warm weather furniture.

Hold off on the Kindle Fire/ Google Nexus 7

Amazon has debuted a Kindle Fire tablet in early September for the past two years. Consider waiting a few weeks for them to do it again.

“August is not a smart time to purchase the current Fire tablet; you'll soon be able to get a brand new model for roughly the same retail price, or, you'll find reseller deals on the previous generation. Either way, you'll get more for your money by waiting until Amazon's announcement.”

The same goes for one of Amazon's biggest rival in the inexpensive tablet market — the Google Nexus 7. They introduced the second-generation Nexus 7 recently for $229, slightly more than the previous generation's price point of $199.

“All eyes will then be on Amazon to see if the store does the same. If the new Fire is cheaper, and the slightly pricier Nexus tablet doesn't sell like Google hopes, then we might see special promotions for the Nexus 7 that bundle the tablet with a media credit for music, videos, or books.”
Yahoo!Grills, of course

As with patio furniture, your patience will be rewarded if you’ve held off on a new grill purchase.

“Last year, we listed grill deals that slashed as much as $200 off entry and mid-tier models. Yet, this past July we saw no sales that came close. It follows then, that retailers will begin taking more widespread cuts this month. Look to vendors like Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Sears for the best deals.”



55" 3D HDTVs Hit Rock Bottom

Every month I tell you that HDTVs are a good buy. It’s true. They just keep getting cheaper. July saw once prohibitively expensive 55" 3D TV hit an unprecedented low of $549. That’s 23% cheaper than any deal this entire year.

“Chances are slim we'll see a repeat of that specific deal in August, but regardless, it's still a great time to jump on the 3D bandwagon. Look for 55" 3D TV deals in the $549 to $659 price range, the latter being the average price we've seen this summer.”

Source(http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/the-best-shopping-deals-in-august-225823723.html)

A Little-Known Way to Cut Your Mortgage Payment

By Scott Sheldon | Credit.com – Tue, Jul 30, 2013 6:43 PM EDT

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For consumers purchasing or refinancing a home with less than 20% equity or 20% down, there's a little-known fee that will apply to the total mortgage payment, effectively inflating the monthly outlay.Mortgage insurance is paid by the homeowner to insure the lender against future mortgage payment default. Mortgage insurance, also dubbed as PMI (an acronym for private mortgage insurance), can easily be several hundred dollars per month depending on the loan program. This added premium makes the cost of homeownership more expensive. However, there is a way to cut your mortgage payment using single-pay mortgage insurance.
Quick Facts About Mortgage Insurance
First, keep in mind that "loan to value" (LTV) is the amount of money being lent against the value of the house. It's computed by taking the loan amount, divided by home value. It's a critical factor in home lending.
When refinancing:

• Mortgage insurance must be removed by the lender by law at 75% loan to value/25% home-equity.
• Mortgage insurance may be removed by the lender at 80% loan to value/20% home-equity (subject to individual mortgage company discretion).
• A loan can be refinanced anytime if the lender denies the consumer's request to remove the mortgage insurance.

When buying a home:

• Mortgage insurance will be required with less than 20% down, every time.
• The average monthly mortgage insurance is based on 70 basis points of the loan amount. For example, on a $200,000 loan, that's $1,400 per year, $116.17 per month respectively
• More money down creates lower loan to value, lowering amount of basis points for determining my calculation, thus reducing mortgage insurance payment

[Click to shop around and compare rates from multiple lenders now.]
What Is Single-Pay Mortgage Insurance Anyway?
It is, in short, an added fee, but with a favorable upside.
Most people hate the idea of paying an extra monthly fee without any direct benefit to them. Consumers don't directly receive a benefit from paying mortgage insurance (despite tax deductibility in some cases), other than the ability to secure lower equity financing.

Single-pay mortgage insurance allows a consumer to pay upfront a portion of the future mortgage insurance premiums at a discount at the close of escrow rather than financing these monies into their house payment. This improves the ability to qualify by means of a lower debt-to-income ratio, a lower monthly mortgage payment, and a lower cost loan.

Let's say a consumer is looking at a loan for $300,000, using 70 basis points of the loan amount to estimate monthly mortgage insurance, $175 per month or $2,100 annually. $2,100 a year for five years adds up fast… $10,500 to be exact!
The single-pay choice (using an average 1.75% of the loan amount) would translate in this case to $5,250 that's paid one time at closing. In other words, in exchange for more upfront overhead, the house payment is reduced by $175 per month. A consumer would recuperate these monies within just a little more than two years.
Single-Pay Mortgage Insurance Pros & Cons
Pros:

• Lower cost of funds
• Reduced mortgage payment
• Expedient recuperation of savings
• Increases borrowing power

Cons:

• Higher upfront overhead required. An average of approximately 1.75% of the loan amount would be paid at closing.
• The loan would have to be kept for at least the amount of time necessary to recuperate paying upfront overhead, paying off the loan earlier negates the benefit.
• The option isn't offered by all mortgage companies, so ask your lender upfront if they offer single pay mortgage insurance as an option to keeping your new payment lower.

Consumer Tip: Further requirements include a middle credit score of least 700 or higher, primary home or secondary home financing only, a max 45% debt to income ratio and an approval from the lender.
Single-pay mortgage insurance offers consumers any easier more flexible way to secure financing and keep the long-term mortgage payment more manageable against a household budget. If folks have the equity or cash available, single-pay mortgage insurance makes securing higher loan-to-value financing more manageable as a PMI payment would never be required.

More from Credit.com

• The First Thing to Do Before Buying a Home
• How Can I Get a Mortgage After Credit Problems?
• The Biggest Mortgage Mistake You Can Make

Source(http://homes.yahoo.com/news/little-known-way-cut-mortgage-110030570.html)

Six Careers Undergoing Rapid Growth

If you want to transition into a hot career field, check out these fast-growing jobs.

By Andrea Duchon

Getting ready to switch careers? It's probably a good idea to look before you leap. By that we mean you might want to check out whether your desired field is booming or shrinking before you decide to invest any time or money preparing for it.
A quick glance at the U.S. Department of Labor job projections from 2010 to 2020 will tell you just which careers are experiencing a growth spurt and why. But to make your life easier, we've pulled together a list of six top careers that are projected to expand by at least 30 percent and add at least 65,000 jobs by 2020.
So keep reading to learn about six fast-growing careers that will be in demand tomorrow and beyond.

Career #1: Medical Assistant

If you think you might enjoy helping other people directly and you want a field that's growing quickly from 2010 through 2020, a career as a medical assistant could fit the bill.

Projected Growth 2010-2020: 31 percent, or 162,900 new jobs*

Medical assistants record patient history, measure vital signs, give injections, and schedule patient appointments, says the U.S. Department of Labor. Along with the clinical aspect of the job, medical assistants will sometimes complete administrative tasks around the office.
Why It's Hot: There is increasing focus on preventative care and doctors are under pressure to see more patients, says Joe Weinlick, vice president of marketing at Beyond.com, a career network focused on helping people grow and succeed professionally. "As a result, doctors are hiring more medical assistants so they can continue to provide good service with an increased workload."
And why is there such demand from patients?
"Many people - especially of the baby boomer age - are heading to the doctor more and more due to declining health," explains Weinlick. "Younger patients are better educated about their health and recognize the need for preventative care more than ever before, so they're also scheduling more appointments with physicians."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Medical Assisting Program.
Education Requirements: In most states there are no formal education requirements for pursuing a career as a medical assistant, and many assistants learn through on-the-job training, says the Department of Labor. However, some medical assistants may pursue a formal education program and employers may prefer these candidates. Such programs could take about one year and lead to a certificate or diploma. Community colleges might offer two-year programs that result in an associate's degree.

Career #2: Market Research Analyst

Have you always had a knack for predicting trends and understanding what people want? You may want to take a look at the in-demand field of market research analysis.

Projected Growth 2010-2020: 41 percent, or 116,600 new jobs

As a market research analyst, you could help companies monitor and forecast marketing sales and trends, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. You might work in local, regional, or national areas to examine potential sales, measure the effectiveness of marketing programs, or present reports to clients and management.
Why It's Hot: "Companies have more information than they've ever had, and people who are able to understand and interpret data are in short supply," notes Weinlick. "Market research analysts can help transform an abundance of data into competitive advantage."
He adds that the ability to unearth simple insights from complex data sources is also in high demand, which is why we're seeing this industry skyrocket.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Business Administration Program.
Education Requirements: In order to pursue this career, the Department of Labor says you'll typically need a bachelor's degree in market research or a related field. However, many have a degree in computer science, math, or statistics. "Others have a background in business administration, communications, or one of the social sciences," says the Department, while top research analyst positions often require a master's degree.

Career #3: Cost Estimator

Maybe you've always been good at figuring out budgets and unraveling problems. The in-demand field of cost estimation could be the perfect fit for your analytical mind.

Projected Growth 2010-2020: 36 percent, or 67,500 new jobs*

Cost estimators often work in offices and visit construction sites or factory floors and estimate how much money, resources, and labor are required to complete a project or manufacture a product, reports the U.S. Department of Labor. More specifically, cost estimators may be tasked with consulting with industry experts, traveling to job sites to gather information, and reading blueprints and technical documents.
Why It's Hot: "Doing more with less is the new normal," says Weinlick. "While the economy is recovering, there is scrutiny across all sectors on cost, creating demand for estimators who can help understand and reduce expenses."
But it's not just that employers are trying to cut back on costs, says Weinlick, building in general is back on the rise, creating an increased demand for talented cost estimators. "We are entering a rebuilding era, with a need for new commercial building construction as well as continued investment in infrastructure."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Cost Estimator Program.
Education Requirements: The Department of Labor says that generally a bachelor's degree in a field like construction management or building science is required to pursue a career as a construction cost estimator. For those who prefer estimating manufacturing cost, a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, or statistics is typically needed.
The Department also says that some employers prefer candidates with backgrounds in business-related disciplines, such as accounting, finance, business, or economics. And finally, "Some highly experienced construction workers with analytical abilities may also qualify without a bachelor's degree," notes the Department.

Career #4: Dental Hygienist

The medical field is growing at a red-hot pace, so it makes sense that a career as a dental hygienist is one of the top in-demand careers.

Projected Growth 2010-2020: 38 percent, or 68,500 new jobs*

As a dental hygienist you might work directly with patients in a dentist's office by cleaning their teeth, examining for disease, or educating them on improving their oral health, says the U.S. Department of Labor.
Why It's Hot: "Twenty years ago, people avoided going to the doctor or dentist," says Weinlick. But times have changed. "Because we know more about maintaining our health, we're also becoming obsessed with staying healthy, and that includes our oral health. More people are going to the dentist more often, and that's spurring demand for dental hygienists."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Dental Hygiene Program.
Education Requirements: The Department of Labor reports that in addition to being required to have a license, you typically need an associate's degree in dental hygiene to pursue a career as a dental hygienist.

Career #5: Software Developer

Do you enjoy working with computers and dreaming up interesting programs? The absolutely booming field of software development could be calling your name.

Projected Growth 2010-2020: 30 percent, or 270,900 new jobs*

The U.S. Department of Labor says "software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs." Based on users' needs, they design, test, and develop software, then ensure everything works together to function normally. The Department of Labor also notes that software developers are in charge of the entire creation process for a program.
Why It's Hot: "Employers need software developers because there is a large increase in the demand for computer software and new applications for mobile technology as people are shifting to handheld devices and smartphones," notes Weinlick. "The demand for software developers stayed strong throughout the recent downturn, and continues to grow as we shift to a technology driven society."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
Education Requirements: According to the Department, "software developers usually have a bachelor's degree, typically in computer science, software engineering, or a related field." And while math degrees are also acceptable, computer science degrees are the most common.

Career #6: Personal Financial Advisor

If managing money is one of your strong suits, you may want to consider getting into the growing field of financial advising.

Projected Growth 2010-2020: 32 percent, or 66,400 new jobs*

Personal financial advisors help people with taxes, investments, and insurance decisions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. They may typically meet with and educate their clients on investment options and risks, and monitor their client's accounts to determine if changes need to be made. The Department of Labor says they may also research investment opportunities.
Why It's Hot: "With the unpredictability of the economy over the past few years, demand for financial advisors will grow as more people turn to them for guidance," notes Weinlick. "This is especially true of baby boomers, who are nearing retirement age and may be uncertain about what they need to do financially as they transition to a new phase in their lives."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Finance Program.
Education Requirements: The Department reports that "personal financial advisors typically need a bachelor's degree." They also note that while a specific field of study isn't required, getting a degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, or law is a good way to prepare for this career.

* Projected 2010-2020 job growth and openings from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 edition.

Next Article: Degrees You Can Earn on Your Lunch Break»

Source(http://education.yahoo.net/articles/six_jobs_on_the_rise.htm?kid=1O16B)

The Return of the 10 Percent Down Payment

By Brendon DeSimone | Zillow – Mon, Jun 17, 2013 6:16 PM EDT

Remember the 10 percent down payment on a house? After virtually disappearing for years, it's back.

Around the country, some lenders are offering 90 percent financing again on all loan types. For example, San Francisco-based RPM Mortgage resumed offering "piggyback" loans in the first quarter of 2013 after discontinuing them during the height of the credit crisis in late 2007, according to Vice President Julian Hebron. (A piggyback loan enables a home buyer to put only 10 percent down without having to buy mortgage insurance. This is done by getting two loans totaling 90 percent.)

In Monroe, NY, Rosalie Cook of Weichert Realtors says she is seeing buyer down payments range from all cash to as little as 5 percent. Mortgage lender Tom Gildea of Prospect Lending in Rockland County, NY agrees, saying that he's doing loans with as little as 5 percent down "all day long." Those 5 percent down deals are with private mortgage insurance, are only for conforming loans (less than $417,000) and are reserved for borrowers with excellent credit, verifiable income and little debt.

[Click to compare mortgage interest rates from multiple lenders now.]

Mortgages used to be easy

Before the credit crisis of the mid-2000s, getting a home loan was simple. Your down payment was small — if you even had to make one. To qualify, all you had to do was "state" your income and sign on the dotted line.

Of course, that was the kind of lending that got us into the credit crisis. After the bust, many lenders started requiring a minimum of 20 percent down. Coming up with that much money was a stumbling block for many would-be home buyers. In addition, buyers were already worried about the economy or were uncertain about their jobs, making buying a home not only difficult but also downright scary.
The result: Even though home prices had plummeted and mortgage rates were at historic lows, many potential buyers were forced to sit on the sidelines for years.

Today, many real estate markets around the country are heating up again. While the economic recovery still has its fits and starts, people are feeling confident about their jobs. They're watching their 401(k) and stock portfolios climb back to pre-2008 levels. And so, they're out looking for homes to buy again.

Lenders have loosened up but are still cautious

Mortgage lenders are seeing these trends, too, which is why they're starting to ease down payment restrictions. This time around, though, lenders are much more discerning about who gets to put 10 percent down. As RPM Mortgage's Hebron puts it: To qualify, your monthly housing, car, student loan, and credit card debt can't be higher than 45 percent of your monthly income. And you must have a credit score above 700.

The good news is that more potential buyers who otherwise would have been shut out of the market, due to the lack of a 20 percent down payment, can now jump in.

Leveraging cheap money

Even if you have the 20 percent to put down, you might consider opting for a 10 percent down payment instead. For instance, if you're buying a home that needs a lot of work, you could put 10 percent down and use the other 10 percent to finance improvements. You might even consider investing that 10 percent in stocks or mutual funds, though that comes with obvious risks.
A 10 percent down payment has its disadvantages, too. If you put just 10 percent down and home prices decline later, you could end up underwater — owing more on the mortgage than your home is worth. When that happens, you could be stuck in your home, unable to sell — just as so many homeowners were after the housing crisis kicked in around 2006-2007.
Also, if you have little equity and you go to sell, you could face another problem. The size of your loan, along with the costs of selling your property, could total more than the sale price, a financial hit that can be tough to absorb.

If you qualify for a 10 percent down payment, and it's the only way you can get into a home, it may be worth the potential risks. Bottom line: Talk to your mortgage professional and real estate agent about your options. Think strategically and long-term about what you're doing. Don't just make a 10 percent down payment because you can.

Related:

• Is an FHA Loan Right for You?
• 10 Mortgage Misconceptions Explained
• Mortgage Financing: Loan Products 101

Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor and one of the nation's leading real estate experts. He has collaborated on multiple real estate books and his expert advice is regularly sought out by print, online and television media outlets including FOX News, CNBC, Good Morning America and Forbes. An avid investor himself, Brendon owns real estate around the US and abroad and is licensed to sell in California and New York. You can find Brendon on Facebook or follow him on Twitter or Google Plus.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Source(http://homes.yahoo.com/news/return-10-percent-down-payment-221600223.html)