I came across this story reading CNN this morning:

Flat-planels rule, old boob tube all but dead

REDWOOD CITY, California (AP) -- The lone conventional television set at Anderson's TV store sat along a side wall like a castoff. Its screen was dark as dozens of other gleaming flat-panel and big-screen models flashed nearby with vivid color images.

The staff at the Redwood City store hadn't even bothered to turn on the cathode-ray tube TV until a reporter asked to see it on a recent afternoon. ..Read More

Considering the cost of flat panel TVs, that's a bit of a scary thought.  I am sure the prices will come down, but it sure is nice being able to buy a good TV for $200 to $300.  With flat panels, you are looking at $700 to $900 for low-end, resonably sized TVs.   Hopefully the CRTs stick around for a while to provide a cheaper alternative because I have my doubts that the flat panels will be any more durable, possibly less.

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Here's an article on CNN Money that is worth reading:

CNN Money: "Mortgage fraud is one of the fastest growing white collar crimes, according to the FBI, with reports more than quadrupling since 2001.

Mortgage fraud refers to a whole host of scams, but the bottom line is that most cases involve inflating the value of a property for more than its worth, with the scammer pocketing the difference.

In today's tips we'll tell you how you can avoid these schemes."

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Here's a completely bizarre story.  He couldn't find a job to get him to his social security age so he breaks the law to get jail time for a couple years.  Pretty depressing story...

From CNN:

"A man who couldn't find steady work came up with a plan to make it through the next few years until he could collect Social Security: He robbed a bank, then handed the money to a guard and waited for police.

On Wednesday, Timothy J. Bowers told a judge a three-year prison sentence would suit him, and the judge obliged.

"At my age, the jobs available to me are minimum-wage jobs. There is age discrimination out there," Bowers, who turns 63 in a few weeks, told Judge Angela White.

The judge told him: "It's unfortunate you feel this is the only way to deal with the situation."

Bowers said he had been able to find only odd jobs after the drug wholesaler he made deliveries for closed in 2003. He walked to a bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash in an envelope. The teller gave him four $20 bills and pushed a silent alarm.

Bowers handed the money to a security guard standing in the lobby and told him it was his day to be a hero.

He pleaded guilty to robbery, and a court-ordered psychological exam found him competent."

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Bank of America has extended their Keep The Change saving program to my neck of the wood (Washington Stat) so I have signed up for it. I will let you know how it goes. 

"Spend with your check card. Add to your savings. Only at Bank of America.

Every time you buy something with a Bank of America Visa® Check Card, we'll round up your purchase to the nearest dollar amount and transfer the difference from your checking to your savings account¹ free of charge. Because every bag of groceries, every coffee and every tank of gas adds up to more savings for you.

We'll even match your savings.

For the first three months, we'll match your Keep the Change™ savings at 100%. That means for every Keep the Change transfer, we'll contribute the same amount to your Bank of America savings account. And when the three months are over, to make it even easier to save, we'll continue matching 5% a year, every year."

I set up a page for people to post reviews about the Keep The Change program on ThriftyFun.  If you have used it, post your review at the link below.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43658047.tip.html

Images:

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Stella posted a great craft on ThriftyFun that should delight trick-or-treaters.  Just pick up a big bundle of pipe cleaners or chenel sticks at your local craft store and hand out these easy to make spiders. 

Here's the link to the directions!
Tootsie Pop Spiders!

Images:

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While I am still working on losing weight, now at 193.  I am changing the focus of this blog a bit.  I'll still share my Frugal Weight loss experiences but will also post tips, new stories and anything else I come accross that I think might save people money.

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