It's our mission to show you how to use your money wisely to enrich your life, and that includes making dream vacations come true. So we went to Venice, Italy, to show you how you can see this city for as little as possible. We've got 10 priceless tips to make your fantasy trip a reality.

WalletPop Wire

World Cup background: All about the vuvuzela

Tom Barlow Jul 10th 2010 @ 2:00PM EST Filed Under: Extracurriculars

New to soccer, but planning to watch the World Cup? Then you need to know that the buzzing you hear is (probably) not in your head; it's the product of thousands of fans blowing plastic horns, called vuvuzelas. Some people find them maddening, others think it adds to the excitement of the game.

Our friends at Mint.com did what must be the most comprehensive story on the vuvuzela ever. We're pleased to present it here. If you want to see it in a larger format, just click here.

Budget Plannerfrom Mint.com

FTC refunds hopeful inventors caught by promotion scam

Jorgen Wouters Jul 10th 2010 @ 9:00AM EST Filed Under: Consumer Ally

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing more than 17,000 checks to amateur inventors swindled by an official-sounding group of promoters that promised to evaluate their ideas and help them strike it rich.

At FTC's request, in 2007 a federal court found Julian Gumpel, Darrell Mormando, Michael Fleisher, Greg Wilson, and the Patent & Trademark Institute in contempt for violating a 1998 court order prohibiting false claims for invention promotion services and ordered them to pay $60 million.

The Patent & Trademark Institute, which a judge called "one grand con game to take money away from consumers," was created after a first incarnation ran afoul of the law in 1998. For a fee of $895 to $1,295, PTI promised to evaluate the marketability and patentability of inventors' ideas, but its evaluations were almost always positive and meaningless, the FTC said.

For an additional $5,000 to $45,000, PTI's clients were also offered legal protection and assistance to secure commercial licenses for their inventions. Although PTI promised clients it would help them earn substantial royalties, no inventions were licensed and no royalties were paid.

"By changing the name of their company, these individuals thought they could continue to make false promises and take inventors' money, but they didn't get away with it," said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a 2007 statement. "This scam should also remind inventors to question the assurances of promotion firms. No one can guarantee an invention's commercial success."

Consumers who paid to have their ideas evaluated will receive $24.83; those who also paid for other services will receive $323.29. Consumers who receive checks should cash them on or before August 31, 2010. Consumers with questions should call the administrator at 1-877-678-0735.

Walmart plays around with pricing

Laura Heller Jul 9th 2010 @ 5:30PM EST Filed Under: Saving Money, Shopping

Walmart's pricing on soda has been making news lately largely because anything to do with Walmart and pricing makes news. When the largest retailer in the world slashes prices on a household staple, or starts to raise them, then pretty much everyone listens.

Prices of soft drinks have been hovering around $5 for a 24-can pack at Walmart since Memorial Day, when the retailer started getting aggressive with pricing in the category, including Coca Cola and Pepsi products. But according to reports, Walmart has begun raising prices to $6 for the same size soda pack in some markets. Could this be a trend or is it much ado about nothing?

Continue reading Walmart plays around with pricing

Chrysler, Ford recall SUVs, Jeeps, trucks and vans over safety concerns

Linda Doell Jul 9th 2010 @ 5:00PM EST Filed Under: Consumer Ally, In the News

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced recalls of four models of Chrysler sport utility vehicles and trucks, and of Ford Motor Co. Transit Connect vans.

The Chrysler recall is for a faulty brake tube that could lead to loss of brake fluid and reduced braking, the agency says. The 2010 year models affected are the left-hand drive Jeep Liberty, and the right- and left-hand drive Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Nitro SUV and Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck --22,118 vehicles in total.

Chrysler's recall is expected to start in August. Consumers may call the automaker at 800-853-7403. Dealerships will replace the brake tubes free.

Ford is recalling 33,728 Transit Connect vans made between Dec. 5, 2008 and May 31 to replace a pushpin that holds the roof liner above the driver's head. Testing found motorists could face increased risk of injury in a crash and government testers failed the vans for not meeting safety requirements for "occupant protection in interior impact."

Ford will notify owners starting July 19 and dealers will repair vans for free. Consumers may call Ford at 866-436-7332; the federal vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236; or visit www.safercar.gov.

Neither company has received reports of accidents or injuries in connection with these problems, the International Business Times is reporting.

Just last week Toyota announced a potential recall of some of its Lexus sedan models over faulty valve springs.

Searching for World Cup info? Beware scam results spreading 'scareware'

Jorgen Wouters Jul 9th 2010 @ 5:00PM EST Filed Under: Technology, Consumer Ally

As the 2010 World Cup reaches its climax this weekend, hundreds of millions of football fans are busy scouring the Web for news on the globe's biggest sporting event -- and cyber-criminals are waiting for them to make one wrong click.

Security experts had been predicting a bonanza for online scammers in the months leading up to the tournament, and they haven't been disappointed.

PandaLabs, the anti-malware laboratory of Panda Security, is warning consumers of search engine manipulation tactics that redirect users surfing for World Cup news and videos toward sites promoting fake anti-virus software. This malicious software, more commonly known as Scareware, fools users into believing their computers have been infected by a virus and tricks them into purchasing useless software to fix the non-existent problem -- often infecting the machine with malware in the process.

Continue reading Searching for World Cup info? Beware scam results spreading 'scareware'

Fish tacos create a new wave in restaurant industry

Ron Dicker Jul 9th 2010 @ 4:00PM EST Filed Under: Food, In the News

We're hooked on fish tacos -- and it's about time. Native North Americans were wrapping their catch in stone-ground corn tortillas centuries ago, but only now is mass culture gobbling up fish tacos at a rate that is making them one of the restaurant industry's top trends.

Taco Bell, the Mexican fast food stalwart for decades, recently announced it will offer them in stores nationwide next year. But it is behind the curve, according to a story in USA Today. Fish tacos rank 20th among the 200 items sold at the Cheesecake Factory chain. Off-the-charts testing compelled California Pizza Kitchen to include them on the menu. Many other franchises that had little to do with traditional Mexican food are biting as well.

Continue reading Fish tacos create a new wave in restaurant industry

Wendy's upgrading salads, but it will cost you

Sarah Gilbert Jul 9th 2010 @ 3:45PM EST Filed Under: Food, Health, In the News

Wendy's new line of salads is reminiscent of something you'd find in a far more upscale restaurant: lolla rossa lettuce, red and green romaine, spinach, and chard. But all that fancy green is going to cost you, well, some fancy green.

Denny Lynch, a Wendy's spokesman, says these greens and other vegetables, nuts, fruits, cheeses and meats are " ... ingredients salad lovers want to see in their salads," and proudly states, "we felt that if we could raise the bar on salads, we might attract customers that [would otherwise] go into the restaurant cafes and casual dining sector, as well as providing something that our existing customers like, too."

The prices, up about 25% from the chain's existing Garden Sensations line, $5.99 for a salad, wouldn't be out of place in an upscale restaurant, either.

Continue reading Wendy's upgrading salads, but it will cost you

Mission Tuition: using a military stint to make money for college

Abigail Wise Jul 9th 2010 @ 3:00PM EST Filed Under: Money College, Career, School

Anthony Exsted joined the Marine Corps to get a higher education. "I didn't have the discipline to stick with college [right out of high school]," Exsted says. "I figured I'd do that rather than rush into school and drop out my freshman year."

Exsted decided to wait until he returned from his deployment in Djibouti to enroll in classes. He spent a year studying in North Dakota before transferring to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. The Marine Corps pays for up to 60% of his tuition, room, board and books. "I took the safest route and waited until I was done with all of my training so I could just go to school and put all of my time and energy into it," he says.

Prospective students scrambling to come up with tuition funds often sign a contract with the military to help pay their freight. The military grants members an opportunity to serve their country and a chance at a higher education, but it comes with drawbacks.

Continue reading Mission Tuition: using a military stint to make money for college

AAA TripTik app doesn't compare to old fashioned paper TripTiks

Josh Smith Jul 9th 2010 @ 2:00PM EST Filed Under: Technology, Travel

The AAA TripTik. Nothing quite brings back the memories of a summer road trip like the neatly bound ream of paper from the local AAA office that highlighted the quickest route and important information along the road to a family vacation. AAA still offers these hardcopy TripTiks to members at the local office. But now, even non members can get some of the benefits of the AAA TripTik thanks to the AAA TripTik Mobile app for the iPhone -- but not the most important ones

The free TripTik App works on the iPhone as well as the iPod Touch and the iPad, though the latter two will need to be connected to the Internet for the entire trip to be useful. With the TripTik app you will be able to plan a trip, get directions and find points of interest near your location.

You can choose to display hotels, restaurants, points of interest, gas stations auto shops and campgrounds that are near your current location or along your route. Clicking on one of the locations will provide you with the AAA rating, cost summary and if applicable the AAA Investigator's notes which are all handy when looking for a meal or a place to stay.

Continue reading AAA TripTik app doesn't compare to old fashioned paper TripTiks