The recession and weak recovery have been difficult for all Americans, but a new government report suggests that older people may be particularly vulnerable to the downturn’s worrisome effects on long-term economic security.

That’s partly because Americans 55 and older have less time to catch up on retirement savings and recover from housing market losses before they stop working, the Government Accountability Office report found.

In addition, although older workers haven’t been as hard-hit by unemployment, government data show that when they do lose a job, they have a much tougher time finding a new one.

For many older Americans, the most immediate effect of the economic downturn has been the hit to their nest egg. The report noted that many older Americans simply don’t have time to wait for the stock market to recover and home values to start rising again.

That means they may have to delay retirement or resign themselves to living on much less in their golden years.

Meanwhile they have to grapple with how to pay for rising health care costs and may have to make difficult choices between covering medical costs and other expenses.

The report also noted that it has been extremely difficult for older workers who lose jobs to find new ones.

The unemployment rate for Americans 55 and over was 6.7 percent in September, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s far lower than the overall unemployment rate of 9.1 percent.

But for workers 55 to 64 years old, the median duration of unemployment is 43 weeks. That compares to an overall median duration of 22 weeks, according to the most recent BLS data.

The report found that in some ways, Americans ages 55 to 64 were hit worse than those who are 65 and older. Household income for 55- to 64-year-olds fell 6 percent from 2007 to 2010, the report found, and poverty rates increased.

For adults 65 and older household income rose 5 percent and the poverty rate declined.

The report also shows that Social Security is a lifeline and safety net for many older Americans. Testimony associated with the GAO report noted that Social Security provides a little more than one-third of aggregate income for households that include someone 65 or older. Not surprisingly, low- and middle-income households are likely to lean much more heavily on Social Security to cover expenses.

Related:

Out of work options, into retirement

Older workers face long, frustrating job search

If you’re lucky enough to land a white-collar job next year, you also may get a slightly better salary offer than folks who were hired this year.

Starting salaries for white-collar workers are expected to rise by 3.4 percent on average in 2012, according to staffing firm Robert Half International.

That's a bigger boost than in the past couple years, according to Robert Half. The company estimates that salaries for white collar workers rose 2.8 percent in 2011 and actually declined by 0.4 percent in 2010. (The 2010 figure excluded advertising and marketing positions.)

In 2009, salaries also rose by 3.4 percent.

The company’s estimates for annual starting salary boosts are based on the thousands of job negotiations it handles each year, combined with other research. The company only looks at starting salaries for its salary guide because other factors such as seniority and job performance can affect pay down the line.

If you’re in the technology field, the staffing firm says high demand will likely translate into starting salary offers in 2012 that are about 4.5 percent above what was offered this year. Robert Half said more than half of chief information officers it surveyed have found it challenging to find skilled technology professionals.

On the other hand, legal professionals may not be quite as lucky. Starting salaries in that field are only expected to be boosted by 1.9 percent. The legal profession was among those hard-hit during the recession and weak recovery.

Of course, many potential employees may not feel like they have a lot of leverage when it comes to negotiating salaries, because competition for jobs is so fierce. The overall unemployment rate is still hovering around 9 percent, with about 14 million people actively looking for work.

For college graduates, the unemployment rate is much lower, at around 4.2 percent. Still, that’s double what it was before the recession began in December of 2007.

Related:

Unemployment crisis hits white-collar workers hard as well

How to psych out your employer in salary negotiations

Hi Life Inc. readers,

For the past few months, we’ve been experimenting with comment threads that are hosted on Facebook. Although many readers liked that system, some readers wanted to be able to share their thoughts without using Facebook.

We’re pleased to announce that beginning Tuesday, readers will also be able to post comments to Life Inc. using a Newsvine account.

If you like commenting with Facebook, that’s great, too — you’ll still be able to log in with your Facebook account and post your comments to your wall. And of course, you can also find us on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Getty Images file

Beans can be a good source of protein, especially with rice.

The news last week that the price of peanut butter is going up left many readers fretting about their options for cheap, protein-rich food, especially at a time when many of us are pinching our pennies.

It’s not just peanut butter that’s getting pricier. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects food prices to rise by 3 to 4 percent this year, after rising by less than 1 percent between 2009 and 2010.

Meat — a favorite protein choice in many households — is already be one of the higher-cost grocery items, and it’s been getting even more expensive.

Beef prices rose by more than 10 percent between this August and the year earlier, according to government data. Pork prices are up by 7.5 percent over the same period. Poultry prices have not risen as much.

We asked Amy Yaroch, executive director of the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition in Omaha, Neb., to give us some options for healthy, protein-rich foods that aren’t too pricey.

Here are some examples:

Beans and rice:There’s a reason these two foods appear together in many traditional meals. Yaroch said that beans themselves are a good source of protein, but they work especially well when paired with rice for a complete protein.

You don’t have to eat them exactly at the same time, but Yaroch said eating both low-cost foods within a couple hours of each other is a great way to boost protein levels at low cost.

“It’s really important to eat rice and beans,” she said.

Eggs: Yaroch noted that eggs have gotten a bad rap in recent years among people who watch their cholesterol. But scrambled eggs, omelets and other egg-based foods can offer a filling, high-protein meal that doesn’t break the bank.

“If you don’t have high cholesterol, eggs are a really low-cost way to get good, high-quality protein,” Yaroch said.

Health-conscious eaters can just use the egg whites, she said.

The price of eggs is up by nearly 15 percent, according to government data, but they still remain a much cheaper option than meat.

Dairy: Yaroch notes that many people forget that dairy is a good source of protein. A glass of milk, a serving of yogurt or cottage cheese or a helping of plain old cheese are all good options for adding affordable protein.

Quinoa: OK, so this one may not regularly appear on most people’s shopping list. But Yaroch said quinoa is actually a great source of protein and has other nutritional value.

Soy: Yaroch concedes that many people may think of tofu as a flavorless, and it can be if you don’t know how to cook it right. But when cooked well, tofu can be a tasty addition to smoothies, stir-fry meals and other foods.

Meat: Yep, you can still put meat on your grocery list if you’re pinching pennies, but just don’t buy as much. Yaroch notes that many families would be healthier if they served smaller portions of meat and instead filled the rest of the plate with veggies. Another option is to mix meat with cheaper protein, such as beans or tofu.

You can still have a great meal (with) a smaller piece of chicken or meat,” she said.

What are your tips for lower-cost, protein-rich meals? Share them below.

Martin Barraud / Getty Images/OJO Images

By Eve Tahmincioglu

Women, it seems, still can’t get a leadership break.

For years now, the number of women in positions of power in corporate America has been stagnant, with gals unable to break 20 percent of the executive officer positions or corporate board seats.

If you read the career advice out there you’d think it’s all the fault of women themselves and not the entrenched gender bias in the workplace.

The thinking is that women don’t want it enough. They’re not doing the right things to get to the top. They’re slowing down their career to raise families.

Turns out, this may be nothing more than corporate mythology.

A study by research firm Catalyst has found that women with MBAs who are considered high potential are using all the right career strategies to get ahead, but the pay and promotion gap still exists. Conventional wisdom that says women are failing to negotiate  for themselves, opting out, or putting the skids on careers for family are all bunk, according to the findings.

“It’s really time for organizations to stop assuming that these myths are true and look at what’s going on in terms of their talent management systems,” said Christine Silva, senior director of research for Catalyst.

The report -- which studied more than 3,000 male and female MBAs who stayed on a “traditional” career path and were working full time -- broke down the participants into four strategy profiles:

• “Climbers,” who are actively seeking to advance in a company.
• “Hedgers,” who are looking for advancement inside and outside their existing employers.
• “Scanners,” who are looking for future prospects in the job market.
• “Coasters,” who are not actively using career-enhancing tactics.

It found that male hedgers got the biggest advancement rewards for their efforts -- twice as much as female hedgers.

Compared to other men, male hedgers had advanced furthest, getting more of a payoff for employing both internally and externally focused advancement strategies, followed by male climbers, coasters and scanners.

For women it was a different story.

Not only did they lag male hedgers in advancement, there was no difference among female hedgers, climbers or scanners. While women in the hedgers group did advance further than coasters -- women doing comparatively less to get ahead -- being proactive didn’t provide as great an advantage for women hedgers as it did for male hedgers.

Here’s an overview of the four realities women face when it comes to advancement, according to the study:

1. Doing All the Right Things Does Not Level the Playing Field for Women
Among much of career advancement advice out there, the employee who is seen as having the most potential to advance into the leadership ranks typically has certain characteristics, according to Catalyst researchers, including everything from actively seeking high-profile assignments to learning the political landscape or unwritten rules of an company.

Unfortunately, such traits don’t help women as much as men.

The study found that:

“Men benefited more than women when they adopted the proactive strategies of the proverbial ideal worker. Even when women used the same career advancement strategies -- doing all the things they have been told will help them get ahead -- they advanced less than their male counterparts and had slower pay growth.”

While career strategies didn’t benefit women as much as men, the tactics that were among the most effective career strategies for women overall, said Silva, were:

• Making their achievements known.
• Getting access to powerful and influential others.

2. Women Are Not Seeking Slower Tracks

The researchers looked at women and men who aspired to get to the top of organizations and found there was no evidence women were seeking slower tracks than men. They found overall that women were less satisfied with their career trajectory and compensation, and that these women were not intentionally slowing down their careers but wanting more.

The study found:

• Even among the most and least proactive, men were more satisfied with their advancement than were women.
• Women were also less satisfied than men with their salary and rate of compensation growth. This holds when comparing women and male hedgers, scanners, and coasters.

The findings suggest, the authors surmised, that “women likely were not seeking out lower-paying career tracks and, therefore, accepting of and satisfied with their lower compensation. Rather, they likely were less satisfied with their salary and compensation growth when they compared themselves to others in their field and at their level.”

3. Men Are Paid for Potential While Women are Paid for (Proven) Performance

It’s often thought that leaving one employer for another will help accelerate pay, but this doesn’t seem to hold true for women, according to the data.

Men who left their employer say their compensation grew more than men who stayed with the company they first joined after getting their MBAs.

On average, men who were at their second post-MBA employer earned $13,743 more by 2008 than those who stayed with their first-post MBA employer.

But for women there was no difference in compensation growth between women who left their jobs and those who stayed. Among women job-hoppers, compensation growth was $53,472 less than for women who were still with their first employer. Silva said this is evidence that men are generally paid for their potential, but women have to prove they can do the job.

4. Women Do Ask, But Asking Doesn’t Close the Gap

There was little difference in the negotiating habits of men and women in the study, with 47 percent of women and 52 percent of men reporting they had asked for more money during the hiring process.

The overarching message of the research, said Silva, is “organizations have a responsibility to figure out where unintentional biases exist.”

While everyone is focused on the glass ceiling phenomenon, she continued, few realize how disparities in pay and rank among men and women when they’re in lower level positions ends up dooming many women later in their careers because they may never catch up.

Another issue is women themselves. Many may not realize they face discrimination and as a result may not be fighting for equal opportunities, according to another recently released study by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University titled “Opting Out or Denying Discrimination? How the Framework of Free Choice in American Society Influences Perceptions of Gender Inequality.”

Nicole Stephens, assistant professor of management and organizations at Kellogg who co-authored the report, said women have the choice today to either stay in the workforce or opt out for personal reasons, and that choice may be lulling them into a false sense of career equity.

“But were their choices really desirable?” she asked.

That in turn perpetuates a male model in the workplace, she maintained, and the assumption that one person, the man, is going to be the breadwinner and the woman typically has one foot heading out the door. That mentality, she stressed, is what often leads to the pay and advancement inequality.

“By calling something a choice,” she added. “It makes people think there really isn’t a problem here that needs to be fixed.”

Our pals at Hip2Save have another roundup of weekend deals.

This weekend, Walmart is hosting Halloween costume parties including free candy for your kids in costumes.

For the grown-ups, Outback Steakhouse has a steak dinner coupon, and Coach is offering a 30 percent off coupon.

Also this weekend, Family Dollar is offering $5 off any purchase of $25 or more.

Check out the rest of the deals at Hip2Save's website.

The New York Times just published an in-depth review of Kohler's Numi toilet, a $6,400 contraption that is basically a cross between a potty and a butler.

The toilet, which costs 81 times the amount of your standard Home Depot toilet, has a touch-screen remote that flushes, cleans and dries its user.

It also provides heat and music, and settings can be saved for each member of the family.

At first, we thought the Numi sounded like another unnecessary extravagance intended to make millionaires part with their money.

But reporter Sam Grobart convinced us otherwise. Having spent a month living with the device, he writes:

And one thing I learned is this: It is possible to acclimate to such luxury. Anyone who has ever owned a car with a backup camera or heated seats knows what this means. Features that initially seem unnecessary can become something you cannot do without, even in a bathroom.

We may see about getting one installed in the office.

More from Business Insider: 15 most unique and awesome billionaire toys 

We’re having fewer babies, and some say that’s a good thing.

A report from Pew Social & Demographic Trends offering further evidence that the economy is playing a role in declining birth rates got a lot of Life Inc. readers talking this week — about whether less kids could be good for our country, and our planet.

“That speaks very well for our country. People aren't just randomly cranking out kids. They're waiting for solid economic times so the kids will be safe,” one reader commented.

Many readers seem to feel that the world has enough people already, and complained that they think people who aren’t equipped to raise children are having them.

“This is great, why bring more children into this overpopulated planet?” one reader said.

Still, some argued that without an influx of kids, who’s going to be paying into our Social Security?

Maybe it could be wealthy people.

Another popular post on Life Inc. this week showed that less than 6 percent of workers would be affected if the cap on Social Security taxes were lifted to help pay for a potential funding shortfall.

The vast majority of the more than 11,000 people who voted in our poll felt that people with higher incomes should pay Social Security taxes on at least some of their earnings above $106,800..

 “I am normally not for raising taxes, but this does make sense to me,” one reader noted.

Still, others argued that Social Security had bigger problems.

“Social Security is a joke. The whole thing needs to be reworked. Charging those of us whom will never benefit from it is not the answer,” one reader wrote.

On to more immediate pocketbook issues: Peanut butter. A report this week on how peanut butter prices are on the rise got a pretty big rise out of our readers.

Many readers said it wasn’t the only grocery item they seem to be paying more for these days.

“It would be news if you found something that ISN'T going up in price!” one reader wrote on our Today Money Facebook page.

Sarah Baker

Family nurse practitioner Sarah Baker, 49, of Bismarck, N.D., works at the Northalnd Community Health Center in McClusky, N.D., thanks in large part to the National Health Service Corps program, which forgave her loans for training in exchange for service in the rural area.

Sarah Baker drives 130 miles round-trip every weekday from her home in Bismarck, N.D., to her job as the sole provider of primary health care in McClusky, N.D. -- population 500.

“I’m it,” says the 49-year-old family nurse practitioner, whose duties have ranged from an office visit for a 2-day-old newborn to a surgical session with a 75-year-old man who nearly lost an ear in a fall down an elevator shaft.

“I give them their flu shots, I give them their shingles shots,” she said. “I know I’ve kept some of them out of the hospital.”

Baker has held her position at the Northland Community Health Center for three years, thanks in large part to a growing federal program that will pay off some $34,000 in nursing school debt in exchange for her rural work.

She’s a member of the National Health Service Corps, which has more than tripled its numbers in the past three recession-stricken years, U.S. Health and Human Services department officials announced Thursday. The program helps would-be primary care doctors, nurses, dentists and other health care providers pay for training -- and repay medical debt -- in exchange for working in rural and medically under-served areas.

Since 2008, the number of NHSC members has climbed from about 3,600 providers serving some 3.7 million patients to more than 10,000 clinicians serving some 10.5 million patients, HHS officials reported.

“Thanks to the National Health Service Corps, more Americans can see a doctor and get the health care that they need,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

At the same time, health professionals themselves have gotten a helping hand with the high costs of medical training.

That’s an important boost, especially for would-be primary care providers in a down economy, said Dr. Amy McIntyre, 29, who was a NHSC scholar while attending the Alpert Medical School at Brown University in Providence, R.I., and is now in her third year of residency at the Family Medicine Health Center in Boise, Idaho.

Students of all kinds, even medical students, have needed extra assistance with rising tuition. And the downturn has made it even more difficult for rural and under-served areas to attract health care providers to their clinics and hospitals, health experts say.

Next year, with NHSC help, McIntyre hopes to find her first job as a primary care doctor at a community health center in the rural Northwest.

She estimates the program paid for about $100,000 in medical school tuition, a huge boon in a country where the average med student graduates with median debt of about $160,000, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges.

The program essentially allows primary care doctors, who are paid less than specialists, to work in places that need them most, McIntyre said. In 2010, for instance, family care doctors were paid a median salary of $208,861, compared with a median salary of $402,000 for cardiologists and $500,672 for orthopedic surgeons, according to the American Medical Group Association.

Health workers in the program receive full salaries, but they're working in places that otherwise have a difficult time attracting primary care providers for a variety of reasons ranging from remote locations and scarce resources to very disadvantaged patients.

Idaho, for instance, where McIntyre works, ranks last in the U.S. with only 76 primary care doctors per 100,000 population, according to the United Health Foundation. That compares with Massachusetts, which has 191 primary care providers per 100,000 population.

“Programs like National Health Service Corps match dedicated primary care providers with communities in need, when otherwise forces in our health care system often drive providers away from our communities,” said McIntyre.

The program helps place health care providers at some 17,000 under-served and rural sites across the U.S. Though they’re free to leave after their required service is complete, some 82 percent of NHSC clinicians stay in the high-need areas where they start, HHS officials said.

This year’s NHSC program includes some 5,418 awards totaling $253 million for loan repayments through the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and annual appropriations. About 62 percent of eligible applicants were accepted.

In addition, some 247 scholarship awards totaling $46 million were paid for through the Affordable Care Act. Only about 20 percent of eligible applicants were accepted.

Still, demand for the program is even higher. Applications have jumped 500 percent for the loan repayment program and 600 percent for the scholarship program since 2008, HHS officials said.

Related:

•  No relief: Shortage keeps older docs on the job
•  Hospital garb harbors nasty bacteria, study says
•  Nurse's suicide hightlights twin tragedies of medical errors

USDA

At some point last year, about 17 million U.S. households had some difficulty feeding everyone in their family.

That amounts to 14.5 percent of U.S. households, according to a report released last month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The percentage of households who experienced food insecurity in 2010 was virtually unchanged from 2009. But it has risen by about 3 percentage points since 2007, the year the country officially went into recession.

The report classifies people as food insecure if they’ve had trouble feeding their family at some point during the year.

A subset of that group, comprised of about 6.4 million households, were classified as having very low food security. That means that at some point during the year someone in the house went hungry.

The report found that about 16.2 million children were living in food-insecure households. Still, the report noted that children are often shielded from hunger by the adults in the home.

Related:

The economic toll of single parenthood

A picture of poverty by state

The kids cost more than they used to

Gap, ubiquitous in malls across America, will reduce the number of its U.S. stores to 700 by 2013, a 34 percent decline from 2007, the company announced Thursday.

Although it is shrinking its retail footprint in the U.S., the company announced it is expanding Gap and Banana Republic stores in China, Italy and South America. It is planning on tripling its Gap stores in greater China from roughly 15 at the end of this year to about 45 by the end of 2012, according to the press release.  

Another one of its brands, Old Navy, will make its debut outside of the United States in 2014, with an outlet in Japan.

The company would not estimate the number of U.S. jobs that will be eliminated.

The move is designed to improve the company’s margins as the retailer — like others in the sector — struggle for profits in the economic downturn.

“The combination of our global strategy and formidable growth platform puts us in a strong position to expand our reach into the top 10 apparel markets worldwide,” Glenn Murphy, chairman and CEO of Gap Inc. said.  “In North America, we’re taking a number of steps to improve sales in the near-term, and I’m confident that with a strong management team in place, we’re well positioned for sustained growth across the business.”

Declining cotton prices will also help profits, according to Sabrina Simmons, Gap’s chief financial officer.

According to Bloomberg News, the company said it plans to return operating margins to 2010 levels. Gap's operating income was 12.8 percent of its sales in its fiscal 2010, according to Bloomberg data. The measure narrowed to 9.9 percent in the quarter ended in July.

Shares of Gap rose slightly on Thursday.

By The Associated Press

With some experts predicting the economy is already slipping back into recession, now's the time to make sure you and your family are prepared to handle another downturn.

"It's important to understand that recession doesn't mean a bad economy — we've had that for years now," said a recent report from the Economic Cycle Research Institute, which has called the last four recessions accurately. "It means an economy that keeps worsening, because it's locked into a vicious cycle."

Families are already feeling the pain. Recent data show they're earning less and cutting back on spending.

So how can a family that is already hunkered down prepare for even worse times?

Start by assessing the health of your household finances and job security. Then lay out a plan to handle critical and long-term risks to each.

Each family's response will be unique, reflecting its situation, said Patricia Seaman, senior director at the National Endowment for Financial Education. Those who fear their job is on the chopping block, for instance, may decide it's time to move into crisis mode on the financial front before the pink slip arrives. Those who are less concerned may decide now is the time to make themselves more indispensable at work.

Here are some ideas for putting together your own plan:

FINANCES

Most of financial planner Chris Bixby's clients at Key Private Bank are more aware of their financial situations now than they were three years ago, and are more conscious to avoid overspending. But he said few have cut back as much as they could have — or perhaps should have. Now, he said, it's time for a financial reality check.

In general, there are two ways to find savings when it comes to regular spending: trim the big expenses and eliminate the little ones.

For instance, take a careful look at big bills such as your insurance policies, especially if they haven't been updated recently. Does your homeowner's policy reflect the current value of your house, or the bubble price? Are you paying several insurance companies and missing out on multiple policy discounts?

Reworking your policies can save hundreds of dollars a year.

If you don't have an emergency fund to fall back on, those savings can provide a kick-start to building one. Such a fund should be a priority, NEFE's Seaman said. Households should aim to have at least six months of expenses stashed away, more if you're fearful of a job loss, because it's so common these days to be out of work for long periods.

Some other areas where you might be able to find savings:

• Housing. Mortgage rates are at an all-time low and refinancing could shave hundreds off your monthly payment. Even if your credit standing is less-than-stellar and you can't get the lowest possible rate, you still may be able to save with a new loan. Compare rates offered by several banks.
• Bank accounts. More banks are adding monthly fees and service charges. Switching banks is one way to save on fees, but you might avoid some of that hassle by simply linking accounts, adding direct deposit or using bill payment services. Automatic bill payments can also help you avoid late fees.
• Credit cards. Annual fees are no longer rare and interest rates have climbed. Although it's best to pay off the balance each month to avoid interest charges, if you carry a balance make sure you're getting the best rate possible. Sometimes, a simple phone call to the bank that issued the card will result in a rate reduction because they want to keep your business, said NEFE's Seaman. Also ask if the annual fee can be waived.
• Monthly payment plans. There are pros and cons to monthly plans. On the positive side, utilities and other service providers like heating oil companies will often allow customers to enroll in level billing plans that can reduce monthly expenses by spreading payments over the whole year. That can be especially helpful during winter months when heating and electric costs spike. The flip side is monthly plans for gym memberships, online music services and other lower priorities. These seemingly small charges quickly add up and are wasteful if you don't use them. Identify which can be eliminated.
• Everyday spending. If you're not the type to track every penny you spend, check out personal finance management software to get a picture of where your daily dollars are going. Many banks offer links on their websites, or try a free third-party site like Mint.com or Yodlee.com's MoneyCenter. These programs will sort your spending into categories and produce charts and graphs that may surprise you — spotlighting budget busters like excessive ATM fees or an over-reliance on take-out food. Once you've done the work to trim where it doesn't hurt, it might be time to take a look at some items closer to the heart. For instance, the average household spends about $115 per month on subscription entertainment, including cable and satellite services, video games and publications like magazines, according to the NPD Group, a market research firm. It may be hard to pull the plug during football season — but if you're in crisis mode cutting out cable may be necessary.

CAREER

• There are steps you can take if you think your company may start cutting back staff, said Eleta Jones, associate director of the Center for Professional Development at the University of Hartford, Conn.
• Solve problems. "Think about the business issues your organization is dealing with," she said. Are there ways you can help by pointing out problems that could be weighing down the company, but not registering on management's radar? By raising the issues and offering solutions, she said, you may raise your profile and remove yourself from the list of people to be let go. 
• Get the boss's attention. "People assume their boss knows what they're doing, the projects they've done, the things they've accomplished," Jones said. That may not be the case, so when something goes well, especially if a customer is involved, make sure management is alerted. This is particularly relevant before a performance appraisal. She advises anyone who is expecting a review to provide a summary of accomplishments before it is prepared as a way to make sure all your work is reflected in the evaluation.
• Sell yourself. Outside the office, it's important to have a resume prepared and up to date. But having more than one, each tailored to different types of jobs or even to different companies you want to target in a job search, is an even better tactic.
• Expand your connections. Networking can start at a professional organization, alumni club, social group, church or even the dentist's chair, Jones said, recalling an acquaintance who landed a job after mentioning to his dentist that he was looking for work. Online resources like LinkedIn.com and to a lesser extent Facebook can also be places to make connections, but Jones said face-to-face networking is usually more successful. "It's a matter of trying to cast your net in a lot of different directions."
• Don't be too aggressive. Job seekers, or potential job seekers, should approach new contacts for information, not for a position. For instance, pick a company that you're interested in applying to, seek out people who work there, and ask questions about their division, the business climate and so forth. "You don't want to impose yourself too hard on somebody," Jones said, but she added that most people are willing to offer information and advice.
• Search smart. Information about who is hiring can also be found on targeted websites that specialize in certain types of jobs, like idealist.org for nonprofit jobs or computerjobs.com for tech work. But going directly to an organization is often more successful.
• Stay involved. If you are out of work, keeping busy is important. Volunteering a few days a week, for instance, can provide structure to what seems like an aimless day, offer networking opportunities and be included on a resume. It can also remove some of the stress from the job hunt. "Be careful about filling up time doing things other than looking for a job," Jones said. "You can't look for a job all day long."

IIHS

Proper seat belt fit with a booster.

Being safe doesn’t need to break the bank.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on Thursday released its ranking of booster seats that fit most kids best in any vehicle. The top picks are designed to best fit the average 4- to 8-year-old in any vehicle.

Of the 31 “best bets,” we picked out a few examples that are also low cost.

Harmony Youth Booster: Several of the Harmony brand boosters get high rankings, but this one is the best bargain. Walmart lists it online for $13.50.

Evenflo Big Kid Amp: This booster seat sells at major retailers and online for about $25.

Graco TurboBooster, Baldwin: The high-backed booster seats are a little pricier, but you can still find a reasonably priced one on the best bets list. This one is listed for $49.99.

The Bubble Bum is a little pricier for a no-back booster, at $39.99, but we added it to the list because we’re guessing parents who travel a lot or rely on taxis will pay for the convenience of a booster that can be deflated and folded into a little pouch then pulled out when needed.

The list also shows that paying more doesn’t always equal being safer. The Safety 1^st Alpha Omega Elite convertible car seat is one of several IIHS doesn’t recommend. It lists for $159.99.

TODAY Money's 911 crew,  David Bach, Sharon Epperson, and Farnoosh Torabi offer some help on pensions, credit card debt and more.

Do you have a question for our Money 911 experts?

Getty Images stock

The unused crib as an indicator of a troubled economy?

A new report adds further evidence to the theory that the nation’s economic hard times have caused some families to delay having kids.

The U.S. birth rate has fallen sharply since hitting a high in 2007, although researchers have been hesitant to pinpoint the exact reason for the drop.

The report released Wednesday by Pew Social & Demographic Trends found that states that have been hardest hit by economic hard times between 2007 and 2008 also were the most likely to see bigger fertility drops between 2008 and 2009.

In contrast, states that weren’t as hard-hit did not see such big drops. North Dakota, which has been among the least affected by the nation’s unemployment woes, actually saw a slight increase in births between 2008 and 2009.

The Pew researchers looked at statewide indicators such as per capita personal income, state gross domestic product and unemployment to make the correlations.

The report also found that the birth rate for Hispanics fell much more sharply than for other racial and ethnic groups. Hispanics have generally been harder hit by the economic downturn, in terms of employment and wealth, according to Pew.

More than 4.3 million babies were born in the United States in 2007, a record high. According to preliminary calculations in Pew’s report, based on government data, there were a little more than 4.1 million births in 2009 and about 4 million births in 2010.

The birth rate, or the number of births per thousand women ages 15 to 44, has fallen from 69.6 in 2007 to an early estimate of 64.7 in 2010.

The nation went into recession December of 2007, and technically emerged from it in June of 2009. But economic growth has mostly been sluggish since then, and many Americans have struggled to make ends meet.

The unemployment rate is still above 9 percent, with about 14 million Americans out of work. The poverty rate is at its highest level in 18 years and median income has fallen for three years in a row.

For many families, that may have been enough to put off starting a family, or adding another child to the family.

The report notes that it’s not clear yet whether women are postponing having kids or not having them at all. Previous research has shown that women put off having kids during weak economic periods, but then play catch-up once the economy improves.

The United States also saw a steep and yearslong drop in birth rates during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

In May, msnbc.com wrote about several families who had been forced to put off having a child because they didn’t feel like they could afford the health care costs and other expenses.

“We’re hurting, financially,” Diana Lorenzo told msnbc.com. “We’ve streamlined everything, and that’s why I can’t imagine. Where can I cut?”

Related:

Breaking up is hard to do because of the economy

I’ll marry you … when you get a job

Weak economy means more unhappy ex-workers

TODAY Money expert Sharon Epperson joined us for a live Web chat Wednesday to answer your questions.

Here’s one of her answers to questions from the live chat. (See below for the full Q&A and Sharon's TV appearance this morning.)

One guest asked:

“How do you decide how much you can afford to invest in a college education?”

Sharon replied:

“Investing in your education is one of the best investments that you can make but you don't want to go into a boatload of debt to do it. Best rule of thumb: your total loan debt should be LESS THAN your starting salary when you complete your degree. Check out calculators at finaid.org to help you crunch the numbers.”

Here’s the full chat archive and Sharon's TV appearance:

If you have a question for our TODAY Money experts, submit it here. 

To sign up for an e-mail reminder for our next chat, click here.

The Lasko 754200.

By Kara Reinhardt
Cheapism.com

Editor's note: This post was updated following initial publication to correct the Honeywell model. The correct Honeywell model is below.

If chilly fall weather has you reaching for the thermostat, remember that turning up the heat even one degree can increase your energy costs. Instead, stay toasty with an electric space heater that can warm you up for less than $35.

Space heaters are an efficient, money-saving alternative or complement to central heating. A heater with a carrying handle is easy to move from room to room to provide warmth only where and when you need it. Space heaters with adjustable thermostats cycle on and off to maintain a set temperature rather than wasting energy by continuing to put out heat after an area has warmed up.

Low-cost electric heaters function differently depending on how they deliver heat. Convection heaters are designed to raise the temperature in an entire room, while radiant heaters act like a stove or fireplace, warming up whatever is sitting in front of them. In a convection heater, a fan blows out air warmed by a heating element, such as an electric coil or an electrically-heated ceramic plate. The ceramic models tend to be cooler to the touch, safer, and more efficient. Radiant heaters generate warmth using quartz tubing, a quieter method than a purring fan, and use less energy than convection heaters.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (PDF) estimated that electric space heaters contributed to more than 1,000 fires per year during a three-year period, so be sure that any space heater you choose comes with some safety features. Most heaters automatically shut off when the heating element gets too hot. Another thing to look for is a tilt switch, which turns off the unit if it tips over.

Below are Cheapism’s top picks for affordable space heaters.

• The Lasko 754200 (starting at $23) is a powerful ceramic space heater with a carrying handle, an adjustable thermostat, and three settings, including a fan-only setting that makes it useful in warm weather, as well. Reviews say it heats up small and mid-size rooms without the noise and burning smell some cheap heaters emit. (Where to buy)
• The Optimus H-5210 (starting at $29) is a radiant heater with quartz tubing that’s designed to warm up people sitting or standing next to it. That said, consumers posting reviews have found it capable of heating up an entire room or even an entire small house, with the help of a strategically placed confederate. Safety features include automatic shutoff, a tilt switch, and cool housing to prevent burns. (Where to buy)
• The DeLonghi DCH1030 (starting at $25) is an ideal size for tucking under a desk or beside a bed. This little ceramic heater weighs only 3.2 pounds, making it easy to move around. It boasts an adjustable thermostat; three settings, including fan-only; and an anti-freeze function that automatically switches on the heater if the temperature dips below 44 degrees. (Where to buy)
• The Honeywell HZ-2200 (starting at $34) and its updated HZ-0360 version (starting at $30), feature a 360-degree design and impress users with their ability to heat up quickly. They both come with an adjustable thermostat, two heat settings and a fan-only setting, a tilt switch, and automatic shutoff. (Where to buy)

More from Cheapism:
Cheap Space Heaters
Cheap Electric Guitars
Zenni Optical Review
Cheap Coffee Makers

Getty Images stock

Relax, most of these people don't want your job.

If you’re sitting in the corner office wondering who may be angling for your job, stop worrying so much.

A new survey from staffing firm OfficeTeam finds that more than three-fourths of office workers don’t want their boss’s job.

And even though they may complain about the boss at home or over a beer, nearly two-thirds think they couldn’t do a better job than their manager is doing.

The survey of 431 people who work in office settings did find that younger workers are more likely to want the boss’s job than older workers.

The survey was released ahead of National Boss Day. (It’s not until Monday, Oct. 17, so you have a few days to come up with a funny-yet-appropriate group card.)

A separate survey of 834 U.S. workers, from staffing firm Adecco, also found that more than half of employees would not change anything about their bosses. But of those who would change something, the most common request was that the manager be nicer to employees.

One caution to bosses, however: Just because they like you doesn’t mean your employees want to talk about their feelings with you.

One-fourth of the workers surveyed by Adecco said the most uncomfortable topic of conversation with the boss is anything involving relationships. Also high on the list of things you don’t want to bring up with your staff: Political beliefs, medical histories and religion.

Bob Andres / AP

Prices for peanuts are skyrocketing, so shoppers will be seeing the cost of peanut butter soar soon.

Will moms be skipping the Skippy?

The price of peanut butter, that American lunch bag staple, is going up, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The reason: peanut prices have skyrocketed after a hot, dry summer decimated the crop.

According to the Journal, the price for J.M. Smucker Co's Jif is going up 30 percent beginning in November and the price of Conagra's Peter Pan brand will rise 24 percent in the next few weeks. The paper said Unilever, which owns the Skippy brand, would not comment on pricing, but a spokesman for Wegman's Food Markets said it's paying up to 35 percent more for wholesale, including Skippy, than it did a year ago.

Prices for Kraft's Planter's brand will rise 40 percent at the end of the month.     

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images file

A white beard, a bald pate and a dark suit could turn you into Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke this Halloween.

The economy is still frightful, yet more Americans than ever are planning to take part in traditional Halloween festivities this year, according to a National Retail Federation survey conducted by BIGresearch.

The NRF’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey finds that seven in 10 Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, up slightly from last year and the most in NRF’s nine-year survey history. Those celebrating are expected to spend slightly more too, with the average American shelling out $72.31 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $66.28 last year, the NRF said. Total Halloween spending is expected to reach $6.86 billion.

Much of that money is likely to be spent on Halloween costumes, and with the economy doing its impression of the walking dead, more of this year’s outfits could be business or economy-themed.

A strong demand for dark mock turtleneck sweaters might suggest that the late Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs could be a favorite costume this year, while some may opt to don a white beard, a bald pate and a dark suit to dress up as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

With the unemployment rate stuck above 9 percent more than two years since the credit crisis struck, it could be the most frightening costume of them all.

If it seems like you’re spending more time working since the recession began, two things: You likely aren’t imagining it, and you likely aren’t alone.

A new survey of more than 300 companies in the United States and Canada finds that nearly two-thirds of employers say their workers have been asked to put in more hours than normal over the past three years.

About half expect the longer hours to continue for the next three years as well, according to the survey from professional services company Towers Watson.

Senior and middle managers were the most likely to say they were working more, according to a separate Towers Watson survey of employees.

Not only are people working more, many also are taking less time off. Nearly one-third of employers also said their workers have been taking less vacation or personal time in the last three years. 

Your bosses may be asking you to do more, but chances are they recognize it’s tough on you. A little more than half of U.S. employers, and a little less than half of the Canadian employers, said they knew the changes they made were hurting their employees’ ability to have a healthy work/life balance.

Still, Towers Watson noted that companies may be underestimating the effect work-related stress and poor work/life balance will have on their ability to keep their best workers. That’s something many employers haven’t had to worry much about through the weak economy, but that may become a bigger issue as the economy improves.

Related:

You're working harder, they're making money

Job-hopping could cost you, if you're American

The #OccupyWallStreet protestors picked up a cool supporter on Monday: Ben & Jerry’s have made an official statement in support of the ever-growing movement.

On the company’s website, Woody, the Ben & Jerry cow mascot, is holding a sign reading “Occupy.”

From the statement, signed by the company’s board of directors:

“We, the Ben & Jerry’s Board of Directors, compelled by our personal convictions and our Company’s mission and values, wish to express our deepest admiration to all of you who have initiated the nonviolent Occupy Wall Street Movement and to those around the country who have joined in solidarity. The issues raised are of fundamental importance to all of us.”

The site then goes on to list a handful of the issues (inequality, unemployment, corporate lobbying, etc).

It then goes on to say:

“We know the media will either ignore you or frame the issue as to who may be getting pepper sprayed rather than addressing the despair and hardships borne by so many, or accurately conveying what this movement is about. All this goes on while corporate profits continue to soar and millionaires whine about paying a bit more in taxes. And we have not even mentioned the environment.”

One thing to note: Ben & Jerry’s is owned by British-Dutch conglomerate Unilever, a publicly traded company.

Our question: What name would you give to the Ben & Jerry’s #OccupyWallStreet flavor? Tell us in the comments below.

Center for Economic and Policy Research

A breakdown of worker wages.

One of the proposals for keeping Social Security afloat is to simply ask for more money.

It turns out, not that many taxpayers would have to pay up.

A new analysis from the Center for Economic and Policy Research finds that less than 6 percent of workers would be affected if the government lifted the cap on Social Security taxes and applied it to earnings above $106,800.

Currently, taxpayers pay their share of Social Security taxes only on earnings up to $106,800. Any earnings above that are exempt from the tax.

Another plan that’s been tossed around would be to just charge Social Security tax on earnings of more than $250,000, but not to charge the tax on earnings between $106,800 and $250,000.

That plan would affect a little more than 1 percent of workers, the liberal-leaning think tank found in its analysis of the most recent American Community Survey data.

The move could potentially add trillions of dollars to Social Security coffers over the next 75 years, according to CEPR.

Social Security is at risk of becoming underfunded because the big Baby Boom generation is aging and people are generally living longer.

Other proposals for fixing Social Security include raising the age of eligibility and slowing cost of living increases.

Related:

Of Social Security and Ponzi schemes

Debt deal or not, Social Security reform is coming

How much you will — or won't — collect from Social Security

Our pals at Hip2Save have compiled a roundup of money savers for the weekend.

Among them:

• Taco Bell is offering a free Chicken Flatbread Sandwich Combo with purchase of a $20 gift card.
• H&M has a 25 percent off coupon, valid through Oct. 10.
• Dollar General is offering $5 off a $25 purchase this Saturday.

The roundup also includes several Halloween happenings for those of you already getting into the holiday spirit.

Many Americans think the biggest problem facing the country is employment: Despite Friday’s news that some jobs were created in September, there just aren’t enough jobs to go around.

In a post this week about two polls showing that the weak economy is increasing jitters about employment, 4 in 10 readers said they were more worried about losing their job than six months ago.

Even those readers who said they weren’t worried about losing their jobs had other things to fret about.

“I've got good job security, but I'm getting less hours lately. That is what worries me,” one reader wrote.

On the other hand, some Americans may feel like their biggest problem is the job they have now.

In another popular post this week, we detailed the travails of workers at a convenience store in Iowa whose boss decided to have a contest to see who would next be fired. The prize for correctly guessing which of your colleagues would next be out of a job: $10.

A judge ruled that this was evidence of a hostile work environment, and most readers seemed to agree.

“Aren't you glad that you don't work at a place like this?” one reader wrote.

Another said: “Have to love those 'job creators'! I think he must need a tax break.”

Funny you should mention taxes. This week, readers also had lots to say about a poll showing that many wealthy people agree with raising taxes on the very wealthy, although they were less enthusiastic about raising taxes on people making $250,000 or more a year.

Raising taxes on wealthy taxpayers is one part of President Barack Obama’s proposal for dealing with the deficit.

Nearly 13,000 readers voted in our poll, and most agreed with raising taxes on at least some wealthy taxpayers.

“Absolutely, no question about it. If you are blessed to be able to make >$250K, then your country can use your help,” one reader wrote.

On our Today Money Facebook page, many readers said they were most worried about closing tax loopholes.

Also this week, Today Money financial expert Sharon Epperson dropped in for a chat. Her advice to people juggling student loans and retirement plans: Don’t neglect either.