Mike Segar / REUTERS

Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg is open and resolute about leaving work at a reasonable hour to spend time with her family.

If you’re leaving the office at 5 p.m. to spend time with your family and feeling guilty about it, don’t worry -- you’re in very good company.

Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg tells Makers.com, a website that profiles successful American women, that she is open and resolute about leaving work at a reasonable hour to spend time with her family, although she admits she used to worry about what others thought of her departure time.

“I walk out of this office every day at 5:30, so I’m home for dinner with my kids at 6,” she told Makers.com, adding that she’s only been brave enough to talk about it publicly over the last few years.

Sandberg said she used to want to show her coworkers she was working just as hard as them, by getting up early and making sure they saw her e-mails at 5:30 a.m. or late at night.

“I’m more confident where I am [now], and so I’m able to say ‘Hey, I am leaving work at 5:30,’” she said. “I hope that means other women, and men, importantly, feel comfortable going home to see their kids.”

Sandberg left Google to join Facebook as its chief operating officer in 2008. She has also served as an economist for the World Bank and as chief of staff at the U.S. Treasury Department.

She has a bit of work on her plate now, too, as she helps shepherd Facebook to an expected initial public offering in the next two months that could value the young company at more than $100 billion.

You can watch the full video here.

Economic Policy Institute

The economy has been adding jobs lately, but not government jobs.

More than half a million, local, state and federal jobs have been cut since the recession ended in June 2009, according to an analysis released this week by the Economic Policy Institute.

That's the opposite of what happened following the previous three recessions and could be part of the reason why this recovery has been so weak, particularly when it comes to jobs. The government reported Friday that the unemployment rate fell slightly, to 8.2 percent in March, as the economy added 120,000 jobs, much fewer than had been expected.

Despite the government job cuts, more than 20 million people work in the public sector, making it a key part of the overall jobs picture.

In previous recessions, the public sector saw a percentage gain in jobs once the economy began to grow again, according to EPI’s analysis of government data. This time, there’s been a percentage loss.

Josh Bivens, the economist with EPI who compiled the data, said the biggest job losses this time have come from state and local governments. Those employers have had to deal with a drop in tax revenue, in part because of the housing bust, along with an increase in the need for social services and support programs such as unemployment insurance and Medicaid.

“States have two options when they’re faced with a looming budget gap: Raise taxes or cut spending, which means cutting jobs,” Bivens said. “It does seem like they’ve gone the spending cut route, judging from these numbers.”

The federal government also has cut jobs in certain sectors, such as the Postal Service, and faces the looming prospect of more cuts in areas such as defense. Overall, however, federal government employment is about the same as in mid-2009. The analysis excluded Census workers, who were hired temporarily by the government from late 2008 to late 2010.

There could be good news on the horizon for people want to get – or keep – a government job. In recent months, the pace of public-sector job losses has started to slow, and there has even been some net hiring in areas such as state and local education.

In the March unemployment report released Friday, there was a net gain in state government education jobs, but local education jobs recorded another drop from the previous month.

“The hope is that eventually this swings from negative to positive,” Bivens said. “I don’t expect it to continue to drag.”

Related:

Who’s announced most job cuts: Uncle Sam

Fierce attacks leave public workers stinging

You think it’s hard to sell a house? Try selling a timeshare. It’s nearly impossible. That’s why con artists are working the market. They hope to cash in on owners who are desperate for help.

“There are tens of millions of dollars being bilked from people who are trying to unload their properties because they need the money,” says Lois Greisman, head of the Division of Marketing Practices at the Federal Trade Commission.

On Thursday, a Florida couple who ran Timeshare Mega Media and Marketing Group – a company that’s alleged to have defrauded thousands of people out of at least $2.7 million – settled an FTC complaint by agreeing never to work in the timeshare resale business again.

The FTC complaint alleges the company’s representatives told timeshare owners they had buyers lined up and waiting.

“In many cases, defendants begin the call by representing that they have a buyer for the consumer's timeshare unit and that the sale can be closed within a specified period of time, often 30 to 45 days. Defendants also typically tell consumers the price the purported buyer is willing to pay for the timeshare unit, which frequently is at or above the consumer's asking price.”

A fee, typically $1,996, was required to get the process started. But that money was supposedly refundable when the sale closed.

The feds says people who took the bait received a contract to “advertise” their timeshare. A clause in the contract specifically said the company did not represent or guarantee that the property would be sold or rented, directly opposite of what the telephone salesperson stated.

The FTC says many people who signed the paperwork assumed it was a sales contract. Those who questioned the contract’s validity were given the run-around and falsely told that a sales contract would follow.

The government’s complaint says the company never had any timeshare buyers lined up and never actually assisted anyone in selling a timeshare. People who demanded a refund rarely got one.

Protect yourself
Timeshare resale scammers target people who advertise condos for sale. But they also work off lists of timeshare owners. So any owner could get a called by a timeshare resale scammer.

“When someone contacts you out of the blue and they say, ‘Pay me now; time is of the essence. You’ve got to pay upfront to seal this deal.’ Don’t do it,” warns the FTC’s Greisman.  “That is as large of a red flag as you’re ever going to see.”

More information

• FTC consumer alert: Selling a timeshare through a reseller 
• Press release: FTC action results in ban against couple from telemarketing, timeshare resale services 

Fidgeting, chewing nails and playing with hair or clothes can signal discomfort or anxiety.

“Half or more of all communication is nonverbal,” says Todd Dewett, a management professor at Wright State University. “Professionals are stressed. They are multitasking. They face many competing demands. Consequently, while they might sometimes be focused on using words correctly, they never give a second thought to what their body is saying.”

Evolutionary psychologists contend that nonverbal communication is largely driven by the limbic system, so body movement and facial expressions are usually unconscious reactions — evolutionary artifacts of behaviors that developed thousands of years ago. However, many of the mechanisms that once ensured survival — an unfamiliar face provoked a fight or flight response — are no longer productive today and may even derail your success.

“Communication, including body language, becomes significantly more important when considering who’s promotion material,” says Dewett. “As soon as you step into a supervisor role, it all comes down to communication skills.”

Forbes.com slideshow: See the 10 worst body language mistakes

Do you know what your body’s saying? Communication and management experts detail the silent signals you may be sending.

You’re not confident

From their vocal intonation to the tilt of their heads, successful professionals should convey confidence and authority. However, common body language mistakes may make them look uncertain and indecisive. Poor posture can be detrimental. “When you slouch you do not have a dynamic presence,” says career coach Sarah Hathorn. “In the business world it sends a strong signal that you lack confidence and have poor self esteem, which can undermine your actual abilities.”

Similarly, your handshake is a strong indicator of who you are as a leader. Hathorn says it’s important to strike the right balance, as a weak handshake (something women are often guilty of) shows a lack of authority and a bone-crunching handshake (more often in the realm of men) can come across as overly aggressive. “Most people do not how to do it properly,” says Hathorn. “You want be firm and match the strength of the person’s hand you’re shaking.”

You’re disinterested

People at work fall into day-to-day routines and show far too much of their internal life, says Dewett. Showing signs of disinterest and disengagement is particularly destructive.

Dewett warns against common ticks like looking at the clock or your watch while speaking with someone, as they will assume you are arrogant or don’t buy into what they’re saying. Also, angling your body away from a person, not leaning into a conversation or looking past them signals that you want to distance yourself from them or their ideas.

It’s also very important to control your facial expressions. “Be aware of it,” says Hathorn. “Are you looking down, frowning or scowling with the forehead?” She says even a blank face may come off as negative, and suggests holding a very slight smile so that you look like you have energy and are paying attention. Furthermore, avoid fidgeting in meetings — adjusting clothing, pulling the lint off your sweater or playing with your phone — which will come off as distracted and indifferent.

You’re disrespectful

Invading others’ space is a major no-no, because it signals that you don’t respect them or their boundaries. Hathorn says every person has a radius of 1.5 feet that they consider intimate space. In business, you wouldn’t want to come any closer than arm's length, she says, or you run the risk of making someone feel uncomfortable. The same respect should be given to others’ office spaces and personal items. Picking up items on their book shelf, putting your feet on their desk or otherwise making yourself too at home will communicate disrespect for the person and their work.

Facial expressions like eye rolling and frowning are clear signs of disagreement that need to be kept in check. More subtle movements may also portray negativity. If you squint or narrow your eyes because you’re thinking, you might inadvertently appear as if you are questioning what your coworker is saying, says Karen Friedman, author of "Shut Up and Say Something: Business Communication Strategies to Overcome Challenges and Influence Listeners." Meanwhile, multitasking — even having a Smartphone out on the table — will be perceived as disrespectful because you’re not offering your full attention.

You’re uncomfortable

“People tend to use very closed body gestures,” says Hathorn. Folding your arms over your chest or crossing your legs appears protective and as if you’re not open to receiving the message. “Open up your body language so others feel like they can approach you.”

Feelings of discomfort are especially evident when you’re making a presentation — the one time everyone’s looking at you. “Most people can’t stand presenting,” says Dewett. “They’d rather die.” Usually that’s apparent. You either shut down emotionally, using a monotone voice, no facial expression and look at the floor, or have an excess of movement, seen in shuffling feet, playing with hair, scratching or rapid blinking. “Get yourself on video,” he advises. “It will open your eyes very fast.”

You’re lying

Your body should communicate your credibility, so the last thing you want to do is fake it. “There is nothing worse than a phony smile,” says Friedman. “If you are smiling because you are trying to be polite or ingratiate the boss, then that smile should truly light up your face to the crinkles at the corners of your eyes. Fake smiles typically involve just the mouth.”

Dewett adds that eye aversion and incongruity between words and gestures also suggest deception. “The funniest to me is when there’s a mismatch: You’ll say ‘sure I don’t mind doing this’ but your face is repulsed, or you’ll say ‘yes’ while nodding no,” he explains. Dewett recommends becoming more aware of your body and asking for honest feedback from trusted coworkers to better align your words with your body language.

More from Forbes.com

• 10 ways to be more confident at work
• 9 basic wardrobe mistakes and how they reveal your insecurities
• Are you a bully and don’t even know it?
• How to lose friends and alienate coworkers with bad mobile behavior
• How not to behave at the office party

There have been undercurrents of weight discrimination in the workplace for years, but a Texas hospital decided to go anti-fat full throttle.

A Texas newspaper recently reported about a fat-averse Texas hospital — Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, Texas — and its unheard-of policy of refusing to hire anyone with a body mass index of more than 35.

The policy, according to The Texas Tribune, states:

… an employee’s physique “should fit with a representational image or specific mental projection of the job of a healthcare professional,” including an appearance “free from distraction” for hospital patients.

“The majority of our patients are over 65, and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance,” hospital chief executive David Brown said in an interview. “We have the ability as an employer to characterize our process and to have a policy that says what’s best for our business and for our patients.”

Body mass index is calculated based on height and weight, with a measure over 30 qualifying as obese. A 5-foot-10 man who weighs 245 pounds would have a BMI of over 35, the hospital's cutoff.  A 5-foot-2 woman would be over the cutoff at 195 pounds.

The hospital’s policy may cause outrage, but it’s an extreme example of an obesity bias that has been percolating in the nation’s workforces, starting with seemingly benign measures such as encouraging workers to walk at lunch.

Companies are beefing up their efforts to make you healthier, and they’re taking out the big guns. You’re costing employers too much money for medical coverage, and increasingly firms are imposing penalties on workers who don’t get with the healthy program.

According to a report released this week by consulting firm Mercer:

“87% of large employers say they will add or strengthen programs or policies to encourage more health-conscious behavior.”

While this hospital is talking about the image heavier workers send to customers, what drives so much of these decisions is the cost fatter employees represent. Healthier workers cost less when it comes to insurance, sick time, productivity, etc., according to many business experts.

But are any these policies legal?

In fact, weight discrimination is one of the last types of bias that’s, for the most part, legal. Michigan is the only state that has any laws on the books protecting the rotund among us, and a handful of cities also have some restrictions.

The Michigan law, on the books in that state since 1977, has seldom been used but appears to be getting dusted off lately by overweight workers who believe they were given the shaft because of their weight.

For anyone who lives outside Michigan, the only recourse is going to the federal  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and seeking help under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Don’t expect a lot. Simply being overweight generally does not qualify as a disability.

David Scher, an employment attorney with the Employment Law Group, said: “This issue was litigated extensively in the airline industry sometime ago. The bottom line is that it is not illegal to discriminate solely on the basis of weight provided the employer has a legitimate business reason.”

However, he added, the Texas employer has two problems here.

“The slippery slope for this hospital is that its reasoning may be questionable and (it) specifically states ‘appearance’ as its basis," he said. "For example, in Washington, D.C., it is generally illegal to discriminate based on ‘any’ surface characteristic for its own sake, commonly called the ‘ugly law’. So a bold policy like this would likely be illegal in D.C. because it flat-out uses “appearance” itself as the basis for the policy."

He said the hospital could be on shaky legal ground unless it can establish a job-related reason for banning heavy workers, such as the possibility that they would be unable to physically fit between hospital beds.

"Further, the hospital will either need to ‘eyeball’ an applicant or do an actual BMI test and obtain highly personal medical information about an applicant," he said. "A hospital of all places should know that merely obtaining this information will likely violate privacy laws.”

The Texas example may seem over the top, but heavier workers have been hit in the wallet before.

In a study by John Cawley, an associate professor at Cornell University, he found that obese white women had worse labor market outcomes than any other overweight workers.

“The obesity penalty for wages was much greater for white than black females,” he told me a while ago. He pointed out that research has shown that obesity tended to lower the self-esteem of white women much more than black women. “That could end up affecting your work potentially,” he speculates.

It’s hard to make a case for such bias at work, especially in today’s economy where finding a job can be so difficult.

Who’s looking out for these portly citizens? Not Citizens Medical Center. Will they be turning away fat patients next?

A version of this story also appears on the website CareerDiva.

There’s an awkward pause that happens right after you ask your boss for a raise. 

What ever you do, don’t say anything.

“Silence is a power leveler,” said Selena Rezvani, negotiation expert and author of the recently released “Pushback: How Smart Women Ask--and Stand Up--for What They Want,” during our live Web chat Wednesday.

“Silence is one of the most under-used tactics in a negotiation,” she pointed out. “I'm talking about using this strategically. For example, being quiet right after you make your request, and being quiet again for a few seconds when you get your answer.”

Asking for more money is one of the toughest things employees have to do, but now may be the best time because many employers are handing out more pay raises. 

Rezvani offered advice on how to ask for everything from a raise to more vacations time during our live Web chat. Here’s a sampling of her answers to readers questions:

Renee asked:

“I have been at my job for two years and have never had a raise even mentioned to me. I feel I am valuable to my company with all I contribute. Fellow employees have told me that our company rarely gives raises, some have even said they wait 4 years for a raise. How can I approach my boss about this?”

Rezvani answered:

“First off, don't wait to be asked about your raise! It's best if you bring it up. I am not a fan of waiting until review time... If you have a strong case, make it anytime of the year, but preferably right after a big accomplishment.

“Also, don't be frightened out of asking for a raise just because no one else is doing it or "it's not done around here." If anything, there is less of a trend toward rewarding every employee the same exact way. Show why you specifically deserve this raise and how you can contribute at even higher levels in the future.”

Jay asked:

“How do you negotiate with an employer for more vacation time when they say it is non-negotiable during an interview?”

Rezvani answered:

“Vacation time is often negotiable - even when people say it's not. It all depends on how much they want you. If it's something you're emphatic about, tell them. But have an alternative or second-best outcome if they continually push back.

“Come up with options. If you're first choice is 30 vacation days, ask for that first. If they push back, try 28 days with reimbursement for a $1,000 training course. Your third option could be 25 days, a training course, and something else of value to you.”

For more of this enlightening discussion and targeted tips for employees trying to negotiate better, check out a replay of the Web chat here:

Motorola

The Motorola HX550 weighs only 9 grams, but has powerful sound.

Chapel Hill, N.C., has become the first town in the U.S. to forbid drivers to use hands-free devices. In many other places, however, Bluetooth headsets remain the only way to legally talk on a cell phone while driving. A high-end headset from Bose can cost around $150, but brands such as Sony, Motorola, and Samsung sell these must-have mobile accessories for less than $50.

Below are Cheapism’s top picks for affordable Bluetooth headsets.

• The Motorola HX550 (starting at $39) impresses consumers and expert reviewers with the clarity of the sound on both ends of the line. It weighs only 9 grams, and users find it comfortable enough to wear continuously on long drives. It promises 9 hours of talk time and 16 days of standby time. (Where to buy)
• The LG Tone HBS-700 (starting at $45) is a stereo headset, with buds for both ears, that circles around behind the user’s neck and vibrates when a call comes in. Consumers and experts admire the design, as well as the battery life: 10 hours of talk time and 15 days on standby. (Where to buy)
• The Jabra Wave (starting at $42) has a long microphone that perches closer to the user’s mouth than the mikes on most other headsets, which might help account for the good sound quality reported in reviews. The advertised battery life is 6 hours of talk time and 8 days on standby. (Where to buy)
• The Jawbone Icon (starting at $50) comes in different finishes that make it look less like a Bluetooth earpiece and more like a fashion accessory. More than its appearance, users posting reviews appreciate its performance. It boasts a Voice Activity Sensor intended to detect the vibrations of your speech and transmit the sound more clearly. (Where to buy)

All our picks employ some sort of noise canceling or noise reduction intended to minimize sounds other than the user’s voice. Manufacturers tout proprietary features with names like CrystalTalk and NoiseAssassin, but in general the technology seems to be adequate, if not excellent, at this price level.

The Bluetooth headsets on our list can all be paired with more than one device -- both your work phone and your personal cell phone, for example -- at the same time. They also support A2DP (advanced audio distribution profile), for streaming music and podcasts. The LG Tone is the only stereo headset in the bunch; the rest are more typical monaural designs that go on or in one ear. They come with various sizes of earbud covers for a precise fit.

Choose a Bluetooth headset with a battery life at least as long as your phone’s, so the device doesn’t frustrate you by dying in the middle of a call. Our picks feature audio alerts that let users know how much battery remains. The Motorola and LG models offer Android users the potential to listen to text messages by downloading an app for their phones. After all, the cell phone bans encompass texting, too.

More from Cheapism:
Cheap Bluetooth headsets
How to plan a wedding on a budget
Cheap prom dresses
Best coupon sites 2012 edition

Now that the economy has been adding jobs at a steady clip, more of us are ready to tell our boss to “show me the money!”

After years of seeing tiny or non-existent pay increases, employees are more optimistic than they have been in four years that employers will hop on the raise bandwagon soon, according to a study released Wednesday by Glassdoor, a job listings site.

Raise optimists outnumbered pessimists for the first time since 2008, when the website began its quarterly Employment Confidence Survey.

Among the more than 2,000 adults polled last month by Glassdoor:

• 43 percent said they expected a raise in the next 12 months.
• 38 percent said they did not.
• 46 percent said they expected their company outlook to improve in the next six months, up 6 points from three months earlier.

Is this just wishful thinking on the part of recession weary workers?Maybe not.

Raises are indeed slowly making a comeback, said Ken Abosch, group compensation leader for Aon Hewitt, a human resources consulting firm.

But don’t expect your employer to break the bank.

Aon Hewitt surveyed nearly 1,500 U.S. companies last year about expectations for pay increases in 2012 and found employers planned to pay an average raise of 2.9 percent, up slightly from 2.8 percent in 2011, although way up from the record low 1.4 percent for 2009.

“Organizations are still very concerned with the health of economy, and they’re feeling pressures of global economy,” Abosch said. Many firms, he added, “fought hard in the last few years to gain control back over their fixed costs.”

Unfortunately for you working stiffs, your base salary is a big chunk of those costs, so employers want to do everything they can to keep a lid on it.

On the bright side, he added, more employers are paying out bonuses.

“Our statistics show that 90 percent of U.S. companies are providing bonuses as far down as the person sweeping the floor in the factory,” he said. That is up from 78 percent in 2005 and about 50 percent just 15 years ago.

The Aon Hewitt survey found:

• 86 percent of employers said they would fund variable pay based on company performance this year. In some cases, however, that is being combined with reduced merit pay raises and even layoffs.
• Nearly one in five employees (19 percent) are concerned they could be laid off in the next six months, up two points from the fourth quarter after declining the preceding two quarters.
• One-third of employees are concerned coworkers could be laid off in the next six months.

“Positive economic and company indicators are driving increased optimism around pay raises and company outlook, but that optimism hasn’t yet spilled over into individual job security or view of the job market,” said Rusty Rueff, career and workplace expert for Glassdoor.

“Employers should pay attention to employee expectations around pay and be more transparent to ensure employee sentiment is aligned with reality, which will help avoid disappointment that can impact morale.”

John Gress / Reuters

A worker walks through a new Wal-Mart store in Chicago in this January 2012 file photo. Wal-Mart got low ranks in a Consumer Reports survey of favorite grocery stores.

When it comes to grocery shopping, people say they value customer service and fast checkout lanes.

But these days shoppers often choose their grocer based on two things, experts say: Price and convenience.

That may be why Wal-Mart is the nation's No. 1 grocer, even though it ranks among the least-beloved store chains.

"People who like Wal-Mart shop there, and people who don’t like Wal-Mart shop there more," said supermarket consultant David J. Livingston.

Livingston said people who live in a big city like Chicago might place a higher value on a convenient location because they’re more likely to have to lug their groceries home by hand, or at least battle traffic and parking considerations.

For people who live in very drivable communities, low prices are likely to be a primary consideration, Livingston said. That’s one reason he said stores like Wal-Mart, Aldi and Target are attracting customers who may have previously shopped at more traditional grocery stores, like Safeway or Albertsons.

On Tuesday, Life Inc. asked readers what bothers them most about grocery stores. More than 50,000 readers responded to our survey, and although many said they don’t like dirty stores and long lines, the most common gripe was high prices.

Many of our readers admitted they grudgingly shop based on price.

“Love Trader Joe's, Co-op, Whole Foods, etc. but low price comes first,” one reader wrote.

“Luv/Hate with Walmart. We are disabled and on a fixed income -- go to Walmart for prices but hate the store,” another reader commented.

The poll accompanied a story about Consumer Reports’ latest survey on the best and worst supermarkets. The consumer magazine’s readers gave the highest marks to stores including Wegmans, Trader Joe’s and Publix.

Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, ranked low overall but got excellent marks for price.

The company itself also recently cited low prices on brand-name groceries and beverages as one of the key reasons sales have increased.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Spencer said the company surveys about half a million customers each month and finds customers generally pleased with the shopping experience.

“Our priority is ... to focus on our customer and give them what they want, which is low prices, a broad assortment (and) great customer service,” she said.

Livingston, the supermarket consultant, said addressing other customer complaints could literally come at the cost of their key advantage.

“(Wal-Mart’s) only appeal is price, and yeah, they do have a lot of shortcomings, but for them to correct those shortcomings, that would cost money,” he said.

That’s particularly true now, with the economy still relatively weak and food prices on the rise. More than four in 10 respondents told Consumer Reports they had switched supermarkets because of high prices.

“We switched over to Aldi," one Life Inc. reader wrote, referring to a chain with more than 1,000 outlets, mainly in the Eastern U.S.

"No name brands, but we save a ton. I love Wegman's, but we don't have them here and Publix is just too expensive.”

Still, for some Life Inc. readers low prices weren’t enough to sacrifice other things, like well-stocked shelves.

“I recently switched from Wal-Mart to Kroger despite the higher prices. I love going to the grocery store knowing they will have what I need,” one reader wrote.

Only about 13 percent of our readers said a lack of fresh produce or meat is their top concern. Livingston said those shoppers who do value quality over everything else may also be abandoning the traditional grocery chains in favor of more high-end stores. Whole Foods, known for its fresh and health-conscious items, also has seen strong sales improvements recently.

Some readers said they can’t settle on just one store.

“It's very hard to find a one-stop-shop kind of place anymore. I end up splitting my shopping between three or four different stores just to try and get the best balance between quality and prices,” one reader wrote.

Wegmans

Wegmans, with 79 stores in the Eastern U.S., ranked No. 1 in a Consumer Reports survey of readers.

Wegmans and Trader Joe's are the nation's favorite supermarket chains while Pathmark and Wal-Mart rank at the bottom in a Consumer Reports survey released Tuesday.

Wegmans, which has stores in New York and several other East Coast states, topped the list, with Trader Joe’s and Publix close behind, according to the survey, compiled based on feedback from 24,203 readers.

Pathmark, a chain based in the Northeast, Wal-Mart Supercenter and Shaw's ranked lowest on the list.

All of the top picks received very high marks for service and cleanliness. Pathmark and Wal-Mart received the lowest marks for service, but Wal-Mart got excellent rankings for its prices.

But even at the most highly rated stores, readers still found plenty to criticize.

In general, the most common complaint was a shortage of checkout lanes. About one-fourth of the people who surveyed had that complaint.

Other gripes had to do with customer service. Readers complained about congested or cluttered aisles, advertised specials that were out of stock and inept bagging.

Rising grocery prices also appeared to be weighing heavily on people’s minds. Forty-three percent of those surveyed said they had switched grocers because they were looking for lower prices.

The stores with the five highest ratings were:

1. Wegmans
2. Trader Joe’s
3. Publix
4. Fareway Stores
5. Costco

The stores that received the lowest ratings were:

1. Pathmark
2. Wal-Mart Supercenter
3. Shaw’s
4. A&P
5. Jewel-Osco

Consumer Reports also offered a few tips for cutting your grocery bill, no matter where you shop.

Beware of sneaky signs: Just because something says “5 for $5” doesn’t mean you have to buy that many items.

Watch for the 9s: Just because something is $6.99 (or even 99 cents) doesn’t mean it’s a bargain.

Look around: Consumer Reports noted that vendors pay dearly to be right in your line of vision. Look for items that are high or low on the shelf, or those that aren’t featured at the end of the aisle. You may get a better deal.

When you think of student loans, you think of students and recent graduates -- younger people in their 20s and 30s working to pay off the thousands of dollars in debt from undergraduate and graduate schools.

It's a good bet you don't think of people in their 60s, 70s and even 80s struggling to pay off student debt. But new research shows that Americans 60 and older owe $36 billion in educational debt and account for 5 percent of delinquent student loans.

In some cases, the debt was incurred when adults went back to school later in life. In other cases the debt resulted from co-signed loans taken out by children.

Washington Post reporter Ylan Q. Mui, wrote about the research in The Washington Post and appeared on CNBC to discuss the trend:

The winners of the Mega Millions lottery could use hundreds of millions of dollars to buy an island, a ranch or even a small company or sports team.

Or the three winning ticketholders who have a claim on the historic $656 million jackpot could give all, or a good chunk, of it away.

A couple of hundred million dollars may not be enough to cure cancer or enact world peace, but experts say there are ways to use newfound wealth effectively.

(The exact amount each lottery winner would receive would depend on whether they take a lump sum payout or agree to yearly installment payments, and there are taxes to consider as well.)

Rob Mitchell, CEO of Atlas of Giving, which tracks data on philanthropy, recommends taking a no-nonsense approach: Figure out what very specific problem you want to address, and how to best do that.

“The people who have achieved the most satisfaction ... are those that have taken the most business-(like) approach,” he said.

Mitchell said that's easier if you decide to do something specific, like construct a building or a renovate a stadium. It's tougher if you have a more general idea, like helping homeless people.

Still, there are areas where you can really see where your money makes a difference.

Ross Fraser, spokesman for Feeding America, says that for $1, his agency can provide eight meals to the nation’s approximately 49 million people at risk of going hungry. That means $200 million would buy 1.6 billion meals.

One way to make a major mark is to focus on the philanthropies that aren’t as big, or well-known.

Very large sums of money are often donated to major philanthropic organizations or big arts and academic institutions, noted Naomi Levine, executive director of the George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University.

But Levine said she thinks an individual could have a much bigger impact on local organizations, and particularly those that serve vulnerable populations such as the hungry, homeless, elderly or disabled.

“I would hope that the person who has that kind of money to give away would give it to the small social service agencies that need it so badly today,” Levine said.

Still, you must be somewhat careful that a small organization will spend your money wisely. That means reading publicly available tax documents to make sure the organization is using its money effectively, and grilling key staff members to make sure they know what they’re doing.

You might also want to take a look at how the big givers have done it. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is also funded by billionaire Warren Buffett, has devoted more than $25 billion to fighting malaria and other issues.

In total, Americans gave more than $346 billion to charitable organizations in 2011, a 7.5 percent increase over the past year, according to Atlas of Giving.