With the gas prices on the rise and wallets getting ever tighter, traditional vacations are falling to the wayside for many this summer. To prevent anyone from missing out on the fun, Paltalk.com, the premier provider of software and technology for real-time, rich media, interactive social networking, has decided to help everyone take a trip to New York with their “Virtual Trip to NYC” video.

The fun and relaxing first person point-of-view stream will capture the sights and sounds of New York for those who are hoping to visit the city from afar. The stream allows anyone to take a virtual visit to New York without having to deal with luggage or requesting time off from work.

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Earning an allowance and doing chores around the house are rites of passage that most children go through and both are exceptionally important, in my opinion.  First, children learn valuable skills while helping with the laundry, doing the dishes, cleaning their room and vacuuming, and it's good for them to know that they have a role in helping out their family so that everything in the household runs smoothly.

Second, children should begin practicing how to be responsible with the money they earn at an early age.  Learning to successfully manage their finances now will pay huge dividends in the future.  Frecklebox has found a fun, unique and personalized way to help with both of these tasks through their chore charts and piggy banks.  I had the chance to review both of these items.  Keep reading to learn more!

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Summer is the season for romance as singles and couples seek magical moments amid the sunny and hot weather. However, creating a magical date can be a nerve-wrecking experience, depending on the dating situation. Thinking about what to wear, wondering if he/she will like you or stressing over what you will talk about is enough to make someone go crazy. With so much to think about, the last thing you need to worry about is your wallet.

Lucky for cost-conscious lovebirds, there are plenty of ways to spark a romantic connection without blowing your budget. Here are nine ways to enjoy a memorable yet inexpensive summer date:

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Spring fever has slowly subsided, but summer fever is swinging into full effect. While summer is always the big travel season in the United States, Americans are changing the way they take vacations. For example, look at the new partnership between Groupon and Expedia. They're following the increasingly popular deal-of-the-day model and offering significant discounts on travel packages that can include airfare, hotels, activities, car rentals and more.

That's not the only way to get to your destination for less, though. Try using these 9 thrifty travel tips to save some money on your next vacation.

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Recently, I began to reflect on my honeymoon, which occurred a little less than five years ago.  Both Michael and I had decided that we should take a cruise, because neither of us had ever been on one before.  Since we got married in December, it was such a neat change of pace to spend a week during the winter in the balmy lands of Mexico, the Honduras and Belize!

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Consumers across America are experiencing sticker shock with this month's electrical bill. While kilowatt rates vary by vendor, a new national increase is being seen across the country.

With the enactment of the Clear Air Interstate Rule from the Environmental Protection Agency, 31 states are required to substantially reduce power-plant emissions. Specifically, power plants must reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by a whopping 71 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 52 percent.

Coal is both the most common energy source and the primary cause of both emissions. As a result, this new regulation is expected to cost coal power plants billions of dollars for retrofitting or in facility replacements. Naturally, this expense is being passed on to consumers. Short of going "off the grid," what's a customer to do?  Here are 12 tips to help reduce your kilowatt usage.

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