Julie Rains's blog
Posted 4 days 13 hours ago by Julie Rains
Art and Leisure
My digital era middle-school-aged son has adopted the use of a low-tech, low-cost entertainment device. I have put much effort into convincing him to balance his love of technology with quieter pursuits that don’t require electricity, batteries, or cash, so when he took a break from making Youtube videos (produced using hypercam to record computer-screen action, then edited via PowerPoint), I was pleased. He loves the versatility of his newfound toy; I love the price tag.
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Posted 1 week 2 days ago by Julie Rains
Career Building
If you’re a recent grad, I hope you've snagged the job of your dreams with a great company, perhaps after having completed summer internships or cooperative work programs with your current employer. But you may be in the midst of a job search (or as a rising senior, getting ready to launch a campaign) and wondering what should be included on your résumé and what is best left unsaid. Will the bartending gig make you seem unsuitable for corporate life? Will employers avoid those who have spent summers on church mission trips? I’ll share ways to translate class projects, volunteer activities, and campus involvement into real-life skills valuable in the workplace.
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Posted 3 weeks 3 days ago by Julie Rains
Lifestyle, Cars and Transportation
Spotted moving along on the roads in my city just last week was a golf cart. Is this solution to high gas prices (a bare-bones battery-powered vehicle) wise or even legal? I’ll tell you about a village that limits gas-powered vehicles in favor of electric golf carts and give you tips on using golf carts for more than just toting around clubs on the golf course.
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Posted 4 weeks 2 hours ago by Julie Rains
Frugal Living, General Tips, Health and Beauty
Healthcare will most likely be my family's largest expense in a couple of years, when we've finished paying our home mortgage. We're not heavy users of the healthcare system, so what have we done to incur such high costs? We're Americans who want to protect our family from a medically-induced financial disaster. Fortunately, I just read a book ("Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely" by Davis Liu, M.D.) that gave me a better understanding of the healthcare system and how I can get the most value for my dollar. Here are 50-plus ways plus to save money without compromising your well-being.
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Posted 5 weeks 9 hours ago by Julie Rains
Life Hacks, Budgeting
I brought a bag filled with quarters to pay for my meal at an Italian restaurant recently. I’ve been taking an informal survey of merchants to see who welcomes my coins. Having received a cool reception from the cashier at a gas/convenience store, I modified my coin-paying technique; now I carry quarters in a plastic bag separate from dimes, nickels, and pennies to accelerate sales transactions. When I showed my bag to the restaurant cashier (also the hostess, waitress, and owner’s wife), I was amused and surprised at her gesture. I'll tell you what I learned from this encounter and share the best places I've found to spend my coins.
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Posted 5 weeks 4 days ago by Julie Rains
Entrepreneurship
Former kid entrepreneur and now Chief Executive Officer of iContact (an email marketing company), Ryan Allis, has lots of ideas for getting money to grow a business. He’s got real-world experience, which he shares in his book "Zero to One Million: How I Built A Company to $1 Million in Sales... And How You Can, Too." Using Ryan's expertise as a guide, I’ll tell you about ways, simple to sophisticated, to get money for your business.
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Posted 6 weeks 4 days ago by Julie Rains
Life Hacks
A guy who calls himself “Sarge” and I, accompanied by 9 fellow cyclists and a support crew, spent about 17 hours riding 250 miles to the beach in 3 days, just last week. Sharing the common traits of strong endurance and moderate speed, Sarge and I opted to stick together on this charity ride: he, a 70-year-old retired Master Sergeant-U.S. Army (Vietnam War-2 tours, 200 paratrooper jumps) and inner-city teaching veteran (ROTC Instructor, high school cross-country coach) and me, a suburban mom of 2. Here’s what I learned.
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Posted 6 weeks 6 days ago by Julie Rains
Freebies
Friday, June 6, 2008 is National Doughnut Day (USA). To celebrate, participating stores of a national chain will offer a free doughnut (one per person) to its guests.
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Posted 8 weeks 4 days ago by Julie Rains
Career and Income, Life Hacks, Health and Beauty
A recruiter friend once told me that a good manager is one who gets things done and honors appointments or at least calls and reschedules, but a true executive makes time for priorities even in the midst of crisis. At the time, we were trying to figure out how to accommodate a mutual client, who was dealing with too many urgent items. I hadn’t thought much about my friend’s observation until I reflected on the advice in "Executive Stamina" by executive coach Marty Seldman, Ph.D. and endurance athlete/fitness coach Joshua Seldman. I’ll share ideas that can help you become calm, focused, energetic, and successful.
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Posted 9 weeks 5 days ago by Julie Rains
Life Hacks
Want to get good grades in college or help your favorite student thrive? My older sister gave me what I still consider the single best piece of advice on how to do well in college. Struggling College Student of College Survival Tools agrees, and has more timeless and contemporary tips.
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Posted 11 weeks 1 day ago by Julie Rains
Career Building
Once upon a time (aka when I was a kid), the job of U.S. President was deemed the ultimate career destination. Considering the careers of the current contenders (Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain) has helped me to see that the path to success may not be a straight one. What are the career-building lessons among those who aspire to world leader?
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Posted 12 weeks 6 days ago by Julie Rains
Personal Finance, Career and Income
Your company has announced a soon-to-come layoff or you’ve been escorted out of the door. What’s next? What should you do…before updating your résumé, tapping into your professional network, and looking for a job? (Those of you who are considering career changes may also find this guide useful).
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Posted 14 weeks 1 day ago by Julie Rains
Life Hacks, Health and Beauty
How are your resolutions to get fit, exercise more, and lose weight going? If you need a nudge or some encouragement, check out my doable-with-a-busy-schedule approach to getting results.
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Posted 15 weeks 1 day ago by Julie Rains
Frugal Living, Life Hacks
It's not expensive to be nice -- in fact, it often costs nothing as Paul mentioned last week. Here are 12 easy ways to be nice that cost zero and a bonus idea that will set you back just a buck or two.
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Posted 15 weeks 6 days ago by Julie Rains
Career and Income, Real Estate and Housing, Investment
Ever met a rich idiot? I’ve known at least two. Not counting my telephone conversation with self-proclaimed Rich Idiot and multimillionaire Robert Shemin (author of “How come THAT idiot’s rich and I’m NOT?”), I’ve also shaken hands with a guy who impressed me with his simplicity and wealth. We met briefly in a parking lot before a company meeting: I was dressed in standard corporate attire; he wore a khaki jumpsuit with his first name (“Don”) stitched in red. A college dropout, Don had just purchased my employer, a food processor with an Ivy League grad as its chief executive and a Ph.D. at the helm of its largest subsidiary. So what do Robert and Don (#346 of Forbes’ The Richest Americans in 2005) have in common?
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Posted 18 weeks 5 days ago by Julie Rains
Shopping
My husband bought a pair of gym shorts for my oldest son a couple of weeks ago. The shorts lasted for one day before having a small tear at one of the critical seams. Contrast that experience with a shirt that I’ve worn and washed almost weekly for over 15 years with no seams tearing or buttons missing. How can I tell if something will last?
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Posted 19 weeks 3 days ago by Julie Rains
Life Hacks, Career Building
How is a job search like a romantic adventure or misadventure? Let me count the ways: nine. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell if a company is truly interested or just isn’t into you, here are clues on interpreting the signals.
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Posted 20 weeks 2 days ago by Julie Rains
Taxes
What's certain about life: death, taxes, and changes in tax laws. So my best tax advice is "keep up with tax laws." Coasting along with financial vehicles and investment strategies aligned with outdated tax laws may be dangerous. Stir in frequent changes to your personal circumstances and you’ll cook up some not-so-great decisions. I'll discuss some rules that have changed for parents, homeowners, business owners, borrowers, investors, and anyone with plans to retire.
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Posted 20 weeks 6 days ago by Julie Rains
Personal Finance
Ever wonder how the person with about the same salary as you lives in a fully furnished apartment, enjoys Caribbean vacations, and is setting aside money for retirement while you share space with an ever-changing roster of roommates, are hoping for a weekend stay at the beach, and are still paying off student loans? I'll share a secret.
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Posted 22 weeks 1 day ago by Julie Rains
Personal Finance, Life Hacks
The last person I thought would impart valuable spiritual wisdom is self-proclaimed rich idiot and wealth guru Robert Shemin, author of “How Come That Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not?" (release date of March 4, 2008). I spoke to him by telephone during a break from his charity work with street children in Medellín, Colombia. The question I posed to him, “Of the four spiritual concepts from your book: abundance, forgiveness, commitment, and gratitude, which is most essential to being wealthy?” His answer surprised me.
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