Julie Rains's blog

What It Really Costs to Own a Home

Posted November 18, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains

Real Estate and Housing, Budgeting

nice yellow house

I’m a mortgage-free homeowner but, despite paying off my loan, I still have plenty of expenses associated with owning and maintaining my house. Some have been easy to anticipate; others, not so obvious. Either way, the dollars add up. I’ll tell you about some costs to consider for budgeting purposes.

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Networking Basics for Regular People

Posted November 2, 2009 - 07:00 by Julie Rains

Career Building

networking event

Competition for jobs is fierce but networking is one way of differentiating yourself as a stellar candidate. Here are tips on networking basics as well as ideas on how to avoid seeming desperate and how to use Twitter during a job search.

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Tools to Get Organized, Family Style

Posted October 22, 2009 - 12:15 by Julie Rains

Productivity, Budgeting

teen on computer

Many people think I’m incredibly well organized because I can easily manage (certain) projects and recite dates, locations, deadlines, etc. for my family’s activities. The truth is that I’d be almost completely lost without my computer. Here are some easy-to-follow, tech-oriented tips on keeping things together whether there are toddlers or teenagers running amok at your house.

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Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids

Posted October 8, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains

Art and Leisure

football player costume

I love Halloween but hate paying high prices for kids' costumes. Over the years, I have managed to create a few costumes cheaply without tapping into my extremely sparse (nonexistent?) sewing and craft skills. Here are some costume ideas (suitable for kids of various ages) that could save you money with minimal effort.

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Awesome Accomplishments: 50+ Questions to Ask Yourself and Figure Out What You've Done

Posted September 25, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains

Career Building

hands reaching over water with shadowy reflection

Figuring out what you've accomplished at work is essential to demonstrating your value to employers and clients. Though some people are keenly aware of their accomplishments, others stumble. Often, these other folks have made great contributions, but don't have highly visible results. Here are 50+ questions to jumpstart the process of articulating awesome accomplishments.

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One Talent, Multiple Streams of Income

Posted September 19, 2009 - 07:00 by Julie Rains

Entrepreneurship

artist with artwork of Texas wildflowers

Wondering how to use creative talents to pay the bills now and build for retirement later? Last week, I spoke with Texas wildflower artist Linda Calvert Jacobson about what works for her. I'll share her strategies so that you can find ways to invest your talents.

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5 Fatal Assumptions of Job Seekers

Posted September 11, 2009 - 11:29 by Julie Rains

Career Building

train tracks with neon look

Many people are job hunting these days. I have worked with job seekers for many years and have found that these five common assumptions frequently derail a job search.

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Summer Camp as a Side Business

Posted September 3, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains

Making Extra Cash, Entrepreneurship

kids with Lego robots at summer camp

My tween son went to a Lego camp this summer so that he could learn robotics, something I wasn’t sure I could teach him since his technical skills typically surpass mine. My initial fascination was with the computer programming aspect of the camp. Then, I became intrigued with the idea of running a summer camp as a side business. So, I spoke with seasoned camp directors about how they turned summer weeks into extra income. Here's a road map for a summer camp business.

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How to Get Good Advice

Posted August 19, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains

General Tips

person getting advice from TV psychologist Bob Newhart (statue)

Sometimes the shortest and best path to making a decision or solving a problem is to ask for insights from a wise person. Here are ways to make sure you are getting good advice.

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Remember Where You Parked Your Car and More: 35 Practical Uses of a Digital Camera

Posted August 10, 2009 - 06:46 by Julie Rains

Technology

camera lens

Creativity, frugality, and, on occasion, desperation can inspire innovative uses of the digital camera. Whether it is a standalone device or part of a smartphone or PDA, don't leave home without it. Here are 35 ways to be more productive, have fun, and save money with your digital camera.

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No Limit, No Interest: What’s the Deal with Charge Cards?

Posted July 15, 2009 - 12:00 by Julie Rains

Credit Cards

Choosing a credit or charge card

Charge cards, like their credit-card cousins, allow cardholders to use plastic cards to make purchases and then pay at the end of a settlement period, typically on a monthly basis. If you want the convenience and security of credit cards, without the risk of incurring debt and paying finance charges, a charge card may be for you.

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Close-to-Home Outdoor Adventure Basics

Posted July 13, 2009 - 09:00 by Julie Rains

Art and Leisure

mountain view

I know many people would like to spend more time outdoors, but may not know where to start. Here are some of my favorite modes of outdoor exploration that doesn't require too much research and preparation. Use them to plan a quick weekend adventure or spice up a staycation.

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The Informational Interview: What Not To Say and More

Posted June 25, 2009 - 08:43 by Julie Rains

Career Building

person on phone interview

I have encountered job seekers who had taken part in informational interviews but seemed to find them fruitless. Admittedly, having helped many clients using a straightforward approach, I was skeptical about the winding path to a career that the informational-interview process seems to represent. Recent conversations have shown me that taking the right approach, though, can land positions in competitive fields even in a difficult economy. I'll share what I learned about what not to say, how to leverage social media, and more.

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5 Perfectly Respectable Ways To Get A Free Meal

Posted June 11, 2009 - 09:09 by Julie Rains

Life Hacks, Food and Drink

dinner table with white tablecloth

If you’re willing to be patient, gracious, and alert to opportunities, you can enjoy free meals on certain occasions. Here are ways that have worked for me.

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How Online Job Boards Can Actually Help A Job Search

Posted June 4, 2009 - 08:22 by Julie Rains

Productivity, Career Building

people looking at job boards

There was a brief period, before the last recession, when my career-services clients actually found jobs on online job boards. They’d post resumes, and interview requests and job offers quickly followed. For the past several years, though, clients have told me that they felt as if online applications led to a black hole: resumes were submitted but companies never made contact; even a rejection letter would have meant progress, indicating that a human was somehow involved in the decision-making process. Though I don’t recommend online boards as a direct path to a new position, I do find them extremely useful in a job search and I’ll tell you why.

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Down-To-Earth Financial Advice From A Mountain-Climbing Adviser

Posted May 18, 2009 - 11:23 by Julie Rains

Investment

person on top of Mount Rainier

I just finished reading The New Coffeehouse Investor by financial adviser Bill Schultheis. He's an index-fund investor and discusses his rationale for investing in non-managed funds. What I enjoyed most, besides his easy-to-follow style and references to mountain climbing and other adventures, was the way he applied analogies of common activities to making some financial decisions. I'll tell you about my favorite comparisons and give you the basics of his investment planning.

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How To Be Happy And Married: 24 Tips From A 24-Year-Old Marriage

Posted May 7, 2009 - 05:54 by Julie Rains

Life Hacks

bride holding roses next to groom

My husband and I celebrated our 24th anniversary last week. Here are a few things I've learned about having a happy, long-lasting marriage.

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A Frugal Resource: The Community College

Posted April 29, 2009 - 05:34 by Julie Rains

Career and Income, Productivity, Budgeting

community college building at night

One of my favorite frugal resources is the community college. Even though I’ve taken several classes at my local college, I’ve barely tapped into the depth of resources available not only to enrolled students but also to community members. Here are ideas on getting value from your tuition and tax money, especially useful for the currently employed, unemployed, entrepreneurs, and business owners interested in starting a new career, expanding skills, and saving money.

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Gifts For Grads

Posted April 16, 2009 - 09:08 by Julie Rains

Life Hacks, Shopping

graduate figurine on cake

Around springtime last year, as my niece’s university graduation date loomed, I picked out (but waited to buy) what I thought would be an ideal gift: a watch with her alma mater’s insignia emblazoned on its face. I emailed my sister to get my niece’s mailing address and found out, very quickly, that she didn’t need a watch but was ready with alternatives. Here are a few picks for graduation gifts and ideas for those soon to graduate, from a gift-giving perspective.

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Translating Volunteer Experiences to Workplace Credentials

Posted April 8, 2009 - 12:43 by Julie Rains

Career Building

volunteers and USACE preparing sand bags

Need ideas for parlaying volunteer hours into skills and experiences valued by employers? Even if you haven’t received a paycheck in exchange for creative ideas, event planning, or some equally worthy contribution of time and talent, you have proven capabilities that could be useful to the right organization. I’ll share ways to present volunteer experience as a meaningful part of your professional credentials.

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