Posted November 18, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted November 2, 2009 - 07:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted October 22, 2009 - 12:15 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted October 8, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted September 25, 2009 - 06:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted September 19, 2009 - 07:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted September 11, 2009 - 11:29 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted September 3, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted August 19, 2009 - 05:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted August 10, 2009 - 06:46 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted July 15, 2009 - 12:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted July 13, 2009 - 09:00 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted June 25, 2009 - 08:43 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted June 11, 2009 - 09:09 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted June 4, 2009 - 08:22 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted May 18, 2009 - 11:23 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted May 7, 2009 - 05:54 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted April 29, 2009 - 05:34 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted April 16, 2009 - 09:08 by Julie Rains
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.
Posted April 8, 2009 - 12:43 by Julie Rains
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.
Have more to say? Join the discussions at Wise Bread's Finance and Frugality Forums.
Interest Only Mortgages
Before opting for interest only mortgages, click to see what the advisors have to say!
© 2009
Wise Bread |
About |
Advertise |
Contact |
Forums | Financial Blogs | Login |
Subscribe
User Agreement |
Privacy Policy |
Copyright
A Killer Aces Media FairBlog™
Subscribe to all Wise Bread articles
All comments