When I was in high school. My dad helped me get a credit card as soon as I was old enough so I could learn how to use it (pay it off every month) and start building a credit history.
That's right, Crystal, thanks for clarifying the crib-safety issue. You can still find plenty of good-brand, used cribs, not very old, and if you do a thorough inspection (and, of course, make sure it's not a drop-side) then you can end up with a high-quality crib for a small investment.
I just heard about the Amazon Mom club myself... if I don't go with cloth diapering for my next, I'm definitely joining! I love the discount + getting them delivered to my door.
Thanks, Shannon - I really appreciate your input here, in fact, I'm thinking this might be a great option for my 4th. I wasn't in a hurry to go get another crib & was planning on baby 4 being in the room with us for at least a few months. I love the simplicity.
i received my first credit card at the age of 20 .when i had to get a loan to help pay for a semester of collage.the bank gave me an application when i got the loan.i used the card for 30 yrs. then i paid it off & had some problems with some of my other cards.then they canceled the card for lack of use. biggest credit mistake i ever made i no longer use any of the credit cards.i now save up the cash pay for the item. debt is no longer an option.
Canceling your card at such a young age may have a negative impact on your credit scores. I would suggest for you to keep the card and use it once every few month on something small (like filling up your car), then pay it off immediately. This will keep your account active and current.
Actively pursuing two tasks at once is detrimental to both; the human mind doesn't truly multitask, rather it slices attention.
That being said, relying on a machine to do a task as you oversee it doesn't fall into my definition of multitasking. So I don't believe my hubby when he says, "I did laundry for three hours today." No, he spent actively about 30 minutes loading, switching and folding. The rest of the time the machines did the work.
Got my first credit card soon after I turned 18. I used it ONLY for gas. Since then, I've never held a balance (ever, that's over 10 years of using cards). I think if you get a card and you're just starting out, know what you're going to use it for and just keep that mindframe and you'll be good to go (i.e. Only groceries and gas. Or only at a certain store. etc). That's help you build up credit and keep you from overspending on things you want but don't need (and go into debt). If you think you can't be disciplined with a card, best to just pass the temptation of having one.
My parents were really big on having me learn how to manage money at an early age so my dad cosigned for me to have a credit card at 15. It only had a $200 limit (it was like 1985, so that was a decent amount then) and his only requirement was that I had to budget my money to pay it off every month (from babysitting, gifts, odd jobs, etc.). After a year of proving I could handle it, he increased the limit to $500, then $1000. By the time I left for college I had a $2500 limit and a kicking credit score- which enabled me to apply for a credit card without my parents.
How about not assuming that you are talking to a bunch of idiots who are unaware of economics? We're not talking about sending coats to Africa. We're talking about giving them to communities where these stores exist. And if you are going to still claim that this waste is "essential" to profiting in the system, then we need a different system. There is no excuse for this kind of waste. NONE.
Right after I graduated college. My Dad told me to get an American Express card so I would have to pay it off every month. It got me into good credit card habits and I have never carried a balance on any of my cards
Andrea, I love your writing. Your thoughts parallel mine pretty much exactly. My view is that, ideally, you should already have a pretty good relationship with the person from whom you're asking for your raise, right? It seems to me that if you're honest with that person about what you want and what you think you're worth, he or she is not going to think you're overly aggressive because he or she knows you and your personality. Or, if you need to go to HR or someone else who you DON'T know to ask for a raise, at least you can get your boss, who you DO know, on your side and he or she can become an advocate for you with HR. Although, I have a really awesome and supportive female boss, so my perceptions might be skewed.
And, of course, this doesn't really apply to salary negotiations at a new job. Ugh. This whole thing really bums me out. I mean, it's good to know, but what a huge bummer. :-(
I agree with all but the 4th point - my sister and I shared a room for 9 years and we are anything but close.
It would be nice to be able to purchase these small homes that Kentin lauds. I own a 1,500 sq ft home on a 7,000 sq ft lot, built in 1986. Is that too much house for one person and two cats? Absolutely. I would have loved to purchase a 1,000-1,100 sq ft home when I bought mine 12 years ago, but here in So. Cal. if you want something that size in a decent area, you have to buy a condo/townhome, or buy an old beach house that's twice the price because of the proximity to the ocean and has two-story monstrosities that have been recently built out to the property limits next door.
I detest common walls - ohhhh, the horror stories I can tell of the 8 years when I owned a condo - if I have any choice at all I will never live in anything other than a detached home again. Besides, I love to garden, and having a dozen fruit trees and all sorts of veggies in that huge back yard makes it worth the upkeep of the house. Two more months and I won't be buying fruit unil December, and I'm already harvesting my oranges, lettuce and snap peas.
In another 25 years when the homeowner's association dissolves, perhaps I'll be able to raze the house, build something smaller and keep my yard - for now, I'm stuck with the "look" approved by the HOA (including the incredibly wasteful vaulted ceiling in the living room...).
I agree that you just need a sturdy crib and it doesn't have to be new. However, make sure you do not buy the drop-side cribs. They were recently outlawed due to the high number of infant fatalities. You can read about it here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40678788/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/. I also advise any mom, new or not, to sign up for Amazon Mom - you can save 30% on diapers and wipes with their subscribe and save feature, with free 2-day shipping! I didn't find out about that until my daughter was about 18 months old and I wish I had known about it sooner!
I think men still feel superior to women and want them to "know their place" (be happy with what you're given), and women are just naturally judgmental of each other (they say women dress for other women, not for men). Those issues may play a role in the inequality seen here.
I think women would like to be as straight forward as men when it comes to negotiating, but the truth is that women (general historical meaning) have had to use different methods than men to achieve the same professional positions because of stereotypes that had to be overcome, and it is going to take a different approach to achieve the same monetary value until even more stereotypes are surmounted.
My psychological warfare explained:
A tactic I like to use reminds me of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" where the women came up with a plan and let the men think it was their idea.
Whenever I am about to make a major life change, I ask my boss for any words of wisdom and how he handled the financial aspect. I wrap up this little chat with a project status report or a quick, “I should get back to X, so that I can have it to Y by Z.” This quickly lets my boss know my financial focus and that I still consider work a priority.
Also, I know when I am scheduled to get a raise, and I proactively ask my boss for a job performance evaluation about a month beforehand. I make sure that he does 95% of the talking and only drop guidance questions or accomplishment tidbits such as, “Was the client pleased with X project?” “Since I was in charge of X, I wanted to make sure that it was done with the highest standards and efficiency”. At the end of the job performance evaluation I make the statement "I just want to make sure that I am meeting all company expectations and that you will let me know if there is something that I can improve upon. I will have been here for X years next month and I want to make sure I am reaching my maximum potential within the company."
These two things put me in a very good passive negotiating position. My boss already knows my needs and has already sold himself on my value to the company. Plus, I have let him know that I know that I am due for a raise soon without causing an awkward scenario. For me, this has guaranteed at least a 5% pay increase each time, but if it didn’t, I would have already made 90% of my justifications for a raise.
I haven’t tried it personally, but I have heard of others using a series of questions to get their boss to ask them what they think they deserve. Taking the initiative to ask for a performance evaluation should also motivate you to do some research beforehand to know where the market is or what you think would be an effective replacement in lieu of a paycheck increase (one-time bonus, extra vacation, company car, etc).
Remember, most people fail their first attempt, so try a practice interview with a friend or parent where they offer you a low increase and you negotiate for everything you are worth.
Non-cash charitable contributions is one of my favorites too, and I'm always amazed by how many people don't take advantage of it. I even made a trip to Goodwill with a friend recently, and when I printed out my receipt, she decided to pass on getting one for her stuff!
Glad you enjoyed it, Mikey! Something related to taking a picture that I remembered after posting this is creating a video. A couple I knew posted personalized thank-you videos online after their wedding instead of sending notes. Some might argue that writing physical cards post-wedding is a tradition that shouldn't be broken, but I thought it was such a neat way to be frugal and come off as even more personal than they might've in a note.
Another benefit of using cloth diapers is that babies tend to break out with fewer rashes. Between changing them more often because cloth doesn't hold as much liquid, the fact that the wet isn't held up against their skin by the fabric, and that there isn't anything weird chemical wise in a cloth diaper, it seems to cut down on the number and severity of rashes. My second broke out whenever I used disposable, no matter what the brand but with cloth she had no problems.
I'm with you on that Shannon! So many people argue the dangers of co-sleeping without understanding the full truth. To co-sleep safely, you must stay drug and alcohol free until your child has his or her own bed. It's always a parent under the influence after a party that makes the news with a tragic story. When done right, co-sleeping is the best thing for your family.
I am 53 years old and got my first credit card when I was 18, fresh out of high school and working full-time as an accounts receivable clerk and part-time as a dental assistant. My favorite Aunt gave me a wallet for my 18th birthday that had 12 slots for cards and I was determined to fill each slot and successfully did. I have battled with credit card debt all of my adult life and just 2 years ago decided that I needed to rid myself of all credit card debt, I closed 9 credit card accounts and have kept 1 card that only has a limit of 750.00 that I pay off each month. I have reduced my credit card debt from a high of 54,000 to 36,300, my credit score has increased each month since I have started my journey of credit card debt elimination.
When I was in high school. My dad helped me get a credit card as soon as I was old enough so I could learn how to use it (pay it off every month) and start building a credit history.
That's right, Crystal, thanks for clarifying the crib-safety issue. You can still find plenty of good-brand, used cribs, not very old, and if you do a thorough inspection (and, of course, make sure it's not a drop-side) then you can end up with a high-quality crib for a small investment.
I just heard about the Amazon Mom club myself... if I don't go with cloth diapering for my next, I'm definitely joining! I love the discount + getting them delivered to my door.
I'm finding myself more and more convinced about cloth diapering... Thanks for your input on this, Debbie.
Thanks, Shannon - I really appreciate your input here, in fact, I'm thinking this might be a great option for my 4th. I wasn't in a hurry to go get another crib & was planning on baby 4 being in the room with us for at least a few months. I love the simplicity.
i received my first credit card at the age of 20 .when i had to get a loan to help pay for a semester of collage.the bank gave me an application when i got the loan.i used the card for 30 yrs. then i paid it off & had some problems with some of my other cards.then they canceled the card for lack of use. biggest credit mistake i ever made i no longer use any of the credit cards.i now save up the cash pay for the item. debt is no longer an option.
Excellent response!! Practical advice! Thank you!
Canceling your card at such a young age may have a negative impact on your credit scores. I would suggest for you to keep the card and use it once every few month on something small (like filling up your car), then pay it off immediately. This will keep your account active and current.
Actively pursuing two tasks at once is detrimental to both; the human mind doesn't truly multitask, rather it slices attention.
That being said, relying on a machine to do a task as you oversee it doesn't fall into my definition of multitasking. So I don't believe my hubby when he says, "I did laundry for three hours today." No, he spent actively about 30 minutes loading, switching and folding. The rest of the time the machines did the work.
I got my first credit card when I was 18.
Got my first credit card soon after I turned 18. I used it ONLY for gas. Since then, I've never held a balance (ever, that's over 10 years of using cards). I think if you get a card and you're just starting out, know what you're going to use it for and just keep that mindframe and you'll be good to go (i.e. Only groceries and gas. Or only at a certain store. etc). That's help you build up credit and keep you from overspending on things you want but don't need (and go into debt). If you think you can't be disciplined with a card, best to just pass the temptation of having one.
My parents were really big on having me learn how to manage money at an early age so my dad cosigned for me to have a credit card at 15. It only had a $200 limit (it was like 1985, so that was a decent amount then) and his only requirement was that I had to budget my money to pay it off every month (from babysitting, gifts, odd jobs, etc.). After a year of proving I could handle it, he increased the limit to $500, then $1000. By the time I left for college I had a $2500 limit and a kicking credit score- which enabled me to apply for a credit card without my parents.
How about not assuming that you are talking to a bunch of idiots who are unaware of economics? We're not talking about sending coats to Africa. We're talking about giving them to communities where these stores exist. And if you are going to still claim that this waste is "essential" to profiting in the system, then we need a different system. There is no excuse for this kind of waste. NONE.
Right after I graduated college. My Dad told me to get an American Express card so I would have to pay it off every month. It got me into good credit card habits and I have never carried a balance on any of my cards
Andrea, I love your writing. Your thoughts parallel mine pretty much exactly. My view is that, ideally, you should already have a pretty good relationship with the person from whom you're asking for your raise, right? It seems to me that if you're honest with that person about what you want and what you think you're worth, he or she is not going to think you're overly aggressive because he or she knows you and your personality. Or, if you need to go to HR or someone else who you DON'T know to ask for a raise, at least you can get your boss, who you DO know, on your side and he or she can become an advocate for you with HR. Although, I have a really awesome and supportive female boss, so my perceptions might be skewed.
And, of course, this doesn't really apply to salary negotiations at a new job. Ugh. This whole thing really bums me out. I mean, it's good to know, but what a huge bummer. :-(
Age 18, in college. Luckily (or not), my parents gave me such a great example of what not to do that I never had or have carried a balance.
I agree with all but the 4th point - my sister and I shared a room for 9 years and we are anything but close.
It would be nice to be able to purchase these small homes that Kentin lauds. I own a 1,500 sq ft home on a 7,000 sq ft lot, built in 1986. Is that too much house for one person and two cats? Absolutely. I would have loved to purchase a 1,000-1,100 sq ft home when I bought mine 12 years ago, but here in So. Cal. if you want something that size in a decent area, you have to buy a condo/townhome, or buy an old beach house that's twice the price because of the proximity to the ocean and has two-story monstrosities that have been recently built out to the property limits next door.
I detest common walls - ohhhh, the horror stories I can tell of the 8 years when I owned a condo - if I have any choice at all I will never live in anything other than a detached home again. Besides, I love to garden, and having a dozen fruit trees and all sorts of veggies in that huge back yard makes it worth the upkeep of the house. Two more months and I won't be buying fruit unil December, and I'm already harvesting my oranges, lettuce and snap peas.
In another 25 years when the homeowner's association dissolves, perhaps I'll be able to raze the house, build something smaller and keep my yard - for now, I'm stuck with the "look" approved by the HOA (including the incredibly wasteful vaulted ceiling in the living room...).
I agree that you just need a sturdy crib and it doesn't have to be new. However, make sure you do not buy the drop-side cribs. They were recently outlawed due to the high number of infant fatalities. You can read about it here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40678788/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/. I also advise any mom, new or not, to sign up for Amazon Mom - you can save 30% on diapers and wipes with their subscribe and save feature, with free 2-day shipping! I didn't find out about that until my daughter was about 18 months old and I wish I had known about it sooner!
Right when I turned 18
I think men still feel superior to women and want them to "know their place" (be happy with what you're given), and women are just naturally judgmental of each other (they say women dress for other women, not for men). Those issues may play a role in the inequality seen here.
This article made me think of Hillary Clinton.
I think women would like to be as straight forward as men when it comes to negotiating, but the truth is that women (general historical meaning) have had to use different methods than men to achieve the same professional positions because of stereotypes that had to be overcome, and it is going to take a different approach to achieve the same monetary value until even more stereotypes are surmounted.
My psychological warfare explained:
A tactic I like to use reminds me of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" where the women came up with a plan and let the men think it was their idea.
Whenever I am about to make a major life change, I ask my boss for any words of wisdom and how he handled the financial aspect. I wrap up this little chat with a project status report or a quick, “I should get back to X, so that I can have it to Y by Z.” This quickly lets my boss know my financial focus and that I still consider work a priority.
Also, I know when I am scheduled to get a raise, and I proactively ask my boss for a job performance evaluation about a month beforehand. I make sure that he does 95% of the talking and only drop guidance questions or accomplishment tidbits such as, “Was the client pleased with X project?” “Since I was in charge of X, I wanted to make sure that it was done with the highest standards and efficiency”. At the end of the job performance evaluation I make the statement "I just want to make sure that I am meeting all company expectations and that you will let me know if there is something that I can improve upon. I will have been here for X years next month and I want to make sure I am reaching my maximum potential within the company."
These two things put me in a very good passive negotiating position. My boss already knows my needs and has already sold himself on my value to the company. Plus, I have let him know that I know that I am due for a raise soon without causing an awkward scenario. For me, this has guaranteed at least a 5% pay increase each time, but if it didn’t, I would have already made 90% of my justifications for a raise.
I haven’t tried it personally, but I have heard of others using a series of questions to get their boss to ask them what they think they deserve. Taking the initiative to ask for a performance evaluation should also motivate you to do some research beforehand to know where the market is or what you think would be an effective replacement in lieu of a paycheck increase (one-time bonus, extra vacation, company car, etc).
Remember, most people fail their first attempt, so try a practice interview with a friend or parent where they offer you a low increase and you negotiate for everything you are worth.
Non-cash charitable contributions is one of my favorites too, and I'm always amazed by how many people don't take advantage of it. I even made a trip to Goodwill with a friend recently, and when I printed out my receipt, she decided to pass on getting one for her stuff!
Glad you enjoyed it, Mikey! Something related to taking a picture that I remembered after posting this is creating a video. A couple I knew posted personalized thank-you videos online after their wedding instead of sending notes. Some might argue that writing physical cards post-wedding is a tradition that shouldn't be broken, but I thought it was such a neat way to be frugal and come off as even more personal than they might've in a note.
Another benefit of using cloth diapers is that babies tend to break out with fewer rashes. Between changing them more often because cloth doesn't hold as much liquid, the fact that the wet isn't held up against their skin by the fabric, and that there isn't anything weird chemical wise in a cloth diaper, it seems to cut down on the number and severity of rashes. My second broke out whenever I used disposable, no matter what the brand but with cloth she had no problems.
I'm with you on that Shannon! So many people argue the dangers of co-sleeping without understanding the full truth. To co-sleep safely, you must stay drug and alcohol free until your child has his or her own bed. It's always a parent under the influence after a party that makes the news with a tragic story. When done right, co-sleeping is the best thing for your family.
I am 53 years old and got my first credit card when I was 18, fresh out of high school and working full-time as an accounts receivable clerk and part-time as a dental assistant. My favorite Aunt gave me a wallet for my 18th birthday that had 12 slots for cards and I was determined to fill each slot and successfully did. I have battled with credit card debt all of my adult life and just 2 years ago decided that I needed to rid myself of all credit card debt, I closed 9 credit card accounts and have kept 1 card that only has a limit of 750.00 that I pay off each month. I have reduced my credit card debt from a high of 54,000 to 36,300, my credit score has increased each month since I have started my journey of credit card debt elimination.