Head Finance

Myths about Working Night (Graveyard) Shift

2015-01-18T06:03:00.001-08:00

The world has changed from the standard 9 AM to 5 PM working day to a 24 hour working day with more and more companies operating 24 hours in order to compete with other organizations, and for some services (police, hospitals, firefighters) it is necessary to be a 24 hour facility for public safety. However, many people have misconceptions about what it is that night shift workers do and have to adjust to in working this opposite work shift. Here are a few myths and truths about what it's like to work night (graveyard) shift:

Myth #1 - "Working night shift is nice because you get your days free."

Many people who haven't worked night shift or don't know anyone who works the night shift think that night shift workers have their whole day free since they work at night. When do night shift people sleep then? Night shift people do NOT have their days free. While it's true they may be able to adjust their sleeping schedule to accommodate doctor's appointments, picking/dropping off kids from school, night shift people (just like people who work during the day time) still need to sleep (night shift people aren't super-humans who can function with no sleep at all). Do people who work during the day shift say it's nice to work days since they get their nights free? No, same thing for night shift workers.

Myth #2 - "Night shift work is nice because you hardly have anything to do and you can sleep for most of the time you're at work."

Some people assume that if you work at night, you really don't have any work to do and can basically just be paid to sleep. That's not true at all. If a night shift worker doesn't have anything to do the whole night, every night, then there's no reason for them to be there, right? Companies and organizations that have people working night shift have them there for a reason, there's work that needs to be done at night. Although in most places it's not as busy during the night as it is during the day, there are other background tasks that night shift workers get assigned and finish (such as cleaning out old stock, doing reports or audits, etc). Also, studies have shown workers during the night shift won't be as productive as their day time counterparts because no matter how long they have been working night shift, night shift workers' bodies are still fighting against the natural urge to sleep at night. So it's still hard for them to get as much work done as a day shift worker who's fresh and awake with the sun shining.

Myth #3 - "Calling night shift workers during the day is okay since they are usually up anyways."

One mistake that some management people (who are usually working during the day) and friends/family of night shift workers make is that if there's something they need to talk about, they try to call them during day time hours (like around noon time or in the afternoon) thinking that night shift workers usually are awake, so if they need to talk about something, it's okay to call them. Luckily, now a lot of phones have a "Do not Disturb" setting, so any phone calls (unless truly an emergency) go right to voicemail and don't even ring. Just like how day shift people don't like getting calls at 3 AM, night shift workers don't like to get calls at 1 PM or 3 PM unless it's a critical emergency. People who work during the day don't appreciate getting a call at 3 AM from someone just to chit-chat, so night shift workers also don't like to get phone calls just to chit-chat or discuss non-emergency issues in the middle of their sleep time.

Myth #4 - "Night shift workers can be scheduled like day shift workers."

Although for day shift workers working 4 days in a row, then having 1 day off and then working again 2 more days is a fine schedule, this is not the case for night shift workers. Since part of their "off day" is spent sleeping, just having one off day in between several days in a row working does not allow for them to have adequate down time (rest time). Traditionally night shift workers often work 7 days on, 7 days off, however some companies have tried to go away from this schedule to try and schedule night shift workers more like day shift workers for easier scheduling. Although many night shift workers can work this alternate schedule, all of them would prefer to work several days in a row, then have a few days off in between; just giving a night shift worker one day off in between several nights of working does not give them proper rest time and when they come back to work, they are more prone to making errors and not being as productive due to the fact they didn't get proper rest.

Myth #5 - "If one spouse works during the day and one at night, the night shift working spouse can watch the kids during the day time."

Although it might seem like the perfect setup to have one parent working during the daytime and one parent working at night, so someone is always with younger children, just because night shift workers are at home during the day doesn't mean the person working night shift can just sit with toddlers or other young children. Night shift workers are at home during the day because they need to sleep and watching younger children isn't something they should be doing when they have been up all night and are exhausted. The kids will be very active during the day time and although they can take some small naps during the day time, they need constant supervision, something a night shift worker who is exhausted cannot provide regularly.

Final thoughts about night shift workers:

Night shift workers are hard to recruit for most all professions since it's such an undesirable and difficult time to work. Also, since there is less staff at night in most places, night shift workers must often do the work of 2-3 (or more) people and if there is a management issue that comes up during the night, night shift workers are often tasked with having to make the call themselves or deciding if it's important enough that they need to contact their manager to make a decision.

Usually most people don't look at working night shift as a long-term career path due to the effect it has on a person's health and the difficulty of working a shift that runs opposite of a person's natural body clock. If you do need to work night shift, it's important to have the support of your family so that you can get adequate rest during the day time. Night shift is an important part of any organization because it opens up many more opportunities for the organization to better serve it's customers or serve the public and those who are sacrificing a lot by working night shift should be respected for their sacrifices.

2014-11-28T00:29:00.003-08:00

How to get the most bang for your money on Black Friday and for Holiday Shopping

One thing people love about holiday shopping is getting a great deal on electronics, toys, etc. However, one of the worst things you can do is get trapped by stores' tricks to lure shoppers into their stores, not have the door buster deal in stock, then you overpay for some item just so you won't go home empty handed.

Door busters are only for the truly dedicated: Unless you are willing to camp out in front of the store on the sidewalk for a day or two (or more sometimes), you won't be able to get that great door buster deal on the popular iPad, TV, etc. A great alternative to not missing Thanksgiving or other holiday events is to shop online from your home. Nowadays more and more retailers are offering more deals online. For example, Target offered a $140 Target gift card with purchase of the new iPad Air 2, and the deal wasn't just in store, but also online. Not only will you be much warmer inside, but you can shop online and still enjoy Thanksgiving with your family.

Don't feel bad if you miss out, deals will come and sometimes be better: They say patience is a virtue, and don't fall for the hype, the great deals will come again as we get closer to Christmas. Stores have been hyping up Black Friday as a marketing ploy to start the Christmas spending season off with a bang. This is stores' main time when they can get people to spend, spend, spend, so they need to start off strong. If you didn't get the TV, tablet, etc during Black Friday, chances are you'll be able to get it again as Black Friday is actually spread out all the way until Christmas (and even after Christmas you get some great deals too).

Some things are overpriced on Black Friday: Although Christmas decorations, tablet stylus and wrapping paper aren't the most sought after items on Black Friday, many stores try to advertise these as well as must have accessories for the holiday season. Instead of picking up these things along with the new gift you got, head to your local dollar store and buy these for much cheaper. You can get good gift wrapping paper (which looks good and is going be ripped up anyways) as well as a phone or tablet stylus that works just as well as the expensive one from the major electronics store.

Enjoy the holidays with family: One thing people forget in all the holiday shopping is just spending time with their family. If you have a choice between buying a new computer or iPad or flying home to see your parents or grandparents, fly home and see them. You never know what's going to happen in life, so make sure you spend time with them. A famous saying states "Someday for someone you will just be a memory, so make sure it's a good one." Having good memories of fun times is worth more and will last longer than any shopping gift.

Happy Holidays!

2014-07-03T04:41:00.002-07:00

How to Save Money on Summer Vacation Fun

One of the best times of year is summertime: the weather is nicer, people seem more friendly and there is a great laid back attitude towards life. Although you may be enjoying the great weather and wanting to spend more time with the kids now that they are out of school, you don't want to blow your whole budget or risk financial ruin having a good time. Here are some helpful tips to save money on your summer vacations.

1. Drive, don't fly when you can. Baggage fees, smaller seats, flight delays can make air travel a nightmare especially when it can ruin what was supposed to be a great summer holiday. Many times it is better just to drive to your destination (if reasonable), and although it may take longer, you can stop at places along the way, spend time with family/friends in the car and make some great memories of your journey to your destination. Also, if you drive you have more flexibility about when to leave, when to come back and can take that extra person along with you.

2. Budget for souvenirs, eating out. Although you want to get that great momento from your trip to the beach or those Mickey Mouse ears from Disney World, make sure you choose one or two souvenirs that are worth it. Spending $5-$10 on a couple of keychains (which will probably just be buried in some drawer within a few months) won't be as memorable as spending $30 on a beautiful statue that you can keep in your house. Also, make sure to limit what you get when eating out: choose water instead of overpriced sodas and specialty drinks, share entrees (which are usually over sized for one person at most restaurants) and eat light if doing a lot of sightseeing (after all, you're out to see the sights not get too groggy from a food coma).

3. Bring water, snacks on walking tours, sightseeing trips. Most people think they won't need water, snacks on all-day sightseeing tours, and then end of being the victims of price gouging by paying too much for snacks and drinks when they are too tired to care. You can eat out when going on an all-day sightseeing tour, but just leave it for lunch, and bring along snacks in a purse or fanny pack so that way when you are hungry you are saving money (which you can use for souvenirs instead!).

4. Don't let kids dictate what you should or shouldn't buy. It's an all too familiar scene, kids screaming in the gift shop they want some over priced stuffed animal, and then parents caving in because they are embarrassed the whole store is looking at them and judging what kind of parent they are. Tell your kids in advance what kind of souvenir or gift they will get or decide ahead of time with them what they would like and choose one nice gift rather than a series of small gifts. For example, if you are visiting Disney World, tell your kids they can get one big Mickey Mouse stuffed animal vs. getting a Mickey Mouse keychain at Epcot Center, a small Donald Duck glass at Magic Kingdom and a kitchen magnet with Goofy at the Blizzard Beach water park. If you're worried about your kids making a scene in the gift stores, let them make a scene, your job as a parent is to teach them financial responsibility, which is more important than the looks from some strangers whom you'll likely never see again (and the people who are looking likely don't have kids).

5. Spend time with family. Most of us have family in different parts of the country and if you have family near a major tourist attraction, you can save a lot on hotel costs by staying with them and you get the benefit of spending time with family members you wouldn't otherwise see regularly. You can thank your family whom you are staying with by all going out to dinner and picking up the tab or by asking them to come along.

6. Don't forget the other "parks," our National Parks. Most of the time when people think of parks to have fun during the summer, most people think about an amusement park. However, national parks are not only a great place to visit during the summer, but they are often cheaper then shelling out over $60 per person to wait in long, hour-long lines to ride a 30 second ride. You can see some amazing sites at National Parks and see things that aren't in any other place in the world. Although your kids won't want to "learn" during their summer break, they'll enjoy hiking in the woods and they'll learn how they were meant to learn by being genuinly curious about how the geyser Old Faithful really works (vs. reading about it in a book in school).

Have a great time with your summer vacation and remember if you can save money and have a great time, you'll be even closer to having another great vacation sooner than you think!

2013-11-27T08:59:00.000-08:00

How to be a Smart Black Friday Shopper

As another Black Friday shopping is upon us, there are numerous great deals, but here are some tips to be a smart Black Friday shopper:

1) If you want a doorbuster deal, be prepared to camp out or wait for a long, long time. Most of the door busters like deeply discounted TVs or iPads at stores like Best Buy, Walmart and Target expect people to wait in long lines outside their store to build up their hype for Black Friday. Also, there are just a few items of these door busters, and although some stores like Walmart have an in-stock guarantee for 1 hour, they just guarantee these items at this price and that you'll get it before Christmas.

2) If you aren't prepared to wait overnight or for several hours, focus on small items. There are still great deals on smaller items, like memory cards, movies, etc. that aren't splashed across page 1 on the Black Friday ads. They aren't big, big items, but still a great deal. You can still get great Black Friday deals and you won't have to camp out overnight in the Best Buy parking lot.

3) Don't fall for store's tactics to force you to buy something overpriced if you don't get the Black Friday deal you wanted. Many stores make you think you have to buy some full-priced or near full-priced item if you don't get the Black Friday deal you wanted, so you won't walk home empty handed. Even if you don't get anything you wanted on Black Friday, just wait, as Christmas approaches there will be great deals coming. Although they won't be as published in the media, you can get just as good (and many times better) deals just before Christmas.

4) Black Friday deals on some items are better at other times of the year. If you don't need a computer now, it's actually better to buy one during Back to School time in late July or August. Also, TVs are just as discounted or many times discounted even more just before the Super Bowl. Many stores use pressure tactics to make you think you have to buy a TV or computer during Black Friday or you'll miss out on a great deal (which is absolutely false).

Enjoy shopping on Black Friday, just be prepared to wait a long time if you want to get a great deal, but even if you don't get a chance to shop on Black Friday, don't fret, there will still be great deals (or even better deals) as Christmas approaches and at other times of the year. Also, only buy what you need, the best deal is saving money and using the same TV as last year.

Next Generation Gaming: Why You Should Wait

2013-10-14T02:40:00.001-07:00

The next generation gaming consoles (PS4 and Xbox One) will be coming out in a few weeks and anticipation and hype are building up massively for the new consoles. The graphics, gaming potential and power of these new consoles is undeniable and with the annoncement that both consoles will support used games (a major concession that Sony and Microsoft had to make if they expected people to flock to these consoles), hype for them is at an all time high.

However, whether you're planning to buy a PS4 or Xbox One, there are several reasons to wait before buying a console on Day 1 of release. First, the first generation or new release of any new technology will have a lot of bugs and problems that have to be worked out. For example, how many apps now support the original iPad (iPad 1). The original iPad was considered a genius product by Steve Jobs, but it was definetely lacking in several features including: no camera for Skype or Facetime, lackluster computing power and it was very bulky (especially when you look at the iPad 2,3,4). Also, remember the "Red Ring of Death," a problem that plagued many Xbox 360 owners? Only after all the bugs were worked out has the "Red Ring of Death" problem worked out.

Second, PS3 and Xbox 360 are already great gaming consoles that have a huge selection of games. While there are a large number of launch titles for both systems, they can't compare with the vast library you get for PS3 or Xbox 360 (and the games are a lot cheaper too). If you already own an Xbox 360 or a PS3, you already have a great gaming system that will still last a long time. Many people still own a PS2 and there are even still some new games being made for it, but they still work great and have great graphics and a huge, huge selection of games. Also, with the release of a new gaming system, the games for previous generation systems will go down and there will be more used games (as those who have to have the latest and the greatest gaming systems will be turning in and sellling their PS3, Xbox 360 games).

Third, the price will come down if you have patience and wait. After the inital hype wears off with the new systems, the price will come down and many times you can get some good game + game system bundles. For example, when PS3 intially came out it was very expensive for most and came with no games, but later on it fell in price and many times now you get the same system with 1-2 (or more) games included. Anyone who has bought games or movies knows, initially the price is set high but after a few months, the price goes down and/or you can get a good used copy of the movie or game.

Also, if you're not sure which system to get, it's a good idea to wait and see if a friend or family member buys it, try it out and see which one you like. See what kinds of games come out for both systems, which one you would feel more comfortable with and what you think might be a better investment. If you're going to pay hundreds of dollars for a gaming system, doesn't it make sense to research your decision and try it out?

Have fun gaming with the new systems, but in the mean time enjoy your current PS3 or Xbox 360 (or even original Xbox or PS2), you'll be glad you waited because you'll save a lot of money and still get to have the same fun experience with the new systems.

2013-10-06T19:47:00.003-07:00

How to save money on TV:

One of the largest expenses that never seems to stop growing is your cable bill. Every few months it seems like the cable company keeps raising prices and then saying their costs have gone up. While it's true television studios and sports networks keep demanding more and more money, you do have options to fight back.

First, get rid of cable all together. Most people keep cable primarily for live sports and for cable shows (like the recently famous Breaking Bad or Homeland). Most network TV shows are available through their websites or apps, so you can even watch your favorite shows on the go (as long as you can wait a day or so). Also, for live sports, check out your local sports bar or place that has sports nights (basically any place with a bar can put most any game on for you).

Second, sign up for Netflix or Hulu or Amazon Prime. While you do have to pay a small subscription fee, you can get a lot of movies and TV shows. Netflix, for example, recently started offering the first season of the NBC hit show "Revolution." Also, the amount you pay for 2 or 3 of these services is minimal compared to what you pay for your monthly cable bill.

Third, get a good quality antenna. The picture quality with many decent antennas for network TV can actually be better than cable or satellite. Most antennas cost less than your monthly cable bill and provide you with all the free network TV you want, and if you have a TV from the last 10 years, it will get you free HD (many cable companies and satellite providers still have the nerve to charge extra for HD service).

Losing cable TV isn't without sacrificies, but think what you can do with an extra $70 a month, over the course of a year that's over $840 dollars. You aren't losing TV all together, but with so many resources on the internet and with good quality over the air free TV nowadays, cutting your cable company off has become easier. If we all did this more, then maybe the cable companies and networks would realize we don't just have to take their attempts to constantly increase prices without fighting back. You can enjoy your TV and have fun with the cash you are saving!

Saving Money While on Cruise Vacations

2011-04-15T15:49:00.000-07:00

As spring and summer come around, many people start planning and taking their vacations. One of the most popular vacations is a cruise. A cruise is great in many ways: you have unlimited food, around the clock entertainment and activities, there are great activities for everyone to enjoy, and you can see multiple, interesting ports of call. It's also a great way to take a vacation if you are a family or in a large group since you're all together in one place (there's only so many places you can go on the ship) and it's easy to find something everyone will like to do and eat.

However, just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you should just take a vacation from your sense of financial responsibility. Most all cruise lines give you a passenger card, which lets you back on the ship from a port of call, but also essentially is like your credit card while on board. All too often, passengers just give their passenger card to buy a drink at every event on the ship, thinking "It's easy, just give them this card and I'll get a drink" or "Hey, I'm on vacation, I deserve it!" Yes, you do deserve some of it, but just realize that you have to pay $10 for that mixed drink you had during the ship orientation when you get your final bill the morning you leave.

Another area on the ship and at ports of call that you may be tempted to spend a lot is shopping. Although many of the shops on board will tempt you with "Great Deals," most of these deals are no better than deals you might get during a good sale at your local department store. Try to limit your purchases to rare and unique items that are low to moderately priced.

The best advice is try to limit your purchases with the passenger card, and ALWAYS, ALWAYS keep track of how much you have spent with the card. Keep all receipts you get, so that way when you get your final bill on your morning of disembarkation, if there are any discrepancies, you can show all your receipts to the front desk as proof of what you spent. Although it's rare for the billing to be off (unless your passenger card was stolen), mistakes do happen, and it's your responsibility to make sure everything is accurate.

Finally, do enjoy your cruise and your vacation. Cruises can give everyone in your group a great time, and when you get back home, you can feel good that you had a great time without blowing your budget. Have fun!

Saving Money on Books

2011-03-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

As the weather gets warmer, many of us head out to the beach, the park or other outdoor area carrying our favorite book. However, all too often, I see people walking out of the neighborhood bookstore carrying overpriced books that they could have bought much cheaper by doing some easy comparison shopping.
The internet makes comparison shopping a breeze in today's world (when before you had to drive store to store or call around every store in your area asking for prices).

Most books bought at regular bookstores are overpriced and it's unlikely you'll read the book more than once or maybe twice, so always try to see if you can get the book used. You can then turn around and try to sell the used book again, or if you can't sell it, at least you won't feel so bad about spending $20 or sometimes even $30. Also, books depreciate in value very fast; just look at the last new book you bought a few months ago, and see how much it's worth on Craig's List. Some books may be used multiple times, such as cookbooks or reference books, but with the internet almost everywhere, usually it's just easier (and faster)to get online and look these things up.

Also, one of the best sources of books that is also often the most overlooked is the local library, where the books are free to read (even if you are just visiting an area for a while, many libraries will let you rent books for free or for a very small fee). The only caveat with renting books from the library is that sometimes you have to wait a while for new releases or popular books, but if you don't mind waiting, this is your best bet.

Although e-books are becoming more and more popular, once you read the book, you can't return it or turn around and sell it, like traditional books. Sometimes e-books are cheaper than traditional books, but many publishers have not discounted the books (since there's no cost for printing the paper version) as much as expected. If it's a e-book you really want to have because it's "cool," just remember the extra price you're paying for that "cool" factor.

If you need a new book, use the internet to comparison shop. A very good tool is the Google Shopping website (http://www.google.com/products), which compares online stores, but also looks at nearby stores in your area (if you need the book sooner). Google shopping also tells you which bookstores have the books in stock, but it's always best to call the store yourself to double check before you head out there. Many times books ordered online are much, much less expensive than books bought in the store and many times even come with free shipping or the cost of the book plus shipping can often be cheaper than the in-store price (which is usually always the list price, whereas online stores often give a discount from the list price). The only exception to buying new books in the store is at a warehouse store, like Costco, where books are discounted from the list price and you can return in the book later than the 2 weeks that other traditional book stores give you (just make sure you keep the book in very good condition).

Happy Reading!

5 Easy Tips to Save Money

2011-02-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

Here are 5 simple tips to save money next time you head to the store:

1. Buy discounted gift cards online. If you know you have to buy something from Target or Best Buy, visit a site, such as plasticjungle.com, and buy a gift card for less than the face value (for example, a $30 Best Buy card sells for only $28.20). Only caveat is you have to buy the gift cards ahead of time (so you need to plan your purchases).

2. Use your cash back card (but pay off the full balance each time). Using your cash back card can help you save on things you buy, but only if you pay off the balance in full each billing cycle. Otherwise, you are just wasting more money by paying the extremely high interest rates the credit card companies charge. By paying off the full balance, you pay zero interest and improve your credit score in the process.

3. If you shop somewhere frequently, it might make sense to sign up for the store credit card. An example is the Target credit card, which saves you 5% off everything. Since many people by a wide variety of groceries, home goods, etc at Target (or a similar store), it makes sense to get a credit card from here since you can get 5% off (again, it only makes sense to do this if you pay off the balance in full each month). However, make sure you only sign up for a card you shop frequently already before you have the store credit card (not one you convince yourself that you will shop there more now that you have a credit card for that store).

4. Use online coupons. Most all stores accept online coupons now (unlike before when there was a lot of fraud), so visit sites like Coupon.com or Coupon Mom to print out free coupons to save you on a wide variety of things. It's basically giving you a free discount.

5. Use the ship to store option. If you live near a store or will be driving near a store where you bought something online (e.g. from WalMart.com or BestBuy.com), just choose the ship to store option and you save on any shipping costs. If you'll be passing by that store on your way home from work or from the grocery store, just stop by there and pick it up, and you pay nothing for shipping. Added bonus: many credit cards give you more cash back or extra airline miles for buying things from certain stores, but only if you buy online. So just buy the item you need online, and have it shipped to the store, then you save on shipping (shipping to store is usually always free), and get the bonus airline miles, points or extra cash back for free.

Maximizing Reward Points at the Grocery Store

2011-01-31T11:04:00.000-08:00

How can you use your grocery store's reward points to maximize their benefits? Just by shopping smart.
First, sign up for the reward programs at any stores you go to, it's free and they just need your name, address and phone number (they usually have privacy notices so you won't get bombarded with other junk mail).

Next, make sure to shop at one store regularly. For example, in southern California, Ralph's grocery store offers 10 cents off per gallon for every 100 points you get from shopping there (and $1 = 1 Ralph's point). If you're already going to be spending money from grocery shopping, doesn't it make sense to try and get as much of it back as possible? Also, if the prices are comparable, buy things there to get the extra points vs. getting them at another store where you get no points, no cash back.

Also, like I mentioned in the previous blog, if you're paying with a credit card, use a credit card that pays you more cash back (or more airline miles, hotel points, etc) for use at a grocery store. As a caveat, make sure to check the prices at a grocery store for the items you regularly buy. If the prices are going up, then the points might not be worth it, and you should take your business elsewhere. The grocery business is very competitive and stores are fighting for your business, so it makes sense to use it to your advantage as a customer and take advantage of these free points programs next time you head to the grocery store for your weekly shopping trip.

Smart Finances with a Credit Card - Part 1 (Getting Cash Back)

2011-01-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

How can you use your credit card to maximize savings on everyday purchases? If you have multiple cards, use them to maximize benefits. For example, Discover, American Express, Chase all rotate categories when you can get up to 5% back on purchases. January to March, Discover offers 5% back on travel purchases (airline tickets, hotels, cruises, car rentals) and purchases at restaurants, so rather than just reaching for any credit card, reach for the one that gives you 5% off this month. For March, they offer 5% back on Grocery store purchases.
Of course, there's one catch. You can only get up to a certain amount back, but you at least get some money back for your purchases that you would ordinarily make. Although a 1% cash back is standard for many credit cards, next time you're about to pay at the grocery store or pay for that cruise, see which credit card will give you the maximum benefit, and use that one rather than just getting the first card you see.

However, these type of rewards only make sense if you can pay off your balance each month. If you only pay off the minimum amount on your credit card statement, you get killed with the interest rate. That's how these credit card companies make a lot of their money. So, before you start trying to get cash back, pay down any outstanding balances, not only to improve your credit score, but also to make sure you're not a victim of those ridiculously high interest rates.