Money Crashers

Personal Finance Round-Up: 28 Ways To Save Money On Your Car Expenses

Erik Folgate — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:32:58 +0000

Our cars can be one of the most financially draining possessions that we own. The first thing most people think of when you start talking about an emergency expense is a costly car repair. Not only are maintenance and repairs expensive, but buying gasoline, the fees and taxes associated with buying a new car, and yearly registration and insurance costs are all expenses we pay simply to have the luxury of driving. Fortunately, there are great folks like Jeremy over at Gen X Finance that give us great guides like the 28 tips to save money on car expenses and save thousands of dollars. Jeremy is a retirement planning specialist and founder of Generation X Finance and the guide to Financial Planning at About.com. To learn more, follow Jeremy on Twitter.

Here are some more great articles from around the PF blogging community this past week:

How To Survive A Tax Audit. Getting audited is not that far fetched these days, especially if you claim self-employment income or take certain deductions and credits out of the ordinary. [Bargaineering]

4 Deadly Mistakes To Make While Pursuing Your Dreams. We all want meaning in our life, and one of the most important things you can do in your life is pursue the work you love. But make sure you avoid these mistakes along the way. [WiseBread]

Dividend Investing Supplement Passive Income. Investing in dividends truly is passive income. Here is a great guide about dividend investing and how to get started with it. [Frugal Dad]

Should You Automate Your Finances? I think there is a fine line when it comes to what things you automate with your personal finances. Saving is a great thing to automate, but some bills are not ideal for automating, because it takes away some of the control you have over your bank account. Here’s a great post about automating your finances. [Money Smart Life]

What Are the Current Costs to Check Baggage? For those of you traveling this spring, make sure you bookmark this article and save it as a reference. I hate checked baggage fees. The best thing you can do to save money when flying is pack as light as possible. [My Two Dollars]

What’s The Best Way To Help The Poor? Most of us are blessed with wealth and great jobs, and it’s our duty to give back others, but there’s a fine line between enabling people and helping them. So, what’s the best way to help the poor? Read this article for more insight. [Christian PF]

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Personal Finance Round-Up: 28 Ways To Save Money On Your Car Expenses is a post from: Money Crashers

How To Boost Your Credit Score

Mark Riddix — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:00:15 +0000

While I am not a fan of relying on credit, there may be times that you are forced to use credit such as buying a house. When these occasions arise, it’s important to manage your credit properly so that you can receive the best rates possible. The interest rate that you receive depends upon your credit score. A good credit score can save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of a loan. Let’s take a look at the factors that make up your credit score:

Past credit history
Current amount of debt
Length of credit history
Types of credit available
Applications for new credit

Here are 4 Great Ways To Boost Your Credit Score

Pay your bills on time.

The #1 way to improve your credit score is by paying your bills on time. Your individual loans are broken down into R and I ratings. “R” ratings are for revolving loans like credit cards. Revolving loans can be repaid and redrawn over and over again. “I” ratings are for installment loans like auto loans. Installment loans are to be repaid with a fixed number of equal payments and cannot be redrawn. If you want to attain that elusive R1 or I1 credit rating, always pay your individual bills within the 30 day time period. If your credit report has R1’s for all of your individual accounts, then it is highly likely that your credit score is 700 or above. As your rating drops so does your credit score. R2 means you repay in 2 months, R3 means you repay in 90 days and so on. The lowest score that you can get is an R9 or I9. An R9 rating means that this debt has been deemed noncollectable and the creditor has written off their chances of collecting any money. Once a debt falls into the R9 territory, it could take years to improve that individual rating.

Check your credit report regularly.

You should review your credit report at least twice a year to ensure that all of the information reported is accurate. Over 70% of credit reports contain erroneous information. You would be shocked by how many errors could exist on your credit report. Credit agencies often erroneously list debts that are not your’s on your credit report. Lenders often fail to submit updated account information that would benefit you. For example, if you used to pay your Visa bill late, Capital One may still have you listed as a late payer, even though you have paid your bill on time for the past 5 months. Report all errors to the appropriate credit reporting agency. You can find these forms on the credit reporting agency’s website. Contact lenders and ask them to submit updated account information.

Pay down outstanding debt.

Reducing your current level of indebtedness is one of the fastest ways to give a boost to your credit score. Your best bet is to have no debt and to keep your balance as close to $0 as possible. If you do have debt, aim to keep 70% of your credit line available. Let’s say you have a credit card with a $2,000 limit. The maximum amount of credit that you should use is $600. Lenders look favorably upon individuals that keep their outstanding balances low. Don’t forget to pay off all past due debts such as collection accounts. They won’t give a big boost to your credit score, but every bit counts!

Reduce your applications for new credit.

Loan shopping can hurt your credit score. If you want to improve your credit rating, you should limit applications for new credit. Credit checks and inquiries will lower your score. Be careful about the companies and agencies that you allow to run your credit. Department stores are known to offer discounts on purchases in exchange for customers applying for new credit. These credit inquiries can decrease your score by as much as 10%! The exception is that inquiries for new credit are treated as a single cluster as long as they take place within a 14 day period.

Do you have any other questions I haven’t addressed? Do you know of any other strategies that can be used to boost your credit score? If so, please tell us about them!

(photo credit: TrinityCreditServices)Related Posts:

How To Boost Your Credit Score is a post from: Money Crashers

Five Side Businesses College Students Can Start Now

Chris Bibey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:12 +0000

Every college student knows how valuable a few dollars can be. Not only do you need to buy books and school related supplies, you want to have a social life as well. For many college students, this leads to taking a job on campus or at a local fast food joint or grocery store. While these ideas will get you paid, you will have to work the schedule you are given. Along with this, most students find out soon enough that they are not earning nearly as much money as they would like.

So, what does all of this lead to? Simply put, you can start a business in your spare time. If you are lucky, you may find a sustainable idea that can grow into something bigger as the years go by.

Here are five side business ideas that many college students have taken advantage of in the past:

1. Tutoring. You are already on a college campus, so you have access to a large demographic, many of whom need help in the classroom. In addition to tutoring college students in specific subjects, don’t be afraid to reach out to the high school community. With so many students around, this business can thrive if you market it right and have something special to offer.

2. Become a freelancer. There are many types of freelancing that you can get involved with. The most common are freelance writing and web design. But, don’t overlook other options such as computer programming, sales, and marketing. Any skill that you have, for the most part, can be offered to companies on a freelance basis.

3. Cleaning services. This is more common than most people believe. Other students, as well as local residents, may be willing to hire you to clean their dorm room, home, office, or yard. In addition to cleaning, you can tie in an organizational service that helps your clients keep things in order. Work as a maid for another company that will match you up with someone, and you’ll make $7 to $8 dollars an hour, but start your own business and find your own cleaning clients, and you can charge more like $25 an hour.

4. Auction sites and Craigslist. Many students earn extra money by auctioning items on eBay (or other auction sites) and/or selling on Craigslist. Do you have old books in your dorm room? How about electronics or DVDs? You can sell pretty much anything and everything on eBay and Craigslist. Of course, some restrictions do apply. When you finally run out of things that you have collected over the years, hit garage sales and thrift stores to replenish your stock.

5. Child care. Are you responsible? Do you have any past child care experience? Are you majoring in education? If so, this is a great way to earn some side money while also gaining more experience. Every parent needs to hire a babysitter at some point. Many of them will turn to the local college community to find the right person for the job.

Did you work while you were in college? If so, did you have your own business or were you employed by a company?

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Five Ways To Have Free Fun This Spring

Chris Bibey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:00:50 +0000

For many, Spring is the best time of the year. After being cooped up inside during the winter months, you are waiting to get out and enjoy the fresh air. While there are many activities that you can take part in during the spring months, not all of them are free. In fact, some are very expensive. If you are interested in having free fun this spring, the five activities below will be perfect for you. We think that one or more of these will hit home and get you excited about the months to come.

1. Go on a picnic. Those who live in the snow belt have to stay inside for many months during the winter season. When spring finally arrives and the weather breaks, there is nothing more exciting than having a picnic at your favorite park. Pack up a few of your favorite foods and drinks, gather some friends and/or family, and celebrate the warm weather. Winter is over, you can finally enjoy the outdoors once again!

Go to a local park, but not one that is going to cost you any money. It is easy to have fun at an amusement park with roller coasters, concessions, and tons of games. That being said, you can have just as much fun at a park with nothing more than a picnic table, swings, and a slide or two. Remember, your experience is what you make of it and who you share it with. Visiting a local park, regardless of your age, can be a lot of fun.

2. Walk, jog, run, and play for fun and fitness. This activity is hit or miss. If you like to exercise, one of these regimens will be perfect for you during the spring time. You can walk around your neighborhood, jog a local trail through the woods, play some tennis, go for a nice bike ride, or run on a track at a nearby high school. The great thing about this is that you are having fun (if you enjoy exercising), but you are also getting yourself in better shape along the way.

3. Invite friends and family over for an outdoor party. Although you may be tempted to spend a lot of money, you don’t need to part with a dime. Instead, ask others to bring something as part of a potluck and also set up a few free games for your guests to play like croquet or touch football. This also works really well if you have a pool and/or a big backyard.

4. Take a nice drive around your city. When was the last time you took in the sights and sounds of your city and its surroundings? When spring time comes, get in your car, grab a friend or family member, put the windows down, and hit the road. Even if you only drive around for an hour or so, this is a great way to bring in the spring season.

5. Get your entire family involved with an outdoor project. Have you been waiting all winter to remove that fallen tree from your yard? Do you have an urge to prep your swimming pool for the upcoming months? Even though these things may sound like work, you can have a lot of fun doing them. You are getting your home into shape, while also spending time with those you care about.

If spring is your favorite season, you will be in your glory soon enough. Above are five ways to have free fun this spring time. Do you have any other good suggestions?

(photo credit: Swami Stream)Related Posts:

Five Ways To Have Free Fun This Spring is a post from: Money Crashers

4 Reasons To Choose Community College Out Of High School

Guest Author — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:49 +0000

About 16 months ago, I began a new chapter of my life. Starting college is a memorable event in any person’s life. The beginning of my college career was different than most college students. I didn’t leave Ohio to go to school. I didn’t leave Delaware, Ohio to go to school. I didn’t even leave my home to go to school. I enrolled at Columbus State Community College and lived at home.

Throughout the past 16 months, I have realized more and more that there are distinct advantages to attending community colleges. Among other things, community college is a great way to save thousands of dollars a year. There are some other great advantages as well:

You DO learn at Community Colleges

I’m sure that some of you have seen the television show “Community” on NBC. Throughout the show, it portrays community colleges as a second rate school, where the professors don’t spend time talking about the subject, but instead flirt with the young females in the class.

This is not true!

Throughout my five quarters at Columbus State, I have been able to get a good picture of what I want to do with the rest of my life, and I owe that to my professors teaching us the ins and outs of accounting and personal finance. I’ve gained an understanding of personal finance that I never had and have increased my knowledge of accounting.

Classes are small

One factor that played into my increased interest in personal finance and accounting is the small class sizes that I have had. My biggest class was English 101 which had 27 students in it. My accounting class this quarter has 14 students.

Being able to have such a small class allows the professor to get to know you on a deeper level and it makes me feel more comfortable asking a question, knowing that the professor has a better grasp as to where I am as a student.

Community Colleges are CHEAP!

Because so many of the schools are publicly funded, it allows them to offer students the lowest possible rate. Columbus State students pay just $79 a credit hour. That averages out to be about $1100 per quarter, well below what Ohio State or other schools cost.

The professors are real people

Because the tuition is so low at community colleges, many of the professors are employed full-time in the field that they teach. I have been able to have professors that work for the Ohio correctional facilities (sociology), Smith Barney (personal finance), the State of Ohio as a tax judge (accounting), Ohio State University (business communication), and the list goes on.

There are two advantages that I have found in this:

The professors can give real world examples of how the topic they are lecturing on relates to real life. For example, my personal finance professor could give examples of how he helped his clients save money for specific goals and pay down debts. My sociology professor shared examples of inmates psyche and how their upbringing changed their outlook on life.
Because the professors are employed outside of just the college, it gives me, as a student, a connection into the company. If I ever wanted to apply for a job in the Ohio correctional facilities or at Smith Barney, I have a way to let them know, and assuming I performed well in class, the teacher can put in a good word about my work ethic and quality of my work.

What now?

In my situation, I am going through college so that I can give money away to my friends as they go and change the world. I could not do this as soon as I would have liked if I attended another school and accumulated mountains of debt.

It’s important to ask yourself, with the economy in the situation it is in (and appears to be stuck in), is it in your best long-term plans to accumulate thousands of dollars of debt? Do you want to get in over your head with college debt and get to a point where you can’t do what you want to do with your life?

I know, for me, the overwhelming answer was “no”.

That is why I have not regretted my decision to attend Columbus State, and I believe you should at least consider the prospect of community college as well!

Zach Younkin is in his second year at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio. He is a blogger who is passionate on making it through college with as little debt as possible so that he can go on and change the world. You can read more about his journey to make it through college with as little debt as possible by reading College for 10k and follow him on Twitter @zachyounkin

(photo credit: StateUniversity.com)
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4 Reasons To Choose Community College Out Of High School is a post from: Money Crashers

I Filed My Taxes With TaxAct Online

Erik Folgate — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:52:44 +0000

As you might already know, we’re giving away 3 FREE iPads to three random winners who file their taxes through us using one of three great online tax filing services: Turbo Tax, TaxAct Online, or H&R Block. I was really glad to see that TaxAct was included in the “Big 3,” because I’ve been using them for the past 5 years to file my taxes, and I’ve never had a bad experience using their online product. One of our staff writers, Joanna, did a really good, in-depth review of TaxAct that you can read about before you use them.

It Took Me An Hour To Do My Taxes

This is partly because I was organized and partly because of TaxAct. I had all of my tax documents already sitting in a folder. I knew exactly which deductions and credits I was going to claim, and my faithfulness to a particular online tax filer helped speed up the process. If you’ve used TaxAct in the previous year to file your taxes, it automatically retrieves the information from the previous year and pre-fills it for you. Since I didn’t move and my wife didn’t change jobs since last tax season, I didn’t have to fill out any of our contact information, and I didn’t have to fill out any contact information on my wife’s W-2. All I had to fill in were the salary and tax withholding boxes. TaxAct also knew which deductions and credits I took last year, so it reminded me of the ones that I might be eligible for again this year, but it was very easy to delete the information for the ones that I would not be claiming this year. I breezed through their entire online platform, because it’s just so easy to use.

I paid the $9.95 for the Deluxe Version

I don’t have extremely complicated taxes for 2009, but I will in 2010 since I started a business this year. Even so, I paid the $10 to have the Deluxe version, because I would be itemizing my deductions this year, and paying the extra money gives you access to a wealth of information about deductions and credits and if I’m eligible for them or not.

Our House Saved Us From Owing Taxes

Even though I hated seeing the actual dollar amount we paid to the bank in interest on our home in 2009, it was 100% deductible, and it was the turning point that took my return from owing money to getting a refund. The student loan interest, contributions to my IRA, and contributions to my HSA were more great deductions that I claimed and reduced our taxable income by quite a bit.

Choose Where Your Money Goes

I recommend direct depositing your tax refund. If you get it in check form, you might be tempted to cash it and spend the money on crap you don’t need. If you’re worried about it going into your checking account, TaxAct has a feature where you can choose multiple accounts to send the money to. You can make it so that half of it goes to your savings account and the other half go to your checking account.

What lessons, tips, and tricks did you learn while filing your taxes this year? If you haven’t filed yet, make sure you file through us to get entered into our iPad Giveaway!

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Making Your Own Green Skincare Products

Sally Aquire — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:41:18 +0000

Are you tired of spending a ton of money on skincare products? Making your own beauty products is a great way to save money, and it has the added bonus of being greener than most shop-bought offerings. Most of the ingredients that you’ll need are probably already in your cupboards, but they are inexpensive if you don’t already have them.

Cleansers/Toners/Spot Treatments

There’s no need to buy expensive skincare products to take care of your skin. Natural cleansers, toners and facial scrubs can work very well and don’t contain harsh chemicals.

Strawberry/Kiwi Cleanser: This is a quick and easy cleanser that should be suitable for all skin types. Take a few strawberries, 1 kiwi (peeled) and half a cucumber and use a blender to mix them together into a thin paste. If the paste is too thin to apply without dripping off your face, add a bit of oatmeal to thicken it up. To use, massage gently across the face, leave for 5 to 10 minutes and remove with warm water.

Cucumber Toner: To make a soothing toner, take half a cucumber (unpeeled), puree it in a blender and strain into a bowl. Add half an ounce of witch hazel, mix together and transfer into a clean and sterilized container. Because the cucumber used in this recipe is fresh, you’ll need to use the toner within a few days of producing it. Make fresh batches as you need it, and keep it in the fridge when it’s not in use.

Strawberry/Lemon Toner: This toner works well for oily skin. Take some medium-sized strawberries, two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of distilled water. Pulverize the strawberries in a blender and transfer the juice into a bowl and add the other ingredients. Stir well and transfer to a sterilized bottle. Because the ingredients are fresh, the toner will need to be kept in the fridge when it’s not being used and should be used within a few days.

Spot treatment: For this natural spot treatment, dip a cotton bud in a mixture of apple cider vinegar (1/4 tablespoon) and tea tree essential oil (1 drop). Apply to blemishes and leave overnight to work its magic.

Maple Oat Facial Scrub: For this exfoliating scrub, you’ll need finely powdered oats (3 tablespoons), pure maple syrup (1 tablespoon) and milk (1 tablespoon). Heat the milk in the microwave for around 15 seconds, add in the maple syrup and stir well so that the syrup dissolves. Add the oats and stir again. To use, massage gently onto your skin and follow with toner and moisturizer. Because the milk is fresh, keep the mixture in the fridge and use within a few days.

Face Masks

Face masks are one of the easiest skincare products to make at home, and you don’t need fancy ingredients. No matter what your skin type, you can create a natural face mask quickly and cheaply.

Normal skin: Mix two egg whites with a couple of spoonfuls of plain yogurt to create a moisturizing face mask that suits most skin types. Leave it on your face for a few minutes after application to give it chance to harden and then rinse off with warm winter. If you prefer a more exfoliating face mask, add a tablespoon of yogurt (preferably organic, but plain will do if you don’t have any) to a tablespoon of finely ground oatmeal and mix together. Add a few drops of warm honey (heat the spoon under the hot tap for a minute or two beforehand) and stir into the mixture. Leave on your face for 10 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Because your face will probably feel tight and dry afterwards, apply some moisturizer.

Oily/spot-prone skin: Instead of buying expensive spot treatments, why not create a strawberry face mask? Strawberries are a natural source of salicylic acid, which is the main spot-fighting ingredient contained in acne treatments. Take 1/4 of a cup of fresh strawberries and mash them together with 1/4 of a cup of plain yogurt. Leave on your face for 10 to 15 minutes. To absorb excess oil without drying out your skin, apply Milk of Magnesia to your face, leave on for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse with tepid water.

Dry skin: Mashing half an avocado with 1/4 cup of honey makes a good face mask for dry skin. Leave on your skin for 10 minutes and rinse with tepid water.

Lip Balm

Lip balms can be made at home, so you don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive products that promise to keep your lips soft and supple.

Cocoa lip balm: To create this chocolate-flavored lip balm, you’ll need cocoa butter (2 ounces), peppermint essential oil (4 drops), neroli essential oil (1 drop), chocolate fragrance oil (1 drop), and sweet almond oil (1 drop). Melt the cocoa butter in a double boiler, add the sweet almond oil and stir well. Add the essential oils and chocolate fragrance oil and stir well. Transfer to a suitable container and allow to cool before using.

Bath Treats

Bath-time treats can be expensive so why not try making your own for a fraction of the price?

Chocolate Milk Bath: To create this nourishing and indulgent bath milk, you’ll need baking soda (1/4 cup), finely powdered oats (1/4 cup), chocolate milk powder (1/2 cup), rose geranium essential oil (2 drops) and ylang ylang essential oil (1 drop). With the exception of the essential oils, add the other ingredients to a bowl and stir together. Add in the essential oils on a drop-by-drop basis, stirring well in between drops. To use, add to the bath water after it has finished running.

Coffee Body Scrub: For this body scrub, you’ll need sweet almond oil (1/4 cup), vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), peppermint essential oil (8 drops), granulated sugar (1 cup) and fresh coffee grounds (1/2 cup). Add the sweet almond oil, vanilla extract and essential oil into a glass measuring cup, stir well and put to one side. In another bowl, add the coffee grounds and sugar, combine with the first mixture and stir well. To use, massage gently across your body and make sure you avoid your face.

Making your own skincare products doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult and because you have complete control over the ingredients, you shouldn’t encounter too many adverse reactions. Even if you don’t have the right ingredients ready and waiting at home, making your own beauty products can still work out cheaper than buying chemical-based products in the store, and you can feel good about how green you’re being too!

Do you have any good green skincare recipes?
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5 Newest Credit Card Tricks

Mark Riddix — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:00:01 +0000

Now that Congress has passed the Credit CARD Act, credit card companies are expected to lose anywhere from $5 to $15 billion in potential fee income. Banks are responding by coming up with new ways to make up for income lost from credit card reform. They are creating new fees and raising interest rates to make money off of the financially strapped consumer. Here are 5 new tactics that credit card companies are using to increase revenue. Feel free to also check out, How Will The New Credit Card Laws Affect You?

Variable Interest Rates

Since the Credit CARD Act passed, many card companies are unable to raise interest rates on new cards issues in the first year. To bypass this law, credit card companies are switching from fixed rate cards to variable rate cards. Variable rate cards are linked to the prime rate and can rise at any time. The average fixed rate credit card has an interest rate of 13.4%, whereas the average variable rate has a rate of 13.7%. As the prime rate increases, many customers will face higher interest rates. Customers with low credit scores may be forced to pay interest as high as 35% over the next few years.

Annual Fees

According to Bankrate, 35% of new credit cards being offered have annual fees attached to them. Annual fees are ranging from $29 to $99 on new credit cards. Rewards cards are charging annual fees as high as $300 to $400. Current card holders are not escaping the wrath of card companies. 20% of current credit card customers are charged an annual fee, and this percentage is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years. Last month Citi Group hit long-time cardholders with a $60 annual fee. American Express and Bank of America have recently socked customers with annual fees as well.

Inactivity Fees

Are you one of those people that does not use your credit card that often? You are in for a shock soon, because card companies are hitting disciplined credit card users with inactivity fees. But don’t worry, you can escape these annual fees by just charging more! For example, at Citigroup, if you spend more than $2,400 per year, only then will you not be charged an inactivity fee. This is ridiculous! People will be forced to spend $2,400 plus any interest just to save $60.

Paper Fees

Prepare to be charged a fee for any transaction in which you receive a paper statement. Want an itemized statement? That will cost you. Companies are now charging fees for year-end statements, monthly paper statements, and all mailings. These fees are ranging from $1 to $5 per statement. Applying for a credit card isn’t free anymore either. Companies have started charging application fees regardless of whether you are approved for the card or not.

Foreign Transaction Fees

Fees for using a credit card in a foreign country are rising. Card companies are charging a 3% fee on all overseas purchases or anytime a purchase has to be converted from one currency to another. This fee is not restricted only to international travelers. If you make a purchase from a website that processes your transaction outside of the United States, then you may be subject to a fee from your credit card company.

How can you get around all of these credit roadblocks? Your best bet is to simply avoid using credit cards and just pay cash. For more information check out, More Americans Are Saying No To Credit Cards.

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5 Newest Credit Card Tricks is a post from: Money Crashers

5 Ways To Make Yourself More Marketable In The Job Market

Mark Riddix — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:46 +0000

With unemployment at 9.7%, many people find themselves competing for the same jobs. So, how can you distinguish yourself in a job market filled with so many applicants? You can increase your chance for success in this tough job market by sharpening your skills and making yourself a more attractive applicant Here are 5 tips that will make you more marketable in the current job market.

Go back to school

Furthering your education is a great way of improving your employment prospects. Economic downturns are normally a boom for educational institutions as job applicants return to school to get a competitive advantage. Have you been meaning to finish your undergraduate studies? Have you been thinking about getting a graduate degree to increase your chances of finding a management position? There are a number of schools that offer distance education classes for your busy schedule. Some of the more popular online schools include University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Strayer University. It’s important to check the accreditation of each institution and make sure that they offer the major you are seeking. If you can’t pay cash for the higher education, make sure you weigh the cost of the degree versus the value it will bring to you in the job marketplace. Don’t just get a degree to get a degree. Do your research and make sure it will translate into a higher salary in a job industry you want to be in.

Complete a certification program.

Let’s assume you would like to work in a company’s IT department. You could become a Microsoft Certified Professional. This certification can be used to work as a software engineer, network administrator, IT technician or in any IT related field. Cisco, Apple, and IBM all offer similar certification programs that could help in your career path. There are certifications in just about any field including accounting, education, finance, law, security, and technology. Professional certifications offer an assurance to employers that you are qualified to perform certain job duties and tasks. Certifications help you stand out from the cesspool of job applicants that you’ll be competing against.

Improve your skills

Learning a new skill is always a worthwhile endeavor, and it can lead to job offers or job promotion. Just about any employee can benefit from improving their communication skills. Or you could increase your technical skills by learning a new computer language. For example, an individual seeking employment as a computer programmer may find it beneficial to learn how to write code using C++, Java or PHP. You could improve your computer skills by taking classes at your local college. Becoming proficient in document, spreadsheet, and database management will look good on your resume as well and help out no matter what industry you want to work in.

Work for free.

Are you having a difficult time getting a company to hire you for a particular position because of a lack of job experience? If so, why not volunteer? If you can afford to do it financially, take an internship or volunteer position. Think of a volunteer position as an opportunity to get your foot in the door. This is one of the best ways to get the inside track to a job. Not only are you gaining valuable knowledge and experience, but you are making lifelong contacts. Most companies hire from the inside which makes it very possible that a volunteer position could end up turning into full-time employment.

Practice Your Interview Skills

With so many employees entering the job market, more employers are using telephone interviews to sift through potential candidates. Surviving the phone interview is the first step to securing a face-to-face interview.

4 quick tips for the phone interview:

Dress up. I know it seems pointless, but most people speak differently based on what they are wearing. Dressing professionally will help you talk more appropriately.
Pay attention. Be energetic and enthusiastic. Listen closely. Respond without cutting off the interviewer. You can gauge if an interviewer is losing interest in you as a candidate. Listen for words like “great” and “uh-huh”.
Be proactive. Be prepared with answers to potential interview questions. Always answer questions with action words such as can, have, and will. Make a list of questions about the job that you would like to ask the interviewer.
Practice. There may be companies that contact you about a position that you’re not excited about. Even if you know you’ll never take the job, still take advantage of the opportunity to interview and hone your skills. This will really come in handy for that interview you do really care about. Also, if you have a family member or friend willing to help out, have them give you a mock interview.

I know that finding a job in this economy is not the easiest thing in the world. But with persistence, dedication, and hard work you can improve your chances of finding employment. What other tips do you have that could increase a job seeker’s chances for finding employment?Related Posts:

5 Ways To Make Yourself More Marketable In The Job Market is a post from: Money Crashers

Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl’s Guide to Spending Less & Saving More

Joanna Crain — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

“How did a cute, employed girl like yourself end up having to hock her skinny jeans on eBay just to pay the rent?” This is the perennial question in Catey Hill’s financial guide for women, Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl’s Guide to Spending Less & Saving More. Hill, a money editor for New York Daily News, a previous financial marketing manager for Forbes, and a self proclaimed “recovering shoe addict,” gives valuable insight into the female financial psyche and offers practical and specific steps to get our Jimmy Choo’s or Payless specials on the right path to financial freedom.

Shoo, Jimmy Choo! is geared toward women between the ages of 20 and 40, but no matter what your age is, you will certainly get something out of it. I’m planning to pass my copy on to my 18 year-old daughter. “Taming your financial demons” can be done at any age, but the sooner the better. Hill will help get you started with “style, diet and fitness… for your finances.” She takes each and expands upon them in four sections.

Part One: She gives an introduction to financial fitness and gives you the opportunity to learn about your financial situation with assignments such as these: taking a snapshot of your finances, finding out your credit and FICO scores, gathering all your financial documents, and organizing them and setting financial goals.

Part Two: Spending Style helps you define your spending style and what drives your spending habits. Hill includes examples of superfluous spending and how just one $4 latte a week can cost you more than you may be willing to spend. Ultimately, she is out to help you accomplish a spending makeover through two steps:

“Step 1: Track the Trends
Identify your spending style.
Tackle your spending triggers.

Step 2: Blow Out Your Budget
Create a spending plan that works for you.
Learn how to stick to your spending plan.”

Part Three: Debt Diet is targeted at getting you out of debt. “You are going to dig yourself out of debt, especially high-interest debt,” says Hill. Her “Debt Diet” focuses on the three types of debt that harass women most often: credit cards, student loans, and auto loans. For those of you like me, who might be past the student loan stage and are facing mortgage debt, she addresses us as well. When you first step on the “debt scale,” as Hill calls it, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. But, face it head on ladies and learn just how much you do owe. After the initial horror wears off, Hill will then get you on track to designing a debt diet specifically for you. She also exposes some of the debt lies we’ve been told over the years.

Part Four: In Financial Fitness, Hill first discusses what it means to be financially fit. “It means you’re making smart financial decisions that will set you up for a rich—in every meaning of the word—life down the road.” She then outlines a financial fitness routine that includes making savvy career choices, investing wisely, building savings, getting insured, purchasing a home, taking charge of your taxes, and finally, if you have a partner, getting your joint finances in shape.

Hill’s writing style makes learning about and fixing your finances just as appealing as that new novel you’ve been dying to read. Take my advice and get a copy of Shoo, Jimmy Choo! first. You won’t be sorry. Grab your copy at www.ShooJimmyChoo.com.Related Posts:

Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl’s Guide to Spending Less & Saving More is a post from: Money Crashers