Grad Money Matters

How to Save Money on Business Insurance

2011-02-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article by Bailey Harris*)

When you own a business, carrying the right amount of insurance is a must. Even if you're trying to watch expenses, you can't overlook or do without coverage. Not having insurance could mean that you are only one disaster away from a lawsuit, or worse, filing bankruptcy and closing your doors. If you are worried about the cost of insurance, you are much better off looking for ways to save than ignoring your need for insurance altogether.

Examine Your Needs

Take a good hard look at what type of insurance is really necessary for your business. Do you need property insurance? What about liability insurance or worker's compensation? When you've established your true needs, the next step is to determine how much coverage you need. It's possible you're carrying too much in one area and not enough in others. Do you really need that high payout on your burglary insurance? Perhaps it would be less expensive to install a better security system that could lower your insurance premium. Another possibility is to consider having some of your work performed by independent contractors. You wouldn't need to carry worker's comp. However, if you take this route, make sure the independent contractor carries their own insurance.

Improve Safety

Liability insurance is usually a significant part overall insurance costs for any business. Finding ways to improve safety for your customers and your workers may allow you to carry less liability insurance. Consulting with a safety expert could also be beneficial in the long run. Your insurance agent could be of help as well. These professionals may be able to point out areas where safety features could be installed or help you hold safety seminars to instruct your employees in safer work habits. A safety expert may also help you find ways to make sure your customers are safer while on your property. The minimized threat of customer injury can translate into savings in insurance payments.

Get a Package Deal

Whenever possible, try to consolidate your insurance needs. Discuss options with your agent and determine whether carrying an insurance package would be to your benefit. Many insurance companies will reward multi-policy customers with additional discounts. For example, if you insure your property and your company vehicles with the same insurance provider, there is a very good chance that you will qualify for savings on both policies.

Look for Group Rates

If you belong to an organization that offers group rate insurance, it could be of value to your company. Many organizations have tremendous influence with insurance companies simply because they can bring customers in volume. As a result, the companies are prone to offer lower rates. If you don't actually belong to an organization that benefits from group insurance rates, do some homework and find out what groups in your area do enjoy that advantage. Consider joining the group, which will in turn allow you to take advantage of the savings. There will undoubtedly be some upfront cost, but it may be beneficial in the long run.

Shop Around

As with any type of insurance, the cost of business insurances can vary wildly from company to company. Before buying a policy, you should take time to get multiple quotes. As you are making comparisons, be sure to look at coverage levels as well as price. Although it is good to save money, the ultimate goal is to make sure that you have the proper coverage in the unlikely event of a catastrophe.

Ask for High Deductibles

As with most other types of insurance, policies for businesses include some sort of deductible. Paying out of pocket for a portion of the loss is standard. If your business is going well you may decide that taking a chance on a claim would be worth the extra expense of paying more of the cost yourself. Raising your deductible is a gamble, but the savings in insurance payments may be worth it. Examine your business finances to make sure you could withstand the outlay of cash. If so, consider raising your deductible to take advantage of monthly or annual savings.

Read the Fine Print

Businesses are frequently overcharged for insurance by accident. Be sure to review your insurance policies--particularly your worker's comp policy. Are your employees classified correctly? What about your inventory? Do you have replacement-cost coverage or an actual cash value policy? Know what you are paying for before your write out the check.

Remember That Business Needs Fluctuate

It's a standard business practice to do a cost analysis on a regular basis. As part of that analysis, you should include an update on insurance needs. If your profit to potential-insurance-payout ratio is out of sync, consider updating your insurance policy. You may be over insured. Spending money on insurance premiums comes out of your profit, and no business can survive by spending too much on unnecessary things.

*About the author: Bailey Harris writes about home insurance quotes and related topics for www.homeinsurance.org.

*Image Credit: Photograph by bookgrl [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Is it Possible to be Both Eco-Friendly and Frugal?

2010-12-20T20:44:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article by Connor Groening*)

I used to be the girl who runs to the coffee shop every morning. On the way to the coffee shop I'd pass the coffee maker, can of coffee and filters, and on the way in, I'd dump my disposable cup out in the trash. I am now a mother and living a financially friendly lifestyle is a must - for both mine and my kid's future. Whether it’s parenthood, job change or just a want to use your finances more efficiently, there are tiny little things and even big ones that we don’t even notice we spend money on. Lets say that I was spending 4 dollars everyday on coffee. That’s around 120 dollars a month and about 1,500 dollars a year! Amazing right, over 1,000 dollars spent entirely on coffee. And to boot, 365 disposable cups in the trash can. Lets just say I make my own coffee these days and drink it in my "I Love You, Mommy" coffee mug, with a little fancy creamer to make it taste like a coffee shop latte. You don’t have to be an accountant or go to a financial school to take control of your finances and the effects they have on not only you but environmentally as well.

When you go through your everyday expenses it is amazing the little things you discover your spending thousands of dollars on a year. There are some ways to eliminate some of those expenses and even do a little eco-friendly monetary rearranging. I’ll use some examples out of my own personal experience and a few tips I have learned from others. Financially friendly living cannot only help you in your life but can even help the environment!

Have you ever watched "The Story of Bottled Water?" The basic message is how we spend thousands and thousands of dollars on bottled water, and by buying the plastic bottles not only are we wasting money, but resources that could be used elsewhere. Instead of spending money to fund big bottled water companies why not put that money and resource towards making tap water safe and drinkable all over the world. Same applies to most of the trivial things we as consumers feel we need. We are a nation obsessed with "stuff". Not to condemn American’s we are not the only consumer happy country, just the most recognized. Basically the message I am trying to convey is that there are many ways to save money and in doing so conserve national resources.

Small but Expensive

Taking a step back from the national approach I will evaluate from a more personal stand-point the things I do to live a more financially and eco-friendly life. I will start with the tiny things that we can do as individuals to cut costs in certain areas of our lives. First the minute little things. If you use a computer often then this is something I’m sure you have done. When you are done with the computer you let it go to sleep rather than shutting it down, and probably leave it plugged in as well. This seems too minute to worry about but you wouldn’t believe the amount of energy it uses yearly. Studies show that by leaving a computer plugged in costs you an average of $27.90 a year. That isn’t including a monitor if you have a desktop which generates a cost of about nine dollars a year, and the modem costing you around six dollars a year. And that's just one computer. How many computers and other electronic gadgets do you have around the house. Itty bitty expenses that add up, while at the same time hurting the environment.

Lets go back to the simple idea of a water bottle. The average family uses about 10 dollars a week on plastic water bottles. Equaling an amazing 520 dollars a year. What could you have used the 520 dollar on? A car payment, paying bills within the household... buying 10 water filtering systems for your tap water faucet? Try using a reusable bottle for water or other drinks. This reduces not only the amount of money you spend on plastic bottles but also the amount of plastic you send to landfills all over the world. These are just a few of the small things that we don’t realize we are spending so much money on. There are hundreds of things like this in our lives that we can either cut out or reduce considerably. Try sitting down and calculating the amount of money you spend on things like coffee in the morning, fast food lunches, water bottles and other things such as this. After calculating you will be amazed at where your paychecks are really going. Try coming up with creative ways to change your consumer habits, do some research and save some money!

Budgeting

When looking at your finances on a larger scale in a round about way there are a few skills you can use to keep your spending in check and live more financially friendly. First try making a budget. If you take the time to sit down and make a rough allocation of your money it gives you an idea of what you have left over for things you want. Needs and wants are very different and using those two categories is really beneficial when making your budget. Doing this allows you to make sure you get all of your needs covered and slowly mark your want list off with money you have left over.

Spend Wisely and Consciously

When shopping, shop wisely and with purpose. Comparing prices can be a mundane task but if you take your time shopping you will be amazed at the money you save. This goes for all shopping not only grocery shopping. Whenever possible support environmentally friendly causes. Advertisement has many, many tricks up its sleeve. Sales are one of those very touchy subjects. "It was okay I spent the money because it was on sale". Finding a good deal is definitely something you can look out for when shopping but beware of the way advertising seduces us into buying things we do not need. An example, some price tags will have a regular price and sale price printed on. Meaning that this company never even tried to sell this product at regular price. Seeing a sale price is enticing and our mind automatically justifies spending if the item is "on sale". Unknowingly we sometimes fall into the schemes of today’s advertising gurus, who if you let them will take every penny you have! Their good... but you can easily be better!

Get Crafty

In every home there are a number of unused items maybe you have a garage full or an attic. The point is we all have things lying around that can be of use. A personal example. I recently relocated, left my job, my home and all of the connections I had back home. It is the Christmas season and I love giving. However I have just started a new job and at the moment do not have the money to spend on a ton of Christmas gifts. I love to give everyone a special gift and so not having the money was killing me. I went to the basement to do laundry and started digging around. I found some clear glass ornaments that I had completely forgotten were there. So this year everyone is getting a hand made ornament uniquely painted for each individual person. And it worked out great... in stead of buying more and more stuff, I end up repurposing some the things I already have. Sometimes something you make means so much more! Getting crafty can be applied to many different things to not only make unique gifts but to make practical use of unused items just laying around at home. There is a book by readers digest "Extraordinary uses for ordinary things: 2,317 ways to save money and time". Its amazing how some of these directly or indirectly help save the environment as well. Try finding reads like this and using the information in your life.

There are many ways to live a more financially friendly life. I hope the information I have given you will spark some interest in the things you can do that not only save money but help save the environment as well. Saving money isn’t all about being frugal. There are a lot of things that I have learned on my journey to a more financially friendly living that have helped me in many aspects of my life, and have been great fun. Explore and gain knowledge on the different ways to save money that are out there and have fun doing it. When you begin to save and look back on the money you were spending on irrelevant things you will feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride. Sometimes it really is all about the simple things in life.

If you like this article you may also like:

What I Do to Live Frugally

Now Frugal, Now Not

Air Travel Checklist for the Frugal Minded Traveler

Frugality and Hardship

*About the author: This is a guest article by Connor Groening, who loves writing about personal finance and online finance schools.

*Image Credit: Photograph by beautyredefined [via Flickr Creative Commons]

How to Find Scholarships If Your Parents Are in the High Income Bracket

2010-12-15T21:07:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article by Mark Davies*)

One of the biggest misconceptions about scholarships is that most people assume that they’re available on to those who belong to low income families. Yes, there are more need-based scholarships than any other kind, but they’re not the only kind of financial assistance available to students for a post secondary education. So if your parents are in an income bracket that does not allow you to apply for a need-based scholarship, yet cannot pay your way through college for various reasons and don’t want to take out a student loan and incur debt on graduation, here are the options open to you:

Look for academic or merit-based scholarships – most schools provide these if you have a GPA of 3.7 and above and if your high school academic records are excellent. You help your case if you have a complete portfolio of all your academic achievements, any community service projects you’ve participated in, and any other accomplishments in high school that you think is significant.

If you belong to a minority or ethnic background, now is the time to make good use of it – many colleges provide scholarships for members of minority communities.

Certain academic departments in colleges have scholarships that they disburse, so ask about these in the colleges you want to apply to.

If you’re physically or mentally disabled, you qualify for many scholarships that are set up to help those who are at a disadvantage because of their disability.

If you have lost a parent or other family member to cancer or any similar debilitating disease, you may qualify for certain scholarships that consider families who have used up a considerable portion of their savings and income towards medical expenses.

If you’re thinking of signing up for the military (army, air force or navy), then consider an ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program where you can get federal aid for college before training to be officers in a branch of the military.

Some schools offer scholarships for students who have lost a parent in the line of duty, as a cop, fireman or military personnel.

Your parents’ employers may be offering scholarships for meritorious children of employees in the organization, so get mom and dad to ask some questions in the workplace.

If you belong to a local community or church, ask about any scholarships or grants they provide for aspiring college students who actively volunteer and help out whenever needed.

If you don’t qualify for scholarships in your freshman year, you can always apply again in your sophomore, junior and even senior years. So don’t give up just because you lost out the first time, just keep looking for alternatives open to upperclassmen.

So don’t despair if your parents haven’t saved up for your college expenses, if your 529 savings amount is not enough to cover the cost of four years of college, or if a bad financial year has left your parents unable to pay your tuition and living costs in college. Start looking around for academic and other scholarships well before you must apply to college, and reap the rewards of your effort and persistence.

Scholarships that are not need based are not advertised prominently; so if you want to apply for and qualify for these, you must talk to the admissions office and your department of study specifically to see what you can do.

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by Mark Davies, he writes on the topic of Online Masters Degree. He welcomes your comments at his email id: markdavies247<@>gmail<.>com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by haagenjerrys [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Do You Know What Factors Affect YOUR Credit Card Interest Rate?

2010-12-10T20:55:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article by Mirsad Hasic*)

Did you know that the average American family has an average of $5,219 credit card debt with an average interest of 17-20 percent? Yes, very disturbing indeed considering that the interest rate is usurious in every way possible. And with such a high interest rate, it will be tough to get out of debt and shape up one's financial issues.

Keep in mind that the credit card interest rate is the principal means by which the issuers generate revenue from letting the holders borrow the former's money for purchases bought with the credit card. In effect, the holder is paying a fee for the privilege of borrowing money, which will take time to accumulate if not for the credit card issued by the bank.

Since the bank is taking a risk in letting the holder borrow its money, the interest rate is based on how much the former believes the latter is a credit risk. Thus, if you are seen as a high credit risk by the bank, your interest rate will be higher but if you are a low credit risk, your interest rate will similarly be lower.

This is the rationale behind the statements that the interest rate you pay for the credit card is largely under your control and that the quickest way to secure a low interest rate is to become a low-risk holder.

Personal Credit History

Probably the most important factor in the determination of credit card interest rate is the personal credit history of the applicant. With the sophisticated information-gathering techniques used by national and international credit bureau reporting agencies, your personal credit history can be tracked for as long as 10 years ago. Missed payments on utility bills, defaults on loan amortizations for any kind of asset, foreclosures on the house, less than minimum payments on credit cards, and bankruptcy filings on one hand and almost-perfect payment history on the other hand all show up on these credit reports.

Your credit history shows how high or how low a credit risk you will be to the bank. If you have a spotty credit history, the interest rate will be higher. If you have a spotless credit history, the interest rate will be competitive so much so that it will be almost like borrowing the money interest-free. This is not a form of discrimination since any investor will want to protect his interests and that includes banks lending money to the holders.

Length of Credit Profile

The length of time relative to the credit account also comes into play when determining the credit card interest rate. If you have long held credit cards and you have kept them current, chances are that the interest rate will be lower. For new cardholders, the other factors will be considered more than the length of the credit account.

Percentage of Credit Used

But just because you are on top of your various kinds of credits from utilities and mortgages to credit cards does not necessarily mean that the interest rate will be lower. The bank will look into the percentage of available credit being used at the time you have applied for the new credit card account.

As a general rule, banks consider individuals and households using more than 30 percent of their available credit as higher credit risks than those who use a lesser percentage of their available credit. Borrow within your available credit to avoid being imposed higher interest rates on the new credit cards being issued.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

But the banks will not only look at your financial past. Your present and future finances will also be assessed to determine your credit worthiness. First, you will be asked about your current financial status specifically your debt-to-income ratio. You may even be asked for audited financial statements both for your personal and business accounts to provide the bank with an objective perspective into how well you are doing at present in terms of finance. Jobs, businesses and other economic activities will be asked.

Second, you may have to justify your credit card application with proof of a future flow of money into your possession. It can be an inheritance, income from government bonds and other verifiable sources of revenue. Your goal is to show the bank that you have the financial means to pay your credit card balances for their full amounts in the future.

Bank Promotions

Many credit card issuers offer promotional interest rates to attract customers to take out credit cards for their own use. Thus, you will see banks offering a zero percent rate for the first 6 months of use, which you will be attracted to when other issuers are not doing so.

However, you must be aware that the good times cannot last as long as you want it to. The banks will raise the interest rates to bring them in line with their profit goals. You may even be imposed an additional interest rate, no matter how miniscule it may look on paper, when you have been deemed a higher credit risk than was previously thought.

Economic Factors

And then there's the economy to take note of. Along with the bank policies on promotions, the economy is one of the uncontrollable factors that determine your interest rate.

Banks usually base their credit card interest rates on the prime rate, which represents the most favorable rate given to the individuals with the highest credit worthiness. (In other words, these are the holders with the lowest credit risk). The prime rate, in turn, is based on the federal funds rate, which is the rate at which banks charge other banks for credit.

If you want a lower interest rate, be a low credit risk. You have to pay your bills, amortizations and other payables on time; provide for proof of stable finances for the present and the future; and just generally be somebody whom the banks can trust with paying back their money. Even in these tough times, all that is possible.

*About the author: This article was contributed by Mirsad Hasic. Mirsad is the editor of best credit card deals, a consumer oriented site where you will learn how to pick a credit card that suits your needs and also get valuable tips and strategies on credit card debt relief.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Stargazer95050 [via Flickr Creative Commons]

How to Refinance Your Auto Loan

2010-12-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article by Bailey Harris*)

There are several good reasons to consider refinancing your auto loan. If interest rates have dropped or if you have improved your credit score since you originally got the loan, you may be able to get a better rate. There is also a chance of lowering your monthly payment.

Another reason to consider refinancing involves terms. If you don’t like the terms on your current loan--maybe you're making payments for too many years or too few--you can probably get more preferable terms with a new loan.

How a Refinance Works

Getting an auto refinance loan is a lot like getting a traditional auto loan. You fill out a loan application, undergo a credit check, and get approved or denied for the money you need. You can try getting your current loan refinanced through your current lender. However, it is important to remember that your current lender may not have incentive to give you a good rate. Lower interest rates and better terms often mean less money in the bank's pocket.

It makes more sense to get a rate quote from your current lender as well as several other lenders at the same time. This will allow you to compare interest rates and terms and easily determine who can give you the best deal.

Before getting approved for a refinance loan, you will need to fill out a loan application. Most lenders charge a fee for this, but it is almost always less than $25. You will not have to pay closing costs on the loan or other fees typically associated with a home refinance.

If you are approved for the loan and agree to the loan terms, your lender will see to it that your old loan is paid off and a new loan is set up.

Getting Ready to Refinance

Before applying for a refinance loan, it is a good idea to get your credit in order. This not only increases your chances of getting approved for the loan, it also helps you get a lower interest rate, which is what refinancing is all about.

If you currently have bad credit, it is important to know that you can't fix your credit overnight. However, there are a few things that you can do to clean up your report and give your score a boost.

The first thing you will want to do is pull a copy of your credit report. You can get a free annual credit report each year through AnnualCreditReport.com, a centralized site created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Look for any errors or negatives that can be cleared up with a few phone calls or letters. These things are easy to take care of, but can seriously harm your credit. When that's finished, look for negative items or bad debts that are currently in collection. Pay these debts off if at all possible. Some lenders will ask you to do this anyway before giving you a loan. If you cannot pay these items off, be prepared to dispute them or explain why they are there and why you haven't taken care of them.

Some of the other things that you can do to give your credit a quick boost include paying off installment loans, paying off credits cards, and limiting credit card charges to 30% percent of each card's limit. You may also want to try piggybacking off someone else's good credit by getting your name on their card. Every time they use the card and pay it off responsibly, your credit will get a boost.

One final thing to keep in mind is that having multiple credit inquiries can damage your credit score if they are not made within a specific time frame. When shopping for an auto refinance loan, make sure that the lenders all check your credit within a two week period. This will allow the multiple inquiries to be processed as a single hard inquiry, which is much less damaging to your credit score.

More Auto Refinancing Tips

An auto refinance is almost always worth exploring. However, you should be careful to do the math to make sure that refinancing is the right thing to do. You can almost certainly get a lower payment by lengthening the term of your loan, but this could leave you paying more interest than necessary. If lowering your payments is the only way that you can afford the vehicle, this scenario may make sense. The key is to evaluate your individual situation and then go from there.

You should also be careful to read all of the fine print and know what you are getting from the loan. Specific things to ask the lender about include the interest rate, the length of the loan, and minimum monthly payments. You may also want to make sure that there are no prepayment penalties attached to the loan so that you have the option of paying the loan off early or refinancing later on without problems.

*About the author: This is a guest post from Bailey Harris.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Dave Dugdale [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Healthy Eating Tips You Can't Afford to Miss (Especially if You Are on A Tight Budget!)

2010-12-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article by Louise Baker*)

College is an exciting time and busy time. For most students, eating healthy is not a top priority. Often students will live off sodas and junk food. In addition, most college students have a tight budget. Students will eat food that is cheap such as the college staple of a sixteen-cent package of Ramen noodles.

Stay Home and Cook

Although college is fun at times, it can also be quite stressful. With poor diet and exercise, many college students gain weight or just feel unhealthy. Most colleges and universities offer healthy choices on campus including healthy snack machines. This makes eating healthy much easier. To stretch a budget it is essential that a student eat out as little as possible. Most students have a small microwave and small refrigerator in their dormitory rooms or many students live off campus in apartments.

Cheap and Healthy Meals

Although Ramen noodles are high in sodium, the noodles are the undisputed cheapest of cheap meals. These days you can create a hearty and healthy meal using this package of noodles. If you are unable to cook chicken, you can purchase canned chicken and canned vegetables. Add both to your Ramen soup to create a filling and healthy meal.

Stock up on a few jars of Alfredo sauce. You will find a popular brand for under two dollars. You should also purchase a few packages of pasta. You will find many brands available under one dollar per package. Purchase store brand frozen mixed vegetables for under one dollar as well. Heat up the Alfredo sauce and add water to the empty jar. Fill the empty jar halfway and shake. This gets the excess sauce that is stuck to the sides of the jar. Pour this into the heating sauce. Alfredo sauce is thick and you will create more sauce by adding the water. Then add your mixed vegetables to the sauce. When your pasta is cooked, pour the vegetable and Alfredo sauce over it. This is a hearty, healthy and delicious meal. You will have plenty of left overs for additional meals.

You can purchase a dozen small eggs for less than one dollar and fifty cents. You can purchase an off brand of whole wheat bread for the same price. For less money, you can buy a package of flour tortillas. Purchase a package of cheese and ham. You can make a breakfast sandwich or breakfast burritos for an entire week. Eating breakfast will help you focus on your studies and curb your appetite until lunch. This also makes for a great snack if you happen to have a late night in the student library.

Give up Sodas and Drink Water

Students spend an average of fifteen dollars a week on canned sodas. The healthy alternative is to drink water. You can purchase a water bottle that you can fill up at the campus water fountains. If you prefer filtered water, invest in one of the many water filter devices. Either way, you will save a tremendous amount of money if you drink water instead of sodas. Water is much healthier and it will keep your appetite under control.

If You Have to Buy Lunch

Most students do not have time to run back to their dorm room for lunch or to their apartment. Each night pack a lunch and snacks. This way if you get up late and are in a hurry, your lunch is ready to go. If you find yourself without your lunch, you can choose healthy alternatives on campus. You can usually eat in the campus cafeteria for under two dollars if you order a vegetable plate and drink water. The vegetable plate usually comes with a choice of three vegetables. Macaroni and cheese is not a vegetable, however, it is always available on the vegetable plate. It is high in fat; however, it is a fantastic comfort food. Therefore, as long as you have chosen two healthy vegetables go ahead and enjoy the macaroni and cheese.

You Can Eat Healthy For $20 Per Week

For approximately twenty dollars a week, you can eat healthy and eat well. You can stretch your money even further if you shop wisely. Make sure you visit your local discount grocer and shop the sale items. Stock up on healthy snacks such as trail mix, pretzels and baked chips. Every college student needs some junk food and these are healthy alternatives. You will find that if you eat breakfast, you will feel great and your appetite will remain under control. Your breakfast can be made the night before and reheated the next morning. All of the meals mentioned can be made under fifteen minutes and are cheap and healthy.

*About the author: Louise Baker is a freelance blogger who usually writes about online degrees for Zen College Life. Her most recent article ranked the best web design schools.

*Image Credit: Photograph by libraryman [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Got Wheels? 8 Tips for Finding an Affordable Car

2010-11-22T20:52:00.001-08:00

(This is a guest article by Ryan Embly*)

Graduates fresh out of college often struggle to stay afloat in a sea of college debt and student loans. Unfortunately, the bills never seem to end. Many college students live on campus and are able to get around without needing a car, but transportation becomes much more difficult once you have graduated and are looking for a job in a wide variety of locations. A car is something that can be very helpful for some recent grads or an absolute necessity for others. Cars can be expensive, but if you are careful and thoughtful there are lots of ways to save money and get a great deal. Here are some tips on how recent grads can find an affordable car and stay away from expensive pitfalls along the way.

1. Before you even start looking at cars, take a look at your budget. It’s easier to shop for a car if you already know ahead of time how much you are willing to spend. When you go to a car dealership, do not let them show you any cars out of your budget or the car lust will set in. Salespeople constantly try to upsell by offering unnecessary add ons like leather seats and satellite radio or by attempting to persuade you to upgrade to a more expensive and fancier model, but if you are committed to your budget you will be able to avoid these expensive traps.

2. Do your research. There are so many things you need to know about a car before deciding on a particular model. For example, does your dream car model have a nasty history of breaking down and requiring repeated maintenance? Does your car use up gas quickly or is it a fuel efficient dream come true? Is the car known for having a high safety rating? Search online and in consumer report magazines to find this information. If you aren’t careful with your car selection, you may end up paying what at first appears to be a great and affordable price - but in the end you find out that you get what you pay for after you’ve taken the car into the shop for the fifth time in as many months.

3. Leasing a car is not a good option for recent grads. At first, leasing looks attractive because the monthly payments may be lower, but in the long run all you are doing is pouring money into something that you can never stop paying for. Most cars will last for several years, long after you have finished off paying for it, making it a better long term investment.

4. Do not buy a new car fresh off the lot because new cars tend to rapidly depreciate in value. A one to two year old used car, on the other hand, has already depreciated and will be available for a much lower price. Just because a car isn’t the latest model doesn’t mean it isn’t any good – although car companies like to brag about their new and improved models, sometimes there isn’t much of a difference between last year’s model and this year’s model.

5. Check out different dealerships before settling on one. Although some dealerships may be selling the exact same cars, certain dealerships may have special offers that make it more worthwhile to buy a car for them. For example, a dealership may have a special discount for college grads or offer a particularly sweet interest rate.

6. Also make sure to shop around for good financing – don’t just take the first offer you get. If you are not sure what a good financing package looks like, go to a credit union or bank, tell them what car you want to buy and ask them what they’re willing to offer. Then take this offer back to the dealerships and start haggling. Do not be afraid to bargain – this is a common practice when buying cars.

7. Before you finish bargaining and sign the contract, make sure to read the small print to see exactly what you are agreeing to. Always ask questions if there is something in your contract you don’t understand. If you don’t take these precautions, your once affordable car may turn out to be more expensive than you thought because there was a pricey little clause hidden in the middle of legalese on the second page. Most dealerships are honest, but once in a while someone always tries to pull a fast one in the small print, and once you’ve signed, you’re screwed.

8. Even if you are able to purchase a car for an affordable price, don’t forget about obtaining equally affordable insurance. Shop for insurance the same way you shopped for dealerships and financing – call around and see who has the best price. Insurance prices depend on a variety of factors such as the model and year of the car you’ve purchased, your prior history of accidents and your grades. Some cars cost more to insure because they have a history of maintenance problems or are more likely to be stolen than other cars, so make sure to check up on this when doing preliminary car buying research. The best investment you can make for buying a car is to be a good driver and either have no accidents or very minor ones on your record. Also, keeping your grades up is really helpful since many insurance companies have good student discounts for academically successful individuals.

*About the author: This post was provided by Ryan Embly from the website Car Rental Express – a provider of cheap car rentals in North America and Europe.

*Image Credit: Photograph by jeff_golden [via Flickr Creative Commons]

10 Tips for a Great Car Pooling Experience

2010-11-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article*)

If you have a long daily commute, one of the best way to keep cost down is to car pool. If the other person has a car too, you can take turns on who drives. If the other person does not have a car,you can work out an arrangement to be reimbursed for some of the cost you incur. When it is done right, car pooling can save you a bunch of money. Here are some tips to make your car pooling experience a great one.

People, people, people

Spending time in a car with someone you don’t like can be tedious, long-winded and aggravating – so chose your car pooling friend carefully. It may seem harsh but starting your day off with an irritant can be detrimental to your working day, which will ultimately reduce your chances of working to your potential.

Switch your seat

Commuting when you work a long distance from home can be painfully expensive and mundane. So when car-pooling, make sure that if the journey is a long one, allow the passenger to drive half the distance. This will ensure that you are both seen as equals during the commute, and even better you get to put your feet up for a bit and relax – just make sure the passenger is insured on your car first!

Adapt

Car pooling can be a great way to save money on expensive gas bills, but without the right strategic measures in the place, it could end in disaster. If your fellow car pooling friend lives close, it would be beneficial to ask if they could walk to you before you set off – this will save on gas, money and you having to pick them up. Equally, if they live relatively far away, make sure you both agree a suitable meeting point that is convenient for both parties – happiness is the key to great car pooling!

Money, money, money, money, MONAY!

The whole point of car pooling is saving money. So, make sure that before any journey or car pooling begins, you set out strict guidelines as to how much the journey will cost. Informing your cohabiter of the charge that they will incur will help achieve a mutual respect and thus cancel out any potential arguments regarding money. You need to consider many factors including; mileage, insurance, tax, tire wear and most importantly fuel.

Choose your route

If you look at modern day satellite navigation or GPS systems, you will notice that they offer two or three routes for each journey. One route will take a little bit longer but may offer a more economical run – it is important to look at what route is best for you and your passenger. One route may get you to your destination ten minutes faster but if it costs you a few extra dollars in tolls and gas, is it worth it?

Rules and regulations

We are all creatures of habits, but when car pooling, these habits are best to be spoken about before the journey. Is your terrible music going to be played? Will you allow smoking in your car? Your passenger might just assume they can light up and smoke in your new car – so we would advise to set out some ground rules early on in the relationship. We would advise the radio as background noise, just in case there are any awkward silent moments – everyone has them!

Drive safely

A commute isn’t a NASCAR qualifying lap, so just take those corners gently and ease off the throttle. Car pooling should be an enjoyable process for all parties, and nobody wants to view your ‘driving talents’ on the freeway. Just relax and drive in a safe and controlled manner – this will ensure your passenger is happy and both of you arrive at your destination in one piece.

Be pleasant

This one might be a bit obvious, but you would be surprised by how many people don’t posses the social skills to communicate with someone they don’t know that well. If you’re going to be spending a considerable amount of time with this person, you need to be as pleasant as you can be – or those hourly trips to work and back could become very awkward indeed. It doesn’t take much to smile, and if you’re lucky your passenger will smile back – hopefully.

Check your particulars

It is important to know who you can and can’t trust. Before you start car pooling with someone, you need to make sure that you both have the correct identification and qualifications. Simple aspects like driving licenses and insurance documents will ensure you have complete faith in your right hand man/woman.

Contact details

This is an important one. Incase of an accident, it is a good idea to note down both parties telephone numbers for their next of kin/someone who they can contact. There would be nothing worse than not being able to contact their loved ones if you were involved in a crash. Preparation is the key to happy car pooling.

*About the author: This is a guest blog post on behalf of Carfinance247 – specialists in helping people find a low cost car finance deal.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com [via Flickr Creative Commons]

FAQs – What Does Teaching at an Online College Entail?

2010-11-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

(This is a guest article by Carrie Oakley*. If you are a Ph.D. student looking for money making ideas, and aspiring to pursue an academic career in the future, you may want to consider teaching at an online college now. It will provide you some much needed income, invaluable experience and a definite edge compared to the stiff competition you will face when you start your application process.)

It’s not a job that comes to mind immediately or one that you dream of when you join college, but it’s fulfilling and satisfactory in many aspects; teaching at an online college is an option you could consider if you’re a college professor or aspiring to become one. The demand for skilled and dedicated teachers is rising by the day, so if you think you fit the bill and would enjoy teaching online, here are answers to a few basic questions you’re likely to have about the job:

What qualifications do you need to teach college courses online?

Most universities prefer their own staff to handle their online courses; however, it is possible to find work as an adjunct professor if you hold a graduate degree or a doctorate in the subject you intend to teach, or if you hold any graduate degree and have completed 18 graduate level credits in the subject you want to teach. Many who aspire to teach online pursue the online graduate certificate in Management of E-Learning. This is offered by various universities and can be completed in as little as six months. When you complete this course, you’re not only eligible to teach online, you can also apply for positions as e-learning course designers.

Do you need to have prior experience?

It depends on the college you apply to and the course you want to teach – some may prefer experienced professors while others may be willing to try you out if you’re impressive or if they’re short of staff. Also, if the course is simple and meant to impart basic knowledge, you would be welcome to teach it even without experience.

How do you apply to become an online college professor?

Find out which online colleges (and regular ones that offer online courses) are hiring and send in your resume to the concerned department. You could also find online adjunct groups and sign up to meet and interact with others in this line of work. This way, you stay connected to all that’s happening in the world of online teaching and you know of any job vacancies as soon as they’re posted.

How much does an online college professor normally make?

Some colleges pay the same per credit hour as they do for those who teach traditional courses while others may pay according to your skill and experience. If you’re teaching online at a community or local college, the pay may not be as much as you would get at a bigger university. Online professors do take on other jobs like private tuition in order to make enough money.

How many hours of work does the job entail?

The number of hours varies according to the college, the course and the teacher. Some colleges set a number of hours for each credit; however, an online teacher may have to spend time responding to student queries and questions on interactive discussion threads.

Is it possible to work from home as an online college professor?

Yes, you can work from any location if you teach online. You don’t have to be on campus or even at an office when you handle online classes.

Are the work hours flexible?

As with online learning, online teaching too has flexible schedules. However, you do have to be ready to respond to student queries and doubts and take an active part in any discussion that happens online. So while you may not have preset work hours, you do have to stay connected in order to send out quick and accurate responses. Schedules may have to be set for interactive lessons and to send out study material to students.

What kind of software do you have to be familiar with?

You must be technology savvy if you want to teach online; a basic knowledge of the Internet and how instant chat and email can be used to interact with students is a plus; and while you don’t need to be familiar with any special kind of software, it would help if you spent some time familiarizing yourself with the medium used to impart lessons and send out study material before you decide to become an online professor.

Is it possible to work part-time as an online college professor?

Yes, it is possible to work part-time as an online college professor. You could take on online teaching gigs to supplement your regular job or just as a means to spend your time fruitfully.

How does online teaching help further your career?

If you’re new to the profession of teaching, online courses help you gain experience in your field. Besides this, you also become familiar and comfortable with technology and know how to use it effectively and efficiently. You get to interact with students from a wide cross-section of society and this broadens your horizons and boosts your knowledge; and your ability is challenged and tested by inquisitive and bright students who make your online classes more interesting.

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by Carrie Oakley, who writes on the topic of online colleges. Carrie welcomes your comments at her email id: carrie.oakley1983(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Swansea Photographer [via Flickr Creative Commons]

How to Save Money on Your Home Insurance

2010-10-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Bailey Harris*)

Millions of people overpay for home insurance each year. If you think you may be among them or if you are just looking for a few ways to cut costs, the following tips may help you save money on your home insurance premium.

Lower Your Deductible

If you make a claim, you will have to pay what is known as a deductible before your insurance company will agree to pay their part. A low deductible results in a higher annual premium. A high deductible, on the other hand, will provide you with a lower annual premium. You may be able to save 20 percent or more by raising your deductible from $250 to $1,000. A really high deductible--$5,000 or more--could save you as much as 40 percent.

Combine Coverage

Purchasing more than one type of insurance, such as auto and home or umbrella and home, from a single company can help you save a bundle on all of your insurance coverage at the same time. Nearly every insurer offers a multi-policy discount. However, the percentage of the discount can range from company to company, so it is always a good idea to ask exactly how much you can save by combining policies.

Insure Your House Not the Land

Many people pay a higher premium than they need to because they make the mistake of insuring to buy versus insuring to rebuild. You do not need to buy an insurance policy that is equal to the price you paid for your home. All you need is a policy that will cover the cost to rebuild your home and replace the contents within.

Improve Home Security

Some insurers offer special discounts to homeowners who have taken steps to improve home security. Items that frequently result in a discount include fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, deadbolts, burglar alarms, and sprinkler systems. Check with your insurer to see if a discount is available and how much you may be able to save by installing one or more of these items.

Disaster-Proof Your Home

Making your home more resistant to fire and water damage or natural disasters, such as windstorms, hurricanes, and earthquakes, may also net you a discount on your home insurance. Some of the improvements that commonly lead to savings include updated heat or electrical systems, reinforced roofing, and shutters.

Maintain Good Credit

Many insurance companies use an "insurance score" to help determine how much customers should be charged for coverage. Your insurance score is based on your credit score, credit history, and other metrics. If you have good credit, you will be charged less for insurance than someone with bad credit.

Seek Out Additional Discounts

There may be other home insurance discounts that you are eligible for, such as a renewal or loyalty discount, a senior or mature policyholder discount, a non-smoker discount, a group discount, or a professional discount. Ask your insurance company for a list of potential discounts as well as eligibility requirements.

Shop Around

Comparison shopping is the best way to save money on your home insurance. The cost of coverage can vary considerably from company to company. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars simply by switching providers. Quotes from various insurance companies are available from free online services. You can also get quotes by calling individual agents in your neighborhood.

*About the author: This is a guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes about homeowners insurance for www.homeownersinsurance.org.

*Image Credit: Photograph by renjith krishnan [via http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/]

10 Secrets to Landing the Best Job Even Before You Graduate

2010-10-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Mark Macaluso*)

It’s no secret that every college student aspires to secure a good job as soon as they graduate or even before; it’s what they go to college for, and it’s the sole purpose of all their hard work. So when you know you’ve found that perfect job even before you’ve stepped out of school, the elation you feel is like nothing else – you know you’ve saved yourself the agony of being a graduate without a job, you’re free of the pressure to find one even as the bills start piling up and responsibilities come calling, and you can hold your head high that you’ve achieved success in the shortest possible time. It’s not that hard to land your dream job, not if you’re willing to do all it takes; so here they are then, the secrets to landing a great job even before you graduate:

Start early – even as early as high school. When you know what you want to become even before you graduate high school, it’s easy to plan your future and work towards it.

Plan your career based on your interests and future prospects – make a list of all the disciplines you’re interested in and one of careers that have potential and where job prospects are good. Cross check the two lists and pick a major that finds a place on both lists. This way, you’re assured of a job that you’re interested in when you graduate.

Work on your grades – college life can take you by surprise and all the freedom after the rigidity of high school could become too much to handle and you find your grades slipping. You must make an effort right from the beginning if you want to keep your grades up because good grades and consistency translate into good jobs at the end of four years.

Watch what you say or post on the Internet – social networks are great no doubt, but they’re a major reason why people are losing their jobs. If you’re indiscreet in what you say or do online, if you have photos that could be construed as proof of irresponsible behavior online, you could find that employers are not too keen on hiring you, even if your credentials are otherwise impeccable.

Find internships – one of the best ways to gain experience in and test the waters of any industry is to find work as an intern during your vacation. Think of it not as giving up your vacation but as a great way to check if you like a certain kind of job and if you’re suited to it and the easiest way to gain experience while still in school.

Create a great resume – when your resume speaks for itself and serves as the perfect means of introduction to a potential employer, there’s nothing you need to worry about. Don’t exaggerate your accomplishments or lie about them; remember, your resume must create a positive impression and make the person reading it want to know more about you.

Develop a network – let people know you’re looking for a job in the industry of your choice; keep in touch with the people who matter; make friends during your internship and focus on generating a positive impression all round.

Attend job fairs – don’t miss out on opportunities to attend job fairs that are held in your vicinity. It’s your best chance to see who’s hiring and what your prospects are.

Work on your interview skills – prepare for your interviews by learning more about the organizations you’re applying to, the positions you’re hoping to get, and by honing your interview skills. An interview is most often the last hurdle before you’re hired, and if you’ve come this far, you cannot blow it by not meeting expectations.

Do your research – know which companies are hiring and what kind of people they’re looking for. You could post your resume on various job sites and also send it out to companies you know are hiring based on your research.

The key to securing your dream job even before you graduate is to set a goal, plan ahead, and work towards putting your plan into action so that you achieve your goal.

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by Mark Macaluso, he writes on the topic of Masters in Accounting. He welcomes your comments at his email id: mark.macaluso985<@>gmail<.>com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by cobalt123 [via Flickr Creative Commons]

8 Things To Do If Your Wallet is Stolen

2010-10-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by David*)

There are few things that might churn your stomach and make you break into a sweat quicker than the loss of a wallet. The sad part about it is, in the overall scheme of things, it probably isn't the cash inside that you've lost that concerns you. It's likely the loss of all those little plastic cards with numbers printed across them that terrifies you the most -- that, and not knowing into whose hands they've fallen.

Recently I had my wallet stolen from the beach. The thieves didn't even get one dollar of cash and didn't manage to use any of my cards thanks to prompt canceling of cards. The police are never that hopeful of finding the thieves or recovering a wallet and so all they can do is give you an incident number to use with your banks, phone company etc.

If you've simply lost your wallet it could be a good samaritan who has discovered your wallet on the street. Unfortunately, you can't necessarily assume a well-intentioned citizen has hold of your wallet and is contacting the proper authorities. While in some cases you might luck out and have your personal affects returned to you, in most scenarios you'll have to assume the worst and get started on doing everything in your power to ensure the forces of evil aren't making the most of your misfortune. Here are a few tips to help you do so.

1. Make a Thorough Search

While you want to be quick about reporting a stolen wallet, you may not want to jump the gun before you've made a thorough search of the spots you visited last or at least make a quick phone call or two. Had you been eating at a restaurant, visiting a hotel, stopping in at a friend's, or frequenting another place at which you may have lost your wallet, it could be a long shot, but you might want to contact that business or person just to see if your wallet was turned in. However, even if someone did return your property, it doesn't mean that all its contents are there or weren't somehow compromised, so it might still be a good idea to consider or carry out the following steps.

2. Contact Authorities

Probably, one of the first things you'll want to do if your wallet has been stolen is contact the local authorities and file a report. This can be an important step, not only in the event that they can locate your wallet, but a police report can be important documentation should your personal or financial information be compromised and you must take action to recover your identity through various businesses or agencies.

3. Make a List

If you don't have one already, you should try to make a list of every item in your wallet. This may not be easy, but try to remember any and every item that could have been lost, especially those that had pertinent personal or financial information contained upon them.

4. Contact Credit Card Companies/Bank

Putting a halt to thieves using your credit or debit cards will likely be one of the first things on your to-do list after your wallet has been stolen. Hopefully, you have those numbers from the back of your cards to report them lost or stolen, but if not, you will probably have to contact the credit card company or bank and speak to a customer service representative who can guide you through the process of what to do. Take note, because it might have to be a process you have to repeat multiple times. If you had other pertinent information such as checking or savings account numbers in your wallet, you will want to notify your bank or financial institution of that as well.

5. Contact Credit Agencies

Beyond your credit and debit cards, you will probably want to contact each of the major credit agencies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. These three agencies consist of Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union, and it can be critical to the health and safety of your credit that you notify them as soon as possible after the theft of your wallet.

6. Notify Friends and Family

You may be carrying contact information of friends or family within your wallet. Phone numbers, email addresses, and similar information in the wrong hands could lead to those you care about being scammed by con artists or thieves. Therefore, it can be important to their safety to let them know what has occurred so they can take proper precautions.

7. Be on the Lookout

So now that your wallet is gone and you've notified the pertinent and proper businesses and persons, it's time to start keeping a good eye on your personal information and financial accounts. Even though you may have notified your financial institutions and placed fraud alerts on your accounts, it is still a good idea to be on the lookout for changes or odd activity related to your accounts. And if you had home and work information in your wallet as well, it may not only be the security of your accounts you have to watch out for, but work and home security as well.

8. Start the Rebuilding Process

The rebuilding process, replacing the things that you lost when your wallet was stolen, is probably going to be a royal pain in the neck, and there may be more items to replace than you initially realize. Besides contacting critical agencies like credit card companies and banks, you'll likely have other places to contact and you'll probably have to get a variety of new cards. Here are a few of the other cards you might have to replace or places you might have to notify regarding your loss:

Driver's license

Library card

Auto insurance company

Health insurance company

Employer

Time is often of the essence when you've had a wallet stolen. And it can be critical to the protection of your financial security, and possibly your personal security as well, to cover as many bases as you can think of after such a loss. Even if you don't see any activity on your accounts initially, it's important to remember to keep a watchful eye on such areas. Although much of the time such activity might occur almost immediately, it doesn't necessarily mean your information might not be used in ways that could come back to haunt you down the road.

*About the author: This is a guest article by David. David writes about personal finance for CreditCardCompare.com.au where you can find the best credit cards for Australians, including a range of low rate credit cards that help cut costs.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Andrman [via Flickr Creative Commons]

10 Quick Fixes for Your Credit Score

2010-10-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Bailey Harris*)

Paying your bills on time is the best way to obtain and maintain a high credit score. However, there are a few other things that you can do to boost your credit score before applying for loans and other types of credit. Here are 10 quick fixes to try today:

1. Correct Major Errors

Some errors, such as incorrect address information or name misspellings, have very little (if any) effect on your credit score. However, there are some errors--negative items that aren't yours, paid accounts listed as unpaid, etc.--that can drag your score down considerably. One of the very first things you should do is check your credit report for errors, and if necessary, make an effort to correct bad information with all three credit bureaus.

2. Pay Down Credit Card Debt

Paying down revolving accounts is easily the quickest way to boost your credit score. If you can manage to pay down or pay off credit cards over a two month period, you will see substantial results. You should start with cards that are closest to their limits versus cards with the highest interest rates. If possible, get balances down to 30 percent or less of each card's limit.

3. Transfer Credit Card Balances

If paying down debt is not an option, try transferring the credit card balance from a card that is nearly maxed out to one or more cards that have few or no charges on them. Spreading out your debt in this way is the second best way to fix credit fast. If possible, get the balance on every card down to 30 percent or less.

4. Update Your Credit Limit Information

Your credit score may not be accurate if there are problems with the credit limits being reported by the companies who issued your credit cards. Credit card limits often change--maybe you requested more credit or maybe your limit was extended by your creditor. Whatever the case may be, make sure the credit card limits being displayed on your credit report are correct. If they are not, ask the company who issued the credit card in question to update the three bureaus with your most recent credit limit information. Most companies will update this information upon request.

5. Change Your Payment Dates

Every credit card company reports information to credit bureaus on different days. These days rarely line up with your billing cycle. So, if you make charges and pay your credit card off every month, the credit bureaus may still think you have a balance on your card--even when you don't. You can remedy this problem by checking your credit report to see which day of the month your creditors send updates on payments to the credit bureaus and then making your payments several days before this reporting date. You could also request that the company give you a new due date. These strategies will have a minimal effect on your credit score, but they are worth trying if you want to massage the system in every way possible.

6. Piggyback on Someone Else's Good Credit

If you have a spouse, parent, or another close friend or relative with good credit, you may want to consider having your name added to one of their credit cards. This method of piggybacking can have a positive impact on your score because it allows you to get credit for every charge they make and pay off by the due date.

7. Dispute Old Negatives

If you have an old negative on your account that has been sent to a collection agency, such as an unpaid cable bill, you could dispute the account with all three credit bureaus. You should mark the account as "not mine" versus "unjust" to increase your chances of winning the dispute. If the amount is small, the collection agency may not even take the time to bother with it when the credit bureaus investigate the situation.

8. Ask for a Goodwill Adjustment

A goodwill adjustment occurs when a creditor or lender agrees to erase a late payment from your credit history. You will have to request this adjustment personally--either in writing or over the phone. If you have a long-standing or positive history with a creditor, you have a better chance of getting this adjustment, but it never hurts to ask in any case.

9. Get a Rapid Rescore

Rapid rescoring services can help you quickly and efficiently correct errors or pay down balances. With the help of a service, you could see a higher score in as little as 72 hours. The cost for rapid rescoring varies depending on the service you hire, but typically runs somewhere around $50 per account.

10. Simulate Various Scenarios

If you want to see what impact these strategies (and others) may have on your credit score, you could try punching your information into a credit score simulator. Most simulators will show you how paying off balances, making a late payment, or removing negative information from your credit report will affect your credit score. The official FICO site offers a great simulator to people who have purchased a copy of their credit score. There are also a number of free simulators that can be found online.

*About the author: This guest post was contributed by Bailey Harris, who writes for CreditScore.net.

*Image Credit: Photograph by meddygarnet [via Flickr Creative Commons]

10 Tips to Get Your Job Through Campus Recruitment

2010-10-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Tom Becker*)

The job application process can be a nerve racking experience; one that may involve a great deal of preparation and stress. However, being able to interview through campus recruitment presents a unique opportunity that not everyone has the chance to experience. Rather than having to go out and pound the pavement, send endless emails, or have the voicemail messages you leave unreturned, getting a job through campus recruitment can have the recruiters coming to you. This opportunity however, is one that can be even more beneficial if you are properly prepared to take full advantage of it.

1. Study - Similar to a college exam, proper preparation can be key to your success in a campus recruitment interview. Understanding what a possible employer does, knowing the history and circumstances surrounding their company or organization, and having knowledge about the position for which you are applying can make a favorable impression upon those with whom you are interviewing.

2. Test Yourself - Before your all important interview, you might take some time to test yourself and your interview acumen. Consider questions that you might be asked by your interviewers. If you don’t have ideas as to what these questions might be, you might want to search for typical interview questions on the Internet. When you answer these questions, you might want to try answering them aloud to hear how your answers sound and practice proper phrasing and articulation.

3. Prepare Your Own Questions - Asking questions related to a particular job or company can show that you are interested and educated regarding the position for which you are interviewing and the company or organization you are interviewing with. Sitting there with a blank stare when asked if you have questions for the interviewer can be a sign that you are unprepared or uninterested.

4. Remember the Little Things - The little things can make a big difference in the overall impression you make upon your interviewers. Having items like a working pen, paper, extra resumes and cover letters, and similar items can prevent you having to ask to borrow them from the interviewer or worse, sitting their seemingly unprepared or uninterested, both of which are potential interview killers.

5. Dress Appropriately - In most instances, it’s best to wear professional business attire to an interview whether or not it’s required or requested. It’s often better safe than sorry and being a bit overdressed probably won’t hurt your chances as much as being underdressed will.

6. Eat Something - As nervous as you may be, putting something in your stomach before interview time can keep embarrassing belly rumbling to a minimum. Sitting there in the crushing silence before that first critical interview question is asked, only to hear the churning of your stomach echoing through the interview room might have your interviewers raising an eyebrow or two.

7. A Bottle of Water - You certainly don’t want to flaunt having a bottle of water, slurping from it noisily or taking constant drinks from it throughout your interview, but having it available can come in handy. Few things can be more distracting or a turnoff to interviewers than that smacking noise your mouth makes when you’re nervous and your mouth is really dry. Worse yet might be that white stuff that accumulates around the edges of your mouth when it is excessively dry. Such things can severely detract from the overall impression you present during your interview.

8. Timeliness - While it shouldn’t have to be said, timeliness is often critical when it comes to campus recruitment. This isn’t a party and it’s not the time to arrive fashionably late. But when it comes to timeliness during your interview session, it may pertain not only to arriving on time, but not overstaying your welcome as well.

9. Graciousness - It’s probably not the best idea to just get up and walk out after your interview is completed. It can be important to show the proper respect and give your appreciation for the opportunity to interview for the position, but not overdo it. Acting as if you’re the interviewer’s best friend or being overly friendly by giving hugs, high-fives or slaps on the back might raise some red flags for the interviewer.

10. Follow-up - Depending on how an interview ends, a follow-up could involve numerous scenarios. A telephone call, note, or email thanking the interviewer for the opportunity to meet with them is often appropriate. You might stop by to do a follow-up if the company is locally located and you’ve been invited to do so. And even if your interview ended badly or you don’t think you have a shot at the job, a follow-up or thank you is still appropriate because even though you don’t think so, you may still be in the running for the job and it could be worth a call or email to find out.

*About the author: Tom Becker is a writer for Money Choices where he writes impartial reviews of high interest savings accounts and other financial products.

*Image Credit: Photograph by bpsusf [via Flickr Creative Commons]

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Evaluating and Negotiating Job Offers

The Multiple Job Offers FAQ

A Comprehensive List of Helpful Job Search Resources

Multiple Careers, Multiple Incomes? They're Closer than You Think

2010-10-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Andrew Johnston*)

In a time when joblessness is a global threat and the employment market is apparently comatose, there’s another option: Create your own job. Whatever you do, you can usually do it online in some form. If you’re an HR person, you can do online advisories and work on the big HR sites. If you’re a gardener, you can probably make more money doing gardening advice and articles than you could working in a garden. If you think you lack training or need more, you can always get it, online or at a community college. A great new career is as close as a computer with an Internet connection.

The New Economy, explained

The New Economy is an almost totally different economy to the traditional job market, which is rapidly becoming obsolete, as well as disappearing through its own inefficiency.

The new approach is almost revolutionary:

High pay

High value work

Outsourcing to freelance experts

Low business overheads

Less business infrastructure

The "high pay" may be selective, but everything else is taking off in every industry. "Work" is now business between you and a client who’s no longer an employer but a contractor. This process has been welcomed by those trying to escape the grotesque workplace stress factories. The first people to take on the New Economy model, ironically, were all professionals like accountants, architects, business consultants and other people who stood to make a fortune simply by no longer working in an office.

Multiple jobs and multiple incomes

The New Economy also lets "workers" loose. All that’s required in these types of jobs is to do the work as per contract. The rest of your time is your own. You can run several contracts in the course of one day. You’re no longer dependent on the single stream income, and free from the constant stress of the workplace.

If you’ve got good client relationship skills, do good work and respect the interests of your contractors, you can wind up with more work than you’d believe. Imagine a job where you work 5 days a week, for 5 different contracts, and make the same money or more as you did in a day job.

Note that it’s a good idea to do any relevant business courses and learn the basics of running your own business. It’s also extremely useful when dealing with other businesses, because you can speak their language and understand their priorities more effectively.

Building multiple careers

The greatest thing about the New Economy is that you can literally develop your skills and business in so many directions. Unlike the single stream career types, you can actually build several careers, and integrate them.

For example:

Say you’re a web designer. You develop your skills base so you can also do mixed media, graphics, audio, animation, web content, and advertising. This is far easier than it sounds, and even the training is fun.

The result of all this self indulgence is that you now have a business capacity with six extra services. That means more business, both from your existing clients and new clients.

This is the biggest growth area in global employment. If you want a job, make a great one (or several) for yourself.

*About the author: Andrew Johnston is a freelance writer specialized in articles about Business Courses.

*Image Credit: Photograph by akeg [via Flickr Creative Commons]

10 Tips for Generating a Great Freelance Portfolio

2010-09-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Angelita Williams*)

Landing freelance jobs can feel like a catch-22: you can't land them without work samples, but you can't get work samples without the jobs. This is why it's important to make sure your freelance portfolio is as polished and impressive as you can make it. Every freelance assignment you complete, no matter how small, can be vital to increasing your experience, broadening your skill set, and making your body of work that much more attractive to your next employer. Here are a few ways to maximize the impact of your freelance portfolio and drum up new work as a result.

Keep it simple. Your online portfolio isn't designed to be an all-encompassing site that tells potential employers your life story. It's ideally a streamlined, clear, easy-to-navigate home for your work, whether you're a writer, designer, photographer, or do anything that can be excerpted and displayed visually. Your freelance portfolio is your chance to showcase your work with an emphasis on clarity and impact. Don't clutter the pages with random information, and don't overdo the design. If you remember nothing else, remember this: you have to let your work speak for itself.

Focus on your skill. It's rare to find a successful freelancer who advertises herself or himself as a master of all trades. If you're a photographer, don't make a pitch for your web design skills; if you're a writer, don't go on about how you dabble in graphic art. Your portfolio is designed to sell your ability, and that means you need to devote your energy to promoting your main activity. If you get hired to do a job, then you can begin to put out feelers with your employer and let them know what else you're capable of doing. Until then, it's all about the big guns.

Proofread everything. If you use "definately," you will definitely not get hired. Grammar isn't just the domain of sticklers and English teachers; if you want to impress potential employers, it's vital that your portfolio reflects the professional demeanor and skill you're trying to project. Misspelled words and sloppy writing will only prove that you didn't care enough about the details to bother checking them, and that sends a terrible message to hiring managers. It's not just about the spelling, but about what it says about you.

Keep your work updated. Every time you complete a job, evidence of that work along with relevant samples should be added to your portfolio. Keeping your body of work updated can feel like a full-time in itself, but remember, every job you do will help you when it comes to the next one. It's true that you don't want to overload your portfolio -- it's designed to be an example of you at your best, not you in total. Still, as you progress, it's important to make sure your portfolio reflects the amount of work you've been doing, especially if you've done good work for increasingly major employers.

Don't ramble. Get to the point. You don't have to give a detailed back story for every work sample in your portfolio, just the basic facts about who hired you, what you did, and what you learned. When you begin speaking with a potential employer, you can fill in more of the little details that are appropriate in job interview settings. Until then, err on the side of minimalism.

Highlight your personal info. This one's so obvious that people forget to do it. Your portfolio is designed to show off your work and get you hired, but that's not possible unless employers can easily locate your information. A brief "About Me" page is all you need to discuss who you are, what you do, and how you can be reached. This is where you can talk a little about yourself and really sell yourself to potential employers.

Make yourself easy to hire. Piggybacking on the previous tip, you need to make the hiring process as easy as possible for those looking at your freelance portfolio. Build in a simple block of information with a header like "Here's how to hire me" on your bio page, and provide handy links there, as well as contact info, on the home page, as well. You want an employer or hiring manager to be able to move seamlessly from viewing your work to sending you an e-mail or arranging a phone call. The harder they have to hunt, the less likely you are to get the job. When designing your portfolio, ask yourself, "How easy is it for newcomers to find out how to hire me?" Let the answer guide your design.

Emphasize your diversity. It's a good idea to showcase how your skills have been applied across a variety of jobs. For instance, if you're a web designer, offer samples of sites for personal business, major corporations, blogs, and more. This lets employers know you can work at the professional level in multiple areas while also maintaining a core sensibility and skill level.

Talk about your experience. It's a smart idea to include with your work samples a brief description of what you did and what you might have learned. You don't have to be blunt about it or say "I learned how to do this task on this job," but it's wise to discuss principles you applied. For instance, a freelance writer might discuss how market research played a role in tailoring content to an audience, which lets employers know you're able to solve problems and take proper initiative.

Don't sell ads. Everyone needs money, but the portfolio brings in cash through jobs, not ads. This is your professional home online and a chance to create a package of your best work. You cheapen that immensely by selling ads against the content. Think of your portfolio like a business card; it's something you invest in knowing it will bring in work down the road. Keep your portfolio clean, ad-free, and focused on your work, and the money will follow on its own.

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online college courses. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: angelita.williams7 @gmail.com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by cirox [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Got Guts? Become a Student Landlord!

2010-09-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Kyle Chezum*)

If you're a student, chances are you pay rent to live somewhere. Real estate is a commodity. You're always connected to it, regardless of where you are. Real estate is the ground beneath your feet. And it's not free.

You may think you have to pay rent, that it's a necessity. I'll let you in on a secret. You don't. At least, you don't have to pay it to anyone but yourself. How do you do this? Simple. Buy a house.

Crazy? Not so much. You may have read my earlier article on how to prepare yourself for home ownership, while you are still a student. Today I am here to tell you that if you are diligent, you don't even have to wait until you graduate to make your home ownership dreams come true. Buying a house now makes a great deal of sense if you have access to some capital, want to build wealth, gain experience, and have nerves of steel. If you own a home and rent it out, you can save yourself some rent money and develop a real estate portfolio at the same time. It's better than working part-time at the cafeteria, that's for sure.

Here are a few pointers to get you thinking.

You'll be investing your own rent. This is probably the best part. If you're "paying yourself rent" because you own the home, then that money is paying off your mortgage. A mortgage is like a savings account. The money you pay sticks around in the form of home equity. You're not just spending money. You're giving it back to yourself. This is much better than paying rent to someone else, which essentially means you're paying someone else's mortgage.

It's good for your resume. Employers like to see that candidates are self-starters. Imagine walking into that job interview after you graduate and describing your past work experience. "I'm a residential property manager and investor." Wow. This is good stuff.

Buy early. Most young professionals who purchase a home live there alone or with a single partner. This is a waste of space. Honestly. If you plan to purchase a home when you graduate anyway, why not buy it while you're still a student and rent out the extra space? Make some money for a change.

Research property values. All of these ideas are great, but if you buy the wrong house, you're asking for trouble. Just look at the financial mess around us! Some neighborhoods are set to decrease in value in the future, and you don't want that. And you don't want to borrow more than what you can afford to pay. Do some homework before you make a purchase. Actually, do a ton of homework before you even consider making a purchase.

Ask your parents to pay for it. This isn't a joke. Many parents purchase homes when their children leave for college with the expectation that their children, and their children's friends, will become tenants. If your parents are willing to buy the house in your name or provide money for the down payment, you'll be able to start your real estate career in no time.

Use student loans to make part of the down payment. Check with your lender first. Most student loan originators will likely allow this, because student loans can be used to pay for living expenses. Purchasing a house is definitely a living expense. Don't, however, try to use student money to pay your whole mortgage. This may not work well, unless you plan to stay in school for the next thirty years.

Rent to your friends. Managing the maintenance needs of a residential property will be much easier if you're working with your friends. Try to get your friends interested first, before you put an ad in the paper. It will be a much more comfortable experience for you.

Document everything legally. This will kill you, but it has to be done. Make your tenants sign contracts. Big contracts. Huge contracts. Outline everything that your tenants are entitled to as tenants, and outline everything that you are obligated to do for them. Make sure everyone signs everything.

Prepare to be stressed. You're a property manager. Do you know what this means? This means everything from fixing a broken washing machine to killing a spider in the backyard to telling the neighbors, again, to keep their dog off your tenants' front lawn. You will get phone calls, all the time, demanding that you take care of any number of issues that may arise. If you can't handle your classes and your part-time job as it is, don't kid yourself. You're not ready for home ownership. But if you're active, energetic, and passionate about challenges, consider investing in a home and becoming a student landlord.

It'll beat working at the cafeteria. Guaranteed.

*About the author: This guest post was provided by Kyle, a content specialist at Lender411.com. Lender411.com helps homebuyers compare mortgage rates, find local lenders, and locate the best mortgage packages available.

*Image Credit: Photograph by origamidon [via Flickr Creative Commons]

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10 Ways to Save Money on School Supplies

2010-09-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Roger Elmore*)

We students tend to live on very tight budgets. Needless to say, saving money is of utmost importance. And now that it’s time to go back to school, we’ve got to be careful not to spend too much of the money we scraped together at the summer job(s). Here are a few tips to help save on school supplies.

Check your Inventory

Make a List

Budget, Budget, Budget

Shop Around Before You Drive Around

Know When to Buy Quality Stuff

Buy in Bulk

Gently Used is as Good as New

Share with your Friends

Prepare for Next Year

Seek Financial Help

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by Roger Elmore, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: rogerelmore24 @gmail.com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Claudia Snell [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Planning a Backpacking Trip? 10 Safety Tips You MUST Follow

2010-09-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Roger Elmore*)

For most students, backpacking is a perfect mode of travel. It helps you save a ton of money compared to conventional modes of travel while providing a great a sense of thrill and adventure. But, every backpacker knows the secret to a successful trip is being prepared and taking the right safety precautions. Here is a checklist that helps ensure that every hiking excursion will be well planned and well executed.

Dress Appropriately. Hikers know that the weather can often be unpredictable, especially in higher altitudes. Wearing multiple layers is the best way to stay prepared for any unforeseen changes in the climate. Removing top layers lets you quickly adapt to rising temperatures, while adding windproof, water-resistant top layers with good ventilations, will keep you warm and dry.

Balance your load. Carrying an unbalanced pack is the quickest way to hurt your back, knees, or shoulders. Clothes and cooking essentials should be safely stored in the backpack's main compartment, while heavier, cumbersome items should be placed in the back. Essential items like sunglasses, maps, and flashlights can be stowed in outside pockets. Also, pack all clothes and food in water resistant plastic bags. If your pack should fall into a lake, or you experience an unexpected downpour, these items will remain dry.

Bring plenty of food and water. Hiking can burn a lot of calories in one day, so backpackers should remember to pack plenty of carbohydrates that help replenish energy. Also, while water can be heavy to carry, getting dehydrated is a hiker's worst nightmare. If you are planning to hike for several days and there is a fresh water source in the area, like a like or moving river, consider bringing a water filtration system with you. This will reduce the amount of water you have to
carry, but keep you hydrated. Also, water takes longer to boil in higher altitudes, so consider taking food that doesn't require hot water, like sandwiches.

Travel together. Backpacking alone can be dangerous, especially in the winter and in rough terrains. Always hike with a partner to reduce the risk of getting lost or being stranded. And always remember to inform others of your scheduled route. This buddy system can help save your life in case of emergencies.

Bring first aid kits. First aid, or emergency kits are essential for all backpacking trips. They should be tailored to address the needs of the individuals going on the trip, like their experience level and their age, as well as the expected terrain. Research any poisonous plants or animals that might live in the area, like poison oak or scorpions.

Bring a map and compass. Every hiker should study a map of their proposed hike before embarking on the trip, and carry a map and compass during the trip. If members of the group become separated, they at least have the means to find their way to safety.

Plan ahead of time. Planning the trip ahead of time will save backpackers time and energy. They should plan elements like realistic daily goals and emergency regrouping sites.

Bring a basic repair kit. Sometimes backpack straps break, or camp stoves fail. Repair kits should include duct tape, a needle and thread, and simple tools. These things will come in handy should the shoe laces on your hiking books break, or your sleeping bag gets a rip.

Wear sunscreen and glasses. While the weather in higher altitudes might be deceptively cool, the sun is still a hazard. All backpackers should wear sunscreen when hiking no matter the temperature. Also, snow can cause temporary blindness if continually looked upon without protective eyewear, so don those sunglasses, too!

Bring plenty of fuel and an extra stove. Sometimes a stove breaks and can't be repaired and occasionally fuel canisters won't work properly. Bringing extra will ensure you can boil water and cook your food properly.

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by Roger Elmore, who writes on the topics of hotel management degree. He welcomes your comments at his email Id: rogerelmore24 @gmail.com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by argreen [via Flickr Creative Commons]

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10 Reasons Not to Buy a New Car

2010-08-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Miles Walker*)

The debate on whether to buy a used car or new car rages on, with both sides justifying their choice vehemently. With the on going recession and the economy being down, we have a few more people jumping on to this side of the fence, where we like our good old cars. Here are my ten reasons for why buying a new car is not a great idea.

1. Necessity:

While many people live in areas that require some sort of motorized transportation, buying a brand new car right off the showroom floor is not necessarily a wise move. Once the ink is dried on the contract and the car is driven off of the lot, the value of the vehicle depreciates greatly, in some cases by half of the car’s worth. Buying a used car is more financially wise because the car has already had the “bugs” worked out of it. It has also stopped depreciating and many have begun to increase in its value.

2. Insurance:

The insurance cost of many new cars is incredibly high. The reasons for this varies with the make and model of the car that is bought, but some major ones will be sited here. Many insurance companies raise the rates of new cars because they have the most chance of their parts being recalled. For example, the recent Toyota recalls that concern the Corollas between 2005 and 2008 are not only a hassle for the owners of those cars, but also a huge liability with the three crashes and resulting injuries that have been linked to the accidents of these faulty systems. Another reason is that the accident rates for new cars are higher than the accident rate for older cars. The reason for this is unknown, but theorized that the newer cars may have problems with the braking systems that the older cars have already corrected. The age of the drivers with a new car is a factor as well, as it is with older cars, but one must remember that the younger the driver is, the higher their insurance rates will be.

3. Price:

The issue of the cost of gas is always a touchy subject with drivers. While that may not matter to people who live within a 5 mile radius of their work, it could matter greatly to the commuter who has to drive one hour to work and back home every day. That commuter has to fill up their gas tank every week because their round trip journey is nearly 50 miles a day. If one chooses to buy an SVU or a heavy duty truck, these vehicles are known as “gas guzzlers” and will use more gas than a sedan or smaller hybrid car would.

4. Family Finances:

When purchasing a car to fit into the family’s needs, buying a new car simply may not be an option. A new car can easily cost as much as a second mortgage and with parents losing their jobs, a new car would cause more unneeded stress. If the family buys a used car which can be bought outright for a few thousand dollars, it will save them a lot of heartache and worry about bills.

5. Parts:

The parts for an older car are considerably less in price and more available than the parts of a new car. They may also be available online, where the price for them could be even lower than at a store.

6. Warranty:

While a car warranty may not come with every used car, depending upon where it is purchased, if the warranty is offered, buying it could help save a lot of money in the long run. Depending upon how long the owner plans to have this car, having a warranty will keep money in the wallet of the car buyer. The warranty of the new car will be included in the price and may not last for the entire life of the loan for the new car.

7. Changes in Needs:

Many families change through months or even years. If a family of two purchases a sporty 1984 IROCK that only seats two comfortably and 4 months later, she is pregnant, it is much easier to sell the IROCK and buy a bigger car than it would be if the couple purchased a new car because of the ensuing loan.

8. Resale Value:

Older cars, specifically classic cars, add to their value regardless of whether they are restored or not. A car collector may offer to purchase the car, if they see potential in it, even if the car is not for sale.

9. Restoration Fun:

If the car owner has purchased a car that he loves, restoring it to its former glory can be just as fun as any other hobby. This can be a family affair and the love of cars can be passed down through the family from parent to child.

10. Saving Money in General:

Not only will a used car save the owner money through insurance, parts, gas, and warranties, but it can also save on other aspects of the car. For example, buying tires for the old car can be cheaper because the tires are also made for many different types of cars, causing the manufacturing of the tires to be cheaper than a new car’s tires.

*About the author: Miles Walker is a freelance writer and blogger who usually compares car insurance deals over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org.

*Image Credit: Photograph by AndYaDontStop [via Flickr Creative Commons]

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10 Great Ideas to Earn a Part Time Income

2010-08-26T09:00:00.001-07:00

(This is a guest article by Cody*)

Attending college is an exciting time of life with many new adventures. Attending class, studying, networking, walking around campus and doing whatever else is fun these days. One of the least attractive ideas is finding a part time job when you could be attending football games or going to a party, but it is something that is nearly essential to fund your college experiences and to set you up for your post graduate life. I have assembled 10 great ideas or ways to earn a part time income while attending your university.

Free Lance
Have a skill? There are many different avenues of free lance such as writing, photography, videography, graphic design, art, and web design. The best idea would be to start local to get your feet on the ground and then to try to either move to larger (better paying) companies or online. Free lancing is great for several reasons – it enhances your skill set, gives you better responsibility because the task is entirely dependent on you from start to finish and you establish what you will and won’t take on. This means you set your price, time tables and expectations. Start by doing a little research and finding a couple local areas that could really use your service, create a pitch explaining how you will help them for a low price, contact the target, get the contract and get to work!

Tutor
Many tutoring services are quite expensive. Therefore, if you look around you will find people looking for tutoring either for themselves or their children. Look for flyers or on your local / university job boards and you are bound to find several people looking for tutoring. The amount you make per hour is usually around minimum wage or slightly above, but it also sounds great during interviews and can help you create some nice connections with people who can give some great referrals if you do a good job.

Be a Lab Technician
Boring, monotonous and grunt work? Sure, but the key is that these positions are usually plentiful on a college campus. With these positions being somewhat available and fewer people wanting the position there is a higher chance of you obtaining one of these positions. While you may find the work to be arduous, it can be a skills booster as well as looking decent on a resume. Also, the hours are usually up to you so that’s a bonus!

Internships
Internships are my personal favorite. I worked at a fortune 100 company for my internship, the pay was great, the experience was priceless and my opportunities after graduating were phenomenal. I applied for four positions at well recognized companies after graduating and received an offer for each position, in a down economy. This sounds like I am bragging, but I am not, the point is that if you look hard, do your research, snag that internship and excel – you have set yourself up for a very long time.

Blog or write for the local paper
Many local communities either have a campus, local or city paper or website. You are college educated or in the process. You write a ton of papers already, why not get paid for it. Most of these positions will pay minimum wage, but you are in college so that is almost to be expected. If you really like writing you will be able to point to this position when either free lancing or giving references for better writing gigs later on.

Babysit or dog walk
My wife was a nanny and dog walker for the four years she attended college. We are now very close to the families she worked for and have made many great experiences. The work develops many different life skills if you ever plan on being a parent of dog owner. The pay was decent while being a nanny and we are saving bundles from all the tips she learned for our first born.

Community Clean up
This is one of the areas you do not often hear about. The pay is usually very low if at all, but is very meaningful and you are directly impacted. I am sure you pass garbage in your community plenty of times. Well, the good news is there is usually a group or government program that will pay you to clean it up. Reach out to your local government and find out what can be done. They may tell you they have crews who do the cleaning already, but you can do it for free. If you get that answer and want to get paid, reach out to local businesses. You will often find many local owners willing to shell out a small amount of cash to make their area look a lot nicer to their customers and everyone else.

Buy and Sell Books
This seems simple and obvious. Instead of selling your books at the bookstore for a fraction of the cost look to amazon and ebay. You will often times redeem almost full value if you purchased your books from those sites. Then do yourself one better and tell your friends who were just going to go to the bookstore that you will sell their books for them and give them a small margin of profit over what the bookstore would give them.

Virtual Assistant
This one can take some start up time if you do not have any training, but you can easily become a virtual assistant for clients by going to AssistU or other virtual assistant sites. You can get the training and then reach out to potential clients who will pay for your administrative services. You will need to have some usuable skills for this, but it is a job that is all about convenience.

Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
I have used this system and was able to accrue around seven dollars an hour if I had my full attention toward the work. It is very simple and can be done whenever and wherever you desire. If you hit some hard times or want to add a little side cash on top of your job mechanical turk is a guaranteed way you can make a little money. You can find more information at www.mturk.com

*About the author: This is a guest article by Cody. If you liked this article please read more of Cody’s work at The Million Dollar Mission which focuses on personal finance, success and career development.

*Image Credit: Photograph by derfel [via Flickr Creative Commons]

This article has been featured in the Carnival of Personal Finance

Networking to Success

2010-08-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by William Eve*)

When you graduate and join the workforce, you learn that in addition to your degree, many more skills are required to climb the career ladder. One skill that should be mastered as early as possible is the art of networking. Grad school is the perfect place to lay the foundation and hone your networking skills, so that you can enter the workforce with a distinct advantage over your peers. Here's a quick crash course on networking to get you started.

What is Networking?

Networking is the building of relationships within the business world. You meet someone within a certain area of business and become known to them. By building a relationship with that person you may well then meet people that they know, and then people that those people know, and so on.

The idea is that you get to meet people that are in the same industry as you, or people that may become colleagues or customers in the future.

There are many different ways of networking, and the world wide web has given us many new ways of building successful relationships. Let’s have a look at some of the best ways to network.

Be Yourself

When "putting yourself out there" it is very important that you are confident in who you are. Do not try and be what you think people want, as you will quickly learn you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Do not deviate from who, and what you really are.

Know Your Strengths

Another thing to have in place before you begin networking is to know exactly what you can and cannot do. It is important that you are very open and honest with people as to your genuine skills. Within a network of professionals, a phony will quickly be found out and distrusted.

Business Cards

It is a very good idea to carry some business cards around with you. This does not mean you throw them around like confetti, or that you give them to every single person that crosses your path, but it is great to be able to hand someone a card with your contact details on should a suitable opportunity arise.

If you take someone’s business card a useful thing to do is note on the back where you met and make any notes to remind you of your meeting. It shows you pay attention.

Have a Website

In today’s modern age it is very worthwhile having your own website. It does not have to be anything flashy, and you do not need to be a computer genius to set one up. There are many programs out there that allow you to create a simple web-page without any experience of computing.

It is a good idea to have some sort of biography, as well as a break down of your skills, objectives and contact details for people when they visit.

It is also a very good idea to join social networking sites such as Facebook, and Myspace as many business people now have profiles, and swapping Facebook identities is now almost as common as swapping cellphone numbers or emails.

Again these profiles are very easy to set up, and there are online tutorials to get you started.

Give Before You Receive

One of the most powerful tips you should take board with networking is learn to offer value. Many people enter networking events with the questions in mind “What can I get from this?”, or “Who can meet today who will benefit my career?”

These are selfish questions and ones that will probably not get you very far. You need to develop the mindset of, “what can I offer people here today?”, and “What value can I add to peoples businesses so that they will want to work with me on a continual basis?”.

Being clear about what you can give people will make you much more attractive, and will make you stick in people’s minds.

Be Sincere

If you say you are going to call somebody then call them! If you cannot keep a dinner date, phone the person and let them know. It is vital that you treat people with respect when networking, and this also means being sincere in what you say and do.

Do not pay a compliment unless you mean it, and try as much as possible not to “suck up” to people. It is very transparent, and will often put off more people than it will win over!

Most importantly remember to never stop networking. Networks and relationships are like gardens. They must be watered, and tended to or else they will wither and die.

*About the author: This article was written by William Eve. William writes about saving money, investment loans and real estate for Home Loan Finder. If your a first home buyer or looking for a refinance home loan, visit the Home Loan Finder website for great advice and information on the best home loans available.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Álvaro Canivell [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Masters Degree Programs Online: Should you Jump on the Band Wagon?

2010-08-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by Justin Laughridge*)

If you are considering getting your degree online, regardless of your field or your chosen major, you aren’t alone in the current educational landscape. In fact, online education is a rapidly growing segment of the educational systems at many colleges, as evidenced by the rapid uptick in online enrollment. Consider this: from 2002 to 2006, the number of students enrolled in online degree programs has almost tripled, and the number continues to grow, with most estimates agreeing that well over 1 million students are currently enrolled just in masters degree programs online.

So if you are interested in accelerating the path to your degree or simply in making it more convenient, there has never been a better time to pursue your education online. But there’s no doubt that you still have some questions about the entire process, and hopefully this article is one small piece in your effort to get as much good information about online degree programs as you possibly can. If some of the questions below apply to you, the answers should prove helpful as you consider your online educational options:

How do I know that I’m finding reputable schools with degree programs I can trust? This is a huge issue, and you want to make sure that your online degree program of choice has reputable accreditation behind it. But rest assured - - more “traditional” universities are offering online education than ever before, with Harvard's Online MBA Program and other options like Duke University's Fuqua School of Business topping the list of available options. With so many options available in the current online education landscape, choosing one with solid credentials is an easier task than it ever has been before.

What if I’m interested in getting my master’s degree online? If you are a student that has already earned an undergraduate degree and what you’re REALLY looking for is a solid list of masters degree programs, your options in pursuing such a degree have never been more plentiful. Whether you’re interested in business, history, information technology, education, nursing, or any number of other fields, master’s programs are available and the options are growing every year! What’s even better is that each individual program is suited to your own needs and your own schedule. If you work at another job during the day or have other commitments that make traditional enrollment difficult to impossible, online master’s programs can always be tailor-fit to your schedule and your unique situation.

Even if it is more convenient online, earning another degree will still take time and effort. How do I know it will pay off? The simplest way to answer this question is in terms of probable payoffs over your years of future employment. And to that point, consider that a working adult with a master’s degree (whether it is earned online or on campus) can expect to earn double the lifetime income of a high school graduate with no further education, and that same adult will earn 20% more on average than his or her peer with an undergraduate degree. In real dollars, it comes out to almost $400,000 of increased income - - and with the average online master’s program costing around $18,000/year, the pay-off is well worth your time!!

So wherever you are in your decision-making process about an online degree, rest assured that resources are out there, good schools are out there, and the potential for higher lifetime earning power is out there as well.

*About the author: This guest blog is furnished by Justin of www.onlinemastersdegreeprograms.com

*Image Credit: Photograph by lumaxart [via Flickr Creative Commons]

The American Dream of Home Ownership: 10 Things You Can Do as a Student

2010-08-16T08:27:00.001-07:00

(This is a guest article by Kyle Chezum*)

College students often take home ownership as a fact of adult life — as something inevitable that will happen when it happens. But homeownership requires real effort, commitment, and responsibility, many college students aren't sure what steps to take to meet these requirements. The following ideas will help get you started on homeownership before you graduate.

Put some thought into it. Are sure you want a home? Is it part of your future plans? If so, make it a goal. Work toward it. If you're not intentional about getting there someday, you won't. Simple as that.

Get a job. This is much easier said than done, of course, but do what you can to earn an income. You need money to buy a house, but you also need a steady employment history. Start building up your resume as soon as possible.

Build up your credit score. Get a credit card or two—no more than that, though—and charge small transactions now and then. Pay off the balance monthly—never let a credit card charge carry over from one month to the next. Maintain tight control over your accounts. Don't use the cards to build up debt—that's the opposite of what you want. Using of the cards over time will provide you with a healthy credit score, which is critical if you plan to purchase a home.

Avoid student loans if possible. Paying back student loans can help build your credit as well, but the monthly payments that will come due when you graduate will cripple your home buying ability for several years at least. Borrow the smallest amount you can in student loans. Don't use your loan money to buy a laptop or a new phone. Keep yourself financially lightweight.

Buy used books. You know the drill. Used books can cost hundreds of dollars less—especially online—than the shiny new ones in the bookstore. A few hundred dollars in savings every semester can reduce the amount of student debt you take on.

Drive a clunker. This one is controversial. Older cars come with higher repair costs than new cars, but new cars are just plain expensive. You'll have to weigh the financial pros and cons of this one yourself, but whatever you do, don't use debt to finance a car. You can get by without the Mustang or the Sebring convertible. You'll save on insurance, too.

Skip spring break. Sorry, but spring break vacations are often extremely expensive. A spring break adventure in Cancun will likely cost you between $1,000 and $1,500, and that's if you're on a budget. If you were able to save $1,500 each year for four years, you would have $6,000 of cash on hand—which is equivalent to the average closing cost of a mortgage.

Learn basic maintenance. One of the costs associated with homeownership is maintenance. If you can learn how to make minor home repairs yourself, you can save a hefty amount of money as a homeowner, which will lower your monthly ownership costs and allow you to devote more of your income to your mortgage. You can paint the entire exterior of your home for just a few hundred dollars instead of the two or three thousand it would cost to have it done professionally. Learn these skills as soon as you can.

Learn about real estate. Buying a home and taking out a mortgage are not simple things. There's a lot to learn. What neighborhood should you purchase in? How long should you keep the house before you sell it? Are property values increasing or decreasing in your area? Learn how to understand these things. Stay up to date on the industry. Compare home prices, compare mortgage rates, and keep your eyes open for opportunities. Read a book or two on the subject. Talk to a local broker. It will help you immensely down the road.

Save money. Save, save, save. Save every penny you get your hands on. Put it away. Don't think about it. Open a savings account and fill it full. You don't need to eat out three times a week, and you can skip out on movies now and then. Your friends will understand. Tell them you're buying a house—it'll make for good conversation, if nothing else.

*About the author: This guest post was provided by Kyle, a content specialist at Lender411.com. This site helps homebuyers compare mortgage rates, find local lenders, and locate the best mortgage packages available.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Aditya Grandhi [via Flickr Creative Commons]

This article has been featured in the Carnival of Personal Finance #271.

How To Get Ahead Financially As A College Student

2010-08-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

(This is a guest article by XYZ*)

College is an exciting time of learning, meeting new people, visiting new places, and of course lots of the obligatory partying. Most new students do not think about the fact that it is also the beginning of your financial life. Indeed, now is the time when you cease being a dependent of mom and dad and become the master of your financial future. In order to make that future less stressful and more successful you have to start thinking about ways to get ahead financially and how to handle the little money that you have in the most effective way possible. While you might think you have too much on your mind to worry about your financial future it simply cannot be ignored. There are a few simple ideas that can go a long way toward building a successful financial life.

Financial Guide For College Students

Start saving and investing right now - College students usually do not have a lot of extra money in their budget, but that is not an excuse not to save. In fact, if you can learn to save 10% while you are earning very little it will be easier to save money as your income goes up. Take the money you save and put it in a high yield saving account or invest it in a Roth IRA. A Roth IRA is probably the best investment for college students because they are incredibly flexible. You can withdraw your initial investment with no penalty in an emergency or withdraw some of the earnings later on to buy a home.

Come up with a budget - You might think that as a young, single person you do not need a budget. But you are wrong, everyone needs a budget. Sit down and figure out all of your monthly fixed and variable expenses. Once you do that evaluate how you can bring some of those costs down. Maybe you should have a roommate to cut costs or eat out less. It is important for you to know where all of your money is going and exactly how much you have to spend. This helps you avoid spending too much and winding up broke at the end of the month.

Avoid overspending on credit cards - College is a great time to start building your credit file. You will have the opportunity to get excellent rates on credit cards so you should take advantage of them. However, owing a credit card is a big responsibility that has the potential to ruin you financially. Be sure you only spend what you can afford to pay back each month so that you do not have to spend money on interest. If you get to the point where your bill is more then you can afford each month then cut up your card or freeze it in a block of ice until the bill is paid in full.

Think of everyone you meet as a potential employer - One of the goals of college is to meet people who can help you get jobs later in life. As you meet new people treat them with respect and do your best to make a good impression. You never know who you will meet later on and what kind of opportunities they will have for you. There is no time like the present to start building a good reputation.

In the midst of all of this financial planning be sure to have fun while you are in college. Now is one of the few times in your life when you will not be burdened with lots of responsibilities so take the time to see the world and enjoy university life. Just make sure that at the same time you are making wise financial choices.

*About the author: This article was written by personal finance writer Timothy Ng from Sydney, Australia. He is genuinely passionate about helping people compare credit cards and helping them through researching to find the best credit card.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Proctor Archives [via Flickr Creative Commons]