The West Guide

Before Getting a Roommate

2010-06-05T15:05:00.003-07:00

B and I have lived by ourselves for the last two years, but three weeks ago we moved into a two-bedroom with a new roommate. Most of our coworkers gave us funny looks when they heard we were getting a roommate, but not only are we saving money, there are social benefits (B gets another video gaming buddy around). We fully understand the situation could turn sour. We have paid our dues with a list of terrible roommate experiences behind us. Here are a couple of ways to find any red-flags before you move in with someone.

Discuss Financial Situations

Getting a roommate is like getting financially married to someone, at least for the length of the lease term. In the same conversation when you discuss how much monthly rent you are willing to pay, you should also talk about how you are going to pay for it. If your future roommate is unwilling to talk about sources of income (or if you don't share that with your roommate), it is a red flag for trouble times ahead. I am not saying to share tax returns, but a general understanding is required. Full-time job, part-time job, a monthly allowance from Mom&Dad, part of their financial aid package...? You should not be in the dark. If your roommate refuses to talk about finances and you do move in with them, don't be surprised when you discover they're a drug dealer or paying the rent with money from online gambling.

Put Your Faults and Pet Peeves Out Front

Better to make the decision not to move in, than to get into get stuck in a bad situation. Go through all the details up-front, don't be worried about being awkward or rude. If you don't deal with issues now, you will have to deal with them after there is a problem. Here are a few issues that have caused problems in the past:

- Is sharing food ok? Alcohol? Cooking supplies? Milk?
- Is there limited cabinet/fridge/freezer space? How to divide it up?
- How soon do dishes and pans need to be clean after use?
- What's the cleaning policy? Just clean up after yourself? Cleaning everything together? Or “assigned” cleaning days?
- How do you feel about main room electronics? Need to ask permission first? Ok as long as owner doesn't want to use? Free-use of TV, DVDs, and game consoles?
- What time is “bedtime” or “quiet time”? Does anyone work or have class early in the morning?
- What temperature should the thermostat be set at? How hot does it need to get before we turn the AC on? Is saving electricity a high priority or no?
- What is the guest and party policy? Do we need to give a heads-up before inviting people over? How many people? How late?
- Pets?
- Smoking?
- Drugs?

Think of your own answers to the questions. Be honest with yourself and with you potential roommate. If there is more than a couple of items where you are not seeing eye-to-eye, that is a red flag. Do not ignore the red flags and sign the lease anyway. However compromise is a part of life, so recognize the issues you feel care about from those you don't. Compromising on everything will make you miserable, compromising on nothing will make you an ass.

Share Stories about Previous Roommates (the Good and the Bad)

You want to get to know your future roommate's past and they can know yours. It can reveal previous problems that did not come up directly before. You could learn why your potential roommate is looking to move, and it is also a way you can be honest about your habits you know could potentially cause a problem. “Other roommates got annoyed with me about...”

Most importantly, by agreeing on how ridiculous the other people you have lived with has been, it can be a bonding experience. Here are a few good roommate stories I have heard (or told) throughout the years...

Parties without your permission, nudity in the house (during parties), physically assaulted over laundry, reporting illegal drug use to authorities, having a homeless person living on your couch, leaving food on the counter for 5+ days, living with Roaches, a 38 year old male roommate that watched Hannah Montana, leaving passive aggressive notes, counting individual strands of spaghetti....

Final Words
The time before signing the lease with a new roommate is an awkward one. You are trying to put your best face forward, and you both want the most mutually beneficial relationship. However, it is better to decide against it in the beginning, than to get into a horrible living situation. There have been times in the past where I ignored the red flags, and it turned very ugly.

Good luck and be Honest!

Beware of New Speak

2010-05-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

…the dangerous language of corporate America.

The setting is a Mexican restaurant/bar over margaritas. It’s Friday afternoon with colleagues after a hard week. Current events eventually drift into the conversation.

“What do you think about the losses from the recent oil spill?” one colleague asks another who used to work in the energy industry.

He almost jumps to cut her off. “Now let me be clear: there are no losses.” He pauses for emphasis, “We just won’t be able to get as much out of the reserve as we thought we would.”

A beat goes by and the junior associate couldn’t help but chuckle, “Did anyone else just catch that new-speak? ‘We aren’t losing any, we just aren’t getting as much as originally planned’?”

Most in the group ignore or didn’t hear the junior associate and attend to their drinks. Only one disillusioned older colleague smiles and nods in agreement.

New-Speak seems commonplace in our corporate culture. Re-phrasing, branding, imaging, whatever you call it, another universally accepted term is bullshit. In George Orwell's 1984, newspeak was the term for the ever-shrinking "official" vocabulary of the society and was used as a method to control thought. If a word did not exist, the thought could not be expressed.

Growing up means adjusting yourself to values you did not create, but does not mean abandoning your own nor taking all you’re given at face value. We went to college to expand our critical and analytic mind, but the “real world” deprograms us to speak the dangerous language of New-Speak. Being able to say half-truths with a straight-face is an artful skill we are expected to master. This phenomenon was recently put into better focus for me by a book, Bait and Switch, in which Barbara Ehrenreich details her experience with corporate new-speak and the world of white-collar unemployment.

In the particular anecdote above, the older colleague no longer works in the energy industry or a related one. No one at the scene was about to judge him if was critical of the situation, but yet he does not abandon his loyalty to his former industry. I would like to think this form of loyalty is unique to the older generation and as ours grows up we have more realistic view of corporate America and what it can (and can’t) do. A job gets you what you need, a paycheck, a lifestyle, and a future (depending on how you use it). “Yes, sir” is necessary, but with how much submission? Does it deserve our intellectual compromise? Does it deserve us to re-program ourselves to fit the for-profit mold?

We don't have a lot of time on this earth. We weren't meant to spend it this way. Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about mission statements.

- Peter, Office Space

But as we weather this economic downturn and recovery, and as our parents' generation faces layoffs, canceled pensions, and depressed home values, how much can you expect the younger generation to take it with deference?

Gen Y: Doomed to a Constant State of Debt

2010-04-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am at a total loss as to how our generation is “supposed” to progress through a financial secure life. All of the conventional steps seem to commit us to a constant state of debt.

When I think about the “typical” life progression of a person would go through between 18-35, I see all of the conventional steps we are supposed to go through and I can only come to one conclusion: Do most people just simply live bound to debt for the majority of their adult life? Let's look at the steps together...

College
Congrats, you are on the road to bettering yourself. You went to the best school you could get into. Well, your parents can’t pay for all (or maybe any) of it. There are loans available. FAFSA not satisfactory? There are private loans for that.

But you are starting to get statements… pay off some of the loan now? That's crazy, you are young, time to enjoy life. You don’t have to pay that off till graduation.

On campus one day, “hey, fill out this credit card application for a free sub sandwich” Hey, sure why not? Drinks at the bar? Open a tab. Shopping spree on new clothes? Put it on the card.

Graduation, finally. Only took five years, but it took you an extra semester or two to declare your major, and then there was that semester abroad. No matter, now it’s time to make money.

Young Professional
Congrats, on your first real job. But a new life needs an updated image. Get a new car. You deserve it. And the dealer says you can afford it with your proof of income. No problem, they wouldn’t let you buy it if you couldn’t afford it, right? Note, that many of people have their first car before graduating college (or high school), but stay with me on the illustration.

But where are you going to live? Well you’ve got to get something nicer than that ratty apartment from college. Forget roommates, you need the space to yourself. So how much can you afford? 1/3 of your gross income, no problem, they wouldn’t let you rent if you couldn’t afford it, right? There are so many nice places out there. You need a happin’ place. In the city, near clubs, with a pool, and other hot singles hanging out at the pool…

I could use some professional clothes and maybe a computer. Where’s that credit card?

Marriage, Baby Carriage, House
Maybe you’re ready to get married, or maybe she’s been dropping hints you can’t ignore, either way, you need a ring… “three month’s salary,” oh don’t worry, you can buy that on credit as well. “No interest for six months.” No problem, they wouldn’t let you buy it if you couldn’t afford it, right?

But now there’s a wedding to plan! Dress, flowers, hall, food, music, and 100+ guests. Parents will pay for some, right? Maybe, but they set a limit on the budget, oh well, you can make up the difference. And so many things to buy… “But the $7 invitations are just so much nicer.” Your friends don’t want to think you are cheap, right?

Maybe you were living together (in a bigger apartment than when you were single, you both need your space right?), or maybe not. Either way, you need a house now. Isn’t a house just something people buy when they finally get married? No down payment? No problem! They wouldn’t let you buy it if you couldn’t afford it, right?

Baby time! Maybe a surprise, maybe expected… either way, you need some baby furniture, right? And clothes, and books… what else, a wipe warmer? But a baby will take up your time, how can you afford that? You both need to keep working to pay the mortgage, and now there’s daycare costs...

What are you now… 35 years old?
Congrats, according to the repayment plan you are just now paying off your college debt. Your house will be paid off in your fifties, unless you take a home equity mortgage to pay for your kid’s college....
______________________

Am I crazy or are most people living in a constant state of debt from 18 till old age? If you get student loans, buy a car and a house before they are even paid off, is there ever a period of adult life when you are not owing someone money?

I know that debt is not completely avoidable, and I know that debt aversion is not particularly advisable. I am not advocating never opening a credit card and some purchases need to be financed (house?). But if people continue to finance purchases today and spend the extra “rewarding” themselves, there is never any extra to finally pay the constant debt we are incurring.
Doing what everyone else is doing is not the answer.

If we justify our lifestyle because of what we perceive is “normal” we are setting ourselves up for a life of financial hardship. What is “normal” is not financially secure. What is “normal” is not being prepared for big life expenses (car, medical, house). What is “normal” is not being prepared for retirement. And I fear what “normal” will become for our generation that works till our 70+ and retires in poverty.

The only way to get ahead must be to break convention. Obviously what is conventional is not sustainable. You cannot have freedom in your career or life if you are so dependent on your job because you have put yourself in so much debt. You can avoid the debt if you simply don't spend money on something unless you weigh it against the other things you want in life. Prioritize what you really want in life, while preparing for the unexpected.

Never Trust Your College Adviser

2010-04-26T17:17:00.000-07:00

Use them, meet with them, listen to them, but do not trust them.

If your college was like mine, you can hear dire warnings against self-advising. Rather than figure out your own college plan, you needed to go to advisers, powerful people in offices with inconvenient meeting hours, who would tell you what classes to sign up for the next semester. At the end of the meeting, you would leave with a little piece of paper and a promise and hope that this would keep you on track for graduation. Sometimes it works out perfectly, however my experience and that of my peers was far from perfect. My program took most people 5 years or more to complete. I finished in exactly 4, only because I trusted myself more than my advisers.

Problems with advisers are more common at large universities. They had a steady stream of incoming students so there is always demand. They have generic advice about what an incoming student should study and make recommendations for specific classes based more the needs of the university than the student’s individual interest. They cannot have all freshmen put into Psychology 102 and they have to make sure the classes remain at a fairly balanced enrollment. However, advisers and public universities are not necessarily motivated by having students walk out the door. They are served better by keeping students within the system than producing graduates. Therefore, you cannot expect to get the advice for the most efficient and concise track for graduation.

Example of a Common Problem:
You may need 3 credit class to fulfill a science portion of a general Bachelor’s requirement, while also needing to take a specific Geography class as part of a special program’s requirement you might happen to be in. Your adviser may (knowingly or unknowingly) suggest you take a Chemistry (or some other science) class first to fulfill your “gen eds” and then advise you later on requirements for the special program. Problem is, that perhaps that Geography class could have fulfilled both the special program’s and Bachelor’s requirements at the same time. You might not find that out until you are a sophomore or junior, that you could have saved yourself that time and money.

Why to Go to an Adviser – I do not want to say to never go to an adviser. I met with one every semester before registration, just to be sure. Here are things you will need to go to them for:
• Declaring major/minor
• Getting the permits to get into certain classes
• Applying for special programs and classes
• Double-checking your self-advised degree plan

How to Self-Advise
Course Catalog – A course catalog should include all of the courses offered by the college and the degree requirements for each major. Degree requirements can change from year to year. If you declare your major in 2010, you may have different requirements than 2011. In my case, they were changing the requirements for the major’s capstone project. If I had declared my major a year later I would have had to take an extra class. Look at the complete requirements for your major and degree. Are you on track to take all of the prerequisites necessary? Do you see any extra classes you have taken that are not required? Note the difference between MAJOR requirements (usually dictated by the department) and DEGREE requirements (dictated by the college).
Degree Audit Report – if you are already in college or transferred in with credits, you should be able to obtain a Degree Audit Report (DARS). This is tailored to your course accomplishments and is necessary to see if you have truly completed your degree requirements. This should match up pretty evenly with the course catalog. However, the DARS report will not usually include what classes you need to take in the future, only what you have taken, what you are currently enrolled in, and what area you earned that credit for.
Future Course Plan - Make a chart with the Fall and Spring semester from now till graduation. Fill in the classes you will need to and want to take. It might be useful to work backwards from your intended graduation date. This is exactly what your adviser will do with you, so why not try it on your own first and then Are you on track? Can you save any time by taking classes in the summer? Can you complete an additional minor without delaying graduation too much?

Before You Go to an Adviser – walk in armed with information. Self-advise before you meet with them. Bring the course catalog and degree audit report with you if you can (however sometimes special programs do not have their requirements listed in the catalog). If there are an unclear requirements, get a hard-copy list of requirements for a specialty or certification program.

Note: If an adviser ever refuses to help you plan out your course plan for more than the upcoming semester, simply refuse to leave their office. I only stayed on track because as a second semester freshmen, I sat in my adviser office and insisted she lay out a course plan for the next three years with me to be sure I would be absolutely every requirement within four years. I was able to take a lot of my gen eds in the summer (cheap at a local community college) and focus on my major classes during the traditional year.

Bottom line: No one cares more about your college career than you. It costs your money, your time, and your effort. You want the best deal possible. So you should take a vested interest in your plan to the finish line.

5 Ways to Instantly Boost Your Mood

2010-04-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

There are times throughout the day we need an instant boost. There are same moments we can give to ourselves to raise our spirits and recharge.

Open the Blinds
Natural sunlight triggers a response in our brains for a "wake up." There is also a source of inspiration and optimism found in the beauty of the outdoors.

Give a Hug
To your honey, your kids, your pets. They remind you what you are working for and that our relationships are what really matter in life. Best part, they will hug back.

Stretch
It releases tension and changes your body posture. Humans are designed for physical activity, and the moment and breathing will relax and alter at the same time.

Pop a Mint/Gum
Something sweet will give you an oral fix and get creative juices flowing. Besides, peppermint is linked to better brain function. But watch calories because serial mint-popping can add up.

Switch Gears
Go from typing to a phone call. Get up to make your copies. Make a list of the rest of your tasks for the day. Break up the kind of work you are doing. Take care of a different aspect of the project when things are slow.

Workplace Weight Loss Challenge: Maintaining

2010-04-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

The yo-yo dieter is a cliche because it is true. And there's little real success in weight loss if you can't keep it off.

Weight loss and weight maintenance take nothing less than a lifestyle change. This painful reason is why so many don't achieve it. Some people find it is easier to succeed if they change their eating habits when they have another big event in life, like moving, getting married, starting a new job, etc.

The real keys to weight maintences are the same tricks that got you there. Count your calories, though you can be happy to know that 2000-2500 calorie diet will prove very fulfilling for most people. Active lifestyle will improve your mood and health and includes things as simple as taking a walk instead of watching tv. Family & friends will be inspired by your progress and you may find yourself in their cheer section instead. Regular fitness goals that a tangible and measurable will always keep you working toward something (lowering cholesterol, marathon, rock climbing trip, etc). Finally, take joy in the successes of others and channel it to your own motivation.

This is the last of a three part series on my personal success, motivation and maintence after a workplace weight loss competition.

Workplace Weight Loss Challenge: Motivation

2010-04-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Success in the challenge didn’t come without motivation. Week after week I would see other people in the weight loss challenge at work grow discouraged and quit. I knew from the start that I needed a plan for motivation, so here are the lessons learned that I hope prove useful for you.

Cheer Section
Your friends and family, the people you live with and spend your time with, need to know what you are doing. Instead of hiding that you are on a diet, let them know. They will understand why you are eating light or avoiding snacking. They will help and support by split dishes at restaurants and skip the tempting food at the grocery store. It also adds to your accountability, and you may find them reminding you of your goal when you are tempted. Everyone needs a cheer section.

High Stakes
You need an external source of motivation with a time-factor involved. The time limit will keep up the pressure so you do not slack off, lose interest, or put off the hard work. Make a wager with friends of yours also trying to lose such as putting a pot together and whoever loses the most wins. A more supportive version would be to plan a group trip (or event) that could only happen if everyone met their goal. Time limit should be eight weeks minimum; ideally You include a "maintanence" challenge every couple months or so too. For my motivation, the contest cost $20 to enter and I’d be damned if I was going to lose that money so I set out from the start to win.

Put on Blinders
Do not grow discouraged by other’s successes. People may lose motivation when others succeed, and this in turn may lead them to quit. They make excuses for themselves (under stress, slow metabolism) or find a reason why the other’s success is not legitimate. If this is you, put on blinders and stick to your plan. Regularly there were weeks I did not lose as much weight as others, but by keeping up the habits I succeed over time. Slow and steady wins the race.

This is the first of a three part series on my personal success, motivation and future after a workplace weight loss competition.

Workplace Weight Loss Challenge: Success

2010-04-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

I recently lost 16 lbs (9.9%) and won $100 for it in a weight loss competition at my work. It was my first serious attempt at weight loss in years, and the success has jump-started my motivation for other projects. The simple steps listed below is the advice I would give for someone in a similar competition.

1. Count Calories
Record everything you eat. No excuses. No, you cannot out-pace your eating with exercise. And yes, everything does count (even the mints at the receptionist's desk). It is most important to stick to your total calories for the week. If you have some variation from day to day (Monday 1250 calories, Tuesday 1600 cals), it is actually good for your body to mix it up, just keep an eye on weekly totals. You also needs to change your daily calorie amount whenever you lose weight because a lighter car uses less fuel. I started with 1400 calories a day and reduced it to 1000 in the final weeks. Lastly, stick to power foods (like lean protein) that will keep you going from longer.

2. Exercise
There are health benefits to exercising, especially if you know how to maximize your productivity.
- Two 15 minutes sessions will give you a better health and weight-loss benefit than one 40 minute session. Better to raise and lower your heartbeat twice a day, than only once.
- Do not use the fact that muscle weighs more than fat as an excuse to avoid strength training. Better muscles will improve overall fitness and use more calories throughout the day.
- For 24 to 36 hours after a workout, your Basic Metabolic Rate is raised and you burn more calories in your daily routine. So it's not about how much you burn in one gym session, but about regularly giving your body physical stimulus.

3. Lose Water Weight (Last Week of Competition)
In the interest of purely losing weight (not necessarily fat) for a competition, use and lose water weight to your advantage. Water weight is mostly attributed to sodium. So in the last week, eat a low-sodium diet of veggies, fruit, and protein. Additionally, in the last 16 hours or so, you can sweat out some in a bath or sauna (working out is too stressful) or releasing it normally by drinking coffee. The best resource I found for additional advice was an article by Tim Ferriss (an extreme example). Understand that weight loss with water is temporary, and this is why I did it the last week of the competition instead of the first. Alternatively I had high-sodium, low-calorie soups the day of the first weigh in.

This is the first of a three part series on my personal success, motivation and future after a workplace weight loss competition.

How To: Pick a Property with Rental Income Potental (and Whether or Not to)

2010-04-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

We looked at another house today, and by looked I only mean driving by. For me, it is a high priority to have a potential income-generating property as our first. I figure that at this stage in our life since we can't afford our dream home, and the idea of selling a home makes me nervous, that we should buy something that could both work for a living space and future rental property. Though one day we might rent the whole house, before then here are a few thoughts as to the different rental options that have been on our minds.

Rent a Room
Renting out a room is the easiest option. College students or professionals are tenants that might fit best. Sometimes they are interested in a room (especially if it is furnished) if they have a short-term assignment. Renting a room would be very similar to having a regular roommate since you share the common areas. Craigslist is the spot to publicly advertise for this, however networking at work or with some college friends might find you a tenant with whom you have more in common.

Garage Apartments
A garage apartment is a unit on the same property but separate from house. The name comes of course because these units are commonly on top of the garage. Since they are not connected with the house, you can maintain privacy while having the benefit of someone chipping in on the rent. Though you can find a tenant the same as with the suggestion above, a simple sign might be the most effective way to fill a vacancy, especially if you live on a major road.

Duplex
Duplex is a building that is effectively two homes with one shared wall. Duplexes usually cost only 20 to 30 percent higher than a comparable single family home, but effectively gives you double the house. Ideally, you live in one half and rent the other, but sometimes only half of the duplex is for sale. Even owning half of the duplex could still be beneficial in the long run after or if you move out. Unfortunately you obviously won't get any benefit from a tenant before you move somewhere else.

Downsides, and the Questions to Consider
If you had read this far, maybe I haven't turned you off of the idea. It is not for everyone. Heck, it is not for most. But it is a legitimate way to gain extra income, support the mortgage, and to set up your financial future for the better. And if you have yet to purchase property, you have even more options. There are serious questions to think about before diving in to your life as a landlord.

Questions:
- When was the last time you lived with a roommate? Are you ready to do it again?
- Are you willing to live with less privacy for a few years?
- Do you recognize your tenant's need for privacy?
- How do you feel about being both landlord and roommate? Can you be both firm and courteous?
- How does your family feel about the idea? Do they support it?
- Do you have a legal plan or a place for legal resourcesas a landlord?
- Why do you want to do it? Will you be financially secure if you cannot get a reliable tenant?

Good luck in all your endeavors!

The Problem of Choice

2010-04-11T20:36:00.001-07:00

Zen Habits recently published an article on Making Life Decisions. One of the most striking things I noticed was the statement that more choice actually makes people more miserable. This spoke to me particularly today, when B and I had more than one argument about what are future living arraignments might be.

B and I are thinking of buying a house this summer, or next year. I want a duplex, and something in the city with future rental possibility. B wants something in a good neighborhood, without too many maintenance problems. Then there is still the possiblity of a live-aboard on a sailboat. Or there is a friend of ours who might come in as a roommate, but that would not work with the live-aboard of course. I am remembering with near nostalgia, when we lived in a rural town with few renting options and even few we could afford (simplicity is bliss). All this choice should make us happy instead of leading to a fight. How ridiculous is that?

Beyond that there are future career aspirations, all the choices! I am not sure what I want to major in, but I know I want a Master's degree. B should start a program too, but when? Where? And how exactly? Should I work harder at my current career or transition? Then there is also that novel I want to write...

I am overwhelmed with choice. Though I did stress myself out in college (often unnecessarily), at least there was a clear path. Now that I am living in the real world, and have been successful at several endeavors such as getting a "big girl" job, I don't know what the next step is. There is so much choice. Choice as to what I should actually do with my life, choice as to how to spend the money I now earn (save? debt? spend?), even choice as to when/if to have kids. I feel very fortunate to have a partner in this, but marriage is another milestone that is out of the way and leaves me thinking, what next?

The future opportunities are open so wide, so why is this causing me stress instead of joy?

How To: Look for Job Across the Country

2010-03-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

My heart goes out to my friends and family in Illinois. It is my home state. The unemployment is in the double digits. My friends who are teachers are facing layoffs.

B and I escaped by moving across the country, but we had many examples to inspire us. My parents both moved right out of college to Illinois from Georgia and Wisconsin, because that was where the opportunity was (at the time). B's parents moved from Oregon to California then the Midwest. The two years before I moved I had several other examples of friends exiting Illinois for opportunity elsewhere. One friend moved Oregon for networking. One to Brown University from doctorate work and another to Arizona to teach. One friend moved to Boston for actuarial science. Another to Thailand for an English teaching opportunity.

In fact last year, we had felt more like we were left behind. Now after a few months of living in H-town, I reconnected with some old friends in IL and realized they had the same left-behind feeling B and I did yet they feel unable to break out of IL and move themselves. Here are the steps B and I took to start our search

Step 1: Look at a List of the Fastest Growing Cities in the United States Search
This is where the opportunity is. Especially if you are in a support industry (education, IT generalist, retail, etc) these jobs exist everywhere but there is not always high demand everywhere. This can change from year to year. As we know, Nevada and Arizona were booming for several years and now are at a bust (be careful, but just because you work somewhere next year does not mean you will live or work there in ten years). Last year, Houston was one of the cities on the list.

To narrow your search, also compare the per capita college graduation rate of different states and cities with the unemployment rate. Duel-income couples are often hesitant to move because of the challenge of securing two positions. By looking at these two numbers it can clue you in to how well education is an asset in the job search. In IL, if you had a college degree employers acted like "who cares?" In Texas, it gives you an edge.

Step 2: Choosing on a Career
Maybe you are at the end of college, maybe you have had a career for a while now, but ask your self seriously: What do I want to do for a job/career?

If you have just finished college, you have probably been asking yourself this question the whole time. My husband had spent all of college preparing for a career as a History teacher, but instead capitalized on his five years of IT experience working for the university throughout school. With a background in hardware, he got a job in programing. With quick learning and outside reading, he taught himself everything and took a short term test project to the forefront of the company's future plans.

If you have a highly specialized field, you may have narrower geographic locations to choose from for your career. It is still useful to go through Step 1 for an overall picture of the country, but alumni organization and professional organizations will be able to provide more tailored information on the best locations for opportunity. That said, ask yourself, do you want to stay highly specialized or do you want to transition into different field that you can use related experience? I stress related experience because going back to school is added expense, and if you consider that you are eliminating any geographic barriers to your job search, it is very possible you can advance/transition your career.

A Meteorology friend of mine feels lost, unsure of what to do with her specialized degree and debating going back to graduate school (and more debt). But I see so much opportunity for her. She has a background in statistics and math. She has numerous internships in field work with chemistry and natural sciences. I keep hoping she can transition into geological sciences and will come to H-town for a job with the oil companies.

Step 3: Discovering Your Passion
Ask yourself (and your partner): What do you want to do with your free time? This second question is equally important as the one in Step 2 because there will be days when you hate your job, when you are run down, and regretful about leaving family and friends. You need something to inspire you and keep you going beyond your job. B and I thought about the dream for our retirement (sailing), then realized we could do that anytime if we simply lived in the right place. We could not (really afford to) sail in Illinois. In Houston, we sail year-round and live in the third best boating bay in the U.S.

So what do you like? What is your dream to do? Skiing, hiking, arts and music, theater, biking, rodeo sports, dirt biking, quilting, fishing... Again, this question is as serious as the career question in number two. By eliminating geographic barriers you can explore things not possible where you live now.

Recap
Look at the list from Step 1. Ask yourself the questions in Steps 2 and 3. Now review the list from Step 1 and see if there are any cities where your interests from Steps 2 and 3 intersect.

Omaha, Nebraska had a lot of job openings last year when we were looking but we decided against it because we could not sail there. Miami seemed like a great place to live and maybe start a boating business, but the present job market did not have opportunity. Only Houston had the two things we wanted and needed.

Further Reading: Will You Want a Job in That State After College? Forbes

In Search of Meaning

2010-03-19T06:33:00.001-07:00

There are times I feel lost. I will turn 23 next month and so far I have accomplished a lot of the major goals for my life. Marriage, college degree, professional career, financial independence. But I still feel like I don't know what I want to do with my life. I know I choose my current profession for the job security, but now I want more. I feel like I am still seeking meaning and accomplishment in my life. These are my current pie-in-the-sky life dreams.

I want to sail around the world.
I want to travel the world.
I want to live a fit and healthy lifestyle.
I want a profession that lets me be flexible, creative and meaningful.
I want to share enriching experiences with my current and future family.

B and I are starting to take steps for the first goal. We might get a boat before a house even as soon as this summer (we might even live-aboard). Second goal, I have traveled one country in Europe and one in Asia and loved it. Presently I feel guilty at putting money away for a trip because I feel like I should be doing other/better things with the money (boat fund, debt repayment, retirement savings). Third goal is going well. I have lost ten pounds recently and am almost back to my high school weight. The fourth is goal I yearn for but have a profound laziness that overpowers any will to stay motivated. The last goal has been put on the back burner since B and I moved across the country for jobs, but I want to prioritize.

I know that even if I accomplish everything on the list I could still have a craving for meaning. I should not be looking for satisfaction in a resume of accomplishments. I do have faith, but again, it is another thing that has been on the back burner in the last few years.

How To: DeClutter Your Books

2010-02-21T17:02:00.001-08:00

Do it all in one shot. Unless you have an extortionate amount of books or your books are in dozens of places around the house, this is something you should be able to take care of in an afternoon. If you do have either of the two situations, break it down and do it one room at a time.

1. Sort and Segregate
The books you want to lose are things you do not read and will not need in the future. You need a donation/sell box (easiest if you simply decide donation OR sell, not both because that will slow the process down). For each book go through a series of questions: Will you read it in the future? Do you need it as a work/personal reference? Do you have someone specific in mind to give it to? Do not think about how much you spent on it or how you had meant to read it, only think about the future use.

2. Donate/Sell
Find one (and only one) place to get rid of your books. There are numerous places to donate your books. Many nieghborhoods have donation boxes or call you local library about donation opportunities. When it comes to selling, look for neighborhood resale shops (we use Half Price Books). Although there may be ways to make more money by selling your books individually (example on Amazon), the point of the article is to declutter, not to maximize profits. If you simply get rid of everything at one stop, it is gone with no worries.

3. Lose the Guilt. Feel ok with keeping some. So you kept some books you are not sure when you are going to read again. So you kept some books out of sentimentality. The point is you should not look at your shelf and see anything you know you will not read again. You can always repeat this process again in a few months or a year. Books are not trophies to display they are valuable resources for reference, intellectual stimulation, and entertainment.

Bonus Step: Check out Local Library and Get Library Card
This step will help you from accumulating more books you may only have a passing interest with. Whenever I go to the library, I check out 8-10 books on the same topic (and get a crazy look from my husband). This allows me to go home, look at the books at my leisure, read the valuable parts of the best books, and return them all when I am finished. Of course, one needs to be careful not to lose them within the house.

As you may be able to guess, this was my little project yesterday. Whenever B and I move, we always seem to leave stuff in boxes for months (often books). We also have tons of books left over from our collective two degrees in history. However, I have need for many of them at my work and they represent a significant personal interest of ours. I think have a lot of books in our home will always be a part of our life, with period trimming and decluttering.

How To: Choose Your Favorite Soft Drink

2010-02-15T12:20:00.000-08:00

You may call it soda, you may call it pop, you might even refer to it generically as "coke" (see this map for more information), nonetheless most of us drink it frequently. With every day, the choice for soft drinks on the market expands, and once in a while we need to reevaluate our brand loyalty. Maybe you have yet to find the comfort in a familiar fizzy drink; maybe you are thinking about expanding from your standard and discovering a new favorite. Either way, the task may be daunting, so let us consider the process by which you can decide once and for all your favorite soft drink.

1. Diet or Regular?
This did not always used to be the first question, but with the increased awareness of calories and the increased selection of diet alternatives, I am putting this question first. Are calories that important to you? Do you find you notice a taste difference between diet and regular? Does regular taste like syrup or refreshly sweet? Does diet taste crisp or metallic? If have been loyal to regular drinks in the past, would you consider the switch?
Side note: in choosing Regular, also consider the taste of frutouse corn syrup verses cane sugar sweetenings. Some people insist there is a taste and health difference between the two.

2. Cola, Fruit or Spice?
This question may take the longest amount of time, because there is the widest selection. However, after the decision from question one that should help to narrow our search options. There are three broad types, with the first two being cola (dark in color, orgionally made from the cola nuts), fruit (transparent or bright colors, most popular flavor is lemon lime). The last catagory is harder to define, though I am going to call it "spice colas." The two popular examples are Dr Pepper and root beer, but there are ginger beers, cinemon, and curry flavors out there. To wade through these choices let's start here: How intense do you like the flavor to be? What foods do you normally have your soft drink with? What compliments your favorite foods and situtations the best?

3. Final Decision: Brand
Finally, brand loyalty is a key objective for this process. Which company do you want to support with your dollar? You might make your decision on which color packaging is most appealing: red, blue, green? Do you want a popular ease-to-access option or do you prefer the more eccentric brands? You might consider the kinds of commercials you have seen (if any) and what celebrities were in them. Ethical questions of a company's past history, business practices are something to consider (you would be surprised to see the different industries the major players are in). Also, would you utilize promotional programs like Coke Rewards?

The most important element is that you are satifisied with your decision. Once you have decided on your favorite brand of soda, you can relax as that is one less decision in your life you have weighing on your mind.