MyTwoCentsDePaul

MyTwoCentsDePaul http://mytwocentsdepaul.com MyTwoCentsDePaul | DePaul Students Share Experiences Balancing Work, School, Finances, and Life. posterous.com Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:41:00 -0800 Anil's Sacrifice http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/bC5MIz_XvsE/anils-sacrifice http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/anils-sacrifice <p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><object style="height: 390px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yPcNAjTJCWk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yPcNAjTJCWk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="281" width="500"></embed></param></param></param></object></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">College can sometimes feel like too big of a sacrifice for the uncertain rewards that come along with a degree.<span>  </span>The high cost of tuition and amount of time and effort needed to graduate seems like a lot of work to get to where you want to be in life.<span>  </span>Anil Mane from Mumbai, India knows a thing or two about sacrifice.<span>  </span>Anil and his family get by on less than $2 a day while he caddies at a prestigious Mumbai golf course.<span>  </span>Despite his income level, Anil owns golf clubs worth more than his entire house and competes in some of the biggest competitions in India.<span>  </span>Anil knows that a sacrifice can be worth it so long as it leads to your life’s goals.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span>    </span>In my own college career, I’ve struggled many time’s with this dilemma.<span>  </span>While my sacrifice will never compare to Anil’s, student loan debt and 4 years of my life is a large commitment to make.<span>  </span>There are times when I think that I could create great things in my life if I were to leave school and get to work right now.<span>  </span>In the end, I always keep coming back to the realization that despite the sacrifice of time and money, DePaul is going to help me get to the place I want to be so long as I stick it out.<span>  </span>I may not be playing golf on the professional circuits in Mumbai, but my sacrifices will definitely help me to find happiness.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/anils-sacrifice">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/anils-sacrifice#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=bC5MIz_XvsE:AZGasLhdo54:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=bC5MIz_XvsE:AZGasLhdo54:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=bC5MIz_XvsE:AZGasLhdo54:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=bC5MIz_XvsE:AZGasLhdo54:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/bC5MIz_XvsE" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/hgzXaUghFSnc6 dennismarti dennismarti dennismarti http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/anils-sacrifice Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:42:00 -0800 LET’S GO BLUE DEMONS! Show your School Spirit | A Street Team Guest Post: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/tv4uCW54KxA/lets-go-blue-demons-show-your-school-spirit-a http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lets-go-blue-demons-show-your-school-spirit-a <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mytwocentsdepaul/fvsfrohbxyIozFrAeDcaliBqAayiittmoHACjGBlcGJCipoHlqEuJoidArux/media_httpwwwthesport_xmxsH.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Media_httpwwwthesport_xmxsh" height="334" src="http://getfile4.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mytwocentsdepaul/fvsfrohbxyIozFrAeDcaliBqAayiittmoHACjGBlcGJCipoHlqEuJoidArux/media_httpwwwthesport_xmxsH.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: #000000;">Seated courtside. Great view of the action on the court. You can see the anticipation on the players’ faces. There are fifteen seconds left in the game, one point difference. DePaul is losing. Coach Purnell just had a feisty talk with the men. The ref blows the whistle to get back on the court. Everyone is on the edge of their seats. The other team has the ball, but not for long! Worrel Clahar steals the ball! He is dribbling quickly down court when he sees Cleveland Melvin open for a lay-up. Cross court pass, Melvin has the ball, he shoots. <span style="color: #0000ff;">DEPAUL WINS THE GAME! </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: #000000;">Now, there is no way every basketball game is like this fictional scenario, but when it is, it is something you don’t want to miss. The atmosphere at All-State Arena and at McGrath-Phillips Arena is unlike any other. The fans bleed blue and yell till they have no voice left. Section 6 in both arenas is packed with fans that desperately want their team to win. There are rituals at every game that make the game that much more involved. The Blue Crew does a fantastic job at getting the fans to join in at hooting and hollering at the other team and also to cheer for our own. One key ritual that stands out is when one of the Blue Demon’s goes up for a foul shot. The first foul shot, you hold your hand in the air with your index finger out. For the second shot, you cross your hands with both index fingers out so you make a sign that looks like a demon’s horns. At one game, DePaul gave out towels that said, ‘Demon Pride’ to twirl around during the game. </span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpcdn0sbnatio_engkf" height="299" src="http://getfile0.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mytwocentsdepaul/ozvqHBavJnbIbBevwHrmkAEiwifunrdkdJqJfhsAHubFdmtGuAxJhvAqFsys/media_httpcdn0sbnatio_engkf.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="450" /> </div> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: #000000;">Going to the games gives you a sense of belonging. Everyone in that arena is there for the same reason; to cheer on the Blue Demons. Whether it is a Women’s game or a Men’s game, you will be cheering from the minute you step into the arena. Every single player on both teams wants to be there and wants to win. Even though we may not win every game, we sure do have really good players. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: #000000;">Both of our teams are in the Big East Conference; which is a very tough Conference considering we verse some of the best schools in the nation. We have to support them and give them a sense of hope that they can kick butt and win. We can’t always go to every game with them, but we can support them one hundred times over when they are here. There are many reasons why you should attend DePaul’s sports games, and I don’t just mean the basketball teams. Every DePaul sports team need the fans to help cheer them on during a tough game or give them a wave every once and a while to let them know that you support them. These players need your support no matter if they win or lose. They represent the school in ways that we can’t. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: #000000;">Recently, on February 6<sup>th</sup>, 2012, the men’s basketball team played Marquette. It was a home game in All-State Arena. Unfortunately, there were more Marquette fans in the arena than there were DePaul fans. Don’t get me wrong, we fans who went to the game tore it up, but it was disappointing to see that not as many were there that should have been. These games are so exciting. Whether we win or lose, DePaul sports teams need the support of their fans. I promise you will not regret going to a game. There is even transportation to the men’s basketball games at All-State Arena. There are busses that transport fans to every game, so there is no excuse as to why you shouldn’t go! </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: blue;"><span>            </span>All I’ve got left to say is…LET’S GO BLUE DEMONS!</span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: blue;">For information on the Men’s basketball schedule click here: </span></strong><a href="http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/depa-m-baskbl-sched.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/depa-m-baskbl-sched.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; color: blue;">For information on the Women’s basketball schedule click here: </span></strong><a href="http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/depa-w-baskbl-sched.html">http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/depa-w-baskbl-sched.html</a></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For more information on the DePaul Blue Demons please go to </span><a name="_GoBack"></a><a href="http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/"><span>http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/</span></a><span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maggie Breiner is a freshman who is a Hospitality major. She would like to open her own restaurant one day and become an event planner. Maggie is an avid DePaul sports fan and attends as many games as she can. </span></em></span><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She is part of the CMM Street Team, a group of first year students who assist the Career Center and Financial Fitness with marketing, events, and special projects. </span></em></p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lets-go-blue-demons-show-your-school-spirit-a">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lets-go-blue-demons-show-your-school-spirit-a#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=tv4uCW54KxA:LPDVQJ4xpNA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=tv4uCW54KxA:LPDVQJ4xpNA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=tv4uCW54KxA:LPDVQJ4xpNA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=tv4uCW54KxA:LPDVQJ4xpNA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/tv4uCW54KxA" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/82915/7462_facebook_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bsBRuQ8ehX DePaul Career Center depaulcareerctr DePaul Career Center http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lets-go-blue-demons-show-your-school-spirit-a Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:14:45 -0800 A Successful Internship Search Is More Than Just Clicking ‘Apply’ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/CtDulZTREyc/a-successful-internship-search-is-more-than-j http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/a-successful-internship-search-is-more-than-j <p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">With the interest in gaining an internship or co-op growing, I’ve noticed that applications have increased for co-op/internship positions. After applying for a ton of positions I bet you’re wondering why you aren’t hearing back from employers. Maybe it’s because you’re not taking the time to read through the job posting to get a full understanding of what the employer is looking for. “I’ve heard many employers say that students are missing some of the basics such as incorrect email addresses or including a GPA in the cover letter if that’s required,” Co-op Program Assistant Director Emily Kravetz said, “There’s so many great internships out there that I hate to see students missing out on the opportunity because they are missing the key details.” There are a few things you must do in order to make sure you are not missing these key details, and to better prepare yourself for when it’s time to click the ‘apply’ button. </span></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style=""><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;">READ JOB POSTING AND DESCRIPTION IN ITS ENTIRETY </span></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">First, you need to read the job posting/description in its <b style="">ENTIRETY</b>. An employer will state exactly what they’re looking for in an applicant, and what that applicant needs to do to apply. While reading the description of a posting, keep an eye out for qualifications relating to GPA, year in school, start date, if a cover letter is required and what needs to be stated within the cover letter. </span></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style=""><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt;">CREATE A RESUME AND COVER LETTER THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THAT POSITION </span></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">After you have viewed and understand the job posting, create a cover letter and resume for that position. If in the posting the employer asked for something specific to be stated in your cover letter, make sure to include it. Also, cater your resume to the qualifications that the employer is looking for. If the posting says they are seeking someone with sales experience and Microsoft skills, make sure to highlight exceeding the sales quota at the shoe store you work at and how you have knowledge of Microsoft programs. If you are unsure if your resume is ready to be sent out to employers, visit the </span><a href="http://careercenter.depaul.edu/resumes/default.aspx"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">Career Center Resume</span></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;"> page for templates. You can also stop by the Career Center to meet with Peer Counselors to get resume help as well. </span></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style=""><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">KNOW THE COMPANY</span></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">If you are unfamiliar with the company in which you are applying, play around on their company website to make sure it’s somewhere you want to work. Something else Emily told me was that one employer called a bunch of students for an interview and was surprised to see students knew next to nothing about the company. This was a huge turn off for the employer. You should have a basic understanding of what the company does. If the employer were to ask you “why do you want to work here?” or “what does my company do?”, you should be able to answers those questions without hesitation. </span></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style=""><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">APPLY</span></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">Now it’s time to click ‘apply’. Once you have done so, make sure that your voicemail is set up on your phone, and that it’s professional. In addition to having a voicemail message set up, make sure to check your voicemail regularly.<span style="">  </span>If an employer contacts you, always make sure to contact them back in a timely manner, even if you are no longer interested in the position. </span></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,serif; FONT-SIZE: 13pt;">If you follow these steps to properly prepare yourself for applying for an internship, you will not only make yourself more appealing to an employer, but it also shows you follow directions and pay attention to detail. And even though this can make your search process a little more time consuming; your results will be worth the effort. “Just like you study for school…study the job description. It’s like a cheat sheet; they’re telling you what they want,” Kravetz said.<span style="">   </span></span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/a-successful-internship-search-is-more-than-j">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/a-successful-internship-search-is-more-than-j#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=CtDulZTREyc:j5AcvoSmOFo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=CtDulZTREyc:j5AcvoSmOFo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=CtDulZTREyc:j5AcvoSmOFo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=CtDulZTREyc:j5AcvoSmOFo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/CtDulZTREyc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1434022/IMG_1997.JPG http://posterous.com/users/hdoupFgbwzcfM Josclynn Brandon josclynn Josclynn Brandon http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/a-successful-internship-search-is-more-than-j Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:08:00 -0800 Handling Job Offers http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/F0IoDs_QhaA/handling-job-offers http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/handling-job-offers <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Salary-latin-salt" height="300" src="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-02-20/hEEgbinFfJvolxsEEcxhvtlltqfrdfhJHwEpCgJiyFvltvCvGmJHCxFjhded/salary-latin-salt.png.scaled500.png" width="440" /> </div> Have you been on an interview where you were asked, what’s your expected salary? Did that question surprise you? Were you unsure on what to say? I’ve been there and in reflecting on my past experiences, I knew the Handling Job Offers workshop was a must for me.</p> <p>The Handling Job Offers workshop (part of DePaul University Career Week) covered tips and how-to’s in preparing for negotiating a job offer.</p> <p style="">Workshop objectives included:</p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span><span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span>Compensation package components/terms</li> <li>Steps to take before the interview</li> <li>The negotiation process</li> <li>Best practices and strategies</li> </ul> <p style="">After attending the workshop I came up with 10 key take-aways:</p> <ol> <li> <span><span> </span></span>Negotiate with a goal of WIN-WIN (for you and the employer)</li> <li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;">  </span></span></span>Do research on salaries before interviews <span> </span>(The Career Center Website has links to resources)<span><span><span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span></li> <li>Know your worth</li> <li>Avoid disclosing salary requirements or history</li> <li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span>Know your minimum (compensation)</li> <li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;">  </span></span></span>Negotiate the entire compensation package</li> <li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span>Base negotiations on research</li> <li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span>Maintain professionalism</li> <li><span> </span>Get offer in writing</li> <li><span><span>10<span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;">   </span></span></span>Compromise</li> </ol> <p>So what will I do from now on if I am asked what my expected pay is in an interview? Well to begin with, I won’t be caught off guard. I will have done my research before the interview and know what salary ranges are fair for the position I am applying to. Although I will try to avoid disclosing my desired salary, if asked, I will give a wide range with my minimum at the bottom (range based on my worth and research of similar positions). I will also make sure to not ignore the entire compensation package and be ready to negotiate all benefits and not just salary. Lastly, I will maintain professionalism and act as though I am already part of the team, searching to problem solve this negotiation process with a WIN-WIN for both parties.</p> <p>Career Week has many other great workshops going on right now – THIS WEEK! For more information on the other workshops Career week has to offer, go to: <a href="http://careercenter.depaul.edu/careerweek/" title="http://careercenter.depaul.edu/careerweek/" target="_blank">http://careercenter.depaul.edu/careerweek/</a>.</p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/handling-job-offers">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/handling-job-offers#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=F0IoDs_QhaA:mlFPcSkbZSw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=F0IoDs_QhaA:mlFPcSkbZSw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=F0IoDs_QhaA:mlFPcSkbZSw:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=F0IoDs_QhaA:mlFPcSkbZSw:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/F0IoDs_QhaA" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1849161/linked_in.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPRcuQ0sABMMi John Dangles dangles140 John Dangles http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/handling-job-offers Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:10:00 -0800 Procrastination: How to Beat the Temptation | A Street Team Guest Post http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/axPl-NKWs2A/procrastination-how-to-beat-the-temptation-a http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/procrastination-how-to-beat-the-temptation-a <p> <p>As a college student, I see how easy it is to procrastinate every day.  Between meeting new friends and keeping up with classes, procrastination seems like a stellar idea – until you get your grades.  Although studying in the library doesn’t always sound like the most fun idea, sometimes it just needs to be done.  In the end, it will not only improve your grades, but it will also help you.</p> <blockquote> <p> “By the time we reach college, many of us have are already experts at avoiding the inevitable.  “Oh, we’ll get to it,” we say.  And most of us do.  We get it done, but not without a constant and looming pressure that builds until, the night before, we cram, sometimes all night long to finish.  The result?  Seldom our best work.  Was it worth it?  Not a chance.  So why do we procrastinate over and over again?” (<a href="http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/overcoming-procrastination">Todd, Daniel</a>). </p> </blockquote> <p> The above paragraph summarizes what just about everyone has done once or twice in our years of school, but how do we change?  How do we stop the vicious cycle of procrastination?  First, assess the task at hand and break it up into smaller, more doable pieces.  Make sure you have a quiet place to work, because distractions can be part of the reason you procrastinated before.  Then, start working on it.  When you’ve hit the half way mark, just remember that you are that much closer to being done with it!  If working on it for a long period of time is not an option, make sure to make time for it, even if it is only fifteen to thirty minutes a day.  As little as it seems, it actually will help you get one step closer to your goals.  Reward yourself by taking a short nap or calling a friend – whatever it is, make sure you will enjoy it, because it gives you something to look forward to after you are finished. </p> <p>If you feel as though you can’t handle working alone, find a productive study partner that can keep you on the right path.  Finally, don’t forget to be reasonable.  Remember, you are the only one that knows how much you can handle.  Make productive, realistic goals, and you can beat your procrastination.</p> <p><em>Kayla Stevens is a <a name="_GoBack">freshman </a>at DePaul University studying Psychology with an emphasis on Human Services.  She would love to get a job in Forensic Psychology or possibly go on to Law School.  She is part of the CMM Street Team, a group of first year students who assist the Career Center and Financial Fitness with marketing, events, and special projects.</em></p> <p>Todd, Daniel Article Citation: <a href="http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/overcoming-procrastination">http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/overcoming-procrastination</a></p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/procrastination-how-to-beat-the-temptation-a">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/procrastination-how-to-beat-the-temptation-a#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=axPl-NKWs2A:kF57OaGm91o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=axPl-NKWs2A:kF57OaGm91o:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=axPl-NKWs2A:kF57OaGm91o:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=axPl-NKWs2A:kF57OaGm91o:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/axPl-NKWs2A" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/82915/7462_facebook_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bsBRuQ8ehX DePaul Career Center depaulcareerctr DePaul Career Center http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/procrastination-how-to-beat-the-temptation-a Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:29:00 -0800 Time is Money http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/-Sr3r64YIYE/time-is-money http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/time-is-money <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Head-desk-1" height="282" src="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-02-15/DDnccGovCIlFBigdpFtaolBwlueptIJonbcmGhkFhwzinzuFfpuecIvHyEyt/Head-desk-1.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="425" /> </div> Let’s face it, we know it’s true, time is money, and right now you may be running short on time, while trying to earn some money. Let’s look at me for instance, currently a junior and majoring in finance, I am enrolled in the 18 credit hours (5 classes), I have an internship which I work 15 hours a week at, following that I have an on-campus job which I work about another 15 hours a week at. Next let’s focus on extracurricular activities, I’m the budget chair for the Illinois Residence Hall Council Conference being hosted here at DePaul and then I’m the financial chair for DePaul Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization. To quickly sum it all up, I’m busy. Really Busy and I’m sure you are too.</p> <p>You might me asking how this affects you, and that’s a good question. However the better question is how does your busy schedule affect you? You may not have a job or you might have 3+ jobs. You may not have a position in an extracurricular activity or you may play a significant role in many student organizations. In the end, being overwhelmed is part of the whole college experience, and we all know stress could be a good thing in certain amounts, but only YOU can determine just how much stress is enough, for some people it’s noticing that they cannot visit a professor during his/her office hours due to a work shift or a club meeting, or it could be that they catch themselves pulling all nighters as a regular thing.  When it’s all said and done, you’re still a student and school should be a high priority.</p> <p>Right now is the time to start enrolling in class for the spring quarter, so take time to sit down and plan out how a typical day would look like during your spring quarter. For me it means trying to avoid starting my day early in the loop, then returning to Lincoln Park mid day, then returning back to the loop, and then maybe even returning to Lincoln Park to end my day. Like I said before, only you can determine how much stress YOU can handle and no one may ever say “Hey, you’re working yourself like a machine” so that is up to you. If you’re worried that maybe cutting back on hours at work may affect your finances, then stop on by and DePaul Financial Fitness can sit down with you help create a budget that works with you. (PS-Advising is free <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> ) At the end of the day, just keep in mind that being so overwhelmed that it limits your study time to nothing could result in failing class, and failing classes means spending your time and money taking the course over again, thus time is money.</p> <p>Check out our workshops on budgeting and look into one on one advising at <a href="http://financialfitness.depaul.edu/">http://financialfitness.depaul.edu/</a></p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/time-is-money">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/time-is-money#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=-Sr3r64YIYE:L06EkaVZfKo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=-Sr3r64YIYE:L06EkaVZfKo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=-Sr3r64YIYE:L06EkaVZfKo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=-Sr3r64YIYE:L06EkaVZfKo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/-Sr3r64YIYE" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1576385/IMG_8363.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hcGHFRdksKr0e Jermain Garcia J.D. Garcia Jermain Garcia http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/time-is-money Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:44:00 -0800 Goals and Dreams: Payoff.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/dquZgzHmLvY/goals-and-dreams-payoffcom http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/goals-and-dreams-payoffcom <p> <p>What I am about to tell you may be hard to believe, but there actually is an interactive and fun way to conceptualize paying off debt! Okay, as fun as paying off loans can get but progressive and successive as well.</p> <p>Payoff.com is an interactive website that links with your accounts to show your balance and lets you set goals that you can track, such as paying off a credit card and tracks dreams, such as buying a house. Like social media site Foursquare, badges are given out when goals are achieved.</p> <p>Check out the introductory video below to Payoff.com!</p> <p><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25776304?portrait=0" frameborder="0" height="283" width="500"></iframe></p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/goals-and-dreams-payoffcom">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/goals-and-dreams-payoffcom#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=dquZgzHmLvY:kJZFGQNrZzA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=dquZgzHmLvY:kJZFGQNrZzA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=dquZgzHmLvY:kJZFGQNrZzA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=dquZgzHmLvY:kJZFGQNrZzA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/dquZgzHmLvY" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/638674/Picture_5.png http://posterous.com/users/4wET8LwU13bP Courtney Muir courtmuir Courtney Muir http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/goals-and-dreams-payoffcom Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:05:00 -0800 Life of a Graduating Senior http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/S652PtmvTkY/life-of-a-graduating-senior http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/life-of-a-graduating-senior <p> <p><span style="color: #000000;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httphealthyrams_egbug" height="300" src="http://getfile0.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mytwocentsdepaul/InAvwkquvGhIwvoJkbiirChAwjiGfqqAbgecjuzkveIEdaelgHCoyrIauIcg/media_httphealthyrams_eGbuG.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="400" /> </div> </span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Everyone keeps mentioning how 2012 will be “the” year.   I always wondered what was meant by that.  I know for one thing I have a lot of important and exciting things happening this year.  In June 2012, I will finally be graduating from college, (hopefully) entering into the graduate program of my choice, and finally starting a path that resembles my potential career.  It’s pretty exciting stuff.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">While juggling those thoughts in my head, it’s also important to consider the present.  My financial goals aren’t exactly congruent to the life I actually lead.  I’d like to save more, I’d like to budget more appropriately, but sometimes it’s just not that realistic.  I make random purchases; I eat out more than I know I should, but those qualities what makes me a college student.   I recently got into an online shopping kick.  (What can I say; online shopping really gets to me!)  Also, I’ve lost my UPASS the third time this year which accounts for 50 bucks out of my pocket!</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;"> I realized that won’t be the lifestyle I’ll lead as a graduate student.  Some things need to give and others can stay the same.  I think the most important thing is to remember to live within your means and prioritize the items that are necessary for you.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">As graduation draws near, I’ve become even closer to finally having to pay off my student debt.  It’s a scary thought, but I’ve remembered to keep things in perspective.  In the mean time, I’ve made a small savings account that will go towards paying off my student loans.  In addition, I plan to get a job once I graduate to accommodate for those loans and continue to save more.  Since I’ll be living at home for a bit until I have to leave for school that can save me rent and other living expenses.  The most important thing I’ve realized is that everyone has a different and unique journey.  While I thought I was going to get a job right after college, I never realized I’d pursue graduate school.   I’ve become more thoughtful about this process and if it means sacrificing a couple of things here and there then it’s worth it.</span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/life-of-a-graduating-senior">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/life-of-a-graduating-senior#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=S652PtmvTkY:3IP-W9Sw5T8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=S652PtmvTkY:3IP-W9Sw5T8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=S652PtmvTkY:3IP-W9Sw5T8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=S652PtmvTkY:3IP-W9Sw5T8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/S652PtmvTkY" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/597598/19770_1259982536727_1144560289_30857100_1462712_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AqlOeCAz8xr cnarikka cnarikka http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/life-of-a-graduating-senior Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:40:00 -0800 It doesn’t even need to be that extreme... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/iecwT6j4Nmo/it-doesnt-even-need-to-be-that-extreme http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/it-doesnt-even-need-to-be-that-extreme <p> <div style="background-color: transparent;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style=""><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Using-coupons" height="225" src="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-02-01/odgwdooFvGkIAjvkeHgebyHavasbICrnGmzHItcJkmpgszDzJeIFHBspDdFx/using-coupons.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="300" /> </div> <p /></span><p /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Maybe you’ve seen TLC’s </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Extreme Couponing</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and thought to yourself how you could save hundreds of dollars on grocery shopping a month. Curious and interested to tried it, I started looking for the best way to go about it. I looked through the Sunday Newspaper, printed off coupons at home, and even asked some of my coworkers to help me clip coupons. ( I even used the coupons for items didn’t even need at the time, like 5,000 Qtips from Costco) Surely I would use them in the coming months, thus I didn't hesitate to buy them.</span><p /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the end, I didn’t walk away with a truck full of food for free, but on the other hand, I did manage to get great prices on all the items. Overall, didn’t turn into an extreme couponer, but this won’t stop me from trying it again.</span><p /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Getting started is hard, first you need the time, and then you need the coupons, and then you need the scissors. Sound like a lot of work? Well it actually is, and if you’ve ever watched </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Extreme Couponing </span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">you would know that couponing can turn into a full time commitment. Even though it’s a lot of work, don’t let this keep you from starting small.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After all the time and effort I put in, I saved about $35 on a trip to the grocery store with my coupons and my fresh value card. Which I think is pretty good, because about $6 of what I saved was through my fresh value card that doesn’t require me to do anything but scan it when at the checkout. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Extreme couponing is...well extreme, so start small, even if it’s by only using a preferred customer savings card. If you’re curious to try it, check out a few of these tips:</span><p /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1.       Look everywhere for coupons, meaning in newspapers, magazines,  and online</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2.       Do sign up for the customer rewards card. This usually requires you to list a name and an email, and like that, you can start savings effortlessly</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3.       Do price match, and if you can, shop at stores at will match the competitors advertised prices, if they match it, they will usually give you the discount at the register</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4.       Keep track of the coupons expiration date, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the savings</span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5.       And finally, the best tip would be to go shopping with a list. Using a coupon on something you have and never will use, is pointless. For instance, don’t buy a bottle of hairspray with a coupon you have if you only use a certain hair gel and not even hairspray.</span><br /></span></div> <div style="background-color: transparent;"><strong><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">JD&G</span></strong></div> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/it-doesnt-even-need-to-be-that-extreme">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/it-doesnt-even-need-to-be-that-extreme#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=iecwT6j4Nmo:GVYKjSVrTjU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=iecwT6j4Nmo:GVYKjSVrTjU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=iecwT6j4Nmo:GVYKjSVrTjU:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=iecwT6j4Nmo:GVYKjSVrTjU:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/iecwT6j4Nmo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1576385/IMG_8363.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hcGHFRdksKr0e Jermain Garcia J.D. Garcia Jermain Garcia http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/it-doesnt-even-need-to-be-that-extreme Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:58:00 -0800 How I'm Sticking to a Resolution. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/1A0lx4yVyG0/how-im-sticking-to-a-resolution http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/how-im-sticking-to-a-resolution <p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; color: #000000;">After another terribly expensive trip to Target (for some reason that place sucks me in and I'm totally powerless to stop it), my friend and I turned to each other and said, "Let's make a New Year's resolution. No more eating out during the rest of January and February. Go to the gym at least three to four times a week. And fewer frivolous purchases at Target."</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse;"> </span>Have we kept to it? Eh, kind of. We grabbed a bite to eat later that same afternoon and vowed once again that starting tomorrow (it's always tomorrow, isn't it?) our new rule would start up.</span></p> <div><span style="color: #000000;">It's now the end of January and I think I'm doing pretty good (although who knows if my friend's really kept her side of the bargain).</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="color: #000000;">I've only broken my eating out rule twice (once knowingly and once because I forgot my lunch at home-- who can really fault me there?) At least having the rule in place has made me more conscious of the amount of money I did spend both times, rather than giving my debit card to the cashier without paying attention and worrying about the amount later. And I felt guilty-- the resolution's working!</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="color: #000000;">We've both been going to the gym pretty faithfully, and I can speak for my friend in this instance because we usually go together. Having a work-out buddy is exactly what I need. Some people find motivation somewhere within themselves to wake up early and hit the gym before work or go every single day of the week without fail, but I'm really not one of those people. Knowing I have somebody else relying on me to be there makes it a whole lot less likely that I'm even going to consider skipping. And now that it's becoming a part of my routine, I find myself almost looking forward to it. Or at least I feel strange when I don't go (and I promise you that school and work are the only things that have gotten in the way of that). Plus, we both pay for our memberships at the Ray out-of-pocket (seeing as we're not undergrads) so if I'm not using it, I'm literally flushing $80 down the toilet (which is a pretty amazing price considering most gyms charge upwards of that per month). I guess this is where I make a little plug for the Ray: if you're an undergrad, use your gym membership! Use it! It's a great facility and you're paying for it somewhere in your tuition. (This is coming from a girl who only visited the gym at her undergrad institution once or twice and still feels bad about it.) </span></div> <p /> <div><span style="color: #000000;">And as far as Target goes, we've gone a couple more times since, but we've curved our spending. We haven't been taken in by the numerous clothing sales (or at least limited ourselves to items that were $10 or less) and kept to our grocery lists. Lists are what save me. Yes, I frequently go off them, but feel really good when I do stick to them. And if I went into a place like Target without any sort of guidelines, it could be really catastrophic. One other thing I've done is forced myself to only use debit when shopping there. In the past, it was pretty easy for me to go crazy when I knew my handy dandy credit card would make an appearance, but now all Target purchases go on my debit card which means less buyer's regret later!</span></div> <p /> <div><span style="color: #000000;">It's important for anyone to reevaluate their spending habits and make adjustments, but I definitely feel like the time for me is NOW. Graduation is looming and with that the impending doom that I'll soon need to begin paying back my student loans (guarantee I'll be blogging about these in the near future). If I can begin to curve my spending habits now, before I necessarily need to, I won't feel like I'm severely depriving myself later when there just isn't the money for lunches out and elaborate weekend plans. Plus it never hurts to have a little money saved away in a rainy day fund in case that high-paying dream job doesn't come a'knocking immediately.</span></div> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/how-im-sticking-to-a-resolution">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/how-im-sticking-to-a-resolution#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=1A0lx4yVyG0:EiGtbNGcww4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=1A0lx4yVyG0:EiGtbNGcww4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=1A0lx4yVyG0:EiGtbNGcww4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=1A0lx4yVyG0:EiGtbNGcww4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/1A0lx4yVyG0" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1751873/Photo_12.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hd31AlxV9Lpkm cehlenbach cehlenbach cehlenbach http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/how-im-sticking-to-a-resolution Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:02:00 -0800 Need Some Help? Call The Birdy! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/MkmH4LUIYZk/need-some-help-call-the-birdy http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/need-some-help-call-the-birdy <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Media_httpa2twimgcomp_icygh" height="288" src="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mytwocentsdepaul/pEyHGegtFfyjGFhupnHDlnEBjwqeswkAxvljwomjFrfhJwxcDkIexIHFHAhn/media_httpa2twimgcomp_Icygh.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="288" /> </div> </p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">I’m not the most money savvy person in the world.<span style="">  </span>Things happen in our lives where we can’t control what we spend like a best friend’s birthday coming up, replacing a UPASS (for the third time this year!), buying groceries, paying for utility bills, and buying last minute items.<span style="">  </span>Those small things don’t really enter into our “budget” so it might throw off how we spend.<span style="">  </span>However, since working at Financial Fitness, I’ve acquired a few skills along the way.<span style="">  </span>You have to know what you are good at.<span style="">  </span>I know I’m not the greatest with budgeting, but I also know what I can and can’t live without.<span style="">   </span>What are expenses for you? Do you always grab a candy bar when you’re in the checkout line in the grocery store? Do you always go out for lunch instead of making your own once in awhile?</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">I have an online account with one of my banks that I use continuously.<span style="">  </span>I always tell myself by the end of the week, I should have this much.<span style="">  </span>Or, don’t go over this amount.<span style="">  </span>It doesn’t work all the time.<span style="">   </span>If you are one of those people that budgeting and savings doesn’t come as easily, then maybe I’ve found the trick for you.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">The Birdy.com is an online money management tool that is as simple as 1, 2, 3! Without banking accounts and other personal information, you simply respond to an email a day (other forms of communication can be given like texting or entering the information on their website), explaining what you spend money on that day.<span style="">  </span>If you are into hashtags, send those in a text or email!<span style="">  </span>The Birdy.com will record a pattern of your spending habits with a simple ready to read dashboard.<span style="">  </span>In addition to the dashboard, your expenses for the month will be highlighted in a pie chart or bar graph of your choosing. The convenience of this website is great for those who have trouble going through the process of continually updating their list of expenses.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000;"> What do you buy too often? Is there something you can do without? Give this website a try to take the guesswork out of budgeting!</span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mytwocentsdepaul/kaAGdanxjBsGklguvuwaofCdialfqCfuweGuBwiwoyfyfExcxcqAerqnujJr/media_httpwwwusefulto_jgBBC.png.scaled1000.png"><img alt="Media_httpwwwusefulto_jgbbc" height="332" src="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/mytwocentsdepaul/kaAGdanxjBsGklguvuwaofCdialfqCfuweGuBwiwoyfyfExcxcqAerqnujJr/media_httpwwwusefulto_jgBBC.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/need-some-help-call-the-birdy">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/need-some-help-call-the-birdy#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=MkmH4LUIYZk:ca4GjgD_iKA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=MkmH4LUIYZk:ca4GjgD_iKA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=MkmH4LUIYZk:ca4GjgD_iKA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=MkmH4LUIYZk:ca4GjgD_iKA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/MkmH4LUIYZk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/597598/19770_1259982536727_1144560289_30857100_1462712_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AqlOeCAz8xr cnarikka cnarikka http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/need-some-help-call-the-birdy Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:12:00 -0800 New Year's Resolution http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/6u0ku8hHbXQ/new-years-resolution-2680 http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/new-years-resolution-2680 <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-16/omeIgzJkBtCDHxEwrbcHljqyitsbyuFDwpGzvvzFqufCowuEAgHfhgrxvmxx/2012.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="2012" height="334" src="http://getfile9.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-16/omeIgzJkBtCDHxEwrbcHljqyitsbyuFDwpGzvvzFqufCowuEAgHfhgrxvmxx/2012.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I wanted to wait a while before turning in a blog post about New Year’s resolutions.  There is no sense writing down a bunch of wishful thinking if I wasn’t going to make it past the first month of 2012 anyway.  After having successfully made it through my first paycheck of 2012 and already planning ahead for the next one I feel comfortable writing out my goals.  </span></p> <p style=""><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">                </span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Since I started working for Financial Fitness in September I have been preaching standardized savings.  We use the 80/10/10 rule for students which states that 80% of your income can go to spending, 10% to savings, and 10% to paying down debts.  While I have helped a number of students find ways to fit their financial lives into this savings plan I had yet to really organize my own savings this way.  On top of this I have been researching a lot of charity organizations and have been really impressed with what they do, however I almost never donate any of my money.  So this New Year I have decided to start myself on a 70/20/10 plan including 70% spending money, 10% charitable donations, and 20% savings.  </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So far things have been going well.  I am still doing the 20% savings and debt repayments that we teach but because my debts are very low right now I put that money into my savings account as well to help with future debt repayments.  To do this I set up direct withdrawals from my checking account.  If I don’t see that money even go in it is way easier to pretend I never had it in the first place.  For the giving part of my resolution, I didn’t want to interfere with my savings so I decided that 10% would cut into my usual spending money.  The way I explain it to myself is that I am fortunate right now to not have large debts to repay so I can learn to live without that money as if I did have to spend it on my debts.  This time around I chose to contribute a small donation to a Haitian radio company through Zafen; a microfinance organization that helps Haiti’s rebuilding process through no-interest small business loans.  </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Hopefully, I can keep up these habits and have a more financially fit and socially responsible 2012.</span></p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/new-years-resolution-2680">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/new-years-resolution-2680#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=6u0ku8hHbXQ:wdbMQoKmqjs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=6u0ku8hHbXQ:wdbMQoKmqjs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=6u0ku8hHbXQ:wdbMQoKmqjs:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=6u0ku8hHbXQ:wdbMQoKmqjs:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/6u0ku8hHbXQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/hgzXaUghFSnc6 dennismarti dennismarti dennismarti http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/new-years-resolution-2680 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:09:00 -0800 Food Spending Tips and Treats http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/eNnOkZczkSc/food-spending-tips-and-treats http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/food-spending-tips-and-treats <p> <p><img src="http://tituswill.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/03292011_grocery-shopping-tips.jpg" height="253" alt="" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 8px;" width="429" /></p> <p>We all know how hard it is to not grab dinner on the way home or lunch at the office when we have long, jam packed days. And doing that every once in a while is healthy, it's nice to treat ourselves to our favorite meals at a restaurant on occasion. It is a bad and hard habit to break when you consistently find yourself grabbing food on the go when you have a refrigerator full of food.</p> <p>At the same time, it's probably not realistic time wise and financially to come home and make gourmet meals every night (I wouldn't know where to even start!) There are many tricks and tips for college students, and people in general to cut back their spending on food and make healthier, more cost effective decisions</p> <ul> <li> <div><strong>Bring your lunch to work</strong> - yes, I know you have been told this a hundred times but I know I have had many mornings where I find myself on the train and realize my plastic baggy is not in my bag like planned, but left in the fridge. Set a reminder or make it that morning (if you are a morning person that is, because if you aren't you know you won't)</div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div><strong>Make meals ahead of time for the week</strong> - whether it's cutting up vegetables, cooking chicken or making pasta - making food for the week and putting it in containers is a great way to have meals on the go and for those nights when you get home and can't imagine cooking</div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div><strong>Utilize your office fridge - </strong>if your planning on keeping cold food in your lunch but don't want it to get warm during class, pack your lunch the day before and keep it in the fridge at work. Just make sure you collect all your food by Friday's so it is not wasted or thrown out!</div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div><strong>Treat yourself with deals and specials </strong>- for those days you plan on treating yourself to lunch or dinner, use sources like <a href="http://www.foursquare.com"><strong>FourSquare</strong></a><strong> </strong>and <strong><a href="http://www.groupon.com/now">Groupon Now </a></strong>to find deals around you for that day</div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div><strong>Have a list before you shop </strong>- having a list of pre-planned snacks and meals will save you from frivolously spending, as well as letting your stomach talk (don't shop on an empty stomach!)</div> </li> </ul> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/food-spending-tips-and-treats">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/food-spending-tips-and-treats#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=eNnOkZczkSc:Eo83d2iTkZ4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=eNnOkZczkSc:Eo83d2iTkZ4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=eNnOkZczkSc:Eo83d2iTkZ4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=eNnOkZczkSc:Eo83d2iTkZ4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/eNnOkZczkSc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/638674/Picture_5.png http://posterous.com/users/4wET8LwU13bP Courtney Muir courtmuir Courtney Muir http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/food-spending-tips-and-treats Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:43:00 -0800 Animal Adoption & Motherhood http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/u8bpTcMFr_o/93047021 http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/93047021 <p> <p>Last April, I made the impulsive decision to get a kitten.</p> <p>Let me back up a little: it wasn't totally impulsive. I had been thinking about adopting an animal for awhile, but wasn't planning on starting my search until the summer. Well, that obviously didn't happen. A friend sent me a link to a Craigslist posting with an absolutely adorable litter of kittens and the rest is history.</p> <p>I did consider the costs of owning an animal beforehand, (and you have to), but I can also understand how easy it is to get caught up in the cuteness factor without thinking about if you're ready, if you have the time, if you have the space, if you have the MONEY, etc., etc. But it's crucial you do mull over these things first because as any vet, animal shelter, or pet owner will tell you, owning a pet is a lifelong committment. And yes, that committment could be 20 years.</p> <p>Here's a list of questions you should be asking yourself:</p> <p>1) Do I have the space? Different animals have different needs. Cats are perfectly comfortable in a small set-up, while dogs need more room to roam (and a backyard would be great too). At the same time you're asking yourself if you have the space for a new addition, you also need to ask yourself am I allowed to have a pet? Many apartment buildings have stipulations on the kind or amount of animals you can own. And there's usually a deposit that goes along with bringing in an animal. Also, it might not be a bad idea to check with your roommates on whether or not they'd be open to having a pet (just saying).</p> <p>2) Do I have the time? Whether you're getting a dog, cat, or some other furry, or maybe scaley, creature, pets are work. There are doctor's appointments, trips to the store for food or supplies, afternoons spent cleaning up cages or litter boxes or messes, and the sometimes stressful and time-consuming process of doling out medicine. And then, you have to factor in the fun part: playtime! Plus, if you get a young animal, you also also have to include all the time you'll spend training. If you're at a point in your life where you feel you just can't handle one more responsibility then pet adoption is not for you. Pets, of all sizes, shapes, and varities, need attention and care. Period.</p> <p>3) Do I have the money? This can be a hard one. How do you even begin to calculate how much an animal is going to cost? Of course there is daily maintenance-- food, toys, grooming products-- and then the most expensive aspect of all-- visits to the vet (yearly checkups, emergencies, and otherwise). And if you travel often, you also have to factor in finding a boarding service or paying someone to watch your buddy (if you don't have awesome friends like I do) while you're out-of-town. The month to month costs may not seem like a lot, but they can add up.</p> <p>But, at the same time, how can you put a price on the happiness that comes with owning a pet? Numerous studies have been done on the pet-owning and most come to the same conclusion: pet-owners are healthier, happier, less stressed, and lead longer lives. (Seriously, Google "pet-owning studies" and you'll see what I mean).</p> <p>Why did I get a pet? It can mainly be boiled down to the fact that I live by myself and was looking for a little companionship. My place is really small and they only allow cats, which limited my options (I'm a cat person so I'm completely okay with this), and let's face it, dogs really are more work (as much as I could probably use the daily exercise). I ultimately decided to go with an animal off Craigslist although I fully recommend checking out your area animal shelter first. If you do decide to meet up with someone off of Craiglist though, please don't go alone! I brought a friend to be cautious and for extra support.</p> <p>I only paid $20 for my kitten, Milan (who was about two months old when I adopted her), which sounds amazing (and it was!), but she ultimately ended up being a lot more expensive than that, which is why shelters may be a really good way to go (especially if you're adopting a younger animal). Milan's original owners had never taken her to a vet so the first time we went, they had to do a physical exam, bloodwork, and administer several vaccinations; after three or four visits, the bill was already at several hundred dollars. They discovered she had an ear infection and stomach parasites; add on another $100. And then of course there was her spay surgery (a recommended procedure for all animals, whether indoor or outdoor), which cost me a cool $400. (Animal shelters oftentimes offer a lower cost spay or neutering procedure to residents, but the wait list is ridiculous.) And after the surgery, she had some complications, which meant three or four more additional visits to the vet and multiple examinations, blood tests, and x-rays (talk about stressful). Thankfully because I have a wonderful vet, they didn't charge me for any of the post-op visits; otherwise, I would be a much poorer individual right now. (Definitely makes you think more seriously about purchasing pet insurance). And then on top of all of this medical work was the money that went into making my apartment more kitty friendly: buying food, toys, a litter box, a scratching post, a carrying case (it really can get expensive!)</p> <p>On the other hand, if you adopt an animal from a shelter (here are a couple in Chicago to look into: <a href="http://www.pawschicago.org/">http://www.pawschicago.org/</a>, <a href="http://www.anticruelty.org/">http://www.anticruelty.org/</a>, <a href="http://www.reddoorshelter.org/">http://www.reddoorshelter.org/</a>), initially it may seem expensive (to throw out a range: $50-$150), but all of the medical work has already been taken care of for you (that is until you need to take your new pet to his or her annual check-up). </p> <p>Something else to consider: if you're not ready for the full-time commitment of an adopted animal, many shelters also have foster programs. For a couple weeks to a couple months at a time, you can foster an animal (young or old) and get a taste of pet ownership. Shelters oftentimes give their foster parents a stipend for food and other supplies so the program is of little cost to you and by fostering, you help shelters free up space to bring in more homeless animals. I know someone that recently fostered a lovely young cat named Gerda and absolutely loved the experience! It worked for her because she wanted an animal but wasn't in a place to adopt one and the shelter was completely willing to work with her schedule as a student-- when she went home for winter break, the shelter took Gerda back. The only danger with foster programs is falling in love with the animal you're fostering (but there's always adoption ...)</p> <p>So all in all, pet motherhood (or fatherhood) is awesome if you're ready for the commitment and have laid out the costs for yourself. Even for all the little stresses along the way and the huge initial expense, I can't imagine life without my new furry addition. <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-10/szdjrJxzEAaHsFfnIivHpyGIEAChljhomhvzHIwltddyzCgivsEzqeIdzgsk/DSC_2255.JPG.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Dsc_2255" height="332" src="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-10/szdjrJxzEAaHsFfnIivHpyGIEAChljhomhvzHIwltddyzCgivsEzqeIdzgsk/DSC_2255.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/93047021">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/93047021#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=u8bpTcMFr_o:8DBMjHNAGjo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=u8bpTcMFr_o:8DBMjHNAGjo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=u8bpTcMFr_o:8DBMjHNAGjo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=u8bpTcMFr_o:8DBMjHNAGjo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/u8bpTcMFr_o" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1751873/Photo_12.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hd31AlxV9Lpkm cehlenbach cehlenbach cehlenbach http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/93047021 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0800 Jet-setting On a Student's Budget http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/C9QJOaqoWNw/91970639 http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/91970639 <p> <p>Some people are travelers, other people are not. I've always considered myself a traveler. </p> <p>I was just having a conversation about this in class the other night: why people travel, what we gain or lose from traveling, why some people are perfectly content to stay put in one place for 50+ years. Most of my classmates were of the same mindset that traveling is wonderful and who wouldn't want to venture out and see different places. I, of course, agreed and had to wonder along with them what could possibly hold anyone back from jet-setting around the world.</p> <p>The no. 1 deterrent would have to be money (isn't this usually the case?) Saving up for a grand vacation is hard to do, especially for a struggling college student whose paycheck barely covers rent. It's not just the flight and hotel you have </p> <p> </p> <p>to factor in; there's also the day-to-day costs of taking a vacation (constant meals out, sightseeing, souvenirs). Of course if you're like me and have wonderful friends that live in faraway places, you can cut the cost down by a lot. But, let's face it, that's not everybody's reality. Plus, when are most people able to take a vacation? The summer. When is the peak travel time? The summer! Sure, you can shop around for deals and steals, but everything's bound to be a little pricier when everybody and their mother is also heading off on a trip (not to mention the airports are a lot more annoying too). After going on Expedia for the billionth time to check out that plane ticket to Rome only to discover flights in June still haven't gone down (and maybe they're even a little higher), it may just seem easier to give up on that dream vacation and use the money for, well, something closer to home (shopping spree, anyone?)</p> <p>But can anything truly replace the experience you have when vacationing? I argue no. It may be expensive but there's no way you can replicate the first feeling you get standing under the Statue of Liberty or the Sydney Opera House, and to me at least, that feeling is well worth every penny you put into it.</p> <p> </p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-10/GCgvpGAhazthylAGznhydGiynGmCgyrgsCDFJwexdbewpwJHbfBssnEiJdIi/DSC_2390.JPG"><img alt="Dsc_2390" height="332.446808510638" src="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-10/GCgvpGAhazthylAGznhydGiynGmCgyrgsCDFJwexdbewpwJHbfBssnEiJdIi/DSC_2390.JPG" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <div><br /> <p>So how do I save up for my next big trip? Mainly by sacrificing a lot of little things along the way. That can be hard in day-to-day life-- saying no to that new jacket or eating in more than going out-- but man do I appreciate having the extra cash once I've gotten to my destination. And vacation's shouldn't be about scrimping and saving. I always see them as a time to indulge (you worked to get yourself there so enjoy it!)</p> <p>Other ways to save money:</p> <p>1) Consider a flight with a layover, which is more often than not going to be cheaper. Yes, it can be tiring and stressful to spend an entire day in transit and in airports, but saving yourself $300 definitely isn't a small thing. Besides, you can say you visited another city, maybe another country, on your layover (that counts a little, right?)</p> <p>2) Hostels! Lodging expenses really add up and while you may want to splurge on that 4 star hotel, there are plenty of hostels and budget hotels just as centrally located and with the same clean facilities. And many hostels also have kitchen facilities for guests to use: another way to save money if you don't want to be eating out every single meal. If you're not totally comfortable sharing a dorm-style room with a bunch of strangers, many hostels also offer single rooms at a fraction of the price of a hotel. Or, as I mentioned above, find friends or family to stay with. In my own experiences, people have been very happy to have me and play host for a couple nights. Plus, by staying with a local, you have a built-in tour guide who's probably more than willing to show you around or at least give you some tips on how to navigate off the well-beaten path.</p> <p>3) Public transportation is your friend. While it may seem daunting, with a good map and an acceptance that you may get lost, you can give yourself quite a tour of the city (even ending up in unexpected places that really make your trip). Plus many cities have really efficient public transportation systems that will get you where you need to go in half the time of a cab-- definitely beats sitting in traffic watching the meter run.</p> <p>4) Souvenirs: do you really need another decorative cup that's just going to sit on a shelf gathering dust? Does your grandma? Many of us travel to shop and let's face it, you really can find a lot of unique gifts on a trip, but that doesn't mean you need to return home with a third suitcase laden with purchases. When I travel, I of course go out shopping, but also remind myself that the experience, and the pictures I'll walk away with, are the best souvenirs of all.</p> <p>5) Try and plan a trip for the off-season. This may be hard depending on your line of work and place of employment, but traveling during a non-peak season can save you both money and time in the lines of many popular tourist attractions. I recently took a two-week vacation to Europe over Thanksgiving and paid half of what plane tickets normally go for in the summer or over Christmas and found quite a few deals on hotels.</p> <p>So while we're not all travelers (and it's perfectly okay to be a homebody, don't get me wrong), just know there are ways to affordably fund a trip if money's the one thing holding you back. And even if your trip does end up being expensive, I assure you once you've landed in Mexico City, San Francisco, Beijing, or any other destination in the world, money will probably be the last thing on your mind.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/91970639">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/91970639#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=C9QJOaqoWNw:t6a2EKae7Cg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=C9QJOaqoWNw:t6a2EKae7Cg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=C9QJOaqoWNw:t6a2EKae7Cg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=C9QJOaqoWNw:t6a2EKae7Cg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/C9QJOaqoWNw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1751873/Photo_12.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hd31AlxV9Lpkm cehlenbach cehlenbach cehlenbach http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/91970639 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:01:00 -0800 Crunch Time http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/Bjswell3Nwo/crunch-time http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/crunch-time <p> <p><strong style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-24/dpIHffCqrmxkBisakFdddgIgqrmJijmBBBeijqjGcEkJhkqpmvhJwaHwqlnq/290744_2536813593408_1645651838_2450729_1547047720_o.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="290744_2536813593408_1645651838_2450729_1547047720_o" height="282" src="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-24/dpIHffCqrmxkBisakFdddgIgqrmJijmBBBeijqjGcEkJhkqpmvhJwaHwqlnq/290744_2536813593408_1645651838_2450729_1547047720_o.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> It's here! The day before Christmas is here, meaning Santa is working overtime and all his elves are working double shifts around the clock. What does this mean for you? Well for a lot of people it's the last day to run out and buy gifts for tomorrow, however I am not. I did buy a few gifts for my brother, and have a few things stashed away for my parents to open once we return from South Padre Island, but I’m not going overboard this year with overly extravagant things. Instead, I take this time of year to really enjoy being around all my family. See, if I don’t need anyone else to provide me with anything, if I wanted an iPad, I could very well afford it myself, but there are certain things that a price can not be placed on, for instance being with family. With my brother Ryan in his first year at Augie, myself a junior in DePpaul, it’s been very challenging to all get together and really enjoy family time like we use to, with that being said, going into the holiday and into 2012, remember, people first, then money, then things.</span></strong></p> <div style="background-color: transparent;"><span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">JD&G</span></span></div> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/crunch-time">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/crunch-time#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=Bjswell3Nwo:8JwG6i2Q7wc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=Bjswell3Nwo:8JwG6i2Q7wc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=Bjswell3Nwo:8JwG6i2Q7wc:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=Bjswell3Nwo:8JwG6i2Q7wc:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/Bjswell3Nwo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1576385/IMG_8363.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hcGHFRdksKr0e Jermain Garcia J.D. Garcia Jermain Garcia http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/crunch-time Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:33:00 -0800 Cheap Holiday Tips! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/OsFkameinUg/cheap-holiday-tips http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/cheap-holiday-tips <p> <p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Santa-hat-snack-mix" height="452" src="http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-15/EdGboajbskJbzrFaCxivAnanmwgDgtlftqphFlvfjEFaxigmEruAFzEgJaqq/Santa-Hat-Snack-Mix.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="485" /> </div> </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Christmas is almost here and usually my wallet would have been really feeling it by now, but not this year! This year I have managed to use cost-cutting techniques and ideas to give creative and personal gifts for cheap! The connation that the best gifts are the most expensive is not a rule in my book. </span></span></p> <ul> <li> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Sites such as <strong>Groupon</strong> and<strong> LivingSocial</strong> offer great discounts in various cities that make for great gifts – just make sure you have a set plan and don’t go on a spending rampage just because it’s a discount!</span></span></div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Websites such as <strong>Vistaprint.com</strong> offer cheap ways to make personalized gifts, such as coffee mugs and with graduation approaching for some, business cards and resume paper!</span></span></div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Go shopping with a purpose, have a list ready in hand to avoid aimlessly buying things</span></span></div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Holiday treats are a cheap and fun gift to make for people – they make the perfect gesture to give to coworkers and a large amount of people you want to do something for! The treat I made this year pictured above: </span><a href="http://creativepartybuzz.com/2011/11/santa-hat-chex-mix/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; color: #800080; font-size: small;">http://creativepartybuzz.com/2011/11/santa-hat-chex-mix/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> was a great success! </span></span></div> </li> </ul> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/cheap-holiday-tips">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/cheap-holiday-tips#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=OsFkameinUg:tQSeY7mz_uo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=OsFkameinUg:tQSeY7mz_uo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=OsFkameinUg:tQSeY7mz_uo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=OsFkameinUg:tQSeY7mz_uo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/OsFkameinUg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/638674/Picture_5.png http://posterous.com/users/4wET8LwU13bP Courtney Muir courtmuir Courtney Muir http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/cheap-holiday-tips Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:39:00 -0800 Incredible Interviews http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/iUJ1Ef8QIks/incredible-interviews-98092 http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/incredible-interviews-98092 <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dangles140/pmCkyByAztIIbticdhJupFtvIxksfJBCsrDcjFAmDIvDBfCgdErnGxBHdFym/media_httpultimatebas_nbbhu.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Media_httpultimatebas_nbbhu" height="332" src="http://getfile3.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dangles140/pmCkyByAztIIbticdhJupFtvIxksfJBCsrDcjFAmDIvDBfCgdErnGxBHdFym/media_httpultimatebas_nbbhu.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>Interviewing has never been my expertise. I have had many interviews in the past, but usually went into them feeling uneasy, unprepared and not very confident. When I saw that the Career Center offered a workshop for advanced interviewing preparation, I knew I had to take it.</p> <p style="line-height: normal;">“An interview is no different than an exam; preparation is the key to success.” -Adam Vergne, Micron Technologies</p> <p>Presented by Gina Anselmo, the Polish Your Professional Interviewing Skills workshop (workshop for working professionals, alumni, and graduate students) covered just about everything you would need to know about professional interviews. I am going to summarize some key takeaways that really resonated with me personally, which will hopefully be useful to you as well.</p> <p style="">Why do organizations need interviews?</p> <ol> <li>To make sure you are good at what you do</li> <li>To see if you are passionate about what you do</li> <li>To get a feel for if they like you and if your personality is a good fit</li> </ol> <p style="">The 3 main principles in preparing for interviews:</p> <ol> <li>Reflection - reflect on your skills and strengths in relation to the industry and position</li> <li>Preparation - research the company and industry and come up with questions to ask</li> <li>Presentation - let your personality shine through, application, i.e. prove your strengths and support your resume, demonstrate your communication skills (both verbal and body language)</li> </ol> <p>“Interviewing is a skill that must be learned. The key to a good interview is to communicate to the employer that you have the necessary skills to succeed.” -David Ho, Sandia National Laboratories</p> <p>Of course practice is very important when it comes to interviews. Familiarize yourself with the various types of <a href="http://careercenter.depaul.edu/resumes/sampleinterview.aspx">interview questions</a> such as screening, traditional, behavioral, situational, technical and case questions. Once you are familiar with these types of questions, practice answering sample interview questions (of all types). Practicing your answers will help you gain confidence and prepare you for similar questions that may come up in future interviews.</p> <p>Good luck with your interviews and future careers!</p> <p>Make sure to check out the other <a href="http://careercenter.depaul.edu/events/workshops.aspx">Career Center workshops</a> as well.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/incredible-interviews-98092">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/incredible-interviews-98092#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=iUJ1Ef8QIks:UzRmhcbTPTE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=iUJ1Ef8QIks:UzRmhcbTPTE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=iUJ1Ef8QIks:UzRmhcbTPTE:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=iUJ1Ef8QIks:UzRmhcbTPTE:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/iUJ1Ef8QIks" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1849161/linked_in.jpg http://posterous.com/users/cPRcuQ0sABMMi John Dangles dangles140 John Dangles http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/incredible-interviews-98092 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:41:00 -0800 Lay a What? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/-LnWpJef2yk/lay-a-what http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lay-a-what <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Layaway1" height="287" src="http://getfile3.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-11-17/jaDGyldrIuDspBEvkgAmucadyemgtBDxmugkzurmfCgpvyosihEmrGFDvsdF/layaway1.2.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="213" /> </div> Oh no, it’s back! I thought it died back in the day just like legwarmers and cassette players did, but like everything from the past, it’ll come back as a trend years after it was done away with. For all you who were in strollers back in the day, I’m talking about layaway. Simply put, layaway is an in house financing method that allows customers to pay a small portion towards the purchase each week, essentially laying it away, until they pay off the entire balance, then they can take the item home.</p> <p> </p> <p>While some may think this is financially fit, seeing as it can keep the purchase off your credit card, you may need to reconsider your thoughts. I may say to myself that it can allow me to buy what I want by using cash payments every week, thus not having to use my credit card, leaving me with a fat wallet right? Wrong.</p> <p>While many stores may offer layaway, each store policy differs from the next, so be sure to check the fine print before placing an item on layaway. Usually the policy has you put down a small payment towards the item and also a onetime usage fee for the program of anywhere between $5 and $10. Sounds like a good deal right? Maybe. Let’s say I see new PlayStation 3 game I really want more than anything. It’s cost is $50. I put the item on layaway and they charge me a onetime layaway fee of $10…wait wait wait, hold the gravy train. $10? Bro, that’s like 20% of my entire purchase. Exactly! The rate of which I’m financing this is at 20%, much higher than my credit card interest rate. In this case, it would make absolutely no sense to use layaway (that and the fact that I don’t even play PS3 anymore). However it could make more sense if you used it on a $500 purchase. If you choose to take advantage of this program, find out the fees, terms, and hidden charges, do your calculations before hand and see if it is worth laying it away.</p> <p>In spite of all, it’ll cost me $60 when I’m done paying off the game. Needless to say, I won’t be placing that $50 purchase on layaway, but instead charge it on my credit cards, earn the miles, and take the $10 I would’ve been charged to place it on layaway and use it towards going out for dinner later in the week.</p> <p>JD&G</p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lay-a-what">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lay-a-what#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=-LnWpJef2yk:RAOJdlrFuHo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=-LnWpJef2yk:RAOJdlrFuHo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=-LnWpJef2yk:RAOJdlrFuHo:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=-LnWpJef2yk:RAOJdlrFuHo:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/-LnWpJef2yk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1576385/IMG_8363.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hcGHFRdksKr0e Jermain Garcia J.D. Garcia Jermain Garcia http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/lay-a-what Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:14:00 -0800 It's Friday, Friday. Gotta get down on Black Friday http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~3/HQtk2siJj8k/its-friday-friday-gotta-get-down-on-black-fri http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/its-friday-friday-gotta-get-down-on-black-fri <p> <p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Black_friday" height="400" src="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-11-15/lutoulbxDyzhIpDkaIGiGbbluJvvqgngautAfmqHaJJJolJyJdGuyBcGvxum/black_friday.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="400" /> </div> </span></p> <p>With Christmas approaching just around the corner (even though I still think it's a little early for the excessive decorations), gifts galore is on everyone's mind. Black Friday being a little less than two weeks away, plans are already being made to scavenger through department stores for the cheapest deals.</p> <p>Black Friday clearly can be extremely hectic, chaotic and downright stressful. With some stores opening at midnight or earlier this year instead of the usual 6 am or so, lines will be longer and customers will be full force in purchasing presents. Here are some survival tips:</p> <ul> <li> <div>Have a plan -- there are many websites that leak stores Black Friday deals so you know whether to make the trip or not, and you're prepared with a list in hand if you do - <a href="http://www.blackfriday.info">www.blackfriday.info</a></div> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <div>Don't have the energy or confidence you'll survive Black Friday 2011? Many websites have deals online for Cyber Monday - <a href="http://www.cybermonday.com">www.cybermonday.com</a></div> </li> </ul> <p>All of this being said, plan ahead to make sure you're truly receiving a deal and don't just buy everything in sight because it's on sale! Not all great gifts need a big price tag on them.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/its-friday-friday-gotta-get-down-on-black-fri">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/its-friday-friday-gotta-get-down-on-black-fri#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=HQtk2siJj8k:JuMVmzBJrfE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=HQtk2siJj8k:JuMVmzBJrfE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?a=HQtk2siJj8k:JuMVmzBJrfE:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MyTwoCentsDepaul?i=HQtk2siJj8k:JuMVmzBJrfE:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MyTwoCentsDepaul/~4/HQtk2siJj8k" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/638674/Picture_5.png http://posterous.com/users/4wET8LwU13bP Courtney Muir courtmuir Courtney Muir http://mytwocentsdepaul.com/its-friday-friday-gotta-get-down-on-black-fri