Young & Free New Mexico

AmeriCorps

Michelle Peterson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:37:15 +0000

A few weeks ago, I blogged about the question that we always seem to get at this stage in our lives: what are you going to be when you grow up? It's a question that can be daunting if you don't have an answer right away, and sometimes, we just don't know.

If you're looking for something different in your life, perhaps a change of pace, scenery, or job, you might want to check out AmeriCorps. They are an orgaization that is all about service in the community, helping to uplift and inspire and change people for good.

I had the opportunity to work with an AmeriCorps member at a job I had at an after school program for kids K-5th grade. While the pay for being an AmeriCorps member is just enough to scrape by, the rewards are endless. I was able to see hard work and true service at work, where giving of one's self was primary in the goals for this program.

AmeriCorps has lots of options for you, where you can serve right here in your home state or go someplace else. They even have a program called AmeriCorps NCCC that is specifically for 18-24 year olds! They want you and your fresh and energetic mind, your unique perspective on the world. Again, the pay isn't great, but you also get the chance to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award for completing your service, which can go towards tuition or repayment of student loans.

AmeriCorps is a wonderful opportunity to get yourself involved if you're looking for that certain thing to get you on track. While it may not be a "career," it will certainly give you real life and job experiences that can only help you in the future--plus, you'll be doing good for members of a community that most likely need it most.

Keep cool my babies!

Michelle

Infographic: Why Sleep is So Important

Michelle Peterson — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Many of us have been there: late nights, early mornings, running week after week with just a few hours of sleep. With our demanding schedules, it's difficult to forgo the recommended 8 hours each night. But what if you knew that getting a full night's rest was more than just not feeling tired the next day?

Below is an inforgraphic I found over at Frugal Dad. It's quite impressive, especially when sleeplessness is compared to drunkeness (yikes!). And maybe the next time you're yawning profusely in the middle of your class lecture or you're resisting the strong urge to put your head down on your desk at work for just one minute, hopefully this infographic will pop up in your mind and gently remind you how important your sleep really is.

Source: http://frugaldad.com

So dream on! And keep cool my babies!

Michelle

VIDEO: Turn it Into Something

Michelle Peterson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:23:13 +0000

If you've got a change just hanging out in a jar, it might be time to turn it into something. If you've been collecting coins for a while, you might be surprised at how much money is actually in there. And that money could be lunch with your friends, adding to your emergency fund, paying down debt, or buying me kitschy things off Etsy.

I once read a blog over at Get Rich Slowly about a man who turned his loose change into $723 in 7 months. He certainly had a systematic way of saving his change, but that figure floored me, and it inspired me to turn my coins into dollars. Turns out (as you'll see in the video), I only got $44, BUT STILL. That $44 has gone a long way for me.

So do yourself a favor! Call your financial institution ahead of time and see how they'll take your change. Some will take it loose, some will take it rolled up. Also, NEVER go to CoinStar if you want the full amount of your money!

Keep cool my babies!

Michelle

Switching Banks Made Easy

Michelle Peterson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:23:33 +0000

Even though Bank Transfer Day has long since come and gone, it's never too late to switch from a bank to a credit union. The most common thing people ask me when I talk about this with them is that they don't know where to start. So, to help you all out, I found a great blog over at Consumerism Commentary called Bank Switch Kit and Checklist that I think will be most helpful.

Step 1. Open the new account.

Typically, when you open a new account, you'll need to deposit some money into your new account. For example, I think my credit union checking account was $20 and my savings account was $5. Once it's opened, you'll get your new account's routing number and account number, so make you sure you hold onto that because it'll be necessary when the real transferring begins.

Make a list of all the things your previous bank account had, such as debit cards, checks, deposit slips, etc., and make sure you get all of those for your new account.

Step 2. Change direct deposit information.

Do this as soon as you can, because it could take two pay periods for your checks to be rerouted to your new credit union account. Most employers will have forms available for you to fill out, but if not, Consumerism Commentary has a generic one that most employers should take--look out for that link below.

Step 3. Adjust bill pay.

If you're doing online banking, most likely you're set up with bill pay for your regular bills. Make a list of all of them and begin setting up bill pay with your new account. This will have to be done manually, so it might take some time, but it's definitely worth it.

Step 4. Update any linked accounts.

If you're linked to another account or have a PayPal account associated with your old account, you'll want to update those as well, just like updating bill pay. These are sometimes over looked because they are automatic or have been static for some time, so you want to make sure you don't forget any.

Step 5. Wait and close your account.

Don't close your account right away. Make sure everything goes over to your new account, especially with things like direct deposit and bill pay. Once everything is smooth and there are no other pending transactions with your old one--close it, baby!

Closing your account is easy. Don't let the agent helping you try to pull you in with something more attractive to get you to stay. If you say you're heading over to a credit union because they offer better rates and services, they really don't have anything to argue with you about!

At the end of the article on Consumerism Commentary, there's a checklist that you can print that has all these steps clearly laid out, making the transition even easier.

For a guide to finding credit unions with the Young & Free checking account in your area, click here.

Keep cool my babies!

Michelle

Living Young & Free Show Episode 056: Cheap De-stressing, Conscious Spending & Gone Phishing

Y&F New Mexico Team — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:00:32 +0000

Lee in Alabama shares how to de-stress without spending money, Jenn from St. Louis looks at ways to be more conscious about your spending and Matt from Indiana covers the warning signs of phishing scams.

You can also download all of the episodes as a podcast from iTunes and you can watch all previous shows!

The Y&F New Mexico Team

Money Lessons from U.S. Presidents

Michelle Peterson — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:03:58 +0000

Happy Presidents' Day, everyone!

In honor of today's holiday, I found some quotes from some celebrated U.S. presidents about our favorite thing over here at Young & Free New Mexico: money.

George Washington, 1796: “As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is, to use it as sparingly as possible… but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it…”

What good ol' George is saying here is that credit can be good when used wisely (cherished) and when it's used sparingly. Also, putting money into an emergency fund or spending more money on something that will last in the long run are healthy habits as well.

Abraham Lincoln, 1864: “That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself…”

Here, Honest Abe is talking about the good ol' American way of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and working hard for your success. Just because there may be a division of wealth among people, instead of looking at that negatively, one can look at that as an advantage to strive for something greater.

Thomas Jefferson, 1825: “Never spend your money before you have it,” and “Never buy what you do not want because it is cheap…”

Thomas Jefferson was saying this to a baby boy, who I am sure remembers that moment very clearly. But what he's saying rings true: spending money before you have it and spending money just because you're getting a deal are ways that mess up your finances, and, let's face it, financial management is made just a little easier when these two things are avoided.

To read more about these quotes, check out the Kiplinger article here.

And now, for my favorite president of all time (this has nothing to do with money--I just want to show him off), here's a clip of President Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen) from the TV series The West Wing. He is talking to his Deputy Chief of Staff, Josh Lyman, and this moment captures exactly why I love him so much and why I would vote for him for president if he were real:

What are you doing for Presidents' Day? Do you know of any other money lessons from our 44 presidents? Let me know!

Keep cool my babies!

Michelle

You Can Do It!

Michelle Peterson — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:19:19 +0000

As you may know, we've got just a little over three weeks until the deadline for the Southwest's Best Mini Film Fest.

Now, I am totally confident in the 18-25 year olds of New Mexico. You guys are awesome, and I hope you don't forget it!

Last night I was thinking just generally about entering contests. How many contests I've entered in my life, how many I've lost, how many I've won. I can think, of all the contests I've done (and I think I've done quite a few, considering I want to get some short stories published), I have only won two. The first time was when I was a senior in high school: I went with a team of friends and fellow English nerds to a state-wide competition called English Expo. My friend Tess and I wrote a dialogue piece (later turning it into sketch comedy), and we won first place in the Team Dialogue category. It doesn't sound like much, but I still have my medal, so that should tell you something.

The second thing I've won is, well, this job. As you might remember (or in case you're recently joining us), I had to audition for this job, go through a series of rounds of interviews and "showing my stuff" and campaign as many votes as I could. The day I found out I got this job, I had convinced myself I didn't get it. So yeah, my surprise was pretty authentic.

What I'm saying is, entering contests is hard. You're putting yourself on the line for everyone to see and judge, and you don't know how you're going to end up. No matter how many contests or competitions or auditions you do in your life, I don't think it gets any easier. It's nervewracking as all heck, and your self-esteem comes into question nearly every second--and everything you thought you knew about yourself or your art or whatever just poofs into thin air.

But what I'm also saying is this: as many contests I've entered, and no matter the outcome, I've always been thankful I did it. I've always learned something, either about myself or about my work, and it's made me a better person in the end. I've never regretted participating in one, even if I did not win or get selected.

So I hope you quiet your critical self and enter our contest. Even if you don't consider yourself a filmmaker, try it anyway! See what you learn! And if you are a filmmaker, please submit! This is a chance for you to get recognized and put your name on the map--after all, you gotta start somewhere!

If you have any questions about the Mini Film Fest, please don't hesitate to email me at youngfreenewmexico@gmail.com or ask me on Facebook or Twitter.

And--action!

Michelle

The Cut Backs: Saving Money on Bills

Michelle Peterson — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:53:32 +0000

Cutting back on bills is perhaps one of the most effective ways to cut your spending and save more of your money. But, cutting back on bills is easier said than done--after all, they are bills, and we have them for a reason.

Despite the necessity of bills, there are some cheaper options out there for you. It might require some lifestyle adjustments, but if you really need the money, chances are you'll adjust just fine.

Cable.

Cut the cable! I bet you're not even getting your money's worth of it anyway. Plus, with things like Roku boxes, Apple TVs, and Netflix, you're definitely not going to miss out. Like I said, there might be some lifestyle changes here, but I can guarantee it'd be worth it.

Cell Phone.

No, I'm not telling you to cancel your cell phone. Even I couldn't take that plunge. But instead of overpaying for services and being locked into a contract, check out prepaid cell phones. You pay as you go, so you're only paying for what you actually use. Most of the time, this plan will help you save money in the long run. Check out Prepaid Reviews to find out if it works for you.

Internet.

Evaluate your needs on this one, too. Do you absolutely need internet in your home? Is there a public library, a school campus, or another WiFi hot spot nearby that you could go to when you need to access the web?

Utilities.

The best way to cut back on utilities is to cut back on your usage. Don't leave lights on when you're not in the room, unplug cords or turn off power strips when the electronics are not in use, only use your dishwasher or washing machine when the loads are full, and use hot water for laundry only when necessary. Also, check to see if there is any sort of budget billing that your utility service provides. You never know, there might be something out there for you to save a couple bucks.

What other ideas do you have to cut back on life's expenses? Keep in mind that everyone is different, everyone's needs are different, and some things work better than others. Experimenting will just have to come into play here.

Keep cool my babies!

Michelle

VIDEO: Credit Unions at 3 AM

Michelle Peterson — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:57:58 +0000

This week's video may or may not be partially based on a true story.

Just think: if everyone knew about the benefits of credits unions--I mean, if they knew credit unions were not-for-profit, run by a volunteer board of directors, that credit unions seek the opinion of every single member and give back to their members AND to their community--I have no doubt people would be waiting in line outside of one like it was the release of the new Twilight DVD or the new David Lee Roth-Van Halen record.

Some people still don't know about credit unions--a lot of young people don't. So let's bring them on board! Spread the word about credit unions, or join one yourself if you haven't already! Here is a handy-dandy list of credit unions in your area.

Keep cool my babies!

Michelle

Haters/Lovers of Valentine's Day

Michelle Peterson — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:20:56 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day!

It has been made obvious to me over the years that there are two kinds of people when it comes to Valentine's Day. Those who love it and who shower and are showered in gifts of pink and red and sugar, those who make their sappy, gushy, love affairs known to the world, those who make the other kind of people "want to vomit" (quoted directly from a Facebook status on my News Feed, no lie).

Now, those who "want to vomit" are seen usually as calling this day "Single's Awareness Day." They say how they're not bitter and they can live without a man/woman, and that instead of watching sappy, gushy movies and eating candy all day, their moan and groan and roll their eyes. Or, they'll call this day "just another day" and leave it at that.

So instead of singling out one type of person over the other, I decided to dedicate this blog to both kinds: haters and lovers, this is your day, and this is your blog!

If you're a lover of Valentine's Day, stick around. If you're a hater, scroll down and check out your video below.

I picked this video especially for you, o' Lover. It's perhaps the quinessential scene of a declaration of love in our generation (Film Fest idea, perhaps?). I mean, who wouldn't want a hot young man singing to you over the PA system as he struts down the bleachers, completely interrupting your soccer practice? The fact that he has to fight off the security makes it even more romantic. Sigh. Cue the dreamy music.

Now, for you haters out there.

Sometimes, love really sucks. No, you know what, it stinks. It never works out, it always ends badly, and you just. can't. win. Today (and perhaps every other day), this song is your anthem. Let the cheesy 80s effects and fashions of this music video bring a smile to your face, but whatever you do, do not let it bring happiness into your life, because this is a day to mope and wallow.

Happy Valentine's Day or Happy Love Stinks Day. Whatever you prefer.

Keep cool my babies!

Michelle