Living in the Big City: Pros and Cons

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The opposites are always battling, left-handers to right-handers, apples vs. oranges, manual against automatic, and the infamous city versus country living. There are a lot of people that are willing to give up the convenience of city life for the peace and quiet of the country. On the other hand, there are also many who are willing to ditch the car and the hassle of finding parking for the convenience of a short, and easy commute. But what really sets the big city apart from the mellow country? Continue reading →

Senior Citizens in the Workforce

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With more and more people out of work and the economic recession still in full swing, there are many senior citizens back on the job hunt. But who is going to hire a retiree who may or may not be able to perform better than a young professional? Most small business owners are finding it hard to find and retain dependable employees who are willing to work for minimum wage with no benefits. Having to continually hire and train employees costs you time and money. Continue reading →

Is Joining Costco or Sam’s Club Worth it?

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Sam's Club

You may be considering joining a membership store—like Costco and Sam’s Club—but are not sure it is worth it. The fees to join these stores start at around $50—and double that if you want premium memberships.

Membership stores have certainly become popular in the past five years—just look at the huge crowds that shop there daily—but are they for you?

Before you make the decision to join a membership store—answer these questions: Continue reading →

Preparing a Great Post-Wedding Future

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Weddings can be so amazing. The people, the day, the cake, the honeymoon; hopefully, they are all a part of the memories that will last a lifetime. However, after you cross the threshold, the real work begins. And one of the biggest topics you will face is how to deal with money. It’s all about discussions on salaries, bills, student loans and how we learned or not learned to deal with it all. It’s tough stuff and if not handled properly, can ruin a marriage. Below are tips that will help your marriage get off to a great financial start: Continue reading →

Five Affordable University Educations

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Finding the right school is no longer a matter of mailing applications and crossing your fingers. With the value of the undergraduate degree slipping as more people attend and finish colleges worldwide; it makes sense to maximize this value by undercutting the overhead. Prospective students and parents need to find the best price without sacrificing educational quality so it’s worth taking a look at the following schools in your college search. Continue reading →

How To Invest in a Volatile Economy

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Shying away from the bleak economic outlook and putting your money into low-risk financial instruments is a safe move. A smart investor who is properly diversified will use the volatility of the stock market to their advantage. Volatility refers to the movement of stock prices. The fluctuating market can ward off those who do not feel secure in their risk potential, but for the informed trader, it can be a profitable venture. Continue reading →

Who wants to be a Millionaire?

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Of course, we all do. That’s why the iconic game show, starring Regis Philbin, was so popular. Even though the number is not quite what it used to be it still holds a near-mythic perception. It’s also a limitation. Continue reading →

In response to Liz Weston of MSN Money’s article 5 Ways to Get Rich or Poor- Part 1

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mansion

Choose wisely when purchasing a house

This article from MSN Money struck us so profoundly that we had to comment on it. Liz Weston deftly explained how a number of real life factors determine whether you were going to accumulate wealth in your lifetime. The factors included marriage, home ownership, going to college, self employment and choosing to save. Continue reading →

In response to Liz Weston of MSN Money’s article 5 Ways to Get Rich or Poor- Part 2

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This is the second part of our common sense analysis of Liz Weston’s article, 5 Ways to Get Rich or Poor. Continue reading →

Rewards Cards 101

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The majority of U.S. merchant businesses have some sort of loyalty rewards program. These programs have enticed consumers for decades with promises of free travel, cheaper gas or gifts with each purchase or repeat visit. Though customers have enjoyed heady times with their debit card rewards programs, megabanks like Wells Fargo and others have decided to cancel them. Continue reading →

Cheap Date Ideas

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Couple on a Date

To save money and get the girl . . . Priceless!

It is a tough economic time for many people these days, but none so much as college students and even worse for those who are trying to look good on dates. But, those ramen-eating, beer pong-playing studs don’t have to sell their college textbooks just yet to impress lucky ladies. There are plenty of cheap date ideas for college students (or anyone else), which can save a couple of textbooks and a lot of cash. Continue reading →

What Discounts Can Do For You

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There are a number ways to pay less to insure this sweet ride.

Everyone is pinching pennies these days and looking for savings on those essential bills, like car insurance. Aside from setting the bill aside until you end up on a collections list, try seeing what you can do to save on some of these bills, cut your costs, and save a little money for fun. Here are a few ways you can lower your monthly car insurance payments. Continue reading →

Extreme Frugality: Pros and Cons

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While the benefits of being frugal are plentiful, the toll that extreme frugality can take on your life is high.

Being tight with your monies can be a valuable trait to have nowadays. Jobs are disintegrating before our eyes and government benefits are drying up quickly. While couponing, budgeting and other money-saving efforts will keep your bank account full, cutting corners on every aspect of life can be a real burden. Continue reading →

Market Timing: Myth or Reality?

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As investors and scholars have known for years, the stock market can be an uncomfortable place. There has always been the opportunity to lose as fast as you win.

Recent past is now beginning to show something about the stock market. It is that the overall personality of the market is changing. Wild fluctuations in the market are quickly becoming the new normal. Instead of the rare occurrence, extreme shifts are coming with an alarming regularity.

Nevertheless, the lure of making fast money keeps the flow of investors coming. Continue reading →

Which Companies are Tricks and Which are Treats

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During this Halloween season of costumes and haunted houses, some companies are proving to be goblins while others emerge as super heroes. As the economy continues to struggle through recovery, consider these businesses below, especially when investing. Some of them are asking “What recession?”, while others have been unable to bounce back. Continue reading →

What is Bank Transfer Day?

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Bank Transfer Day is a consumer boycott of large banks. A movement that has grown out of disgust with Wall Street and federal bailouts for major financial institutions, Bank Transfer Day seeks to take business away from banks such as Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo. Continue reading →

Dream Team of Careers

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Creating new ice cream flavors is a tasty way to make a living!

Everyone dreams of being something big when they are young, president, doctor, or rockstar. Careerbuilder.com, one of the major job search engines, put out a recent list of top 10 dream jobs. Topping the charts are ice cream creator, video game designer, and concert promoter. Let’s take a dive into another career. Continue reading →

Using Social Media to Get a Job

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Need a job? When all else fails: Internet.

Having an online profile on the most popular social networking sites can be a valuable tool in your job search. Even if recruiters do not post their job openings on these sites, they will often use communities such as Facebook to check you out before they make you a job offer. Make sure you have a profile that is professional and appealing to recruiters who make be reviewing it. Continue reading →

Five Myths About Saving: Busted!

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There are several reasons people give themselves not to save for the future. They may appear reasonable on the surface, but when you dig a little deeper, they only turn out be myths. The top five excuses not to save—and why they are wrong: Continue reading →

The Mission and Impact of Join (Red)

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Join (Red) is a membership campaign that hopes to boost the (Red) program which strives to eliminate AIDS. Over $180 million has been raised to fight HIV and AIDS, and the program hopes to continue to get support and investment. While most nonprofit programs and organizations allocate some of their fundraising money to administrative costs and logistical support, the (Red) organization does not. They promote the fact that 100 percent of the money they raise goes to fight HIV and AIDS. No overhead costs are paid for from the funds they raise. Continue reading →

How to Save Tons (And by Tons I mean Some) Money Eating Out

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hamburger and fries

Everyone vows to try to cook and eat at home more often because it is normally cheaper and healthier. However, sometimes it is simply impossible, especially as schedules spin out of control and more demands are placed on our time. There are, in fact, ways to eat out that will not burst the family budget. And sometimes not having to clean up the kitchen mess is worth footing the bill at your favorite restaurants. Continue reading →

Common Home Improvements to Boost Overall Value

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House

Simple home improvements can make a world of difference to your bottom line.

Whether you want to sell your home or are just looking to add a little more value to the curb appeal, improvements are a sure-fire way to increase the worth of your property.
Continue reading →

5 Things to be Happy About, Even in this Economy

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Cookies=happiness

Times are tough and this makes it hard for humanity to focus on the good things and maintain a healthy level of happiness in their lives. The bills are piling up, the kids are screaming, and the car needs fixing, so where is the happiness in all of this? Happiness is based on the eye of the beholder. You make your own happiness. So what kind of things can make you happy? Continue reading →

Interview Prep 101

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Preparing for an interview is the key to getting a second interview

You sent out your application, collected references, and set up an interview time, now what? What are some of the best practices for preparing for an interview? What should or shouldn’t you do? What kind of things should you be prepared for? What questions are appropriate? Here are some of the best interview prep practices that are sure to make a good first impression at the first interview, and a call back for a second. Continue reading →

Is the yogurt store biz a tasty investment?

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So, you’re tired of the rat race and one day, you happen to walk into one of those nifty yogurt shops you’ve seen cropping up all over your town. You admire how peaceful and fun the atmosphere is as you take in the many flavors and varieties of yogurt on sale.“You can do this” you think to yourself as you get your mint chip with nuts sprinkled on top. Continue reading →

Insurance for Your iPad

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iPad2

Investing in an iPad will cost you several hundred dollars, and insurance companies have been quick to offer insurance policies for your iPad or similar tablet. Most policies will protect against theft, damage, drops, spills and other problems. You can purchase a policy that replaces the iPad, or gives you the cash value for it. Some policies will also cover the basic repair costs. Buying insurance might be a good idea if you travel a lot, or use your iPad in public places where other people and environments have access to it. Continue reading →

The Real Costs of Pet Ownership

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Take care of your cat and he will take care of you.

Passionate pet parents will often put their pet’s needs ahead of their own, and will go to any length to ensure the comfort of furry loved ones. Anyone can put the cost of owning a pet into a financial chart: you have food, toys, and vet bills to consider. However, a dollar amount corresponding to a spreadsheet cell cannot adequately forecast the costs of owning a pet.
Continue reading →

Is Flirting Appropriate in an Office Environment?

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office flirting with cute woman

Katie Riophe recently wrote an engaging piece for the New York Times lamenting the fact that the recent sexual harassment allegations against presidential candidate Herman Cain may result in the erosion of flirting in the workplace. She worries that feminists and liberal media pundits pay too much attention to the gender issues surrounding office politics, and insists that people should be comfortable flirting and telling sexually charged jokes in the workplace. Continue reading →

7 Ways to Blog for your Biz

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The internet is taking over the world, that’s why it’s called the World Wide Web. With the recession still in full swing, you need to do everything you can to keep your business profiting. Think of your social media outlets and your paper marketing, what is it missing? How about a business blog? You can illustrate your services, prices, locations, contact information, and resource information regarding the industry you cater to. There are many ways in which you can create a blog for your business, but you need to remember these 7 things during your launch process. Continue reading →

One of the Best Non-Profit Foundations

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It’s not difficult to figure out which non-profit foundation I tend to advocate the most. This was my second year participating in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure. I have bumper stickers, magnets, t-shirts, Facebook photos, backpacks, water bottles and much more that show friends, family, and neighbors that the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research has my full support in many ways. Continue reading →

5 Weird Websites

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The web is one big hodgepodge of information, multimedia, how-to’s, and don’t do’s. There are millions of sites on the web that serve a purpose, but what about the sites that seem to have absolutely no point, yet they are constantly drawing all kinds of attention and organic traffic. Here are five odd websites that are worth a visit, maybe two. Continue reading →

Stories of Customer Service

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McDonald's fries

Not normally known for customer service acumen, McDonalds came through when I needed them.

The dreaded dealings of customer service; we all loathe it. Customer service has long been associated with inconvenience, attitude and general unpleasantness. I have found though that attitude is everything, and is a great factor in which a situation plays out to your advantage, or disadvantage.
Continue reading →

How to Exude Confidence in All Situations

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If there is one key to a happy and successful life—personally and professionally—it is confidence. Some people seem to be clearly poised, always getting what they want out of life. However, one thing is clear; you are not born with confidence.Confidence is something everyone can get, by using these excellent tips: Continue reading →

Painless Budget Making

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One Dollar Bill

If you’re a regular person, making a budget probably ranks right up there with changing a baby’s diaper or mowing the lawn. If you’re any type of person that has set financial goals, you’re going to need to create a budget. If you have no financial goals whatsoever, then you can skip that last suggestions. But if you’re like most Americans who have to save for retirement, a new car, a new baby, a house, anything, then it’s time to make a budget. That’s what a budget is all about; it’s a tool to help you save for a goal or a number of goals. Continue reading →

Perks That Don’t Break the Bank

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Happy Employees

Happy employees make hard-working emplyees

Happy employees make hard-working employees, but in the economy that is hard to provide. Hiring and retaining the best employees often requires offering them perks that making them feel appreciated within the workplace. Most of these perks are things employers haven’t considered and could be easily added to an already tight budget. It can be as simple as a free birthday lunch or a better parking space. It’s all about the little things in life. Continue reading →

Privacy: Living Offline While Sharing Online

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Mad Dog 20/20 doesn't go down smooth (even the yellow kind). Neither will your career after potential employers see this. Be careful.

 

The explosion of social media into our culture has put us in the unfamiliar position of balancing our online lives with our offline lives. Even while we share openly on Facebook and Twitter, most of us expect and desire a certain amount of privacy, especially offline. The line between privacy and openness is blurring, however. Protect your privacy by avoiding these five things. Even if all 650 of your Facebook friends are doing them. Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day Gifts: Inexpensive and Outside The Box

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One of the best and most inexpensive gifts you can give to your lover is your time.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money showing your love for Valentine’s Day. There are several ways to make your partner feel festive without breaking the bank. What’s even better, these little hints can let you think outside of the chocolate box! Continue reading →

Donating Your Body to Science: How and Why?

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After death your final wishes are carried out. Some prefer to be buried, possibly in cemetery plots close to family members, while others prefer to be cremated and have their ashes spread over important places. However, there is a third option—donating your body to science. This option is really the best of both worlds, literally. You get the peace of mind that your body will help someone else, or allow for further research to be conducted, and someone in need might be able to live a little longer because of your organs. Continue reading →

Super Bowl Advertising Winners and Losers

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Hot. And female-friendly.

The David Beckham commercial for H&M was an excellent reminder that women watch the Super Bowl too. I actually stopped shoveling chips and salsa into my mouth when he showed up on my big screen, and the ad worked. I can’t wait to shop at H&M because David Beckham told me to. Continue reading →

Perks to Plastic

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There is always so much emphasis placed on the fees associated with credit cards, you never really get to hear about the perks of opening up a credit card. Who doesn’t get at least a dozen pre-approved credit cards in the mail each week? Before you rip them in half and toss them in the trash, take a second to think about the benefits of a credit card. A credit card is the first thing to get pulled on an impulse buy and the last bill to get paid at the end of the month, but if you had a few incentives to use it more often and pay it off on time, who are you really hurting? Continue reading →

How to Rebound When You Don’t Get Promoted

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It stings, not getting that promotion or raise that you were so sure was coming your way. Your initial reaction is probably to feel angry, hurt, unappreciated, and jealous. What is the point of all the work you put in, if you aren’t being recognized for it? Go ahead and have your reaction. Your emotional response is understandable, and you are entitled to it. Once you come up for air, however, start thinking about your next steps. You still want to further your career. And while the idea of moonwalking out the company door with barely a moment’s notice might seem tempting, stay where you are. Here’s what to do. Continue reading →

Using Social Platforms to Market Your Business

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Let’s face it, the internet is going to control everything eventually. Every business, especially in this economy, is turning towards the mainstream flow of information-social media. But what is the best investment for local businesses? What is going to get the public to come to you? A popular platform is Foursquare and Facebook. Facebook you might be familiar with, but Foursquare might be a complete stranger to the non-user. Facebook places and Foursquare are where everyone goes to “check-in.” So how can the local business owner use these two platforms to market their business. Continue reading →

BYOD

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Most of us used to be concerned with BYOB, but now it is all about the BYOD. Bring your own device is a new concept that is sweeping the workforce today. There are a variety of benefits to allowing users to supply their own PCs and mobile devices, but there are also some concerns. The concept arose when IT departments weren’t the only ones with the latest and greatest in technology. The following generations have more of an eye for technology and troubleshooting. Who wants to buy an iPad just to use at night and on the weekends? Continue reading →

Guard your social security number as if your life depended on it

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Why is that? Because your life really does depend on it. Your social security number is more than just a number. It is the key to your entire financial identity. It is also the gateway to all the money you possess. This is why it’s important that you protect it. If it ever fell into the wrong hands, guaranteed, it will be used to destroy you financially through identity theft

Here are some guidelines  that can help you whether or not you should give out to your social security number. Continue reading →