Thanks to Darwin Barton
Living with my parents and trying to date has been so bad. They watch me like a hawk and want to know every detail about my life. I would love to be living on my own, but right now it’s not an option for me. I graduated from college last year, and I haven’t been able to find a full time job. I’ve been able to cobble together a few odd jobs for an income, but it’s not stable, and I don’t want to move out until I have a steady full time job. My parents are very generous, and I feel lucky that I have a nice place to live, but they drive me crazy sometimes. They have this fancy adt security system set up, so the door beeps when I come in at night. I cannot believe they do this, but they both get up when they hear me come in so they can hear all the details about my dates. Some nights I just don’t feel like talking about it, especially not to my parents. As a coping mechanism I’ve started to make up outlandish stories so that they’ll get the point. I don’t think it’s working. They just get more interested and want to know more. I have no idea what I can do to get them off my back!
Guest post written by Rachel Stinton
It wasn’t until recently that I started thinking about how a lot of the things in our home aren’t exactly safe for a baby. But then again, I guess that you don’t really think about that stuff until you’re actually going to have a baby. But now that’s basically all that I can think about. So far we’ve been concentrating on just baby proofing all of the house, but now we’re starting on decorating the actual nursery.
I’ve been looking online for some info on nursery decorations to get some inspiration for our own. While I was online looking up some of that stuff, I ran across some info on tile floors. We could use some replacement flooring in our bathrooms, so I think that we’re going to use them for that.
But I also found lots of ideas for the baby’s nursery, like some directions on how to make a DIY mobile. It’s little touches like that, that I want to include in the nursery to help make it extra special for the new baby.
Most students think inside the box when it comes to careers, but in this economy it pays to take the career path that is least taken, but still holds value. One such career path is tax preparation. Everyone has to pay taxes, even college students and tax prep isn’t going anywhere. You could even say it is a recession-proof career choice because people need your help now more than ever to pay as few taxes as possible.
You don’t have to be a CPA to help people with their taxes, which is a good thing because it’s getting harder to become a certified public accountant. To become a registered tax return preparer, you must first sign up with the IRS online and take a competency exam. You will need continuing education on tax courses during your career, but it is typical for most industries.
One of the best things about choosing this career path is the majority of your work is between January and April every year. You work really hard for a few months and can enjoy a relaxed work environment for the rest of the year. In addition, you can do this as seasonal work to supplement other income, which works especially well if you are contracted with another company or self-employed.
When I think of a metal detector, I often think of a retired fellow combing the beach looking for buried treasures and old coins. But actually, they are much more useful, even for a college student. If you’re looking for extra ways to earn cash that are unique and interesting, try investing in a metal detector.
There is a pretty large market for metal detectors and there are different ones that specialize in different metals. There are small metal detectors for children, detectors specifically for coins or gold, and ones that work underwater. You can also find a lot of resources to become more efficient and effective with your detecting. This is a fun hobby that can net you extra cash without too much effort, especially if you already like walking or hiking.
If you’re in a health related field, whether you are a nurse, a doctor, a dental hygienist or something else entirely, you will need scrub uniforms. Most workplaces require a uniform, but do not provide any to you, especially in this economy, which means you’re on your own. If you have ever shopped for uniforms before, you know they usually are not very cheap.
Look for High Quality
Assuming you are in this industry for the long term, you want to find high quality scrubs that will last a long time. Buying scrubs at Walmart may give you a smaller price tag, but it will also give you a smaller life. Major cities will have one or more uniform specialty stores that offer a broad range of scrubs, in multiple sizes, colors and patterns. However, these local stores may not always offer the best price. Your best bet is to shop online to find the best deal.
Find your Fit and Style
To decide what size and fit you want, you may need to try scrubs on in person. You can do this at a specialty store or somewhere like Walmart. If your workplace allows for fun colors and patterns, you can be creative with your choices. However, if your workplace requires a specific color without a pattern, you can still find a good deal online. One place that was recommended to me by a friend in the nursing profession is http://www.blueskyscrubs.com.
Guest post written by my buddy Royce Heath
Have you ever though of what you would take from your house in the event of a fire emergency? Sit for a moment and think about what item you hold most dear to your heart. For me it would be my dog. I love my dog as much as much as I love any member of my family and I would do just about anything for him. When I think about how I would feel if a fire started when I was not at home to save him I just can’t stand it. In fact, I don’t think about it because I can’t handle the thought of it. I have the “please save my dog” stickers on the front window but you never know if that would be enough. Luckily I have a home security system, which also monitors my smoke alarms. If anything ever happened in my house the smoke alarms would alert the alarm company who would send out a call to the fire department. I can rest a little easier knowing that my little rover would be able to get out with the help of a fire fighter.
Many college students struggle with personal finance and have a hard time saving money. On top of that, many banks don’t offer a savings account that is conducive to a college student’s savings plan and budget. To get a decent interest rate, most banks require a large balance in the tens of thousands, which isn’t an easy feat for most students.
Decide on a Savings Plan
Most college students don’t think saving money is important. While it’s true you don’t necessarily have to start saving for retirement while in college (although it definitely helps), you do need a savings account. You need to plan for unexpected events and emergencies. It also helps to save money if something really incredible comes up – like a trip to Europe. Having the financial freedom to join your friends on a vacation is a much better choice than having to beg your parents for the funds.
If you’re saving up for something specific, like a $10,000 car, figure out how much you need to put away per month. If you’re just saving money, put away as much as you can per month. Even small savings can add up over time to large amounts of money. An extra $5 per month over a few years makes a huge difference, especially if you get a good interest rate.
Finding a Bank
The first step is finding a bank that offers what you need. You can start locally by visiting banks and credit unions in your area or you can start online by searching. Credit unions will be more friendly to smaller accounts, but you will be limited by their smaller network. While a large network is more important for checking accounts than savings accounts, this may still matter to you if you live far from home or plan on moving soon.
Choosing the Best Account
Once you find a bank that you think will work best for you, look carefully at their types of savings accounts. You want to find the best savings account for you. Look at minimum deposit amounts, monthly balances and any fees associated with the accounts. U.S. federal law only allows you to withdraw money a maximum of six times per month for an account to be considered a savings account. Most banks will turn your account into a checking account if you go over the withdraw limit, and sometimes they will charge you a fee.
