College can be stressful due to the endless projects and assignments that you need to complete several projects. At the same time, it can also be a struggle due to the presence of pressure from parents’ expectations or problems in relationships with people. Another thing that can make college unbearable is when you start to experience financial issues. When this goes beyond your control, it may lead to more significant problems.
Numerous statistics from social science studies attest to the poor financial knowledge of American consumers, and the significant downsides that occur from the lack of knowledge. — Utpal Dholakia Ph.D.
Everyone wants more time to do the activities they want. Unfortunately, everyone only has 24 hours each day, the same as everyone else. Hence, what will distinguish you from everyone else are your time management skills.
You can vastly improve how you manage your time to avoid some common time management blunders. These seven behaviors can undermine your success in managing time. You should avoid them if you want to make sure that your time goes to high-impact activities.
Procrastination
One of the most pervasive banes of time management is procrastination. It happens whenever you put off important work in the future, allowing it to accumulate. As deadlines come near, you start to panic. In many cases, you still get the job done, but you’re left feeling stressed and de-energized.
The excitement of just making it to class or to a plane in the nick of time can be a joyous rush or regressive return to adolescent rebellion. For others, the joy or pleasure of procrastination is less apparent (or more disguised). — Michael Brustein, PsyD
Some people say that they like the rush of trying to catch up with work. However, most people perform better if they have more time to devote to their tasks. Procrastination only causes unnecessary stress which you could have easily avoided.
Starting a task is the hardest part. To stop procrastinating, commit to starting a project at a set time. If you’re writing a book, start by just committing to finishing a few introductory paragraphs. In many cases, you’ll find that you’ll want to continue on the task.
Insufficient Planning
Many people rush headlong into their pile of tasks as they try to finish off as many jobs as they can. This approach may work momentarily, but it’s not the best way to consume your resources.
For instance, you might find that a task depends on the completion of another job or on resources that aren’t currently with you. You might end up with half-done tasks that you can’t complete.
Make sure to plan out your day. Assign a deadline for tasks and check if they have dependencies. Planning ensures that you use your time optimally.
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Doing Too Much
Time management gurus know that being busy is not the same as being productive. Even if you tick off a hundred tasks off your to-do list, most of the activities you’re doing might not be important ones.
Many successful people are not particularly busy. They dedicate themselves to finishing tasks that can bring them the most benefit.
Treating ourselves as if we possess riches of untapped resources elevates self-esteem, which in turn reinforces taking better care of ourselves. — Mitchell Milch, LCSW
Working Nonstop
Another common mistake is to force yourself to keep working. Dedicating your waking hours to completing tasks might seem like a good idea if you’re a machine. However, as humans, you need time for rest and recreation. Working nonstop is a sure way to see your productivity drop and your health to decline.
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Doing Everything By Yourself
Some people like to do tasks by themselves. Usually, they have negative experiences working with incapable teammates. They internalized a belief that they can do jobs more efficiently if they do it themselves.
However, you still need other people. You can’t do everything alone, especially large projects with multiple parts. Don’t be afraid to delegate, especially if they can do something better than you.
To solve a complex problem, it is essential that you are able to address the obstacle in an oxymoronic “passionate but dispassionate” manner. You need to care passionately about finding a solution, or the path to overcoming the obstacle, but you have to divorce yourself from any potentially debilitating negative emotional investment in any initially failed outcomes. — Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D.
Failing To Prioritize
Finding it hard to prioritize? You might be spending most of your time on low-impact activities. Use tools like the Eisenhower matrix to classify tasks based on urgency and importance, and make sure to prioritize completing essential tasks.
Remember that you know yourself best. Many of the time management advice you hear from other people might not apply to you, so test them out first. Including this article, take advice with a grain of salt.
Money is everything – that is a fundamental truth in life. We may tend to say otherwise. However, if we check with reality, it is true enough that “money talks.”
Managing our resources is one of the most important life skills we will ever have. And with the realities of this last recession—bank failures, job losses, upside down mortgages, and eviscerated pension plans—money and financial issues have been on our minds more than ever. — Lynne Silva-Breen, MDiv, MA, LMFT
Resumes are the first touchpoints of employers during the hiring process. If your resume doesn’t stand out, they might throw yours into the reject pile, and you’ll never hear from them again. It’s also advantageous to properly draft your resume so that it can attract the software bots doing the upfront work.
Ensure that you will receive more interview and job offers in the future by following these essential tips.
Spot Keywords In The Job Posting
The first step into crafting a good resume is to carefully read the job postings which fit your status and interest you. After familiarizing yourself with these, look for keywords in each job description and include these keywords to tailor your resume and make it relevant to the said posting.
If, for example, you’re looking for a marketing job, an employer might include keywords such as “branding,” “project management,” “marketing plans,” or “selling.” Pay attention to the requirements and qualifications sections as well. You can also integrate the skills and requirements that the employers are looking for into your resume.
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Write Down Accomplishments Instead Of Job Descriptions
Hiring managers, especially those who are trying to fill technical job positions, seek candidates who are capable of solving the current problems of the company. Hence, they are more inclined to absorb people who have already proven themselves through results. Take note of the following pointers on how you can highlight these:
Focus on what you did and achieved in your past job instead of just describing what your job description is.
Write down accomplishments that are unique and unachievable by others.
Include a one- to two-liner explanation of what the problem was. Back it up with your thought and execution processes and their corresponding results.
Avoid listing down generic job descriptions.
Make Your Achievements Quantifiable
If you want to set an accurate picture of what you have accomplished in your past experiences, you have to make sure that you put numbers and values. These will make your achievements look more powerful and admirable.
You also have to take note that placing numbers will make you more comparable to other candidates. Therefore, only choose the most relevant and significant accomplishments you have done.
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Study Examples Of Resumes Applicable To Your Industry
A one-size-fits-all approach is not applicable for resumes. If you want your resume to stand out from the rest, you have to ensure that you tailor it after successful resumes from previous hires. Look for their commonality and apply this to your draft.
Use A Professional-Looking Font
It only takes five seconds for employers to decide whether your resume will land on the reject pile. To avoid this situation, you should look for ways that will attract them to put more time into reviewing your resume. One strategy you can use is the application of a professional-looking font. Listed below are some tips on how to achieve this.
Use a crisp and basic font like Times New Roman or Arial.
Retain a font size between 10 and 12 points.
Use capital fonts for section headers.
Remember that your resume is the first way you enter the radar of a potential employer. With an impeccable resume, you’ll significantly boost your odds of getting that interview—and, hopefully, the job.
For many, the most promising reward after high school or college graduation is snagging a job offer and going to the first day of work with a new you. As soon as your working days and experience progress, going home chin up with an accomplishment at work becomes one of the best feelings.
Did you know that more than 75% of stay-at-home parents look for ways to earn more money? However, most of them feel that there are no opportunities for them to do so. Contrary to this popular belief, there are several side hustles that they can do in the comfort of their homes.
Most stay-at-home parents prefer this setup since the work time is flexible while still making good money. In here, we will present the best side hustles that can be perfect for stay-at-home parents.
Sell Etsy Printables
Selling Etsy printables might be the best for you if you want a passive income stream. You only have to come up with the best designs (which you can do in one sitting) and get paid for the next months and years to come. If you’re still not familiar with how this business works, you may check out various Etsy courses online.
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Be A YouTube Video Host
In the digital age, there is a big chance that you are familiar with YouTube. It’s even easier to navigate if you have kids watching toy reviews, cartoons, people unwrapping surprise eggs, and other seemingly mundane things. Believe it not, these kinds of content have a massive following, and the creators can earn thousands of dollars per day!
You may even ask your whole family to join your video so that it can be more engaging and successful.
Conduct Tutoring
Perhaps one of the most convenient side hustles in the market is online tutoring. All you have to do is determine your specialized subject and offer your services through established online companies like Cambly, Qkids, and VIPKID. Some tutors even prefer to teach English or other languages for foreigners.
If you have an appreciation and love for teaching, this side hustle may be the best for you. Aside from the flexible work hours, the pay is excellent as well.
Start An E-Commerce Store
If you have some extra things just lying on the corners of your house, why not sell them online and make money out of them? It’s also a way of decluttering your home.
For those who don’t want to sell their stuff, you may opt to start this business through the buy-and-sell method. You can purchase several items online at a low price and sell it to other buyers at a higher price.
What’s good about an e-commerce store is that it does not require your physical presence to run. If you manage it well, you can earn up to $1000 per month as a starter.
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Become A Freelance Writer
Believe it or not, there are hundreds of open freelance writing gigs out there. However, getting into this business is not that easy. You still have to establish your portfolio by creating and collecting all your writing pieces, whether they’re fictional or non-fictional.
You can also start your career in this area by applying on websites such as GoBankingRates or Upwork. Most companies in need of freelance writers often post their openings there.
Whether you are looking for activities that will support your financial needs or serve as your creative outlet, side hustles can be your go-to initiatives as a parent. You only have to explore these options and find the right one that fits your personality and lifestyle.
It is wedding season once again! We are on for months of hearing wedding bells and seeing dashing gowns, flowers, and themes. Although it may be different depending on which state you are, typically it is May and June.
When we hear about weddings, we often think about love. Well, that’s what it is supposed to be – about love! But did you know that aside from the emotional benefits marriage has to offer, it also involves financial benefits which most of us don’t admit to being interested in? And If you are planning on getting married soon, you might as well know all the benefits you can get from it.
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What Are The Financial Benefits Of Marriage?
Fewer Payables
When you are living alone, you will have to pay the bills on your own and buy and use appliances by yourself. When you get married, you will have someone to share them with. You will share the mortgage, utility bills, and all the furniture in the house. You do not have to bear the burden all by yourself because you will have a partner to help you out with everything.
Talk to your partner about your values and what they mean. Talk about your insecurities and anxieties about money. This process will help you to have compassion and understanding for your partner and will likely prevent or mitigate some of the financial distress in your relationship. — Mieke Rivka Sidorsky, LCSW-C
Faster Loan Approvals
When you and your spouse are both employed or earning income monthly, you will be able to qualify for a more considerable amount of loan which can also mean you have a higher chance of getting approved for larger purchases like a house, car, expensive appliances and such.
HealthCare Benefits
When both of you and your partner are both employed, you can use each other’s employer health care benefits, whichever offers better, not to mention health care benefit becomes cheaper when your health insurances are combined compared to individual healthcare insurance.
Life Insurance Benefits
Although it is unfortunate to talk about life insurances, it is one of the leading benefits of marriage. It is easier to determine your beneficiary and vice versa. Your spouse’s or your policy will then be tax-free before being collected by the recipient.
Keep your financial values foremost and refer back to them whenever you make a decision to ensure you are acting in alignment with your priorities. — Sarah E. Clark, LMFT, LMHC, CVRT
Social Security Benefits
Social Security is a big help when the time comes. When you are at least 62 years of age, you can be eligible to receive half of your spouse’s Social Security benefit, and if you also have an account of your own, you can get whichever is higher. There is also what we call the Social Security survivor benefits which allow the spouse to obtain financial assistance if his spouse dies.
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Marriage is not all about physical and emotional stability. It also involves financial security. It is after all the purpose of finding a better half – to have someone to share life with which includes every aspect of it. Marriage gives us someone to divide assets and liabilities as well as to provide us with a better and more comfortable time.
Probably at the top of the list of skills that financially stable families report is that the adults in the family have generally talked about, negotiated, planned, and set up a financial process with shared, open values. The meaning and importance of work, child bearing and care, and the meaning of investments, property, education, vacations, entertainment, and saving have been discussed and reached a generally stable agreement. — Lynne Silva-Breen, MDiv, MA, LMFT
We have to admit it, being financially secure is where it all comes down one day, and having someone who will contribute to this can be one of the major decisions we will make in life.
Same-sex marriage has also been recently approved in all 50 states which means every couple, regardless if they have the same gender, is eligible for receiving all financial benefits marriage has to offer.
The husband is usually the one who provides for the family’s needs while the wife manages the expenses. Couples differ in their priorities, and that is why there are those who can save, those who have enough, and those who lack in budget.
Money is a concrete thing that anyone can have yet the number of poor is still significantly higher than those who have found the right mindset in acquiring it. Why do some people remain poor? What are their most common misconceptions about money?
