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Considering Continuing Education

chachanna — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:46:30 +0000

Continuing Education: Is it Time?

There comes a point in everyone’s life where they ask themselves “Is it time to go back to school?” This is a decision that should never be taken lightly. Though there are many benefits to continuing your education and propelling your career, there are also risks and costs. Here are a few things to think about when deciding whether or not it is time to return to school:

Deciding if it’s Time
There is no guide to deciding whether it is time to go back to school, or if it is better to wait. There are however signs that may get you thinking about furthering your education. If you feel you are stuck in a rut, unable to move forward in your career, then it may be time to return to school. If you feel it is time for a career change and that your life goals have changed, it may be time.

One of the deciding factors that influence most people to return to school is the economy. With the value of careers constantly shifting, many are finding the career choice that was once sufficient, is no longer enough. If you find yourself spending more and making the same salary, or less due to cutbacks, that may be reason enough to return to school.

E-learning vs. Campus
The popularity of e-learning has grown, more so with single parents and those already in a career. With the convenience and accelerated learning of online courses, it appeals to many different situations that adults find themselves in. With that said you need to decide what will work better for you.

Learning online can be an excellent way to juggle classes, kids, and work. However it takes an exceptional amount of discipline to learn while you are at home and near so many distractions. Just like campus learning, classes online are full of assignments and deadlines. With the TV a few feet away, kids playing in the yard or your significant other pining for your attention, it can prove to be hard to learn at home. If you choose to learn at home, be sure to dedicate time to classes. Try avoiding distractions and make plans to limit those distractions. For example, send the kids to a babysitter or out with the other parent. Anything you can do to give yourself time and peace will increase your success.

Campus learning has always been the suggested way of taking classes. Sitting in an educational institution with other students can place you in the state of mind to learn. Having the convenience of collaborating with other students and the professor in the same room can help when you run into problems. Though the commute, expense and time involved with going to a campus can prove tedious, this is highly recommended for those who don’t have the discipline it takes to study at home.

Budgeting for the Expenses
College tuition is constantly on the rise. The costs you paid when you first went to college or even thought about attending college years ago are now much higher. When deciding to go back to school, budgeting for the extra cost can help save you stress and hardships while trying to learn. Through student loans and grants you can cover most of the expenses of tuition; however there are other costs that you must factor in.

College textbooks may be the largest expense you will have to cover. Buying used books rather than new textbooks can help save on the cost. With the popularity of e-readers, most textbooks are now available for purchase in PDF format. This can save you up to 60% off the normal price. With the PDF version you can carry it with you easier with an e-reader or tablet.

If you choose to attend a campus you will also need to factor in the cost of fuel. Gas prices are rising faster than tuition costs and can dent your budget considerably. You can cut a few extravagances out of your daily life to help fund the fuel cost and still keep your budget.

There are many benefits to furthering your education. A career change, promotion, or just securing your future can entice you to return to school. When you choose your path, be sure you are aware of the method and cost you will be facing. Only you can decide if it is time to further your education, but when the time is right for you, be sure to make the most of it.
London resident Samantha Hathaway is a financial consultant and a content contributor for Payday Loans, a company which helps you out with advance pay day loans when you need money before your paycheck comes in.

There Wasn’t a Manual for the Real World, Until Now!

chachanna — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:15 +0000

Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want was written by Jenny Blake, blogger extraordinaire over at Life After College, who I’ve had the privilege of meeting in person.

Her first book is truly a portable life coach for your twentysomething life. And, unlike other self-help books where the author gives you some theories and ideas of what you can do to improve your life, Jenny asks powerful questions and actually gives you worksheets and templates galore (she even included a template on processing a break-up) on EVERY aspect of your life after college. She gives you full permission to write all over the book and take notes so it’s more of a workbook for creating your life plan. (Although, I just can’t do that to books.) So, if you are not sure what your big picture is, how to manage your time, take control of your finances, or choose the right career for you, she has you covered.

Throughout the book, Jenny is honest and shares not only her own personal stories to motivate and inspire you, she’s also included stories and advice from other college graduates (including me!).

One of my favorite chapters is health and wellness, mostly because I am on a mission to lose weight. I love that she says, “Remember something is better than nothing. Even if you can only exercise for 20 minutes, get moving.” Many times I think if I can’t get my full 45-minute workout in then I won’t bother but she is right, something is better than nothing. In the chapter she helps you create your own health manifesto, battle the excuses you’ve created to not exercise, and live a healthier life.

Graduating into the real world can be scary but with Life After College you’ll start planning beyond the day after graduation, armed with everything you need to get off to a stellar start and create your own road map and design the life of your dreams.

Your mission:
Watch her trailer for the book, visit her site for more information and more importantly: Buy the book!

It’s Holiday Party Season!

chachanna — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:00:04 +0000

Whew! We made it through Thanksgiving. How did you do? I hope you enjoyed the seasonal treats (in moderation) and skipped the high calories foods that weren’t special enough for you to eat. Keep up the good work as we continue the holiday marathon.

Enjoying Holiday Parties (Without the Guilt)

The next challenge for many of us is a holiday party. Whether it’s for work or hosted by a neighbor, the challenge is the same: how to fully enjoy the party without feeling deprived of yummy food.

Use the same strategy I recommended for Thanksgiving: decide which party foods you really want to eat, and which ones are not worth the calories. And be true to yourself. It’s a common recommendation for party-goers to skip high fat appetizers like crab cakes; but if it’s something you really really (really) want, then plan for the 300 calories you’ll get in each one and structure the rest of your eating accordingly.

It’s not a cocktail party without the cocktails. If you do drink alcohol, drink in moderation and have plenty of water too (sparkling counts!). Here are some great choices that you can enjoy:

Sparkling water with a splash of cranberry juice and a slice of lime
Champagne
Vodka or gin & diet tonic
Small glass of wine
Bloody Mary
Screwdriver

Don’t forget the nibbles! Be mindful of what you’re eating, because bites here and there can really add up. Some good choices include:

Shrimp Cocktail
Crudite (that’s a fancy way of saying “raw veggies”) & Hummus
Melon with Prosciutto
Grilled Chicken Satay
Olives (stick to 6)
Tuna Tartare or Seared Tuna

Here’s one of my favorite hors d’ouevre recipes – easy & delicious! Recipe adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Lowfat Favorites.

Prick 1 medium eggplant with a fork, and roast at 350′ until collapsed (about 45 minutes). When cool enough to handle, slice in half, chop the eggplant “meat” and scoop into a large bowl.

Meanwhile, prepare 1 package frozen phyllo shells per the package directions.

In a small bowl, combine:
1 tsp ground anise                4 scallions, minced
1 tsp dark sesame oil           3 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar                2 tsp grated fresh ginger root

Add to the eggplant and mix well to combine. Spoon into cooled phyllo cups and serve. You can also serve the eggplant mixture as a dip.

Lisa Corrado of Lisa Corrado Nutrition is a stellar chef and nutritionist. She is on a mission to help busy people eat healthier. Lisa offers nutritional counseling and coaching to help you cook and plan better meals. Check out her blog, A Moment in a Busy Life, which takes you on a healthy journey through good food and great choices.

Size Matters

chachanna — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:00:12 +0000

Or does it? The answer is: sometimes.

I was clothes-shopping with a friend this past weekend and, once again, we were struck by how wildly womens’ clothing sizes vary. One brand’s medium is nothing like another brand’s. Same goes for actual number sizes. And don’t get me started on the difference between one size and the next one up in the same brand. Maybe I’m “in-between”: I found the smaller size was too small and the next size up was far too big.

Same thing happening in my own closet. After our shopping trip, I took a look at the labels of the clothes I already own. It’s like the United Nations of sizes: everything from extra-small to extra-large is represented. And they all fit me!

So does size matter? In this case, I say NO. Here’s why:

For many people, clothing size is part of their identity. Same with the number on the scale. So much so that even when they’re eating all the right foods and doing all the right exercise, they’re absolutely deflated when the scale doesn’t immediately reflect this. Suddenly, all that hard work is for nothing, so why bother? Believe me, I’ve been there and it’s for that very reason that I stopped weighing myself.

Funny thing: once I shunned the scale, people started saying things like “Wow, you look great! How much weight have you lost?” A girl could get used to that.

When I work with my clients, we set aside the weekly weigh-ins and focus on the behavior. Here’s where size matters: understanding how much a portion is. Much of our country’s weight issues can be directly linked to the fact that most people have no idea how much they’re eating. One client summed it up nicely this week: “Since it fit in my bowl, I thought it was one serving.” (It was 4 servings).

So pull out your measuring cups/spoons and get yourself a food scale. Do a little experiment: assemble your typical breakfast and guess how much of each food is represented. Then measure what’s actually on your plate. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

How’d you do? If you’re like most people, you were probably way, way off on some of the estimates. It’s easy to get on track, just measure and weigh for a week and your eyes will learn what a serving looks like. This is a lifelong skill that will help you wherever, whenever you’re eating.

And while you’re being so proactive about your health, visit Prevention Not Prescriptions for more great information and inspiration.

What Does It Take to Have Good Credit? Part 5

chachanna — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:00:17 +0000

This is a 5 Part Series explaining the basics of good credit.

The last factor in determining good credit is your mix of secured credit and unsecured credit. Secured credit is credit that has collateral. A car loan is secured because the car is collateral, meaning that if you can’t pay the loan, the bank will take ownership of your car. A credit card is not secured. If you can’t pay your credit card bill, the credit card company won’t take your purchases in place of payment meaning that your credit card purchases can’t be used as collateral.

10% of your credit score is determined by the mix of secured credit versus unsecured credit. A good mix is a variety of credit types: secured (mortgages, car loans, boat loans, home equity lines of credit, etc.) and unsecured (installment loans, student loans, credit cards). The more diverse your credit the better your score will be.

In this 5 part series, we covered many of the factors that go into your credit score. To summarize:

Bill Payments: Always pay your bills on time – this is the single biggest factor in determining your score.
Debt/Credit Limit Ratio: The amount you owe should be less than 20% of the credit available to you.
Credit History: It’s better to have a few years worth of credit history than a few months.
New Credit Inquiries: Only apply for credit when you really need it.
Secured and Unsecured Credit: Mix it up – diversity is best.

If you have missed any part of this series, you can view past issues of Quick Tips on our website. To submit a question and have it answered in a future Quick Tips go to www.CashCreditandYourFinances.com.

Jill Russo Foster is the author of Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years. She provides practical tips for every day finances. Learn more about protecting your credit and living within your means, with Jill’s popular free reports and bi-monthly ezine, available here ==> CashCreditandYourFinances.com