Surviving Wedding Season on a Budget

Surviving Wedding Season on a Budget Its that time of year! You guessed it wedding season. For most people, this means attending at least 3 weddings this season. Before my budget conscious days, Id think of weddings and think about how much fun theyd be. It never occurred to me that they were in fact wrecking my budget. Think of it this way there are more to weddings than the actual reception. There are bachelorette parties, bachelor parties and all the other festivities around weddings. If youre actually in the wedding party, this means youll have to fork over much more. Things add up. One of my closest friends got married last year. Wed always said that wed be in each others weddings and when she announced her wedding, I knew Id be asked to be in her party. It was hard to say no, but I took one look at my astronomical debt and got the motivation to decline. As a result, I ended up saving about $1500. I attended her wedding as a guest and enjoyed myself instead of thinking about the amount of debt I was wracking up. Being budget conscious doesnt mean you have to be a hermit. You can still enjoy weddings and keep your budget intact. Heres how I did it: 1) Be honest Sadly, our culture is all about over-spending and discussing money is often a very awkward moment. The only way to maintain friendships while minding your budget is to be honest, especially if you have to decline being a part of a wedding party. It was hard for me to explain that I was trying to pay off debt which Id build over the last few years. I didnt go into too much detail, but my friend was a sweetheart and completely understood. 2) Prepare There are times that you simply cant say no. When that happens, the best thing to do is plan for it in advance. It takes most people a year to plan their wedding. Use this year to plan your expenses. Saving a little bit a month makes the cost bearable. Even saving $100 a month means that youll end up with $1200 by the time the wedding day arrives. 3) Stay within your means Ive always had a big problem with giving gifts. I felt that the more expensive the gift was, the more theyd like it. Often times, Id put myself further into debt as a result. There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving a gift that is within your budget. People appreciate gifts that youve put more thought into anyway. I was surprised to realize that people seemed more touched by gifts I gave them once I started trying to save money. My gifts became more personal and a lot more creative. 4) Group Gifts Whether youre in the wedding party or a guest, sometimes giving a nice gift as a group is a great idea. A few years ago a few friends and I were able to pool our money together to send the couple on a trip. It only cost me $100, but it was a memorable gift for them and it had a bigger impact without ruining my budget.  How have you maintained your budget this wedding season?

#114 - Freelance Career Expert Series - State of Freelancing with Robert McGuire CareerMetis.com

#114 - Freelance Career Expert Series - State of Freelancing with Robert McGuire â€" CareerMetis.com The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSForEpisode 114of The CareerMetis Podcast, we will be hearing from a returning guest Robert McGuire.This interview is part of the “Freelance Career Expert Series“.evalGUEST INTRODUCTION â€" ROBERT MCGUIREevalRobert McGuireis a business owner from New Haven, Connecticut. He operates theMcGuire Editorial Content Marketing Agencyin which he helps B2B and SaaS companies create and implement effective content marketing strategies.He also takes on the role of editor for the Online Gig Economy ForumNation 1099, which helps solopreneurs find answers to questions about their businesses.Coming from a background in journalism, as well as marketing work for non-profit organizations which helped him see the evolution into the content marketing era. It was this type of work that eventually opened up a path to create his current content marketing agency and become involved in the“Gig Economyâ €EPISODE SUMMARY1. Robert and his team at Nation1099 have recently been gathering and analyzing any and all data they can find relating to the freelance workforce.2. The landscape of freelancing has changed quite a bit since the old euphemism of being between jobs. With more people choosing to freelance and remain freelancing as a career option, there have been some interesting facts coming to the surface about the people who do so.3.After addressing the growth of the freelancing sector, and his thoughts on where the trend is going, Robert explains why employers are missing out on a huge percentage of talented workers. He also shares that freelancers aren’t happy with gig-matching services.eval4.Robert also shares his suggestions on how a freelancer can be more successful.5. Robert also discusses why freelancers tend to plateau in their earnings, and provides some examples of what gets over that obstacle.QUOTES“The full time freelance workforce in the US is growing 3x faster th an the workforce over all”“Out of all freelancers, the share of them who actively chose it is on the increase”“Self employed, as a group, is bigger than any other employer in the US”“Putting up job ads and job descriptions is like blowing a whistle that this population cannot hear”RESOURCESTo learn more about Robert McGuireyou can visit hisblog. You can also connect with him onLinkedInandTwitter.To learn more about the Gig Economy, Freelancers should check out the amazing resources atNation1099.Intro Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas Ending Music provided courtesy of Accelerated Ideas (www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€" No Need to Rush

A Short Guide to Creating a Great Covering Letter - CareerAlley

A Short Guide to Creating a Great Covering Letter - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing. Benjamin Franklin This article was provided courtesy of Mildround.com Were often told how important it is to make sure our CV is up to scratch but its also incredibly important to make an effort to include a well-thought-out covering letter. Whether youre experienced in your field or just starting out and applying for internships, this is your opportunity to sell yourself to recruiters or employers so be sure to put sufficient time into your letter as well as your CV. Here are a few tips to get you started: Write a letter without fail Always write a cover letter, or at the very least a formal email, to introduce yourself and explain your suitability for the role even if the job ad doesnt specifically ask for one. This is your one chance to sell yourself and help to make your CV stand out from the crowd so dont pass it up. Stay serious Avoid the temptation to try and make a lasting impression by writing a quirky or amusing covering letter. Its impossible to know how receptive the person dealing with applications is to that kind of thing so its always best to play it safe. While it might work on rare occasions, for every interview you land by being wacky with your covering letter, youll likely miss out on tens of others. Cover all the bases Be sure to cover each of the person specification points outlined in the job ad, explaining why you tick each of the relevant boxes. If you dont have previous experience in some of the areas, be sure to give examples of experience you do have that you will be able to adapt and bring across to the new role. Also be concise; while you want to get across just how perfect you are for the role, you also dont want to bore potential employers. Keep it simple and save your best for the interview. Investigate the employer Do your research it always helps to demonstrate that you know about the company youre applying for a job with, and while youll want to save most of that for the interview, it cant harm to show that you have an active interest in the company when writing your covering letter. Explain why youre interested in the role, and more specifically, what attracts you to that particular company. Explore the final details Always address your letter to the relevant person many ads will tell you exactly who to address in your covering letter but if it isnt clear be sure to call up and find out. Not only does this show initiative, but putting the right persons name at the top of your letter also looks so much better than To whom it may concern or Dear Sir/Madam. Also sign off in the correct fashion if you have opened with the recipients name, finish with Yours sincerely. However, if you have begun with Dear Sir, then youll want to end the letter with Yours faithfully. Keep it fresh Write a new covering letter for each job application. As tempting as it might be to re-use a standard template for each new application, you wont be making the most of your chance to impress your prospective employer if you fail to tailor the letter to that specific position. And besides, if you send off a letter and forget to change the name/company from your last template then the place youre applying to will be on to you straight away and if they feel that youre too lazy to write a unique covering letter, theyre unlikely to see you as a viable candidate. Check it before sending Double check your letter for spelling and grammar mistakes. You want to give the best impression possible, so run a spell check and get somebody else to have a read through to make sure your words scan properly. Good luck in your search.Visit me on Facebook

Tough (Question) Tuesday What excuses are you using

Tough (Question) Tuesday What excuses are you using #286 by Things We Forget I dont have all the supplies I need. I need the graphic designer to get back to me. These descriptions have to be rewritten first. My workplace is too messy. I need to do more research. Do any of these sound familiar? Some might be valid excuses to not dive into your work, but somewelltake out the word valid youre just left with excuses. Bring to mind that project youve been waiting to start for whatever reason (valid or not) ask: What excuses are you using? Ill join you in the comments section with my own But-I-Have-To-Wait-Fors. Meet you there no excuses! ************************************************************************************************************ Sensational Spring: How does routine fit into inspiration? Its what were discussing today come join us! Delicious Discount: Get a $25 discount for any $250 purchase from    Tara Sroka until Aug 31st. Affiliate Awesomeness: (1) Khristian A. Howell’s Confessions of a First Timer (get your mind out of the gutter!) is the perfect read for any trade show exhibitor virgin. (2) Get my cult leader Danielle LaPorte’s Digital Firestarter Sessions in your own home, on your own time. (3) Also, Molly Hoyne’s Joy Equation is your 30 day guide to Living on Purpose.

How to Write a Psychiatric Nurse Resume

How to Write a Psychiatric Nurse ResumeA Psychiatric Nurse Resume is your tool to strengthen your current position. You want to make it to a very high level, where you have the option of taking a higher position in the future. Your job performance, your communication skills, your human values and ethics are some of the things that you should be careful with.Writing a resume is not an easy task. Most nursing students and doctors say that it is the most difficult thing to do, because most people tend to judge you by your own resume and that's the worst thing to do. Instead of your resume, look at what others are writing.Many different websites offer free resume templates. They will allow you to upload your resume and others can edit them for you. It's as simple as that.One of the most important things to write on your resume is your goals. You need to know what you want to accomplish before you get started. You want to show how you can help people and make a difference in their lives. Once you've got these two things written down, you can then consider what you want to include in your resume.From this point on, it is up to you to assess what you think is necessary for a nursing or clinical training. Then you can fill it up with whatever you think is necessary. It will depend on what type of position you will be applying for. It is important to keep it short and to the point.A lot of applicants try to cram as much information on their resume as possible. Keep in mind that not everyone has the same information, so some information could be very important to the applicant, while other information might not matter.The last thing you need to remember is to make sure you have your contacts, address letters, transcripts, and the necessary documents to back up your application. Remember that your education and experience will be a very important factor for determining whether you get the job or not. In general, the more your resume focuses on your clinical expertise, the better. So start writing a Psychiatric Nurse Resume now!

High Paying Jobs for Women Best Leadership Tips at Work

High Paying Jobs for Women Best Leadership Tips at Work Although female CEOs are no longer a novelty, professional women still face unique challenges ascending the corporate ladder, especially in high-paying career fields. A depressing new research paper found that female CEOs are 45% more likely to be fired than their male counterparts, even when performance has improved under their tenure. HR experts and career coaches say professional women often have to balance a conflicting array of outmoded gender norms, societal assumptions, and performance demands. Even if you’re working a high-paying job in a field that embraces gender equality, it can sometimes be tricky navigating the waters of expectations versus reality. MONEY asked career experts and HR pros for their recommendations for the best books that can help guide women on their climb to the top. Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits â€" to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life by Gretchen Rubin Courtesy of Amazon “It is easy to get caught up in the end result â€" for instance, saying ‘I want a promotion’ â€" but we don’t generally ensure that our daily actions are in line with our big picture,” says Megan Murdock, executive board member of mentoring and networking program CBIZ Women’s Advantage. Better Than Before, Murdock says, can help build the kind of habits that will make your career and the rest of your life more fulfilling. How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith Courtesy of Amazon “How Women Rise is a must have for the career-driven woman,” says Mel Hennigan, vice president of people at technology company Symplicity Corporation. Hennigan says this book is similar to Better Than Before in that it gives readers tools to build on good habits and jettison ones that can hurt career ambitions. “The authors identify the 12 habits that hold women back professionally, showing them why what worked for them in the past might actually be sabotaging their future success,” she says. Shine: Using Brain Science to Get the Best from Your People by Edward Hallowell Courtesy of Amazon Shine gives readers insight into how scientific principles can be used to forge better relationships with bosses, peers, and underlings, HR consultant Art Glover says. “Emotional intelligence skills â€" self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management strategies â€" sometimes referred to derogatorily as ‘soft skills’ and often assigned primarily to women â€" have proven to be extremely important in the modern workplace regardless of the industry or organization,” Glover says. Life is Good: The Book (How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride) by Bert and John Jacobs Courtesy of Amazon “To boost your career, you have to be clear on what a ‘career boost’ means to you,” says Sharon Strauss, chief people officer at email marketing company Campaign Monitor. This means considering all of the potential benefits â€" and challenges â€" different opportunities may offer. “It may sound obvious, but the frequency with which employees have come to talk to me about advancement in their career without knowing where they want to go would likely surprise many,” Strauss says. She recommends Life is Good: The Book as a great read to help you figure out where you want to go. “This is not a self-help or skill identifying book, but rather a story of searching for a career that is meaningful,” Strauss says. Developing Women Leaders in Corporate America: Balancing Competing Demands, Transcending Traditional Boundaries by Alan Belasen Courtesy of Amazon Women who aspire to leadership roles in their fields should check out this book, says Michael Letizia, president of Letizia HR Solutions. In theory, people would judge corporate leaders by their companies’ performance, but too often, women are held to what is often a no-win double standard: They’re expected to be “nice” without being pushovers, Letizia says. Some women find their willingness to extend second chances abused. “One of the challenges they face, generally speaking, is that females tend to lead with more compassion and more sensitivity, and sometimes that produces more frustration for them,” he says. The textbook-style format of this tome might seem dry, but Letizia says it has been a great resource for his female clients, especially those working in male-dominated fields. Work It: Secrets for Success From the Boldest Women in Business by Carrie Kerpen Courtesy of Amazon Ariel Schur, founder and CEO of ABS Staffing Solutions, says work-life balance is tougher for women, especially working moms, to achieve than their male counterparts. “The truth is, we’re the ones to be pregnant, give birth, potentially breastfeed,” she points out. “There are certain jobs you have to be there every day… there’s not much wiggle room.” Schur says Work It shows how other women have cleared these hurdles, providing inspiration and insight for those following in their footsteps. “I always find it interesting to hear other people’s vantage points and perspectives,” Schur says. “There’s wisdom to be learned from others. By hearing or reading or listening to other people’s successes and what that entailed, I think you can learn a lot.”

10 Scenarios When Its Absolutely Critical To Quit Your Job - Work It Daily

10 Scenarios When It’s Absolutely Critical To Quit Your Job - Work It Daily Sometimes, things just don’t work out and it’s time to move on. Sometimes, it’s a lot more complex. Either way, sometimes, you just have to quit your job and move on. Related: How To Tell When It’s Time To Find Another Job Here are 10 scenarios when it’s absolutely critical to quit your job: DISCLAIMER: This advice is provided as a means to inspire a rational thought-process. It is not meant to evoke an emotional decision that could destroy you professionally and financially. Before quitting any job, be sure you’ve prepared financially and be sure to give your employer proper notice. With that said, let’s get on with it: 1. You Hate Your Job: There’s a difference between strongly disliking your job and hating your job. Hating your job is having a ‘Case of the Monday’s’ every day. Hating your job is going to sleep angry and waking up the next morning even more angry as you face the harsh reality of what you are about to endure for 8-12 hours. If you truly hate your job, you need to quit and find a new one. 2. You Hate Your Boss: Does your boss disrespect you? Does he/she constantly take credit for your work in a way in which you’ll never advance because someone else is constantly taking credit for your hard work? If so, it’s time to move on. 3. You Don’t Get Along With Your Co-Workers: If you can look yourself in the mirror and honestly say that you’re a reasonable human being who is willing to resolve conflicts with reasonable people, yet they are unwilling to resolve conflicts with you, then it is time to move on. Very rarely are people ever able to mend fences with colleagues and co-workers they don’t get along with. Many people bring the baggage of jealousy and a mean-spirited sense of competition to the workplace that defines their character. It’s a lack of integrity and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Sometimes, it’s best to just cut your losses. 4. Your Company Doesn’t Value Its Employees: Is your company constantly releasing record-breaking quarterly profits but hasn't given you a raise in a decade, if ever? Or perhaps your company institutes silly rules like clean desk policies. In either event, these actions illustrate a total lack of value for employees. Jump ship now before the captain takes you down with the rest of the ship. 5. You’re Overworked and Underpaid: Everybody wants a raise and everybody feels like they deserve more money. No one deserves anything. In the case of work wages, your income is based on your experience, value, and market factors. If you’ve used a salary calculator (salary.com, payscale.com, glassdoor.com) and have determined that you’re overworked and underpaid, then finding a new job is a perfectly suitable option. After all, slavery ended in America in 1865. 6. No Room for Advancement: Why work so hard if there isn’t room for growth and advancement within your company? If you’re early in your career and you need to gain experience, that’s one thing. However, once you pass the point of proving yourself, if there isn’t room for advancement it’s time to exit immediately. 7. Your Business is on the Decline: Is your company constantly re-evaluating the budget? Do they have a history of annual layoffs? Are they constantly penny-pinching about petty things like printing too much paper? If so, your business is on the decline and instead of waiting around to be laid off or never receive a raise, it’s best to quit before they bring you down along with them. 8. You’re Unfulfilled: Being unfulfilled in a job is like being unfulfilled in a marriage, and what happens when you’re unfulfilled in a marriage? You get a divorce and separate. Sometimes that approach needs to be adopted with your job as well. 9. Things Have Become Monotonous: No one likes going through the same mundane and monotonous process everyday. After all, we’re human beings. We’re not machines. Once your job gets to the point of being monotonous, it’s time to move on, because a monotonous job will never lead to increased experience, pay raises and advancements. 10. You’ve Got a Better Job Offer Somewhere Else: In this day and age, thanks to the Internet and job posting sites like Monster, Career Builder, and Indeed, employees are constantly bombarded with opportunities to jump ship. Another job offer is just an email or a click away. If you’re in a position where you receive a better job offer, take it. This seems like the obvious choice, but often times employees let the brainwashing of things like “job loyalty” get in the way of them making a choice that’s better for their lives, their career, and their families, and in the end, those three things are all that matter. Related Posts The #1 Most Overlooked Reason Why People Can’t Find Jobs 3 ‘Shark Tank’ Lessons To Heed When Seeking Your Dream Job 5 Secrets To Create Job Search Magic About the author Michael Price is the author of What Next? The Millennial's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Real World, endorsed by Barbara Corcoran of ABC's Shark Tank. He is also the founder of Conquer Career Course, where he teaches students how to increase their salary, build a career with longevity and become unemployment-proof. View the trailer below:     Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!