All good things come to an end

Blogging is something I never could have pictured myself doing in a million years. For me, I have never been completely comfortable with having others read my writing, let alone post it publicly. However by doing so I feel it has made me feel more comfortable in my writing.

When I first started my blogs on unemployment in January, My life was in a completely different place then how it is now. When I started my blogs, both my parents were unemployed, that is the main reason I picked this as my topic. I would have never guessed not even 4 months later that both my parents would be working great jobs.

I wanted to do this blog because I never really thought about how people were affected from unemployment until it really hit home. Throughout this blogging experience, I not only learned ways to be smart with my money but also started to understand myself better as a person. No one ever expects to become unemployed, therefore being prepared for the unexpected can be the wisest decision. 

Being a teenager, I never put into perspective how much it really does cost to live on your own or to maintain a household. Of course I do pay some bills and I do try to be independent however living at home is the greatest gift. 


Unemployment can make a person go from living comfortably to wondering how to provide the basic needs such as shelter and food. These struggles can cause emotional distress and health problems. 

Though I do not feel that I will continue to blog on this topic, I do feel that somehow in future I may decide to start again. This experience has opened my mind to writing and different topics and probably has changed my writing style for the best.

Being Cheap

A few weeks ago I talked about coupons and how beneficial they really are. I finally decided to try using them myself. Recently both Cheeseburger in Paradise and Ruby Tuesdays sent me $10 off coupons for meals.

I decided to go to Cheeseburger in Paradise as a treat to myself and my meal with a drink and tip only cost me around $5. It was such a relief to be able to still go out to eat without worrying about paying too much.

Another thing I have learned is that PTOs at schools will give out coupons or gift cards if you carefully read their news letter. Springwoods Elementary gave $15 off at On the Border. This coupon from the school had no exclusions or restrictions.

There are so many websites you can use to get coupons for free such as Smartsource.com, coupons.com, and also for restaurants check out restaurant.com.

This websites are free and can easily save you money without any effort. My favorite would have to be restaurant.com because they have specials where you can get $25 gift cards for only $10.

Quick Money

For businesses, times can be tough and not all companies are doing as well as others. Some businesses cannot give out the amount of hours an employee might need. Thankfully there are other ways for someone to make money.

Some ways include:

• Babysitting
• Dog walking (Watch Pets)
• Sell on ebay, Craigslist, Amazon, etc
• Collect your change
• Yard Sale
• Pawn merchandise
• Donate body parts

For some of these ideas, they are quite obvious. Babysitters and Pet sitters are always in demand. You can make flyers or talk to neighbors. Those jobs are not that difficult to come by. For babysitting the average pay is around $5-$9 an hour. The plus side to such jobs is that you do not have to pay taxes.

Selling merchandise or pawning items is only a good idea if you do not truly need or use the item. Selling off items to make fast money is not a good idea. At pawn shops, you can do a loan where you take about 10% of its value. You can either choose to redeem the loan, pay interest to keep the loan alive or forfeit the loan. 

Donating body parts usually includes donating to the sperm bank which for men can be about $40 per donation. Unfortunately, some sperm banks require a commitment period which is about 6 months to a year. Most sperm banks limit the man to 10 children or $6,000 a year. This is because most men donate for money rather then altruism.

Other body parts you can donate include female eggs. This process unlike sperm donation can be a bit more lengthy of a process. The process also comes with a lot of complication risks but the pay ranges from $3,000-$6,000 on average. Women should are limited also to how many times they can undergo this surgery.

These ideas are just simple easy ways to make money for someone who already may be working part time or full time but wants to make some extra money on the side.

References:

"Charging for babysitting" Babysitters4hire. Nannies Internation inc. Web. 2 Apr 2012. 

"25 (Unusual) Ways To Make Quick Money". Daily Finance. AOL Money and Finance. Web. 2 Apr 2012.

"What does sperm donation involve?" Stanford. Stanford Education. Web. 23 Apr 2012.

"Becoming an egg donor" Health.ny.gov. Department of Health. Apr 2009. Web. 23 Apr 2012.

Couponing

For people who are living on a budget, sometimes using a coupon is a huge help on saving a few bucks here and there. I will not be giving tips on how to extreme coupon but more how to be coupon efficient. 

First is where to look for coupons:

• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Online
• In-Store
• On Products
• Manufacturer

The next thing to do is keeping the coupons organized. This should involve categorizing the coupons by type of product. Also have a container for the coupons. Do not leave them stuffed in a wallet or purse.

Also try to maximize your savings by not only using a manufacturer coupon but also a store coupon. This can equal double savings. Also enroll in a loyalty program. A loyalty program is where you scan your card at every purchase and gain rewards as you spend more throughout the store. 

References:

Huffstetler, Erin. "How to coupon Effectively." About.com. Web. 26 Mar 2012. 

Acceptance

For an update about if I was going to transfer or not. I am officially a Ferrum Panther and also a cheerleader for the school. Along with great news also comes some bad news. I will be unemployed during school next year because between school and cheerleading, I could not maintain a job.

This came to me as a shock for someone who has worked since I was legally allowed to. I'm not sure if this will be an easy transition. This also got me to wonder about student loans since I will not be able to cover what scholarships and grants do not.

In the project student debt, this blog goes over how students should avoid taking about private loans because they are much risker then talking out a private loan. Private loans are the safest bet because they do not change over time and also have guaranteed protections.

In another blog by Department of Consumer Affairs, it also covers about shopping around with loans and taking the right loan for you. Avoid taking a loan that is much more then you actually need. In the end, it can leave you in more debt then you need to be.

Another great idea for college expenses is FASFA. This gives out grants, which do not need to be repaid upon graduation, and loans.

Even though college can be very expensive, There are many options when it comes to covering the expenses.

Changes

As an update from my last blog, My father finally decided on which job he was going to take. I personally feel he made a great decision. He is finally out of the blue collar work and finally doing something that fits his personality more.

Now knowing that my family is slowly on the right path to being financially stable, I decided that going away to school next semester might not be a bad idea. I completely understand that no parent can honestly pay out of pocket for the school I plan on attending. Therefore I decided the only help I would like from my parents would be the deposit for room and board and spending money.

Going away to school requires a lot of saving and cutting back on needless spending. This way I will had money to spend when I truly need it. In Roth's Blog for money tips, The blog not only covers money management but also organization skills and decision making. Here are a few tips I felt everyone could find useful:

• Track your spending (via notebook, notepad, etc)
• Avoid getting a credit card (unless it is needed)
• Try to not hang out with big spenders
• Learn to invest
• Buy used textbooks 
• Stay active and eat healthy

Tips such as these are simple to follow and can help you save while still enjoying a similar lifestyle. Everyone makes a sacrifice, whether it be on spending or saving. 

In an article by John Fuller, He goes over 10 tips for saving at college. Some of these tips I feel could be used in everyday life such as:

• Seek alternative transportation 
• Be creative with your free time (You don't have to spend money to have fun)
• Get the right cell phone plan (Don't pay for something you don't need)
• If a student, Get a free student checking (Most banks still have this account available)

When money is tight, it can be difficult to tell yourself or someone that they really don't need certain items. For example, having an iPhone, Its a great phone to have but it is also very expensive with all the add ons. Another example could be the choice of clothes purchased. 


Sometimes it is the smallest things that can be the most beneficial. With these simple tips, everyone can save  while still maintaining a consistent lifestyle. 


References: 


Fuller, John. How Stuff Works. Discovery Company. Web. 18 March 2012.

Patience

In the beginning of my blogs, I discussed how my father was unemployed and how it seemed no matter how many resumes he sent out, nothing was coming back. Finally last week my dad started getting calls for interviews. This was the greatest news for my family.


Since money has been tight for the family, I thought the least I could do was drive my dad to all his interviews as long as I wasn't working or missing class. I feel like because I have two incomes and less bills to pay that this is my way of helping out my family.


I recently took him to two different companies which I have a great feeling about. The only problem is it seems that now that he is finally getting calls and interviews, he is becoming overwhelmed. My mom and I have constantly told my dad to take the job that he feels he will enjoy and also pays a decent amount. 


Another thing when being offered multiple jobs is to really look into the position they are offering. My dad is skilled in multiple areas, therefore he applied to a broad range of jobs throughout the last 6 months. By looking at the position you are being offered this helps you determine if you will be happy within that field of work and always research the company in which you are interviewing with.


When making a decision on whether you want to accept or decline the job remember this:

• Commute time
• Benefits
• Flexibility of work schedule
• Work culture
• Company stability
• Opportunity for advancement
• Level of responsiblity 

These factors can really make or break the decision on whether taking a certain job is the right choice for you. I feel that the most important thing when looking for a job should be the stability of the company. This is mainly because the economy has been hot and cold. The last thing to look for is the work culture because that should not be the determining factor. 


Tips such as the ones listed above can be viewed on All Star Resume's blog. They are very helpful for anyone who is looking for a job or career.

Keep your fingers crossed for my dad! I feel like everything that has happened, he truly deserves a decent job.


References: 


Burt, Erin. "How to choose the right job". kiplinger. 19 Apr 2007. Web. 23 Apr 2012. 

Potential Sources

Since last week I forgot to post my sources for my paper, I am posting them now.


One of my sources for my paper is from Credit & Debt Management, this is one of my sources because the first thing someone who wonders when they become unemployed is how to manage their finances. This article gives tips on ways to avoid losing control upon becoming unemployed. 


Another source I choose was from Wise Bread. This article made unemployment seem like a way of life and nothing to be ashamed of. The tips in the article can not only be applied to someone who is unemployed but also someone who lives on a budget. Not everyone lives comfortably. 


Even though this is not an article, I wanted to see what VA Unemployment Benefits included and how someone goes about filing for unemployment. this website can calculate your benefits and also how long someone can claim such benefits. This web page could help someone decided if they want to file for unemployment or just continue job searching.


My last source is Unemployment Rates in the United States. I picked this source because every state is different financially and depending on where you live, that could affect how difficult it may be to find a job. Virginia thankfully did not make the top 10 for this websites statistics.

Moving Away

Being at a community college, we as student do really miss out on a lot of "college experiences". I have nothing against NOVA and I feel that going here my freshman year was a smart idea financially. After much debate I realized that living as home is not how I ever pictured my college experience. With that said, I have decided that transferring this upcoming year might be a good idea for me (Truth Exposed Pub). 


The only problem is I'm terrified to tell my mom. She puts so much pressure on me to get my associates at NOVA then transfer to a 4 year university. I understand money is tight and no one wants to take out loans but honestly I know for me I'm only hurting myself if I continue to stay at home. 


After speaking to an adviser, She gave me great advice on how to go about transferring and getting grants and scholarships. I know I would never transfer if in the end I"ll be drowning in debt but with the amount of schools in Virginia, I am bound to find a school that is financially manageable. 


Community does have many advantages for most students who are unsure of their major or what school they really want to go to. Plus at most community colleges, students have the comfort of living at home where they feel the safest (Zimmerman). Another positive about community college is that most students can still maintain a part-time job, which makes it easier to save money.


However, It is not for everyone. It takes a lot to watch everyone you know go off to school while you stay home. In a sense I feel like I haven't really done anything since graduation.


Starting this week, I will be applying to a few schools. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. Once I receive letters, I'll tell my mom only because I may not transfer this upcoming fall and there is no need to worry that old woman. Wish me luck!


References:

Truth Exposed Pub Staff. (n.d.). Hot Pages. Retrieved Feb 2012, 2012, from Truth Exposed Pub. 

Zimmerman, B. (2008, Sept 12). Community College Rising in Popularity. Retrieved Feb 20, 2012, from NuWire Investor.

Want or Need?

For some, it can be hard to determine what a need and want are. We also sometimes confuse the fact that a need is something you cannot live without. For example this includes food and shelter. A want may include wanting an ice cream for dessert or a t.v. which is used solely for entertainment (Art Today).


Being a full time student, I feel that I need a laptop but the want includes what type of laptop I purchase. My family does share 1 laptop between four people, it can be very frustrating and difficult and find a time when it is available. 


This brought me to thinking how much easier school could be if I purchased my own laptop. Some reasons why I decided this was a good idea include:

• Laptops are portable, which means I do not have to be home in order to do my homework. 
• By owning my own, I do not have to worry about files being deleted or my younger brother allowing a virus on the laptop.
• With the laptop, I could not have to worry about finding an open seat in the computer lab, or the printers not working when it is needed most.
• Its an investment, Laptops can last for years and knowing I plan to transfer soon, I'll need something so I do not have to rely on others.

Thankfully I have been saving money for a laptop for quite some time and I also receive my unused FASFA money every semester. My main concern with purchasing something so pricey is the risk of something happening to it and also my family does not understand boundaries.

Even though I love my family, They have the worst luck with an electronic device, Especially my father. I'd love to know if I should stick it out through this semester by sharing or use my FASFA check to buy myself a laptop. 

Even though money is very tight, sometimes It is needed to spend a little in order to get a lot in return which I see as my education.

References:

White, David. Want Vs. Need: Basic Economics. Art Today. 2001-2002. Web 12 Feb 2012.

Magic of Macys

For anyone who works in retail can understand when I say, Its impossible to get a day off wether it's a weekday or weekend. Unfortunately for me, last week I came down with the flu and I had to take off. I work at Macys, which I believe does have a strict attendance policy. 

For those who don't know how Macys works, We operate on a point system. For every day you clock in or out early by 15 minutes, you lose half a point. For missing a weekday shift, its a point and finally missing a weekend shift or a sale day its 2 points. 

Being that I am still considered new, I was only given 3 points after almost 5 months of working there. What bothers me the most is that I couldn't afford to call out for two main reasons. 

1. Missing even a shift at Macys would take away my gas money for the week or my gym payment.

2. If I was to call out, I not only lose points but It also takes a month just to earn 1 point back. 

Thankfully I managed to at least go to my weekday shifts. After visiting the doctor friday, I was forced to bed rest until monday morning. Unfortunately I wasn't able to work saturday therefore I lost points for having the flu.

My main problem with this is, how can you punish someone for being sick? 

After looking through Retail-Worker, I have realized I am not the only one who finds the "point system" a tad bit outrageous.

Does anyone in retail have similar ways of operating?

Stressed?

My mom has always told me that stress really does affect your health. Unemployment definitely can cause a lot of stress. This also can stress out other family members or friends. Considering when you are unemployment the last thing you want to spend is extra money on medical bills, I decided to see if any form of stress can failure in health.

After looking through a few different medical pages, it brought of a few terms I remembered seeing in high school. One was the "fight or flight" reaction. For those who don't know what that means, its the body's natural alarm system. In the sympathetic nervous system, your body releases adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline increases the heart rate, blood pressure and boosts your energy supply (Mayo Clinic). Cortisol handles the nonessential functions of the body which includes the digestive system, and growth processes. The fight or flight reaction is only meant for short periods of time.

Many medical risks that come along with a long period of time of stress-response system include the following:

• Sleep problems
• Heart Disease
• Depression
• Digestive problems
• Obesity 
• Memory impairment
• Skin Conditions (ex. Eczema) 

None the risks listed above sound pleasing to anyone nor would anyone want to endure them if they can easily be prevented. I feel that next time I would like to discuss ways to relive stress. 

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Stress Management." Mayoclinic.com. N.P. 11 Sept 2010. Web. 6 Feb 2012.

Neimark, Neil. "Flight Or Fight Response." Thebodysoulconnection.com  N.P. Web. 6 Feb 2012. 

Way To Save

The economy is tight and almost everyone is finding ways adjusting to these changes. Including unemployment, providing the basic needs can be challenging. With my family, I constantly worry about if we can even afford rent or bills. Week after week I have tried to offer to pay for a bill or groceries. Every time I ask, the answer is always no. This is why I decided to find ways for me to be smart with my money and spend less.

Therefore I decided to list things I'm cutting back on:

1. Limit eating out to once a week, This even includes snacks at campus. I figured that would be unneeded spending considering I can simply bring a snack from home.

2. Limit clothes shopping to basic needs and not wants. Of course I will always want more then I have, most people are similar in that sense.

3. Find alternative ways to getting around. Gas prices have become a tad bit too expensive for meaningless drives.

4. Instead of going out to the movies, rent a movie from Redbox, Blockbuster or even a movie you have within your household.

5. Drinking less soda and Starbucks. I am definitely a caffeine addict and unfortunately I do get horrible headaches when I do not obtain caffeine but for the sake of saving over $20 a week, I feel this is a much needed cut back.

Even though I work two jobs, I beginning that saving my money is one of the smartest decisions. I say this because I never know when I could be laid off or fired from a job. And the uncertainty of this economy is the only motivation I need because my family's current situation.

Advice on saving and cutbacks was taken from 101 Ways To Save Blog.

Help Wanted

It seems everywhere I go, businesses are always in need of help. This really made me wonder, if so many places are in dire need of employees, why can't my father find a job? 


This probably is the most frustrating time in my life now because I have been the one taking my father to interviews or printing off his resumes. It really does tear a person down when they become unemployed. In the past year, I have watched my fathers personality and behaviors change drastically. 


Therefore I have decided to research some statistics on depression and unemployment and if they are connected in any way possible. 


After looking through Unemployment Depression's blog, I realized that depression can affect the unemployed after a certain amount of time being unemployed. From watching my father, I can tell he feels like he has lost control. He as a man is supposed to be the provider and in a way become discouraged. 


This blog also gave tips to finding a job, even though with today's economy I truly have my doubts with finding a stable job. This blog also gives tips on how to lift yourself from the depression that can come along with unemployment. This blog seems that it can be very helpful and beneficial to someone who seems helpless and uncertain about where life may be taking them.


I'm very curious to see how people feel about depression and unemployment being linked together. 

Top 10

I was actually surprised after reading Huffington's Blog and discovering neither Maryland or Virginia are in the top ten for unemployment. No surprise there that D.C. made the list, everyone knows that just by visiting the city every once in while. If you are wondering why I would even question the top 10 it is because everyone is hurting with the economy. Northern Virginia may be booming with success but what about southern Virginia. The Appalachian mountains have been known to be one of the poorest areas in America, which is part of VA. Some of the states that made the list such as Florida, It makes sense. After growing up in a small town outside of Orlando, I quickly learned its a tourist state. Therefore when its not vacation season, There isn't much Florida can survive off of. My main question for everyone is, do you feel that the top 10 list is accurate?

Unemploymentality

Picking my topic for this semester came easy. Unemployment seems to affect everyone at least once in their life. The main reason I picked this as my topic is because at one point this year I had both parents unemployed and unfortunately I was the only income for a family of four. This time in my life was extremely difficult because I couldn’t act like a normal teen that spent all my money on fast food or clothes. Currently I have one parent employed though life would be nicer if both were working. I would love share with everyone how to overcome unemployment and what are some tips to saving money and making every penny count with today's economy. Even if you are not unemployed or on a budget, I personally feel that living comfortably but also saving can be very beneficial to every one of all incomes. As for feedback, it is always appreciated and I'll do my best to be entertaining and informative throughout this semester. Please let me know of any tips or blog ideas also. I am always open to new things. Finally, Welcome to my blog and I hope this semester goes by for everyone.