Working during the summer when school is out of session is a great opportunity for teenagers to make money and assert their independence. Having a summer job can help you earn spending money, pay for college, and gain practical experience for a future career, all while providing opportunities not available during the school year.Deciding what you want to do is the hard part. Do you want to work outside? Work with others? Work with animals? Once you figure that out, you will find that there are summer jobs that fit the bill for almost any interests you may have.As a high schooler, you … [Read more...]
David Quilty
What to Do If You Win the Lottery
I have admitted it before and I will admit it again - occasionally, I play the lottery. Not with any real expectation of winning, of course, but just for the fun of it and the "what if" tease that comes when some of my numbers pop up.But even though we all dream of winning the lottery, not too many of us are prepared to handle what comes next. In fact, your lucky day could turn into your unlucky day if you're not careful.With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most important things you can do to avoid becoming a loser after winning. Before Claiming Your Prize Laying a … [Read more...]
10 Best U.S. Cities to Live In
Americans are mobile people. In fact, the U.S. Census reports that about one in six Americans move each year. Though most moves are local, nearly one-sixth of all people who move change states.Finding the home that is right for you largely comes down to personal preferences, and the cities in this country have such varying characteristics that it can be a daunting task to narrow your search down to just one. However, taking a broad view of the cities and investigating the characteristics that will affect your life on a daily basis can help you narrow it down.By combing through several … [Read more...]
What Is Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
While most of us cannot live entirely debt-free, there are major differences between what is considered "good" debt and "bad" debt. Though some debt falls into a bit of a gray area, good debt is simply defined as money borrowed to pay for items you truly need or that appreciate in value, and bad debt is accrued for items you only want and that generally depreciate in value.To help you make this distinction, it is important to be able to differentiate between wants and needs. Moreover, before borrowing money, you need to determine whether the money is going toward something that will have a … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Save on a Vacation Home Rental of Your Dreams
When planning a vacation, you'll be faced with an array of lodging options: hotels, motels, campers and RVs, tents, and home rentals. While these are all excellent options, my personal favorite is the short-term vacation rental.A vacation rental is typically a fully furnished home, condo, or apartment. The experience of staying in a rental is similar to staying at a hotel, with the added benefits that it's much larger, more private, and usually offers a more comfortable, relaxing "homey" feel. It may even supply travel supplies.Although vacation rentals are widely available, the tricky … [Read more...]
Top 15 Jobs That Require Little or No Experience
Are you fresh out of school, looking for a job, but lacking in experience? You might think this will stop you from landing a decent paying job, but that's not true. Not every entry-level, "no experience necessary" job is a dead-end.While many professional careers do require formal higher education and years of experience, you can find high paying jobs that don't require a college degree or prior experience. Some of these jobs even offer paid, on-the-job training!To help you get started on your job search, check out these 15 suggestions, along with salary estimates and employment … [Read more...]
10 Reasons to Volunteer Your Time or Work for Free
If someone asked whether you would like to work for free, your initial reaction might be, "No way!" or, "Why would I do that?" However, there are several reasons, depending on your situation and goals, why volunteering may actually be in your best interest.For example, if you're focused on how to make your paycheck last longer, think too of how to make it bigger. Working gratis can provide you with the experience to do just that.But, given all the volunteer "opportunities" available these days, it's important to choose wisely where to exert your non-compensated efforts. Do you want to … [Read more...]
11 High Paying Six-Figure Jobs Without a College Degree
While many aspire to go to college after high school, not everyone can, or should, head straight to university. Family issues, a lack of funds, unforeseen responsibilities, or the choice of career path might dissuade someone from attending college. Only 27.5% of the U.S. adult population has a four-year college degree.Many people who do not attend college earn six-figure incomes and become successful without four-year college degrees. In fact, studies revealing that high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million over the course of their working life illustrate that opportunities … [Read more...]
9 Effects of the Recession on Families and How to Cope
During any recession, news stories about unemployment figures take center stage while the families dealing with the recession suffer, often quietly. People work hard just to stay afloat in hopes that the economy will turn around soon, but often to no avail.While many families do their best to carry on as if nothing is wrong with the world, recessions can have a profound effect on their day-to-day interactions and the way they live. Families may not be able to avoid the effects of the recession, but they can make changes that can improve their situations and help them prepare for the … [Read more...]
What Is a Midlife Crisis – Signs, Symptoms & How to Deal with It
Buying an expensive sports car, getting some fancy bling, and getting Botox injections: What do these three behaviors have in common?They may be signs that someone is having a midlife crisis. A midlife crisis happens to many men and women, often between the ages of 35 and 55. A midlife crisis can dig a significant hole in someone's savings and retirement accounts, and while some studies have shown that only about 10% of the U.S. population has a legitimate, identifiable midlife crisis, the process can be painful for many people.Most people manage to work their way through a midlife … [Read more...]
Wardrobing on the Rise in Tough Economic Times
"Wardrobing" is the act of buying a product from a retailer (most commonly high-end clothing, but it can be other items as well), using it for a while, and then returning it as "unused" to the store for a full refund. For example, people who need a formal dress or suit to wear once (e.g. wedding tuxedo or wedding dress), or even people who need to access technology equipment, sometimes take advantage of liberal return policies in order to "borrow" the items they need free of charge.Instead of purchasing what they need like a normal customer, wardrobers turn retail stores into their own … [Read more...]