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Many of us want to improve our lives. Whether you want to improve your ability to earn money, improve your quality of life, or improve your mind, there’s always room to get better.
If you want to constantly progress and improve, developing the right habits can take you a long way. Here are five habits that, once developed, can help you improve yourself:
1. Read Educational and Inspirational Books
A habit of reading can be one of the best ways to improve yourself. Choose books that are educational and inspirational. Read books about people who’ve achieved goals similar to yours. Whether it’s learning about history, money, business, or art, continue to read. You’ll learn about whatever you are reading of course, but the benefits extend beyond the educational side of things. Those who read have a better ability to focus and stick with the task at hand. It also helps you write better, which is important in an era where so much of your work communication happens online through email.
While reading for enjoyment and relaxation can be a pleasurable experience, it’s not going to have the same effect. Develop a good educational reading habit, and you’ll be well on your way to improvement. [ continue reading… ]
A graduate degree is an essential step for certain industries, and generally, the more important it is the higher up the corporate ladder you wish to climb. Undoubtedly, earning a graduate degree can be a wise career move for some people, but there are many ways to pursue the degree that actually hurt your financial situation, career prospects, and leave you no better off than you were before (except the fancy initials in your title). The following are perhaps the most common financial mistakes people make when pursuing a graduate degree.
#1: No Specific Target Career
You’re in the minority if you have the time and finances to pursue a graduate degree simply based on your interests. Ideally, most people are able to find a prospective career that closely aligns with their interests and talents, but there are other factors to consider, such as whether the degree will make you competitive for an actual, obtainable job. A bachelor’s degree may qualify you for a wider range of less specialized jobs, often regardless of the major, but graduate studies narrow that focus. This means you need to think one step ahead: what am I going to do with this? Before you select your course of study, do some research into what types of careers it will qualify you for, what the salary range is, and whether you can picture yourself in one these roles long-term. [ continue reading… ]
We all have different money priorities and ideas of how money should be spent. When it comes to meshing your life with a partner though, these beliefs and priorities can get in the way of harmony.
I have a good relationship with my ex-husband right now, but looking back it is clear that there were some fundamental issues we didn’t agree on. And because we didn’t talk about it before we tied the knot, these differences came out later when we had to navigate our finances together. Some of the differences in spending priorities were so dramatic that it put very real strain on our relationship. It didn’t help that we were both completely blindsided by these differences either.
Learn from us. Before you get too far into planning a long-term life partnership with someone, it can help to play the “what if” game with a potential partner to get an idea of where you agree, and where you might need compromise. [ continue reading… ]
Promoting ourselves – tooting our own proverbial horn – is a practice we tend to view as selfish. But is it? Self-promotion (or self-marketing, as I prefer to call it) isn’t just the best way to make it to the top of the corporate ladder when it comes to succeeding in some career fields, but it is a necessary part of launching and growing a personal business, brand, or identity.
Some professionals feel the pressure to self-promote more than others – freelance writers and artists, solopreneurs, career coaches, contract workers, and agents just to name a few. If they don’t make themselves visible, no one else will and their careers will fail. Even though they’ve chosen these career fields, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re comfortable with the self-marketing that comes with it. What often happens is that they eventually realize that they need to learn to be highlighting their strengths much more if they want to succeed.
I’m one of those reluctant self-promoters… what about you?
I find it hard enough to ‘brag’ about myself on my resume, let alone in the queries, pitches and LOIs that come with freelancing. The “about me” paragraph always makes me feel uncomfortable, no matter how many times I’ve written one. Although I’m still learning, I’ve picked up a few survival tips of how shy, introverts like us can find our place between the uncomfortable edge of ‘this isn’t me’ and standing in the corner hoping someone will notice us. Without further ado, here are my top five self-marketing tips for shy people. [ continue reading… ]
At a national average of $729 a month for new cars and $528 a month for used, car payments can take a big chunk out of the monthly budget. Even if you avoid car loans, the high cost of a vehicle can delay other savings goals. Either way, it’s rewarding when a vehicle costs nothing more than fuel and routine maintenance. In fact, it’s such a rewarding feeling that you might miss important signs it’s time to start car shopping again.
Being frugal is a great quality when it comes to vehicle purchases – while the average consumer purchases a new one every 3 to 5 years, today’s vehicles are designed to last 10 or more. Still, it’s possible to be too frugal and end up costing yourself more money in the long run. If you have any doubts about whether it’s time to buy a newer vehicle, consider these four signs.
1. Your Vehicle’s Safety is Questionable
Aesthetic qualities and luxury features are one thing, but safety is quite another. If there’s any question whether your vehicle can get you safely from Point A to Point B, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Here are a few examples of what might constitute a safety concern:
Your vehicle sometimes has mobility problems. If this happens on the road, it could cause an accident.
Your vehicle lacks important safety features. Newer vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features, but we’re talking about the basics – seatbelts, curtain air bags, traction control, etc.
Your vehicle has been in an accident or has extensive rust that could compromise is structural integrity. The appearance of rust might not bother you, but the damage it does to internal parts could.
Debt is one of the easiest traps to fall into and it can seem like it’s practically impossible to get out of. The formula to paying off debt is relatively simple; spend less than you earn. The reality isn’t easy to apply to your life though. After all, it’s difficult to create new habits and change your mindset about money.
I’ve been there. I’ve had many days of non-stop anxiety and sleepless nights because I worry whether I’ll have enough to cover my expenses. But I made it through the tough financial times and conquered my debt, so I know you can do the same. You just have to find out what’s really hindering your progress and most of the time, it’s usually a mental roadblock.
Success with money (or lack thereof) usually comes to down to one of these phrases. [ continue reading… ]
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