Advice No One Tells You about Paying for College

Any of you going to college this year wondering how to pay for it?  Allow me to lay it all down for you. 

If you go pro athlete or pro entrepreneur while or before stepping in college, congratulations, none of this will apply to you.  Everyone else, read on. 

Once you start, you need to finish your degree program on time or sooner.  Any delay in your degree program makes it more expensive in the long run.  Let me explain. 

Going to school part-time may be an option, but it does come with financial risk.
The reality is that tuition increases rise faster in an 8 year span than average wages in 8 years for someone with no college degree working full-time and attending school part-time.  

You may leave school with "no debt" but you risk losing 4 years of increases in salary for someone with a college degree.  

Depending on where you go to school, taking out modest student loans and finishing on time or sooner is less expensive in the long run than going to school part-time.  In addition, going to school full-time makes you eligible for scholarships that you need to research and apply for.  

Education at any cost is very bad financial advice.  
Even if you got accepted to the best ranked program, if you cannot afford to go, think very long and hard about the student loans you anticipate taking out

The rule of thumb for student loans is this:

The total amount of your loans after graduating should not exceed 

what you could be making in your 1st year of pay in your selected profession.  

  

If paying back your student loans is going to be an issue, on top of where you want to live and work after graduation...you need to search for alternatives that will allow you to finish school on time and begin building your personal masses of wealth.  

Go to an affordable program 
One that does not require you to take massive amounts of loans.  No one cares if you went to community college and then transferred.  And another thing...

You will be fine or come out better off financially not going to a ranked/elite program

Once in a job, how well you do and how much you progress really depends on how your competencies fit the Key Responsibility Areas of your job description, and hardly on where you went to school.  

It is not so much about going to the right school as it is picking the right major.   It is important to figure out a major early and not change it 2, 3 or 7 times, delaying your completion date.  Some majors are better than others in terms of entry-level employability and facilitating paying off your loans.   Decide on a major, finish your major on time, and move on with your life.

Apply for all the scholarships you are qualified for.  90% of them require you to submit a transcript, maybe proof of financial aid, and just answer the question.  
All it takes is research what scholarships are available, see if you meet the minimum qualifications, submit a copy of your transcript and just answer the question on the scholarship application.  It is usually just a paragraph.  

Some scholarships require near perfect GPAs but I discovered that several do not, particularly the ones that require proof of financial aid (at least a 3.0) and there were more of that going around than honors scholarships.  

Applying to scholarships is similar to applying for jobs.  You are not qualified for everything out there but you need to set time aside to search and apply for jobs.  If you see a job you are qualified for, apply for it!  And just like jobs...

You may not be selected for your scholarship, but you still keep your edge on and applying.
Just like in the real world, this will happen to all of us at some point in our careers, where we are 1 of 2 finalists for a position but don’t get the job.  It is important to not get discouraged and lose our edge when we are not selected.  I’ve seen too many people who have gotten discouraged, lost their drive and pretty soon, they go from being the next to candidate #3, then #7 to not being interviewed at all. 

When one door closes, another will open.  

Back at Work after Baby

I'm late in announcing...I'm Back At work!  I returned to full time employment when Baby was 6 months old.  I stayed home 11 months. 

FAQ (aka Questions by Me and Answered by Me in my blog)

Which is harder - Stay at home mom or working mom? I think both are super hard if you don't have your husband to help you out at home.  Caring for young children is a full time job with very little to no flexibility for breaks or other home responsibilities unless another adult steps in to help.

The bulk of laundry, cooking, and cleaning got completed once my husband got home from work when I was home full-time.  One of us tended to our child while the other did whatever needed to be done.  If she was asleep we both would clean and cook together and maybe if we were lucky, watch a show on TV together.  

This hasn't changed since I returned to work full time nearly four months ago.

Where are you working now?
At one of the best companies on the planet - American Express.  

This is a great company for working parents to look into.    
(Opinions on this blog are my own, not of American Express)

Do you still nurse?  Yes!! I'm so happy about that since I had such a rough start when she was born.  Being at an extremely woman friendly employer helped to continue with nursing.  More on that later. 

Guilty?   Nope.  It made perfect sense to do this for our family at this time.  Just like it made perfect sense over a year ago to stay home during pregnancy. 

Who watches your kid?  Someone we absolutely trust and come to love like family.   

Were you bored at home?  Never.  This is the biggest lie ever - that staying home is boring.  
I always had things to do, and still have things to do - especially with my baby!

Are you sad about missing firsts?  At home I missed my baby's first rollover and then some while she was a newborn because I was sleep deprived enough to where I hallucinated that cats were everywhere in the house.  Babies are unpredictable and do what they want whenever they want to, not just from 8-5pm, M-F.  

Babies discover and do new things everyday and every thing a baby does each day is awesome.  It is really amazing as a parent to witness. 

How to get in the 800 Credit Score and Above Club in Eight Steps

Ever wonder what people do to get credit scores that are off the charts?  Well I can tell you because my score is over 800.  

Here's a sampling of what I've done.

1. Open a revolving credit card account albeit with a small limit ($450-$600) first thing in college

2. Take out student loans - but think long and hard about getting student loans where the total amount exceeds the amount you expect to earn in a year with that education.  That is why I picked accounting instead of art.

3. Pay the revolving credit card balance in full, every month.  Never pay the minimum.  Why pay interest?

4. Upon graduation, start paying off the balance of your student loans every month.  Start with the minimum, and then increase the monthly payments little by little when you get a job.  Set up automatic payment and get a discount off the fixed interest rate.

5. After being upset that I wouldn't get a credit increase on my first card, despite proving I paid on time and in full for many years, I applied for another revolving credit card with a higher limit and CASH BACK.  Eventually the first card closed on its own.  So far I have not applied for another card because they kept extending my limit so I did not need another card.  

6. Charge any expense I'd be making anyway to the credit card - groceries, bills, gas, etc BUT I PAY IN FULL AND ALWAYS ON TIME.  I NEVER EVER pay the minimum and I never pay interest.  I also NEVER have anything go into collections including medical bills, rent, magazine subscriptions etc.  

7. If I am eligible for an increase in my credit on my card, I always say YES.  I want to prove I can borrow more and still pay back in full what I borrow.

Last but not least...

8. NEVER CHECK YOUR OWN CREDIT.  It lowers your score no matter what you read online saying that it doesn't.  It does.  Sounds extreme but I assure you people in the 800 club don't do this.  There are better and practical ways to prevent identity theft such as reviewing statements on all your accounts every month, sometimes weekly.  And when you do apply for a loan, you get your credit checked there and can clear any discrepancies from reviewing the report. 

Follow these steps and enjoy the best interest rates offered on loans that do matter - a car and a house. 


PS:  Anyone who tells you to never get a credit card is clueless with managing money in general. 

Time to fix the Broken American financial system

Did you know that...

Traditional financial services are not working for most of the American population.  Money gives people options, and without options, it holds people back.  Many hardworking Americans do not have a bank account or do not have access to traditional financial services. They rely on cash and checks and tend to turn to alternative financial services, like check cashers, pawn shops, money order services and payday lenders, making them stuck in their financial situation because of the amount of fees it requires to use those alternative services.  

The good news is that while it is a large issue, it can be fixed.  There is new technology, new ideas, and affordable financial service products to help people who can't access the traditional services* so that consumers avoid those alternative services that rob hard workers through unnecessary fees.   

This issue is very important to me.  Many times on my blog I talk about money.  

I know that 89 billion dollars can go a long way making our world and our families happier if they didn't went into unnecessary fees of businesses that rob people instead of helping them.  

Watch this powerful documentary about this issue HERE

*opinions are my own and not of American Express

How to Wheel and Deal on A New Car Like a Lady

Dave's car got hit by a clueless driver.  Thankfully no one was hurt.  People aren't replaceable - but cars are.

Time to shop for another one!

We decided that we would replace the archaic 17 year old Honda Accord with over 200K+ miles with a brand new 2014 Honda Accord Sport fresh off the factory belt.

Yeah!  Our first new car ever for the both of us!!!!

When people (*ahem* men!) found out we were shopping for a new car

"Why are you wanting to buy a NEW car?"

"I would never pay to buy a new car.  You lose so much money, like $5K on depreciation"

I simply had to nod when I heard that, because they didn't understand how the business works when it comes to making money off cars, especially new ones.


How much markup is there on a new car?  Depending on the brand and model, very little, around 4-6% as a factory to dealer incentive when offered.  By selling the car at invoice price, the dealer is already getting about 4%.

How much markup is there on a used car that is 1-3 years old?  About 15-30% range.  I think that's a pretty significant difference.  Plus the manufacturer warranty is expiring by then, you have to determine the mileage and other stuff about the condition of the car - stuff I had no knowledge or time to learn more about.

The way I saw it, shopping for a new vehicle was easier, because the only thing I had to determine and deal with was the PRICE.

Before going shopping we looked up four things:

• The MSRP of the car at the manufacturer's website - only suckers pay retail for anything! 
• What other people in our area paid for the 2014 Honda Accord - about 12% lower from MSRP-this was something we couldn't pass up! 
• The dealer invoice price - every Honda dealer pays the same price and all get the same incentives, rebates etc from the manufacturer
• What dealers in our area were offering to sell the car.  We went to three dealerships.  

Doing this, we had a pretty good idea of how much we should really pay for a new Accord and asking the questions that mattered - everything tied to the price of the car.

For a lady, bringing your man isn't enough; you need your man AND a plan.  We talked and agreed about what we planned to do at each visit "We are not buying tonight.  We need to ask about X, Y and Z.  And most importantly we need to ask 'Can you beat our best price of $_____'"

The thought of car shopping and negotiating seems foreign and intimidating to most of the female population.  If you are apprehensive about talking to car salespeople, think this way:

This is YOUR money - not theirs.  You're the one in charge!  Don't agree to anything you did not ask for.  Simple as that.  All dealers want you to be their buyer and not their competitor's; if they can't offer what you want, you go to another dealer.  With new cars, they can't throw the "Someone else will buy it" because you can always order the car if it's not in stock.

We negotiated for a week bringing Baby in tow to all three dealerships.  She turned out to be really helpful, because when we didn't like a price that was offered, and wanted to leave, we said something to the extent of "Well it's getting close to her bedtime, we would like to talk more but we need to leave now"  The task of the car salespeople is trying to get you to buy TODAY.

We keep going back and forth from dealerships every night (minus Sunday) until two out of the three dealers couldn't beat our best price offered, "Go buy it from them."

Yes, it's possible for inexperienced car buyers to wheel and deal at a great price on a new car.  By great price, I am talking BELOW fair market value.  Even with the taxes and fees, we paid less than what the car could sell for in 5 years.

You don't need to bring me to your negotiations for a new car.  I know YOU CAN DO IT, not be fooled by anyone, and succeed.


Once you know what you want to buy, you
-Do your price research...this is a must.
-Ask questions about the price and the itemized quotes, out-the-door price.
-Keep it cool.  Don't be swayed by your emotions.  Listen to the salesman and pick out key words that he or she will say. "You said X, so are you willing to do this for Y?"
-Don't set an appointment.  Just walk in when you're ready to talk.
-Read stuff online about common car sales techniques, there is great information worth reading.  You will not be swayed by any type of car salesperson personality either.
-If you have awesome credit, financing the new car is better in the long run, especially if there is a killer interest rate.  (If financing through the dealership - they will try to trick you at the very last minute getting you on a higher interest rate, so keep an eagle eye out.  I knew we qualified for a 0.9% instead of the 2.7%, I told them to fix that upon my review before signing)


We felt so super with our new car purchase.  Even the head honcho of the dealership came up to us and said we beat him and didn't make any money on us (I'm sure he made some but not as much as he hoped)  The night before purchasing he even tried to be aggressive and get us to buy on the spot "Take it or leave it" but that didn't work along with his gruff stature and demeanor.  We just left and came back the next evening saying

"We will buy this car tonight but only if you take out X, Y, Z...and A!"

Before leaving, he asked

"What do you do for a living?"

"I'm an analyst"

"What do you analyze?"

"Cash"

"Aaah...I see.  Man you're good" and smiled.

Bye bye Dave's car.  Thanks for the happy memories.  

Hello gorgeous!  (Dave)
2014 Honda Accord Sport

It's Parents, Not Homework that Make Kids Sick.

What an eye sore reading this article from CNN about kids having too much homework and that it will ruin them for life.

Boo hoo!


Wait until you go to university.  The majority of your professors are convinced you're are the only student taking his/her class and assign homework like no other.  Along with having a final that is worth 80% of your grade and problems you are forced to figure out on the spot, not having reviewed how to solve them in class beforehand.  

Wait until you get a real job. Success on the job means you go above and beyond your role to get things done, because they have to be done!  Your boss gives you a deadline that is physically impossible: reconcile 3 months of payroll data of 800 employees in 3 weeks.  I pounded those reconciliations like no other, along with the other deadlines and tasks that had to be done.  At the night before the deadline I went to work at 8AM and did not leave the office until 5AM to shower and get back to the office at 7AM to present all what I did at 10AM.  Oh and I wasn't making $65K+ a yr.  It was probably less than half of that, and nope, not hourly.   But I developed grit and experience that benefited me in other jobs that came along my way.  My payroll overnighter on crack was nothing and will never come close to my long nights with a newborn though.  I deal with it and figure it's life. I have to do the hard things even when I'm tired, sick, and close to my wits end.

It brings me to mind of Amy Chua's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom", it's a memoir with the thought provoking analysis of the Western mentality vs the Asian mentality of raising children.  An excerpt from the book published in the Wall Street Journal struck a nerve with many parents.

Read the 8000+ comments in the WSJ about the book

Chua mentioned a study where 70% of Western moms thought stressing academic success is not good for kids, and... 0% of Chinese moms felt the opposite.  ZERO

The reason your Asian friends get A's is because their moms believe they can get A's and thus order them to do so, whether from a balanced loving autocratic standpoint, that most Western parents would find harsh, to death-grip parenting.

Chinese moms have no problem making sure their kids get their homework done, even if it takes them hours and whining on the kid's part.  I wouldn't be surprised if these parents felt their kids didn't get ENOUGH homework, and send them off to Kumon after school.  And they certainly won't watch "American Idol" in front of their kid that is trying to finish their homework.

If I had to choose between one parenting style, I'd pick Asian.  Not because my husband is Asian (he has a Western upbringing) but because Asian moms spend the time with their kid on homework and not go blame the teacher and make excuses for their kid when they're struggling in school.

I read some of the comments concerning the CNN article from parents living in Utah.  My first thought from reading the comment was trolls.  The more I thought about it, I know so many people that still can't keep or find a job, can't handle college, dropout, still live with their parents because they can't handle the stress of managing their finances, paying their bills, dealing with insurance companies or *GASP* pay rent

Some comments below which raised my too-thick eyebrows:

"I think kids, especially the really young ones like my 2nd grader, have WAY too much homework these days...I'm also extremely concerned about the 1-2 hours of outdoor play my little guy's missing 5 days a week because he's sitting at the kitchen table slaving away at paperwork and getting fat in the process! And crying because he really needs a break - physically and mentally."

"I have a high-school senior who spends hours on his AP stats homework each night. There is no class time to work on assignments. So, the application of lecture to assignment happens at home where there is, unfortunately, no one to help answer his questions. He has to stay after school often to get the help that he really needs."

"I think homework gets very overwhelming for my kids when they have 8 classes and almost each teacher gives them homework. They will get behind on a few assignments because all they are doing in their spare time is homework"

"I always hated homework... I would get terrible migraines from it. Math was the worst..."

This comment was refreshing and proof that not all is lost in the world (emphasis added):

"Yes, lets soften our already failing education system by not encouraging our High School kids to not do homework. Also no failing anyone, or holding anyone back. Stress is a part of life, it does not get any easier in College or in the workplace. Stop the excuses, if the AP and Honor kids can't handle it then drop back to normal courses. These kids are trying to get into the top tier schools in the country, you have to work hard to do so. I remember pulling all nighters in high school for AP courses, it helped me prep for all nighters in college, and now that I am in the real world I am grateful for that work ethic.  Please, raise adults, not children." 

I am a big fan of Harry Harrison Jr. who has no-nonsense parenting advice that childhood should be preparation for adulthood.  The last point he makes in his article is compelling: "We need to overcome our fears and let our children struggle.  That, more than anything will help them become successful adults."

Another book that I love, "A Nation of Wimps" emphasizes the reason kids are wimpy is because their parents made them wimpy.  According to the author, it's the parents' fault; through doing everything for them, asking the teacher to lighten their kids workload, go with them to their job interviews, give winners and losers a medal etc.

These adults can't function on their own.  They crash instead of bounce back from stress or failure.  They can't confront a problem faced in front of them.  "A Nation of Wimps" elaborates more the consequences of invasive parents and how it already exists.

I know it exists.  I'll never forget an experience I had during my freshman year in college.  I was called to the Dean's office because my roommate's mother thought I was bullying her kid and instead of telling her daughter to talk to me about the problem, the mom went ahead and called the Dean to do something about it.

People who know me personally know I do not come across as a bullying type.
Dave says I'm bossy.  Rude!  ;-D

I believe limiting homework assignments with the intention of easing stress on children will do them more harm than good as adults later in life.

To end the post I love this poem. 

It's not enough to say as a parent "I can do hard things"  As a parent we HAVE to do the hard things to raise successful children.  Moms and Dads should keep what this poem says when parenting seems like a swift kick in the butt and a super dose of humble pie.  

19 HARD THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Dan Waldschmidt, Edgy Conversations

You have to do the hard things. 

• You have to make the call you’re afraid to make.
• You have to get up earlier than you want to get up.
• You have to give more than you get in return right away.
• You have to care more about others than they care about you.
• You have to fight when you are already injured, bloody, and sore.
• You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter.
• You have to lead when no one else is following you yet.
• You have to invest in yourself even though no one else is.
• You have to look like a fool while you’re looking for answers you don’t have.
• You have to grind out the details when it’s easier to shrug them off.
• You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option.
• You have to search for your own explanations even when you’re told to accept the “facts.”
• You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot.
• You have to try and fail and try again.
• You have to run faster even though you’re out of breath.
• You have to be kind to people who have been cruel to you.
• You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results that are unparalleled.
• You have to be accountable for your actions even when things go wrong.
• You have to keep moving towards where you want to be no matter what’s in front of you.

You have to do the hard things. The things that no one else is doing. The things that scare you. The things that make you wonder how much longer you can hold on.

Those are the things that define you. Those are the things that make the difference between living a life of mediocrity or outrageous success.

The hard things are the easiest things to avoid. To excuse away. To pretend like they don’t apply to you.

The simple truth about how ordinary people accomplish outrageous feats of success is that they do the hard things that smarter, wealthier, more qualified people don’t have the courage — or desperation — to do.

Do the hard things. You might be surprised at how amazing you really are.

Pregnancy Musings #2

I didn't get any offers for the positions I interviewed at.  

But that's fine!  I had already decided that if I didn't get a job offer by August, I will halt my job search and get ready for baby ^_^

Later I will go back to work when I feel it's right to do so.  Maybe I will pursue grad school instead.  

I always think it's good for women to work outside of the home. It's like insurance for your family if something unexpected happened.  

Of course I used to dread a lot about staying home back when I worked.   

Some things I worried about a lot as a full time college educated professional and not worry about anymore:

"You will be bored at home" 

Guess what??

I can get bored at work too!  Especially since my ultimate professional goal is to get a job that is all glory, great pay, and no effort.  Most likely I will have to invent this job description.  I wouldn't be able to by moving up the ladder at several places.  

I haven't been bored at home.  Just lazy, since it feels like a long term vacation :-D  Slowly working on a routine.    

"You won't be successful in your career if you don't have a job"

Guess what??

I don't consider it a career success if you just work for someone else.  Every. freaking. day. until. retirement.  This may be true for some but not for me.  

For me, a career success would be to have people work for me.  A career success is that business keeps going as usual, without me needing to be there if I'm the owner.  

I don't consider people successful if they are working to make money.  The successful ones make their money work for them.  At some point I don't want to work for money!

Also not working for someone else gives you lots of time to think of possible new business ideas that have been hibernating in your brain.  Having a full-time job, all I would think about was the job at hand and nothing else.  

If my ideas don't work, then I can always go back to work again.  Simple as that.  

"You won't have money"

Guess what??

I have savings!  I wouldn't have quit if I was broke!  And I saved more when I made LESS money back in the day.  If you're spending more than what you earn, you look for ways to cut expenses, or find another way of making revenue.  Easy.   

"You have better use of time by having a full-time job"

Guess what??

I remember how frustrated I would get because I wanted to help out in the community but I couldn't because of work.   

There are so many organizations/charities that need help to achieve their honorable and worthy goals and the most requested thing besides needing money is volunteer TIME.  Time is so valuable!!  

I was very surprised at how many organizations/charities need volunteer help with admin/office work over delivering heavy boxes of canned food.  It's also good for the networking and references in the future.

I've been in contact with some organizations and from there we'll see what works for me and for them.  I'm excited!  

Realizing these things made me feel free.  Feeling free makes me happy and I want it to stay that way :)

Successful Interviewing Tips - Part One

You need a job?  Three ways to get one

1. Have an insider connection

2. Work for your daddy

3. Have a successful interview.  Let's elaborate on this!

My first few interviews out of college were total disasters.
I did appear like an idiot hopeless for an accounting job.  After each interview, I resolved to do better than the last one.  

I'm not an HR expert.  But I've learned quite a bit of what works and what doesn't work, from my interviewing experiences.  I've come a long way from not being invited for second rounds to always being asked to come back again and sometimes with offers.  Here are my tips, and I know they work.

KNOW THY JOB DESCRIPTION

After completing the job application, email a copy of the job description to yourself.   Once the job closes for applicants, chances are you will not be able to view the job description online and you need the job description to prepare for the interview.  

Job descriptions are a great way to determine what questions could be asked at your interview.  Take a look at a portion of this job description.

...this individual should have an ability to lead and motivate groups and individuals; to overcome obstacles to cooperation and to foster harmonious relations; to balance competing priorities, complex situations, and tight deadlines...this individual must be able to work in harmony with others.

Reading this description, you should expect to get behavior-related questions related to that job description, and get ready to answer them.

To get ready for those behavior related questions, I do a little exercise:
I turn around the job description into questions and ask myself:

How do I motive groups and individuals?

What do I do to overcome obstacles to cooperation and foster good relations with external and internal customers?

How do I balance my workload, difficult situations, and deadlines?  What has been successful?

How do I work well with others?


Going through this exercise, you are most likely to answer 99% of the behavior related questions in the interview.

I love this database of interview questions HERE.  Save and/or print for your future reference!  

If you don't know a good answer to an interview question that could be asked, seek input from someone older and wiser with job experience, management, and interviewing.  The internet has a great resource but it's best to seek the opinion of others who have been on the other end of interviewing.  My father and my father-in-law were extremely helpful with that.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR INTERVIEWERS

Do not ask questions about the company that anyone can answer by reading the website. 

Do not ask about salary, or time off.  Leave those questions out until you receive an offer! 

Let me explain a true story.

After being hired at my last job, there was another position to fill.  My former supervisor said that one applicant who applied internally asked about time off because she was getting married.  The fact that I was taking time off for my wedding around the time she was became a factor in getting hired because in his words, he "didn't want to run the risk of both of us getting pregnant around the same time and having us both out on maternity leave" and went off on how hard it would be for month-end, and finding coverage and blah blah blah.  

So he hired another female applicant that was older and done with having kids.

Looking back at this...I'm now thinking "WTH, nobody informed you of their family plans and I was told by my boss that he didn't hire someone just because she could get pregnant?!"  I should have reported that incident to HR but alas, I was naive and inexperienced at the time.

When I was interviewing for that job, I made no mention about me getting married until I had my offer and negotiated the time off there.

Lesson learned: Don't bring up anything that will promote a bias in hiring!

If the salary question comes up during the interview...
What are your salary expectations?

For me this is a tough question.  I am not sure if I am the best in maximizing the most out of salary.

When I was asked that, I decided to respond by asking innocently, "Well what is the typical range for a position like this in your company?"  This job was through a recruiter/head hunter so I knew that they were open to salary, but it was a new position, so I really had no idea.  Then the interviewer gave me a range and then I replied "Yes, this is where I'd be okay with"  Especially since the range was significantly higher than what I made at my last job.

I wasn't comfortable with answering something like "I expect to be paid fairly for my experience" or "My salary requirements are flexible" because that would lead to them pushing you for a number, or low-balling you.

Lesson learned: From my haggling experiences, make them say a number first, not you  Check out shows like Hardcore Pawn and American Pickers to see how it works.

Take notes during the interview.  This isn't strange to do, because interviewers take notes too.  If there is any clarification or elaboration you need, ask:  

I noticed you mentioned X.  Can you explain about how X turns to Y and Z?

Why is this position open?

Reasonable answers from interviewers are that the employee retired, moved out of state, this is a new position, or the employee accepted another job outside the company.  If they left, ask them how long have they been working there, and how often has this position been filled before that person left.  Depending on the job and industry, if there is high turnover, that is an indicator that bullying and/or harassment is taking place.  

If they said the "employee got a promotion, or moved to another department" take note.  

If you get an offer, ask for a reference from that employee or former employees so that they can corroborate the account.
It may be they transferred because that boss was a jerk, and the company just promoted him/her so that they wouldn't leave the team and not work for that boss!

Hiring managers shouldn't have a problem with providing you references if they are checking YOUR references.  They want to know from your references if you are a good employee.  You want to know if you will work for a good boss based on references from employees that worked under that boss.  

If the hiring manager has a problem with that, then you know that the hiring manager has something to hide.  

How many employees work here, how many I would be working with as a team?

Just an idea in general of the environment and how many people you will need to work with. 

How are your employees evaluated and given feedback?

You can learn a lot from a manager's management style this way.

Questions about training and development
Do you want to be at a job where you are bored and never learn anything?  Does the manager even care about your professional development?

Is there anything else that you would like me to clarify concerning my work experience or resume?
This is a great question to ask your interviewers.  That way you know what they're thinking and hopefully answer any questions that may enable you for second-round and/or hire.

ONCE YOU FEEL YOU HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, ASK

What's the next step in the interview process?

If the hiring manager says something vague like:
"We'll call you in a couple of days"
Chances are you are not considered for second-round or for hire.

If they are more specific: "We are still interviewing and we should have a decision by the end of this week"  OR "Next Tuesday, Thursday etc"
Then there's a chance.  

TIP:  When scheduling for an interview, take note of the days that are available for interview.  This is a good way to measure the timing of the first round interview.  

May I contact you if I have questions? 

That way you remember their names, and send them a thank-you note via email.  

A WORD ON CONNECTIONS

I participated in an interview where the applicant did everything that one must NOT DO during an interview. Seriously.  Everything from phone ringing to asking about salary.  Very unprofessional.  Very goofball.  He had a bachelors degree, but not the degree required for the job!  His resume was ridiculous and vague.  

But he got the job because the hiring manager was one of his friends that worked together in a previous job.  The hiring manager knew he was trainable and could do the job but not good at interviewing.
Lesson learned: If you don't have a connection, you need to do well in your interview!



Yes, there may be a chance you won't get hired, but at every interview, you will get better with time.
Keep interviewing if you want a job!  

What do you think about these tips?  Comment or share any insights you may have on interviewing below.  Your suggestions may help somebody!  

I'm working on a special post on pregnancy and interviewing.  Keep checking back for it! 

Read this and get .25 off your gallon of milk

Since quitting my job and staying home, I wanted to become more vigilant in using coupons for our groceries.

I'm not big on having a closet full of food storage up the ceiling.  It doesn't work for us now with the space we have and our family situation.  Plus I don't eat a lot of canned foods/soups, or packaged/frozen meals that much. They aren't that healthy and I don't like how they taste; too salty or fake to me.

I also avoid case sales and don't think having a Costco membership would be worth it for us for now.  I usually like to buy things and wait until we run out of an item to purchase again. But I wanted to at least start using coupons for things we would buy:

Milk
Cereal
Paper Towels
Toilet paper
Juice
Condiments
Cleaning items
Laundry items
Personal Care (lotion, deodorant, etc)

Things I'm learning with couponing:

It does take up time. But any commitment to control finances and make your savings grow takes time too.  On the day of, or on the day before I do grocery shopping, I spend about an hour at the minimum online downloading and printing coupons.

If you live by a Smith's or other major grocer, you can load coupons on to your rewards card.  I felt dumb not knowing this for YEARS.  After setting up my account online, I make a habit checking out coupons I'd use before going on a shopping trip to load to the card attached on my keychain...

There is a legit site called CoolSavings.com.  I absolutely LOVE IT and highly recommend it.   No gimmicks or surveys to fill out.  You do need to download their coupon program.

It took me about an hour to figure out how to print the coupons from CoolSavings but I was determined to get my 25 cent coupon of any brand of gallon milk (only in UT and ID).  I've never seen a coupon for milk until now!  Download it HERE.

Sometimes the coupons don't register on the grocery rewards card, so I print out the exact same coupon from CoolSavings.  Sometimes you can double on the same item with the coupon loaded to your rewards card and the coupon printouts.  Not all the time though.

Even if you don't coupon, you should at least look in the back of the redplum.com coupon circular to see if you recognize a missing child.

I don't have a newspaper subscription but I asked my mother-in-law if she would give me the coupons from her Sunday paper after she goes through the coupons she wants and she said yes!  She is so nice!!

My goal is to aim for 10% savings on groceries each shopping trip.  My first time using coupons I clipped online, and paper.  I got to redeem $6 of coupons and was able to save about 15%.

Not big but it's something!  This week I didn't hit my 10% savings on coupons but at least I'm using them!

Alina is Home (for now)

Sooooo....


Last week I decided to quit my job for personal reasons.
(Disclaimer: IMO, don't quit your job unless you have a Plan B and have full support of those who really love and care for you) 
I was able to do this without fear or regret because we have a chunk of savings.

I don't have a secret recipe to save a lot money, or get out of debt.  And you don't need a high-paying job to do so.

It is more of deciding what can you live without to build savings/get debt-free.

Do you need to go out to a movie every weekend?
Do you need to go on lots of vacations?
Do you really need new clothes?
Do you really need to go to a salon to get your highlights and nails done?
Do you really need to smoke, drink, and/or eat crap to damage your body and end up paying more for healthcare and dentists?

A lot of our savings we still have because we didn't blow it all for the wedding reception.  (and we've been married a year!!  Hooray!)

Do you need to spend a lot on photography?
Do you need to have a videographer?
Do you need to have a luncheon/dinner?
Do you need to have your invitations engraved?
Do you need to have your honeymoon overseas?
Do you need to have chair covers?
Do you need to have an expensive wedding ring (while making payments on it)
Do you need to have your wedding reception at a place other than a cultural hall?  

Those are just thoughts of mine.  It just matters what's important to you and what can you live without.

During this time between looking for a new job and resting, I decided that is this the opportunity to try some different and enriching things while being domestic like cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry for my man! 


I want to learn how to sew!  I'm a bit intimidated by sewing but I got to try it now that I have a sewing machine.

I also want to get familiar with blog design since my blog isn't cute.  It is a nice break from spreadsheets while still working with my brain.  I do like spreadsheets though and make people believe that I am smart.  Dave says I'm smart ^_^.  

I also want to get more serious with my calligraphy too.

Money Habits

If you want to save money and avoid credit card debt there are two rules I learned in a personal finance class in college

1. Collect interest.


2. Never pay interest.



That's it!!  


Saving money is a discipline hard to put into practice but having savings gives us a huge piece of mind whenever we're faced with a big decision, and gives us more freedom.  More on that later on another day.



Other updates: Dave's grandma of nearly 98 passed away and had a nice funeral service for her this Thursday.  And a great friend came to visit us for the long weekend.



On a final note, aside from the day off and the shopping sales tomorrow....

There are no goodbyes for us.  Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.

Mohandas Gandhi

1869 -  1948

Remember our fallen men and women, and their families this Monday, Memorial Day.  

Corrective Vision Surgery

I wasn't born with perfect vision but decided to fix that with a medical intervention  I'll blog briefly about my experience, but mostly on costs.

This is my eye.  During surgery, I could only see the eerie "Ring" thing

If you're thinking about having it done, you should do it!

If you are hesitant about the cost of surgery just know that...  

If your vision is lousy, it is worth every. single. cent. going through with this surgery

I've lived with extremely poor vision as a kid and wore glasses and contacts.  

Around 2010, I came to the realization that I was completely USELESS and couldn't do ANYTHING if I didn't have my glasses or contacts on.

That was it!!!! 

It was scary not being able to see. 

How to curb some of the costs for your surgery.

Get your eye exam and be cleared for surgery before your employer's open enrollment.

Why? You'll know first whether you need the surgery.  Second you can determine how much money you can put in a flex-savings-account (if offered) before open enrollment to cover the surgery and other costs like eye drops.  Not to mention the tax savings there.  

The surgery cost about $4800, but my employer had a $1100 discount incentive (I worked at the U, and had my surgery at the Moran Eye Center).

The FSA gave me the money upfront to pay for the surgery, and then during the year, I had small amounts deducted from each paycheck to make up for the thousands of dollars I put into the FSA that year. That was manageable instead of losing a whole chunk of cash, just take a small portion each pay period. 

Ready, aim, fire!

The FSA was good in another way.  I freaked out before surgery ("OMG my eyes are going to be burned off?!?!?!?!?!") but didn't back out because I would lose all the money I put in the FSA if I didn't go through with the surgery.  So greedy and stingy. 

There are always affordable options to pay for eye surgery, but I think the FSA was the best option for me.  

I was legally blind without corrective lenses, about 20/800.  I'm seeing 20/20 and couldn't be happier.  

Last time wearing glasses and looking at a camera with blurry vision!

LASIK/PRK is honestly one of the best things to spend a lot of money on, and you'll enjoy great vision for the rest of your life. 

Champagne decor on a beer budget

My husband Dave told me a story about a discussion he and my brother-in-law had at lunch earlier this week.  My Dave and BIL are seriously like twins, having done everything together since they were little and still have a great relationship.  Can we say "bro-mance" ? :-D

My rad BIL is smart and successful in his job and going to grad school.  He is also going to be a homeowner of a brand new townhouse in Daybreak.  Construction is almost done.

So Dave mentions to BIL: "You should have Alina come help you decorate your place"

BIL: "I don't know man, her taste is too high"

Dave: "What do you mean?"

BIL: "Those chairs, they cost like $300 bucks each??"

Dave: "No.  We got them at Ikea for $70 bucks each

Before the dining table and chairs

Sorry for the bad lighting but here they are

This is with a tablecloth we got on clearance at Williams-Sonoma for $20 instead of $90.  The picture frame we got for free from one of Dave's friends.  The flower vase was from Burlington Coat Factory for $5.  The tray was from Tuesday Morning for I think $15. 

The chair without the slip cover is $50 but the white slipcover is the least expensive of this chair line at Ikea (and not everything there is a bang for your buck at Ikea in my opinion) and was $10.  We didn't want to budget $250 for 2 chairs that "matched" the dining table from Kohl's so we kept looking around until we saw something we liked at a price we were comfortable at.  

You can refer to the price of the Ikea chairs HERE

Back to the story, my BIL then said: "Oh yeah?? But what about that mirror??"

He was referring to this rectangular mirror :

Dave replied: "Oh that?  That is...

From WAL-MART."  

This was $40 bucks!!  

(look HERE, this is in-stores only but it has excellent reviews)

I love this mirror because (1) it makes our living space look bigger and more "balanced"  (2) it is light, it isn't heavy to hang like other mirrors and (3) it was the best price for a mirror that size.  

I think it looks great!  Looking at our little space makes me happy.  

Some tips for making your space look smashing good

1. Have a budget.  You need to be comfortable with paying the price you want. Plus if you don't set a limit, you'll be looking forever at the wrong stores and wasting time.  

2. Shop around and compare.  Sometimes you may not know what the average cost is for an item until you do this.  I had no idea what a mirror like that should cost so I looked around.  With the mirrors, some were $250, others (like Ikea) were around $99, and the price was right with Wal-Mart for the rectangular mirror.

3. Be inspired with what you see on blogs, Pinterest, TV shows, and home decor magazines on decorating on a budget.  There is always a look-alike somewhere if you just. keep. looking.  You get lots of ideas from this. 

4. Ask me for help :)  Let's see what I can do to help you find something lovely at a price you're comfortable with.