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Finding and Keeping a Job in Today’s Economy

2010-08-25T07:00:00Z

Everywhere people are talking about the challenges that come with job-hunting in the current economy. Many are quick to assume that there is nothing one can do to improve their likelihood of finding a great position or advance the one they have. This is simply not true; consider these suggestions on how you can move up in today’s job market.

Expand Your Knowledge Base: Apprentice work, an internship, or active participation within your chosen field is a great foot in the door to any job. By creating networks and learning skills beyond those you already have, you enhance your resume as well as your knowledge base.

Notice Places Needing Improvement: Have you ever worked a job where a needed skill was missing? Consider learning the skills that are needed in your target organization. Having skills others don’t that are important to the business is much more likely to help you earn a raise or outshine other job candidates, possibly in ways the boss might not have considered yet.

Be Bold: Job-hunting is not the time to be shy. Moreover, you are unlikely to get a raise or promotion unless you ask. Use creativity and aggressive yet professional interest to make sure that you are a candidate that stands out as exceptional.

Meet Everyone: In Japan it is a common practice to carry business cards all the time, because you never know whom you are going to meet. Even if you are unemployed nothing shows professionalism quite like being able to present your contact information in a simple takeaway form. If it is your first time creating business cards do a quick search online to see how other professionals in your field display their information.

Don’t Give Up: This is a big one. Many of the most famous (and wealthy) individuals will tell you that perseverance is a key trait to success. Whenever the challenges of the job hunt get you down, just remember each obstacle is a step towards the forthcoming success.

Need inspiration? Check out these films about success in the face of economic struggle:

“The Pursuit of Happyness”: Will Smith plays leading man, Chris Gardner, in this film based on the real life events of a businessman who managed to work a job, compete at a non-paid internship at Bear-Sterns, and raise his son while homeless.
The Secret of My Success”: Michael J. Fox goes about getting his foot in the door by pretending to be an executive in a way that could only be done in this 1980’s classic.

Amara Dumlao is a Reviewer, Writer, Designer and Marketing Consultant. A graduate of the Eller College of Business Management at the University of Arizona and a former Banker, Amara combines global business savvy with creative real world financial applications.

A regular community volunteer, DIY enthusiast, social networking guru, and avid traveler, Amara believes in applying the wisdom of the past with the technology of the future to create a fulfilling balanced life.

Should you buy or lease your next car?

2010-07-28T07:00:00Z

Buying and leasing each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Making this decision depends on several factors, including your personal preferences and finances. Here are things to consider:

OWNERSHIP

Leasing: You don’t own the vehicle; you must return it at the end of the lease unless you choose to buy it.

Buying: You own the vehicle once you make the last payment.

UP-FRONT COSTS

Leasing: There may be up-front costs such as the first month’s payment, refundable security deposit, capitalized cost reduction, taxes, registration or other fees. You typically will be required to carry higher insurance coverage amounts as well.

Buying: Some of the up-front costs include the down payment, taxes, registration and other fees.

PAYMENTS

Leasing: Monthly payments are usually the same as a purchase; the term is shorter since you are paying only for the vehicle’s depreciation.

Buying: Monthly payments are usually the same as a lease; the term will be longer because you are paying for the entire purchase price of the vehicle.

EARLY TERMINATION

Leasing: This is possible at any time, but you are still responsible for the balance of the lease payments (without tax), the original residual value, plus any termination charges.

Buying: This is possible at any time, but you are still responsible for the balance of the loan (without interest).

RETURNNG THE VEHICLE

Leasing: When the lease is up you are required to return the vehicle to a location designated by the lender and pay any end-of-lease costs such as penalties for excess wear and tear or mileage over the agreed upon limits set forth in the lease agreement.

Buying: Not required, when you make the last payment you own the vehicle.

FUTURE VALUE

Leasing: The future value of the vehicle is predetermined by the lender at the beginning of the term. The lender then assumes all the risk for the vehicle’s value.

Buying: Since you own the vehicle, you assume any risk of the vehicle’s value.

MILEAGE

Leasing: All leases have mileage limitations that you negotiate upfront. If you exceed these limitations you will be assessed a mileage penalty at the termination of the lease. Make sure you understand what you are signing up for. The low lease payments advertised in the paper are always low mileage 10,000 to 12,000 per year.

Buying: There are never limits to the miles driven on the vehicle.

END OF TERM

Leasing: The current lease has ended and you must decide to purchase the leased vehicle or turn it in and purchase or lease another vehicle.

Buying: You have made your last payment and you now own your vehicle.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Leasing: This is not for everyone, so be sure you understand the terms of the lease agreement and ask questions if you do not understand something. Leasing may be a good choice if the vehicle is being used for business, but you should talk to your tax adviser to see where you can get the best write-off.

Buying: Although it may take longer to pay off, there are no restrictions for mileage, wear and tear, or how you use the vehicle. The money you pay towards payments are going to something you will eventually own.

10 Tips for Free Summer Fun from the Internet

2010-07-19T07:00:00Z

Be a Tourist at Home. See the sites that make where you live a place like no other. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce website and do a quick search on tourist attractions in your area.
Try Geocaching. This outdoor hobby uses Earth’s longitude and latitude to find small treasures (called caches) hiding around the world in plain sight. The official Geocaching website is here.
Find the Money Trail. The global project, Where’s George, uses the individual markers on your dollars to show each bill’s movement through the monetary system.
Share or Read a Secret. At the community art project website PostSecret., the world is invited to anonymously share secrets or read those submitted.
Cook A New Food or Meal. Try crafting a meal from a different decade or attempt an entirely new cooking venture. There are many websites and message boards filled with free recipes and tips as well as a community of amateur cooks to connect with. Good starting resources include All Recipes, Martha Stewart, and the Food Network’s Recipe section.
Find Your New Favorite Band. From blogs to Myspace pages, the internet is a great place to learn about new music. Two fun websites are Pandora and Last FM. Both sites ask you to enter in the name of a band you already like and then automatically find music in a similar style or genre.
Learn about local history and nature. Find community groups that have gathered information on local topics from historical houses to the birds that live in your area. Try searching for park websites and those of historical preservation communities.
Meet New People in Your Area. Consider attending a local Meetup group. (These public meetings often bring people together for numerous shared interests – from art shows to language practice – within a community at no charge.
Find Interesting How-To Videos. Free video sharing sites, such as YouTube are home to a variety of user-made online video tutorials covering a vast array of topics from creating hairstyles to learning to dance.
Attend an Event or Volunteer to Get to Know an Organization. Use a search engine to see what non-profits, volunteer opportunities, and organizations might be a good fit for you.

Etiquette Faux Pas and Advice

2010-07-12T07:00:00Z

When you are an etiquette consultant people love to share their etiquette horror stories or ask for etiquette advice. I love that my friends and business associates want to share their stories and questions with me.

I thought it would be fun to share some of the etiquette faux pas and questions I’ve gotten over the last month or so.

Etiquette faux pas

A business owner discovered he wasn’t going to be able to deliver on a project for a client, so three months after their last communication he sent an email breaking the bad news.

My response: Never ever give bad news to a client over email. Call them. Also, if you value your clients you should get back to them within 24 hours of their email or correspondence. If you don’t have an answer, communicate to them that you will have an answer by x date.

Etiquette faux pas

A group of business people took their client out to lunch and one of the hosts sat in the best chair facing the window leaving the client facing the wall.

My response: The client is always given the best seat. Never seat a client facing a wall, the bathroom or the kitchen.

Etiquette Question

My friend is hosting a party, is it really necessary for me to bring a host gift since she’s invited so many people? Also, do I need to bring a host gift and send a thank you note?

Answer: You should always bring a gift to the host unless it’s a regular monthly get together. The gift does not need to be expensive or extravagant. Something small like a nice bar of soap, a candle, gourmet chocolates, a bottle of wine, cocktail napkins; are all appropriate gifts.

And yes, you need to write a handwritten thank you note within 48 hours of the party. Keep it short and sweet, just three or four sentences long. Example:

Dear Amy,

You always throw the best parties! George and I had a fabulous time conversing with your captivating friends and savoring your delicious dinner. Thank you for inviting us.

I look forward to seeing you at yoga class next week.

Best regards, Arden

Etiquette Faux Pas

A business associate shared: “years ago one of my clients put on a big party for employees and company advisors. They had an open bar….....big mistake. One employee got abusive and was canned the next day. Another passed out with his head in his plate of food. Lucky for him he was a manager.”

My response: What is it about office parties that make people think it’s OK to get drunk and do stupid things? This is not the first time I’ve both seen and heard of this happening. See Patti Payne’s column quoting me about office holiday party blunders in the December 11 Puget Sound Business Journal edition.

Open bar or not, restrict yourself to two drinks maximum at an office party, networking event or anywhere you should be a professional; which is really just about everywhere except your home.

My associate above wrote “…lucky for him he was a manager.” But I don’t quite understand why a manager would be forgiven for passing out with his head in a plate of food. Seems to me that a manager should be held to even higher standards as he or she is supposed to be a role model.

Well, that’s it for this post. If you’d like to share your etiquette horror stories and questions, please email me at arden@cliseetiquette.com. I promise to protect the guilty.

Arden Clise is an etiquette consultant, speaker and business etiquette columnist for the Puget Sound Business Journal. Founder of Clise Etiquette, Arden helps companies increase their profitability and improve their company image by giving employees the skills they need to be confident, courteous and successful.

Arden offers contemporary business etiquette seminars and individual consulting. She speaks at corporations, organizations, professional associations and colleges.

Prior to founding Clise Etiquette, Arden worked for several Northwest organizations and companies including Washington Mutual, the Pike Place Market Foundation, One Reel and Salal Credit Union, formerly Group Health Credit Union. Arden has more than 25 years of business experience in marketing, management, event planning and public relations.

How to Throw an Inexpensive Yet Memorable Party

2010-06-23T07:00:00Z

For a long time I avoided throwing parties due to how expensive and stressful they can be. I revisited this idea when I began to be more involved in the DIY (do it yourself) culture, realizing that throwing a hit party can be easily achieved on a budget. Here are the basics to throwing a great party without going broke:

The Theme: The first step to throwing a memorable party is to choose a theme and commit to it. A theme will keep party planning cohesive and limit erroneous spending and stress.

The Date: Decide when it is it optimal to have a party. It is important to leave enough time for planning and preparation to avoid feeling rushed. Too often people purchase items they can make themselves to save time. This financial pitfall can be avoided by choosing a date far enough in the future.

The Invitations: I almost always opt to send email invitations to parties; doing so is good for the environment and free. One great resource to find free and simple to use electronic invitations is Evites (http://www.evite.com/).

The Decorations: Home made decorations are always more creative and often more attractive than a store bought alternative. Doing a Google blog search (http://blogsearch.google.com/) can help you find great DIY help from people who throw one-of-kind DIY parties around the world.

The 5 Senses Test: To make sure your theme is implemented into every aspect of your party, use the 5 senses test. If you can you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell the motif, it is sure to be present throughout the festivity.

Borrow: Don’t have a punch bowl? Don’t sweat it. You probably know someone who does. Ask around to see if there are expensive party items you can borrow from a friend. To make it an appealing exchange, I often trade some of my DVDs or cookbooks until I return the loaned item.

Choose One Key Item: If you want to make a complicated dessert, then do so, but opt for less expensive dinner food. If you want to hire entertainment, consider providing appetizers as oppose to a full meal.

Simple Theme Ideas (to get you started):

International Celebration: Base your party on an international holiday or exotic food.
Less Celebrated Holidays: Celebrate the less discussed holidays, like President’s Day or Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Time Period: Celebrate the 60s or the industrial revolution.
Merge Two Ideas: I once threw a dinosaur beach luau birthday party that was a huge a hit.
Pick a Color: Choose a couple of colors or visual elements to create your event around.

Don’t Let Your Retired Hard Drive Put Your Identity at Risk

2010-06-15T07:00:00Z

I was the in the process of moving last fall when I came across something that I had forgotten about, my Hard Drive Graveyard.

The Graveyard previously resided in a forest green laundry bin at the back of my office closet. In that bin was one dead PC laptop, an equally deceased iBook, and a hard drive from a former desktop PC, circa 2003. In light of the dust that had collected on them, it had been absent a caretaker far too long. And that concerned me.

Think about all the little bits of information our computers store for us. Shopping online can mean your credit or debit card digits are on your old hard drive. There’s also your contacts file, along with years of those email conversations. And don’t forget about your web browsing history, either. Between the family photos, tax documentation, software registration keys, legal documents, and perhaps even your social security number, there’s a lot of ammunition an identity thief could use to do some damage to your credit history.

I upgrade my computers every two to three years and proper disposal of the old computer and its mechanical brain had always vexed me. Recycling laws seem to change between upgrades, so the process lacks consistency. Places where you can recycle your computers will offer some services (appropriate handling of the recyclable materials), but not always the ones you need to keep your family safe from identity thieves (guaranteed removal of personal information from the hard drive).

So what can you do to keep your personal information safe when it’s time to bury the old technology?

How to protect your identity when recycling your hard drive.

Transfer your files. Transfer everything you want to save to your new computer. It’s as simple as saving files to an external hard drive, plugging it into your new computer, and downloading the data onto the new unit.

Erase your hard drive. Sure, you can clean out your hard drive using the technology that comes with your computer, but some experts suggest using an external program, too. You can read expert opinions, user reviews, and get great advice about which program meets your specific needs at Cnet.

Be wary of handlers. You can probably find several places online that are willing to take your old computer and do this for you at cut-rate prices. Be careful. This is the kind of service that identity thieves love to set up online so that they can steal all that information off your old computer. Check out service providers with the Office of the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau.

Ditch the corpse. Make sure you dispose of the remains in a way that’s kind to the environment. E-cycle Washington helps consumers responsibly recycle computers, televisions, monitors, and a myriad of other electronics. Contact them to learn about a recycling center in your neck of the woods.

Alicia Diefenbach is a former financial crime-fighter for the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. After spending nearly a decade helping fraud victims seek restitution and educating consumers about various aspects of personal financial management, she went into business for herself.

Alicia now designs fun, non-commercial presentations and materials that help people make financial decisions that lead to success. She is a published consumer writer and speaks on topics that educate women, teens, adults, and seniors on various aspects of fraud awareness, and successful personal financial management.

Planning an Affordable Summer Road Trip

2010-06-01T07:00:00Z

Keys to a Successful Road Trip:

Music. The road is a great place to get caught up on new tunes or revisit old musical friends. Make the price right by packing a good set of CDs, borrowing from friends or the local library, or downloading something new.

Location. Too often people make a trip about a destination, but the best trips are really about the journey. Consider picking a simple destination for a fun reason such as a roadside attraction or food stop. One great resource for interesting travel locations is Roadside America, which excels in providing curious locations all over the USA.

Spontaneity. Take things as they comes. Listen to advice that locals share. Enjoy the small historic sites and road-stops. Don’t forget to stop and look around or try local dishes as you stumble upon them.

People. Road trips can be a great experience with close friends, a delightful excursion with your significant other, an educational adventure for the whole family or a soulful journey on your own. Make sure you think through not only where you’re headed but who you want to enjoy the experience with.

Avoid These Road Trip Pitfalls:

Over Planning: a perfectly planned vacation may execute ideally, but the most fun adventures are the unexpected ones.
Eating The Same Food: Don’t waste your money or time on junky food you can pick up anywhere when there is almost always a one of a kind eatery nearby.
Buying Junk: While a well-chosen souvenir can be a delight to have later, the most rewarding takeaways are those that add to your life. Consider writing a travel journal, picking up recipes, or becoming pen pals with the people you meet while on your adventure. These types of souvenirs give back far more than something overpriced and tacky.
Over Packing: You only need to pack enough to get by. If you really need a new shirt during a trip, pick one up on the road. It will double as a reminder of the adventures you had.

Is Your Handshake Talking Behind Your Back?

2010-05-20T07:00:00Z

In almost all of my classes I teach how to have a confident handshake. While it may seem like a really small thing, your handshake actually speaks volumes about you. You want to be sure it expresses that you are a confident, professional person. I saw this video about the 10 different handshakes and thought it did a good job of explaining what each handshake says about you. See if you fall into one of the deadly nine or the perfect ten.

A good handshake is one where you put your hand fully in the other person’s hand, web to web. It’s accompanied with good eye contact and a smile. The grip is firm, but not bone crushing. Both men and women shake hands the same way. Men, no need to be delicate with women. Women no need to hold your hand as if it’s going to be kissed or you’re afraid to touch the other person.

Make sure your handshake is not giving a bad impression about you.

Arden offers contemporary business etiquette seminars and individual consulting. She speaks at corporations, organizations, professional associations and colleges.

You’re Only as Safe as You Aren’t – Identity Theft in the Workplace

2010-05-03T14:00:00Z

As a former financial services regulator who used to speak daily to victims of mortgage loan fraud, I found myself constantly vexed by an ironic element present in all financial transactions. While you can never trust anyone to the extent that you abdicate your personal responsibility for your financial well-being, simultaneously, you’d never do business with someone you didn’t mostly trust.

This irony shows up in our work life, too. We don’t have jobs in places we don’t feel safe. Having worked in the same office for 10 years of my life, I always felt comfortable in my surroundings. So comfortable that every day upon my arrival I’d put my purse into the bottom left drawer of my desk, a drawer that didn’t lock.

Rose Colored Glasses

While I was never so foolish as to exit the building and leave my purse in an unlocked drawer, I did feel trusting enough of my co-workers to move about the building – all three floors of that building – with my purse in that drawer.

Subconsciously, I wanted to leave that purse unattended in an unlocked drawer. Every time I came back to my desk and found my purse right where I’d left it, it reaffirmed the safety of my environment. And I enjoyed that feeling until the day my co-worker’s wallet was stolen.

Due to timing and circumstances, it was quickly determined that a fellow employee had committed the theft. As you might imagine, it raised quite a ruckus. The rumor mill worked overtime. Fingers pointed. In light of the swift discovery, accounts were immediately canceled. Cards replaced. No financial damage was done.

For some of us, the real damage was to our illusion of safety. Regardless of whether or not it ever existed, we had to acknowledge our environment wasn’t theft-proof. We realized we needed to be on guard, and to take responsibility for protecting ourselves in our workplace. This is something we all need to do.

Protect Your Identity in The Workplace

Does Your Employer Have a Policy? Talk to your human resources department and find out if your employer has a policy with regard to identity theft in the workplace. If not, ask them to create one. If so, ask them to post the policy in common locations throughout the building. Encourage H.R. to outline the consequences of identity theft in the work place. This helps to establish a cultural norm of what isn’t acceptable in the office.

Leave it at Home. Whether it’s your handbag, backpack or European man-purse, chances are you’ve brought more than you need with you. Do you really need 3 credit cards, two debit cards, your camera, your lucky bingo Troll doll, and four lipsticks to get you through the workday? Leave what you don’t specifically need that day at home. If you really do need all that stuff lock it up or take it with you every time you leave your desk.

Crime of Opportunity. Look around your workspace for a thief’s opportunity. Password-protect your computer if you need to leave your desk. Make sure you don’t have mail with account numbers in your in-box. Keep your paystubs locked up.

Staff Training. Ask your supervisor to bring in a guest speaker to discuss financial wellness and identity theft prevention in the workplace. Becoming educated on the issues heightens our day to day awareness of our vulnerabilities and helps us prevent financial crime in our environment.

10 Ways to Make Every Day An Adventure

2010-04-06T07:00:00Z

Everyone dreams of big excitement, but too often we get caught up in the same old routine day in and day out. Wonderful life experiences are closer than you think when you consider these ten simple tips for making every day an adventure:

Try Out Something New: Whether it’s a new fragrance or a new food, sometimes trying something new is less about find the perfect thing for you and more about the experience.
Gather Some Friends and Drive: You don’t have to a teenager to enjoy driving around with your friends. Add some music and an oddball destination and you have an adventure on your hands.
Speak Up: Everyone should master the ability to talk to new people, so speak up if you like the jacket someone is wearing or if you’d like to pet their dog. You never know whom you might meet.
Reach Out to the People in Your Life: An unexpected phone call or letter can be a great adventure in reconnecting with people. Often learning about how much people have changed or what they have been up to is an exciting way to perk up a day.
Learn Something New: Take a class at the local community college or pick up a ‘how-to’ book at the library or bookstore. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to what you can learn.
Look for Inspiration in the Past: From learning about the history of where you live to studying your family’s history, the past offers many adventures not just around the world but also through time.
Spend Some Time Roaming: Sometimes we get so scheduled we forget that a lot of the more adventurous parts of life come from the unexpected. Take some time to roam around and be surprised.
Adventure Vicariously: Many people are documenting their experiments, activities and travels on blogs. These people offer the chance to vicariously adventure from the comfort of your home.
Challenge Yourself: Learn to hula-hoop or fix your own car. Challenging yourself is at the heart of many self-made adventures.
Plan A Big Trip: Travel experts know that most of the reason people buy travel books is to be excited. Why not take a hint and start to figure out how to make your great adventures not just dreams but a reality.

Your Digital Wallet: Cell Phones and Identity Theft

2010-03-31T07:00:00Z

A couple of months ago I attended an event where government representatives spoke on a variety of fraud concerns. I was listening to the identity theft prevention presentation, when the presenter said something that really caught my ear:

“This is your digital wallet, and in the near future it will be your wallet.”

Your Cell Phone is a Gateway to Your Identity and Accounts

While not entirely surprising, it gave me pause. Sure, I do some online banking through my phone. Yes, I can also check my retirement portfolio through a handy little app on that iPhone and do some banking with my phone. But my digital wallet? Would I be swiping my phone at the grocery store to bring the Oscar Meyer home?

At some point in the near future, that’s pretty likely. But what caught my attention is what’s on my phone right now. If my phone isn’t protected I’m potentially at risk. If my phone is lost or stolen, the information currently on my mobile device is enough to give any identity thief plenty to utilize for his or her evildoings.

Between apps that allow access to our email, our finances, our social networks, and any other number of personal details, a criminal could go on a spending spree compliments of easily accessed information stored on our cell phones.

How to Protect Your Phone

These specific steps will make your phone less useful to an identity thief should it be lost or stolen.

Enable Phone Password Protection

Enable password protection that requires input to use the phone. Ideally your phone should lock after a brief period of inactivity and will require entry of this password. Sure, it can take you an extra five seconds to make your call, but that takes less time than fixing your credit report. If this isn’t a feature you have, consider treating yourself to an upgrade.

Choose Different Passwords for Your Apps

You apps are loaded with valuable personal information. When it’s an option, password protect all apps installed on your phone with a password that’s different from the password required to use the phone. If a thief manages to crack your phone’s password, they’ll run into some trouble when trying to get into personal business via your apps.

Ask Your Cell Provider About Tracking Features

Ask your cell phone service provider about available tracking features. Admittedly, some work better than others. While mobile device tracking can help pinpoint a stolen phone, they do raise questions about privacy. Before installing tracking features on your phone, research their effectiveness, your privacy concerns, and any potential risk with your service provider. Research your options and check out reviews of any tracking device you consider.

Quality over Quantity: another lesson in being thrifty.

2010-03-25T14:00:00Z

The other evening a commercial came on for a local news program in Seattle. I just happened to glance at the television as they showed a woman in her walk-in pantry, surrounded by boxes of food and cases of soda. My first thought was that the show was about hoarding (a popular TV series exists on the issue already), but the teaser claimed I’d find out how to save up to 60% on groceries if I stayed tuned in.

My interest was piqued and I did end up watching the segment, called How to Play the Grocery Game. In it, they highlight a woman who turned her passion for cutting coupons into an online business. She has worked out a system in which she matches manufacturer coupons with store sales and provides the grocery lists and coupons to consumers, thus saving them money.

As someone who spends a lot of money on food, I was curious to know if I could save using the Grocery Game system. But as I watched the segment, I noticed that not only were the majority of coupons good for processed food I have no interest in buying, winning the game usually requires you buy multiple items at once. The founder of Grocery Game calls this technique “stockpiling” and claims that by buying only what you need each time you go to the store, you are overspending.

I’ve said before that coupons can often be a budget buster because they can force you to buy things you don’t want or even need. The prospect of saving money for the family, for being the hero, is intoxicating. Saving money can make you feel smart while feeding your desire to shop. But, I believe that stockpiling, or buying in bulk, has hidden costs, especially if it involves purchasing 20 boxes of Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese or three 12-packs of Diet Coke at once. Not only do you need ample storage space, you are also making a negative impact on your health (and that of your family) that you’ll have to pay for sooner or later.

I don’t want to downplay the importance of saving or being able to feed your family in rough economic times. I also don’t want to lecture anyone on their eating habits. I do, however, want to point out that it’s important to think through your purchases, especially when it’s so easy to be swayed by promises of savings. Being thrifty means spending consciously which means knowing the consequences of your purchases. Personally, I’d rather spend a little more for food that makes me feel healthy and has a shelf life.

Terrell Meek has worked for more than six years as a marketer for Verity Credit Union, advocating the benefits of financial responsibility.

A born saver, Terrell credits her parents with teaching her sound financial habits at an early age. She believes one of the keys to a satisfying life is learning to live simply.

Spending Less to Travel Well

2010-03-18T14:00:00Z

From Arthur Frommer to Anthony Bourdain, experts agree that you don’t have to go broke to have a one of a kind experience while traveling. In my travels, the best adventures and stories have developed as a result of staying within my means, often spending no less on a fun filled day overseas than I would at home.

One way to save is to live less like a tourist and more like a local. Whether it is buying lunch from a grocery store in Paris or watching a fútbol game in an Irish pub, the true joys of traveling come from experiencing day-to-day life, first hand, in another place.

Other Key Tips for an Inexpensive, High Quality Travel Experience:

Lodging: I suggest staying in hostels or boarding with a local family. You are likely to get a better picture of a foreign land by experiencing it with the people who live there. Additionally, these unique lodging options are often key resources for great low budget travel tips in the area.

Souvenirs: Making souvenirs such as a travel or photo diary can be a vibrant alternative to picking up another plastic snow globe. Consider creating an even more off beat souvenir. During one trip my family kept the wrappers and labels from food and beverages to scrapbook when we got home.

Transportation: Utilize public transportation or rent a bike. These are not only cost effective travel methods, but also better for the planet. It’s also a great way to experience life as locals do.

Packing: Only pack one bag, and plan to do laundry if you need to. You’ll save money on checked bag fees, and if you run out of toiletries or need another piece of clothing, you can always buy something while traveling.

Is This Really You? A Scary Facebook Phishing Scam

2010-03-15T14:00:00Z

As a public speaker predominantly working with today’s youth, I have to consider myself a role model in a certain capacity. To credibly stand up in front of teens and ask them to reconsider and modify their financial behaviors, I need to be an adult they can respect.

With social networking as a crucial tool for business, the line between the personal and professional has merged. It’s not a stretch to say that my personal social networking profile reflects my business as much as my website does.

My encounter with a Facebook phishing scam

This is why I was particularly alarmed when I received an email that appeared to be linked to my Facebook account. ‘OMG, is this really you??? You need to remove this photo now’, the message read, supposedly from a friend.

Admittedly, this email set my heart pounding. Knowing what a privilege it is to represent credit unions in the classroom, I’m cautious about personal information posted online. The idea that a friend would see a photo of me so upsetting they needed to warn me really scared me. There simply aren’t embarrassing pictures of me out there, so where had this come from? I braced myself, about to click on the link that would supposedly mortify me.

And then it hit me. I was about to fall for a phishing scheme, and a good one, too. When we panic, we don’t use all our critical thinking skills. These types of messages are designed to get us to react, rather than act. The best way to beat a social networking phishing scheme is to keep cool and have a planned response.

Phishing techniques change daily

Phishing, the act of ‘fishing’ for personal information by tricking the recipient into surrendering his or her private information to the identity thief, isn’t new. But phishing techniques change from day to day, and keeping abreast of those changes will keep you safe

How to avoid a Facebook phishing scheme

Facebook asserts it has over 400 million active users, with over 50% of those users logging in daily. With so many of us utilizing this fun resource each day, it’s a resource that, when leveraged by criminals, can give them access to millions of potential victims. Take a few precautionary steps and you’ll avoid the latest Facebook phishing schemes.

Only access Facebook by going directly to Facebook.com Rather than click on links that appear to come from the Facebook messaging system, access Facebook through your browser to view the comment or photo referenced in the message. This prevents you from accessing a phishing link that will give a thief your user name and password when you attempt to log in.

Watch out for greeting cards Greeting cards that seem to come from a Facebook friend can often be links designed to embed malware or viruses in your computer. Again, if you think a Friend has sent you a card, you should be able to log into Facebook through your browser and safely view the card there. No card? You likely just avoided a scam.

Be careful clicking on links that are posted to your wall Realize that phishing scams don’t just come through your email box. They can happen through wall to wall messages, and the live chat function.

Stay up to date on the latest scams with tips from Facebook Get safety tips from Facebook themselves here.

Three Home Value Websites Worth Visiting

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In the last five years the internet has transformed the landscape of many industries, such as print media, which has been turned inside out due to the sheer mass of information in cyberspace.

The once powerful (and some would say evil) cartel of the real estate industry has seen its exclusive grip on property information evaporate. There was a time when the average consumer was forced to consult with a real estate professional or hire an appraiser in order to get a sense of one’s property value. Many home owners resented having to deal with agents and, frankly, it was a valid concern. For over 50 years the NAR and its members held an almost exclusive monopoly on property information.

Then, in February of 2006, a revolutionary company by the name of Zillow.com hit the internet. Zillow allows anyone to find home value information on about 90% of the homes in the U.S. Since that time, Zillow has expanded its market penetration and has captured a huge following in the industry. I remember well the utter fear and anger many real estate expressed when they realized that the public had access to what was once “the sacred data.”

Zillow, Cyberhomes and Eppraisal

In this post I would like to introduce you to three of the top home value websites so you can take them for a spin. I encourage you to look up your own home. Today I checked out the value of my home and the values of my neighbours, which was rather interesting. These three are not the only sites. For a larger list of other sites, free and for-profit, check out 10 Home Value Websites to Look Up the Value of Your Home.

Below are three of the best sites. Click on the image to be directed to the site.

As a Realtor® What Do I Think About These Sites?

I believe these home value sites have a legitimate place in the real estate industry. Some professionals feel that they are not accurate enough or that they compete directly against real estate agents. The fact is, many of these sites encourage agents to post their listings on the site. There’s a lot of paid advertising that hawks real estate services. Let’s face it, this is how they stay in business.

But are these sites accurate? Well, Zillow.com posts statistics regarding the accuracy of its “Zestimates” and, generally speaking in most markets the value provided by Zillow can be 10% to 23% in error. That’s not to say that these sites are bad. Frankly, I’ve found them to be relatively accurate in neighborhoods where there are similar homes (suburban neighborhoods tend to have consistent home values) or where there have been a lot of sales. On the other hand, it’s no surprise that more rural areas have higher error percentages. Just keep in mind that these sites provide estimated market values. They are not appraisals. I think consumers can learn a lot by doing some preliminary research on the internet.

Now I get to do my pitch: I highly recommend that if you intend to sell your home you should contact a real estate professional or Realtor® to give you his/her professional opinion about your property value. In many cases I have found my comparative market analyses to be more accurate and realistic than those on Zillow.com. There’s something about being at ground zero and having years of experience in a particular area that gives agents a deeper perspective of home values. Nevertheless, I think that if you’re curious about the housing market, use these sites. They’re interesting and informative.

James is a skilled and knowledgeable Associate Broker & Realtor with Keller Williams. Whether he’s selling an existing home or helping clients find their dream home, he provides quality real estate services in residential properties and relocations.

James and his wife Virgina have lived in Seattle since 1986 and bought their first home, a 1940’s project, in 1989. James is passionate about the Pacific Northwest and is dedicated to helping others find their home here.