Blog Posts by SavvySugar

It's one thing when you don't receive a reply from an employer after sending your resume and cover letter, but things get more personal when you don't hear back after a job interview. Waiting for a response is stressful and it's easy to let your mind run wild when coming up with reasons the employer hasn't called. Was it your hair? Should you have answered a certain question differently? Put the kabosh on your what-if thought process; usually an employer hasn't called back due to one of these eight reasons.

• You Didn't Follow Up - Don't expect an employer to make the first move after you've interviewed. Following up after a job interview isn't an optional gesture; it's mandatory if you want to stay in the running for the position. Initiating communication after your interview, even if it's just an email to say thank-you and you're enthusiastic about the opportunity, separates you from another candidate who wasn't thoughtful about her follow-up.
• You Contact Info Was Wrong

Working hard and being smart with your money aren't things you just should do because they seem virtuous; these behaviors ultimately allow you to get more enjoyment out of life. You'll have no regrets when you're able to accomplish what's important to you because of your savvy ways. These are 11 golden rules that I try to live by:

• Live Within Your Means - In order to be truly independent, it's imperative to live within your means. Your freedom is limited by owing money to anyone, whether it's a credit card company or a family member, so set yourself up for an unrestricted life by saving for the things you want and spending with a plan.
• Work Hard - Your job and the salary you command are your biggest assets in building wealth. Do your best at work and take the steps to make yourself indispensable to set yourself up for the highest level of success.
• Research Before You Act - Whether you're comparing travel package and a la carte prices for a vacation or looking

Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? Not only can you score a free lunch on your birthday, you can score a free steak dinner if you play your cards right! Plenty of restaurants go beyond the standard complimentary dessert, and will spring for your entire meal. One thing to note: most of these deals require you to sign up with the restaurant's club or email newsletter in advance, so be sure to plan ahead!

• Black Angus - Head in to Black Angus on your birthday and get a free steak dinner! Be sure to sign up for the Black Angus Prime Club in advance.
• Don Pablo's - Habaneros Club members receive $10 toward an entree on your birthday. You can find Don Pablo's in Texas, Florida, and most East Coast states.
• El Torito - If you're in California, Oregon, or Arizona, El Torito's got a free birthday entree with your name on it. Register for the Bull Ring email club for your coupon, plus get a free guacamole just for signing up!
• Benihana - Like your

I have yet to meet a job hunter who doesn't dread writing cover letters. They're time-consuming and tedious, and unfortunately, they're unavoidable. It's easy to break cover letter etiquette if you're not careful. Those errors can cost you the job, so check out some common mistakes to be sure you're playing by the most important rules.

More Job Search Tips

• Failing to Emphasize the Company - Explain not what the company can do for you, it's what you can do for the company. Cover letters are often "I" filled proclamations of a candidate's attributes and fail to connect how their skills could benefit the employer.
• Duplicating What's on the Resume - A cover letter is supposed to say everything you don't have room for on your resume and is the place to highlight certain relevant accomplishments. If your cover letter and resume are barely distinguishable, it's a sign that you might not have enough to offer.
• Forgetting to Include Contact Information - Your contact

You've heard that job hunting should be a full-time, 40-hour per week job if you want to see results. This kind of time is wasted if you're not searching effectively. Adopt habits of successful job searchers to find a job, and the right one, more quickly.

• They Use Keywords - Increase your odds of making it to round two by using some of the exact words that appear in the job description. You should use commonly known terms that clearly describe your candidacy and avoid using acronyms and company-specific project names.
• They're All About Results - Duties are out, results are in. Quantify your professional results by including numbers and percentages to show how valuable you've been to past employers. You need to prove that you were productive and didn't just go through the motions, doing the minimum every day.
• They Customize Applications - Make your employer feel like you actually want to work for them and wouldn't be happy with just any old job. Customize your

The Federal Reserve's latest survey of businesses around the country shows the US recession might be over. The recovery is projected to be a slow one and the economy is still fragile, but we can file this piece of news in the hopeful column. Recession or not, we should continue to follow the many lessons from these times of economic uncertainty to keep our financial houses in order - in good times and bad.

• Cheaper Can Taste Just as Good - Sales for store brands have skyrocketed right along with the recession. People have branched out from buying only their typical name brands and have noticed that the often less expensive store brands can taste just as good. Ditching the idea of brand loyalty can be a big money saver.
• Forget About the Joneses - With millions of homes foreclosed and underwater, it's safe to say many Americans bit off more mortgage than they could chew. Banks are partially to blame for signing off on loans that home-buyers couldn't afford, but the

The work week can feel like a total drag if you don't have habits to make your job feel a little less like work. We have a break coming up with Labor Day falling in less than a week, but we can't let national holidays be the only solace from the daily grind. Make work less laborious with my six ideas.

• Make Your Calendar Work For You - There are at least five days in your workweek, so why pile all of your to-dos into one day? When someone sends a meeting request and you already have obligations away from your desk that day, respond with a suggestion to meet at a more favorable time. Spreading out your obligations will help keep your schedule balanced.
• Personalize Your Desk - Add your personal touch to your basic workspace to make it a more pleasant place to spend your time. Photos of family or friends, scenic vacation pics, and plants are all good options.
• Keep a Learning Journal - Go in to the office every day with the goal of learning at least one new thing.

There's a solution for every problem, and it appears two of the toughest to fix are heavily linked. New research from Germany shows that people in heavy debt are twice as likely to be overweight as the general population and more than 2.5 times as likely to be obese. While the statistics are surprisingly high, it makes sense that individuals with intense financial stress would be struggle with weight. Stress causes the body to put on weight, and the researchers note that people may turn to food to cope with their money troubles. However, the team doesn't rule out that heavier people are more likely to get into debt because it's harder to find employment or make as much money as slimmer individuals. I hope there isn't much validity behind this suggestion; have your experiences shown there's any truth to the possibility?

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