Blog Posts by SavvySugar

We've all been on the receiving end of a bad presentation: while the speaker drones on, you doodle idly on your notepad, daydreaming about your plans for the weekend and wishing you were doing something more productive. Spare others the same fate when your turn comes at the podium by following these tips.

• Give the PowerPoint a Rest: Sure, it's a helpful presentation tool, but PowerPoint can also be a snooze-inducer if you lean on it too heavily. Try to incorporate a variety of media (white boards, handouts, demonstrations, etc.) into your presentation - it'll keep your audience engaged and keep you from going into autopilot mode.
• Consider Your Audience: Are you speaking in front of peers? Trainees? Your boss? The same jokes that get your co-workers laughing might seem inappropriate to your superiors. As you plan your presentation, keep in mind who you'll be talking to, and adjust your tone, content, and examples accordingly.
• Keep It Interactive: Having one

They might not be your typical beach reads, but this isn't any typical summer. Unemployment numbers are stubbornly high, and books offering career advice and tips for landing jobs are up there on this season's list of hot reads. They might not be the juicy books you're used to buying for summer, but at least you can soak up the sun while learning something useful.

• Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring: Just released in June, this timely book, Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring ($14), "explains the special strategies necessary to land a job during an economic crisis," and "addresses the realities of this job market with real-world, actionable steps."
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Career counselor Mark N. New recommends The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ($10) for those who have recently lost jobs and told the New York Times, "You have to emotionally be in the right place to put your best foot forward."
• Fired, Laid-Off or

Traveling is stressful. Most plans will go off without a hitch, but there's always a few who get the short end of the travel stick when their flights are canceled. Weather, mechanical problems, and shortage of crew are a few reasons why flights might be delayed or canceled altogether. The Associated Press prepared a tip sheet with what you can do if your flight is canceled. Familiarize yourself with the action plan before you leave for the airport.

• "Try to be rebooked. Some major airlines have interline agreements that allow them to easily rebook a passenger on another carrier." This option wouldn't lead to additional costs on your end.
• "Request a refund. Most airlines will refund the amount you paid for a ticket if they cancel your flight and can't accommodate you on another flight that gets you to your destination on the day you were expecting." If you take the refund route, the AP warns that the walk-up fare for purchasing a ticket from another airline may be much higher than

You might have said some pretty terrible things about particular hiring managers in the past, but in many cases, those in charge of HR duties are frustrated by the annoying antics of applicants in the dark. You might be qualified for the job, but your chances for getting it will be better if you avoid doing these 10 things hiring managers hate about you.

• Exaggeration: There are plenty of ways applicants make themselves seem more perfect than they actually are. But total, obvious exaggeration, like saying you read through one book every day, is telling the hiring manager she's too naive to pick out a lie.
• Assuming You Have the Job: Certain questions give the impression that you think you already have the job, like asking where your desk would be located and how every minute of every day will be spent.
• Feeling Too Comfortable: Even if the hiring manager appears to be around your age, do not treat her like she's your pal. Friendly small talk is encouraged to break

When job hunting is your full-time job, you've got to do everything in your power to get an interview. That means using your open-ended days to exhaust all of your resources. Get out of your job hunting rut and find more opportunities by tapping into these 10 places.

• Get the word out that you're looking for a job, and make extra effort with contacts employed at companies that you'd like to work for. Employers often alert their employees about open positions before advertising them on their website or job boards, so get on your job search on your existing network's radar pronto.
• Many employers rely on select recruiting companies to fill their open positions and don't bother with posting their open positions online. Get in touch with a couple recruiters to tap into their unique connections.
• Be one of the first to know about an open position by becoming a fan of companies you love on Facebook or becoming their friend on Twitter. And of course, visit company websites

Stress is more than a temporary affliction these days; to say you're stressed is often more of a general mood. There's only so many times we can ask the strong hands at home to give us a much deserved rubdown, so get creative with your stress-relief and find a cheaper massage. Massage school students might still be amateurs, but they're on their way to using their hands professionally and will dole out massages for a fraction of regular prices. Search online for local schools and schedule a budget massage. The downside is that the hours are often limited, but when you're in a financial pinch you can't be too picky about the convenience factor. Have you ever gotten a massage from a therapist-in-training?

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Shaking off a rough day at work isn't always easy. Let go of the workday blues when you leave the office by taking time for yourself. There are plenty of ways to detach from the day's events and none of these ideas involve retail therapy - no need to make things worse by spending money you may not have. Check out these ways to unwind and then take a load off, working girl.

• Take a Bubble Bath - Light a few tea candles to set the mood for a relaxing bubble bath. No bath in your bathroom? A hot shower with your favorite shower gel can be just as good.
• Get Lost in a Book or Magazine - Books and magazines are perfect distractions after a long day.
• Cook Dinner - As long as you enjoy cooking, stirring and chopping while filling the kitchen with delicious smells can be highly cathartic.
• Go Kickboxing - If your gym offers a kickboxing class, take advantage of it and get out some of your pent up aggression from the long day.
• Meditate - When we're used

Don't let the recession prevent you from taking a romantic honeymoon. The economy has caused personal budget belt-tightening and the travel industry is feeling the effects. Many destinations are more affordable these days, so save up and get hopping on those cheaper reservations - these incredible deals won't last forever.

• Fiji - Plane tickets aren't cheap, but thanks to a suffering local economy, you'll find deep discounts once you arrive on Fiji.

• London - The notoriously expensive destination has become relatively more affordable compared to last year. Don't expect bargains, but if you've been looking for a reason to go, the more favorable exchange rate could be it.

• Brazil - Brazil has a bounty of beautiful beaches, offers a fun nightlife, and an enjoyable cultural experience. Did I mention the beaches?

• Thailand - Thailand relies on tourism to bring money into the country, and it's been hit by shriveling global tourism. Incredible deals are now available