Blog Posts by Cosmopolitan.com

Did you know the decision to hire is made in 15 minutes or less? Scary huh? With that in mind, Cosmo chatted with the Society for Human Resource Management. Find out which job-hunting sins you may be making.

1. You Say, "This is My Dream Job"
Even if you mean it, 69% of recruiters will brush that off as an insincere cliché they've heard way too many times before. Ban the bogus phrases "I think outside the box" and "I'm a team player" from your vocab as well, and come up with your own way of describing how much you rock.

2. You Ask About Vacation Days
You may think you're being straightforward by telling your potential boss that you and your BF have a 9-day trip to the Caribbean in the works. However, 69% of bosses agree that the interview is a bad time to start asking when you can take time off from the job you don't even have.

3. You Talk Salary
Money is no doubt on your mind when you're searching for a new job. Uh, if you didn't need it you wouldn't be there in the

It takes more than a killer outfit to prompt a guy to approach. Send these signals and hotties will be crossing a crowded room to meet you.1) Even though stripes and patterns are in right now, single shades convey more power and trustworthiness: Solid colors equal a solid person. Unless you're rocking a tiny cocktail dress or other overtly sexy outfit, avoid all black since it makes you look like a no-nonsense boss - yawn.

2) A subtle adjustment of your clothing - we're talking straightening out a wrinkled skirt, not meticulously lint-brushing your entire outfit - shows guys that you want to look good for them, which boosts their ego. We figured out what guys really think about your looks.

3) Yes, men find heels sexy. But that stiletto is even sexier when it's dangling off your toes. A half-off shoe shows that you have a playful mind-set and you're not planning on going anywhere. But if your legs are crossed when you do it (or anytime they're crossed, for that matter), make

These cheap tricks save you dollars but won't make you feel like you're sacrificing too much.

1) Designer Tights

Cash Sucker: Buying designer-label tights, which cost around $20 a pop at a department store.

Cheap Trick: Pick up non-designer tights. They go for about $10 and are often the same quality. Find out more ways to look hot without going broke.

2) Brand-Name Food

Cash Sucker: Buying all brand-name food. For example, cereal costs $5 to $7 per box.

Cheap Trick: Go with store brands. The ingredients are often identical; they just package it more simply and price it about $3 to $4 a box. Learn how to work the dollar store with these tricks.

3) Café Coffee

Cash Sucker: Swinging into a coffee shop every morning for a latte. On average, you'll spend $20 a week - that comes to $1,040 a year.

Cheap Trick: Pick up a $10 frother from a housewares store. Home-brew your own joe, then use the frother to whip up the milk.

4) Mail

Cash Sucker:

We're on the hunt for the nation's hottest, most eligible men, and we'll be crowning one lucky guy Bachelor of the Year. If you know a sexy, unattached man who should make the cut, tell us about him. He could win $10,000 and a new Express wardrobe. Find out what we're looking for by checking out the hot photos and behind the scenes videos from last year's Bachelor Contest!

There are two ways to nominate a guy.

1) Send us an e-mail

Send an e-mail to cosmobachelors@hearst.com with the following info and attach two color photos (one head shot and one full-length, shirtless body shot).

About the Nominee
Full name:
Age:
Height:
Weight:
Profession:
State of residence:
(College and graduate students may represent their hometown state or the state where they attend school. All other nominees must represent the state where they reside 9 months out of the year.)
Phone number:
E-mail:
Street address:
Why he should be named Cosmo's Bachelor of the Year (250

During turbulent periods, it's easy to feel like you have zero control over your future. That's why we've created this crib sheet of info that will help you navigate several areas of your life through stressful events.

1) Your Money
Freaked out by the economy? Smart girl. But it turns out that showing shopping restraint can go a long way toward calming your nerves. "Not buying something offers an instant, powerful sense of control," says financial expert Jean Chatzky, author of Make Money, Not Excuses. Track your expenses, in a spending diary to reveal places you can cut back. These tips can help you shave $250 off your expenses this month. And call your cable company, Internet provider, and gym to see if the deals they're giving new cash-strapped customers can be extended to you. These six money-saving switches will help you get in the black.

2) Your Job
In times like these, you need to become indispensable to the higher-ups. For starters, don't just meet a looming deadline -

Spitting these out won't necessarily be easy (or pretty), but doing so can help trigger changes that ultimately lead to healthier relationships, not to mention heftier paychecks! Plus: Find out the what your guy doesn't what to know about your ex and the ten things you should never say in bed.

1) "You Need to Lose Weight"
There's a reason you tear-up while watching The Biggest Loser: Weight is an emotional issue. Which is why it should only be brought up with a family member, your BFF, or the long-term guy in your life - people who will understand that it's only said with their best interest at heart. Otherwise, it's just bitchy and you'll come off seeming like her fremeny. "If you care about somebody and see them engaging in behavior that's putting their health at risk, you have a legitimate reason to bring the problem to light," says Dr. Xavier Amador, Ph.D, author of I'm Right, You're Wrong, Now What? The reality is that people's bodies change when they're under stress or

The secret to stashing dough is simple: Spend less. But what fun is that? A lot, actually, if you cash in on these effortless tips.

Save $14:Take a "vacation" from Netflix, and borrow DVDs from pals for nada. Netflix lets you pause your subscription for up to 90 days.

Save $21 to $31: Lots of brand-name birth-control pills have generic versions that are way cheaper. Ask your gyno if your designer Rx has a generic twin.

Save $40:Drinking dinner? Bad idea. Getting a free meal while you drink? Awesome. Many bars now serve apps on the house to lure in crowds. Deals vary from a pizza with every beer at Crocodile Lounge in New York City to free quesadillas at any Blue Mesa Grill in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Save $15 to $20: Little-known fact: The price of your cut includes a fee for drying. So if you ask to leave it wet, your stylist will usually bump down the cost. Stretch your beauty dollars by stocking up on these 10 budget buys (all under $10!)

Save $10: Unlock

These days it's easy to find yourself in an awkward moment when it comes to dealing with friends and money. Here's how to survive - without losing your mind or reaching into your wallet.

Situation #1: She never wants to go out for fear of spending money

How to deal: Rally your friend by making it a challenge to see how much fun you can have for $10 or $20. (She can pretty much pull that amount of cash out of thin air with one of these painless money-saving switches.) Or agree to set a limit of how much cash she's comfortable spending and promise to head home as soon as you both reach your total, no matter what. (But getting guys to buy you drinks is totally legit.) By sticking to your word, you're proving to your friend that being broke doesn't have to be boring, says Debra Condren, author of Ambition Is Not a Dirty Word.

Situation #2: You go out for dinner, and she expects you to pick up the check

How to deal: It's happened to all of us. As soon as the waiter drops off the