Work + Money
- By MP Dunleavey
couple talking about money
Speak UpYou're well aware money talks, but did you know it also pays off to talk about money? Find out how to have a constructive conversation about finances. Photo by Getty Images.
WHAT'S THE PAYOFF?Healthier family finances and less relationship strife
WHY YOU SHOULDN'T AVOID IT
While talking about money is stressful, not talking about it leads to even greater conflict, which is why money issues are a top source of marital misery. Getting financially in sync can help you work together toward mutual goals, which will make you both happier.
1. Agree to Have a Real ConversationMost couples "talk" about money in a drive-by style-as they're deciding to buy something, when the bills come in, or when there's not enough cash on hand for something one of you feels you need. You open a credit card bill and the next thing out of your mouth is, "You spent how much? You need to be more responsible!" These little money bombs can be hurtful an
...Read More » - By Philip Galanes
Author of Social Q's
No more scented candles! If we wanted our homes to smell like "Summer Rain" (with its sticky humidity and propensity to mildew), we'd move to Seattle-or buy the stinky candle ourselves. Don't take my word for it. I've got scads of letters to prove it. They come to me care of "Social Q's," the advice column I write for the Sunday Styles section of The New York Times (and now a book of essays about how to skate through the most awkward moments of your life).The holidays are a few of them. And while we're on the subject of holiday gifting, please put down that "personality" sweater, jaunty hat, sachet of lavender potpourri, and zippy necktie. Now! We don't want them. Trust me.
Cases in point: I am a 35-year-old woman, and my father has given me a silk scarf for every Christmas and birthday since I was 21. Do you know how many silk scarves that is?
Let me guess: Twenty-five too many?
Or this one: My children have decided
...Read More » - Preparing for the holiday season can be overwhelming. There are gifts to buy, cards to mail, decorations to choose and more. Save time and avoid stress by having an app-y holiday with these top 5 holiday apps:
Holiday Apps
1. Google Shopper (iOS and Android) Find a gift for your loved ones and save on shopping time and money with this free app that pulls in information on more than a million products. Scan the barcode on items or find them by cover art, voice, or text, then compare local and online prices. Stumped on gift ideas? The app shows weekly sales and popular items of the week. You can also add things to a shopping list and share it with friends.
2. Christmas Gift List (Android) and The Christmas List (iOS) These apps are no-brainers when it comes to organizing your shopping list and funds. You can create a list with a per-person budget and share it via email, or twitter. Both also mark gifts purchased and keep stats on money spent and total budget and have password protection op
...Read More » - By Joanna Douglas, Senior Fashion And Beauty Editor | Work + Money | Fri, Dec 7, 2012 4:18 PM EST | CommentsAnne Hathaway is sweet, pretty, and a good actress. She has great style, and is a fantastic role model for girls, unlike many of her peers. But there's something inexplicable about her that rubs us the wrong way. We conducted an informal survey of friends, colleagues, and the Internet, and discovered that yes, Hathaway gets under people's skin, but it's nearly impossible for anyone to articulate why. Nowadays many people turn to Yahoo! Answers when they have a question that needs solving. We discovered the following questions posed there:
Anne Hathaway annoys people, but no one knows why
-Am I the only person who doesn't like Anne Hathaway?
-Is it just me, or are there others out there who wonder why people make a big deal over Anne Hathaway?
-Does anyone else find Anne Hathaway extremely annoying?
-Who else thinks Anne Hathaway has an annoying face?
-Do you think Anne Hathaway is overrated?
-Does anyone else hate Anne Hathaway?
-Who gets your vote for most annoying actress going around at the moment? My vote: Anne Hathaway
-I...Read More » - By Laurie Lee
woman adjusting thermostat
Stay Warm and Save
Dropping temps mean higher heating bills, right? Not always. A few simple strategies can keep you and your family warm and toasty while keeping costs down. Photo by Getty Images.
If your heating bill is through the (uninsulated) roof, a home energy audit might be the answer. This professional consultation, which can be anything from a basic walk-through to using an infrared camera to identify heat loss zones, will leave you with a prioritized to-do list of areas to insulate or other ways to save thousands of dollars in the long run. The service can cost $500 and up, but some utility companies offer free or discounted audits, so call yours first to check. If your home's in pretty good shape, do your own "audit" to check for likely heat loss areas; find a guide at energystar.gov.
Boost the ViewEnergy Star-rated windows are tops for holding in heat, but at $300 or more each, installing them may not be in the budget. Instead, add
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- Cell phone cameras. We all carry them but how often do we use them? And if we use them, then what do we do with the photos? Most of the time they stay hidden away in the phone, forgotten until one day we hit the delete button.
cell phone photo
And if we do manage to figure out how to transfer the photos to a web site or a computer, we're often disappointed with the results. We're left with the impression that cell phone cameras are the digital equivalent of those 12-shot throwaways that used to be so popular. OK for a night out with the girls but not for the serious photographer.
However, it doesn't have to be that way. Led by smartphone technology, there have been some dramatic improvements in the quality of phone cameras, including more megapixels, better lenses, and higher storage capacity. In fact, phone cameras are one of the fastest growing segments of the digital camera market, winning market share from the low-end offerings of more traditional camera manufacturers.
Unfortunately, m
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Aries (March 21 - April 19)
Making spontaneous decisions is the way to go today -- as long as not much money is involved. You can pick just the right place to have lunch or the right pair of shoes, but when it comes to big ticket items or long-term investments, you're not a good bet.
Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Celtic Love Tarot Reading
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
You can feel the lull before the storm. It's a great time to prepare for the worst today, and you can forget about the 'while expecting the best' part of the old saw. Batten down the hatches while you still have time to.
Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Daily Grind Reading
...Read More »
Gemini (May 21 - June 21)
Someone is bubbling over with enthusiasm today -- is it you? If so, then use that energy to make some serious p- By harnessing the power of collaborative consumption, you can save money. If you're unfamiliar with the term, collaborate consumption refers to the sharing of goods and services. For example, it could involve sharing bikes, cars, and homes, exchanging or selling clothes or electronics, or the bartering of services and tasks. With the rapid proliferation of mobile apps, social media tools, and web-based services, we're in the midst of a radical revolution for the consumption of commodities. Traditional sharing, bartering, lending, trading, swapping, and the like are being redefined by peer communities. Forbes recently estimated that the revenue from the so-called "share economy" that will wind up in peoples' wallets will surpass $3.5 billion this year alone.
Make money by sharing with these helpful tips
Here are a few of the shared economy approaches available:
Unloading or Swapping Products - Just because you no longer need something, doesn't mean it's reached the end of its usable life. Whether your kids have outgrown toys
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Myths we tell college grads
I'm sure you've heard the news: Millennials are the worst generation in history. We're "deluded narcissists," not to mention unprofessional, entitled, and unemployed.
Or are we? I'm here to tell you that-just like the critique of past generations-this isn't true for the majority of us. In fact, many of us value hard work, getting ahead, commitment, and even philanthropy. This criticism is a myth-and sadly, only one of many we are told as we enter the working world.
As I embarked on my graduation (almost a year ago now-yikes!), I heard a lot of well-intentioned advice and comments that, in all reality, haven't been true of my experience. Here are a few of the other myths we're often told as recent or soon-to-be college graduates-and why you should take them with a grain of salt.
Myth #1: You'll Only Get a Job Through Your Connections
I heard this particular myth during every single one of my internship searches in college and the eventual full-time job hunt.
...Read More »- It seems people are in either one of the two tax camps: those that have their taxes done by January 31st and then there are those who are barely scraping by on April 15th. Are you getting a refund and if so, what are you doing with it? Stashing it under the mattress? Squirreling it away into a shady overseas bank account? Investing in Silly String?
taxes
Though these are all fine ideas, for sure, there may be other that will put your extra cash to better use. For what you should be doing with it, or what we'd do with it at least, check out the following 5 ways to maximize your tax refund.
1. Take a Vacation
Yes, seriously. Take a vacation. If you're burned out and not enjoying life, you're not going to be able to make the best decisions in your everyday life. Use your tax refund to recuperate, relax, and get a little enjoyment out of life. It's not all about working non-stop.
2. Pay off Your Debt
Depending on the size of your refund, pay off an entire credit or an
...Read More »
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