Life Style

Growing Student Lunch Debt a Problem for Millions of Families

Written by adminMay 17, 2019

Candrice Jones is like any other low-income parent in American. She struggles to make ends meet and does the best that she can. Her husband can’t work due to an injury from a car accident. She herself works odd jobs at a temp agency. In order to take the financial burden off her shoulders, she applied to get her son Kyrie free lunch.

Kyrie is in the 7^th grade at Coolidge Junior High in Illinois. He has a learning disability and is part of an individualized education program to help him overcome. One day out of the blue, Candrice received a bill near $1,000. Her son’s lunch application was not processed correctly, so the only time he got free lunch was the first month. Every other month racked up a debt.

“I felt bad as a mother because I couldn’t take care of the bill,” she said. “It’s almost a thousand dollars. I don’t even have it. I couldn’t pay it off if I wanted to.” After the mistake was caught, she had to fill out a second application, which finally worked correctly and the rest of his lunches were covered.

The school declined to comment on the situation, but Candrice says the school still expects her to pay the $1,000 debt and even told her to make payments if she has to. That is leading to more school hardships for Kyrie. He is being forced to sit out of any school events until the debt is paid. That means no dances, sporting events, or fieldtrips. That means no Homecoming or Prom when he’s a senior.

School Lunch Debt a Growing Problem

This story isn’t unique to Kyrie and Candrice. It’s happening more frequently across the country. While this instance was a clerical error, it does to show a lot of the same problems families are having with student lunch debt. School lunches are a massive burden on a lot of families who can’t afford to pay.

It’s not just the families, but also the schools who are struggling. They have to determine where the line is between helping students who can’t pay and those who can. The line is an ever-changing point that can reveal whether a family is really needy or not. Either way, they can’t afford to accommodate every student a meal as their budgets are constantly being cut.

There’s no real official student lunch debt number. It’s difficult to make that estimate, but the School Nutrition Association surveyed 1,500 schools. They found that the average amount of student lunch debt from $2,000 to $2,500 in the past two years. The Washington Post released an article that stated students owed $500,000 in outstanding student lunch debt in Washington D.C. alone.

In Denver, Colorado, their school districts rose $13,000 since 2016 to a new total of $356,000. “School districts nationwide are really feeling the squeeze … and unfortunately, I think we’re going to be hearing more about this in the coming years,” says Diane Pratt-Heavner, director of media relations for the School Nutrition Association (SNA), referring to the persistence of school lunch debt.

“For a lot of districts, you’re looking at having to cover these costs out of the general fund. And if it’s year after year, and it’s an excessive amount of debt for the school district, that’s impactful to core educational activities.”

School Lunches on the Whole

Of course, if Kyrie’s school lunch application had been properly processed, there would’ve been no problem. The school would’ve been reimbursed by the federal government. The school lunch program is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Their program is called the Nation School Lunch Program. It helps needy families and schools afford lunch for their students.

Every year, this program reimburses schools at the tune of $13.6 billion. The catch is, in order to qualify for free lunches, you must come from a family 130% below the federal poverty line. That equals about $32,630 per year. At 185% of income ($46,435), you would qualify for a reduced-price lunch.

While the government gives billions in food subsidies, the one thing they’re not allowed to do is use the funding to pay student lunch debt. Because schools aren’t getting that money back from the government, they put all sorts of undue pressure onto the families who often can’t afford to pay. That includes keeping the children from participating in school activities.

Many schools won’t even allow the child to walk across the stage or receive their diplomas if they owe. Candrice Jones believes that the system is completely broken. It was a clerical error on the school’s part, but that’s only a small part of the story. In her mind, the worst part is how they use the children to get money from parents.

“They know your kids are going to be upset. They know your kids are going to be mad. And so they know that your kids are going to press you to get this bill paid,” she told me. “I felt bad as a mother because I couldn’t take care of the bill.”

Written by adminMay 15, 2019

Life Style

As Americans, we try to do our best to prepare for all outcomes. Retirement is one of those issues where we seem to be having a difficult time planning for. Many millennials and even older generations have been unable to save for retirement. They’re dealing with low wages and tons of student loan debt.

Even if you’re 100% organized and ready for retirement, what happens if you’re forced to do it earlier than planned? This is one trap even the highly organized person can fall into. Life can throw us a curveball we’re not prepared for. So, let’s prepare for it! It’s really the only way to pull off your retirement the right way without being left in the dust.

“Best way to be prepared is to have a plan. It’s why I encourage people to have a 3-6 month emergency fund that they just set aside and you can just keep that liquid in a money market account and it’s available if life were to happen,” said Chris Hogan, financial expert and author of the book “Everyday Millionaires”.

“There are all kinds of plans and options out there. Don’t sit back and not be informed. Engage with an insurance professional so you can understand what’s out there. Or what are some gaps in your coverage that you may need to purchase an additional policy to be able to protect yourself and your family.”

Are Americans Fully Prepared for Retirement?

According to new research from the Center for Retirement Research, a large percentage of us are not ready for that curveball. It’s almost as if we don’t expect anything to happen that will curtail our plans. That’s how most people plan their life. They aren’t prepared for the ‘anything can happen’ rule.

As a result, nearly 37% of older Americans are forced to retire earlier than planned. This is due to a health scare, accident, or the loss of a job. We don’t know when the economy might tank or we’ll be forced out to make room for younger, faster employees. As things change, businesses are become more high-tech and demanding different types of talent to thrive.

The key to being fully prepared for retirement is getting out of debt as fast as you can. Downsize your life if you have to. Start saving money. If you don’t have a rainy-day fund right now, that can hurt you no matter the age. Most Americans don’t even have $400 in their accounts if they needed it for an emergency. That’s an alarmingly small amount of money.

“First thing I tell people is to get serious about getting out of debt. When you get out of debt, you actually free up your money. You give yourself a raise, and it’s really important for student debt not to just hang out like it’s a relative, but you actually treat it like an enemy,” he said. “You get very, very serious. You downgrade lifestyle. You take on extra income. You do whatever is necessary to attack that debt.”

Written by adminMay 15, 2019

Life Style

In a tough economy, we really don’t get much choice in the matter. Jobs are scarce and we’re thankful to be making money. Yet, there are times when we really should consider whether our job is pulling us down. Work shouldn’t always be exciting. That’s why they call it “work”. At the same thing, enjoying what you do is a great incentive to stick with the company.

Many of us go to college and spend tens of thousands of dollars to get a degree in a field we want to work in. At the very least, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find work in a field we enjoy. Many industries spend millions on catering to their employees to keep workers in the building and the turnover rate as low as possible.

At some point, workers get fed up. Many are considering whether to leave their job. Is it the right time? Can you find better pay and benefits somewhere else? Is the grass really going to be greener on the other side? These are answers you can’t know until you actually move on. But there are signs that will tell you when it’s time to go.

Sign #1: Work Becomes Unchallenging

If your job becomes unchallenging, you might be considering a move. As humans, we enjoy a good challenge and work that tests us. It’s not necessarily the amount of work, but the type of work we are called to do. Suzy Welch of CNBC calls it the ‘velvet coffin’. “You’re stuck in the kind of job I call a ‘velvet coffin’ — comfortable, but deadly to your brain and spirit, not to mention your career,” Welch says.

Again, this has nothing to do with the workload. Rather, we want to go home feeling like we accomplished something. We were challenged and met the challenge. It’s a rewarding work experience we’re after. If work becomes slow and boring, we won’t treat it the same and will become less productive.

Sign #2: No Sign of a Raise in Sight

Along with going home with a sense of accomplishment, we want to know that there’s room for growth within the company. We want to be rewarded for our hard work and for the skills we have. Many companies do help show their employees this satisfaction by offering raises, bonuses, and many other benefits. Many of them can be related to work performance.

Yet, if we’re putting in all this hard work and making our boss rich and the company is thriving, but we receive nothing for it, we will start to back off a bit. It’s only human nature. There’s a reason why we work. It’s for personal gain. With little opportunities for growth and proper compensation, we will consider moving on. In this case, you should find a better job that will give you what you deserve.

Sign #3: You Get No Support from Management

There’s a popular saying that goes: people don’t leave companies; they leave their bosses. There’s actually data that backs this up. Most of us are willing to work in the grind and build ourselves up within a company. But bad bosses make us beyond miserable. Even if everything else about the job is great, including the money, we will leave simply because the boss is unbearable.

Often enough, if the boss is bad, the culture at work turns sour as well. A Gallup study looked at the number of people who left their job due to a bad manager. Out of 7,000 U.S adults polled, 50% of them left due to managerial frustrations. Most of that having to do with the lack of support their bosses provide.

A good manager exists to empower the staff and to help them achieve a better culture that’s inclusive and positive. Yet, a lot of people in positions of power let that get to their head. They’re too bossy, don’t communicate efficiently, and view employees as cockroaches that can be squashed if they don’t follow order. If that’s your boss, it’s time to leave.

Sign #4: No Room for Growth

We sort of covered this previously, but that was more focused on the money aspect. In reality, your employment should consist of personal growth within your career. You gain experience the longer you’re with a company. That experience should be worth something. That means growth beyond an entry-level position.

Management opportunities, massive raises, and so much more, are a part of that process. Maybe you feel you’re in-line for that spot higher up, but someone with less experience gets the role. Or the boss is always promoting their kid ahead of you while the kid barely lifts a finger. In that situation, it’s time to move on and go where you’re more appreciated.

Written by adminMay 14, 2019

Life Style

Not everything sold there is going to be a great deal for you.

One of America’s favorite places to shop, Costco recently got second place among national grocery stores in an annual survey conducted by consumer data firm Dunnhumby.

Boasting a membership of more than 94 million members, that’s pretty remarkable, considering basic memberships costs $60 a year to buy the chain’s products in bulk.

If you are a loyal member of Costco, here are five mistakes to avoid the next time you go shopping to get the bang for your buck.

Call Now 844-332-2079

1) Don’t Take Advantage of Non-Member Perks

There are some perks that non-members can take advantage of at Costco, such as the pharmacy. As a result of state and local laws, non-members can purchase prescriptions at many Costco pharmacies, at times saving up to 80% off even without insurance.

These savings also apply to vaccinations, and without insurance Costco is one of the cheapest places to get your flu shots. Their optical department also offers cost-effective eye exams with licensed optometrists for non-members.

And afterwards if you need to grab a bite, head on over to the food court and pick up a hot dog combo for the ever-reliable price of $1.50. Or if you need to pick up something for the afterparty, remember that you don’t require a membership to get that bottle of Kirkland Signature vodka.

2) Which Membership is Right for You

Usually the only thing holding people back from getting a Costco membership is rationalizing whether to invest in a paid annual subscription, which starts at $60 per year. The next level up, the Gold Star Executive membership costs $120 a year and offers a 2% cash-back reward up to $1000.

All it really comes down to is how much you are looking to spend in the store. If you’re looking to spend $600 a year at Costco, the basic membership comes up to about $5 a month. If you spend over $250 a month, or $3000 a year, the executive membership pretty much pays for itself.

If you’re still on the fence, to push yourself over the edge, consider tagging along with a friend who has a membership or pickup a Costco Cash card which will allow you to check out the store even without a membership.

3) Watch What You Buy

With so many great deals surrounding you when you enter Costco it can get out of hand really quickly. Consider the overall value of what you’re buying before you do, as everything is generally sold in bulk and costs 10% less on average when compared to other big box retailers.

Make sure you are paying attention to the price tag and the price per item, or you may be throwing out food that goes bad or struggling to find room to store everything that you purchase.

4) Save on Health Services

Costco members can take advantage of discounted health services at the big box retailer. Some locations offer free screenings for diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart health.

Members can also enroll in the Costco Member Prescription Program to get additional discounts on top of Costco’s already low prices on prescription medication and over the counter drugs.

5) Not Everything is a Great Deal

Most members are loyal to Costco, going there for pretty much all their household needs. However it might be wise to diversify from where you get your groceries and other household items. Even though Costco has their own coupons and promos, you can take advantage of other promotions at retailers like Amazon.

Call Now 844-332-2079

So here’s hoping that you can make a decision as to whether a Costco membership is worth it for you. If you need any other financial advice, remember that the Financial Helpers are only a phone call away.

Written by adminMay 13, 2019

Life Style

Back in 2018, Mark Zuckerberg had a really bad, no good day.

After it was found out Facebook had a working agreement with data analyzing firm Cambridge Analytica, where they accessed scores of private information from over 50 million Facebook users, Zuckerberg finds himself in the hot seat once again.

The term ‘once again’ is used, because this isn’t the first time he had to apologize for violating the privacy rights of users. He’s done it several times and has been fined by the FTC increasing amounts each time he’s done it.

A lot of it has to do with the way Facebook is structured. Last year, they made over $39 billion (or 98% if their revenue), from advertising alone. They make their money by taking your data and selling it to the highest bidder.

Everything you do on Facebook is recorded and tells a story about you. That’s how it creepily seems to know everything you’re thinking and every website you visit. Your profile is then sold to groups like Cambridge Analytica and ends up in the hands of politicians (or whoever wants it).

Apple’s Vastly Different Approach to the Privacy War

Apple, on the other hand, is a fierce defender of their user’s right to privacy. We can remember back in 2015 when the FBI wanted to get into the phone of San Bernardino mass shooter Syed Farook, but Apple refused to help them.

Yes, they’re that much into privacy.

Apple isn’t much into selling people’s information and they’ve built that sense of trust into their products. In fact, it’s the perfect marketing ploy for Apple who uses privacy as a sales pitch. This is why CEO Tim Cook went hard after Facebook last Wednesday after news of the information breech went viral.

Speaking with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, Cook was quoted as calling privacy “a civil liberty and human right.”

“[When] all of a sudden something is chasing me around the web,” Cook said, “I find it creepy.”

The difference in ideals may stem from the two different business practices. To use Facebook is a 100% free experience for users, so they must make their billions somehow. They do it through advertising. Alternatively, Apple sells millions of devices, hardware, and more.

Facebook Wasn’t the First and Won’t Be the Last

It wasn’t but in 2005 when Amazon was at the forefront of everyone’s mind when it came to potential privacy violations. The Associated Press questioned whether the online retail giant was doing a little too much with the information they had on their customers.

Data collection is a massive industry. If you could amass information on whatever everyone buys, sells, what they think, who they like, who they voted for, et cetera, there’s someone out there who will spend a nice chunk of change for the info.

Is this even an issue for most users? According to Wesley Chan, one of the early product managers with Google, we already know about these issues and don’t seem to care too much.

“The problem is with Facebook and Google and even Apple, you’re already bought into the service. What alternative do you have?” Chan says. “You’re switching from Apple to Android or Android to Apple, but you’re unfortunately locked onto one of those systems, or both.”

The Coming War

It really seems as if people are finally waking up in this digital age. We’re finally starting to understand just how much of our information is freely out there. Personal details about our lives are stolen and reused time and time again.

It’s not just users who are waking up. In light of these recent revelations, several big-time companies have broken away from Facebook and even deleted their page!

Not only did “#deletefacebook” become a worldwide trend, but Elon Musk took the words to heart and actually deleted his pages (SpaceX, Tesla, and his personal account) from the giant social media site. Playboy soon followed. Sonos and other companies promised to pull all advertising dollars from Facebook as well.

All of this leaves us wondering what will happen next. Is Facebook about to go the way of Myspace? Will consumers start boycotting companies that advertise on Facebook?

Only time will tell, but it certainly seems as if things are about to change. Zuckerberg briefly mentioned in an interview that perhaps regulations on Facebook “won’t be a bad thing”, but he didn’t seem enthusiastic about the idea.

Facebook changing the way it handles advertisements and data sharing can potentially impact millions of businesses who rely on the traffic from the site, several who are already pulling their pages and disconnecting from their millions of followers.

Where do you stand on this issue? Are you okay with what Facebook does with your information? Or do you think they’ve gone far enough?

Written by adminMay 10, 2019

Life Style

If you’ve ever spent any time online trying to figure out how to make a few extra bucks, it can seem like a lost cause. You never know if something is legitimate or just another scammer trying to feed off your desperation. And while there are plenty of frauds out there, there are many other legitimate sites/apps out there right now for the picking if you know where to look.

Much to the dismay of a lot of treasure hunters seeking out a quick buck, there is no ‘get rich quick’ scheme out there. You’re not going to find a formula and start reeling in thousands of dollars tomorrow. But if you truly dream of making a few extra bucks from home, it’s possible!

Let’s take a look at 5 of them.

1) Gigwalk

As smartphones, the internet, and modern technology continue to connect us in ways we’ve never dreamed possible, more and more people are looking for ways to make money using these advancements. Gigwalk is another innovation that is beginning to turn heads. Imagine having a massive smartphone army who is available to meet your needs 24/7?

That’s essentially what Gigwalk is. Business owners have a ton of smaller tasks they need done. Why hire someone hourly to accomplish them when you can throw a quick gig up on the Gigwalk app and get someone to do it for you? If you’re looking for a bit of extra play money, then this app is for you.

These little field jobs can be anything from asking you to become a mystery shopper, check out a competitor’s prices, interview various customers to see what they thought of their experience, take pictures, and so much more.

2) EasyShift

EasyShift is another smartphone app revolutionizing the way we do business online. You can earn money quickly by doing little jobs like sharing your opinion about a given subject, taking photos, or just getting a confirmation of a price at a store. These tasks are so easy, it’s designed for you to grab a few extra bucks while you’re out at the store, walking the dog, or going to see a movie with the family.

The cool thing about EasyShift is, the more ‘shifts’ you do the right way with great reviews, the more money you’ll make as higher-earning jobs and opportunities will become available to you. It’s almost like a game where you unlock the higher levels as you go along. Let’s take a look at this quick money maker.

3) GymPact

If you’re one of millions of people who look for proper motivation to work out, GymPact might be the app for you. What this innovative app does is it pays you to work out. Every time you check in the do your squats, you’ll get paid a small sum of money (usually about $.40), but it really adds up if you exercise more than once a day or try to get it done as often as you can.

If getting paid to exercise isn’t motivation enough, there’s a catch to this app. If you don’t exercise, it will take your money. It’s a predetermined set number they’ll have, so if you don’t exercise and reach your goals, then the amount will be deducted from your account. They take that money and it goes to the people who did get their workout done for the day.

4) Receipt Hog

Another great shopping app is Receipt Hog. You can get the app on both iPhone and Android phones. With Receipt Hog, your purchases actually help companies do market research on what the average consumer buys. They do this by having you take a quick snapshot of your receipt and fill out a survey about your shopping/buying experience.

When you shop at any store, including convenience stores, health and beauty, drug stores, the big club stores, supercenters, pet supply store, dollar store, or grocery chains, you will send in basic information that is summarized and turned into a nice report for market analysts. As compensation, you’ll accumulate virtual coins, which can be turned in for money or even an Amazon gift card.

5) Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a little different from the other money maker ideas we’ve shared so far. With this one, you don’t get direct cash, but you can redeem your accumulated SB points for awesome gift cards to your favorite stores, like Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, and more. If you get to save money by using these gift cards, then that’s like putting money in your pocket anyway, right? You can also get coupons and various entries into huge sweepstakes, in which they give away awesome stuff.

One of the top 1,000 websites in all the internet, Swagbucks was once voted as the world’s fastest growing companies in 2013. It boasts over one million downloads and over $77 million dollars paid out to its users since its opening. On top of their sweepstakes and giveaways, Swagbucks does an hourly drawing to give away 1,000 free points.

So, how do you earn SB points? By doing a specific number of tasks, like taking surveys, using their toolbar for online surfing, watching videos, and so on. If you have friends you can refer the app to, you’ll get more SB points, plus a $5 bonus simply for signing up. Also, for every friend you get to sign up for Swagbucks, you get 10% of their earnings. How cool is that?!

Written by adminMay 9, 2019

Life Style

It’s been a year since Amazon launched its first ‘Go’ store. It allows shoppers to simply take the items they want and leave. The cost of the items are automatically deducted using the Amazon app and high-tech cameras. It’s a beacon of the future, of course, and its applications show how shopping will transition.

Amazon also understands that while they want to change the game, they also have to keep things modern. Our society isn’t cashless let, even if we’re leaning in that direction. That’s why the Amazon Go that just opened in New York will be the first to accept cash for items. In doing so, it will still not hire a cashier to take care of business.

Amazon took a lot of heat for using cashless stores. Critics were saying they discriminated against poorer residents who rely on cash and coins to make purchases. They say it’s not right to expect the poor to have bank accounts and debit cards. To keep critics happy, Amazon will start accepting cash at their stores, but not in the way you think.

Amazon and a Cashless Society

Amazon is known for its innovations. The company truly wants to change the way people shop, adding in loads of convenience. More stores are trying to increase customer satisfaction will appeasing every base. Rather than using a cash register, they’re currently working out a new way to check out cash customers.

Not too many details on that have been released yet, but a solution is in the works. They will still have an employee who uses the Amazon app to check out the items. How the cash will be collected is yet unknown. But they maintain no cash registers will be involved. They want to keep the process as high-tech as possible.

“This is how we’re starting,” he says. “We’re going to learn from customers on what works and what doesn’t work and then iterate and improve it over time.” Still, some politicians and activists see this as a means of discrimination. They are working on creating laws that prevent cashless establishments from taking root.

In fact, Philadelphia was the first city to do so. Not long after Philly, New Jersey put up their own cashless store ban. San Francisco and New York City are on the list of places considering the same. That really puts a thorn in the side of high-tech companies. The future of shopping is unknown. Many stores already have self-checkouts.

Written by adminMay 7, 2019

Life Style

It’s like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, except the questions are asked on your phone and the prize is getting rid of student debt. Givling is a new trivia app that has been designed to help people struggling with their student loan debt. So far, 400,000 people have registered and downloaded this new app onto their phone.

Questions relating to pop-culture, math, chemistry, and other college subjects are asked. Users who have this app are randomly given questions they must answer. There are different rounds of questions of varying difficulty. Prizes for answering the questions are paid out weekly. Seth Beard is the Chief Marketing Director of Givling.

Beard says over $5 million has been given out in the past few years so far. Over 5,000 people have won prizes that are designed to help people overcome their debt. Whether it’s a high mortgage or student loans, people are drowning. Apps like Givling help give back to those who are struggling the most.

“Nearly 45 million Americans are in debt from their education. The average student now graduates $30,000 in the hole, compared with $10,000 in the early 1990s. The average borrower takes between 16 years and 18 years to pay off their debt,” said Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on student debt.

Student Loan Desperation

Cynthia Thomas Reher was told about Givling by her boss, who knew she had racked up quite a bit in student debt. Between her and her husband, they owed over $400,000 worth of debt. They went to the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Thomas Reher, says she loves her job, but was blindsided by so much debt after she graduated.

“I enjoy what I do,” Thomas Reher, 42, said. “But I had no clue what I was getting into. How can you when you’re young, have never worked a day in your life and have no idea what the cost of living is?” So, they gave Givling a chance and started playing back in 2015. “I figured there was nothing to lose,” she said.

The company makes money two different ways. The first is through advertisements. As you go through the quizzes and trivia, you will have to watch an ad at times. The second way is by pricing beyond two rounds. You get the first two for free each day, but afterward it’s $.50 per round. It resets at the end of the day and the next day you get two more free rounds.

Not thinking she had anything to lose, Thomas Reher logged on and played every single day. After four years, she and her husband are making enough money to pay $3,000 towards their student debt every month. “Making ends meet was hard,” she said. “Student loans have kept us driving 15-year-old cars, delayed us getting into a house,” she said.

This is what many young adults feel today. They’re putting off major life decisions until they’ve properly paid off their student loans. Maybe apps like Givling will help more people, even if it seems as if the government will not.

Written by adminMay 7, 2019

Life Style

So, you’re looking for a job. In today’s economic climate, that shouldn’t be very difficult to do. The number of available jobs far outnumber the amount of people currently looking. That’s good news! The bad news is, if you make mistakes on your resume, potential employers will quickly overlook you. It shows a lack of attention to detail.

If you’re really eager to land the job, then make sure your resume is perfect. Pour through every detail. You might get an interview, but if you want that all-important call-back, then you should avoid these common resume mistakes.

“If crafted well, your resume is one of the most valuable marketing tools you have,” says CareerBuilder chief human resources officer Rosemary Haefner. “In a matter of seconds, it can make or break your chances of moving along the hiring journey with a company. That’s why it’s important to be proactive with your resume and avoid embellishments or mistakes.”

1) Mucking It Up

Forbes says the number one thing potential employers look at is skill and experience. Yet, people choose to muck up their resumes to try and add too much personal detail. For example, they’ll list all the exotic places they’ve been or a list of their favorite movies. Employers don’t really care about what places you’ve visited or the movies you watch.

Instead, prove why you’re an asset to their company. Let your work ethic, experience, skills, and personality shine through. Don’t waste their time with frivolous stuff they don’t care about. Be straight and to the point.

2) Don’t Lie

A CareerBuilder survey once found that 75% of hiring managers caught someone lying on their resume. If you want to know what the biggest mistake you can make is, this would be it. You have about 30 seconds to make an impression with your resume. Making up stories and adding fake skills never pays off. Your potential employer will check and call your bluff.

3) Grammar and Spelling Errors

Time magazine says a hiring manager only takes a few second to glance over your resume. They know what they’re looking for right away. If you want them to take a longer look, make sure your resume is free of spelling and grammatical errors. If they see any, especially in the first few lines, that’s a straight line to the reject pile.

Again, your resume is the greatest marketing tool you have. Take the time to proofread it. Have a family member or a friend proofread it. Carefully look over every word. While those types of errors are common to make, overlooking them shows you don’t back up your work. That will turn off any potential employer in a heartbeat.

4) Not Keeping Your Resume to One Page

You might think it’s a good idea to list all the work experience you’ve had or every skill you possess. In the long run, that might be a bad idea. Some people create resumes that are more than a page long and that’s a serious mistake. Hiring managers won’t look at that second page, so it’s not worth the effort adding it.

If you have a lot of work experience, you don’t have to put down every single job. The more jobs you add, the hiring manager will start wondering why you can’t keep a job. And adding every single skill you think you know might lead them to believe you’re embellishing. Only add relevant skills to the job you’re applying for. Keep it simple!

5) Listing Education as a First Item

Remember, hiring managers only take a few second to glance over the resume before deciding if it’s worth a read. You may be proud of your education and want to list it first. That’s great, but to a hiring manager, having a degree isn’t as important as experience. The reason why is simple. Just about every applicant who applies probably has the same degree.

In that case, the employers want to see your experience first. They want to hire the candidate who has the most experience in the job. If they find that candidate, then they might overlook whether they have a degree or not. Your GPA, electives in college, or details like that don’t matter to them, so save space and leave it out.

6) Listing References Without Asking their Permission

Your references might be an important part of the hiring process. In most cases, before a hire is finalized, the manager will call one or all of your references. And if the reference listed isn’t prepared, they could say the wrong things. Even saying something like, “Oh, I didn’t know I was listed as a reference” can turn a manager off.

Asking people is more than a common courtesy. It allows them the opportunity to think of what they’re going to say and how it relates to the job. Also, it’s important to list relevant references. Adding your mom down won’t work. Everyone knows mom won’t have anything bad to say about their precious child.

The best thing to do is list other professionals. Professors, previous employers if you left on good terms, advisors, and so on. Whoever you choose, take the time to notify them and tell them the type of job you’re applying for. This will go a long way in securing the job you’re looking for.

At the end of the day, you are in charge of how you look to an employer. There are multiple facets to the hiring process. So, if you desperately want that interview, take your time on the resume. Don’t rush through it. Make sure it’s absolutely perfect and lists all relevant experience, skills, and employment history.

Don’t leave it to chance. Check multiple times and have someone else look over it. The person best qualified and with the most experience will get the job. Keep that in the back of your mind when filling out the application and creating your resume. You should even consider several resumes and not a one-size-fits-all approach to cover your bases.

Written by adminMay 4, 2019

Life Style , Saving

Here at Financial Helpers, we talk a lot about finding ways to scrimp and save money. This is especially true if you have a lot of debt. Your focus should be paying that debt off and putting as much money into savings as possible. What a lot of people do instead is spend as much of is as possible. They spend it on things they don’t necessarily have to spend money on.

One way to save a few bucks each month is to get a membership at your local library. This is no joke! Libraries in the modern age are about more than just books. If you’re a big reader, going to a library itself is a major help to your budget instead of dropping $20+ on a new book you’ll probably only read once anyway.

Let’s take a look at the 6 ways your local library can help you save money.

1) You Can Borrow Movies

This is a major expense for a lot of Americans. We love our movies. We enjoy our downtime at the end of a long day. If you’re in a struggling pattern, shelling out bucks to rent a movie can add up. Usually these days, people hit the Redbox, order Pay-Per-View, or are subscribed to Netflix. This can easily add up each month.

Instead, why don’t you give your local library a shot? Yes, libraries lend out movies…for free! Most of the time they have and up-to-date variety of new releases as well as classics. The selections will vary, but it’s worth a shot to see if they have something you might want to see. This option can save you hundreds of dollars throughout the year.

2) They Do Lend Out Music

These days, not too many people still use CDs. For the most part, anything entertainment has hit the digital age quite a few years ago. But if you’re in a bind, libraries do have CDs you can borrow. They’re great for taking on long trips or listening to your favorite albums. They’ll get you through a tough time financially.

3) Internet Service is Provided

Yes, we get it! Internet is expensive these days! As more people decide to cut the cable cord to save money, you can do the same with internet! Mobile is becoming increasingly popular, so you’ll be able to stay connected with family and friends. Of course, you’d probably rather pay for your own Wifi, but this is an option if you need to save a few bucks. You’ll even have access to printers if you need to print, scan, or fax materials.

4) They Have Workshops and Classes

Libraries have all sorts of different activities to entice more people to enter their doors. The local library has a reputation of being old, stuffy places with just books. But in most cases, that’s not true anymore. You can find a lot of neighborhood activities for kids and adults alike.

For example, the library can have book readings for kids, workshops, yoga classes, guest speakers, courses on computer skills, resume building, and so much more. The New York Public Library alone has over 93,000 programs each year.

5) Read the Latest Books for Free

Reading is fun for a lot of people. We enjoy being transported into the author’s mind and taken on a ride. Digital books have changed the game quite a bit. There’s still something special about that book smell and feeling of accomplishment every time we open the cover. Digital books can never replace the nostalgia.

While you may enjoy collecting books you’ve read, most of the time, people only read them once before moving on to the next one. Sure, there are the few exceptions, but what’s the point of spending a lot of money on a new book just to read once? Instead, rent the book at your public library. It’s free and will save you a lot of money throughout the year.

6) Get Help with Research and Other Stuff

As #4 listed, the library is a great place to go for workshops and help. Among the other types of events they hold includes tax preparation, resume building, and even healthcare enrollment. If you have a need, they provide options. Librarians are great at helping people find the information they need.

The library is no longer a place to drive by on your way home from work. A lot of these places have been renovated and updated for the modern economy. Give it a look and use it to your advantage.

Photo Credit: Panda Gossips

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