So much of life is made up of unexpected adventures that we could have never foreseen. That’s part of what makes life so exciting, but it’s also what can make it so stressful and unmanageable. You know what they say: “Even the best laid schemes of mice and men oft go awry.” That’s definitely the case with finances, when months of savings can be blotted out by a single auto accident or personal injury. You never know when you’re going to get stuck paying a mighty deductible on an insurance claim, or when you’re going to need expert bail because of a case of mistaken identity. Planning for the unexpected can help you to better deal with a stressful situation when it arises. Here are the most common wrenches that can be thrown in the clockwork of your finances:
General
Well, it’s 2012 finally. The planets are aligning in a way that will disrupt the electromagnetic orientation of the Earth and destroy life as we know it. At least that’s what the Mayans predicted when they ended their vaunted calendar later this year. But one thing the Mayans didn’t have insight into is your financial status this fall. There is no calendar for that because it’s a constantly fluctuating variable. The Mayans also didn’t have insurance quotes, title loans, low interest credit cards, or any other relevant financial advice. So, to pick up the slack, here are some personal finance tips to help you start the new year off right:
Get started with your taxes now, while you’re sane. They’re coming, as assuredly as death. The Taxman lurks around the corner this time of year, waiting for his spring offensive. If you know you’ve got your work cut out for you fending off the IRS, you should get started now. Not only will you spare yourself the cost of hiring a professional tax filing service, you’re more likely to get money back off remembered deductions.
I used to be the type of person who would go to great lengths to save a buck, regardless of how much time it would take me to do it. I wouldn’t think twice about spending a half hour to save a few dollars. But now I have come to realize that time is of much more value to me than money is. There is plenty of money floating around out there that is there for the taking, but my time is limited.
So, rather than spending my precious free time scampering around trying to save a few dollars by buying my groceries at four different places, I have decided to choose one store to shop at, even if I may not get the best deals on everything at that one store. Rather than spending three to four hours worth of time buying groceries by shopping at so many locations, I have been able to cut down my shopping to an hour or less every two weeks. Changing my shopping habits has saved me a tremendous amount of free time.
This time last year, no one dared to leave their job. In fact, the “quits rate,” a measurement of people’s willingness to leave their job, has remained at a low 1.5-2 million since January 2010, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics. But, the Department of Labor reports, more than 500,000 jobs have been added in the last four months and chatter about “double-dip recession” has dissipated. If you’re unhappy with your job or salary, this could be the time to kiss your employer goodbye. In fact, getting a new job could improve not only your daily mood but also your finances. Whether you help create inventory management software or you’re a freelance web designer, here are some indicators that you should hit the job search:
I recently had a job interview that fortunately reaped good results. I got the job I wanted! Below are five things I did to prepare for this interview.
1. I didn’t take this interview opportunity for granted. I realized how hard it is to actually get the opportunity for an interview and I wanted to make the most of it. I had sent out so many resumes and I never heard from most of the companies I had submitted them to, so I knew this interview opportunity should not be taken lightly.