Interviews are an integral part of your job search; it is the ultimate opportunity to sell yourself on a face-to-face basis. They should not be viewed as a one-sided interrogation with relentless questioning; rather they should be experienced as an open forum for two-way information flow. Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview. There is no excuse for a candidate possessing little or no information about the company with whom they are interviewing.
Preparation
Make the time to get yourself fully prepared for this vital part of the job search process and remember the five 'P's'; Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
Dress conservatively in smart business attire, first impressions do last, so think about the image you wish to portray.
Do your homework on the company, understand its products and services, its recent business growth, its plant or office locations, its future growth opportunities. This information is usually accessible from documents and publications such as the company's annual report, its corporate website, the library, business news publications (eg The n Financial Review), or business publications (eg Kompass).
Assemble relevant personal documentation, such as resumes and qualification certificates. Also understand how your own annual remuneration is packaged. Rather than exaggerate your package explain why you feel you are worth more, as you may well be asked to prove your remuneration.
Prepare examples of previous successes or achievements in your career, as interviewers will often ask for substantiation of specific claims.
Initial Greeting
Arrive on time, having previously checked the address and exact location of the interview.
Know the interviewer's correct title and the pronunciation of their name.
Make and maintain eye contact, smile and have a firm handshake.
Use small talk to establish rapport, but let the interviewer initiate and lead this, as being over familiar at this stage could set the wrong tone.
The Interview
No two interviewers have the same style, let them take control of the flow but ensure that you display honesty, brevity, energy, enthusiasm and warmth.
During the interview, you will be assessed on your strengths and weaknesses. In addition to this, specific personal characteristics will be probed, such as attitude, aptitude, stability, motivation and maturity.
After the interviewer has asked about your previous experience, specific skills and competencies and delved into your strengths and weaknesses, it is then opportune to talk about the specific role.
Ensure that you have a number of well thought out and relevant questions to ask about the role.These may include:
Is this a newly created position?
Why has the position become available?
How would you describe the corporate culture?
What is the reporting structure? Will I have a dotted line report to anyone?
What are the company's plans for future development?
Is there an induction or training programme for new recruits?
What is the next step?
Do not initiate discussions on remuneration at the first interview stage, however be open and honest if asked.
When dealing with interview panels maintain eye contact with all equally, even if one individual is doing the majority of the talking.
This is a good time to reiterate any strengths/experience that you feel would add to your candidature for the role.
If you are interested in the position enquire about the next interview stage.
If the interviewer offers the position to you and you want it, be prepared to accept it there and then, although this is more typical for contract and temporary roles. If you wish for some time to think it over, be tactful and courteous in asking for that time.
Leave the interviewer with a good final impression, smile and give a firm handshake. Do not make the mistake of relaxing too early and undoing all your previous hard work
After The Interview
Immediately after the interview call the relevant consultant at Charterhouse to discuss how you feel it went, what you did well, what you wish you had done differently and how interested you are in the role. This is a chance for the consultant to give extra feedback to the company to further establish your suitability for the role.
Write a follow up letter or e-mail, regardless of how you feel it went. It is an opportunity to thank the interviewer for their time, recap on salient points, add points not covered, express your level of interest and to leave a good final impression.
Interview "Do's"
Arrive on time, greet the interviewer by his or her title and surname and shake hands firmly.
Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright in your chair and look alert and interested at all times.
It is very important that you demonstrate your interpersonal skills during the interview. Try to be charismatic without being overly friendly or smarmy.
Be a good listener as well as a good talker.
Look the interviewer in the eye and smile, let them feel that you are enjoying the process whilst taking it seriously.
Follow the interviewer's leads and make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a concise, factual and sincere manner. Waffle will get you nowhere.
Conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Remember you cannot reject a job that you are not offered.
Interview "Don'ts"
Try not to be too friendly or glib and do not answer questions with a simple ''yes'' or ''no''. Explain yourself whenever possible.
Conversely do not ''over answer'' questions, make your comments relevant and to the point without waffling.
Do not lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as close to the point as possible.
Avoid making derogatory remarks about your present or former employers.
Try not to use the term "we" when you are talking about your own achievements and avoid making very general statements that lack any real substance.
Don't enquire about salary, holidays, bonuses etc. at the initial interview unless you are positive that the interviewer wants to hire you.
Finally do not slouch, mumble, smoke or answer that mobile phone you forgot to turn off.
12/10/08
HOW TO WRITE A GOOD RESUME
I do find this article very useful therefore like to share with friends
HOW TO WRITE A GOOD RESUME
The resume is a primary tool in finding a good job. When writing a resume, one should pay particular attention to its overall structure. There are several different guidelines that can help in doing this.
SELECT YOUR FORMAT
Selecting your resume format is a major strategic decision. Real and compelling differences characterize the two most common formats, which have impact on the receptivity employers have to your initiatives.
No universally "right" format is appropriate for all people. Your review of your own objective and background will be your most effective guide to selecting the best format for you.
THE CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT
Your employment record is the primary organizing principle for this format, a job-by-job historical narrative of your work effectiveness.
Merits:
This format accentuates your formal qualifications for the work you are seeking. Appropriate for directly qualified candidates with linear progression paths, it showcases the track record of clearly pertinent, often increasingly responsible experiences. Seasoned judgment in grappling with job challenges is emphasized.
Recruiters and some hiring managers are accustomed to, and often prefer, a traditional format. Many find it familiar, straightforward and easy to use when making preliminary decisions of inclusion and exclusion.
Drawbacks:
For candidates who are starting or changing a career, this format emphasizes the lack of direct, in-depth experience in the targeted career area. It underscores past identity rather than future potential.
Gaps in employment, conspicuously brief or long affiliations, and time periods elapsed since certain qualifying experiences are spotlighted.
Rather than accenting accomplishments on the job, it lends itself to a somewhat dry, repetitive recitation of job responsibilities.
Criteria for Use:
The chronological format is particularly effective for people with clear-cut qualifications, who are continuing or advancing in a particular career direction. It is acceptable for other, less overtly qualified people. This format can be productive if you cite relevant skills and tasks that support your objective within the job-by-job description.
THE FUNCTIONAL FORMAT
Your key skills, knowledge and related accomplishments are the primary organizing principles of this format, citing relevant examples of effectiveness as proof and prediction of your ability to contribute.
Merits:
This format provides an opportunity to establish the transferability of skills and accomplishments for candidates who are starting or changing a career. Grouping these items in self-contained categories builds a case for your ability to function in a new situation. The conventional resume format dilutes or contradicts this talent.
Not limited to paid employment, you can give status to qualifying experience from every area of life. This format widens the scope of informal experiences supportive of your career objective, including special projects, internships, community service and relevant leisure pursuits. It eliminates distinctions that discount their importance.
Drawbacks:
For directly qualified candidates with a linear progression path, this format challenges the standard presentation of personal strengths. Executive recruiters and other employment professionals prefer a job-by-job description to trace with clarity exactly what has been done, for whom, where and when.
Some employers assume that this format hides background information of importance.
In a purely functional resume, key time/space anchors that employers expect are not given. This information can be essential to credibility.
Criteria for Use:
The functional format is particularly effective and highly recommended for people without direct experience in the area of their career objective. Since it accents skills and achievements, it is effective and often desired by people who are well established in a career.
THE COMBINATION FORMAT
The combination format recognizes the inherent drawbacks of both the chronological and functional formats used in their pure forms.
The pure chronological resume is too mundane, a bland work autobiography. It is descriptive, but tends not to be persuasive about personal qualifications.
The pure functional resume is too free-floating and reads like a set of assertions about abilities, unlinked to verifiable sources of confirmation.
Whether you prefer the chronological or functional format, the most effective resume blends the best elements of each.
The Chronological-Combination Resume:
This format retains the structure of a job-by-job delineation of experience and emphasizes accomplishments, the hallmark of the functional resume.
The Functional-Combination Resume:
This format retains the structure of key skills, knowledge and accomplishments, incorporating a distilled EXPERIENCE section, which denotes career-related time/space anchors, the hallmark of the chronological resume.
All References to Resumes in This Guide Assume a Combination Format:
Chronological-combination resumes and functional-combination resumes will be referred to simply as chronological and functional resumes.
After deciding on the appropriate format, the way to organize the information is equally as important. Below are some guidelines to assist you in creating the best resume.
CREATING A DAMN GOOD RESUME
I. A DAMN GOOD RESUME HAS FIVE ESSENTIAL PARTS:
A. A clearly stated JOB OBJECTIVE.
B. The HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS.
C. A presentation of directly RELEVANT SKILLS and EXPERIENCE.
D. A chronological WORK HISTORY.
E. A listing of relevant EDUCATION and TRAINING.
II. GETTING STARTED
A. Work History - Create a "Work History Master List," keeping in mind that not everything on your "Master List" will necessarily appear on THIS version of your resume. For paid and volunteer jobs or positions, list the dates started and ended, your job title, and the name and city of the company or organization. Put these jobs in chronological order.
B. Education and Training - Create an "Education and Training Master List," this time including : Schools you attended, with dates, degrees honors.
Personal study in your field (classes, workshops, and other informal ways you have learned).
Any other credentials or certificates.
C. Job Objective - Compose a clearly stated Job Objective, using a minimum number of words.
Ask yourself these questions:
WHAT do I want to do?
FOR WHOM or WITH WHOM do I want to do it?
WHERE do I want to do it?
AT WHAT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY?
D. Relevant Skills And Experience - What you want to create - contrary to everything you've heard in the past about resumes - is a word picture of you in your proposed new job, created out the best of your past experience.
Steps include:
So first, get out your Job Objective and ask yourself what are the five or six major skills required for that job.
Get out a sheet of paper for each of those skills or special knowledge areas, and label each page.
Then ask yourself, "When did I use those same skills in the past?"
Under each of the skills listed, begin to write action-oriented "One- Liner" statements that clearly and concisely describe how you used or developed those skills in the past.
Then you can assemble the Relevant Skills and Experience section of your new-job resume by putting those five or six skills paragraphs together on one page.
E. The Highlights of Qualifications - The essential message of the highlights is two-fold:
First, that you are QUALIFIED - you have the experience, credentials, and basic skills needed for the job.
Second, that you are also ESPECIALLY TALENTED (perhaps even gifted) in the areas that really matter - in other words, for THIS job you're "hot".
A typical group of Highlights might include :
How much relevant experience you have.
What your formal training and credentials are, if relevant.
One significant accomplishment, very briefly stated..
One or two outstanding skills or abilities.
A reference to your values, commitment, or philosophy if appropriate.
III. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
A. Assemble the five parts of your resume - Job Objective, Highlights, Relevant Experience, Work History, Education - and type up a draft copy.
B. Omit anything personal and unrelated to your Job Objective (age, marital status, height/weight, hobbies).
C. Omit the details of less important past jobs that create an image you don't want to take with you.
D. Keep it to one page if you can.
E. If your resume is on two pages:
Present your "aces" on page one (job objective, skills, accomplishments).
Use page two for the work history and education.
Be sure to write "continued" on page one, and "page two" PLUS your full name on the second page.
Print it on two sheets of paper, and don't staple them together (the two pages can be placed side-by-side to view the whole resume at once).
PLEASE NOTE : For a more detailed account of constructing a resume according to the above process, consult the new edition of The Damn Good Resume Guide, by Yana Parker, (Ten Speed Press, 1989). Used by permission of the author.
There are still several important points to remember while writing your resume.
HOW TO WRITE A BETTER RESUME
OFFICE TEAM
Specialized Administrative Staffing
A good resume cannot get you a job; but a bad resume can prevent you from getting the interview - and without the interview there's no chance of getting the job.
The new rules for better resumes start with the fact that there are fewer rules. There's an opportunity for some creativity, but not for gimmicks. What works today is conservative style and a focus on a key achievements - especially those that are of particular interest to the reader.
Remember what interests an employer, for let's say an executive assistant position , may not interest the employer hiring a desktop publishing specialist. That's why it is essential that people who qualify for several different jobs (and most do) have several different resumes. All resumes should be accurate and truthful, but each should highlight different strengths as they relate to the job opening.
Better jobs have become more competitive than they were in the 70s and 80s. And they will continue to get more competitive in the 90s, as these better jobs require increased specialized skills.
Since the resume is a primary tool in finding a better job, extra time spent on its preparation is a good investment. In fact, some astute people constantly update their resumes, even though they may never use them to get another job. A reminder of your talents and accomplishments, a current resumes can provide you with clues to getting a better job in your present company or the ammunition to prove you deserve a salary increase.
We believe the best way to explain the new "rules" of resume writing is to explain what you should always do and also what you should never do.
We wish you success!
ALWAYS
Always print your resume on standard letter size, white or ivory rag paper.
Always have the resume professionally typed, but not typeset, with plenty of space between paragraphs, and allow for adequate margins.
Always use conventional English. Stay away from multi-syllable words when a one or two syllable word is clearer.
Always use short paragraphs - preferably no longer than five lines.
Always make sure the resume and the cover letter are error-free. Proofread, and have others proofread to.
Always rewrite a resume for a specific company. It's extra work, but may well pay off.
Always include your significant contributions at each one of your jobs.
Always allow the most space to the jobs that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.
Always list your activity with professional, trade and civic associations - but only if they're appropriate.
Always keep a permanent file of your achievements, no matter how inconsequential they may appear to be. This is the basis for a good resume, and it is also essential information to get a raise or promotion.
Always give each of your references a copy of your resume.
Always send a brief, customized letter with each resume.
Always send your resume by messenger overnight mail if you're applying for a high salary level job and you're reasonably convinced you fit the job specifications.
Always re-read your resume before interview - chances are the interviewer did just that too.
NEVER
Never give reasons for termination or leaving a job on the resume. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reason. You're far better off explaining it in person.
Never take more than two lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. When in doubt, "leave them out".
Never state "References Available On Request". It's assumed, and clutters up the resume. Other things to leave out include your social security number, your spouse's occupation and your personal philosophies.
Never list references on the resume.
Never use exact dates. Months and years are sufficient.
Never include the date your resume was prepared. If your search takes longer than a few months, the resume will appear outdated.
Never include your company phone number unless your immediate boss is aware of your departure.
Never include your height, weight or remarks about your physical appearance or health.
Never list your high school or grammar school if you're a college graduate.
Never state your objectives on your resume unless the resume is targeted to that job or occupation.
Never use professional jargon unless you're sure the resume will be read by someone who understands the buzz-words,
Never use the so-called "action words" like sparked, accelerated, and streamlined. They're passe.
Never provide salary information on the resume. Save it for the interview. If you are required to give that information, reveal it in the cover letter.
Never lie.
This article was written by Robert Half, Office Team specializes in providing highest quality administrative support professionals for temporary and permanent positions.
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How to Write a Good Resume - Top 5 Design Musts
August 22, 2007 - One Response
When looking to understand how to write a good resume, what you are actually looking for is the most effective resume; the one that gets you the job. First and foremost, you need to learn how to build a resume that follows specific design and formatting MUSTS. The top five design musts are:
1) You MUST Use Consistent Structure – There should be consistency through the resume to create a “flow”. The reader’s eye should be easily able to move through the resume without getting caught on inconsistencies like items that are not bolded properly or misspellings.
2) You MUST Always Have an Objective – this is the most important part of the resume and relates what you have to offer to the specific needs of the employer you are applying with.
3) Eliminate the “References Upon Request” line. This is no longer necessary when you write a good resume. Employers know that if they ask for references – you will either provide them or you won’t get the job – so it’s a given. No need to put it on there at all. Use your valuable resume real estate in a better way.
4) Education or Experience – always put first the area where you have the most credibility. If you are a new graduate, it’s expected that you may not have much experience. So really make your education credentials stand out. If you do not have a formal education but many years of experience, a good resume will put the relevant experience before the education in the design of your resume.
5) Keep Your Resume to a Maximum of 2 Pages and You Always Attach a Cover Letter – One page is better but if you have more than five years of experience, it may be difficult to get it down to one page. Don’t drag it out more than it needs to be – keep it compact and easy to read. Remember, the longer it is, the easier it needs to be to read and scan quickly. The cover letter is often overlooked. This is where you “shine” – really stand out from other candidates. You will also stand out from many candidates just by having one when others do not.
When learning how to write a good resume, follow the MUSTS of Resume Design and pull yourself out of the bottom of the pile for a nice cushy place on the top. Getting the job goes beyond learning how to write a good resume. For more on the interview process, check out “Interview Expert Reveals All!”
This is an excerpt of my recent article. Check back here in a few days for the link to the full article.
Effective CVs
Elements you need to consider when putting together a CV are:
The purpose of a CV is not to get you the job. Its primary purpose is to get you an interview, and - after your meeting - to remind the person with whom you met about what skills and experience you can bring to their organisation.
The decision to recruit is like a buying decision on the part of an employer.
This creates a very clear picture of what a CV must include:
It must meet the needs of the target organisation where possible. This means a single generic CV is not always likely to be sufficient.
It must highlight your achievements and how they relate to the job you are applying for. It must give the reader a clear indication of why you should be considered for this role.
General Tips
If you send a CV before seeing someone, its purpose is to act as a personal selling document - one that will get you invited to an interview or for a meeting.
A CV is not always the first step in the process to hiring someone - it may be your door opener but you may also use it as a follow-up tool after seeing someone.
People who receive CVs often use them for screening you ‘out’ rather than ‘in.’ Be aware that the first person to look at your CV for a specific job is not likely to be the person who will do the interviewing; the person screening out inappropriate CVs may only have a list of criteria to match.
Your CV will have to get beyond this point to ensure you are considered for an interview.
When you get to the interview, your CV can act as the agenda for your discussion, giving the interviewer a springboard from which to launch the inquiry. Yes, it is acceptable to keep it in front of you but only refer to it as, and when, you need to.
Content
DO
DO use keywords that show you match the position requirements.
DO put your most important skills at the beginning.
DO keep a hardcopy version to hand for any enquiries.
DO keep the layout and design legible, consistent and easy to follow, with good clear headings, large easy-to-read typeface such as Times New Roman, Courier or Arial.
DO use good quality, plain paper. (Coloured paper or a fancy border does not add anything unless the position in question requires a demonstration of that sort of creativity - for example, the creative area of an advertising department.)
DO orientate your CV towards specific (and quantifiable) achievements rather than duties and responsibilities. It should tell prospective employers everything that might interest them and nothing that will waste their time.
DO write in clear, concise terms, using active words (e.g. accomplished, created, enhanced, launched, negotiated, etc). If you do not feel comfortable with this, write a factual statement such as: ‘Achieved sales objectives of 250 units per month’.
DO keep it succinct. Highlight particular personal achievements. For example: ‘During my period as Manager, turnover decreased by 120 per cent.’
DO put your work history and educational details in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. It is easier to follow.
DO be specific in your CV. Use numbers or percentages to illustrate your successes or the impact you can have.
DO check for spelling or typographical errors - whoever actually types your CV, errors are YOUR responsibility. Do not rely on an online spell checker. If you are not sure about a word, resort to a dictionary. Sloppiness and lack of care could be heavily penalised.
DO leave out information that is irrelevant or negative.
DO NOT
DO NOT send poor quality photocopies. It does not cost much for good quality reproductions - and this is your career we are talking about!
DO NOT exaggerate your experience to make it sound more impressive. If it cannot stand up to scrutiny in the interview, you will blow your chances of getting the job.
DO NOT claim complete responsibility for achievements; implying no one else deserves any credit, which is usually not the case.
DO NOT write a novel. It should concisely paint a picture of you and your job history. Key points should be highlighted to develop interest and excitement about you as a potential candidate.
DO NOT use a narrative style. Highlight your accomplishments in a bullet point format, then you do not need as many complete sentences. But be warned: brief points must be carefully thought out.
DO NOT use initials and jargon. Write so you are understood. There is a general consensus by good interviewers that people who really know their subject, write and speak clearly and do not try to complicate issues.
HOW TO WRITE A GOOD RESUME
The resume is a primary tool in finding a good job. When writing a resume, one should pay particular attention to its overall structure. There are several different guidelines that can help in doing this.
SELECT YOUR FORMAT
Selecting your resume format is a major strategic decision. Real and compelling differences characterize the two most common formats, which have impact on the receptivity employers have to your initiatives.
No universally "right" format is appropriate for all people. Your review of your own objective and background will be your most effective guide to selecting the best format for you.
THE CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT
Your employment record is the primary organizing principle for this format, a job-by-job historical narrative of your work effectiveness.
Merits:
This format accentuates your formal qualifications for the work you are seeking. Appropriate for directly qualified candidates with linear progression paths, it showcases the track record of clearly pertinent, often increasingly responsible experiences. Seasoned judgment in grappling with job challenges is emphasized.
Recruiters and some hiring managers are accustomed to, and often prefer, a traditional format. Many find it familiar, straightforward and easy to use when making preliminary decisions of inclusion and exclusion.
Drawbacks:
For candidates who are starting or changing a career, this format emphasizes the lack of direct, in-depth experience in the targeted career area. It underscores past identity rather than future potential.
Gaps in employment, conspicuously brief or long affiliations, and time periods elapsed since certain qualifying experiences are spotlighted.
Rather than accenting accomplishments on the job, it lends itself to a somewhat dry, repetitive recitation of job responsibilities.
Criteria for Use:
The chronological format is particularly effective for people with clear-cut qualifications, who are continuing or advancing in a particular career direction. It is acceptable for other, less overtly qualified people. This format can be productive if you cite relevant skills and tasks that support your objective within the job-by-job description.
THE FUNCTIONAL FORMAT
Your key skills, knowledge and related accomplishments are the primary organizing principles of this format, citing relevant examples of effectiveness as proof and prediction of your ability to contribute.
Merits:
This format provides an opportunity to establish the transferability of skills and accomplishments for candidates who are starting or changing a career. Grouping these items in self-contained categories builds a case for your ability to function in a new situation. The conventional resume format dilutes or contradicts this talent.
Not limited to paid employment, you can give status to qualifying experience from every area of life. This format widens the scope of informal experiences supportive of your career objective, including special projects, internships, community service and relevant leisure pursuits. It eliminates distinctions that discount their importance.
Drawbacks:
For directly qualified candidates with a linear progression path, this format challenges the standard presentation of personal strengths. Executive recruiters and other employment professionals prefer a job-by-job description to trace with clarity exactly what has been done, for whom, where and when.
Some employers assume that this format hides background information of importance.
In a purely functional resume, key time/space anchors that employers expect are not given. This information can be essential to credibility.
Criteria for Use:
The functional format is particularly effective and highly recommended for people without direct experience in the area of their career objective. Since it accents skills and achievements, it is effective and often desired by people who are well established in a career.
THE COMBINATION FORMAT
The combination format recognizes the inherent drawbacks of both the chronological and functional formats used in their pure forms.
The pure chronological resume is too mundane, a bland work autobiography. It is descriptive, but tends not to be persuasive about personal qualifications.
The pure functional resume is too free-floating and reads like a set of assertions about abilities, unlinked to verifiable sources of confirmation.
Whether you prefer the chronological or functional format, the most effective resume blends the best elements of each.
The Chronological-Combination Resume:
This format retains the structure of a job-by-job delineation of experience and emphasizes accomplishments, the hallmark of the functional resume.
The Functional-Combination Resume:
This format retains the structure of key skills, knowledge and accomplishments, incorporating a distilled EXPERIENCE section, which denotes career-related time/space anchors, the hallmark of the chronological resume.
All References to Resumes in This Guide Assume a Combination Format:
Chronological-combination resumes and functional-combination resumes will be referred to simply as chronological and functional resumes.
After deciding on the appropriate format, the way to organize the information is equally as important. Below are some guidelines to assist you in creating the best resume.
CREATING A DAMN GOOD RESUME
I. A DAMN GOOD RESUME HAS FIVE ESSENTIAL PARTS:
A. A clearly stated JOB OBJECTIVE.
B. The HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS.
C. A presentation of directly RELEVANT SKILLS and EXPERIENCE.
D. A chronological WORK HISTORY.
E. A listing of relevant EDUCATION and TRAINING.
II. GETTING STARTED
A. Work History - Create a "Work History Master List," keeping in mind that not everything on your "Master List" will necessarily appear on THIS version of your resume. For paid and volunteer jobs or positions, list the dates started and ended, your job title, and the name and city of the company or organization. Put these jobs in chronological order.
B. Education and Training - Create an "Education and Training Master List," this time including : Schools you attended, with dates, degrees honors.
Personal study in your field (classes, workshops, and other informal ways you have learned).
Any other credentials or certificates.
C. Job Objective - Compose a clearly stated Job Objective, using a minimum number of words.
Ask yourself these questions:
WHAT do I want to do?
FOR WHOM or WITH WHOM do I want to do it?
WHERE do I want to do it?
AT WHAT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY?
D. Relevant Skills And Experience - What you want to create - contrary to everything you've heard in the past about resumes - is a word picture of you in your proposed new job, created out the best of your past experience.
Steps include:
So first, get out your Job Objective and ask yourself what are the five or six major skills required for that job.
Get out a sheet of paper for each of those skills or special knowledge areas, and label each page.
Then ask yourself, "When did I use those same skills in the past?"
Under each of the skills listed, begin to write action-oriented "One- Liner" statements that clearly and concisely describe how you used or developed those skills in the past.
Then you can assemble the Relevant Skills and Experience section of your new-job resume by putting those five or six skills paragraphs together on one page.
E. The Highlights of Qualifications - The essential message of the highlights is two-fold:
First, that you are QUALIFIED - you have the experience, credentials, and basic skills needed for the job.
Second, that you are also ESPECIALLY TALENTED (perhaps even gifted) in the areas that really matter - in other words, for THIS job you're "hot".
A typical group of Highlights might include :
How much relevant experience you have.
What your formal training and credentials are, if relevant.
One significant accomplishment, very briefly stated..
One or two outstanding skills or abilities.
A reference to your values, commitment, or philosophy if appropriate.
III. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
A. Assemble the five parts of your resume - Job Objective, Highlights, Relevant Experience, Work History, Education - and type up a draft copy.
B. Omit anything personal and unrelated to your Job Objective (age, marital status, height/weight, hobbies).
C. Omit the details of less important past jobs that create an image you don't want to take with you.
D. Keep it to one page if you can.
E. If your resume is on two pages:
Present your "aces" on page one (job objective, skills, accomplishments).
Use page two for the work history and education.
Be sure to write "continued" on page one, and "page two" PLUS your full name on the second page.
Print it on two sheets of paper, and don't staple them together (the two pages can be placed side-by-side to view the whole resume at once).
PLEASE NOTE : For a more detailed account of constructing a resume according to the above process, consult the new edition of The Damn Good Resume Guide, by Yana Parker, (Ten Speed Press, 1989). Used by permission of the author.
There are still several important points to remember while writing your resume.
HOW TO WRITE A BETTER RESUME
OFFICE TEAM
Specialized Administrative Staffing
A good resume cannot get you a job; but a bad resume can prevent you from getting the interview - and without the interview there's no chance of getting the job.
The new rules for better resumes start with the fact that there are fewer rules. There's an opportunity for some creativity, but not for gimmicks. What works today is conservative style and a focus on a key achievements - especially those that are of particular interest to the reader.
Remember what interests an employer, for let's say an executive assistant position , may not interest the employer hiring a desktop publishing specialist. That's why it is essential that people who qualify for several different jobs (and most do) have several different resumes. All resumes should be accurate and truthful, but each should highlight different strengths as they relate to the job opening.
Better jobs have become more competitive than they were in the 70s and 80s. And they will continue to get more competitive in the 90s, as these better jobs require increased specialized skills.
Since the resume is a primary tool in finding a better job, extra time spent on its preparation is a good investment. In fact, some astute people constantly update their resumes, even though they may never use them to get another job. A reminder of your talents and accomplishments, a current resumes can provide you with clues to getting a better job in your present company or the ammunition to prove you deserve a salary increase.
We believe the best way to explain the new "rules" of resume writing is to explain what you should always do and also what you should never do.
We wish you success!
ALWAYS
Always print your resume on standard letter size, white or ivory rag paper.
Always have the resume professionally typed, but not typeset, with plenty of space between paragraphs, and allow for adequate margins.
Always use conventional English. Stay away from multi-syllable words when a one or two syllable word is clearer.
Always use short paragraphs - preferably no longer than five lines.
Always make sure the resume and the cover letter are error-free. Proofread, and have others proofread to.
Always rewrite a resume for a specific company. It's extra work, but may well pay off.
Always include your significant contributions at each one of your jobs.
Always allow the most space to the jobs that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.
Always list your activity with professional, trade and civic associations - but only if they're appropriate.
Always keep a permanent file of your achievements, no matter how inconsequential they may appear to be. This is the basis for a good resume, and it is also essential information to get a raise or promotion.
Always give each of your references a copy of your resume.
Always send a brief, customized letter with each resume.
Always send your resume by messenger overnight mail if you're applying for a high salary level job and you're reasonably convinced you fit the job specifications.
Always re-read your resume before interview - chances are the interviewer did just that too.
NEVER
Never give reasons for termination or leaving a job on the resume. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reason. You're far better off explaining it in person.
Never take more than two lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. When in doubt, "leave them out".
Never state "References Available On Request". It's assumed, and clutters up the resume. Other things to leave out include your social security number, your spouse's occupation and your personal philosophies.
Never list references on the resume.
Never use exact dates. Months and years are sufficient.
Never include the date your resume was prepared. If your search takes longer than a few months, the resume will appear outdated.
Never include your company phone number unless your immediate boss is aware of your departure.
Never include your height, weight or remarks about your physical appearance or health.
Never list your high school or grammar school if you're a college graduate.
Never state your objectives on your resume unless the resume is targeted to that job or occupation.
Never use professional jargon unless you're sure the resume will be read by someone who understands the buzz-words,
Never use the so-called "action words" like sparked, accelerated, and streamlined. They're passe.
Never provide salary information on the resume. Save it for the interview. If you are required to give that information, reveal it in the cover letter.
Never lie.
This article was written by Robert Half, Office Team specializes in providing highest quality administrative support professionals for temporary and permanent positions.
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How to Write a Good Resume - Top 5 Design Musts
August 22, 2007 - One Response
When looking to understand how to write a good resume, what you are actually looking for is the most effective resume; the one that gets you the job. First and foremost, you need to learn how to build a resume that follows specific design and formatting MUSTS. The top five design musts are:
1) You MUST Use Consistent Structure – There should be consistency through the resume to create a “flow”. The reader’s eye should be easily able to move through the resume without getting caught on inconsistencies like items that are not bolded properly or misspellings.
2) You MUST Always Have an Objective – this is the most important part of the resume and relates what you have to offer to the specific needs of the employer you are applying with.
3) Eliminate the “References Upon Request” line. This is no longer necessary when you write a good resume. Employers know that if they ask for references – you will either provide them or you won’t get the job – so it’s a given. No need to put it on there at all. Use your valuable resume real estate in a better way.
4) Education or Experience – always put first the area where you have the most credibility. If you are a new graduate, it’s expected that you may not have much experience. So really make your education credentials stand out. If you do not have a formal education but many years of experience, a good resume will put the relevant experience before the education in the design of your resume.
5) Keep Your Resume to a Maximum of 2 Pages and You Always Attach a Cover Letter – One page is better but if you have more than five years of experience, it may be difficult to get it down to one page. Don’t drag it out more than it needs to be – keep it compact and easy to read. Remember, the longer it is, the easier it needs to be to read and scan quickly. The cover letter is often overlooked. This is where you “shine” – really stand out from other candidates. You will also stand out from many candidates just by having one when others do not.
When learning how to write a good resume, follow the MUSTS of Resume Design and pull yourself out of the bottom of the pile for a nice cushy place on the top. Getting the job goes beyond learning how to write a good resume. For more on the interview process, check out “Interview Expert Reveals All!”
This is an excerpt of my recent article. Check back here in a few days for the link to the full article.
Effective CVs
Elements you need to consider when putting together a CV are:
The purpose of a CV is not to get you the job. Its primary purpose is to get you an interview, and - after your meeting - to remind the person with whom you met about what skills and experience you can bring to their organisation.
The decision to recruit is like a buying decision on the part of an employer.
This creates a very clear picture of what a CV must include:
It must meet the needs of the target organisation where possible. This means a single generic CV is not always likely to be sufficient.
It must highlight your achievements and how they relate to the job you are applying for. It must give the reader a clear indication of why you should be considered for this role.
General Tips
If you send a CV before seeing someone, its purpose is to act as a personal selling document - one that will get you invited to an interview or for a meeting.
A CV is not always the first step in the process to hiring someone - it may be your door opener but you may also use it as a follow-up tool after seeing someone.
People who receive CVs often use them for screening you ‘out’ rather than ‘in.’ Be aware that the first person to look at your CV for a specific job is not likely to be the person who will do the interviewing; the person screening out inappropriate CVs may only have a list of criteria to match.
Your CV will have to get beyond this point to ensure you are considered for an interview.
When you get to the interview, your CV can act as the agenda for your discussion, giving the interviewer a springboard from which to launch the inquiry. Yes, it is acceptable to keep it in front of you but only refer to it as, and when, you need to.
Content
DO
DO use keywords that show you match the position requirements.
DO put your most important skills at the beginning.
DO keep a hardcopy version to hand for any enquiries.
DO keep the layout and design legible, consistent and easy to follow, with good clear headings, large easy-to-read typeface such as Times New Roman, Courier or Arial.
DO use good quality, plain paper. (Coloured paper or a fancy border does not add anything unless the position in question requires a demonstration of that sort of creativity - for example, the creative area of an advertising department.)
DO orientate your CV towards specific (and quantifiable) achievements rather than duties and responsibilities. It should tell prospective employers everything that might interest them and nothing that will waste their time.
DO write in clear, concise terms, using active words (e.g. accomplished, created, enhanced, launched, negotiated, etc). If you do not feel comfortable with this, write a factual statement such as: ‘Achieved sales objectives of 250 units per month’.
DO keep it succinct. Highlight particular personal achievements. For example: ‘During my period as Manager, turnover decreased by 120 per cent.’
DO put your work history and educational details in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. It is easier to follow.
DO be specific in your CV. Use numbers or percentages to illustrate your successes or the impact you can have.
DO check for spelling or typographical errors - whoever actually types your CV, errors are YOUR responsibility. Do not rely on an online spell checker. If you are not sure about a word, resort to a dictionary. Sloppiness and lack of care could be heavily penalised.
DO leave out information that is irrelevant or negative.
DO NOT
DO NOT send poor quality photocopies. It does not cost much for good quality reproductions - and this is your career we are talking about!
DO NOT exaggerate your experience to make it sound more impressive. If it cannot stand up to scrutiny in the interview, you will blow your chances of getting the job.
DO NOT claim complete responsibility for achievements; implying no one else deserves any credit, which is usually not the case.
DO NOT write a novel. It should concisely paint a picture of you and your job history. Key points should be highlighted to develop interest and excitement about you as a potential candidate.
DO NOT use a narrative style. Highlight your accomplishments in a bullet point format, then you do not need as many complete sentences. But be warned: brief points must be carefully thought out.
DO NOT use initials and jargon. Write so you are understood. There is a general consensus by good interviewers that people who really know their subject, write and speak clearly and do not try to complicate issues.
12/3/08
Give this Bar a try
Do you want to have beautiful skin that glows naturally ? Do you want your rashes to be in control.. do u want your eczema skin to have improvement. Do you want to lighten your freckles, control your oily skin or lighten wrinkles that time has left on your face?Want your skin to be smooth, supple and radiant like that of a baby?
Just gave this Bar a try.
SKIN HEALTH WITH EUMORAMOOR + H-MA + BASE FROM EUROPE = Nature's most potent normalization and rejeuvenation for skin and hair!
Made from 3 active ingredients: MOOR (that is derived from glaciers that are more than 3000 years old), Hydro-micro Alga (H-mA) and a base that is imported from France, the Eumora bar is a fast effective bar that gives you beautiful skin within 3 minutes!
Here is a bar that can bring balance back to your skin and reverse most skin problems to give you baby smooth skin again.
The bar Promotes Skin HealthEumora is the only true alternative to soap, skincare & cosmetics. While most skincare products are made mostly out of water (most skincare products are 70% water), Eumora is created from 95% active ingredients. It does not just treat the symptoms that you have on your skin but heals the whole skin organ.There is therefore no need to categorize your skin as dry skin, oily skin or normal skin as the Eumora bar can treat, improve and heal all skin types to return you to baby smooth skin! A true solution for anti aging, this facial bar brings healing from the inside out.
BENEFITS OF THE BAR:
- Firms, lifts & put a shine on the face
- Reduces & closes up big facial pores.
- Removes free radicals & toxins from your face & hair &
replenishes them with the right nutrients Saves on toner, cleanser, shampoo,
shaving cream etc - Enhances facial complexion, very potent & shows
significant improvement even after using it a few times. - Optimum hydration to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and prevent against common skin ailments associated with dry skin like freckles, wrinkles and fine lines
Collagen - Regeneration to ensure that your skin is lifted, soft and supple so that your
face constantly looks young! - Cell Rejuvenation to ensure that your skin
recovers fast thus lightening scars and giving you an extra glow on the face - Detoxification of the cells on the skin to prevent growth of pimples,
blackheads and whiteheads and also to get rid of/prevent skin related problems
like skin allergies, rashes, eczema - Radiance revealing to give you extra glow on the face
- Improve blood circulation on skin such that for fair people, you
get a reddish, healthy glow on your cheeks just like those cute Japanese and
European babies!
Normal moisturisers may not penetrate the deep layers of our skin (dermis/hypodermis) and deliver sufficient moisture to repair the damage.Over the years, dehydration will cause our skin to lose radiance.
The skin becomes more and more fragile as a result and has a less effective barrier against irritant and infection, causing problems like pimples, pigmentation, scars, uneven colouring, oiliness, dryness and even skin diseases like eczema.Effective within 3 minutes… and continues to work till the next usage!Thus, it is important to help our skin revert back to their healthy state where skin is soft, tender, smooth and radiant just like that of a baby!The sensational moor facial bar infused with Hydration microalgae factor (HmA) that is formulated and 100% imported from Europe is most suitable for this. What is more, it is effective within a mere 3 minutes!Just wet your hands, lather the facial bar and apply the lather on your face gently. Leave it on for 2-3 minutes and wash it off and you will see your face looking more radiant and more beautiful instantly! And the effects continue to improve till your next usage!FLAUNT
YOUR GLOWING SKIN!
With constant use, your friends will be asking you why:Your skin looks fairer, radiant and glowingYour skin feels so soft and smoothYour skin is firm and liftedYour big facial pores have closed upYour wrinkle reduces & your freckles lightenYour eye bags disappearClick here to see Eumora Testimonials HERE>>>VALUE FOR MONEY!The following is a list of benefits that you will enjoy from using the Eumora bar and how much it would have cost if you used individual skincare products.With this SKIN HEALTH product, you go one step beyond skin care and get rid of all of the below mentioned skin problems just with the easy use of ONE FACIAL BAR. And you can enjoy all these benefits for less than S$0.55 a use!
It’s COST EFFICIENT and IT IS EASY! You can SAVE TIME and SAVE MONEY and enjoy more beautiful skin now!
I have personally try on this soap i do think it is good.
Email me for the price :) quek_cf@yahoo.com
you can try it for you own usage.. it is good...
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The following are the ingredients and chemical composition of the bar:
Disidium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
Sodium Coco-Sulfate
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat)
Starch
L-Octadecanol
Paraffin & CI77898
Talcum
Heilmoor Clay
Water
Glycerin
Algae Extract
Polyglucuronic Acid
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Cahmomilla Matricaria (Chamomile) Extract
Beauty Bar - The moor bar with Hma factor
Heilmoor clay is the official name for the moor substance.
Eumora is made with ‘Tiefen or Deep Moor’ from Austria, a rare form of nutrient-rich peat which was formed during the Ice Age as the result of a geological shift which caused a layer of rich vegetation (including herbs, plants and flowers) to become submerged under up to 60 feet of clay, where it remained, cocooned within the Earth, and now totally protected against pollution.
Free from the decaying effects of oxygen, the plant matter undergoes a ‘ripening’ process over thousands of years into a rich, black substance in which all of the organic and inorganic substances within the plants are assimilated into the Moor.
Under massive pressure, it has been compacted to a quarter of its original volume, resulting in a herbal complex with wonderful therapeutic properties of maximum concentration and a cream-like consistency.
INTRODUCTION TO HEILMOOR
Eumora is made with ‘Tiefen or Deep Moor’ from Austria, a rare form of nutrient-rich peat which was formed during the Ice Age as the result of a geological shift which caused a layer of rich vegetation (including herbs, plants and flowers) to become submerged under up to 60 feet of clay, where it remained, cocooned within the Earth, and now totally protected against pollution.
Free from the decaying effects of oxygen, the plant matter undergoes a ‘ripening’ process over thousands of years into a rich, black substance in which all of the organic and inorganic substances within the plants are assimilated into the Moor.
Under massive pressure, it has been compacted to a quarter of its original volume, resulting in a herbal complex with wonderful therapeutic properties of maximum concentration and a cream-like consistency.
INTRODUCTION TO HEILMOOR
Moor has been a part of traditional medical folklore throughout many parts of Central Europe for centuries. During the past 60 years, a wealth of clinical studies conducted on Moor therapy has confirmed that Moor indeed does possess a wide range of beneficial properties. As a result, hundreds of European physicians now use and recommend Moor treatments.
HEILMOOR THROUGH THE CENTURIESMoor treatments have been known and used since ancient times. Nearly 3,000 years ago, the Celts and Romans used Moor deposits in Austria and Germany to treat wounds incurred during warfare. One of the earliest records of their use comes from Galen and Plinius, the great medical minds from the Egyptian era, described the use of Moors deposited by the river Nile as a major healing medium.
In the 16th Century, the famous alchemist Paracelsus, described Moor as the ‘Quinta Essentia Vitae’ which he believed was the elixir of life. Today Moorbads or Moor clinics offering a range of Moor-based treatments have become widespread throughout Germany, Austria, Hungary and other European countries. European doctors regularly prescribe Moor products for treating a host of inflammatory and ulcerative skin, intestinal and arthritic illnesses. Many hospitals in Germany and Austria now have dedicated Moor treatment facilities with specially trained staff. The National Health programs and Health Insurance agencies now cover Moor treatments across much of Europe.
HERBS AND NUTRIENTS
The miracle properties of the Deep Moor have been the subject of many research projects since the early fifties. At one time NASA researched the composition of the Moor as part of an investigation into the life supporting properties of this gift from Mother Nature.
Hundred of herbs, organic compounds, trace elements, plant hormones, natural antibiotics, and other biologically active matter combine to produce one of nature’s miracles; the thick rich Moor. It is the synergy of natural organic substances operating together that give the Deep Moor its ‘miracle’ therapeutic and rejuvenating qualities.
Listed below is a partial analysis of the composition of Deep Moor from Austria:Waxes. Humic acids, fatty acids, lignin, starch, sugar, humus substances, amino acids, balsam, volatile oils, nitrogen compounds, vitamins, organic sulphates, protein, resins, pectins, hemicellulose, cellulose, bitumen, pigments, vinegar, oxalic acid, antibiotics, iron salts, sulphur, magnesium, manganese, calcium, sodium, iron, phosphoric acid, silicic acid, potassium, boron, silicon, aluminum, calcium, and many more.
DEEP MOOR HEALING PROPERTIES
Free from the decaying effects of oxygen and in the presence of specific microflora, submerged herbal matter undergoes a transformation process over thousands of years to produce a homogeneous dark substance called Moor. In this ripening process, all of the organic and inorganic components within the plants are retained in the Moor.
These myriad natural compounds make Moor one of nature’s most potent therapeutic and detoxifying substances.
Substantial clinical research has shown that Deep Moor quickly penetrates the skin and creates a holistic therapeutic effect throughout the whole system.
Substantial clinical research has shown that Deep Moor quickly penetrates the skin and creates a holistic therapeutic effect throughout the whole system.
Substances of the Deep Moor have been found to surround the skin cells or penetrate partially between the epidermis cells. A binding process with albumin in the skin takes place, producing an exchange reaction of ions.
Harmful positive ions in the skin tissues are exchanged for the rejuvenating negative ions in the Moor. The particles are then captured by the blood vessels into the system to carry out their precious work.
The Moor’s benefits also stem from an abundance of essential oils, fatty acids and lipoids, which occur naturally and are not artificially introduced, as in most cosmetics. Research has shown that these substances penetrate easily into the skin an subcutaneous tissues, re-establishing the skin’s natural pH balance and increasing the flow of blood to the skin.
This research also showed that the skin is detoxified, purified, toned and revitalised by soluble organic and inorganic active nutrients. The Moor has been clinically tested and found to be naturally hypoallergenic and to be able to harmonise with and benefit any skin type, eliminating the need for many different types of creams.
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The bar is suitable for all skin type.. this is like a healing bar for the skin.. it really sound too good to be true. I also dont believe it at first but since the person who recommend me is a good friend of mine. I did gave it a try buyi only a bar.
Not sure if any of your skin condition is as bad as mine.. i too have very senstitive skin.i been using it for more than a month.It should be did not really calculate.
I have skin rashes esp my arms .. out break till very badly.. and I do have a very bad habit of scratching it therefore you can imagine my whole arm full of scars.. look really horrible. not sure is it i imagine.. after using for 2 weeks, the scar seen to lighten, and my should which is the clearest part recently i do realise it seen to be so shiny... hmmmm like so clear (4 weeks after).. but arms aahh still long way to go.. still have rashes . will continue to use it,
I have extremely senstitive skin (eczema skin).. my face is extremely dry whereas my scarp is extremely oily.
My face is so dry till the last time what ever i apply it is so painful..peeling extremely..redness..
there are some products i cant use on the market. therefore i am afraid to try some pdt esp those off the shelves kind.i do experience outbreak on and off..
I have even visit numerous doctor but the chinese doctor told me its my blood dirty.. can u imagine
the western doctor told me this is carry from my family.. skin problem.. after that i do realise my mum and my gm seen to have some skin problem too.. doctor told me this will not be cure... what to do .. :(
my daughter has eczema.. so i am also afraid for her haha
Dont panic if after you use your skin peel or outbreak..
just be prepare that it may last for a while..may be more than a month.
for me i do recommend the following
since you have extremely senstitive skin
do not apply sunblock temporary, min lotion unless it is too dry.
do not apply any cream with DHA, acidic etc
do not squeeze like i do wahahha...
must try to sleep well.. which i cant afford busy preparing exam, work, family, house work...etc
drink lots of water
That why normally i also do not recommend my customer or friend to buy the whole bar if they are in doubts..
try halves or quarters first. see the result yourself.. everyone will experience different healing crisis
there will be a healing crisis period for most period. this is the period that the bar is trying to heal out skin.
Some will experience peeling, outbreak, dryness, some itcheness.. etc
Most will be mild which last from weeks to even month.
My healing crisis : I do experience peeling, slight itchness ( intially for one -2 week) and out break at chin..
my out break and itchness stopped. but now still have slight peeling...
If you have redness, itchness. Kindly try not to use any sunblock or any DHA pdt. One minority people may experience severe healing crisis.
Most of my customer are fine.
My recommendation: Try the bar first then later if you consider to get at a bulk price we can talk about it. Email me if you have any doubts
I do use for my body too.. and even my girl at times.. i use on her face and arms
THis pdt is natural.. recently they have tested the pdt in lab and the lab result is good.
i used to work in the chemical industries as a lab technician.. haha i am more afriad than others about what ingredient makes up of the bar. unllike some common chemical are actually cancerous that we are using daily..
12/2/08
Insurance recommendation..
Bought insurance for your little one?? for yourself? for other ?
I have been planning and checking on finding out what is the best and cheapest insurance in town.
I dont think i am that discipline to save the few hundred K for my retirement so the next best plan is to get a life insurance.. wow that is 10 years back..
Got my GE plan.. covered with critical illness
I did not think much about insurance.. hate all those hard selling.. therefore i keep rejecting all the insurance agent proposal.
Recently i have met 2 really nice person. Both are insurance agent..
I am surprise they are not pushy at all.. they are my friends friends..
think it is their principle and character.
That was the time when i think to get insurance for my daughter ..
He is Tiong hao - 98717686
he is a AIA agent.
Very nice chap without pushing me to buy.
If any of you are serious to get some insurance i do recommend these people.
They are great, now now only my agent also my friends.
Another friend is Angela -91005866
she is from prudential. She is really very nice. Down to earth and very ethical.
You can ask them to do a finacial plan for you and your love ones.. just quote from alicia.
I believe they will not charge.
Ask them anything you want .. i defintely do not think they will force you to get.
Get the best advice. Hope these information are useful.
I have been planning and checking on finding out what is the best and cheapest insurance in town.
I dont think i am that discipline to save the few hundred K for my retirement so the next best plan is to get a life insurance.. wow that is 10 years back..
Got my GE plan.. covered with critical illness
I did not think much about insurance.. hate all those hard selling.. therefore i keep rejecting all the insurance agent proposal.
Recently i have met 2 really nice person. Both are insurance agent..
I am surprise they are not pushy at all.. they are my friends friends..
think it is their principle and character.
That was the time when i think to get insurance for my daughter ..
He is Tiong hao - 98717686
he is a AIA agent.
Very nice chap without pushing me to buy.
If any of you are serious to get some insurance i do recommend these people.
They are great, now now only my agent also my friends.
Another friend is Angela -91005866
she is from prudential. She is really very nice. Down to earth and very ethical.
You can ask them to do a finacial plan for you and your love ones.. just quote from alicia.
I believe they will not charge.
Ask them anything you want .. i defintely do not think they will force you to get.
Get the best advice. Hope these information are useful.
Christmas Games..
I am planning some Christmas Games for my collegue.. below are some of the information I got.
Just Add Guests T M
The Game Girl can answer your questions now!Or see the Complete Party Game Guide
With the holidays right around the corner, you're probably planning a Christmas Party for your friends and relatives. And you'll have to keep your guests busy and happy with lots of games and activities! Here are some ideas to help you make your party fun and festive!
Christmas Party Ideas
Christmas Party Supplies
Christmas Creations For You
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Christmas Trivia
Ingredients
Christmas Tree Cutouts
Tape
Pencils
Paper
To Play
Write questions related to Christmas on little green Christmas tree cutouts, number them, and tape them to the walls around the party room.
Provide your guests with pencil and paper, and have them write down their answer to the numbered questions throughout the party.
At the end of the party, read off the answer and see which guest got the most points for a prize!
Sample Questions:
What are the names of Santa's eight reindeer? (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.)
What is a buche de Noel? (An edible yule log)
What do bad little boys get for Christmas? (Switches and lumps of coal)
Finish the song line: "All I want for Christmas is . . . (my two front teeth.)
Who was caught kissing Santa Claus? (Mommy)
How do you say Merry Christmas in Spanish? (Feliz Navidad.) In French? (Joyeux Noel.)
What did Frosty the Snowman have for a nose? (A button.)
Who wrote "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"? (Clement Clarke Moore.)
What is the last line in Moore's poem? ("Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.")
What is a tannebaum? (Christmas tree in German.)
What did the Three Wise Men bring? (Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.)
On the twelfth day of Christmas, what did "my true love give to me"? (Twelve fiddlers fiddling, eleven lords a-leaping, ten ladies dancing, nine pipers piping, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.)
Candy Cane Connection
Ingredients
Candy Canes
Christmas Sugar Cookies
To Play
Buy a collection of candy canes and break them in half.
Mix out the halves and hand them out to your guests.
When all have arrived, have them try to find the other half of their candy canes! You can play this game with Christmas sugar cookies, too!
Christmas Hunt
Ingredients
Paper
Markers
To Play
Write out a list of Christmas related items on a piece of paper and photocopy enough for each of your guests.
Divide guests into teams or couples, and give them a list of Christmas-related items to locate, either in the house or around the neighborhood. Include items like: a candle, a religious Christmas card, some mistletoe, a Christmas cookie, a broken ornament, a burned-out tree light, a Christmas stamp, some tinsel, and a few pine needles.
Santa in the Lineup
Ingredients
Picture of Santa Claus
Pencils
Paper
To Play
Get a picture of Santa Claus that is not the norm and keep it hidden from the guests until game time.
Give your guests pencil and paper and have them write down every detail they remember about Santa Claus's appearance.
After three minutes, call time. Show the picture of Santa and see how many details they got right. The one with the most wins a prize. For added fun, make them draw a detailed picture of Santa, then hold them up for all to see or tape them to the walls!
Christmas Bingo
Ingredients
Stationery
To Play
Make up Bingo cards before the guests arrive. Draw a grid. Then fill in with things related to Christmas, mixing them up for each card. For example, you might include:
"Still hasn't finished shopping."
"Is wearing red tonight."
"Doesn't like eggnog."
"Did the tree trimming."
"Knows what's s/he's getting for Xmas."
"Plans to return at least one gift."
"Ate too much at the last party."
"Bought a new outfit for tonight."
"Knows all the reindeers' names."
"Made figgy pudding once."
"Sang carols this week."
Make small cards to match the items on the grid.
Gather the guests and hand out the cards, along with a handful of small Christmas candies.
Pick a card from the pile and read the statement. If anyone can answer, "yes" to the comment, they get to put a candy in the square. The first person to connect five in a row wins a prize.
Gift Exchange
Ingredients
Pieces of Paper
To Play
Ask your guests to bring an inexpensive wrapped gift (appropriate for both a man or woman), with no gift tag on it.
Have the guests draw numbers and choose a gift in numerical order. For added fun, let the next player have the choice of choosing a new gift, or stealing a gift from someone who has already opened it.
Cookie Exchange
Ingredients
Paper Plates
To Play
Have guests bring three-dozen of their favorite cookies. Place the cookies on a table.
When all have arrived, give the guests a paper plate and let them go around the table collecting cookies from each platter, until they have three dozen mixed cookies to take home!
Ornament Exchange
Ingredients
Numbered Pieces of Paper
To Play
Have guests buy an ornament for the tree and bring it to the party wrapped and unlabeled.
Pass out numbers and let the guests choose a wrapped ornament in order.
Each guest gets to keep an ornament.
Just Add Guests T M
The Game Girl can answer your questions now!Or see the Complete Party Game Guide
With the holidays right around the corner, you're probably planning a Christmas Party for your friends and relatives. And you'll have to keep your guests busy and happy with lots of games and activities! Here are some ideas to help you make your party fun and festive!
Christmas Party Ideas
Christmas Party Supplies
Christmas Creations For You
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Christmas Trivia
Ingredients
Christmas Tree Cutouts
Tape
Pencils
Paper
To Play
Write questions related to Christmas on little green Christmas tree cutouts, number them, and tape them to the walls around the party room.
Provide your guests with pencil and paper, and have them write down their answer to the numbered questions throughout the party.
At the end of the party, read off the answer and see which guest got the most points for a prize!
Sample Questions:
What are the names of Santa's eight reindeer? (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.)
What is a buche de Noel? (An edible yule log)
What do bad little boys get for Christmas? (Switches and lumps of coal)
Finish the song line: "All I want for Christmas is . . . (my two front teeth.)
Who was caught kissing Santa Claus? (Mommy)
How do you say Merry Christmas in Spanish? (Feliz Navidad.) In French? (Joyeux Noel.)
What did Frosty the Snowman have for a nose? (A button.)
Who wrote "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"? (Clement Clarke Moore.)
What is the last line in Moore's poem? ("Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.")
What is a tannebaum? (Christmas tree in German.)
What did the Three Wise Men bring? (Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.)
On the twelfth day of Christmas, what did "my true love give to me"? (Twelve fiddlers fiddling, eleven lords a-leaping, ten ladies dancing, nine pipers piping, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.)
Candy Cane Connection
Ingredients
Candy Canes
Christmas Sugar Cookies
To Play
Buy a collection of candy canes and break them in half.
Mix out the halves and hand them out to your guests.
When all have arrived, have them try to find the other half of their candy canes! You can play this game with Christmas sugar cookies, too!
Christmas Hunt
Ingredients
Paper
Markers
To Play
Write out a list of Christmas related items on a piece of paper and photocopy enough for each of your guests.
Divide guests into teams or couples, and give them a list of Christmas-related items to locate, either in the house or around the neighborhood. Include items like: a candle, a religious Christmas card, some mistletoe, a Christmas cookie, a broken ornament, a burned-out tree light, a Christmas stamp, some tinsel, and a few pine needles.
Santa in the Lineup
Ingredients
Picture of Santa Claus
Pencils
Paper
To Play
Get a picture of Santa Claus that is not the norm and keep it hidden from the guests until game time.
Give your guests pencil and paper and have them write down every detail they remember about Santa Claus's appearance.
After three minutes, call time. Show the picture of Santa and see how many details they got right. The one with the most wins a prize. For added fun, make them draw a detailed picture of Santa, then hold them up for all to see or tape them to the walls!
Christmas Bingo
Ingredients
Stationery
To Play
Make up Bingo cards before the guests arrive. Draw a grid. Then fill in with things related to Christmas, mixing them up for each card. For example, you might include:
"Still hasn't finished shopping."
"Is wearing red tonight."
"Doesn't like eggnog."
"Did the tree trimming."
"Knows what's s/he's getting for Xmas."
"Plans to return at least one gift."
"Ate too much at the last party."
"Bought a new outfit for tonight."
"Knows all the reindeers' names."
"Made figgy pudding once."
"Sang carols this week."
Make small cards to match the items on the grid.
Gather the guests and hand out the cards, along with a handful of small Christmas candies.
Pick a card from the pile and read the statement. If anyone can answer, "yes" to the comment, they get to put a candy in the square. The first person to connect five in a row wins a prize.
Gift Exchange
Ingredients
Pieces of Paper
To Play
Ask your guests to bring an inexpensive wrapped gift (appropriate for both a man or woman), with no gift tag on it.
Have the guests draw numbers and choose a gift in numerical order. For added fun, let the next player have the choice of choosing a new gift, or stealing a gift from someone who has already opened it.
Cookie Exchange
Ingredients
Paper Plates
To Play
Have guests bring three-dozen of their favorite cookies. Place the cookies on a table.
When all have arrived, give the guests a paper plate and let them go around the table collecting cookies from each platter, until they have three dozen mixed cookies to take home!
Ornament Exchange
Ingredients
Numbered Pieces of Paper
To Play
Have guests buy an ornament for the tree and bring it to the party wrapped and unlabeled.
Pass out numbers and let the guests choose a wrapped ornament in order.
Each guest gets to keep an ornament.
11/27/08
four simple secrets to guide u to a debt free financial peace
Some tips on Four Simple Secrets will Guide you Toward Debt Free Financial Peace
This is first and foremost about a completely new way of managing your money.
STOP
This is first and foremost about a completely new way of managing your money.
STOP
- Living paycheck to paycheck
- Going into debt
- Worrying about your money
- Putting off retirement
- Over drafting your accounts
- Arguing with your spouse
START - Paying cash for purchases
- Living on less than you earn
- Getting out of debt
- Investing for retirement
- Making your money work!
- Working with your spouse
You’re welcome to check out the long version of how YNAB came to be, but the short of it was something like this: We were a just married couple, both still in school with no money, no car, and part-time-low-paying jobs.
But we had an idea.
The idea was to budget using Four Rules. The software (either spreadsheet-based, or as a standalone Windows program) is built around these Four Rules.
If you choose to implement, it will change your life…
YNAB is so helpful. Seven months of success in our house with the program. We are successfully living on one income in our house now as a result of YNAB. We are paying down car and student loans at the same time, with a 9 month old baby in tow. We live on a not-for-profit worker salary, too. Pretty cool. Go YNAB. Best impulse buy I ever made. source
The real victory from living on a budget will be the debt we will be able to pay down with the wife’s seasonal income. Looking longer term, we have a plan to have everything but the mortgage paid off by this time next year. Then the snowball used to pay off the debt will be freed up to really start us down the path towards the dream. I feel we’ve come a long way to learning healthier financial behaviors. source
…and it’ll do all of that in less time…
I spend sooo much less time on the budget every month and everything is TOTALLY organized. I used to fear balancing everything under my old method because it took too long so I would inevitably put it off. Now I look forward to entering everything and I do it every 1 to 3 days at the latest and it takes no time at all. source
Anyone who is considering this program, I would strongly suggest giving it a chance. This software is so easy to use, my wife and I spent 20 minutes setting up December’s budget and I spend maybe 5 minutes every couple days updating the receipts and reconciling the checking account. Definitely not a time intense process. source
So let’s talk about these Four Rules.
Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
YNAB will require some work on your part–work that will pay big dividends in the future. The methodology and software will help you work toward living on last month’s income. What you earn this month, you’ll spend the next. Most people take between four and six months to save enough money to live on last month’s income. What really matters is that you work toward it (Rules Two, Three and Four will all help you get there).
Why Follow Rule One?
You’ll finally have some breathing room. (Don’t underestimate this)
Pay your bills when they arrive — no more wasting time by timing paychecks with bills!
The “I can’t budget, I’m on a variable income” problem is eliminated.
We’re now living a month ahead, and I’m completely geeking out about it. Yesterday I paid all the bills we’d gotten so far for January. Today I got the water bill, and instead of putting it aside to wait for the next paycheck–I just went ahead and paid it right away. Next to my desk I’ve got a little box with 31 slots, for keeping bills in. That way I know when they’re due, so I can schedule which ones I have to pay now and which ones can wait until the next paycheck. Now NONE of them need to wait until the next paycheck. I’m going to give the box to Goodwill.
source
See Rule One in Action
Give Every Dollar a Job
Each month you’ll sit down (with your spouse if applicable) and allocate the funds you have Available to your spending/saving categories where they are needed. You’ll do this until there are no more available dollars. The process takes twenty minutes and will revolutionize the way you think about your money. Every dollar will be given a JOB (rent, car insurance, savings, caribbean vacation, etc.)
Why Follow Rule Two?
Dollars are like teenagers, unless given some (strict) guidance, they’ll own you.
Your awareness will increase immensely. Your spending will align with your values, and that brings contentment.
Communication between spouses about money improves greatly.
Once I started using YNAB, within 10 days I am very clear about my financial goals. YNAB gives me a very clear picture about my spending and where I can save etc. source
Making more money doesn’t make you smarter or better with money. It doesn’t magically enable you to not need a budget. Though I lived that way for awhile. I could get away with it while single — but as a family man with a mortgage, a new car, a flooded basement, a new dog with surgical needs, etc. Well, that just wasn’t going to cut it. YNAB quickly, and easily, got me living to a managed budget this summer. source
See Rule Two in Action
Prepare for Rain
Everyone has rainy days. The car insurance is due, you need new tires, the tax man cometh… YNAB will help you anticipate those larger, less frequent expenses. Have an insurance premium due in six months for $600? Stick $100 into your Car Insurance category for each of those months and watch the balance grow until the bill is due.
Why Follow Rule Three?
Even out the crazy ups and downs of your financial life.
Gain a true picture of your discretionary income.
Ease the stress of opening the mail. (The money will be sitting there waiting to be used to pay that bill!)
My car insurance bill came today. It comes once every 6 months. I have the money to pay it and it won’t hurt at all.
How to Fix Your Debts on Your Own
How to Fix Your Debts on Your Own
If your debts are too high, you can’t make all of your payments, but you don’t want to go bankrupt, you’ll want to consider some alternatives. The best alternative is to fix it yourself! Here is a guide on how to fix your debt on your own.
HSBC Your Business BankFlexible Solution For Your Business The World's Local Bankwww.hsbc.com
HSBC Credit CardsTransfer funds at 0% interest Apply for HSBC credit card now!www.hsbc.com.sg
A Simple Personal BudgetBudget Spreadsheet System - You'll Save $235 in 31 Days! Start Today.www.YouNeedABudget.com/spreadsheet
[edit] Steps
Build an emergency fund. Many people recommend three to six months of expenses. But even if you can only save a couple of hundred dollars, it will keep you from going right back into debt when your car breaks down or you fall and break your arm.
Don't go into any more debt. Yes, you need to have a credit card for many practical reasons. But you only need one. Choose the one that has the lowest, fixed interest rate and keep it. Don't close your other cards because that might negatively affect your credit standing, but do cut them up or hide them in a drawer. Do not use any of them except in emergency that you cannot cover with your emergency fund.
Make a budget. A budget is a basic list of all the money that comes in and out of your home each month.
Read your bank statements. If this is the first time you’ve had to make a personal budget, you may have trouble figuring out your monthly expenses. By looking at your bank statements and credit card statements from the past few months, you can get an idea of your average monthly spending. A second, but more tedious way is taking a pencil and paper with you everywhere you go for a two week period, to copy down all purchases made.
Reduce your expenses. Once you know how much you spend each month, you can figure out ways to reduce your expenses. Good ways of doing this are cutting your food bill by purchasing sale and name brand items, taking the bus or carpooling, and making your own coffee instead of getting it at the local coffee shop. Visit garage sales and read the want ads. Sometimes people sell clothes with tags still on them, or exercise equipment that's hardly been used. As you are able to save some money each month, start using that money to pay off your debts.
Delay expenses. Maybe spring is here and you want some new pants -- if you wait three or four weeks, you can buy them on clearance. Maybe your dryer broke. Hang your clothes on lines in the basement or outside for a few months. The longer you wait to buy something new, the better position you will be in when you finally make your purchase. You don't have to sacrifice forever, but try to make do. If somehting's not broken but it's a little ugly or beat up, see how long you can tolerate it.
Pay any late bills right away. Late fees and overlimit fees are expensive, and if your credit standing drops, some banks raise the interest rate you pay.
Next, pay the bill with the highest interest rate. This is called "Laddering". Pay a little extra every month. Even if it's $50. Even if it's $10. But make it your goal to put as much money as you can afford toward paying off that bill. Alternately, you can use a "Reverse Laddering" approach, where you pay your bill with the lowest balance first, then the next lowest balance, and so on. This frees up more cash in hand to start chipping down the higher balance debts you have. This method is effective because instead of paying small chunks of money toward those high interest bills, you can throw large chunks of money at them, reducing the amount of time needed to pay them off. Also, your attitude will be better because you see the results of your progress faster, and therefore aren't discouraged as easily.
You must be careful though, because sometimes the money you pay on the higher interest is more than the money you free up each month when paying off the small balances. Review your finances thoroughly, crunch the numbers, and see which method would be the most effective for your situation.
Consider your other options. If you’ve discovered that it isn’t possible to repair your credit on your own, start researching other options. Some of these options might include consumer proposals, debt consolidation, or as a last resort, bankruptcy. It is strongly advised that you seek a personal bankruptcy attorney to discuss your options. A bankruptcy attorney will be able to determine which option would best suit your individual needs.
[edit] Tips
For more information on debt repair, or to find a bankruptcy attorney near you, visit www.bankruptcy-america.com
[edit] Warnings
Get referrals of any counseling agency you work with. Some scam artists prey on desparate people.
If your debts are too high, you can’t make all of your payments, but you don’t want to go bankrupt, you’ll want to consider some alternatives. The best alternative is to fix it yourself! Here is a guide on how to fix your debt on your own.
HSBC Your Business BankFlexible Solution For Your Business The World's Local Bankwww.hsbc.com
HSBC Credit CardsTransfer funds at 0% interest Apply for HSBC credit card now!www.hsbc.com.sg
A Simple Personal BudgetBudget Spreadsheet System - You'll Save $235 in 31 Days! Start Today.www.YouNeedABudget.com/spreadsheet
[edit] Steps
Build an emergency fund. Many people recommend three to six months of expenses. But even if you can only save a couple of hundred dollars, it will keep you from going right back into debt when your car breaks down or you fall and break your arm.
Don't go into any more debt. Yes, you need to have a credit card for many practical reasons. But you only need one. Choose the one that has the lowest, fixed interest rate and keep it. Don't close your other cards because that might negatively affect your credit standing, but do cut them up or hide them in a drawer. Do not use any of them except in emergency that you cannot cover with your emergency fund.
Make a budget. A budget is a basic list of all the money that comes in and out of your home each month.
Read your bank statements. If this is the first time you’ve had to make a personal budget, you may have trouble figuring out your monthly expenses. By looking at your bank statements and credit card statements from the past few months, you can get an idea of your average monthly spending. A second, but more tedious way is taking a pencil and paper with you everywhere you go for a two week period, to copy down all purchases made.
Reduce your expenses. Once you know how much you spend each month, you can figure out ways to reduce your expenses. Good ways of doing this are cutting your food bill by purchasing sale and name brand items, taking the bus or carpooling, and making your own coffee instead of getting it at the local coffee shop. Visit garage sales and read the want ads. Sometimes people sell clothes with tags still on them, or exercise equipment that's hardly been used. As you are able to save some money each month, start using that money to pay off your debts.
Delay expenses. Maybe spring is here and you want some new pants -- if you wait three or four weeks, you can buy them on clearance. Maybe your dryer broke. Hang your clothes on lines in the basement or outside for a few months. The longer you wait to buy something new, the better position you will be in when you finally make your purchase. You don't have to sacrifice forever, but try to make do. If somehting's not broken but it's a little ugly or beat up, see how long you can tolerate it.
Pay any late bills right away. Late fees and overlimit fees are expensive, and if your credit standing drops, some banks raise the interest rate you pay.
Next, pay the bill with the highest interest rate. This is called "Laddering". Pay a little extra every month. Even if it's $50. Even if it's $10. But make it your goal to put as much money as you can afford toward paying off that bill. Alternately, you can use a "Reverse Laddering" approach, where you pay your bill with the lowest balance first, then the next lowest balance, and so on. This frees up more cash in hand to start chipping down the higher balance debts you have. This method is effective because instead of paying small chunks of money toward those high interest bills, you can throw large chunks of money at them, reducing the amount of time needed to pay them off. Also, your attitude will be better because you see the results of your progress faster, and therefore aren't discouraged as easily.
You must be careful though, because sometimes the money you pay on the higher interest is more than the money you free up each month when paying off the small balances. Review your finances thoroughly, crunch the numbers, and see which method would be the most effective for your situation.
Consider your other options. If you’ve discovered that it isn’t possible to repair your credit on your own, start researching other options. Some of these options might include consumer proposals, debt consolidation, or as a last resort, bankruptcy. It is strongly advised that you seek a personal bankruptcy attorney to discuss your options. A bankruptcy attorney will be able to determine which option would best suit your individual needs.
[edit] Tips
For more information on debt repair, or to find a bankruptcy attorney near you, visit www.bankruptcy-america.com
[edit] Warnings
Get referrals of any counseling agency you work with. Some scam artists prey on desparate people.
How to Create a Working Budget
How to Create a Working Budget
A Simple Personal BudgetBudget Spreadsheet System - You'll Save $235 in 31 Days! Start Today.www.YouNeedABudget.com/spreadsheet
HSBC Business AccountComprehensive Banking Service For Simple To Complex Banking Needswww.hsbc.com
Budgeting Made EasyEffortlessly organize your finances Get immediate control!www.budgetmap.com
A budget is a great way to take control of your finances and save for some goal or maybe just get out of debt.
[edit] Steps
Calculate how much money you earn in a month after taxes. For this budget plan, use your net pay or take home pay. Include tips, supplementary income, side-jobs, investments etc. This is your income.
Figure out your expenses. The best way to do this is to save receipts for a month or even a couple weeks. Knowing how much per month you spend on groceries or gas makes the next part much easier. If you want to start writing your budget today, and don't have receipts, that's OK, it's just a bit more difficult.
Set your goal. Why are you going on a budget? Maybe you want to start saving for college, or maybe you want to get out of debt. Whatever your reason, define your goal clearly so you can determine if you are meeting it or not.
Break your budget up into some basic categories. Some categories you could use are: Housing, Food, Auto, Entertainment, Savings, Clothing, Medical, and Miscellaneous. You might want to organize your expenses into needs - such as your loan and electricity - and wants - such as clothing and entertainment.
List all your spending under each of these categories.
Let's take Auto as an example:
$300/month car payment, $100/month insurance, $250/month on gas, $50/month on maintenance, 10$/month on fees such as registration. So, your total Auto budget for the month would be $710/month. If you don't know the exact amounts you spend, try to make good estimates. The more accurate you are, the better chance your budget has of working.
Once you have broken down all your spending into your basic categories, add it all up. This should show your total monthly spending. Compare it to how much you make each month after taxes.
Obtain some kind of record-keeping method to keep track of your budget. Some people like to use computer programs like Quicken or Microsoft Money. If you prefer you could just use a good old-fashioned ledger book. You can find one at Wal-Mart for about $5.
Set up your ledger. Skip the first 5 or so pages for later, we'll come back to it. Divide the rest of the ledger into as many sections as you have main categories. Put each main category on the first page of each section. This will give you room for lots of entries in each category. Some categories, like food, are going to need lots of pages.
Decide what period of time you want your budget set up for. I found monthly to be the most useful for me, since most bills are monthly. However, I decided to make the deposits to my budget categories twice a month. In other words, if my Auto budget for the month is $710, I showed "deposits" of $355 in the Auto section on the 1st and 15th of each month.
Show a deposit in each category at the start of each period, then show all the expenditures from that category throughout the period. So, for Auto, you would start off with $710 for the month, then show several expenditures for gas, one expenditure for car payment, maybe one expenditure for insurance(depending on whether you pay insurance monthly or not).
Use that first section of the ledger book to record income and then show the budget being subtracted from it each period. For instance, I get paid every other Friday, so there are corresponding entries in the income section showing income deposits every other Friday. My budget is ~$2800/month, and gets subtracted on the 1st and 15th. So on each 1st and 15th, the income sections shows a budget subtraction of $1400.
[edit] Tips
The very first month you set up a budget, it's probably not going to work for you, because if you've never kept track of this stuff before, you're not going to magically know how much to put in each category. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED. The second month might be a little better, but most people don't have a good, working budget until the third or fourth month. You didn't ride a bike without training wheels the first time you tried, and you weren't Michael Schumacher the first time you got in a car, either. Practice makes perfect!
There are occasionally pay-periods where may make some extra money, and when that happens there is a surplus! It's up to you on how to use that surplus. You could put it directly toward your goal, or you could let it sit in your bank account as an emergency fund.
As time goes by, you will find that your original budget has some flaws. Some areas you underestimated, some areas you overestimated. Some things come up that you didn't account for at all. That's OK! Just make revisions as you get a clearer picture of your spending.
Remember to keep your overall spending less than your earning so you can meet your goal.
The first time I tried this, my spending was more than my earning, and that was without putting anything into savings! If that happens to you, do what I did: start making cuts in your spending plan. For instance, my first budget had $150/month for clothing. After making changes, I reduced my spending to $80/month for clothing. You might have to make many changes like that to be able to accomplish whatever goals you have set for your budget.
If you keep your emergency fund in your checking (or savings!) account, it could be very difficult to avoid the temptation to spend it when you see that shiny new must-have item you've been wanting. Find a money-market account with a decent rate of return (4-5%) and check-writing privileges and you'll be ahead of the game.
A common problem people have when making budgets is that they'll come up with an excellent plan, but then the car breaks down and the plan goes out the window. This is why you have the above-mentioned emergency fund. If you use the emergency fund money for an emergency, don't forget to budget for putting that money back next month!
Another common problem is people see the shiny new must-have item at (insert store here) and they buy it, even though it's not on their budget. Maybe it was on sale and they couldn't pass it up! This is why it's good to have a budget category called "Blow" (or whatever you want.) No, it's not for cocaine, it's the category for impulse purchases! I highly recommend including this category.
Don't try and begin a budget for the first month after an event in your life where money was significantly spent or saved, such as a vacation or a move, or coming into an inheritance or winning the lottery. Wait until your finances have been "in order" or at a steady pace, usually from three to six months afterwards, before starting fresh.
[edit] Warnings
At times a budget can seem very restrictive. Just remember, it can be liberating too! When vacation time comes, you'll already have money set aside for it thanks to your budget and you won't have to scrape to be able to afford it.
A Simple Personal BudgetBudget Spreadsheet System - You'll Save $235 in 31 Days! Start Today.www.YouNeedABudget.com/spreadsheet
HSBC Business AccountComprehensive Banking Service For Simple To Complex Banking Needswww.hsbc.com
Budgeting Made EasyEffortlessly organize your finances Get immediate control!www.budgetmap.com
A budget is a great way to take control of your finances and save for some goal or maybe just get out of debt.
[edit] Steps
Calculate how much money you earn in a month after taxes. For this budget plan, use your net pay or take home pay. Include tips, supplementary income, side-jobs, investments etc. This is your income.
Figure out your expenses. The best way to do this is to save receipts for a month or even a couple weeks. Knowing how much per month you spend on groceries or gas makes the next part much easier. If you want to start writing your budget today, and don't have receipts, that's OK, it's just a bit more difficult.
Set your goal. Why are you going on a budget? Maybe you want to start saving for college, or maybe you want to get out of debt. Whatever your reason, define your goal clearly so you can determine if you are meeting it or not.
Break your budget up into some basic categories. Some categories you could use are: Housing, Food, Auto, Entertainment, Savings, Clothing, Medical, and Miscellaneous. You might want to organize your expenses into needs - such as your loan and electricity - and wants - such as clothing and entertainment.
List all your spending under each of these categories.
Let's take Auto as an example:
$300/month car payment, $100/month insurance, $250/month on gas, $50/month on maintenance, 10$/month on fees such as registration. So, your total Auto budget for the month would be $710/month. If you don't know the exact amounts you spend, try to make good estimates. The more accurate you are, the better chance your budget has of working.
Once you have broken down all your spending into your basic categories, add it all up. This should show your total monthly spending. Compare it to how much you make each month after taxes.
Obtain some kind of record-keeping method to keep track of your budget. Some people like to use computer programs like Quicken or Microsoft Money. If you prefer you could just use a good old-fashioned ledger book. You can find one at Wal-Mart for about $5.
Set up your ledger. Skip the first 5 or so pages for later, we'll come back to it. Divide the rest of the ledger into as many sections as you have main categories. Put each main category on the first page of each section. This will give you room for lots of entries in each category. Some categories, like food, are going to need lots of pages.
Decide what period of time you want your budget set up for. I found monthly to be the most useful for me, since most bills are monthly. However, I decided to make the deposits to my budget categories twice a month. In other words, if my Auto budget for the month is $710, I showed "deposits" of $355 in the Auto section on the 1st and 15th of each month.
Show a deposit in each category at the start of each period, then show all the expenditures from that category throughout the period. So, for Auto, you would start off with $710 for the month, then show several expenditures for gas, one expenditure for car payment, maybe one expenditure for insurance(depending on whether you pay insurance monthly or not).
Use that first section of the ledger book to record income and then show the budget being subtracted from it each period. For instance, I get paid every other Friday, so there are corresponding entries in the income section showing income deposits every other Friday. My budget is ~$2800/month, and gets subtracted on the 1st and 15th. So on each 1st and 15th, the income sections shows a budget subtraction of $1400.
[edit] Tips
The very first month you set up a budget, it's probably not going to work for you, because if you've never kept track of this stuff before, you're not going to magically know how much to put in each category. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED. The second month might be a little better, but most people don't have a good, working budget until the third or fourth month. You didn't ride a bike without training wheels the first time you tried, and you weren't Michael Schumacher the first time you got in a car, either. Practice makes perfect!
There are occasionally pay-periods where may make some extra money, and when that happens there is a surplus! It's up to you on how to use that surplus. You could put it directly toward your goal, or you could let it sit in your bank account as an emergency fund.
As time goes by, you will find that your original budget has some flaws. Some areas you underestimated, some areas you overestimated. Some things come up that you didn't account for at all. That's OK! Just make revisions as you get a clearer picture of your spending.
Remember to keep your overall spending less than your earning so you can meet your goal.
The first time I tried this, my spending was more than my earning, and that was without putting anything into savings! If that happens to you, do what I did: start making cuts in your spending plan. For instance, my first budget had $150/month for clothing. After making changes, I reduced my spending to $80/month for clothing. You might have to make many changes like that to be able to accomplish whatever goals you have set for your budget.
If you keep your emergency fund in your checking (or savings!) account, it could be very difficult to avoid the temptation to spend it when you see that shiny new must-have item you've been wanting. Find a money-market account with a decent rate of return (4-5%) and check-writing privileges and you'll be ahead of the game.
A common problem people have when making budgets is that they'll come up with an excellent plan, but then the car breaks down and the plan goes out the window. This is why you have the above-mentioned emergency fund. If you use the emergency fund money for an emergency, don't forget to budget for putting that money back next month!
Another common problem is people see the shiny new must-have item at (insert store here) and they buy it, even though it's not on their budget. Maybe it was on sale and they couldn't pass it up! This is why it's good to have a budget category called "Blow" (or whatever you want.) No, it's not for cocaine, it's the category for impulse purchases! I highly recommend including this category.
Don't try and begin a budget for the first month after an event in your life where money was significantly spent or saved, such as a vacation or a move, or coming into an inheritance or winning the lottery. Wait until your finances have been "in order" or at a steady pace, usually from three to six months afterwards, before starting fresh.
[edit] Warnings
At times a budget can seem very restrictive. Just remember, it can be liberating too! When vacation time comes, you'll already have money set aside for it thanks to your budget and you won't have to scrape to be able to afford it.
How to Reduce Expenses
An important way to save money is to reduce expenses. There are a lot of ways you can stretch your dollars and help avoid that "too much month at the end of the money" feeling. Some of these steps will take a bit of planning and investigation but they will be well worth the effort. Others you will be able to implement immediately. Some will require a small up-front investment but have a substantial long-term payoff. Your ability to implement those will depend on available cash and your budget.
What you’ll need first, is a clear idea of where your money is going; then you can look at ways to cut fluff and lower the cost of your required living expense. Always keep in mind that it’s not just about cheaper; it’s about efficiency. Analyze your needs and do the math. Most importantly, however, is to understand that reducing expenses is a lifestyle change and a change in your thinking patterns. Never let yourself believe that pennies don't count.
Steps
Determine where you spend your money. If you don’t know where your money is going, you are most likely spending too much. You can get a solid idea in as little as one month and as you continue, you’ll see patterns develop that you can address. Write down everything you buy down to the last dollar. Don’t stop at the obvious things like rent, utilities, gasoline and food – include the ancillary items like sodas and snacks as well as gum or tobacco. What about happy hour? Did you rent a movie? Use a Row-by-Column ledger, spreadsheet or other software to keep track every month. If you exclusively use a debit card for your purchases, the bank will do this for you.
Immediately eliminate unnecessary routine purchases. While it’s likely this won’t be the largest savings area, it’s important and easy. Is the coffee shop on your way to work really necessary? How critical are the three sodas or snacks a day you buy from the office vending machine at $1.50 each? A cup of coffee that you made at home is only 25-35 cents, as is a soda you bought in a store as part of a 12 pack. Do you seriously have to rent all those movies (and pay those late fees) each month? Have you checked to see whether your library has movies, or calculated the cost of switching to Netflix and BlockBuster Online? Those ten lottery tickets… the odds against you are astronomical. This is quick and most of it is habit. There will be some psychological pain at first but when you add up the dollars you’ll see a big difference instantly.
Address your utilities.
Heating and cooling (gas or electric): When you leave the house, set your thermostat to an "away" setting (a note of caution here: don’t set it so far from comfortable that it takes an inordinate amount of time to return to comfort when you get home: 65°F or 18°C in the winter and 80°F or 27°C in the summer might be reasonable numbers to use). Consider investing in ceiling fans – you can get these for as little as US$20 and they dramatically reduce cost of heating and cooling by circulating the air more efficiently. If your expenses are already low, and you won't be staying where you are for long, you may not save enough to pay for the fan, however
Electric: Lighting is expensive. When you leave a room, turn off the light. The idea that it takes more energy to turn on a light than to keep it on is completely false, as turning on a light only burns as much electricity as burning it for fractions of a second.[1] Energy efficient bulbs really work. This is an investment that will pay off over time but there is a significant savings to be gained. (this energy calculator can help). Turn off your computer/laptop when you’re not using it – (probably) the only reason you leave it on is convenience. Any voltage adapters (including the ones in stereo components) still use electricity even if they're not charging or plugged in to the device. If you have a digital box with an auxiliary AC outlet, plug your TV into it, and program the box to shut off the outlet when the box is turned off. For stereo components, plug them all into a power bar that can easily be switched off when not in use.Open the drapes during the day for light instead of burning electricity. Only use electricity when you absolutely need it.
Water: Save water, save money. Invest in a shower-reduction kit – they cost nearly nothing and will start saving you money immediately. They work by reducing the flow to the shower head and the change is barely noticeable. Learn to take quicker showers – an inexpensive egg timer is a good way to help. Repair leaky toilets and faucets – this is an enormous waste of water and easy to fix. Reduce your lawn watering to minimum needs. If you have a pool, keep it covered when it’s not in use to reduce evaporation – also, if it’s heated that will dramatically increase evaporation as well (only heat your pool to keep it from freezing, and invest in a thermal blanket). Also if you're not using the faucet turn it off -- e.g., when brushing teeth do not leave faucet running
Gas and Miscellaneous: Do laundry as often as necessary but as little as possible – for a lot of people this is a pleasant step. Reduce the temperature of your shower by a couple of degrees; the less work your water heater does the more money you’ll save. Use the microwave instead of the oven whenever possible – the cost just to preheat an oven is more than the cost to cook a meal in the microwave. Open the windows when it’s nice outside to reduce heating (and cooling) costs.If you live where natural gas is used only in the winter months, arrange with your local utility to do a seasonal shutoff so that you are not saddled with fixed monthly service charges for the "privilege" of being connected to the gas service even though you are not using it. With one supplier, it is $17/month. In the 8 months that you don't need the service, you're charged $17 X 8 = $136, but the season shutoff and turn on costs $54.
Cable and Telephone: Seriously, do you really, really need a thousand channels and every single premium channel available including the high definition packages? You can save the full $100+ on your cable bill every month by watching TV for free online. [2] However, if you have cable internet, it may actually be CHEAPER to keep basic cable than to pay for internet alone. If you want to save money take a close look at your priorities. For your telephone, shop around based on your use. If you make a lot of long-distance calls to family and friends, perhaps one of the unlimited plans would save money. If all your calls are local you probably can get by with a bare-bones option. Consider that your cell phone may have free long distance; therefore, removing the necessity of having long distance on a land line. Look into the Voice-Over-IP (phone over the internet) for your telephone solutions. This is not an option for people with DSL, which is tied to their land line. One such solution is Vonage, [3], but there are several others.
Cell phone: "wat r u up 2" "nm gtg ttyl" Text messages cost money. "Oh no, I have unlimited text!" Oh? How much does that option cost you? Do you actually even need a cell phone? Does everyone in your family actually need a cell phone? Parents – lay down the law on cell phone usage – is your eleven-year-old sitting around the house texting… are you? Another thing to consider is if you really require a cell phone then do you really need a land line at home? Consider consolidating. If your cell phone use is occasional only, consider a pay-as-you-go plan.
Reconsider Gasoline and Miscellaneous Auto: When gas was rationed during World War II, a popular slogan was "Is this trip really necessary?" Ask yourself that every time you get in your car. Make a list before you go to the store so you don’t have to make additional trips. Don’t go for a drive for pleasure – walk instead or choose other forms of entertainment (reading,exercising for example). Check the pressure in your tires. Convertibles get better mileage with the top up. A poorly running engine is a huge waste – even a spark plug change can make a big difference, as can clean oil. Also, the less you drive the less frequently you’ll change tires, oil, require maintenance, etc. That’s a savings-over-time, of course, but it will mount up. Another way to save gas (and money) is to change your driving habits. By simply driving more slowly, and/or less aggressively, you can save significant amounts of money (calculate for yourself at this web site [4]).
Cut Down on Entertainment: It’s astounding how many people complain about money then describe the latest release of a movie along with the cost of theater popcorn. Also, professional sports event, a music concert or tickets to a play can run hundreds of dollars for a couple on a date. Seriously, can you really tell the difference (blindfolded) between a $30 bottle of wine and a $9 bottle of wine? When you do dine out, actually think about the prices on the menu first. Consider a meal share if the restaurant offers that option. Never, ever order delivery. Look for vacation bargains – consider taking the kids camping instead of one of the super expensive amusement parks.
Focus on Food: The only real difference between a $1.99 can of corn and a $0.63 can of corn is $1.36 (sure there are exceptions; people on low-sodium diets will definitely have to pay more). The grocery store is a place you can save big.
Look for foods that are marked "WIC" for savings. Those have been approved for the Women, Infants and Children program by the USDA Department of Food and Nutrition Services… healthy, nutritious and inexpensive. That ring of cooked shrimp is on sale and sure looks tasty… how about a nice grilled chicken breast with green beans and rice? Make dining in an experience instead of just a convenience. It’s quite possible to spend as much on home food as you would by eating out if you are wasteful.
Invest $10 in a coffee pot. Making your coffee at home instead of purchasing your $1, $3, or $7 custom latte at the coffee shop will save you money.
Consider taking your lunch to work instead of buying lunch each day. Even an inexpensive lunch out is several dollars a day – do the math.
Use coupons whenever possible. Make sure these are on items you would normally eat so you don't purchase things that will be wasted by sitting in your cupboards forever or spoil in your refrigerator. Also use buy store specials and use store customer cards when possible toward food purchases.
Look into joining a warehouse club. The price of the membership is usually made up in the first shopping. They carry name-brand products and will take coupons. Also, by not having to shop as often, you spend less money by not being in the store every week and risking impulse purchases. Warehouse club shopping must be done with discretion or you will not save money.
When purchasing meat items, aim for pieces where you can identify the body part from which it came. Ground beef, although cheap, is processed which increases it's price. Tougher cuts of meat can be slow-cooked and made incredibly tender. Also larger pieces can be cooked in bulk and used for several different recipes. (Cook one large piece and when tender, tear it up for use in enchiladas, sandwiches, stews or soups, etc. Simply store in individual portions, labeled with the type of meat and date, for later use.)
Avoid large packages of fresh produce to avoid spoilage; frozen produce will extend the shelf life of all your fruit and vegetables.
Measure product use carefully (like soap powder); don't be wasteful with the products just because it comes in a large container.
Buy products you will actually use instead of substituting just because it's on your list and the only item available. Are you really going to enjoy that box of cereal that's not your regular brand, or is it going to sit on your shelf?
address your insurance costs: The fastest way for some people to reduce monthly expenses will be in the area of health, auto and life insurance. Companies that sell those are incredibly competitive. Get some bids from different companies. When you do this, bear in mind that lower initial premiums will not always be the most cost efficient!
Auto Insurance: Look at your deductible. Don’t jump to increase your deductible – analyze the entire plan based on your needs and expectations; do a risk analysis first. If you have an inexperienced driver in your house and you don’t have savings, having a high deductible might not be the best choice – also if your car is financed you may have minimum insurance requirements. However if you have a long history of good driving and you own your car, outright, you might consider a high deductible to save on premiums.
Health Insurance: Investigate alternatives. Shop around for plans that are consistent and cost efficient with your lifestyle. Consider your actual needs vs. what you have. A single man in perfect health in his mid-30’s might choose a plan with a higher copay or co-insurance and lower premiums, whereas a married couple wanting to start a family might do better with higher premiums but more extensive coverage. In other cases, prescription benefits might be the most important. The point is to look at what you must have .
Life Insurance: There is no question that this is important – for many people. The rule of thumb for someone with a family is three to five years' replacement income. However, if you’re a 20ish single consider carefully and determine if you’re over-insured. If you’re married in your mid-60’s have you looked at comparative plans from places like AARP? If you’re most interested in "burial policies" then, again, these companies are incredibly competitive. We all would like to leave our loved ones wealthy in the event of our demise, but not at the expense of your quality of life right now.
Home (and Renter’s) Insurance: This can be a large expense and many home owners have no idea how much they’re paying because it comes out of their house payments – out of sight, out of mind. Review your plan with your agent. Are your personal possessions really and truly worth the $250,000 you have on the policy? Also look for areas that are lacking. Is water damage covered; snow damage; hail damage? Think whether or not you’ll need those. Is anything important excluded? Is anything irrelevant included? Yes, Great-Aunt Martha’s rocking chair has sentimental value but do you really need a special rider to cover it?
Consider pre-owned items: This is a great way to save significant amounts of money while recycling! If you absolutely must buy something, there are options other than a mall anchor store or a big-box superstore. There are large thrift stores (e.g. Goodwill) and smaller church-run stores that have some incredible bargains on everything from home knickknacks to appliances to clothing. It’s amazing how fast a 4-year old will outgrow shoes (when that happens, re-donate them so somebody else can benefit). Look for garage sales – your neighbors will definitely not think less of you because you bought the winter jacket they are trying to sell – hold your own garage sale and they just might want what you no longer need. There are online sites that often have bargains (like Craigslist.org, Overstock.com and eBay.com).
Actively manage your credit: A poor credit score costs tens of thousands over the years in increased interest rates and insurance costs. You may even lose your job or lose out on a job application. Pull all three reports; challenge everything that appears incorrect. Pay all bills on time or early. Pay off revolving debt (credit cards) and put those cards away.
[edit] Tips
Recycle and reuse. The plastic bags for your groceries make good trash bags too. If you really want to become efficient, consider things like saving your cooking grease (baby boomers already know that) or reheat that half-full pot of coffee… if you want two cups of hot tea tonight, one bag is probably sufficient.
Insulate. Insulation for your attic, walls (including outer wall electrical outlets) will absolutely save you money over time. Much of this, you can do yourself. While you are at it, check the weather stripping around the doors to the outside; if you can see daylight between the door and frame -- purchase a roll of adhesive foam door seal and close those cracks.
Consider investing in reusable items. Rechargeable batteries are a good option if your battery consumption is high – the question you should ask yourself is: why is your battery consumption high and what can you do to reduce that?
Quit smoking. OK, this is obvious. Aside from the $150 a month, there are the enormous added costs to your health and life (and possibly auto and home) insurance and a very strong (almost guaranteed) potential for extraordinary health costs.
Limit alcohol. Alcohol is an added expense you may be able to eliminate altogether, or at least significantly reduce.
Stop gambling. If you gamble (unless you are consistently making money and you know that from tax returns, of course)… stop. Quit. Nix. Never. The odds against winning the Powerball lottery are around 150 million to 1 against you.
Stop using paper napkins and paper towels. Cloth towels are more absorbent and can be used over and over again. Cloth napkins can be made from an old table cloth. They also clean much better than paper.
Think about every purchase before you make it. Ask yourself whether you need it or simply want it. Do you already own something that will perform the same task? Is it of good quality or will it need to be replaced after a few uses? Most importantly, are you willing to put off your savings goals to have it? If an item is superfluous, just say no.
Use the 24 hour rule. Wait 24 hours before making the purchase for non-critical items.
Grow a garden. Even a small plot can yield significant amounts of fresh food. You can of course spend a fortune at the garden store but shop around, ask neighbors and grow your own starts.
[edit] Warnings
Do not only consider the least expensive option – that is certainly not always the best option. Many, many times, an initial savings will cost you more later. Carefully consider life cycle cost in addition to the acquisition cost.
If you buy pre-owned, check carefully… this is especially true of cars. It’s worth the investment to have a mechanic check the car (unless you’re perfectly competent in that area – are you sure?).
Don’t go completely overboard. It’s great to be frugal; it’s not great to be a mean-spirited miser. If your child (or you) must have new shoes or new glasses then definitely look for bargains but keep your priorities straight.
What you’ll need first, is a clear idea of where your money is going; then you can look at ways to cut fluff and lower the cost of your required living expense. Always keep in mind that it’s not just about cheaper; it’s about efficiency. Analyze your needs and do the math. Most importantly, however, is to understand that reducing expenses is a lifestyle change and a change in your thinking patterns. Never let yourself believe that pennies don't count.
Steps
Determine where you spend your money. If you don’t know where your money is going, you are most likely spending too much. You can get a solid idea in as little as one month and as you continue, you’ll see patterns develop that you can address. Write down everything you buy down to the last dollar. Don’t stop at the obvious things like rent, utilities, gasoline and food – include the ancillary items like sodas and snacks as well as gum or tobacco. What about happy hour? Did you rent a movie? Use a Row-by-Column ledger, spreadsheet or other software to keep track every month. If you exclusively use a debit card for your purchases, the bank will do this for you.
Immediately eliminate unnecessary routine purchases. While it’s likely this won’t be the largest savings area, it’s important and easy. Is the coffee shop on your way to work really necessary? How critical are the three sodas or snacks a day you buy from the office vending machine at $1.50 each? A cup of coffee that you made at home is only 25-35 cents, as is a soda you bought in a store as part of a 12 pack. Do you seriously have to rent all those movies (and pay those late fees) each month? Have you checked to see whether your library has movies, or calculated the cost of switching to Netflix and BlockBuster Online? Those ten lottery tickets… the odds against you are astronomical. This is quick and most of it is habit. There will be some psychological pain at first but when you add up the dollars you’ll see a big difference instantly.
Address your utilities.
Heating and cooling (gas or electric): When you leave the house, set your thermostat to an "away" setting (a note of caution here: don’t set it so far from comfortable that it takes an inordinate amount of time to return to comfort when you get home: 65°F or 18°C in the winter and 80°F or 27°C in the summer might be reasonable numbers to use). Consider investing in ceiling fans – you can get these for as little as US$20 and they dramatically reduce cost of heating and cooling by circulating the air more efficiently. If your expenses are already low, and you won't be staying where you are for long, you may not save enough to pay for the fan, however
Electric: Lighting is expensive. When you leave a room, turn off the light. The idea that it takes more energy to turn on a light than to keep it on is completely false, as turning on a light only burns as much electricity as burning it for fractions of a second.[1] Energy efficient bulbs really work. This is an investment that will pay off over time but there is a significant savings to be gained. (this energy calculator can help). Turn off your computer/laptop when you’re not using it – (probably) the only reason you leave it on is convenience. Any voltage adapters (including the ones in stereo components) still use electricity even if they're not charging or plugged in to the device. If you have a digital box with an auxiliary AC outlet, plug your TV into it, and program the box to shut off the outlet when the box is turned off. For stereo components, plug them all into a power bar that can easily be switched off when not in use.Open the drapes during the day for light instead of burning electricity. Only use electricity when you absolutely need it.
Water: Save water, save money. Invest in a shower-reduction kit – they cost nearly nothing and will start saving you money immediately. They work by reducing the flow to the shower head and the change is barely noticeable. Learn to take quicker showers – an inexpensive egg timer is a good way to help. Repair leaky toilets and faucets – this is an enormous waste of water and easy to fix. Reduce your lawn watering to minimum needs. If you have a pool, keep it covered when it’s not in use to reduce evaporation – also, if it’s heated that will dramatically increase evaporation as well (only heat your pool to keep it from freezing, and invest in a thermal blanket). Also if you're not using the faucet turn it off -- e.g., when brushing teeth do not leave faucet running
Gas and Miscellaneous: Do laundry as often as necessary but as little as possible – for a lot of people this is a pleasant step. Reduce the temperature of your shower by a couple of degrees; the less work your water heater does the more money you’ll save. Use the microwave instead of the oven whenever possible – the cost just to preheat an oven is more than the cost to cook a meal in the microwave. Open the windows when it’s nice outside to reduce heating (and cooling) costs.If you live where natural gas is used only in the winter months, arrange with your local utility to do a seasonal shutoff so that you are not saddled with fixed monthly service charges for the "privilege" of being connected to the gas service even though you are not using it. With one supplier, it is $17/month. In the 8 months that you don't need the service, you're charged $17 X 8 = $136, but the season shutoff and turn on costs $54.
Cable and Telephone: Seriously, do you really, really need a thousand channels and every single premium channel available including the high definition packages? You can save the full $100+ on your cable bill every month by watching TV for free online. [2] However, if you have cable internet, it may actually be CHEAPER to keep basic cable than to pay for internet alone. If you want to save money take a close look at your priorities. For your telephone, shop around based on your use. If you make a lot of long-distance calls to family and friends, perhaps one of the unlimited plans would save money. If all your calls are local you probably can get by with a bare-bones option. Consider that your cell phone may have free long distance; therefore, removing the necessity of having long distance on a land line. Look into the Voice-Over-IP (phone over the internet) for your telephone solutions. This is not an option for people with DSL, which is tied to their land line. One such solution is Vonage, [3], but there are several others.
Cell phone: "wat r u up 2" "nm gtg ttyl" Text messages cost money. "Oh no, I have unlimited text!" Oh? How much does that option cost you? Do you actually even need a cell phone? Does everyone in your family actually need a cell phone? Parents – lay down the law on cell phone usage – is your eleven-year-old sitting around the house texting… are you? Another thing to consider is if you really require a cell phone then do you really need a land line at home? Consider consolidating. If your cell phone use is occasional only, consider a pay-as-you-go plan.
Reconsider Gasoline and Miscellaneous Auto: When gas was rationed during World War II, a popular slogan was "Is this trip really necessary?" Ask yourself that every time you get in your car. Make a list before you go to the store so you don’t have to make additional trips. Don’t go for a drive for pleasure – walk instead or choose other forms of entertainment (reading,exercising for example). Check the pressure in your tires. Convertibles get better mileage with the top up. A poorly running engine is a huge waste – even a spark plug change can make a big difference, as can clean oil. Also, the less you drive the less frequently you’ll change tires, oil, require maintenance, etc. That’s a savings-over-time, of course, but it will mount up. Another way to save gas (and money) is to change your driving habits. By simply driving more slowly, and/or less aggressively, you can save significant amounts of money (calculate for yourself at this web site [4]).
Cut Down on Entertainment: It’s astounding how many people complain about money then describe the latest release of a movie along with the cost of theater popcorn. Also, professional sports event, a music concert or tickets to a play can run hundreds of dollars for a couple on a date. Seriously, can you really tell the difference (blindfolded) between a $30 bottle of wine and a $9 bottle of wine? When you do dine out, actually think about the prices on the menu first. Consider a meal share if the restaurant offers that option. Never, ever order delivery. Look for vacation bargains – consider taking the kids camping instead of one of the super expensive amusement parks.
Focus on Food: The only real difference between a $1.99 can of corn and a $0.63 can of corn is $1.36 (sure there are exceptions; people on low-sodium diets will definitely have to pay more). The grocery store is a place you can save big.
Look for foods that are marked "WIC" for savings. Those have been approved for the Women, Infants and Children program by the USDA Department of Food and Nutrition Services… healthy, nutritious and inexpensive. That ring of cooked shrimp is on sale and sure looks tasty… how about a nice grilled chicken breast with green beans and rice? Make dining in an experience instead of just a convenience. It’s quite possible to spend as much on home food as you would by eating out if you are wasteful.
Invest $10 in a coffee pot. Making your coffee at home instead of purchasing your $1, $3, or $7 custom latte at the coffee shop will save you money.
Consider taking your lunch to work instead of buying lunch each day. Even an inexpensive lunch out is several dollars a day – do the math.
Use coupons whenever possible. Make sure these are on items you would normally eat so you don't purchase things that will be wasted by sitting in your cupboards forever or spoil in your refrigerator. Also use buy store specials and use store customer cards when possible toward food purchases.
Look into joining a warehouse club. The price of the membership is usually made up in the first shopping. They carry name-brand products and will take coupons. Also, by not having to shop as often, you spend less money by not being in the store every week and risking impulse purchases. Warehouse club shopping must be done with discretion or you will not save money.
When purchasing meat items, aim for pieces where you can identify the body part from which it came. Ground beef, although cheap, is processed which increases it's price. Tougher cuts of meat can be slow-cooked and made incredibly tender. Also larger pieces can be cooked in bulk and used for several different recipes. (Cook one large piece and when tender, tear it up for use in enchiladas, sandwiches, stews or soups, etc. Simply store in individual portions, labeled with the type of meat and date, for later use.)
Avoid large packages of fresh produce to avoid spoilage; frozen produce will extend the shelf life of all your fruit and vegetables.
Measure product use carefully (like soap powder); don't be wasteful with the products just because it comes in a large container.
Buy products you will actually use instead of substituting just because it's on your list and the only item available. Are you really going to enjoy that box of cereal that's not your regular brand, or is it going to sit on your shelf?
address your insurance costs: The fastest way for some people to reduce monthly expenses will be in the area of health, auto and life insurance. Companies that sell those are incredibly competitive. Get some bids from different companies. When you do this, bear in mind that lower initial premiums will not always be the most cost efficient!
Auto Insurance: Look at your deductible. Don’t jump to increase your deductible – analyze the entire plan based on your needs and expectations; do a risk analysis first. If you have an inexperienced driver in your house and you don’t have savings, having a high deductible might not be the best choice – also if your car is financed you may have minimum insurance requirements. However if you have a long history of good driving and you own your car, outright, you might consider a high deductible to save on premiums.
Health Insurance: Investigate alternatives. Shop around for plans that are consistent and cost efficient with your lifestyle. Consider your actual needs vs. what you have. A single man in perfect health in his mid-30’s might choose a plan with a higher copay or co-insurance and lower premiums, whereas a married couple wanting to start a family might do better with higher premiums but more extensive coverage. In other cases, prescription benefits might be the most important. The point is to look at what you must have .
Life Insurance: There is no question that this is important – for many people. The rule of thumb for someone with a family is three to five years' replacement income. However, if you’re a 20ish single consider carefully and determine if you’re over-insured. If you’re married in your mid-60’s have you looked at comparative plans from places like AARP? If you’re most interested in "burial policies" then, again, these companies are incredibly competitive. We all would like to leave our loved ones wealthy in the event of our demise, but not at the expense of your quality of life right now.
Home (and Renter’s) Insurance: This can be a large expense and many home owners have no idea how much they’re paying because it comes out of their house payments – out of sight, out of mind. Review your plan with your agent. Are your personal possessions really and truly worth the $250,000 you have on the policy? Also look for areas that are lacking. Is water damage covered; snow damage; hail damage? Think whether or not you’ll need those. Is anything important excluded? Is anything irrelevant included? Yes, Great-Aunt Martha’s rocking chair has sentimental value but do you really need a special rider to cover it?
Consider pre-owned items: This is a great way to save significant amounts of money while recycling! If you absolutely must buy something, there are options other than a mall anchor store or a big-box superstore. There are large thrift stores (e.g. Goodwill) and smaller church-run stores that have some incredible bargains on everything from home knickknacks to appliances to clothing. It’s amazing how fast a 4-year old will outgrow shoes (when that happens, re-donate them so somebody else can benefit). Look for garage sales – your neighbors will definitely not think less of you because you bought the winter jacket they are trying to sell – hold your own garage sale and they just might want what you no longer need. There are online sites that often have bargains (like Craigslist.org, Overstock.com and eBay.com).
Actively manage your credit: A poor credit score costs tens of thousands over the years in increased interest rates and insurance costs. You may even lose your job or lose out on a job application. Pull all three reports; challenge everything that appears incorrect. Pay all bills on time or early. Pay off revolving debt (credit cards) and put those cards away.
[edit] Tips
Recycle and reuse. The plastic bags for your groceries make good trash bags too. If you really want to become efficient, consider things like saving your cooking grease (baby boomers already know that) or reheat that half-full pot of coffee… if you want two cups of hot tea tonight, one bag is probably sufficient.
Insulate. Insulation for your attic, walls (including outer wall electrical outlets) will absolutely save you money over time. Much of this, you can do yourself. While you are at it, check the weather stripping around the doors to the outside; if you can see daylight between the door and frame -- purchase a roll of adhesive foam door seal and close those cracks.
Consider investing in reusable items. Rechargeable batteries are a good option if your battery consumption is high – the question you should ask yourself is: why is your battery consumption high and what can you do to reduce that?
Quit smoking. OK, this is obvious. Aside from the $150 a month, there are the enormous added costs to your health and life (and possibly auto and home) insurance and a very strong (almost guaranteed) potential for extraordinary health costs.
Limit alcohol. Alcohol is an added expense you may be able to eliminate altogether, or at least significantly reduce.
Stop gambling. If you gamble (unless you are consistently making money and you know that from tax returns, of course)… stop. Quit. Nix. Never. The odds against winning the Powerball lottery are around 150 million to 1 against you.
Stop using paper napkins and paper towels. Cloth towels are more absorbent and can be used over and over again. Cloth napkins can be made from an old table cloth. They also clean much better than paper.
Think about every purchase before you make it. Ask yourself whether you need it or simply want it. Do you already own something that will perform the same task? Is it of good quality or will it need to be replaced after a few uses? Most importantly, are you willing to put off your savings goals to have it? If an item is superfluous, just say no.
Use the 24 hour rule. Wait 24 hours before making the purchase for non-critical items.
Grow a garden. Even a small plot can yield significant amounts of fresh food. You can of course spend a fortune at the garden store but shop around, ask neighbors and grow your own starts.
[edit] Warnings
Do not only consider the least expensive option – that is certainly not always the best option. Many, many times, an initial savings will cost you more later. Carefully consider life cycle cost in addition to the acquisition cost.
If you buy pre-owned, check carefully… this is especially true of cars. It’s worth the investment to have a mechanic check the car (unless you’re perfectly competent in that area – are you sure?).
Don’t go completely overboard. It’s great to be frugal; it’s not great to be a mean-spirited miser. If your child (or you) must have new shoes or new glasses then definitely look for bargains but keep your priorities straight.
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