Showing posts with label Worth reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Worth reading. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Teaching Kids Money Basics as a Life Skill

Knowledge of money management basics is a necessary life skill - and experts are weighing in, declaring that a consistent curriculum needs to be put in place to teach kids about money from a young age. In Canada’s schools need ‘focused, consistent’ financial education program: experts, Paola Loriggio reports that an investment of time to train the teachers and have effective resources is required to prepare the system for successful, broad-based implementation, a process that may take three to five years. Certainly, students would benefit from having structured, hands-on lessons on dealing with budgets and other practical money topics. But, as money guru Gail Vaz-Oxlade points out, finance education starts at home with the parents — and that means you showing your child by example how to properly manage money, save for the things they want, and not spend beyond their means.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Halloween at Work

Do you work at a place where dressing up for Halloween is frowned upon or are you the party popper if you don't don a spooky getup? Social media consultant and speaker Miriam Salpeter addresses this very issue in Should You Dress Up for Halloween at Work? (Aol Jobs, October 21, 2013).  The answer, Salpeter writes, is "it depends on where you work and what you plan to wear." Take heed of her advice before October 31st so you don't wind up looking like the office clown (literally or figuratively).

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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Who's the Boss?

We've all been there at some point — the boss from hell who makes their employees lives so miserable, it's like a sport for them. Hopefully you're not in that situation now, but if you are, here are Eight tips for managing a difficult boss (The Globe and Mail, September 23, 2013) from Beverly Flaxington. The certified professional behavioural analyst, hypnotherapist, and career and business adviser offers tips such as matching your behavioural style to your boss', thinking about their "what’s in it for me?", and accommodating their weaknesses. 

Flaxington says, "the trick is to manage your boss without the boss knowing you’re doing it." Our two cents? Keep it up while keeping your radar open for positions elsewhere. You can only handle a poisonous person for so long before it starts to take your toll.

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Words NOT to Put on Your Résumé

In What should I delete from my resume? (Backbone Magazine, February 25, 2013), Peter Wolchak reported on the results of a recent survey done by staffing services company OfficeTeam where 1,300 senior managers in the United States and Canada were asked, "What is the most overused or meaningless phrase you see on résumés?" Here are four phrases managers are getting sick of seeing on a potential candidate's CV: highly qualified, team player, self starter and flexible.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser to get tips on how to produce a quality résumé that will get you noticed:

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Give Up Your Wants

Here's an interesting challenge put forth by Gail Vaz-Oxlade, personal finance guru, author, and host of popular Slice TV shows Til Debt Do Us Part, Princess, and Money Moron. In Keeping our sense of entitlement in check (The Money Sense, September 10, 2013), Vaz-Oxlade asks, "If you had to pick one day of the week on which you will buy nothing, how hard would that be for you? How much planning would it take? How entitled are you to have everything you want when you want it?". These are some hard questions for many of us to answer, and even harder challenge to take up, particularly if we are used to buying anything we want, whenever we want, financial means be damned.

So, whether it's a big-ticket item (that coveted new iPhone) or a smaller impulse purchase (a chocolate bar at the convenience store), this challenge will put into perspective what you need and what you want. Up for the challenge? Try it for one month — you may just be surprised with your willpower, not to mention pleased with the noticeable amount of moolah saved.

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Noshing at the Office

Are you guilty of being a lady who lunches at her desk? Not only is this a practice that doesn't coincide with good work/life balance, you may actually be peeving off your neighbouring colleagues while chowing down on Pad Thai takeout or your re-heated leftovers from last night's dinner. In The rules of office lunch etiquette (you’re probably breaking one right now) (The Globe and Mail's Hot Button Blog, July 8, 2013), Amber Daugherty blogs about etiquette expert and author Mary Mitchell's advice for proper workplace kitchen and eating manners. 

It seems like a recurring problem that happens in every workplace, so take the advice to heart and be a considerate office gourmand. 

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Skip the Prepaid Credit Cards

In Beware of fees with prepaid credit cards (Toronto Star, August 12, 2013) personal finance columnist and Boomer & Echo blogger Robb Engen offers some sage advice about prepaid cards. Though they may be ideal for post-secondary students, prepaid cards come with hidden fees (such as activation fees, monthly service fees, ATM fees and transactions fees) that aren’t apparent unless you carefully read the fine print.

So, before obtaining one of these cards for your kid or a niece or nephew who may be headed off to university, be sure to do the research. Or better yet, Engen suggests buying regular store gift cards to chains such as Loblaws or Sobeys (i.e., cards that don't have additional fees or expiry dates).

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Think Small, Save Big


In For autos and homes, think small for big purchases (The Globe and Mail, July 15, 2013) personal finance columnist Rob Carrick makes the case for downgrading your buying expectations. Carrick recommends the Think Small philosophy, say forgoing the four-bedroom, two-storey house with a big backyard for a a three-bedroom bungalow. Other home purchasing options include renting, buying a condo instead of a house, living in the suburbs or countryside, or buying a house with rental income potential.

The article also mentions he expense of putting on a wedding (according to a recent Bank of Montreal survey, engaged couples are expected to spend an average of $14,281 on their wedding expenses in the next five years).

As Carrick says, "the Think Small philosophy of spending is freeing, though. It helps you get married without wedding debts to contend with, it steers you toward a sensible car and it just might solve your housing affordability problems." We couldn't agree more.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/for-autos-and-homes-think-small-for-big-purchases/article13235210/

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

The Confident 30s


If you're a twenty-something CCG, it seems your most stylish years are yet to come. CCGs in your mid-thirties? You've hit your stride and are looking (and probably feeling) more confident than ever. These are the findings of a recent study conducted in the UK, which had conclusions such as three out of four women believe their sense of style improved greatly after their 20s, and that six out of ten women believe men age better than they do, with two thirds attributing this to the fact men don’t have to give birth.

And who did women in the study vote as the female celebrity most considered to be in her prime? Find out by clicking here to read Study: Women Peak at 35, Become Most Confident or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

Related content:

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

3 Things Missing From Your Will

In What’s likely missing from your will by Stefania Moretti (originally published at MoneySense.ca in April 2012), the question of who you plan to leave your digital assets to is raised. After all, though they may not be assets in the traditional sense like a car or house, your Aeroplan rewards and iTunes library still have some serious monetary value. 

The two other things probably missing from your will? Find out by clicking here to read Moretti's article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

Related articles:

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Busy body

Leah Eichler recently tackled a most interesting topic in her column in The Globe and Mail, asking the question Is being super busy so bad?

As one industrious career gal, who Eichler interviewed for the article, remarked, “I’m happiest when I’m teetering on the edge of chaos, when I’m pushing hard on several fronts at once.” The same person goes on to say, “It’s when I’m most productive, and I get a real adrenalin rush from making it all work.”

How about you? Do you feel most productive when chaos ensues, and you have to make sense of it all?

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/life-at-work/is-being-super-busy-so-bad/article4527138/

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Tips for a Successful Startup


In How to Run a Successful Startup by Danny Bradbury (Backbone magazine, April 2012), the founders of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, HootSuite, Fixmo, and other successful startups reflect on what it takes to build a company from scratch. Getting U.S. funding, managing growth, and testing market assumptions are just some of the pearls of wisdom doled out in this informative article.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:
http://www.backbonemag.com/Magazine/2012-04/run-a-successful-startup.aspx



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Fit Physique, Fat Paycheque

On the SmartMoney.com blog, a recent entry Want a 9% Raise? Hit the Gym by Jack Hough reports on a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Labor Research, in which the findings were that, on average, workers who exercise regularly earn a higher pay than those who don’t.

What do you think? Have you noticed a correlation between sweating it out and salary increases among the workers in your office?


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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Funny Gals Can't Get a Break

In a recent post on The Globe and Mail's Hot Button Blog, Zosia Bielski wrote on the topic of Female jokesters bomb in the boardroom, study shows. The study, done at a British university by a linguistics expert, found that "about 70 per cent of the women opted for self-deprecating humour [however] more than 80 per cent of the jokes were met with painful silence." On the other hand, "90 per cent of jokes made by men scored 'immediate laughter.' Consequently, men were three times more likely to kid around while leading a meeting."

The study appears to suggest that "these men used humour to display their dominance [while] women would rather laugh at themselves on the whole than laugh at others because it is the safe option".

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

6 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Shopping Bill

When it comes to trips to the grocery store, we're prone to veering off our list (ooh, look! Orange juice on sale!). Keep your supermarket spending in check by following these 6 budget grocery shopping tips by Daniela Payne (originally published on the Canadian Living website).

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:
http://www.canadianliving.com/life/money/6_budget_grocery_shopping_tips.php

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

3 Ways to Be Heard

Feel like your ideas are not being heard? Check out How to speak so people really listen by Judith Humphrey. The communication expert who is the president and founder of The Humphrey Group offers three tips to ensure your message is heard loud, clear, and confidently.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser: http://www.chatelaine.com/en/article/36370--how-to-speak-so-people-really-listen

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

5 Stereotypes about Young Workers

There are a lot of misconceptions about the work ethic of those born in the 80s. In Five myths about Gen Y workers, Harvey Schachter examines these common stereotypes and seeks to refute them. Perhaps workers in their late 20s and early 30s are not completely different from the Gen Xers and baby boomers after all.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/morning-manager/five-myths-about-gen-y-workers/article2387593/

Monday, April 2, 2012

Read It and Weep

Looking for a story that will tug at your heartstrings? Pick up The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing), and you'll find the king of romance has done it again (he's the author of other tearjerker novels such as The NotebookA Walk to Remember, and Message in a Bottle). In his latest book, we meet Dawson Cole and Amanda Collier, high school students from opposite sides of the tracks who fall madly in love with one another. As young romances tend to go, their relationship comes to an end in their senior year. Fast forward twenty five years later, and the two have gone on to forge different lives, neither of which they had imagined for themselves. The death of a mutual friend bring Dawson and Amanda back to their hometown for a weekend, and they are faced with some hard truths and answers to questions that have haunted their pasts. Be sure you're in the mood for this one—it's a tale of sorrow and heartbreak that will enthral you from beginning to end. 

$28.99 (Hardcover) or $16.50 (Paperback) at Amazon.ca

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

5 Ideas for Tackling Job Burnout

Feeling drained from your work responsibilities? In Beat Job Burnout by Shelly Field, you'll find a quick self-assessment questionnaire that gauges your level of burnout. More importantly, if you are experiencing persistent mental and physical fatigue due to your work, there are five suggestions on how to make your job more enjoyable and less stressful.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Willpower

Want to build up your "stick-to-itiveness"? Check out How to pump up your willpower by Courtney Shea for five helpful tips that will help set your mind to achieving your goal, whether it be a professional one or a personal one.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser: