Kay Iscah's Blog, page 9
November 4, 2013
Article of Interest: Marriage Isn't for You
This article isn't about maintaining your singlehood (though that's certainly a valid option). But I think it makes some nice points about mate selection and why people should marry (or not):
Marriage Isn’t For You
In the comments several people point out that it's perfectly reasonable and wise to consider your own potential happiness in the union. And it is. They also point out that you can't "make" another person be happy, which is also true. (Though you can make it easier for them to feel happy.) But a marriage isn't just a "me" decision, but an "us" decision. I believe that's the point the article/blog post is making.
What does this have to do with finances for low income single people? Married people have already made their choice of partner; many of us singles are in the choosing phase. Who you marry/cohabitate/partner with has a HUGE impact on your finances. Which is why it's important during that choosing period to discuss things like attitudes towards money, career goals, lifestyle goals (things that take money like houses, cars, and travel), and retirement goals.
I've turned down some wonderful guys, not because they weren't good people worthy of love, but our life goals were contradictory. It would not be happy situation for either one.
Marriage Isn’t For You
In the comments several people point out that it's perfectly reasonable and wise to consider your own potential happiness in the union. And it is. They also point out that you can't "make" another person be happy, which is also true. (Though you can make it easier for them to feel happy.) But a marriage isn't just a "me" decision, but an "us" decision. I believe that's the point the article/blog post is making.
What does this have to do with finances for low income single people? Married people have already made their choice of partner; many of us singles are in the choosing phase. Who you marry/cohabitate/partner with has a HUGE impact on your finances. Which is why it's important during that choosing period to discuss things like attitudes towards money, career goals, lifestyle goals (things that take money like houses, cars, and travel), and retirement goals.
I've turned down some wonderful guys, not because they weren't good people worthy of love, but our life goals were contradictory. It would not be happy situation for either one.
October 29, 2013
Article of Interest: Beware of "As Is" online car shopping
AOL Article: Better Business Bureau Warns Consumers About Online Car Shopping
Person to person sales can be the cheapest way to buy a car, but the articles covers how many cars are being misrepresented online. Reputable dealers, can also relate to reputable people. My family has both bought and sold cars to friends and neighbors, and as long as everyone is honest, this tends to go well. With strangers, whether online or down the street, more care should be taken.
Question: How do those of you who read ebooks feel about having your book "enhanced" with video? Better experience or does it eat too much memory on your reading device?
Person to person sales can be the cheapest way to buy a car, but the articles covers how many cars are being misrepresented online. Reputable dealers, can also relate to reputable people. My family has both bought and sold cars to friends and neighbors, and as long as everyone is honest, this tends to go well. With strangers, whether online or down the street, more care should be taken.
Question: How do those of you who read ebooks feel about having your book "enhanced" with video? Better experience or does it eat too much memory on your reading device?
October 9, 2013
Health Insurance Marketplace is Open
I'm trying to stay optimistic about this...and yes, I know I'm a week or so late with the news. But as I heard it, there was a bit of a rush on the program on opening day. I thought it best to wait a little before reminding everyone.
The "Affordable Healthcare" market place is now open:
https://www.healthcare.gov/
If you're in the percentage that use this, I'd love to hear what you think about it. Philip and I are lucky enough to have health insurance through our work at the moment. If you don't have healthcare, this site is supposed to help you find a plan you can afford. It's new territory, and I'm sure the news is covering it a fair bit...I'd love to hear from actual users.
Speaking of my work, I have a kickstarter going for my new fantasy novel to help cover the hardback edition. Crowdfunding is an interesting topic, so I may do a post on that in a few days when I'm a bit more educated on the subject.
The "Affordable Healthcare" market place is now open:
https://www.healthcare.gov/
If you're in the percentage that use this, I'd love to hear what you think about it. Philip and I are lucky enough to have health insurance through our work at the moment. If you don't have healthcare, this site is supposed to help you find a plan you can afford. It's new territory, and I'm sure the news is covering it a fair bit...I'd love to hear from actual users.
Speaking of my work, I have a kickstarter going for my new fantasy novel to help cover the hardback edition. Crowdfunding is an interesting topic, so I may do a post on that in a few days when I'm a bit more educated on the subject.
September 29, 2013
2 Minute video explains Obamacare
From the Washington Post: Obamacare's Insurance Exchanges Explained In 2 Minutes (VIDEO)
I doubt this will answer all your questions, but it seemed like a nice brief overview. Not so sure that there are scads of healthy uninsured people just sitting around without insurance to flaunt fate. Most people I know without either can't afford it or have many medical issues (which contributes to the not being able to afford it bit.)
But I'm trying to avoid too much politics on this blog, so mainly just waiting to see how minimum wagers can best use the new program.
A fellow author and I talked this over extensively the other night, and we both agreed the best approach to keeping healthcare costs down is to emphasize preventative care and good health education.
I doubt this will answer all your questions, but it seemed like a nice brief overview. Not so sure that there are scads of healthy uninsured people just sitting around without insurance to flaunt fate. Most people I know without either can't afford it or have many medical issues (which contributes to the not being able to afford it bit.)
But I'm trying to avoid too much politics on this blog, so mainly just waiting to see how minimum wagers can best use the new program.
A fellow author and I talked this over extensively the other night, and we both agreed the best approach to keeping healthcare costs down is to emphasize preventative care and good health education.
September 28, 2013
Review
Book Review and Giveaway – Living Single on Minimum Wage – by the Amateur Financier
The Amateur Financier is personal finance blog.
Rather belatedly we sent out some review copies of "Living Single on Minimum Wage" (if you're thinking of self-publishing or working with an Indie publisher, I'd recommend doing that a month or two before you release your book, not a few years after), and this is the book's first review off a retail site. And Roger is offering to spread the love and giveaway his copy. He has instruction on how to enter at the end of the review.
The Amateur Financier is personal finance blog.
Rather belatedly we sent out some review copies of "Living Single on Minimum Wage" (if you're thinking of self-publishing or working with an Indie publisher, I'd recommend doing that a month or two before you release your book, not a few years after), and this is the book's first review off a retail site. And Roger is offering to spread the love and giveaway his copy. He has instruction on how to enter at the end of the review.
September 26, 2013
Robots stole our jobs... but may make new ones.
AOL article: Half Of All Jobs Today Will Disappear By 2030 And Other Scary Predictions
Futurist predictions are nearly always wrong about something. For instance, I'm very skeptical that self driving cars will replace cabbies by 2030. However I thought this worth linking because it does illustrate some important concepts like a disconnect between our perception of the job market and what sort of jobs are actually out there. It also confirms once again that skilled labor is in demand:
"I am seeing an increasing labor supply-demand disconnect in hard-skills areas such as electricians, plumbers, engineering technology robotics, and I don't see this ending any time soon,"
The more robots replace cashiers, the more we need people who know how to build, fix, and maintain the robots. Electricity and pipes aren't likely to disappear anytime soon either, though I do agree with the article that we're likely to see more houses and businesses going off the grid in the future.
And just to prove that's we're living in a science fiction film:
The U.S. Military's New Robotic Donkey Will Be More Bulletproof
This isn't CGI...
Futurist predictions are nearly always wrong about something. For instance, I'm very skeptical that self driving cars will replace cabbies by 2030. However I thought this worth linking because it does illustrate some important concepts like a disconnect between our perception of the job market and what sort of jobs are actually out there. It also confirms once again that skilled labor is in demand:
"I am seeing an increasing labor supply-demand disconnect in hard-skills areas such as electricians, plumbers, engineering technology robotics, and I don't see this ending any time soon,"
The more robots replace cashiers, the more we need people who know how to build, fix, and maintain the robots. Electricity and pipes aren't likely to disappear anytime soon either, though I do agree with the article that we're likely to see more houses and businesses going off the grid in the future.
And just to prove that's we're living in a science fiction film:
The U.S. Military's New Robotic Donkey Will Be More Bulletproof
This isn't CGI...
September 11, 2013
Article: How to Start a Business While In College
I thought this article from The College Investor by Alexa Mason was worth sharing:
How to Start a Business While In College
It contains some practical advice on starting a small scale business. Nothing grand but nicely summarized. I'm linking it mainly because the suggestions list is pretty realistic for the types of small businesses a college student (or person with a full-time schedule) could start with minimal capital investment.
How to Start a Business While In College
It contains some practical advice on starting a small scale business. Nothing grand but nicely summarized. I'm linking it mainly because the suggestions list is pretty realistic for the types of small businesses a college student (or person with a full-time schedule) could start with minimal capital investment.
August 22, 2013
Approaching Financial Problems
I'm reading books on PR. And hit this great quote that was applicable to wider concerns:
"The solution is not money; money is what pays for the solution." - Laura K. Lee Dellinger (The Library PR Handbook)
We have a similar phrase in our book. "Money is a means to an end, not an end unto itself." (Or something like that...I don't have my book with me.) But where our quote is addressing goals. Dellinger's is addressing problems.
The first step in fixing a problem is to identify what the problem is. Sometimes this is simple. "The guy I'm dating is a leech." And sometimes it takes a little more self-assessment "I have chosen to date a leech." Or "I keep dating guys who are irresponsible with money." Or most commonly, "I'm not good at saying 'no'."
In this case, the money issue is symptomatic, not the cause or even the means to a solution. If you are dating a leech, more money will just draw more leeches. The solution is to break up with the leech or learn to stop tolerating and rewarding leech like behavior. For some people, this is fairly simple. Once the problem is recognized, the person can address it and change their behavior.
But deeply ingrained behaviors can be hard to change. If attempting to say "no" is causing a deep level of anxiety, there could be far more to the "no" fear than mere habit. Perhaps some one was abused as child and associates saying "no" with physical pain; that's case where dealing with the abuse and root cause of the behavior may call for counseling or therapy. There are some free counseling options and support communities as well as self-help books that are actually helpful, but depending on the level of anxiety or trauma, professional counseling may be in order. Here's where money comes back into play as a means to the solution.
The solution lies in appropriate treatment to gain a clear perspective. Money may be necessary to pay for a book, transportation, or therapy bills. However just having money doesn't fix the problem. The money must be applied in a constructive way.
So the next time you find yourself saying "I need more money" or "I need money", stop and consider what the actual need is. The more clearly you can explain the actual need, the more likely you are to get help or advice that will satisfy that need.
"The solution is not money; money is what pays for the solution." - Laura K. Lee Dellinger (The Library PR Handbook)
We have a similar phrase in our book. "Money is a means to an end, not an end unto itself." (Or something like that...I don't have my book with me.) But where our quote is addressing goals. Dellinger's is addressing problems.
The first step in fixing a problem is to identify what the problem is. Sometimes this is simple. "The guy I'm dating is a leech." And sometimes it takes a little more self-assessment "I have chosen to date a leech." Or "I keep dating guys who are irresponsible with money." Or most commonly, "I'm not good at saying 'no'."
In this case, the money issue is symptomatic, not the cause or even the means to a solution. If you are dating a leech, more money will just draw more leeches. The solution is to break up with the leech or learn to stop tolerating and rewarding leech like behavior. For some people, this is fairly simple. Once the problem is recognized, the person can address it and change their behavior.
But deeply ingrained behaviors can be hard to change. If attempting to say "no" is causing a deep level of anxiety, there could be far more to the "no" fear than mere habit. Perhaps some one was abused as child and associates saying "no" with physical pain; that's case where dealing with the abuse and root cause of the behavior may call for counseling or therapy. There are some free counseling options and support communities as well as self-help books that are actually helpful, but depending on the level of anxiety or trauma, professional counseling may be in order. Here's where money comes back into play as a means to the solution.
The solution lies in appropriate treatment to gain a clear perspective. Money may be necessary to pay for a book, transportation, or therapy bills. However just having money doesn't fix the problem. The money must be applied in a constructive way.
So the next time you find yourself saying "I need more money" or "I need money", stop and consider what the actual need is. The more clearly you can explain the actual need, the more likely you are to get help or advice that will satisfy that need.
August 14, 2013
Be wary of "Free" on the internet.
For many of you this may be old news, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded. Hackers and Identity thieves often find their way onto our computers with our own help. Smart phones are even more vulnerable, which is why I would dissuade anyone from using a smartphone to make payments.
Normally, I try to stick to fairly reputable sites (like Adobe or Amazon), but I made the mistake of downloading a free font a few months ago. In the weeks following that download, my computer got increasingly glitchy. Eventually, I wiped and reloaded the entire system, and that seems to have fixed all the problems I was having. I do have anti-virus software, and it was active and updated. But an anti-virus isn't foolproof against all the weird things lurking about on the internet.
This one made me decide to stick a post-it over my webcam. I had one there before, but this reminded me why:
Article: "Meet the men who spy on women through their webcams": http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/rat-breeders-meet-the-men-who-spy-on-women-through-their-webcams/
Spying through webcams isn't new. But the programs have gotten more sophisticated and easier for those with minimal technical skills.
I found that article by reading one about a couple who had their baby monitor hacked.
There are some great legitimate free deals to be found online but proceed with caution, consider the reputation of the website offering the download. There be monsters in the sea of information.
Another issue that's getting a fair bit of media attention is "free" games that charge for upgrades or bonuses. It's very easy to spend a little here and a little there on these "free" downloads. The media usually focuses on kids running up tabs on their parents phones, which are more dramatic since it's more surprising. But I know some adults who gets sucked into game upgrade purchases. They can add up quickly.
Normally, I try to stick to fairly reputable sites (like Adobe or Amazon), but I made the mistake of downloading a free font a few months ago. In the weeks following that download, my computer got increasingly glitchy. Eventually, I wiped and reloaded the entire system, and that seems to have fixed all the problems I was having. I do have anti-virus software, and it was active and updated. But an anti-virus isn't foolproof against all the weird things lurking about on the internet.
This one made me decide to stick a post-it over my webcam. I had one there before, but this reminded me why:
Article: "Meet the men who spy on women through their webcams": http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/rat-breeders-meet-the-men-who-spy-on-women-through-their-webcams/
Spying through webcams isn't new. But the programs have gotten more sophisticated and easier for those with minimal technical skills.
I found that article by reading one about a couple who had their baby monitor hacked.
There are some great legitimate free deals to be found online but proceed with caution, consider the reputation of the website offering the download. There be monsters in the sea of information.
Another issue that's getting a fair bit of media attention is "free" games that charge for upgrades or bonuses. It's very easy to spend a little here and a little there on these "free" downloads. The media usually focuses on kids running up tabs on their parents phones, which are more dramatic since it's more surprising. But I know some adults who gets sucked into game upgrade purchases. They can add up quickly.
July 17, 2013
Prologue Video now live on YouTube!
Check it out:
If the video doesn't show up for some reason you can check it out on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX2sY6Xit18
Oh, and I have a new book review to show off:
Quotes: "A sort of modern-day fairytale...And it works wonderfully for it."
"It’s a book I imagine would be a delight to read out loud"
If the video doesn't show up for some reason you can check it out on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX2sY6Xit18
Oh, and I have a new book review to show off:
Quotes: "A sort of modern-day fairytale...And it works wonderfully for it."
"It’s a book I imagine would be a delight to read out loud"
