Ben Edwards's Blog: Money Smart Life, page 7
August 4, 2014
How to Sell Yourself Without Sounding Like a Braggart
One of the biggest problems I have in my freelance career is selling myself. First of all, I have a problem with impostor syndrome. But the other issue is that I’m unsure of how to talk myself up without sounding like an arrogant braggart.
No one likes a braggart, but, at the same time, when you’re trying to advance in your career, you are often required to toot your own horn. You need to show that you are a valuable addition to the team. It’s especially important to be able to show your value...
July 28, 2014
How Early Retirement Could Mean Higher Medical Bills
Many of us like the idea of early retirement. We have visions of relaxing on a beach somewhere, enjoying our money. However, this might not be the case when you retire early. In fact, early retirement could actually result in higher medical bills.
According to a recent study reported on CNN Money, retiring at age 62 instead of age 65 means an additional $51,000 in medical expenses.
Of course, most of us don’t consider retiring at age 62 asearly retirement. Most of us think of early retirement a...
July 21, 2014
How to Figure Out the Right Career for You
Many of us don’t want a career that is “just” a job. Instead, many of us like the idea of fitting a career into a lifestyle. If you are tired of taking whatever job comes your way, here is what you can do to change things up and figure out which career is best for your lifestyle:
1. Pinpoint Your Values
The first thing you need to do is get down to some serious introspection. What do you value? What are your strengths? What do you want out of life? The reality is that you won’t ever get a job y...
July 14, 2014
Negotiating Pay: Don’t Forget the Soft Benefits!
One of the most stressful aspects of the job search is the salary negotiation. However, it is often a necessary part of the job search. Trying to come to an equitable agreement with a company is important.
On the one hand, you don’t want a company to decide you’re too expensive and decide not to hire you after all. On the other hand, you don’t want to sell yourself short and end up underpaid and unhappy at your new job. Nothing hastens burnout like feeling as though you aren’t getting paid eno...
July 7, 2014
Elevator Pitch: Make Better Career Connections
One of the essentials when it comes to finding a new job or advancing your career is the connections you make. Networking is an important part of career advancement, no matter what stage you are at. In fact, even when you are self-employed, it’s important to learn how to effectively network and connect with others.
If you want to connect quickly with others, and let them know what you do – and how you do it – it’s a good idea to develop a short personal statement or an elevator pitch. This is...
June 30, 2014
An Argument Against Early Retirement
It sometimes seems as if everyone wants to retire early, or maybe it just seems that way on financial blogs. Most people seem to agree that it’s a good thing to do,but we’re going to becontrary todayand considerreasons why you might not.In fact, there arearguments against early retirement, solid ones at that.
1. Early retirement preparation will impair your early years.
Relatively few people retire early in life. The simple explanation for that: Early retirement requires far more sacrifice earl...
June 23, 2014
Should You Pay Off Your Student Loans Early?
With more than $1 trillion outstanding in student debt (some of it mine!), it’s no surprise that many college grads and others are trying to figure out how to repay their loans.
For those with jobs that allow it, the next question is whether or not it makes sense to pay off student loans early. If you have student loans, carefully consider your own situation, as well as the general pros and cons associated with repaying your student debt early.
Saving Money on Interest
The first consideration is...
June 16, 2014
6 Must-Read Tips for Assimilating into Your New Job
After you finish your job search and are ready to start at your new position, it’s important to assimilate to the situation. Sometimes, integrating into the company culture can be difficult. It’s important to jump into your job and become a part of your new position so that you fit in, and can quickly become an important part of the team.
Ford R. Myers, a career coach and author of Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring, offers six tips that can help you assimilate to your new job wit...
June 9, 2014
How to Find the Right Credit Card for You
With so many options out there for credit cards, it makes sense to shop around and find the card that works best for you. The good news is that the Internet provides you with opportunities to find the right card for you, based on your own preferences. Here are some tips for getting the best result when you look for a credit card:
Make Sure You Have Good Credit
The first thing to do is to make sure that you have good credit. You are more likely to get the credit card you want when you have good...
June 2, 2014
Why Self-Employment May Be the Best Option After a Layoff
The average unemployed person in America has looked for work for 39.7 weeks, or more than nine months. That is the longest average unemployment spell since the Labor Department started keeping track way back in 1948.
So, how long have you been without work? Does it seem as if there are no jobs available at all? Has the idea of starting your own business crossed your mind? Maybe it should. Self-employment may be the best option after a layoff. And sometimes, it’s the only option.
1. Your layoff...
