When you're a child you don't realize how many bills are going to exist when you become an adult. Adulting 101 isn't a class they teach you in high school. It's like you wake up one morning and BAM! there are all these bills you have to pay.
I do have a job, which means an income, but it's not the ideal salary. That's the territory that comes with a part time job. I am looking for a full time job but it takes time and a lot of effort.
Lately, I've been paying extra attention to the money I have, looking for the smartest way to spend it, and finding simple but effective ways to bring in more money without tacking on another job.
I figured I'd share some of the things I've been doing.
1. Write out a Budget
Writing out a budget has probably been the smartest thing I got in a habit of doing. For some people they can keep track of it all mentally but I've always been more of a visual learner. By writing it all down I'm able to see what I have, what I'll have coming in, and what will be going out. It shows you the kind of wiggle room you have once bills are paid off. It shows you what you have left to take a portion of and put away in savings.
2. Be a Smart Budget
I was raised to always be a frugal shopper.
- Wait for things to go on sale
- Use coupons
- Clearance sections should always be the first place you look
- Name brands really don't matter (they don't make you popular)
- Thrift stores, resale shops and yard sales are goldmines
These types of things were instilled in me from a very young age and I've noticed I have been applying them more to my life the older I get. I guess that's something that comes with age, an appreciation of a hard earned dollar.
Don't spend money on something you don't need. It's important to take care of your financial responsibilities first. If there's something you want, look at your budget (that's why it's tip #1!) and see how much you could start putting to the side to eventually purchase it. Sure saving up doesn't sound fun, but if you want that "something" bad enough, you'll take the time to get it the right way.
I can't begin to tell you how much coupons and thrift/resale stores keep money in your pockets. Coupons have always been a normal to me. Why spend more on an item when they put out coupons so you can spend less? The same goes for the thrift/resale stores. Yes, you will have to take a little extra time looking through them and possibly having to go to more than one to find what you're looking for. In the end it's usually worth it though. Here's an example...I was looking for extra cookie sheets and cooling racks. At a thrift store, I found a bundle of them (probably 10 altogether) and it cost me $6. I could have paid that for just one cookie tray at a regular store. WIN!
3. Poshmark
This is something I've been experimenting with.
Poshmark is a site where you can take pictures of clothing, shoes, and accessories you are looking to get rid of and list them for sale.
I've heard of a lot of people having success on here but so far it hasn't happened to me. It's something that does take time (which I keep reminding myself of). You have to photograph each item in an appealing way so that people will want to buy it. You then have to post each picture with a description of what it is you're selling and a price. In order to really have people see your items, you have to share your posts regularly on the site so that they stay relevant on follower's feeds.
I'm hoping that with the extra effort I'm putting in I'll see some results. This method intrigued me versus using Plato's Closet or thredUP because I get to choose the price to sell the item at.
4. InboxDollars
This is a site whose outcome has actually surprised me.
Most of my days at work are spent behind a desk and I will have dead times with little to no tasks to complete. I wanted to find something I could do online that wasn't difficult but would put my free time to good use. InboxDollars seems to be that answer.
It's the type of site where you take surveys, watch videos, listen to their radio programming (which usually just sits playing on a muted window) and receive a few emails a day. Sure each item doesn't pay much but over time it adds up.
I joined around the end of March/beginning of April. In order to cash out your earnings you have to make $30 (they automatically give you $5 to signup, it's free to join). A $40 check is on it's way to me currently and since my first cash out I've already earned about $19 of my next 30.
Clearly I'm doing something right because I didn't think I'd be making this much this quick. I do have more time than most in front of a computer and I'll continue to take advantage of it if it means an extra $30-40 a month
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These are just a few things that have been working for me. Maybe give some of them a try and see How it affects your finances. If there are any other options or sites people have used to bring in a few extra bucks or save some money, feel free to share. I'd be happy to give them a try and possibly make them a part of the routine.
Till next week!
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Delta Alpha Pi
For many of you, you probably read the title of this post and aren't familiar with what Delta Alpha Pi represents or think it's just your every day Greek society.
It's so much more than that.
Delta Alpha Pi (DAP) is an International Honor Society for students with disabilities. DAP was established to distinguish students who have attained superior academic records while managing personal setbacks. The mission of DAP is to recognize strength, achievement and pride in these students.
On April 27th I was inducted into the Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society - Gamma Alpha Chapter.
Surprise!!! That's right, I have a disability. It's not the kind of disability that's physical or easily seen. I suffer from learning disabilities.
It's not something I talk about or bring up often. Disabilities are automatically seen as a negative thing by so many. It's a stereotype that's been around for decades. I'm not ashamed of my disabilities but I've never wanted anyone to look at me differently or not allow me the same opportunities as others because I don't fit what's known as normal.
I faced adversity from the moment I questioned having a disability.
I'd always been a good student and good grades were normal for me. I remember being in high school and taking an AP (Advanced Placement) course and struggling. It was a subject I was known for being strong in, so why wasn't I understanding things? I remember going to my Mom and asking to make an appointment with my doctor because I felt something wasn't right. I've always known my body and mind well enough that I sensed something wasn't working correctly in my brain. We made the appointment and when we sat down with the doctor we were basically told I was just trying to cheat the system and get some medication. We pushed and pushed and the doctor finally said the best way to evaluate me was to have my teachers fill out a questionnaire about how I was in the classroom. Because I was never a problem child and didn't act out in class, none of my teachers could see how something could be wrong with me. I managed to push through my last year of high school but it was never easy.
When I got to college, things only became more difficult. Everything about college classes were different from what I'd known before. From the style of your classes to your tests and assignments. I was putting in my whole 110%. I wasn't that kid who went and partied from Thursday to Sunday. You could always find me in my dorm studying and taking notes. There wasn't time to have a life. My time had to be devoted to school and even then I wasn't seeing the grades and results I expected. How could I be spending countless hours putting in all this effort and still not get it? Half way through my sophomore year I'd had enough. I was tired of not getting anywhere. I told my parents I was taking a semester off and getting tested. Someway, somehow I was going to get an answer.
After extensive searching I finally found a doctor who was really willing to see what was going on. I remember having to go into her office and take different types of tests and answer so many questions for an entire day. It was tiresome and uncomfortable but I knew that if I wanted answers (which I did) I had to do it. About a week or two later we were called to come back and see what they'd found. Sure enough, they uncovered that I had ADHD and a few different learning disabilities. They weren't surprised that I was struggling in my classes based off of what they'd found. Going forward I would be able to present their report to my school and receive accommodations so that I could really give my best effort in class.
I can't begin to explain what a difference those accommodations made. People would think that my accommodations meant that things were easier for me. For example, "That test is going to be easier for her because she is given more time to take it." I'll be the first to tell you that way of thinking is wrong. Yes, I was given accommodations. It was proven that I needed them. But that didn't mean the rest of college was going to be a breeze for me. I still had to put more effort into my studies than most people would. Because of my disabilities, I have to work harder and longer than most people. The discomfort I had every time I had to walk into a classroom, take a test, or try and concentrate on what a professor was lecturing about...You can't understand how hard such simple tasks are for me to do.
Every semester I would meet with my teachers the first week of class to explain that I had a disability and would be needing accommodations. The first semester or two I had to do this I remember feeling so embarrassed because of the stereotypes associated with disabilities. After that I let go of the embarrassment. I accepted that by sharing the fact that I needed accommodations, I was really asking for help and that there was nothing wrong with that. Most schools have a department for students with disabilities. The school that I attended did and they were extremely helpful in making sure that my professors received the appropriate information to verify what accommodations I was to be given. I worked my butt off every semester and I was back to seeing the grades I was used to. I finally understood what was different about me and how to cope and manage as best as I could.
When I received the letter in the mail announcing I was chosen to join this honor society, I was touched. I didn't realize the society even existed but the fact that they recognized the hard work and superior grades I'd earned was a bigger deal to me than most people would probably expect. Because of how hard I would have to work to achieve the same thing as others, it meant a lot that someone was noticing and saw that I accomplished something that isn't easy for people with disabilities.
There are requirements that have to be met in order to be eligible to join this honor society. As an undergraduate student I had to:
That Wednesday night at the end of April I received my acceptance certificate, a pin and cords to wear at graduation. On my graduation day I will wear those cords with pride!
While this hasn't been something I've been very open about, I'm not ashamed of it either. I'm proud to represent all individuals that have a disability and show that we can still do things.
We are not helpless and we are not stupid.
We just take a little longer and have to work a little harder.
If you'd like to learn more about Delta Alpha Pi, feel free to visit this website:
http://deltaalphapihonorsociety.org/
It's so much more than that.
Delta Alpha Pi (DAP) is an International Honor Society for students with disabilities. DAP was established to distinguish students who have attained superior academic records while managing personal setbacks. The mission of DAP is to recognize strength, achievement and pride in these students.
On April 27th I was inducted into the Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society - Gamma Alpha Chapter.
Surprise!!! That's right, I have a disability. It's not the kind of disability that's physical or easily seen. I suffer from learning disabilities.
It's not something I talk about or bring up often. Disabilities are automatically seen as a negative thing by so many. It's a stereotype that's been around for decades. I'm not ashamed of my disabilities but I've never wanted anyone to look at me differently or not allow me the same opportunities as others because I don't fit what's known as normal.
I faced adversity from the moment I questioned having a disability.
I'd always been a good student and good grades were normal for me. I remember being in high school and taking an AP (Advanced Placement) course and struggling. It was a subject I was known for being strong in, so why wasn't I understanding things? I remember going to my Mom and asking to make an appointment with my doctor because I felt something wasn't right. I've always known my body and mind well enough that I sensed something wasn't working correctly in my brain. We made the appointment and when we sat down with the doctor we were basically told I was just trying to cheat the system and get some medication. We pushed and pushed and the doctor finally said the best way to evaluate me was to have my teachers fill out a questionnaire about how I was in the classroom. Because I was never a problem child and didn't act out in class, none of my teachers could see how something could be wrong with me. I managed to push through my last year of high school but it was never easy.
When I got to college, things only became more difficult. Everything about college classes were different from what I'd known before. From the style of your classes to your tests and assignments. I was putting in my whole 110%. I wasn't that kid who went and partied from Thursday to Sunday. You could always find me in my dorm studying and taking notes. There wasn't time to have a life. My time had to be devoted to school and even then I wasn't seeing the grades and results I expected. How could I be spending countless hours putting in all this effort and still not get it? Half way through my sophomore year I'd had enough. I was tired of not getting anywhere. I told my parents I was taking a semester off and getting tested. Someway, somehow I was going to get an answer.
After extensive searching I finally found a doctor who was really willing to see what was going on. I remember having to go into her office and take different types of tests and answer so many questions for an entire day. It was tiresome and uncomfortable but I knew that if I wanted answers (which I did) I had to do it. About a week or two later we were called to come back and see what they'd found. Sure enough, they uncovered that I had ADHD and a few different learning disabilities. They weren't surprised that I was struggling in my classes based off of what they'd found. Going forward I would be able to present their report to my school and receive accommodations so that I could really give my best effort in class.
I can't begin to explain what a difference those accommodations made. People would think that my accommodations meant that things were easier for me. For example, "That test is going to be easier for her because she is given more time to take it." I'll be the first to tell you that way of thinking is wrong. Yes, I was given accommodations. It was proven that I needed them. But that didn't mean the rest of college was going to be a breeze for me. I still had to put more effort into my studies than most people would. Because of my disabilities, I have to work harder and longer than most people. The discomfort I had every time I had to walk into a classroom, take a test, or try and concentrate on what a professor was lecturing about...You can't understand how hard such simple tasks are for me to do.
Every semester I would meet with my teachers the first week of class to explain that I had a disability and would be needing accommodations. The first semester or two I had to do this I remember feeling so embarrassed because of the stereotypes associated with disabilities. After that I let go of the embarrassment. I accepted that by sharing the fact that I needed accommodations, I was really asking for help and that there was nothing wrong with that. Most schools have a department for students with disabilities. The school that I attended did and they were extremely helpful in making sure that my professors received the appropriate information to verify what accommodations I was to be given. I worked my butt off every semester and I was back to seeing the grades I was used to. I finally understood what was different about me and how to cope and manage as best as I could.
When I received the letter in the mail announcing I was chosen to join this honor society, I was touched. I didn't realize the society even existed but the fact that they recognized the hard work and superior grades I'd earned was a bigger deal to me than most people would probably expect. Because of how hard I would have to work to achieve the same thing as others, it meant a lot that someone was noticing and saw that I accomplished something that isn't easy for people with disabilities.
There are requirements that have to be met in order to be eligible to join this honor society. As an undergraduate student I had to:
- Present a documented disability and work with one of the faculty or staff members in the Office of Disability Services, or self-identify as an individual with a disability;
- Demonstrate an interest in disability issues.
- Completed a minimum of 24 credits;
- Earned an overall Quality Point Average of 3.10 on a 4.00 scale.
That Wednesday night at the end of April I received my acceptance certificate, a pin and cords to wear at graduation. On my graduation day I will wear those cords with pride!
While this hasn't been something I've been very open about, I'm not ashamed of it either. I'm proud to represent all individuals that have a disability and show that we can still do things.
We are not helpless and we are not stupid.
We just take a little longer and have to work a little harder.
If you'd like to learn more about Delta Alpha Pi, feel free to visit this website:
http://deltaalphapihonorsociety.org/
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