Make it a Tear Jerker.

Studies show that consumers are less likely to spend after watching a disgusting movie clip, but more likely to buy things when they feel sad and depressed.  Viewers who were shown weeper film clips, like that final scene of ET, were more likely to buy candy to feel better. Sadness has a funny way of driving us to change our circumstances. By getting rid of the old and introducing the new with an upcoming purchase, we feel like we are somehow purging our sadness. Unfortunately, that sadness will often return after we’ve grown tired of the thing we bought, even when we probably didn’t really need the item in the first place.

Bulk is Cheaper.

Stores try to sell you the idea that if you buy more for cheaper, you are actually paying less. Unless you are the comic book store guy from the Simpson’s, however, you most likely don’t need 100 tacos for $100. Some sales give you so much of what you need that it isn’t really a good deal. Most often, it’s a product that you don’t really need a lot of in the first place.  You should first do the math and really see if it’s much of a deal. You should also consider whether you really need that much of an item. A sixteen-pound bag of gummy bears can’t really be good for anybody.

Buy Now or Forever Hold Your Peace.

Stores try to deliver ultimatums with the subliminal suggestion that if you don’t buy now, you’ll lose your chance of a lifetime.  Smart market strategists play on consumer’s limited time and emotions to trick them into buying things they don’t really need. Retailers will keep a line of one product on the shelves, only to replace it with another product a short while later. The reality is that the shelves are always changing, but if you really need something, you’ll be able to find it somewhere. Plus, with the Internet, anything you need is a simple keyword search away.

A Favor for a Favor.

When we’re given a favor, it’s a natural response to return it. This works well when it comes to friends, family and neighbors, but watch out when a good deed comes from a retailer. They are out to make money, so naturally what they offer will be small relative to what they want to have you spend. Take free offers, but only buy if it’s really in your best interest. Remember, free samples at the grocery store make a great Sunday snack, but who says you need all that food in your fridge? Take the free stuff, but then skip out when they hit you up for a purchase.

It’s All Psychology.

Marketing comes down to mind tricks. Catch them at their own game. When you are aware of the common marketing ploys, you’ll be less susceptible to them. Watch your wallet. It’s got teeth. Don’t get bit by your own overspending habits.

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Do unused lines of credit hurt or help your credit score? Will removing old information from closed accounts make you look better in the eyes of banks and lenders?

Cutting Up the Cards Doesn’t Heal the Financial Hurt.

Once you’ve got debt on a credit card, you can’t deny its existence. It’s on your credit report for at least 7 years, even if you cancel the card the next day. This includes any red marks, late payments, charge-offs or overspending that might be associated with the card.

Why Deny the Benefits?

It takes years to build credit. Using a credit card responsibly speaks volumes. That’s why removing old accounts that have no negative items is a bad idea because these accounts actually help your credit. Fifteen percent of your credit score is determined by how long you’ve been borrowing. It’s good to build your credit with a credit card, but the key is using it responsibly. Don’t use it outside of your means, and make sure you pay it off at the end of the month.

Closing Accounts May Hurt Your FICO Score.

Lenders look hard at the relationship of your revolving accounts to your total available credit. If you have to run a deficit, make sure that it is no more than 30% of what you’ve been limited to, although truthfully it’s best to keep it near zero every month. Keep room in your credit gap, but don’t be tempted to move closer to the edge. You need room to grow in the case of emergencies, and it shows banks that you have the resolve to stay more within your means. Keep a comfortable space between what you owe and what you are allowed to put on the card.

Too Many Cards, However, Can Hurt.

If you have more than 7 credit cards, it will hurt your image in the eyes of the bank. In these cases, it’s best to consolidate debt onto the card that has the lowest interest, simplifying your debt to one lender. This also makes it easier to pay off as you can better focus your energies on one card as opposed to a dozen.

Keep the Old Ones, Though.

Commitment counts. If you’ve had a card for a long time and it offers competitive interest rates, it may make sense to consolidate the rest of the cards onto this one card so it can show you’ve had a lasting commitment in an effort to build your credit. Lenders see long-held-onto cards as proof that you are a responsible citizen who can follow through on commitment.

Keep the Perks.

There are certain goodies and perks offered with good credit cards that shouldn’t be laughed at. You can consolidate your debt onto cards that offer frequent flyer miles so you can better enjoy the benefits of your money. Other cards might offer inexpensive memberships to clubs. Still, others offer rewards and various financial incentives. Before cutting up the card, consider its benefits. There may be plenty of reasons to hang onto it.

Responsible Use.

Credit cards aren’t necessarily evil, but they do need to be used responsibly. You might consider putting one in a safe deposit box and using it only for emergencies. Another idea is to only spend what you can pay off each month. If you can learn to use a card responsibly, it can be an incredible builder of financial credit, making it possible to buy a home or a car someday. If you can’t use it responsibly, however, it can quickly dig you a hole. If you really can’t handle it, consider the scissors. If you think you can handle the temptation of a card, however, learn to use it responsibly to build your credit, rather than tear it down.

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You could try to remedy the situation by taking out larger amounts, but we often have the tendency to spend a wad of cash because stacks of bills lie to us and tell us we’re rich. You can also quickly fall back on old habits and make multiple withdrawals of larger sums, and end up back where you started – at the bottom of your bank account, trying to crawl back out.

The real secret is to look into your spending habits. The money must be going somewhere, right? Cutting back on your bar tab could leave you $20 savings a week. Add it up, and you’ve got an extra $80 a month. Switch to a six pack and drink a cold one on the porch instead. You can invite your friends over, and your iPod is probably better than any juke box.

Here are a few other tips to cut back on your $20 withdrawals.

1. Rent a Movie or Join Rental Services Like NetFlix.Movie tickets range anywhere from $8 to $10 these days. Add it up for 2, and you can easily spend $20 just for 2 hours of watching a screen. That’s practically a night out the opera. Throw in some buttered popcorn and corn syrup soda, and you can easily drain your bank account just going out to the movies. A rental costs $3 or $4, tops. Rental services cost $8 to $15 a month, but you can rent unlimited movies. Clean the house, make a nice romantic dinner and pop in a movie. Should the plot line break down for romance, you don’t have to feel like a teenager catching a kiss in the back of the theater.
2. Buy Food in Season.To everything turn, turn, turn; there is a season. Buy tomatoes when they are ripe on the vines and the farmers are practically giving them away. Stick to lettuce and winter greens when it’s snowing outside. Gauge your shopping list according to what’s in harvest. There’s no need to buy colorful peppers when they cost $4 a piece in the wintertime.
3. Buy Clothes Out of Season.You might not wear that swimsuit in January, but you’ll find the lowest prices when there’s frost on the ground. When clothes are out of season, outlets and online shops practically give them away. When Summer rolls around, you’ll be that much happier to rip off the tags and hit the beach. It will give you something to look forward to.
4. Head Home After Payday and Make Dinner.When we’ve just deposited that paycheck, we feel like we’re owed something. The Friday of payday tends to be the time we blow the most money, hitting restaurants, buying drinks, living off the fat of the land. Save your paycheck for the rest of the pay period by being economical from the moment your check arrives in your hand. Build up some savings over time, and then treat yourself, but within reason.
5. Bring Your Own Wine or Beer.When restaurants don’t have a liquor license, they will often allow you to bring in your own bottle of wine or beer, provided that local municipality laws agree with the idea. They may charge you a corking fee, but it’s a lot cheaper than an expensive bottle of wine you’d buy off a wine list. Plus, this lets you try your favorite wine to see how it mixes with the salmon pasta.

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“Not my problem.”

It may very well not be your problem, but simply stating so acknowledges that you recognize a problem exists and you refuse to do anything about it. There’s so much going on that nobody can keep up with it all, and that’s understandable, but bosses expect everyone to pitch in. By throwing the work onto somebody else you are denying more than responsibility. You are showing that you are unwilling to find a solution. Jump in and solve the dilemma. Your boss is likely to remember this the next time you ask for a raise.

“Impossible. I can’t do it.”

Even if a job is difficult, never admit that it’s beyond your grasp, even if it is. Be vocal about the fact that you are willing to try. Offer compromises or other solutions that might work. Stating that the work is impossible reflects shortsighted thinking. If something is beyond the capacity of your deadline, offer an alternative solution. It’s okay to admit when things are beyond your abilities, but offer other solutions that can help to solve the problem.

“I am still hung over.”

Believe it or not, this excuse is actually used in the work place. If you are hung over, you must pay the price and work through it. Stating that you are hung over implies you are just going to slosh through the day and be unproductive. Worse, it’s a sign that you can’t separate business from your personal life and that you lack discretion. Additionally, it could give off signs of dependency issues, which wave red flags when it comes time for promotions and extra responsibilities.

“They don’t pay me enough for this.”

That may be so, but if it’s enough of a problem, find your own solution instead of taking it out on your boss. If the pay is too low for the workload, put your talents to better use or find another job. Don’t just complain to your boss. Save it for happy hour friends or a call with your mother.

“I don’t need anyone to teach me.”

Instead of implying that you already know what you are doing, this statement shows you aren’t willing to learn. There’s nothing worse on the job than a massive ego or a poor attitude. It’s irritating to assume you already know all there is to learn. Keep your ears and your mind open. There’s always something new to learn every day.

“I never got around to it.”

It’s understandable to be busy, but this statement implies that you have no follow through. Explain instead that it’s on your plate and you are working on it. Not everything can be done in a given day, but there’s a difference between being too busy and just procrastinating. Make the work happen and follow-through.

“Don’t blame me. It’s not my fault.”

Far more annoying than making a mistake is covering it up and laying the blame on somebody else. Accept responsibilities for errors. Nobody’s perfect. Suggest ways you will remedy the problem in the future. Find solutions to fix the mistake so it never happens again. Own up when things go badly. If someone else truly was at error, explain it to your boss in a private conversation. Never shift the blame when you’re just standing at the water cooler.

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Creating the best resume possible can be overwhelming, so it’s important to break it down into easy-to-manage steps.

1. Think and ReflectMost job candidates fail to give their resume serious thought. They jump right into a resume builder on their computer and start plugging in 4H Clubs and Scouting awards. Before you even start tapping at that keyboard, sit down and think about what you want to present in the resume. Consider the job you are after and what talents you’ll want to reflect for that specific job.Also consider what kind of job you want. In this economy, any job might be great, but be specific in your resume about the job you are really looking for. Narrow down your career choices to specify the job you seek.
2. Find Your ObjectiveStart with your objective. Unless you are applying for a fortune teller position, employers won’t be able to read your mind. In fact, you might not even know what you are looking for until you directly state it in the objective, especially if you are in the midst of changing careers. Keep the statement positive, concise and aimed at the needs of your employer. A good resume will subtly sell your skills, as well as target what benefits you have to offer.
3. Spotlight Your Work ExperienceStart by writing down your work experience for the past 10 years, or your last 3 employers, whichever first applies. Note the dates that you worked, the name of the company, responsibilities and accomplishments. When it comes to accomplishments, focus on how you succeeded in the responsibilities of each job. Use concrete examples. Solid figures work best, if possible.
4. Lay the Education on the TableYour education is essential to employers, so be sure to present your educational credits in the best way possible. No matter your GPA in high school or college, it’s important to demonstrate that you value learning and the importance you placed on getting an education. Only mention good grades if you had them. If not, don’t bother. List the highest level of education first, including the name and location of the institution. Also, list what focus you studied, especially if it relates to the job you apply for.
5. Fill in the BlanksNow is the time to list everything else. Be sure to include professional affiliations, volunteer work, publications, activities, foreign languages and any awards and honors. List any public offices held. Include anything you think might be relevant or that showcases yourself in a professional light.References can be listed, but most people don’t list them on the resume, and you really don’t have room. It’s best to mention that references are available upon request, or you could include them in a separate document.
6. Be ConciseEmployers are busy people. Give them more than a one-page resume for most positions, and they’ll shuffle you to the bottom because they don’t want to take the time to look at it. Don’t overstuff the resume as it will look crowded and unreadable. Make sure that it looks clean and directly states its purpose from a glance. The average employer will only give a passing glance to a resume, so make sure it catches their eye without being overwhelming. Play to short attention spans by being direct.

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Wealth Brings Control, Not Happiness.

The wealthy enjoy control over their lives, or at least the security of not having to worry about how the rent will be paid or if they can afford an addictive habit, like take out pepperoni pizza. They are secure in their jobs and feel financially in control of their lives.

Yet, are the rich really better than those of us who live paycheck to paycheck, praying their ’90s model Ford Escort makes it all the way home this time? Not really. They worry less about day-to-day expenses, but they aren’t necessarily anymore overjoyed with getting out of bed every day, even if they’re golfing with celebrities that afternoon.

Studies show that celebrities, lottery winners, heiresses, etc., only enjoy a bit more satisfaction than the guy sweating away to make a buck selling barn insurance. Sure, an extra digit or two might put a smile on your face, but overall, it wouldn’t really increase your happiness. The high would wear off, and when you came down, you’d be back to life, dealing with your daily, pestering realities.

Perspective. You Can Paint a Picture With it.

Imagination sets us apart from the less-evolved species. We have the capacity to not only imagine skyscrapers and aluminum birds that fly, but we also create our own realities by how we remember them. The human mind can be incredibly inventive, especially when we try and remember “what really happened.”

We assume the big penthouse, a sports car or a nice new dress will bring us the happiness we see pasted all over the Super Bowl commercials, right? They have in the past. When you go buy something new, there’s a natural high that puts a little bounce in your step, right?

Not really. It’s a matter of perspective. You buy something new, the high quickly wears off, usually when you first break what you bought, or you get that ugly credit card bill in the mail. Happiness from material objects is fleeting. The only reason you’re happy with material purchases is because you didn’t have that item previously. If you already have everything, what do you have left to get happy about?

More Money Comes at a Cost.

We tend to forget the problems and hassles we experienced with the new car. We forget the late nights, high stress and time away from our families that led to the raise.

Money Can be Addictive.

What’s wrong with a selective brain that makes us remember the good times and forget the bad? It can cost you. Faulty memory that clings only to the “buying high” makes us do dumb things with our money, and, in a sense, consuming it with an addictive passion, like drugs or alcohol. We don’t buy what we really need, spending on frivolities only to feel temporarily happy until the new toy breaks or the bill arrives in the mail.

In fact, you can build up not only a dependency to money, but also a growing tolerance. It takes more expensive irreverent spending to achieve the high that satisfied us when we were younger, and the spending can easily escalate until it’s well out of control.

How Much Money is Enough?

How much cash does it really take to satisfy? Really, you should strive to have enough to pay your bills while having a little left over for fun. The rest is extra. Will a 20% raise make you 20% happier? Chances are it won’t. You’ll most likely just build an appetite for more, pursuing money interests at the cost of friends, family and maybe even yourself.

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Calm Down

When the news of losing your job is fresh, it’s natural to be devastated, but the first step is actually to take a step back and calm down. Attend to the most immediate details first. Rising unemployment has become a global phenomenon that’s likely to get worse before it gets better, so you’re not alone. With national unemployment approaching 10% and in some regions as high as 12 to 15%, you’ll find company in the hunt.

Keep Your Connections

Leaving the office can be a blur, especially if you still carry the shock of the news. There are many emotions involved, and it’s difficult to keep a clear head. Don’t forget to grab the personal contact information of colleagues. You’ve likely made a lot of connections at this job that can be put to work finding the next. Get phone numbers, email addresses and social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. Most jobs get handed down through one connection or another. Your next career will likely come from a connection you made from your previous career.

Discuss Your Options

Have an open dialogue with your boss before you leave to discuss severance pay and benefits before you’ve turned in company equipment, like a laptop or cell phone. When you’ve still got something on the table, you can negotiate for bigger severance, longer access to health care and unused vacation time. You’ll likely need whatever you can get. Keep in mind that it may take at least 3 or 4 weeks before you see your first unemployment check. Asking for more doesn’t hurt. It’s not like you’ll get fired or laid off again.

Press for Health Insurance

Even if Congress manages to pass a health care bill, it won’t take effect until 2011, and you just can’t afford to wait that long. Find out how long your health insurance will remain intact. Under the Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), you are eligible for insurance coverage for 18 months, although it will cost you. Depending on your health, your savings, and what state you reside in, an individual health care plan may be more affordable, yet still provide adequate coverage. Research your options.

Make a Budget Plan

Once you’ve gotten insurance and benefits in order, it’s time to sit down and budget the math. Cut back on eating out, charitable contributions, and unnecessary expenses. You are your own charity now. Start buying generic products or in bulk supply. If you don’t have an emergency fund prepared, start looking at what assets you can use to find one. If your boat hasn’t moved from the driveway in 6 months, it may be time to find it a new home. If you have extra vehicles, consider selling them and banking the cash. Check the status of stocks and other investments to see what you’ll have available to weather the time it will take you to find another job.

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Start with a search for the all the deals you can find. Several sites that often feature savings include:
Sidestep.com
Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Cheaptickets.com
Travelcity.com

The catch is that many of these require you to pick up and drop off from the same location. If you plan to drive the car to a new location, you’ll need to make sure that the company allows that.

Try a rental agency network or research options on the web

Rental agencies are good connections to have, like being in a club with special benefits. Often you can get a great deal on a car rental through a rental code available at a rental agency’s website. This further trims off the price, leaving more money in your vacation fund for dinner and dancing.

Other sites are designed to find the good deals. Here’s a list of a few that can save you more than just car rentals, but just about anything involving the faces of well known American presidents.

Happeningsbook.com. If the Happenings Book is sold in your area, you should be able to find plenty of car rental coupons as well as free upgrades.

Retailmenot.com features some of the best coupons on the market, for everything from website domain name purchasing to concert tickets to wheels to get you from here to there.

Mousesavers.com, though designed for those visiting Mickey’s favorite Disney’s spots, features an extensive list of corporate, contact ID as well as coupon codes for amazing discounts at car rental agencies. A single corporate code can save you in the hundreds, as well as provide free upgrades like insurance and an additional driver.

Nationalcarrental.com also offers amazing discounts on car rentals. You can join their Emerald site for free, save $50 and then get more discounts to shave off the price. It also lets you skip the line at the rental office since you can have everything arranged online.

Join a club

If you’re a Payless Perks Club member, you can save up to 10 % on your car rental. This can be in addition to other savings you might enjoy through other clubs, combining savings for an extremely smooth discount that leaves more room for fun outings on the trip. The right discount can mean an extra juicy stake, dancing lessons or yoga exercises on a mountain sunrise.

Keep an eye on the gas gauge and don’t scratch the paint

Be careful of fuel charges. If you can, the best arrangement is to pick up the car with a full tank of gas and return it in the same condition. You might want to check on the location of the nearest fill up station to where you’ll be dropping off the car.

Avoid damage charges. Double check the condition of the car before you pick it up, and make sure it’s in a similar condition when you return it. Check for dents and scratches. Whenever possible, always returned the vehicle when the depot is manned so you can be present for the inspection in order to represent your interests as thoroughly as possible. It’s always best to sign off on the inspection once it’s been checked over. You don’t want to be charged for something that was not your fault.

Savings add up to more vacation enjoyment

Seek out all the discounts you can, and let them add up to significant savings. Protect your investment by returning the car fueled and in the same condition you borrowed it. Prudent efforts can save you considerably, both on the bill and any charges that might result from not following the guidelines of your contract.

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Although they can be useful, they can also be temptations that can ruin your credit. The average American faces over $8,000 in debt. That’s a huge chunk of change to swallow, but it’s easy to accumulate without noticing. When you use a card, you hardly think about it because the transaction is electronic. Hand over cash, and you immediately feel the difference. It’s almost as if your wallet becomes so light it can float away on its own.

You don’t feel like you are spending money when you are using a credit card. Reality will quickly remind you, however, when you open that bill at the end of the month. When it comes down to it, if you can’t put the bill back to zero at the end of the month, you’re living beyond your means and digging a financial hole that’s not easily climbed out of.

Yet there are real reasons to use credit cards, but you need to keep it within your budget.

Benefits of a card

Credit cards provide electronic records of your money transactions each month. This makes it easy to compare and navigate expenses. You can adjust your monthly budget easier and see where it’s all going.

Credit card transactions are also insured. If you make an online purchase that suffers a security leak, you won’t be liable if someone buys a boat with your credit. Use a debit card, and you are responsible for any transactions, regardless of whether they were yours or not. Credit cards ensure a secure purchase.

You can also earn rewards like frequent flyer miles or get membership expenses to popular and exclusive groups and clubs.

Using a credit card wisely also helps you build your credit, but it’s important to be responsible. If you use a credit card to live beyond your means and rack up more than you can pay back, the card will rip your credit to shreds, making it difficult to later buy a house, car or other major purchase.

Rein Your Credit into Control

More than half of all credit card holders carry a balance every month. This means that most of us who have credit cards use them to live beyond our means. In these situations, credit cards are detrimental.

If you carry a balance, get it in control by making consistent payments beyond your minimum. Credit card companies try to trap you by making the minimum payment lower than what you actually owe that month, causing your debt to snowball into a boulder of a bill. You should devote as much as you can to the bill, especially if the card carries a high interest rate. You may want to consider amassing all your credit onto a single bill that caries a lower interest rate so you can focus your energies and cut it down to size.

Keep a zero balance

Once you’ve gotten the balance to zero, keep it there. When the bill comes, pay off all the debt you’ve accrued in a month. If you can’t, you’ve used the card beyond what you can afford to pay. Credit cards only build credit when we use them within our means. Your credit can easily get away from you. Keep it on a tight chain so you don’t get bit.

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In this economy, it’s natural to not want to “push it” by asking for the raise you probably deserve. You don’t want to rock the boat, shift the status quo or end up in the unemployment lines. However, you’ll get more if you pitch the question first. The bottom line is be flexible.

Don’t worry. You won’t get fired for asking for a raise.

Aside from the labor strikes in the 1930s, nobody has ever been fired for asking for a raise. Fearing asking your boss for more money is understandable, but it isn’t rational. The worse answer you’ll get is no, or if you are lucky, maybe later. The simple fact is in this economy, your boss may not be able to afford to give you more pay. Ironically, however, you are actually less likely to get laid off if you’ve already asked for a raise. Even in the face of job layoffs, asking for a raise may actually be a better survival tactic than keeping your trap shut and living with it.

Ask gracefully.

Realize that in this kind of economy, your boss is probably under more stress than ever. Give them room to say no gracefully. Paraphrase your request by pointing out that you realize the financial strain and considerations of the moment. Be understanding of the dilemmas your boss is saving. Above all, be patient. Point out ways you’ve improved profit and productivity. State why you think you deserve it, and what you’ve done to carry the company lately.

But keep confident.

Even if you think this is a shot in the dark, get your reasons down pat and believe in yourself. Do all the ample prep work before you have the conversation. Consider why you think you deserve the raise. Consider any goals you’ve met. Weigh your responsibilities. Point out where you’ve exceeded their expectations. It’s a good idea to also highlight innovations you’ve brought to the company that streamlined processes and improved profit. Count your assets and add them up.

Realize your monetary value. What would it cost them to rehire and retrain a new person? Your raise is minor compared to that.

Establish an impossible number.

Hey, you are negotiating. You start high and work your way to the medium. Find what raise fits your wildest dreams and find reasons why that might make sense. You’ll have to come down, but if you start high, you’ll have to come down less than if you start with reality.

Stick to numbers over emotions. Feel good approaches like your staff responds to you don’t carry the drive of number figures. Prove your worth in dollars and cents. Make your raise a quantifiable cause. It all comes down to numbers, so provide the math that makes it add up.

When to ask

It always depends on the circumstances, but a reasonable estimate is every 12 to 18 months. If a raise is rather low, it’s all right to ask your boss if you can discuss it again in 4 to 6 months.

How to estimate the balancing act

How do you estimate your salary against your peers without rudely asking them over lunch or after work happy hour? Check out the web. Sites like Jobnob.com and Salaryexperts.com can give you a good idea on what the industry demands. When you know you are on the same page with the rest of the industry, you have more to work with to get your demands met.

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