Showing posts with label student. Show all posts
Showing posts with label student. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Budgeting Your Way Through College
10:01 AM | 
Posted by
Briana Ford
Image via Wikipedia- Live within your means: Whether you're earning your own money or getting help from your parents, don't allow your cash to burn a hole in your wallet. Live off necessities and limit your splurging. Unforeseeable circumstances can and will arise, and you want to be sure you're prepared to handle them.
- Use your credit for emergencies only: That means don't let the cash-back or rewards persuade you to use your credit card as your debit card. Use your credit wisely! Use that as a last option. Credit cards should only be used in the event an emergency arises. If you absolutely can't help but use the card, be sure you only charge what you can pay back.
- Have no shame: Never think that the little things to get extra cash are beneath you. If you're collecting bottles and cans to recycle in order to keep up with your Starbucks habit, then do that. If you're doing odd jobs on the weekends instead of sleeping through the morning well into the afternoon, then you're on the right track. Every little bit helps!
- Make sure your bills are paid: When you're in a dilemma between paying your bills and purchasing Starcraft II, bills should always prevail. Paying your bills should never be an option. Not paying them will come back to haunt you.
- Don't blow your financial aid on things unrelated to school: I received over $3,000 in scholarship money coming in to my freshman year of college, and it was all gone before Thanksgiving break. I can honestly say I can't account for where that money went, and I can guarantee it was not all towards school related expenses. This got me in a lot of financial trouble later on, when I realized how much books really cost. Use your financial aid for things like course materials, parking permits, and anything else pertaining to school.
- You don't need a new laptop every year: Just because you saw your friend with a new MacBook doesn't mean you need to trade in your 2 year old one. Laptops are good for at least 4 years. If you notice it's going slow, clear out your hard drive, buy extra RAM, and find other means for speeding up your computer. Buying a new one is just shelling our unnecessary money.
- College students can survive off 1 star meals: The tales of Ramen noodles and PB&J are not myths; college students do not need to eat at 5 star restaurants every weekend. Stretch your food budget out. You can survive off less than you think. Grab a grocery store sale paper, clip some coupons, or stick to your meal plan. Avoid those high end places at all costs.
- Surplus? Save it! You always hear that you should save for a rainy day, and it's true! You just never know when you need that savings fund, and it hurts when it's not available. When you have more money than you expected, don't blow it on that shirt you saw in the mall last week. Build that rainy day savings account.
- Look for cheap ways to entertain: Yes, new movies come out every weekend, but that doesn't mean you have to spend $10 and up to see it just so you can stay up to date. Utilize those college deals for entertainment. $2 movies are just as good, free concerts are awesome, and visit your student union for discounts on local amusement.
- Be responsible: Learning how to manage your money when you're young is so much easier than when you're out of college with a mountain of student debt, no job, and facing the possibility of bankruptcy. Be responsible now with your money so you won't have to face the dire consequences later.
Follow these tips and you'll find yourself in a great financial situation.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
What I learned today: Volume 2
What Would Stacy and Clinton say?
What you wear DOES count.
This is for all of us who have rolled out of bed at the VERY LAST SECOND to barely make it to work on time. Sometimes it is so easy to fall into a routine with your work attire and maybe even get a little sloppy. NO! stop right there… Sloppy is not allowed at work.
I have learned that getting dressed for work in a nice outfit will make a difference in how you feel, how others act around you and the impression you convey at work. I’m not saying go buy a suit and wear only black and white and have no personality. Let’s be serious. I’m saying its time to re-access your wardrobe. There is a transition period from college clothes to work wardrobe. So please take a minute (yes right now) to go through your wardrobe and get rid of those hole-y sweats, anything with permanent stains, your long ragged jeans and anything too tight and too small.
The best place to see a transformation of any wardrobe would have to be on TLC’s What Not to Wear. I will admit I have been watching and enjoying What Not to Wear for years. Stacy and Clinton, your new fashion guru’s, show that no matter your size, your personal style or your job that you CAN revamp and polish up your wardrobe so you look great in everything you put on.
I used this show as an example because for me it is the easiest way to explain the importance of what you wear and non-verbal communication. No matter how much you think it doesn’t matter what you wear, it ultimately lets your co-workers interpret who you are whether you like it or not.
This article is not just about girl makeovers, it’s for the guys too!! Boys be sure to click here and see some men with their new looks! You will be amazed! Experiment, have fun, and start building your wardrobe with basics. Stacy and Clinton have great tips for incorporating your personal style in a professional way.
Maybe even watch a few What Not to Wear episodes. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.
Labels:
clothes,
fashion,
fun,
internship,
interview,
jobs,
non verbal communication,
personal development,
professional attire,
rainmaker tips,
student,
what not to wear
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Meet Briana: CSULB Campus Ambassador
Hello world, or at least our fans. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Briana Ford, with numerous amounts of aliases (let's stick with Briana for now). I'm an incoming sophomore at California State University Long Beach. I'm a pre-marketing major, considering a public relations minor, and also the new intern / CSULB Campus Ambassador for The Rainmaker Network!
I found this great opportunity through the infamous Twitter (be careful who you follow; it just may change your life). Long Beach Breaking News tweeted about a Marketing/PR internship opportunity through CSULB and it directed me to a CraigsList post. After reading everything the position would include, I was immediately interested. First I needed to know exactly who were these people who I would be working with. I looked up The Rainmaker Network and wished I had stumbled upon them before hand, but was nevertheless excited.
Long story short, I got the internship, which is how I'm writing to you all today. It's only my first week but I'm already in love with the job. I was interested not only because it's right up my alley as far as marketing and PR, but because they're mission is to connect students with companies. It's funny because this is what I've been doing already. Although I'm not quite a sophomore yet, The Rainmaker Network is actually my 4th internship that I've accepted (I've been offered more but turned them down because there's only 24 hours in a day and only 1 me). My friends have been asking me to help them acquire internships as well, but I didn't want to limit my expertise to only my friends.
In these times, I think college students should not only be required to intern before they graduate, but intern often. There's so much competition out there, and you should always look for ways to stand out above the crowd (even if you gotta shout out loud). Interning not only gives you work experience to put on your resume and keep with you forever, it gives you a preview of what you want to pursue as a career, which is definitely important. After my first internship with Mint Julep Social Events, I knew I wanted to stick with event coordination in my future. It also gave me hands on experience coordinating events, handling event production, vendor relations, and what to expect with clients.
Not all internships work out unfortunately. Some companies have extremely high demands and are not exactly considerate of your schedule (school or personal). It's always good to research the company before signing your life away to be their non-paid slave (or indentured servant) for the next few months. Familiarize yourself with company policy and make sure their ideals are aligned with yours. It's always important to be comfortable at your place of work, whether you're being paid or not.
Never choose internships based on if they pay or not. Many internships that are not paid pay off in different ways like lifelong connections and networking opportunities. Although everyone needs extra cash here and there, don't dismiss an opportunity because they have no monetary value; you could be missing out on a chance of a lifetime.
I think I've rambled on long enough and I'm pretty sure you know nothing much about me besides I'm a workaholic student. We'll be able to elaborate more on me later, for this is only the beginning. I'm really excited to be part of the Rainmaker Network. Although my internship is set for 6 months, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be looking forward to trying to keep my foot in this door.
Labels:
career development,
college,
CSULB,
event coordinator,
internship,
marketing,
public relations,
Rainmaker Network,
student
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