Working between Christmas and New Years? Turns out you might be on to something...

We were discussing in the office today about who is taking what vacation days off until the end of the year. Some people are working part of next week, some aren't working at all. Almost everyone, however, is taking off between Christmas and New Years.

There are A FEW people who will be working between Christmas and New Years. At first I thought these people were crazy. Why would you work on this precious week when you could go on a much needed vacation before busy season? Do you really like work THAT much? (If the answer is yes, then you really do need to find a hobby...) It then hit me- at midnight on a work night- that these people might actually be on to something. And if you are one of those people who are STUCK working this precious week? Well this post is for you, consider yourself lucky!

Think about it. You are in the office with very few other people, not alot of work (since there are very few other people) and free time that you are getting paid for.  Here are my list of ideas of how to spend the week between Christmas and New Years in the office:

1. Organize your desk. Would it really hurt for you to enter a new and busy year all organized and with a clean desk? Definitely not! Everyone will come back from their ski vacation frazzled and jealous of your organized desk.

2. Organize your life for that matter. You probably will have free time (since all the managers are skiing), you might as well make a budget, take care of personal finances, and prepare for the next year.

3. Network. There will probably be other people in the office. This is the perfect opportunity to branch out and make new friends in the office that you might not ever get to meet.

4. Snack on all those holiday treats that people left in the break room (hey, you deserve it! and they would just go bad without you)

5. Enjoy leaving at 5. Who is going to be in the office to give you work at the last second before you are walking out the door? Is there really going to be a deadline on December 28th? probably not.

6. Plan your next vacation. With this whole week of vacation time you have saved, you can use the roll over vacation to take a MUCH NEEDED vacation later in the year.

7. Stock up on cool pens. If they don't have any more in the supply closet, I am sure your neighbor will never remember exactly which pens he had before the holiday break.

This being said. My last day in the office is December 24th.  For a week- and a much needed vacation. While I have now convinced myself that working this precious week is not too bad, I think the real place to be on December 26th is laying in my bed at 11am.

Lessons from Lunch: Learn to talk about sports

Unless you work in the lingerie department of Macy's, it is likely that you work with at least one guy. Most likely multiple ones. And while girls will talk about the amazing sales at Macy's, guys tend to talk about sports. This might come from the fact that it is one of the few topics that guys can relate to eachother on that is appropriate to talk about at work. (but that is not the point) The point is that at one moment or another, you are mostlikely going to have to carry on a conversation with a group of guys and when that day comes... you are going to want to be prepared.

I am not saying that you need to suddenly give up the hottest reality TV series or your favorite sitcom and switch it for ESPN, ESPN News, and that show where there are four people screaming at eachother about hot "sports topics". Unless you dedicate 3 hours (that was an actual estimate from one of my male counterparts) a day reading sports blogs you might never be able to "compete" on the same level that they do, but it doesn't hurt to have something to contribute to the conversation.

How can this be done? Simply learn 5 facts about hot sports topics. Read the sports headlines once a week and learn just enough about a current topic to add in a sentence or two when the conversation arises at work. (which odds are? It most likely will) The guys will be so impressed that you will earn your "cool" points for the week and feel as though you contributed to conversation.

Copay? Coinsurance? Health Insurance Decoded

Here is the problem: We go shopping for shoes. You know your shoe size, which probably isn't going to change in the future. You might even know the occasion you want to wear the shoes for. You know that if you pay $50 today, you will get the shoes. If you want to return them? Go ahead, you have a 30 day window. (Unless you snagged that deal on sale) That is it. Simple shopping principles. Shopping for health insurance? Not as easy, it basically breaks all of the simple shopping principles we have come to know and love.

When shopping for healthcare you really have to predict your future healthcare expenses. How can you predict if you plan to break your leg or come down with the flu? You cant. (Isn't this fun already?) So you are technically gambling on how much healthcare you will need during the year. You may lose money if you are healthy, or benefit from healthcare if you are overly in need of surgery.

Copay? Coinsurance? Deductible? Why do they make health insurance so confusing? At a minimum, you have to know key terms to understand the process:

Copay- a fixed dollar amount you pay everytime you get a certain service. For example: When I go to the doctor I have to pay $20 for a visit. The cost after that? who cares- the insurance company will pay for it. This works for prescriptions ($5 per prescription) and other benefits.

Coinsurance- a percentage amount. "20% coinsurance". If the total doctor bill is $100, I will pay $20 and the insurance company will pay $80. It suddenly matters what the doctors bill actually is.

Deductible- this is a set amount that you have to pay before you get covered. "$200 deductible" would mean that I would pay $200 of my TOTAL health insurance bills throughout the year before insurance kicks in and they take over the bills.

When trying on shoes you can ask a friend if they like them or what kind of shoes they have. With health insurance it is not quite the same thing. Every person is different and have different needs. The amount of insurance you need will vary from your friend. Look into the plans and figure out what YOU need. Remember that it is really just a gamble for the year. Key questions to ask yourself: Do I go to the doctor every year (you should)? Do I go to the dentist? Do I need contacts? Do I have normal prescriptions? Any major surgeries that I already know about?

In a perfect world, we would just not get sick. In this world, it is simply better safe than sorry... but make sure you know what you are doing because $75 out of your pocket each month to your health insurance is worth looking into.

The Backseat Backup Purse

How do you stay savvy and on the go and constantly prepared? The backseat backup purse. Simple concept, but it has saved me several times.

Basically, I keep a plain black purse in the backseat of my car at all times. (under the seat of course so that no one is tempted to break into my car, important key.) It was probably a purse that I had back in highschool- nothing fancy or oversized or trendy in any sort of the word. Just a simple black purse.

To be honest, I am not sure when I started doing this but it is absolutely essential for the modern girl. I don't carry a purse with me to work (my laptop bag is quite enough), so the purse comes in handy when I want to run a quick errand after work but don't want to drag my entire laptop bag in to Target. Spontaneous happy hour after work? No problem! I take my wallet, cell phone, keys, and maybe some lipgloss into the bar and leave my clunky "work stuff" out of my social life.

Pre-"Backseat Backup Purse" days, I used to take in my cellphone, wallet, and keys in my hand. I then had to lay them on the table and risk a drink spilling over my precious cellphone or leaving my wallet at the table. It also adds clutter to an already busy table. Having a purse lets you walk around, socialize, and yet not break your shoulder carrying around a computer.

I might not have sold you on the concept, but throw and old, simple purse in the back of your car and see how many occasions you end up using it.

True Confessions from a Social Drinker (at work)

No, I am not talking about sipping wine while sitting in the office. I am talking more about water, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

Here's how it works.  I am completely brain fried and take the opportunity to go with other people on my team to the break room to refill water bottles. Sure I fill up my water bottle, but I also have an excuse to stretch my legs and socialize. Or I get a message from a friend down the hall to meet in the breakroom to get coffee to talk, vent, or gossip about our upcoming weekend.

That whole "water cooler conversation" at work is definitely real and not just on TV.

I have always been a big water drinker, but I find myself literally chugging my glass so that I have an excuse to go to the kitchen and refill it with my new work friends. Maybe I am alone in this, but it is time I come clean. If any of you have become Social Drinkers at work, you are not alone.

Always, always carry a pen

There is really no excuse. The object weighs practically nothing. The fad is to carry oversized purses, and really, what can you possibly find to fill it anyways? But that is not the point. The point is that you should always have a pen on you.

You never know when you are going to have a moment of brilliance: a great idea or the solution to a problem you have been struggling with.  You might finally remember that name of that actor who played in that movie. Sure, you can type those kind of things into your cell phone... but it ruins the creativity. (Charles Dickens surely did not brainstorm the ideas for a Tale of Two Cities on his "cell phone notes")

Signing receipts. (some of which you should be keeping....) I hate it when I am with a group of 10 people at a restaurant, all with separate checks, and the waitress brings only two pens. Really? I think they might do that on purpose to make you regret getting separate checks. You then spend an extra 20 minutes sharing pens and waiting your turn. Chances are, if you are in one of those long groups, it already took forever ordering, waiting for the food, and getting your check to begin with. Having your own pen makes you the hero.

Signing receipts at a drive through. Or any store in general. Why do stores never seem to have pens that work?

You might just get that cute guy's number.

Or that moment when you are sitting in the car, on the cellphone (only at a red light of course), trying to get directions because you are lost, and need to write down directions/address/any sort of help. Addition help: you should probably pull over.... either way, you will probably be thankful that you have that pen with you.

On the same note- if a car hits you and you need to write down the license plate (been there). Or you hit a car and you need to leave your name and number and apology (thankfully HAVEN'T been there.. and please please, can I never be there)

Most importantly- Always, always have a pen at work. The worst thing you can do is get instructions, walk back to your desk, and then completely forget what you were supposed to do. Take. Notes.

Wait... Should I have been saving my receipts?

Some.

Okay, so we live in a completely electronic technology world. And if you are anything like me, I view receipts as convenient paper to dispose of my gum in. Or I leave it at the table at the restaurant. I have gotten so used to saying "Oh no thank you" to the people at the checkout of any store that I do it without thinking. (Really, who wants all that clutter anyways?) The thought of receipts sitting in my already small apartment just makes me think of wasted paper making clutter that I will never again look at anyways. You might be like me. If you aren't? You are a more perfect human being and you can just stop reading this post.

Some of these receipts we should be saving though. (Yes, even if they already show up on our bank accounts online.) Which ones though? And for how long? And what is that whole "save your receipts for taxes"? (I mean, am I really going to get Audited?)

1. Clothing receipts- but only until you have worn the clothes a couple of times. You would be surprised how much money you can save if you save that receipt until you get home, try the outfit on in your normal lighting or let it sit in your closet for a week and decide you simply aren't as fashion adventurous as you thought you were in the store and are then able to return it.

2. Furniture and big appliances- not just for the warranties but also for homeowner's or rental insurance. (I haven't made too many of these purchases; I am still using a hand-me-down couch, but someday I would sure like to replace it)

3. Bank Statements and paystubs- if they are not electronic and only until you have the annual statement.

4. Business and Self Employment receipts- all of them. for tax reasons come tax season.

5. Work expense reimbursements- it depends on your company, but there have already been things that I will not be reimbursed for because I said my typical "Oh no thank you"

6. Tax items- such as medical expenses and donations. (you might want to save medical ones for insurance anyways)

How long? rule of thumb is 7 years for tax purposes. (So basically forever?)

Personal advice? Save big purchase items over $100 (small household purchases are not the main concerns in an audit) and make some sort of filing system to keep the important receipts. And as for the other receipts? Please use them as gum wrappers... no one likes when they step in gum in their new heels.

Survival Guide: Getting your car towed and making it out alive

Last weekend I got my car towed.

Not that I ever want to relive that "oh-so-not-fabulous" moment, there are a few lessons that I feel obligated to share so you know what to do when it happens to you. (which it might. be ready.)

1. Don't panic that your car is stolen, it probably just got towed.
2. Call the the people on the towing sign before leaving the lot (actually, let's back up, read the towing sign BEFORE you park there.. you idiot)
3. Be prepared to wait in a very, very long line. Other people get their car towed too.
4. Bring a friend. Not just for the long late, but tow places always seem to be in the worst areas of town.
5. Always have an extra $200 in your bank account. Just in case. You never know when life will give you a little slap on the wrist and you never want to be caught with no backup fund.
6. Check your car out in detail when you get it from the lot (thank you policeman for the tip). Tow truck men drive like they are taking a pregnant lady to the hospital. There is a HUGE possibility that they might mess up your car too...
7. Be strong and forceful.
8. Ask for a damage report to fill out and make a copy. Funny how they don't tell you about this report until you have been debating for over two hours. (it is more work for them)
9. Threaten to call a lawyer. (or bring a friend who has a dad who is an attorney.. that's the best)
10. You will have plenty of time while waiting to practice what you want to say to them to convince them to pay for the damage (how is this even a question!?) and it doesn't hurt to have someone in line who knows things about cars to take a look at your car and tell you exactly what is wrong. (unless you are a car genius yourself, in which case, more power to you)
11. If all else fails.. bring on the tears.

If you don't think you should wear it to work... Put a cardigan over it

I don't know who has enough money to buy every outfit for work from Banana and Loft. Not that I don't want to- trust me, I buy more outfits there than I want to admit- but it is financially not feasible to start a career and completely build a brand new wardrobe from scratch.

The trick? Go to target and buy yourself a $10 cardigan in every shade available. Or at least black and white as a starter set. This allows you to wear every tank top that you ever owned to work in a business casual setting. Fabulous concept right?

All you need are some nice pants, a couple cardigans, and your existing wardrobe. Okay, and then maybe you can treat yourself to a some cute belts to top it off or some fabulous jewelry, and you are good to go to work glam style.

To Roth or not to Roth?

This really varies on who you are and where you are in your life and career (disclaimer). There is also no right choice for everyone (otherwise there wouldn't be choices)

Let me start by explaining the differences:
A traditional IRA account you get a tax deduction, essentially you put money in tax free. The money grows (lets pretend it is alot, because that is just more fun to think about) and then when you pull the money out you pay tax on the entire investment AND the growth on the investment.

A Roth IRA is one where you pay tax upfront (sounds bad so far huh?). The money grows (lets pretend it is still alot, because either way we want our money to grow alot) and then when you pull the money out you do NOT pay tax. Essentially the capital gains (or the "growth") slides through the cracks and you NEVER pay tax on this money (sweet huh?)

For me personally? Roth is the way to go.
I am at the lowest tax rate that I am ever going to be at. Because, you might not know this yet, but I am going to be rich and famous.. and if I'm not rich and famous? I'll marry rich and famous... and if I don't marry rich and famous? I'll rob a bank. (but thats not the point). The point is you will most likely be at a higher tax bracket than your starting salary. The other thing to consider is that if the tax rate grows- which there is a high possibility that it will by the time I am ready to pull out my money- you get to pay tax at the lower "start" tax rate. This also spreads out paying the tax over the time of the investment and you arent stuck with paying it all at once in the end (this just makes us feel better).

You also have more flexibility with a Roth. A traditional IRA has more restrictions: when you can pull the money out, when you have to start pulling the money out, etc. I am not sure where I will be in 5 years, and if I want to pull the money out early to pay for a downpayment on a house, I would rather do so without all the high penalties.

It is important to note that you can only put $5000 a year into the account (this is subject to change, as we know, laws change ALL THE TIME) That is about $480 a month. Even if the amount grows, I'm not sure I want to come up with more than $480 a month anyways. Make a budget. Set the money aside. It is only going to be harder the more time that passes.

Okay, Sold. How do you set one up?
This starts with researching where you want to put your funds. You can invest in a Roth IRA through banks, brokerage firms, and mutual fund companies. You have the flexibility to invest in mutual funds, bonds, CDs, Stock, or other assets. You base this decision off your own comfort level with the risks involved.  DO NOT LET THE OPTIONS SCARE YOU! The most important thing is that you put your money into some Roth IRA somewhere.

The hardest part? Actually sitting down to do it. But wait... you are at your computer right now! As Nike would say: Just do it.

Really lame accountant icon:

Groupon, Living Social, and Adealio: Your guide to living the highlife on a budget

If you don't know about these sites then you are absolutely missing out. If you don't know about Groupon, Living Social, and Adealio, then they are the best kept secrets around. (It always surprises me when people haven't heard of them!) Basically everyday they offer a coupon for 75-90% off of bars, restaurants, spas, massages, haircuts, laser hair removal, music concerts, sports games, etc. 

These sites give you the perfect excuse to spoil yourself without spending a fortune. It also encourages you to try to restaurants and experiences in a new city that you might not have tried otherwise.

Needless to say the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check my cell phone for the deals of the day. It might be lame, but it gets me to open my eyes every morning!

Who cares about diamonds? Wedges are a girl's best friend!

I don't think I realized how much you actually have to walk to work. You have to walk to go to get a printout, make a copy, use the restroom, or talk to a manager (or a friend...). Most of my heels start to hurt my feet about the time that I've walked from the parkinglot to the office.

Wedges on the otherhand? A gift from heaven.

How so? you get all of the benefits of heels without the "complications". I like the extra height and it keeps my work pants from touching the floor. Everyone's legs and butt look better with that extra heel, and I can stand to wear them all day at work. Why are they so great? Wedges distribute the weight to all parts of the foot instead of just the toes. It is better for your feet and for your balance. Heels can be bad for your hips due to the uneven weight distribution. Heels also sink in grass or fall in the crack of cobble stone. Because of wedges large base you are able to ease over these trouble areas without a second though. (Not that there is alot of grass if the office, but you would be surprised how many times I have had to walk in grass or those little airvents- city grates- in the road while walking to lunch) Wedges rub less than heels so you have a less chance of callus. Wedges last longer than heels because the heel wont break and they tend to get less scratched up.

Go ahead. Buy yourself a pair of wedges. You wont regret it and you can think of it as a financial investment since you wont have to pay for a hip replacement, twisted ankle, extra pair of flats to walk in, and the embarrassment of tripping at work.

401(k)an I just worry about this when I am older?

No!

I could probably end the post right there. Or just make a list of thousands of websites that support that one word answer. (I'm not going to do that though... especially since this is the first post)

If you are in Gen Y and still have hopes of getting any sort of money from social security you should probably give up now. That is not pessimistic, or "republican", or "democratic"... it is just pretty realistic. Honestly, you probably have more of a chance of getting a retirement payment from the toothfairy.

What is a 401(k)?
It is actually named after the tax code section that it comes from (cool right?) and is a plan where you make defined contributions into a retirement fund. Basically, a percentage of your income that you pick comes out of your paycheck each month and into a retirement fund. You have the option to invest the money how you choose within the fund (stocks, bonds, etc) and the money is all yours when you retire.

When should you start a 401(k)?
The textbook answer: now! But really? When you can and when it benefits you the most. Check with your company because many of them have a matching program. This is where the company will match all or part of your investment into a 401(k) plan. If they do? It is important to get the max matching as possible. This is free money in your pocket! Think of it as an instant raise. Plus it guarantees you a return on your investment. Check though. Some companies wont start matching until after 6 months or a year. Oh yea, but if you have student loans or credit card debt? you probably want to pay that off before you start saving. Compounding interest is some complex formula that I don't remember from Finance 101, but I know it really stinks.

Why is a 401(k) awesome?
It can be free money from your employer, and who doesn't want a bonus? Plus, putting money in savings can be one of the hardest things in the world. When the money comes straight out of your paycheck you never have the ability to spend it on those beautiful Louis Vuitton heels that you have secretly been admiring all season. In a world of instant gratification I need to be forced to save... you might be the same way.