Silence is Golden

For the first time in my life I am finally able to relate to that grumpy old cat lady. (except I don't have any cats and I am really not that old) Maybe it is part of growing up and having a job?

My neighbor likes to play loud angry music (if you can call it music). It has more base than I thought possible since it literally shakes my walls. She plays it ALL. THE. TIME. I am guessing that the reason she plays it so loud is probably because she lost more of her hearing last Tuesday when she also choose to play it at 11:30pm. Being the adult that I am, I used to bang against the wall to let her know that I can hear her music. There have even been two times when I called the apartment complex to have them send up the apartment's "cop" to tell her to quiet down. A few weeks ago I decided to woman up and go over there to talk to her. The second I banged on the wall the music instantly went off. Mission completed. Having solved the problem, I went back to my room. Since then I have knocked on her door twice to get the music to shut off.

Yesterday was one of those days. I was in my PJs and glasses and so had no intention of talking to her. I banged on the door and retreated back to my room. She comes out into the hall and screams "WHO THE F BANGED ON MY DOOR!? WHAT THE F! DONT F*ING BANG ON MY DOOR!" (of course she did not just say "f") I did NOT confront her. She seemed very mad, dangerous, and she listens to angry music, so who knows what she is capable of! (I instead tippytoed to my door and double-locked it. coward, I know)

Actual thoughts that crossed my mind on how to solve the problem:
1. Talk to my apartment complex and make sure shes not living next to me before I resign.
2. Hang a printed sign on her door that says "Silence is Golden"
3. Find a police outfit and just go over there myself and talk to her everytime the music comes on (yes, this would be hard to pull off- what kind of black clunky shoes do they even wear?)
4. Vaseline her door knob- maybe she will be so annoyed she will move (I wont actually do this one either, but it sounds so good in theory)
5. A coworker suggested writing a fake letter from the apartment complex that asks her to keep the noise down. I think there is probably a law against that, but he seemed to think that it might actually shut her up.

Any ideas? Surely she must not have a job? Is there something else I can do that is alittle more practical than options 2-5? Someone must have dealt with this before... I am looking for creative ideas!

I have a drug addiction- So what?

Hi, my name is Mallory and I am addicted to Caffeine. (Hi Mallory) I have been clean for 4 hours now (applause) but I have no intention of quitting in the near future (sigh).

I was not always this way. It starts slowly. At first it is just in the mornings. Set up your computer, check your emails, go to the break room for some coffee (200mg/8oz). Then you find yourself adding a diet coke (47mg/12oz) at lunch. Suddenly the 3 o'clock slump gets replaced with a redbull (85mg/8oz), tea becomes a staple choice of beverage (70mg/8oz), and if you have to stay at work past 8? there is just no helping you.  I am not just a social drinker. Caffeine gives me that little bits of energy that I need to keep me awake throughout a boring day of accounting. The energy helps me stay focused and makes me nicer to be around. In busy season? energy is a must and sleep just don't cut it alone anymore. Thank you little drug for making me a better employee and happier person.

But there is a catch. I have not been sleeping soundly. I can't help but think that this may be linked to the Caffeine. But I can't quit. Not now, not during busy season. According to WebMD, the symptoms of withdrawl include headache, tiredness/fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness/attentiveness, drowsiness/sleepiness, decreased contentedness/well-being, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating,  irritability, and felling muzzy/foggy/not clearheaded. There just is never a good time for these.


Are we really "addicted"? or do we just throw that term around loosely? According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association, you only need THREE (3) of the following to be addicted:
(1) tolerance- I am not upset when my coworkers have their morning starbucks
(2) substance-specific withdrawal syndrome- I had my first caffeine headache one sunday at the movies with my friend lauren (who ironically writes a health blog and demonstrates GREAT selfcontrol)
(3) substance often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than expected- sometimes I work later than others, okay?
(4) persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use- I ALWAYS want to quit. I wouldn't write this post if I wasn't slightly guilty...
(5) a great deal of time spent in activities necessary to obtain, use, or recover from the effects of the substance- Obtain? not so much, there is a starbucks on every corner. Use? it only takes about 3 minutes to down a diet dr. pepper. Recover? does not sleeping count?
(6) important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of the substance- Yes, we have DMD (Diet Mountain Dew) time at the client's site. I try not to participate. Peer pressure SOMETIMES wins though.
(7) use continued despite knowledge of a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance.


I am addicted. But probably so are you. (over 90% of adults in America are). Sure, we care about things like gas, natural resources, the national debt.. blah blah blah... But could you imagine if they suddenly wiped the country clean of Caffeine? Oh, the outbreak!

So here is my question. Caffeine, Friend or Foe? Or simply that Frenemy that I love to hate? Are you addicted? Do you try to stop? (Is the new "Jolt Gum" for addicts who just cant cut it completely?)

Tax Tuesday: Big things come in standard packages

In the real world one size does not fit all. No, I do not care what the label says. That sweater can not possibly fit every girl in this room. Or that scarf? some people want a long one, others want it short. We don't all have the same shoe size. Infact, I don't even have the same shoe size in different brands. But in taxes? see that's a different story. Uncle Sam gave us a standard deduction that is a one-size-fits-all kinda deal.

Think of it like a spending allowance. In highschool my parents decided that my brother and me could spend $10 a week. It doesn't matter if he spent all $10 on breakfast tacos and I bought a new shirt. My parents could figure "eh, the roughly spent $10 each". Uncle Sam figures that we roughly spend $5,700 a year on deductible expenses. (No, he doesn't actually GIVE us the money the way my parents did)

Cool. So we can take the standard deduction of $5,700? Sure! or you can itemize and take the "itemized deduction" instead. I can't actually give you tax advice, but I can give you some facts from the IRS and food for thought from Forbes.

1. The Standard Deduction is not too shabby. Save all your receipts? break a few limbs to increase your medical expense? donate to charities youve never heard of? turns out, you might STILL save more by the standard deduction. 

2. You probably can't deduct your medical expenses anyways. You can only deduct the amount of out of pocket medical expenses OVER 7/5% of your income. So that $80 I spent for my eye exam? not 7.5% of my income. Unless you have a serious illness, you probably wont come close. (don't you dare think "that sucks"- YOU ARE HEALTHY! go skiing or something)

3. How much is your mortgage interest anyways? None if you are like me and live in an apartment. But if you DO own your house? you need to do the math to make sure that you are going to received a bigger deduction than your standard deduction.

4. Charitable Deduction- you might give away your clothes, but I hope you kept the receipt! If you get selected for an IRS audit, you need proof of your charitable deductions. Oh yea, and giving a dollar to the guy on the street corner doesn't count.

5. Miscellaneous Deductions are limited too. (2% of your income) For things like: Tax preparation fees (you should have none if you do them yourself), Safe deposit box fees (count me out), Unreimbursed job related expenses (do my shoes count?... sadly no)

Do I really need to do TWO tax returns and then just take the standard deduction anyways? probably not if you are just out of college, rent, perfectly healthy, and don't even know what a safe deposit box is. BUT I would recommend looking into it (mostly to CMA) and here is a cute little calculator to do it for you. 

Help! I can't afford a work wardrobe

Work clothes. Those perfectly pressed pants, pencil skirts, and sharp button down that just screams "Screw Kelly Clarkson, I am the new Miss Independent". Sigh.

When I think "work clothes", my mind instantly goes to Banana Republic (my personal love), Ann Taylor Loft, Saks off Fifth, Nordstrom Rack,  and JCrew. These are the ideal work clothes that makes every working girl feel like shes "made it". They are also the safe outfits of choice that you KNOW will fit in with your new job in the office. Heres the problem: ONE pair of trousers will set you back $85 at Banana, and $250 at JCrew. ONE blouse? $70 and $100 respectively. And that just gets you through Monday!

DON'T DO IT GIRLS!

Secrets to Success?
1. Don't think of it as a "Wardrobe". If you are starting a new job, you don't need a whole month's worth of outfits, just enough to make it through the first few days so you can see what the other girls are wearing. Sure would stink to buy tons of jackets and find out that everyone in the office emphasizes the CASUAL of dressy casual.
2. Target and Old Navy? you are looking at your new best friends! Who says you need to buy a cardigan from Loft when you can get the same one from Old Navy for cheaper? Best part is.. no one knows but you.
3. That doesn't mean you can't steal inspiration. Check out JCrew's website. See what is "instyle" for work, and let that help you wade through the "is this okay for work?" questions you are bound to have.
4. Sale shop. You are going to work for years, you can wait until the blouse goes on sale before you buy it.
5. Beware of the Dry Clean Only. This saves you $40 a week! Too late? well try not to make too much of a mess and you can wear your pants more than once.
6. Ask around. Every job is different, every office. Ask what is the normal work attire for the office from a friend who works their. Or read the manual- most companies seem to have the dress code rules laid out. When in doubt? go conservative.

Stretch your money. In the long run, it is better to have a week's worth of clothes instead of just clothes for Monday. (And good luck to Kelly O on her new job- the inspiration for this post!)

What do you think? Ideas? Other tips? Where do you get your work clothes?

Tax Tuesday: Just another shopping trip

Shopping for tax software.. well, the first word sounds fun. But, thats about it.

So now (if you followed your homework from last week), you have gathered your tax items that you need. It is time figure out HOW you are going to do your taxes. Yuck.

It is sort of like a good valentines day date. You know you want to wear heels (or do your taxes in this case), but you just cant decide which one (HR Block, Turbo Tax, Efile..) If you were trying to figure out which shoes to wear, you would try them all on. Well you can't do that with filing taxes unless you want to spend all Saturday "shopping" for tax programs. (And who wants to be shopping for tax programs when you can be shopping for that next perfect heels). Think of reading this blog as saving yourself time on Saturday to do things you really want to do. (like shopping).

The down-and-dirty, save-time-for-shopping options:

1. Hire an accountant (aka the "expensive Louis Vuitton shoes"). Odds are, if you are in your 20s you probably don't need this option. Who wants to spend that much money just to pay more money to the government (or dip into your refund money). Do you NEED to go to HR Block? probably not, unless you have complications with your return (a major life event, tuns of interests, trusts, inheritance, small business, etc.) Of course, if you DO have a trust fund and tons of interest, I am ALWAYS taking personal donations (between us, we can call it a charitable contribution)
2. Free-File on the IRS website (aka the "$3 Old Navy flip flips"). If you make $58,000 or less, you have the option to free file on the IRS Website. AWESOME option if your return isn't too complicated and you aren't making over the limit. Make sure you go through the IRS website so you can avoid filing fees. (I also think doing your own taxes is good because you really get to see where your money comes from and what exactly goes into the dreaded term "taxes")
3. Turbo-tax or an at home solution. Questions to ask yourself when picking a software: Do I really need it? Will my company pay for it? Does it work with my computer software? Does it come with a guarantee?  Oh, and this might be obvious, but beware of buying tax software on ebay. The 2005 edition just wont cut it with this year's tax laws!

And thus concludes your tax season lecture of the day. Happy Tuesday. Do your taxes, then buy some shoes.

Tax Tuesday & Alphabet Soup

It is amazing that no one really cares about my "CPA" or "tax accounting job" until recently. Suddenly all of my friends are incredibly interested and find themselves asking questions like "Wait, so what do you do again?" and "So, you are going to help me with my taxes right?" I wish I could do all of my friend's taxes (do you really want to trust me with all that personal information?) but alas, it is tax season (clearly) and thus I am working WAY to many hours as it is. And do I really feel that confident?

Taxes have become a hot topic, and especially for young professionals who may be filing their first tax return by themselves. Over the last week I have heard people who were worried about how they would file, what they needed, would they take all the right exemptions, and are they still going to get a refund? This isn't just from my "non-finance" friends. The anticipation of tax season even extends into my tax accounting coworkers- who although we know HOW to read tax forms and code, may not have done individual taxes since that one class way back in college that we barely remember.

We have ten weeks until our tax returns are due. That is ten tuesdays until the beloved April 15th, and so I have decided to try to give tips, advice, and help each tuesday regarding the terrible taxes.  (Please note, if you are one of those people who do not even know what April 15th is- you should probably just take your information to HR Block)

Whether you decide to do your own taxes or hire an accountant, you need to gather information and prepare. The form names seems to cause anxiety. "W- WHAT? Schedule M? I...? something something T? EZ? Which reminds me of alphabet soup. (random letters. little meaning)

W-2 - This form is used to report wages earned by employees and the taxes withheld from them. Your employer should provide you with this form (most likely in the mail). Make sure you get this form and also save it. (for some reason it looks like junk mail when it comes in.

1098-T,E -  These forms refer to student loan interest statements (E) and tuition statements (T). Student loans? yes, this form can save you money. But if your university is like mine, they don't just mail it out to you. You have to (1) try to figure out your super old password and user name or (2) fax a request for one to be mailed. Oh yea, and they won't mail it until two weeks after the request is received (really!?)

1099 INT, DIV, B, MISC - The 1099 series reports other income (besides what is on your W-2) Interest (I) Dividends (D) Sales Proceeds (B) and that random side job (MISC). That old mutual fund you had from your childhood that is now in your name? Yep, you better get your parents to mail you the 1099. Independent contractor? Start filling out your 1099-MISC. Mortgage? Yes, you need your mortgage interest statement.

K-1 Statements- These report the income earned from any trusts, partnerships or small businesses you might have been involved with or invested in.

What else do you need to gather?  IRA contributions, education expenses, childcare expenses, healthcare fees, gambling losses (hey- these finally might come in handy!), summary of moving expenses. (There are also great resources on the IRA's Indiviudals website -  I visit it when I have trouble sleeping at night)

I am pretty sure I have just lost every blog reader I ever had. Don't worry, tax tuesday will have shorter and more informative blog posts for the next 9 weeks. This week's homework? Call your alma mater, call your parents, call your company, and make sure you get all of the statements you need.  

What do you think? Helpful? Or does the subject of taxes make you run frantically from your computer? 

The Rotating Shirt System: Maybe boys are actually on to something

I am sure you have all heard about this system- the guys in my office talk about it all the time. They have all of their shirts lined up in their closet and then they simply go down the row and pick the next shirt "in line". So simple, yet so genius.

Is it possible for girls to implement this system? I do not think that boys are always right (especially not with fashion), but they really could be on to something here:

How much time do we waste everyday trying to "pickout our clothes"?
1. I  start with "what I feel like wearing", which always tends to be the same three things (which I sadly can't wear everyday).
2. Am I having a fat day or a skinny day? This causes way to much internal reflection for 8am anyways.
3. Did I wear that color yesterday? Or three times this week already?
4. Do I have shoes to wear with this? (Is there anyway I can pull together yet another outfit that I can wear by red heels with?)
5. Do I have jewlery?
6. Can I find an undershirt tank top/matching pants/stylish belt, etc?

If I could come up with 15 outfits (that I probably already have in my closet, but get pushed to the back because "I never feel like wearing blue"), I could have a different outfit every day without even thinking about when I wore that sweater last. Could this work?

I shared this theory with one of the guys from work (Richard) who is on this "rotating system". He explained that it would work even better if he washed his clothes after every use. (Ew. Mental note to self, try not to sit next to Richard on his second or third round).  Ladies- who is in for trying the rotating shirt system and enjoying an extra 10 minutes of sleep a night? Guys- please try to wash your clothes more often.

The Boyfriend Fund

I had a serious boyfirend in college. We broke up. I had left my stylish, although uncomfortable stiletto boots in his car days earlier. (No, I did not walk around barefoot, I had flipflops) True to breakup form I could not see him to get the shoes back, so I instead discovered retail therapy. I DO NOT reccomend this to anyone. I am a believer in budgets and this is not in anyone's budget. (although if you see a break up in your future, it wouldn't hurt to add that line in a few months prior)

What I did realize over the next few months was actually the amount of money I saved. Think about it. Birthdays, aniversaries, christmas, new years, that new dress for date night, random presents, valentines day, etc. I decided that if I wasn't spending that money on him, I should spend it (or some of it) on me. Just because I didn't have a boyfriend didn't mean that I didn't deserve to be spoiled from time to time.

According to the National Retail Federation the average American spends $103.00 on valentines day. ($14.1 billion dollars for the entire nation) For those of you who are in a relationship? I hope you start planning RIGHT NOW to save this kind of money for that big day. For the rest of us? I don't need to spend $100, but surely I can treat myself to a $30 massage and a cocktail with my best single girl friends.

For those of you singles out there wearing black and sitting in self pity- Get up. Treat yourself to something- maybe buy yourself some jewlery? (you will probably like it better than that 6 foot stuffed animal in the long run anyways) and celebrate the extra savings in your bank account!

There are umbrella people and then there are people who get wet

To be honest, I do not think I am qualified to write about this topic. I am that person who, on a rainy day, is frantically running to her car with her coat over her head to keep her hair from getting wet. Yes, I sacrifice my comfort in the cold weather for the composure of my hair (sorry mom) but really? are the people inside going to notice my frizzy-rained-on-hair or are they going to notice that I was cold for the five minutes that it took me to sprint in the rain. That is not the point.

I heard this quote from the partner in my office as we were preparing for the snow and ice storm that was possibly going to leave us out of the office for the day. She meant it as being pleasantly surprised that we were all taking everything home that we needed so for work. She was happy that we were so prepared. I, on the otherhand, was not as much. I was brought back to the days of being a kid praying for the snow/ice to hit so that I could stay home and have a free unexpected vacation on a tuesday.  Who doesn't want to get to stay home without getting introuble and without being sick?

We got our storm. And we had our "umbrellas".

Turns out working from home is not as much fun as I hoped it would be. I spent all day in my sweatpants, but working from home isn't quite the dream I imagined.

1. There is the issue of actually starting to work. I might as well sleep an extra, well deserved hour. I should clean my apartment up because, well, you can't work in a dirty apartment. And I need to set up the perfect work environment (pens, water, coffee, calculator)
2. Asking questions. It is hard to ask questions to someone over the computer. Even from a multimedia generation that grew up having intimate conversations over AOL instant messenger, I find it difficult to ask questions and seek help without my senior at my computer screen and actually seeing the problem.
3. Motivation. How can you work when no one around you is working? Is it possible that I lack that internal motivation to work unless others are? Maybe this is why I studied so much better throughout college while in a library. Moral support.

There are three things I take away from today: (1) I have a new found appreciation for actually working in the office (2) I find myself praying for ice before going to bed... we didn't prepare for two days (3) Maybe it is time that I buy an extra umbrella for my car... couldn't hurt, right?

Stress at work: Why aren't there support groups for this?

Okay, so there actually are support groups for this.. but then, who has time to join a support group?

I must have the most stressful job in the world (Or so I thought). I am an accountant. We are about to start "busy season" (we have a NAME for it?) where we will be working late hours (so what do you call the last 6 months?). Don't worry, we are ramping up into busy season (and ramping down my social life...).

Then I took a look at my closest girlfriends. The marketing major who has late nights preparing for a huge presentation for to a CEO. The first year teacher who stays up late with lesson plans and deals with disciplining highschoolers all day. The fitness instructor who is thrown into coordinating 6am bootcamps and has to cover weekend shifts. Welcome to the real world- where stress is the only common denominator.

We are going to have stress. The goal should be managing how we deal with it.

Unhealthy ways to deal with stress? smoking, drinking, overeating, undereating, making voodoo dolls of our bosses, taking it out on friends (who wont be friends much longer), turning to retail therapy (that diminishing bank account will just cause more stress).

Healthy ways to deal with stress?
1. Say No- Find your limit and don't take on more than you can handle.
2. When number 1 doesn't work? Make a to-do list. prioritize. and then tackle just one task at a time.
3. Exercise- They say it releases that endorphin that makes you happy. I say it keeps you for getting fat, which just adds another thing to stress you out. Besides, a good kickboxing class while envisioning your boss just might be the trick.
4. Eat well- "Feed the brain so it can work" & "Start the day with a good breakfast". Why is it that suddenly you get into the real world and you realize the lessons your mom taught you growing up were right all along?
5. Get some sleep- These ideas sound so obvious, but they are easier said than done. The days that I get more sleep? I tend to handle situations better.

And when all else fails? Take a personal day.

What do you do when you are stressed at work? Trust me... I'm open for suggestions!

Can Facebook get me fired?

The gap between social media and work? It may be smaller than you think.

Today I received and email from a friend (Trey) issuing a warning that should be shared. He had sent a work related email to a coworker through their email system. The email came with a picture of Trey's face that was pulled from his facebook profile. Turns out the iphone and the new blackberry will automatically sync work email and facebook and allow the receiver to view the sender's picture. Thankfully Trey's facebook picture was appropriate and the coworker was a peer. That being said, there is potential for embarrassment. How many times have people come home from a Vegas weekend and posted a fun picture to their facebook profile? I am not sure I want my fun Vegas weekend picture associated with my work.

The separation between social life and work life is getting smaller. After doing some research, I found an article at PCWorld that illustrates a case where the US court system rules it "okay" to fire an employee based on facebook. And if you work in an "at-will" state? You can be fired without question. Fox News reported today that Facebook is lowering its security (shocker) and allowing more third parties access to personal information (oh like pictures?).

What does this mean? Make sure you have appropriate pictures and some intense security settings and don't express your hate for your boss or the fact that you are extremely hungover at work all over facebook. Somethings are better left unsaid.

What do you think about facebook and work? When has facebook gone too far?Is it okay to be fired for your status update?

The day before you lose your purse

How many times have you been to a restaurant and left your purse on the booth and had to run back to get it? Or been to the movies and was so busy talking about the movie that you left your purse under the chair? Or put your purse down at a party (SHAME ON YOU)? Or walked out of a cab with your purse on the seat?

There are certain things you should do before you lose your purse. I like to think I am responsible (everyone feels this way about themselves), but give me a great conversation or a glass of wine and I can easily misplace the most important accessory I own. I never know the day that I will lose my purse. Which means I need to prepare TODAY for the case that I might lose my purse tomorrow. Or tonight.

1. Clean out your purse. (This is beneficial in SO many ways.) Do you really need to give the person who finds your purse your social security card? And how often do you really use all 7 credit cards in your wallet? The less in there- the less to lose.

2. Make sure you have your credit card numbers accounted for. This means that you need to have (in a locked and safe place) all of your credit card numbers written down, and a list of the bank phone numbers associated with each one. This will make it easy to call and cancel immediately.

3. Write down your driver's license number. No one like the DMV and the long lines of really angry people. If you have your license number written down (or memorized) you can renew your license online. Sweet!

4. Give a friend a spare key. You lost your purse at a bar. It is 2am. You at least deserve to sleep in your own bed. Make sure someone has a key as a backup.

5. Stash some cash under your mattress. Or well, in your desk. (the mattress just sounded more dramatic) If you are stranded without a credit card for a few days, you are going to want to have some backup cash so that you can at least survive on some ramen noodles.

Don't be lazy today. It will just cause more work for tomorrow..

Sticky-Note your life

This is the best work-life balance tip I have so far.

You might be like me. Sitting at your desk at work at 10am on a tuesday and thinking of everything you need to do when you get home. Pick up some hand lotion, order that cute sweater that went on sale, drop off the RedBox video from yesterday (AH! They charge a dollar a day), call your mom, pay the electric bill, do a load of laundry, etc. Why is there always so much to do? I find myself wasting 30 minutes (easily) thinking about what I need to be doing at work. Guess what? That gets me absolutely nowhere. The funny thing is, come 6pm I don't even remember everything anyways. Which is perfect because then I can try to remember the same list at work at 10am on wednesday. What a waste of time.

The solution? the Oh-So-Underrated Sticky-Note. This little invention gives me the option to write down the list of things I need to do later that night when I get home. It then gives me the freedom to put my "to-do list" out of my mind, think about work, and actually focus on my job without a continuous list running through my head... and stressing me out. Who needs to add stress to an already stressful job? Somehow I am actually able to get more work done- allowing for more evening time to get the "sticky-note to-do-list" done. Win Win situation? Absolutely. Best thing is, most offices have sticky notes in the supply room!

My car broke down on the highway- Now what!?

This is a true story. And this is a true picture of the car I was in that broke down on the highway friday night.

Thankfully I was not driving (yes, I was using the advice in the previous post and car-pooling to a sporting event) And thankfully I was with three other people when the car started smoking off the highway in a sketchy part of Dallas. But it got me thinking, would I know what to do by myself if the car broke down?

1. Pull off the highway. Even if it is a sketchy area, it is better to sit on the access road with the doors locked than risk getting hit by another car.

2. Make sure your cell is charged and have a roadside assistance in your contacts. If you are driving, any smart girl should have her cell phone charged. It is worth the investment to have car charger for long trips. Put the roadside assistance number in your phone RIGHT NOW. This is one of those things I always mean to do (like buy mace) but you never actually do until you need it. Then it is too late.

3. If you can't get off the highway? Stay in your car! There goes my dreams of standing by the car and having a dashing young gentleman pull over and change my tire. But (1) you are likely to get hit if you stand outside on the highway and your life is more important (2) calling roadside assistance or a friend is a safer bet. There are so many creeps out there and (3) he probably wasn't going to be that cute anyways.

4. Before abandoning your car, take all valuables. Valuables? Yes, this includes your insurance and registration. If someone steals your car (which I don't know how this is possible if it isn't working) you don't want them to have your car AND your registration.

Gas Stinks

One of the most painful money experiences is filling up a gas tank. You stand there and just watch your money disappear on the screen with every tick. Gas prices yesterday were $2.99 a gallon. My bill? I total of $40.32. (The meter reaches $4... thats a new nail polish, $6 a new eyeshadow, $10 a bottle of wine, $20 a new shirt, $30 a new pair of jeans, $40 those really cute new heels that I've been eying for weeks)  I am not sure why I find the need to stand outside in the cold winter and watch the numbers increase. I am aware that the quick fix to this problem would be to wait in the car, but the concept is still the same. Impractically, I could quit driving all together, but since that is not an option there are tips that we can all use to help us save money on gas.

1. Before getting into the car think: Do I really need to go there? Is there another 3 errands that you can run while you are out? Saturdays are notorious for running to grocery store, coming home, going to the mall, coming home, meeting friends for dinner, coming home.

2. Can I walk, bike, or roller blade there? (Yes, I have blades- they are a great workout, but I do not take them to the mall. No worries.) It is nice to get fresh air and alittle exercise, and I don't really NEED to drive two blocks to a friend's house.

3. Car-pool. Make friends AND you get to ride in the HOV lane. (sweet deal huh?)

4. Avoid rush hour and traffic. This eats away at your gas! I know it is not completely possible to avoid traffic, but make a friend drive to the next sporting event. I am going to attempt to tell the people at work that I need to leave at 4pm to avoid traffic. (Yeah right) But it is worth a shot!

5. Does that Chinese food place deliver for free? Let them pay for gas!


6. Don't speed. The faster you go, the more gas you waste per mile. (google that, I promise). Yes, this means that you have to actually leave your house on time. Maybe the goal to lower the amount spent on gas could actually benefit your life in all aspects!?

7. Keep your car in good shape. Make sure the gas cap fits (seriously? Take it to someone else to make sure the gas cap fits), get an oil change, don't slam on the breaks, or rev your engine, or street race of any kind for that matter. If you feel the need to race -  find a place with gokarts.

8. Call first. Macy's has a sale? Call and see if that cute cocktail dress is even in stock first.

The Post-Holiday Blues

Sunday night after a long holiday break. This could quite possibly be one of the most depressing moments. You just roll off of a long vacation with family, friends, presents, cake, and sleeping until 10am. Suddenly the break is over and you are back to waking up at 7am, putting on work clothes, and sitting at your desk for 8+ hours. I definitely have the work-blues. Don't get me wrong, I like my job (as I am sure many of you do), but I really like vacation more. Americans get an average of 17 vacation days a year. The French? 37.5. (37.5!? Au revoir- I am heading to France!) It doesn't matter how sad I am about getting back to real life, or how many statistics I look up about vacation days, the days of college 4 week winter breaks are over and I (as most of you) have work tomorrow. So what can I do? Make the best of it and try to fight the Post-Holiday Blues.

Ways to beat the post holiday blues when heading back to work:

1. Be thankful you have a job. It would be worse to NOT have a job to go back to after the holidays- appreciate this blessing
2. Get excited to reorganize your work life. It is a new year and you have a new opportunity to organize your desk and how you work at work. Get excited about how you are going to change your work life for the better and going back wont be so bad.
3. Make plans. It is easier to go back when you know you get to spend time with your work friends. Get excited to catch up with them.
4. Buy yourself some new work clothes. (Am I suggesting retail therapy? maybe, but hey, it always does the trick.)
5. Get a good night's sleep. Chances are you have quite a few emails awaiting your arrival and who knows what other work obligations. EVERYTHING seems better when you have slept. Instead of thinking about how much you don't want to go to work, just go to sleep and know that tomorrow will come ready or not.
6. Be motivated for a new routine. It is sometimes nice to have a routine, something that vacation doesn't provide for you.
7. Listen to some good music. If nothing else works, at least you will be sent off to post-holiday work in a good mood.

On that note, I am going to download some N*SYNC (legally of course) to my computer, layout my new shoes (Not sure what outfit I will wear yet, but I have my new work shoes ready for their debut), text Kelly about lunch, and I am off to get a good 8 hours of sleep. (let me suggest the same!)

Budgets and Diets: Easy to make, hard to stick to

Hello 2011! It is that time of the year again where we get to make our resolution for the new year and then desperately try to stick to it for all of January. The number one resolution for the new year is to start a diet (According to CNN. But really, is anyone surprised?). Where is the love for personal finance plans? To be honest, dieting and budgeting should go hand in hand. (And not because a starvation diet saves money on food... although that might also be true) Both take planning in the beginning, hard work and dedication, and daily commitment but reap huge payoffs in the end.

Let's break it down.

Step 1: Create your plan. You can't get your body or your finances inshape by just talking about it unless you have an actual plan. Where to start? A good idea is to use the 60% Solution. Start with your income. Where should it be going?

60% - Committed expenses (this is your house, electricity, taxes, insurance, cable and TV, phone bill)
10%- Retirement. How to save for retirement? Check out this post.
10%- Surprise. This is that cavity that you weren't planning on having (I brush my teeth every day!), or the car battery that randomly dies on you ($100 later...), or your Mom's birthday (Just kidding! You should know about this one!)
10%- Savings/Debt. Pay off your debt, then set up savings. Yes, that means that you are putting 10% into retirement AND 10% into savings. You have to look at in as "paying yourself first". It is just like 6am bootcamp: it sucks doing it, but you will be so glad you stuck with it in the end.
10%- Fun money. I know it can be sad that ONLY 10% of your income each year goes to massages, vacations, Louis Vuittons, manis/pedis, etc. But start with these numbers and see where you can save in the "committed expenses". Call your cable company: Do you realize you might be paying extra for 6 different ESPN channels that you might never watch?

Step 2: Track your plan. This is the equivalent to a food diary in your diet plan. The coolest part? You don't have to write in a book everyday. Since you are reading this blog, you probably have the internet, and since you have the internet, you can use this nifty website called Mint. Mint is a free site that links your credit and debit cards to a budgeting plan. It will not only keep track and  tell you when you have reached your "maximum amount you are allowed to spend on shoes", it can be set up to send you an email or text that says "PUT DOWN THE SHOES AND WALK AWAY SLOWLY".

Step 3: It is okay to reward yourself. Any great workout and diet blog (Such as Fun, Fit, and Fabulous) will tell you that it is okay to mess up from time to time and have alittle slice of heavenly dessert because of valentines day, your birthday, or because it is wednesday. If you accidentally buy those stilettos calling your name, don't give up on your budget just yet. You will make mistakes. On the same note, it doesnt hurt to use "rewards" to your advantage. "If I save ___ amount over the next month, I will use some of my fun money to treat myself to those stilettos" In the end? you still get that pair of stilettos AND you get to use your fancy new budget.

Best of luck with your new budget and diet plan and any other resolution you might have. I honestly hope you make it the full year and not just until february. Set yourself up for success!

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.