Managing my money properly is a top priority in my life.  I would think that this a top priority of most people.  Ever since I can remember, I’ve been reading books on managing my money.  If there is one thing I have learned from these books is that the most basic tenet of money management is, before you can manage your money, you must have an awareness of where it is going.  This is certainly not a remarkable revelation…

Back in 2006, I started using a financial application called Quicken. Quicken is a tool and a practical solution that helps me keep abreast of how I am spending my money on a regular basis.  Needless to say, I now have a comprehensive history of my spending habits for the past four years.  I can’t tell you how invaluable it is to have my financial history, broken down into categories, for this time range. It has really helped me understand my spending habits which ultimately allows me to make adjustments and better informed financial decisions going forward. So, what are the features of Quicken that have helped me manage my money?

Interfaces with your bank, brokerage, and mortgage accounts.

In your initial setup of the application, you set up any account that you may have including your bank accounts, brokerage accounts, mortgage, or home equity loans.  If your institution allows an interface to Quicken, and all of mine did, you can set up all of your accounts in minutes.

One click update of accounts.

With one click you can run an update of all of your accounts which will retrieve all of your transactions from your last update.

Categories will identify your spending.

This is the one thing that requires a little bit of work.  You have to set up different Categories that identify your transactions.  I set up parent categories such as Fuel-Automotive and then have subcategories beneath which identifies each of my cars.  When I buy gas for one of my cars I ensure that it falls under the proper car category.  What is great about setting up parent and child relationships is that in the reports all of the child categories will roll up to the parent so, at a quick glance, you can see how much you are spending on gas per month.  Most of the setting up of categories is done initially and what is great is that Quicken will remember if you have already categorized a particular payee and it will default in that category.  It takes me roughly 10 minutes per week to run the update and categorize any transactions that may be new to Quicken.

Setting up a Budget.

There is a separate section in Quicken which allows you to set up a Budget.  What is great is that it will use your past history to automate the process.  You can then make any changes needed.

Reporting gives you the visibility.

Once you have a history of your transactions in the application, the reporting is phenomenal.  There is a list of roughly 20 reports for Spending, Comparison, and Investing.  To be honest, I use the Spending by Category report religiously.  I also use the Spending by Payee report .  I haven’t ventured into a lot of the Comparison reports but an example of one is Current Spending versus Average Spending by Category.  It allows you a chance to see if there are any radical changes in what you typically spend on an average by category , to what your current spending is by category.  This is a report that can really help you manage any changes in your spending.

Great at tax time.

When I am ready to do my taxes, I have found that I have all of my pertinent information already in Quicken.  I am talking about my property taxes, mortgage interest, car registration, charitable contributions, etc.  Basically anything associated with doing your taxes can be found quickly in Quicken.  It has made a year-end pain-in-the-neck process, that much easier.

Quicken has helped me take control of my finances.  I can also say that I have only scratched the surface of the features that Quicken offers.  But, for taking control of your spending, and knowing exactly where your hard-earned money is going, there is no better tool.  Put down that notebook, stop updating that spreadsheet, and choose the automated solution to your finances.  I have used it religiously now for years and you cannot go wrong if you want to take control of your financial life.
(Disclosure: I have no affiliations with this product. I am just a very happy customer.)

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This is a guest post by Laura Lee Bloor. If you want to guest post on this blog, click here to get more information.

Chances are, you made some goals or resolutions for 2010. When was the last time you looked at those goals? Whether it’s been two days or 20, bust them out now for another review.

OK, got your goals? Good. Here’s what I want to know: Do you have any goals on there that are repeats? Repeats are goals that show up on your list every year that don’t see progress or achievement. Common examples include, “lose weight,” “eat right” or “get fit.”

If you have goal repeats, something is holding you back from taking action. Either the goals need to see progress or they need to be eliminated from your list. So how do you figure that out?

To find the root of your problem, ask yourself these questions and answer them as specifically as possible: (Let’s use the goal of “lose weight” as our example.)

Is This Goal Really Yours?

Let’s say you’re a woman who is 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 160 pounds. You exercise regularly and are in good shape. You just aced your annual physical exam.

Do you really need to lose weight or do you just feel as though you should because tall women have even more pressure on them to be thin?

If you come to the discovery that one of your goals is motivated by external pressures (whether through the media/advertising, society or well-meaning friends and family) abolish it from your list immediately.

I know how difficult this can be, but it’s extremely liberating to let go and not look back on a goal that was never really yours.

Why Do I Want to Achieve This Goal?

Switching gears, let’s say you’re clinically overweight and your doctor has told you that you need to lose weight.

Your reason for wanting to lose weight might like something like this: “I want to lose weight because it’s good for my health. If I maintain a healthy weight, I will see all kinds of health benefits: more energy, less stress, better sleep, lower cholesterol, sharper mind, etc.”

In this scenario, you just created plenty of motivation to move ahead with this goal.

How Can This Goal Be Broken Down Smaller?

I’m a huge fan of the “snowball effect” for reaching goals.

I first heard about this concept as it applies to paying down debt. Yes, it makes sense to tackle the credit card with the highest interest rate first, but if that has a giant balance on it, you’re going to lose steam quickly. (Speaking from personal experience, that was definitely true with me.)

Instead, line up your cards in order of balances. Start with the lowest one that will be the fastest to pay off. When you pay it off, it’ll be a psychological boost to see that you’re making progress and will provide motivation to keep going.

So, to lose weight, start with just one pound per week. Imagine how great it will feel to step on the scale at the end of the week and see success instead of defeat! Plus, you’re more likely to keep weight off if your progress is slow and steady.

Who Can I Reach Out to for Help?

If you’re not seeing progress on losing weight on your own, it’s time to ask for help.

Do you have a friend who is also trying to lose weight? Exercise together. Join a weight-loss program such as Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig.

Or, if you simply want someone to hold your feet to the fire, I’m happy to be your personal accountability manager. (Learn more here.)

What Action Can I Take Toward That Goal Today? (And Tomorrow? Next Week?)

Again, the secret to achieving those big, hair goals is taking small, continual steps.

Map out what one or two small actions you can do right now to make progress on your goal to lose weight. Then go do them.

When you get back, you’ll have the motivation to plot what you can do tomorrow, next week, next month and so on. (I recommend a spreadsheet or a Word document, but use whatever works best for you).

Good luck, and please let me know your progress on your repeat goals!

Laura Lee Bloor is the creator of Tenacious Lee, a blog chronicling her efforts to achieve goals, change habits, improve herself, and improve the world while inspiring others to do the same. Need more help achieving your goals? She’ll gladly give you a boost. You can also follow her on Twitter.

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This is a review of an eBook, entitled Make Money Blogging, by one of the foremost bloggers out there in the blogosphere, Daniel Scocco.  Daniel runs a small (tongue firmly planted in cheek) blog called DailyBlogTips. One of his goals is to hit the 50,000 subscriber mark by July 21st.  I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been able to guest post on DailyBlogTips.  My guest posts on his blog were entitled Top 5 Blogging Misconceptions and 5 Reasons to be Critical of other Bloggers. If you want to generate traffic on your site, submit a guest post to Daniel.  If he accepts it, consider yourself honored. You will also be amazed at the reach of his blog and the traffic it generates.  Make it a killer post though.  The link to your guest post may travel like lightning throughout the blogosphere.

I recently downloaded a copy of Daniel’s eBook, and found it to be very interesting and informative.  Some common mistakes bloggers make are referenced to by Daniel:

1. Making a blog gravitate around you.

2. Covering too many topics in your blog.

3. Choosing a niche you are not passionate about.

4. Many people create many blogs and try to manage them.

I feel that all of these make sense.  Of course you will always find exceptions to these rules.  For example, one of the most popular blogs out there is called Dooce, which evolves around Heather B. Armstrong, who was fired from her job back in 2002, for writing in her blog about her job.  I tend to agree with Mistake #2 but am probably guilty of it on my own blog.  But I do feel that I have a niche and that is in delivering solutions and tips for the everyday problems in life.  Bloggers must write about topics they are passionate about so I agree completely with Mistake #3.  Mistake #4 is interesting because in some places you read that the best way to make money is to have multiple sites so that you can potentially dovetail one into the other and could possibly make money with every one of them.

Killer Articles

Daniel talks about writing killer articles and I agree that these types of articles are very powerful.  I wrote one killer article in particular and it is entitled: How to get your child into their first choice college.  It ranks very well in Google.  This article took a ton of time to compile and put together but it was all worth it.  It helped me go from a pagerank 0 to pagerank 3 in one cycle and it continues to be one of my most highly-read articles today according to my analytics.

Headlines

As Daniel alludes to, a headline is so important in your posts.  Daniel mentions that the headline is so important because it is the first thing that your visitor will see.  And it could be their last, if it doesn’t pique their interest.  Daniel tells us about a tool that I had never used called the Google AdWords Keyword Tool.  This tool will give you a good idea of how people are searching certain keyword phrases.  As a result, it will give you a better idea of how to word your headlines. Daniel also gives us examples of headlines that work and create an emotional hook.  Concrete examples are given throughout this eBook which is a testament to Daniel.  If there is one thing that bloggers are looking for is examples of best practices in the blogging world.

Posting Frequency

This is one factor that new bloggers can have a hard time with.  How often should I post?  Daniel points to the fact that, if there is a choice, choose quality posts over frequency.  Daniel suggests that you should, at a minimum, be regular in your posting interval.

Design

Daniel goes into the design of your blog.  He mentions that there are many WordPress themes out there that are customizable.  He also mentions that if you are going to spend money on something, spend it on the logo.  I concur wholeheartedly.  In fact, I paid a graphic artist to design my logo and I am very happy with the look.  It is important in that your logo is your brand and your brand is SO important in the blogging world.  You want to be recognizable and your logo goes a long way to that end.

Showcase your Content

Daniel talks about how important it is to show off your content.  You can create a Popular Articles section in an area on your blog, like the sidebar.  I have this section in my sidebar and what I have found from my analytics is that it works.  People read these posts first.  You can also have a page that is solely meant to list your most popular articles.  My opinion is that it is a better strategy to have the Popular Posts in your sidebar so that a reader doesn’t have to go into a specific page.  The less clicks the better…

Networking

Daniel has a whole chapter on networking.  He talks about how important it is to collaborate with other bloggers in your niche.  He says you should identify and contact directly other bloggers in your niche and tell them that you will recommend them to others.  Also, you should link to their blogs if you expect reciprocation.  Also, tell others when you publish killer posts and, chance are, they could link to your post.

Promotion

As I mentioned earlier, when I wrote my first guest post on DailyBlogTips it was called Top 5 Blogging Misconceptions.  In this post, the first misconception I wrote about was entitled: If you write it they will come.  The point was that you could be writing great content, but if no one knows about it, is it really worth it?  You must promote your blog.  Daniel mentions many ways that you can do this.  You can promote your blog through commenting on other blogs, guest posting, social bookmarking sites, and social networks.

Monetization

The main point about monetization that Daniel wants to make is that monetizing should be the final step in the blogging lifecycle.  You need to have top-notch content, high traffic, a loyal audience, and a clean design before you even decide to place ads.  He talks about the different methods for monetizing such as Google AdSense, CPM Ads, direct advertising, affiliate marketing, and email marketing.  Daniel talks about building email lists and services that offer email marketing.

Daniel leaves us with the fact that your blog is your connection with the internet and with the world.  You can use its reach and audience to launch a new product, network with others, and venture into new projects.  Daniel has put together an interesting and informative eBook on blogging and what you can do to make it grow and potentially make money.  Believe me, Daniel Scocco knows of what he speaks.  You cannot go wrong in taking the advice of one of the preeminent bloggers of his time…

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In the US, Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday, and is always celebrated on the third Monday in February.  Previously, it was called Washington’s Birthday but it has evolved, over the years, to be called Presidents’ Day in honor of multiple presidents.  This holiday, and the weekend preceding it, is known as a day for car dealers throughout the country, to have big sales on their inventory.  When purchasing a new vehicle it is important for you to do your homework if you want to get your best deal.

1. Get the invoice price.

In the age of the internet, finding the invoice price of the make and model of the vehicle that you want to purchase, is becoming easier and easier.  Sites such as Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book can help you garner the invoice cost of your future wheels.  Being armed with the invoice cost of the vehicle before you step into the door of the car dealership, will show the salesperson that you mean business.  These sites will also include reviews of people who currently own the vehicle that you are looking to purchase.  Reading these reviews may either reinforce your opinion or scare you away from purchasing that vehicle.

2. Know your MPG.

Part of the cost of ownership is filling up the gas tank on a regular basis.  Large pickups and bigger vehicles have good deals these days but that is for a reason.  They aren’t moving well.  The cost to fill up the gas tank is a heavy price to pay, especially these days with the high cost of gas.  Don’t just arbitrarily neglect these costs.  In the long run they can be steep.

3. Know your insurance costs before you buy.

I remember a few years ago I wanted to buy one SUV over another one.  I wanted to buy the one that was cheaper, and it appeared to be as well equipped as the more expensive one.  So I called up my insurance company and asked what the insurance costs would be of each SUV.  As it turned out, the cheaper vehicle had a less favorable safety rating.  As a result, I would’ve paid much more to insure the cheaper vehicle.  In fact, when I did the comparison, the more expensive vehicle was cheaper for me on a monthly basis due to the high insurance costs on the cheaper vehicle.  I think a lot of people don’t even consider the insurance costs until it is too late.

4. Know the vehicle or excise tax.

In the U.S., each year there is typically a fee called a vehicle tax or an excise tax that you have to pay to the state you live in.  Call your Town Hall or your registry of motor vehicles and they will be able to tell you what the cost will be to register your new vehicle.  Each year you will have to pay to register your car.  Granted, the cost will go down slightly, the older the car gets.  But, if it is a newer vehicle, that cost will not go down by a lot until the vehicle is much older.  You have to factor this into the mix when it comes to buying a new car.

5. Research the repair record of the make and model.

As I mentioned previously, the two websites, Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, will provide you with customer reviews of the car you are looking for.  They also provide access to forums where you can query existing car owners.  Consumer Reports has an extensive history of reviews of the repair rates of any car that you could be interested in purchasing.  Make sure you learn intimately about the repair record of the car you want to purchase.

Doing your homework and understanding the costs associated with that new car, should he high on your list before visiting that dealership.  There’s a lot more to the costs than simply the price you are paying for that car.  Make sure you know what they are and then, just maybe, your car-buying experience will be an exciting one.  If not, you may be kicking yourself until you pay it off…

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This is a guest post by Richard Hemby. If you want to guest post on this blog, click here to get more information.

In today’s fast-paced world, excellent time management skills are a necessity for business executives and busy moms alike. With so many goals to achieve, our lives can quickly become overwhelming with productivity adversely affected. For those truly dedicated to managing their responsibilities well and achieving their personal and business goals, there are a few time management frameworks on the market to help foster success. Today, we will cover 3 of the most popular frameworks: Getting Things Done System (GTD), the Zen to Done System (ZTD), and the Autofocus System.

The GTD System

The GTD System was developed by international author and lecturer, David Allen. It utilizes two key elements, control and perspective, in the management of time. The guiding principle behind this system is that through recording task lists externally one frees up the mind. Consequently, if the mind is freed from having to remember all the tasks that need to be completed, it can actually concentrate on the completion of those tasks. Therefore, Allen advocates that followers write everything down as it comes to mind and process those notes so that everything has a place. In addition, to-do lists should be broken down into various lists based upon what can be done now. The GTD System also addresses projects, workflow, and the very important weekly review. Allen also suggests using a system of folders (called a tickler) and a simple, alphabetical filing system as a means to keep all upcoming events in sight. While this time management method can theoretically be followed through traditional paper tools such as notepads or index cards, there are numerous software applications available for purchase to assist the user in implementing the GTD System, and David Allen himself recommends using a PDA or a personal computer for maximum benefit from it.

The ZTD System

The ZTD System was created by productivity blogger Leo Babauta and draws upon some of the concepts in the GTD System. It purports to be the “ultimate simple productivity system.” Babauta developed the ZTD System in response to shortcomings he found while following the GTD System himself. His main focus in developing this system was on those personality types he felt might not be able to fully implement the GDT System. For example, the ZTD System focuses on changing one habit at a time rather than making a series of habit changes at once. Barbauta felt the primary flaw with David Allen’s system was that many people could not follow through due to too much change at one time. Instead, Barbauta advises followers of the ZTD System to adopt it in phases. In addition, his system proposes to be more focused on actually doing, more structured, and more simplified in addressing goals. The ZTD System is essentially a set of ten habits that will allow the follower to get things done. These ten habits, to be practiced at most two to three at a time, include collecting, processing, planning, doing, using a simple system, organizing, reviewing, simplification, routine, and finding your passion.

The AutoFocus System

The Autofocus Time Management System was introduced by British author Mark Forster. The Autofocus System emphasizes making intuitive choices and approaching any to-do list as a series of sub-lists. This simple system consists of maintaining one long list in a ruled notebook of everything that needs to be done and adding items at the end of the list as necessary. The follower then tackles that list by quickly reading it without following through, then slowly reviewing the items to find one that stands out, and ultimately working on that item for as long as wanted. The process repeats itself as unfinished or repetitive items are re-entered at the end of the list. Forster refers to this kind of system as “structured procrastination.” He explains that the Autofocus System works by “providing a framework which balances the rational and intuitive parts of the brain.” Forster asserts that users of his system will experience less stress, a much increased volume of work, faster processing of routine tasks such as checking email and returning telephone calls, and a more thorough processing of major tasks. Forster continues to revise his system, so there are actually four systems currently available including Autofocus 1, Autofocus 2, Revised Autofocus, and Autofocus 4. Each varies slightly and any version can be used as desired, but they are all based upon the core principles of the first.

For anyone looking for a time management framework, many options are available to fit the user’s particular personality and needs. Each of these systems has a legion of fans and can send anyone on his or her way to accomplishing goals and improving quality of life.

This guest article was contributed by Richard Hemby, a freelance writer based in Seattle, Washington who writes about online degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, a directory of online colleges. You can also follow him on Twitter.

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Given the tragic circumstances surrounding Haiti, and the devastation in that area, there has understandably been a huge outpouring of support for those poor people.  Unfortunately, one of my co-workers grew up in Haiti, and he still has family over there.  The support he has received at my work has been uplifting to him and his family.  At a time like this, it is not unusual to think seriously about how you can help out your fellow man.  Giving blood is a way you can do just that…

For the first 50 years of my life I had never given blood.  When my eldest daughter turned 17, she was eligible in our state, to give blood.  Without hesitation, she decided to donate.  I was intrigued by the fact that she decided to do this, given that neither I, nor my wife, had given blood in the past.  She simply wanted to help out her fellow man and this was a substantive way for her to do so.  She didn’t have any money, but she did have something she could give that was more valuable.

Seeing how generous she had been, I decided, at the ripe age of 50, to give my first donation.  The fact that I waited this long to donate, was not for any particular reason.  I am not afraid of needles, and I don’t have any pre-existing conditions that would prevent me from donating.  I can’t really explain why I waited so long.  All I can say is that my eldest daughter inspired me to go make that first blood donation.  So, what are the benefits, you may ask?

You may help as many as three people with one donation.

This is the #1 aspect of giving blood that the Red Cross mentions in their literature.  Heck, if my blood helped out one person who needs it, that would be good enough for me.

You’ll get to spend some time with quality people.

Having given blood now on three occasions, you start seeing some of the same people at the donation center.  The volunteers tend to be elderly people who have been doing this for a very long time.  They are sweet people who like to socialize, and, at the same time, they also do their best to put people at ease, if needed.  The fellow donors will strike up a conversation at the drop of a hat, as you all wait to be called to donate.  It is a feeling of camaraderie that is not typically felt with strangers.  Then again, these people are not truly strangers.  They are fellow human beings doing something for a common cause; helping others.

You get free food!

At the donation center there is always a myriad of juices, bottled water, cookies, pretzels, etc.  It is important to replenish yourself after you donate, and to hydrate before and after.  Since I donate after work, there has always been a meal served by the volunteers.  The last time I donated there was a full spaghetti dinner with sausages, meatballs, and rolls for the donors.  You get to sit with other donors and volunteers and socialize while you eat your meal.  It’s a great ending to a very gratifying experience.

You feel great afterwards.

Being around like-minded people, and doing something for your fellow man, is very fulfilling.  Even if you went into this with second thoughts, you will leave happy and content that you just did something so selfless.

If you have never given blood before, I urge you to consider it.  Go to the Red Cross Donating Blood website and learn more about how you can reach out and help your fellow man.

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The Ugly Roof!

This blog is geared toward practical solutions, and I certainly have one for you with this post. We had a new roof done on our house approximately ten years ago and, for a long time, it looked great. As the years went by, it started developing black streaks and mold on the roof shingles on the shady side of the house.  Understandably, I was concerned that we’d have to have our roof replaced.  And the most unnerving thing was that we were told that it should last at least 20 years.  So, I made it a point to start looking at other houses in my town and I saw these black streaks on the roofs of many homes.  I remember distinctly, as we backed out of our driveway one day, my eldest daughter exclaimed, “Our roof looks horrible!”  And I agreed, wholeheartedly.

So, I made it my mission to start doing my research.  I discovered that the build-up of dirt, mildew, fungus, and moss is prevalent especially on the roof on the shady side of a house.  I also discovered that there is a product called ShingleShield Roof and Deck Cleaner that, when applied with a pump sprayer, and hosed off, will remove these streaks from your roof.

Now the big problem was, to remove these streaks, you had to apply the diluted solution of the roof and deck cleaner, directly to the roof!  And it basically required you to get onto your roof.  My wife had no desire to become a widow, so I ended up calling my chimney professional who cleans my chimney once a year.  He really didn’t know about the product and I thought that this could be another source of revenue for him.  He was interested in doing the job, so I purchased the product online and set up an appointment for him to apply the product to my roof.

He had the proper ladders to get up to the roof and had a special roof ladder that hooked over the ridge of the roof.  Prior to heading onto the roof we made it a point to cover all the bushes with plastic, even though the product is advertised as being non-toxic to plants.  I just thought it would make sense to cover them, just in case.

He then applied the product with a pump sprayer directly onto the streaks first.  Then he applied the solution to the whole roof by moving his roof ladder along the face of the roof.

After applying the solution to the whole roof, I handed him the lawn hose and he went up to the ridge of the house and sprayed off the solution with the garden hose.  He simply moved from one side of the roof to the other and thoroughly hosed down the roof.  You could see the stains disappear almost immediately.

After doing the initial application, you may have to go over individual streaks with a soft brush to get the really dark streaks totally removed.

One final step, if you do not want these streaks to return, is to have your roofing specialist apply zinc strips under the shingles at the ridgeline of your roof.  This should prevent these dark streaks from returning over time.  You can find these zinc strips on the website mentioned earlier in the post.  As you can see from the before and after photos below, this stuff works!

Before using ShingleShield.

After using ShingleShield.

Instead of paying big bucks for a new roof, consider giving your roof a makeover.  For a few hundred dollars you’ll be able to look at your house with pride again.

(Disclosure: I have no affiliation with the product mentioned in this post.  I am just a very happy customer.)

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Winter scene outside my daughter's dorm.

So you’ve just dropped off your child at college for the first time and are feeling the pain.  That final hug was a lot more difficult than you had originally expected.  Your first-born is now among people you do not know, in a completely foreign environment, and you feel helpless as a parent.  My eldest daughter left for college for the first time last August.  The trauma of her exodus was detailed in this post.   Ironically, today we just returned from bringing her back to college after her 5-week holiday break at home.  Let’s just say that it was a whole lot easier dropping her off this time.  For those of you who have already gone through this college separation anxiety, congratulations on dealing with it and moving onto another phase of your lives.  After having gone through this heart-wrenching experience, I think I can help out my fellow brethren deal with being separated from their child for possibly the first time.  There are certainly things that you can do, as parents, to make this transition easier, for both you, and your child.

1. Communicate, but give them space.

As a parent, it is important to reach a happy medium with your child, in terms of communication, after they are at their college home. Understanding that your child needs space from you is something that every parent must realize. Your child has been looking forward to this time of independence, so you must honor that independence and limit the correspondence. Let your child dictate how much they want to call, email, or skype with you.  Of utmost importance is to let your child know that you will always be there for them, just as you have been for the previous 18 years of their life.

2. Visit the College Store.

OK, I know that you are paying big tuition bills already, so shelling out any other dough to the school can be tough. But, I am telling you that if you go to the college store and buy a sweatshirt, or a mug for your morning coffee, it will help.  How, you might say? It helps you feel closer to your child. Each morning when you drink that cup of coffee, with the mug from the college, you will think of your child and will feel a closeness to them.  Every time I wear the shirts I bought at my daughter’s college store or wear the hat that she gave me for Christmas, I feel closer to her.  You might say, doesn’t that make it more difficult and remind you more of the distance between you?  Not for me.  It does just the opposite. You are showing pride in their college and this will reflect not only on you, but also on your child.  If your child knows that you are proud of their college choice, it will help them deal with their own separation anxiety. Don’t underestimate the simple act of making some purchases at the college store.  Surprisingly, it really helps soothe those pangs of separation anxiety.

3. Attend Parents Weekend.

We attended Parents Weekend at the end of October. It is a very popular time for the college and it allows the parents to attend a class, if desired.  But, more importantly, it’s a time to see your child, possibly for the first time since that emotional departure. And you also get a chance to get to know their roommates.  At the same time, you have a chance to meet with other parents and talk about what it’s like living away from your children. You will quickly learn that almost all parents share this feeling of separation and it is a common thread in conversation.

4. Subscribe to the College Newspaper.

This may sound simple but one of the hardest things for us, as parents, was the not-knowing.  Not being able to know every step our child was taking, or what was happening with her in the college environment.  Subscribing to the college newspaper has allowed us to feel more a part of our daughter’s life by allowing us to read what is going on, at a certain point in time, at the college.  The articles are written by the students so it allows us to hear what their feelings are and what issues they are faced with at the college.  It also helps us when we speak with our daughter because we can talk about the issues that are prevalent at the college.  This small step will help take away some of the feelings of separation and will allow you to feel closer to your child.

5. Visit, if needed, and if possible.

This may be difficult for some parents, especially if your child is across the country, or potentially in another country. About a month into her first college semester, my daughter came down with symptoms that were eerily similar to the H1N1 virus. There were already students at her school that were being quarantined, or separated from the other students, due to the virus.  My daughter was extremely worried that she was coming down with the virus but, more importantly to her, she was concerned that it would affect her schoolwork.  She was worried about falling behind in her classwork and she had just started her college career.  After speaking with her on the phone, my wife drove up there and brought her to the infirmary for tests.  As it turned out, she didn’t have the virus, and was over the symptoms in a few days.  My daughter’s college is about two hours away from our house, in a neighboring state.  So being able to drive to visit her, at the drop of a hat, is convenient. Having my wife there, if only for a few hours, was tremendous for both of them.  It helped my daughter deal with this short-term illness, and it helped us a lot because one of us was able to be there for her.  I can’t stress enough how happy we are that we are only a couple of hours away from my daughter.  My daughter was accepted at colleges halfway across the country but, luckily, she was accepted into her first-choice college, which is within driving distance from our house.  If we couldn’t be with her at that time, the separation anxiety would’ve been extremely tough to deal with.

If you are contemplating dropping your child off at college someday, try to learn from others who have already had to deal with this life transition.  There are actionable steps that you can take to minimize the anxiety of being away from your angel.  If you take part in the college experience, albeit remotely, and show your child that you have pride in their college, it will certainly help you deal with the separation.  Communicate, but know that this is their time of independence from you. Let them dictate how much they want to keep in touch.  Most importantly, when they do come home on breaks, and in the summer, welcome them home with open arms.  It takes a little time, but those feelings of college separation anxiety will decrease. It’s really tough at first but, in time, you will be able to emotionally deal with this new phase of your life.

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This is a guest post by Mike Crimmins. If you want to guest post on this blog, click here to get more information.

For some people coffee is nothing more than brown water and a source of caffeine. For other people it’s an experience like tasting wine, exploring new regions of the world as well as different parts of your tongue.

Once you’ve tasted good coffee, you’ll never want to go back to that stale ground coffee that comes in huge plastic bins. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get great tasting coffee every morning.

Step 1

Buy a coffee grinder and whole beans. You can purchase a decent grinder for twenty bucks. The reason that you need a grinder is that ground coffee goes stale in fifteen minutes. Want to guess how long it was sitting on the grocery store shelf before you picked it up?

Step 2

Buy only enough coffee to last a week or two. There might be a great deal if you buy in bulk, but by the time you get around to using that coffee it’s going to be stale, even if you buy whole beans you’ll be able to taste the difference after two weeks.

Step 3

Use better water. Most tap water contains some sort of minerals or chemicals that aren’t harmful to you, but can be harmful to your coffee. They can change the flavor of your coffee and not in the good way. You can buy a Brita pitcher or a water filter for a faucet for relatively cheap. Plus, you’ll be able to use it for more than just your morning brew.

Step 4

Use two scoops of coffee per cup of water you put into the coffee maker. For some people that might be too strong, but it’s what’s recommended by the experts. Normally, I don’t agree with the coffee snobs, but this time they’re on to something. Try two scoops first, then adjust it your preferences. The majority of people make their coffee so weak that you can practically see through it, missing out on a lot of the great flavors.

Step 5

Try new coffees. If you like your coffee strong, try some dark roasts. If you’re on the other side of the spectrum, check out some flavored coffees or coffees from Africa. There’s great coffees from counties like Ethiopia that have taste almost wine-like and very easy to drink for fans of lighter roasts.

Step 6

Just for me, try your coffee without any sugar, milk or creamer. I discovered that with fresh coffee, I didn’t need hide the taste with sweeteners and artificial flavors.

Step 7

Store your extra coffee beans in something that’s air tight, out of light and in a cool dry spot. Air, heat and water are good ways to ruin coffee quickly, so after you open up the bag, put the extra coffee into an air tight canister.

There’s so much more that can be done to get better tasting coffee, but start with these and you’ll see a huge difference tomorrow morning.

This guest article was written by Mike Crimmins.  He is the caffeinated blogger behind Daily Shot Of Coffee, a blog for the average joe coffee drinker. You can also follow Mike on Twitter.

If you want to guest post on this blog, click here to get more information.

Please subscribe to my blog using the RSS link or email updates and follow me on Twitter.
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Related posts:

1. 5 Parental Tips for Dealing with College Separation Anxiety.
2. Don’t join that gym just yet! Read this first…

This is a guest post by Jen Smith. If you want to guest post on this blog, click here to get more information.

I have gotten a lot better at managing my money in the last few years. Now I have to be honest and attribute a lot of the credit for this to my husband . He is good at managing money in a very positive way and luckily our values and goals in life are very similar. However, obviously I am a willing learner and partner in this process for it to work. I haven’t always been this way and I wanted to share what I have been learning about money and how the way I now manage my money has enabled me to work less.

I have worked full-time in my main job (37 hrs) until July 2009, when I started working 30 hrs. I got a new job in December 2009 and am now working 18.5 hours a week.

Now you may be happy working full-time. I am not suggesting everyone wants to cut their hours down. The reason I am cutting the hours of my main job is to have more of a work life balance and also to create more time to work on my passion: my Personal Development and Life Coaching business.

Get clear.

Where is your money going? The first step to having power with our money is to know ‘what is so’. How much is coming in? How much is going out? At times, when I haven’t been so good at managing my money, this has been the hardest question to answer. I didn’t want to know, and in some ways, keeping things unclear helped me to keep my head in the sand. However, we all know that ignorance can be bliss, but when we are doing this, we are just ignoring reality! The sooner we deal with the reality of our situation, the sooner we regain our power in this area. I have also found that when I start taking responsibility, turning things around or reaching goals (whether that is getting out of debt, saving or whatever) it is usually a lot easier than I had thought!

What do you want?

The message I want to get across is that improving the way that we manage our money can free us up to have more of what we want. What we want is unique for each of us. You may want less time at work to start a business, like I am doing, have more time with your family, more time for hobbies or maybe just to relax and be at work less . On the other hand, you may want to stay on the same hours because you enjoy your job so much! That’s great, but managing your money better can still give you more of something else of your choice … new outfits, better holidays, early retirement. It’s about working smarter not harder and valuing our money and the time we give to earn it.

Question everything.

Do you use it? For example if you pay for Sky TV – how many channels do you actually watch? In the UK, we can buy a Freeview Box for less than £20 one off payment and get 30+ channels rather than the monthly instalments with Sky. How many times do you honestly go to the gym? Is it worth the money you are paying? Really look at your life and how you are living. Be ruthless. It’s surprising how much money we can waste paying for things we don’t need and don’t actually use!

Do you really need it?

When you buy something – think do you really need it? Yes that car might be a nicer design. But, if keeping the car you have got or buying a cheaper one could save you thousands of pounds, how much time would that save you? How much more would you have to work to pay it off? My husband and I had gone through a phase of thinking about buying a bigger house (mainly for a larger garden), but realized that would probably cost us at least 30k extra. Adding it on to the mortgage sometimes takes the reality of how many hours working that would mean!

One thing I have noticed (and I am sure I have done myself when I worked full-time) is envy by full-time colleagues over their part-time colleague’s hours. “I wish I could do your hours” often said whilst the same person spends lots of money on nights out, new clothes, holidays etc. I’m not having a dig (as I said I know I know have felt like this myself in the past) but it is about priorities. If you look at all the things you spend your money on in a month that are not essential, for example less new clothes, lattes on the way to work or meals out, it could equal fewer hours at work. It depends what you want more. If you still want your luxuries, just know you have chosen that.

Summary

What I want to get across here is that we always have a choice. We are in charge of our destinies and with a little money planning and discipline, our dreams are often a lot more achievable than we think they might be. Step by step we can move in the direction of our dreams. Shake things up, start being creative and thinking outside the box. Just because full-time is the ‘normal’ working hours, doesn’t mean you have to do it too, if that’s not what you want.

What do you think? What ways have you found to live more and work less?

This guest article was written by Jen Smith, who regularly writes on the topic of personal development. She is a Psychology graduate and is a Life Coach and Mentor. You can also follow Jen on Twitter.

If you want to guest post on this blog, click here to get more information.

Please subscribe to my blog using the RSS link or email updates and follow me on Twitter.
If you enjoyed this post please click on one of the icons below and share the love.

Related posts:

1. 5 Important Benefits of Time Management for Students.
2. You should hasten to use Quicken.