What better time to start implementing new healthy work habits than the beginning of the school year?
After a long Labor Day weekend, students may have lost some of the motivation they gained over the first weeks of school. Pick up the momentum by doing an activity with your class that gets them thinking about the habits they need to exercise to succeed during this semester.
By Maureen Breeze
For many students the first weeks of school involve understanding the expectations of new teachers and classes, discovering the best times to go to the locker, making new friends, and establishing different routines. Usually by the time Labor Day weekend rolls around, the demands of school step into high gear.
It’s at this point, we as parents, can help our students develop the best habits possible to promote their academic, emotional, and social success. Perhaps you have a high school student who comes home late from activities, studies until the wee hours of the morning, and by November is unable to sustain the schedule. Or maybe you have an elementary school student who rarely remembers her folder and looses most papers handed to her. Or, perhaps your middle school student is far more interested in staying plugged into his social world through texting and Facebook than completing his math homework.
(February 23, 2011Â – Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Want to experience a roller-coaster ride of salaries? Try life in professional baseball. Make the big leagues and you can reap millions. Languish in the minors and harsh financial realities weigh on you daily.
Going back to school means getting back in the rhythm of the school day, after school activities, and work. When many of us go through drastic changes, whether it’s moving across town, finding a new job, or starting a new grade, we are tempted to take shortcuts to balance out the overwhelming feeling of change. Eating out, buying new odds-and-ends, and driving instead of using public transportation are all conveniences that money can buy — whether it’s in our budgets or not.
The other day a college student who works for LifeBound was talking about taking out a payday loan. His school put a hold on his account until he could pay his bill and he felt he had a limited amount of choices to get money quick. We cringed and pointed to Chapter 6 in Dollars & Sense: How to Be Smart About Money, Avoiding Financial Pitfalls where we cover loan options. The annual percentage rate is usually around 390% on a payday loan. It’s fast money that’s meant to be paid back at equal speed; otherwise, you’re signing up for debt. The following table is from Dollars & Sense and shows the cost of borrowing $300 over a 30 day period (click on the image to enlarge).
By Maureen Breeze
Over the years, my mother has traveled to every continent on the globe. At home, she doesn’t eat in fancy restaurants, never shops as a means of entertainment, and rarely spends money frivolously. Instead, she carefully puts part of her paycheck each month into a special savings account for her annual excursion to some far-reaching, exotic destination.
By student blogger David Kieta
Well another summer-break has come and gone. Now it is back to the exciting life of a student. For some of us this is the same old routine. We are used to the daily grind, and we can make our way through another school year with (relative) ease. But for some this fall, it is the first step in a long journey through college. It can be really scary. For many students the first semester of college is the first time being away from home, and for the first time ever teachers will be treating you like an adult. Although this can be very intimidating it is worth it. Here are some tips to keep ahead of the game while also helping you keep a little money in the bank.
According to a study by HSBC Bank USA, two out of three consumers wanted to reduce “indulgent” spending. Four out of five of those surveyed wished to save more money. That’s healthy financial thinking, but how do these desires become habits? The equation is simple: in order to save more, you need more money. You can work more hours or find a higher paying job. Easier said than done. You can also adjust your spending habits. Those surveyed could fulfill both their desires by reducing the amount they spend on non-essential items and entertainment and putting that money into a savings account or other investment options.
The Carol J. Carter blog is now offering blogs for three audiences: educators, parents, and students. This parent blog is by parent, LifeBound coach, writer, and blogger, Maureen Breeze. We hope you enjoy our new approach and look forward to hearing your feedback. Welcome, Maureen!
As LifeBound’s new website launches, the Carol J. Carter blog is undergoing some changes too. We have extended the blog to include material for three of LifeBound’s biggest audiences: educators, parents, and students. Every week the three blogs will cover one common theme and write from three different perspectives. The educator’s blog will offer classroom activities and tips for the classroom. The parent’s blog will feature blogs by parents for parents. The student’s blog will be written by high school and college students for students. I will be a guest blogger on the parent and student blogs from time to time, as well. We hope you will enjoy reading our blogs from multiple perspectives and look forward to your feedback on our new approach.
Read the rest of this entry »