Saturday, December 28, 2019

Letter Samples to Say Congratulations

Letter Samples to Say CongratulationsLetter Samples to Say CongratulationsWhen a colleague or business connection has an achievement to celebrate, a congratulations letter or handwritten note is always appreciated, whether you have time to send a paper card or letter or, lacking this time, a thoughtfully written email.Taking the time to send a congratulation note, whether its for a new job, promotion, a successful venture, or simply for a job well done, is terrific for networking and relationship building. If you send an email,put Congratulations from Your Name in the subject line, so the recipient is sure to open your message. Here are examples of congratulation letters and email messages for a variety of employment-related situations, such as a new job, a promotion, starting a business, retiring, accomplishments at work, and more. As you review unterstellung examples, keep in mind that they are intended to be models and think about how you can tailor and personalize the wording to reflect the specific occasion and person you are celebrating. Congratulations Note Examples New Job Use these letters to congratulate a colleague or friend who has a new job or who has started his or her own business. First Job Congratulations LetterNew Job Congratulations LetterNew Job Congratulations Letter for Business AssociateNew Business Congratulations Letter Example ?Promotion Did someone you know just get a promotion? For most employees, promotions are hard-won and are rare enough that earning one merits applause from friends and co-workers. Heres how to enthusiastically yet tactfully congratulate a friend or colleague on moving up the career ladder. Business Congratulations Letter - Promotion Congratulations at Work When someone has done a great job at work, its nice to let them know they are appreciated. It builds camaraderie and a strong team spirit, promotes consistent project ownership, contributes to the employees job satisfaction, and encourages him or her to kee p up the good work.These examples will give you a starting point for your notes and email messages. Job Well Done Congratulations NoteCongratulations Letter for a Project AccomplishmentAchievement Congratulations Letter Example Moving On These letters recognize a milestone in the recipients life whether its retiring, relocating, accepting a position with a different employer, or otherwise moving on in his or her professional or personal life. Formal Retirement Congratulations Letter ExampleMoving On Congratulations Letter Volunteering Congratulating someone on volunteering is a nice touch. Its a way to recognize that the person is giving of his own time to help others, and can help to build a solid culture of volunteerism in your organization. Whether you are sending a letter or an email, you might also carbon copy / CC the recipients supervisor, senior managers, or team members so that the recipient knows that his or her contributions have been noted and appreciated across your org anization. Volunteer Congratulations Letter Example Congratulations Email Messages These articles contain examples of emails recognizing achievements, with tips for writing and formatting the message. These email templates are appropriate to use when you do not have the time to write and deutsche post ag a traditional hand-written note, or for when the only contact information you have for the recipient is an email address. Congratulations Email Example - Promotion Keeping Track of Your Connections On a related note, an easy and efficient way to keep track of your connections is to check the Network Updates email you receive from LinkedIn.Youll see who has changed jobs, who has been promoted and who has otherwise changed employers, and youll be able to send a congratulation notedirectly from LinkedIn. More Letter SamplesThese career search and business letter samples- including cover letters, interview thank you letters, follow-up letters, job acceptance and rejection lette rs, resignation letters, appreciation letters, business letters, and more great employment letter samples- will help you get an interview and to follow up and handle all the employment-related correspondence you need to write.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Quality Processing Laboratory Technician Job Description

Quality Processing Laboratory Technician Job DescriptionQuality Processing Laboratory Technician Job DescriptionQuality Processing Laboratory Technician Job DescriptionThis quality processing laboratory technician sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements.Quality Processing Laboratory Technician Job ResponsibilitiesVerifies product compliance to quality standard by maintaining equipment monitoring production.Quality Processing Laboratory Technician Job DutiesMaintains computerized scale system by keeping units operational and current with formulations monitoring and verifying records.Maintains factory processes and procedures to standard by using statistical methods for monitoring and charting notifying production supervisor of noncompliance.Prepares experimental design projects by mixing test batches in laboratory banbury or mill method.Releases materials by evaluating all results and visual inspection methods determining status of nonshippable or usable material.Maintains quality service by following organization standards.Maintains stock of forms and spare parts by verifying inventory of items notifying laboratory manager when items are needed.Maintains safe and healthy work environment by following organization standards and legal regulations.Maintains technical knowledge by attending educational workshops reviewing publications.Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.Quality Processing Laboratory Technician Skills and QualificationsQuality Focus, Creating a Safe, Effective Environment, Supply Management, Statistical Analysis, Analyzing Information , PC Proficiency, Data Maintenance, Equipment Maintenance, Equipment Calibration, Productivity, System AdministrationEmployers Post a job in minutes to reach candidates everywhere. Job Seekers Search Quality Processing Laboratory Technician Jobs and apply on now. Find out more abouthow to hireRecruiting a New Hire if You Havent Hired in a WhileInterviewing Gaffes and Recruiting DisastersMaintain a Legal Hiring Process

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Workplace Woes for Women Are More Than Gender Wage Gap

Workplace Woes for Women Are More Than Gender Wage GapWorkplace Woes for Women Are More Than Gender Wage GapThe numbers in the workplace dont lie. But they dont always tell the full story when you consider the fact that the workplace woes of women extend way beyond just the gender wage gap. Workplace equality has been a long-fought battle. Although women have experienced tremendous strides over the past fifty years, employers have mora to do when it comes to equitable salaries and the pernicious sexism that still exists in some workplaces and industries. The Perpetrators of Office Sexism And, perhaps even mora importantly, the everyday perpetrators of arbeitszimmer sexism arent necessarily those stereotypical male executives. Everyday people at work can also contribute to womens woes in the workplace. Why does this matter? Not only does it benefit these women and their families, in the long run, thanks to recent research by consulting firm McKinsey Company, its also good for the bottom line and overall health of the economy. In partnership with Recruiter.com and Toluna QuickSurveys, 1,000 Dreams Fund surveyed 1,000 women aged 18-35 about their workplace woes. While some of the findings were expected, many of them came as a surprise. Here are the most significant office obstacles to Gen Z and millennial female advancement, including advice on how to ease these workplace woes. Woe 1 The wage gap is a prickly subject, and many employers and employees are uninformed. The math behind the gender wage gap isnt universally accepted. Although the common refrain is that women make 80 cents on the dollar, some economics experts counter that this figure neglects to account for other important variables, such as the industry in question and hours worked. Its possible, in fact, that a large part of wage discrepancy does not come from malice but instead ignorance. Employees must know their own value, and employers must know what other companies pay similar-skilled st affers. Factors like education and experience have an impact on the appropriate pay for any partie- male or female. Determining that figure is infinitely easier thanks to resources such as Glassdoor, Payscale.com, and LinkedIn. Employees, both prospective and current, should check the comps and know the salaries and backgrounds of people in related positions at other companies. Know what people with your skill set are paid, and have enough confidence to ask for (or demand) what youre worth- especially once you have the data on your side. As for employers, you should know that you risk losing out on excellent applicants and even long-time employees if you arent willing to provide competitive wages. The internet, in this sense, is not your friend. Salaries are transparent. So come to the table with offers and aufsteigens that are appropriate, or youll turn off your most coveted candidates. That said, well over half- 58%- of the survey respondents said that they aim to chase their drea ms, not paychecks. So if your company is lacking in financing but can offer unique and meaningful work, female employees may negotiate on salaries in exchange for exciting work opportunities. The Solution Women must advocate for their own professional growth.Negotiating a salary is tricky. For incoming employees, it is difficult to leverage just how much flexibility exists in the job offer. For existing employees, it always feels like the wrong time to ask for a promotion or raise.The first step, as described above, is self-education, followed by self-betterment. Know what others in your field are paid. Then set out to prove that you are not only as valuable as those peoplebut even more so. Extend and showcase your skill set so that your executives can clearly see that you are a company asset.When you do broach the subject of a promotion or a raise, youll have already established- without saying a word- why you deserve it.Its also highly useful to seek insights from workplace mentor s. Higher-level employees can provide key guidance in professional growth, especially if they previously held a position similar to yours. They may have invaluable advice on how to approach certain colleagues in regards to promotions and raises. A mentor may also choose to advocate for you along the way, vouching for your credibility and potential. Woe 2 Workplace bullying can devastate company morale and drive great employees away from you. According to the data collected, nearly a quarter of women have experienced workplace bullying, sexism and/or harassment. Perhaps even more concerningly, the perpetrators are more likely to be fellow women, according to our research. There are dozens of reasons why one employee may take up arms against another. But it is guaranteed that this behavior is inappropriate and damaging. How to end it? You first must first identify it, and that isnt always so easy. The early signs are best described as when somebody is actively looking to undermine a coworker in the workplace, whether publicly or behind that persons back. For example, do you have someone intentionally trying to make you look bad in meetings? Or have you heard from other coworkers that an individual is questioning your authority on a project? This is subversive behavior that starts slowly but can continue to grow if you dont take notice and address it head-on. As for managers, turning a blind eye to employee squabbles may seem like an easy fix, but allowing harassment to fester can result in a huge mess for the whole team. If employee-on-employee bullying is so blatant that even youre aware of it, thats a big red flag. Take heed. The Solution Squash the tension with a level-headed one-on-one talk.Most female-to-female workplace harassment comes from a place of jealousy, resentment, or guarding territory. Even so, that doesnt make it any less hurtful when you are on the receiving end of snarky comments or full-on sabotage.The biggest mistake in handling workpla ce bullying is allowing your hurt feelings or animosity to have an impact on the discussion. Employees dealing with a difficult coworker should check their emotions at the door before asking that person to meet over coffee.Once youre in a comfortable space outside the office, show your willingness to listen, understand their side, and be vulnerable. Showing that you are imperfect, not a threat, may make the person more willing to work with you, not against you.Do not lose your cool in front of coworkers or, worse yet, your boss. Showing your grace and strength under preskoranvers is a huge win for your career. Even if you do have to confide in your manager for the sake of your job security, he or she will appreciate that you took all efforts to calmly handle this issue on your own first. Woe 3 Highly skilled young women suspect their managers are passing over them. You often hear of ageism as a problem for older employees, but a stunning 77 percent of survey respondents say thei r age has prevented them from receiving an interview or offer. Surprising, right? Of course, there are many variables that go into a presumed age-based bias- 75% also said that they were not fully confident in their interview skills, which likely correlates to lack of experience. But, such a high figure indicates that there is merit to ageism in the hiring process. And, more than half of the student and recent graduate respondents are not confident that theyll secure a well-paying job in their chosen field. Heres the deal, as millennial and Gen Z women already know, droves of young people are directly competing against each other for the exact same jobs. Thats especially true in highly oversaturated industries, but competition is fierce across the board. So how do you stand out from the crowd, even with a college degree thats still hot off the press? The Solution Mind your financial goals by pursuing the best-paying options.Recognize, first, that thousands of young people are all cl amoring for the same jobs. In many cases, landing the perfect job comes down to timing and luck. Unfortunately, timing and luck cant pay your rent- but a paycheck sure can.While your peers sink deeper and deeper into student debt, all waiting indefinitely for that insanely awesome job, set yourself apart by taking smart action. Market yourself to companies that arentexactly what you want, but can help you develop your skills and bring in a decent paycheck until youre more desirable for ultra-competitive roles.In furthering your career, Gen Z and millennial women must wait patiently but proactively. If youre not growing, youre standing still while others are surging right past you. And when it comes to those ongoing workplace woes for women, especially those who are just starting their careers, all employers have a role to play in ensuring the advancement and success of women in the workplace.

Friday, December 13, 2019

How to Get a Payroll Specialist Salary

How to Get a Payroll Specialist SalaryHow to Get a Payroll Specialist SalaryWe have good news for anyone interested in payroll clerk jobs or working your way up to payroll manager or supervisor Companies are bumping up compensation, and you might find a job with a payroll specialist salary above market rates.Whats more, payroll is such an important role that its in demand in most locations.If payroll is your field - or youd like it to be - you may be interested in knowing the importance of hard and soft skills for payroll professionals. Along with those essential skills come the duties, expectations and experience that come into play when considering a payroll specialist salary.But first, lets look at what you can expect to make when you work in payroll.Salary benchmarks for payroll jobsAccording to the 2019 Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals, the starting salary midpoint for a payroll manager/supervisor is $72,750. Payroll coordinators/administrators can expect $46,000 at midpoint. The midpoint for a payroll clerk salary is $39,000.At the midpoint, candidates have average experience with the necessary skills to meet the job requirements, and the role may be in an industry where competition for talent is moderate.Payroll salaries vary widely from city to city. In Duluth, Minn., for instance, the estimated midpoint salary for a payroll clerk is $31,000, while in Chicago, its $48,000.Payroll manager is listed as one of the hot positions and the CPP (certified payroll professional) one of the in-demand certifications.Visit our Salary Center, where you can use the Salary Calculator to adjust the payroll specialist salary for your city. Duties and expectationsWhat will you do in these roles? In payroll clerk jobs, youll spend your time carrying out data entry tasks, reconciling time cards, and distributing paychecks and statements to department managers. Youll also be expected to respond to employee and vendor inquiries.For payroll managers/supervisors, policy and compliance are vital responsibilities. Youll be entrusted with maintaining compliance with current regulations, preparing government reporting, planning and implementing payroll policies, preparing accruals and reconciling ledgers, as well as recruiting, training and supervising payroll staff.Learn more about the duties and job descriptions of various payroll roles - and look for a job.Professional experience and skillsThough many hiring managers prefer candidates with payroll experience, entry-level payroll clerk jobs are also available. Youll need at least a high-school level of education and proficiency in Microsoft Office to be considered a good entry-level candidate.To work in payroll, you should have strong mathematical skills and the ability to multitask and work quickly under pressure. Hiring managers typically expect experienced payroll clerks to know their way around automat ed payment processing systems.Then there are personality traits to consider. Payroll clerks need strong communication, clerical, organizational and customer tafelgeschirr skills to get the job done, no matter what your workplace.For payroll managers/supervisors, those abilities are even more important, as are interpersonal skills. Your level of experience and expertise is expected to be far greater, and youll generally need at least five years experience in payroll, as well as relevant qualifications.A payroll manager normally holds a bachelors degree in an accounting or finance discipline and a payroll certification, such as the Certified Payroll Professional (CPP). Youll also need to be proficient with a range of payroll software, including enterprise resource planning (ERP) and automated payment processing systems, in addition to Microsoft Office applications.Many people in business dont know much about payroll however, everyone wants to be paid Now that you know more about the p ayroll specialist salary, along with what it will take to get one, may you find the rewards of providing this vital service as a payroll professional.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

What You Dont Know About Interior Designer Resume May Surprise You

What You Dont Know About Interior Designer Resume May Surprise You If you understand what you want, it is simpler for your konzeptioner to get ready for it. Theres a lot a designer may want to do on a single job. Every designer ought to have a good comprehension of typography. Without a certification, an interior designer is only a decorator in the majority of states. Interior designers want to design an area thats practical for its purpose along with visually pleasing. They plan the design of living and commercial environments. They are expected to keep up to date with new trends and products. Self-employed interior designers may work at home. When youre in work hunt, nothing can help you mora than an impressive resume. Generally, in case you have over a decade of related experience, you might use more than 1 page if necessary. Based on your field of work, you should select your resume. Evening and weekend work ought to be expected. Designers will almost always reali ze that including the Adobe Create Suite is a terrific starting point. Computer skills are essential if you wish to succeed as an interior designer in the current marketplace. Some of your promotion skills will inevitably appear in the resume itself. Your excellent Customer Service Skills ought to be a focus of your resume too. Additionally, you might also sometimes work as a project manager for the customer throughout the building stage. Whenever your designer has the information that they will need to offer you an accurate RFP therell be fewer surprises over the length of your undertaking. You may also be the owner of your very own interior design enterprise. Any business that addresses design and creativity should give a good deal of thought into the look of its site. Objective The fundamental idea is to compose a personal statement that describes what you would like to become or do eventually. The whole experience is offered in a means to inform, inspire, and assist p eople throughout the practice of transforming their house or business environment to be a one of a kind and personalized expression of themselves and increase their enjoyment of that interior space. Always choose the best works that youve so that you may present yourself in a sense that could secure the interest of your client positively. Its more important to highlight interior design projects that are genuinely impressive rather than putting together lots of work samples which dont offer justice to your real deliverable. Salaries may vary from around 18,000 to 60,000 annually or more. Functional resumes are appropriate once you have changed jobs often, dont have a good deal of experience, or whether you are searching for a career move to a completely different field. Both may be used to create chronological or functional resumes. Keep in mind that recruiters may see the name of the file that you send them and also try to remember they get a great deal of resumes every single d ay. If you left a job six months before, make sure individuals dont think that you still do the job there. Submit the same resume for each job. The coolest high-paying jobs will visit the best of the very best. One of the very first steps an expert should undertake when searching for a job is to equip himself with a great interior designer resume that will assist the candidate highlight their skills, qualities and expertise in designing and the area. Self-employment and freelance work are typical. On occasion a designer is similar to an actor and has to play unique roles based on the project he or shes working on. If youre a freelance designer, you might be presenting your resume while also earning a bid for a project. The Debate Over Interior Designer Resume Your upcoming employer can think that its a little childish to have a whole rainbow of color on your resume. All components have to be taken into consideration, including flooring, lighting and wall coverings together with the people who is going to be using the space. In the end, you will see to it that the design team promotes our brand through delivering high excellent pieces on tight deadlines. If you would like to make your very own interior design portfolio, which can make it simpler for you to supply a lasting positive impression to your customers, consult with the downloadable samples that we curated for you. Finding Interior Designer Resume Online Download and edit our internet designer resume examples and boost your opportunity of being hired sooner. Developing a blog is certainly a great idea and just another step you wish to take if you really feel as if youre prepared for it. If youre fluent in Adobe InDesign, you can most likely leave off that you are aware of how to utilize Microsoft Word. The Upside to Interior Designer Resume Samples You might not even be aware you may load up portfolio samples onto LinkedIn. You might also be requested to offer a portfolio of your previ ous projects. Dont just showcase your qualifications and credentials but make sure your clients will feel and see that youre fit for the project they would love to reach. When the project is completed, the customer is brought in for a last inspection and approval.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Why People Arent Discussing Superior Resume Writing

Why People Arent Discussing Superior Resume Writing If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Superior Resume Writing If you feel as if you could also profit from career coaching, shes a pro at that too. The resume prepared by the candidate should remain appealing and ought to consist of necessary details. The majority of the resumes writing services dont offer you the chance of direct contact by making use of their writers. A work applicant will be highly alert to the importance of a perfectly crafted resume. Personal job searches and business layoffs are stressful enough without needing to be concerned about resume writing. By keeping the above mentioned demand in view, plenty of inexpensive resumes andonline resume writing services are offered for the ease of candidates, but it isnt easy for all of the jobless candidates to bear the excessive professional resume writing rates. Since resumes are largely digitally sent, there isnt any need to have a printout and sign the resume. The Honest to Goodness Truth on Superior Resume Writing In spite of the fact that its challenging to pinpoint any single resume writing services being at the surface of the line, theres no denying that there are respective writers around who have a high success ratio to show their work. In addition, their professional resume writers provide clients the chance to meet up with them one on one to better meet their private branding requirements. Our writers can handle at least a hundred projects per day without compromises the quality. You dont need to be worried about having a resume writer whos unaware of the role which you are applying for. Either its a very simple paper or a research paper, everything is going to be delivered on time with the exceptional quality you are searching for. A professional resume writing service can provide you the competitive edge you will need to stick out in the crowd. After you have ordered the work, then its delivered to the particular field expert who will research paper and compose the distinctive content for you. Make the most of our reviews to make certain that the online resume writing service you decide to hire truly will be able to help you secure a bright future for you and your loved ones Superior Resume Writing Explained Its also important to think about the type of work you really are interested in being hired to do. Quite simply, its highly personalized. Nothing differs in the event of selecting the resume writing service. Flowery language and long words in addition to unnecessary verbiage dont have any place on your resume, save that for some upcoming project where good language will help you make a fantastic impression. What to Expect From Superior Resume Writing? The very belastung thing you would like is for your resume to let you down when youre actually the best suited pick for the job. The very first point towards writing a great resume should be contingent on the kind of jo b youre looking for. Theres a better approach to receive a work now. After allIf you would like a nice job, receive a good resume.

Friday, November 29, 2019

How 15 Minutes a Day Can Change Your Life

How 15 Minutes a Day Can Change Your LifeHow 15 Minutes a Day Can Change Your LifeA few weeks ago, I was feeling overwhelmed, disengaged, and exhausted. Every half-hour block of every day was accounted for, but I didnt feel like I was really getting anywhere. Instead, I found myself leaping out of bed at the first annoying ding of the alarm to speed-shower, dress, and get myself out the door so I could plow through another day- and hopefully get closer to finding some quiet and calm.I confided in a few of my Mentor Masterclass coaches, who all suggested the saatkorn thing Create a morning ritual, and give yourself a few minutes in the morning to collect your thoughts, breathe, and prioritize your day. Each time I heard the suggestion, I loved it in theory. But since I felt like I barely had enough time to wash the shampoo out of my hair, I didnt know how I was going to make early morning sun salutations happen.So, I didnt do anything- until I got so desperate that I decided it was wo rth a shot. One morning I set my alarm for 10 minutes earlier than I usually do. Then, instead of sprinting out of bed when it went off, I grabbed my notebook from my side table and wrote whatever came into my fuzzy morning brain. I took 10 long, deep breaths. I wrote down my three big priorities for the day. Then I got out of bed. Ive been doing it every day since, and its changed everything. If youre feeling overwhelmed, having trouble focusing, or just looking for a few moments of quiet time, a morning ritual is a great place to departure. Heres what you need to know to create one.You Dont Need a Lot of TimeIn fact, I wouldnt suggest carving out more than 15 minutes for your morning ritual- at least in the beginning- so that you dont overwhelm yourself with yet another thing to do. But, I suggest you set your alarm for earlier than usual, instead of trying to cram those 15 minutes into your already-packed morning schedule. Itll give you a better chance of actually doing it.Do it First ThingThe point of a morning ritual is to anchor in some peace and calm before the chaos sets in. If you let the chaos get to you first (by, say, reading your emails), youll dilute the experience. When you prioritize your sanity, youll realize that everything else can, in fact, wait a few minutes. Keep it SimpleIf youre not sure what to actually do as your morning ritual, hone in on something that will help you get grounded- and dont overthink it. For example, take a few deep breaths, make your favorite green smoothie or oatmeal, write down your 1 goal, or read your favorite blog. It doesnt have to be complicated- it just has to work.Dont Do More Than 12 ThingsYou want to give yourself enough space to enjoy and be fully present in each activity. After a few weeks, if you find that you have an extra few minutes and want to add in another element, go for it.Since starting my morning ritual, my days are more productive. I dont start the day feeling like I have a big ball of who-kn ows-what to get through- I know exactly what needs to be done and in what order. Ive been taking better care of myself, because those extra 10 minutes help me figure out how Im actually feeling and how I can adjust accordingly. Am I cranky? Ill bring a good book on the train. Am I dehydrated? Ill remember to drink more water throughout the day. Most importantly, taking control of my morning- honest to goodness- helped me feel like I was taking back control of my life, which helped me enjoy it more.And, well, thats the whole point.Need a little personalized guidance on creating a morning ritual? Check out my (super awesome) coach, Casey Erin Wood, and her upcoming teleclass on how to do just thatPhoto of coffees courtesy of Shutterstock.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

I Took A Pay Cut Ive Never Been Happier

I Took A Pay Cut Ive Never Been HappierI Took A Pay Cut Ive Never Been Happier According to Tolunas Women at Work survey of 1,000 women aged 25 to 35, only 30 percent of respondents currently hold what they would consider to be their Dream Job. Whats mora, 55 percent say that they would take a drastic pay cut to land it. We hear from a woman who did just thatThis isnt a story about how money cant buy you happiness, although I might touch on that a little. Its about how halving my salary meant I could finally afford designer shoes. Its about learning to spend well. Its about a very smug term that keeps coming into my head recently - mindful spending.When I quit a full-time job to go freelance , I had expectations to be happier, have more time to myself and actually see my son when hes awake. What I didnt expect welches to feel richer. I thought I was swapping money for time - finally, at 33, realizing the latter was the more precious commodity. I expected to be po orer and I made my peace with it.But something happened that I never expected - now that I earn less, I have nicer clothes and better holidays. Ive swapped debt for a savings account and I enjoy spending more than ever.I first started earning real money when I was 21 and got a job in an advertising agency. They offered me $22,000 I took the job immediately (funny how we feel okay admitting what we first earned, but become sheepish as we get older). Even 12 years ago, a$22,000 salary in London was tough. An older colleague told me, In advertising, youre underpaid for the first half of your career and overpaid for the second half. He was right. After a few years, a job move meant doubling your salary. Jump agencies a few times and youre earning very good money. bedrngnis that I knew it - I thought everyone was earning the same kind of money. I had no idea the advertising industry paid well until I left it.That was the crux. I was earning a hefty amount of money each month but didn t know it. If you had asked how I felt about my salary, despite being in the top one percent of UK earners, I would have said it wasnt enough. I rocketed through thousands a month, with little to show for it at the end other than a pile of once-worn H&M shirts. I earned enough to never really have to think about money. Enough to buy cocktails and not drink them. Enough to book holidays I never went on. Enough to never send back anything I bought on the internet. It was mindless spending.I never budgeted or planned how to spend. Money just plugged holes I created. Id quickly buy a new pair of sneakers I didnt particularly like because Id left mine at home and there was a lunchtime run at work. It was almost like I gave money no value. It was just something to churn through until it was replaced at the end of the month.But you must have bought loads of nice clothes? friends now exclaim. I didnt. Nice things require time, attention and a thought process. When you give yourself 20 min utes to buy a pair of jeans because you find yourself in front of Liberty between meetings, you are not going to come out with something nice. Theyll be made with lovely denim, the selvedge hard stuff. But they wont fit. Youll still buy them because you need new jeans and you feel like you deserve a treat, and dropping $300 on a whim is doable. Then theyll sit in your wardrobe, youll try them on every morning and always take them off just before you leave the house because they dont fit. Another $300 bites the dust.It sounds like you had zero respect for money, diagnoses Dr. Joan Harvey, a psychologist who specializes in occupational psychology. Its true. You would think because I worked really hard for the money Id respect it, but the only consequence of spending stupidly was having to go to work every day, which Id already resigned myself to. Dr. Harvey continues Which means you probably didnt respect your time, either. People often dont realize that budgeting doesnt just mean the y could have spare money. It could mean more spare time. Nail on the head, Joan. It sounds ridiculous but it took me a long time to realize my spending habits were keeping me trapped in a stressful full-time job . Theres a lesson here - if you dont respect how you spend your time, youre not going to respect your money, because they are completely interlinked.Before I left full-time work, I heard my 22-year-old nephew talk about time the way my peers talked about money. He negotiated time off in his new job the way I had negotiated my salary . He works four days a week and has long holidays when he can tour with his band. Theres nothing like seeing your little nephew rock life to make you realize youre not quite living the dream. That and the realization I hadnt seen my young son awake for four days in a row were the wake-up calls I needed to quit.Once I knew money wouldnt be flowing in with any regularity, I put myself on a strict budget. I started challenging myself to get throu gh a day and only spend a fiver. The thrill of succeeding was greater than any buzz Id gotten from whacking down my credit card. It also taught me what I could survive without - Bounce protein balls, M&S prawns, black cabs, ASOS deliveries and flat whites among them. And the things Im happy to work for - Kiehls moisturizer, beer and childcare.Right now Id rather have time to spend with my son or on passion projects that dont pay well than buy another pair of jeans. I see that plonking my card down for a round of Aperol Spritzes no one really wanted actually cost me an hour of sitting in a boardroom. Freelancing allows me to dial up or down how much I work, so now when it comes to spending I always think, Am I willing to work an hour or a day for this? My conversion rate is time.This article was originally published on Refinery29 . It is reprinted with permission.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How to trick yourself into sticking to a budget

How to trick yourself into sticking to a budgetHow to trick yourself into sticking to a budgetBudgeting and money management is bedrngnis an innate skill that were born with. Yes, some people are naturally more disciplined and organized than otherbeis, but that doesnt mean theyre always great with money. However, even if money matters elude you, you can still take control of your finances to put yourself in a healthy situation and build a good life. Sometimes, doing that requires you to trick yourself into it. No one approach works for everyone, but some of these tips might work for youGet clear on your numbersThe first step to financial success is always to figure out where youre starting from. You cant implement a budget or new habits if you dont do this first. Figure out how much money you have coming in every month, and get clear on how much money absolutely needs to go out. This includes things like rent, utilities, student loans, etc. Whatever is leftover can be allocated into your spending budget, savings goals, and extra debt payments. Once youre clear on these numbers, you can create your budget and set up tools to help you stick to it.AutomateAutomation is key when it comes to financial management. It removes human error from the equation by taking the action for you. That way, you cant forget or actively avoid paying your bills or building up your savings. Set up auto-pay for your utilities, credit cards, and subscriptions. Make sure you keep track of when these payments are due so that you always have enough money in your bank account to cover them. You should also automate any savings youre able to contribute to. Set up your 401k deduction with your employer, and make sure a portion of your paycheck deposits directly into your savings account(s).Set up a spending accountOne of the more genius ideas Ive heard of is opening a checking account that is allocated specifically for everyday spending. Then there is a separate checking account that covers b ills, like rent and other expenses. In this scenario, you would set up your paycheck direct deposit to split into the two accounts based on your bills and your spending budget. Ideally, you would leave your bills debit card at home and only use the debit card that goes with your spending account. Once you run out of money, you have to wait until you get paid next. That can be a motivating factor in keeping your spending down as the weeks go by. It also makes it so that youll never accidentally spend the money that you need to pay your bills.Use cash onlyMaybe youve heard of the envelope method of budgeting. Basically, it means that you set a budget for each spending category each month. Then you put the cash for each amount in an envelope dedicated to that specific category. You only use cash for spending, and once you run out in one area, youre done spending on that category. Abedrngnisher, simpler approach is to take out cash at the beginning of each week and use it on your everyd ay spending until its gone. Once its gone, you cant spend more money until the next week starts. This can be painful, but it will show you where you tend to overspendUse apps that move your money for youIf you know you wont save or invest money on your own, take advantage of all the great apps out there that will do it for you, likeAcorns,Digit,Qapital,Qoinsand more. Many of these apps will use a round-up method to put small amounts of the everyday money that you spend into a savings or investment account. If that approach doesnt appeal to you, you can also choose the exact amount that these apps move for you each month.I have a client who usesDigitnot just for saving money, but for setting money aside for rent during the month. She used to find herself strapped for cash and stressed out at the end of the month when rent was due. Then she set up Digit to pull half of her rent from her mid-month paycheck so that she wouldnt spend it without realizing. The app holds the money in a sep arate account until its due. Now, at the end of the month, she always has enough money to pay her rent and doesnt have to worry about it.Disconnect your cards from online accountsHave you ever made a purchase on Amazon without even thinking about it because your debit or credit card information was already programmed in? Youre not alone. This convenience makes it much easier to spend money impulsively. If you had to stop and type in your credit card number everytime you wanted to make a purchase, youd probably be more discerning. So disconnect your cards so that you have to think twice about that purchase.Delete apps from your phoneHave you ever deleted the Twitter or Facebook app from your phone so that you wouldnt use them so much? This helpful approach can also apply to shopping apps. I once had a client who would open up the Sephora app on her phone when she was bored. This immediately led to her buying makeup that she didnt need and couldnt afford. I suggested that she delete t he app from her phone to remove the temptation, and within days, she realized she had no urge to buy from Sephora anymore. Figure out your most tempting app and delete it from your phone. See how your impulse spending changes afterwards.Budgeting is not a one-size-fits-all system. What works for you might not work for someone else. Its important to know yourself and your habits so that you can know exactly what you need to trick yourself into sticking to a budget. So, what kinds of tricks would help you?Thisarticlewas originally posted on MaggieGermano.com.MaggieGermanois a feminist and financial coach for women. She helps women improve their relationship with money so they can take control of their financial future. She does this through one-on-one financial coaching, workshops, writing, and speaking engagements. She also foundedMoney Circle, which is a safe space for women to talk about money without feeling judged. Its a way to create community and openness around personal financ e. Passionate about many issues affecting women,Maggieis a member of theWomens Information Networkand was trained as a salary negotiation facilitator byAAUW.