Can Money Buy Happiness?

This has been an age-old question that many have pondered. Some are quick to say yes it can, and others are quick to say no it can’t. I would have to say for me the answer is yes AND no. With money, you can pay off your bills and not have to worry about going without. If you need something or run out of something, you can just go to the store and get another one. I’m not talking about a $5,000 TV or anything. I’m talking about basic life necessities. You can go to the grocery store and get what you want over getting what you can afford this minute. You won’t need to silently calculate your total to see if you need to return anything from your cart before you reach the register. This type of ability to me would give me peace of mind.

Now, would money instantly heal me if I was sick, no.  I would have the money to afford comprehensive health insurance though. If I were sick, I wouldn’t need to determine if I was actually sick enough to see the Dr. or if I could tough it out. I could afford medicines that the Dr. would prescribe. This could mean that my recovery would be faster with less downtime. Could I still get a terminal illness? Sure. Money would give me the opportunity to live as comfortably as possible while allowing me to take care of my affairs and offer any extra money for family.

Would everyone be my friend and my life lived as a sitcom? Of course not, you still have disagreements with people. Days still go bad, and sometimes it will still seem like everything goes wrong. This is life. Money will never take those days away. Having money could mean pressure from family, friends, and others to share your money with them or just give them a little bit and they will pay you back have past never. Again, this is just life.

Stress will happen. Bad days will happen, but there are many things that money can help with. In some areas, money can reduce stress; provide opportunities, and learning experiences. I would lean more towards having money and seeing how I do, over just saying money can’t buy me happiness. Money would reduce my stress. I could get ahead financially and learn about investing to get my money to make me money. I would try things out and learn what works best for me. I would just want to start with enough so that I could lose some without freaking out.

Ultimately I also know that happiness is a choice and you can make the choice every single day to find happiness in your experiences. I just want to do it with more $$$$ in my wallet.

Frugal Reading Choices

There are many ways to spend your time that do not cost a lot of money. One such way is to catch up on your reading. But books cost money, you say? Not all the time. There are many ways to get a hold of free or low cost books. Some will require travel and others will be as close as your nearest computer or other electronic device.

Library

There is nothing as satisfying as catching up on your reading, whether it is newspapers, magazines, or books. At the library you can read there, or check out the material and bring it back after the specified lending period. To check out the material requires a library card. Another advance with libraries is the ability to “check out” an e-book. An e-book is an electronic version of a book that is viewable on a computer, a phone, an iPad, or other electronic reading device. An e-book does not require a physical trip to the library to take it out or to return it. The e-book is delivered electronically to your device with a time limit on it. When the time limit is up the shell of the book remains but the contents are no longer available and then the shell needs to be deleted.

Computer

There is the possibility to read books without ever leaving the comfort of your home. As stated above these books are in the form of electronic books. Now, you are wondering how this can work if you do not have a Nook, iPad, Kindle or the like. The companies that make these products have also produced a similar format for the computer. So this means you can read books on your Kindle for PC or your Nook for PC, and so on. This does require the recipient to have an account with the specific company, but this is just filling out some information and downloading the reader.

Final Thoughts

With these two choices above, there is an almost endless supply of reading material. The magazines and newspapers are updated daily, weekly, or monthly and you are free to read them as much as you like. Whether you go to the library or use a program for your computer, you can learn a hobby, learn a language, or even catch up on the classics.

There is something for everyone

Birthday Bargains

Who doesn’t love their birthday? It is a time to get together with friends and family to celebrate. When the funds are tight, it becomes harder to get into a festive mood. What options are available for a tight budget? Plenty!

Restaurants

Many local restaurants have fan clubs. These clubs can be joined through the restaurant site, through the Facebook page associated with the restaurant, or directly at the restaurant. General information is gathered including your name, email address, birthday, and possibly your mailing address. When your birthday arrives, you get a coupon or certificate for either a free meal, a free dessert, a free appetizer, or a free drink. Some restaurants require an additional purchase to obtain the free item and other restaurants state that no purchase is necessary.

Stores

Stores reward customer loyalty in the same manner. There are clubs for insiders and frequent shoppers as well. Signing up for these is similar to that of restaurants where there could a sign up through the store website, in the store, or through a Facebook fan page. When your birthday draws near you will be emailed a coupon for savings on your birthday or a free item. Then the coupon is brought into the store, along with the savings card associated with your account, and the items or savings is redeemed.

Things to Remember

As with any reward or certificate that is offered, there are some restrictions as to its use. First and foremost, there will be a time frame in which the coupon must be redeemed. Sometimes the coupon/savings is only valid on your birthday, other times there will be a seven-day window, and others are valid for your whole birthday month. It is important to read the restrictions regarding the offer you are redeeming. Additionally, make sure that you bring a picture ID with you when redeeming. It is important that you prove you are the birthday person.

Returning to School Later in Life

Either you have spent some time in the working world and want to add a degree (or another) to your resume, or you have been a stay at home parent and the children are almost old enough for you to return to work, and you have decided to go back to school. The prospect of returning to the classroom almost has you in a sweat. The idea that you don’t even need to go to a classroom makes your head spin. There are many options available for learning and you are not sure where to start. Where do you begin?

The first place to start is to think about the reasons for returning to school. Are you hoping for a raise? Do you want to show that you have new skills? Have you stated in the past that you were always going to go back and get your degree, so this is the year? Understanding your motivation will help you solidify how serious you are about your education. Additionally, it will be important to think about whether you are returning to school because you want to go or someone else said you should go. The motivation will be stronger if you are returning to school because you want to.

Another point to think about is your time availability for school. Do you have the time to go full-time? Will you need to go part-time? Are you going to have to look to see if there are weekend only classes available? Motivation is important but not the only factor to consider. If you simply do not have the time to devote to studies then you will do poorly when you go. You will need to think about your work/family schedule and how much time you can and will need to devote to studies.

There is the choice of attending school online or attending at a brick and mortar institution. For those considering online, it will be important to assess your level of concentration and dedication. Some schools do not have a set time for classes; the day lasts for the full 24 hours, so if you attend at any time during the 24 hours (in the given time zone) then you will have attended for the day. This will require discipline. Additionally, with online classes there is a great deal of offline study that is required. So carving out time each day to study will be essential.

While we do not want to think about growing older, it will be important to assess if you will need assistance. For some, their eyes aren’t what they used to be and they will need to look into either large print books or a magnifier to see the text (either on the screen or in a book). Others will need to look into sound amplifying equipment. If you cannot see or hear clearly in the classroom, this will negatively impact your learning and motivation to continue. Additionally, some people are just not that tech savvy. If the classroom requires computer work, or takes place online, then you might need to take a basic computer class before you begin.

Going back to school does not need to be a scary prospect. If you take the time to assess your reason for going, your availability to attend, and if you will need any assistance, then you will have a good foundation when you start. Sharing this news with family and friends can make the choices easier because they can share their experiences with you. They can tell you what worked for them and any tips and tricks that they used.

Congratulations on your decision to return to school! Good luck!

7.5 Ways to Find More Time in Your Day

Everyone has the same 24 hours during the day, but everyone does not use their 24 hours the same way. How many people go through their day wishing they had more time? The day passes and by the end, they begin to wonder where the day went. They realize that they didn’t accomplish half of the things they wanted to, so they add the day’s activities onto the next day. A couple days of this and they just become overwhelmed by the amount of things that are not getting completed. What’s a person to do?

For everyone who is looking for more “day” in their day, here are seven ways to increase productivity and get more accomplished.

1. Plan the day

There are many people who just “know” that they will remember everything they have to get done, so they don’t need to write it down. Are you one of them? These people realize at the end of the day that they were wrong and some items fell through the cracks. Even people who have a few short things to do should still write it down and plan it out. It is amazing how easily the distractions start and the items are forgotten.

2. Group like things together

When you have to go to the grocery store, stop at the post office, and reschedule your dentist appointment, it saves time if you realize that the post office and the dentist are close together so these items can be done around the same time. How much time is wasted during the day circling back to an area because something else on the “to-do” list was in close proximity to an earlier task?

3. Delegate tasks

Now is the time to ask yourself if you really have to be the one to accomplish everything. Do you need to go to the grocery store or could you shop online and have the groceries delivered? Do you have a friend who will be going to or going past the post office? Could they drop your packages off for you? People carpool when they go to the office, so why can’t you “carpool” your activities? If they are going to be in the area anyway (and they have the time) then why not let them do this for you? You could cook dinner for them or handle a task for them when you are out.

4. Wake up earlier or stay up later

This does not mean having to walk around like a zombie for the day, but you could wake up 30 minutes earlier and see what more you can accomplish during this time. If you planned your day out (number 1 of this list) then you can determine what can be accomplished during this extra time. Staying up later by 30 minutes can also be beneficial.

5. Set up electronic alerts

By setting up alerts on the various devices you own, you can ensure that you will accomplish what you set out to do. You can even use this method to remind yourself what other activities are in close proximity. You can remind yourself several hours or minutes before the task should be done.

6. Focus on one task at a time.

In a world where it seems that everyone tries to do five things at once, it is best to focus on one task at a time. When you are writing your school paper, listening to your messages, and trying to eat; you realize that you have typed your messages into your school paper and developed a stomach ache because you ate too fast. Or worse, you become distracted and stick something in your mouth that isn’t food. Your level of concentration diminishes when you add tasks and then whether they get completed or not, you cannot guarantee that they were completed correctly.

7. Work with an activity/goal buddy

How easy would it be during the day to text your friend quickly to ask them if they picked up the dry cleaning like they said they were going to? They will either text back “yes” or they will thank you for reminding them. This is a way to keep in touch with your friends and hold each other accountable.


The .5 of this list is to review your day before you go to bed. Did you accomplish all of your goals? What worked and what didn’t? What could be adjusted to increase your productivity for the next day? Any and all of the steps can be implemented, but it is important to not skip the evaluation at the end of the day.

With a little thought and planning you can increase your effectiveness and get more accomplished.

Have You Ever Considered Online High School?

Sometimes life throws you a curve. Either you need to quit high school because of family issues, or you just don’t have the interest you should. Maybe there have been health issues which caused you to miss a large portion of school, or learning doesn’t happen as easily for you. Now you have fallen behind. Possibly the school environment has become hostile and you need to leave for your safety. Or maybe these reasons are relevant to your child instead. Either way, for someone high school has come to an end.

You’ve come to realize the importance of a high school diploma. You realize that many employers will ask where you graduated, and some have a high school diploma as a requirement for the job. You know that there is the ability to get the GED (General Education Development) certificate, but did you know that you or your child can attend high school online? Yes, it is possible to attend classes and receive a high school diploma showing that you have completed high school (instead of showing that you have the equivalent knowledge of completing high school). How do you find the information? Read on and find out.

It is wise to conduct research to see what schools are available. A quick search for “online high school” should bring up some quick results. Since the school is online, location does not necessarily need to be a factor in choosing where to go. Some schools offer the service for free and others have a fee attached. It will be important to determine what financial constraints there are before signing up. Will you need to upgrade your computer? Additionally, you might be able to find a school that offers more specialized learning if the physical classroom environment was difficult.

Virtual classrooms offer the ability to learn at your own pace. If some topics are easy to comprehend, then you can move faster through those and when you encounter topics that are more difficult, you will be able to take the time for further study. Usually in the physical classroom, everyone is kept at the same pace. The class day typically runs for 24 hours, so this can accommodate those with a variable schedule.

Depending upon the school chosen, all of the materials may be available online so there will be no further purchases required. This will mean there will be more time looking at a computer screen or other electronic device. Due to this, it will be important to take time away from the computer to lessen the incidence of eye strain or a possible headache. It has been stated that a break should be taken for 10 minutes after every hour of studying. This allows for a sufficient mental and visual break, and a chance to comprehend the lesson.

When a school has been chosen and an information request sent, it will be important to determine what credits will transfer to the school. There are some schools that have “life credits” that can be transferred towards the diploma. These credits come from skills attained by living your life. Through the every day interactions and activities you have acquired skills that can help you master the high school curriculum.

Most of the schools that are available have the ability for students to start at any time. Since they are online institutions, they do not follow the general fall to summer school schedule. Additionally, there will most likely be no days where school is called due to bad weather either.

Now you have the information to get you started on acquiring your high school diploma. Your future awaits…good luck.

Is The Customer Really Always Right?

If you do a quick search on the Internet to answer the question posed at the title of this article you will find yes and no answers. It seems confusing. If your goal is customer satisfaction then shouldn’t the point be to make sure the customer is satisfied? Most would agree yes. Then you take it a step further and ask if the customer should be satisfied at all costs? Then the area begins to gray.

Every company has a goal of customer satisfaction. While every company does not hit that mark, they do strive for it. Businesses provide services or products for customers and if they are not satisfied they may take their business elsewhere. With no customers, companies will not be able to sustain themselves. So where is the happy medium? How much customer service is enough?

When debating if the customer is always right, there is another school of thought: the customer may not always be right, but they are always the customer. With this focus it is easier to see your role as the service/product provider and how best to interact with the customers you encounter.

Here are some ideas:

• First and foremost you should follow the golden rule: treat others how you would like to be treated (or how you treat close friends and family).

• Repeat the customer’s issue back to them to show them that you heard and understood their problem.

• Put yourself in the shoes of the customer. Can you see why they are having a problem?

• Tell them that you will take care of their issue, and if you cannot then you will find someone who can.

• Show the customer that they are important to your business and specifically to you. Reduce/avoid distractions when you are talking with them.

• If the issue cannot be solved quickly then take down their information and let them know when you will be getting back to them. Don’t say “by the end of the week” this is too vague, instead tell them you will call them back in two days, and then call them back in two days.

• If you are working on a project with a deadline and you are not sure you will be able to finish by the deadline, let the client know as soon as possible. Some clients will extend the deadline, or give you some leeway because they will be able to make allowances for the extra time.

There are some customers that you will encounter that no matter what you do they will never be satisfied. If you have exhausted every avenue to remedy the situation and no matter what you’ve done they are not happy, then it will be time to let the customer go. You can thank them for their business and let them know that you do not feel you will be able to adequately service their needs in the future.

Some businesses feel that you must keep the customer no matter what, and do everything humanly possible to keep them happy. What they don’t understand is that the customer begins to take a toll on the business. Not only on the business, but also on everyone that interacts with that customer.

A great way to understand how best to treat the customer is to remember the times when you were a customer. What traits did the staff have that you appreciated? Was there a certain way the store was set up that made it more inviting? What stores will you never shop in again and why? What was your best customer service experience and what was your worst? You can use your insights as a way to guide your interactions with your customers.

How to Have Fun Without Breaking The Bank

Sometimes money is just tight. Maybe a check did not come when it was supposed to, or maybe you work in a business where demand waxes and wanes, and this affects how much you make per pay period. Possibly you work a job that is straight commission so there is no set amount that you will be making at a given time. If any of these scenarios are true, or you are going through a longer stretch with less money, this should not have to be a time of being a complete hermit. Yes, you do not want to go out and spend a lot of money, and you really don’t have to. You can still go out, have fun and not break the bank.

One of the ways that this can be done is to find out where the free concerts and events are in your area. There are places that show free movies in the summer, or they have a block party where the community gets together. You can meet neighbors and friends without spending a lot.

Are you a fan of movies? You can watch free movies with the help of a library card. There are many libraries that offer the ability to rent out movies or music for no fee. Will you be watching the latest blockbuster? Well, no. But you can expand your horizons and watch movies that maybe you would pass up if you were going to pay to rent them. Why not try a foreign film? Or find something in a different genre than you normally watch. Additionally, do not overlook all of the reading options either. You can always take a book to the park and spend some time in nature.

There are many museums and exhibits that offer free periods for admittance. Many cities offer a free local newspaper where events can be posted. Additionally, there can be events posted at the dry cleaners or the local coffee shop on the bulletin boards. As always there is the Internet available for search. If you don’t have the money for Internet service, then head out to places that offer free Wi-Fi and search the Net. There are a greater number of places that offer free Wi-Fi than there used to be. Just make sure that you know how to access the service (some might require a log-in page and others will require that a code or password be entered). Again, the library is a good source for not only free Wi-Fi but if you need to borrow a computer as well.

Another fun idea where costs can be controlled is having a “dinner with friends” night. You can trade off where the dinner will be held, discuss the options beforehand and then you get to have a night out. This can be combined with movies if either of you have DVDs at home or you can all chip in for a rental.

Another good source of fun is going to openings that happen around the community. Stores having grand openings might have free giveaways to the first group of people to walk through the door. Usually, for any opening, there is a giveaway or samples that accompany it. This is to help get out the word about the store to bring in the customers. So they advertise their business, and you reap the rewards.


There are many low or no-cost opportunities to have fun. Just because you are a little tight on cash does not mean that you cannot have a life. Get out there and find the fun!

Where Should You Keep Your Money?

Whether you are a business or an individual, it is an important decision where to keep your money. There are more choices now than ever and for some, the choices are confusing. You can keep your money in a traditional bank (brick and mortar), or you can choose to keep it in a credit union, and there is the choice to keep your money in an online bank (that has no physical location). How do you choose? You can choose by looking at the features along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. You weigh these against your needs and your desired results, and then you will have a better idea of which is the right banking option for you.  Let’s begin by looking at the history of the traditional bank.

Traditional banking has been around since the late 1700s when the then current Treasury Secretary (Alexander Hamilton) was looking for a way to help the government but also help jumpstart business as well. The banking industry had a bumpy start with the government owning some banks and other banks owned by a combination of the government and private investors. With the volatile events of the time (war and fighting over who controlled the bank), the banking system dissolved and a new way to bank needed to be formed[1].

In the late 1830s, states were given the authority to open banks, and the industry began to grow. Because money was dependent upon the market and the amount of business they had, those banks that had few customers closed. After all of these changes and another war, the traditional banking system that is in place now began. The Federal Reserve started in the early 1900s and functioned as a way to stabilize the market to ensure that the value of money did not run too high or drop too low.  This was and is done by regulating interest rates and by buying and selling bonds[2].

Today there are many options for brick and mortar banking no matter in what state you reside. Additionally, after you choose a bank, there are many options regarding what type of account you can choose. There are banks that offer free checking, high-interest checking (which usually comes with the need to keep a certain balance), money market accounts, certificate of deposits (CDs), savings, IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts), etc.  The brick and mortar banks offer physical branches where banking can be done.

One of the advantages of brick and mortar banking is the option to go into a branch and speak with a teller or other bank personnel. Some customers like to speak with the people who are holding their money and they appreciate the one-on-one interaction. The brick and mortar banks usually have several branches in different cities, so you do not have to travel far to find another branch. There are ATMs across the branches, so you have 24/7 access to your money. More brick and mortar branches have the option to handle some transactions online, such as balance inquiries and transfers. Additionally, more banks are allowing for online bill pay, which automatically deducts money from your specified account and transfers it to the business of your choice.

Some of the disadvantages of brick and mortar banking are the fees that can be associated with your account. Some banks charge extra ATM fees if you do not use the preferred ATM providers. Additionally, some banks charge fees if you do not keep a certain amount of money in your account or if you have too many or too few transactions during a month. The interest rates appear to be lower at the brick and mortar banks as well. Additionally, most banks are for-profit and regulated by the FDIC and owned by shareholders. Some people wanted an alternative to this and switched over to a credit union.

In the early 1900s, the first credit union began in the United States. Through this formation came the founding of the Credit Union National Extension Bureau (CUNEB) in 1921, and the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934[3]. These both stood to examine and solidify the rules and regulations related to credit unions at the state and federal level. In the early ‘70s, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) were formed to oversee the federal credit unions and insure the deposits. As time went on, they became “backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government” and were able to offer additional services like mortgages and loans.

Credit unions are owned by the members and are not-for-profit institutions. They generally have higher interest rates and lower fees. As with banks, credit unions are brick and mortar establishments that offer in-person transactions as well as ATM access. While banks usually have ATMs associated with them, credit unions can allow access (for no fee) at other establishments (such as ATMs at convenience stores). Also, the credit union board of directors is voted into office by the credit union members.  The credit unions allow online access to accounts where a member can check their balance, transfer funds, or set up bill pay, among other things.

Unlike traditional banks, there are fewer locations for credit unions. So, if you need to actually go to a branch, there might not be one close by. Some credit unions allow other credit union members to conduct transactions at their branch. Meaning Credit Union A will allow members of Credit Union B to conduct transactions. This is something that will need to be checked before you drive to another credit union.  Some credit unions have membership requirements. Everyone is not allowed to join, and you must meet the criteria needed for membership. Some individuals do not need the face-to-face interaction and choose to conduct their banking at an online bank.

While the ability to bank online (from a brick and mortar bank) has been around since early 2000, it was in 2005 when the first direct banks (banks purely online) were formed[4]. The banks offer the ability to conduct transactions at any time because as long as you have access to the Internet, you will have access to your bank. So if you would like to bank at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, then you can. There is no waiting in line on Friday to deposit your check, and you can open accounts (checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts, etc.) easily. Banking online offers the ability to set up bill pay, as some brick and mortar establishment’s offer, and set up automatic payments. This can save money due to not needing to go to the post office or buy stamps. Another helpful area (that other establishments share) is the ability to alert you to potentially fraudulent activity or low balances.

Obviously, one downside to pure online banking is what to do when you don’t have access to the Internet. There are some that are worried about the security and encryption of their information, but most banking establishments have data that is kept online. So, as a general thought, any form of banking has online data components. As with credit unions, there may not be a large number of ATMs that you can access depending upon the bank that you choose. It is important to consider this before signing up with any particular bank.

There are many similarities that can be seen between all of the banking choices. The final consideration is how comfortable you feel putting your money in any of the establishments. Do you feel comfortable not having a physical bank? Would you like the institution to be owned by the members? What are your banking needs? By reviewing your banking needs and wants you can come to the decision regarding which institution is best for you.

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[1] Anderson, Kelly. "The Complete History of Banks in the United States." Mint. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2014. <https://www.mint.com/the-complete-history-of-banks-in-the-united-states/>.

[2] Ibid

[3] MyCreditUnion.gov. "Historical Timeline of Credit Unions." History Timeline of Credit Unions. National Credit Union Administration, n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2014. <http://www.mycreditunion.gov/Pages/historical-timeline-of-credit-unions.aspx>.

[4] Yodlee. "Infographic: The History Of Internet Banking (1983 – 2012)." The Financial Brand Marketing Insights for Banks Credit Unions. The Financial Brand, 2 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 Jan. 2014. <http://thefinancialbrand.com/25380/yodlee-history-of-internet-banking/>.

The Women in My Life

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I have spent significant time with many women in my life. First, was the time with my mother. Caring for her and just being around her has affected me greatly. There were many things to learn from her. Due to her health issues, I would sometimes need to spend extended time with relatives. This brought time with my grandmothers into my life.

I was always fascinated by their stories growing up and generally by how they lived at the time when I was visiting. Both women were similar yet so different. My one grandmother collected everything. She had a miniature village set up and many antiques and trinkets that she picked up from her regular excursions to the flea markets. My other grandmother was always baking something: pies, bread, nut roll, etc. They both grew up on farms and had stories to tell about the funny things that happened. The grandmother with the miniatures moved from the farm to city life, while the baking grandmother remained in a farming atmosphere.

Due to my mother’s health issues, I spent part of a school year in the country. There are pictures of me entering and exiting the bus. Additionally, this was also the time of the infamous haircut that involved my grandfather. Who knew that if you screamed enough when he combed your hair that he would take you to the barber and the nice man would cut it off for you. Then you could be mistaken for a boy and never forget that experience, but I digress.

Time spent with one grandmother would consist of cooking in the kitchen or learning to sew (never got good at that) or helping out around the farm. Time spent with the other grandmother would consist of playing Canasta, eating hot buttered popcorn and having too much fun staying up too late. Fear not, there is another infamous story dealing with this grandmother. Being the curious person that I am, I loved checking out her perfume. She had many bottles, and I liked to smell them. I found a new bottle on her dresser and proceeded to take a long sniff. The horror!! My grandmother let me know after she heard me howling that I had opened her smelling salts! I was very cautious around her perfume after that.

What has been the most interesting about my life and these women is that we had the opportunity to come full circle. They tended to me when I was young, and then I got to return the favor when I became an adult. I took care of my mother off and on my whole life until she passed. I came to help my country grandmother when I was getting my life back together after difficult times. I ended with my city grandmother when macular degeneration and health issues hindered her ability to fully care for herself. For my country grandmother, it might have been more comic relief that I was around, but she still needed help, and I was more than happy to pay her back.

I had the opportunity to observe their lives, their loves, and their perseverance in the face of adversity, their laughter, their smiles, and the very essence that embodied them. I have been positively changed by each of them and do not have a single regret about our time together. They have helped shape me into the person I am today. I am grateful to have known them.  

The Teachable Moments

For several years I taught young children (ages 18 mo to 5 yrs), and the one thing that always stuck with me was that any time could be a teachable moment. When I asked the children questions, I tried to keep them open ended. When I asked for their opinion I also asked why they chose what they chose. I listened intently to every answer. When other teachers would raise their eyebrows at the children’s outlandish stories, I hung on every word. For me, this was the way to get to know the students. I wanted to know how they thought and where their imaginations took them. If someone declared, “It can’t be done!” I would chime in with, “Why not?”

There was a group of students who seemed to always be in trouble. If it wasn’t one thing it was another. They were scattered around in different groups, but it always seemed to be the same children. Being the inquisitive person that I was, I was fascinated with finding out why. After some discussion (and pushing on my part), the children were all transferred into my group so I could observe them better. I watched them as a group, but focused on them as individuals. There was one boy in particular who seemed to be trouble as soon as he showed up. He never asked for anything; he just took. Your answer could never be no, he was going to have it. Whoever tried to say no ended up getting hurt. While some passed this off as “just a phase” or him just being that way, I dug deeper. There had to be something else going on here. So I watched and made observations.

After observing and jumping in as referee when needed, I learned the reason behind the behavior. The boy did not have the proper language skills to ask for what he wanted. When he tried to talk he became frustrated because he could not state clearly what he wanted. So, he had a language barrier. This was fantastic. It turned out to be something that could be fixed. After working with him to use his words and other means to explain what he was trying to say, the altercations just about ceased.

Watching over the other children in the group, I determined that they needed more attention, group and individual. They wanted to be heard and listened to. They wanted to participate with each other and have personal triumphs. I could give this to them. The result of this was shocking.

The owner of the school system contacted the director who ran our location. She wanted to know what had changed about the room that I supervised. The director inquired why and asked the owner to explain. There had been such a significant drop in any type of incident that the owner thought they were just not being reported. By learning from the students about their needs and how best they would thrive, it made a large enough impact that the owner became aware. The teachable moments do not always happen from teacher to student.

What’s It Like To Attend Law School Online?

I knew I wanted to go to law school for some time. I received my bachelors and masters degree online and I liked the experience, so I wanted to see what options were available for law school. I have a preference for online learning. So, I looked around and choose a school. I did not need to take the LSAT (at least not the full test) but still needed to be evaluated before I began. I was accepted and then I began to get nervous.

One thing that was drilled into everyone attending the school was that this was not going to be like regular school. The learning method was different. For some, this was going to be their first experience online, so they might need to work on their computer skills. I work on a computer every day and attended school online already, so I just worried about the actual learning. Then it was time to get the books. One good thing about online learning is that no one can see the faces that you make when you see the price of everything.  After the initial sticker shock, I ordered books and went through some of the preliminary work that was available before school actually started. This was a way to get familiar with the classroom.

Attending law school online was very similar to attending my other schools. The type of learning was different because there was more reflection and personal learning than the bachelors or masters degree. This is due in part to the fact that although there are laws, everything is not cut and dried. There is the possibility for two people to look at the same facts in a different way. When they both give their analysis, they can both be right. This concept is difficult for some people to grasp. These concepts are not something that you memorize and repeat for a test. You need to understand the mechanics of how things work so that you can take that knowledge and apply it to different situations.

In law school you are given cases that you read, and you brief the case. This means that you develop a summary of facts, laws and the decisions that were described in each of the cases. Additionally, you can add analysis of why you feel the case concluded as it did. None of these are graded or handed in; they are for your own information. It is from this information that you develop your definitions. Yes, you are shown what elements are needed for each crime (for the most part), but you develop how you put the information together. Each case does not cover every element. Several cases are needed to give you a general overview of the crime.

My first year classes were Criminal Law, Contracts, and Torts. Additionally, there was a class dedicated to developing your writing skills. Each week I attended one lecture, but I needed to do work for every class. There was a syllabus to follow and the lecture did not necessarily coincide with what you were presently reading for the class. Different from other law schools, the one I attended had tests and written assignments to help you gauge how well you were learning the material as you were going along.

Basically, as with my other schools, attending law school online meant that you needed to budget your time to make sure you finished the reading and that you found additional learning to understand the concepts that were being presented. Additionally, you were encouraged to ask questions and there was the opportunity to join various societies and study groups if you desired.

When attending law school online, as with the school that I chose, students need to take an exam after the first year to prove that they understand the concepts that were presented. When you take this exam and pass it, then you are considered (by any school) to have completed one year of study.

Law school is not for the faint of heart, and online law school is not for the student who thinks they are going to be able to get it all done “at the last minute”. Seriously, there is no “at the last minute” with law school (online or otherwise). There is a lot of reading, a lot of writing and a lot of anxiety. Well, I guess for some people there might not be a lot of anxiety, but it is difficult to look at situations and realize that there could be several analyses that could fit the fact pattern. There is self doubt that creeps in after you take some tests or speak in class (through chat in the lecture) about concepts and realize that you have no idea what you are actually talking about. On the other hand, what a challenge and opportunity for growth!

I like this model of learning. Law school or otherwise, I am just a fan of online learning. I can attend class anywhere (because it is on the computer) and if any changes happen in my life (I moved during my masters degree), my life is not as disrupted nor is school. I don’t need to change schools; I just take it with me. I did move between classes though.

So, what is it like to attend law school online? It is one nerve-wracking, exhilarating, frustrating, exciting, anxiety-ridden heck of a ride!

And Now For Something A Little Different In Vegas

Las Vegas Mob Tour

What better thing to do in Vegas than to trace its mob roots? The tour begins in 1945 and travels through the 80s while you travel around town. There are sites along the way where robberies, murders and loan sharking took place. You learn about the legends in the mob scene such as Bugsy Siegel and Sam Giancana, along with many others. Your tour host decked out in mob attire, shares with you all of the famous and infamous players in the mob scene.

Fun facts and many famous stops along the way fill the over 2 hours of tour time. The final destination is a pizza party at what used to be the Bootlegger Restaurant but is now called Angelina’s Pizza Parlor. This was the place where the Hole in the Wall Gang used to plan their crimes.

You can see the shows, visit the casinos, and walk the strip, but it won’t be a true Vegas experience without the Mob Tour.

Some Gambling History:

Gambling was first legalized in Las Vegas on March 19, 1931. Before the legalization of gambling, betting took place in the backrooms of small businesses. Once it was legalized, gambling moved to the front of the businesses and faced Freemont Street. On November 7, 1941, the first hotel and casino opened: El Cortez Hotel and Casino. On March 28, 1945, Moe Sedway bought the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. The El Cortez Hotel and Casino is still standing today and received the honor of being the longest running hotel and casino in Vegas. Additionally, the hotel as the honor of helping bring the mob to Vegas, because Moe Sedway had been a long time associate of Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.

Contact Information: Explore Vegas Now (702) 677-9015

Haunted Vegas Ghost Hunt

Explore Vegas’ spooky side! Hunt for ghosts and other paranormal activity around Vegas on this guided excursion. What tools will you need to find the ghosts and spirits? Each ghost hunter will be given dowsing rods and an EMF meters to pick up the haunted signals.

Dowsing Rods

Dowsing rods, sometimes called divining rods, can be shaped in a “Y” pattern or be two separate sticks. They are used to pick up the presence of underground water, metal deposits, or gravesites. When the person is near such objects, the rods will point towards them.

EMF Readers

An EMF meter is a scientific instrument used for detecting the strength of electromagnetic fields (EMF) within an area. It has been speculated that the presence of paranormal activity and ghosts disrupt the EMF readings and cause spikes or unexplained fluctuations in the readings.

What types of areas will be explored: There is a bridge, a park, and a haunted house where spirits will be tracked down. Since this will be an outdoor quest, it is recommended that comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire are worn.

Length of tour: 2.5 hours

Contact Information/Ticket Sales: 866-218-4935

Both tourist attractions are not handicapped accessible. Photography, both still and video, is encouraged while on the hosted tour. There are stops made that give the opportunity for everyone to depart the tour vehicle and walk around the designated areas. 

GET RICH QUICK!

What is it about these words that conjure such excitement? Is it the rich, the quick, or the fact that there is the opportunity for both? Just thinking about it makes my pulse quicken. So, if this is possible why is this not happening for more people? If all I have to do is just pick up the phone and attend a seminar on such a wonderful product, why are more people not insanely rich?

There are many infomercials available that offer training and all one has to do is register for a free seminar that will be coming to their area soon. After attending the seminar then participants will be well on their way to becoming rich individuals and will hold the elusive status of financially independent. I find it interesting that there is usually no mention of the free seminar being a pathway to offering pay services. There are lofty messages stated, and wonderful success stories touted that show what a great system it is and the potential results that can come from its successful use.

People who have attended the seminar praise the wealth of information that is offered and how after a short time after following the system they were well on their way to early retirement. They never really mention how much money they spent to acquire the knowledge, tools, website access, or any other extra that I am sure they had to pay for. They also usually fail to mention the fact that there could be monthly costs associated with any system and, of course, there will always need to be further education to continue the program’s success. Additionally, there is no mention of how much initial time was needed to ensure the system was working correctly and how long it took to get comfortable with everything.

I guess there are reasons for this. If one were to find out that the “free” system costs thousands of dollars in initial start-up and hundreds of dollars monthly, they might become turned off by the prospect. Furthermore, if they learned that the easy system was rather complicated, this too might sour them on the prospect. Now, if I am offering such a product would I want to sour people before they had a chance to come to my free initial information seminar? Honestly, after I already have them there, I am sure it would be easier to sway them to how great my product is and how the initial start-up will be returned many times over in no time.

So, why don’t you just attend one of my free seminars, give me your credit card number and I can share with you ways to make huge profits?

Oh, you have already caught onto my plan? I guess my work here is done.

How Do You Know What Is The Right Thing To Do?

With all of the books, tapes, seminars, and lectures regarding money and finances, how does one decide what is best? First and foremost, it is important to formulate some goals regarding your money. These goals should encompass the long-term as well as the short-term. Are there kids to put through college? Is there mortgage to pay off? Is the Caribbean calling, or is it simply time to increase the amount put into retirement or savings? Yes, all of the books and tapes, etc. available might seem enticing, but if it is not in line with goals you have created, then it will just be a waste of money.

Time and time again it has been stated that goals should be many things. Among these, they should have the ability to be measured, be able to be achieved, and most importantly, the goals should be realistic. Another important fact regarding goals is that they should be written down somewhere. Writing them down, or just saving them somewhere, makes goals more concrete and allows the ability to review and update as needed.

After goals are established, and a path is created then if further research is desired books, tapes, seminars, and lectures can be scrutinized. Any information that can be obtained with little or no money is good as long as the information is coming from a reputable source. It would be wise to shy away from deals that promise any get rich quick scenario. Furthermore, some seminars might be free from the outset, but once there, it is found that money must be spent to find out the rest of the story. All of this will just come down to understanding the motives behind the products. Is it really to help you out or is it more to help their wallet?

Knowing the right thing to do comes down to knowing yourself and understanding your abilities and limitations. Limitations can be changed through educating oneself in the importance and power that money holds. Additionally there are many competent professionals available to answer questions and offer guidance.

The Importance of Diligence with Personal Finances

There have been many articles written regarding getting personal finances under control. From putting money away every week to using the envelope system for bill payment to creating a budget there are many avenues that can be taken. One thing that does not seem to be stressed enough is why it is so important to get finances under control. Sure there are numerous ways to do it, but what is the point?

One of the main reasons to get finances under control boils down to the milestones that are reached in everyone’s’ life. If the money is not properly attended to then reaching such milestones could be delayed or not happen. Some of these milestones can include living away from the birth home, being able to go out and do things while attending college, and retiring at some point in the future.

Another reason to become disciplined with money has to do with the desire to purchase items of enjoyment. Some items are considered small-ticket purchases and these include buying electronics, entertainment systems, and dinners out. Other items can be considered big-ticket merchandise and include vacations, boats, or expensive cars. When making some purchases, this can be done using credit.

To obtain credit, many places will review the buyer’s credit history and look at their credit score. This score is a measure of the buyer’s credit worthiness and gives the seller a chance to look at the buyer’s past habits. If the buyer has been good with their money, paying bills on time and using credit wisely, the score will reflect this and show the seller that they are a good risk.

A final reason to become diligent with finances is simply for stress relief. When it is known where the money is coming from and where it is going then, plans can be made, and target dates can be set for goal achievement, whatever that may be. By understanding how much money there is and what areas will require payment then there will be a clear understanding of how much is left or not left. If it is found that more money is going out than coming in, this is a wake-up call that something needs to change. If nothing changes then, a hole will be dug from which it could be too deep to recover.

Could It Really Be This Easy?

So, there was this girl, and she was a dreamer. She lived a life full of wonder and never accepted things as she saw them. She questioned everything and everyone. Her imagination took her to far away places, and showed her that there was more to life than merely what she saw. She realized the power of her mind and its ability to make any and all of her dreams come true. All she needed to do was believe.

She realized when she talked to people that almost everyone had the same feelings. The problem was that they were afraid to show this, or they were told to stop being so childish. So, when she talked to everyone, she not only listened to what they were saying, but she also took in everything they didn’t say. Their eyes spoke volumes; their body whispered their longings. This helped her to truly see the people before her. With this insight she could give them the answers to their questions. They had questions about their business, questions about how to learn more, do more, and be more. She helped them.

There was still so much more though, the thoughts and ideas ran through her head 24/7 and she needed to do something about this. So she decided to write them down. She wrote about scenarios, people, places, events and anything else that struggled to come out. As she wrote, she remembered some of the people whom she had met. Some of them had the ideas but had a problem putting them on paper. She decided that she could let them use her words. She would write for them. She understood the message and ideas they wanted to convey, and she could give them her words to do it.

Some people wanted to use her words and let others know they were her words. Others wanted to use her words and not tell anyone that she wrote them. She was happy either way. It was not the fact that they were her words, it was the fact that they conveyed what they were supposed to convey to the right people. It was not about the messenger but the message. She helped them.

Then she remembered other people that she talked to. These people were more than willing to write the words themselves. They just needed more information to make it better. She knew she could help them too. She could look for them and give them the information that they desired to get their message across. She would talk with them and ask questions regarding how much and specifically what kind of information they were looking for. Because she was full of wonder and questioned everything, she had become very good at finding information. Whether she was sitting at a computer, wandering a library or asking people that she met, she could find the answer to whatever she was searching for. She helped them too.

She realized that beyond the people that she had already met, there were more people that she could help. So she decided to hang a shingle and let people know that she was available to help them. She knew that potential clients were everywhere and she needed a way to let them know about her. So, she joined Twitter, set up a Facebook Page, became LinkedIn, and created an About.Me page to let them know she was available for them and where they could find her.

Then she asked, “How can I help you?”