Rising Gas Prices
January 21, 2011
Have you been to the gas pump lately? Gas prices are rising. There are a lot of expert predictions now that gas prices may still go significantly higher.
What does this mean to you personally? Most Americans can’t do a lot about gas prices on a daily basis. If the prices go up, most of us end up paying them.
For most of us it has a negative impact on our monthly budget. Do you have a budget? Do you have enough room in your budget so that if gas prices go up you can cover this expense without exceeding your monthly income?
Are you living within your means enough to handle higher gas prices? If not, are you prepared to drive less? If all of your driving expenses are back and forth to work, this can be a challenging expense to cut back.
Some people look to trade their larger vehicles for smaller ones when prices rise. This could be one good idea but this also has some potential pitfalls to consider. The last time gas prices increased rapidly, some car dealers added market surcharges to the most economical models as the demand for them increased. This meant that potential fuel cost savings had to be weighed against the extra vehicle costs.
When this happens it becomes a matter of doing the math to see if projected fuel savings costs offset getting a different vehicle.
Once again, most of us just pay the higher prices at the pump. And unfortunately, as gas prices rise, many other product costs such as groceries increase due to increased transportation costs.
One important yet simple thing you can do is to get yourself as prepared as you can be in case prices rise. There may be some simple steps that you can take to prepare.
- Can you start saving now in anticipation of rising gas prices?
- Can you make some small (or larger) cuts in other budgeted areas?
- Can you cut down on some discretionary driving?
- If you have more than one car, can you drive the most economical one more?
Ultimately we all have to live with our choices. Sometimes taking simple little steps such as the ones above and doing them over and over can make a big difference. Do you have other helpful ideas on how to deal with riding gas prices?
Copyright Kevin Drum 2011
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC
Money, Resume, and Objective
January 10, 2011
Sometimes when we are trying to live within our means and make our money go as far as we can, we may need to get a better job or a part time job for additional income. For most of us a resume is part of the job search process.
Following is an article by resume writing expert John Holmgren with some tips for you.
INCLUDING A RESUME JOB “OBJECTIVE”: A MUST?
By: John Holmgren, TheExpertResumeWriter.com
There are two schools of thought on the subject.
Pro: A job “OBJECTIVE” not only should, but must be a part of your resume.
Con: The “OBJECTIVE” narrows your applicability.
Pro:
First and foremost, HR and hiring managers have a problem to solve; an open job
They’re not reading idly
They’re not concerned with you individually
They must fill the position soonest
They must identify capable candidates
Desirable positions attract many resumes
It’s a multi-phase selection process.
First, received resumes are briefly scanned (½ – 2 minutes). Today, job specs are very precise. Those not fitting the job description are eliminated out of hand. Yours must state clearly your job position “OBJECTIVE”.
If the company needs an “auto claims adjuster” and your “OBJECTIVE” doesn’t say “auto claims adjustor”, you’re gone.
I make the point because it’s so important. Be specific. Don’t say you want to contribute to the prosperity (or whatever) of the organization or that you want to advance your career.
Second is close evaluation of selected resumes. This reading still only involves scanning the top half of page one. Therefore, after your “OBJECTIVE”, a “PROFILE”, or “EXECUTIVE SUMMARY” is necessary. It states the skills and capabilities supporting your claim of qualification. That may get you an interview. It should get you on the short candidate list deserving closer examination.
Con:
Assumptions:
1: “If I don’t get this job, I’ll fit somewhere else in the organization”. Job criteria are very specific. It’s unlikely you’ll get “shopped around” the organization.
2: “If I don’t get this I’m “dead” as a candidate. Nonsense! HR and hiring managers look to satisfy needs. That, or a related job, may resurface. And, if you have strong skills your resume will be retained.
3: “It’s easier for me to have just one resume format to submit”. True, if you’re lazy. Your must customize your resume for maximum impact with each job situation. Each must be one-off.
4: “I’m a generalist. I can do most anything”. Bull! That’s not the way it works.
My conclusion: you MUST have an “OBJECTIVE” in your resume to stand out!
The above article was used with permission from John Holmgren. For more information on resume writing, please visit his website at TheExpertResumeWriter.com
Copyright Kevin Drum 2011
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC
New Year’s Resolutions
January 3, 2011
Do you make New Year’s resolutions each year? Many of us like to make resolutions or set new goals starting January 1. Most of us start with good intentions.
The New Year is a good time to start out with a clean plate so to speak. It is a new beginning.
The beginning of the New Year can certainly be a good time to observe your life and figure out what is going on and where you are at. It is a good time to review what is working and what isn’t working.
Unfortunately, we know that New Year’s resolutions don’t really stick for most people. After a little time, most of us go back to doing whatever we were doing and we don’t get the real change that we were seeking.
If you didn’t or don’t make New Year’s resolutions, remember that any time that you want or need to make a change can be a good time to get started. If you really want to make something happen you have to get started – whenever that is. And then you have to stay at it to make the change stick.
Do you have some things that you want to change or accomplish in 2011? What are you willing to do in order to achieve these things?
Best wishes for a happy and successful 2011.
Copyright Kevin Drum 2011
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC