Keeping the "person" in personal finance by writing about what it’s like being in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and surviving unemployment, offering advice and support for others
Do You Struggle With Expressing Gratitude?
Last Updated on December 21, 2020
With the holidays upon us and the year 2020 coming to an end, you might be thinking about new year’s resolutions right now.
Some people love them, some people don’t. Personally, I fall somewhere in between.
After the unexpected challenges we’ve faced this year, I think we are all looking ahead.
Hopefully we’ve also become better at expressing gratitude, and have a better idea of what really matters to us now, too.
I don’t usually make a formal resolution, but...
Get Your Resume Past the 6 Second Glance Test (Free Resume Checklist)
Last Updated on April 28, 2021
When it comes to job hunting, I was shocked to learn that most recruiters and hiring managers only give your resume a 6-second glance test before they decide to accept or reject your application.
Yes, only 6 seconds.
6 seconds is not a long time by any means.
It’s probably taken you about 6 seconds to read this far.
So as you can see, your resume has to accomplish a lot in a very limited amount of time. Otherwise, it’ll end up in the “no” pile – even if you are ...
Why It’s A Mistake To Go To College As An Undeclared Major
Last Updated on March 4, 2021
If you are about to graduate high school or are planning to pursue higher education, spring can be a very stressful time of year while you wait for those College and University acceptance (and rejection) letters.
Will you be accepted into the school of your choice? With the college major of your choice? How will you decide if you get accepted into multiple schools? Can you even afford to go?
What if you make the wrong choice?
When I was in this situation, I made ...
How to be Happy at Work: Stop Doing These 11 Things Immediately!
Your job is an essential part of your life. Because you spend a lot of your time there, knowing how to be happy at work is also essential.
It’s easy to be happy at work if you like your job, get paid well, and have a healthy balance between your personal and professional life.
But sometimes, your work environment can feel toxic. Maybe you don’t like your job, your manager, or the people at work. You could be feeling overworked, underappreciated, and underpaid. Or it could just be your attitud...
What Should I Do With My Life? How to Live Your Life to the Fullest
Last Updated on January 5, 2021
Finding your purpose, or what you “should” do with your life is not an easy task. It’s typically a long, dynamic journey that will change multiple times as your life changes, too.
You could be content with how your life is going for you now and are simply wondering “what’s next?”. Maybe something with you feels a little off, and you know you could be doing more to live your life to the fullest. Or you could be overwhelmed, at a complete loss and don’t know wher...
Hi! I’m Amanda and this is My Life, I Guess…
I’ve made a lot of mistakes when it comes to my money and my career. By sharing my story, experience, and bad decisions with you, I hope to help you avoid ever making those mistakes yourself. Or if you already have, I hope to help you get past them.
Does Any of This Sound Like You?
I’m a real person, with real problems.
Especially when it comes to money and figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. (Let’s just ignore the fact that I’m already a “grown-up”, okay?)
It’s not that life’s bad...
The Hidden Job Market: What It Is and How to Use It to Find Your Next Job
Last Updated on March 19, 2021
You’re probably already familiar with the traditional ways of how to find a job. You use one or more of the many online job boards like Monster, ZipRecruiter or Indeed as part of your job search. And keep an eye on the job postings sections of the company websites that you may want to work for. You might also browse sites like Craigslist or Kijiji for local job listings.
While browsing for job openings online can sometimes yield great results, there’s an entire ...
Are you a night owl? These jobs could be for you
If you are someone who doesn’t mind burning the midnight oil and working while the rest of the world sleeps, there are many great night shift jobs out there that are in high demand.Night shift jobs, which are also referred to as 3rd shift or graveyard shift jobs, are a lot more common than people realize. Night shifts are critical in 24-hour industries. And with more opportunities to work from home online, employees may be in completely different timezones than each other or th...
The controversial way I paid off half my debt in less than a year
Yes, you read that headline right. I paid off approximately half of my $53,500 of debt in less than a year!
During a pandemic.
On a net income of about $65,000 CAD (for 2 of us).
But it’s probably not what you think.
I didn’t put $25,000 – approximately 40% of our income – towards my debt repayment.
My husband and I didn’t live off of $40,000 for a year.
I Filed for Bankruptcy
It all actually started back at the end of 2019. In October, I spoke with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee for the first...
This is the surprising way most Americans get new jobs
You’re probably already familiar with the traditional ways of how to find a job. You use one or more of the many online job boards like Monster, ZipRecruiter or Indeed as part of your job search. And keep an eye on the job postings sections of the company websites that you may want to work for. You might also browse sites like Craigslist or Kijiji for local job listings.
While browsing for job openings online can sometimes yield great results, there’s an entire market of jobs you might not be...
Things you should stop doing right now if you want to be happy at work
It’s easy to be happy at work if you like your job, get paid well, and have a healthy balance between your personal and professional life.But sometimes, your work environment can feel toxic. Maybe you don’t like your job, your manager, or the people at work. You could be feeling overworked, under-appreciated, and underpaid. Or it could just be your attitude or behavior.If you fail to identify what needs to change and work towards making these changes, you will likely burn out a...
Starting a new job? Here's how to crush it
When you’re first starting a new job, just getting into the swing of things can often feel like a huge accomplishment. In truth, though, your goal should always be to figure out how to succeed as quickly as possible. Although every workplace has its own culture and its own markers for success, there are a few universal steps that can be taken to get ahead, regardless if it’s your first job, a new position, or you are making a career change and starting a whole new career path.
1...
7 major job hunting mistakes you can easily avoid
Job hunting is a long and frustrating process. The trouble is, some people make finding a job much harder for themselves than it needs to be.
Regardless of whether you’re looking for your first job, stuck in a job you hate, have recently become unemployed, or are looking for a career change, even the savviest of job seekers are bound to make a mistake here or there.
When you’re in the middle of a job search, the smallest blunder could be the difference between landing the position and being r...
30 Places to Learn New Job Skills for FREE!
Upgrading your job skills and learning something new is always a great idea.
With our current reality, taking advantage of free skills training is something that everyone can benefit from. If you’ve been laid off or are out of work, training courses look great on your resume and can help you become a stronger candidate for certain roles.
If you are working from home, you might not have as much work to do (depending on your job) and are looking for professional development opportunities. Or ma...
Here’s how to save money on prescription glasses
According to the Vision Council of America, an estimated 75% of the worldwide adult population wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. If you’re one of these people, you don’t have to spend a lot to take care of your sight.
There are plenty of places to get cheap prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contacts, whether you’re ordering online or not.
Buying cheap prescription glasses, as opposed to designer frames, is a clear way to save money. But before you purchase your new e...