Is YOUR Employment Picture Brighter?

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The most recent figures show that the rate of unemployment has dropped to 8.2%, down from a recession high of over ten percent.

That’s an impressive drop, but it is, after all, a statistic.

The real question might be, are the statistics real?

By “real” I mean do they accurately describe what people are actually seeing?

Is the improvement the product of government jobs programs, changes in the statistical count, or are most of the new hires part-timers at the Golden Arches?

Remember, that percentage you hear about is the OVERALL average unemployment.  Truth is, there are many areas and groups that have much higher unemployment numbers.

Below are some employment categories that I think tell more about the employment situation in America than the unemployment numbers.
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How Will Your Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score?

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You’d be hard-pressed to make it through college these days without student loans.

With the cost of a post-secondary education rising each year, most people can’t afford to attend university without the help of student loans.  Even a 529 plan and a partial-tuition scholarship might not be enough to avoid student loans.

While there are many advantages to student loans, and you can get special treatment with your student loans, it’s important to understand how a student loan can affect your credit.

Since your credit score is an important part of your financial life, it’s a good idea to consider the impact of your student loans.

Student Loans And Your Credit Score

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The $100 Startup Only72 Sale – Follow Your Passion and Make Money Doing It

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How do you answer “what do you do?” when you meet someone for the first time?  Do you give a sheepish answer?  Do you shrug off the question because you don’t truly love the work you do?

I’ve been in that position!

Ever wish you could start your career over?

Would you love to create your own business that you love?

Do you want to be your own boss?

Chris Guillebeau has travelled to over 175 nations.  He’s looking to visit every country on Earth.  Oh, and he’s only in his early thirties (in contrast, I’ve been to about 5 countries besides the U.S. and except for Canada, all the others are Caribbean tourist destinations).

That in itself is a pretty cool and interesting feat!

But how does he pay for all that travelling?

Well, Chris has a certain knack for taking his ideas and turning them into profit.

In his latest book The $100 Startup, Guillebeau culls together information from 50 case studies of individuals who have built businesses that earn $50,000 and more, many of which started out with $100 or less.

The book is a simple guide to help you find your own personal expertise that you can build a business into.  Read valuable lessons from other successful entrepreneurs and see how you can do the same.

Sounds like a pretty cool book, right?

It’s on my reading list and it’s not even out yet.

Only72 Sale

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Apple is Printing Money Around the World and Links

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The infamous tech company Apple is virtually printing money through the explosive sales of its products around the world.

Until this week Apple’s stock had been sliding back a bit — coming off about 13% of its recent high.  Pundits feared that disappointing iPhone sales at AT&T and Verizon would hurt Apple.

Of course Apple came in and hit another home run with its fiscal Q2 numbers in 2012 by selling 35.1 million iPhones around the world.  A significant, but undisclosed, chunk of that amount came from China where the iPhone 4S launched on January 13th.

While Apple figures out what to do with an ever-increasing amount of cash on hand, here are some tips for you to handle your own cash on hand:

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7 Money Mistakes That Can Keep You from Achieving Your Goals

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Schools don’t do a very good job when it comes to teaching basic money management skills. 

If we want to learn how to handle money we pretty much have to rely on the example set by our parents, as well as our own experiences of trial and error.

If we’re lucky we figure things out early and get a head start on the path to financial freedom.  But all too often we fall into the same money traps that keep so many other people from achieving their dreams.

If you want to take control of your finances and start building wealth you need to avoid these common money mistakes…

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How to Get Your Spouse More Involved in the Family Finances

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In many marriages, there is the financial geek who enjoys setting the budget, paying the bills,  and managing the money. 

Often the other spouse wants no part of the finances.

While this is not always the case, it is true for many marriages.

This arrangement may work well for awhile, but over time, the spouse who handles the money may feel burdened by being the sole financial executor, especially if the family struggles with debt.

While the financial geek may never get his or her partner as excited about finances as he or she is, there are some ways to get your spouse involved more.

How You Can Get Your Spouse More Involved in the Family Finances

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What is FOREX Trading and is it Right for My Portfolio?

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Sometimes sticking to stocks and bonds just isn’t enough for the investor that wants to make his portfolio a little more exotic.

For the aspiring speculator, a wide range of options are available: trading options, trading on margin, owning precious metals, and FOREX trading.

Be forewarned: you should never dedicate more than 5-10% of your nest egg to any kind of speculative trade opportunity whether it be picking individual stocks on your own or doing currency trading.  You can survive losing that small chunk of your portfolio, but not a significant portion of your assets.

What is FOREX Trading?

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Secret Service Scandal and Links

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A new scandal has caused the Secret Service to fire or “encourage” some agents to retire after prostitutes were brought into a facility the President was staying at in Colombia.

One of the prostitutes demanded payment, the agent wouldn’t pay, and the next thing you know embarrassing international headlines are everywhere.  Not only was it an embarrassment, it was also a severe breach of protocol that could have put the President in danger.

Dumb move!

We all make dumb moves — hopefully none as serious as the above — but they can still be costly. Here are some articles to help you avoid making bad financial moves:

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Earth Day Freebies and Deals – and a Little History Too

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Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970, and it was lead by Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin.

Nearly 20 million people participated and today, 42 years later, we still celebrate Earth Day, but now, 175 countries celebrate Earth Day.

Earth Day 2012 will also be celebrated on April 22nd (and will be celebrated on that date at least until 2015).

The primary purpose of the day is to bring awareness to environmental issues as well as to focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Of course, proponents of frugality recognize that the things we do to keep Mother Earth healthy are the same things we can do to keep our finances healthy.  By reducing, reusing and recycling, we become more financially conservative.

When you buy a used car, shop at garage sales or your thrift stores or hold your own garage sale or donate items you no longer use, you are saving money and keeping items out of the landfill, which is a win-win.

To celebrate Earth Day this year, several retailers are offering freebies or discounts.  There are plenty of great offers to take advantage of:

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