Personal Finance Advice

Here are a few articles that I came across this past week that peaked my interest that may provide some good weekend reading:

An interesting take to help locally owned businesses in difficult economic times. Cash Mobs are organizes customer groups that gather together to spend money at a specific struggling locally owned business in support of their community.

*****

Here are 10 items with ridiculous mark-ups according to MSNBC

• Text messages with a 6,000% mark-up
• Bottled water with a 4,000% mark-up
• Movie theater popcorn with a 1,275% mark-up
• Brand name drugs with anywhere from a 200% to 3,000% mark-up
• Hotel minibar with a 400% mark-up
• Coffee shop coffee with a 300% mark-up
• Wine with a 300% mark-up
• Greeting cards with a 200% mark-up
• Hotel in-room movies with a 200% mark-up
• Pre-cut vegetables and fruits with a 40% mark-up

I was surprised not to see printer ink, razor cartridges and event food (concerts, professional games, ect) among those listed. Any others that are surprisingly missing in your opinion?

*****

Here is a good list of basic resume mistakes that a large number of job seekers make that you want to avoid:

• Avoid naming your resume, “resume” (too many other people do)
• Avoid using all lowercase letters
• Avoid writing like a robot
• Avoid spamming hiring managers
• Manage your online reputation (clean up your Facebook page)
• Avoid talking negatively about your former employer
• Always proofread your resume
• Take the time to format your resume nicely
• Put your resume into PDF format (not all people have the same programs as you)
• Once you get a job, stay for 2 years

These all seem pretty basic, but it’s being able to avoid basic mistakes that will get your resume at least looked at for consideration.

*****

It may not be that much longer before the dollar bill is no more and turns into a dollar coin. We may not see the penny and nickel (both cost more to make than they are worth) for too much longer, either.

Carnivals This Week

For those who are looking for some extra reading, here are some of the money carnivals where the best personal finance blog posts are grouped together for your reading pleasure.

Totally Money Carnival at Control Your Cash where How to Afford Expensive Things was highlighted as an editor’s pick.

• Festival of Frugality hosted by Penniless Parenting
• Carnival of Personal Finance hosted by Sustainable Personal Finance
• Carnival of Financial Planning hosted by Aaron Hung
• Carnival of Financial Camaraderie hosted by Thirty Six Months
• Yakazie Carnival hosted by Young Adult Finances

  (Photo courtesy of La Citta Vita)