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On a Budget? 5 Ways to Be the Best Man Without Going Broke
Image Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/wedding-marriage-buttonhole-formal-1031493/
Weddings can come with a hefty price tag for the bride and groom. But if you’re one of the many attendants that have been asked to help out on the big day, you can expect to shell out a decent amount of coin. While you want to give the prospective couple your all in making it a memorable occasion, you still need to remain within your budget. The following are important tips on how to be the best man for your friend’s wedding without going broke.
Save in Advance
Attending college is a great way to further your education. But with the many expenses such as housing, food and supplies, your finances can take a hit. If your college buddy asks you to stand up in his wedding, you may need to supplement your income to help pay for the costs associated with the event. If your friend’s wedding is 12 months down the road, you can put away money each month. Write down a detailed list of what you’ll be expected to pay such as the wedding attire, bachelor party, gift and more. Divide that amount of money by the number of months until the actual wedding, and that is what you need to save per month. You also want to pad the bachelor fund with additional money in case there are unexpected expenses such as lodging and travel.
Implement a Budget
With emotions at heightened levels, even budget-conscious individuals can get caught up in the wedding frenzy of their best friend. The groom may gift the attendants with affordable gift ideas for groomsmen to show their appreciation and love for standing up in their wedding. But you don’t have to break your budget to purchase them a gift that is well beyond your means. Go over your finances to determine the expenses associated with the wedding and how much you can afford to spend. When you get the impulse to overspend and do monetary damage to your finances, refer back to the budget.
Charge Only What You Can Afford
Using a credit card is a great way to earn cash back incentives and bonus points that you can spend on airline mileage. But if you’re planning to put wedding expenses on your credit card, you want to only charge items that you can afford. Once your credit card statement comes in, pay the amount that you owe immediately. You can also set up a special bank account for the wedding and pay down the debt as you charge the items.
Travel Economically
If the wedding you were asked to be best man is a destination event, you want to try to save money traveling. You can begin by using mileage that you’ve earned on credit card charges to pay for your lodging or flight. If you don’t have miles to spare, search the Internet for the best prices. For those flying in the U.S., you may be able to garner the best deal on flights 47 days before your trip. For International weddings, you want to secure a plane ticket much further in advance. You may also wish to sign up for discounts and specials with the airline company. If you’re looking for inexpensive accommodations, Airbnb may have rental homes or condo’s that are much cheaper than a hotel. If the bride and groom have carved out a set of rooms at a particular hotel for guests, you may also want to share lodging with another groomsmen to cut back on expenses.
Tone Down the Bachelor Party
The best man and other attendants standing up are typically in charge of the bachelor party festivities. This can be especially great if you’re looking to keep the costs for the party within budget. While you don’t want to scrimp on your buddy’s last hurrah, you don’t have to go overboard with something outlandish. Plus, destination bachelor parties can create drama for both the prospective bride and groom. Look for events that are fun and celebrate the groom such as a day of golf and dinner afterwards or a sports game to cheer your favorite team on to victory.
Being asked to stand up in a friend’s wedding is an honor that you don’t want to say no to. But you don’t want the costs associated with the event to lead to your financial demise. When you plan ahead and prepare for the expenses of being best man using the above tips, you won’t find any budgetary surprises.
5 Signs that You Should Pursue a Career in Music
Music isn’t seen as a “career-driven” education direction by many. Most see it as a waste of time and money, with little prospects at the end of the road. However, the industry is changing and for those who succeed in landing a job, it can be a very fulfilling and rewarding career, not to mention lucrative. However, if you are still on the fence about whether you should pursue a career in music you should read this article!
Here are five signs that a music career could mean that it’s meant to be:
You are a Prodigy
Ok, this one might be a complete giveaway, but if you are crazy talented, and it’s not just your mom telling you this, a career in music is for you. Even if you do not make a name for yourself as the top violinist or tenor in the world, you still have a good chance to pursue a career in music in performing, composition, or something else like music journalism. Your education might actually be the thing you need to shape your direction and expose you to new things that might further inspire you. It also connects you with influencers in the music world, like your professors.
You’re Great at Computers
This might initially sound strange, but give it a minute to sink in. So much of music is digitized nowadays, that being computer literate and good at music software can be what gets you exposure. Even if you yourself are not a great musician in the sense that you don’t play any instruments or sing, being able to engineer sound and produce music might get you more money than performing or recording your own music could. If mixing music and playing around with music software is your thing, it could lead you to consider a formation in a pro audio school.
You’re Well Connected
This is definitely not a requirement, but having a music network to rely on once you’re done your education increases your chance for a great job in the field. Whether you have a family member in the industry, or have many friends who are already making waves and can introduce you to the right people, having those connections but choosing to do something else might mean that you are missing out on some great opportunities.
You’ve Got a Crafty Brain
Just because you want a career in music, doesn’t mean you have to study it! There are plenty of jobs in the industry that don’t require you to be a musician at all. From accountants, marketers, managers, and more, being smart and passionate about music can often get you further and land you a more stable job than those you would originally picture for someone in the music industry.
You’re Hard as Nails
A career in music means a lot of networking, a lot of “no’s”, tons of perseverance, and in the end: grit. The music industry is a tough one, and you need to be continuously proving yourself in order to stay relevant and successful. Its important to assess whether your chosen career will fit your personality.
If you are able to take criticism, yet have an unwavering belief in yourself, then you probably have what it takes to make a livelihood out of music. Though you don’t have to be topping the billboard charts, any artist or music industry partner who can pursue a career in music, pay the bills and live their ideal life thanks to a passion-filled and enjoyable job, is successful.
A career for music isn’t for everyone. Remember that there are many who have dreamed and failed. However, there’s a lot of room in this industry and you could be one of those “lucky ones” living their dream life with the job they always wanted if you go ahead pursue your career in music.
Save Your Way to Retirement with a Roth IRA
Retirement should be a time to really kick back and enjoy the life that you have built for yourself. There is no way to enjoy your golden years if you are relying on Social Security and the kindness of strangers. That is why you need to be able to grab a Roth IRA as early as possible so you can get your money in it and figure out how to grow it as much as possible.
The beauty of a Roth IRA is that you contribute after tax dollars, which means that you are going to save on taxes when you are ready to take withdrawals from your account. The Roth IRA represents a tax break on the back end, after you hit 59 and a half. That is when you can take withdrawals out of your Roth IRA. Before that, you might be subjected to a penalty for withdrawing funds too early.
Another great benefit is that you can take money out of your Roth IRA in an emergency, penalty-free. You want to use that as a last resort, but you can tap into your Roth IRA as soon as you need to in order to get through an emergency house repair or a large, unexpected medical bill. Keep in mind that you can only withdraw what you have put into your Roth IRA, not any money that you may have made on your contributions.
The key to maintaining an effective Roth IRA is to make enough money and put a good portion of that money away. When you are budgeting effectively, you are able to make a real contribution to your retirement savings. Having a budget that makes sense allows you to spend on your essentials and then have enough left over to make real contributions to your Roth IRA.
When you take a look at your monthly budget, there are a lot of places that you can save money to increase your savings. You can reduce your restaurant spending and cook more at home. Cooking at home is a great way to build new skills and get healthier too. When you learn how to transform ingredients into quality meals for you and your family, you will feel better and be happier. That in turn will give you more energy to go out and make more money.
Learning to do some DIY house repairs if a great way to save money on household maintenance. Plus, you are making contributions to one of your most important investments when you are improving your home. There is no way that making improvements to your home won’t pay off in the future. Painting, for example, is a simple, learnable skill, that can make your house a more valuable piece of property. And improving the value of your home has a positive effect on your overall net worth.
When you are ready to make your Roth IRA a priority in your financial life, you are ready to take the next step as a smart capitalist.
5 Traits of Good Adult Educators
When students decide to go back to school to complete their education, they have certain expectations that educators should meet. These students probably tried school in the past and it did not work for them. One of the many different reasons that might have lead them to quit school in the first place could have been their student-teacher relationship at the time. Here are some of the traits good adult educators should have.
1. Ability to Create a Conducive Atmosphere
Adult classes are usually smaller and instructors often deal with a handful of students. It is, therefore, imperative that the educator is able to create a conducive learning atmosphere that is all-inclusive. In order to achieve this type of atmosphere, the instructor needs to be able to encourage the students to acknowledge other people’s views and learn how to calmly express their own. The educator should also ensure that there is no criticism and bad energy.
2. Good Leadership
A good adult educator must be able to show commendable leadership skills when dealing with students. Great leadership will ensure that there is always order and a sense of self-discipline within the class. The students need to respect both you and your methods for classes to go smoothly.
3. Act as Good Examples
Students often look up to their adult educator as a role model. The instructor should be able to cite real-life examples while making the class a little bit more personal. For example, when an educator brings to light the fact that they had to study at Rutgers Online in order to get an online master of education in adult and continuing education, this could give the students motivation that they too can make it. It also acts as a motivation for them to consider an online MEAD program later in life to help others in their shoes.
4. Reward Promptly
Respect is crucial to adult students and a lot of emphasis must be put on it. Their earlier education experience might have left them feeling ignored or marginalized. Their educators should be able to reward them promptly when they achieve certain goals or perform well. The rewards could be just sincere compliments and doesn’t need to be anything physical; positive reinforcement works.
5. Build Relationships
Students commonly return to school for a more personal experience, something larger than what they experienced before. Adult educators should, therefore, ensure that they build individual relationships between them and every student. The instructors should deal with their issues concerning their education in a different but specific manner for every one of them. Since you’ll have to deal with fewer students, you’ll be able to give them more special attention and cater to their needs.
Conclusion
Adult educators have far greater responsibility than ordinary teachers and they need to be able to cope with it. However, it can be a very rewarding, as you’ll be able to directly affect your students’ lives and see them turn their lives around before your very eyes.
Test Anxiety: It’s a Real Thing. Do You Need Therapy?
Being in college is hard and fun, but still hard. It is a lot of work. Sometimes it can be more difficult than we expect such as when we are taking tests. Taking tests is not the most enjoyable thing to do for anyone, but for some people, it can be downright scary. It is, in fact, a real disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, test anxiety affects up to 40% of all students.
What Is Test Anxiety?
Test anxiety is a condition that causes extreme feelings of stress and fear when you are in testing situations. While it is true that just about anyone gets a bit nervous or anxious when facing a testing situation, some people have such a reaction that it can cause physical and mental symptoms that can really hurt their performance. Some of the symptoms of test anxiety include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Intestinal upset such as nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
- Shaking
- Fast heart rate
- Feeling light-headed
- Fainting
- Extreme fear
- Anxious
- Helplessness
- Anger or aggravation
- Sadness or depression
- Inability to concentrate
- Difficulty making decisions
- Negative thoughts such as feeling you are going to fail
Treatment for Test Anxiety
One of the best ways to beat test anxiety is to be prepared. Study until you feel comfortable with the subject you are studying for. Join a study group. Talk to other people who have the same problem. Being anxious about an exam is a common problem so you should not have trouble finding others with the same issue.
Here are some other tips.
Study Efficiently
Your school may have special classes or strategy techniques that can help you learn the best way to study. It is different for every person, but when you learn from others about what benefits them, you can figure out your own way to study that makes you most comfortable.
Learn everything you can about what will be on the test and how many questions there are, if possible. Find out how much time you have to take the test and whether it is multiple choice or written response.
Have a Pretest Routine
Once you learn what works, do it every single time the exact same way. Just like baseball or football, players have their own pregame ritual. You need to find a routine that makes you feel ready. This will help get rid of some of the stress you are feeling by doing something repetitive that you relate to a positive experience.
Learn Relaxation Techniques and Use Them
Learning how to relax seems like it should be simple, right? Well, it may not be for many people, especially those who have test anxiety. There are ways to relax but it is different for everyone.
Some people use deep breathing, some close their eyes and picture a positive place, others may practice relaxing their muscles one at a time. Meditation is also an excellent way to relax. If you cannot find a way that helps you relax before a test, speak to a therapist or counselor who can help you find what works for you.
Get Plenty of Sleep
It is essential that you take a test when you are feeling rested. If you were up the whole night before, your body is going to be too tired to concentrate, and you will do poorly even if you do not have test anxiety.
Be sure to get at least eight hours of sleep the night before. If you are having trouble sleeping, talk to a therapist or counselor about learning some relaxation techniques or your physician to get medication to help you sleep.
Talk to Someone
If you are having test anxiety and cannot figure out how to relax and get good grades, do talk to someone. There are professional therapists and counselors that can help you with just a phone call. In fact, they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call them now.
