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Show Notes
This week, we don’t have a video, but we do have a great discussion with guest Emily Guy Birken. We talk about behavioral economics and the ways we get hung up with our money.
What’s keeping you down? What’s contributing to your poor financial habits? We get into the nitty-gritty of what happens when our minds get in the way. And we talk about how to overcome financial fears and stresses and make better money choices.
Emily Guy Birken is the author of End Financial Stress Now, a book about improving your financial outlook, no matter your situation.
The unemployment rate for millennials is higher than the national average – much higher.
So, what can you do when you’re trying to find the job that’s right for you? Will you get the job you want?
The first step is figuring out whether or not the “traditional” path is the right one for you. Next, it’s a good idea to know what skills are in demand. See if one matches your needs.
In this episode, we look at why it’s hard for millennials to find a job, and address what they can do to beat the odds.
Concepts
Overview of some of the reasons millennials struggle to find the job for them.
The realities of a “traditional” college education and whether or not it prepares grads for the workplace.
Is it really harder for millennials? (Hint: probably yes.)
Where to go to find a job that works for you.
How to network more effectively.
The importance of being open to unusual opportunities.
Looking for purpose in your job.
The role of entrepreneurship in creating your own job.
This week’s DO NOWs are all about how to find the job that’s right for you by starting with your expectations. Write down what you expect from a job. Be realistic. Do you expect too much from a job?
Also, use this time to think about what you want to accomplish with work. Do you have a preference for a company with a mission? Do you hope for career development?
This week’s listener question deals with helping your boss understand the importance of flexibility and providing workplace options.
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Don’t believe the hype. You really can be friends with members of the opposite sex. You just need to see other people as, you know, people. Read More...
Is it really possible to be friends with the opposite sex?
Believe it or not, we think it is. Otherwise, how would our relationship work for this podcast?
In this week’s episode, we look at society’s expectations for our friendships based on gender stereotypes. We also tackle the issue of being attracted to your opposite-sex friends.
Concepts
A look at the differences in how men and women see their opposite-sex friends.
Changing perspectives on being friends with the opposite sex.
Gender as a social construct and not a binary.
How to focus less on biology and more on human connections.
Tips for managing being friends with the opposite sex and your S.O.
Moving on after you acknowledge (at least to yourself) that there is some level of attraction.
What it’s like to have a bestie of the opposite sex.
It’s a little awkward with the Do Nows this week. Do you really need to go on a quest to be friends with the opposite sex? Does it really matter. We encourage you to look at your list of friends and see if there are some experiences and people you want to connect with. No matter who you connect with, consider joining a local organization where you can meet new people.
This week’s listener question tackles the issue of trying to explain to your parents that you just aren’t interested in your opposite-sex bestie.
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Could you change your life by becoming an early riser?
While getting up early isn’t for everyone, there’s certainly a lot written about why it’s a good idea. And if you think you could benefit from changing things up, it’s not a bad idea to try and shift your habits so you get up earlier.
This we talk about how being an early riser can benefit you — and how you can change your habits to make the most of your day.
Concepts
What are some of the advantages of being an early riser?
How to take charge of your day by getting up earlier.
You don’t have to be an early riser to be successful.
A look at night owls and how they can make the best of it.
Tips for shifting to an earlier schedule.
The importance of good sleep hygiene and what you can do to get better sleep.
How to take advantage of your own traits to be more productive and successful.
In our DO NOWs include helping you decide if you want to become an early riser. Start by figuring out your chronotype. We also look at setting a target wake-up time and working backward so your bed time matches.
This week’s listener question is all about trying to avoid hitting the snooze button. We offer a few tried and true strategies for getting out of bed in the morning — even if you don’t want to.
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Sometimes we invite guests on our show to talk about interesting topics. We love learning from our guests and gaining fresh insight that can help us all be better adults.
Show Notes
Join us as we talk to Teresa Mears from Living on the Cheap.She talks about the great experience of traveling the world when she was younger. Learn about how you can go around the world without spending an arm and a leg. Plus, we talk about the benefits of world travel and learning about other cultures.
We live in a culture that expects you to tip certain service providers. Understanding tipping etiquette can be tricky, though.
When do you tip? What sorts of services should you tip for? Are the times when you don’t need to tip? And, really, doesn’t it seem like everyone expects a tip today?
Today’s episode is all about not looking like a schmuck when you leave the house. You want to do your tipping right.
Concepts
The culture of tipping and why we do it.
Where do we see tips?
Which service providers should you tip?
Tipping etiquette and social norms.
Why it’s important to tip workers who might not even be getting minimum wage.
How much should you tip?
When do you tip?
Special occasions and tipping.
In our DO NOWs we take a look at how you can figure out your own tipping behaviors. Don’t forget to make a list of people you should be tipping.
This week’s listener question has to do with tipping etiquette when figuring how much to leave at a restaurant. Do you tip on the bill before or after tax? We debate the merits of both.
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Did you nail the resume and end up being called up for an interview? That’s great. But now you need to make sure you crush it in the job interview.
From making a good impression to following up effectively, this episode is all about how to impress during a job interview. Increase your chances of clinching the deal and taking the next step in your career.
Concepts
How to prepare for the interview ahead of time.
Common questions you should be ready for during a job interview.
How to conduct research on the company.
Why you need to think of good questions to ask the interviewer.
The importance of showing up early.
Tips for making a good impression during a job interview.
How to be yourself and still show you are the right person for the job.
Reasons to follow up after the job interview.
How to use a thank-you note.
This week’s DO NOWS focus on preparing for how to act during a job interview. We talk about working through common interview questions, working on a five-year plan, and figuring out what success looks like for you.
Our listener question addresses what to do when interviewers ask questions during a job interview that you find stupid, like “What tree are you most like?” We go over possible answers, preparing ahead of time, and why that could be an indication that perhaps you don’t want the job after all.
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Don’t assume that working with your life partner is all sunshine and rainbows. It’s not for everyone, so make sure it’s right for you before you get too far in. Read More...
Do you want to work with your significant other? From working in a “regular” job, to potentially starting a business with your life partner, does it make sense?
It sounds like the perfect recipe for bliss. You get to work with your partner, seeing them every day? Business and pleasure FTW.
Except it’s not always rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes things get a little dicey when you mix business and pleasure with your life partner.
Concepts
The good side of working with your life partner.
Tips for spending more quality time with each other when you work together.
Challenges of working with someone you have a relationship with.
Is it possible to see each other too much?
The realities of the power dynamics once you start mixing business and pleasure.
What happens if you break up?
The importance of honesty and open communication in this situation.
How to talk about money, risks, and other issues that come with working together.
This week’s DO NOWS are all about trying to decide if you should work with your life partner. Look at whether it makes sense to run a business together, or work in the same department at your 9-to-5. If you already have a business together, review your roles and responsibilities. It might be time to change things up.
Finally, mixing business and pleasure sounds fun, but sometimes you just need pleasure for your relationship to work. Go have a date.
Our listener question deals with trying to figure out how to convince your S.O. to start a business with you. We look at whether or not it really makes sense, and how you can decide if it’s the right step for you to take.
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According to the PEW research center, fewer Americans are religious. Even if they believe in God or a higher power, many Americans balk at being considered part of a religious group.
On top of that, the number of Americans who don’t believe in God is on the rise.
So, what’s happening to spirituality? And is religiousity really the same thing?
Maybe not. You might be surprised to discover that your own spirituality isn’t dependent on whether or not you follow a religion — or even whether or not you believe in any sort of a God.
Concepts
What is spirituality?
Is a belief in God or in some type of higher power or energy necessary to be spiritual?
Can you create your own spirituality without the need for religion?
How to develop a moral compass without a religion telling you what to do.
The importance of connecting to other people, no matter your spiritual tradition.
Benefits of spirituality.
How to use your own brand of spirituality to add meaning and purpose to your life.
Tips for developing more spirituality — with or without a belief in a higher power.
The goal of continued personal progress and self-improvement.
Appreciation for nature and other people.
Using your spirituality to help others and better the world.
This week’s DO NOWS focus on your values and using them to develop your own brand of spirituality. We suggest making a life map to get there. You can find examples of life maps from both Harlan and Miranda.
You can also research communities and organizations in your local area to find people who share your values. Finally, come up with three experiences that can help you enhance your spirituality. List them, and work toward them this month.
Our listener question is kind of sensitive, dealing with transitioning out of religion. We offer some thoughts on how to help your parents see your spirituality and love, even if you have decided that their religion is not for you.
Become a Friend of Adulting
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The Dow recently closed above 20,000. It seems like we’re still seeing a bull run, even with some losses. Indeed, even with recent drops, the Dow is still above 20,000. But will it last?
It’s tempting to try to time the market. But the problem is that, as humans, it’s hard for us to make good choices when it comes to investing.
We talk about the need to buy low and sell high, but is this actually practical advice? Let’s look at how likely this is for you to accomplish.
Concepts
What it means to buy low and sell high.
The realities behind trying to get in low and sell high.
Does stock picking make sense?
Downsides to frequent trading.
A look at indexing and how it works.
Riding the market instead of trying to beat it.
Why most people end up selling low — they have to.
Should you invest cash instead of having it just lying around?
The psychological downsides of trying to buy low and sell high.
The concepts of rebalancing and asset allocation
How to create “buckets” of money based on your time horizons.
This week’s DO NOWS are all about taking action for a better investing future. Consider opening an investment account and setting up an automatic plan to invest in an index fund or ETF. One good place to start is Acorns, which allows you to use pocket change to start investing in ETFs.
We also suggest picking up a couple of books to learn more about investing:
This week, our listener asks about investing with a small amount of money. The good news is that you can invest, even if you feel like you’re broke. We talk about different choices you can make when you’re running low on funds, and how to make the most of each dollar. You can also read our article on how to invest when you’re broke AF.
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