Tips for Finances
1. Estimate how many hours you work in a week, times that by 9.50 (to account for any taxes taken from your paycheck) and times that by 4. That's your monthly income. The formula is:
[hours worked in a week x (hourly wage - .50)] x 4 = monthly income
Now add up all your monthly bills including rent, utilities, home phone, cell phone, insurance, savings, and payments. These are your fixed expenses. Subtract your fixed expenses from your monthly income. You should have some left over. The money left over is for your variable expenses, which include transportation, clothing, food, and entertainment. You should always pay your fixed expenses before putting money towards your variable expenses. Money left over is called discretionary income. This is called a budget.
2. Saving sounds stupid now, because you really want to buy that pre-release online, or there's these shoes you were looking at, but it pays off later, in case of unexpected expenses, like if you lose your job, or break your computer. Plus, if you save enough up, you could take a few days off work and have a vacation.
3. It's a good idea to apply for a credit card and set it aside in case of large amounts of unexpected expenses. That way if your savings account can't handle it, your credit card can. Just remember not to overspend more than your monthly income. That way if something happens (like job loss) you won't still have problems paying it off.
4. ALWAYS PAY YOUR TAXES. I can't stress this enough. I have a friend who hasn't paid his taxes in years and had to go bankrupt in order to pay the government back. So remember, make an appointment in March to get your taxes done and do it every year, to avoid a lot of grief.
5. Keep receipts of everything, and store these in a small filing cabinet or folder. They normally sell these for cheap in office supplies stores. Not only will these keep you appraised of how much money you're spending and where, it's handy for tax and finance purposes.
6. Save up your small change. Servers do this with their tips regularly. I suggest this because if you're having a hard month and you need extra money, this will save you in a pinch. Just set aside two or three containers for change and designate one for toonies, one for loonies, and one for quarters. You can even do the same with nickels and dimes as well. Every month, deposit the change in your savings account. It'll add up quickly, and save you from a lot of stress.
7. When estimating how much something will cost, round up, not down. That way, when getting groceries, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the amount of cash you have left over, not scrambling in your pockets for more change.
8. Looking to get a vehicle, nicer apartment, or expensive piece of equipment? Talk to someone at your bank. They'll help you figure out what you can afford, and what monthly payments won't hurt your pocket. They'll also walk you through the process of applying for loans.
9. Insurance is a must. Life insurance, car insurance, tenant insurance, health insurance... Make sure you have these. They protect you from really bad things happening, like a car accident, or your apartment burning down, and all for a small monthly fee. Call your bank to ask for more details.
10. Never be afraid to shop around for better prices. It's your money, you get to determine how to spend it, and if you'd prefer to spend less money for better services, that's your call, not anyone elses' decision.
Tips for Health
1. Eat as healthy as possible. Only have your junk food once a week if possible. Our metabolisms slow down the older we get, and starting this now will save you a lot of trouble later on.
2. Never skip breakfast. Eat the biggest breakfast you can shove in your face. If you need help waking up, try to keep to one cup of coffee/tea a day and drink orange juice instead. It contains natural ingredients that won't throw your sleep cycle off.
3. Sleep at least 8 hours a day. This is non-negotiable. If you stay up too late, make sure you compensate by sleeping in a little longer than usual. Not only will this make you easier to be around (less irritable and nice) but you'll be more productive throughout your day, therefore negating the need to pull all-nighters.
4. Drink water as much as possible, especially right after you wake up in the morning. You've been sleeping, and your body is dehydrated. Use this rule for needing to know if you need to drink more water: the darker your urine, the more water you need to drink. It flushes out your system, fills you up a little more if you don't have time to eat, keeps your metabolism running smoothly so you aren't gaining extra weight, and a glass of water can even make a headache go away. Also, remember this: ice water stimulates your metabolism, making you hungrier, and hot water fills you up more, making it nearly impossible for you to over eat.
5. Cut your soda drinking down. WAY down. Less than once a week, even, and only in small amounts. The soda you're drinking not only eats away at your teeth causing expensive dentist bills, but it eats away at your stomach, messing up your metabolism, making your skin more prone to breakouts, but is FULL of fats that are not good for you, not to mention the fact that all that caffeine will disturb your sleep and make you irritable. Oh, and did I forget to mention that when I personally stopped drinking soda as much, I lost ten pounds? Yeah, I thought that might help.
6. Do some form of exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. EVERY day. I don't mean you have to work out, but at least go for a walk. Why? Your body will move easier, your metabolism will thank you for it, you'll find it easier to sleep at night, you'll get an endorphin rush and feel great after. It's hard to get started, but when you do, stick to it. It'll keep you healthier for longer, and decrease the amount of sick days you have as well.
7. If you do work out, take it slow. Don't expect too much, and remember to alternate body area days. For example, if one day you work solely on legs, the next day, you should work on arms. Your body needs a day of rest for those joints, to build up endurance and stamina.
8. If you're having problems eating healthy, start by challenging yourself. Try cooking a healthy meal once every two weeks, then once every week, then once every other day and... You get the point. Your body will begin to crave all the healthy food you're trying to make, and all those recipes you can find online will help with that.
9. Multivitamins, multivitamins, multivitamins. These are wonderful creations, and I suggest everyone take a multivitamin a day. I strongly recommend One a Day for both men and women, especially the ones with added calcium. Just remember to take one every day, with a meal. Like that huge breakfast you should be making yourself.
10. If you're going to go to a restaurant, try to make it once a week at most. Save it for a treat and really make it worth it, especially if it's going to be not so healthy food. Why? Their food portion sizes are three to four sizes too big for what we all should be eating. The more you eat in one sitting, the more food you'll crave all the time.
Tips for School
1. Never select early morning classes, unless you're sure you're an early morning riser. As in super early morning. Why? You'll need to eat, shower, get dressed, fix your hair, gather your books and notes and homework, and get to the class. I recommend allowing for two hours to get ready, that way you have time to get your lazing, coffee drinking, or workout out of the way, and another half hour for possible transportation delays.
2. As soon as you're out of class, rewrite your notes. Not only will they be neater, and easier to read in preparation for quizzes or exams, but it'll remind you of any forgotten homework as well as refresh the material in your head. Make notes beside concepts you don't understand, and bring them up next class. Plus, if they're neat and well written enough, with plenty of references to the concepts in the textbooks, it's very possible you can sell them to the other members of your class. You know, the less prepared ones, who aren't making as good grades as you.
3. ALWAYS immediately write your homework or readings in your agenda. If you don't have an agenda, get a cheap one at your local bookstore, or head down to the student bookstore or student union building. They normally hand out agendas at the beginning of the year, as is included in your student fees.
4. Check your agenda every night. That way if you have an essay due, or readings to get done, you won't forget about them or lag behind the rest of the class. Doing the readings and rewriting your class notes every day right after your class will ensure you don't spend as much time doing homework, which will leave you more time to have fun.
5. If you're sick or unable to attend a class, email the professor of the class you're missing RIGHT AWAY to inform them. Some of them give class participation marks. That way, you can keep up to date on the classes you've missed. Plus, you can also make an appointment with them to discuss the material from the classes you've missed, and be informed of any possible exam questions that might have been hinted at.
6. Stay after class to talk to the teacher, and discuss the topic from that class. Why? It shows appreciation for the professor, who puts a lot of work into the material they're preparing for you, and makes you and them more invested in the class. You can think of it as brown nosing, sucking up, or whatever you like, but they are up there doing a service for your life to be better, and they are NOT paid very well. Give them the respect anyone deserves and show you don't think of them as a robot.
7. Buy the textbooks. Don't rent or borrow them. I know, I know, it costs money, but it'll be a lot easier to study for that big final if you have your own that is the correct edition. Plus, there are some teachers that insist upon you writing or highlighting in your textbooks. I even had one professor who had us scratch out sentences, draw pictures, and write in all the margins of one book. Big plus: when you have the right edition.
8. Go to every class. What do you think you're paying for? Yes, an education, but it's the entire experience you're looking for. There are some teachers who give out class participation marks to those who show up. Plus there's pop quizzes, tests to hand back out, exam question hints to be dropped, and a professor and class to respect by showing up. If you honestly feel like you can learn better at home, reading from the textbook, take distance courses online. Work the rest of your life around your education, because that's how it'll be mostly painless.
9. Bring a bottle of water and some kind of healthy snack to every class, and remember to use the washroom beforehand. Some professors prefer you to stay in your seat, and if you start to squirm from a full bladder or empty stomach, better to be prepared. Smokers, I feel for you, because you're going to be SOL your entire education.
10. Don't be afraid to ask for help. See an academic adviser at least once every year. Take advantage of student services and see that health care professional. Are therapy or psychiatry options available? Do it! Talk to your professors when you're unsure of something. Ask your administration for support. Being stubborn and trying to do it alone is pointless, You'll have plenty of other opportunities to do that later in life.
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