Mon 28 Apr 2008 – 8.50
Most of you know that I’m a huge fan of the 21st century — I love the fact the old standards which governed our parents and grandparents are out the window. Gone are the days of suit-and-ties and corporate songs, our workforce is ever-shifting and change is the only constant.
Much like working in jeans, the new trend is talking openly about salary … with friends. A new article from the New York Times highlights how young workers the salary of their friends just as they know birthdays and the names of spouses.
While salaries may be disclosed casually among friends, that doesn’t mean most young professionals brag about their incomes at a cocktail party. There is still an etiquette to sharing the information — a proper way to divulge.
Yea, of course. I’m only so comfortable talking about salary, even with my close friends. My rule is that I would never ask or tell a friend unless I’ve seen him in his underwear — that’s a good barometer of our friendship. [Bonetti being a notable exception, although we did work as lifeguards for all those years]. And I wouldn’t mind discussing salaries with someone older like a mentor or my parents.
You know what’s funny, if someone asked me what I made right now, I would tell them. But if I somehow got a better job or a raise, I’d be reluctant to tell them. For some reason, I’d like to leave the illusion that I live frugal — that way I can bust out the “I have $40,000 in the bank” card if I ever need it.
posted by Scott in careers, personal finance.
New Blog for Ramen Noodles, Rent, and Resumes
Wed 23 Apr 2008 – 13.51
Hey, remember when I talked with Kristen Fischer about her book, Ramen Noodles, Rent, and Resumes: An after-college guide to life? Well, now the book has a blog, where you can keep track of the latest news and reactions, and get in touch with Kristen and the others working behind the scenes. Check it out!
•• RRR blog »
posted by Scott in careers, education, health & fitness, life, personal finance, podcasts, real estate.
– 13.41
I’ve talked about this before, but it never hurts to hammer home the message: start saving for retirement, my friends! In fact, a recent article from Yahoo! Finance concludes that you can become a millionaire simply by stashing money in your 401(k) and Roth IRA, if you start at age 26.
In 41 years of compounding at 10% annually, $20,500 ($15,500 in a 401(k) and $5,000 in an IRA) will turn into $1 million. And you’ll never have to contribute another dime.
The math is a bit more complex, I imagine, but the point is sound — saving now makes for a big payday later. The trouble is having the excess cash to put away. Most twentysomethings are struggling to pay the rent and have a bit left over for a pint or two, so it doesn’t seem entirely possible to set aside $20k. I suppose the best way is to ease into it. Try setting aside $200 from each paycheck, then try to set aside $300. Eventually, you’re only using half of what you make. Or something.
posted by Scott in careers, personal finance.
Sun 13 Apr 2008 – 1.56
Everyone’s talking about Politics, with an capital P, so let’s take a minute to examine politics with a lowercase p. I’m talking about workplace politics, and how to co-exist with the many strange types of folks you’ll be sure to encounter.
An article from BNet runs down 7 maneuvers that you can employ in your day-to-day, and how they’ll affect the staff. Here’s one I like:
The Silent Strategy
When you present a new idea, it’s human nature that some colleagues will play devil’s advocate. Let them. They’re not necessarily against you, they’re just stress-testing your idea. Say enough to show you’re receptive (“I see your point,” or “right, uh-huh, yes …”) but don’t argue. “The more you talk, the more they come out with counterpoints,” Coughlin says. “If you just stay quiet, a lot of times the group or the individual will come up with reasons they should help you.”
posted by Scott in careers.
Daily Caffeine ‘Protects Brain’
Thu 03 Apr 2008 – 11.18
Well, the internet said it, so it must be true.
The BBC is reporting on a new study that says how caffeine has magic brain powers to prevent Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
“Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky,” said Dr Jonathan Geiger, who led the study.
It’s a bit more sciencey than that, so check out the article »
I didn’t need an article to tell me that caffeine is good for the brain, it makes us smarter! Have you ever played Tetris while your riding high on a caff wave? It’s awesome.
posted by Scott in coffee, health & fitness.