Annual Paychecks of $70K: 15 Ideas

Careerbuilder.com has a thoughtful list of 15 jobs that pay about $70,000 a year. These positions pay well and also should be in stable-to-high demand through 2016. It's worth taking a list at the trends:

What many workers don't know is that there are numerous jobs that pay well above the average full-time worker's salary of $33,634* -- that don't require a Ph.D. or at least 10 years experience. That's not to say that the following positions are easy to come by -- like any position, no matter what the salary, you do have some qualifications to score the job.

The list includes positions in post-secondary education, engineering and healthcare, including: Radiation therapist and Physician assistant. Here's the full article about high-paying jobs.
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Here's how to buy my new book:

@ Amazon.com
@ Barnes & Noble
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Schooled by Jealousy; 6 Lessons from Envy

Do you ever feel as if life is passing you by? Do you ever suspect that friends and co-workers know secrets about life and money that you don't?

After a rash of immature decisions in my late 20s, I felt relegated to the ranks of the clueless and broke. I envied friends with partners, families, real estate and emergency funds. But ultimately, I brokered envy into profit by listening to the lessons of my discontent.

1. Find the hidden pattern: Sometimes downward spirals are prompted and enabled by a hidden pattern of self-sabotage. For example, when I constantly missed deadlines, arrived at work late or deliberately axed promising relationships, I realized that the envy I was showering on friends was a reflection of my own discontent and lack of direction. In the book, Why Women Earn Less by Mikelann R. Valterra explores the different ways women (and men) sabotage our lives. Related post: Are You Frugal or Just Downwardly Mobile, in Denial or Just Poor?

2. Find mentors: Friends with savvy skills are often more than happy to share their how-we-did-it stories. From financial management to industry networking, I've gained a lot by swallowing my pride and asking for honest tips and feedbacks. Friends, family and other mentors have also provided valuable insights about areas where I can stretch and grow.

3. Learn patience: Sometimes envy is a veiled lesson in the need for more patience. In following the trail of envy, I've often reached the conclusion that I just need to be more patient with my acquisition of skills, knowledge and assets. Life is not a one-size-fits-all adventure. I've learned to respect my personal timetable.

4. Time to Upgrade: Do I need to take a class, seminar or workshop on finance, technology or some other area of personal development. Is life passing me by because I have fallen behind in my skills? Trent at The Simple Dollar has written a great series on self-investment: Investing in Yourself: Personal Growth

5. Honesty required: Am I in the right industry? Do I need to rewrite my resume? Should I cancel my annual trip to Paris in order to pay for groceries? Sometimes in a fit of envy, I've been forced to ask myself very difficult and uncomfortable questions. The answers weren't pretty, but through envy I have often found a path to improvement.

6. Try gratitude: In one of my poor-little-me moments, I once complained to a woman, who I thought had it all: luxe car, huge house, elaborate vacations. But she nodded and disclosed that she was also caring for a dear, but ailing relative. Faced with the poor health of a loved one, she would have traded the keys to her car and home for my healthy family. I took the hint and focused less on my deficits and more on the tangible and intangible assets in my personal accounts.

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Visualization Earns Millions: A Super Bowl Lesson & One Writer's Memory File

Yeah. There's been a lot has been written about the power of visualization. But today's sports pages show how visualization will punt millions of dollars into the hands of the New York Giants. Expect hefty multi-million dollar endorsement deals and other profitable perks for quarterback Eli Manning and various players from the Giants following the 17-14 late-fourth quarter (underdog) victory over the New England Pats. It was the best Super Bowl game that I've ever watched or listened to on the radio: Giants' Super Bowl victory

Cynics dismiss visualization has touchy-feely New Age crap. But visualization exercises can yield hard cash and a bottom line impact. Consider the following scenario, which was reported in the sports section of today's Miami Herald.

Night before Game Day: Giants Coach Tom Coughlin:

told his players to visualize their dreams and imagine in their minds what it would be like Sunday if they shocked the world.

''I tell the players it's good to dream,'' Coughlin said. "It's good to dream and visualize and see yourself in those circumstances and situations.'' --(from A 'tremendous' feeling for Giants)

I used visualization exercises to write a book, which will be out this spring. ( What I Learned about Money from Writing a Book ) Old friends and family know that I have been trying to write a book for over 20 years. The text has taken different shapes and genres, but after two decades, I finally have a manuscript that I really like. And it doesn't matter that I completed my first book at 49. It's the journey that counts and I've packed my travel bag with the following visualization tools:

1. Magazine images. I collect images that spell out success in my terms. These images include smiling children, a beautiful house in the Hamptons, pretty gardens and spa vacations. Just glancing through that clip file makes me feel like I've had a spa date or an upbeat meeting with a financial planner.

2. Written goals: About once a year, I fill a small index card with a wish-list of career and personal goals. One year, for example, I really wanted 10 new dress suits for work. The Lesson: Be careful what you wish for. Out of the blue, different women gave me lots of hand-me-down suits. I have kept some and given others away.

3. Positive affirmations. It's so corny but it works. I have a list of about 20 affirmations and on a regular basis, I pick out one affirmation and write it down 10 times. For example:

1. I am saving six months of salary in an emergency fund.


2. I am saving six months of salary in an emergency fund.


3. I am saving six months of salary in an emergency fund. etc.

The trick -- according to some experts -- is to write and repeat the affirmations in the present tense. For example, even if I have not yet fully funded that emergency fund, using the present tense helps make that goal more attainable.

4. Collect positive slogans: From magazines, newspapers, books and websites, I collect various inspirational phrases. Often short phrases -- including slogans from ad campaigns --pack lots of insight into a few words that stick in my mind.

5. Pray. I say a lot of prayers, including: Master of the Universe: Don't let me a bag lady.

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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere!, which will be published in the Spring of 2008 by DPL Press.

6 Ways Going Back to School Can Pay Off

Going back to school for a graduate degree can increase your earning power and provide other professional bonuses. In this article (Six Reasons to Return to School in ’08,) writer Vicki Salem outlines why a degree represents a good investment.

A few months ago, I enrolled in a master's program for personal and professional reasons. During informal chats with fellow students, I realized that many of my peers had similar objectives. Here are the six reasons outlined in the article, with my own observations tossed in.

1. New Job; New Career Direction: Many of the fastest-growing careers, require a bachelor's degree or higher. For example, my goal of teaching on a college level requires at least a master's degree.

2. Salary upgrade: Many pay scales are linked to education. Getting a higher degree can lead to a higher paycheck.

3. Better marketability: In a competitive job market, an advanced degree can provide an edge.

4. Personal goals: A few of my classmates enrolled in our master's program just for "personal fulfillment." And honestly, even if I don't go on to teach on a college level, earning a graduate degree still represents one of my personal goals.

5. Networking: The academic community provides an excellent setting for networking, with well-connected experts in different fields. In the writing business, for example, many writing instructors have contacts with editors, publishers and agents. Professors are also excellent mentors and a valuable source of job leads and insights. Classmates are also a bonus.

6. Personal investment: I loved this quote from the article:

"Education is an investment that always pays you back," assures Dr. Susan Aldridge, president of University Maryland University College. "Housing prices may decline and stocks may plummet but an education lasts a lifetime -- bolstering your earning potential, enriching your intellectual life, and paying big dividends in personal satisfaction.”

My other reasons for returning to school:

1. Feedback: I've been working on a short-story collection and I submitted short stories to fulfill some of my class assignments. Getting feedback from instructors provided valuable insights about my work and material.

2. New information: While fulfilling class reading and research assignments, I acquired information, data and insights that were helpful with my assorted creative writing projects. Not only did I enjoy the formal lectures, but I also valued the comments and discussion offered by classmates.

3. New contacts. It wasn't just about career networking. Enrolling in a graduate program helped me to make new friends and to chat with a wide range of professionals that I would never have met otherwise. We all had different backgrounds, but a common interest in a liberal arts education.

Be Smart about Face Time & Other Tips for Building Job Security

Upgrade your marketability, spruce up the resume, volunteer and be smart about face time. Those are a few suggestions for building job security during a rocky economy. Some of the tips were featured in the January 6 edition of Parade.

Here's their list followed by my own tips:

1. Keep your resume current. Beyond your latest job, make sure that your resume includes recent awards, accomplishments, achievements, certifications and any other tidbits that positively reflect your professional growth and career profile.

2. Upgrade your skills. I wrote about different courses in this post: Free Online Typing Drills: 10 Frugal Business & Craft Classes. Career development options include online courses, seminars, community classes, local universities and colleges.

3. Network. Attend industry events, business gatherings and conferences. The goal: to build a better network of professional and community contacts. I've found a wide range of job opportunities through former co-workers and managers. You never know who will be in a position to hire you or recommend you for new assignments, positions or short-term contracts.

4. Volunteer for a community group. Non-profit organizations are packed with heavy-hitters. While working on a community fair, fundraiser or newsletter, it's possible to bond and connect with individuals who can provide valuable contacts and insights. Even PTA meetings provide networking opportunities.

Here are other ideas based on comments from friends and my own experience.

1. Look for workplace gaps: Due to global, industry and personnel changes there are so many opportunities (aka: gaps) in the office. For instance, your company may need help with an online campaign or some other task where there is a void in coverage. Don't get in over your head, but step up to the plate if you have untapped skills that will help your department or company. Document your participation with a friendly memo or note to those involved or with power to promote you. Don't lay it on too heavy, but mention your achievements and participation.

2. Come in early. All of my bosses and managers loved, loved, loved employees who arrived 15 to 30 minutes (or more) before the official start time. In contrast, staying late, I discovered, doesn't carry the same clout as coming in early. In fact, if you stay too late, some people think that you have a time management problem. Bottom line: be smart about face time.

3. Stay well-read. Every industry has a few trade publications that are available online, at the library or through subscription. These publications are a valuable source of information, trends and even job tips. What's more, you sound really smart and plugged in when you talk to your manager, co-workers or other industry players at different events.

4. Enter competitions: Many industries and trade groups sponsor competitions or awards programs. From money-saving ideas to new product campaigns, various competitions can raise your profile in the office and in your industry. You don't have to win to really win. An honorable mention or a certificate-of-participation can be as good as gold and will look great on your resume.

5. Get published. Write an article for an online publication or the standard print media. The sources of publication outlets are endless and include: community newspapers, online journals, blogs, trade publications, specialty and hobby magazines. Publication credits provide this boost: 1) a resume lift, 2) wider exposure and 3) additional value to your name.

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Previous Posts

Organize the Living Room; Organize Your Life
My Broken Cow Handles: Milking Cheap Ceramic for Frugal Lessons
Extra Income & Other Strategies for Digging out of Debt in 2008
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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach:How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere! , which will be published in the Spring of 2008 by DPL Press.

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The Car Repair Fund & Other $$$ Goals for 2008

With little fanfare and lots of honesty, here are some of my goals for 2008:

1. Income: 225 percent increase

I've started working as a stringer (freelance reporter) for Money magazine and Florida Trend. I will continue to look for additional sources of income.

2. Establish Car Repair Fund: $1,200 yearly or $100 a month

This is a top-priority. The family car was replaced this year, but not before three-rounds of major (big-ticket!!) repairs busted the budget. We have a newer used car, but I'm budgeting for repairs.

3. Florida 529 college plans for my elementary and middle-school children.

4. Vacation Fund: $1,200 yearly or $100 a month

5. Emergency Fund: Increase by 500% percent

Other Goals:

1. Write 500 words of fiction/poetry or creative non-fiction per day

2. Shorten the to-do list; but complete more items on that agenda

3. Arrive on-time for appointments and assignments

4. Spend more time with my children and extended family

5. Increase blog traffic by 300 percent.

6. Write letters to friends & family

7. Relax, meditate & pray more

8. Stay in the moment

9. Be grateful

10. Laugh more

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Previous Posts

Today:

Hearts, Diamonds & Dollars: Tips from Warren Buffett & Cotton Threads
Yesterday:
10 Little Budget Hits from Bankrate.comHow Worrying Costs Me $6,500 a YearAirhead vs Workaholic: What I Learned about Money from Writing

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Hearts, Diamonds & Dollars: Tips from Warren Buffett & Cotton Threads

Last night, my daughter, age 9, embroidered diamonds onto a red satin book marker. Warren Buffett, Soichiro Honda, and Thomas Edison all would have applauded her final stitches. That's because like those business leaders, my daughter converted a failure into a successful project.

Stitched from cotton threads, her diamonds were really meant to be hearts, she explained. But when her first design failed, she converted the misshapen hearts into pretty diamonds and felt proud of her final effort.

The process of converting failures --professional and personal -- into success is important, according to business consultants. Consider this bit of advice from Never Bet the Farm by Anthony Iaquinto and Stephen Spinelli Jr.: "The resources, experiences, skills and decisions that you applied to a failed business may be just what you need to succeed in your next venture." (p. 15)

The Hall of Fame of early failures includes legendary investor Warren Buffett, who was rejected from Harvard Business School, (but was accepted at Columbia U.). In 1991, real estate maven Donald Trump was on the verge of bankruptcy, and over a 40-year-period, the founder of Honda failed repeatedly before launching a successful auto company. Here's his story:

Soichiro Honda persevered through countless failures and setbacks over four decades before his Honda Motor Company became one of the largest automobile companies in the world. His inspiring story demonstrates the power of perseverance in the face of adversity and the need for innovation and creativity in periods of failure and loss. --Critical Choices That Change Lives by Daniel Castro.

Likewise, in my own career I've learned to turn failure into success. Although, I was not successful in broadcast TV news, I learned a lot about writing, reporting and researching while working for a television news station. I was grateful for the experience. Not only did I meet great people, but I acquired skills that transferred well into my career as a print journalist. Here are the steps I used:

1. Honestly assessed my talents and interests. (I've always wanted to be a print writer.)

2. Began working and networking in my new career on a part-time basis. I started to write freelance articles for small publications while working in the field of broadcast news.

3. Switched careers by taking an entry-level position in a New York-based magazine.

4. Continued to be a freelance writer, while seeking different writing and editing positions in the print industry.

5. Attended various workshops and programs for writers.

6. Networked, networked, networked.

This piece from Daniel Castro provides practical tips about converting failure into success. This is my favorite tip:

"Tip No. 5: Accept that falling is a normal part of life, but try to fall forward—in the direction of your goal. "
source: 7 Ways to Turn Failure Into Success

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Previous Posts

Yesterday:

10 Little Budget Hits from Bankrate.com
How Worrying Costs Me $6,500 a Year
Airhead vs Workaholic: What I Learned about Money from Writing a Book
Uncle Sam’s “Stocking Stuffers:” A Guest Post From a CPA
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Favorite Picks from Balance Your Life Carnival

There are some really thoughtful posts up at the The Balance Your Life Carnival! I highly recommend this carnival. Thanks to Life Balanced for providing such a great mix. Thanks for including my post in the lineup.

From sglover: Balance and Business: Can we have both? posted at Business & A Cup of Tea.

From Carole Fogarty: Nine sure signs the energy in your home is stressed: posted at THE HEALTHY LIVING LOUNGE.

From The Career Counselor: The Top Ten Companies for Working Moms and How to Negotiate Better Family-Friendly Benefits posted at ask the CareerCounselor

From taylorishere: Dealing with Disappointment Improv Lifestyle posted at Improv Lifestyle

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Previous Posts
Today
Wait 'Til January & Other Great Last-Minute Shopping Tips
Free Online Typing Drills: 10 Frugal Business & Craft Classes

Frugal & Green Rx for Post-Holiday Cabin Fever
Yesterday
Deep Breaths & Shallow Worries: 10 Holiday Changes for Next Year
How a Red Spiral Notebook Helped Me: The Power of Written Goals

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Typing Class Regrets: My 10 Career Goofs: An English Major's Lament!

* ETA: Special Welcome to new visitors from MSN Smart Spending Blog. Please look around my blog! Thanks for stopping by!


My list of Bubble Head memories is long: I took a typing class in high school. I knew, of course, that only big-hair girls who wanted to be secretaries took that class. Now, I wish I had paid more attention to the typing drills.

So here's my list of 10 Bubble Head Career Errors:

1. Typing Class. In the mid-70s, as a honors high school student, (one of the smart girls!) I pictured handing off hand-written, rough drafts to a secretary, who would type all of my memos and corporate reports. Who knew that computers (with email life-lines) would come along and I'd be typing everything myself?

Oh, I'm a decent typist, but I'd like to go back in time and whisper in the ear of my teenage-self: 1) Pay attention to the typing instructor!! 2) Take this class seriously. 3) This is the one of the few high school classes that you will need every day of your adult life.

Bottom line: I'd be richer now, if I paid more attention to typing class.

2. Take a business class!! Okay, Miss English Major: Could you have taken at least one business management course? Can we please trade a little bit of Beowulf or Chaucer for Self-Employment 101?

The Liberal Arts are great, but I'd have more time for the arts today, if I made more time for a business education in college. By the way, I loved Georgetown University, which has great business, law, foreign service, medical & liberal arts programs. Yeah! That's a plug for my school.

Bottom line: Even my inner poet wishes that I had a better head for business.

3. Internships: I had my first internship shortly after graduating from Georgetown. (CAS '80) Why did I wait? I received a great education, but I should have taken more time to find an internship program during my undergrad years.

Bottom line: Internships provide professional head starts.

4. The big Duh!?! factor: I've wanted to be a writer since I was eight years old. I became a journalist. Why didn't I join the staff of any of my school papers?

Bottom Line: Duh!

5. Graduate School: I've always loved going to school, but I waited until I was almost 50 years old before going to grad school.

Bottom line: Don't get me started on this one. Don't get my mother started. She will give you an earful. My folks have been urging me to go back to grad school since I left college.

6. Wall Street: I became a financial writer. In hindsight, I wished I had spent more time reading the business section of newspapers during my early 20s.

Bottom line: There is always a bottom line, even in poetry.

7. Beauty obsessions: Why did I act like a supermodel? Can I take back all of those hours I spent getting my hair "fried, dried and laid to the side." And what about all of those hours getting manicures, facials, etc? Why did I waste those billable hours?

Bottom Line: What was I thinking? Clearly nothing: I was an air-head in training.

8. Self-help relationship books: OMG! Do you have an hour for me to vent? I had a stack of books with different titles, but the same themes: 1. Please make him love me; 2. How to Find Prince Charming 101; 3) How to Fix Your Broken Heart and finally, my least favorite: 4) How to Break His Heart. OMG!

Those books only made me stupid, because while I was reading about my low-self esteem, I was lowering my IQ. I should have been reading about business plans, self-employment and career goals.

Bottom line: You are what you read.

9. Computers 101: In the mid 80s, a dear friend introduced me to an Apple computer and insisted I learn a few basics about computers. Ha! I should have paid more attention. What's more, I should have taken a course after later realizing that computers were becoming essential to the writing profession.

Bottom line: Don't ignore technology.

10. The geek at my dinner table. In 1991, before the World Wide Web was such a big deal, a really cool, but somewhat geeky scientist came over to dinner. He raved about how scientists and researchers all over the world all chatted to each other over some kind of electronic highway.

I listened, yawned and continued eating.

Bottom line: Don't be narrow-minded. Listen to geeks and pay attention to dinner guests. And above all: Recognize prophecy when it's served at your own table.

Recent Posts
Today:
Permanently Parked: How & When to Ditch the Old Car

Frugal Gift Guide: Pretty DIY Baskets (Last-Minute Specials)

Yesterday:

What's More Than a Hummer, Beemer or Mercedes? Why We Ditched Our Old Car
Don't Shake & Eat: A Holiday Health Guide to Save $500 & Up

Financial Points from D-Wade's 31-Pt Eclipse of the Suns

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Do's and Don'ts of Turning a Hobby into a Career

I know the peaks and pits of turning a hobby into a career. Here's how I left the corporate world, including the mistakes I made:

Do:

• Transition carefully, thoughtfully: I was a midnight poet, writing before and after, my work day (a financial writer for a small business publication). On the side, I dabbled with freelance essay writing and other creative projects. My big break-through came when my employer decided to launch a new column about business people & their hobbies. I gladly volunteered to research and write those pieces. That extra work eventually gave me the samples and experience I needed to become a columnist.
  
• Network: One of my former managers became a business editor at a major newspaper. I was able to sell her on the idea of a fun piece about the weekend activities of high-powered deal makers. That opportunity led to other high-profile assignments. Likewise, many former managers and co-workers now work at other national, regional and local positions. Those contacts and friendships have led to revenue for me.
  
• Work for your old job: When I first started freelancing, my former employer was one of my first clients. The steady assignments initially provided a financial cushion.
  
• Be Flexible: Be open to different kinds of clients and different types of assignments. I've written restaurant reviews and I've tutored high school students.
  
• Pace yourself: Learn to say no. Taking on too many assignments or too much too soon will harm your reputation if you can't deliver. I learned this the hard way: A few years ago, I agreed to an unrealistic schedule for a small niche publication. What's more, I had competing professional and personal commitments that were already pushing me to the limit. Ultimately, I disappointed one niche publication editor. We have not worked together since. I should have been realistic and just declined the project.
  
• Establish a support team: Get the right legal, tax and tech support help. In hindsight, I should have nurtured better ties in those areas before I went out on my own. Hint: There's no MIS team when your computer crashes in your home office.

Don't

• Forget the numbers: It's all about the money. Don't turn a hobby into a career if you lack the capital. Every business has start-up costs and lean periods. You need seed capital and a realistic business plan to get past early difficulties. Don't fly without a net. I've had my share of hard landings and I recommend nets & cushions.
  
• Price yourself too low. Be competitive, but set rates that will support you and your business. Don't give away your services.
  
• Overwork yourself: Once I worked non-stop for about 36 hours straight, with a small break for a family event. My work marathon led to bronchitis and lung damage. The extra work cost me a lot in terms of medical expenses and lost work. Don't pretend that sleep is optional.

In this post: Silly Goofs That Tank A Small Biz or Self-Employment, I featured advice from Ruth King, president and CEO of ProfitabilityChannel.com. I promised to follow-up that post with her tips for "turning a hobby into a business." Here's her list:

• Be a Shadow/Intern: Find a mentor in your field. Learn the about the nuts and bolts of your business from someone who operates a similar business. Many people are surprisingly generous with their time, talent and advice.


• Study the back office. Learn and try-out all of the back-office bookkeeping functions that you will have to master as a business owner. There is a lot of paper-work. It's not just about the craft, your services or the products.


• Learn about your suppliers and industry contracts.


• Research, research, research.


• Consider a part-time schedule: Keep your hobby part-time or on weekends only until you have developed enough contracts and contacts to make it worthwhile. Consider working part-time at a salaried post. Think about a part-time job that offers great benefits, such as Starbucks: 10 Reasons Why I'll Work at Starbucks: Late Bloomers Guide to Saving: Pt. 3

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
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Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Sales 'R Us: Fine Tune Your Sales Pitch for a Better Life

We’re all pushing products. For example, a kindergarten teacher peddles Circle Time to five-year-olds. A community planner pitches a new system. We’re all in the sales business.

We’re all selling some service and product, including ourselves to bosses, students, teachers, co-workers and customers. Consider this: When we campaign for a new raise, we’re trying to sell our accomplishments to company management.

I'd like to think of myself as some kind of artist. But if I don't want to be a starving artist, I have to be real about the sales aspect of my job. As a writer, I’m constantly pitching stories to editors and readers. It’s a constant courtship and a push for attention, translating into dollars for me. Even when I send out poems to literary magazines, the manuscript -- with a pitch/cover letter -- has to be bundled in the right format, tone and technique.

Therefore, by learning more about sales techniques, I can improve my lifestyle and my income. That’s the message from Day 23 in the book Year To Success by Bo Bennett.

“Sales is an important, frequent and necessary part of life. The better we are at it, the more often we will get the things we want,” Bennett writes.

He defines sales "as the ability to gracefully persuade." Forget manipulation. In fact, if the image of a shady, used-car sales force represents your idea of the sales biz, think again.

Here are a few helpful links about selling:

Become a Better Salesperson


How to Be a Better Salesperson
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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Scaling Your Pay: How to Get More Money from Year-End Reviews

At one job, I received a coupon for a fat turkey as a year-end bonus. Another year, I received a 25 percent pay hike, plus a sweet one-time bonus. So, what's the deal for year-end reviews? And can you even push for a raise if you're in a minimum-wage job?

Yes, Yes, according to a few folks that I've recently chatted with, including Erin Burt, a contributing editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Here's her advice about negotiating raises:

1. Use the clock well: Pick your battles wisely and keep an eye on the clock and the calendar. When are salaries, bonuses and performance reviews doled out? Did you just save the company a lot of money? Did you just score a major coup in customer service?

And if you work at a minimum wage job, consider this strategy: Did you pull in extra hours, while other people were off during the Thanksgiving? Did you work overtime when others declined?


Use those personal high-gloss moments to polish up your manager for a raise, Erin says: "Don't let them forget," she says. Ask for a raise during or right after a peak performance.

2. Know your value: Go to salary.com or make industry inquiries. Network! But find out how much your position is worth in the market. That advice comes from Mikelann R. Valterra, author of Why Women Earn Less .



3. Put yourself in your manager's shoes. Let's be real, Erin says. Your boss doesn't really care about your moving expenses, the new baby or your sister's wedding. "Only ask for a raise because you deserve it, not because you need it," she told me during our recent phone conversation. "You have to prove your value to your company."



4. Document your value. Both Erin and Mikelann recommend that you march into salary negotiations/job reviews/bonus requests with a brag list, either written or in your head. (I prefer written because when I get nervous my available memory crashes like an old school computer.) But have the facts ready to show how much you have done for the company. Maybe even rehearse your pitch.


5. Be Flexible: It's not all about the money and keep in mind that in a slow economy, the bonus pool may look like one of Pharaoh's skinny cows from the Biblical famine era. So if your manager has to skimp out on the money, consider asking for:

• Flexible hours


• Telecommuting (maybe one day a week)


• Extra vacation days


• Stock options (They're so cheap)


• Tuition reimbursement

Even consider asking for a better title. "It looks good on your resume," Erin says. And maybe you can barter your enhanced title into a better job and more pay at another company.

Hey, once Erin received a book as a bonus. That's fine, because given a choice between a fat turkey and a book, I'd take the book any day as a bonus.


Bottom line, says Erin: Don't be shy about negotiating your salary or year-end bonus.


"That's all open for negotiations."

Erin Burt, Contributing Editor for Kiplinger's, has written a great article called "Five Steps to Negotiating a Raise"

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Reader Asks: Why Am I Working For Minimum Wages?

In response to a post about secret debt, a reader called Minimum Wage asked:

I am a middle-aged white male with a liberal arts degree and a minimum wage job. I have no 401(k), IRA, or other investment accounts. Why do I earn less?

I offered a quick answer:

Here are a few reasons IMHO why some of us (including me) have earned less than we should: self-sabotage (been there, done that), wrong profession (ditto) and poor timing.

I ended with a promise to provide a longer, thoughtful response. Here is the followup.

During a conversation with Mikelann R. Valterra, (pictured below), author of Why Women Earn Less , we discussed reasons why men and women earn less. It's not a gender issue.

Here's are her tips based on our phone interview:

1. Study your work history. Is your low wage job a one-time event or an embedded part of your track history? If you're just stuck in a short-term rut because of a one-time special situation, don't worry. Everyone has low-lights in a career.

But if your resume is crowded with dead-end jobs, there is a bigger problem. "This is about a pattern," Mikelann said during our chat. "Why have you chosen to stay in a profession where you can't make money?"

2. Calculate your living costs: "Be clear about what you need to make," she said. "Once you are clear about that, you are totally in a different place." Be mindful about your money and spending. When we are unclear about how much we really spend and waste, we are usually unclear about the salary we need to earn.

3. Take inventory of your talents and skills. "Look at your skills and ask: is there something I can do to make the money I need?" For example, if your annual expenses/vacation plans, goals/savings targets require an annual salary of $50,000, put together a list of jobs or opportunities in that income bracket, Mikelann told me when we chatted by phone last night.

4. Read books on wages and underearnings. Beyond her own text, she recommends: Earn What You Deserve: How to Stop Underearning & Start Thriving (Mass Market Paperback) by Jerrold Mundis, a classic text written in 1995.

5. Be honest: We should ask ourselves these questions: Where have you undersold yourself? Do you ask for raises? Do you sabotage yourself during interviews or salary negotiations?

Special Thanks to Mikelann R. Valterra for taking the time to chat with me.

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I Was a Bratz Doll in a Barbie World; Lessons from My Failed Broadcast Career

I began my career in television news and I wanted to be a talking head. But I had a squeaky voice and in the world of Barbie Doll anchors (1980s-style), I looked more like a Bratz doll or one of those teeny-tiny Kelly dolls that look like Barbie's baby sister without the makeup, the figure or the heels.

I worked with super people; I had great opportunities and I was a big failure. But I learned a lot and those lessons turned my not-made-for-TV career into a very valuable experience.

"Successful individuals welcome failure to fail successfully."

--Year To Success by Bo Bennett

With Bennett's advice in mind, here's what I gained from my stalled broadcast career:

1. Frugal living. My salary was small, so I learned a lot of lessons about financial planning and frugal living: I purchased books in a used book store, found an affordable (comfortable) apartment and used public transportation to commute. Okay, honestly: other important lessons about financial discipline took years to really sink in, but eventually I did learn and those seeds were planted during my early career experiences.

2. Diverse income is important: Too supplement the income from my first job and boost my ailing ego, I became a part-time petite runway model at a local Saks Fifth Avenue branch; my roommate and I cleaned a wealthy woman's home once a week and I began writing freelance articles.

3. Take voice lessons or learn a new skill: Even after several months of voice lessons with a professional coach, I still sounded like I was 12 years old, but I learned a lot about breathing and pitch. I never sounded polished enough to read on-air news copy, but the lessons helped me to develop a pleasant phone voice.

Later, my unusual voice turned into an asset when I worked the phones as a Wall Street beat reporter at Institutional Investor newsletters in New York and later in Miami. I still sound like a little kid, but now that I'm almost 50, it's kind of funny.

4.Take risks: In leaving broadcast news, I left a great job and a lot of people that I would later miss very much, but I found my voice in the process. In hindsight, there are a number of professional and personal situations that I would have handled differently. But my mistakes made me smarter and kinder in the long-run. Bottom Line: It's not what you do, but what you learn.

5. Be kind to yourself: My early career was such a disaster because quite frankly, I hated myself so much. I spent years wishing that I was taller, prettier and blessed with a low-range voice.

But once I got over myself, I got over hating myself and just accepted the fact that I am a print writer with a high voice. In fact, my salary and career improved once I just accepted myself as-is. I've saved a lot of money since I've stopped trying to be Malibu Barbie. Besides, I think Bratz dolls are way cool.

Here's a quick shot of celebrity setbacks & successes.

"You always pass failure on the way to success." --Mickey Rooney

Oprah: The #1 broadcast maven was quickly pulled off the air after her early anchor woman stint. The problem: Reportedly, she had trouble reading copy from the teleprompter and emoted too much. The Transformation: Oprah was offered a chance be a morning talk-show host and the rest was broadcast history.

Conrad Hilton: Paris Hilton's grandfather failed as a theater booking manager. He lasted just one summer in that post. He also initially struggled as a banker, before scoring big success in the banking and hotel industries.

Sam Walton: -Lost control of his first store due to a flawed lease agreement with his landlord. His later success with Wal-mart was built on some of the financial lessons from that difficult episode in his life.

R.H.Macy: The founder of Macy's--the big flagship store in New York and elsewhere-- had six failed (open-and-shut) retail stores before he successfully launched his famous department store.

The source for the above examples: Never Bet the Farm by Anthony Iaquinto and Stephen Spinelli Jr.

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Boxing with Rocky for Creative Retirement Income

Rocky Balboa -- that aged boxer-- is a fantasy role model for finding income in retirement years.

That's the word from BusinessWeek, which has this thoughtful piece about finding creative income during our senior years.

"This holiday season's massively hyped Sylvester Stallone movie, Rocky Balboa, finds the aging boxer -- and the actor who plays him -- beefing up their retirement accounts with one last return to the ring (wife Adrian, alas, isn't around to share the popular pugilist's golden years). Right now, many of the 77 million Americans nearing their golden years may be hoping for a similar yuletide miracle." --BusinessWeek

My retirement plan includes this menu of options:

1) Continue to Write, but taking only select assignments.

2) Tapping into teaching income as an adjunct professor.

3) Earning income from investments in real estate and the capital markets.

4) Working at an upscale bookstore that offers health care benefits, discounts on books and access to great parties in the publishing industry.

5) Become a Yoga teacher for senior citizens.


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