10 ways to use your gap year to its full potential

'I'm not sure what I'll do, but -well, I want to go places and see people. 

I want my mind to grow. I want to where things happen

on a big scale.

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

Much like the poem by Robert Frost where he detailed the fork in the roads that we find on lifes journey. Many graduates take the road that lead to a career right after their graduation, some already have plans to attend graduate school soon after, others are unsure and they stand at that fork not knowing which way to go. Perhaps, it isn't a fork, but another path to choose. I chose the latter, I stood  at that fork unsure of what I wished for in the immediate future. Although I did not have any plans for the immediate future, I have spent my gap year making plans and trying out new things. New paths opened up for me, and I learned new things -things I wouldn't have learned if I took the other 2 paths.
This list is the things I have been doing to during my gap year to make sure it is a year of achievement and new experiences.


1. Travel - There are hidden gems all over the world, and you can find them if you search for them. The best part is that some are in your own backyard.

2. Craft - Now, Pinterest is a huge site that caters to this hobby. I've always loved to craft and paint, but during my undergrad I did not have a lot of time to do those things. I can now take the time.

3. Plan my future - To a certain extent. I have recently been thinking of what I want to do for the rest of my life. So far everything is falling into place and I couldn't be more excited.

4. Start an adult job - I have recently come across the opportunity of a career that could open doors for me. So we'll see where that goes.

*phew I have to come up with more?!?!*

5. Apply for graduate school

6. Realize you have to pay for graduate school

7. Start saving for graduate school

8. Realize that I luckily have one of those adult jobs

9. Make lists

10. Catch up on some sleep lost during the undergraduate years.

Read More

Saving Goals

Just about everywhere there are bloggers giving out financial advice on how to save for the new year. Prices are inflating rapidly while pay is remaining quite stagnant, unfortunately. So saving is becoming more difficult since more of your hard earned money is going to pay for your commodities, but because of this, it is a time when saving is crucial. Saving for that rainy day when your windshield wipers stop working when it is pouring rain (true story, that happened to me, was not fun). Although I met a cute guy but that is besides the point. How should you save?

For me, I can only do small increments. There is that one saving tip where you put in a jar, the week of the year. So week 1 is one dollar, week 16 is 16 bucks, etc etc. You get the general idea. I called upon the math I learned while at university and calculated that if you do this method, you'll have saved over 1300 bucks. Whoa. I think I need to do that.

My savings route involves me only using cash and whatever ones and change I gain through spending, I put in a jar. I never know how much I truly would earn at the end of the year through this method, since I use it for emergencies. But, it helps me through emergencies so that means it is a good method, right?

Okay, we all have goals, saving money is for both rainy days and for non-rainy days (traveling). You know, whatever catches your fancy or necessity or both. I decided to make a list on what one should save for, I am not a financial adviser by any means, but it works for me.

1. Travel - I want to go to Savannah, GA. I'll start closer to home, ya know. I live a days trip away and I have never been out there. Have a separate jar for it.

2. New car - There's a jar for that.

You thought I was kidding, weren't you?

3. For those of you planning on signing for a student loan, behave like it is a mortgage. PUT . A. DOWN. PAYMENT. ON. IT. It isn't the same thing but if you save money for your education, your loan will be a lot smaller. I see  a lot of my friends struggling with theirs and they say they wish they saved money before signing for one. I cannot stress this enough, I have recommended it to all of my younger cousins and their friends. I did a thesis on this topic, I read a lot of sad stories of kids struggling with huge loans and the interest tacking on to the total. Save yourself some heartache, start saving for it or work in college and save to pay it off.

4. Do you need your tooth fixed?

5. Going to grow old eventually?

Read More

Some tips on writing your thesis

This is a work in progress but I have learned some important things today

1. Start early - Pace yourself, you should by now know how quickly you work and if you think you'll do it last minute. Here is some advice: DON'T.
2. BACK UP EVERYTHING- I learned this the hard way this morning, luckily I realized I sent my thesis and questionnaire to be read by a friend so I asked for those copies back. Only sad thing is I have to redo my interviews. 
3. Try to figure out the dates of when is everything is due.
4. Buy a thesis book- These tell you about how you should write, usually they are published per department. Amazon.com - A manual for writer's  is a good one.

On another note, slightly related. ALWAYS listen to your Momma if she says get the warranty, don't question just get it. 

Read More

8 Saving Techniques

Now I am a college student on a limited income, so I have to try and make my dollar stretch.

1. Try and make a budget- Write down what you spend everyday in a notebook or in an excel spreadsheet. You will see over time where your money is going and where to cut down.

2. Pay attention into what pits you are throwing your money into- I realized that I was going out to eat way to often and buying a lot of coffee. Slowly I began to make my own coffee and making my own food at home. 

3. Use only cash!- Credit cards for emergencies but use cash, because once it's gone it is gone. 

4. Save your change- Have a jar that you put your small change in everyday. If you follow number 3 then you will always have change left over, just put that in that jar and count it when you decide too.

5. Pay-as-you-go phones- Last year my contract was up and I was  in the market for a new phone. After shopping around and doing my budget. I realized I could afford an iPhone, but I didn't want to pay for it. So I decided to get a go-phone and I pay 35 bucks a month for unlimited text, data and (I think) 150 mins. Now it isn't ideal and I sometimes wish I had a new smartphone, but I realized that it is a want and not a necessity. 

6. Necessity vs Want- I remember a conversation I had with my father when I was a freshman, I told him that I 'needed' this purse. He corrected me and told me that I 'wanted' that purse, I can survive without it and I did. With that being said you must evaluate the necessities and wants in your life.

7. Put a portion of your weekly income away into savings.

8. Set goals for yourself.

Read More

How to know you're a College senior

*Disclaimer* This is based on my own personal realizations and some that I have heard in passing.

1. You realize that you have to be a responsible adult now, you may have pushed your graduation date because you're not ready to pay for everything. Now you have to find a real job! A waitress is no longer good enough for you college grad. Better find a desk job.

2. Everyone and their mother is asking you 'What are you going to do after you graduate?' The proper answer is not cry yourself to sleep every night, even though that's what you're going to be doing.

3. On top of your course load you make plans to study for the GRE because why fool yourself, as if you're going to find an adult job right after graduation. Might as well go back to school.

Stay in school kiddos

4. You start thinking of all things you haven't done in your college years and try to get them done before you graduate.

5. You make sure all of your classes are in the afternoon and no classes on Friday. Thirsty Thursdays anyone?

6. Friends? Best Friends? You stopped seeing them regularly sometime between sophomore and junior year because all of you are so busy that you make time to see each other every few weeks. After days of trying to eat lunch with friends, you deal with eating by yourself.

Table for 1, please.

7. You can pick the freshmeat (freshman) out of a lineup. Put that campus map away and don't ask me - who has headphones and sunglasses- for directions. There is an app for that.

8. Your daily outfit for campus is comfortable. You probably stopped dressing up freshman year. Today's ootd? Just rolled out of bed.

9. You apply for graduation and start thinking on how to design your cap. I'm not going to tell you what it is! It's a surprise :).

10. You've used the same backpack for years and now it's falling apart but you don't want to buy a new one because you're about to graduate.

Read More

Ways to study for the GRE

There are 3 ways

Number 1: actually studying, not fun! Most helpful.

Número dos: through osmosis. Not helpful.
- Book doubles as an umbrella!

Numéro trois: to cry while holding the book. Least helpful of all.
- Allows you to channel all of your broken hopes and dreams unto a book.

Well to all of studying. Good Luck!

Read More

Frugal Eating on Vacation

           As some of you may know I had a kitchenette in my hotel room last weekend. And with good reason, it is a good idea to always get a room with one or even a microwave and fridge.
          Before you leave depending on how long you are traveling you should stop at your local grocery store and buy cheap and easy food items as well as snacks. For me I will always lean for sandwiches. (I can't say no to a good PBJ or Turkey sandwich) These items are good to have so that you  don't have to buy overpriced and unhealthy foods at the restaurants. Trust me your wallet will thank you.
           If you still want to go out and not eat in your hotel, you can always make a picnic. Everyone loves a picnic.  That's why sandwiches are a great idea, also food items you can make easily like potato salad, cole slaw, any items you can make in your simple kitchenette or hotel room. Sometimes you don't have a stove or availability of utensils and pots to make fancy dinners. Last I checked we are not the Prince who will have eggs benedict made on a hot plate in a dorm room. Unless you bring your own hot plate then you can but that is all you honey.
          These items I would recommend the most based on my personal experience

•  Bread
• Deli meat
• PBJ
• Jelly
• Some fixin's for you sandwich like maybe a premade salad and you add the lettuce and dressing to your deli sandwich for flavor. (Hey don't judge me I am a college kid)
• Mayonnaise
• Potatoes -Some stores allow you to buy individual .
• Coleslaw mixings - I know there are prepackaged mixing for this, I have bought this before
• Some snacks - chips, peanuts, bananas- try to stay as healthy as possible. Bananas are easy cleanup and can be bought individually.

Read More

How-to: Jet Lag

So I have been thinking about how I am going to cure this jet lag. I have heard many ideas on how-to by my friends and family. While the most jet lag I have experienced is a 2 hour difference, which believe me you can feel it.

Here are some tips that I have compiled:

1. A week or so before your trip try to sleep on that time. So when you arrive you're rested. For example: if the time difference is 5 hours, then go to sleep around 5pm your time so your sleep schedule will line up with theirs. Then wake up around the time you'd be waking up, for me I would have to wake up 2:30 am my time because I would be waking up at 7:30 am their time.
2. Keep hydrated. You may think that you should drink a lot of coffee during your travels. Wrong. Drink some but drink a lot of water. Stay hydrated my friends. :)
3. When you arrive in your destination do not do things you would on your schedule, many airlines arrive in Europe from the U.S in the morning. Do not go to your hotel/hostel and sleep, stay awake. Besides you may be too excited to sleep ;)
4. There is also another thing my friends told me about, don't not to eat a lot of fried foods, eat healthy. I feel this would go along with staying hydrated. Fried foods, despite them being wildly available and cheap especially in the U.S, they can make you feel ill during the travels. He told me that eating fruits was the best idea.
   

I will update this list with more tips! I'll talk to y'all soon.

Read More