Archive for August, 2007

Free and Affordable Legal Resources

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 23, 2007 (11:51 am)

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One of the biggest drains on a regular family’s budget is legal expenses. Many times something unexpected happens, like our car getting damaged because of the mechanic’s negligence. ( If you want to be brought up to speed, please read Part Two on the actions we took to get this situation resolved and Part Three on the response we got from the mechanic’s insurance company so far.)

One of the best ways to recoup some of your losses is going through the legal system. Unfortunately, it’s also very expensive. You can get charged $200/hour for a consultation! I don’t know many people that could afford that on a modest budget.

I found some resources on the web that offers free or low cost legal aid to people whose income cannot allow them to seek the legal aid that they need. I listed them by state to make it easier to find. I tried to load it up as is, but WordPress cut the list repeatedly. So instead here’s the link the legal resources list. I hope it help anyone who needs professional help, but cannot afford the costs.

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If any one can help me get an Excel table up on WordPress, that would make my day. I’m also going to find a legal blogger that may be willing to answer some questions people may have as a working student and for those who are newly graduated. So if you have questions to ask or advice on WordPress, please leave a comment.

Thanks to Nyghtowl on Flickr for the wonderful pic!

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Green Panda Treehouse Joins In On Blog Action Day October 15, 2007

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 22, 2007 (2:16 pm)

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After some consideration, Green Panda Treehouse has decided to participate in Blog Action Day. On October 15, 2007 , over 2,220 blogs will participate and reach an estimated 1,100,000 people as we write about a topic that is of a concern to all of us: the Environment.

I really think that this is a wonderful idea. We’re all connected through our place on this planet and its our responsibility to take care of it.I’ll try to incorporate it with the theme of this blog. If you have suggestions, please leave your ideas here. If you have a blog, please sign up and join!

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Six Issues Couples Should Argue About: Money is One

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 21, 2007 (11:29 am)

How Discussing Money Can Lead to a Stronger Marriage

Sometimes whenever someone brings up the topic of arguing in a marriage, people may misunderstand the meaning. There are issues that have to be discussed (and rediscussed and re-rediscussed…) because they are necessary to have a stronger marriage. This list from MSN isn’t complete and for some, not applicable. (My husband and I don’t have kids.)Couple

No big surprise, money was on the list. The article drew attention to the issue of retirement. I believe the sooner a couple talks about this the better. It would be a shame to be miserable during what is supposed to be a relaxing time in your life.The article is a good starting point, though, and I thought to share it with you guys. One thing I would’ve added to the list is spirituality. That’s usually something very personal and it can help a couple bond as they share that with one another.

What do you think should be on the list? Please leave a comment.

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A site that does a great job discussing relationships and personal finances is Make Love Not Debt. It’s does a fantastic job showing the real results of trying to balance the two.

How Having Good Communication Skills Can Lead to a Better Paying Job

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 21, 2007 (9:03 am)

I got the results  and I passed the Exit Exam on the first try. This is good news, as I just have to pass my classes this semester to graduate. I wish the university would give more feedback about how students did on the exam. For now, though, I’ll just enjoy the moment.book9.gif

By the way an article in Career Journal spoke about the skills that employers really want from employees. Communication was listed right after leadership skills. Verbal communication was emphasized in the Career Journal’s article.  MSNBC ran an article about communicating in written form. Both are great articles to review. Here’s a snippet from MSNBC:

A 2006 study of large employers by a consortium of business and literacy groups found that written communication ranked at or near the top of a list of skills required in a wide range of jobs. “Ninety-three percent said written communication was very important for college graduates,” says Linda Barrington, a labor economist at The Conference Board and co-author of the study.

While I can’t use my university’s writing exit exam on my resume, I might mention that in an interview. I’ll let you know if that comes up in the future. As you can see brushing up on public speaking and writing to put you ahead of others when looking for a new job or trying to a get a promotion.

Weekly Paycheck and Goals: August 17

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 20, 2007 (8:52 am)

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Another week and another paycheck. This week looks a lot better than last week.

Paycheck: $280.65

Here’s my budget for it:

Joint: $160

Gasoline: $40

Savings: $20

Food: $15

Credit Card: $15

Net Income: $47.21

I get to keep more into my checking account this week.  I’m trying to build a buffer into my checking account, as I am considering cutting back my hours. I haven’t made a final decision; I’m just going to see how the semester rolls out. I want to finish on a high note and I feel that a slightly smaller paycheck is acceptable if it comes to that scenario.

Sunday Cat Photo: Tarzan Cat

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 19, 2007 (7:47 am)

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Weekly Roundup: August 18th

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 18, 2007 (8:06 am)

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This has been a busy week for us. I read a lot of great articles and a few of them seemed directly written for me. The ones below really stood out and I wanted to share them with everybody.

  • I really enjoyed Saving Explained‘s article on getting your financial priorities straight. I really believe that your have to change your mindset before your can improve your financial situation.
  • Krystal spent over 2,000 in about 10 minutes! Don’t worry, she’s doing great on her budget. I love seeing her move towards her goals. It’s a good motivator for me to stick to mine.
  • One Frugal Girl gives a great tip for those on a tight budget: bring a calculator to the grocery store. She also points out how that saves time and sometimes an embarrassment at the check-out line.
  • Leave it to Trent to write a wonderful article about maximizing coupons. He explains cost per unit and also factoring in how regularly you buy a product into this practical math lesson.

If you saw any posts that caught your eye, please leave a comment and a link to the article. Have a wonderful Saturday!

Weekly Paycheck Review : August 10th Paycheck

By: GreenPanda | Date posted: August 17, 2007 (4:07 pm)


It’s time to review my weekly budget and bills. I did better this week in that I saved more than I plan. It’s not by much, but I’m still happy.bills.jpg

Here’s what I budgeted:
Paycheck: $283.37

Expenses

Joint: $160
Gasoline: $50
Savings: $20
Contacts: $47
Net Income $6.37

Here’s how I spent it (drum roll please):
Paycheck: $280.65

Expenses
Joint        $160
Gasoline $43.66
Contacts $47.44
Savings $20
Total  $ 271.10
Net Income 9.55

I was able to save some more. Next week’s paycheck should be better as I don’t have to get more contact lens until November.

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