Pay off Debt

9 Ways to Pay Off Debt

This is a good time to get back on track.  No one likes to be in debt and constantly worrying.  Listen and try out these 9 suggestions for getting your life in order. 

Sweepstakes Deadline Coming Up/ $10,000

Deadline:  January 15, 2015

Real Simple Magazine Sweepstakes

www.realsimple.com


Scroll down and click  holiday sweepstakes

Soroptimist Scholarship Update

Update on scholarship:
They received 11 applications from COD students this year for the 4 Live Your Dream cash grant awards.  Winners will likely be notified by mid-January.  The annual awards event will be held on March 19, 2015

Giva Semi-Annual Student Scholarship

Put this one in your portfolio for the June 01, 2015 deadline.

www.givainc.com/scholarships/

Believe

Believe in Yourself

If you don't believe in yourself, how will you get a scholarship committee to believe in you?

It's Time Again -- $2,000

Your monthly NO Essay College Scholarship is due!!

colleges.niche.com/scholarship/apply

My Kind of Music

Girlfriend Factor Scholarship / December 15 ,2014

Don't miss out on this fabulous opportunity!!
Go Girl! Grant
There are five steps to applying for the Go Girl! Grant.  Each step is just as important as the others.
1.  Print out and complete the Application Form.
2.  Prepare a one page autobiography.
3.  Provide information about your course of study and the cost to attain your goal.
4.  Submit three references.
5.  A personal interview.

Apply!!!

Bank Account Tips

5 Tips for Setting Up Bank Accounts

1. Look for student accounts with low/no required balances, unlimited check writing and low/no cost access to nearby Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs).
2. Ask about fees for bounced checks (writing a check without sufficient funds to cover the amount).
3. Do not allow the bank to print your Social Security number, driver's license, or other personally identifiable information on your checks.
4. Understand the terms and conditions of your bank account(s) and ask questions if you don't understand fees and charges.
5. After your account is set up, consider using a program such as Quicken, Microsoft Money or Mint.com to keep track of your spending.

Taken from Fastweb -- Student Bulletin

Ten Skills Groups Employers Want

Going beyond test scores and GPAs, students need to develop real world knowledge.  The following marketable skills groups are needed to survive and succeed in your future career.

• Work Ethic
• Physical Performance
• Speaking
• Writing
• Teamwork
• Influencing People
• Research
• Number Crunching
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving

Cash Desk Symphony

This is really neat.  Listen and enjoy.
http://vimeo.com/113204828

Student Success Story

A former student of mine, Nancy Cornicelli, has recently opened a new business, The Facial Cottage.

A  number of years ago, Nancy had a thriving business as an Esthetician.  To our good fortune, she decided about a year ago to open her practice again.  Let me tell you, she is GREAT!!  I treated myself about a week ago to a facial and walked away feeling wonderful -- I promised myself that I would return very soon.

Using only the finest organic skin care products by Jurlique, she will pamper you with holistic facials and body treatments plus waxing.

Should you want to experience an hour or more of a very special treat,  schedule an appointment with her. OR maybe you you need a gift for someone.  A gift certificate would be perfect.

Nancy Cornicelli, Esthetician (760) 250-7229

The Facial Cottage 

70-377 Gerald Ford Drive

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Gate Code 248

Visit her website at: www.thefacialcottage.com

A Few Suggestions

Taken from Life's Little Instruction Book
1.  Have a firm handshake.
2.  Look people in the eye.
3.  Say "thank you" a lot.
4.  Say "please" a lot.
5.  Sing in the shower.
6.  Be the first to say, "Hello."
7.  Live beneath your means.
8.  Be forgiving of yourself and others.
9.  Floss your teeth.
10.Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

Need Money for Xmas?

One way to earn some money is to clean out a few closets and sell those items that are just taking up valuable space.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Are finals stressing you out?

Little Suggestions

Taken from Life's Little Instruction Book:

1. Compliment three people every day.
2. Have a dog.
3. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
4. Remember other people's birthdays.

Suggestion for Life

Never deprive someone of hope;  it might be all they have.

-- Taken from Life's Little Instruction Book

Hang in there! The semester is almost over.

Carrots, Eggs or Coffee BEans

Simplify Your Life # 6

 "Resign from any organizations whose meetings you dread."
   --  Elaine St. James

Stossel Essay Contest

125 Prizes for Students Totaling $15,500  Deadline : February 17, 2015
Essay Contest Rules:

Please write a 500-1000 word essay on "War on the Little Guy: When are there enough rules?"

• Students must be aged 12 - 18 at some point between the start of the contest (Nov. 07, 2014) and the end of the contest (Feb. 17, 2015) to participate.
• All essays must be submitted by a teacher on behalf of the student(s).
• Teachers must be registered on our site.  http://stosselintheclassroom.org  (Please submit applications to me.) eandrews@dc.rr.com
• Teachers with winning students will be notified no later than April 13, 2015

Go to the website and watch the video before writing your essay.  Since this is an essay contest, you might have a better chance of winning -- the average student usually resists applications which require writing.

Portfolios and Essays Due

Please remember that your portfolios and essays are due.

Simplify Your Life -- Tip #5

When you pack your own lunch you have control over what you eat and how much.

New Credit Cards

Accepting a credit card without understanding the terms can leave you paying huge fees and staggering interest rates.  Please observe the following:

• Closely examine "Introductory Interest Rates".
• Review all variable interest rates and fees that apply to your account.
• Take note of when your payments are due and the penalty for late payment.
• Understand your payment options
• Know your credit card limit and stay below it at all times.
• Check the fine print in your cardholder agreement.

Student Loans and Bankruptcy

Another compelling reason to apply for scholarships is that student loans are NOT automatically discharged in bankruptcy.  So, the moral of this message is don't rely on student loans to get you through college.

I know a gentleman, who has a daughter in college and a son in high school, whose student loans were $50,000 when he finished his master's degree over 25 years ago.  Now with interest charges compounding on a regular basis, the loan is $70,000.  He has a bachelor's degree and a master's  from two very prestigious colleges, but his financial situation is bordering on bankruptcy.  He is stuck.  The $70,000 is not going away.  If anything, it will grow bigger. 

Simplify Your Life -- Tip #4

You know it's time to get rid of clutter if you just purchased your third book on how to get organized and you can't find it.
--  Elaine St. James

Scholarships for Unique Situations/Fastweb

Do you qualify for any of these?

• Scholarships for Adopted Students
• Scholarships for Bilingual Students
• Scholarships for Students Who Are Children of Single Parents

Scholarships for Age 13 and Under

Taken from Fastweb bulletin:

• National Spelling Bee
• National Geography Bee
• National History Day Contest
• Jif  Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest
• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
• Christopher Columbus Community Service Awards
• Dick Blick Linoleum Block Print Contest
• Gloria Barron Prize for Your Heroes
• Patriot's Pen
• Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Simplify Your Life -- Tip #3

Figure out what is complicating your life right now, then figure out how to make it simpler. 
 --  Elaine St. James

Beware of Scholarship Scams

Taken From a Fastweb Bulletin:

• If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a SCAM.
• Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships or to apply for a scholarship.
• Nobody can guarantee that you will win a scholarship.
• Do not give out personal information like bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers.
• Beware of the unclaimed aid myth.  The only money that goes unclaimed is money that can't be claimed.

Most Generous Scholarships

• Intel Science Talent Search
• Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology
• NIH Undergraduate Scholarship
• Elks Nat'l Foundation Most Valuable Student Competition
• Davidson Fellows
• Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
• Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships
• Collegiate Inventors Competition
• Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarships
• Gates Millennium Scholars
• Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship