Ask Savvy

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy community group, seeking advice on how to thank someone professionally.

A director at my organization has recommended me for a promotion and is organizing a significant pay rise for me. I have been working very hard, but it's still unexpected and very flattering. This sort of thing just doesn't happen (well, at least not to me)! He's leaving the company at the end of the month, and I want to tell him how appreciative I am that he recognized my potential. I only found out about his recommendations through my manager in my recent performance review though, and the director hasn't brought it up with me. If anyone has any suggestions on the proper way to say thank you in this sort of situation, I'd be very grateful. We work in an open-plan office, and no one other than my manager knows about the promotion yet, so I'm finding it hard to figure out how I can bring this up with the director without everyone hearing that I'm going to be promoted. 

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and we'll find the right expert to help you out.

Your special wedding season Ask Savvy questions will be answered by SavvySugar and a very savvy bride. Submit your questions in our Ask Savvy group.

Dear Savvy,

I just got engaged to the love of my life and I'm ecstatic! My ring is blinging and I adore it. It's everything I've ever hoped for and I never want to take it off. My best friend is hounding me to get ring insurance, but I'm worried about the cost because I don't have any extra funds. My fiancé saved up for a long time for the ring, and though I don't know how much he spent, he's admitted he wiped his savings. Can I wait a while until we have more cushion cash to get ring insurance, or should I get it now no matter the cost?

Best,
Blinging-but-budgeted-to-be

See what the savvy bride has to say about this after the jump.

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group for advice on getting a job in another city.

I've been applying for a couple months now and have clearly stated in my cover letter that I plan to relocate. I'm trying to be responsible financially and not move to the new city until I have a job lined up. As soon as I get an offer, I'm prepared to put in my two weeks notice and move right away. But how can I best convey this to hiring managers?

I've clearly stated in my cover letter that I am planning to relocate. I've already been rejected once due to the company only wanting to consider local applicants at the time.

I'm wondering if there is anything else I can do to make my résumé or cover letter stand out, or if many employers see a nonlocal address and put the application in an automatic "no" pile.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and we'll find the right expert to help you out.

Starting a life as husband and wife is an exhilarating time — the celebrating, the planning, and of course the gifts! But what if you and your fiancé are on different pages? Check out the answer in this special wedding season Ask Savvy question, which will be answered by SavvySugar and a very savvy bride. Submit your questions in our Ask Savvy group.

Dear Savvy,

I am newly engaged and thrilled to start the planning process. My Maid of Honor has generously offered to throw us an engagement party to kick off the celebration and I'm beyond excited to register for gifts. Unfortunately, my fiancé quickly threw a wrench in the equation — he doesn't think we need to register! In his mind, we have everything that we need and thinks it's ridiculous to ask people to spend money on us. As someone who has "always been a bridesmaid, never the bride," I've been looking forward to having my time in the spotlight and picking out each and every wedding gift with care — there are still certain things we are missing in order to start our life together as husband and wife. How can I convince him that we're not being greedy by registering for wedding gifts?

I Want My Registry Regina

To see what a savvy bride has to say about this, keep reading after the jump.

If you need an outsider's perspective on a wedding dilemma, be sure to submit your questions to the Ask Savvy group.

Dear Savvy,

I'm pretty much the most traditional bride you'll ever meet. My fiancé and I have followed old customs all the way through our planning process, but when I mentioned wedding gifts for each other, he looked at me like I was a mad woman! I was under the impression that we would exchange gifts while each other got ready, like most brides and grooms do, but he thinks it's not necessary to spend any more money on each other — he feels that the wedding rings and honeymoon should be more than enough. I know this comes off as greedy, but in all honesty I'll be disappointed to break tradition. Is there a way for me to change his mind or do I have to just accept his decision?
Bummed out Beth

To see the Savvy Bride's advice, read more

Have you ever dealt with an unpleasant co-worker? If so, offer up your advice to a reader who is thinking of leaving her job because of her colleague. And if you have any questions of your own, ask them in the Ask Savvy group!

I work as the sole designer for a small company dealing with breast cancer patients. I love helping people and I love what I do! I have been with this company for three years, longer than anyone else on the current team. Six months ago, we brought in a few new employees in the production department. One of these employees has been consistently going out of her way to make inconsiderate remarks about any design concept and artwork I've worked on, referring to my work as "clip art," among other negative terms. Most of the time she just makes these comments in passing, when I am midproject or consulting someone else. She butts in and rips my work apart and makes fun of it in the process.

Read on for more.

Have you ever been asked to be part of a bridal party that you can't afford? If so, offer up your advice to a reader who's stuck in the same predicament. And if you have any questions of your own, ask them in the Ask Savvy group!

I have been asked to participate in my friend's wedding as a bridesmaid. Unfortunately, I cannot afford the extravagant wedding and celebrations leading up to the wedding. At the moment, a conservative estimate for what I'll have to pay is $1,500. I'm worried my friend will kick me out of her wedding or, worse, stop being my friend altogether. I need advice on how to politely explain to her that all of this is way out of my price range. I feel like a bad friend for not being able to "do it all," but I can't afford to go into debt.

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This reader wants to know if she should list her current job since she hasn't been there long. For more career questions, check out the Ask Savvy community group.

I was working as a legal assistant for five years, but due to lack of raises and a cut of hours I was forced to look for employment. I have bills and rent to pay.

The new job is a paralegal position, which I minored in college. I hate my new job. The people are rude. The hours are terrible and my boss yells at me and everyone else for everything. It's unlike anything I expected and I have responsibilities that aren't even considered in my job description!

My friend works for the state and has told me about a position that has opened up for a legal secretary; the pay is actually MORE than my paralegal job now and it's 10 minutes away from my house. My friend is a head supervisor and said she is going to try her best to get me in. Since the job was not posted on any public sites, I feel like I have a good chance of getting an interview.

Problem is, should I list my old job? Should I not? I don't want them to think I'm jumping from job to job. Help!

Ask anything budget-, etiquette-, or planning-related — well, almost anything — by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and I'll find the right expert to help you out.

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group — she wants to know how to write an email to a possible mentor.

OK, so I don't know if they are going to be my mentor or direct me to someone who can be but I was just having a conversation with a college professor and told her about my love for the arts. She has since asked me if I was in school and I said no. She said that if I like I could have coffee with her sometime and she has a friend in the field that I want to go in so that if I ever want to talk to her I can. It took me for ever to call her and she followed up by telling me that I can email her so that we can set something up to talk. But only if I want to.

She must have sensed my shyness or hesitancy. I want to go back to school but I'm nervous about it, I'm also not super social and don't regularly meet people I don't know for coffee (or even really good friends!) I'm not worried about her being a crazy person but I'm considering taking her up on her offer and I want to make a good impression.

Read on for more.

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group — she wants to know how to deal with an unpleasant manager.

I've been in the workforce (financial services industry) for about three years now but have only been in my current job for a few months. I like my role as it is challenging, interesting, and diverse. I get along with my supervisor and my colleague (there are three of us in the small team). Our team sits within the finance department, which is headed by one manager.

Compared to my old workplace, the environment here is very different. This finance department is more cutthroat and has less of a social/friendly culture. The manager has introduced time sheets in order to monitor how long we are taking to complete tasks. This doesn't sit well with the team, and we feel as if she is micromanaging us.

There are also many occasions where she would pinpoint and blame someone when an issue arises, before she is even clear about the entire story. There have been a few situations that show us that she really doesn't know the business inside out and doesn't fully understand the team's roles/responsibilities/functions. At the same time, she appears tough and intimidating. She likes to demand and never admits to her own mistakes. She points the finger before clarifying the situation. We don't respect her. We fear her.

Read on to find out more.