SavvySugar

Money Tip: Learn From Your Mistakes, Then Move On

SavvySugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:00:19 -0700

Sometimes, no matter how much we're on top of our expenses and feel in control of our finances, mistakes do happen. Take, for example, a recent money mistake compliments of yours truly. In my attempt to purchase the perfect wedding gift, I failed to pay attention to the currency in which the present's price was listed. Had I not been so excited in my pursuit I would have noticed the price was not in dollars like I'd thought; rather, it was listed in euros.

There was no turning back after I'd made the purchase, and while at first I kicked myself, I realized that it was hardly a waste of money. Was it more than I intended to spend? Sure, but when you live within your means, these mistakes don't come with as big of a blow as they do to a budget that is stretched to the limit. I was able to gracefully absorb the ditsy moment by reducing extra expenses a bit more, but it's certainly a mistake that I won't make again!

Have you made any expensive money mistakes lately?

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Money Mistakes Worth $1 Million

SavvySugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:17:49 -0800

There are a lot of lists out there telling us what not to do with our money, but the list published in the Consumer Reports February issue was one of the most comprehensive I've seen. Each mistake is identified with an estimated price tag, and the 12 mistakes could cost up to $1 million. Pretty eye-opening when they put it like that.

Investing too conservatively during retirement: $360,000 to $750,000.
Retiring before you need to: $237,000 to $309,000.
Launching a divorce war: $49,000 to $188,000.
Underinsuring your home: $16,000 to $194,000.
Overpaying for your mortgage: $27,000.
Carrying a credit-card balance: $5,000 to $23,000.

Six more, so just read more

Maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle: $4,600 to $42,000.
Ignoring Roth accounts: $9,000 to $26,000.
Cashing out your 401(k) early: $6,000 to $17,000.
Underfunding your 401(k): $36,000.
Paying needless fund fees: $4,000.
Falling for a scam: $100 to you-name-it.

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10 Easy-to-Fix Cover Letter Mistakes

SavvySugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:42 -0800

I have yet to meet a job hunter who doesn't dread writing cover letters. They're time-consuming and tedious, and unfortunately, they're unavoidable. It's easy to break cover letter etiquette if you're not careful. Those errors can cost you the job, so check out some common mistakes to be sure you're playing by the most important rules.

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10 Small Mistakes That May Cost You the Job

SavvySugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:35 -0700

Yes, we're all human. Yes, we all make mistakes. But your job search isn't the time to make them. Your attention to detail is crucial during a job hunt - even with a killer cover letter and résumé, mistakes that you may consider minor may just cost you the job. Keep these ten job hunting errors in mind for a better chance at getting that job offer.

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Money Talk: If a Meal Is Comped Should You Still Tip?

Savvy Community — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:45:31 -0800

This sticky tip etiquette question comes from Angelica, part of our Money Talk group.

I had brunch with a pal recently at a fairly upscale new restaurant and the entire experience was a bust. We had just worked out and were starving so we put in our order as soon as we sat down. Unfortunately, there was a mix-up over who our server was and we ended up waiting over an hour for our food. When we realized how long it had been and finally caught a waiter, my friend politely reminded her when we'd ordered and the waiter said our meal was next up. That was a lie because they served two tables ahead of us, and when our food did arrive (about 15 minutes later!), my friend's order was wrong. Ultimately, the manager came by the table to apologize and let us know our bill would be comped. When we were finished with our very long brunch, I wanted to leave a tip because I was impressed they were gracious about their mistake, but my friend didn't like the idea of rewarding them after the wait and messed up order. We settled on what was probably a 10 percent tip after agreeing it was kind of them to comp the meal. Do you think we should have left a tip for good measure, or do you think it was unnecessary considering the service?

Join our Money Talk group and dish your awkward money and finance experiences, learnings, and tales! Have a post you want to see featured on SavvySugar? Private message me here to pitch your ideas. I can't wait to hear them.

Ask Savvy: How Do I Follow Up on a Job I Want?

SavvySugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:00:31 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I have a question about a job I applied for earlier this month (Oct. 4). I got a reply the following morning because my resume didn't download, and I replied with an apology and another attachment a few hours later. I didn't hear back and wasn't sure what to do.

On Oct. 14 I got an email saying that they still had some part-time positions available if I was still looking for employment, to which I answered, yes, I was available and still interested. I asked for a phone number and if I could call, and offered to come in to discuss details or interview. I ended by saying that I looked forward to meeting with her and thanked her. I haven't gotten a reply since.

I really need a job and this one is in my hometown. How do I proceed? Should I look up the business phone number, call the career center, or follow up with another email? What would I say in an email? I'm not sure what to do - do you have any advice?

Savvy says: Job searching etiquette can be such a guessing game. To see my advice, read more.

You got lucky when the employer reached out and asked for your resume when it didn't work the first time. Many would move on to the next one without blinking. You lucked out again when they followed up with you to see if you had interest in part-time opportunities, and you did the right thing by responding promptly. The two week gap after they reached out to you makes me think things have changed on their end, but you'll never know unless you ask.

Because they contacted you via email and you haven't spoken before, use email to get in touch with them now. When you do email your contact, say that you'd been alerted of job opportunities a couple weeks ago and are following up to see if that's still the case. Be friendly, say something kind regarding the company, and keep it short.

If this job doesn't work out in your favor, keep chugging with your job search and learn from your mistakes next time around. Triple check any attachments you send to a hiring manger, making sure they are the proper attachments and they open correctly. Good luck!

Have a question for me? Ask away by posting your questions in my Ask Savvy group.

5 "Little" Résumé Mistakes to Avoid

SavvySugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:30:01 -0700

It's often said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Assuming you submitted a cover letter, your résumé is your chance to make a second impression, which means it needs be perfect or it could cost you the job. If your aim is to create an impressive resume to sell yourself, you must ensure you don't slip up on the little stuff. Find out which "little" résumé mistakes to avoid.

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9 Mistakes From Real Job Interview Outtakes

SavvySugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:30:30 -0700

The next time you're preparing for an interview, you may feel less nervous when you consider the people that have come before you. Sure, some of them may have been awesome applicants, but hiring managers have had their share of doozies. I've rounded up some of the worst mistakes my pals in charge of hiring have seen - you'll laugh, you'll feel sorry for strangers, and maybe you'll learn something.

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9 Ways You Might Be Messing Up Your Job Interview

SavvySugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:30:40 -0700

It's easy to commit an interview don't when one of them is considered arriving too early to reception, but showing up more than 10 or 15 minutes early might be the least of your problems. Gearing up for a job interview is stressful regardless of your work experience, and for new grads, the anticipation can be downright draining.

Learning the interview dos and don'ts is the best way to reduce the butterflies, and CareerBuilder surveyed employers on the biggest mistakes they've seen recent college graduates make in the application and interview process. Even if you don't qualify as a recent grad, you aren't immune from making the following mistakes, so review them and make sure you're among the not guilty. To see nine ways you might be messing up your job interview, read more.

Acting bored or cocky
Not dressing appropriately
Coming to the interview with no knowledge of the company
Not turning off cell phones or electronic devices
Not asking good questions during the interview
Asking what the pay is before the company considered them for the job
Spamming employers with the same résumé and/or cover letter
Failure to remove unprofessional photos/content on social networking pages, webpages, blogs, etc.
Not sending a thank-you note after the interview

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Never Make These Ten Interview Mistakes

SavvySugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:09:39 -0700

Interviewing can be a deal-breaker from the point-of-view of all parties involved. You can have the best resume to come out of your graduating class, but if your interview skills leave something to be desired than your candidacy will likely be put in jeopardy. The same goes for a job hunter who's weighing her options - a company could have the most impressive website and on-paper reputation, but if your interviewer is someone you can't wait to get away from, you might leave wondering if you'd be equally incompatible with the other employees.

While CareerBuilder's survey that resulted in their Top 10 Interview Mistakes only reports the faults of job hunters, the examples interviewers acknowledged as real-life mistakes are pretty unbelievable. The top ten are hardly subtle in their inappropriate nature, and it's safe to say you should never mimic them unless you're trying to not get the job.

Candidate answered cell phone and asked the interviewer to leave her own office because it was a "private" conversation.
Applicant told the interviewer he wouldn't be able to stay with the job long because he thought he might get an inheritance if his uncle died - and his uncle wasn't "looking too good."
The job seeker asked the interviewer for a ride home after the interview.
The applicant smelled his armpits on the way to the interview room.

There are six more on the list so just read more

Candidate said she could not provide a writing sample because all of her writing had been for the CIA and it was "classified."
Candidate told the interviewer he was fired for beating up his last boss.
When the applicant was offered food before the interview, he declined saying he didn't want to line his stomach with grease before going out drinking.
An applicant said she was a "people person" not a "numbers person" -- in her interview for an accounting position.
During a phone interview the candidate flushed the toilet while talking to hiring manager.
The applicant took out a hair brush and brushed her hair.

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