USA Today College Opinion: Unpaid internships an unfair burden for students

By our very own Pat Kittredge

The recent plague of joblessness has certainly hit the college age student the hardest. A vicious cycle has seemed to emerge and, unfortunately, become the norm for college students.

The cycle being: You need experience to get a job, and to get that experience usually involves dedicating a large chunk of your time working for free.

Internships are usually the experience outlet that more and more colleges have built into graduation requirements, and those internships are typically unpaid.

Now don’t get me wrong, the experience and skills you (hopefully) pick up during an internship are invaluable, but why do colleges and universities charge you credit hours for an unpaid internship typically off campus with no professor in sight?

Posted in Budgeting, Economy, Financial Education, Home, Personal Finance | Tagged , , , , |

Financial Impact Factor Radio Explores the Psychology of Money

Listen to internet radio with Financial Impact Factor Radio on Blog Talk Radio
With practicing psychologist Dr. Maggie Baker, author of her new book Crazy about Money
Posted in Behavioral Economics, Financial Education, Personal Finance, Radio Show | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Lowering the Electric Bill without Shutting Off the Lights


By Dave K

About a year ago the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania expanded the store shelves for more than one electricity provider for its residents.  Shockingly (sorry, I couldn’t help myself with the pun) I sat around for a year before looking into it more closely.

As the old saying goes, “I remember it like it was yesterday”.  “SHUT THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROOM or, I’m going to get the belt out.”  Then the sprint upstairs to quickly stuff a coloring book in the backside of my PJs, just to be safe.  As a kid it was hard to understand the notion that for every dollar sent to Connecticut Light & Power it might mean a little less food in the fridge.  This was particularly important to a family of eight during the 1970’s.  The almighty utility provider was a monopoly, we had no choice but to get the product from that single provider, so turn the @%*& light out. Continue reading

Posted in Budgeting, Economy, Family, Financial Education, Home, Personal Finance | Tagged , |

Invesment Mistakes Even Smart Investors Make

We had a chance yesterday to sit down with Larry Swedroe, who writes for CBS MoneyWatch and is the principal and director for the Buckingham Family of Financial Services. Larry’s latest book Investment Mistakes Even Smart Investors Make and How to Avoid Them
examines the biggest pitfalls even the most seasoned investors make in today’s market.  Take a listen!

Listen to internet radio with Financial Impact Factor Radio on Blog Talk Radio

 

Posted in Economy, Financial Services, Investment Basics, Personal Finance, Radio Show | Tagged , , |

Is saving away for college enough?

On last week’s Financial Impact Factor Radio with Paul Petillo, financialfootprint discusses the topic of saving for college. A bit of a misnomer, parents looking to put money away for college need to do more than just save; they need to invest. And like all investment options, it involves risk.

Posted in Economy, Financial Aid, Financial Education, Personal Finance | Tagged , , , , , |

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