What NOT to scrimp on!

A big part of grad school advice deals with saving money. This makes sense since grad school in itself is quite pricey. But there are a few things that you need to spend money on to ensure yourself that you are getting a quality product. Some examples, if you will:

· Computer. The most obvious one is of course a computer. Your computer is basically your water and air during your graduate years. It’s how you will do your research, write your papers, and communicate with your professors. Don’t go for the cheap models that will break down in a couple months or will slow down as soon as you upload a couple programs. Spending a little more money on a reliable computer is definitely worth it in the long run. I personally don’t know how I lived without my Mac.

· Cell phone. In the same vein, a good cell is almost as important. Most grad students I know don’t use land lines in their apartments, so cell phones are their primary line of communication. If you’re relying on a cell phone to be your only phone, it needs to be one you trust.

I also prefer to receive my email as each one is sent to me, rather than having to check my computer throughout the day. So I like to have email on my phone. It also helps because as a grad student, you’ll probably have multiple email accounts (personal, school, work, etc). Having them all sent to your phone is a good way of staying on top of everything.

· School bag. This thing is going to be loaded with books, papers, and possibly your ever-important computer. You don’t want it to break (it’s horrible, I’ve seen it happen) or not fit everything (at which time you have to resort to carrying two bags­ ­– not fun or convenient). So get one that is big enough and sturdy enough to manage your life. They may not be the prettiest bags out there, but L.L. Bean knows how to make a backpack that will last. They also come with tons of different storage spaces to help you keep track of everything you bring along with you.

Those are the three biggies. Anything else you want to splurge on is up to you, just don’t go crazy. Remember those rent check you need to pay. And the water bill. And the electric bill. And cell phone bill. And you get the picture.

A Grad Student's Staple: The To-Do List

Time management can be a pain in the butt. I'm one of those people who has both a full-time job and a full-time graduate school course load, keeps a blog, has a few writing projects going, and still makes time for her family, friends, and boyfriend. (I also watch way too much TV, have a pet cat, and spend two hours a day commuting.) You other grad students know exactly what I'm talking about, even if your daily tasks vary from mine. To new grad students, I recommend one of the simplest strategies: the to-do list.

Like the calendar, the daily to-do list helps you keep everything straight--you probably used one in undergrad. I have one on my personal blog because I get a kick out of using HTML tags to cross off the tasks I've completed (i.e. Write a blog post), but it can be as basic as a small notebook stored in your pocket, purse, or backpack. If toting more paper around isn't your style, consider these electronic options for use on your computer and/or mobile device:

• Ta-Da List: Ta-Da List helps you keep track of daily and weekly tasks, allows you to make lists (so under "Pay Bills," you can list "Comcast" and "electric"), and share your lists with family and friends. Check off each item's box to keep track of your progress. It also works on the iPhone. This option is free, 100% of the time.
  

• Remember the Milk: This one can be used on an iPhone, Blackberry, or Android phone, as well as with your Google Calendar, Gmail, or Twitter account (send direct messages with updates right to your list!). PC World says it "reinvents the to-do list." Pro Accounts cost $25 per year and you must upgrade to one to use the iPhone app, but why not just register a free account and log in from your mobile device's browser to avoid paying the money?

• And if you want some more creative ideas for to-do lists (or you just want to know what other people are up to), check out the To-Do List Blog.

Keeping a list is great because I often find myself staring at it after completing a task, asking, "Is there anything else I can do right now?" That exact scenario is why this blog post went up today, not on Tuesday. But remember, the most important thing when keeping a to-do list is to actually follow it and cross off completed tasks. No organization tool will help if you don't use it!

Tweets, Updates and Posts: Keeping in Touch in the 21st Century

Graduate school takes me far away from family and friends, and keeps me busier than ever. Luckily, keeping in touch these days is a snap using social media.

• Twitter equals texting online without the obligatory phone plan. Those obsessed with this microblogging medium blast off an obscene number of 140 character tweets a day. The world does not need to know that you brushed your teeth at 11:45 pm in Boston, MA, on August 6, 2010, but tweeting is a good way to briefly inform people of the flourishes in your life.

• Facebook: Most take the time to check out other people’s business on Twitter and even more so on Facebook. Once relegated to college students, this online community has expanded to include everyone who wants to join, among them a few of my family members as well as the various family members of my friends. These connections are often awkward, but when trying to keep in touch, Facebook has its advantages. For example, when my parents compare notes on who talked to me last, my 16-year-old brother (a Facebook junkie) will casually mention one of my status updates that popped up in his newsfeed. Sign of life confirmed. (Which also teaches us a valuable lesson. If you want to stay hidden from family, stay off Facebook.)

• Blogging, the lazy emailers grace: I love blogging. Not only do I get to be as creative, wacky and outrageous as I want, I can reach out and touch a million people (read: two dedicated readers) with just one post, a glorious departure from the laborious email. You could cut and paste to save time with emails, but you’ll waste even more tailoring each to the intended recipient. Instead, sign up for a free blog on WordPress or Blogger. Personalize it with music, photos, videos and other interactive media. Post some details about your week and knock out your “must email” list with one click. 

Image Source URL: http://kozinets.net/archives/396

4 Great Calendars for Scheduling Your Grad Life

Juggling your classes, work, friends, family, bills and life in general as a grad student can sometimes be overwhelming. However, the right calendar can help you keep your life in order and prevent you from getting crushed under all your responsibilities.

I am admittedly a stationary junkie—I’ve been known to joyfully skip and frolic through office supply stores. I’ve tried just about every type of calendar, schedule, and appointment book known to man, and below are some of my favorites.

A note for the tech savvy: While I prefer the good old fashioned paper and pen variety, there are also a slew of electronic versions for any gadget you happen to have; check out Lifehacker’s Five Best Calendar Applications for a quick overview.

Barnes & Noble Leather Weekly Calendar w/Pen ($8.95)

Unfortunately, these are sold out online, but you can still buy them in actual Barnes & Noble stores. However, if you want to purchase a similar calendar online, Moleskin provides comparable alternatives (minus the nifty pen).

Pros

• Built in pen, very convenient
• Snap closure to keep pages from getting mangled your bag
• Attached bookmark ribbon and tear-tab corners to easilyfind your place
• Address and notes sections in the back
• Thumbnail monthly calendars at the bottom of weekly pages

Cons

• The leather makes it kind of stiff and difficult to open flat and write on
• Only has the full-calendar spreads for August to December of 2010
• Isn’t organized specifically for the academic year

Paper Source 2011 Academic Booklet Calendar ($11.95)

Made from recycled paperAvailable online or in stores, this thin calendar is both cute and functional. It’s large enough to see your entire month at a glance but thin enough to be very portable.

Pros

• Includes 17 full monthlyspreads
• Bright interior colors are funky and very appealing
• Very unfussy and user friendly
• Thin enough to tuck into any folder or notebook

Cons

• Kind of pricey for what it is; you’re definitely paying for the aesthetics
• Exterior isn’t nearly as attractive as the interior
• Calendar grids may be too small to make lengthier notes
• Very little protection to keep it from getting bent and crumpled for the next 17 months

Note Nook 12-Pocket Calendar ($14.99)

I would never pay my bills on time if it weren’t for this one. It’s super handy for sticking your bills in the pocket and marking the date their due on the calendar all in one fell swoop.

Pros

• A different pocket for each month (which is important because if you cram them full of stuff they tend to tear or warp)
• Very sturdy spiral rod and hook keeps them from bending
• Butterfly designs are pretty cute

Cons

• They also offer some rather dowdy designs
• Not at all portable
• Basically does the one job of keeping track of bills

At-A-Glance 12 Month Desk Pad Calendar ($14.99 or $9.99 after rebate)

Available at Staples both online and in stores, this extra large desk calendar lets you make all the notes you need to and still see the whole month’s schedule.

Pros

• Very convenient to keep at your desk or work station and make quick notes
• Available for the academic or regular calendar year
• Plastic corners keep pages from curling up
• Perforated top lets you easily rip off old pages

Cons

• You have to actually have a desk or work space to keep it at
• Not at all portable
• If you spill your coffee on it you have to live with the stain for the rest of the month

For more helpful grad student tools check out Michelle's The 5 Best Free Software Downloads for Students.

Thank YOU, Sheila-- my new Fidelity Investment friend!

As graduate students, many of us do not have full time jobs or jobs we plan on sticking with after we receive our Masters Degrees. I for one, have gone through three jobs so far during my 2.5 years here in Boston. After recently leaving my second job--my sales associate position at Trader Joe's, I received paperwork regarding my 401 K and my plans of what, how, and when I plan on rolling it over.

Wh-wh-what? Rolling OVER? What does THAT mean?!

If you're like me, money and numbers are not your forte'. I am a creative writing student and well, my main concerns usually have to do with when an appropriate time to use a semicolon is versus a dash (though, I couldn't really tell you that one, either...).

I decided to be proactive about my finances, MY 401K and in a sense, my LIFE (getting that routine really HAS motivated me, eh?) I decided to call Fidelity Investments.

After speaking with a pleasant woman named Sheila for what totaled to about 7 minutes including the time I was kept on hold—I had a piece of paper with three steps etched out, my mind safely screwed on tight—and a good feeling about myself and my own capabilities of managing my money. See for yourself what Sheila taught me so that the next time you receive an envelope with information regarding your 401K—you’ll know exactly what to do.

1) Open an account with Fidelity Investments. Sheila did say it was simple—and boy was she right! Just be sure to choose “Rollover IRA” after you selected “open account”. After that, it should take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

2) Call the company managing your 401K. Businesses use separate companies to handle the 401K, so now it’s your job to contact them and let them know where to send that money.

3) The company you have called is gonna either send it to you as a check—or request additional information: Your full name and account number. This account number is what you received after opening that fidelity account.

Now all that’s left to do is either: wait for the check that’s being mailed to you—or wait for a phone call from your own special “Sheila” and you’re set. Welcome to living life as an adult. It’s sort of great, isn’t it?

5 Simple Stress-Busters for Busy Students

Despite the challenge of balancing work, school and other obligations, coping with stress is feasible. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that fun ends after your undergraduate career. Simple activities prove that fun doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are five ways to indulge in the simpler side of life during exam crams, paper writing, or whenever you need to take a break.

1. Baking/Cooking: Since we all need to eat and buying takeout takes its toll on your wallet, cooking is a necessary activity that doubles as a stress-reliever. Consider websites that offer recipes for cheap eats like Cheapcooking.com, or blogs for students; I found a plethora of cheap recipes through one blog post on Onlinecollege.org. After trying a few of these, you might feel inspired to experiment with some original recipes—and creativity is always an effective stress-buster.
2. Watching a movie or TV show: If you typically work to the point of exhaustion, it doesn’t hurt to occasionally veg out in front of your TV or computer; it actually might benefit your performance to give your brain a rest so you can return to work refreshed. If you can’t abandon your Type A personality, consider incorporating a movie or TV break into your mealtimes. Enjoying dinner and a movie (or a snack and a show, if you’re pressed for time) won’t make you feel guilty since we all need to eat at some point. My friends often sing the praises of Netflix, but if you’d rather not commit to a membership, Hulu.com offers a reasonable selection of movies and TV shows that play with limited commercial interruption.
3. Jogging/Walking: Sometimes the best way to clear your head is to step away from your computer or textbook. If the words you’re reading don’t make sense anymore, you’re better off going outside for some fresh air. Even a brief walk around the neighborhood gives you the chance to stretch and take in different scenery, without tearing you from work for too long. If you’re eager to get back into running, or you feel like too much of your time has been spent indoors lately, search for a nearby park on The U.S. National Park Service's "Find a Park" page.
4. Meeting at local dives: You must make sacrifices as a graduate student, but your social life should not be one of them. Make a point to look for divey-looking (but safe) places the next time you’re out, and then check them out with friends. While enjoying a cheap drink or meal, this can be an opportunity to vent about whatever has got you stressed—always healthier than keeping it inside.
5. Reading: Reading a book, magazine, blog, or any publication that interests you provides a break while keeping your mind active, which means you won’t lose momentum when you return to work. I suggest finding something completely different from your required reading for stimulation.

DIY Design: Tips for Decorating Your Apartment on a Budget

Once you've moved into your apartment, those blank white walls can be intimidating. As a renter, your lease might not let you repaint, put up wallpaper or drill holes in the walls. Add in classes, work, and the student loans looming over your head, and you might feel like you don't have the time, money or energy to fix up your new place at all.

But you do have options. There are simple, frugal, and easy ways to make your new place yours-- and keep your landlord happy, too.

• Buy a blank canvas and a few tubes of acrylic paint and make your own modern art.
  
• You may not be able to put up traditional wallpaper, but how about making your own out of fabric and a little starch? It's cheaper, easier, and one hundred percent removable. This is also a good option if you're allowed to paint or wallpaper but can't afford to or don't have the time.
  
• Another inexpensive (but less removable) wallpaper alternative is to make a dictionary wall out of a secondhand, falling apart dictionary (or book of your choice).
  
• Apply a wall decal or two in lieu of paint, wallpaper, or artwork. Wall decals are removable and stylish. The downside is that they can be expensive, and once removed they cannot be re-used, so it's not a good option if you might relocate over the next few years.
  
• Art prints and postcards make for beautiful and cost-effective decor. Small 9 x 13" prints run around $5 each at museums. Postcards are 50 cents! Vary the sizes (and artists) and stagger them for visual appeal.
  

Art prints, posters and postcards nicely arranged, the day after moving into my first apartment.

• DIY artwork is even cheaper. If you're not artistically inclined, find a friend who is. One of my roommates paints and does quirky ink drawings. Not one of our walls is blank or boring.
  
• Save greeting cards, postcards, and flyers and hang them up. This is a great way to add character to a room, and it won't cost you a cent.