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Author: Kylie Nussey

  • Money Management

    Money Management

    Times are rough and life will throw you costly curve balls. You need to know how to manage your money and maximize your saving skills so you are ready for any financial emergencies you may have to face.

    If you’re receiving any kind of financial help, you may be thinking, “I don’t really need to worry, I have help if something were to happen”. The truth is these options may not always be there. Learning how to fend for yourself will make costly times a lot easier to handle and give you a rewarding sense of independence. So let’s get to it by prioritizing where your money goes:

    Housing and Rent
    Food
    Transportation
    Credit and Banking
    Utilities and Telephone
    Health Care
    Pets
    Recreation

    Housing and rent. If you’re working, a good way to budget yourself would be to split your paycheques up to make sure you’ll have your rent ready for the end of the month. If you get paid bi-weekly, every two weeks split your rent into two and save that amount from each pay. So if your rent is $500, save $250 per pay. This is a safe way of ensuring you are saving for rent and can also budget for other things during the month.

    Transportation. Take advantage of bus tickets and bus passes depending on the amount of traveling you do and try to be productive in your travels. If you drive, that applies to you too. Make a plan before you leave and go from point A to point B strategically to save gas. If you’re one of those good people who are always giving lifts to your friends, it’s okay to ask your friends to pitch in a bit of gas money from time to time. Give them the opportunity to be a good friend, too.

    Credit and banking. Bank fees aren’t too bad these days (especially if you are a student) – it’s your credit card you have to be frugal with. Having a credit card at such a young age is one of my biggest regrets. Ince you have got yourself into credit card debt, its really hard to get out. We are living in a material world and it is very tempting to go shopping and buy things we really don’t need and could very well live without. Try your best to be smart in these times. Credit cards are for emergencies only – you don’t want to have to use them unless you really need to.

    Health care. In Canada we are lucky that most things are covered by our government health plan. But some things may not be, such as dental appointments. Many post-secondary institutions offer health plans with your tuition to help cover these types of costs. If you are under a certain age, you may still be covered by the health plan your mom or dad has through their employer. Be sure to check into both of these options.

    Utilities and telephone. Be energy smart: if you don’t need a light on, turn it off. If you don’t need the water coming from the tap, turn it off. I admit I used to leave the water running while I brushed my teeth for three minutes. Once I stopped doing it, I saw a huge difference in my utility bill just from not running my water senselessly for six minutes a day. As for your cell phone, there are plenty of good plans out there – but also plenty of rubbish ones. Make sure whatever plan you’re choosing is really working for you and that you’re not paying any more than the amount you agreed to. If you are, it is time to change your plan or service provider.

    Pets. Dogs and cats are adorable, I know. We all see them and instantly want them. But if you’re in school and working, you usually don’t have time for them. They are costly and require their own food, medical attention, and grooming. Make sure you’re making the right decision for you AND your furry loved ones.

    I hope this has given you a bit of an eye-opening incentive to be smart with your spending so you can live a less stressful life and be ready for any sudden expenses that might come your way. Happy saving!

  • Why Choose a School Far Away From Home?

    Why Choose a School Far Away From Home?

    Discerning where to continue your education after high school is a major life decision. The first question to ask yourself is whether you want to stay home, close to the comforts of your current lifestyle, or if you are willing to take a bold step and move elsewhere. When you attend a university or college far from home, the majority of what you learn happens outside of the classroom.

    Maturity
    At a university or college far from home, you will be away from the watchful eyes of the parents or guardians who led you through high school. You will face new kinds of peer pressure and have the freedom to choose how to balance your social life with your school life. You will be free to stay out all night long celebrating on weekday nights with your friends and you alone will have to face the consequences of your actions.

    Sociability
    Moving away from home means you will have to temporarily leave your circle of friends behind during the school year. The distance will not only make you appreciate each other more, but it will also mean your classes will be filled with new faces, all of whom are potential new friends.

    Respect for others
    Whether the stranger you share a dorm room with becomes one of your closest friends or drives you completely crazy, you will still have the perfect opportunity to learn how to share a space with another person. You might discover you have a whole host of new pet peeves, but you might also learn quickly how to successfully deal with them.

    Health consciousness
    Establishing a healthy and balanced diet can be just as important for succeeding in post-secondary education as studying for your exams. If your new school provides an “all-you-care-to-eat” buffet-style meal hall, you will need to learn how to have discretion in your choices.

    Time-management
    Or perhaps you choose to cook for yourself. Sometimes you will have to squeeze in three classes, two labs, a trip to the grocery store and time to cook dinner all into a single day. And that’s before you hit the books and get through all the readings you will have to have done for the next day.

    The first year of post-education can be arguably much more difficult than later years because that is when students transition into their new lifestyles. The learning curve is sharp and the work load is heavy. Many first year classes act as introductions to topics so there is often a huge amount of daily readings and assignments for students to do. But always keep in mind that the harder a challenge is, the more satisfying it will feel to overcome it.

  • Practicing Time Management

    Practicing Time Management

    Time management is a problem for many people because there are so many distractions in our day-to-day lives that can interfere with whatever goals we have to accomplish that day, week or year. Often we can have a to-do list, but none of the items end up getting done because we get caught up in doing everything but what we are supposed to be doing. Sometimes, when there is too much to do, we feel especially challenged to make the most of our time. When we are short on time and have a lot to do, we must learn to prioritize.

    This means cutting off some of the less important things and focusing our energy on accomplishing what is the most important. Making lists that order your tasks from most important to least important is a really good trick that can save time and keep you on track. The worst scenario, when short on time, is wasting your energy worrying about everything that you have to do. What you want to do is get down to work as soon as possible, as soon as you are finished drawing out what it is that you are needing to get done.

    If, for example, you have 5 assignments that need to get done, focusing on the assignment that is due next week is more important than focusing on the assignment that is due in two months. You may want to create a short list of the tasks that you want to get done and order them by nearest date to farthest date. Think about how long it will take you to accomplish each one of the tasks, and jot this down next to the due date. Create a schedule for when you will start working on the task and how much time you will devote to it. By doing this, you are assuring that you will not forget about one project in favor of focusing on another or getting distracted entirely.

    If you are really crunched for time, you may also want to include what grade you are expecting to get on each one of the assignments so that you can put a little more time and care into the ones that will mean more to get a good mark on. In this way you will not be wasting your time doing too much research on an assignment for which a good grade will not mean much to you, or for which the overall weighting of the assignment is minimal.

    One last way of practicing good time management is to avoid procrastinating. Often, if we have a lot to do, we may be tempted to do anything but what it is that we are supposed to be doing. This is a natural tendency and we all do it at some point. The important thing to remember is that facing your challenge head on will actually facilitate the task and make it that much easier to complete. By making a list and prioritizing what is the most important (and the least important), we face the challenge head on and avoid procrastinating.

  • Good Foods to Fight Depression

    Good Foods to Fight Depression

    There is far more to our diet than just calories and carbohydrate counting. In fact, there are many people who would say diet can help solve a lot of personal problems we struggle with. Depression is one of the main medical problems that our diet can help with.

    What is depression? Some medical professionals say it is caused by an imbalance of a neurotransmitter inside the brain called serotonin. The idea behind this theory is that if you have enough serotonin to flood your brain all will be well.

    The main problem with this is that there is not enough science to back it up. Doctors may push drug therapy, but essentially they are pushing a theory only. There have been studies which have shown dramatically increasing the serotonin levels in the brain actually failed to relieve depression! The very opposite of what the professionals claim. There is certainly a discrepancy between the science and the prescription of choice. Perhaps the money behind the drugs is a powerful motivator.

    Taking more of a radical (or perhaps traditional) approach to our health, specifically depression, often works better than modern medicine. If we were to pay attention to the vitamin and mineral deficiencies that plague most North American diets and then remedy them with the appropriate food, the rampant symptoms of depression would likely decline. How many of us are guilty of consuming empty carbs, excessive caffeine and far too much sugar?

    What kinds of food actually help beat down depression? For starters, most whole grains – such as brown rice, pasta and breads. The white variety just doesn’t cut it. The reason is that there are B6 & B1 vitamins and folic acid in whole grains and oats. Quinoa and spelt are two other grain varieties that offer brain-boosting nutrients. Cabbage is an excellent choice to help fight stress and infection – and even heart disease. There are lots of ways to get cabbage into your diet if you get creative. Other foods that boost serotonin and help fight depression are sweet potatoes, dark chocolate, flax seeds and turkey.

    It is not a matter of giving up the foods we love that are not good for us. That likely is not a real possibility. It’s all about making small changes, adding bits here and there and ultimately being intentional about our health.

  • Protect Your Ears

    Protect Your Ears

    People are loud. iPods are loud. Cafes are loud. Subways are loud. Our ears just aren’t designed for all that noise! Since no one wants to be middle-aged and shouting at the grocery store, it’s important to know the dangers your ears face and how to avoid them.

    According to the Hearing Foundation of Canada, hearing loss “is the fastest growing, and one of the most prevalent, chronic conditions facing Canadians today”. Hearing loss in younger people is also getting worse. This can make it hard to hear speech when there is background noise or give you trouble telling apart low and high sounds. It essentially kills your ability to hear music properly!

    Have you ever been in a really loud place, like a concert, and when you leave your ears are ringing? Well, if that happens a lot, you can develop a condition called tinnitus where the ringing won’t stop.

    This isn’t just something old people have to worry about. I got tinnitus when I was 20. I was a drummer and went to a lot of concerts. After a while, that ringing sound became permanent. I haven’t had a minute of silence since. Many tinnitus sufferers need to keep a noise-making machine in the room to drown out the ringing and help them sleep.

    The artist Vincent Van Gogh suffered from tinnitus. A lot of people have heard the story about how he cut off his ear. A common belief now is that he cut it off because of a bad tinnitus attack.

    There are a few things you can do so you don’t end up as that old dad who has his cell phone volume turned up way too high or a crazy artist cutting off his ears. First, just be aware of the noise around you. It’s not just the volume you should be paying attention to, but also how long you’re exposed to it. You can be in a noisy restaurant for about 8 hours a day before your ears have had enough. On the other hand, if you listen to your iPod at top volume (so loud that everyone around you can hear it, too) you can cause permanent damage in less than 30 seconds (according to the Canadian Academy of Audiology).

    If you listen to an iPod, get good headphones. The best type of headphones you can buy are the ones that cover your ears and cut out sound from outside. That way you don’t have to keep turning up the volume to compete with the world.

    If you’re at a concert or in a place with loud music playing, go outside for a minute to give your ears a rest.

    If you’re a musician or someone who likes live music, you have to be extra careful. There’s something you should know about called “Musician’s earplugs”. These earplugs are molded to your inner ear and can drop sound levels without warping the sound and lots of professional musicians use them.

    Hearing loss and tinnitus aren’t only brought on by loud noises. There are other causes, like genetics and aging. Still, in this world filled with loud music, cell phones and other noise, we have to do what we can to keep on hearing well into our old age.

  • Why the Trades?

    Why the Trades?

    When people think about the skilled trades, several immediately spring to mind – electrician, plumber, welder, carpenter. But opportunities in the skilled trades are much more extensive. From hairstylist to cook, painter to landscaper, automotive service technician to crane operator – and so many more. Learn more about the trades.

    Why consider a career in skilled trades?
    The data is in! Canadian Apprenticeship Forum research shows that apprenticeship completers fare better than their counterparts it comes to wages, job security and employment satisfaction. When compared to non-completers and graduates of other technical programs, those who complete an apprenticeship have:

    – Better employment outcomes, both immediately and several years after being certified
    – Better earning potential – in the short and longer term
    – Higher levels of job satisfaction and job security

    Apprentices also get:

    RESPECT
    Skilled trades play an important role in our economy and our society. Think about it … skilled trades workers touch almost every aspect of our lives. They build and maintain the homes we live in and the cars we drive. They work in manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, hospitality and tourism. They build and maintain the electrical systems that power our computers and heat our houses. Canada depends on the work of skilled tradespeople working in the designated trades to keep our country working.

    OPPORTUNITY
    With hundreds of skilled trades careers to choose from, there are opportunities available to suit almost any interest. As an apprentice, you participate in a post-secondary education like no other. By combining on-the-job training and in-school learning, apprentices get the best of both worlds – certification that comes with real world experience, providing the skills to work virtually anywhere.

    Skilled tradespeople are in demand and, as the baby-boom generation retires, that demand is only going to increase. Shortages of skilled trades workers are being reported across sectors and across Canada, and the competition to attract talent is growing.

    GOOD PAY
    People in skilled trades are rewarded for their efforts with good pay. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the wage gap between workers with bachelor degrees and trade certificates is declining. Between 2000 and 2011, the average weekly wages of full-time workers aged 25 to 34 with trades certificates grew by 14%, while bachelor degree holders saw their wage growth slow to 1%. And, apprentices begin to make money right away, earning a wage from their first day at work.

  • Career Profile: Fashion Buyer

    Career Profile: Fashion Buyer

    You might have heard of the term “buyer” referenced on TV or in movies. He or she is usually fashionable dressed and always in a rush to find the next big thing clothing designers have to offer. Admittedly, in this case, fiction is not that far off from the truth. Fashion buyers are usually employed by clothing retailers, both big and small, to stock their shelves with products that are most likely to keep the customers walking through the front door. Though the term isn’t exclusively used with the fashion industry, the fashion buyer is the most popular incarnation of the job.

    Where does a buyer work and who do they work with?
    Oftentimes, a buyer will find him or herself attending runway shows, wholesale markets and special showcases put on by designers to present new products lines. Buyers are expected to take notes and keep a look out for the next trend destined to hit the market. Every buyer’s ultimate goal is to have the retailer they work for be one of the first retailers on the market to promote the next trend in time to scoop up the majority of the sales.

    Along with designers, buyers work closely with sales department representatives and clothing suppliers to ensure the products stocked are marketed in the best way and that they are no discrepancies with the products received. The majority of a buyer’s job involves negotiating the terms of a stock order with the supplier.

    Specializing
    Depending on the size of retailer, which varies from large department chain to privately owned boutique, there may be individual buyers responsible for specific products – like women’s shoes or men’s pants. Larger retailers will also have multiple levels of seniority determined by experience and responsibility given. Securing a position as an assistant buyer, for example, will allow new graduates and those who have been around for less time in the industry to gain experience and exposure under the wing of a senior employee.

    Certification
    Colleges focused on fashion education will offer certification for students interested in buying and merchandising. Some community colleges will also offer similar programs, but for those seeking opportunities right out of school, attending a program known for its fashion centric education might be a better option – particularly for networking and gaining contacts.

  • Teaching English Abroad

    Teaching English Abroad

    Do you love adventure? Do you love teaching? Do you long to strike out on your own and see the world? And do you want to be paid while doing it? If so, teaching English abroad may be for you!

    What will I need?
    At the very least you will need a four year Bachelors Degree (BA). Your degree can be in anything from art history to zoology, but obviously a degree in English, education, or linguistics will provide you an edge.

    With just a BA you will have a handful of options available to you including, but not limited to, teaching in Japan, South Korea, China, and parts of Eastern Europe and South America. With additional courses and training, more options in more countries with better income, perks and stability become available. What is better is that many of these courses offer help finding positions, with some even guaranteeing to help you find one – or your money back!

    Aside from that you will need citizenship from an English-speaking country, a passport valid for at least one year, a clean bill of health, and no criminal background.

    Is teaching overseas for me?
    Teaching isn’t for everyone and teaching English in a foreign country is doubly so. Unless you have a Master of Arts in English Language Teaching, chances are you will not be prepared for what awaits you. However, you shouldn’t despair as no employer will be expecting an amazing performance from day one.

    The three most important qualities a teacher can possess are: strong communication skills, adaptability and patience. Communication skills may seem like a given, but you must keep in mind that your students, co-workers and boss will not speak English as their first language (and some not at all). This means that you can’t always depend on others simply understanding your words; sometimes it will be necessary to simplify your expressions or approach what you are trying to communicate from another direction. Sometimes it may require the use of body language or even drawing abilities!

    Adaptability is also crucial as you must adjust everything about what you expect. In most cases the people you will encounter overseas will not only speak a different language then yourself, they will also have a different culture, set of ethics, and expectations for you. You must be able to “go with the flow” and learn to understand and appreciate their differences, not judge them as being wrong or worse than what you might be used to.

    Finally, patience is important because, as mentioned above, you will be working with individuals who may speak little to no English. This means a lot of repeating yourself and a lot of asking them to repeat themselves, too. Remember that they are learningEnglish, meaning they will need to first translate what you say into their language, then translate what they need to say back into English. Take your time and never take out your frustration on your students; remember – they are there to learn and you are there to teach!

    Final Words
    It goes without saying that an aptitude for teaching is crucial! You can volunteer at any elementary school to see if teaching is for you and, if it is, the experience will look very good to prospective employers. Good luck and bon voyage!

  • Choosing To Work In A Trade

    Choosing To Work In A Trade

    Times have changed in the world of jobs. You might have heard from your parents or teachers that the best way to get a high-paid, reliable job is through a university education. Sometimes that still holds true. These days, however, a better choice for both men and women might be a skilled trade, where there are many opportunities for a rewarding career.

    What comes to your mind when you hear the term “trade”? Do you think of low-paid labourers, barely making enough money to pay their bills and never sure how much longer their jobs will last? Many unskilled labourers work under these conditions, but the situation is different for skilled tradespeople. They are often well-educated, with diplomas or certificates in their fields.

    Tradespeople might have as much education as university graduates. Unlike many university programs, however, training in the trades is geared specifically to learning the practical skills needed on the job. Tradespeople might be trained as carpenters, auto mechanics, electricians or any of the other trades. Through practical work and classroom studies, they learn everything they need to know to work in their trades. Another important part of the training process in the trades is an apprenticeship, in which students work together with an experienced person to learn practical skills for the job. For some trades they might also need to get an official license or certificate.

    Becoming qualified in a trade can take from one to three years of classroom education, between two and four years of apprenticeship, and two or three years of on-the-job training. Many university programs are just as long or even longer and more expensive. Graduates can also have trouble finding work in their field. In contrast, tradespeople can usually find work soon after they finish their studies and can easily pay off any loans they received for their school tuition.

    Almost anyone can become qualified to work in a trade. Most tradespeople, about 97 % in 2007, are men. However, more women are joining the trades and becoming qualified to work in carpentry, welding and other skilled trades. Possibly up to 320,000 people in Canada currently working in construction alone will be retiring in the next few years and that could open up good opportunities for both men and women. Becoming a journeyperson (someone with official qualifications in a skilled trade) could be a wise career move.

    How do you know if you could be successful in skilled trade? Natural ability and interest are important places to start. If you love to take things apart to see how they work, you might want to choose to be a mechanic or electrician. If you have a fear of heights, on the other hand, you might not want to choose the construction industry. The best way to decide whether or not a trade would suit you is to research it and to talk with people about it. Then, if you decide to pursue a trade, you’ll have a good basis for a stable and rewarding lifelong career.

  • What Does A Ship’s Agent Do?

    What Does A Ship’s Agent Do?

    Before he heads to the office, the ship agent boards the vessel as it arrives in the port. He walks up a steep gangway with people from the federal government who work for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Transport Canada. As the latter inspects the ship, the agent finds the captain and assists him as he signs various documents that are required before the ship is allowed to enter the port.

    It is the ship agent’s job to coordinate the arrival of all vessels that enter Canadian waters. He is thus a vital link between all the imports and exports that come in and out of the country.

    Once back at the office, the agent performs a variety of duties. When a ship plans to arrive, the agent gathers information about the vessel such as: how many members are on the crew and where they are each from, how much the ship weighs and when it was built, and what kind of cargo it is carrying or picking up. He then sends the information to Canadian Customs and Immigration. When Customs clears the ship, it is free to enter Canadian waters.

    However, a ship cannot enter Canadian ports until the federal public servants have inspected the entire ship and cleared it for loading or unloading its cargo. It is the ship agent’s role to coordinate with members of CFIA and Transport Canada. He also organizes – with the ship’s owners, charterers and stevedores – when and where the ship will be loaded with cargo.

    The agent must also host the captain while he and his crew are anchored in the port. He brings the captain cash for the crew to use while they are anchored and he coordinates with ship chandlers who supply the crew with groceries and other necessary supplies. He also arranges for crew members to be picked up and taken to the airport when they are ready to return home if a new crew is taking over the ship.

    The ship agent links Canadian ports to the rest of the world.

    He coordinates much of the activity that sees that items like steel, sugar and electronics arrive safely in the country’s ports while grain, canola, lentils, yellow peas, barley, wheat, oats and other products are loaded into the vessels and shipped to places all over the world.