What Degree Should I Get Next?

People would laugh at me if I said I was going back to school. After all, I already have both a master's and a JD degree. But even so, there are still degree programs I could benefit from. Thr are some gaps I could fill. For instance, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) ciould give me the business skills I need. Granted, those with a law degree often run companies, but there are still some business type skills that aren't covered by a law degree. I would really like to work in the area of employee law, or just have HR credentials for a business, and you could get those in business school.

A friend of mine is now working on her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). We often kid each other about all of our schooling, but to be honest, you never waste money when you spend it on education. In this day and age, a Master of Public Health (MPH) would really make sense. There are going to be lots of opportunities for people with good health care skills in the coming years. And with more and more degree programs being offered online, it is easier and easier to go back to school. No commuting!

The Small Things Count When Watching Your Finances

I am trying oh so hard to get ahead in my finances. I am starting to feel a little bit better about how I handle things. But I am still messing up in some areas. That makes me mad, especially when it is needless. I went to the grocery store on Friday night and got a couple of things, including a frozen lazagna. It is not the most expensive thing I have ever gotten, but it is not the cheapest either. I love frozen lasagna, so I went home and put it into the oven. I had had a long week, so poured myself a glass of red wine. Yum! The perfect way to unwind. The problem is that it takes so long for those frozen lasagnas to cook--about an hour and a half almost. By the time it was ready, I was already sleepy. I got a plateful and sat down in front of the TV and ate it. I thought that I would wait a little while before going back for seconds (trying to cut down on what I eat too). Well, that was a mistake. I never went back for seconds, which was a good thing, but I also never covered the remainder of the lasagna and put it back in the fridge! So no leftovers, and at least two more wasted meals. Mad at myself. But I will make sure not to do it again.

Got My First Law Check, and My Emergency Fund!

I received my first check as a lawyer for my win in my disability case. It was much needed relief. Not only am I so happy for my client, who really needs the benefits, but I am happy that the case is over. And that I got paid. The pay is enough to fund my emergency fund. That is a load off my mind. I have felt very nervous not having an emergency fund. And now I do. In one fell swoop. I am a lucky person.

Article Marketing for Effective Communication

If you were going to buy some new tires and were unfamiliar with the different brands, you might want to read a Tire Review. If you were a tire expert, you might want to write about different tires and share your information. If you are a tire manufacturer or retailer, you might want your customers to be able to read about your prod

There are endless topics to review and to be written. As a writer, I am always looking for ways to write, and as a website owner, I am also always thinking about ways to get new content and get my message out. You can achieve all of these things through article marketing.

The internet is the (primary) way to go now to reach the most people possible. Print is still good to use too. You need a mix of messages and a mix of formats to reach everyone you need. But article marketing can be a relatively inexpensive way to get your information out to your audience.

A New Look for "No More Debt!"

After much thought, I changed the template for this blog today. It had had that black background and reverse type for its entire existence, and I just thought it needed a makeover. Not only was the reverse type hard to read, the black background was dreary. I originally picked it, because I thought it looked neat and, in fact, debt is dreary. But enough of that--on to cheerier things, including becoming debt free. So a new airy look was in order for this new attitude! Hope you enjoy it.

Clark Howard: A Great Financial Resource

I have started watching the Clark Howard show on the HLN channel within the last year, and I really like it. I am adding him to the financial gurus that I occasionally listen to--Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman. It is good to listen to all of them, as they all have a different take on financial security, and you can compare the ideas and follow what you think is best for you. I like Clark Howard, because he covers such a variety of different topics, his show is a little more interesting to watch since the videography is a little better and he has interesting graphics and such, and he is not as preachy as Dave and Suze sometimes get.

On the show today, Clark just said he supports the idea of getting an extended warranty on a car if you can't afford to pay for emergency repairs. I agree! I bought an extended warranty on my used car, and it has paid for itself many times over.

Increasing My Long-Term Care Daily Benefit

I used to work at a university that offered tremendous benefits. One of those benefits was to sign up for a long term care policy that we could take with us if we left our job. Several of us jumped at the chance, even though we were very young, too young to really think about this kind of thing. I know I did this because I want to plan for the futue, and like my coworkers, if we got sick we didn't want to be at the mercy of controlling relatives. I just have a thing about being able to control my own destiny. Being young, my monthly premiums were very low, and they continue to be low, no matter how old I get! Every once in a while, you can take an inflation increase, which increases your daily benefit. This is important as the daily amount you will need in the future will surely be higher than it is now. I just got a letter in the mail saying that I can increase my benefit now for just $9 more a month. I am definitely going to do it, as I think this is crucial to financial planning.