Paying off debt ranks among the most important things a person who wants financial stability should do since being in financial debt affects just about everything from trying to rent an apartment to getting a loan for school. But it’s also important to know which debt to pay off first, how to choose which debt to pay off first and why it is important to pay it off. Read More

Often times it it more how people perceive you at work that has more impact than the work you do. Of course, the work you do will also influence how people perceive you. I’ve seen perfectly capable people at work get the shaft because the general perception of them is that they’re totally inept.

An interview from Harvard Business School covers some key points, and many points that I hadn’t thought about before. Since we’re still starting off or at least early in our careers, there’s still time to start managing our image.
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If you are in your 20s and can write, send us a note at info@evolveme.org. We are looking for a few good writers to give further insights on issues relevant to those in their 20s.

As we start settling into full time jobs, many of us start packing on the weight. Being that there is a health fair going on today here at work, I figure I’d write about weight. Many of my friends worry about being overweight, or upset that they can’t get rid of that pudge. However, most of them just go by weight and BMI. I think that they are missing out on an important measurement–body fat.
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After living for a year in the second most expensive city in America, I was ready to look for a new apartment, and I wondered how much I could afford. But to be honest, I had no idea how much I should be paying for rent. Some people say 15% of your income, others say 50% of your income, but I didn’t want to take the risk of taking someone’s random opinion. I wanted real answers.
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After seeing all those Bentleys, Ferraris, and Aston Martins in Chicago, I had an urge to go car shopping. Of course, no bank in their right mind would lend me money for such craziness, but it led me to wonder, how do you put a ceiling on car spending? Obviously it is related to your income, but I didn’t know what other factors were involved. So…time for the search.

The good ol’ friendly and efficient (ahem) Department of Motor Vehicles has a nice how-to for creating a car budget. Read More

There’s nothing worse than finding yourself, a recent college graduate, unable to find a job, stuck with student loans to pay off, and with looming expenses of rent and other bills. Maybe your grades weren’t as good in college, or you picked a low-demand major (like English or Spanish), or perhaps you waited too long to begin your job hunt when everyone around you started months earlier. Whatever the reason, you’re now stuck in a rut, you’re lost, and you don’t know what to do. Read More

For many people, public speaking is not on their list of favorite things. In fact, many surveys have shown that people fear public speaking more than death. This anxiety arises not just for speeches, but can also arise anytime we get in front of a crowd to present our ideas and even for one-on-one conversations at work. However, it is undeniable that being able to clearly and persuasively speak in your professional life is crucial to moving up in the business world.

In studies done by Paul L. Witt, PhD, assistant professor of communication studies at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, there are generally two types of people: Sensitizers and Habituaters Read More

I love television, as I’m sure many of you do as well. Right now I’m in the market for a new one, specifically a high definition television (HDTV). The days of simple TV shopping are in the past. Today, you need to do your research before you shell out your hard-earned cash. For those of us who are young adults with limited expendable cash, we want to get the most out of it. Get ready because class is in session.

First let’s break it down into the three technological types that you’ll be most likely to run into at Best Buy or Circuit City.

1. Flat panel liquid crystal display (LCD)
2. Plasma
3. Digital light processing (DLP)

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I’ve always hated how people would always say you should only work at a job you love, because the chances of me finding a job I love is about as high as winning the lottery. For those of you who love what you do, consider yourselves blessed. Unfortunately, the rest of us need to make sacrifices doing what we don’t necessarily enjoy in order to live our lifestyles, but sometimes we might be sacrificing just a bit too much. Knowing when to say enough is enough is just as important to your career as finding the right job and it can be useful to recognize the signs that your job just isn’t for you.
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