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Do I Have a Lucky Face?

By Tory Hoen
8/28/08
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For the past three weeks, I have been feeling really lucky, and not just because I get to live in Paris and write blogs all day long. I know that I am lucky because a random guy on the street chased me down to say, “Excuse me. Do you know that you have a lucky face

It's Fiiiiiinance!

By Tom Wiseman
8/25/08
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Now, in my mind "banker" is just Cockney rhyming slang, not an actual profession, and I'm only semi-ashamed to admit that my level of mathematics is similar to that of an 11 year old

Dealing with Apartment Problems

By Arielle Sachar
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Quick Tips

  1. Document the problem – When something goes wrong, check to make sure that there’s really a problem (maybe the cord was just unplugged). When you’ve confirmed that there’s something amiss, document the issue so that you can easily convey it to whoever will be fixing it and so that you have a record.
  2. DIY – Whenever a problem arises that doesn’t involve gas and electricity, it’s always worth considering fixing it yourself. Read this article or check out websites such as DIY Network to find easy fixes to common problems. But, if you’re even in doubt over safety, call your super or a pro.
  3. The super – When you pay your rent each month, you’re also paying for a super so don’t hesitate to call him when a problem arises. Just perform a little triage before picking up the phone: do you really need the super to switch the light bulb?
  4. Call a pro – If the super is slacking, you’re not confident in their quick fix, or you just don’t trust his abilities, call a pro. Unlike the super, you’ll have to pay the pro. When you move into your apartment, ask neighbors for references to local plumbers, etc., so that you’re prepared.
  5. Practice prevention – Don’t only address problems once it occurs—prevent them before they happen. Be careful with space heaters. Don’t leave trash and dirty dishes out. Don’t overload electrical outlets. Check CO2 detectors. You get the drill.

Life outside the parental nest can be pretty blissful: parties, walking around naked, drinking beer for breakfast. Until, that is, a furry little head pokes out from behind the fridge, the fire alarm goes off, and the sink overflows. The trade-off for fabulous freedom is that when

Reflections on Inglaterra

By Tom Wiseman
8/14/08
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I´ve been getting a bit listless recently...so there´s only one thing for it—make a list! Listo?!

New experiences, new cultures, and new perspectives often shed

Buying Renter's Insurance

By Julie Fishman
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Quick Tips

  1. Don’t risk it – Two common myths worth debunking are that landlord’s insurance protects the tenant and that renter’s insurance is expensive. So, after paying $150 a month for 1,000 channels, isn’t it worth $17 to protect the precious flat screen you watch them on?
  2. Get tailored – Renter’s insurance protects you from the most common disasters and larcenies, such as fire, lightning, smoke, theft, and vandalism. But you can ask for additional protection for region-specific disasters if you live below sea-level or on a fault-line. Take care to tailor your insurance policy to fit your specific needs—it’ll be worth it.
  3. Bountiful benefits – Renter’s insurance covers all of your personal belongings as well as the medical and legal expenses associated with personal injuries. It will also pay for temporary housing in a similarly priced apartment if yours becomes unlivable due to fire or another disaster.
  4. Inexpensive insurance – Polices run between $150-$300/yr, and increasing the deductible will lower that price. It’s easy to dismiss, but you’ll be kicking yourself for passing on insurance when your friend lights his fart at your birthday and incinerates your couch.
  5. Documentation – Write a list of all your personal possessions including prices and receipts and be prepared to present it in the event of a disaster. Keeping a written (and even a photo/video) record of your property is the key to reimbursement.

After college graduation, there are often a series of other graduations: Natty Ice to Bud Light; 1990 20” TV to 2007 42” Sony flatscreen; $150 canvas futon to $1,500 leather couch. But what happens to all of that accumulated wealth in the event of lightning or larceny

Deciding Where to Live

By Matthew Demmer
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Quick Tips

  1. Determine what you want - Having a clear sense of what you can pay, what neighborhoods you want to see, and how much space you need will save you both time and money. Let these criteria guide your search, and make sure that any broker you get is on board.
  2. Neighborhood criteria – The Donald always says, “Location! Location! Location!” And he’s right. Figure out what you’re looking for: restaurants, parks, nightlife, other recent grads, etc. Then find the neighborhood that fits.
  3. Space – You can usually get two out of the big three: location, space, and cost. But as a recent grad, how much space do you really need? A smaller apartment might be the difference between Hipland and the boondocks.
  4. Cost – Some people say you shouldn’t spend more than a third of your monthly salary on an apartment, but that doesn’t fly everywhere (e.g., New York City). In the most expensive cities, half is a more realistic rule of thumb, but clearly it’s not ideal. Keep in mind that trendy neighborhoods are the most expensive, so if you’re willing to branch out, you can find some good deals.
  5. Resources – Browsing the archives of city-specific magazines and reading travel guides are a great way to figure out what city to move to and which neighborhood to live in. Some examples of popular local mags are Time Out and San Francisco Magazine. Travel guides include Rough Guides, Fodors, and Frommers.

Once you’ve made the momentous decision to move out of your childhood bedroom, it’s time to find a place to set up camp. There are no more Hogwarts-esque “sorting hats” like parents or college housing offices to ensure that you have a room to call your own, so the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders to figure out what you value in a living space, how much you are willing to spend, and where exactly you want to live. To do so, it is necessary to balance the three main criteria for judging an apartment: neighborhood/location, cost, and space.

The Grad Olympics

By Christopher Schonberger
8/12/08
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Are you amped that the Olympics are finally here? Yeah, me too—no matter how hard

Buying a TV

By Charlie French
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Quick Tips
  1. Know the Lingo – Buying a TV can be intimidating if aren’t familiar with the “maven-speak” that salesmen use to dupe unsuspecting victims. Brush up on the major TV terms before launching a full-throttle flat-screen hunt.
  2. Make Some Measurements – Bigger is not necessarily better if you don’t have a space that accommodates the size. For a rule of thumb, measure (in inches) the distance between your couch and spot where you’ll put the TV, then divide by 2.5; this should be your upper limit for TV size.
  3. Assess Your Habits – Do you generally watch Gray’s Anatomy and Lipstick Jungle when you get home from work, or do you have Sunday football viewing sessions and marathon gaming sessions? The lighting of the room and the things you watch are key determinants in choosing the right TV.
  4. Pick a Price Range – As with most consumer goods, the conversation about what TV to buy is going to change as you step into different price brackets. You can find a solid TV at most price points (within reason), and determining one from the start will greatly expedite the process and help you avoid paying for something you don’t really need.
  5. Buy Last Year’s Model – When comparing the same model of TV over two years, there are generally few differences beyond a fancier polish and an extra input. So buy the older one, because it will be a lot cheaper and the quality will be the same.

Either you recently graduated from school or you finally got a job with a big enough salary to upgrade your TV-watching experience. In any case, let me be the first to say congratulations, and welcome to the world of high-definition. Unless for some unknown reason you rocked a large flat panel HDTV in college, this will be your first opportunity to really get down and dirty with a home entertainment system in your own place.

Close, but No Cigar

By
9/16/08
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Here's a snapshot of my life since graduating with my Masters in philosophy in June

Gimme Gimme More

By Dan Marley
7/29/08
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Boomerangers. Millenials. Kidults. Generation Debt—these are just some of the terms used to describe us twentysomethings. Why? Because we rack up crazy student debt, head back home after college, move to expensive cities even though we have horrible salaries

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