Searching for a job can be time-consuming and difficult. Trying to search for a job without your boss knowing turns it into a tricky game. Whatever your reason for searching, most people experience the same problem–there’s just not enough time to conduct your search after work. And you’re probably thinking about it the entire time you’re at work, so you’re tempted to use your spare time to keep looking. It is possible to keep your search from your boss. You just have to follow some rules.

First, don’t use your work email address when applying. Not only could your current employer be one of many that monitor the usage of company email, you’ll be sending the message to your potential employer that you search for jobs on company time. In other words, you don’t work when you’re being paid to work. People have been fired to misuse of company email, and if your intention is to keep your current job until you find a new one, be sure to conduct all of your business with your personal email.

This one may be obvious, but if you want to use references from your current job, make sure they’re people that will keep the fact that you’re searching confidential. So if you don’t want your boss to know, don’t list him or her as a reference. Some potential employers might check references prior to interviews; don’t risk letting them blow your cover. And don’t worry too much about not listing your boss. While he or she might be able to give you the best reference, a fellow coworker that can vouch for your accomplishments and work ethic can be all you need.

Try not to schedule interviews in the middle of your day. It may be difficult to schedule them especially if you work odd hours, but no matter your situation, do your best to schedule interviews for early morning or late afternoon. That may make it easier for you to gloss over your real reason for arriving late or leaving early. Don’t insist that you’re sick, though, as that can be hard to prove (what if your employer asks for a doctor’s excuse?), and don’t wear your interview clothes to work if they don’t fit with your company’s normal dress code.

Finally, don’t lose momentum at your current job. You will still need coworkers, and perhaps eventually your current boss, to provide great references. If you suddenly start slacking, that won’t look good to your coworkers, and if they relay that to your potential employer, you might not get the job. It will appear that you have a low work ethic.

Don’t allow the paranoia of being found out take over at work. You’ll only risk giving yourself away. If you use your personal email, schedule interviews on as much of your personal time as possible, only use trusted coworkers as references, and keep doing your job, it will be easier to hide your search from your boss.

For more job search safety tips, see what Careerbuilder.com recommends.

If you are lucky enough to find yourself with extra money these days, the first question is whether to invest it or pay off your debt. Ultimately, the decision depends on how much extra money you actually have, as well as your current personal situation.

If investing sounds like a good idea, you’ll want to take a hard look at the interest you might be making on your money. Is your investment considered safe or risky? Is a decent-size return all but guaranteed? You want to make sure that the amount of the return is high enough to justify your investment. If the odds are better that you’ll either remain steady or lose money, investing may not be worth it. On the other side, how much debt do you have? Will the extra money you have available make a difference if you put it towards your debt?

First, make sure that this truly is extra money. You don’t want to assume it is and hand it off either to an investment or your creditors and find out that you suddenly can’t pay your usual monthly bills. It’s too late at that point. Make sure that you also have an emergency savings, especially if you’re seriously considering the investment option. If you don’t, start building that up before you do anything else.

Compare how taxes will affect your extra money. The interest you gain on your investments is taxable, while the interest on some of your debts may be tax-deductible. Which one will benefit you more? If taxes would negate most of your gain, paying off your debt might be the way to go. But if your tax return would be significantly better if you could deduct interest charged to your debts, investing might be best. This is where the decision is extremely personalized: which direction will make you the most money?

For me, paying off debt seems the safest and easiest way to go. You can start by paying off your smallest debt. Then take the amount you were paying to that lender and add it to the minimum payment of your next smallest debt, and slowly but surely, you’ll be debt-free. But if you really know your way around the stock market and high-return investments, you could potentially make enough money to pay off most or all of your debt in one shot, so go with whichever idea is the most comfortable for you personally, the one you feel will make you feel more financially sound as you put your money to work for you.

See what USA Today had to say about whether or not you should invest or pay off debt.

Are you feeling the crushed by the recession where you live?  If taxes are rising and rents are increasing in your hometown, you might be wondering where the cheapest place to live is these days.  There are a few different things to consider, so let’s take a look.

Cheapest Place to Rent

It can be difficult to sell homes or even condos right now, so many owners have turned their properties into rental units.  If you’re searching in the right cities, you can find much more than a tiny apartment for a decent price.  According to msnbc.msn.com, Wichita, Kansas tops the list for the cheapest rent.  You can find a 600-square-foot unit with one bedroom, a washer and dryer, and a full kitchen for $470/month.  Plus, your rent includes golf and country club fees.

Oklahoma City comes in second at $490/month for a 900-square-foot unit with a gym on the property, followed by Tulsa, Oklahoma at $520/month for a 600-square-foot, one-bedroom unit.  Knoxville, Tennessee sounds appealing at $560/month with a one-bedroom unit that is surrounded by woods and includes a balcony, pool, tennis court, and playground.  Finally, Dayton, Ohio is fifth at $570/month for a 500-square-foot, one-bedroom unit on the lake, and a portion of your rent can go towards an eventual down payment if you decide to buy and own.

Cheapest Place to Buy a Home

If you’re looking to become a homeowner, the cheapest average home price is found in Minot, North Dakota: $132,300.  Out of the top ten cheapest home prices, the most expensive is Cadillac, Michigan at $151,530.  This list comes from Coldwell Banker, considering 2200-square-foot homes with four bedrooms and 2 ½ baths.  If that’s what you’re interested in and you want the cheapest prices available, you can also hover around Texas, Ohio, Kansas, and Oklahoma.  (Looks like the central region is coming out on top…)

Of course, you must also consider the cost of living in any city.  If you were to stumble upon a great deal in New York City, it might get overshadowed by taxes, insurance rates, interest rates, travel costs, etc.  If you don’t already live in one of the cheapest places and are considering moving, are there jobs available in your desired field?  Do they pay well enough to offset the cost of living?  Investigate and be sure that prices are not cheap simply because average salaries are low.

If you find a good deal that’s balanced out, take advantage of it.  You never know when prices might shoot up again, so make the move as soon as you can to stay ahead of it!