We all know the sad and scary truth-we’re going to die one day.  Of course, we expect and hope that day won’t arrive until many years from now, but have you thought of what will happen to your loved ones when it does?  If you have a spouse or children, own a business and/or a large amount of property, or are caring for an aging or disabled parent, now is the time to start looking into life insurance.

Life insurance is a way you can protect your family financially after your death, as savings and social security may not be enough.  The funds will help to pay for your funeral expenses, ensure that bills like basic utilities and the mortgage can still be paid when your family is down to one income, and perhaps even add to your children’s college fund.  It all depends on the plan you choose.

But you’re still young, you say, and you don’t plan on dying for quite some time.  However, this can be one of the better times to invest in a life insurance plan.  Your premiums will be lower if you start younger, as the insurance company isn’t expecting to have to pay out any time soon.  As people are living longer and the average life span is increasing, it is becoming easier for older individuals to secure plans with lower premiums, but during your youth can still be the best time to get a lower rate.

There are different types of plans you can choose from, and it all depends on what your family’s needs are.  Term life insurance covers your family for a certain period of time and does not build cash value.  This can be useful is there are specific expenses that you know will need to be covered after your death.  Permanent life insurance will build cash value and never expires.  The premiums tend to be higher, but your family will be protected for even longer.  You’ll want to talk to an agent to help determine what your needs are and what type of plan is best suited for you.  Once you’ve invested, you can rest easy knowing your family will not have to struggle when you are no longer there.

In an effort to save money, you’ve probably made some lifestyle changes.  You got a cheaper cell phone plan, called your insurance agent to negotiate a lower rate, buy only the necessities at the grocery store, and you haven’t bought new clothes in months.  You’re probably not going out to dinner much, if at all, and you spend most nights at home.  It doesn’t have to be that way!

Do you have $20 in your wallet?  Sure you do.  (And if not, $20 is a realistic amount of money to scrape up!)  Here are 5 ways you can have a lot of fun with that little bit of cash.

• If you love movies, try signing up for an account with Netflix.  You can start off with a free 2-week trial, and after that, just choose your plan.  You can have up to 3 movies out at once with no late fees, and each plan is under $20 a month.  Set aside a night alone, with your sweetie, or even plan a whole party with your friends and have a movie night.  You can pop some popcorn, get comfy on the couch, and not have to worry about any tall guys in front of you that won’t shut off their cell phones.  If you’ve got the plan for 2 or 3 movies at a time, why not try a mini-marathon?
• Check out your local museums.  Usually they offer discounted or free admission on certain days for residents.  Go take in some great art, history, and science, and be sure to check the calendar for special events or national exhibits that are coming to visit!
• Go rummaging!  This is a great excuse to be outside on a nice day.  You’ll be sure to come across some good deals and rare finds.  If there’s a certain item you’ve been wanting, you might even get lucky and find it.  Auctions can offer some good deals, too.  Just be prepared to go a little higher on price to compete with other bidders.
• Take a beer factory tour.  If there’s not one near you, use it as an excuse for a mini road trip.  The admission tends to be cheap or even free, and you get free beer!  That’s worth the time spent on the road trip all by itself.
• Host a potluck dinner for your friends.  Have everyone bring their favorite dish and you’ll end up with a nice variety (bonus if everyone brings dessert!).  You could even pop in one of those Netflix movies and still be under $20 for the night.

This is just the beginning.  Don’t be afraid to be creative or resort to things that you found fun when you were little.  And don’t forget about that big open space outside of your house.  There’s plenty to do out there that won’t cost you anything at all.

You’ve spent numerous hours on homework, racked up more all-nighters than you like to admit, survived the toughest professor the world has ever seen, and now you’ve got your degree to prove it.  Congratulations!  Take a few minutes to celebrate because reality is about to set in.  You are entering one of the worst job markets of this generation, and you need to set yourself apart from the other graduates.

Be aware that not only are you considered entry-level, but with the economy down employers may offer you a lower starting salary than they normally would.  While this might be non-negotiable, there are plenty of factors that you can control to help you land the job you want in tough times.

Be sure to list your GPA on your resume.  Some employers might find it suspicious or simply assume your grades were average if you omit it.  Your GPA will show the employer that you are hard-working, intelligent, and can successfully apply what you learn.  If your cumulative GPA is low but you showed improvement in your last couple of years, go ahead and list your average for only those years.  If the question of your four-year average arises, it will be easier to see your improvement.

If you’ve done internships, held a part-time position in your field, were the president of a club, etc., list that towards the top.  Employers are interested in any relevant experience and education you’ve had.  Tell them exactly which projects you worked on, and more importantly, any direct impact the results had for the company.  If you didn’t take advantage of these opportunities to add to your resume, it’s not too late to do so.  You might be fully aware of how strong your skills are, but if you can’t show an employer any solid evidence, they might not consider you if it looks like you’re starting from scratch.

Create a custom cover letter for each position you apply to.  Try to avoid generic openings by finding out the name of the hiring manager.  Highlight your best skills and achievements and leave your resume to do the rest.  Do not resort to whining and pleading in your cover letter (“If someone would just give me a chance…).  I actually saw this once in a resume and it did not inspire the sympathy it was looking for. Desperation is not a selling point.  You want to emphasize how much you want the position by describing what you can bring to the company.

Once you get the interview, don’t assume you’re going to be offered the position.  You are expected to be as polished and professional as anyone else that’s already experienced the working environment.  Common mistakes include appearing bored or conceited or dressing inappropriately.  Be attentive and friendly.  There are ways to tactfully brag about your abilities and accomplishments.  As far as dress, if you’re unsure of the environment, err on the side of caution and dress as professionally as possible.  Make sure your clothes are clean and fit well, and cover up!  Research the company before you go in so you will have good questions to ask.  You’ll show that you are truly interested in working there.  If you’re curious about salary, it’s usually best to wait until you’ve been asked for a second interview.

Finally, you’ll want to follow up in about a week.  Be polite when doing so.  Understand that the hiring manager may be busy with other interviews and may not be able to speak with you.  There’s no need to send your resume again or call continuously.  Even if you nailed the interview, you could cause them to change their mind in doing so.  If they agree with you that you are the best candidate, they will not hesitate to call you back when their search is complete!