20saver

First, I wanted to mention that I came across another electronic coupon website since I last posted about such programs. Unilever has joined the ranks with MakingLifeBetter ecoupons. Be sure to sign up if you have a participating store near you and enjoy the extra savings!

Second, while stuck in traffic coming home from work today, I checked my voicemail and heard some wonderful news that made my day: one of the local high schools wants to interview me for a full time library assistant position I applied for! Squee! I’m going to call the woman back tomorrow and set up an interview for Friday.

Third, Jake’s dad called him up and offered to pay for us to come up and visit his family next month. We’ve been wanting to go up and see them, but were worried about how we were going to pay for it. Have I mentioned how wonderful Jake’s family is?

Fourth, I’ve received more than I ever thought I would from family and friends for graduation and I’m in the process of transferring it all to savings. I just love watching the balance go higher and higher as the weeks go by.

Fifth, my birthday is on Wednesday.

Going back to my alma mater and participating in my commencement ceremony has really gotten me seriously thinking about attending grad school. It’s an idea I’ve been kicking around for the last few years without any sort of resolution because I’ve always just kind of pushed it aside as something I’d deal with in the future.

I’m leaning towards getting my masters in library science because it’s a degree that translates directly into concrete jobs and a career, something getting my masters in English literature really wouldn’t do. I’ve been working at a library for 6 months now and, while I’m not thrilled about what I’m currently doing, I know of positions in the field that I would enjoy doing, probably for a long time. These positions would only be available to me if I get my library science degree.

There’s a small problem with going for a MLS degree: there are no schools in Virginia that offer it. This leaves me with two options: get my degree online or move to go to a school that does offer the degree. I was considering just doing it online, but being back on campus with all my friends and professors made me realize that I want the community environment that goes along with higher education. I would feel like I’d be short changing myself if I settled for an online program. So, moving it is.

Well, Jake and I aren’t ready to move yet. We’re about to sign a lease on a new apartment, he’s got a steady job, and he’s commited to his band. The lease will be up in a year and there are tons of locations Jake could relocate to for his job, but Jake’s not ready to (and I’m not ready to make him) give up on his band. Maybe in a year, if the band’s not getting anywhere, we’ll be able to move.

There’s always the possibility that I could move and go to school and Jake could stay in Richmond for the two-ish years it will take to finish the degree. The closest school is UNC- Chapel Hill which just so happens to have the top rated LS program in the nation and is probably going to be my top choice if I decide to go for it. Chapel Hill is a little shy of 3 hours away, so it would be possible for us to see each other for long weekends and such, but would we really want to do that to our relationship? Not really.

Which brings me to another point- if I decide to go to grad school in a year, when are we going to get married? I highly doubt we’ll have enough money saved up to get married before I go since the money we save will probably go towards paying for grad school and all of the related expenses. But I don’t really want to wait 3 more years to get married…

Before I make any definite decisions, I want to get a good idea of how much grad school is going to cost and how feasible it will actually be for Jake and me to afford it. I’ve already taken 3 GRE books out of the library to study up. While I am saving about $35 a pop by getting the books from the library, the test itself is going to cost $140 each time I take it (hopefully no more than twice). There are some library science programs that don’t require GRE scores, but I don’t want to limit myself to only those schools.

Beyond the test, I don’t really know what to expect, money-wise. I should get instate tuition no matter where I go because Virginia doesn’t offer a library science program so I’m forced to go out of state, but I don’t know how much aid I’ll be offered (I really don’t want any more loans) or how I’ll support myself while I’m taking classes.

I would absolutely love any insight any of my readers can offer, especially if you’re in grad school now or recently graduated.

The following quote is posted up in my library’s break room. I thought it was very encouraging for those of us who utilize the library on a regular basis for primarily frugal reasons:

“A library is not, as some would have it, a place for the retiring of disposition or the faint of heart. It is not an ivory tower or quiet room in a sanitarium facing away from the afternoon sun. It is, rather, a command center, a power base. A board room; a war room. An oval office for all who preside over their own destinies. One does not retreat from the world here; one prepares to join in at an advantage.”

-Eric Burns, from his book The Joy of Books: Confessions of a Lifelong Reader

This is the second installment of my review of Suze Orman’s The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke. The first installment, Know the Score, covered credit scores and reports.

Throughout chapter 2, “Career Moves,” Orman is adamant that 20somethings should be following their passion in life, not chasing after money. Time is on our side in this stage of the game and we should not sell ourselves short by grinding down our energy on a job we absolutely hate. We are far too young to lock ourselves into an unappealing career for 40+ years just for the lucrative paycheck.

That’s all fine and dandy, but what if we chase our dreams and come up short when it’s time to pay the bills? Orman gives us the green light to use credit cards to fill in the gaps. She warns, of course, that we should only charge essentials if we need to and not use the cards to treat ourselves to everything our little hearts desire. We have time, too, to pay off our debts.

Orman offers up some basic job searching advice: step out from behind your computer screen and give potential employers some face time. The internet is a great starting point to find jobs, but you need to show more interest than an emailed resume with a standard cover letter to impress them enough to land the job.  

She also stresses the importance of personal and professional connections. Do you know anyone (or know anyone who knows anyone…) who currently works for an employer you would want to work for? That person could be your foot in the door and be able to offer up some invaluable insider’s information that could give you the winning edge over other applicants.

If you can’t get a full time job in your field of choice, settle for a part time or volunteer position until you can get enough experience and connections to land a salary position. If you have no idea which career you want to chip away at for the rest of your working life, conduct some research on your interests and skills to get some ideas for potentially satisfying careers. For more information about job searching tips and career advice, be sure to read What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles.

Another clear point Orman makes is that we should not use school as an escape route. Only go back to school if you are serious about it and have considered the degree for a long time. To quote from page 71, “If you want to quit your job and go back to school for a degree that isn’t necessary or even related to any specific career, you are in for a bunch of trouble.”

One last bit of advice: be sure to set up an emergency fund for the lean years you will continue to encounter until you figure it all out and get some job experience.

I do not completely agree with Orman on the job search front. For some employers, all they do is online applications and they do not want to speak with you until HR weeds through the applicants. They just don’t have the time to field everyone’s interest in the position. Yet there are still some employers out there who do appreciate face time with potential employees. You need to get a good feel for which type a company is before applying in order to approach them at the right angle.

Boy, am I ever in this job/money pickle. While I in no way regret getting my BA in English, I sure wish there were more job opportunities dealing directly with this field. I am currently considering going back to school to get my masters in library science as it offers a specific career path, but I want to make sure that I truly want this as a career for the majority of my working life and that I’m not just using school as a stalling tactic. I thought about getting my masters in English literature, but that will just put me in the same position I’m in right now: overeducated and underemployed. I’m currently working two part time jobs, one in a public library and one in a bookstore, in an effort to figure out my future and to stay afloat. It certainly isn’t easy, but I’m gaining the experience that I need to make an informed decision about my potential career in library science. I’m keeping my eyes out for any full time positions that are available, but, since I haven’t had any luck snagging one yet, the pickle continues.

Next up for the Money Book for YF&B review is credit cards.