DON'T GET CAUGHT JAY WALKING

A habit you should develop very early is keeping abreast of current events. Whether you are a high school or college grad, you may now feel less pressure to keep your head in the books.  I am here to tell you- being informed must continue to be a priority throughout your lifetime.  Work it into your schedule.  You probably won’t be alone in a conversation if you are just nodding your head and making “ mmm” sounds, or spouting off about how the most recent hated politician is a liar.  But wouldn’t you much rather be the one that initiates and leads the conversation and has a definite opinion about the state of important affairs? 

Don’t expect to become informed about the world around you by reading People or Cosmo.  If you happen to read magazines, national news coverage such as Newsweek and Time have been a trusted source of political and social news since the early 1900’s. 

 Luckily, you are allowed unrestricted, free access to very important information with very little search or actual reading.   The age of technology has served you well in many areas and this is no exception. 

To make it easier to access info, make your homepage a respected news website.  Tailor it to your own needs, but check out websites such as msnbc.com or cnn.com .  Commit to read at least one article every time you log on to your computer.    Staying informed on important events, both nationally and internationally, will not only give you confidence in professional or social situations, but on the off-chance you are approached by Jay Leno, you won’t be the one broadcast to the country with a dunce cap drawn over your head.  

TO AVOID SUPERCILIOUS STARES, BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR TAUTOLOGIES IN CHECK

"So anyway, umm...like...uhh...you know.... You know?."  This type of primitive, yet effective course of exchange among some of us is second nature.  Trust me, I'm not faulting.  I've had someone count my "likes" in a single verbal story, and been slightly embarrassed myself.  It's just true, old habits DIE HARD.  Or better yet, Monkey hear-Monkey say.(?)  However, as we begin to mature and find ourselves dealing with the "haves" more often (,i.e., professors, professionals, bosses, etc.) we must be a little more cognizant of how we choose, and flow through, our verbiage. Confidence in your vocabulary will have a staggering impact on those "filler words". Trust me, if nothing else you will impress the new or potential boss OR better yet, confuse the hell out of your buddies.  So here is it.  Down and dirty- quick and easy- reference to the top 100 words every High School graduate should know: http://www.esldesk.com/vocabulary/100-words-to-know.  Take one a day and challenge yourself to use it in a sentence.  Could actually be fun!  If you've got a good example, like, um, post it.  I'd love to read it.  

GO VINTAGE OR GO BROKE

During high school and often times well into college, you may have become accustomed to living off your parents’ money. Perhaps your parents provided extravagantly for your needs, or maybe, like most of us, your existence was more modest.  Now, you are either working your first real job, or you may be entering college on a budget.   You may have Saks tastes, but are now on more of a Wal-Mart budget.  

Shopping second hand or in low cost department stores has historically had a negative connotation.  And rightly so in some cases, where the items were sold out of dusty buildings on the wrong side of the tracks and the air smelled a combination of moth balls and Windsong.  Recently second hand stores have gotten a face lift.  They are often called “consignment” or “upscale thrift”.  They are well lit, clean and most importantly the lingering odor of mothballs has been replaced by Febreeze.  

Back in the day, you wouldn’t be caught dead “shopping” the thrift stores, but now, thankfully, the fallen economy has shed most of us of our self-righteous paranoia.  No one wanted their frugal side to show. If anyone knew your jeans didn’t come from Gap or some other over-priced, trendy, uptown market, you would be cast into a vile pit of despair and human rejection.   Check yourself here.  Don’t let your extravagant tastes be your downfall.    Nowadays, getting a bargain at a second-hand store or pulling together a sharp combination of Miley Cyrus and Jacquelin Smith is something of a badge of honor.  Wear it with pride.  These New to U “closets” aren’t springing up on every corner for no good reason.  Now, more than ever, you have the power to look fashionable, trendy, chic, and even professional at an affordable price.   Check out some of these secondhand stores or even some Good Will or Salvation Army stores.  You are not only helping a good cause, but you may be able to find a $75 pair of jeans for $4 that fit you like nobody’s business.   Decreasing your clothing allowance can be made into a shopping challenge.

This theory isn’t just applicable to clothes; think cars, video games, furniture, electronics, books or decorations for home.  Now that you are in charge of your own shopping dollars you may soon discover money doesn’t indeed grow on trees, it is simply made from them.  

Maiden Voyage

Greetings Generation Y!
 In this blog we hope to help provide you with critical information that may have inadvertently slipped by you while you were busy mastering the Pythagorean theorem. As you venture on into freedom, whether a high school grad beginning full time work, or a college grad entering into your chosen career, we hope to help you along the way with some "tricks of the trade" into adulthood.  Trust us, it doesn't necessarily come naturally.  The habits you develop at this time in your life are going to stick to you like the glue you spread in the palm of your hand 15 years ago- except it will take quite a bit longer to peel it off.  We look forward to providing invaluable tips for surviving adulthood, and answering questions about your needs and concerns as you begin your journey! 

Jill and Robin