By AlyssaEDU on April 28, 2011
If you are a New Jersey college student, you likely already understand the lack of money that is available to you while in school. Unless you have a well-paying part-time job and can manage all of your classes, money is going to be tight and you should learn how to save. Let’s also assume your father is not Donald Trump who can fill your account every time you need it.
Do you know…?
Are you aware of what you make on a weekly basis and exactly what you spend? For two weeks you should track every dollar you make and spend. New Jersey is expensive so do not be surprised if it is a large number. It is important to understand your finances so you can gain full control of what comes in and what goes out. You want to try and save at least some money in case of an emergency so figure out your earnings and then see where you can cut your spending. Seeing where your money goes in the first step to avoiding the unnecessary spending in the future. Once you gain control of your finances you can gain control of how quickly it goes out the door.
Cut Back
Anyone who was a college student knows how much fun it is to spend, spend, spend, but this is not practical for students who do not have an endless supply of cash. Whatever you are currently spending; cut back even though that could still equal quite a bit if you reside in New Jersey. Sure, who doesn’t want to go to the movies, go out to eat, grab some drinks with friends, and have a blast? All of this costs money, but it does not mean you can no longer spend time with your friends. Chances are they are in just as much of a financial bind as you are so come up with ideas that include your friends but exclude as much money as possible. Have friends bring over movies and food so everyone can share the cost. Wait for movies to come out on DVD and buy it for a discount online. Take care of your clothes so they last a long time. Cook at home, walk where you can to avoid paying for gas, and use less of your products to make them last longer. Whatever it takes to save a buck, do so and your savings account will thank you.
Posted in Campus Life, New Jersey Life | Tagged cook, earnings, financial bind, friends, gain control, money, movies, new jersey college, part time job |
By AlyssaEDU on April 26, 2011
Graduating from college is a big deal, but what happens once you have your diploma? The hard part about graduating is the transition from student to employee. In order to make that transition you must first secure a job, but many positions are looking for experience and the entry-level jobs seem to disappear the moment they become available. New Jersey has many businesses that are ready and willing to hire recent college graduates or soon-to-be college graduates.
Give it Time
New Jersey may be a small and populated state, but that only makes way for more businesses. Graduates need to jump at every interview opportunity that comes their way, but they need to understand it might not be the right job. Interview experience is always important so gaining that while waiting for a job in their field is actually a productive step. Keep in mind that there are many students graduating all over the country at the same time so finding a job in a congested area will not be easy. Try to begin your search as soon as possible so you can secure the job before you receive your diploma.
Keep an Open Mind
If you find that New Jersey is not conducive to your job needs do not hesitate to venture into outside territory such as New York. There are many businesses in New York that are bound to be hiring and that is one of the luxuries of living in New Jersey. Being located so close to New York opens many doors for New Jersey students who are having trouble finding something in the area. If the commute is a concern, do a trial run and see if it is something you would be willing to do for a career.
Finding a job is the hardest part of graduating college so take your time when searching. Your best bet is to begin early on during your senior year and get your résumé out to various companies. Secure the interviews and gain the experience. Once you put in the time you will see a positive return so start the process and find your career!
Posted in New Jersey Life, New York | Tagged college graduate, diploma, entry level jobs, finding a job, graduating college, interview experience, interview opportunity, jersey students, recent college graduates, senior year |
By AlyssaEDU on April 21, 2011
For a while people were coming to New Jersey and staying here, but as time goes on and prices go up people are finding cheaper areas where they get more bang for their buck. Students who have lived in NJ all or most of their lives may be wondering whether or not they should stay. If they went to college in NJ and have lived here their entire lives, it might be hard to say good-bye to “The Jerz”, but when it comes to finances, sometimes people have no choice.
To Stay or Not to Stay
Unless you have a roommate or two, renting might even be out of the question once you graduate college. If you are lucky enough to have parents who are happy to have you home until you save enough to move out, jump on the invitation. The cost of living in NJ is not cheap and it is not like you can move to New York, because prices there are not even reasonable. If staying home is not an option, you might consider pricing out other states. New Jersey is not exactly friendly to those just starting out in life. The only way NJ can be accommodating is if you get together with a group of friends to purchase a house.
My Rent is How Much?
The rent in NJ can be as high as a mortgage. A decent place will run about $1,000, and that is about the minimum. The nicer places can go anywhere from $2,000 – $3,000 per month, which is comparable to a mortgage payment. Take into considering the other costs of living and you will have a nice sized bill at the end of the month. Because of these prices it can take a while before you can reach a financially sound idea. In the meantime, try to save as much money as you can and price out other areas. If staying in NJ is where you believe is best for you, try to get some of your friend together to go in on rent. Splitting the rent will be a big money-saver for all who go on it with you. Good luck!
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged buy, college, graduate, home, housing, New Jersey, purchase, rent, students |
By AlyssaEDU on April 19, 2011
Going to college in New Jersey is one thing, but living in New Jersey is a completely different ballgame. The prices in the Garden State seem to be increasing as the years go on. Unless a graduate is living with a roommate or two, even renting an apartment seems counterproductive. Just like any state, NJ has good areas and “not-so-good” areas. Believe it or not, there is not a huge price difference in the areas, but buyers must keep in mind the taxes whereas as renters do not need to worry about this. The housing market goes up and down as does any area; however land is built up to a point where it has become scarce. Because of this, prices go up according to the lack of land and the demand of it.
Rent vs. Mortgage
With rent starting around $1,000 per month for a decent apartment, it is a wonder how anyone moves up in New Jersey. College graduates need to make an important decision; whether to buy or rent. Renting may sound financially smart for the moment, but what do you get in return when it is time to move? It is because of this that students are grouping together after college and purchasing homes. They each chip in for the 20% down payment and then split the monthly mortgage cost per month. Once the down payment is taken care of, which will likely be the hardest part to come up with, the mortgage payments should be higher than rent, but your ROI (Return on Investment) will be greater in the end. When splitting a mortgage straight out of college you should get a group of at least three people to go in on it. You all want to be able to afford the mortgage as well as save. Once it is time to sell the house, you will each receive equal payments as opposed to waiting to hear back from a landlord to see if you get your deposit back.
Buying a house is a big step in life and doing it with friends is a wonderful way to start out. Renting, though it may be necessary, is a money hole. Try to see if you can round up enough friends to make a smart financial investment in a home.
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged friends, graduate, homes, money, mortgage, New Jersey, renting |
By AlyssaEDU on April 14, 2011
For those of us who live in New Jersey, it might sound like a hard choice to make between NJ and NY, but you have to think about it logically and see what works for your lifestyle. There are many job opportunities in NY, but if you know where to look you can also find some great possibilities in NJ.
How Much?
The price difference can be rather significant ranging from the two states and I am not talking about salary. The amount of money it costs to get in and out of NY if you live in Jersey can be overwhelming. Companies do not generally pick up tolls for your daily commute so the cost can really add up and begin to eat into your salary. You have to think about how this is going to impact your pay and if the job has enough potential for you to swallow the cost for a while. You should not hesitate to ask about the potential of the position during the interview. You want to know that you can move up and make a better salary which could make up for the time you had to pay for your commute, so keep that in mind instead of dismissing the job right away.
Is it What You Want?
If you live in NJ, working in NY might not be what you had in mind when you saw yourself in your career. Working in NJ close to home may have been what you were always looking for, but what if the opportunity arises from NY? These are not questions that anyone can answer for you. If you have come this far, chances are you are smart enough to make an educated decision for what would work best with your life. No matter which you choose, you should make sure you are paid fairly and there is always potential in the position. Dead-end jobs are never worth it in the end, so make sure you know where you could go, if anywhere.
The bottom line is, you need to weigh your options and decide which one works best for your location and your life. Good luck and enjoy the journey!
Posted in New Jersey Life, New York | Tagged job opportunities, jobs, lifestyle, possibilities, price difference, salary, tolls |
By AlyssaEDU on April 12, 2011
Living in New Jersey is a great benefit to the students graduating from any one of the colleges in or around the state. It may not be widely known, but New Jersey is very popular in business. Sure, New York is more well-known than New Jersey, but once you get to areas near the Hudson River, there are many job opportunities with businesses like UBS, which is a Swiss banking company.
Know Where to Look
It depends on where you are located, but areas closer to NYC are known for business opportunities. Teaching is always an important position, and though it depends on the school systems, there is usually a school hiring near you. It can be wise to stay out of the City since you will be avoiding a decent amount of traffic and tolls. Businesses are also thriving in New Jersey and though it might sound unlikely, New York Stock Exchange companies also work out of New Jersey to avoid the traveling into NYC.
Price it out
Granted, the job market in NJ does have a lot to offer, you should not completely rule out NYC. See what businesses are hiring and the money they are willing to offer. If it works out to be the same after tolls and parking, you could probably skip it, but if is works out to a decent amount then you might want to take it into consideration. Living in NJ is also cheaper than having to relocate to NY should the commute become too much for you. This should all be kept in mind when you are searching the market.
Do what you can to find the well-paying job opportunities in New Jersey by doing a localized search and see what it has to offer. Teaching and business are well-thought-of careers and one that can have a great pay-off in the end. NJ is not what it used to be. If companies can work out of NJ for the NYSE, the opportunities are almost limitless. Keep your eyes and ears open for possible jobs and go in with an open mind. You never know what kind of lucrative career you could come across.
Posted in New Jersey Life, New York | Tagged banking company, business opportunities, colleges, hudson river, job opportunities, jobs, lucrative career, money, New York Stock Exchange, nyse, tolls, ubs |
By AlyssaEDU on April 7, 2011
Living in New Jersey can give students many opportunities that other students do not have simply because of their location near New York City. Because of this, students really need to be on top of their games in order to be level with or ahead of the competition. Gaining a job in New York City is very possible for those in New Jersey who live close enough to commute. Also, companies may have a decent amount of employees who have already had the experience of the City so their expectations are higher. No matter what you should always be prepared to the best of your abilities, but living in New Jersey you should be more prepared than any other state.
- Tough Interviews – Bosses know that the cream of the crop is out there, so why should take it easy on the newcomers when they can weed out the strong from the weak? Not all bosses think this way, but it is certainly helpful to be prepared for that type of interview. Know about the company before going in and make sure you have a clear goal in mind as to where you would like to interview to go. Be strong, but never overpower the person who is interviewing you; know your place.
- Be Aggressive – You have to make yourself known out there in the business world. No one is going to knock on your door and offer you a job with great pay that you are qualified for. You must find a decent chunk of time every day or every week to send out résumés and E-mail companies. You can only imagine the amount of résumés companies receive every day so sending a follow-up E-mail is never a bad idea. Make your name known so companies will keep you in mind when interviews are taking place. Do not stop sending out resumes’ and E-mails until you land a job.
- Ask for Help – If there are people in your life who can help you land an interview then you should take advantage of that opportunity. Never be afraid to seek out favors, but never forget to thank those who helped you along the way. You can always pay it forward by helping someone in the future as well. Use all of the resources available to you in order to gain interviews and possibly a career. Good luck on this very exciting journey.
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged boss, business world, e mail, interview, job, new york city, newcomers, resumes |
By AlyssaEDU on April 5, 2011
The advantage you have as a student in New Jersey is that there are so many malls, strip malls, and small businesses that there is bound to be a job ready and waiting to hire you. It might not be the job of your dreams, but you can certainly have some pocket money and maybe even save some. Some jobs are more accommodating to students’ needs than others, but most bosses are flexible and willing to work with your schedule. The following will give you some ideas in case you are looking for the first time or would like to switch jobs.
- Retail – You have to be careful with this job. Depending on where you work it can be tempting to leave school and stay forever. While this is not entirely true for clothing stores, it is true for larger stores that sell appliances and things of that nature. The payout is great, but the hours can be draining. Your best bet is to work as a smaller retail store so you can work the hours around school without being too drained.
- Caretaker – Whether you are watching little kids or animals, taking care of another living being is not only rewarding in itself, but it tends to pay a little better than retail jobs. You are also your own boss so you control the hours and can request a certain amount of pay. You get more one-one-one time with the child or animal which is easier than dealing with an immense amount of customers on a Friday or Saturday. If you are not much of a people person you will likely be more successful dealing with children and animals.
- Labor – A very common job for New Jersey students is actually lawn care. You can work on the days you are free and do specialty jobs when needed. The money is not too bad depending on the company you work for and you get to work outdoors. Many of these companies are aware you are in school and doing it part time just to make some cash on the side. Weigh your options and decide which of these positions suits you best as a New Jersey student. Happy hunting!
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged animals, caretaker, clothing stores, jersey students, job, lawn care, part time, pocket money, retail jobs, retail store, small businesses, strip malls, student jobs |
By AlyssaEDU on March 31, 2011
When you live in New Jersey it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Everyone seems like they are on the go and in a rush. If you are on a New Jersey highway at any point in the day you would think the entire population of the state was on the road as well as late. The issue in New Jersey is that everyone is seemingly on the same path you are on making it hard to get anything done. Having never lived outside of the Garden State, I have come up with some methods that would save some time.
- Use the Internet – Running errands on a daily basis is expected. There always seems to be a lot to do, but everyone else usually has the same idea if they are not working. There are many sites that can aid in cutting down your list of errands. Many grocery stores deliver for a small fee so you can order everything online and choose what time you would like it delivered. This is also true for pharmacies. You can order any toiletries you need along with your prescriptions and have it all delivered to your house. You will avoid the mobs of people and be able to get other things done while your shopping is brought to you.
- Watch the clock – People tend to go out at the same time in New Jersey. It is early in the morning and right after work. Try to avoid the peak hours so you are not stuck in traffic. If there is some shopping or errands you need to run that cannot be done via the Internet, go when everyone else has gone home or if you are off for the day go out around 11am or 12pm. This could also vary on your area, but watch out for peak times of traffic.
- Avoid weekends – Everyone wants to go out on the weekends and utilize their time. This causes for immense amounts of traffic, accidents, and congestion on the roads. By getting everything done during the week you can enjoy yourself and avoid the popular spots on the weekends. Try it out and see if any of these ideas save you some time!
Posted in New Jersey Life | Tagged clock, Garden State, grocery stores, peak hours, peak times, pharmacies, population, running errands, rush, traffic accidents |
By AlyssaEDU on March 29, 2011
It is such a great feeling when you know you are going to college to further your education and make something of yourself. This is usually thought to lead to a decent paying job along with a nice future. But what happens when the majority of New Jersey students who are graduating are already burdened with student loans? Student loans are a form of debt and by the time you are done paying them off you have likely paid more than your education was worth. How are New Jersey students supposed to get ahead when they start out so far behind?
New Jersey Tuition
This is such a common issue with the cost of New Jersey tuition constantly on the rise and students continuing to make small paychecks. This is the perfect example as to why it is so important to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Just because you were denied one year does not mean you should not try the following year. Apply for FAFSA as well. Try to get free money wherever you can in order to avoid such an immense amount of debt once you enter the real world.
College Grants
Grants are also a popular way to try and help pay for college but they need to be paid back. It is obviously a stressful time if you cannot afford to pay for college out-of-pocket and in full at the time. Paying it off in time is the route the majority of students are facing.
There are great colleges in New Jersey that are lower in price which might make it possible for students or their parents to pay it off in full so they can have a debt-free start to life. This is not common, but any way you can limit the amount of money owed back is your best option. A great way to stay on top of your payments so you do not default is to get a job while in school. There are many retail stores and malls in New Jersey that are more than happy to hire college students. Start saving up now so the bills aren’t hanging over your head for too long. Happy money-making!
Posted in Campus Life, New Jersey Life | Tagged college grants, college students, colleges in new jersey, education, free money, jersey students, job, malls in new jersey, parents, paychecks, retail stores, scholarships, student loans |
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If you are a New Jersey college student, you likely already understand the lack of money that is available to you while in school. Unless you have a well-paying part-time job and can manage all of your classes, money is going to be tight and you should learn how to save. Let’s also assume your father is not Donald Trump who can fill your account every time you need it.
