Insecure Creator Issa Rae How I Landed at HBO

'Unreliable' Creator Issa Rae How I Landed at HBO Issa Rae's profession sprang, to some degree fortunately, from the drudgery of office life. Her 2011 breakout web arrangement The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl ridiculed her encounters checking in, and like anybody with a temp work and a side hustle that requires costly camera hardware, she maximized her charge cards simultaneously. Be that as it may, the bet paid off: The arrangement turned into an underground sensation, and fans raised more than $50,000 to subsidize it through it's first season â€" HBO came calling before long. Presently Rae is one of the most searched out names in Hollywood. The 33-year-old composes, delivers, and stars in HBO's Insecure, which was gotten for a third season a year ago. She's additionally marked on to create three additional tasks for the system. Her first significant film job, for the screen adjustment of the youthful grown-up novel The Hate U Give, is as of now underway. What's more, the previous fall, she turned into the new substance of CoverGirl cosmetics. On an ongoing break from shooting, Rae talked with MONEY about Mastercard obligation, compensation arranging, and what she will not spend her check on. You used to work in corporate America. What do you recall about that time in your life? There's an instilled work culture that doesn't generally contrast from office to office. So whether I was at an organization that sold lights or whatever else, the way of life felt fundamentally the same as. Particularly the colleague elements, which would at the same time baffle me and make me laugh uncontrollably. Hold up you used to sell lights? At like, a call place? No it was a provider. It was simply ensuring workplaces had their particular supplies of lights. It was a humble activity. It didn't satisfy anyone who was working there. A great deal of your work centers around the difficulties dark individuals face in the working environment. Is it accurate to say that you were the main non-white individual at those occupations? I've been the just one at different occupations. Furthermore, a great deal of our [Insecure] scholars have been the main dark individual, the main lady, the main gay individual. There is something so shunning and secluding about that. You wind up being the representative for every single gay individuals or every single dark individuals or all ladies. How? You need to acclimatize more, or talk for the benefit of, or safeguard. Furthermore, that further detaches you since individuals feel like they need to sneak around you. In some cases you're similar to, I simply need to come to work to work. Not to be a supporter or to put whatever I distinguish as in plain view. What amount did you spend getting Awkward Black Girl off the ground? The primary scene cost like $5. What's more, the second and third were a few hundred. The more individuals that went ahead, the more intricate it got, we got into the $1,000 territory. That was without having the option to pay individuals. When we had the option to Kickstart, we were at last ready to pay individuals for their administrations. In your book The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, you persuaded your father to assist you with getting some film hardware, which wound up kicking taken before you off recording your web arrangement. So you more likely than not needed to purchase the substitution hardware yourself … Better believe it, Visa obligation. What amount? The entirety of my charge cards were pushed to the limit. It resembled $10,000. What was experiencing your head at that point? There were unquestionably snapshots of depression. Simply thinking, Will I ever escape this opening? Will I ever bring in enough cash to escape obligation? Do you recollect how it felt to at last compensation it off? I got totally in the clear the second period of Awkward Black Girl. It was the second time I had the option to be without obligation. The first run through an auntie had passed, and favor her heart, she had left us a legacy. I utilized that cash to get myself in the clear, and made a pledge to myself to never be injured by obligation until the end of time. So when I ran up a couple of cards once more, I was crushed. This time I realized it was without a doubt. You've been in the TV business for a couple of years at this point, which means you've presumably sat in loads of gatherings where you were the main lady, or the main dark individual, in the room. Do you have any guidance for exploring something like compensation exchange when there's a conspicuous force unevenness? It's so difficult, yet now I'm in a position where I have workers. Men have no issue requesting what they're worth, [and] it's changed my mentality. I utilize people, and on a few events I've had men approach me with, I should make this, or is there space for this? And I'm similar to, amazing, for what reason haven't ladies moved toward me, or been as vocal about that? So now I simply figure, for what reason would it be a good idea for me to feel embarrassed? On the off chance that I've commonly been buckling down, and have been an advantage for the organization, for what reason would I not request my value? On the off chance that an organization doesn't esteem you, you don't have a place there. What's more, in the event that you don't feel great asking, realize that the individual close to you does. There shouldn't be anything halting you. Your style has advanced since your vocation took off. Are there different things you're all the more ready to spend more cash on now? I'm not a major customer. Be that as it may, I eat at cafés much more, and I travel more. There are sure things that I was unable to do as uninhibitedly that I grasp since I can manage the cost of it, presently that I'm agreeable. Are there things you will not burn through cash on? I don't spend too much in light of the fact that. I will never have 17 vehicles. I will never have costly adornments. I don't spend that much on my garments, or shoes. I will burn through cash on a beautician, and a cosmetics craftsman, in light of the fact that those things feel fundamental for work. Be that as it may, material things? No. Remedy: A previous adaptation of this article expressed that a Kickstarter financed Awkward Black Girl for two seasons. It was just one.

How to Network Your Way to a New Job - Resumonk Blog

Instructions to Network Your Way to a New Job - Resumonk Blog Instructions to Network Your Way to a New Job Perhaps the greatest battle with finding another line of work is getting seen in any case. In case you're just applying to occupations you find on the web, it could take you significantly longer to get a meeting. Since there are handfuls or even many candidates for each web based posting, you have a great deal of rivalry. Be that as it may, on the off chance that you have an enormous system, getting another line of work can be a lot simpler. At the point when you know somebody within, they can tell you of occupations before they open, or guarantee your resume gets before the correct individual. With the correct associations, you can secure the position you had always wanted a lot of sooner. How about we investigate a couple of various tips you should use to improve your expert connections to find another line of work. 1. Think about Your Entire Network At the point when you consider your expert system, you're most likely considering basically past supervisors, administrators or collaborators. While this is an extraordinary spot to begin, they aren't the main individuals you have to consider. Everybody you know - regardless of whether by and by or expertly - can be somebody you might need to interface with. It is safe to say that you are pondering relatives or companions of companions as individuals who might have the option to assist you with your pursuit of employment? If not, dont ignore them. Notwithstanding your all-inclusive system, no one can tell who they might be eager to acquaint you with. With these extra associations, you can become more acquainted with some staggeringly notable individuals in organizations you'd love to work for. Consider individuals from past employments, companions or relatives, just as friends from secondary school or school. Moreover, even associations you have via web-based networking media or common companions can be an extraordinary method to begin getting another line of work. Try not to preclude an association since it doesn't originate from a totally proficient relationship. 2. Recognize What Youre Looking for When you have a thought of the sorts of individuals you might have the option to associate with, you have to recognize what you're searching for. At the point when you eventually contact individuals from your system, you would prefer not to request only any occupation. You have to know precisely what you're equipped for, why you're a solid match and how that individual can assist you with accomplishing your objectives. Pause for a minute to consider what the best result for your associations would be. Regardless of whether you're searching for a temporary position or only a prologue to a recruiting director, realizing your desires heretofore can spare you from some awkward discussions. Being clear about what you're searching for early can likewise show you're thinking earnestly about your vocation change. You may have various requirements relying upon who you're contacting. In case you will interface with the CEO of an organization, you may have a simpler time requesting a meeting. Be that as it may, if your association is drop down the chain of command, you presumably should request something somewhat littler, for example, a presentation. Ensure your solicitations are sensible dependent on the person in your system. 3. Connect with Your References In case you're going to utilize your system to find another line of work, you should begin where it bodes well. Before you contact somebody you just respectably know, interface with the individuals who definitely realize you well. Your expert references are an incredible spot to begin. Since your references have just consented to talk you up in case you're ever out of luck, they definitely realize your aptitudes well. They accept you're skilled and need to enable you to succeed. This implies they'll be progressively roused to assist you with securing the position you had always wanted on the off chance that they are capable. Regardless of whether they can't legitimately assist you with getting another line of work, they might have the option to acquaint you with other people who can. Contact your references to tell them you're searching for a new position. Tell them precisely the sort of occupation you're searching for, what industry you'd prefer to be in and the area of the position you need. You'll additionally need to twofold watch that they're despite everything ready to fill in as your references, so let them realize they might be reached by a recruiting chief. 4. Concentrate on the Relationship Behind the Connection At the point when you're hoping to find another line of work through your system, you generally can't simply ring somebody and request that they recruit you. In the event that you request an excess of immediately, the individual you're reaching may not be happy to get you out. Rather than acting like they owe you the help, center around building a strong relationship with them. Generally, individuals like to help other people. In any case, it very well may be a significant mood killer on the off chance that it feels like you're anticipating that something should be given to you. On the off chance that you approach your system with a certified inquiry and consciously pose for help or exhortation, they are bound to get you out. You'll need to consider the relationship you have with the person before you connect. While it's OK to interface with people you don't know well, you may need to concentrate some additional time building up an association before you approach them for proficient help. In case you're going to contact somebody you just met on more than one occasion, a basic inquiry or solicitation for counsel is the best approach. Then again, somebody you've known by and by for a long time might be eager to go along an email address or telephone number of an employing supervisor at their organization. 5. Make Your Request Specific Now, you should definitely realize what you're searching for out of your association. As we referenced previously, you would prefer not to simply request an occupation or for help finding another line of work. All things considered, your system is presumably entirely occupied. They don't have the opportunity to make the essential associations for you. Rather than just telling your system you're on the chase for a new position, you need to approach them for explicit exhortation. Regardless of whether that is help applying to a position or a prologue to somebody significant in their office, you need to show you've gotten your work done and you're set up to place in the work. At the point when you at first contact an individual from your system, clarify what you're searching for. While you don't have to hop directly into the discussion telling them you're searching for help, likewise don't anticipate that them should comprehend that all alone. Be clear and direct, yet at the same time true and thoughtful, at whatever point you interface with a system part. 6. Prop the Connection Up Try not to make a propensity for connecting and never following up. In the event that the individual doesn't quickly reach pull out, it might just be on the grounds that you ran into them at an inopportune moment or they didn't see your message. While you may promptly need to discount them and accept that they're not ready to help, you would prefer not to end the discussion there. Give them some time and afterward reach pull out. Keep in mind, the way toward systems administration can take some time. On the off chance that you anticipate that your system should reach promptly assist you with getting a new line of work, you're likely going to be frustrated. Rather, cultivate the relationship and do what you can to be pleasing. All things considered, you are requesting that they take out time from their calendar to assist you with getting another line of work. Regardless of whether that individual can support you, you'll need to keep up the relationship. Don't promptly vanish in the event that they state they don't have the foggiest idea what they can accomplish for you. Rather, express gratitude toward them for their time and let them realize that you're accessible on the off chance that they ever need any assistance from you. Additionally, inquire as to whether they would consider you later on in the event that they know about anything. Utilizing your system can be probably the most ideal approaches to find another line of work. Be that as it may, you can't anticipate that your system should accomplish all the work for you. While they might have the option to assist you with getting your foot in the entryway, they most likely won't pivot and simply give you an occupation. Consider these tips in case you're going to contact your system for another position. Continuously recall that you're requesting their assistance, so be benevolent and pleasing - and don't act like they owe it to you. p.s. Resumonk causes you make a delightful list of references introductory letter in minutes. Stand apart from the group and increase your chances of finding your fantasy work.

Tips On Writing A Resume

<h1>Tips On Writing A Resume</h1><p>The best guidance for composing a resume is one that accommodates your present place of employment. There are various subtleties you ought to remember for your resume, yet you should realize that most employments don't expect you to incorporate them.</p><p></p><p>A continue for the position you as of now hold is the main thing you ought to concentrate on. Your first purpose of contact ought to be a Human Resources administrator, since they can give you direct data about the necessities and advantages of your position. Something else, don't be hesitant to demand the exhortation of a selection representative in the event that you would prefer not to sit tight for your neighborhood Human Resources office to return to you.</p><p></p><p>The first thing you ought to consider when posting your obligations is your rundown needs. It is a smart thought to list your work history, which ought to incorporate each occupation you have held in sequential request. On the off chance that there are any unlucky deficiencies from this rundown, show it too. For instance, on the off chance that you have two situations simultaneously, incorporate the second one.</p><p></p><p>The next thing you have to consider is your family and potential interruptions. Your life partner's name ought to go in the headline, trailed by their title and complete name.</p><p></p><p>The next two areas of your resume should concentrate on your obligations and achievements. They ought to be isolated by one page, since this will assist you with getting a more clear image of the obligations and abilities you have that will make you the perfect contender for the position.</p><p></p><p>To add to your uncommon reference area, it is a smart thought to place in the names of your relatives and companions. At times, they might be approached to fin ish your capabilities, so it bodes well to give them more information.</p><p></p><p>Writing a resume is anything but an entangled undertaking, however ensure that it accommodates your rundown needs and is centered around your most relevant capabilities. You should concentrate on your job in the association and incorporate the obligations and duties you would bring to the organization, as opposed to attempting to remember everything for your own.</p>

What To Do About An Employment Gap -

What To Do About An Employment Gap - Truly, having a huge hole in your expert business has been viewed as a colossal negative on a resume. However, given that a May Gallup survey demonstrated that 19% of the American populace is underemployed (either not working or working low maintenance rather than full-time), there are many, many occupation searchers out there thinking about how to deal with this resume issue. fortunately there are approaches to introduce holes in business that limit their effect on your resume. Occupy your time any way you can Recruiting directors get many applications for each activity they post these days. They know just as anybody how extreme the present place of employment advertise is. Because of this, businesses are far less inclined to demonize work searcher who shows an ongoing hole in their business historyâ€"the key is to fill that hole with something that shows that you care about your profession. Take a class One basic approach to keep yourself sharp as an expert is to take a class while you're searching for work. Depending on your budgetary circumstance and accessible time, there are numerous choices for proficient development. Many colleges offer proceeding with instruction classes in subjects like composing awards or getting ready taxes. There are likewise web based preparing programs for authorized callings, for example, land sales. If accounts are a worry, you can take moderate classes through your neighborhood parks and diversion division or library framework. Accomplish counseling work Working not exactly full time doesn't mean you consequently overlook all the skill you've picked up from working in your field. Using your system to get counseling gigs permits you to acquire some salary, however it gives you ongoing experience to talk about on your resume and in interviews. Work as a specialist I know a duplicate manager who has been jobless for 15 months now. He's been filling in as a specialist over the Internet while he's been looking for a full-time position. Given the current financial conditions, he realizes that it's a coherent option in contrast to doing nothing at all. And should this year-long hole even come up at a meeting, he realizes that his outsourcing experience won't just give a sensible clarification yet additionally show the potential business his drive and capacity to continue on under unfavorable conditions. Volunteer Chipping in is especially useful to the individuals who are trusting their next activity will be in a field unique in relation to their last one. If you don't have proficient involvement with something like advertising, volunteer to advance a reserve raiser for a nearby philanthropicâ€"they'd love the assistance, and you in a split second have some promoting experience. In case you're as of now taking care of your tabs by working an occupation for which you're overqualified, it's OK to make reference to it while applying for another position. Employers welcome the honesty. I'm tending to tables at the present time while I search for all day work, is an explanation that shows you're adaptable, humble, and ready to get your hands grimy when it's required! Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is a specialist continue essayist, profession and individual marking tactician, writer, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She makes high-sway, top tier, continues and introductory letters that change quests for new employment into interviews and at last propositions for employment. For more data about expert resume composing or to peruse more profession and pursuit of employment related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187.

Entry Level Infrastructure and Sustainable Building Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Section Level Infrastructure and Sustainable Building Resume Template â€" 2018's Top Format Section Level Infrastructure and Sustainable Building Resume Template - 2018's Top Format Make ResumeKerri Foster100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019 | (H) (555) 322-7337 | model email@example.comProfessional SummaryTo get a situation in the open area where my abilities can be used for development inside the company.SkillsInstalled green roofsInstalled water system systemsEdging installationInstalled urban farmsBuilt and Installed raised bedsCarpentary/masonryPower device usageStone cutting and settingWork HistoryHorticultural Intern 03/2013 to CurrentThe Horticultural Society of New Yorkâ‚ ¬ New York, New YorkCut, cut, and molded supports, trees, and shrubberySoil Remediation , including ; including fertilizer, woodchips, mulch, or different materials as necessaryPlanted ball and burlap trees, local perpetual nurseries and vegetable gardensExperience with bush, tree, and lasting transplantingExperience with pruning procedures of woody and herbaceous plants.Seasonal Maintainace Aide 03/2010 to 10/2010City of New York Parks and Recreationâ‚ ¬ Rockaway Beach, New Yor kPainted relegated park houses, seats, and play courtsCut, cut, and formed fences, shubberyEnsured all alloted comfort stations were perfect, santitized, and infringement freeEnsured every doled out park, playcourts, and sea shores were sheltered and cleanAlerted administrators and associates of any potential dangers or violationsNeighborhood Improvement Worker 09/2009 to 01/2010Wildcat Corporationâ‚ ¬ New York, New YorkSwept and raked leaves; discarded litter and garbageCleaned and kept up doled out neighborhoods all through South Jamacia, Queens.Operated lawnmowers and weedwhackers to fundamental check request and abandoned homes.EducationGED: General Studies 1987 Evander Childs High School Bronx, New YorkHorticulture 2012 The Horticultural Society of New York New York, New York Horticultural TechnicianScaffoldingUrban Storm ManagementGreen Infrastructure TechnicianLive Roof InstallationCitizen Tree PrunerConstruction 2012 Ando International Queens, New York O.S.H.A. (10 hours) , Confined Space (16 hours), Hazwoper (40 hour), Power Tool preparing, Chainsaw preparing, and Asbestos Handlers (32 hour) Customize ResumeMore Green Jobs Resume Templates

State Pension Funding Hits Record Low Nationwide

State Pension Funding Hits Record Low Nationwide (CHERRY HILL, N.J.) An open worker benefits emergency for state governments has extended to a record level significantly after almost nine years of monetary recuperation for the country, as indicated by an investigation discharged Thursday, leaving numerous states particularly helpless if the economy hits a downturn. The huge unfunded annuity liabilities are turning into a genuine issue not only for open division retirees and laborers worried about their future yet for every other person, as well. As states attempt to prop up their benefits frameworks, it implies less cash is accessible for center taxpayer driven organizations, for example, training, open security and parks. The yearly report from the Pew Charitable Trusts discovers open laborer annuity assets with substantial state government contribution owed retirees and current specialists $4 trillion starting at 2016. They had about $2.6 trillion in resources, making a hole of around 33%, or a record $1.4 trillion. While the investigation takes a gander at annuity assets with significant state-government contribution, frameworks run by urban areas, regions, school regions and other neighborhood substances have had comparable issues. Simply this week, the Chicago suburb of Harvey, a city with a background marked by coming up short on its benefits commitments, reported profound cutbacks in its police and local groups of fire-fighters . Authorities accused their rising annuity commitments. Bigger urban communities and school areas the nation over additionally have had administration cuts or freezes throughout the years to pay for increasing expenses for their retirees. Seat says that annuity reserves were very much subsidized until around 2000. Around that time, numerous states expanded annuity benefits without an approach to pay for them. In certain states, for example, California and Illinois, courts as a rule find that the administration must respect those responsibilities. Likewise in the mid 2000s, the tech stock air pocket burst, spiraling venture returns descending. A few states, for example, New Jersey, exacerbated the situation by holding back on their commitments. Many annuity reserves had not recouped from the website bust when the Great Recession hit not exactly 10 years after the fact. Furthermore, many haven't recuperated from that, either. At the point when the following downturn comes, there will be extra weights, David Draine, a senior official at Pew, told The Associated Press. Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky and New Jersey had not exactly a large portion of the advantages they expected to meet their commitments, as indicated by the report. Only four states â€" New York, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin â€" had at any rate 90 percent subsidizing. Draine said those states and some others that have fixed annuity shortages since the Great Recession will be fit as a fiddle whenever the economy slides. The Pew report found that dreary venture returns in 2016 clarified the greater part of why the state of annuities declined from the earlier year. Annuity heads were relying on middle returns of 7.5 percent that year. Rather, they made only 1 percent. In any case, the investigation says that regardless of whether the speculations had met desires, the general situation of annuity supports despite everything would have declined in light of the fact that state governments were not contributing enough. Just Kansas contributed more to its benefits framework in 2016 than it paid out, Pew found. In New Jersey, statisticians state it will take around $6 billion every year in commitments from the state to support its annuity framework. It's taken a very long time to get to not exactly a large portion of that sum in the present spending plan. Keeping up that progress makes it hard to pay for different needs, for example, boosting school financing. The investigation finds that states progressively depend on venture returns trying to balance out their funds, which makes them increasingly helpless against showcase variances. On account of a solid market a year ago, the following year's report, which will survey the condition of annuities starting at 2017, is relied upon to look better. However, advertise slides so far this year have not been empowering, Draine said.

Having Money vs. Not Having Money

Having Money vs. Not Having Money Money is a funny thing. Its interesting to read all of the opinions about how to make money, how to get rich, the unjustness of people being wealthy, the abhorance of people hording their wealth, what people should do with their money, what the responsibilities of wealthy people are, what the responsibilities of poor people are, luck vs. hard work, silver spoon and entitlement vs. worked my way up from the bottom, etc. Opinions are across the board. A few days ago I merged my pondering on money with my pondering on something else: vehicle maintenance.  Specifically, checking the oil level in my familys two vehicles. Im not very good at it, and more than once Ive had a mechanic shake their head, look at me with that look of shame, and say you had no oil in your car!  You have to check it! Yep, Im that guy. Ive worked on being better, and I think about oil in my car more than before.  Oils purpose is to lubricate the rest of the engine so that parts dont grind and ultimately destroy the entire engine.  A costly mistake, for sure.  Without oil, or not enough oil, bad things can happen.  The integrity of the engine can be compromised.  The engine might not run as well, it might be loud, it might be costly (reduce gas efficiency), it might pollute more (I just made that up, I have no idea). I was thinking that money in a family is like oil in an engine. If you dont have enough money, well you know what happens.  Stress in yourself, your marriage, with your kids creditors coming after you, bank fees for NSF (insufficient funds), higher interest rates on credit cards and overdrafts, poor eating and shopping choices, etc. Your family doesnt function as smoothly as if you didnt have that problem. I was chatting with a friend of mine and he sent me this image: When I first looked at it I thought cool, he got paid and then went to the beach!  But then I looked a little harder and realized that the beach (or, the rest of the month), is him finding fish to eat, by a dirty shopping cart, and without fishing gear.  Payday is when you are well-oiled, the rest of the month is when you dont have enough oil to function properly. Heres  another image  he sent me: This is how I felt when I was out of a job.  Not on day one, but as my massive savings of $1,000 dwindled (both cars were in the shop the Saturday after I got laid off, amounting to almost $1,000), and as I realized that the job search would take longer than I thought it would, I felt like that, out of energy, barely going to make it This feeling of being out of money sucks.  I know it does. I also know that money is something that we can get if we want to get it. I wrote a book on alternatives to a real job, which include things that many of you probably wouldnt do.  A day care, a dog walking business, painting house numbers on curbs, etc.  Nothing glamorous, especially if you did your time at a university, but in each of those alternatives I found people who made more than $5,000 a month doing those things. Maybe getting a job is elusive. Maybe were not cut out for it.  But that doesnt mean we cant have, or earn, money. Having a healthy relationship with, and attitude towards, money, is critical.  Once we get it, and abide by the principles, we are prepared to make decisions that will position us to have a lifestyle we are okay with. Here are two resources that might help: The Richest Man in Babylon. I read this book many years ago, and honestly cant remember what the storyline is, or the main learning points, but I remember it helped me understand money much better than I did before. Dave Ramsey Millionaire Hour. These are snippets of Daves show where people talk about how they became a millionaire. It is refreshing to hear people talk about how they accumulated wealth from saving coins to blue collar worker who just managed his money really, really well (while not making much money).  These stories are really cool because they are of people who were just smart with their money, and very stingy with their spending.  Stingy, by the way, doesnt have to mean Mr. Scrooge. Look, Im not saying we all have to be wealthy to be happy.  We dont even have to have a lot, or much, money.  That has been proven to not provide happiness.  What Im saying is that not having enough money STINKS. And we can do something about that! Having Money vs. Not Having Money Money is a funny thing. Its interesting to read all of the opinions about how to make money, how to get rich, the unjustness of people being wealthy, the abhorance of people hording their wealth, what people should do with their money, what the responsibilities of wealthy people are, what the responsibilities of poor people are, luck vs. hard work, silver spoon and entitlement vs. worked my way up from the bottom, etc. Opinions are across the board. A few days ago I merged my pondering on money with my pondering on something else: vehicle maintenance.  Specifically, checking the oil level in my familys two vehicles. Im not very good at it, and more than once Ive had a mechanic shake their head, look at me with that look of shame, and say you had no oil in your car!  You have to check it! Yep, Im that guy. Ive worked on being better, and I think about oil in my car more than before.  Oils purpose is to lubricate the rest of the engine so that parts dont grind and ultimately destroy the entire engine.  A costly mistake, for sure.  Without oil, or not enough oil, bad things can happen.  The integrity of the engine can be compromised.  The engine might not run as well, it might be loud, it might be costly (reduce gas efficiency), it might pollute more (I just made that up, I have no idea). I was thinking that money in a family is like oil in an engine. If you dont have enough money, well you know what happens.  Stress in yourself, your marriage, with your kids creditors coming after you, bank fees for NSF (insufficient funds), higher interest rates on credit cards and overdrafts, poor eating and shopping choices, etc. Your family doesnt function as smoothly as if you didnt have that problem. I was chatting with a friend of mine and he sent me this image: When I first looked at it I thought cool, he got paid and then went to the beach!  But then I looked a little harder and realized that the beach (or, the rest of the month), is him finding fish to eat, by a dirty shopping cart, and without fishing gear.  Payday is when you are well-oiled, the rest of the month is when you dont have enough oil to function properly. Heres  another image  he sent me: This is how I felt when I was out of a job.  Not on day one, but as my massive savings of $1,000 dwindled (both cars were in the shop the Saturday after I got laid off, amounting to almost $1,000), and as I realized that the job search would take longer than I thought it would, I felt like that, out of energy, barely going to make it This feeling of being out of money sucks.  I know it does. I also know that money is something that we can get if we want to get it. I wrote a book on alternatives to a real job, which include things that many of you probably wouldnt do.  A day care, a dog walking business, painting house numbers on curbs, etc.  Nothing glamorous, especially if you did your time at a university, but in each of those alternatives I found people who made more than $5,000 a month doing those things. Maybe getting a job is elusive. Maybe were not cut out for it.  But that doesnt mean we cant have, or earn, money. Having a healthy relationship with, and attitude towards, money, is critical.  Once we get it, and abide by the principles, we are prepared to make decisions that will position us to have a lifestyle we are okay with. Here are two resources that might help: The Richest Man in Babylon. I read this book many years ago, and honestly cant remember what the storyline is, or the main learning points, but I remember it helped me understand money much better than I did before. Dave Ramsey Millionaire Hour. These are snippets of Daves show where people talk about how they became a millionaire. It is refreshing to hear people talk about how they accumulated wealth from saving coins to blue collar worker who just managed his money really, really well (while not making much money).  These stories are really cool because they are of people who were just smart with their money, and very stingy with their spending.  Stingy, by the way, doesnt have to mean Mr. Scrooge. Look, Im not saying we all have to be wealthy to be happy.  We dont even have to have a lot, or much, money.  That has been proven to not provide happiness.  What Im saying is that not having enough money STINKS. And we can do something about that!