A Tale of Two Cities

It's no surprise that not all cities and their living costs are equal.  It then follows that salary offers and their buying power vary greatly by city.  

Sadly few of us moving to a new city stop and think about the wide swings in standards of living we might encounter.

New graduates contemplating two different cities in which to live don't consider this phenomenon either.  

Do you want to avoid mistakes, create a leg up on negotiation tactics?  Then this article is tailor-made for you or your upcoming graduate.

Do you want to know what the cost of living is in any particular city?  Then this article is also for you.  

"My child was so excited to be...

 Consider a Plan B Idea

Each school and situation is different, of course.  Consider these ideas.  

Point A:  It Isn't Over.

If your teen is still waiting to hear, then the positive is that they are still waiting to hear. It isn't a NO, it's a not yet.  That's the good news.  Every school operates differently, and uses different parameters on how many offers to extend.  Just remember, your teen is in the "not yet" category until you hear differently.

Point B: Send another Recommendation...

What every parent wants to hear is . . . 

How Do Our Teens Get Good Recommendations from Superiors?

Have you heard? 

When I heard this story, my immediate thoughts were “you have got to be kidding”.  How could this happen?  

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. 

This happens ALL THE TIME and it happens especially to our teens.

Hang in there with me for a minute. 

Our teens have so much talent, knowledge, and skills just waiting to be explored and developed but they often are never developed.  Is this worth $190 million?  Absolutely. Any time we as parents can give our kids the keys to build on all their unique talents...

Why as parents are we afraid of those 4 words? 

But in reality, they are among the most 4 POWERFUL words when strung together. 

In truth, being as honest as we can be with our kids on typical “growing up mistakes” we’ve made can catch their attention.

And isn’t catching our teen’s attention half the battle?

Do any of these scenarios ring a bell?

• “I cut class”.
• “I didn’t prepare enough when going out for the . . . . team.”
• “I didn’t save my money as I should have for . . . . “  (here's an article on how to make their saved money grow, no matter how small the amount:  How Teens Can Grow Their Money
• “I didn’t study for my . . . . finals.”
• “I talked behind my best friend’s back.”
• “I went to . . . . and I knew I shouldn’t...

 As it turns out, your teen can do amazing things with small amounts of money.

It’s probably already burning a hole in their pocket.

They’ve been swamped by ads targeting their age – everywhere.

We parents know the temptation.

So do our kids.

But what if you could help them launch the $100+ that grandma gave them into an amazing, long term, educational AND exciting adventure? 

YOU CAN. 

Small amounts of cash CAN deliver a powerful punch.

Here are 3 pieces of advice we’d give them if they had even just $100 available.  These are not listed in any particular order. 

1) Micro-investing 

Yes, there are companies that will accept small dollar amounts and invest them for your teen. Generally, these companies will ask online questions to determine the best place to invest these small amounts.  You will, of course, want to be at the computer while your teen answers them.

Just think of the learning both you and your teen...

Are you planning campus visits soon?

There is so much coming at you and your nearly-gone teen that it can make anyone’s head swim.  It’s much better to swim instead of sink without enough information.  

There are, of course, many factors that go into which college to attend, from financial to “my best friend” is going there.  But allow us to introduce you to a twist in thinking that every parent/student should consider.

Flash Forward to College Graduation Day

Does your shiny new grad have options?  Did they have internships and were they able to network with those in their chosen industry while in college?  Is the local community of this college thriving?  How active and successful is this college’s College Placement Center? 

We know, this might seem strange.  You are dealing with just helping them get into college. But there's...

1st Historic Teachable Moment in 12 years

These moments don’t happen often, thank goodness.  Think back to 2006.  That’s the last presidential funeral we’ve had in the United States until now. (Reagan, 2004 and Nixon, 1994).

Do you remember when they would wheel in those carts with tv’s on them during school so we could see the moon landings, the rocket launches, and other historic moments?  We do. 

But perhaps your teen’s school didn’t or doesn't do this.  It isn't too late to capture the teachable moment for your teen.  

Did you know that . . . 

nearly every detail planned for a Presidential funeral is historical?

• Who had the first 16 cannon salute?  President George Washington
• The first president to die in office?  President Harrison, 1841

Want more interesting information?  Here’s a great link to explore with your teens:  Hat Tip:  www.theenchantedmanor.com

Presidential...

Telephones on our wrists. AirBnb.  Taxi vs. Uber vs. Lyft.   Movies played on nearly everything you own.  Turn your house off and on miles from home.

and. . .

Resumes. 

We grew up with paper resumes.   Those word-heavy depressing things.  Are they as effective these days?  No.  Paper resumes still have their place, but to stand out?  Go virtual.  You knew this addition/change was coming. 

How can our teens take advantage of “Virtual Resumes”?

First, let’s define what these are.  They use all the capabilities of the online world and the amazing graphic tools we have available to us these days.

The Virtual Resume is just that:  a visual overview of an applicant’s capabilities using charts, graphics, infographics, and even video. 

Collect Visual Resume Assets

These ideas can get you started

• Video clips of school projects your teen is involved in
• Photos of awards...

The BOX

Think back for a minute. 

Way back.

Way back to your High School Days.

With our adult-glasses it is so much easier to see that BOX, the BOX we mentally built for ourselves. “I’m shy”.  I’m not athletic.  I talk too much.   I’m not smart.” 

Ok, stay in the past a bit longer.

Not only did we build our mental BOX, others in our grade helped build our box, too.  “Don’t put her on the team, she’s awful.  Oh, man, not him.  He dresses weird.” 

That ridiculous BOX, that suffocating BOX still haunts, doesn’t it?  We bought into it.  

Now return to the present and your nearly grown child

Apply those same feelings we just discussed to your nearly-grown child. 

Their BOX, their mental BOX is just as teflon as ours and also has a little social media sprinkled on top.  You have one emotional powder keg on your hands.  

There is so much we...