Author: Daniel Bortz

7 Smart Ways to Stay Organized While Wedding Planning

Posted in The New York TimesTagged , ,

Staying organized while planning a wedding is no small feat. Forty-seven percent of engaged and newlywed couples said the process was so stressful they considered eloping or getting married at city hall, according to a 2018 survey of 500 engaged and newlywed couples by Zola, a wedding planning and registry website. Fifty-six percent reported elevated anxiety, 37 percent difficulty sleeping, and 10 percent loss of sex drive because of wedding planning stress.

Clearly, wedding planning can be a mentally and physically taxing job, which may explain why one in three couples (29 percent) who married in 2018 hired a professional wedding planner, according to The Knot.

Of course, not everyone can afford a professional planner, whose services cost, on average, $2,002. But by implementing a few smart organization strategies, you can plan your own wedding without losing too much sleep.

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How to keep your cool and ace a panel interview

Posted in Monster.comTagged , ,

Of all the steps involved in your quest to find a job, the job interview is likely the most stressful. What could be more unnerving than sitting in front of a stranger grilling you about your qualifications? Answer: a bunch of strangers grilling you. That’s more or less what happens during a panel interview (also called a board interview), when several employees from a company come together as a group to audition a candidate.

Typically formal and organized, this interview format is often used in academia and government or for high-level executives. Occasionally, you’ll encounter a panel interview for other positions in a company.

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9 home maintenance tasks you should do before spring

Posted in The Washington PostTagged , ,

Though spring is still more than a month away, there are important tasks you can do around the house this month to prepare your home for the coming season.

“It’s vital to start on your ­winter-recovery checklist as soon as you start to feel the first shy breezes of spring blow in,” says Rob Morelli, chief executive of HomeKeepr.com, a referral network for home-service professionals.

These home maintenance tasks deserve your attention now, not later.

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I’ve Discovered the Secret to Domestic Bliss: His-and-Her Bathrooms

Posted in Realtor.com, UncategorizedTagged , ,

After living with my fiancée, Alex, for the past six months, I’m convinced I’ve found the secret to living in harmony: separate bathrooms.

Don’t get me wrong: I love living with Alex. Aside from experiencing a few growing pains on my end (read: I’m still learning how to cook without a microwave), cohabiting has been a breeze because we don’t share a bathroom.

Allow me to explain all the reasons, and I think you’ll agree it’s the right choice.

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Is Your Emergency Fund Big Enough?

Posted in Consumer ReportsTagged , ,

The recent federal government shutdown has underscored the importance of a basic financial planning rule: You need a rainy day fund to cover emergency expenses, such as a major home repair, medical bills, or a job loss.

But many Americans lack even a small amount of savings to help them through an emergency. As a recent report by the Federal Reserve found, 4 in 10 adults said they wouldn’t be able to cover a $400 emergency expense without having to borrow the money or sell something.

Without cash on hand to cover unexpected bills, families often end up opting for costly strategies, such as running up credit card balances. Federal workers had to turn to food banks or tap their retirement accounts, resulting in tax penalties. Granted, setting aside those dollars in a rainy day fund is a challenge for many families. It can also be difficult to figure out how much you should to stash away.

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9 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Wedding Site

Posted in The New York TimesTagged , , ,

Planning a dream wedding usually begins with finding the right place, but the process can be both confusing and time-consuming for many couples.

Asking the right questions when scouting out places can help in the decision-making. Here are some to consider, based on the experience of wedding planners and recently married couples.

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10 career resolutions you can absolutely accomplish in 2019

Posted in Monster.comTagged , , ,

It’s that time of year again—time to set those New Year goals. At this point, though, you know the drill: You set a goal (no more carbs!), stick to it for a month (if you’re lucky), and then revert to your old habits. In fact, US News & World Report found that roughly 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February, so the odds are against you.

This doesn’t mean you’re doomed to fail, but it does mean you need to be realistic. Your sights must be set on targets that are within your reach. Beware biting off more than you can chew.

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Can you spot these signs that your boss is lying?

Posted in Monster.comTagged , ,

Reality check: People lie. That includes bosses. Maybe they lie because they don’t want to disappoint you (“No, you can’t take Monday off”) or don’t have an answer (“I have no idea if anyone is getting raises this year”), but it doesn’t make their lies any less annoying.

Now, here’s the good news: You can learn how to tell if someone is lying to you—and you don’t need to administer a polygraph test.

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Beautiful Ceiling Paint Colors That Will Make Any Room Look Bigger

Posted in Real SimpleTagged , , ,

High ceilings may be little more than a pipe dream for many of us, but with the right ceiling paint color and some pro-approved design tricks, you can fool the eye into thinking any room is bigger than its dimensions. Homebuilders today often construct new homes with 9-, 10-, or even 20-foot ceilings, but many older homes were built with lower ceilings. Living in an older home doesn’t necessitate suffering a low, dark ceiling, though—a smart ceiling paint color can help the fifth wall feel lighter and brighter, creating the illusion of a larger living space without breaking the bank.

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