5 Dollar-Store Halloween Costume Hacks

Intro

Here's the bad news: Halloween is a 7 billion dollar industry in the United States. That's big money, and sometimes it seems like you need those kind of big bucks to outfit yourself or your kid in a costume good enough for them to hold their head high the following day at school. The good news? The demand for low-cost solutions to all things, not just Halloween, means that there are more dollar stores (and, sometimes, slightly less than a dollar, wink-wink..) than ever before. And these places are an absolute gold-mine for your Halloween costume toolbox. Nevermind the pre-mades they have on their shelves. Here are 5 fun, creative, and absolutely easy-to-make costumes with the most affordable ingredients imaginable. Trick or Cheap!

Carmen Miranda shaking her maracas. (Carmen Miranda Costume)

Things You'll Need

·         Robot:

·         2 Silver sun shades for the car

·         Hot glue gun

·         12 inch plastic basket

·         Colored duct tape in red, yellow, black, and turquoise

·         Black 1/4 inch tape

·         Dark shirt and pants that fit child

·         Scissors

·         X-acto Knife

·         Wax paper

·         Carmen Miranda:

·         Rectangular plastic tablecloths in 3-4 assorted colors

·         Plastic fruit

·         Fake flowers

·         Hot glue gun

·         Large beaded jewelry

·         Duct tape

·         Apron

·         Small basket with a handle

·         Scarf to tie hair with

·         Ribbon

·         Crop top

·         Scissors

·         Spaghetti with Meatballs:

·         Yellow yarn

·         Plastic baseballs

·         Air dry clay

·         Yellow fabric or ribbon

·         Double stick tape

·         Needle and thread

·         Brown craft paint

·         1/2 inch sponge brush

·         Scissors

·         Shackled Ghost:

·         Pipe insulation or pool noodle

·         White glue

·         Scissors

·         Black fabric

·         Mask

·         Garden Party:

·         Fake flowers

·         Skirt

·         Top

·         Scissors

·         Hot glue gun

How to Ace the Final Interview

Making it past the first round of interviews offers a sense of satisfaction and gets you one step closer to landing the position. The final interview is your last chance to prove your qualifications and push yourself into the lead candidate position. The initial sessions give you an idea of how the company interviews and what they're looking for, but additional preparation for the final interview readies you for a more in-depth questioning session with the hiring manager.

Instructions

1. Confirm the time and location of the final interview. Don't assume it will take place in the same location as your previous interviews. Verify the format of the interview so you can prepare for the number of people sitting in and understand what will be expected of you.
2. Replay all of the previous interviews with the company in your head. Make notes about your answers so you can respond consistently. Identify questions and answers that stumped you or didn't go as well as you'd hoped so you can practice those areas before the final interview.
3. Research the company if you haven't already. Even if you researched before your first interview, review the information and read more on the company. Show you care about the company by being able to tailor your answers to the company's vision and goals.
4. Talk to any acquaintance you know who already works for the company to get a sense of what to expect from the final interview. Ask for any insight into exactly what the hiring manager is looking for.
5. Write down specific examples from your prior work experience as a review for the interview. The final interview often involves more in-depth questions and answers. Having ideas in your head to show you possess the necessary skills makes answering those questions easier.
6. Prepare yourself to show the hiring manager how well you'll fit into the company. Use the specific examples from your experience and your knowledge of the company to demonstrate that you're a qualified candidate who will excel in the position.
7. Consider your requirements and desires for salary and benefits. Questions about these topics may arise in the final interview. Preparing yourself to answer the questions helps you avoid being caught off guard and giving a salary range you later regret.
8. Bring extra copies of your resume in case there are additional people sitting in on the interview. The hiring manager should have a copy of your resume available from the previous interviews, but being prepared with extras shows you're on top of things.

Smart Tips for Using Your Debit Card

INTRO

Debit cards function similarly to credit cards except that debit cards allow you to withdraw funds directly from a checking account. In other words, when you use a debit card you are spending money you have already earned. Responsible debit card use can help you avoid fees and dangers that may end up costing you money

Check Your Account Balance Regularly

Since debit cards draw money from a checking account, you can only draw as much money as you have in your account. Overdrawing your checking account may result in fees from your bank. Many banks allow users to check account balances online, which can make it easy to keep tabs on how much money you have to spend. Some accounts also offer overdraft protection to protect you from fees if you happen to draw more than your balance.

Cancel Lost Cards Immediately

Debit cards and credit cards are easy to misplace. If you lose your debit card, call your bank and cancel the card as soon as possible. Unlike credit cards, it may be difficult to recoup fraudulent debit card charges because money is withdrawn directly from your checking account. For this reason, consider using a credit card instead of a debit card for normal use and online purchases and then use your debit card to pay off the credit card.

Destroy Old Cards

If you never use a certain card or receive new cards in the mail, destroy your old cards. New debit cards may have new expiration dates and security codes, but the card number will usually be the same.

Memorize Your PIN

Debit cards allow users to set up a personal identification number (PIN) that must be entered when withdrawing funds from an ATM. Set up a PIN as soon as you receive your debit card and commit the number to memory. Bankrate recommends that debit card users never write their PIN on their card.

Keep Your Card in a Safe Place

You should treat your debit card as if it were cash. You probably wouldn't leave $3,000 in cash sitting on the kitchen counter, but that's essentially what you are doing if you leave your debit card on the counter with a checking balance of $3,000. Keep your card with you in your wallet or purse when you are out and put it in a safe, drawer or other hidden location when you are not using it. Never leave the card sitting out where others can see it.

Why You Should Be an Intrapreneur at Work

Wikipedia defines intrapreneurship as “the act of behaving like an entrepreneur while working within a large organization.” In my view, intrapreneurs are people who, whether they make coffee or run the show from the top of the food chain, have a vested interest in thinking outside the box, pushing new and disruptive ideas forward in their companies and speaking their mind.

Taking this road isn’t usually a popular choice. It’s easier to go with the flow, collect your paycheck and call it a day. However, the benefits of being an empowered, vocal employee are huge. Becoming an intrapreneur at work can help your career — and even the careers of people around you — in a variety of ways.

It demonstrates leadership.
Speaking up when something isn’t going as you think it should — even if it’s just the way a project is being approached — demonstrates confidence and forward thinking. If you’ve never viewed yourself as a leader, this might seem very daunting at first. And many people, women especially, might even feel as though they need permission to make their voice heard. The following quote opened my eyes and shifted my perspective on this many years ago:

“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.” — Roseanne Barr

Feel how you may about Roseanne, but this idea is simple and empowering. Those who are comfortable speaking their mind are more likely to be seen as having the potential to lead others, a must if you want to move up to a managerial role.

You’ll be more respected.
Even if they disagree with you, your colleagues are more likely to respect you as a professional if you demonstrate assertiveness and independent thinking. Respect yourself and your own ideas, and others will respect you in turn.

You’ll be happier.
Intrapreneurs understand that their careers are in their own hands. If they’re unhappy at work or don’t like something about their workplace or responsibilities, they don’t complain about it; they take steps to change it. Being active instead of passive about your goals and personal vision will make you happier — with your job and yourself — in the long run.

Your company will become a better place for everyone to work.
Vocal employees are more likely to produce a culture where everyone believes they can contribute to a larger conversation about the company and its future. This is key to producing a truly collaborative culture that fosters loyalty.

It’s also vital to ensuring that companies act in ethical ways. Take the example of Carmen Segarra, who was hired by the New York Fed to inspect banks like Goldman Sachs following the financial crisis. According to tapes Segarra secretly recorded, the New York Fed was too afraid of damaging relationships with the big banks, causing them to look the other way more than they should have.

Government regulation of the financial industry is an extreme example, but it can happen anywhere. Company cultures that discourage workers from contradicting the status quo can lead to stagnant progress at best and corruption at worst. Intrapreneurs understand that sometimes ruffling a few feathers is the right thing to do.

Pioneering new and bold ideas is how innovation happens.
Intrapreneurs don’t think of an idea and then shelve it because “the boss will never go for it.” They push forward and ensure their ideas have a voice. They also think creatively about finding a way to make the idea fit within an existing initiative or program. Without people who’re willing to go to bat for their ideas, nothing new and innovative is likely to happen.

Wouldn’t you rather be that person?

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/ehow-money/blog/why-you-should-be-an-intrapreneur-at-work/