Ch. 5 Your Personal Environment, Time, and MoneyVocabulary

APR (annual percentage rate)

-The amount of interest a credit card company charges each year on the unpaid balance. -is diff for each credit card

personal finances: debt relief

- you are in debt trouble when: You don't know how much money you owe. You use credit cards to pay for everything, even shampoo at the drugstore. You borrow from one credit card to pay another. You make only the minimum payment on your credit card bill. You miss payments. You pay your bills late. Creditors telephone you to ask where their money is. You get a job just to pay off your credit card. -Even one checkmark is a financial stress signal. Don't wait for things to get worse; seek advice from a nonprofit debt-counseling organization, financial aid advisor -The sooner you can start digging out of a financial jam, the less stressed you'll feel. Put away your credit cards, but don't close down the accounts completely. You might need them at some point, and closing your accounts can have a negative impact on your credit score. Contact your creditors directly and ask them to lower your rates. Make a budget to determine how much money you can set aside to pay off debt.

variable interest rate

A rate that changes over time and can be raised at any time, or in response to your credit behavior.

introductory interest rate

A rate that starts low (sometimes as low as 0 percent) but increases after a certain period of time.

academic procrastination

An intentional delay in beginning or completing important and time-sensitive academic activities.

fixed interest rate

An interest rate that stays the same over time.

managing your time

Becoming conscious of time and how you use it is the crucial first step to taking control of your life. If you don't analyze where your time is going, you're likely to continue to lose it (or not use it) the same way you always have. -Calculate the number of hours you spent on various activities. Do they reflect what's most important to you?

financial homeostasis: making a budget

-Use your money for rent, bills, and groceries first. Then look ahead to upcoming expenses to see what you need to save for. This will give you a reality check on how much you have for going out or buying new clothes. Ideally, you should be able to save as well as spend. Financial planning, starts with defining your financial goals, making plans for how to reach them, and taking action to make your goals a reality (see Table 5.2). If you write down your goals and incorporate them into your budget, you'll have a better chance of achieving them. -set up money budget table with the following columns: Goal Amount Needed By Date How I'll Reach My Goal

financial homeostasis

-Your income, the amount of money available to you, must cover your expenses. If you spend more, you go into debt, which generates stress as well as other problems. As a first step, you need to organize your financial records and keep track of your monthly income and expenses

financial homeostasis: organizing basics

-use accordion files or portable files, add reminders of any deadlines and due dates, Save electronic files to specific folders, and scan or take pictures of paper documents and upload them, back up files on external hard drive disc --Bills. Set alerts on your phone and computer, or circle days on your calendar to remind your of due dates so you pay bills on time. --Checking account. Save your canceled checks and bank statements. If they are online, save them as a PDF and print them out. You should keep three to seven years' worth of bank statements in your records for tax purposes. --Savings and investment. File all statements from your bank savings account and any other investments such as Certificates of Deposit (CDs) or mutual funds. --College. Keep records about your tuition payments, receipts for textbooks and supplies, courses, grades, and credits. --Financial aid. Save applications, award letters, student loan agreements, and notes about important telephone conversations. --Insurance. File whatever policies you have, such as car or medical coverage. --Loan and credit records. Keep loan agreements and payment records for car loans, credit card payments, and so on. --Receipts and warranties. File the paperwork that comes with all major purchases, such as phones, tablets, and computers. --Taxes. Include your tax returns, W2s, pay stubs, and so on. --Keep records that are difficult to replace, such as your original birth certificate and Social Security card, in a bank deposit box or a fire-resistant safe.

personal finances: banking basics

--To decide which bank is best for you, compare what different ones offer. Here are some important questions to ask: *How much money do I need to deposit to open an account? Is there a transaction fee for debit card transactions? Is there a charge for withdrawing money from an ATM machine? Does it offer a student or basic checking account with low or no monthly fees? Does it offer online banking, mobile deposits, text alerts, and 24-hour customer service? Can you set up automatic transfers or bill-pay services? Are there penalties for monthly account use? Falling below a minimum balance? Using an ATM not owned by the bank? Overdrafts? Will you receive statements via mail or electronically? -Banking rules allow consumers to choose whether or not they will be charged overdraft fees for debit card and ATM transactions. By opting in, you authorize your bank to allow your transactions to go through even if you are short money in your account. This will result in the financial institution charging you fees for the overdraft. If you opt-out, your transaction will be denied. -guidelines to avoid banking penalties and problems: *Every time you write a check, enter the amount into your checkbook register and subtract it from your balance. *Make sure to list ATM, debit card, credit card, and online transactions in your register as well. *Don't assume your account balance at the ATM is correct. If you made purchases that haven't been processed by your bank yet, the ATM balance will be higher than the amount of money you really have. The same is true for your online bank balance. *When the bank mails or posts your checking account statement each month, compare the bank's figures with your own and balance your checkbook. If you have questions, ask someone at the bank to help you. *Keep your records safe. If you suspect someone else has gained access to your checking account, report it to your bank immediately. They can place a freeze on your account so it cannot be used. -other tips for stress-free banking: *Find out when your bank processes transactions. *Make things automatic. Set up direct deposit for your financial aid and paychecks and auto bill pay for all your routine services so you don't forget to pay them. *Take advantage of notifications. Many banks will email or text you if your account balance is low or something's changed on your account. *Password-protect everything. Set up different passwords for your online bank account, email address (where you'll receive any statements or notifications from your bank), and smartphone and mobile banking apps. *Monitor your spending. Review your online transactions and be mindful of your account balance at all times (you don't want to spend money you don't have). *Balance your account each month. Verify each transaction on your statement and review your spending line by line. You want to make sure you didn't get double-charged somewhere and that your account hasn't been compromised.

personal finance: digital financial management

-As smartphones are replacing wallets, digital financial services are transforming consumer banking. Thanks to electronic deposits, debits, and statements, you can make financial transactions from almost anywhere, often with a single swipe. -make many routine transactions faster and simpler, they don't alter the fundamentals of financial responsibility. You still need to balance income and expenses, meet payment deadlines, and monitor where your money is going. Keep track of your spending, and download records of your daily transactions. Check the balance in your accounts frequently to avoid overdrafts or spot fraudulent transactions. -When shopping or banking online: Shop only on secured sites (sites with a Web address that starts with https). Log out of any accounts before you shut down your computer (e.g., email, bank account, student account). Password-protect your phone and apps. Download software updates regularly. Take advantage of security technology such as fingerprint logins. -Smartphone apps make many money transactions easier, but you need to take precautions to safeguard your accounts.

personal finances: protect your personal information

-Avoid checking your bank balance with a public computer. If you must use one, be sure to log out of your account completely and clear the cache on the web browser. (the following-steps to prevent identity theft or from ppl using ur money) -Don't give anyone your Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers unless you know why the individual or organization is requesting them. If you are unsure, ask the person to send you a request by mail instead of asking for it over the telephone. Delete e-mails requesting personal information. Don't just throw away papers that list important account numbers or other financial numbers. Shred anything with your name, address, credit card information, or bank account numbers before putting it in the trash or recycle bin. This includes unused credit card offers. Don't send your credit card number over the Internet unless you are sure the website is secure and your computer is protected by a firewall and anti-virus, anti-spyware, and other security software. Keep your security software updated. Keep your credit card and ATM receipts in a safe place until you've paid the credit card bill or balanced your checkbook. Then tear them up or shred them before throwing them away. Review your credit card statements and telephone bills for unauthorized use. If you suspect fraud, call the company immediately. Check your computer for malware (malicious software that affects your computer). If you're a victim of identity theft, report the crime to the police and your bank immediately. Opt out of pre-approval offers. Sign up for paperless billing. Avoid oversharing on social networks. Leave your full name, address, and birth date out of your profiles. Ignore friend requests from people you don't know.

frugal living

-By shopping at thrift or consignment stores, you can buy items you need without blowing your budget. -Invest with your roommates in a coffee maker. Brew your own instead of buying a pricey coffee -Explore thrift stores when you need furniture, sports equipment, or clothing. -Even if it's allowed, don't bring a car to campus. You can take a campus shuttle, walk, or bike to class. -Before you make a purchase, find out if there's a student discount for it. (Search online for "student discount" and the item you want.) You can save money on everything from movie tickets to a new computer. -If you have access to a microwave or stove and a refrigerator, prepare simple meals on your own. -Take advantage of free or inexpensive leisure activities: hike, play sports, go to campus-sponsored lectures and performances. -Use apps to check prices in a store against online retailers. Read reviews before making a significant purchase. Search for online coupons and promotions. -Know your triggers. Do you buy more than you need just because it's a "Buy two, get one free" sale? Are you a sucker for end-of-season markdowns? -Avoid late fees on anything—library books, DVD rentals, parking tickets. They add up faster than you expect. -Don't blow bonus money. If your grandparents send a check for your birthday, resist the temptation to splurge. -Put most of it into a back-up fund for unexpected expenses or new money goals. *Get in the habit of distinguishing between needs and wants. After a few months on campus, track your expenses, and put a plan into action. For instance, you might give yourself a weekly cash allowance rather than carry a debit card, and when that week's allowance is gone, wait until next week for your "wants." Also consider using those "wants" as rewards for yourself when you accomplish tasks and meet deadlines.*

rules of order

-Disorder arises most often from putting off tasks or not completing an activity you've already begun. The deadly duo of avoidance and postponement multiply the unpleasantness of any chore or assignment. -Disorder undermines pleasure as well as efficiency because it upsets your internal well-being. You need to be in a placid physiological state to feel calm and make good choices -All the while that you're searching, trudging, waiting, and raging at yourself, you're stressed out and wasting time and energy. -The alternative? Create a solution: an orderly habit that you will always follow, that works for you. For example, always put all your important papers in a file you always keep in the top right-hand corner of your desk. Or always back up your computer before shutting it down. -Taking action, however small, boosts your sense of control and lowers your stress.

day planning

-Each morning, decide what you are going to do during the rest of the day and tomorrow, what your top priority will be, and how you will go about getting your work done. Write down the specific tasks you will complete by the end of the day (some will be simple chores while others will be going towards an on-going project) -Set your alarm a little earlier than usual; just want to rise early enough to start the day in a state of calm contemplation. Begin the day mindfully and with purpose; don't rush to start working or leave the house right after waking up; People who get up a half hour to an hour earlier than they once did report amazing changes in their sense of command and their productivity. -Get to your first class or appointment a little before you have to be there. An early arrival sends a message to your brain that what you are about to do is significant and not just another throwaway experience to rush through -this simple change helps you to feel more confident in your activities, focus better, and feel less overall day-to-day stress.

managing your money

-In a recent national poll, 57 percent of college students considered their money managing skills "excellent" or "good." About a third (31 percent) said theirs were "fair," while just 12 percent felt that their ability to handle money was "poor" or "terrible." However, their behaviors didn't match their self-ratings: Only 39 percent of those surveyed stuck to a monthly budget; 38 percent needed to borrow money from friends or family; almost half had less than $100 in their bank accounts at some point in the last 12 months. -Money ranks second only to academics as a source of stress for college students -People of all ages and income levels describe money as a major source of stress in their lives, but money itself isn't a stressor. It's what you do—or don't do—with it that creates stress. Not having enough may be the most common complaint about money, but even with unlimited resources, you need to know how to manage money wisely and well. -College represents a huge investment for a family. talk with them and be very clear on which expenses are your responsibility and your spending limits. -Once you know how to take control of your money, your money will not take control of you or your life. You will also be better prepared to pursue your goals—and have the financial resources to reach them. -About two thirds of students use loans to pay for college; more than 20 percent of loan recipients expect they will have a debt of $50,000 or more by the time they graduate. The average college student graduates with $24,000 in debt -Those working more than 10 hours a week are more likely to report academic difficulties; more than two thirds say that money worries have impeded their academic performance; Students stressed-out by financial pressure are more likely to reduce their courseload, withdraw from college to get full-time jobs, and take longer to graduate. Like other forms of chronic stress, money worries can take a toll on students' physical and mental health -Students with greater financial self-efficacy—those who are confident and competent in handling money matters—are less likely to report financial stress -you can visit www.cashcourse.org, a free online resource specially designed for college students for money management tips

establishing order

-Individuals vary in how orderly they need their environment to be so that it works for rather than against them. You don't have to become a slave of creating order. However, many college students we know are slaves of disorder. You may pride yourself on being able to roll with the punches that chaos throws at you. But why squander your time cleaning up the consequences of disorder and mismanagement? -Once your physical environment is in order—that is, when you know how and where to put your hands on what you need without delay, you will become less stressed and more serene, in other words, more in order internally. And when you are in internal order, you are empowered and your potential can truly shine. -Being orderly is a decision; choose to take small, initial steps towards a well-organized life. Make order an ongoing process. Paying attention to external order helps foster internal order. -Inattention creates disorder. It is also how bill payments, assignment due dates, and special events are missed. Sooner or later you have to tackle the clutter. But if you let disorder become overwhelming, then clearing it becomes an all-out effort that exhausts you; ppl regress back into old habit of disorder, ppl may repeat cycle for a lifetime -wherever u are, get in the habit of leaving at least one small space more orderly than you found it. This guarantees progress because order becomes an ongoing task, rather than a once-in-a-blue-moon blitz. -Don't wait for more disorder to accumulate. And don't fall into the trap of telling yourself that there's no point in starting until you can get it all done at once. You only create more disorder by putting off a task. Make whatever headway you can in 15 minutes every day during your regular week. -Block out 15-minute slots for targeted bursts of organizational energy on your daily and weekly calendars. Why? Scheduling moves you from "someday, I've got to do this" good intentions to taking action in real time. A schedule, along with a specific commitment to always follow it strictly, will keep you focused.

managing your personal environment

-Living without order, rushing, and improvising all bring chaos, and chaos inevitably breeds stress. Whatever disorder you leave behind today will steal part of tomorrow from you. If you want to take control of your life, the first thing you have to do is establish in order. -Becoming orderly doesn't take away from fun and spontaneity. Instead it provides the structure and state of mind that enable you to avoid unnecessary stress.

chronic procrastination

-Regular delaying of work or other activities to the extent that it interferes with your functioning and performance. -can trip you up, slow you down, stress you out, and sabotage your best efforts. You know that. But you may not realize that procrastination isn't a character flaw. -Think of rebuttals to yourself if you are a chronic procrastinator. For instance, you might say, "Yes, I'm tired. I'll just work for half an hour, and then I'll go to bed." Or you might tell yourself, "I'll see how much I can get done in 10 minutes." Or you could say, "I'm tired of making excuses; I choose to take time every day to focus and study because I am choosing to succeed and feel good about accomplishing something."

live in real time

-Shortcuts make sense only when they enhance true efficiency rather than simply skip necessary steps. When it comes to time control, the ideal shortcut is acting in real time. -Doing things immediately skips unnecessary steps and requires less effort than doing them later. -delaying anything is procrastination on a smaller scale. -Cumulatively, the consequences are the same: a serious loss of time that, if used well, could have yielded a sense of satisfaction, ease, and control. Instead, when you feel rushed and panicky, your performance is weaker than it might have been -living in real time=doing tasks then and there, instead of adding it to your to-do list, responding to things when they first come to your attention -The people who accomplish the most in the most efficient manner invariably handle these tasks immediately, as they arise. They manage the day-to-day part of their lives now, in real time, not later and not after a series of pointless delays. The time you spend delaying is the time in which you could have done what you delay. If you learn to respond immediately to ordinary tasks—e-mail, texts, calls you need to make—or anything else that you could finish in three minutes or less, you will learn a simple secret that will exponentially increase your efficiency. Just don't interrupt your study time to do them. -If you are not going to complete an action right away, you must in real time take the next step required. For instance, if you cannot complete a task in three minutes, you can write it down on a to-do list and estimate how long the task will take: How long does it take to get to the grocery store, buy your items, return, and put them away? -To-do lists can help you manage and structure your day in real time. -set a reminder or notepad app on your phone for looking back at your daily notes/reminders . Choose to make it a habit to write down the things you need to do and remember. There is satisfaction to be had each time you delete something from your list. There is an even greater satisfaction in making your way through the entire list and rewarding yourself for your efficiency and accomplishments. -To live in real time does not mean that you assume the "ready-fire-aim" mode. Rather, instead of setting things aside, you respond when they first come to your attention. Acting in this fashion does not rule out your considering your actions as thoroughly as warranted. And it does not rule out choosing the best time to do it later if it will take longer than three minutes. But you must choose the specific time, and act when it arrives. If you need to consult or consider, by all means do so; but don't put this off either. Begin it right now, carry through on it as far as possible, and then continue it at a time you choose and record. Do not set aside what you can do now.

the myth of multitasking

-The brain, as neuroscientists have demonstrated, performs even simple actions one after another, in a strict linear sequence. Unless they are completely mechanical ones, multitasking destroys the quality of attention given to the tasks at hand. So work when you work, play when you play. And text or snapchat when you're doing nothing more important than, say, picking laundry lint off a black T-shirt. -Trying to do several things at the same time can be dangerous if you're behind the wheel of a car. -Turn off your text message and e-mail alerts when you block out 45 minutes for reading -do what needs doing. Become formidable in your devotion to this habit, and you will have more time for what's really important. -To stay on track, schedule your work in 50-55 minute segments, with breaks in between. Start by taking a few moments to focus and visualize what you're about to do. Turn off anything that can ring, beep, or bother you. Stop fiddling with the screensaver on your computer. Use earplugs if necessary (not earbuds) to block noise. Build in down time, and take it according to schedule. Keep working at this pace until you complete what you set out to do. You send yourself a very empowering message when you keep your promises to yourself. -Five minutes after you sit down to study, are you checking your text messages? Foraging for a drink or snack? -The external interruptions Emerson called "idle distractions" are undermining the messages you need to communicate to your brain about urgency and efficiency.

pre-empting procrastination

-There really are only two fundamental reasons we do not complete tasks in a timely way: *We lack smart, effective strategies and skills for making efficient use of time, or *We fall back on inefficient, self-defeating habits that steal precious time. -either you have failed to develop good habits that you need to learn, or you have developed bad habits you need to unlearn and replace. -Such delay, like most stress, springs from fear. People are afraid that they lack knowledge they'll need to navigate the situation they confront or that their efforts won't succeed. Hesitant to face the situation they mildly dread inevitably increases dread to do that task -When you set something aside instead of acting on it in the moment, you seldom gain an advantage unless you immediately do research on how to handle the situation more effectively. You squander time you can never regain and have made the issue at hand even larger in your own mind. The best antidotes: acquiring practical skills, such as breaking big tasks down into smaller, more doable steps, and learning to place long-term goals above short-term gratification. -The single most effective antidote to procrastination is starting. Don't flog yourself to tackle the chore you hate most; just do step one. If the long-delayed job is cleaning the bathroom, tell yourself that all you are going to do now is take the basic equipment—cleaning solutions, brushes, rubber gloves, whatever—into the bathroom. Once you get there, having started the process, you will find it much easier to go ahead and complete the job.

visualize your time

-before you begin a task, take a few moments to visualize yourself completing the steps the process requires. This cues the mind in another way and prepares it like any other run-through or rehearsal. -why does anyone rehearse anything? Because you perform better when you rehearse. Rehearsal provides a mind map—an internal set of expectations and directions—and serves as a fundamental way of getting ready for peak performance. It also creates new connections within the brain that result in more automatic responses to task demands. -mental focusing device (ex=tugging, wiggling, spitting, and scratching that athletes engage in between pitches, this chain of behaviors cues the mind and senses to a keen degree of focused readiness) -If you visualize steps, you prepare yourself for action, helps u complete things on time -Develop your own routine to cue yourself that it is time to work. Visualize; follow a sequence of steps; work with a sense of urgency. There is a time for leisure and a time for heightened attention and readiness. If you are working on a task, make it a matter of urgency, and you will move toward it differently. This is not about hurry, but rather about force of intention and focus of attention. Do things deliberately but with a concentrated sense of urgency. -If you have many tasks, do the most difficult ones early in the day. Save the easy ones for the afternoon when your circadian rhythms dip and your energy lags. -doing easy task firsts=brain will read that for what it is: avoidance of the difficult things. When you come back to anything you have put off, you always resist it more. Do it first. Rest of the day will accelerate, and your confidence will soar. -To teach yourself how to estimate time accurately, compare your predictions of how long a task will take with how much time it actually demands when you do it. Identify one assignment, such as reading a chapter or outlining a class presentation. Then just do it. Don't take shortcuts. Work intensively and with concentration. Keep track of how much time you spend on the outline, subtracting time off for breaks or interruptions. Then see how this compares with your estimate. (most students underestimate the time it takes to complete difficult tasks)

time management for commuting and working students

-commute to school, you can't roll out of bed ten minutes before class, pull on jeans, and sprint across the quad. If you work, you have to show up on time, do your job, and fit in studying where and when you can. If you don't take control of your time, you will soon feel out of control. -To beat the time crunch, begin before the term starts. Get the course catalog as early as possible so you can plan your work hours or commute around it. Try to avoid rush hour traffic or crowded subways or buses. Whenever you can, schedule classes back to back or during one part of the day (all morning or all evening, for example) so that you can concentrate academics into one block of time. -Use a calendar—either the old-fashioned paper type or one on your phone, notepad, or laptop—from the very first day of the term. This will be your most valuable time control tool. Read the syllabus for each course thoroughly the first day of class. Don't delay, or you will lose valuable time. Mark on your calendar all assignment due dates and exams. (If an assignment or task doesn't have a due date, give it one.) For any research or group assignments, make a schedule on your calendar for how you'll complete each of them. Include "begin research for sociology paper" on one day, "complete outline" a week later, and "begin first draft" on another day. -Breaking big projects up into smaller pieces and giving yourselves deadlines for each will help you stay on track. Calculate roughly how many hours you think each assignment will take. Keep in mind that most things take longer than you think, so build in extra time from the start. -Let your instructors know your work schedule, and let your boss know your class schedule. Although you cannot expect them to plan around you, they may be flexible with due dates and work hours if they know your time demands. Clear communication can help you avoid unnecessary stress. -Students may use their commute time (if using public transportation) to catch up on studying or sleep. -With a schedule as tight as yours, you have to be realistic in your commitments—which means saying "no" to some of the favors asked of you. Don't feel guilty; simply explain that, even though you'd love to help a friend move or come to your cousin's dance recital, you have to work or study or commute. You also have to turn down some fun activities. Face it now: the only way to get all your assignments done will mean reading, writing, or working on projects during parts of long weekends and holidays.

personal finance: avoid debt and credit card stress

-credit cards are good to start building credit early on but can lead to ppl getting large amounts of credit debt Keep one or, at most, two credit or debit cards (See Table 5.3.). Resist the temptation to sign up for more simply to get a mug, flash drive, or whatever else on-campus vendors are offering. Shop around for a card that has no annual fee, a lower interest rate, and a 20- to 30-day grace period (the amount of time you have to pay for new purchases before interest is charged). Avoid cards that charge a one-time processing fee and cards with low introductory interest rates that shoot up in a few months. You can shop for the best credit card deals on sites such as www.bankrate.com. Consider getting a credit card that's secured by a bank deposit, meaning that you have enough money in a savings account to equal the credit limit on the card. A secured credit card can help you get used to handling credit while building a good credit history. Don't charge anything you can't pay for right away. If you have a real emergency, allow yourself three months to repay the charge in full. Mail the payment several days before the due date so you won't be charged a late fee. Stick with the card you've chosen. The longer your credit history, the more your credit score will rise. Subtract your credit card purchases from your checking account so you'll have enough money to pay the bill in full each month. Do not use a cash advance from a credit card unless you have a serious emergency. You'll probably pay a fee for the money, and you'll be charged interest immediately. Avoid lending your cards to anyone, even close friends. Never leave your cards in plain sight, even in your room. -At the end of your billing cycle, the card provider gives you a certain number of days (known as your grace period) to pay back what you owe, or at least a minimum payment. Paying the minimum each month is important, because you avoid a costly fee. However, if you only pay the minimum, you leave the rest of the money on your card (effectively your balance), where it will accrue interest until you pay it off. How much depends on your card. -Many cards charge different interest rates for different types of purchases. For example, you might incur a lower interest rate on everyday purchases such as groceries and gas and a higher interest rate on a cash advance.

personal finances: credit score

-credit history, a track record of your credit use as recorded by three different credit bureaus. Your credit score is calculated using both positive and negative information found in your credit report, which is a summary of your credit history. The most commonly used credit score, produced by FICO, ranges from 300 to 850 -A good credit score shows that you pay your bills in a consistent and timely manner and can be trusted to make responsible decisions and to honor commitments -a poor credit score shows that you have a history of late or missed payments. This means you may be denied an apartment or have to pay more for a car loan, insurance, or mortgage. Prospective employers as well as landlords and service providers may check applicants' credit scores before hiring or renting to them. -To build or improve your credit score: *Pay everything on time, from basic expenses and utilities to loan and credit card payments. *Use only 25 percent of the total credit available to you, so it doesn't look like you're heavily relying on it to get by. *Never max out your credit card—that's a red flag to lenders. *Check your credit report regularly. You can request a free report by going to www.annualcreditreport.com. *Correct any inaccuracies you see on your credit history immediately.

your study space

-effective, efficient, focused work requires its own comfortable and well-designed space. You will work best in a space dedicated to a specific activity -What would you have to do to create a place conducive to good work? Given your current budget and space, how closely can you approximate your ideal environment? -Ideally, set aside a space for your exclusive use. It should be private, a sanctuary where others do not enter. If it's not possible to keep your workstation behind locked doors, ask the people you live with to respect this space and not touch or move the things you leave there. If you reserve one area solely for academics, every time you approach it, your mind will make unconscious associations that provide cues to help you focus on your studies. -Order demands that you have everything ready and at hand; need a good-sized flat surface and supplies within easy reach; Everything in your space should work for you and support you; nothing should work against you. -will work all the better if it appeals to you aesthetically and beckons you to come and work; surround yourself with your favorite colors. Over time add small touches to get as close as possible to the most ideal workspace you can imagine. An indoor plant helps purify air, and the bit of nature promotes a sense of well-being; Practice a bit of aromatherapy, and buy an inexpensive diffuser to fill the air with eucalyptus, evergreen, or another pleasing scent. -As much as possible, seek good natural and artificial light so you can work without straining your eyes and adding unnecessary fatigue. -Set up your computer to keep glare and eyestrain to a minimum. -Make sure you have a good, back-friendly chair and that your desk or table are the proper height. -Place the screen at eye level (22-26 inches higher than your seat). -Position the keyboard so that your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle and your hands and wrists are straight. -You work more efficiently and effectively in an organized, uncluttered, well-lit space -when you are exhausted and just want to go to bed, Don't. Take 10 or 15 minutes to put your work space back in order. Gather the notes for your term paper into a file. Put your textbooks back on the shelf.Taking the time to put your work space in order produces many benefits, including creating an inviting space to which to return. You'll love yourself for it in the morning.

take time for yourself

-it is important to schedule time for fun as well as coursework. Part of managing stress is living a more balanced life that has both productivity and relaxation structured into it. -Build "downtime" into your day so you can take a few minutes to stop, reflect, and refresh. -Weave positive practices into your daily routine: Stream music that stirs or soothes you. Pause to watch a sunset. Positive pleasurable experiences don't have to be huge events that you anticipate for months. Small experiences can provide just as much stress reduction. -Catch up with a friend or family member; watch a favorite video; scroll through photos of a vacation or reunion. -When you take a break, really take one. Switch gears completely. Relax deeply. -Unwind in real time with no screen in front of you. Melt into a sofa. Zone out in a warm bath. Develop a routine that cues relaxation and practice it when you really need to relax deeply. Before bed, for instance, clear your mind of thoughts or read for pleasure before you repeat affirmations or review your day and the things you are grateful for.

the now imperative

-just do it NOW. Act in the moment a need arises. When you do, you act far more efficiently than when you delay. -The "now" part of this imperative has to do with the optimum time to act. The "imperative" part means there is no other way out. Nothing is as efficient as acting in the moment that a day-to-day need appears. When you set this standard and adhere to this imperative, you will quickly feel different about yourself and your capacities. -whenever possible, dispatch simple things in one fell swoop. Don't pointlessly break a task down into a series of steps if they aren't necessary. Skip the list-building busy work; cut directly to the chase. -Putting off learning how to use new software is the same. You compound a problem you invested time and money to solve. All alternatives to living and acting in real time create inefficiency. These can range from a minor time loss that puts a drag on resources to (in the worst case) feeling chronically overwhelmed and unable to catch up. Don't buy gadgets and equipment you don't have time to figure out how to use. Learn to use the time saving, life-brightening devices you already have—like your brain and your attention. Don't put it off any longer; do it now.

taking control

How long and how severely you're stressed depends on whether you can take control and make the most of the space, time, and money available to you. What can you do today to take more control? Spend a few extra minutes organizing everything you need to take with you tomorrow. Don't shut off your light and go to bed until you've cleared away the empty water bottles and stacked the papers on your desk. Throughout your day, capture the inevitable lulls between activities by preparing for them. Download assigned readings or apps to your phone so you have them wherever you go. If you're waiting for an appointment or a class, put the time to use. Work intensely. It is far better to work intensively for 45 to 50 minutes on a highly specific piece of a project and finish that piece by giving it your full attention, than to block out an hour and a half and flit in and out of concentrating. Keep a rainy day fund. Set aside a small amount of money every week—just so you won't be stressed by an unanticipated expense.

what to do if you suspect your identity has been stolen:

If you suspect your identity has been stolen, act quickly. Most people who steal financial information use it within 48 hours. With a credit card, your maximum liability is $50. However, with a debit card you have to report fraud quickly to ensure you get your money back. If you report a lost or stolen debit card within 48 hours, your liability for unauthorized charges is $50. Between 49 hours and 60 days, your liability goes up to $500. After 60 days, you might be liable for all of the charges. Alert the credit reporting agencies. Contact one of the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian). Ask the agency to place a fraud alert on your file to make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. A basic alert lasts 90 days, but you can extend it to 7 years. Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Complete its online complaint form, giving as many details as you can. Save and print out your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit. Report the theft to the police. so you have official record of the fraud. You'll need this, along with the FTC Affidavit, to prove to businesses that identity theft occurred. To remedy some of the damage, close any new accounts that have been opened in your name. Remove any unauthorized charges from your accounts. Correct any fraudulent entries on your credit report.