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Tips for Better Money Management
Tips for Better Money Management

The best way to prevent financial problems is to have a budget and watch your spending closely. Here are some tips that may help to improve money management skills.

Develop a household budget-and stick to it. Make a list of your household expenses such as car insurance, mortgage, utilities, food, etc. Your total expenses should not exceed your total monthly take-home pay. If it does, find ways to reduce what you spend. For example, look around for a less expensive car, go without cable, or take your lunch to work instead of eating out.

Pay yourself first. When developing a household budget, don’t forget to set aside money for savings. Financial experts recommend saving 10 percent of pay, but just $10 a paycheck can make a difference.

Shop wisely. One rule of thumb is, “Buy what you need, not what you want.” You may want a new car, but if your budget won’t allow it, consider a good used car. Also, using coupons and comparing prices can save even more.

Don’t rely on overtime pay. Don’t make the mistake of relying on overtime pay to make ends meet. If overtime pay is cut or no longer available, your expenses will exceed take-home pay. Put overtime pay into savings instead.

Own, don’t rent. A rent payment is someone else’s income. Home ownership should be your goal. You’ll have tax advantages and can watch your investment grow. If you plan to lease a car, remember that if you drive more miles than the lease agreement allows, you’ll pay a penalty when you return the car to the dealer.

Limit use of credit cards. If you include the cost of interest in credit card purchases, everything you buy costs more if you don’t pay the balance each month. It also pays to shop for the best credit card — the card with the lowest rate and preferably no monthly fee.

Don’t gamble money away. State lotteries, casinos, and bingo halls attract customers with the potential of big winnings. But the odds of losing far outweigh your chance of winning.

There are many books and other resources available to help with managing finances in your local library or bookstore. Classes on financial management may be available in your community or at your local college. Sometimes it’s helpful to talk about financial issues and if you are in need of information, guidance, or help, an EAP counselor is available. The EAP is a free service for all postal employees. The EAP is private, professional and strictly confidential. To contact the EAP call toll free 1-800-EAP-4-YOU.




Fun, Not Stress, for the Holidays

Few things are more stressful than the effort of making the holidays special. In our pursuit to keep up with life's responsibilities and accomplish all that is expected during this season, we are left feeling fatigued, unsuccessful and, yes, stressed!

A simple change in our perspective can help avoid such feelings. The following are suggestions you may want to apply. Even in this, remember to change only a few things at a time as trying to overhaul the way you do things at once can in itself be stressful.

Determine what is important to you during the season

Family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances all have different views of the holidays. In fact, many may celebrate a different holiday. So, determine what is important to you and see that you dedicate time and resources to that end. While being respectful of others' priorities, keep yours in mind as you commit and spend.

Schedule the events of the season

Set time aside for decorating, cooking and shopping, making sure that your expectation of what is to be done is congruent with the amount of time allotted. For example, decorating may require setting aside two evenings rather than one, or shopping for the kids may need to be done on a different day than when you get the gifts for the siblings. Blocking out time and accomplishing the tasks assigned to that time will leave you feeling in control and capable.

Try new things

If in the past you've done things that have caused you to feel stressed, resentful, unsuccessful, etc., try avoiding them this time around. As you determine what is important to you, what does not work will be easy to identify. As you recognize what has not worked, try something new to replace it. Creating new traditions can be an energizing opportunity.

Maintain or create traditions

The repetitive nature of traditions fosters feelings of comfort and minimizes stress. Of course, this is only true if you have systems in place to make them work that way. Make sure your traditions center around what you have identified as important to you. Cooperate and contribute with others to make it a meaningful experience. Making yourself responsible for much or all that is required is not the best approach. Get involved and involve others as needed to lessen your load.

As you try to apply these ideas, remember that you are not alone in facing the challenges inherent of the holiday season. If you need assistance prioritizing your time or dealing with stress, please call the EAP: 1-800-EAP-4-YOU (1-800-327-4968) and/or www.EAP4YOU.com.




  Effective Problem Solving
Effective Problem Solving

Everyday life is filled with responsibilities, problems and commitments. The ability to balance and solve these problems can reduce your level of stress. Here is a six-step approach to problem solving that can be used in both your work and personal life.

Step 1: Identify and define the problem. What is the real problem and who has the authority to solve it? During this step, it's important to be aware of the feelings and needs of everyone involved. Blaming or passing judgment does not solve the problem. Blaming or passing judgment does not solve the problem.

Step 2: Brainstorm for possible alternatives. Allow everyone affected by the problem to offer their recommendations and/or solutions. Write down all possible solutions, even ones that may seem too difficult or hard to achieve.

Step 3: Evaluate the alternatives. Evaluate all of the possible consequences of each of the recommendations. A guiding question should be: will this recommendation improve things or make matters worse? Be mindful of the fact that almost every solution will involve some compromise.

Step 4: Choose one solution. After evaluating the ideas, agree on one solution and commit all of your energy to it.

Step 5: Implement the solution. Assign tasks and roles. It is much more effective if everyone involved in the problem has a role in the solution.

Step 6: Evaluate the solution. Assess the results. Is the situation better, worse, or the same? If things are no better, go back to brainstorming and try another recommendation.

Your EAP4YOU Service Center can help you to learn more about better family time management, and how you can learn time management skills. You can reach a live person to discuss your needs by calling 1-800-EAP-4-YOU.

If you have any questions about your program services, please call your program toll-free number at 800-327-4968. TTY: 1-877-492-7341.




  EAP___Dec

New District EAP Consultant

Laurie Rosser, LCSW is the new District EAP Consultant for the Mid-Carolinas' Performance Cluster. Laurie is a North Carolina Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years experience doing consulting and counseling. The EAP office is located in the back of the Carmel Post Office (6300 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226. It is a private office next to the passport office in the back of the building. The office number is 704-541-7266.

What is EAP?

The EAP is a brief counseling and referral service that assists USPS employees and their family members with personal, job or family problems. Some of the most common problems addressed by the EAP include: Work and personal stress, alcohol and drug dependencies, emotional problems, grief issues, marital/family/parenting issues, coping with change, conflict resolution and anger management, relationship problems at home or work, coping with financial or legal difficulties.

Counseling services are provided by local, licensed, master's-degreed or doctoral, mental health professionals who are not postal employees. EAP SERVICES ARE FREE: there is no cost for counseling and other services provided directly by the EAP counselor. If additional outside treatment or professional services are needed,the costs are your responsibility if not covered by your insurance.

The EAP IS CONFIDENTIAL...REALLY!! Your privacy is protected by professional ethical standards for licensed counselors in addition to strict federal and state confidentiality laws and regulations. Information you share generally may not be disclosed without your prior consent, except as required by law. Participation in the EAP is VOLUNTARY and is not part of any disciplinary process. A referral to the EAP does not become part of your Official Personnel File.

Make the call yourselof. Help is only a phone call away. You or an adult household member/dependent may access EAP services by calling the EAP4YOU service center ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, ANY TIME OF DAY. Simply call 1-800-EAP-4-YOU. You will gain immediate telephone access to an intake specialist who will discuss your concerns and arrange for in-person EAP services with an EAP counselor near you. If you are calling about an urgent matter, a licensed EAP counselor at the service center will speak with you on the phone immediately.

The USPS EAP also provides services online. At the web site, EAP4YOU.com, information is provided about the EAP in addition to other helpful information related to program services such as child and eldercare information, mental health and substance abuse concerns, parenting, and self-assessment tools.

Make the Call!




 


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