Weekly Round-Up: Possible Job in Texas

As I work to finish up my thesis and hopefully graduate before the summer is over (a not impossible, although rather difficult, task), I’ve been sure to keep my eyes open for the next step in my life, namely, the next job I will hold.  It’s always a tough task to find a new job, and it’s something that’s been on my mind quite a bit recently  (as you might have gathered from the Job Hunting Success series I’ve been running for several weeks now).  Luckily, I have been getting some interested employers lately, although a few possibilities have been a bit odd…

For instance, one of the better job offers I’ve gotten in the past few weeks is for a Quality Control Position in Austin, Texas.  Given that I currently live in Meadville, Pennsylvania, which is 1467 miles away (I was curious, so I checked), to say that it would take some changes is a huge understatement.  I’d have to uproot my wife, find a whole new apartment several states away, and adapt to a new place to live with only a few months to go before our baby will be born and further alter how we live.  (I won’t even get started on the culture shock I can already see myself, a born and raised Yankee, can expect to experience deep in the heart of Texas.)

Of course, I’m getting a bit ahead of myself here; I haven’t even had an in-person interview yet, to say nothing of actually getting the job.  I’m definitely getting more than a little ahead of myself, worrying about how to handle a move to another state when as of yet, I don’t have a reason to move.  That said, with the increasing globalization of the job market, I suppose I should be glad that the job offers I am finding are located within the United States…

Alright, enough of my thinking about the Lone Star State, and wondering how I’d do down there.  It’s time for the reason I’m sure you’ve all come, to check out some of the good posts from the past week.  So let’s get right to that, starting with:

 Good Yakezie Posts

It Pays to Be Skinny – Sad, but unfortunately true: thinner people (along with, or perhaps included as, attractive people) tend to earn more than their plumper counterparts.  KrantCents covers some of the latest studies reaffirming this fact, and gives a few suggestions for how you can best handle the situation.

5 Reasons Why Disneyland is Worth Visiting – I’ve been to Disney World myself, when I was much younger (as mentioned above, I’m an East Coast boy, so it was closer), and do still have some fond memories.  It’s rare to see a personal finance blogger like Squirrelers making the case for Disney, particularly when, as he admits, it was quite expensive.  Still, memories do last a lifetime, so it is worth considering.

How I Invested My Child’s Money – This is a tricky one, as you want to keep the money safe (particularly as it isn’t yours), but you want to have it grow for your child, too.  I think the conservative, but with some potential for growth, method chosen here by Evan of My Journey to Millions is a pretty good one, and I hope I can do something similar for my little girl once she is born.

How to Get Your Employer to Pay for School – Given that my current employer IS my school, I’m not able to put this to practice right now.  But for anyone who (like me) would like to potentially get further education while still drawing down a paycheck, the suggestion in this article from Young and Thrifty will come in handy.

Overcoming the Financial Challenges of an Accident – Trying to manage your money in the aftermath of an accident is always a tough thing, but there are ways you can try to minimize the trouble.  These suggestions from Money Beagle will help you to do just that.

Do You Freecycle? – Well, in answer to the question, no, not yet I don’t.  But with everything I’ve heard about them, including this article from Mysti of Digging Out From Our Mess, I’ll have to seriously look into it.  I’ve got more than a few things I could do without, and wouldn’t mind giving them to others to use as I try to clear out some space during the rest of the summer.

Weekend Reading: The Shooter Shall Remain Nameless – I don’t normally include other round-up type posts in my round-up (except ones that feature my articles, which are mentioned below), but I like the idea that Darwin expressed in this one so much that I made an exception.  Don’t mention the name of the recent Colorado shooter, anywhere, in any form, EVER.  He was likely seeking (and unfortunately, given how our media tends to act, likely found) notoriety from his acts, and whatever small part we can play in keeping it from him is for the good.

Contests and Giveaways

You still have over five more days to enter to win an iPad from The College Investor Summer iPad Giveaway, although your time is running out (and you have to compete against me, of course).

Where The Amateur Financier Was Featured

My Job Hunting Success – Job Interview 101: Preparation article (quite a mouthful, isn’t it) was featured in the Yakezie Carnival-Summer Heat Edition hosted by Ultimate Juggle (which focuses on juggling work and family), the Entrepreneur Video, Ouya Game Console and a Carnivaledition of the Wealth Artisan carnival, the Weekend Rambling & PF Blog Love: Crazy Coworkers Edition from Young and Thrifty, and the Carnival of Financial Camaraderie #41 hosted by My University Money.   It was also included in the Carnival of MoneyPros: Blogging, Being Married, and Staying Married While Blogging Edition from My Family Finances, which, given the stress blogging has sometimes caused in my marriage (back even before it WAS a marriage), definitely caught my eye.

Alright, that’s it for this week.  By this time next week, I’ll likely be up to my elbows in thesis writing work, and who knows, perhaps interviewing for a job down Texas way.  Hopefully, both possibilities will work out for the best.