WIN A FREE WIBO CLASS!!

Author: Brittany

Do you have an idea for a business? Do you already own a business and are looking to learn more about marketing, budgeting, Human Resources, Legal, etc? Then Workshop in Business Opportunities is the class for you!

This 16 week course is touted as a miniature MBA course for the budding entrepreneur or small business owner. Do you have an idea for a small business? Do you already own your own business but are looking for more ideas on how to grow your business? Then this is for you!

A WIBO participant must be able to commit to the following:

1.       16 week course: The participant MUST attend each and every session.

2.       The participant must be on time for every session and willing to participate.

3.       The course costs $700+ for the 16 weeks at other locations across the US, but we are able to offer WIBO to our participants for a small fee of $50 due to generous grants from the RK Mellon and Hillman Foundations.

4.       The participant must already have an idea. This isn’t the class to figure out what your idea is, this is the class to take to turn your idea into a reality. At the end of the course, you will have a business plan in your hands. You will learn Marketing, Human Resources, Legal, Budgeting, Cash Flow, Management, etc.

We have two classes scheduled as follows:

Starting February 19^th, from 6-9pm on Tuesdays, at Family Services’ offices in East Liberty. (We are in the same plaza as Trader Joe’s.)

Starting February 21^st, from 6-9pm on Thursdays, at Family Services’ offices at Central City Plaza in New Kensington.

If you are interested in winning a free WIBO class, comment here on this blog or email linvilleb@fswp.org about why you deserve to win a FREE class! This includes all 16 weeks of class AND the workbook.  Please have your entries in by January 1st!

Season of Giving

Though we all may face hard times, we are in many ways, truly blessed and more fortunate than others and they do not call Christmas the ‘season of giving’ for nothing! As we all rush around buying presents for our loved ones, take a moment to give a gift to someone else – a stranger in need.

There is nothing better than sharing the Christmas spirit and here are some ways you can. Remember, your local city and community will have multiple ways you can give as well!

Angel Tree

This organization gathers monetary and toy donations for children whose parents are in prison. Help give an amazing child their dream gift!

http://www.angeltree.org/helpangeltree

Salvation Army Red Kettles

We all see the red colored kettles outside Wal-Mart and other stores during the holiday season. When you put money into the red kettle you are helping out your local and international Salvation Army’s provide help to families and individuals in need.

http://www.onlineredkettle.org/

Soup Kitchens and Pantries

Take a moment to look up your local food banks or kitchens. The holiday’s are a great time to volunteer to serve a meal or pass out food.

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/volunteer-soupkitchen

Operation Christmas Child

This organization sends shoeboxes filled with toys, learning games and things like gloves and hats all over the world. Fill and wrap your own shoebox and find a local drop of center to send your gift to a child in need!

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

What are some ways you give back during the holidays?

Black Friday

Today's author: Lindsey 

As if all the commercials were not enough to remind you, Black Friday is here and seems to be bigger than ever. Many stores are advertising Thursday night openings, so the more than avid shopper can literally shop all night and/or shop till they drop.

Some will say that Black Friday is not worth it, others swear by it. I prefer the less crowded option of doing all my Black Friday shopping online in the comfort of my home in PJs. No matter what your method to the madness, one thing is for sure, you can find some great deals but you can also spend way too much! Here are a few Black Friday tips…

Know what you want to get before. Make a list of items you want or need beforehand. Know the best stores to find these items and make a ‘plan of attack’. Black Friday is usually not the time to be browsing or casually shopping; know what you are going to get and then get only that item. This will help you save time and money.

Shopping on Black Friday with a group can make it a much easier and less overwhelming event. You will have people to help guide you through crowds and making sure there is a saving savvy person in the group can help everyone stop any impulse purchases.

Remember that not all deals on Friday are truly the best. Yes, no doubt there are usually fabulous sales on electronics and things of that nature but many times items like clothes will go on sale again, and perhaps be much cheaper than their Black Friday sale when they do. 

Last but not least, remember to be nice and courteous to all your fellow Black Friday shoppers. There is nothing worse than a rude and inconsiderate person, especially at 3:00AM. Though patience may grow thin and stress run high, try to keep the holiday spirit in mind and enjoy the day!

Thanksgiving Savings

Today's author: Lindsey

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and before you know it, we will all be stuffing ourselves with delicious turkey and pie while watching the parade and football. Thankfully, I will be at my in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner so the major cooking will not be my responsibility (hooray!). One day however, I have no doubt, we will be the ones to host Thanksgiving and perhaps you are hosting this year. Between the cooking and the spending, this day of thanks can be overwhelming. Here are some helpful money and sanity tips for your celebration:

BYOD (Bring your Own Dish)

During the summer I wrote about the ‘community dinners’ we have.  It is a time where friends get together and each person brings a food dish to share, its savings and variety in one! Just because you told the family “Thanksgiving is at our place this year!” doesn’t mean you can’t ask everyone to bring something to share. It’s a great way to add variety, less cooking for just one person and savings for everyone.

Start shopping!

While Thanksgiving is still about two weeks away, start looking for sales and specials on the essentials at the grocery store.  Turkeys, breads, pies; all these items will have sales earlier in the week! You can also see about getting your turkey for free. Many stores offer a free turkey if you spend so much money on groceries every week.  Check out your local store to see if they do this!

Get creative with Thanksgiving decorations.

While all those festive decorations at Pier 1 are amazing, they are also expensive! Look online at Pinterest or other creative sites for easy DIY décor ideas. Try using Halloween items that have gone on sale as well, pumpkins are not just for October 31^st or you can go outside, find some pine cones, throw them in a bowl or vase and you now have a centerpiece!

Cut down on the sides.

While having twenty different options to go along with your turkey is nice, you are A. Not going to eat it all and B. Going to be spending a lot more money. Instead of trying to have every food imaginable, stick to what you know people like, will eat and will want leftovers of. It will help you save money and not waste food.

What are some ways you save money during Thanksgiving?

What will your career path be?

Today's author: Lindsey

I recently had dinner with some family friends. Their daughter, who is a high school senior, was with them and we had a great discussion about her high school career coming to an end and the exciting decision of choosing a college.

While she was excited, she was also nervous about the future and picking a good career field to go into. I found myself inspired to do some digging about what were the best fields to go into now? Times are changing and the job market can be hard, but here are some fields according to CNN that are paying and growing!

Biomedical Engineer

These people create prosthetic limbs and work on engineering artificial organs or tissue, among many other things. Talk about working to make someone’s life better!

Financial Advisor

Help people with investing their money along with decisions about savings, retirement, insurance and taxes.

Physical Therapist

Work with those recovering from injuries/illness and help them regain movement and function!

Database Administrator

Your job will be keeping track of all the data in a company’s storehouse. Keeping it safe and making it easily accessible for employees.

Employee/Human Resources Trainer

Help your organizations employee maintain and learn essential new skills for their jobs.

For more information of the CNN’s complete least of top jobs for 2012 click the link below!

http://money.cnn.com/pf/best-jobs/2012/snapshots/