Advise & Conquer

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  • A History of President’s Day

    A History of President’s Day

    George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. In 1879 Congress established this holiday for government offices in Washington, D.C. However, in 1885 they expanded it to all federal offices.

    Officially known as “Washington’s Birthday,” this holiday has transformed over the years. Since Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was February 12, many states began to celebrate his and George Washington’s birthdays together. Many began to refer to the holiday collectively as “Washington’s and Lincoln’s Birthday.”

    Although it was originally only meant to honor the first President of the United States, it is now viewed as a celebration of the office of the President more broadly. This is why, today, it is commonly referred to as “Presidents’ Day.”

    For the majority of this holiday’s history it was celebrated on February 22, but on January 1, 1971 Congress changed that. They shifted the holiday to be celebrated on the third Monday of February as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

    This act declared five federal holidays (President’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day) would take place on a Monday in order to give federal employees more 3-day weekends. Later, Veterans Day was moved back to its original date of November 11, but the rest of the holidays, including President’s Day have remained on Mondays. Apparently the federal government has a little bit of heart after all.

  • A ‘Thank you’ note could solidify that job

    A ‘Thank you’ note could solidify that job

    A few months after I started my first job, I was at an office lunch my my coworkers and bosses. One of my bosses said that she’d heard I did well with my job interview. My manager interjected that the thing that stuck out in his mind the most was the ‘thank you’ card I sent. He said it wasn’t the reason I got hired, but it definitely confirmed his decision.

    Most people recommend sending an email to thank the interviewer for their time and consideration, and you should definitely do this the same day as your interview. However, I highly recommend sending a physical ‘thank you’ card as well. There are a few reasons I think a physical ‘thank you card’ can is a must:

    1) ‘Thank you’ notes are old fashioned. Sending one will show your potential employer that you have a bit of class, and are hard working. Additionally, anyone can send an email, but since most people don’t send physical notes, you will stand out against the competition.

    2) Taking the time to write and send a physical letter will show the interviewer that you truly care about the position. You did more than what was expected, and they will appreciate that.

    3) By the time your ‘thank you’ note actually arrives in the mail it will be a few days after the interview. This will remind the interviewer who you are after they’ve likely concluded all interviews, and are in the decision-making process. This could either get them to reevaluate your resume, or tip the scales in your favor.

  • Don’t overthink the wedding gift

    Don’t overthink the wedding gift

    When it comes to buying a wedding gift, try not to overthink it! Keep it simple and pick a gift off the registry. You may think that’s boring, but the couple knows what they want and need better than you. Unless you are extremely close to them, and can make it more personal, just get them something they ask for.

    If the registry is dried up, then, as lame as it may sound, I’d recommend cash or a gift card.

  • Ordering Food with Uber Eats

    Ordering Food with Uber Eats

    When it comes to ordering food online I personally prefer UberEats. I already had an Uber account, so getting started with UberEats was very simple. Uber already had my payment information, and my address, so I didn’t have to create yet another account. It also, at least near me, has a lot more options that many other food ordering apps or websites. Like with any delivery business, the base fee can be a bit costly if you’re not ordering much. Also, just like with Uber, the fees may change based on how busy they are in your area. However, if you’re ordering a lot, or for a big group, I think the convenience, and the options make UberEats well worth it.

  • Types of Investments

    Types of Investments

    Stocks

    Stocks are a small piece (or share) of ownership in an individual company. When the value of the company increases, you earn money on each share. When the company value decreases, you lose money for each share.

    Bonds

    Bonds are a form of debt that you buy from a corporation or the government. You’d buy a bond and then overtime the entity will pay you interest. You get interest payments over a certain amount of time, and then at the end of that period (when the bond “matures”) you get your whole original investment back.                                                          

    CDs

    CD stands for Certificate of Deposit which is a savings certificate that has a fixed interest rate and matures over a set period of time. These are very similar to bonds, but are usually given out by commercial banks.                  

    Futures

    Futures are the right to buy a specific commodity; agriculture is a common example, at a future date for a certain price. You’d want to buy the future at a low cost in expectation that the cost of that commodity would go up. The cost may go up if the environmental conditions, like low rain, lead to low production of a commodity, but it’d go up when overproduced.