Back to school is always an expensive time and it’s never too early to start planning. Big shopping trips can quickly add up and get you into trouble with your credit card company. The median credit card debt of someone who files for bankruptcy is $13,000. That may seem like a lot, but expenses add up quickly, especially when they come as a surprise or there’s nothing you can do to stop them. Any amount of credit card debt can be crippling if you face a sudden loss of income. If you or your partner lost their job or were injured and couldn’t work, how long could you keep up with your mortgage, car payments, bills, and credit card payments?

Back to school shopping is getting more expensive all the time. The average back-to-school expenditure for households with children in grades K-12 was $688. That number could also be as high as $1,000 per child in middle school, sometimes because of schools requiring expensive uniform apparel or electronics. On top of that, a study done by Capital One shows that 21% of parents actually spend more on back to school shopping than they set aside in savings for college.

Credit card debt is one of the leading causes of insolvency in British Columbia. It can be resolved either through bankruptcy or consumer proposals, depending on the situation. If you are dealing with excessive debt, then it can be very helpful to understand the benefits of a consumer proposal. When debt collectors start calling your home or your office, it’s time to seek help from a bankruptcy trustee. David Sklar & Associates is one bankruptcy trustee firm that can advise you on your next course of action if you are already in over your head in debt. Collection calls, wage garnishments, and unpaid bills are all signs that you’re in financial danger. But as bankruptcy trustees David Sklar & Associates advise, the best way out of debt is avoiding it altogether.

That means cutting down expenses. When it comes to back-to-school shopping, there are plenty of ways to save money:

1. Leave the Kids at Home
   Leave the kids at home with your partner or a family member if you can. It’s easier to save without having them begging you to buy things as you walk down the aisles. Find out what they want by going online beforehand.
2. Teach Kids About Budgeting
   Financial literacy is an increasingly important part of raising children and something they’re not often taught in school. Back-to-school shopping is a great way to teach older kids about budgeting. Parents have long been taught to hide how much money they have from their kids. Instead, decide exactly how much money you have to spend and tell your kids what that limit is. Then let them make their own decisions about supplies, apparel, and electronics. Just go over their decisions to make sure they have everything. You won’t just save money, you’ll be teaching your kids a valuable lesson in finance.
3. Set Aside Extra for Surprises
   If there’s extra room in your budget, set it aside instead of splurging on something extra for the kids. Before you know it, they’ll be coming to you for field trip fees or costs for other activities.

Saving on back-to-school shopping is a great way to keep your credit card debt down.

Years ago, we would only hear about sexual harassment and assaults around the water cooler. They would just be gossip that people knew about, however, these incidents would rarely be dealt with in a legal manner. Over the past several years, cases regarding sexual assault and harassment have been receiving international coverage, with offenders standing in front of the judge and being prosecuted. You may be thinking that you have to be famous in order for your case to get any attention but that’s not the case because you’re not the only one. In fact, in one study, 24% of females stated that they were being sexually harassed. If you or someone you know has been sexually harassed or assaulted, there are a couple steps you need to take if you want your harasser to be charged.

1. Where did the assault happen? Where this incident occurs may slightly change the way you go around things. For example, if the incident happens at a workplace, then you need to inquire with the company and see if you need to file a formal complaint through them first. In addition, you also need to know that there is a statute of limitations which varies depending on where the sexual assault occurs. A statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit against another person. This varies between states that you need to double check on.
2. Talk to a lawyer. You should do this as soon as possible as the best way to go through this process of filing and charging someone for sexual assault is if you contact a couple sexual assault lawyers. A sexual assault lawyer will help you go through the process and show you the possible options you have. Now, we’re saying “a couple lawyers” because it’ll give you a second opinion. Most lawyers offer a free consultation, so, take advantage of that opportunity to ask questions and see what they offer as a service.
3. Collect all the evidence possible. If you’re looking to press charges, you’re going to need evidence. If possible, you need to collect as much information to help your case as possible. What does this mean? You need to have copies of anything that builds your case. Whether it’s text messages, emails, photos, witnesses, everything you have. In addition, write down exactly what happened, where it happened, and when. Make sure you be as detailed as possible.
4. Are you the only one? You can file a lawsuit against someone who’s sexually assaulted you and depending on what your lawyer says, you may have a strong case as it is. However, if you’re able to show evidence that this person was sexually assaulting other women, then you’ll have a even stronger case. Now, there may be other women you were also sexually assaulted by this individual, however, not all of them want to take legal action and that’s their choice. This shouldn’t hinder you from continuing onward with your case.

Back in the day, it was not at all uncommon for most young people to babysit as their part-time job while they studied. A full-time position is too much work to maintain while studying at the same time, and so babysitting became an easy, word-of-mouth job to bring in some extra money. These days, however, tutoring has taken centre stage as this generation’s extra income job of choice while studying. Tutoring is a fantastic way for students working towards their own academic successes to sharpen their skills while simultaneously making money in the process.

In covering the content from the point of view of the teacher, as well as the student, tutors can understand content in a more rounded, wholesome way. Tutoring can be an excellent confidence booster as well. Going from sitting in the classroom taking notes to going through your student’s notes is a drastic change, and it takes an organised person to be able to be a tutor for the long haul. Education is one of the most time-consuming, difficult processes that an individual can go through, and the rewards speak for themselves – at the end of the degree. Before graduation, however, there are the gruelling years of trying desperately to balance full-time (or part-time) study with family, friends, and working. For most students, a job is simply out of the question. With all the time out of the classroom as well as in it that needs to be dedicated to studying, spending precious time waitressing or working in retail seems like an added stress that is unnecessary. There are only a few jobs that students can juggle seamlessly with studying.

For individuals that love teaching and have a firm grasp on the course content, putting one’s hand up to become a tutor can be fantastic not only for them to sharpen their skills, but for the students that they take on as clients. In having a tutor that is invested in the process and truly understands the material being covered, students that invest in tutoring can truly get the best out of the experience. For the student taking on the tutoring position, becoming a tutor can improve their education tenfold.

More than any generation before us, we understand the financial impact of having to pay for an education – whether it be straight up payments (as in the USA) or through payment plans (like in Australia). Studying and working simultaneously can be difficult, and near impossible for some students. Tutoring is one of the only jobs that enables students to take on a paid role while also ensuring that they actively engage in the course content. Students that take on tutoring roles not only teach themselves valuable lessons about accountability and responsibility, but they also make the transition from student to teacher as seamlessly as anyone could hope to. Tutoring is practically the only job that a student can take on that gives them the opportunity to expand on their academic education as well as providing sound financial income.

The branch of special education tutoring is relatively new to the education field. As the name implies, this is an approach to education which has been specifically optimized to be of maximum benefit to children who have learning difficulties. There are a number of different specific forms that special needs education can take. Ideally it should be tailored somewhat to suit the individual pupil and their specific disability.

Children with learning disabilities often struggle within the usual education systems. Depending on the severity of their disability, special needs pupils will often struggle to keep up with their peers academically. This can easily damage their confidence and further hinder their potential to make progress, it can also lead to problems with their peers in a social context.

Placing children with learning difficulties into specialized education systems such as Spero Academy offers those children numerous potential benefits. For many of these children, access to a special needs education can be a life changing experience. Here are some of the most notable ways that special needs education benefits pupils with learning disabilities.

Improve Their Confidence

When children are struggling to keep up with their peers around them in an academic context, it can lead to a number of problems with their overall confidence. Firstly, there is the worry that comes with being unable to complete work to the required standard. On top of this, there are the social pressures that can arise when a child is noticeably behind their classmates.

Placing children in a special needs education environment where they can at least keep pace with those around them, if not flourish, can only be beneficial. Within a special needs system, pupils are less likely to feel isolated if they do fall behind.

Focus Their Efforts

Different children, whether they have learning difficulties or not, have different abilities. When you further factor in their learning difficulties, which will also vary from person to person, there is a huge amount of variability in what children with learning disabilities are capable of.

It is important that, no matter what a pupil’s particular strengths and weaknesses, they are given the guidance they need to focus their efforts on improving their key skills. Special education environments have been designed specifically to cater to these considerations, allowing the pupils within them to focus on tackling their individual academic and social challenges.

Identify Their Learning Style

We all learn in different ways. Some of us learn best in the classroom environment with someone else to guide us through a subject. Other people flourish when they are left in charge of managing their own learning. Within a special needs environment, the staff will be able to help pupils identify their preferred learning style. Once their preferred style has been identified, teachers can then adapt their teaching style to accommodate.

Growing up with learning difficulties can be challenging. Fortunately, there are now resources in place to help those with learning disabilities, and there are even specialized education systems available to facilitate their learning. These special needs education systems provide enormous benefits to children with learning disabilities, helping to prevent them from falling behind and feeling isolated at school.

Getting a job isn’t always as easy as just filling out the application and having the proper skill set available for the jobs requirements. When faced with many other people applying for the same positions, applicants need to find avenues where they will stand out to employers. If all applicants have the same skills and education, deciding who stands out to employers can be as simple as a unique and professional resume and cover letter.

Not everyone knows how to format their own resume. Fortunately, many websites actually have free or paid resume templates that help job seekers and employees set up resumes that will help them remain unique and stand out to get jobs. Setting up and interview to get the job is an important step, but in order to get there it starts with a stellar resume.

Resume templates help job seekers to pick a format and theme that works best for them and their industry. Before deciding or selecting a template, it is important to do some research beforehand. By researching various resume templates and sample resumes, employees may discover one that individual suits them.

The template should be used as a guide to set up the resume, but ultimately the content that goes within is extremely important. It is crucial to have no spelling or grammar errors and highlight skills that are unique to the individual. Employers will be looking for something that looks sleek, professional, and visually appealing to them. When the only thing standing between having a job and being unemployed is a sending in that resume, it is imperative to do it correctly.

Some sites actually offer live feedback to their viewers as way of helping them understand how to utilize the template. Some templates show where things should be laid and a proper way to format the resume.

Although resumes should be unique to the individual, it is important to actually have the necessary requirements to let the employer know you are professional and ready to take on the position. The resume should have a properly messaged objective where the employee states why they want the job and their few sentence goal for the position. As well, the resume should state the contact information of the applicant such as address, email address, and phone number. This way the employer may use whichever form of contact necessary to reach the individual incase they are to land an interview.

The resume should also include an outstanding list of professional skills. Individuals can tailor these skills as needed for varying job descriptions. It’s important to have extra information listed so that one can continually update information as they learn new skills in their field of study or industry.

Not all resume makers add references to their resume, but it is an option if one chooses to do so. Many templates already have an area to include that information. As well as all of the things listed above, it is most important to thoroughly and effectively describe past job history as this shows the employer what the applicant already knows and is comfortable working with. A resume is like telling the story of your job history and education, so it’s important to make the most of it.

Balancing projects, essays, and homework is tough. If students don’t stay on top of all of their tasks, grades can slip. This means that they need to have excellent time management skills to manage everything. Struggling to keep up with all of your college assignments? Try out these 4 tips and you’ll get better grades in no time.

• Create a schedule

Do you wake up and do everything on the fly? This might be holding you back from achieving higher grades. Having a schedule will keep you timely and organized. Creating one isn’t difficult either. You just have to take the time to think about what you do every day and set specific times for each activity. For example, it might look like this:

• 7:00am: Breakfast and then economics class
• 9:00am: Workout and study for literature test
• 12:00pm: Marketing class
• 2:00pm: Lunch and rowing club after
• 4:00pm: Work on logistics project
• 6:00pm: Dinner
• 6:30pm: Finish up calculus homework in library

This is rather general of course, but gives you a good idea of how you could be scheduling your days. Ensure that you make time for yourself, whether that’s exercising or spending time with friends. Dedicate time to certain classes and assignments throughout the week, and you’ll get use to your new schedule fast.

• Minimize your distractions

Having no distractions will enable you to be more productive. If your phone is buzzing and music is playing in your ears, you probably won’t be getting much work done. Even though a distraction might only last for a moment or two, over time, they can really add up.

When you are doing homework or studying, turn your phone off. Televisions and radios might also be a distraction. While working on a computer, do your best not to tab out onto Facebook or other websites either. These can easily lead you down a rabbit whole, getting offtrack of assignments.

• Be prepared with everything

About to camp out at the library all day? Make sure that you have everything prepared so you can begin working without anything slowing you down. This means having:

• Your laptop or tablet if needed
• Notebooks, paper, pens
• Assignments outlines or references
• Stapler and other useful supplies
• Snacks

The last one might seem random but thinking can really burn some calories. Keeping health snacks with you like fruit or nuts can keep you energized to continue studying.

• Don’t be afraid to get assistance

You can’t always do everything by yourself. This is why a tutor and other services are great to make you a better student. Since papers and essays are often a large struggle for college students, you may want to hire someone to writer a paper for you. You can take the finished product and turn it into your own creation by thoroughly editing it. This is a better approach since you’re not handing in someone’s work, but rather using it as an outline to write something even better.

Visiting a new place of interest habitually when free makes life more interesting and enjoyable. It all starts by having all the necessary travel requirements in order. One thing that should be in a traveler’s pocket checklist is a tourist visa. This is an essential document that proves that an individual is allowed to enter a specific country for a specified length of time and to do a specific thing, such as to study, work, or tour.

It is usually not difficult to apply for a visa. A tourist can opt for a regular visa or go for an e-visa. Although an e-visa is the easiest to get, it is only valid for a short period of time. A tourist should at all times abide by the requirements of applying for a visa. When applying for a travel visa, there is a lot to keep in mind all the time.

Important Things to Consider While Applying For a Visa

Meet the application requirements

It is common knowledge that an applicant has to understand all the requirements of applying for a visa. However, many people fail to keep this in mind. While applying for a visa, the applicant has to provide all the necessary documents at once. One has to make sure his or her passport is valid, bring a passport size photograph and a visa fee receipt, among many other crucial documents. He or she should also make sure the documents are well organized to save more time.

Mind every detail

While applying for a visa, the applicant should at all times put every detail into consideration. This is possible if the applicant reads every guideline provided in the application form. Don’t rebel or slack off if asked to provide personal details on the form.

Submit authentic documents

It is a crime to submit fake documents. Any doctored documents will not be accepted by authorities and the applicant may end up in police custody. When an applicant submits doctored or fake documents, chances are that the visa will be denied.

Beware of scammers

While applying for a tourist visa, it is wise to beware of fake visa scammers and agents. The online market is full of scammers and an applicant should visit only genuine sites that are known for providing trustworthy services. Most of these fake visa agents offer their services at exorbitant rates claiming that they will process and get a travelers visa approved in a single day.

There are a number of reasons why an applicant’s visa may be denied. They include:

• Being unprepared
• Applying for the wrong visa
• Providing incorrect details
• Being overly confident during visa application interview
• Being disrespectful to the interviewer and
• Ineffective communication

There is no need to get nervous when applying for a visa. One should be honest and precise. An applicant should always answer the questions asked and provide the right documents. If one is applying for a visa online, it is wise to be wary of fraudulent websites and agents who trick applicants and run away with their money. It is wise to also seek recommendations from friends or colleagues who have applied for visas before. Always go for a tourist visa processing agent who offers his or her services at a budget-friendly cost.

Microsoft Office is a fantastic software package that has enabled individuals and organizations across the globe to complete various projects in an organized fashion. If you have ever used Microsoft Office, you have certainly realized its unwavering flexibility and usefulness.

There are several different versions of Microsoft Office to choose from.

• Microsoft Office 365 Home
• Microsoft Office 365 Personal
• Microsoft Office 365 University
• Microsoft Office 2016 Home and Student
• Microsoft Office 2016 Home and Business
• Microsoft Office 2016 Professional

Naturally, each of the different versions of Microsoft Office that are currently available have various pros and cons associated with them. Furthermore, each of these versions has a different cost level associated it—the more features you are hoping to have access to, the more money you will inevitably end up paying. The good news is that finding Discounted Versions of Microsoft Office is simple. The first step is to identify how much you are willing to spend, your personal goals and the number of devices you will need to use.

Microsoft Office 365 Home

All of the versions of Microsoft Office 365 are compatible with any version of Windows that is 7 or later (as well as Mac OS X 10.10 or later). Office 365 Home is great for families because it is compatible on up to 5 different devices. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and several other programs.

Microsoft Office 365 Personal

Microsoft Office 365 Personal is basically the same as Office 365 Home, but, as the name might imply, can only be used on one computer and one tablet or device. Though it doesn’t have the inclusive benefits that Office 365 Home can offer, it is much more affordable. For many people, Office 365 Personal can provide them with exactly what they need.

Microsoft Office 365 University

Microsoft Office 365 University was designed to cater to college students who are looking to save money. It offers all of the same programs as Office 365 Personal, but can be used on twice as many devices. If you are a college student with a roommate, friend, or anybody else that you know, ‘splitting’ an Office 365 University subscription costs noticeably less than buying Office 365 Personal on your own.

Microsoft Office 2016 Home and Student

Microsoft Office 2016 Home and Student is another version of Microsoft Office that was designed to specifically cater to the needs of college students. College students are typically in the uniquely unfortunate position of having extensive software needs but also looking to save a lot of money. Office 2016 Home and Student seeks to be the source of salvation that many of these students have been looking for.

Office 2016 Home and Student features the most recent versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Each of these programs are notable improvements on previous versions and have been praised for their unique ability to cater to modern technology requirements.

This new version of Microsoft Office is designed to save all data to the cloud. This can be particularly useful for individuals who are changing computers frequently, travelling, or trying to collaborate with others. The collaborative features of Office 2016 Home and Student are perfect for group projects yet are still able to stay within the limited budget of the typical college student.

Microsoft Office 2016 Home and Business

Microsoft Office 2016 Home and Business is very comparable to the version that is designed for students, though a bit more expensive and a bit more expansive. The Home and Business version of Office was specifically designed with working professionals in mind.

While it still features all of the same great programs that can be found in the student version (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote), it also features the newest version of Microsoft Outlook. Outlook is a critically important organization tool that allows you to easily organize your contacts, keep track of your busy schedule, and also collaborate with colleagues on various tasks.

When combined with the usefulness and adaptability of the Microsoft Cloud, it is clear that the newest version of Microsoft Office may be the greatest edition to ever be developed.

Microsoft Office 2016 Professional

Lastly, Microsoft Office 2016 Professional is perhaps the most extensive of all of the 2016 versions. Office 2016 Professional features all of the aforementioned programs that can be found in Home and Business, but additionally includes updated versions of Publisher and Access. These programs can help expand your creative possibilities and are particularly useful for working professionals.

What is the difference between Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Office 2016? 

In the status quo, both Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Office 2016 may often seem as if they are indistinguishable. But the important distinction that needs to be made is that while Microsoft Office 2016 will eventually require you to renew it or purchase upgrades, Microsoft Office 365 is always up to date.

As the ways in which software is used have continued to change over time, many people have been switching to Microsoft Office 365. Though it can often be more expensive than the alternative editions of Microsoft Office, the fact that it is constantly updating can offer both individuals and organizations a major competitive advantage in the long-run.

How do I know which version of Microsoft Office is right for me? 

Ultimately, there is no single version of Microsoft Office that can be universally deemed to be ‘the best’. The version that will ultimately be in your individual best interest to purchase will depend on a variety of different conditions.

• What am I going to be using Microsoft Office to accomplish?
• How long am I going to need to be using Microsoft Office?
• How many computers and devices will I need to be using?
• Is it important to me to continually be upgrading?
• What are the programs I am most likely to use? What are the programs I know that I will never use?
• Am I going to be changing computers in the near future?
• What is my current budget for software purchases?
• Are there any unique discounts or ways I can save on software available?

Once you have read over this brief guide and answered these questions, hopefully you can be pointed in the right direction. There are several different ways you can save on software over time, and—depending on what your needs and goals may be—any of these different versions of Microsoft Office may be exactly what you have been looking for.

In the educational sector, two of the most important things to consider when you promote your educational website are credibility and visibility. Credibility ensures that your material is reliable and authentic. Visibility ensures that your material can be seen by your target audience. In order the latter covered, you need to know how to market your site. Here are a few things you need to include in your marketing strategy:

SEO Strategy

The first thing that you have to consider is an SEO strategy. SEO is extremely important because people look for credible source materials every day. When searching for materials, people don’t really spend time looking through all the pages in Google. They usually only check the results in the first page. This is why you need to get your website a good ranking.

To improve your search engine rank, employ some good SEO strategies on your site. Some include good keyword research, meta data, and quality content. You may also hire an SEO consultancy like Over the Top SEO to boost your SEO campaign.

Social Media

Social media happens to be one of the most effective platforms to market educational content. While Instagram or Twitter may not be too applicable to educational sites, Facebook and Youtube are. Having a popular Facebook page that gives fresh content and links can drive more traffic. Also, posting educational videos related to your website on Youtube is good for exposure. You just have to make sure you manage your platforms well, so you can maximize their promise.

Print Media

While some people say that print media is already dead, it is still very much applicable in the educational world. However, your print media must have a digital counterpart. For example, journal articles are no longer in just print form. You can find PDFs of different journal articles on the web. If your website contains journals and studies, put them in PDF format for downloading.

Testimonials and Other Creds

Getting credibility is one of the most important things in the educational sector. If your website was mentioned by a school or a research team, it automatically gains a lot of creds. You may also consider testimonials as creds. Testimonials from students or educators are signs of good credibility.

When you have a good set of creds, make sure that you flash them in your website. Make them as visible as possible so that people can get a good first impression. They can serve as effective marketing tools.

Conclusion

When you want to market your website, these are some of the aspects to add in your marketing plan. In the digital age, there are a lot of things to take note of. Even though the internet is a very effective platform, you have to know how to use it well. In the educational sector, the internet is one of the most powerful tools that you can use. Through the use of websites, SEO, social media, and other means, you can gain both exposure and credibility for your educational website.

Research is always the longest part of any project. Today there is so much information online, even knowing some of the best places to look can still feel like a trip down the rabbit hole, and with the mounting pressures faced by students, it’s hardly surprising many feel daunted by the workload involved in crafting an A grade essay or assignment.

But there are a few research hacks that can save you time and help you write better papers.

Set a time limit for research

A general rule of thumb should be splitting your time in half. While you might want to gather some additional sources after you’ve started writing a draft, you should be doing the bulk of your research before you start writing. Setting a time limit is also useful because it helps you think about how you’ll write your paper and start structuring your writing goals. Scientists have proven that taking time to think about how you’ll study helps improve your grades and your mental health.

Don’t waste time reading old research (unless it’s really relevant)

There’s something to be said about the relevance of recent research. While it might always be worth reading Habermas or Freud, not everything stays relevant. Unless your project specifically calls for earlier data, choosing sources written within the last few years is always a safe bet. Try to look for papers and journal articles published within the last three to five years, and avoid statistics from studies released a decade ago, they’re probably already out of date.

See how an expert would write it

If you know you’re going to be writing on the topic multiple times and want original perspectives and different points of view to draw on, then investing in a custom paper produced by a paper writing service can be a fantastic source of both information and inspiration. The people who work for these services are usually industry professionals or former academics with a solid understanding of the audience you’ll be writing for, and the requirements of an academic paper. This can be a real boon in terms of helping develop an engaging and authoritative tone in your own writing, and it also may provide you with a bibliography of fresh research to look into or compare your current reference list against.

Start using Google Scholar

Despite having been around since 2004, a lot of students have never heard of it. Google Scholar is a powerful source for accessing research beyond the databases your college or university subscribe to. Google’s search is much more intuitive than a lot of scientific or industry specific databases, making it easier to use unique search terms and find broader results. Although not all of articles indexed on Google Scholar are free to read it’s still a clever way to find specific articles for your essay or project, and your university library may be able to help you gain access to them, if they don’t have them already.