The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) passed by the government many years ago is still confusing workers on a daily basis. This legislation protects a person’s job for up to 12 weeks out of a rolling calendar year if they have to be out for their own or an immediate family member’s medical care. But the exact nuances of the legislation can be confusing. If you need to go out on medical leave and are applying for FMLA protection, make sure you sit down with and FMLA expert at your company and ask questions. It is for your own protection.
Posts Tagged ‘your money’
Your Money Friday: Are You Financially OK?
21
Dec
The question today is At What Point Do You Feel You are OK Financially? As outsiders, we look at some people and think they really have it together or OMG how do they live like that, and yet, that person can feel the exact opposite about their money situation.
As people who hang out on money message boards, there’s a definite bias, but it’s something people have to figure out for themselves. I am never going to have 6-9 months of living expenses in liquid savings, so I have to ignore that criteria, though some see it as a requirement.
Your Money Friday: Delayed Gratification?
14
Dec
What happens when you really want something that you can afford but don’t need? Do you buy it the second you start to covet it? Or do you make yourself wait a while to see if you really do want it/want to spend the money on it? If you saw something a couple of months ago and told yourself no, but find that you’re still thinking about it, will you go back and buy it, even if you have no idea where you’ll put it/how you’ll use it?
These are questions raised in this week’s Your Money thread, I’m obsessed.
Your Money Friday: Do You Invest?
07
Dec
The question is “Does anyone not invest?”. The poster was basically wondering, if you didn’t have money in the stock market, where did you keep your long term (retirement, etc) savings? But a second conversation has grown from this- how do people define “investing”?
Many have money in the stock market through 401(k) or 403(b) retirement accounts, but don’t consider themselves investors because they aren’t directing their money. Others figure that if you have any money in the stock market, you’re an investor.
So what about you? Do you have money in the market? Would you call yourself an investor?
Your Money Friday: Food Spending
30
Nov
It’s the end of the year, time to review your 2012 budget and create a new one for 2013. Isn’t it exciting? How has your tracking been going? Do you know what you spent this year? Or do you at least know what you spend on food?
This week’s thread is about grocery and restaurant expenditures. We know what people spend can vary based on family size and cost of living in their area, but it also depends on what they count as groceries (dog food, paper towels), and what they mean when they say “we don’t eat out much”.
Your Money Friday: Financially Thankful
23
Nov
It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving, and over at Your Money today, we’re talking about what we have been thankful for, financially, in the last year.
For most of us, it’s decent jobs for ourselves and loved ones, having insurance or remaining healthy, the ability to save to give us more options in the future, and have a spouse or significant other who is on the same page financially.
We often think about the “trouble” money can cause, especially in relationships, but there really is just as much to be thankful for, when you take a moment to think about it.
Your Money Friday: Career Enders
16
Nov
Have you ever been fired for cause? Put on an improvement plan? How did it affect you? Would you react differently if it happened today, in your current career? Are you at a point where it would be a career ender? And what impact would all of this have on your personal life? Could you move upwards and onwards?
Given the current news cycle about top government officials having to step down for mistakes that really shouldn’t have been career enders, the questions of the day over at Your Money are about how you would handle that kind of situation.
Your Money Friday: Professional Dress for Women
09
Nov
This thread kind of veers off topic early on, but there is an important message here, anyway. This message goes out to all women, but young women especially- showing cleavage is never professional. It doesn’t matter if you are young and hot (you will still be hot, even without showing cleavage) or old and past your prime, cleavage isn’t professional.
I know that some women are larger or higher busted and that sometimes clothes that fit other women with no issues will still show cleavage. That doesn’t matter. You must dress for your body. Camisoles and layers are your friends.
Your Money Friday: Peer to Peer Lending
26
Oct
Have you ever considered peer to peer lending? We’ve been investing with Prosper for almost 6 years. Overall, we’ve lost money, though part of that is because we were invested during the major economic downturn. Over the last year, our returns are positive.
However, each state has it’s own laws about whether or not their residents can invest with Prosper, so even if you love the idea, your state may not allow it.
Remember that peer to peer lending is an investment and it carries the same risks all investments do- the possibility of great returns or losing it all.
Your Money Friday: Retirement Lies
19
Oct
Are you planning for retirement or do you have your head buried in the sand? Do you think you are too young to have to think about this sort of thing, or are you older but certain it is not going to be an issue for you? Is there any chance you are telling yourself some of these retirement lies? I’ll be honest, I’m telling myself some different retirement lies and relying on some wishful thinking about the future, but I am also increasing our retirement savings every year, doing my best not to bury my head in the sand.