Met-Ed customers still without power in Pike

STROUDSBURG — Some residents in the Poconos were still in the dark on Sunday, ten days after Winter Storm Riley initially knocked out power for thousands.Met-Ed and PPL Electric Utilities had each targeted Wednesday, March 7 to have power back on for 100% of residents in both Monroe and Pike, but four days after that date, Met-Ed was still reporting outages.As of 9 p.m. Sunday, 120 Met-Ed customers in Pike County had no electricity, down more than 200 from that afternoon. [...]

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Pike County residents still without power

STROUDSBURG — Some residents in the Poconos were still in the dark on Sunday, ten days after Winter Storm Riley initially knocked out power for thousands.Met-Ed and PPL Electric Utilities had each targeted Wednesday, March 7 to have power back on for 100% of residents in both Monroe and Pike, but four days after that date, both companies were still reporting outages.As of 8 p.m. Sunday, 127 Met-Ed customers in Pike County had no electricity, down more than 200 from that [...]

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Met-Ed still has ways to go in Pike County

STROUDSBURG — Residents in the Poconos were still in the dark on Sunday, nearly ten days after Winter Storm Riley initially knocked out power for thousands.Met-Ed and PPL Electric Utilities had each targeted Wednesday, March 7 to have power back on for 100% of residents in both Monroe and Pike, but four days after that date, both companies were still reporting outages.As of 5:45 p.m. Sunday, 357 Met-Ed customers in Pike County had no electricity, and most of these [...]

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7 Ways To Minimize Taxes In Retirement: Tax Preparation before Retirement is Crucial to Maximize Savings

Follow these tips to make the most of tax deductions available to retirees and reduce the amount of tax you pay in retirement.

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Local barber on a mission to 'fade' autism

It’s early in the morning when Amos Antoine, 20, mounts a barber’s chair. Amos is a big man, but he doesn’t say anything — he’s non-verbal. He must come for his haircut before the public shows up; extraneous stimuli gets him upset. Amos has autism spectrum disorder.His brother Frankel, a 2010 East Stroudsburg High School North graduate and 2015 Kutztown University grad is a licensed barber on a mission. That mission is called Fading Autism. He gives [...]

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Eight Ways to Borrow Less for College

If you feel like college costs a lot more than it used to, you’re absolutely correct. The average in-state tuition at public, four-year schools has more than tripled since 1988 — even when adjusted for inflation — from the equivalent of $3,190 a year in 1988 to $9,970 in the 2017-18 school year.

The average price of a private, four-year college has surged as well, from $15,170 in 1988 (that’s using 2017 dollars) to more than $34,740 today — an increase of 129% even after inflation. It’s not just tuition, either — room and board rates at four-year colleges have doubled since 1980, even when adjusted for inflation.

Unfortunately, our ability to pay for college hasn’t kept pace with tuition and room and board fees. Because of this, students have had to borrow more and more money for school until, at this point, more than 45 million Americans carry student loan debt, with a median balance of $17,000. That figure includes working adults who’ve been paying down their loans for years; more than half of current students must take out loans, and the average debt per borrower in the class of 2016 was $27,975.

Eight Ways to Borrow Less for School

If you’re approaching college or have a child who is, these statistics are likely downright scary. While college isn’t for everyone, it’s still a necessity for students angling for certain careers (e.g., teacher, lawyer, nurse, etc.). Plus, college can serve as an important stepping stone for young people who need to continue learning before they’re ready for full-fledged adulthood.

Either way, it’s important to know that you don’t have to follow the status quo or go on a borrowing spree to fulfill your college dreams. There are plenty of ways to spend less and borrow less while still working toward a good education and a profitable career. Here are some options.

#1: Reconsider your career.

While a four-year degree used to be considered the minimum education requirement for a profitable career, this is no longer the case. Sure, there are plenty of four-year degree programs that can pay off handsomely, but there are just as many that cost a fortune but lead to nowhere.

For example, you typically need a four-year degree (and potentially more schooling) to become an elementary school teacher. But, what do you do with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts?

I know the answer to this one because my husband earned a bachelor’s degree in theater before heading back to school to become a mortician. You don’t need a degree in theater to be an actor, and this degree won’t really help you get anywhere else unless an employer is seeking a general four-year degree as a prerequisite for any entry-level work.

Meanwhile, there are a ton of two-year degrees that can pay off handsomely in terms of lower college costs and high wages. Average tuition for a two-year school was just $3,570 for the 2017-18 school year, according to College Board, but a two-year degree is the only education required for plenty of profitable, in-demand jobs.

Diagnostic medical sonographers, for example, earned an annual mean wage of $71,750 in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Radiation therapists earned $84,980, and dental hygienists earned $73,440. These are all two-year degree careers that can lead to a lifetime of prosperity. Of course, there are dozens of other two-year options, as well as technical careers that require some college or an apprenticeship.

#2: Spend two years at community college before transferring to a four-year school.

If you’re hellbent on earning your degree from a four-year school, you can absolutely do so – and still save money along the way. One smart strategy to pursue is starting out at a community college and then transferring your credits to a four-year school.

Many states offer free tuition at their community colleges (including New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Rhode Island, for example), but community college costs a lot less no matter where you are. Using national figures, completing two years at community college would cost you just $7,140, whereas completing those first two years at a four-year public school would cost $19,940 in tuition alone. And that disparity doesn’t include other savings you might find, such as living at home during community college or lower prices you might find on books and supplies.

As long as you make sure the credits you earn will qualify to transfer to the four-year school of your choice – and that you do well enough to get accepted – your eventual degree will actually come from the four-year school you transfer to. The fact that you attended community college first won’t make a lick of difference to anyone but you – and your bank account.

#3: Go to college abroad.

Another slightly extreme way to borrow less for school is to attend college in another country.

For starters, look to our northern neighbor. While Canada’s universities are especially cheap for its own residents, even international tuition rates can be a bargain compared to private American colleges. Tuition and fees for a bachelor of arts program at McGill University in Montreal, for example, total $19,065. And that’s in Canadian dollars — at current exchange rates, a year of tuition at this elite university would cost $14,737. (Tuition varies by degree program, however; for example, nursing and education degrees are similarly priced, while engineering and business programs cost about twice as much.)

Meanwhile, some nations offer free or very low-cost college tuition to not only their residents, but to international students as well. You may have to choose special government-funded schools, however, and you’ll have to actually apply and be accepted. Countries like Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, and the U.K. have some of the best offerings and policies for international students.

Keep in mind, however, that you’ll incur additional travel costs if you go this route. Transatlantic flights can be costly, and you’ll still need to pay for a place to live and all your other personal expenses. You’ll also want to learn the process of applying for a student visa through the U.S. State Department before you consider this money-saving strategy.

#4: Join the military.

It’s not a decision to be taken lightly, but various branches of the U.S. military offer tuition assistance to incentivize young people to join their ranks. This includes the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard, and the Reserves.

Tuition assistance varies based on the branch of the military you choose and your status (active duty or reserves). For example, joining the U.S. Navy could help you get 100% of your tuition and fees covered (not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour, $166 per quarter credit hour, and 16 semester hours per fiscal year). Lab fees, enrollment fees, special fees, and computer fees may also be covered.

Of course, free tuition comes with a major trade-off: You’ll have to commit to U.S. military service to score these benefits. Learn more about military tuition assistance on Military.com.

#5: Pick an in-state school and avoid private schools.

If you have your heart set on a specific degree program from a two-year or four-year school, the absolute minimum you should do to save money is shop around. Even if schools seem comparable in terms of the quality of their programs, degrees offered, and their amenities, their tuition prices may not be comparable at all.

Remember how one year of tuition at a public, four-year school will set you back $9,970 per year? If you choose to earn the same degree at a private, nonprofit four-year school, you may find the tuition is astronomical. Average tuition at private, nonprofit four-year schools reached an absurd $34,740 for the 2017-18 school year – almost four times as much as in-state tuition at a state school. And remember, that’s just for a single year and it doesn’t even include room and board.

The same is true with community college. While public two-year schools reported average tuition of $3,570 for the 2017-18 school year, for-profit two-year schools can cost significantly more.

#6: Sign up for a school-sponsored work study or get a part-time job.

Many colleges and universities, as well as the federal government, offer work-study programs that can make college more affordable. With federal work-study programs, for example, part-time and full-time students can work on or off-campus for an hourly or salary wage.

Make sure to check out the work-study programs available at your institution, but also consider the prospect of getting a traditional part-time job. Whether you work in food service, customer service, tutoring, or construction year-round or even during school breaks, all the money you earn and use wisely can help you borrow less for school.

#7: Apply for scholarships and grants.

Applying for scholarships and grants is another smart way to borrow less for school. If you can illustrate you have a financial need, you’ll be in especially good shape to qualify for aid and leave school with fewer student loans.

The federal government offers a huge resource on scholarships and grants, including Pell Grants, but you should also explore school-based and field-based aid initiatives as well.

#8: Complete an apprenticeship.

Last but not least, don’t forget that many careers will let you work while you learn – and they’ll even pay you for it. Careers that fall into this category are typically technical and “hands on” in nature, and they usually require more time in the field and less time in the classroom.

Let’s say you wanted to become a licensed electrician. These workers typically complete a four- or five-year paid apprenticeship. The BLS reports that each year in an apprenticeship usually requires 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, as well as some classroom work.

Upon graduation, electricians earned an annual mean wage of $52,720 nationally in 2016. That’s not too bad for an in-demand career that lets you earn as you learn and potentially skip student loans altogether. And there are other careers that fall into this category, including carpenters, brickmasons, and elevator installers and repairers.

The Bottom Line

Before you commit to the first school that accepts you, make sure to think long and hard about what you really want from your education and your future. While a high-priced degree from a prestigious school may seem ideal, you may wind up with a better quality of life if you choose an option that’s more modest and less expensive.

No matter what, remember that how much you borrow for school can make a big difference in how you live later on: Student loan debt is increasingly forcing millennials to delay milestones like marriage and homeownership. If you choose a costly education without considering whether you can actually afford it, you may live to regret it.

Related Stories:

• Three Reasons New Parents Shouldn’t Stress About Saving for College
• Nine Employers That Will Help You Pay Off Your Student Loans
• Two-Sided Coin: Is College Worth the Cost?
• What I Wish I Knew Before Taking Out Student Loans

The post Eight Ways to Borrow Less for College appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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You’re Not a Fake: Don’t Let Imposter Syndrome Hold You Back at Work

One of my earliest memories of “failure” dates back to when I was in fourth grade. We had received our midterm progress reports and I had a B in my reading and language arts class.

I walked up to my teacher’s desk, feeling mostly full of shame –– and partly like I was going to vomit.

“Ms. Vinson,” I stuttered, “is there anything I can do to improve here? I’m struggling.” I circled the 80-something percent with my pencil and waited for her answer.

Ms. Vinson looked straight at me and said, “You are far from struggling. You have a mid-level B. You’re doing great!”

I thought to myself, Mid-level B? Great?

Imposter Syndrome: It Isn’t Just You

To this day, I often feel like I’m struggling –– even when in reality, I’m not.

While I’m writing, I’ll sometimes think to myself, Wow, this is garbage! How do I even have a job as a writer? Am I REALLY a writer or just someone who pretends?  I’ll think these things even when I’m writing something my editors think is fabulous.  

These are textbook thoughts that reflect imposter syndrome. And I’m not the only person on earth who has experienced it.

Summed up, imposter syndrome is when you doubt you’re “good enough” to complete tasks and responsibilities. You worry that people will find out that you have no idea what you’re doing –– even though you clearly do, considering you have a job in the first place.

The phenomenon is characterized by feelings of incompetence, inadequacy or perceived fraudulence, according to Dr. Audrey Ervin, a psychology faculty member at Delaware Valley University. It was first described in the 1970s by psychologists Suzanne Imes, Ph.D., and Pauline Rose Clance, Ph.D.

The feelings of imposter syndrome are usually experienced by high-achieving individuals, Dr. Ervin says in an email. Citing research, Dr. Ervin explains that individuals who experience feeling like a fraud are commonly associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, lack of self-confidence, worry, introversion and more.

How Feeling Like a Fraud Can Hold You Back At Work –– and in Your Personal Life

The worst part about feeling like a nobody at work? It can hinder your performance –– and that almost always seeps into your personal life.

By feeling unworthy, you can miss out on promotions and pay raises. That little voice in your head will tell you that you aren’t qualified for either of them so you don’t even think about setting them as your goals.

You become your own worst enemy.

Dr. Ervin also writes that people might start to overproduce to prove they are capable;, eventually, that can lead to burnout and counterproductivity.

Feeling like a fraud can even push you to become overly involved in your professional development. Dr. Ervin writes that people who prioritize their career success over time with those closest to them can negatively impact their relationships, leaving partners and family members to suffer.  

Versions of Imposter Syndrome

The feeling of being a fake comes in many different ways. In a Fast Company article, Valerie Young, author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer From the Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It, categorizes imposter syndrome into four major subgroups:  

1. The Perfectionist This title pretty much speaks for itself, but it boils down to this: Perfectionists set super high goals for themselves, and when they fail to reach them, they start to experience self-doubt.
2. The Superwoman/man This version of imposter syndrome is characterized by folks who are workaholics. These people work harder to measure up to their colleagues, mainly because they’re convinced they’re frauds. It’s hard for these people to enjoy time away from work.
3. The Natural Genius Those who were the “smart ones” growing up can fall into this category. When they don’t get something right on the first try, they negatively judge themselves. Their standards are almost impossibly high –– and they feel uncomfortable or lack confidence when they don’t meet them.
4. The Rugged Individualist People who see asking for help as a sign of weakness tend to fall into this category. These individuals think that asking for help shows that they’re a fake –– they 100% believe that they should accomplish everything on their own or else they are a failure.
5. The Expert Someone who falls into this type of imposter syndrome thinks they “tricked” their employer into hiring them. They fear of being dubbed “inexperienced” or “unknowledgeable.”

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

It’s scary to think you can be the biggest obstacle in the way of your own success. It’s easy to overlook that you’re even doing it.

Thankfully, there are professionals out there who can help you identify false feelings of fraud –– and help you overcome them.

Raghav Parkash is a peak performance coach. For the past five years, he has been helping people reach their potential in the workplace and in life.  

Parkash reveals that he sees his clients regularly struggling with being victims of imposter syndrome. And, he says, it’s hard for most people to identify it.

“Denial is one way looking at it,” Parkash says in an email. “But I believe it is fundamentally down to a lack of self-awareness. They are unaware of what their habits or thought patterns are. Once people become aware of their behaviors, they can then start to take action on them such as speaking to a friend, manager, colleague or even hiring a coach.”

Parkash has key steps to overcoming these feelings that will help you become the very best you can be in the workplace.

Here are a few of them:

Recognize and acknowledge your feelings. Self-awareness is the first step toward a breakthrough. Take time to reflect on your thoughts and why you’re thinking them –– and take some time to ponder if they’re true or not.

Challenge the beliefs and thoughts that show up. Parkash asks his clients what advice they would give to a friend who was having similar thoughts –– oftentimes, they answer in a more positive manner than the way they would address it with themselves. This helps them recognize the inherent negativity they have toward themselves.

Focus on how and why you got the job. It isn’t an accident that you are where you are now.  You have the skill set, qualities and caliber to achieve what you have so far –– keep that in mind when you tell yourself you don’t!

Create possibility questions and new beliefs. Asking questions like “Who do I need to become to succeed?” and “What do I need to believe to succeed?” can help you focus on the bigger picture, rather than the false notions you have of yourself. Once you answer them, these will be your new beliefs that’ll keep you on track to success.

Condition the new beliefs. Once you create beliefs that are inspiring, say them to yourself every day for 30 days. Parkash says the repetition is a means to “integrate and rewire them into our thinking.”

Celebrate every movement in the right direction. Most importantly, remember to celebrate your successes! Not every day will be perfect –– and you may still have lingering thoughts of doubt –– but every opportunity you take to actively work through it is a win.

No one deserves to feel like a failure –– especially when it’s self-inflicted sabotage. Keep in mind, you’re always smarter, better and stronger than you may think.

Kelly Anne Smith is an email content specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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