Ok, so this is just my personal opinion about tattoos, but I share this opinion with many people. I don't have any tattoos, and have contemplated getting one with my children's names, but have never been able to justify spending money on that when there are so many other important things I need.
I know tattoos are very popular among this generation, but in my generation, there were some men who had them, and the ones who had multiple tattoos generally had a reputation, and not exactly a good reputation. And the only girls who had tattoos weren't exactly the "girl next door". I know times have changed, but most people age 40+ still have those ideas.
Now I know lots of girls who have tattoos and they are fine young ladies, but at first glance, I still have that thought - "Yikes!" and have to force myself to overlook them and look at the person. I try to be open-minded, but when you grow up with ideas it is hard to move past some of them.
I kind of get why you might get a tattoo with your children's name, or a loved one who has passed away, but most of what I see today is artistic. And it seems like one of those things that when you get one, you want to get another, and another.
As a business owner, I suppose whether you have a tattoo is of no concern to me, except that in certain businesses they should be in a place where they can be concealed by your clothing. I just can't picture a girl with a tattooed sleeve working in a fine jewelry shop, or a woman's clothing store. I can't see a man with tattoos around his neck and down his arms greeting people at a funeral home. There just seems to be many places that they aren't appropriate.
Most people I know who have tattoos get them in their teens and twenties. So, to those people, I ask, "Why is it you want them?" And I have to also wonder what they will look like when you're 40 or 50 or 60 and your skin sags and cellulite makes it's appearance. They are permanent, after all. Will you still hold the same opinion about how great they are in 20 years? Will your children ask why you have tattoes and someone else's mom or dad doesn't? What will your answer be?
I guess my age shows - I just don't get it.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Let's Make Some Change!
A while back, I was at the grocery store and a young lady was the cashier. My order totaled $6.80 and I gave her $7.00. Seems like a simple transaction, doesn't it? Not so. She somehow punched in the register that I had given her $20.00. So she began getting my change - a ten, a couple of ones, and I said "That's not right. You don't owe me that much change." Sheer panic spread across her face as she began to call for a manager. I said, "You owe me twenty cents." She called for the manager again. I said, "Twenty cents. You owe me twenty cents." Now she's talking to herself..."$6.80, and you gave me $7.00...and I put in twenty dollars..." Again, I said, "Twenty cents. You only owe me twenty cents." After much thought and a conversation with the manager, who said, "Give her twenty cents", I got my twenty cents.
Again, I know we have great technology, but counting back change really isn't that hard. And obviously, this girl had never learned it. Why wouldn't you train all your employees to count back change if you own a retail establishment?
So, here's the deal. You start with the amount charged and count backwards to reach the amount of cash you were given. Let's say the total is $23.42, and the customer hands you a $50. We start with the $23.42. Three pennies puts you at $23.45. One nickel then raises you to $23.50. Two quarters now give you $24.00. One dollar brings you to $25.00. Two twenties has you at $45.00, and a five makes $50! So the total change given is $26.58. The register will tell you this is you input the correct amount of cash tendered. But on the chance that you make a mistake entering, you need to know how to count back change.
What if your total is $23.42 and they hand you a $50 and two pennies? In this case, you deduct the two pennies from the total you charged, making YOUR part $23.40. Now count backwards again. A dime makes $23.50, two quarters gets you to $24.00, a one, two twenties and a five takes you to the $50.
Not a big deal for us old timers, but I see this really frustrating young people!
Again, I know we have great technology, but counting back change really isn't that hard. And obviously, this girl had never learned it. Why wouldn't you train all your employees to count back change if you own a retail establishment?
So, here's the deal. You start with the amount charged and count backwards to reach the amount of cash you were given. Let's say the total is $23.42, and the customer hands you a $50. We start with the $23.42. Three pennies puts you at $23.45. One nickel then raises you to $23.50. Two quarters now give you $24.00. One dollar brings you to $25.00. Two twenties has you at $45.00, and a five makes $50! So the total change given is $26.58. The register will tell you this is you input the correct amount of cash tendered. But on the chance that you make a mistake entering, you need to know how to count back change.
What if your total is $23.42 and they hand you a $50 and two pennies? In this case, you deduct the two pennies from the total you charged, making YOUR part $23.40. Now count backwards again. A dime makes $23.50, two quarters gets you to $24.00, a one, two twenties and a five takes you to the $50.
Not a big deal for us old timers, but I see this really frustrating young people!
Help! My Debit Card Won't Work!
I am afraid most of today's kids don't have any idea how a checking account works. Most open an account and have a debit card, and don't even order any checks. I have young people come into my business with a check their mother gave them, and they haven't a clue how to fill it out. Now, I realize with all our technology today check writing might be a quickly fading art, but I feel they still need to know how to write a check, as well as how to "balance" your checkbook at the end of the month to reconcile your records to the bank's records.
Your check should have a date, and "Pay to the order of" is where you write the name of the person or business you are paying. Write your dollar amount in the small box on the right. Then spell out your dollar amounts on the line below. For example, $120.75 would be written as "One Hundred Twenty and 75/100" (and there are plenty of people who can write the numbers, but can't spell out the numbers). Your signature goes on the bottom right line. Simple enough, don't you think?
Now for balancing your records against the bank's. If you will notice, on the back of your bank statement, there is a form for recording "outstanding" checks. This means that you have written the check and given it to the person or business you were paying, but they have not deposited it into their account, and therefore, it has not cleared your bank yet. If you wrote a check for $100.00, and it has not cleared, this means the bank will show you have a balance of $100 more than you do. This does NOT mean you have an extra $100 to spend!
On the back of your bank statement, you write all outstanding check numbers and amounts and add them together. This total should be deducted from the bank's ending balance, and that net amount should match the balance you show in your checkbook. If it does not, then most likely you have made a mistake somewhere in the addition of your checkbook. Or, if your bank charges checking or debit fees, they may be on your bank statement, but you may not have recorded them in your checkbook yet. Yes, banks occasionally make mistakes, but most likely the error is on your end.
And did you know if you use your debit card for fuel purchases, the gas station's system can freeze up to like $100 on your account for a short time. This is because when you swipe your card at the beginning of fueling, their computer system doesn't know how much fuel your vehicle will be getting, so they do a reserve to ensure that if you are filling up a dual-tank pickup, they will get their money. This can affect the balance you believe you have in your account.
Yes, Debit cards are much easier to use than writing a check, but everyone needs to know the basics of checks and checking accounts.
Your check should have a date, and "Pay to the order of" is where you write the name of the person or business you are paying. Write your dollar amount in the small box on the right. Then spell out your dollar amounts on the line below. For example, $120.75 would be written as "One Hundred Twenty and 75/100" (and there are plenty of people who can write the numbers, but can't spell out the numbers). Your signature goes on the bottom right line. Simple enough, don't you think?
Now for balancing your records against the bank's. If you will notice, on the back of your bank statement, there is a form for recording "outstanding" checks. This means that you have written the check and given it to the person or business you were paying, but they have not deposited it into their account, and therefore, it has not cleared your bank yet. If you wrote a check for $100.00, and it has not cleared, this means the bank will show you have a balance of $100 more than you do. This does NOT mean you have an extra $100 to spend!
On the back of your bank statement, you write all outstanding check numbers and amounts and add them together. This total should be deducted from the bank's ending balance, and that net amount should match the balance you show in your checkbook. If it does not, then most likely you have made a mistake somewhere in the addition of your checkbook. Or, if your bank charges checking or debit fees, they may be on your bank statement, but you may not have recorded them in your checkbook yet. Yes, banks occasionally make mistakes, but most likely the error is on your end.
And did you know if you use your debit card for fuel purchases, the gas station's system can freeze up to like $100 on your account for a short time. This is because when you swipe your card at the beginning of fueling, their computer system doesn't know how much fuel your vehicle will be getting, so they do a reserve to ensure that if you are filling up a dual-tank pickup, they will get their money. This can affect the balance you believe you have in your account.
Yes, Debit cards are much easier to use than writing a check, but everyone needs to know the basics of checks and checking accounts.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
I'd Like To Apply For A Job
I run a small business with my husband, and I am continually amazed by the young people (and some old) who come in to apply for a job. Some are drawing unemployment, and obviously don't want a job, but have to apply to a certain number of places in order to keep drawing. Those people usually begin with something like, "Ya'll ain't hirin', are ya?" And of course, this always guarantees a "no" answer.
But we do see some who are looking for work, yet have no idea what to do when applying for a job.
First, take a bath. Wash your hair and your clothes. Comb your hair. You don't get a second chance for first impressions, so, make yours count! Even if you are applying for a mechanic's job, you should still look nice for the interview.
Secondly, make a resume'. Nearly everyone has access to computers these days, and there are plenty of free online resume helps. And in our town, I believe the state career center will help you make one. Yes, you can fill out an employment application, but a resume has all the answers we are looking for nice and neat.
Third, make eye contact. Look right at whoever you are talking to and tell them you'd like to apply for a job. And if you have specific skills that are pertinent to the job you are applying for, tell them, even if it's listed on your resume'. If possible, try to speak to the one in charge of hiring.
I once applied for a job where I knew there were many applicants. One of the questions asked during the interview was, "And why should we hire you over all these other people?" My reply, "Because you won't find anyone who is a faster learner, more dedicated, or more dependable." Got a call 2 hours later that I had the job.
There's a fine line between being confident and assertive, and being conceited. They want someone who is self-motivated, but not someone who can't get along with the other co-workers.
A few no-no's: DON'T put that the reason you left your last job was because you were fired. DON'T put that you had personal issues. DON'T state that your co-workers couldn't get along with you. DON'T put that you left because of a hostile working environment. These are all red flags that the problem may have been you, even if it wasn't. And don't list job skills you don't actually have, as you may be put to the test!
After speaking with a prospective employer, thank them for taking time to talk with you and give them a nice, firm handshake as you look them in the eye.
But we do see some who are looking for work, yet have no idea what to do when applying for a job.
First, take a bath. Wash your hair and your clothes. Comb your hair. You don't get a second chance for first impressions, so, make yours count! Even if you are applying for a mechanic's job, you should still look nice for the interview.
Secondly, make a resume'. Nearly everyone has access to computers these days, and there are plenty of free online resume helps. And in our town, I believe the state career center will help you make one. Yes, you can fill out an employment application, but a resume has all the answers we are looking for nice and neat.
Third, make eye contact. Look right at whoever you are talking to and tell them you'd like to apply for a job. And if you have specific skills that are pertinent to the job you are applying for, tell them, even if it's listed on your resume'. If possible, try to speak to the one in charge of hiring.
I once applied for a job where I knew there were many applicants. One of the questions asked during the interview was, "And why should we hire you over all these other people?" My reply, "Because you won't find anyone who is a faster learner, more dedicated, or more dependable." Got a call 2 hours later that I had the job.
There's a fine line between being confident and assertive, and being conceited. They want someone who is self-motivated, but not someone who can't get along with the other co-workers.
A few no-no's: DON'T put that the reason you left your last job was because you were fired. DON'T put that you had personal issues. DON'T state that your co-workers couldn't get along with you. DON'T put that you left because of a hostile working environment. These are all red flags that the problem may have been you, even if it wasn't. And don't list job skills you don't actually have, as you may be put to the test!
After speaking with a prospective employer, thank them for taking time to talk with you and give them a nice, firm handshake as you look them in the eye.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Don't Text It If You Can't Say It
This post concerns a few troubling messages I have seen, both personally and some that have been in the media. If you wouldn't say it face-to-face, then don't message it!
It seems like we have managed to avoid personal confrontations by our technology today. We are much braver when it comes to sending messages in a text or email than we are when speaking face-to-face with someone.
Of course, none of us really like to deal with something unpleasant, but sometimes we just have to. It is always much better to discuss an issue in person. Your facial expressions and body language coincide with your words to get your point across. Many times a text message, which has no lingual emphasis, is taken the wrong way. When people can look at you, they perceive just what you mean by your words.
And I see a lot of mean texting that I doubt would be said in person. We somehow feel protected by our phones or computers. Kind of like honking and shouting at the person who just cut you off with no intentions of actually getting out of your car. This sometimes allows us to act in a very unbecoming way towards others.
In my experience the best (and sometimes hardest) way to approach an unpleasant issue is simply to address it head-on. Tell the person you are having an issue with exactly what you feel is wrong and what things you feel could be done to remedy the situation. No one likes to be criticized, so it is usually best to begin with a statement like, "I feel like my ideas are not being heard." This will be taken much better than, "You never listen to a thing I say!"
You should maintain control over the volume of your voice, as that can seem very pointed if you are too loud.
There will be times when an agreement just can be reached, and you may have to agree to disagree, but you can still do that while maintaining your composure and showing respect to the other person.
We all want to be heard and validated, whether we get our way or not. A little bit of courtesy and politeness goes a long way. And from my past experience, every time I have lost control and shouted or offended the other person, I have regretted it. You never know when you may need to connect with someone in the future, and it is best not to burn your bridges with them if you can avoid it.
It seems like we have managed to avoid personal confrontations by our technology today. We are much braver when it comes to sending messages in a text or email than we are when speaking face-to-face with someone.
Of course, none of us really like to deal with something unpleasant, but sometimes we just have to. It is always much better to discuss an issue in person. Your facial expressions and body language coincide with your words to get your point across. Many times a text message, which has no lingual emphasis, is taken the wrong way. When people can look at you, they perceive just what you mean by your words.
And I see a lot of mean texting that I doubt would be said in person. We somehow feel protected by our phones or computers. Kind of like honking and shouting at the person who just cut you off with no intentions of actually getting out of your car. This sometimes allows us to act in a very unbecoming way towards others.
In my experience the best (and sometimes hardest) way to approach an unpleasant issue is simply to address it head-on. Tell the person you are having an issue with exactly what you feel is wrong and what things you feel could be done to remedy the situation. No one likes to be criticized, so it is usually best to begin with a statement like, "I feel like my ideas are not being heard." This will be taken much better than, "You never listen to a thing I say!"
You should maintain control over the volume of your voice, as that can seem very pointed if you are too loud.
There will be times when an agreement just can be reached, and you may have to agree to disagree, but you can still do that while maintaining your composure and showing respect to the other person.
We all want to be heard and validated, whether we get our way or not. A little bit of courtesy and politeness goes a long way. And from my past experience, every time I have lost control and shouted or offended the other person, I have regretted it. You never know when you may need to connect with someone in the future, and it is best not to burn your bridges with them if you can avoid it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)