CREDIT MORTGAGES YOUR FUTURE TO PAY FOR YOUR PAST

once you truly absorb this idea, you begin to see credit in its true light and you begin to control it, instead of the other way around. in the end, it really doesn’t matter how much money you make. unless you fix your relationship to debt and credit, it will never be enough.

be smart. get free.

If this is still too much, JC Penny also has acceptable suits at the $150 dollar range on sale. (Buy something cheap first, and get a 15% coupon for doing the survey on the back of the receipt).

Buy a classic dark suit (navy/gray/black). Even if the cut changes, it will not go out of style. If you need to wear it often, mix it up with different shirt/tie combinations.

You did not say what your degree was in or your career plans. If you will not be in an office environment, and will only need a suit for an initial interview and occasional personal wear, an inexpensive suit should meet your needs.

What should I do?

The other important times to have a suit include formal dinners (company holiday party), weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Funerals is a big reason I would consider going with a charcoal over a navy blue. Charcoal is more somber.

You can get a great quality suit at JoS. A. Bank for $350-600 on sale.

Lesson 7 – Learn interviewing skills.

Do not consolidate, I made that mistake. If one lender holds all your loans they do not have to release them if a better rate becomes available. Also Sallie Mae charges “fees” and will adjust your rate despite what your original documents say–Mine started at 7.25% and ended at 9.5%. THe legal limit was 9.25% at that time. If yo consolidate, use the Department of Education.

If you are a woman, don’t necessarily follow the black suit advice. A tasteful suit in a brighter color may allow you to stand out from the other candidates. Be sure, however, that skirt hemlines fall to the knee; also the suit should always be of good quality. If you are low on cash, buy a classic Jcrew from a consignment shop or look for something good at Filene’s rather than the polyester number at Fashion Bug. Good suits generally start at a few hundred dollars.

Men can also use a similar strategy by going with a colored shirt, etc. For many companies, you don’t always necessarily want to appear super conservative; a hip but tasteful dress can give you a confident, savy appearance. If you are clueless about fashion, however, this tip is *not* for you, you are probably better off playing it safe.

But I do wear suits to interviews, and when doing customer visits in Japan and Korea. And I do have “nicer clothes” (but not a suit – that would be strange) that I wear when I do the “geek pitch” to investors.