Yes, I have researched my genealogy in the past. In fact, I am still researching because I am looking for lost relatives and it is a family journey that may never end. Therefore my advice for newcomers is the following:
1. NEVER GIVE UP when you reach a dead end or hit that brick wall. It may be a long time – but breakthroughs in technology such as mitochondrial DNA testing or release of new information may lead you to an unlikely place, open a door, or shed new light.
2. PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED. Genealogical research does involve family – a dusty closet may open up and a skeleton or 2 just might fall out.
3. ORGANIZE AND STAY ORGANIZED AND REORGANIZE. Even if it is slow going at first, you may find yourself traveling down many different paths. Even if you’re moving fast , it is important to stay focused and be skillful and diligent in organizing all those notes, all those piles of records, all those photo albums, etc. Remember to keep a basic roadmap to serve as a guide as the information grows.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
iHCPL #58 #59 MONEY AND FINANCE
Money & Finance #58: Banking, Budgeting, and Spending
1. ONLINE BANKING : My bank offers free on-line banking. I like the security and daily alerts offered. You can setup an option and be notified by either phone ,email or text message. It is a good way to keep an eye on your accounts. Online bill paying can be a real time saving advantage; I especially like the option of sending an Overnight Check – it’s the modern day version of Western Union. All you need is the Internet and you can monitor your accounts from anywhere. The environmental effect – less paper and no stamps is a great bonus.
SAFEGUARDS: In addition to the regular passwords etc., the bank says it is secure and will only deal with one authorized contact person, but this can also be inconvenient. However, I still distrust the security; the firewall is only as good as the programmer. If I were to use online banking, I would have anti-spyware installed on my computer and take common sense steps: such as, always closing the browser and logging off completely, taking care in typing in passwords and frequently changing it.
2 BUDGETING TOOLS : I like the capability of being able to import bank files into Expensr. Also, being able to compare yourself with others and their spending habits is interesting. But for the comparisons, it is too much information to give. The capability of seeing instantly your accounts in the pie chart is OK. I think this may be a good visual and basic tool for those who are new at handling their finances and/or have difficulty in handling a budget. I prefer to use a software program such as VersaCheck on my home computer.
3. CUTTING BACK ON SPENDING : Coupons are my best friends – I already compare unit prices but another good tip is to watch those “use-by” dates, especially on big sales offering large discounts.
I have incorporated online deals with the site www.fatwallet.com. I was intrigued by the Mars chocolate free coupon – and I’m in ! Also, there are a lot of deals – I am interested in purchasing a digital camera and found the forums and offers a good way to research a purchase.
#59 Money & Finance #59: Credit, Money Management, and Saving
1. New Information: I learned how credit scores are generally processed : 35% from payment history, 30% from amounts owed; 15% from length of credit history; 10% from new credit inquiries ; 10% from type of credit used. Also, I learned that The Fair Isaac and Company developed the score. The most interesting fact I learned is that the average credit score is 678 ?! I wonder how much of a factor this was in predatory lending – if you have excellent credit you probably couldn’t qualify for a loan. If you had a low credit score – you were probably granted a loan.
2. MAKING A BUDGET : is not a difficult process. It requires discipline and planning on what you are preparing for the future. It requires time and in the past, a sharp pencil (preferably No.2) and a calculator. The most difficult is managing insufficient funds – what may be termed “make a dollar holler !”. Once experience is gained in “stretching funds” to meet daily needs – it becomes a daydream to one day just let the dollar pay the bills without any stretching. From this process adherence to the budget and money management tools are learned (e.g. clipping the right coupons, saving pennies in that big old jar, old-fashioned layaways, doing without, etc.) Today online tools are available that should be helpful in guiding the new budget planner.
3. TCDRS Site – The service center section with the personal plan summary which summarized the basic member benefits; being able to view the annual statement and being able to download the benefits guide were the most helpful.
1. ONLINE BANKING : My bank offers free on-line banking. I like the security and daily alerts offered. You can setup an option and be notified by either phone ,email or text message. It is a good way to keep an eye on your accounts. Online bill paying can be a real time saving advantage; I especially like the option of sending an Overnight Check – it’s the modern day version of Western Union. All you need is the Internet and you can monitor your accounts from anywhere. The environmental effect – less paper and no stamps is a great bonus.
SAFEGUARDS: In addition to the regular passwords etc., the bank says it is secure and will only deal with one authorized contact person, but this can also be inconvenient. However, I still distrust the security; the firewall is only as good as the programmer. If I were to use online banking, I would have anti-spyware installed on my computer and take common sense steps: such as, always closing the browser and logging off completely, taking care in typing in passwords and frequently changing it.
2 BUDGETING TOOLS : I like the capability of being able to import bank files into Expensr. Also, being able to compare yourself with others and their spending habits is interesting. But for the comparisons, it is too much information to give. The capability of seeing instantly your accounts in the pie chart is OK. I think this may be a good visual and basic tool for those who are new at handling their finances and/or have difficulty in handling a budget. I prefer to use a software program such as VersaCheck on my home computer.
3. CUTTING BACK ON SPENDING : Coupons are my best friends – I already compare unit prices but another good tip is to watch those “use-by” dates, especially on big sales offering large discounts.
I have incorporated online deals with the site www.fatwallet.com. I was intrigued by the Mars chocolate free coupon – and I’m in ! Also, there are a lot of deals – I am interested in purchasing a digital camera and found the forums and offers a good way to research a purchase.
#59 Money & Finance #59: Credit, Money Management, and Saving
1. New Information: I learned how credit scores are generally processed : 35% from payment history, 30% from amounts owed; 15% from length of credit history; 10% from new credit inquiries ; 10% from type of credit used. Also, I learned that The Fair Isaac and Company developed the score. The most interesting fact I learned is that the average credit score is 678 ?! I wonder how much of a factor this was in predatory lending – if you have excellent credit you probably couldn’t qualify for a loan. If you had a low credit score – you were probably granted a loan.
2. MAKING A BUDGET : is not a difficult process. It requires discipline and planning on what you are preparing for the future. It requires time and in the past, a sharp pencil (preferably No.2) and a calculator. The most difficult is managing insufficient funds – what may be termed “make a dollar holler !”. Once experience is gained in “stretching funds” to meet daily needs – it becomes a daydream to one day just let the dollar pay the bills without any stretching. From this process adherence to the budget and money management tools are learned (e.g. clipping the right coupons, saving pennies in that big old jar, old-fashioned layaways, doing without, etc.) Today online tools are available that should be helpful in guiding the new budget planner.
3. TCDRS Site – The service center section with the personal plan summary which summarized the basic member benefits; being able to view the annual statement and being able to download the benefits guide were the most helpful.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Pot Luck #56: TXT U L8R - Texting
I have not sent a text message because it costs on my cell phone. But I have received text messages on my cell phone which also costs.
In an emergency or non-emergency, I can send a text message. On my cell phone there is a menu selection, then type in the message using various emoticons and click SEND. The use of the keys is the same for adding PHONE numbers in the directory.
I wish I could fast forward a little bit into the future. I wonder what my grandsons “lingo” will be like. I know my grandparents would be looking at me as if I were crazy – using such words as floppy disk, disk, DVD, iPOD, blue ray; and everything is so small. They wouldn’t recognize my camera either. Another reason I’m doing iHCPL is to keep the lines of communication functioning with my grandsons.
I do not use text lingo so Lingo 2 Word is a great help !
The accident involving the commuter train was so tragic. Since you must be a sighted person to drive anything that hampers your awareness or vision is dangerous, of course. I have witnessed near accidents with people on the cell phone. We do not yet have self-guided cars, the driver is still necessary – so the vision and attention of the driver should not be hampered or reduced. The consequences, as we all know, can be dire.
In an emergency or non-emergency, I can send a text message. On my cell phone there is a menu selection, then type in the message using various emoticons and click SEND. The use of the keys is the same for adding PHONE numbers in the directory.
I wish I could fast forward a little bit into the future. I wonder what my grandsons “lingo” will be like. I know my grandparents would be looking at me as if I were crazy – using such words as floppy disk, disk, DVD, iPOD, blue ray; and everything is so small. They wouldn’t recognize my camera either. Another reason I’m doing iHCPL is to keep the lines of communication functioning with my grandsons.
I do not use text lingo so Lingo 2 Word is a great help !
The accident involving the commuter train was so tragic. Since you must be a sighted person to drive anything that hampers your awareness or vision is dangerous, of course. I have witnessed near accidents with people on the cell phone. We do not yet have self-guided cars, the driver is still necessary – so the vision and attention of the driver should not be hampered or reduced. The consequences, as we all know, can be dire.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
SPRING CLEANING : #30 Take A Load Off Our Drives
The P drive stores the Monthly Branch Report files which were reorganized.
The Z drive stores the Favorites menu which needed spring cleaning. Some files were about one year old – some of those “I’ll get to it later” things. The tendency is to accumulate “that’s interesting” files which can put quite a load on a drive. An EOM (End of the Month) cleanup is a good way to keep the clutter down.
The Z drive stores the Favorites menu which needed spring cleaning. Some files were about one year old – some of those “I’ll get to it later” things. The tendency is to accumulate “that’s interesting” files which can put quite a load on a drive. An EOM (End of the Month) cleanup is a good way to keep the clutter down.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
SPRING CLEANING #29: Email
I did find some missing and forgotten documents !
Somehow I thought the “Paperless Office” was somehow in someway to get rid of piles of paper memos and paper files and paper ticklers. Well, all the hulabaloo in the late l970s really was about was a bonafide COPY of the “Paperless Office !” It is now called email, electronic files, computerized calenders, pocket PCs & PDA phone files, textmessaging, scan disc necklaces…ad infinitum. Well, that’s OK. Perhaps a few trees were saved since the amount of paper has decreased somewhat. I like to imagine all the clutter and electronic paper clips and notepads flying through the airways.
The future has brought us the same old thing when it comes to spring cleaning. And I think it’s best to keep on doing it the old-fashioned way. My tried and true method of keeping the files clear is the same old – EOM (End-of-the-Month) clean up time.
Somehow I thought the “Paperless Office” was somehow in someway to get rid of piles of paper memos and paper files and paper ticklers. Well, all the hulabaloo in the late l970s really was about was a bonafide COPY of the “Paperless Office !” It is now called email, electronic files, computerized calenders, pocket PCs & PDA phone files, textmessaging, scan disc necklaces…ad infinitum. Well, that’s OK. Perhaps a few trees were saved since the amount of paper has decreased somewhat. I like to imagine all the clutter and electronic paper clips and notepads flying through the airways.
The future has brought us the same old thing when it comes to spring cleaning. And I think it’s best to keep on doing it the old-fashioned way. My tried and true method of keeping the files clear is the same old – EOM (End-of-the-Month) clean up time.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
SPRING CLEANING #28 : Don't Clutter Up Expensive Cyberspace
It was good to look at the calendars. It is not always convenient to "turn on" or "open" the computer or pocket PC. Therefore, I use a combination - a good old-fashioned Daytimer with sorted lists and weekly review. In addition, to handle those big projects, such as a conference or family reunion, I use a computer calendar.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
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