| With the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the latest | | | | Can't Get Fired |
| bailout of AIG and the worst week for the stock | | | | Take a stroll down Wall Street this week and you |
| market since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, there | | | | may see some guys in $1,000 suits selling apples |
| is no longer any doubting that we are in some | | | | on the corner. The impact of the current |
| serious economic trouble. If you are beginning to | | | | economy on jobs, both in the finance sector and |
| get nervous you are not alone. Make no mistake, | | | | outside, will be huge. With some of the world's |
| these are scary times. However, if you keep | | | | leading firms crumbling and investment income |
| your head and follow a few simple rules, you will | | | | plummeting, holding onto your job may be |
| be OK. While everyone's financial situation is | | | | tougher than ever. The key is to bury your |
| different, here are a few golden rules to get you | | | | energy into overperforming on your job. Focus on |
| safely and securely through the tough times | | | | becoming absolutely essential to your company's |
| ahead. | | | | success, whether they're doing well or not. They |
| 1) Live Lean and Clean | | | | say that a good company needs good |
| Now is not the time to take on any new | | | | accountants and a bad company needs great |
| significant debt or make any significant purchases. | | | | accountants. For those of you lucky enough to be |
| The name of the game now is reducing your | | | | holding on to accounting degrees, take a deep |
| expenses and lowering your monthly financial | | | | breath. You picked the right major in college! While |
| needs. Are you used to eating out every other | | | | you watched your finance major friends collect |
| meal? Stop right now. While you may feel that | | | | bonuses that were double your whole salary, your |
| you are still capable of affording this luxury, that | | | | time has now come. Accounting jobs are the |
| could change at any time. Get in the habit of | | | | place to be. To get more info on why this is such |
| preparing your own meals and reducing | | | | a great career path, please visit http:/ . OK, I'm |
| extraneous meal expenses. Learn to budget your | | | | off my soap box now. |
| groceries and focus on what you really need. | | | | No matter what your profession, the truth holds |
| Stock up on staples, learn a few cheap and easy | | | | that you need to focus now on security. Forget |
| meals and build these into your weekly diet. Focus | | | | squeezing your boss for every penny you can, or |
| on eating healthy foods and avoid empty calories. | | | | trying to fly up the company ladder. Right now |
| Why pay for a 1,000 calorie piece of cheesecake | | | | the name of the game is building a niche with |
| that is not going to provide you will any nutrition? | | | | your employer that would make you irreplaceable. |
| Skip it. | | | | This can be done by overperforming your current |
| As for luxury purchases like electronics, put a cap | | | | roles, developing new procedures that could not |
| on it right now. Thinking of buying a huge 1080 dpi | | | | easily be replicated if you were to leave and |
| plasma TV for $2,000? Think again. As the | | | | becoming the "go to" person in a specific area. |
| market continues to sour we may see some | | | | 3) Take Comfort in What You Have |
| deflation around the corner. This will make many | | | | Anyone can cut their expenses and hold onto a |
| financially illiterate consumers jump on the 0% | | | | good job, but not everyone can be happy doing it. |
| interest promotions from Best Buy and Circuit | | | | Now is the season of being happy with what you |
| City. Trust me, the last thing you need is another | | | | already have. There are many out there that will |
| monthly payment for an unnecessary product. | | | | not weather the storm as well as you. Any time |
| While these promotions are attractive, if you miss | | | | that you realize that your smart living and thinking |
| even one monthly payment you could be | | | | has helped you out, take a moment to praise |
| smacked with HUGE interest penalties and fees. I | | | | yourself and be glad. Is your co-worker |
| know this sounds old-fashioned, but now is the | | | | foreclosing on the house you knew he couldn't |
| time to focus on cheap entertainment. If you | | | | afford while you're cozy in your small but well |
| haven't been to your local library, now is the time | | | | furnished apartment? Is your buddy selling his |
| to do so. If you can't quite make that leap, at | | | | huge TV for a huge loss while your money is |
| least buy some used books. My personal | | | | tucked away in savings? Good job! The economic |
| recommendation, War and Peace. At 1,400 pages | | | | tide will surely turn, but for now just focus on |
| you're looking at pennies an hour of entertainment | | | | living within your means. These skills, especially |
| even if you buy it new. | | | | learning to appreciate what you have, will pay off |
| 2) Don't Be Greedy - Be the Guy (or Girl) that | | | | big now and in the future! Good luck. |