Comments on: Reader Mailbag: Balancing Act

By: Joyce

Joyce — Sun, 02 May 2010 17:24:01 +0000

For my money, time, and value, the best disposable diaper option is Subscribe and Save from Amazon. Shipping is free,there’s a discount for using the subscription service, I’m not locked into any commitment, and they ship the diapers to my door in as little as 19 hours. Various brands and sizes are available, though not always a complete array of options i.e. there’s no size 2 option from my preferred brand right now.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 02 May 2010 03:01:16 +0000

Kat-
Maybe I’m just optimistic, but I don’t see there being “no money in biology”. There are certainly people that make A LOT of money in biology although I know that isn’t the norm. My husband finished his PhD several months ago and is now in his “post-doc”. He doesn’t make a ton of money in this position (under $40k) but the hope is that he’ll get a job as a professor afterward and make 3-4x that. BUT all the labs he’s worked in have all had a few BA level people in them working as “techs”. These don’t start out as high paying jobs but they aren’t terrible jobs (~$35k). Biotech companies are another option but are sometimes hard to get into and are limited to certain parts of the country. Generally there is more money in the biology fields with a health or practical slant over just the basic science/general knowledge field. So I guess a lot would depend on the field you’re interested in.

Avi-
Google “Baby Cheapskate” that blog provides a list of the best deals on diapers each week as well as other places to find current deals on baby items. I’ve found if you want to do no work, Costco is the cheapest option but they only have their in house brand & Huggies. I know many people prefer Pampers Swaddlers for little babies. If a “greener” option is what you’re looking for, Amazon has the best price on Seventh Generation diapers (which were superior than all the other green diapers I tried).

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 01 May 2010 15:08:02 +0000

At this moment, there are 44 replies and nothing for Maria, so if you’ll allow me…
Here’s what I would do if I was in your shoes, Maria. Sell the house. Buy a good used Class-B Van conversion (stealthier) or small motorhome (roomier). Spend 25-50K to get a reliable vehicle. Bank the rest. You can easily live this lifestyle for several years on 50K and still have 100K as seed money to get started in a new place. Sell things you don’t need and store the stuff that you cannot part with. Buy an HD insurance plan or switch to Cobra if that makes sense. Hit the road!
You will have more fun and it’s a great way to explore the world. You may come across a place that you absolutely must call home. You may find that home is where ever you are at the moment, or even right back where you started.
Don’t worry about jobs right now. While you’re out making friends with the world, the economy will improve and there will be more opportunities in the future. The kind of employer you want to work for will appreciate that you took the initiative to create a wonderful opportunity to expand your horizons instead of sitting on your duffs complaining about your bad luck.
There aren’t enough details in your letter, but I’m assuming decent health and no kids at home. If haven’t touched your retirement savings, leave them alone to grow while you are out experiencing the world. There are many blogs and websites by people doing exactly this. Go to “Early Retirement Extreme” and follow some of Jacob’s favorites. That’s how I found Glenn at “To simplify” and, in turn, Mike & Heidi at “Vantramps”. They are regular folks who are happily coloring outside the lines. I daresay you’ll be inspired. Let us know what you decide!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 01 May 2010 14:49:44 +0000

We had horrible problems with Parent’s choice and great luck with Target.

It’s probably the same as the difference between Huggies and Pampers… Huggies is for skinny babies, Pampers is for chunky babies. (Though the new Pampers for older kids seems to be in a new design– lots of complaints from regular users who are now getting leaks.)

I really would not stock up until you know what works for your kid and how long they’re going to be in each size. Stock up on Target gift certificates instead if you have to stock up on something.

And cloth really isn’t as bad as we thought it would be. Next baby we will start with cloth part-time much earlier.

By: Emily C

Emily C — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:46:32 +0000

Re: diapers

In my area, WalMart’s store brand Parent’s choice are the same price as Target (and cheaper by far than Costco or Sam’s Club diapers) but much more effective.

One caveat–some people will leave a kid in a Kirkland or a Huggies diaper for 7 hours if he doesn’t make a mess. This is not nice to the kid, and is impossible with store brand diapers as they will leak after 4 or 5 hours during the day.

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 01 May 2010 12:45:59 +0000

I agree with SLCCOM that the reader thinking about switching to biology should consider something in the medical field. A BS in Biology doesn’t really qualify for anything specialized. I enjoyed biology when I started community college years ago and realized I didn’t have the funds to get a 4 year degree so I chose to enter my school’s associate degree program in Medical Laboratory Technology. You can certainly also get a bachelor’s degree and be a Medical Technologist (you do the same testing, etc. but have better chances for advancement with the bachelor’s.) Even after taking 10 years off to be a stay at home mom and reentering the workforce about 12 years ago I still have done well. I currently make around $47,000/year in a career that is interesting, can be different every day and is chock full of biology. Even after considering a career change to teaching a couple of years ago, I realized this was a perfect fit for me. It is something to consider as not a lot of people are going into this field right now so the demand will only continue to increase. Best of luck.

By: SLCCOM

SLCCOM — Sat, 01 May 2010 05:31:33 +0000

Kat, you might consider becoming a medical technologist. There is challenge, research, room for advanced work, and jobs with developing new tests and machines. Since every single machine is computer-based, your IT background might be a great combination with the Med Tech degree.

By: Eliza

Eliza — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:58:32 +0000

The person who is studying IT and loves biology should investigate bioinformatics. Great combination of both disciplines and tremendous demand.

By: Roshni

Roshni — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:17:06 +0000

This comment is for Kat. I am a PhD in Biology and was in research till recently..I have now switched to Patent writing.
As Trent says, there is no money in Biology and it takes a looong time if you are interested in advancing up the ladder! However, it seems that you do have a passion for it. Since you have an aversion to ‘sacrificing’ animals for research, you could work in a Molecular Biology lab. However, a better idea would be to combine your current skill (computers) and go in for Bioinformatics training. This is something which most biologists are not good at and therefore is an in-demand job!
best of luck!

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:35:43 +0000

QUESTION FOR READER MAILBAG: I tried to reduce my APR on my one remaining credit card and this ws the response I got:
Re: Annual Percentage Rate Questions [#2753103]
From Discover Card Customer ServiceDate Received: 03/27/2010 12:06 PM
Thank you for your inquiry regarding a recent change to the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on your Discover Card account. I understand your concern with this change, and I will be happy to provide you some additional information.

This decision was based on the impact of the new federal regulations that were recently passed, which affect all credit card companies. The new regulations will restrict our ability to increase rates for individual customers who pose higher risk, which has resulted in the need for us to re-examine our rates for everyone.

We sincerely appreciate your business. Although your rate changed, we hope you will find that this is still a very competitive rate in the current economic environment. In addition, you will continue to receive the many benefits associated with your Discover Card, such as our very competitive Rewards program, our $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee, and convenient online servicing.

Have you ever heard of this?

THANK YOU.

By: krop86

krop86 — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:31:09 +0000

@Kat
I agree with J on finding a Bio/Comp Sci combined major or find a school that will allow a dual major in both Computer Science and Biology. I was a Computer Science major with a Physics minor and half-way through I also seriously considered switching to Physics. I stuck with Computer Science because of job prospects and my dad saying “are you crazy?!”

My junior and senior year I found that the math, algorithms and programming techniques learned in Comp Sci gave me the toolset to out-perform the other Physics majors. I spent way more time in the Physics department because the project work was so rewarding and it provided more of a purpose than what the Comp Sci department was asking for. I think you will have a similar experience.

When you look for Biology jobs show how you can use your computer science skills to solve problems, burn through large amounts of data and how to set up and use computers in your lab environment with ease.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:18:48 +0000

I’m the polar opposite of Kat. I graduated last year with a BS in Biology, only to find that I detest lab work! I don’t have an issue with euthanasia, but those 40 hours a week filtering water and transferring water fleas from one beaker to another broke any ideals I had of lab teching. Unless Kat wants to go for a masters or a PhD, she’ll be doing quality control for a very, very long time. I’m switching to information science, and I think she’d be smart to stick with computers.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:11:14 +0000

We have done cloth in the past, it is definitely worth it cost wise, and there are many other options out there besides the white pre-folds most of us remember from the past, many types of cloth diapers now are just as easy to put on and wash, it really isn’t any harder than putting on a disposable. Cloth wipes, made using wash clothes dampened with water/aloe solution are easy, cheap, and actually work way better than store bought ones.

As for disposable, I have done tons of price comparisons and the flat bottom prices are usually from generic in store brands, and most kids use these fine, they hold everything good too. Aldi and walmart have generic brands, so does Shopko and Target.

By: socalgal

socalgal — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:22:24 +0000

Adam, I understand you are miserable, but the baby trumps everything. I am sorry, my friend, but you need to have a full time job and health insurance. Take a year then explore options like night school. I worry that you are putting unreasonable demands on such a young family.I wish you and your family the best!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:26:16 +0000

Cloth diapers really aren’t that bad and I would not stockpile on disposables until your know your child isn’t allergic to them. Several friends children had horrible eczema-like rashes and sores that did not clear up until they switched to cloth on their pediatrician’s advice. It turns out that they are sensitive to the gelling agent in the diaper.
I have been using cloth since my daughter was two weeks old and the black goo stopped. The only time she has ever had a rash is when she has been ill or put in a disposable while traveling. I have found that with two dozen cloth diapers I am doing three extra loads of laundry a week, which is nothing compared to how much laundry I do anyway.

By: Juli

Juli — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:37:33 +0000

Modern cloth diapers are very very different from the old fashioned diaper pins and rubber pants most people think of. We have been using cloth since my son was born 18 months ago, and can’t wait to use these same diapers again on our next baby due in August. We use “all in one” type diapers — the waterproof outer and the absorbant inner are all one piece, and we have them in both snap on and velcro types. They are no more work than using disposables, only instead of throwing them away we throw them in the wash every three days. Super simple!

By: Bubamara

Bubamara — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:29:46 +0000

TY Elizabeth for mentioning Medicaid. My first husband and I paid into the system for 14 years without taking any benefits. In my second marriage now i finally have children, and we are on WIC and Medicaid. There is nothing wrong with taking state help when you truly qualify and are living as best you can on honest work yet still need help. Check out your Medicaid and WIC benefits in your state. Nothing is more important than raising your child in the best way possible especially under the age of 3. It’s worth whatever sacrifice Adam and wife have to make to raise him/her themselves, provided they are educated (that doesn’t mean school, necessarily) and willing to make the efforts and sacrafices to be the best parents they can be. (If they are just plopping the kid in front of the TV, though, the child may be better off in child care.)
You may be able to get more money later, but you can never replace the formative years of your child/ren.

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:18:12 +0000

@Kristin

Don’t forget to check CD rates at Credit Unions. My local CU has rates higher than anything availble at bankrate.com, and they are fully insured.

By: beth

beth — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:10:59 +0000

There are TONS of applications of IT expertise IN biology. Call your local college placement service and ask them for a recommendation to talk to a research doc for advice. Take him/her out to lunch, explain your backgroud, interests and ask for advice.

By: Geoff Hart

Geoff Hart — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:07:27 +0000

Cindy noted: “i am 50+, considering divorce”

Best advice I can give you is to consider arbitration rather than battling lawyers. Not only does this give you both a chance to behave like adults and leave without any more bitterness than is absolutely necessary, but it can also save you tens of thousands of dollars.