Comments on: Reader Mailbag: Houseguests

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:41:09 +0000

Q9: in a field like television, people are a dime a dozen. Take an internship or a low paying job with them and work your way up. Know that there is always someone cheaper behind you who will do the same thing. Get to know people in the industry, get your face and name out there. Trust me, it’s the only way.

And forbearance is awful to deal with in 10 years for your field that is typically so low-paying. Take it from me, do everything you can to pay your student loan bill because if you don’t, $50K can turn into $300K really easily.

Also, regarding nonprofit calls, if you tell the nonprofit to take you off their list, they will add you to the Do Not Call, Do Not Solicits they keep.

By: Joan

Joan — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:24:28 +0000

#10 If someone keeps calling after being told not to

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:37:01 +0000

In #3, I meant the UPS or FedEx would have a smaller profit margin.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:35:19 +0000

Q1 – Trent obviously doesn’t understand the real challenges of the postal service. #1 they do send parcels like Johanna said. Ever heard of parcel post? #2 they are not allowed to raise the postage stamp much b/c of federal laws. otherwise they would do it in a heartbeat. #3 USPS would have a smaller profit margin if they were obligated to deliver mail 6 days of week to every home in the country.

Q4 – I think you’re overlooking a key ingredient in store bought creamers – SUGAR!

By: jim

jim — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:42:09 +0000

Don’t get a grad degree in communications. Darren don’t throw good money after bad.

By: jim

jim — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:30:45 +0000

It is the US congress that is mandating stamps only go up with inflation. Thats not the choice of the USPS. A lot of USPS financial woes are due to laws that hobble them.

By: jim

jim — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:28:26 +0000

I sympathize with USPS employees lack of job security but I don’t think more junk mail is a good solution for anything.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:57:18 +0000

I’ve found that one effective way to get charities to stop calling to ask for money is by simply telling them that I do not donate money to charities that call and ask for donations.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:51:36 +0000

Q 5 and Q10: If I pick up the phone & it’s someone asking for money, I merely say I’m not interested and hang up. 2nd call, I request that my name be removed from the call list. 3rd call or more, I simply hang up. Most of these places have one list with multiple callers & there’s no real way to get yourself removed.

By: Izabelle

Izabelle — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:02:39 +0000

Q9: Unless you were specifically told that your lack of a Master’s degree is the reason you are not being hired, do not get one.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:24:38 +0000

Q4: Would never have guessed that chocolate syrup would impart a chocolate flavor to coffee. Thanks, Trent!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:15:40 +0000

The Simplistic Dollar strikes again…

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:47:14 +0000

…whereas USPS must cover the less lucrative parts of the market as well.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:45:47 +0000

Q1: USPS doesn’t ship parcels? News to me. But UPS/FedEx can ship nothing but parcels…

By: Izabelle

Izabelle — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:43:38 +0000

(Q1 is like asking people to stop taking pics with their iPhones to save the film-processors’ jobs)

By: Izabelle

Izabelle — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:41:07 +0000

Q1: Junk mail is a huge waste of natural ressources, including trees and fossil fuel. Tring to keep an obsolete industry alive just to save jobs makes no sense – workers have to evolve.