And Yet Another Fee?

If you missed the news this morning then you missed a very important announcement regarding banking fees and the ever evolving economic crisis. Several banks are testing out new fees while Bank of America has made the decision to move forward and charge their debit card customers $5 per month, a change that will go into effect in early 2012. BOA will roll out their fees in stages in order to help recuperate the loss of revenue caused by a Federal regulation capping the fees that banks can collect from merchants when customers swipe their debit cards. In 2009 those fees generated nearly $19 billion in revenue. In response to tomorrow's new regulation banks are pushing debit card fees with the hope that customers will become increasingly reliant on credit cards thereby generating other sources of revenue.

Bank of America has assured its customers that the fee will not apply to ATM use and will be applied monthly for unlimited debit card use. Still, we at Savvy Student have to wonder, where we can draw the line on fees. With Bank of America beginning their exploration of the new fee system, many banks are following suit, including JP Morgan, Chase and Company and Wells Fargo.

Sun Trust, a regional bank in Atlanta, GA began charging their customers this past summer, however, BOA is the largest U.S. bank by deposits, so it is making national headlines.

If you would like to read more about the new $5 fee check out the WHDH report here or the CNNMoney article here.

If this post was helpful let us know. If you turned red in the face and steam came out of your ears then you are not alone.

Awe such is life,

Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Boltbus or Megabus?

Both MegaBus and Boltbus were launched in 2008, which was an excellent time to attract recession-stirred folks looking for alternative modes of travel. Offering modern buses, outlets, free Wi-fi and extra legroom these buses quickly became the ideal choice of transit for college students, penny-pinching backpackers and even entrepreneurs who frequent major cities for business or pleasure.

So which to choose?


First, let's review the ammenities, as summed up by a travel blog.

WiFi: Bolt: Yes Megabus: Yes

Power Outlets: Bolt: Yes Megabus: Varies

Leg Room: Bolt: Good Megabus: Tighter

On Time: Bolt: Varies Megabus: Variess

Personnel: Bolt: OK Megabus: Great


Second, what about price?

A small sampling of the prices at the time of writing this shows Megabus to be a bit cheaper.

Bolt: 9/29 - $15
10/7 - $23-$32

Megabus: 9/29 - $10-$13
10/7 $13-$24


The Verdict? If you're interested solely in saving a buck, opt for Megabus. If leg room and/or power outlets are a deal breaker, choose Boltbus.


In addition to these options, there are always the more expensive alternatives such as Limo Liner or Peter Pan bus lines. Limo Liner rates were as high as $68, however, their advantage is leg room, smaller number of travelers and ease of access to the city. Peter Pan bus lines advertise rates as low as $1, however, in our comparison research we kept running into rates as high as $40. Lucky Star and Fung Wah buses also provide cheap transportation between Boston and NYC, except they have mixed reviews over safety and value, so the verdict is out on these two options.

Whether you are planning to travel now or in the future we hope this information was helpful. If you have any hot tips for cheap travel please let us know and we will post the info.

Happy Trails,
Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Welcome to Candidate Gateway...

The fall semester marks the start of a new academic calendar and a whole slew of opportunities, from new classes to new relationships and even student employment. Whether you have Federal Work Study or you just need some extra cash working on-campus is one of the most convenient ways to earn money.

In order to obtain on-campus employment you must:

• Receive a BLUE EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY CARD from the Office of Student Financial Services
  

In order to receive a blue card, you must come to the Office of Student Financial Services (located at Usdan 130) to complete the I-9 form. You must have acceptable original documents with you to prove your identity and your eligibility to work. The I-9 Form and the list of acceptable documents are available here.

*You will need to show your blue card to employers when you go into an interview so that they know you have completed all of the necessary paperwork.

• Use the NEW online website to apply for jobs
  

The website can be found here. If it is your first time on the website, you must register by clicking "Register Here." Before you are able to fully submit your job applications you will have to upload a resume to the website and enter some biographical information. Once you have successfully submitted the applications you will get an acknowledgement email. If the supervisor finds that your qualifications match their need they will contact you for an interview.

*Need resume help? Visit Hiatt in Usdan 15 or visit the Hiatt website here for tips, samples, strategies, and advice on crafting a stand-out resume.

• Sign up for direct deposit
  

After finding employment you will want to sign up for direct deposit, the most efficient way to receive your paycheck. After being hired, you will receive an email asking you to log on to sign up for direct deposit. You can also find the direct deposit website here.

*If you have any questions regarding your direct deposit, contact the payroll office. You can find their contact information here.

Happy job hunting!

~Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

This Weekend: Music, Arts and Friends - What else could you Wish for?

While rushing to a 9 am class in the morning, you might notice that everyone seems to be walking even faster just to stay warm. Feeling the crisp fall breeze, getting your sweaters out - but wait, there is still some time left to enjoy the sun in New England!

The next two weekends in Boston are full of free events that YOU should be at!

September 17th

MixFest 2011 at the DCR Memorial Hatch Shell

Amongst the artists performing this year are: Lifehouse, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Michelle Branch, Sarah Bareilles and Javier Colon!

Septemebr 18th

Opening of the Linde Family Wing of Contemporary Art at the MFA

The MFA is celebrating the Opening of their new modern art galleries with a 24-hour event. The first 12 hours have ticketed admission, but on Sunday the 18th the Museum is free for all and is full of wonderful activities such as short films, zumba classes and a performance of the Boston Typewriter Orchestra! Check it out!

September 24th

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival on Columbus Ave.

If you are too busy this weekend, no worries, there is something else to look forward!

During the weekend of September 23rd to 25th the Berklee College of Music is organizing their annual open-air music festival. On Saturday there will be several stages set-up on Columbus Ave. in the South End. In addition the street will be full of various vendors of food, clothes and jewelry! But the music and awesome atmosphere are FREE!

Savvy student hopes you will enjoy your time at any of the above!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Buying Books? Here are your options!

As the Fall semester begins and the registration period is coming to a close, it's now time to start thinking about books; not just ordinary fun-reads, but must-haves for the classroom. And, as there are several options between buying new, buying used or renting Savvy Student is here to help you save money and navigate your options.

The Brandeis Bookstore has all of these options, and has all of your textbooks available. But be aware of the return policy! The bookstore also offers a buy back option at the end of the semester, where it offers students the option of selling their textbooks back. Make sure to ask the bookstore for info on that!

Websites such as Half, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, are great places to start comparing prices. These sites offer textbooks at huge discounts, and there are options to rent, buy used, or buy completely new. It's up to you!

If you're a fan of renting books, there are several top notch websites that can help you do so. To compare all the rental prices, check out TextbookRentals. Also, a popular textbook rental source is Chegg, which even comes with a 21 day rental return guarantee, in case you decide to drop or switch classes. With flexible rental times and free shipping both ways, CampusBookRentals is also a great site. They offer a wide selection and are often very cheap!

In addition, Amazon let's students rent textbooks to their kindle, which provides an innovative alternative to a regular textbook. You can also buy books to your ipad. Textbooks are definitely keeping up with technology!

It's also useful to ask your professor if using an older edition is permitted, because previous editions are oftentimes cheaper than current ones. Usually there are minimal differences between the texts and professors don't mind. Also, some students prefer using the International Edition of a textbook, which is typically the exact same text, with a cheaper price tag.

We hope you try these tips since there are often lots of discounts when it comes to textbooks, it just takes a little time and effort.

Happy reading!

Savvy Student

reade more... Résuméabuiyad