How to Skimm Your Life

by The Skimm

  The end result of the VAT? A higher tax on stuff you buy.

  The trick? You can get a refund for VAT items. When you’re shopping, show the merchant your passport and have them fill out a refund document, usually called a “tax-free form.” Then bring all of this to customs at the airport you’re leaving from. The customs officer may ask you to show them your goods then. So make sure to do this before you check your bag. Then take the certified document to a specific office in the airport or station that processes the paperwork. It can take months to get a refund.

  Aaand insert cash back here. If this sounds like a lot of steps, it’s because it kinda is. But it makes sense if you’re making large purchases.

  How should I exchange my money?

  If you want cash on hand, head to the bank. Depending on your bank, your debit card can be used at international ATMs to withdraw local currency.

  How do I make sure my international data is working?

  Get an international package before leaving. And make sure you’re not getting down with downloads. Switch off automatic email downloads and background app refreshes. Deactivate automatic syncing to services like iCloud, Google, and Dropbox. If you don’t have an international package at all, switch off data roaming to avoid scary charges. In iOS, the toggle switch is under Settings > Cellular. In Android, it’s under Settings > Wireless & Networks > Data Usage. Phone calls and texts will come through, but data will be sent and received only when there’s Wi-Fi available. So go that route only if you feel Wi-Fine about being MIA for a lot of the trip.

  This all sounds very expensive.

  There are some rules of thumb for how you should budget other expenses in your life (stay tuned), but how much you spend on travel is personal. While you’re there, there are some ways to make sure you’re saving. One is to go on a cash diet. Budget for the amount you want to spend daily and put that amount in different envelopes labeled by day. Just like the days of the week underwear you wore in middle school.

  theSkimm: Travel is not always straightforward. But if you do it right, you’ll stay fly…and have the pictures and refreshed mind-set to prove it.

  Things Mother Nature Likes

  theSkimm on Going Green

  It’s not easy being green…but it’s easier than you think.

  If you’re worried about being judged for your bad habits, you’re not alone. But it’s worth becoming more environmentally friendly one step at a time, and it doesn’t have to cost a ton. Everyone will tell you to ride a bike, buy a hybrid, and install solar panels. But there are some smaller, lesser-known ways to make your routine Mother Nature approved.

  Climate change: Tell me what I need to know.

  Climate change is often referred to as reason number one we’re on the Earth’s sh*t list and the end of the world as we know it. It’s a pretty straightforward concept: Humans burn fossil fuels (like coal and oil). That emits greenhouse gases that rise into the atmosphere and create a blanket around Earth. That blanket traps in heat…and leads to hotter temps. Aka global warming. Climate change causes everything from extreme weather to rising sea levels—both of which have gotten worse in the past few decades. Not good.

  Thing to know

  Climate change and global warming are not the same thing. While people often use them interchangeably, global warming refers to rising global temps. Climate change refers to all the effects of that—increased droughts, heat waves, extreme weather, coral reef deterioration, polar ice caps melting, etc. So global warming’s like the sauna while climate change is like you sweating in it.

  Don’t some people say it doesn’t exist?

  Yes. Like many issues, it’s political. Some people—mainly politicians and some special interest groups on the right—question whether climate change is man-made. Their argument is that the Earth has natural cycles of warming and cooling, and the human contribution factor is limited. But the large majority of scientists (around 97 percent of them) say that climate change is caused by humans.

  How much worse has it gotten?

  A lot. A 2018 UN report said the Earth’s temp could rise by 2.7 degrees by 2040. That doesn’t sound like a lot. But it could mean saying “bye” to coral reefs and “hi” to things like mass refugee crises. That’s because severe weather patterns may cause people to flee their homes, creating global conflicts like migration crises.

  In 2014, a Pentagon report said that climate change poses immediate risks to national security—the effects of climate change could seriously overwhelm the US’s capability for disaster response. Meanwhile, Miami could be completely underwater by the end of this century if nothing’s done to reverse the effects. And by 2050, a major storm event could flood nearly a quarter of NYC.

  What’s being done about all this?

  World leaders are saying bonjour to a plan. In 2015, they got together in Paris and agreed on a plan to drastically reduce man-made emissions. Each country got its own targets to stop passing so much gas. Then, in 2017, President Trump announced that the US would withdraw from the deal. Because, in part, he campaigned on keeping coal and oil jobs. TBD on how all this will play out.

  What can I do?

  We all hear about reducing our carbon footprint. In practical terms, that means lowering the amount of carbon dioxide you release into the atmosphere from just living. Here are some things you can do in different areas of your life.

  At home

  For when your lightbulb goes out…

  Replace it with an Energy Star–certified bulb. When you’re shopping, make sure to look for that phrase on the label. A majority of US homes still use energy-inefficient lightbulbs. That’s a socket to the face to Mother Nature. You might think, “One lightbulb will do nothing.” Not so fast. If every house in the US replaced their bulbs with energy-efficient ones, the country would save enough energy to light two million homes for a whole year. It would also prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 550,000 vehicles. Shine bright, shine far.

  For when you can’t get comfortable…

  Get with the program. Install a programmable thermostat (one where you can choose the exact temp). In the winter, for every degree you turn down the thermostat, you can save up to 3 percent off your heating bill. Plus, programmable thermostats don’t use mercury like other thermostats, so they’re more eco-friendly.

  For when you’re feeling a draft…

  Seal the deal. Make sure your home is sealed. Energy savings from reducing drafts can be between 5 and 30 percent of a bill. Does that make you incensed? Make it literal. Use incense to test exactly where a draft is coming from. Where there’s smoke, there’s a draft. To fix it, get weather strips. We like the V-seal strips (easy) that you can order online. Cut them to the length of your window and apply along its outline.

  For when your ceiling fan looks lonely in the winter…

  Flip it and reverse it. Instead of turning the heat way up, put your ceiling fan in reverse—so it’s spinning clockwise. This pulls up cool air and pushes down warm air, so that you don’t have to rely so much on energy-sucking heat.

  For when you trip over your power cord…

  Not feeling smart. Make sure the cord itself is. Get a smart power strip. Here’s why: Devices that you plug into the wall—like your TV—actually keep using energy even when they are off. Instead of actually turning off, they go into “standby mode,” which constantly uses energy and makes your bill higher. Smart power strips can do all the work for you by cutting all the power to things that are “off.”

  For when you’re in the mood for sunny-side up…

  Go solar. Solar panels are expensive. But it’s worth noting that some states have solar-leasing programs, where you don’t pay the cost of solar panels, equipment, and installation. Instead, you pay a monthly amount way lower than a regular electricity bill. Check to see if your state will help foot the bill.

  For when you have an ol
d iPhone 4 in your clutter drawer…

  Recycle it. While recycling paper, cardboard, and plastic seems obvious, recycling electronics might not be as intuitive. Your tech is full of toxic stuff (like mercury and lead) that should never ever make it to a landfill. This material could leak into the environment and damage the ecosystem. Electronics recyclers collect, disassemble, repair, and recycle parts or metals from old electronics. Go to www.eiae.org to find out where you can get this done. And wipe your phone or laptop of all its data before recycling. The steps to do this are different for every device, so look yours up before recycling.

  For when you’re recycling the pizza box…

  Don’t. Paper or cardboard that’s been stained by food can’t be recycled. During the recycling process, that grease and oil can’t be separated from the box’s reusable fibers and will contaminate the actually recyclable paper it’s processed with. Same goes for used paper plates and those paper towels you used to clean up a wine stain.

  For when you have leftovers…

  Compost up. This is a great way to reduce waste. Composting is breaking down organic matter to produce a nutrient-rich fertilizer. If you have a garden (we’re impressed) it’s a great way to improve your soil. Composting is easier outside. But you can do it inside too. Here are the steps to earn serious eco-friendly points.

  1. Are you in or out?

  Meaning inside or outside. If you’re composting inside, you’ll need to start with a compost bin, worms (yes), soaked paper strips, and soil. If you’re doing it outside, you just need soil.

  2. Collect the goods.

  You’ll need some browns (like eggshells, dead leaves, woodchips, and paper). And some greens (like veggie scraps, banana peels, and coffee grounds).

  3. Layer up.

  Switch from browns to greens to browns, etc.

  4. Hydrate.

  Add water to help break materials down.

  5. Drop the remix.

  Turn and mix everything once a week to circulate air through it. A hand rake or pitchfork will do the trick.

  6. Repeat.

  And be patient. Composting can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of years to finish.

  At the store

  For when you’re going grocery shopping…

  It’s in the bag. The reusable bag. Get a reusable grocery bag and hang it on your door handle. That way, when you’re leaving the house you won’t forget it.

  For when you’re not sure how to read the label…

  The words organic and natural get thrown around a lot. If you want to make sure you’re buying the best products for the environment, go organic. There are few federal regulations regarding the word natural. But the USDA heavily regulates the use of organic. Pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms) need not RSVP to a 100 percent organic party. But not all organic products are created equal. Look for these distinctions on labels when you’re shopping.

  100 Percent Organic

  The gold medal. This means the products are produced using only organic methods, and they contain only organic ingredients.

  Organic

  The silver. Products that contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients can use this one.

  Made with Organic

  The bronze. Products with 70 to 95 percent organic ingredients can wave this flag (label).

  Organic food is almost always more expensive and better for the environment, but it’s not always healthier. It’s pesticide and antibiotic free but that doesn’t always make it better nutritionally. Make sure to read the whole label and not just the organic badge.

  For when you’re buying seafood…

  You’ll hear a lot about wild caught vs. farm raised. Wild caught means it was caught, yup, in the wild by actual fishermen. Farm raised means it was raised commercially in a pond or tank. Farmed salmon is higher in fat, calories, and vitamin C. Wild-caught salmon is higher in minerals including potassium and iron. It also costs more. In general, wild caught is better for you, but it’s a toss-up on which one is better for the environment. While wild caught is more natural and less metaphorically fishy, farm-raised fish prevent overfishing (removing fish from their home at a higher rate than they’re reproducing). This can lead to underpopulation or extinction.

  For when you’re buying eggs…

  Cage-free or free-range? A question almost as tricky as “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Both may sound like the chickens are roaming free in a field, à la Charlotte’s Web or Maria in The Sound of Music. Lies. For cage-free, there’s no space requirement for where the chicks can roam, meaning chicken producers can cram them into very tight spaces. Free-range is slightly better, since the chickens get outdoor access. The gold star goes to pasture-raised.

  For when you reach for the plastic…

  That’s the last straw. Really, really try to stop buying plastic water bottles and straws. Less than 6 percent of plastic actually gets recycled. And it’s effing up our waterways and killing animals in the ocean. If you absolutely have to buy a plastic water bottle at some point, do not put it in the trash. Use it again or recycle it. Plastic bottles can take 450 years to decompose. And plastic bags clock in at around 1,000 years.

  theSkimm: Climate change isn’t just affecting the weather. The United Nations estimates that it’s caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in recent years. The good news? It’s in our power to turn the tide.

  “Do what you love and never work a day in your life” is BS. There’s no way to succeed without working hard. But there are some tricks to help pave the way.

  “SkimmMBA” is an overview of what you need to know to own your career. No advanced degree necessary. You’ll get answers to questions about networking, resume building, interviewing, negotiating, and figuring out how to manage your time. Tick tock.

  Things You Stalk

  theSkimm on Networking

  Networking is one of the most important business skills to have.

  And you don’t need to master any type of software to use it. It’s essentially having strategic conversations, knowing how to follow up, and building a list of contacts that will have your back and give good advice. You have no choice but to network—it’s not something you can opt out of.

  You never know where a conversation may lead—a job tomorrow, a job in five years, or an introduction to a contact that will give you an opportunity. Spoiler: Most people like talking about themselves. You’ll be surprised who’s willing to tell you about his or her career in exchange for a cup of coffee.

  Even if you don’t nail it the first time—if someone doesn’t respond, or says something like “Reach out to my office”—don’t get discouraged. In some ways, networking is similar to dating. Here are some of the tactical steps you should always take to make sure you’re building and keeping up with a network.

  Profile Stalking: The Spreadsheet

  Meet the stalker spreadsheet, no advanced Excel skills required. This is a way to make sure you’re following up with your connections. Organize the spreadsheet with the connection’s name in a cell of the left-hand vertical column. For each name, fill out these sections in header columns: contact info (email), title and company, the date you last connected, and notes. Go down this list and make sure to stay in touch with these people, and change the “Last connected” date accordingly. theSkimm recommends staying in touch with your most important connections at least once a quarter.

  If you’re worried about forgetting to keep up with these connections, there’s automation for that. For your closest connections who you want to be seeing or speaking with once a quarter, tools like Zapier can send them variations of an automated email.

  Swiping: The Blind Date

  The most intimidating form of networking can be approaching or cold emailing a stranger. If you’re emailing someone new, make sure you have a short email paragra
ph about yourself prepared in advance (just like you have your resume prepped for interviews). That way your new connection can get a sense of who you are and why you want to get in touch.

  If you’re approaching a stranger at a networking event or a party, remember R&R. That does not stand for rest and relaxation.

  Research

  When you meet a VIP in your industry, chances are they won’t remember you. Unless, that is, you mention something they’ve done recently or strike up a conversation about something specific. Look up their college or high school, if they’re on any boards, where they are from, and recent press—all of these things will help build a connection. Saying “I really admire your work” sounds like you’re talking to a B-list celeb whose movie you didn’t actually watch.