A Day in the Life of a Minimalist

A Day in the Life of a Minimalist I do not have a daily routine. I no longer need one. I do, however, have habits on which I focus every day. Don’t get me wrongâ€"I used to have a daily routine before I quit my six-figure job to pursue my passions and live a more meaningful life. And I hated that routine. Every day felt like Groundhog Day: awake to a blaring alarm, shower, shave, put on a suit and tie, spend an hour or more in mind-numbing traffic, succumb to the daily trappings of emails and phone calls and instant messages and meetings, drive home through even more mind-numbing traffic, eat something from a box in the freezer, search for escape within the glowing box in the living room, brush my teeth, set the alarm clock, sleep for five or six hours, start all over again in the morning. That was life most days. The same thing over and over and over. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. And then, last year, I decided it wasn’t for me anymore. I realized working 60â€"80 hours a week to make the money to buy more superfluous stuff didn’t fill the void I felt inside. It only brought more debt and anxiety and fear and loneliness and guilt and stress and paranoia and depression. So I canceled my routine. Or, rather, I traded in my routine for better habits. It didn’t happen overnight, but over a few years I pared down my possessions, got into the best shape of my life, paid off my debt, jettisoned my TV, eliminated Internet at home, left corporate America, started pursuing my passions, stopped buying junk, and started living a more meaningful lifeâ€"a life focused on growth and contribution. During that time of personal growth I developed new habits I love, habits I look forward to each day, habits that make me happy: exercise, writing, reading, establishing new connections with people, and building upon existing relationships. I also developed the habit of contribution. Giving is livingâ€"we don’t feel truly alive unless we contribute to other people in meaningful ways. Donating time to Habitat for Humanity, local soup kitchens, and various other community organizations has been a starting point on my journey toward developing this habit. And I enjoy contributing to the readers at our website and inspiring them to change their lives. Many readers ask me what my typical day looks like now that I’m no longer forced into an unnecessary routine. My answer is always the same: every day is a blank page, although there are habits I act upon daily. Presenting last Thursday as an example, this is how I enjoyed the day I woke at 4:50 a.m. without an alarm, excited and refreshed. These days my habit is to wake when my body tells me it’s rested. But there is no routine. I ate a banana, drank a cup of coffee, and then wrote from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. As I primarily write literary fiction, I prefer writing in the morning when it’s quiet and I’m closest to the dream world. My writing room contains only a desk, a chair, a laptop, and my notes: the only things I needâ€"nothing else. There’s no phone, no Internet, no clockâ€"no distractions. Just me and my habit, which I enjoy immensely. Each day I write until I don’t feel like writing anymore. But there is no routine. After a writing-fueled morning (interrupted only by push-ups every hour or so), I walked to the neighborhood park and alternated between pull-ups and push-ups under the midday sun. Exercise is important for me, and I enjoy it daily. But there is no routine. I showered, dressed (jeans and a T-shirt), and walked to a local burrito joint to eat a modest, vegetarian lunch. I eat when my body tells me I’m hungry, irrespective of the time (I don’t own a watch). Some days I eat lunch at noon, other days I might eat at 10 a.m. or 3 p.m. But there is no routine. After my meal, I walked to my favorite coffee shop, ordered an herbal tea, used their Internet connection to check my email and publish some writing online, and then visited with some of the regulars (as well as a few strangers). There were 37 emails in my inbox, which was okay as I only check email two or three times a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But there is no routine. After a couple hours on the Internet, I walked to a park, sat on a bench, and read a novel. Some days this habit invites me to devour chapter after chapter, hour after hour; other days I read for only half an hour. But there is no routine. After a few chapters, I hit the gym with my best friend (and online writing pal), Ryan Nicodemus, and enjoyed some cardio and weight training. We habitually visit the gym four or five days a week. We drop by at different times each day. But there is no routine. Throughout the day I made sure I was hydrated. Besides coffee and herbal tea, I drank only water. No alcohol. No sugary drinks. No soda (or ‘pop,’ for those of us in the Midwest). I attempt to drink my body weight in ounces of water each day, which isn’t always easyâ€"so sometimes I drink only half that. But there is no routine. I own a car, but I didn’t drive it on Thursday. I didn’t need to. It was a nice day, so I walked (even though Dayton, Ohio, isn’t exactly the most walkable city). Some days I need to drive to where I want to go, other days I can walk. But there is no routine. Later that evening I enjoyed dinner and conversation with a friend, and afterward we walked to a local concert. Other days I might watch a movie at the indie theater or visit a friend’s house or spend time in an art gallery or volunteer a few hours of my timeâ€"all habits I enjoy. But there is no routine. After the concert, I walked a few miles by myself, gathering my thoughts. It had been a beautiful day, followed by a beautiful nightâ€"a denim sky illuminated by a waning crescent moon, a million diamonds afire, and the prospect of a new day at midnight. The good news is my life is no different than yours, minus the routine. Sure, the details are different, the circumstances are different, but we all have the same 24 hours in a day. We all have one life to live, and that life is passing by one day at a time. The only real difference lies within the decisions we make and the actions we take. This essay was originally published at Zen Habits.

Differences Between Dominant And Subordinate Groups Of The...

Dichotomies among dominant and subordinate groups in society have been devised to create advantages for the dominant groups in society. These dichotomies are necessary to maintain the structural power of the dominant group (Hackman, 2013), and one dichotomy in society is based on gender. For the social category of gender, the men are the dominant group, and women and transgender people are the subordinate group (Kirk Okazawa-Rey, 2013). Hence, the dominant group of men creates a system of sexism, which â€Å"serves to privilege men, subordinate women, denigrate women-identified values and practices, enforce male dominance and control, and reinforce forms of masculinity that are dehumanizing and damaging to men† (Botkin, Jones, Kachwaha,†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"As such, what is perceived as ‘real’ regarding gender roles is actually a manifestation of certain rules and expectations put on all of us by the macro gendered power structure† (2013, p . 319). Hence, this power structure creates a patriarchal culture that values all things masculine and devalues all things feminine (Johnson, 2013). Thereby, in valuing masculinity, a man is â€Å"a perfect specimen of muscles and fearlessness and daring† (Blow, 2013, p. 404). In addition, the patriarchal culture highlights the importance of the husband’s career and downplays the secondary role of the wife in the family (2013). Unfortunately, all members of society, male and female, participate in this patriarchal system (2013) including me, a female. For example, when I accepted my husband’s marriage proposal, we did not live in the same city. Although I was successful in my career, I could not accept that a â€Å"real man† should change his life because of marriage, and I decided to move to South Carolina. Thus, I valued my husband’s lifestyle and career more than my lifestyle and career in North Carolina, which is internalized sexism (Szymanski, Gupta, Carr, Stewart, 2009). Therefore, my thought process illustrates my participation in the patriarchal structure. Additionally, as a female engineer, I am in the minority in the workplace and affected by the patriarchal system. Only 15% of women hold positions in male-dominated fields such as engineeringShow MoreRelatedRace And Ethnicity Searches For Equality1232 Words   |  5 Pagesethnic groups though we find that inequality is still a common issue. Racial and ethnic groups are expanding and outnumbering the dominant force, however, minority groups still have no rule against the dominant force. A minority is a subordinate group whose members have remarkably less control or power over the dominant force.(pg.4) Groups are ranked by pinpointing unique features of an individual in order to define them within a specific bracket. For example, a minority or subordinate group has fiveRead MoreDiscrimination And Unequal Rights Within Society1198 Words   |  5 Pagesliving in any country fall upon a certain group in society. Depending on what race they are defines what group they fall under. Two groups that ranks race are the minority (subordinate) group and the majority (dominant) group. Subordinate groups are recognized by their lack of opportunities when it comes to education and wealth, as well as control such as voting, positions of authority, and other privileges that are easily obtainable by the dominant group. Five characteristics also distinguish minoritiesRead MoreRacial and Ethnic Groups949 Words   |  4 PagesRacial and Ethnic Groups Michelle Winner ETH 125 October 23, 2010 NIKIYA SPENCE Racial and Ethnic Groups There are three sociological perspectives of race and ethnicity which are functionalist, conflict, and labeling perspectives. The first one I will discuss is the functionalist perspective. The functionalist perspective emphasizes how the parts of society are structured to maintain its stability. As also described in the reading the functionalist approach is an approach, if an aspectRead MoreThe World Of Civilization By Jean Baker Miller925 Words   |  4 Pagessociety is presented. According to him there are two types of inequality which is temporary inequality and permanent inequality. The main difference of the two is that temporary inequality enables â€Å"the journey from unequal to equal† while permanent inequality discourages this idea. To further explain this, an example of temporary inequality is the relationship between doctor and patient because the patient is encouraged to make a full recovery which is enabling â€Å"the journey from unequal to equal†. On Read MoreAnalyzing Race and Colorblindness in Academics1599 Words   |  7 Pagesadults of all backgrounds. However, in the instance of San Jose State University, one could argue their actions differ from the pictured proposal. Their main focus became avoiding liability rather than facilitating a safe environment for ethnic difference. This mentality typically reflects a view that claims acts of active racism and blatant bigotry should take the forefront of discussion while their comprising acts of passive racism are left behind. Campus conversations about race are being silencedRead MoreAnalysis Of Beverly Tatum s Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together 1326 Words   |  6 Pagesdisadvantageous to people of color†. This would explain how white people continue to be at a higher advantage and benefit from racism. This would be called white privilege. In this chapter, Beverly Tatum also discusses the differences between racial identity and ethnic groups. Even in 2015, there are still clear signs of not only racism but white privilege as well. African Americans are killed every single day yet people still believe this isn’t a racial issue. If a white person were to be killedRead MoreExplanation Of The Muted Group Theory1573 Words   |  7 PagesMuted Group Theory The muted group theory was originally developed to help scholars understand the co-cultural hypothetical framework of communications between genders. The muted group theory was initially established by British anthropologists Edwin and Shirley Ardener in the late 1960’s to discuss the difference in communications styles of the subordinate groups, which were mainly women when compared to the dominate groups, which were mainly men. (Orbe, M.P., 1997). In time a dominate group wouldRead MoreComparison Of James Scott s And Michel Foucault s Theories Of Power And Resistance1592 Words   |  7 PagesScott’s and Michel Foucault’s theories of power and resistance. In this essay I shall compare James Scott’s theory of power and resistance with Michel Foucault’s, as in what similarities do they share in their structure of theories; and contrast the difference as in their understanding of power, position they take to look for/into power, exercise of power and resistance in response. By contrasting the two approaches on the subject of power and resistance, I shall argue, if one wish to look for the powerfulRead MoreRacism Is Effective At Maintaining Social Distance Between Whites And Blacks1730 Words   |  7 PagesFrom the point of initial contact between whites and blacks in the United States, whites have acted as gatekeepers by regulating the degree to which blacks have been allowed or denied access to resources and institutions. The means by which whites have defended their dominant position, however, has changed dramatically over time (Bobo, Kluegel Smith 1997). Overt racism based on â€Å"scientific† classification of blacks as inherently inferior to whites has ceded to covert forms of racism in contemporaryRead MoreConflict Theory1217 Words   |  5 Pagessociety is: †¢ A struggle for dominance among competing social groups (classes, genders, races, religions, etc.). When conflict theorists look at society, they see the social domination of subordinate groups through the power, authority, and coercion of dominant groups. In the conflict view, the most powerful members of dominant groups create the rules for success and opportunity in society, often denying subordinate groups such success and opportunities; this ensures that the powerful continue

Apologies Are The New Teachers - 971 Words

Apologies Are the New Teachers (Three things Learned from Plato’s Apology) There are many writers, authors, and speakers in this world that are considered among the greats, but perhaps the greatest two of western speculation are Plato and Socrates. These two hand in hand had a huge influence on American Literature and others as well. Perhaps one of the most remarkable writings of Plato, since Socrates never once himself wrote anything down, is his writing of Apology. The writings of Apology showed some of Socrates final moments, how he carried himself, and most importantly what he said. Socrates was perhaps one of the most intellectual and perceptive minds that ever lived this life, and he had many important ideas and most specifically questions. There are many important things to be derived and learned from the writings of Plato, and voice of Socrates. From Plato’s Apology I learned three important things; how to question society, how to defend oneself with poise, and most importantly, â€Å"That the unexamined life is not worth living.† acco rding to Socrates. To begin, one of the important things i learned from Plato’s Apology is that it s okay to question society. Socrates himself questioned everyone, questioned the mind, made his pupils think, which is why I think one of the most important things to take away from this piece is how he made you think, how he questioned everything that you thought was stable until you realize that nothing around is actually even set inShow MoreRelatedLenses of Education 1051 Words   |  4 Pagestrial in the â€Å"Apology† and in â€Å"Meno.† One of the main factors discussed in both texts are the role of teachers in society and if Socrates is a teacher. Socrates also relates past stories or experiences when giving his dialogues. This allows him to explain his thoughts and reasons on certain topics. One final factor that plays a role in both the â€Å"Apology† and â€Å"Meno† is the role of the gods through the dialogues. Teachers, stories, and the role of gods all pl ay a key role in the â€Å"Apology† and â€Å"Meno†Read MorePart Indigenous Speeches Essay1682 Words   |  7 PagesAssignment 2 – Part A: Indigenous speeches – research essay The Apology – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd On the 13th February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, offered an Apology to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People by way of a speech that he presented to the 42nd parliament of the Commonwealth. His speech outlined the past oppression of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who had to endure pain and suffering. Children were forcibly removed from their families. Mr Rudd openedRead MoreWhat Are The Charges Against Socrates?1019 Words   |  5 PagesPHIL 1301 30 October 2015 What are the charges against Socrates as recorded in the Apology. Is he guilty of them? Why or why not? The Apology is assumed to be the most realistic account that has been conserved of Socrates defense of himself as it was presented before the Athenian Council. It is in essential agreement with the references to the trial that occur in Plato s other dialogs. We may determine that Apology is not written by Socrates and only contains the words of Socrates that were memorizedRead MoreWe Need A People Of Color ( Poc ) Room1690 Words   |  7 Pagestalk of the room has died down; the reasoning that â€Å"the room will be used for the new dean† is an unacceptable explanation. We need sensitivity training for teachers and administration: Several students such as Hasanti, Tarisai, Janine, and Tydell have had problems with teachers in class humiliating them and making it difficult to function within the classroom. It has been brought up time and time again that teachers are making students feel uncomfortable by disregarding their questions in the classroom;Read MoreSocratesApology And The Hebrew Bible1493 Words   |  6 Pagessystem works; people live their lives, or how they view their world. The people in Socrates’ Apology and the Hebrew Bible have different ways of life. The Greek gods and the Hebrew God shape these people’s views, and they live the way their Gods want them to. Socrates’ gods and the Jews’ God give them a sense of authority in how they live and view their world. It evidently shows in Socrates’ Apology while Socrates defends himself in court, and in the books of the Bible when the Jews follow GodRead MoreThe Defense Of The State1291 Words   |  6 Pagesintent ion, in search for wisdom. He often publicly humiliated the teachers of their society. These aren’t qualities of wisdom. The Sophists the same people who taught of their society, and the ones he, in his own words, is beholden to because it was these people who taught him in his youth. Socrates didn’t display wisdom to the fullest sense of the word, they way carried out his acts tell a different story, one of guilt. Socrates, in the Apology by Plato, is held accountable for, being an Atheist, believingRead MoreWhat Do You Mean By Deborah Tannen1450 Words   |  6 PagesYou Mean,† Deborah Tannen touches upon apologies, criticism, and thank yous in further detail to explain where individuals go wrong within conversation and how they can fix their actions. Individuals find it satisfying to please others by being polite because it is the ‘right’ thing to do, however like myself others need to stand up for themselves and get directly to the point now in order to avoid conflict later in life. Individuals use unnecessary apologies to please one another in order to avoidRead MoreSocrates: The Dichotomy between Aristophanes and Plato’s Depictions1489 Words   |  6 Pageshowever; the works of Plato (a student of Socrates) depict the man in an entirely different light. The Apology of Socrates, a dialogue by Plato, portrays the trial of Socrates as he gives an â€Å"apology† or a speech in his defense in order to refute the charges against him. The tones of these two works contrast each other completely; The Clouds being a work that satirizes Socrates while the Apology of Socrates holds the philosopher in much higher esteem. The fact of the matter is that during the turbulentRead MorePlato and Socrates Relentless Question1274 Words   |  6 Pageswho is responsible for corrupting the youth in Athens. 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Although the Athenians’ and Jews’ lives

How powerful is The Bell Jar as a feminist text Free Essays

The Bell Jar is an attempt by Sylvia Plath to write about growing up as a woman, in America during the forties and fifties. It was first published in January 1963, before the fights for equal rights were debated in the late sixties and seventies. This was one of only a few novels, at its time, in which the main character and narrator was a woman. We will write a custom essay sample on How powerful is The Bell Jar as a feminist text? or any similar topic only for you Order Now The novel may also show Esther’s search for her identity, she thinks she knows what she wants but she becomes more and more uncertain as the novel unfolds. The struggle for women in those days is something which would we could not possibly understand. A lady could not even get a loan from the bank without her husband or father co-signing it. Unmarried women were denied birth control, and girls should not attend college. If they did it was expected that they were looking for a husband. The other girls in Esther’s dormitory in college told her she was wasting her â€Å"golden college years†. Throughout the book, there are many possible role models for Esther, not all of who have a positive influence on her. Jay Cee is an experienced, successful editor at the magazine where Esther has won an internship. Plath writes of Jay Cee as being somewhat masculine. This may have been because at the time only men were successful so she felt for a woman to be successful she had to be manly. However Esther starts to aim some of her anger towards Jay Cee – â€Å"Jay Cee wanted to teach me something, all the old ladies I ever know wanted to teach me something, but I suddenly didn’t think they had anything to teach me. † Esther dreamt of becoming a poet, but even her mother did not believe in her ambition. Her mother felt the only way she would succeed was if she learnt shorthand, as the highest position she would ever get was to be a secretary. Mrs. Greenwood never listened to what Esther had to say nor did she respond to her in any meaningful way. Mrs Greenwood felt that she was the perfect mother and the only way to show that was by bringing up the perfect set of children. The children’s role was to behave well to reflect their mother’s goodness. So when Esther refused to have shock treatments, Mrs. Greenwood said, â€Å"I knew my baby wasn’t like that, I knew you’d decide to be alright again. † A lot of Esther’s anger is aimed towards her mother and may even be the root of her illness. Mrs. Greenwood is everything that Esther doesn’t want to be, which is the reason she hates to conform. She feels that if she starts doing what â€Å"normal ladies† do she will end up like her mother. Esther even went as far as talking off her own mother’s death. When they both slept in the same room, Esther says, † The piggish noise irritated me, and for a while it seemed to me that the only way to stop it would be to take the column of skin and sinew from which it rose and twist it to silence between my hands. † After writing the book, Sylvia Plath told her brother that she wanted the novel to be published under a pseudonym. In those days, or even today, death wishes were not exactly the things to satisfy parental dreams. Buddy Willard is first seen, in the text, as a typical American male. Mrs. Greenwood says of him â€Å"he’s so athletic and so handsome and so intelligent†¦ kind of person a girl should stay clean for. † Before Esther gets to know him she thinks he’s wonderful, but as they get better acquainted her attitude towards him changes. Buddy Willard is a prime example of a cocksure male. He thinks men rule the world while women should just do what they’re told. This does not help Esther when she is trying to find her role within society to feel accepted. Buddy Willard is shallow and does absolutely nothing to make Esther feel good about herself. He’s insensitive and clumsy in his dealings with Esther. He refers to her poetry as dust; thereby dismissing the one thing that she believes has great value, through arrogance. The motive for her hatred for all the men in the novel except for one may stem from the fact that Sylvia Plath’s husband left her in 1962 and she wrote â€Å"The Bell Jar† a year after. However her poem â€Å"Daddy†, which she wrote in the very same year was a lot harsher towards her father and was more of a gut response. Another thing that deeply annoyed Esther was the double standard for men and women. If a man slept with a woman without loving her it was perfectly acceptable, yet if a woman slept with a man whom she didn’t love then she could be labelled a whore. There are proper codes of behaviour, particularly sexual ones for women and Mrs. Greenwood makes sure Esther knows of those by sending her a pamphlet about these codes. However Buddy is not expected to adhere to the same set of rules, so when Esther finds out he slept with a waitress, she shouldn’t be hurt because it didn’t mean anything! It is one of Esther’s desires to be sexually liberal, along with being a poet or a successful writer. How to cite How powerful is The Bell Jar as a feminist text?, Papers

Business Environment for Personnel Policies - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Environment for Nature and Personnel Policies. Answer: Introduction The sum total of all the factors (internal and external) that have an impact on the performance of the business is known as the Business environment (Pailwar, 2014). It is essential to understand the environment in which business operates in order to successfully run the business unit at every place. Because, the impact of every environmental factor is on the business aspects, it can be location, distribution system, nature, personnel policies or product prices (Kew Stredwick, 2017). This report is being prepared to analyze those external factors which have an influence on the performance of Wesfarmers Company. Overview of Wesfarmers Wesfarmers Company is an Australian multinational; with headquarter in Perth, Western Australia (Wesfarmers Limited, 2017). The company majorly operates in the New Zealand and Australian markets of fertilizers, safety, retail, coal mining, and fertilizers, industrial and chemical products. By revenue, it is the biggest company in Australia overtaking BHP Billiton and Woolworths. The biggest private employer in Australia is Wesfarmers, with about 220,000 employees. In 1914, the company was established as a cooperative in order to offer services. The company is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and grown as a big retail corporation (IBIS World, 2018). The company was formed by the Farmers and Settlers which is a Western Australia Association, in order to attain the assets of West Australian Producers Union. External Environment Analysis The primary analysis and study of the forces of macro-environment, competitor analysis and industry analysis in the purview of the growth of the organization are known as External Environment Analysis. Forces of Macro-environment are considered as dimensions in the wider society which impact the firms performance (MBA Skool, 2017). It focuses majorly on the probability of the future event. The environment of industry involves set of contingencies that directly affect the action and response of the firm. It emphasizes on the aspects that influence the firms probability in an industry, whereas competitor analysis majorly focuses on anticipating the dynamics of a competitor in terms of its responses and action etc. (Hiriyappa, 2013). Government Regulatory: In this factor, it is implied that the role of government is very important in influencing the performance of the company. It can influence in the form of legal regulations and taxes (Fern Fort University, 2018). Coal mining is an essential segment of Wesfarmers, and it is known that Australian Federal Government has mandated that the extraction of the mining industry can only be done after the permission of the state government of the particular state. Along with this political factors generally, have a greater influence on the retail industry of Australia. The increasing dominance of the retail supermarket like Wesfarmers has made competition for small retailers. Therefore the government has implemented some policies in order to restrict this. Economic policy- The economic factors like exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rate highly affects the organizations growth. The service sector has essential role in the Australian market, and in fact, it is notable that Australia GDPs 71.1% is contributed by this sector only. Service and Finance are the essential Australian service organizations, keeping this in the mind, it can be said that the Wesfarmers insurance market can gain profitable position in the Australian market. The GDP annual growth rate of the Australian economy is 2.8% by the year 2016 which reflects that the purchasing power of the people in Australia is also increasing. Customers with high purchasing power will invest in quality products, therefore; Wesfarmers should focus more on the quality. Consumer behaviour- For the Wesfarmers future growth, Australia's social environment plays an important role. Factors of the environment include population, cultural trends and demographics perform a significant role in the organization's success. As per the consumer behaviour of Australia people generally, prefer to buy necessary items in bulk once in a week. Therefore, it is constructive for the Wesfarmers to have their chain of departmental stores and retail stores in Australia. Technological- The important role performed in Australia is by the viable methods of operating a business. Therefore, Wesfarmers need to depend more on technologically advanced ways of production which can support the country in handling its ecological sustainability in future. By considering this aspect Wesfarmers has implemented those technologies which make use of low emission coal. It is a great change which is important for sustaining in the market for the longer period. Chemicals, Coal mining, fertilizers, and energy production are important segments in which Wesfarmers operate and therefore finding good technology along with regular innovations is required for the enterprise future development. Legal- Legal factors are those factors which explain the effect of the law on the functioning of any business. In Australia, there are many new laws which are governing the trade system, like resource laws, business laws, labour laws, etc. It is very important for the organization to accept and follow each law while operating the business. Environmental- The ecosystem in which living being lives offers natural services for all the species that are important for their survival, quality of life and health. Ecological sustainability is an integral part of the business process, and organization like Wesfarmers is continuously trying to create value for its shareholders, customers via solving the environmental issues like energy conservation, prevention from environmental pollution, etc. It is remarkable that company is operating its business activities with 10 environmental and community impact principles that make some guidelines for the company of making efficient ways of energy production. The initiatives were taken by the company in order to confirm the well-being of the community, maintenance of ecological sustainability, or reducing product packaging supports company in smoothly operating the business in Australia. Competitor- In general terms competition is the rivalry between two or more firms, individuals, social groups, etc. Competition arises when two or more firms try to achieve a common goal that cannot be shared, where one firms gain is the loss of other firm (Dennehy, 2012). Wesfarmers operates its business in an extremely competitive retailing industry of Food and Staples, where the company faces strong competition from Woolworths (Australian Government, 2011). It is a well-known leading supermarket in Australia which brings various strategies in order to give strong competition to Wesfarmers. Besides this HS Home, Myer, and Best Less are the strong competitors of Wesfarmers in this industry (MBA Skool, 2017). Recommendations to Resolve the Issues faced by Wesfarmers External Factors Major Issues Solution Government Regulatory Permission from State government A concerned team should be maintained in the organization which can handle all the legal issues and permissions which are necessary for operating business. Economic Policies Quality of Product Wesfarmers should implement a quality management system in the business in order to provide the best quality to the customers such as: Plan- Establishment of resources, procedures and Quality policies. Do- Report non-conformances and assessments to fulfil the gap between the perceived quality and expected quality. Check- Wesfarmers should do a proper assessment of the historical data in order to recognize the opportunities for enhancements. Act- Perform proper analysis and take remedial actions in order to do regular improvements (Hassiotis, 2015). Consumer Behaviour Buying necessary items in bulk In order to attract more customers who purchase products in bulk, they need to offer various discounts, offers, vouchers and various schemes to increase the sales. Technological Technology Advancement The company can create new and innovative technologies with the help of its research and development department in order to enhance its productivity and satisfaction of the customers. Legal Laws and Regulations It is the crucial part of any business, therefore, Wesfarmers should consider each and every aspect of the rules and regulations implemented by the government and should follow it. Environmental Environmental and community impact In Australia approx. 8 million cattle and 32 million sheep are killed every year for the consumption of human (Animals Australia, 2018). Considering this aspect Wesfarmers should initiate a program for the betterment and safeguarding of animals. In this program employees of the company can take part and can contribute something to the animals and environment. Competition Attracting Potential Customers The Wesfarmers Company should adopt market penetration strategy in order to attract potential customers. It will help the company in increasing its market share and can give strong competition to its competitors. Conclusion Environment analysis is called as a strategic tool. The process to recognize the internal and external elements that have a major influence on the performance of the company is known as Environment analysis. The above report has performed the environment analysis of Wesfarmers Company in order to identify the impact of various factors on its performance. The factors which were identified are Government regulations, economic policies, consumer behaviour, technological, legal, and environmental and competition. Along with this recommendations are provided which will help the company in taking corrective actions towards improving the performance of the company and increasing productivity. References Animals Australia. (2018). Ritual slaughter in Australia. Retrieved from: https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/ritual_slaughter.php Australian Government. (2011). Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry. Melbourne: Productivity Commission. Dennehy, J. (2012). Competition, Gender and Management: Beyond Winning and Losing. Germany: Springer. Fern Fort University. (2018). Wesfarmers Limited PESTEL Environment Analysis. Retrieved from: https://fernfortuniversity.com/term-papers/pestel/nyse4/4814-wesfarmers-limited.php Hassiotis, M.K. (2015). How to Implement the PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act). Retrieved from: https://news.ewmfg.com/blog/how-to-implement-the-pdca-cycle-plan-do-check-act-in-any-department Hiriyappa, B. (2013). Strategic Management and Business Policy. Indiana: Booktango. IBIS World. (2018). Wesfarmers Limited - Premium Company Report Australia. Retrieved from: https://www.ibisworld.com.au/australian-company-research-reports/retail-trade/wesfarmers-limited-company.html Kew, J., Stredwick, J. (2017). Business Environment: Managing in a Strategic Context. U.K: Kogan Page Publishers. MBA Skool. (2017). External Environment Analysis. Retrieved from: https://www.mbaskool.com/business-concepts/marketing-and-strategy-terms/8566-external-environment-analysis.html MBA Skool. (2017). Wesfarmers SWOT Analysis, USP Competitors. Retrieved from: https://www.mbaskool.com/brandguide/lifestyle-and-retail/10269-wesfarmers.html Pailwar, K.V. (2014). Business Environment. India: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Wesfarmers Limited. (2017). About Wesfarmers. Retrieved from: https://sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au/our-report/about-wesfarmers/

Rmg in Bangladesh free essay sample

CHALLENGES FACED BY BANGLADESH RMG Enactment of US Trade Development Act 2000 The Trade and Development Act 2000 more popularly known as US Trade Development Act 2000 was enacted in the USA on May 19, 2000. This act consisting of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act was aimed to introduce a new trade and investment policy for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), expand trade benefits to countries in the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), enhance the GSP and strengthen the US Trade adjustment assistance programmes. The US TDA 2000 provided preferential trade access, especially in textile and apparel sectors, to the countries of Africa and Caribbean Basin. The US Trade Development Act 2000 provided duty-free and quota-free access to 48 countries of Africa and 24 countries of the Caribbean Basin for exporting textile and apparel products to the US market on certain eligibility criteria. Some of the beneficiary countries, especially in the Caribbean Basin, are Bangladesh’s direct competitors in the US apparel market. We will write a custom essay sample on Rmg in Bangladesh or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Since this act was enacted, Bangladesh’s RMG had to struggle harder to maintain its competitiveness and prevent losing market share to these beneficiary countries. Accession of China to WTO China is perhaps the largest supplier of textiles and clothing in the world. The accession of the country to WTO happened on December 11, 2001 opening up a new vista of market access for itself. China has a very large production base of fabric, by using competitive and appropriate technology. China also has a very large pool of labor force for the highly labor intensive apparel industry. Both these factors ensure a very high degree of competitiveness. China’s accession to WTO has removed their major market access constraint. The high degree of integration that China already had between their textile and clothing sector enabled them to respond quickly to the demand of garment buyers. This posed the threat of the diversion of business to China in large quantum from countries like Bangladesh, urging them further to remain competitive. End of the MFA Era The beginning of the year 2005 marked the birth of the post MFA era. The MFA Multi Fibre Arrangement, also known as the Agreement on Textile and Clothing (ATC)) governed the world trade in textiles and garments from 1974 through 2004, imposing quotas on the amount developing countries could export to developed countries. It expired on 1 January 2005 in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) of 1994. The period of MFA (1974-2004) enabled Bangladesh to emerge as a global supplier of RMG (Re adymade Garments). But its termination threatened to change this scenario. Countries that relied on the secured market of quotas had to face enormous challenges amid intense global competition. Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on this sector gave rise to certain vulnerabilities. With neighboring countries, such as India and China, building ever more formidable RMG industries, a substantial part of Bangladesh’s RMG workforce was put at risk of job loss if the industry failed to stay competitive, not to mention considerable losses in foreign exchange earnings. In order to prevent such losses and remain a notable player in the apparel market, Bangladesh had to devise and implement strategies to improve its overall competitiveness and that of the RMG sector. A study by the World Bank titled, â€Å"End of MFA Quotas: Key Issues and Strategic Options for Bangladesh Readymade Garment Industry,† explored the factors that have brought success to Bangladesh’s RMG industry and examined the probable threats and key constraints in the post-MFA era. It also set out a number of strategic options for the sector to pursue, building on past achievements and competitive advantages in order to be able to enhance Bangladesh’s export competitiveness in the global marketplace. It suggested a dual approach that assisted Bangladesh to compete efficiently. They are as follows: †¢A focused strategy for strengthening the competitiveness of the RMG industry. †¢A diversification strategy to reduce Bangladesh’s vulnerability from export concentration in RMG. A summary of the approaches are as follows: Reducing lead time: Lead time (refers to the time required for supplying the ordered garment products after the export order has been received) has emerged as an important issue in the global market. Retailers value those manufacturers who can respond quickly to orders. Bangladesh has the longest lead time among its competitors, and it needs to find a way to reduce lead time if it is to maintain international competitiveness. Improving the domestic and regional supply chain: Contributing to the problem of lead time is the gap between demand and supply of raw material, particularly for woven garments. Local sourcing has not been able to reduce this gap significantly, and it will take time to increase domestic capacity substantially. One option may be to forge closer links with neighboring suppliers for sourcing textile and clothing (T C) inputs at reasonably short notice. Warehousing for a quick turnaround: An innovative solution to the problem of long lead time could be the establishment of a central bonded warehouse (CBW) to stock duty-free imported inputs. A CBW could be set up by any firm, and its duty-free imports would not be subject to conditions, unlike individual bonded warehouses. The CBW operator could be permitted to stock a whole range of T C inputs, such as finished and grey fabric, accessories, dyes and chemicals, yarn, RMG, and textile machinery and spare parts in amounts determined by expected demand. RMG and textile manufacturers could then purchase these inputs duty-free from the CBW directly as export orders are received and save on the shipping time required for importing inputs. Opening land routes and modernizing port facilities: To reduce the time taken to source inputs from the region Bangladesh Government recently removed the ban on importing yarn from India via land routes. This should be followed up with other logistics and infrastructural reforms, such as modernizing Chittagong Port and addressing inadequate power supply, which act as major constraints on efficiency. Simplification of tariff regime: Despite increasing liberalization, Bangladesh remains one of the most protected economies in South Asia and, indeed, the world. As pointed out in a previous World Bank report, Export Competitiveness and Growth, high tariffs that protect domestic industries create disincentives to export activities and cause an anti-export bias. High import duties also increase the cost of production and reduce profit margins of manufacturers. The RMG sector has been insulated from this anti-export bias through schemes such as bonded warehouses and EPZs. This shows that Bangladeshi producers will respond to opportunities and can compete in the global market when they do not face disincentives in the domestic market. Simplifying the cumbersome import regime as a whole could make export diversification a reality. Diversification, aggressive marketing, and pursuing new markets: In order to forge a competitive edge, Bangladesh could diversify into a new range of higher-value products, aside from the traditional T-shirts, shirts, trousers, sweaters, and jackets which make up 60 percent of the RMG exports. This would need to be associated with vigorous promotion and aggressive marketing in order to secure a position in the market for high-value apparel. Furthermore, with only a handful of countries accounting for 98 percent of Bangladesh’s RMG export market, opportunities to exploit other potential markets should be explored, including East Asia and other middle-income countries, and others which have given zero-tariff access to Bangladeshi exports. Bangladesh National Council (BNC) of Textile Garments and leathers Workers has proposed eight-point strategies to attain sustainable RMG sector in the post-MFA era. The proposal included formation of multi-stakeholder national Committee on occupational health and safety for the garment workers, healthy and secured work environment, recognition and established workers rights by Bangladesh Garments manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) as a precondition to access global market, global brands and buyers investments, building stronger backward linkage, financial support from the government, establishment of universally-recognized working hours and a formation of national investigation on the Spectrum incident. Rise of the Financial Crisis In 2007, not long after the end of MFA era when Bangladesh’s RMG sector just started to gather itself and prepare to fight the amplified global completion and remain competitive, the Global Financial Crisis surfaced ominously. The crisis aroused due to the bursting of the United States housing bubble (a type of economic bubble that occurs periodically in local or global real estate markets. It is characterized by rapid increases in valuations of real estate property such as housing until they reach unsustainable levels relative to incomes and other economic elements). This financial crisis that surfaced in the United States gradually spread its tentacles all over the globe. Since its emergence till present, major market stocks registered nonstop fall, leading financial institutions steadily moved towards the brink of bankruptcy; making some of them to get sold at incredibly low price and governments of wealthiest countries came up with rescue packages to save their financial system. Bearing in mind that the world’s robust economies are struggling to cope with the crisis, it did not seem farfetched to believe that the weak and fragile economy of our country will be affected as well. In a report, the World Bank (WB) said that the Bangladesh’s development will start getting hit right away. It projected that the Bangladesh’s economic growth will fall by 2 percent to 4. 8 percent in fiscal 2008-09 contrasting the government projection of 6. 8 percent. In response, Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Salehuddin Ahmed firmly ruled it out stating that WB’s projection is grossly underestimated and is not backed by thorough analysis. He said for now Bangladesh is save from any blow from the crisis but if it prolongs then the impact might be felt in the long run. According to the Governor, as Bangladesh produces low-end garment products, the sector may not be affected. He urged everyone involved to keep their eyes open as a precaution along with the suggestion that exporters should improve competitiveness by improving productivity and efficiency, instead of seeking a favorable exchange rate. A high-powered technical committee was formed on November 3, 2008 to closely monitor the impact on the countrys economy from the fallout of the current global financial crisis and take instant remedial measures. The committee comprised of 8 members with the Finance Secretary Dr Mohammed Tareque as the head. The other members of the committee were the National Board of Revenue Chairman, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) member, Controller of Insurance Companies, vice chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), additional secretary of Economic Relations Division (ERD) and one representative from IMED. Unlike the government officials, the garment exporters and major buyers believed that the global financial crisis will not Bangladesh’s RMG sector as it exports mainly basic products. According to them, sales of cheaper RMG products increased both in Europe and the US by 20 percent following the global financial turmoil and number of orders that they received from foreign buyers was high as the buyers started to look for cheaper RMG products. But they also thought that the bad impact of the global recession may be felt in February or March of 2009 if the situation in the western financial markets does not improve. They were confident that Bangladeshs strong market position will not diminish if the crisis prevailed for a short time period. Bangladesh set an export target at $16. 298 billion for fiscal 2008-09, with the readymade garment sector to earn the highest amount of foreign currency. Of $16. 298 billion, $12. 267 billion were expected to come from two main sub-sectors of RMG: knitwear and woven. The export of readymade garments (RMG) from Bangladesh experienced a hefty growth last fiscal despite the ongoing global recession. The overall apparel shipments in the fiscal 2008-09 ended in last June and witnessed a growth of 15. 4 percent to stand at over $ 12. 47 billion. Countrys shipment to 26 out of total 27 EU member countries reached US$ 8. 2 billion at the end of last fiscal year, which was US$ 7. 6 billion in FY 2007-08. THE FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR RMG However, the president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Abdus Salam Murshedy is not happy about the last fiscal’s (2008-09) growth rate. He thinks it could have been much higher. According to the BGMEA president, hard t ime is yet to come in the sector of readymade garments. He thinks that the recent export figures are reflecting the earliest hits of the financial crisis on the RMG sector. According to him, the industry is under pressure from falling export orders, drastically falling retail price and demand of the products, which pose the actual threat. Increased fuel price, bank interest rates, shortage of power are further threatening the existence of the countrys apparel sector. He urged the government to disburse funds that have been promised to rescue the countrys largest export earning sector to fend off recession impact. Bangladesh now enjoys extra competitive edge in the EU market with the GSP facility under which the exporters get zero tariff entry to the 27 member-states of EU when India, China and some other countries have to pay certain amount of tariff. But the competitive edge will be eroded if the EU signed TFA with India and other nations and ease the rules of origin, offering them greater market access with lower tariff or no tariff at all. Ready-made garment (RMG) sector is about to face another setback as competitors like Pakistan and Sri Lanka are likely to get duty advantage in the US market after the current WTO negotiations are over. Duty on RMG export from Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be reduced to 5. 0 percent within five years after the negotiations are over but for least developed countries (LDC) including Bangladesh, the time limit is 10 years. These two countries will get the facilities under disproportionately affected countries (DAC) as Pakistan has war like situation and Sri Lanka is war-torn and affected by tsunami. So for the last five years, Bangladesh will be in a less competitive position by 10 percent duty as the average tariff duty on RMG to the US market is 15 percent. The World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations will be over by 2010 and when it is over within the three months, the duty cut facilities will become effective. For more than 30 years Bangladesh has been one of the best RMG (ready-made garments) exporting countries in the world. However, being one of the world`s best in this sector, Bangladesh is not receiving the treatment and facilities that it deserves in the market of importing, rich countries. According to African Growth and Opportunity Act Competitiveness Report (AGOA), more than 37 LDCs (least developed country) got a duty-free access in the market of USA till September 30, 2009. Whereas, 13 LDC’s including Bangladesh have yet not got this privilege in the USA. This places us in a tough position to compete with the rest. Being an LDC had we been receiving this privilege from the USA and other importing countries would have enormously contributed to pace up of our growth. Moreover, the global financial crisis is still ongoing. Many politicians, economists, world leaders and others concerned are still working on to fix the crisis. The longer the crisis would last, the deeper would be its impact on Bangladesh economy whose prime driving force is RMG. EXPORT TREND OF BANGLADESH RMG The RMG business started in Bangladesh in the 70’s but it was then a merely casual effort. The first consignment of knitwear export was made in 1973 and the first consignment of woven garments was made in 1977. In 1981-82 the contribution of woven garments in the total export was 1. 10%. Afterwards it is a story of sustained success for Bangladesh RMG sector. The knitwear sector has grown over the years in geometric progression and become the prime driving force of Bangladesh’s export earnings. Within a decade the contribution of woven to the export basket became 42. 83% (1990-91) and the knitwear sector’s contribution was 7. 64% (1990-91). Now knitwear has become the largest export earning sector of Bangladesh contributing 41. 79% to national export earnings at the end of FY 2008-09 (July-April). The entrepreneurs of the knitwear sector stepped forward with their expertise in the late 80’s. With their earnest efforts they were able to export US $14. 84 million in 1989-90. Out of this, US $12. 22 million was exported to EU and US $2. 02 million was exported to US. The trend continued in the knitwear sector because of the market access opportunities provided to the LDC’s under the Generalized Systems of Preference (GSP) benefit. Source: BGMEA This is the rejuvenated beginning of the epic story of Bangladeshi knitwear sector that in true sense has been possible due to the massive industrialization in a sustainable way with effect on all probable human development aspects which is the encouraging part of the story. The growth of knitwear sector is increasing in an increasing rate. The cumulative average growth rate of the sector is 20%. And it is continuously grabbing more portions in the export pie of Bangladesh. This is mainly attributed to the facilities provide under the EC, GSP and ROO. The knitwear sector is heavily driven by favorable policies and took the opportunity to develop a strong backward linkage for the sector. Source: Export Promotion Bureau The EU is the main export region for Bangladesh knitwear constituting 76% (US $4. 2 billion) of total knitwear export followed by USA (14. 59%, i. e. US $807 million) in the year 2007-08. This is mainly attributed to the facilities provide under EC, GSP and favorable ROO. The knitwear sector is driven heavily by these favorable policies and the opportunity to develop a strong backward linkage for the sector where the value addition is about 75%. The two-stage transformation requirement of ROO in 1999 boosted market penetration in EU further; it contributed a growth of 101. 9% since 2000-01. Source: BGMEA Bangladesh RMG sector has successfully passed some critical tests and is now sailing with two masts: knitwear and woven. The sub-sectors are now in healthy competition among themselves to take the role of leadership within the country. Source: BGMEA In FY 2003-04, knitwear for the first time exceeded woven wear and became the leader in terms of quantity exported with 91. 6 million dozens. Knitwear is still leading in terms of quantity exported and is widening the gap day by day. Export quantity of knitwear items increased to 241. 59 million dozens which is higher than the year 2003-04 to 2007-08. On the month of December of the FY 2008-09, total knitwear export was 146. 5 million dozens higher than the same period of last year. Source: BGMEA Bangladesh knitwear is performing a well increase in terms of terms of quantity which is a clear indication of capacity in this sector. In year 2007-08, contribution of woven wear to the export earning was 36. 17% and in knitwear was 38. 97%. In the current year, the performance of both the sector are as follows: knitwear export US $5,231. 01 million FY 2008-09 (July-April); woven export US $4,902. 48 million FY 2008-09 (July-April). Figure: Exports to various destinations WORKS CITED http://www. worldbank. org. bd/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/BANGLADESHEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20849416~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:295760,00. html http://bgmea. com. bd/home/pages/aboutus http://www. thefinancialexpress-bd. om/2009/08/04/75255. html http://www. thefinancialexpress-bd. com/2009/10/05/80758. html http://www. tg-supply. com/article/view. html? id=28649 http://english. people. com. cn/90001/90777/90851/6526368. html http://www. thedailystar. net/story. php? nid=65258 http://www. newsfrombangladesh. net/view. php? hidRecord=225118 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Financial_crisis_of_2007–2009 http://www. un escap. org/tid/publication/aptir2456_haider. pdf http://dhakachamber. com/cipe/EPPs%20%20Studies/Expansion%20and%20diversification. pdf www. bdiusa. org/Publications/JBS/Volumes/Volume2/jbs2. 2-3. pdf

Can Green Card Holders Get Financial Aid

Can Green Card Holders Get Financial Aid SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re a high school student and a green card holder, you might be wondering if you’re eligible for any financial assistance for college. The short answer to the question, â€Å"Can green card holders get financial aid?† is yes, but what’s the process for getting it? We’ll discuss the forms you have to fill out and how to determine your eligibility for financial aid as a green card holder in this article. Can Green Card Holders Get Financial Aid? According to the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid division, US permanent residents with a green card (Forms I-551, I-151, or I551C) are considered â€Å"eligible noncitizens† and can get financial aid from the US government. The financial aid available for permanent residents includes federal student loans and state grants. If your green card has expired, you can still get financial aid as long as your permanent residency hasn’t expired; you just need to make sure you renew your green card. Unfortunately, if your permanent resident status has expired, you can’t get any federal financial aid. Here are some other groups considered to be eligible non-citizens (and therefore can get federal financial aid): US nationals (including natives of American Samoa or Swains Island) Citizens of the Republic of Palau (eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal Work-Study) Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (eligible for Federal Pell Grants only) Holders of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) that shows you as "Refugee," "Asylum Granted," "Cuban-Haitian Entrant," "Conditional Entrant" (if issued before 1 Apr 1980), or "Parolee" (paroled for at least a year with intent to become a US citizen or permanent resident) Those with a T nonimmigrant status (T-visa) or whose parents have a T-1 nonimmigrant status Those who qualify as "battered immigrant-qualified aliens" (or their children), as designated under the Violence Against Women Act Find out more about the different types of financial aid out there with our simple guide. Financial Aid for Green Card Holders: How to Get It We've established that the answer to "can green card holders get financial aid?" is yes, but how do you go about it? The process for getting financial aid as a green card holder is almost identical to what you’d do as a US citizen. We’ve outlined the three steps you need to take here. Step 1: FAFSA for Green Card Holders To get financial aid as a permanent resident, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, before the deadlines for federal and state financial aid. The federal deadline is generally June 30th (midnight, Central Time) for the following school year. For example, the deadline for the 2017-2018 school year is June 30, 2018. Deadlines for state assistance vary from state to state; for instance, the application for Massachusetts state funding for the 2017-2018 school year was due May 1, 2017 (midnight Central Time), while the state funding for New York for that same year is due the same time as the federal deadline for FAFSA (June 30, 2018). Find out what your state of residency’s FAFSA deadline is here. As a green card holder, when you fill out FAFSA you must enter your eight- or nine-digit Alien Registration Number, or ARN. You can find more information on how to find your ARN here. Step 2: Contact Your College Colleges and universities, particularly those with large endowments, often offer students grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans. Check out our list of colleges that offer 100% financial aid to see the different sorts of aid given at different schools. The best way to find out what kind of financial aid for green card holders is available at your college is to reach out and ask. Look up your college’s financial aid office information and contact them directly to get the most accurate information. Step 3: Research Private Scholarships In addition to government-based and school-based financial aid, you may also be able to get private scholarships. Like school-sponsored scholarships, private scholarships do not require repayment and help keep your student debt down. Learn more about what scholarships are out there and how to apply for them with this expert guide. What’s Next? Looking for an introduction to what financial aid is? Read this great guide to financial aid and paying less for college. What’s the average cost of college tuition, and what’s not included in it? Find out what the real costs of college are and the best way to keep those costs down. Where are the best schools to get a lower-cost education? We have articles highlighting which colleges have the best financial aid and which US colleges are cheapest overall. 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