100 Amazingly Insightful People You Can Learn From on Twitter
By Emily Thomas
You may use Twitter purely for social networking or to boost your blog traffic, but Twitter is also an excellent resource for learning new things, exposing yourself to new ideas, and challenging yourself to be more innovative. For a daily stream of business tips, life lessons, personal finance help, tech tips, and more, check out these incredibly insightful Tweeters.
Business
These business leaders are at the top of their game and love sharing their success stories with followers.
- @zappos: Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh is full of insight and tips for being a smarter customer and better citizen.
- @skydiver: Peter Shankman is a social media CEO and adventurer who shares random trivia plus business news.
- @richardbranson: Get inside the mind of Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson here.
- @gcolony: George Colony is the CEO of Forrester Research and sends out specific tweets about his opinions on business and more.
- @rseanlindsay: This entrepreneur shares insight into funding, starting a business, investments, trades, and more.
- @sundaycosmetics: Bev Davis is a cosmetics entrepreneur who shares lots of inspirational, motivating tweets for business professionals and beyond.
- @lazerow: Michael Lazerow is the CEO of Buddy Media and shares business tips and social media tricks.
- @EntMagazineAmy: Amy Cosper is the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine.
- @barefoot_exec: Carrie Wilkerson, The Barefoot Executive, is serious about her mission to inspire other entrepreneurs.
- @nichelady: Isabella Murphy shares sensible business tips and encouraging words.
- @WebWorkerDaily: Follow the people behind WebWorkerDaily to learn all sorts of valuable tips for being a successful freelancer and web worker.
- @JohnChow: This "dot com mogul" shares great tips and news stories about making money online.
- @sumaya: Sumaya Kazi is the Senior Social Media Manager of Sun Microsystems, and she’s not even 30.
Art, Music and Design
Tap into some of the most innovative and insightful artistic minds just be logging on to Twitter. These artists and designers are full of creative ideas.
- @fakekarl: This famous Karl Lagerfeld impostor shares thought-provoking tweets like "Designing Chanel is like practicing scales."
- @refinery29: This blog tweets about arts, entertainment, fashion and design.
- @mattbrett: Successful web designer Matt Brett tracks his daily duties here.
- @maxvoltar: Tim Van Damme is a designer and blogger who connects with followers about travel, work, news, and technology.
- @jazzimcg: Jzzi McGilbert is a stylist, blogger and fashionista who tweets about the arts and entertainment world.
- @rachel_roy: Rachel Roy is a New York fashion designer who shares news and pictures from upcoming collections.
- @DavidAirey: David Airey designs logos and more.
- DaveJMatthews: Musician Dave Matthews’ Twitter is full of interesting insights and observations.
Travel and Exploration
Be inspired to travel, soak in the world around you, and begin a new adventure when you follow these traveling Tweeters.
- @wendyperrin: Wendy Perrin is a traveler and columnist who tweets about travel hacks, travel tools, and more.
- @Marilyn_Res: Marilyn Terrell is a chief researcher for National Geographic magazine.
- @frugaltraveler: Follow @frugaltraveler for smart tips for saving money on world travel.
- @evanrail: Evan Rail tweets about the food, music, and places he experiences when he travels.
- @newley: Newley Purnell is a freelance reporter who lives in Bangkok. Follow his tweets for a different perspective on living and traveling abroad.
Economy
For insight into the recession and the global economy, follow this group of economists, journalists and other experts.
- @livingwithless: Learn how to deal with the recession by following this feed.
- @nytimeskrugman: Find out what famed economist and writer Paul Krugman has to say about the state of the economy.
- stephronyt: Stephanie Rosenbloom reports on the retail industry for the New York Times.
- @Richard_Florida: Economist and author Richard Florida shares news and emerging ideas about American innovation, the recession, and globalization.
- @WayneMarr: Follow University of Alaska business professor Wayne Marr for updates on U.S. labor, the economy, spending, and a lot more.
- @johnrutledge: John Rutledge’s Twitter stream is all about the world market, inflation, class war, interest rates, and more.
- @Nouriel: Nouriel Roubini is a professor at NYU’s Stern School and shares tweets about his interesting life as a guest on shows like CNBC.
Politics and History
Become engaged in the issues that are impacting your life and become a more informed, responsible citizen when you follow these historians and politicians.
- @TimOBrienNYT: Writer and journalist Tim O’Brien shares stories about technology, family life, politics, war, and more.
- @JimDeMint: South Carolina senator Jim DeMint keeps people from his state and around the country updated on the economy and what’s going on in Washington.
- @BarackObama: It’s doubtful that President Barack Obama actually updates his Twitter feed, but it’s a good source of information if you want to keep up with the news and legislation from Washington.
- @stacygreen: Stacy Green manages digital public relations at the New York Times, but her secret love is history.
- @SenJohnMcCain: Former presidential nominee John McCain still maintains a presence on Twitter.
- @prof_gabriele: Professor Matthew Gabriele is a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech.
- @chrisdodd: Connecticut senator Chris Dodd also currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.
- @dancohen: Dan Cohen is the Director for the Center for History and New Media and an associate professor of history at GMU.
- @WayneClough: Wayne Clough is a former president of Georgia Tech and is now the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
- @brooklynmuseum: Shelley Bernstein tweets for the Brooklyn Museum and keeps followers updated on exhibits, museum news, and more.
Finance
Get personal finance tips and budgeting help from this group of finance pros.
- @SuzeOrmanShow: Follow popular TV host and PF expert Suze Orman here.
- @SavingSense: This tweeter connects with other personal finance feeds and frugal moms who want the best deal they can get.
- @debtkid: Let @debtkid point you in the right direction when it comes to educating yourself on smart money practices.
- @collegemoneygal: Even if you’re not in school, follow this feed for helpful money-saving tips.
- @NotMadeOfMoney: Mrs. NMOM is a work-at-home mom of four who is committed to sharing important finance and economic news stories.
- @mint: Aaron Patzer, founder and CEO of online money organizer Mint.com, tweets here.
- bargainr: Jim Wang is a scotch addict who reveals PF disasters, budget pitfalls, and tips for saving money.
- @sqa: Simon Q. Anthony is a sustainable and green thinker who loves sharing tips on monetizing your web presence and saving money.
- @wendroffcpa: Darren Wendroff is a friendly tweeter who loves sharing what he knows with his followers.
- @CNNMoney: Follow the financial reporters behind CNN Money, Fortune, and Money here.
Teaching and Education
Learn how to use technology and social media for the purpose of education.
- @jeanettejoy: Jeanette Joy Fisher is a teacher, author and speaker who shares uplifting messages.
- @TheEngTeacher: Aniya teaches ESL in Italy and shows how educators can use Twitter.
- @whattoknow: Follow this valuable stream for helpful tips on saving money, investing, learning about real estate, going back to school, and more.
- @jason_a_w: Jason Wilson is a lecturer in Digital Communications at the University of Wollongong.
- @dannmallet: Dann Mallet is a mathematician who tweets about the life of a teacher.
- @julie_posetti: Julie Posetti is an Australian journalist and journalism professor who loves tweeting about social media, politics, journalism and more.
- @jboitnott: John Boitnott is a journalist who has worked for NBC, CBS and ABC.
- @adevine1: Andrew Devine is a special ed teacher at Humboldt State University who likes talking about social media and learning about technology and education.
- @kristomagno: Follow this feed to learn how social media can work for education.
Environment
By following these environmentalists and green journalists, you can get tips on being a more conscientious citizen.
- @CarbonHeart: Matthew Sullivan tweets about your carbon footprint and how to live without destroying the Earth.
- @care2: This popular online community of eco-conscious members tweets about environmental legislation and tips for living a greener life.
- @HempNews: Learn about all of the health and environmental benefits of using hemp.
- @grist: Environmental news site Grist shares videos, tips and stories about everything green.
- @LighterFootstep: Get constant tips and ideas for affording green products, using alternative energy, and more.
- @greentweet: Chelsea Green shares lots of good ideas for being more green, as well as weekly environmental news.
- @Ecochickie: Ecochickie is also the editor of Greenopia. Follow her feed for green news and more.
- @sustainablog: Jeff McIntire-Strasburg shares all kinds of environmental news here.
- @globalwarming: Learn about all the important global warming news stories and research findings here.
Technology
Follow tech leaders like Pete Cashmore and Guy Kawasaki, among others, to learn more about technology news, social media tips, and more.
- @mashable: Mashable’s CEO Pete Cashmore describes himself as a "quiet type," but his tweets are full of important tech news and tips.
- @GuyKawasaki: Alltop co-founder and tech expert Guy Kawasaki shares social media tips, online tutorials, and more.
- @adbroad: Helen Klein Ross is an Ad Age power blogger who tweets about advertising and social media trends.
- @chrisbrogan: Social media expert Chris Brogan helps other businesses and entrepreneurs learn how to be more successful.
- @TechCrunch: Michael Arrington, co-editor of TechCrunch, tweets helpful tech hacks and shares news from the industry.
- @timoreilly: Tim O’Reilly is the founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media, and his feed is filled with insight into tech news stories.
- @jack: Jack Dorsey is the co-founder of Twitter.
- @derekg: Derek Gottfrid writes the Open Blog for the New York Times and is full of web and tech insights.
- @scottkarp: Follow Publishing 2.0 editor Scott Karp’s feed for news and insight into the business of technology and media.
- @chr1sa: Chris Anderson of Wired tweets intriguing news and technology stories here.
- @debbieweil: If you want to learn how to become a more successful blogger, follow Debbie Weil.
- @THErealDVORAK: This popular stream comes from the legendary tech columnist John C. Dvorak.
- @leolaporte: Technology podcaster and broadcaster Leo Laporte tweets here.
Health
For daily tips on living well and managing your health care, follow these Tweeters.
- @LeeAase: Lee Aase is the social media manager for the Mayo Clinic.
- @sanjayguptaCNN: Immensely popular doctor and CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta tweets here.
- @allergiesweb: This stream features lots of helpful articles on living with all kinds of allergies.
- @josephweaver: Joe Weaver, RN is also the author of The Tao of Quitting Smoking and is a great resource for general health news.
- @KristieMcNealy: Kristie McNealy is a medical blogger for women’s and children’s health.
Words of Wisdom and Inspiration
This group of Twitter feeds comes from insightful people who inspire kindness, selflessness, good living, and more.
- @LIVESTRONGCEO: Doug Ulman is the CEO of LIVESTRONG.
- @AndreaGillies: Follow writer Andrea Gillies to learn about caregiving, friendship and family.
- @christine22hoef: Also a writer, Christine Hoeflich tweets lots of inspiring messages to get through the day.
- @Oprah: Oprah’s the queen of nifty tips, tricks, and inspiration that will help you turn your life around.
- @Deepak_Chopra: Follow this popular author and zen guru for tips on being more energetic, productive and loving.
- @gtdguy: David Allen, the guy who invented Getting Things Done, shares helpful life hacks here.
- @MarthaStewart: Martha Stewart tweets to share photos, recipes, and other Martha tricks.
- @Trishryan: Trish Ryan is the author of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.
- @stevepavlina: Steve Pavlina can help you become more productive and excited about life.
- @diablocody: Juno writer Diablo Cody tweets here, if you’re interested in reading about her fabulous life or catching any more "Juno-isms."
- @levarburton: Formerly of Reading Rainbow, Levar Burton now tweets about environmental issues, humanitarian causes, and more.
COLLEGE DEGREE FINDER
10 Most Successful and Famous College Dropouts
By Emily Thomas
While a college degree is heralded as the only way to get a solid, profitable career in modern society, there’s no rule that you need to graduate to make it big in the world. In fact, there are lots of examples of successful, famous individuals who simply felt that college couldn’t satisfy their ambitions and dreams. And if anyone asks you to prove it, just point to these 10 incredibly successful and famous college dropouts.
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Brad Pitt: Brad Pitt is one of the most famous movie stars on the planet. People around the world have seen his movies and recognize his face, though he’s a college dropout, he’s also supremely rich. Pitt was born in Shawnee, OK, and attended the University of Missouri the early 1980s, studying journalism. Two weeks before he was set to graduate, Pitt dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles to take acting classes. Today, he has two Academy Award nominations, a Golden Globe, and a career that doesn’t seem like it will ever end.
Woody Allen: Writer, comedian, film director and actor Woody Allen is an American icon and a New York legend who has been influencing art and cinema since the 1960s. Known as a neurotic intellectual, Allen began his comedic career at just 16, when he began writing with Sid Caesar. He attended New York University, but was eventually expelled.
Bill Gates: Bill Gates has been named the richest man in the world, and in 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported that Gates’ net worth had reached an estimated $40 billion. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, was a promising student with a very high IQ and even enrolled at Harvard. Gates had already started a company with Steve Allen as a teenager, and at Harvard, he continued to grow his network of the computer scientists and professionals who would eventually run Microsoft. Gates eventually dropped out to start his career, but in 2007, Harvard awarded him an honorary degree.
Tom Hanks: Tom Hanks is one of the most respected men in Hollywood, and is an Academy Award winning actor, as well as a director, producer and writer. Hanks’ career box office totals reportedly exceed $3.3 billion, thanks to films like Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Philadelphia, and Forrest Gump. Hanks, who is distantly related to Abraham Lincoln, attended Chabot College and California State University – Sacramento, though he dropped out to intern for the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland.
Ted Turner: Outspoken media mogul Ted Turner has founded multiple TV stations including CNN and TNT. He is considered to be one of the richest Americans and even donated $1 billion to UN causes. Turner, who was born in Cincinnati, OH, in 1938, attended a prep school as a boy in Tennessee and attended Brown University, studying classics, and later, economics. Turner, however, was eventually expelled after getting caught with a girl in his dorm room.
Ellen DeGeneres: Ellen DeGeneres has been a pop culture icon for decades. She is a successful comedian, TV actress, film actress and talk show host and has even hosted the Academy Awards and Primetime Emmys. DeGeneres studied communications at the University of New Orleans, but she dropped out after one year to work at odd jobs in around the city while getting her start as a stand-up comedian.
Steve Jobs: As co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc., Steve Jobs is one of the most successful and respected executives in business and in the computer science industry. Steve Jobs grew up in California and attended Reed College in Portland, though he dropped out after one semester. Jobs continued to audit classes at Reed, and even credits a calligraphy class he attended as the inspiration for all of the fonts on Macintosh computers. Four years after enrolling at Reed, Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak founded Apple.
Michael Dell: Dell CEO Michael Dell actually started his first computer company as a student at the University of Texas at Austin. His grandparents helped fund the company, and Dell dropped out of college to run his company, PC’s Limited. PC’s Limited ultimately became Dell, Inc.
John Glenn: John Glenn is the first man to orbit the Earth and has enjoyed a successful career in the Navy, Marine Corps, space exploration, and U.S. politics. Glenn is also one of the most famous astronauts in U.S. history and was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978. As a young man, Glenn studied chemistry at Muskingum College in Ohio, where he earned his pilot’s license.
Marisa Tomei: Academy Award-winning actress Marisa Tomei has enjoyed a successful TV, film and stage career since she started acting on soap operas in the 1980s. Tomei has appeared in and starred in My Cousin Vinny, Seinfeld, In the Bedroom, and The Wrestler, as well as many Broadway productions. The Brooklyn native attended the elite Edward R. Murrow High School in Midwood, NY, and went on to Boston University and then New York University, though she ultimately dropped out of college to pursue acting on As the World Turns.
COLLEGE DEGREE FINDER
100 Awesome Firefox Add-Ons for Back to School
Going back to school can be a depressing thought. Added responsibility and stress stand in stark contrast with carefree summer days. Fortunately, a host of clever and helpful Firefox add-ons let anyone tackle assignments, lectures and life with ease. Here are 100 awesome Firefox add-ons for going back to school.
Productivity and Time Management
Getting organized is half the battle in school. Past days saw students manually keep track of assignments either with paper or their memories. In the digital age, a bevy of programs are available to keep kids on the honor roll track. Here are the best add-ons for productivity, research and productivity.
- Schooler: A complete package of tools to help with all your school work.
- LeechBlock: A productivity add-on tool blocking sites that suck the hours from your day.
- SkipScreen: A great add-on that skips unnecessary pages and ads at popular sites.
- Lazarus: Form Recovery: Protect your work from blackouts, computer crashes and server timeouts. This great app saves information input into forms in case of equipment failure.
- TimeTracker: Track general browsing habits such as time spent at specific sites and make your surfing more efficient.
- Procrastato: This add-on monitors sites you flag as time wasters then reminds you to get back to work after a set period of time.
- Web Reminder: A productivity tool that also motivates, Web Reminder offers an inspirational quote to get you back to work after wasting time at pre-selected sites.
- iBistro OPAC: Easy Record View: Reduce the number of clicks and key strokes while using popular library databases.
- SchoolTube: Search classroom appropriate media for lectures or presentations.
- Smartsheet Quick Access: Effective online task management, file sharing and discussion resources increase the performance of web tools you already use.
Research
School research projects are rarely exciting and, as a result, tend be time consuming. Use these apps to make your research more efficient and, maybe, even a little more fun.
- SmarterFox: Browse Faster: Speed up common tasks, search from your address bar and streamline your browsing.
- Diigo: Web Higlighter and Sticky Notes: Organizes web notes and highlights for any web page to make research more productive.
- MyStickies: Place notes on any web site, then organize your thoughts with tabs.
- Trailfire: Leaving a note flags a particular website as interesting, allowing easy access later.
- Net Notes: Save notes on websites directly to your bookmarks.
- DeeperWeb: Quickly and easily navigate Google searches with this app’s innovative "Tag-Cloud" interface. This app finds answers, definitions and news in no time.
- Rate My Professors Search Engine: A tool allowing users to directly search ratemyprofessors.com to find information on a teacher’s grading style and classroom expectations.
- Shmoop: Searches study guides and teaching resources for help with literature and history.
- SimplyBox: Search the web and share results with friends this is a great tool for group research projects.
- Research Words: Easily research any word on a page with a simple right-click.
Math
Math is notoriously unpopular. Polls frequently rank math as the least popular subject among students. Ease the pain with these helpful Firefox add-ons to make math class a breeze.
- Open Mathematical Encyclopedia: An encyclopedia of math terms from basic to complicated.
- FireCal: A comprehensive calculator for class or simple everyday calculations.
- Graphing Calculator Toolbar: Handles up to 5 equations in your browser’s toolbar then graphs the results into your browser.
- Status-bar Calculator 2.1: A small calculator that sits in your status bar, this add-on does simple math and computer science calculations.
- MATH2D: An add-on for graphing functions.
- MATH3D: Graph functions in 3D with this simple and easy to use calculator.
- FireMath: An equation generator for complex math and engineering projects.
- avzCalculator: This simple extension also allows text in addition to numeric input.
- Simple Calc: Evaluates simple arithmetic expressions in the URL bar with quick shortcuts.
- Calculator: Look past calculations and common conversions with this simple number cruncher.
- Calculator-Bar: This calculator display over your status bar is quick and intuitive.
- Status-bar Calculator: A status-bar calculator that can be expanded as needed.
- Galculator: A calculator plus alarm clock, this add-on also warns users about common mistakes.
- Calc: Add this simple calculator to your sidebar and never worry about numbers again.
- QuickCalc: Enter any algebraic expression into this calculator located just above the status bar.
Science
Stability in science-based fields has sent students flocking to science-based majors like pharmacy and nursing. Get these apps for your Firefox browser and streamline your efforts.
- hyperconverter: From velocity to energy and temperature, convert any and all units with this extremely helpful conversion add-on.
- Eccellio Science: Up to date and focused results from accredited, professional sites are all this science search site offers..
- BIobar: A browsing toolbar for studying life sciences such as biology.
- Life Science Dictionary Tool: A great tool that translates life science terms between Japanese and English.
- i-cite: Web search for scientists, this add-on aggregates content from sites such as Google Scholar then adds field specific information.
- Thomson Reuters Master Journal List: Search Thomson Reuters massive database of journals for valuable information directly from your search box.
- Labmeeting: A tool for organizing journal articles from leading science publications.
- Weather Watcher Live: Monitor and track weather conditions in real time based on neighborhood.
- HealthVisit Search Engine: Searches all top health and medical information sites such as WebMD and the CDC in one easy command.
- ZINC: An open source extension for 3D visualization, this app can be used scientific and medical purposes.
- OpenMedSpel: Automatically spell checks complicated medical and scientific terms often missed by other checkers.
- FireGoose: Exchange data between biology and other field-specific web resources.
- hbar: A physics search tool linking to web resources popular among academics.
- WeatherBug: Commonly used for simple forecasts and weather updates, this extension offers great general meteorology information.
- Mail Online: This database from the British-based Daily Mail offers thousands of useful science and health stories for any class project.
English
English classes are frustrating. Teachers often make students buy their own copies of required reading materials and research papers are never fun. Use these Firefox extensions to make English easier.
- Bibliomania: Search for references to classic English literature with the help extension.
- Citavi Picker: A reference management app for students and researchers this tool is invaluable for retrieving information from a host of sources.
- Merriam-Webster: This add-on brings the power of one of America’s most respected dictionary’s right onto your browser.
- Project Gutenberg: Never pay for another public domain classic ever again! This amazing app is a search engine for an online library of material in the public domain, which means everyone has a right to read it.
- Google Books: Search Google Books with this extension that lets users read whole books or sections of new releases.
- OpenBerg Lector: A great e-text reader for online books that makes creating your own digital library simple and fun.
- Books Search: Search books available in electronic libraries with this add-on.
- Compare Books Prices: Save on the cost of required reading materials with this app allowing users to comparison shop.
- What’s On My Bookshelf Wishlist Submitter: Trade books with students to save money and time.
- Longman English Dictionary 2008: A complete dictionary of modern English words and terms.
- Mediabooks Search: Search the selection of online books made available by MediaBooks.
- CiteSmart: An extension for research papers keeping track of citations on popular sites such as Google Books.
- PaperbackSwap.com Book Search: Trade paperbacks and used textbooks with other penny pinching students.
- LibraryThingPlus: Search library catalogs online and from the comfort of your own home. This valuable extension saves time looking for books during your next research paper.
- WordIQ Toolbar: With one click, search the Web for information on any word, term or phrase.
- Thesaurus – Reference.com: Offers synonym suggestions with simple commands.
- Wordpot: The Keyword Finder: Search dictionaries, thesauruses and the Internet for unfamiliar terms.
- Dicitonary.com: Check spelling or look up words with this fast simple and easy dictionary.
- Look Up in Dictionary: This app incorporates Apple’s OS X dictionary into your browser
- Dictionary Lookup Extension: Highlight any word and immediately find its meeting.
Foreign Languages
Studying a foreign language in school always seems pointless. After each semester, students often doubt they’ve greatly advanced their understanding of the language and many have taken hits to their grade point averages. Next time you take a foreign language, use these add-ons and maybe learn something.
- bab.la dictionary toolbar: Translate between English and up to ten other languages. Includes over 1 million translations using different grammar, synonyms and pronunciation.
- RAE Spanish Dictionary: A dictionary of proper Spanish written by the Real Academia Española in Spain.
- German Dictionary: This German dictionary spell checks German text on Mozilla products.
- Arabic spell-checking dictionary: Fast and easy spell checker for assuring proper Arabic use.
- ImTranslatro: Translate phrases in over 1640 different language combinations using anything from Arabic to Vietnamese.
- Free Translate!: Quickly translate between English, Russian, French and German.
- Latin Dictionary: Latin is a popular course for aspiring law students since many legal terms are based in the language. Get this Latin dictionary and carpe diem.
- Portuguese Dictionary: This dictionary will also spell check anything written in Portuguese.
- Hebrew Spell-checking diciontary: A spell checker and dictionary for Firefox, this Hebrew spell checker works for only for modern dialects.
- Translate – Reference.com: Get fast translations in dozens of languages with this simple app.
- mid: An unbelievable collection of over 1000 dictionaries and offering translation services in 12 different languages. A must for any linguistic student.
- WordReference Translator: Highlight a word, press "D" and get a translation. Nothing could be simpler or faster.
- gTranslate: A shortcut to Google’s translation services, this add-on translates any highlighted text.
- DictCN: An online English to Chinese dictionary for beginning students.
- Icelandic Dictionary: Icelandic is generally regarded as unnecessarily complicated by students and expert linguists alike. This dictionary is great for anyone with the cojones to learn the language of Bjork.
- Danish Dictionary: Checks Danish spelling entered into any text field.
- Czech spell checking dictionary: This great spell czech… Whoops, I mean, spell checker is based on the Open Office dictionary and works on all Mozilla applications.
- Nepali Dictionary: A spellchecker and dictionary for anyone learning Nepali.
- Belarusian Dictionary: Belarus is one of Europe’s most wired countries making the number of translators and dictionary available online vast. This is the best.
- Urdu Dictionary: Based on an Urdu word list provided by a cultural non-profit, this great extension can help anyone taking this language spoken in Pakistan and India.
Social Studies
Getting a general understanding of historical events from the History Channel is not enough for the well-rounded, educated person. Use these sites to gain an encyclopedic knowledge of history and ease any class.
- ISI Web of Knowledge: Quickly find, analyze and share history information easily and directly from your browser search box.
- Wikipedia: The world’s most powerful, and free, collaborative encyclopedia can now be a permanent feature on your computer with this add-on.
- QuoteBar: Search a large collection of user submitted quotes for research papers or general knowledge.
- termBlaster: A powerful, one click search engine that uses over 100 search engines and encyclopedias to find just what you need.
- UC Libraries Research: Quit wasting precious time with research papers. Use this extension to access the University of Cincinnati’s database for valuable history resources.
Social Sites
People rarely remember the information they actually learned in school. But who can’t immediately recall their friends? Check out these sites for getting and keeping people connected.
- Bookmarker: Integrate Facebook into your browser and get notifications or share content.
- Yoono: An all in one app for social networking and instant messaging this browser sidebar makes access to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter a breeze.
- ShopTalk: A social searching extension, ShopTalk lets users see what people are saying about a particular page or site.
- Dai-sy: Instant messaging, file sharing and bloging between people visiting the same site. Collaborative searching at its finest.
- Power Twitter: Make Twitter better with this app enhancing the usability of the social site.
COLLEGE DEGREE FINDER
100 Money-Saving Lessons from Poor College Kids
By Emily Thomas
Whether you’re in college or long gone, there are lots of great money saving tips we can all learn from poor college students. Living like a poor college student might not be as bad as you think, however. In this article, we’ll take a look at 100 ways you can learn how to get by a little better by taking a lesson from college students.
Food & Shopping
Stretch a buck when you’re eating or buying with these college kid tips.
- Buy used books: College students often buy used textbooks, at great savings off of list prices.
- Shop discount stores: Use discount stores like Wal-Mart and Costco to get items on a budget-just be careful not to load up your cart unnecessarily.
- Get on a meal plan: If your office has a cafeteria with a meal plan, consider signing up for savings.
- Dumpster dive: Check out curbs and dumpsters to score free furniture and other items.
- Shop the dollar store: Stock up on cheap staples by paying a visit to your local dollar store.
- Don’t do delivery: Never pay for delivery unless it’s cheaper than getting it yourself-and even look for carryout specials, often found at pizza places.
- Avoid brand names: Most of the time, you won’t be able to tell the difference between name brands and store brands.
- Buy in bulk: Students know to buy large bottles of alcohol for savings-and you can do the same with other items as well.
- Learn to cook: Put your kitchen to good use and whip up something at home.
- All you can eat: Visit buffets to make your meals as big as you want them to be.
- Don’t buy books unless you have to: Wait until you’re sure you need a book, then see if you can find a free ebook, or a cheaper version before you commit to paying full price.
- Eat cheap: In a pinch, Ramen and Kraft can feed you cheaply-although produce often offers more nutrition for the money.
- Shop around: Find the best deals and bang for your buck.
- Buy used whenever possible: Books, baby strollers, or tools, are just a few examples of things you can buy used.
- Find specials: College students seek out happy hours-you can look for coupons, special purchase days, and more.
- Freeze food: Make extra food and freeze it for easy meals later.
- Eat out less: By eating at home, you can save money and live healthier.
- Share books with friends: Exchange books among your group of friends, and you’ll all save money.
- Make your own coffee: Don’t stop by the coffeehouse every morning-invest in a good French press and quality beans for your home.
- Plan for leftovers: Get an almost free lunch every day by making a little extra every night.
- Buy in bulk: Buy your items in bulk, sharing and splitting the cost with friends.
- Shop online: If you can’t find products at a discount in retail stores, check out online retailers.
- Stay away from fast food: Invest in food that gives you more nutrients for your buck.
- Eat nonperishable food: Avoid wasting money on rotted food-buy groceries with a long shelf life.
- Buy and sell used clothing: Create a unique style with used clothing-and make some cash by selling your old stuff.
Entertainment & Travel
Use these lessons to keep yourself entertained and having fun without spending a lot of money.
- Look for discounts: Even though you may not get a student discount, you can cash in on early bird specials, and discounts for seniors and the military.
- Stay with friends: Avoid hotels, and travel where you can stay with friends.
- Stay busy: Keep yourself busy with work, family, and hobbies, and you’ll have less time to spend money.
- Cut out vices: Cut down or avoid vices like beer, cigarettes, and drugs.
- Take a road trip: Stay close to home and drive somewhere to save some money.
- Seek out free drinks: Frat parties are out, but you can get free wine at art openings.
- Take advantage of free and cheap activities: Go to free concerts in the park and other activities to save money.
- Go on cheap dates: Go outdoors, out to coffee, or free events for a date.
- Go to cheap shows: Arena concert prices can be obscene-but club shows often only cost a small cover charge, and you’ll save on drinks.
- Take group trips: Get together and save with friends by taking trips as a group.
- Plan for fun: Know that you’re going to want to get out and have some fun-so set aside a little cash to play with.
- Use free communication: Call family, friends and colleagues using free long distance on your cell phone, or using services like Skype.
- Go to happy hours: Find cheap drinks and appetizers by visiting at the right time.
- Entertain yourself at home: Students often stay at home to study instead of going out-you can read or educate yourself instead.
- Don’t bother with a landline: If you have a cell phone, avoid getting a landline to save on communication costs.
- See obscure films: Stay out of blockbuster movie theaters, and watch independent, foreign, and old films for a fraction of the cost.
- Avoid big spenders: Don’t hang out with people who like to spend significantly more than you do, or arrange to do inexpensive things with them.
- Use free 411: Call 1-800-GOOG-411 pr 1-800-Free411 to save money.
- Get together at peoples’ homes: Avoid meeting friends and family at bars or restaurants-entertain each other in your homes instead.
- Drink cheap: Although you may not want to start drinking trashcan punch again, picking up a budget bottle of wine can help you save some cash.
Financial Management
These tips can help you keep your money under control.
- Track your spending: Don’t let your budget get out of control-keep a close eye on what you’re spending.
- Get help: Although your days of scholarships are over, grants and government assistance are often available to those who need them.
- Take advantage of government programs: If you qualify, use food stamps, Medicare, and other money saving programs-your taxes pay for them.
- Pace yourself: Slow down your spending to make your money last.
- Only use credit cards for emergencies: If possible avoid using credit cards for anything but emergencies.
- Don’t sign up for useless credit card offers: Avoid signing up for obscene credit card offers in exchange for t-shirts and gifts.
- Build a good history: Use credit cards to build a good credit history so you can save money on financially sensible products in the future.
- Pay off your cards each month: Only use credit cards if you’re going to pay off your balance each month.
- Keep a low credit limit: Avoid the temptation to spend up your credit card by keeping it at a low credit limit.
- Stay away from fees: Do everything you can to avoid fees from your financial accounts.
- Don’t max out loans: Smart students avoid maxing out student loans-and you should do the same, avoiding maxing out loans or credit cards you may have.
- Avoid unnecessary debt: Students have student loans-you may have a mortgage, but stay away from debt beyond the basics.
- Stay on top of your accounts: Avoid insufficient funds fees by making sure you stop spending before your money runs out.
- Get good grades: Although you won’t get a good student discount, keeping your credit score up to a high grade will save you money.
- Take it easy on loans: Just because you qualify for a loan, you don’t have to take it-pay cash whenever possible.
- Pay bills on time: Stay away from late fees on credit cards, utilities, and more.
- Shop around for loans: Don’t blindly take the first offer you get-look at others to make sure you’re getting the best deal available.
- Plan ahead for ATMs: Avoid costly ATM fees by planning ahead and using your bank’s branch or ATM.
- Plan ahead: Often, students have loans that have to last them a whole semester, so they have to plan accordingly. You can plan ahead like this by forecasting your income for a certain period of time.
- Use a convenient bank: Set up accounts with a bank that’s close to you and easy to access, and you’ll avoid transportation hassles, and often ATM fees.
Making Money
Follow these college student tips to learn how to make more money.
- Consider a part time job: Make a little extra money on the side with a part time job.
- Tutor: If you’re good at math, English, or science, offer to tutor students for money.
- Save time: Save time to have more free time to work a part time job and earn cash.
- Be a good employee: Stand out at work, and you’ll have better opportunities for the future.
- Sell your old stuff: Get rid of old and unnecessary items by selling them in classifieds or online.
- Donate plasma: Make money from getting your blood drawn.
- Do seasonal work: Take on a Christmas rush job, or lifeguard in the summertime.
- Work for free: Internships can open doors for students, as volunteering can do for adults.
- Actually go to work: College students know they have to go to class-you have to go to work to continue making money.
- Start your own business: Take advantage of your special skills and start a business of your own.
- Take off jobs: Accumulate a little money here and there by doing small jobs for people.
Housing & Transportation
With these tips, you can live and get around just a little bit cheaper.
- Use public transportation: Save money on car expenses by opting to take public transportation instead.
- Get a roommate: Cut down on your living expenses by sharing your housing with someone else.
- Live near a bus line: Living close to town can be expensive-so consider living close to public transportation.
- Stay in a hostel: When traveling, spend your money on experiences and thoughtful mementos, not an expensive hotel room.
- Drive a clunker: Put off buying a new car as long as you possibly can.
- Get insurance discounts: Although you won’t get a good student discount, avoiding accidents and keeping a good credit score can lower your car insurance.
- Carpool: Whether it’s across town or across the country, ride with friends and it will be cheaper.
- Live small: Dorms and college apartments are not known for their huge amounts of space-save money by living in a smaller apartment or home.
- Share: Instead of borrowing your college roommate’s clothes, you can borrow your neighbor’s power tools.
- Buy used furniture: Check out classified and garage sales to find furniture on the cheap.
- Accept offers: If someone you know has a spare refrigerator, couch, or toaster oven, and you need one, don’t be too proud to accept it.
- Live close: Many students save on transportation costs by living on campus or close to it, so they can walk or bike to where they need to go on a regular basis.
Miscellaneous
These are just a few more college saving tips.
- Determine your own spending: Don’t try to keep up with friends and family who seem to have more money than you.
- Have a financial plan: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail-map out your goals and needs, then stick to them as close as you can.
- Use free gyms: College campuses often have free gyms, while there are often free or low cost gyms and classes available at community parks.
- Stay active: Stay healthy and active, and your health costs will decrease.
- Get health insurance from somebody else: Whether it’s your spouse, employer, or parents, anything is cheaper that getting individual health insurance.
- Visit libraries: You may not have access to university libraries, but you can save lots of money by using your local library.
- Take advantage of free services: Use free services available in your community, like libraries, parks, and free classes.
- Join groups: Fraternities help save college students money on room, board, and food-pool your resources in a group to save money similarly.
- Take a multivitamin: Multivitamins can help make up for deficiencies in your college student diet.
- Quit when you’re ahead: Students know to drop classes that are more trouble than they are worth before they hit the deadline-learn to get out of bad situations similarly to save money and more.
- Do things right the first time: Students who fail classes pay dearly to retake them-save your money by planning carefully for DIY projects, travel, and more.
- DIY: Avoid hiring professionals whenever possible.
COLLEGE DEGREE FINDER
COLLEGE DEGREE FINDER
