Courtesy of: Online Schools

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and second largest city of Spain after Madrid. It is one of the largest tourist attractions in the world, with its leading sectors such as commerce, education, sports, trade fair, fashion, media, science, and arts.

The city is great for young people, has a vibrant daytime culture of cafes, beaches and bars. Of an evening the city has many nightclubs, which are great for students taking a well earned summer holiday. Apartments in Barcelona vary in price, but shop around and you could save money if you rent one out for 2-4 weeks and shares with friends (as many as possible to cut costs!)

Barcelona has several sites declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Some of these are, Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Mila, Casa Vicens, Facade of the Nativity and crypt of the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, Palau de la Música Catalana, and Hospital de Sant Pau. In this article you’ll get the information on top 5 tourist attractions of Barcelona.

Park Güell: Situated in the Gracia district of Barcelona, it is a garden complex designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. The garden is famous for its structural design with more than 25 sites inside it. The crucial attractions of this park are Gaudi’s mosaic work on the main entrance, a gaudy dragon fountain, the Gaudi house museum, Viaduct, a beautiful mosaic tile etc. The Park Guell also has many animals, non-native parrots, short-toed eagle, hawks etc.

A sample view at the Park Güell, Barcelona.

Casa Mila: The Casa Mila is a famous building designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí during the years 1905-1910. It was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1984. Frequently exhibitions take place on the first floor of the building, which is entry free. However, the second and roof entry is chargeable; and the third to fifth floors are closed to visitors. Casa Mila is one of the top tourist attractions of Barcelona.

Palau de la Música Catalana: It is the Palace or concert hall of Catalan Music of Barcelona. Built in between 1905 to 1908 it is leads and promotes the Catalan culture of Barcelona in global. ‘Palau de la Música Catalana’ is one of the largest theatre or concert halls in the world; which exhibits and conducts many international programs and events.

A view inside the Palau de la Música Catalana.

Sagrada Família: ‘Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family’ is the largest Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and belongs to UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. There is an estimated 2.5 million tourist or visitors come here yearly. Visiting to Sagrada Familia towers is free of cost and one can go there by the stairs or lifts.

Casa Batllo: Built by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol in the year 1877; it was restructured in the year 1904-1906. Its local name is casa dels ossos or house of bones. The Casa Batllo has been architected and designed specifically to attract tourists and visitors.

Apart from these, there are many other tourist attractions; historical buildings and monuments in Barcelona. These include the National Museum of Art of Catalonia; parks, and many beaches – ideal for getting a tan and meeting the locals/holiday makers. There are many top sport clubs and stadiums found in Barcelona, the Camp Nou home to Barcelona FC is the largest stadium in Europe. Just book from one of Barcelona’s many apartments, tell all your friends and you could be holidaying in Barcelona, Spain this summer.

Flickr Image Credits: Matti Mattilla and Thundershead.

Netbooks are changing the way we all use computers. Since first being released in 2008, they are fast becoming the latest craze and when the technology improves are forecast to become more popular than laptops. Whereas laptops became the cheaper alternative to desktop computers because they have the same capacity and usability but are more convenient because of their portability, the key aspects of netbooks are that they are even lighter and easier to carry than laptops and are as likely to replace the computer consumers preferred choice of machine as laptops did with desktop PC´s.

Three netbooks at the front with a conventional laptop at the rear.

Performance Considerations versus Portability

At the moment however netbooks will not give you the same level of performance as a laptop, but as computer technology advances quickly each year, it is only a matter of time before the new machines will be able to match laptops for performance. But even now, many business users are sacrificing superior performance for the convenience of portability and lower price. And what their netbook won´t do their smartphone will because the innovative handheld devices are practically miniature computers and have capabilities that netbooks lack.

But where netbooks excel over smartphones is when using Microsoft Office software that most business users need on a daily basis to get the job done. Applications such as Word, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentation are not easily viewed on the small screen of smartphones whereas netbooks give you the same screen dimensions as a small laptop – only much lighter. However, laptops pack much more punch than netbooks and are better equipped to deliver a higher performance for heavy duty workloads.

Ultra-Portable Netbooks

Where netbooks do have a significant edge is they are light-weight and this is an important factor for business users who need an easily portable machine they can carry to work or use whist they are travelling. Laptops tend to be more bulky and feel weighty when carrying them around after a while whereas netbooks on the other hand are ultra-portable and can slip easily into a bag without taking up too much room or weighing you down. The average weight is around 10 pound.

A classic Netbook appearance.

Netbooks are also slightly smaller than laptops and don´t take up as much space. Most netbooks have either a 7”or a 10” screen but even the latter will fit snugly in your bag. Most models have a pixel resolution of 1024×600 which is around the same as the average desktop computer, but on the smaller screens of a netbook you get a better picture quality.

Price advantage

The other major advantage that netbooks give you, especially for the casual user, is they are much cheaper than a laptop. Prices vary and fluctuate so there is little point picking out an example, but to give you an idea you can pick up a high-end netbook for practically the same price as a low-end laptop. And because they have a built-in Wi-Fi you can connect to the internet whenever you are in a hotspot.

Consider your usage requirements

When considering buying a netbook over a laptop you must first consider what you will be using it for. Certainly if you travel a lot for work and need to stay connected, or if your place of employment runs a Bring Your Own Device scheme that allows you to use your own machine for work and you have to lug it to and from the office, a netbook is the better option. But if you relay on speed and need a good sized memory capacity to store lots of data, netbook don´t give you the same advantage as a laptop.

Credit cards can build credit, save money and teach students how to be responsible with their finances. This article will cover these topics and highlight the benefits of student credit cards.

Credit Cards Build Credit

We’ve all heard the horror stories about credit card debt.  However, there’s a flip-side to credit cards that often gets overshadowed by the fear that is attached to credit cards.  The truth is credit cards are an excellent way to build positive credit.  If you manage your account right then you can reap the benefits of a strong credit history.  Here are some of the things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to credit cards:

• Make Payments on Time:  You must make your payment on time.  Your payments are reported to the credit bureaus and can significantly hurt your credit if you don’t make them on time.
• Stay Within Your Credit Limit:  Don’t go over your credit limit.  This is also you reported to the credit bureaus.  It does not look good if you go over your limit or max your card(s) out.  Your debt to credit ratio is a big factor in your credit score.
• Credit Inquiries:  If you applied for or opened several accounts in a short period of time, it can affect you negatively.  Each time you apply for a new account (even if it is to get an extra 10% off at the register) that inquiry is added to your credit report. Too many inquiries can bring down your credit score and raise an eye for lenders.
• Age Does Matter:  The age of your account is an important factor because the longer your account history, the more information that is available about your habits.  A long credit history gives lenders a better picture of your stability.  Imagine opening a credit card in college and still having that account in good standing 20 years later.

When talking about building credit with a credit card, you also have to be realistic about the consequences of not managing your account right.  Credit cards can build credit, but irresponsible use can also result in bad credit and a pile debt.

Credit Cards Save You Money

Many of us don’t associate saving money with using a credit card. Instead, we tend to think credit cards are the root of all evil and they only cost us more money in the long run.  For some this is true, but for those that manage their account correctly by paying off their balance each month you can save money.  Paying off your balance each billing cycle means you won’t be charged interest.  When you combine this with using a rewards card then you are saving yourself money by using your card.

There are many great rewards credit cards specifically for students.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Citi Forward® Card for College Students – This card actually rewards you for being a good cardholder.  You earn bonus points when you stay under your credit limit and can even get your APR reduced by paying your bill on time. You also earn 5 ThankYou Points for every dollar you spend at places students shop like book stores, record stores, restaurants, including fast food restaurants, motion picture theaters, and video entertainment rental stores.

Discover® Student Card:  This one makes the list because it gives 5% cash back in rotating categories each month like like gas, groceries, restaurants, department stores and more.  It also gives a nice 0% introductory rate on purchases and has a low regular rate for those that qualify.

Credit Cards Teach Responsibility

There’s no doubt that credit cards are a great tool for learning how to be responsible with your finances. If you can start learning good habits while still in college then you are paving the way for a strong financial future. Credit cards teach you how to manage your money and allow you to create a good credit history in the process. We all know how important a good, solid credit history is and by creating the foundation for this early on it will help you achieve your financial goals later in life.

*featured image courtesy of http://blog.redfin.com.

College Graduates

So you’ve recently graduated from college and are now wondering how you’ll manage the money you make and the debt trap’s just waiting on you to slip up.  While the answers are easy to take, the strategy for making the best of a bad economy is quite simple.

Every household must find a way to governor four aspects in order to run effectively.  Individuals and families often struggle to keep their heads and finances above water but they can improve their quality of life by appropriately governing the following four areas: Income, Budgets, Expenses, and Savings.

• Income

Contrary to what you may have heard, the income is not necessarily the most important segment of your financial well-being.  Income is only the beginning and I’ll tell you why.  Many graduates land their first position—substantially more money than they ever had access to—then make the first and often worst mistake, get used to what I call stupid spending.  Stupid spending is shopping for things they can’t afford, not without upsetting the other three legs of financial stability.

• Budgets

I’m not sure how budgeting came to be a dirty word in too many family circles.  Sure, it can hurt while putting tight restraints on the income flowing into the household.  However, a sound budget can be the sweetest word muttered when it’s taken seriously.  Because of smart budgets words like dream-vacation and debt-free-living are possible.  Each person has to decide how much money to allocate on housing, transportation, clothing, entertainment and meals.

• Expenses

Economists suggest a pretty conservation approach toward monthly expenditures.

Since the income number is relatively the same from month to month, so too should the amounts spent on the running of the house even if you’re the only one living in it.   I’ve attached a chart so you can see what the averages are for a healthy household budget.  While you’re keeping both eyes on sound spending, don’t forget to earmark a portion of your income for savings because things happen in life and you’ll want to be prepared to deal with them rationally when they do.

• Savings

Growing up, I spend every cent I made.  Although it wasn’t much, I continued to fall short when things came up that I really wanted to do or buy.  I remembered thinking, if I’d only saved a dime from each dollar I made how much better off I’d have been.  Well, the same thing applies today.  I know it’s hard for college grads like yourself fresh out of school with a decent salary for your needs.  But, somehow you find a way to spend every dollar and sometimes find yourself tapped out days before the next paycheck.  Do yourself a favor, commit to setting aside at least 10% of every dollar you bring home towards a necessary savings account.  This will help you to live (and spend) within your means.

Now that we’ve explored the pillars of a strong financial structure, I’ll share the one thing that puts more money in your pocket than any of the other four.  Debt depletion is not discussed enough within the confines of money matter articles.  There are three tricks to boost your savings through the roof.  Paying down credit cards, by leaving them at home and making additional payments until the balance, is zero can save you thousands of dollars in interest.  If you have more than one credit card, consider doubling up on the smallest or the one with the highest interest rate.  You can use the same theory to pay off student loans or other personal loans much faster.

Lastly, promise yourself to hang onto an older vehicle until it begins to cost more to keep than it would to trade in.  Sure new cars look great but as soon as you purchase one, three things happen.  The vehicle depreciates when the ink dries on the contract, it straps you to a monthly payment for 3 to 5 years and then you realize it sits outside doing absolutely nothing for up to 22 hours every single day.  You’re smarter than that.  Now you have the tools to prove it.

Victor McGlothin is a financial writer for DailyMoneyTip.com, providing easy ways to save money everyday. 

Though many challenges still exist, advocates feel strongly about the forward progression of virtual education. In the wake of diploma mills and shady online institutions, the climate for change is challenging. But, proponents continue to make strides and “push the envelope” to prompt onlookers to open their minds to the possibilities of technology.

Virtual education includes online classes as well as blended onsite and online education. The blanket of virtual education also encompasses using technology to teach classroom lessons and cater to students’ interests. Advocates of online schooling propose that these programs can encourage kids to stay in school and help them to acquire their diplomas. Technology has also allowed education to meet student’s specific needs, and give participants the ability to study beyond the confines of the six-hour school day.

State Programs

Many states are already in the process of reforming their education system and introducing online learning. Thirty U.S. states have full-time virtual schools and 225 exist in the U.S.

In Tennessee, the Virtual Instruction to Accentuate Learning (VITAL) program allows students to participate in online learning while connecting with an on-site facilitator. Though students frequent the on-site facility, they accomplish their work at their own pace. In yet another step forward, Tennessee lawmakers passed the Virtual Public Schools Act in 2011, which allows school boards to sponsor online learning institutions. The bill also defined teacher certification requirements and teacher-pupil ratios, a detail scheduled to be updated again this year.

Technology in Classrooms

With more than 80% of teenagers accessing cell phones, the education and technology industries have begun to form a tight bond. What once was restricted from the classroom has now been embraced and allowed for learning improvement and enhancement.

According to Chris Dede of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, technology is rapidly moving into school classrooms. He says, “They’ve [school districts] eliminated policies restricting using mobile devices for learning and they’re interested in developing mobile learning programs as fast as possible. We’re going from districts fearing it and blocking it off to welcoming it and making it a major part of their technology plan.”

The Benefits

According to some technology advocates, digital learning can benefit students by allowing them to learn at their own pace by adapting to a more customized approach. Each student can follow a curriculum tailored to their specific needs and move faster or slower depending on their grasp of the material. Online platforms can also take advantage of the internet and mobile computing, cloud technology and social media to enhance learning. Additionally, to shun the current criticism of virtual degree programs, digital education can work within the constructs of traditional curriculums while offering the full benefit of online learning.

Though online learning has many more mountains to climb and hurdles to jump, forward progress is evident throughout the U.S. Advocates continue to promote high-quality and well-researched studies so education reform can continue to expand and become a leading method of education for today’s modern student.

Preparing for the new school year can be a stressful time. Ensuring that you have made all of the necessary preparations for the year ahead is a taxing and time consuming process and making sure that the classroom is decorated and looking fresh before the students arrive is an important part of this process. Here are a few easy tips to help you get the most out of your classroom decoration.

The best starting point is to find the right educational furniture and the best place to start is with stackable storage units. These are specifically designed for use in schools and nurseries and are ideal storage to keep books, toys and stationery to keep the classroom tidy.

These storage units are typically available in multi coloured, which will also help to add a splash of colour to the classroom as well as their practical use. There are a number of different types of storage trays available but the best brands to look for are Gratnells and Monarch.

As well as keeping a positive and vibrant aesthetic it’s important to include as much fun and education into the decoration; particularly in nurseries and primary schools where the children are so absorbent to information. Therefore, the walls, ceiling and windows all provide a blank canvas for you to decorate and get the children involved.

A fun way to help the children learn and develop is by implementing decorations that they can contribute to throughout the year. You can start with a base skeleton of decoration of something simple like a cityscape or a forest, which the children can contribute to with their drawings and paintings throughout the year.

Therefore, you can begin the school year by setting up a number of wall displays that can form the base for projects for the children to get actively involved with.

Classrooms come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so it’s important that you make the most of the space you have. In larger classrooms, you may have a specified reading area where you should focus on creating and comfortable and relaxing environment with cushions and bookcases to help the children concentrate. If space is a little more restricted and bookcases are not a viable option, there are plenty of excellent mobile library trolley units to help you make the best of limited space.

The tips included here will help you create a perfect learning environment, and encourage your children to contribute. The inclusion of the right educational furniture products can really assist and make a difference in the ambience of the classroom.

Now to the small matter of teaching….

However, all too often, internships both in person and remote tend to be unpaid. In these current economic conditions, sadly, the unpaid internship is becoming more and more common. While internships both paid and unpaid can provide extremely valuable work and life experience, one of the basic realities of life is that money is a necessity!

If you fall into the category of having an unpaid internship, you will more than likely need to pick up at least a part time job to supplement this gap and allow you to be able to pay your bills. When it comes to summer jobs, there are a handful of classic choices that students have relied upon throughout the years.

Life Guard

Not too far removed from the pool maintenance realm is the role of life guard. This classic summer job has helped to fill the wallets of many students looking to earn money during the summer. In most states proof of swimming proficiency and safety certification will be required in order to be a life guard, as well as the ability to administer CPR. You’ll get lots of beach and/or poolside time, a great tan, be admired and appreciated by the swimmers you are protecting — all while getting paid for it!

House Painter

Another popular choice for summer employment among college students is house painting. This job requires some basic skills that most people already have, and the rest can be learned fairly quickly. While house painting jobs are available year-round, the nicer weather in summer leads to a spike in all construction-related work, including house painting.
Pool Boy (or Girl!)

No, it’s not just a cliche! Pool maintenance is a real and legitimate field, and summertime is definitely the season for swimming and enjoying the pool. Pools will need frequent cleaning maintenance during the high usage season. Whether it’s an above ground pool or one that is in-ground, the pool will need to be cleaned and maintained regularly. Becoming a pool boy or girl can be a wonderful, flexible summertime job, and the most obvious perks is that you’ll get to be outdoors, enjoying the sunshine!
Camp Counselor

Summer is the time for summer camp for many young children, and those camps often have a strong need for counselors to help manage and entertain the kids throughout the summer months. If you love the outdoors and love being around kids, getting a job as a camp counselor could be the perfect fit for you.

Tutor

If you happen to be skilled in math, science, English or writing, tutoring could be a summer job option for you. Many students who are lacking in certain subjects use the summer to hone their skills and enroll in summer school classes. Keep your eyes peeled for teaching assistant or tutoring positions in subjects that come naturally to you.

All of these classic summer jobs can provide valuable life experiences that can help pave the way for future success in your chosen field. While internships both paid and unpaid can do this in an even more direct way, having a boss and working at a real, paid job allows you to become accustomed to actually working for a living… and cashing the checks is fun, too!

If you’re in the situation of having an unspent conviction on your criminal record and haven’t been having much joy with your job hunting, then here are some career options and advice to consider which could make your quest for employment somewhat more successful.

Volunteering and Charity Work

Volunteering and charity work have become even more valuable than ever for both charities in need of funding and labour, and young workers looking to gain experience. In fact, volunteering is no longer an easy job to acquire but if you show passion for the charity and a willingness to learn the specific industry you can gain valuable experience. It can also demonstrate you’re giving something back to the community and help to neutralise the negative effects of your conviction and show rehabilitation.

You need to be aware however, that a criminal record may exempt you from being able to work in voluntary roles that involve children, animals and/or vulnerable adults. But there are still plenty of voluntary jobs out there to choose from!

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a great way to gain experience within a job role or industry which would usually require extensive experience or some form of academic qualifications to obtain. There are varying levels of apprenticeships, some require a minimum amount of GCSEs whereas others allow you to acquire GCSE equivalent and higher qualifications whilst learning and earning. You receive on-the-job training, gain a qualification and more importantly, will be in employment. Often, the pay is lower than the national minimum wage and some initiatives even allow employers to hire apprentices and pay some of their wages as a Government incentive to get young people back into work.

For the best chance of getting hired, opt for an apprenticeship within an industry you’ve not really heard of or isn’t that popular amongst your age group. Retail apprenticeships are likely to get snapped up far quicker than techie ones. Make sure you disclose the extent of your unspent convictions though, to interviewers before they offer or you accept the job.

Back to School

If you’d like to improve on your current GCSE grades, take a vocational course in a particular industry or simply acquire some new skills college is a great option to increase your employability. If you still wanted to job hunt, you could opt for a part-time course so you can still work and earn money whilst gaining your qualifications. If you do decide to return to full-time education then you can make the most of summer and Easter holidays by applying for work experience placements in your chosen career path.

Gaining more qualifications after acquiring a criminal record can demonstrate your willingness to get back on the right track and better yourself. If you have the determination and genuine interest to obtain more qualifications they can do wonders for your employability and even allow you to apply higher level apprenticeships and education.

Although a criminal record may feel like a burden, it needn’t ruin your chances of starting an exciting career and staying out of trouble. As a young person, you can easily change your habits and grab the exciting career opportunities that life has to offer.

This guest post was written by Stephanie Staszko on behalf of Gray and Co Solicitors Chester who help to provide legal advice to those accused of criminal offences.

Volunteering is a good way to visit Australia for on a budget. Usually your expenses such as food and accommodation will be paid for you while you volunteer abroad, although flights are not typically included.

Conservation volunteering is becoming more and more popular and Australia has plenty of opportunities for this. It is a country with a very diverse ecology and many unique plants and animals. Projects to protect and nurture these exceptional creatures are always looking for eager volunteers. You can get involved with habitat-protection projects around the Great Barrier Reef, join the battle against invasive weeds at Uluru or help out with feeding time at a wildlife sanctuary such as Kangaroo Island – the possibilities are almost endless.

If hands-on labour rather than animals is more your thing, you also have plenty of choice. The Red Cross regularly looks for volunteers to train so that they have experienced people on hand to deal with any disasters that may happen. Various organisations need volunteers for projects all over Australia, from building community centres to repairing roads or boardwalks. Tree planting on reforestation projects or clearing litter in National Parks help towards maintaining the amazing biodiversity that Australia is famous for. Building and maintaining boardwalks and fences enables people to access the wildlife without damaging it.

You can also go for the independent route and use a labour-exchange site. People offer board and maybe a minimal wage in return for you helping out in their business. This is a particularly good way to get a cheap ranching holiday but there are also many other kinds of jobs and activities on offer.

Anyone heading out to Australia in search of adventure will not be disappointed. The diverse habitat supports a huge range of exciting activities, from crocodile watching to trail biking and climbing. You’ll be kept busy from dawn until dusk and often far into the night. You can take to the waves on Bondi Beach, go diving on the Great Barrier Reef, trek through the rainforest or across the outback or white-water-raft through gorges and canyons. For the real adrenalin junkies, there is skydiving over Cairns and bungee jumping from high bridges. Relax a little and watch the sun set over Uluru or the Bungle Bungles, then take a trip out to Fraser Island for a four-wheel-drive tour and a night spent camping under the stars.