Take Five – A Roundup of Reads from Around the Web

Reminder: Networking is Important to Your Career

[Free Money Finance] “Your career is your most valuable financial asset. And one way to both grow it as well as protect it is through networking.”

(Note: We talked about the importance of networking in the Money Talks story After Your Unemployment Benefits End…?)

Can Finishing School Slower Fast-Track Your Career?

[MintLife Blog] “Common sense and basic math says that finishing college quickly equals a less expensive education. The longer you take to graduate, the higher semester fees and housing costs will pile up. But what’s left out of this purely dollars-and-cents equation is the potential effect of completing more internships — and thus building more experience and establishing more contacts – if you stay in college for five years rather than four; or four years rather than three.”

(Note: We talked about finishing college early in 6 Tips to Pay Less for a College Degree)

5 Easy Home Improvement Projects & Upgrades For the Winter

[Money Crashers] If you’re like most people, you’ve been spending a lot of time indoors lately. Unfortunately, there are several more months of winter to get through before we start seeing signs of spring. Before you throw your hands up in despair, why not break the monotony by working on your house? After all, you’re stuck inside anyway, and you’re probably searching for something to do that doesn’t involve watching endless reruns of Glee while eating any carb that will stand still. Plus, some home improvement projects will even increase your property value. Here are some easy winter projects you might want to tackle before spring hits.

(Note: We did a story a few months ago called 5 Cheap Do-It-Yourself Home Repairs)

Measure Everything: Strange Ways To Save Money

[SavingAdvice.com] “The more you measure, the more aware you are of how much you are using. Armed with that information, you can make products last longer and save money on the things you use. You can also try using less than the suggested amount and determine if the results are acceptable. What products can you make last longer or reduce consumption of if you measure? Here are some ideas.”

(Note: Don’t forget to see our list of 205 Ways to Save Money)

Investing vs Gambling: Are You An Investor, Trader or Gambler?

[The Digerati Life] “I think that most of us would like to think that investing involves more than just a little luck when it comes down to making some cash, but I wonder just how many people are investing on just a wing and a prayer to Lady Luck?”

(Note: I talked about investing vs gambling in the post Thinking Stock Options? Think Again)