The Friday Five 8.16.19 – Paralegal Edition with Jeanette & Monse!
What to do when you make a bad decision
The feeling in the pit of your stomach after realizing you made a bad decision can be anxiety-inducing. Anger, regret, frustration, and stress take over and can cloud your thinking and derail your productivity. It’s important to remember that you can’t change the past and that you must move forward. It may seem easier said than done, but this article on what to do after making a bad decision can help you cope. Take responsibility, accept your emotions, and if the regret is consuming you, think of all of the things you are grateful for to help your mind go to a more positive place.
Make the week less stressful with these easy Sunday prep activities
Mondays are always hectic in our house, especially with so many different schedules to keep track of. We try to get things set for the week ahead on Sunday, so we really liked these tips on four easy ways to prepare for a less stressful week. The “fill your tank” tip was our favorite – take 30 minutes to do something that will bring you some joy and help you tackle Monday a little better, even if it’s something as simple as going for a run or painting your nails.
How Can Hiring an Attorney Mean More Money in My Pocket?
as possible into the client’s pocket as compensation for everything they had to go through, including time off of work, pain and suffering, and medical bills. But one common myth is that paying an attorney’s fee at the end of the case will eat into what the client ends up with in their pocket.
The study, “Attorney Involvement in Auto Injury Claims,” conducted by the All-Industry Research Advisory Council, found that claims where the injured party hired an attorney ended up settling for more money that those that did not involve attorney representation. In fact, the study found that for every dollar of economic loss a person suffered, a person represented by an attorney received $1.59. For a person who did not opt to hire a lawyer, that number dropped to $1.26 for every dollar of economic loss.
Similarly, an Insurance Research Council study, “Paying for Auto Injuries: A Consumer Panel Survey of Auto Accident Victims,” found that claims with an attorney paid out anywhere from 27% to 48% more than claims without a lawyer (we are talking about more bottom dollar money in the pocket of the client -even after the attorney is paid). These stats in the chart below were compiled by the insurance companies – not by attorneys – and the numbers are eye-opening:
| Type of Injury | With a Lawyer | Without | Difference |
| Neck Injury | $7,918 | $2,480 | $5,438 |
| Broken Bone | $39,397 | $19,105 | $20,292 |
| Lacerations | $4,771 | $1,166 | $3,605 |
| Average Injury | $11,939 | $3,262 | $8,677 |
Once you factor in that attorneys typically help negotiate the medical bills and liens down, that still means more money in the client’s pocket even after the attorney fee is paid.
Lifestyle changes that can help us all look younger
Becoming older and wiser is a beautiful thing, but it doesn’t always feel beautiful when we look in the mirror. The good news is that there are simple lifestyle changes that can be made that will not only improve your health, but that will also make you look younger. This article outlines eight of those lifestyle changes to take years off of your appearance, like reducing your alcohol content, moisturizing regularly, and our favorite: reconsidering our facial expressions (we can all think of someone in our lives who has “resting cranky face”!).
Tough money conversations we should all be having
Money is never an easy thing to talk about but avoiding the topic altogether can make for an even worse outcome if ignored. This article on tough conversations about money that everyone should be having is a great guide on how to broach the subject of money with your spouse, kids, and parents. Tips we really liked were to have a monthly money date where you go over finances with your spouse to make sure everything is on track and during a time when conflict is low and to share with your kids an idea of where your money goes. Filling them in on the family budget – without revealing actual dollar amounts – helps them to understand their wants versus needs and how it affects the family as a whole.