I’m neither a millionaire nor a pauper, just your average American middle class citizen living on a monthly salary and getting by with a mixture of common sense and luck. I neither believe in frugality for frugality’s sake nor in splurging for splurging’s sake. Let me elaborate…

I drive an old 1999 Honda Accord – not by design but by destiny. While not a total lemon or rust-bucket, it doesn’t have much going for it, other than the expensive music system fitted in. But I hang on to it, in spite of questions from all and sundry as to when I plan to upgrade my conveyance to reflect my lifestyle simply because I do not believe in spending money on something that’s not an immediate necessity. The Honda runs perfectly well, gives me a decent mileage, and gets me from Point A to Point B without a hitch. Sure, I’m tempted by the newer and better models that I can afford, but the point is – why spend good, hard-earned money just for the sake of it?

But the fact that I refuse to upgrade my car does not mean that I’m a miserly Scrooge – in fact, I spend an obscene amount every month towards my membership at the gym and racquet ball court. Every cent is justified by the satisfaction and wellness I feel after every game and work out. And then there’s the fact that I stay healthy, stress-free and fit all through the year, which means that I hardly ever visit the doctor’s office and never stay home from work because of illness. So all in all, an expense that is totally necessary by my book.

There are other things that do not feature high on my must-have list – the flat screen TV that all my friends insist I need, the newest cell phone model with features to kill for, shoes and handbags to match every outfit in my closet, and cosmetics that claim to suppress aging or make you look like Angelina Jolie. And then there are the equally expensive things that I do allow myself to indulge myself – Nike’s range of products, expensive dinners at favorite restaurants when friends or family visit, gifts and toys to spoil my darling nieces with, vacations that refresh both my body and mind and books that provide food for my soul.

While the above lists are not exhaustive, the point I’m trying to make is that just spending money is a relative thing – what you term a necessity, I call frivolous. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is that you’ve not spent more than you can afford and that you have enough put away to tide you over a rainy day. If you can steer clear of debt, then spending money does not matter, as long as the expense is justifiable in your eyes, not in the eyes of the Joneses.

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We thought we would put together a list of the top construction management sites to give our visitors the ability to quickly get the answers they are looking for. These are great sites that are chocked full of good information on construction management related topics. We hope you get a chance to visit them all.

1. Construction Business Directory – The Construction Business Directory offers a searchable listing of sites covering all things related to construction including construction trades, architecture, building design, and construction related products and services. This should be a great starting point whether you are looking for a particular product or just keeping track of the latest industry trends.
2. House Plan Design Works – HousePlanDesignWorks.com is a great resource for anyone looking for some architecture ideas for new homes. You can search through an extensive database of designs and then choose the perfect plan for you.
3. Construction Trends – This is a solid site for staying on top of all of the current trends in construction. If you want to make sure that your designs are current and you always have up-to-date information on materials then this is an important site for you to visit regularly or subscribe to their feeds.
4. Home Feeds – Home Feeds is a very practical site as it aggregates all of the RSS feeds from multiple sites related to Home construction (new as well as existing homes). This could be an easy way to stay on top of multiple facets of the industry.
5. Green Building Directory – This site provides you with good information on sustainable construction (aka green construction). You will find unique ideas on recycled materials and other ways of going green on your next project.
6. Contractor Find USA – This site helps match people looking for contractors with the best possible service providers in their area. If you are a contractor, then this is a great place to list your services so that people can find out what you have to offer.
7. Construction Industry Web Log – This site is also full of information on other construction related businesses. In addition, they offer some great ways of partnering with other construction company’s websites.
8. Find Plumbing – This is a great site if you ever find yourself needing the services of a plumber. You get a great directory that is easiest to search and match your needs with several good contractors.
9. Home Builder Listings – If you are a home builder, you need to check this site out. It is a free resource which you can use to list all of your homes for sale without costing you a dime. If you are a buyer and in the market then you should definitely check out the deals on this site.
10. Prudential Leasing – Prudential offers several great ways to finance the construction equipment that you need in order to be able to get those big jobs done.

If you have any great sites that you think we would be interested in featuring on our site, please feel free to add a comment to the site and if it looks good, we will go ahead and approve your comment.

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If you want to jump start your career in construction project management, one of the most popular ways to do so has been to go to a construction management school and earn either an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree. The rate of the introduction of construction management degrees into our schools has experienced significant growth over the last ten years. It’s hard to single out one reason why this is occurring but the explosion of the new home market and the growing need for managers has caused colleges to respond with more and more career programs related to construction (aka, it’s a hot market).

Regardless of the reason, you now have some excellent choices as to where to go to college. Currently, there are more than 250 construction related degrees that we have been able to locate with more coming online every month. At first that doesn’t seem like a lot, but imagine trying to review 250 courses and programs do identify the best one for you… no fun for sure. So as you work from the list of colleges that we have identified for you, these are some important questions to have ready for the guidance counselors at the schools:

1. How many students are currently enrolled in the construction management program?
2. What is the annual retention rate for students in the program (how many come back year-after-year)?
3. What is the graduation rate for students in the program?
4. How many students go on to pass their certification tests (CMAA and/or AIC)?
5. What is the job placement rate for students graduating from the program?
6. What financial aid options are available to construction management students (scholarships, etc.)?
7. What types of technology are used in the program (computers, CAD tools, etc.)?
8. How many internship positions are they able to secure for students and are they paid positions?

This is just a good list to use as a starting point. There are several other basic questions that should be asked like general requirements for being accepted into the college and other similar questions.

As the field of construction management grows, you will see more and more colleges and universities offering relevant degree programs. While it’s always great to have choices, at some point it starts to get a bit over-whelming. We recommend just using these basic concepts as a basis for your decision on which school to choose:

• Is the degree accredited?
• Can you get the degree on your own schedule (does the program fit your current lifestyle)?
• How much does the program cost and how much can you expect to make after getting your degree?

It’s always good to be entering a field as hot as construction management, but it’s also important to be realistic. It’s very rare for a particular industry to stay this hot in perpetuity so strike while the iron is hot!

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Do you feel like you are a detail-oriented person and that you have excellent people skills? If you do, then you have some of the traits that may make construction management school something to consider. Today construction management is evolving into one of the most explosive job fields in America. For several years, the housing boom was driving a huge demand for new construction and construction workers in general. While the collapse of the credit industry has greatly impacted the speed with which new homes are being constructed there is still a huge demand in residential and commercial construction (in several pockets around the country, but now everywhere). One of the best ways to distinguish yourself in this business is to get a construction management degree at a college that specializes in construction. It’s actually a lot more complicated than what some people give it credit for so getting highly specialized training really puts you at a distinct advantage over others that may be going for the same job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor has projected a steady growth in the demand for construction managers through the year 2014 so the time is perfect to get into the field.

There is an ever-growing number of schools that are adding construction management programs to meet the demand in the industry. Just like other fields there are special areas of focus in construction management degree programs. They generall cover things like construction engineering, construction science, and of course strong project management skills.

Typical Job Skills Covered in the Programs Include:

• Designing and managing construction schedules and project plans.
• Commercial Drafting and residential drawing using CAD software and drawing skills.
• Understanding construction graphics and what they represent in drawings.
• Best practice project management, supervisor skills, and management record keeping.
• Hiring of trade professionals and proper human resource management skills.
• Obtaining licenses and permits as well as why they are important.
• Analysis of site plans and the integration of all mechanical systems.
• Maintaining building codes (fire, electrical, and other requirements).
• Construction management accounting principles.
• and much, much more…

Several construction management colleges offer bachelor’s degrees while more and more are starting to develop master’s degree programs which tend to delve deeper into more specific aspects of the trade as they train people to be administrators and construction executives.

Most college degrees and programs will be geared toward preparing the student for certification.  The Construction Management Association of America and the American Institute of Constructors have developed some certification programs.  These generally require verification of your degree from a construction management school/program as well as professional experience in the industry.  Once you meet the initial requirements you are prepared to sit for the exam which is mostly a series of essay questions.

As the field of construction management continues to grow in popularity, we are sure to see even more construction management schools opening their doors.  They are helping to prepare the students that will be laying down the infrastructure that our futures will be built on.

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One of the biggest investments anyone could make is the decision to own your home versus renting. The next big decision for a prospective buyer is whether to purchase an old house or to go with new construction (a new home). There are definite advantages and disadvantages to both but in order to take a good decision you have to get down to a very basic level and just figure out your personal preference as well as the reality of your circumstances (a new home may simply cost too much upfront , for instance). Whether you live in a major city or in a small rural town, these are points you should consider when deciding whether to buy an old or new home:

1. Cost – Not just the cost of the home itself (meaning the initial purchase price), but also the cost of maintenance. Will the older home cost you more in electricity, gas, etc. due to an older and less efficient design or other factors that start to show up with age (cracks in the foundation, roof problems, heating and cooling issues, etc.).

2. Location, Location, Location – Is it easier to build a new home in order to be closer to where you work or the kids go to school, etc? Being close to your work is often over-looked in its significance but long commutes can definitely impact the amount of enjoyment you will get out of your new home. If you purchase an existing home chances are better that the community around it is already built out (shopping, restaurants, schools, churches, etc.). Of course, this is not always the case, but location in general is extremely important.

3. Planned Communities – Planned communities have become more and more popular especially in large suburban areas of the country. Many new homes are now being built in these developments with some great amenities like lots of swimming pools, great parks, and community centers. The disadvantage of a planned community generally revolve around the home owner’s association covenants. You have to get permission to from them to do things that outside of a planned community you would not need to seek permission for (adding a swing set, basketball hoop, putting in new landscaping, etc.). You should definitely be very aware of any dues and covenants that you are going to need to sign before deciding to purchase a home in a planned community.

There are many other points to consider as well when you are looking to purchase a home (whether it is new construction or an existing house). In general, it’s best to look at several choices and to try to not settle for something that is just good enough. Know what you need and want. If you want a fireplace, a 2-car garage, a home with a built-out home office, etc. It’s smart to either get what you want or spec. out in advance how much it will cost to get the home to the point where it suits you wants and needs. In the end, owning a home is a great experience and a decision that needs to be well thought out.

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