We're all familiar with the feeling that the emails we sent must have been sucked into some black hole because we never received a response. Sure, it's possible that your email went straight to spam, but the more likely scenario is either the recipient isn't interested or is too busy to respond. Here are some tips that may score you a reply:

• Check your writing. Make sure the email is free of grammar and punctuation errors. It tends to look less professional if it's rife with mistakes, which may mean your email won't be taken seriously.
• Stay professional but friendly. Watch the tone of your email. Make sure you keep it professional but friendly. And remember not to go overboard with the friendliness. Stay clear of emoticons, an excessive amount of exclamation marks, and capitalizing words for emphasis — you're not a used-car salesman.
• Keep it short. Try to be as brief as you can. If the person does not know you, she is less likely to spend time reading your email. If you keep your emails short, she's more likely to get through the whole email.
• Be specific. You're writing the email for a reason, so you should be clear about your goals. It's even helpful to be specific in the subject line as well, says a former Google recruiter. Using bullet points may also help you get your point across more quickly and help the reader figure out what you want. 
• Get an introduction. If possible, try to get someone to introduce you to the person instead of emailing cold. You'll definitely raise your chances of getting a response with a referral. Scour your LinkedIn contacts to see if you have any in common with the person you're trying to reach.

Read on for more.

• Ways to make more money using your existing job skills — The Jane Dough
• Apps that will help you split the check — LearnVest
• Frugal ways to expand living space — Bankrate
• How to retain what you read — Lifehacker
• Guess which jobs young women don't want? — HuffPost Women
• Unpaid internships won’t necessarily get you a job — The Billfold
• Why you overspend — DailyWorth
• Places to find free or cheap mason jars — Wise Bread
• Ways to find a cheap wedding dress — Real Simple

The life of a student can be an expensive one, especially when you factor in textbooks that can cost you up to hundreds of dollars. In fact, the average student spends over a $1,200 on textbooks and course materials, according to collegboard.org.  Here's a quick cheat sheet on where to get cheap textbooks:

• Book swaps on campus: Most book swaps entail students gathering together online or at a school location to buy and sell there books and not a literal "swap." This is beneficial for both parties because those selling their books have more control over the prices and the buyers don't have to pay third party fees for the books and might be able to haggle with the sellers.
• Buying used: You can find new textbooks up to 30 percent off and possibly a bigger discount for used textbooks on Amazon Textbooks. The selection is wide and there's a bonus: you get to use the Amazon Prime two-day shipping free for six months if you're a student. There are also e-versions of textbooks available at half the price of its paper form. Another good website to search for used books is Half.com, a site owned by eBay. The selection there is as prolific as Amazon's.

• Renting: Instead of buying a book that you will most likely choose to resell or never use again, pick to rent your books as an environmentally friendly option. Chegg.com is a great place to do so and renting the books will give you about half off the original price. Another one to check out is CampusBookRentals.com. I've compared prices of renting textbooks and buying used ones online and I find that the price of rentals is very hard to beat. You have to keep in mind that although you're getting these books for great prices, you won't get to keep these books.
• Your network: Perhaps you have friends who have taken the same classes you're going to take. Ask them if they're willing to pass along their books to you or sell them to you at a cheap price. You might want to broadcast the books you want on Facebook and Twitter so you can better reach your whole network.

Although you can get books at campus bookstores, even the prices of the used books sold there can be pretty costly. However, there may be some books that you can only get at the bookstore (such as a certain professor's book that's only in print at your school bookstore), so you should check to see if you can get a cheaper price if you buy a bundle of books. Another idea is to maybe even approach your professor to see if he's willing to loan or give you a copy of the book.

• Money-making side gigs — LearnVest
• The work etiquette mistakes you want to avoid — The Jane Dough
• Ultimate cheapskate's guide to spending less (on everything!) — All You
• Refillable things that will save you cash — Wise Bread
• Ways to find a cheap wedding dress — Real Simple
• The hot European getaway you can actually afford — Broke Girl's Guide
• How to salvage an interview that's not going well — The Daily Muse
• Proof women's magazines do "serious" journalism — HuffPost Women
• New career option for women — The Billfold

• Is a life coach worth it? — The Billfold
• How the supply and demand theory applies to marriage — The Jane Dough
• Steps I took to travel for nine months — LearnVest
• Simple ways to save big at the movies — All You
• Maximize the value of your airline miles and points — Wise Bread
• What I know about friends now that I'm 60 — HuffPost Women
• 8 ways to shop smarter — Real Simple
• Are you investing as much as you should? — DailyWorth
• Credit tips for recent college grads — Credit Sesame
• When obscurity at work is a good thing — Lifehacker

Your cell phone can be one of the more expensive bills you have to pay each month, especially if you carry a smartphone. But if you put in some effort to research before buying a phone and choosing a carrier, there are ways you can save a lot of money on your bill. The amount you will save can amount to hundreds in a few years. Here are some tricks to saving on your cell phone:

Sign up for a no-contract deal: Although you can save up to hundreds on a new smartphone if you sign up for a contract deal, you can actually save more if you opt for a no-contract deal and pay full price for the phone. This Get Rich Slowly blogger found that the plan she wanted cost $110 a month without contract, versus $140 with the contract. Even though she'll have to pay more for the phone — $500 compared with the discounted $200 — she'll be saving $360 a year, which means she'll save $60 in the first year alone, followed by $360 the year after. Further, if she wants to switch carriers midway, then she won't have to pay any penalties, because she's not under contract. And that's not all; turns out some carriers even offer no-interest payment plans for the phones, so even if you can't afford to pay the full price upfront, you can pay it off in installments.

Comparison shop: The first rule of getting a bang for your buck on anything is to shop around. Check out what phone and plan best suit your needs. You can compare different carrier plans and pricing with ease by going to BillShrink. Just input your information and how you want to use the plan, and the site will give you a list of suggestions and the breakdown of each plan.

Get a prepaid phone: A pay-as-you-go phone can save you a lot of money, and you won't be locked down in a contract. Another benefit is you'll know exactly what you're going to be charged, and you won't be in for any nasty phone bill surprises. The prepaid option is a smarter option for people who never seem to meet their minutes quota and for those who aren't phone hogs. And if you think prepaid phones are outdated, then think again. Now you can even use a prepaid plan for smartphone models such as the iPhone 5. You'll even get the option of unlimited data plans at cheaper rates than contract ones. Prepaid service providers that Consumer Reports recommended include TracFone, Virgin Mobile, Straight Talk, and T-Mobile.

Read on for more ways to save.

Waking up refreshed is a great way to start out the day on the right foot. However, there may be times when you wake up tired and unable to immediately get the day going, even though you've had a full night's rest. Here are a couple reasons that may be causing you to wake up groggy:

• Waking up in the wrong phase: Your sleep is split into cycles, and you might've woken up during the non-REM stage, which is a state of very deep sleep. Try to shoot for waking up during a REM phase, because then your body will be better prepared to wake up.
• Poor quality of sleep: It doesn't matter how long you sleep for if you're it's low-quality rest; you'll just wake up tired. Poor-quality sleep can be caused by factors such as sleeping with a pet, drinking caffeinated beverages late in the day, or having too much noise in the background.
• Medication hangover: The effects of certain medications that cause drowsiness can linger until the next morning. Check with your doctor to see if you can adjust the dosage or change medications.
• Medical condition: Certain medical conditions like sleep apnea can disrupt your night's rest. Disorders like depression can also cause you feel drained of energy, a symptom that can contribute to your grogginess.
• Your body clock is not in sync: If you've been keeping an erratic sleep schedule, then your body will probably need time to adjust to waking up at a certain time during the morning. Try to make a more regular schedule, and you'll probably see a difference in how you feel in the morning.

Don't just network when you need something: Make sure you take the time to help others in your network, not because you're expecting something in return, but because you truly want them to succeed. Opportunities often arise when you reconnect with people you've lost touch with, and take time to listen to what they are thinking about and working on.

Shop at the flea market: Along with finding basic home essentials at your local flea market, you might be surprised by the other unique items that you can pick up for a steal. From vintage glasses frames to tailored suits, get ready to haggle for the best price around with these unique flea market finds. 

Declog your drain naturally: You can avoid harsh chemicals by using simple household ingredients and hot water to declog your drain.

Check your airline's website: You can often score coupons for free drinks and deals on transportation and hotels.

Earn $50 by doing 10 Fiverr tasks: Fiverr is a website where people can buy and sell services for $5. You can offer to do services like draw pictures, give advice, or perform silly acts on video.

Once you've thrown your graduation cap in the air, it's time to face the real world. Although you're not in school anymore, you could still probably stand to keep your living costs as low as a student's because — let's face it — that entry-level salary probably won't stretch very far. Here are some ways you can live a frugal student's lifestyle:

Use student discounts: You still have some time before the date on your student ID is expired, so make use of student discounts (here's a list!) while you can. Use student clothing discounts from J.Crew or Ann Taylor to get yourself a work outfit.

Find roommates: Room with other people to keep living costs down, just like you did in college. But pick carefully — you don't want to end up with a nightmare rooming situation. Do background checks if it's a stranger from Craigslist, or try to stick to people you know. Make sure you ask your potential roommate these five questions before moving in with them.

Make use of the library: It's time to transition from the school library to a local public library! Keep on getting your books for free by patronizing your local library.

Read on for more.

Doing research on a company is one of the first steps to tailoring your job application and prepping for an interview. One of the more common ways people learn about the company is by googling it and seeing what kind of articles pop up in their search. Another way is to read the company's "FAQ" or "About Us" section. But if you rely on those sources alone, you will be only scraping the surface of the company. You'll also be reading the same things other competing job candidates will be reading. To get a leg up on your competitors, check out these little known sources:

• 10-K filing. It's very possible that the company you are applying to is public (which means it's trading on the stock market), and all public companies have to file a 10-K filing. The Form 10-K is basically an annual report compiled by companies that summarizes the firm's performance and backs it up with data. You'll be able to see information on where the firm is going, what they're investing in, their competition, and where the majority of their revenue comes from. You'll be able to discern the firm's strengths and weaknesses, which will be helpful when you're figure out what value you can bring to the company. You can usually find the 10-K document in the investor's section of the corporate website or the SEC's website.
• Annual report. The annual report is a different document from the 10-K and is pretty much a summary of the 10-K findings with less numbers and details and is in a format that is easier for laymen to understand. Reading the annual report and 10-K filing will help you have a better sense of what direction the company wants to take and its future goals. Having this knowledge will make it easier for you to better align your answers with the company's goals.

Read on for more.

• Unbelievable uses for your dishwasher — Real Simple
• Why are men afraid to use paternity leave? — LearnVest
• What to wear on the first day at a very casual office — Corporette
• How pets can travel for less — All You
• Best cash-back credit cards — Wise Bread
• Stress cost this woman her health — HuffPost Women
• Working-class women are better off injured than pregnant — The Jane Dough
• Your ideal job might not be a full-time job — Lifehacker
• Everything you want to know about biking — The Billfold

Buying groceries is a regular chore that most people do every week, but there are some items that you don't have to restock every seven days.

• Canned food: The canning process helps to lengthen the shelf life of its contents. The USDA recommends using high-acid canned food, which includes fruits and tomatoes, in less than two years, and low-acid canned food, which includes meat and vegetables, in two to five years.
• White rice: Keep your white rice in an airtight container in a cool and dry area. There's not much moisture in the white rice for it to spoil. However, keep in mind that brown rice spoils much quicker because of its higher fat content.
• Sugar: Food spoils mostly due to bacteria growth, but sugar is a natural preservative, so bacteria can't grow and thrive with excess amounts.
• Honey: Honey is similar to sugar in that it doesn't spoil because of the high sugar content. Honey can crystallize over time, but you can always heat it up for use.
• Salt: Keep salt in a cool, dry place and it won't expire.
• Soda: Canned soda can usually last for about a year, although diet soda spoils much faster because of the artificial sweetener.
• Dried pasta: Dried pasta has very little moisture, which means that it can last for a very long time. It can last up to two years if unopened.
• Hard liquor: Hard liquor like vodka and whiskey doesn't really spoil, even after opening, since they are already aged and distilled. It's best to store it in a cool, dark area in your kitchen.
• Vinegar: This sour liquid can last indefinitely because of its acidity. Screw the cap closed after every use, and store it in a cool, dark area.
• Cereal: There's a reason why extreme couponers like to stock up on their favorite breakfast cereal; it has a long shelf life. It can last up to a year, although the quality of taste may start to degrade as time goes by.

• Best Amazon money-saving secrets — SavingsMania
• Tricks to sail through a home inspection — LearnVest
• Extend the life of electronic gear — Real Simple
• Is peer-to-peer lending legit? — DailyWorth
• Target launches Facebook app that gives access to in-store deals — All You
• For amazing, affordable vacations, travel slowly — Wise Bread
• There still aren’t full protections for LGBTQ Workers — The Billfold
• Getting enough sleep is smart, not selfish — HuffPost Women
• Quitting caffeine is now listed as a mental-health disorder — The Jane Dough

With so many interpretations of the "modern family," the stay-at-home dad is becoming a more talked-about role. In fact, statistics show that house husbands are gradually on the rise. According to the census, 32 percent of married fathers in 2011 were primary caregivers of their kids. That's up from 26 percent in 2002.

The topic of house husbands surfaced again in the media when results of a recent Pew study revealed that 40 percent of households with children under 18 have mothers who are the sole or primary income provider for the family.

Just who are the great men behind these great women? I talked to two stay-at-home dads who shared what it was like to leave their careers behind and how they deal with being married to women who are the main providers in the family. 

Pat Byrnes, 53, Chicago, IL

Married to: The Illinois Attorney General
Kids: Two daughters, ages 5 and 8

Byrnes was a guy who wore many professional hats before taking up the role of a stay-at-home dad. The blogger at Captain Dad is a self-described "former aerospace engineer, ad copywriter, voice actor and comedy writer, and performer who had always wanted to be a cartoonist." His dream of becoming an illustrator was finally taking off when he first became a dad, but he knew that "something had to give."

Read on to see what he has to say.

• Successful ladies who were once interns — The Jane Dough
• Tips for women earning more than their partners — HuffPost Women
• Networking mistakes you shouldn't make — Wise Bread
• Should we say no to wedding gifts? — The Billfold
• Save on your family vacation: how to cruise for cheap — All You
• Best sunscreens under $15 — DailyWorth
• Which type of financial adviser is right for you? — LearnVest
• How to prevent money troubles after a disaster — Real Simple
• No more Social Security at 62? — Bankrate

If you're thinking of adding some money to your rainy-day fund, then there are a few ways to make a quick buck. But making money isn't always easy, and some of these tasks are time-consuming, so be sure to pick ones that you don't mind doing. Here are some suggestions:

• Plan a vacation: There are people looking for help with vacation planning on TaskRabbit, an website that matches up task-doers with task-givers. One of the tasks that you can do from home is help out with vacation planning, which can mean hours of research. Some of the listings charge anywhere from $13 for help with finding plane tickets to about $62 for help with planning a two-week trip to Europe.
• Clean someone's home: Cleaning a home is another way to make a quick buck, and there are a number of cleaning tasks available on TaskRabbit that can go for over $100, depending on how extensive the chore is.
• Deliver items: Have a car? Maybe you can earn $50 or more by helping someone move items. My friend recently paid a TaskRabbiter $50 to collect a cabinet for her. Check out the delivery tasks that are doable on the site. You can even earn money by helping people unpack their stuff.
• Sell used items: If there are items you need to get rid of, then try selling them on sites such as Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. You can also bring them to thrift stores to see if you can get anything for them.
• Do 10 Fiverr tasks: Fiverr is a website where people can buy and sell services for $5. You can offer to do services like draw pictures, give advice, or perform silly acts on video.
• Rent out your couch: I've seen people renting out their couches on Airbnb, and this lister in San Francisco is renting a couch out for $50 a night.
• Participate in surveys: Participate in surveys to make extra money. Sometimes all you have to do is answer a few questions. For example, this recent Craigslist listing by Google is offering $25 for a phone interview about your shopping habits and another $100 for an in-person interview. There are plenty of legitimate opportunities that you can find through Craigslist. Of course, there are plenty of scams, as well, so be careful when responding to these listings.

Networking online may seem like a piece of cake — all you have to do is just befriend people on LinkedIn and send them messages asking for help, right? Well, LinkedIn isn't just a Facebook for professionals, and there are specific techniques you can use to up your game and your chances of finding your dream job. I shared with you some "dos" for networking on the web, but it's also very important to stay far and away from LinkedIn faux pas. Krista Canfield, the senior PR manager for LinkedIn, shares a couple of things you need to avoid when you're trying to leverage your online network:

• Don't just network when you need something. A "gimme gimme" mentality is a surefire way to lose professionals contacts and get deleted from people's networks. Instead, make sure you take the time to help others in your network, not because you're expecting something in return, but because you truly want them to succeed. Opportunities often arise when you reconnect with people you've lost touch with and take time to listen to what they are thinking about and working on.
• Don't just network online. Make sure you're taking the time to connect with people in person. Driving to NYC to meet a client? Flying to Dallas for a conference? Take a look through your contact list and see who's moved to that city or who you can reconnect with while you're in town. Having coffee with a former boss or grabbing lunch with an awesome client you used to work with is a heck of a lot more fun than eating alone. Plus it gives you the opportunity to rekindle relationships that may have fallen to the wayside.

Read on for more LinkedIn don'ts after the jump.

Google certainly has expensive taste — news broke today of the search engine behemoth acquiring navigational app Waze for a mind-boggling $1.3 billion. Even with Google's spend-happy acquisition history, this purchase is one of their most costly ones. Here are the most expensive purchases by Google:

1. Motorola Mobility: $12.5 billion in 2011.
2. DoubleClick: $3.1 billion in 2007.
3. YouTube: $1.6 billion in 2006.
4. Waze: $1.3 billion in 2013.
5. AdMob: $750 million in 2009.
6. ITA software: $676 million in 2010.
7. Postini: $625 million in 2007.
8. Slide.com: $228 million in 2010.

• Would you pay to take time off? — LearnVest
• Your spices might be fake — Wise Bread
• Now there's a bottled water for "trendy," rich women — HuffPost Women
• Financial questions to ask your spouse before the wedding — Real Simple
• The cost of divorce — The Billfold
• Walmart introduces new 100 percent money-back guarantee for fresh produce — All You
• Simple ways to make your employees feel valued — The Daily Muse
• Rules to follow when using a cash gift for a down payment — Credit Sesame
• Social media's role in job search — Free Money Finance
• The Equal Pay Act, 50 years later — The Jane Dough