Q: A forward contract is like a futures contract or derivative. It is an agreement to buy or sell a currency at a fixed price on a certain date.  Here's an example:  Dave is worried that the price of the dollar is going to plummet relative to the British pound. He has $1,000,000 in cash, which would fetch him about £600,000 at the then-current exchange rate. Dave wants to use a forward contract to lock in the exchange rate of the dollar relative to the pound. Here's what Dave does: Dave offers to sell Vivian $1,000,000 of US currency in exchange for £600,000 of British currency in six months. Vivian accepts the deal. This is a "forward contract." Let's continue with our example of Dave offering a forward contract to Vivian. In six months (the agreed-upon time), there are three possible outcomes regarding the price of the dollar relative to the pound.  Each of these possibilities affects the forward contract:  The price of the dollar goes up relative to the pound. Hypothetically, let's say one dollar now fetches .75 pound instead of .6 pound. Dave pays Vivian the difference between the current price of exchange and the price agreed upon in the contract:  ($1,000,000 x .75) - ($1,000,000 x .6) = $150,000. The price of the dollar goes down relative to the pound. Hypothetically, let's say one  dollar now fetches .45 pound instead of .6 pound. Vivian agreed to pay Dave .6 pound for each of his dollars six months ago, so Vivian has to pay Dave the difference between the price agreed upon in the contract and the current price: ($1,000,000 x .6) - ($1,000,000 x .45) = $150,000. The exchange rate between the dollar and the pound stays the same. No exchange happens between partners in the contract. Like any derivative, a forward contract is a great way to ensure you don't lose a lot of money if a currency you have a sizable position in drops in value. Here's how Dave came out by using a forward contract:  If the dollar gained in value, Dave is a winner, although he still has to pay out. If one dollar fetches .75 pound instead of .6, Dave has to pay Vivian $150,000, but his million dollars suddenly buys a lot more pounds. If the dollar fell in value, Dave isn't a loser. Remember, Vivian owes him the exchange rate they agreed upon at the beginning of the contract. So it's as if the value of the dollar never fell. Dave takes the payout, none the poorer than he was before.
A: Purchase forward contracts. Evaluate the forward contract at the agreed-upon time. Use forward contracts as a way to hedge against currency drops and spikes.

Q: You can generally find the course (which ends with the test) with a simple Google search. Taking the course and test online can be more convenient because it lets you go at your own pace and gives you more flexibility. The course and test should generally take around 1.5-2 hours. If you’re having trouble finding the official food handler’s course and test for your state, you can usually find the link by searching on your state’s .gov website. This option is helpful if you don’t have access to a computer to take the course or you’d prefer take it in person. Check for local food handler’s certification classes at colleges nearby and sign up for one. These generally only take a day and cost the same as your certification fee. Whether you take your test online or in person, you’ll need to pay a fee for the service. Some states charge separately for taking the test and receiving your card, while others include both steps in the price. The typical total cost ranges between $7-10. The test will draw questions directly from the course presentation, so it’s important to pay attention! Make sure to follow along and take notes if you need to. You may be able to take the test again, but if you pay attention to the course, you shouldn’t need to.  Re-taking availability depends on the location. Some courses will come with 2 test attempts, which you can use immediately. If you fail both of those, you’ll need to pay to take the course and test again.  Check your course details to see how many attempts are allowed in your location.
A: Find the course for your state online. Go to a community college if you can’t take an online course. Pay the fee to take the test and receive your card. Pay attention to the course so you can ace the test on the first try.

Q: and put the stuff you want on the nightstand/table.
A: Remove everything from the nightstand/table. Wipe down the nightstand/table. Throw away trash/rubbish.

Q: Decide what you want to achieve before you get started in the program. If you’ll be working sixty hours a week while also attending school, it might be a bad idea to aim for being #1 in your class.  Don’t use your undergrad experience as a barometer. As an undergrad you were likely able to devote your full attention to school. Don’t expect to get the same grades (at least right away) in your MBA program while working full time. Pay attention to the competition but don’t let it get to you. Everyone else in your part-time MBA program likely has similar goals: they want to move up in their careers as well. This is a self-selected group of high achievers so you should expect the competition to be tough. Try to remember that you’re there to learn skills and develop a network, not necessarily to be the best in the class. Pursuing an MBA while working full-time is an ambitious challenge. You’ll need to juggle work, school, and family responsibilities. You should understand how much time you’ll be devoting to each before you jump in.  Use a planner. Whether digital or paper, a planner is essential to navigating through an MBA while working. Use the planner to write in test days, due dates for both school and work assignments, and other important dates. Use a “to do” list with specific tasks. It feels good to scratch things off your “to do” list, and doing so will help keep you on track. If your list says something like “study,” it’s hard to know when you’ve completed the task. Instead, write something like, “study Chapter Two of the Business Skills 101 text and make flash cards.”  Schedule big study blocks. As a part-time MBA student working full time, you’ll need to use whatever time you have to study. However, you should also schedule study blocks into your planner every week. If you’re a morning person, plan to wake up early and study; if you’re a night owl, schedule your study blocks for nighttime.  Figure out what you can cut out. You may need to cut back on time at the gym, social activities, or other things in your life. It’s easy to get burned out while pursuing an MBA and working full-time. You should schedule days off ahead of time. That way, you can look forward to your planned days off and not feel guilty when you take them. Studying hard is important for success in your MBA. Studying smart means using the best strategies to study effectively and efficiently.  Instead of heading to a restaurant for lunch, pack one and study in your office during your lunch hour. Keep your study materials with you whenever you can. If you have unexpected downtime, you’ll always be prepared to hit the books. Many schools have tutors that can help you with your work. If you’re having trouble understanding a concept you should reach out to a tutor. Remember that you’re getting an MBA to improve your marketability. If you start slacking off at work or missing days, the negative impression of your boss could offset any gains from having an MBA.  If you start to feel overwhelmed, talk to your school first. They have resources to help you manage your time and your stress. If worst comes to worst and you feel like you’re going to miss a work deadline, talk to your boss. It’s better to let your employer know beforehand that you’ll be late with a project than to have to explain yourself later.
A:
Set realistic expectations. Budget your time. Schedule downtime. Study smart. Don’t skimp on work.