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We will be out of the office for the New Year’s holiday from 3:00 pm, 12/31 and will return on Monday, January 4 at 7:30 am. We have a 24/7 answering service available for emergencies.
While this year has proved challenging, we could not be more thankful for your business. I wish you all the best in the New Year!
A Christmas budget can feel like a real drag on your holiday spirit.
But, you know what? It doesn’t have to be.
Think about it this way: when you budget, you’re being intentional. This makes your approach to shopping more meaningful and less stressful.
Don’t think less of your generosity just because you’re on a budget.
You can do Christmas on a budget and here’s how:
1. Set a budget with categories and tracking
It may seem obvious, but decide on a specific dollar amount you can spend. Remember to include all holiday expenditures, for example:
Once you set up your cost categories, determine how you will track what you spend. Some ideas include:
Choose a method you know you can maintain.
2. Do not open a new line of credit
Don’t do it. Opening a new credit card to cover your holiday costs only prolongs the financial stress.
Instead, see what “credit” you may already have.
No, not credit cards.
By “credit” we mean store points you may have forgotten about, coupons you saved, or old gift cards. Don’t forget to check with your phone and utility companies. Some award on-time bill payments with points or rewards.
You may be surprised!
3. Make a master Christmas shopping list
A master list will help you identify the items you’re shopping for, not just the people. It will also help you determine what stores you need to watch for sales. Putting together your list should take more time than the actual shopping!
Your master Christmas shopping list should include:
Revisit your list often. A simple checklist on your phone is a great way to keep your list accessible and organized.
4. Suggest a gift drawing rather than buying for everybody
Are you looking at your list and thinking, Even if I buy a candy cane for all these people I’ll be over budget? Then it’s time to refine your list.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to set a price limit for the drawing! This will avoid awkward gift imbalances and keep you on budget.
5. Consider shopping used
Secondhand stores have so many gift options! Oftentimes, you can find items that don’t appear used for a fraction of the price!
Not keen on shopping in the store? There are several ways to secondhand shop online, including:
Around the holidays, these stores and sites usually have an influx of items. This is because people are cleaning and going through old toys. All to your advantage!
6. Homemade Christmas gifts
Homemade is a nice alternative to store-bought gifts and is usually easier on the budget. You can start your search online using websites like Pinterest.
Check out our Pinterest board for ideas, here!
Find a project you are confident you can complete efficiently and within your budget. Review the instructions before you commit, just to be sure.
7. Use social media ads to your advantage
There are four ways you can make online ads support your budget and even score deals!
Cut out the temptation!
8. Generate some extra cash
If your budget still feels tight, you can try to generate some cash for your Christmas fund. Some easy ways to do this include:
Giving is all about the intentionality behind it. You’re planning, making a budget and sticking to it which are all admirable intentions. You’ve got this!
Autumn means shorter days, colorful foliage, football season, and shaking one’s head in disbelief at stores putting up their Christmas displays in October. And with the change in seasons come changes in driving conditions – temperatures drop, and many parts of the country start to see an increase in rain, ice on the roads, and even a bit of snow. Here are three ways to make sure that your car is ready for the fall.
It’s easy to take your wiper blades for granted, but they’re one of the most-used pieces of equipment on your car. Windshield wiper blades do wear down with use and age – and even if you don’t use them very often, hot, dry weather can actually speed up wear. Autumn is a good time to replace them; your new blades will get you through the fall, winter, spring and summer. Knowing when to replace them is relatively easy: they’ll streak or even leave large patches of moisture when used, and they may even “chatter” as they move across your windshield. The blades themselves are made of rubber or silicon, and they can wear down to the point at which the hard plastic or metal of the wiper arm is making contact with glass. And that can cause damage to the windshield. Replacing the blades is a simple process; your local auto parts store will carry a wide range of blades, and will be able to help you find the blades that will fit your your car.
When should you change your wiper blades? If your wiper blades are doing any of these, it’s time to replace them. (Image via www.alibaba.com)
As temperatures cool, it’s a good time to make sure that all of your car’s fluids are clean and topped off. When temperatures drop, the fluids in your car can become more viscous, or thicker – which may cause them to move more slowly through the engine. It’s especially good to drain and replace your coolant if you live in areas that experience extreme temperature swings from summer to fall and into winter. Coolant isn’t JUST coolant – there’s water added to it, and that ratio of water to coolant will typically be higher in the summer. In the winter, the ratio of water to coolant should be 40:60 (or 40% water, 60% coolant).
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: your tires are perhaps the most important part of your car. As you head into icy road season, you should make sure that the tread on your tires is still up to par. There’s an easy way to do this: all you need is a penny. Insert the penny with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you into your tire’s tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace that tire – the tread is less than 2/32 of an inch, and the tire is not safe to drive on. Don’t be surprised if your tires start to look a bit deflated. As temperatures drop, so does the the air pressure inside your tire – the pressure inside your tire will drop about 1 psi (pound per square inch) for every 10 degrees that the outside air temp drops.
These three quick fixes will go a long way in keeping you safe on the road this fall.
Original post by:
Updated: Apr. 18, 2018
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Virtual tours can provide a safe alternative to traditional home showings and open houses during the pandemic.
Purchasing a new home can be stressful even during the best of times. But navigating the process during a global pandemic is a whole new challenge. Buyers and sellers are still making it happen, however, with help from smart adaptations like virtual home tours. This alternative to traditional showings and open houses allows you to view a prospective home through a live video from the comfort of your own home.
Real estate agents and sellers can use video calling apps such as FaceTime or Zoom on their phone to give you a walk-through of the home. It’s a great option for potential buyers in areas where in-person showings are currently restricted or for those who aren’t comfortable entering someone else’s home right now. During the tour, the agent will virtually guide you through each space, pointing out specific features and answering questions as you go along. “You’re going to get so much more information with a guided tour than you could ever get from a rendering or by taking a virtual tour by yourself,” says Rachel Stults, a housing expert at Realtor.com.
Participating in a virtual home showing isn’t as simple as taking a virtual museum tour, for example, where you can just sit back and enjoy the view. There are a few things you should know ahead of time, including how to prepare and what to look for during the tour. These expert tips will help you make the most of your virtual home tour so your socially distanced homebuying experience runs as smoothly as possible.
As with a traditional home showing, knowing what you want going in can help ensure a successful tour. Scott Campbell, a real estate agent with RE/MAX United, suggests writing down a list of wants and needs beforehand. “That way, the agent can get through those concerns first, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything during the tour,” says Campbell. Your list could include requirements for the layout, such as a finished basement or a first-floor laundry room, as well as more cosmetic features you love like crown molding or hardwood floors.
Trying to tour a new space via video can be confusing, as it’s often difficult to discern how rooms are oriented and connect. To help keep things straight, Stults suggests having a floor plan of the home handy so you can follow along during the tour. If available, the plan can also provide a reference for each room’s size and ceiling height. Consider printing out the floor plan ahead of time so you can make notes on the home’s layout if needed.
Apart from how the home looks, its sounds and smells are also crucial factors to consider, but these can be nearly impossible to detect over video. “On a video tour, you can’t smell if there are any strange odors, or you might not be able to hear the neighbor’s dog constantly barking outside,” Stults says. “These could be deal-breakers, so this is where it’s crucial to ask your agent to be your nose and ears for you.” Have the agent point out any squeaky floorboards, creaky cabinets, pet odors, musty basement smells, or other issues you might not be able to identify through a video call. You can also ask the agent to open up closets and cabinets, show you the view from windows, or zoom in on nooks and crannies, Stults says.
Whether conducted in person or virtually, a home showing is your opportunity to gather more specific information about the property that might not be included in the home’s listing. During your virtual tour, have a notepad and pencil on hand so you can jot down important details. Ask the agent for specifics, then make note of details such as where electrical outlets are located, the age or brand of appliances, and the type of lighting in each room.
Throughout your tour, don’t be shy about requesting more details. “You can ask as many questions as you need to in order to feel like you’ve got a good grasp of the space,” Stults says. Your agent will likely offer lots of important information upfront, but asking additional questions during the tour can help you create a fuller picture of the property without actually seeing it for yourself.
A home fire is a devastating event, and one that you never count on happening. Your children are most at risk when this disaster occurs. In fact, children under five are twice as likely as other people to die in a home fire. Tragically, many home fires are started by children playing with dangerous household items – especially lighters and matches. Taking sensible precautions in the home and teaching your child how to escape from a fire can help your family avoid this type of heartbreak.
The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that 300 people are killed and $280 million in property is destroyed each year as the result of children playing with fire.