Everyone talks about saving money...but actually doing is another story. Here are some ways to make it possible!
Be realistic. When it comes to saving money, make sure your goals are realistic. If you earn $50,000 a year, saving $20,000 would be nice, but it is very unrealistic. Make your goals attainable or you will never save.
Be flexible. Once you have set your goal for saving, realize that things can and will change. The secret is learning ways to be flexible. If you normally save $150 per month and something unexpected happens, you may only be able to save $50 that month. This is fine as long as you focus on getting back on track.
Be patient. Saving a large sum of money doesn't happen overnight. In fact, it is alifetime endeavor. You need to accept that it will take time and good planning so as not to become discouraged.
Stop competing with the Jones (or your family, friends and neighbors). You don't have to compete with anyone.Be proud of who you are and what you have. If all you have is a 20-year-old TV set that still has a beautiful picture, don't give in to the temptation to buy a 42" plasma TV just because brother Charles bought one. Competitiveness is natural and to a degree, healthy. However, when competition creates a buying war to see who can have the "best" when they have no business buying at all, then it becomes damaging.
Be satisfied with life. Learn how to enjoy life and nature rather than possessions. Being happy in life is far better than buying item after item. Having an inner peace is better than having a house filled with "things". This does not mean that you can't enjoy some of the finer things in life, it just means learning how to be happy with yourself and not "things".
Like most people, I am so excited to jump out of my bed and start my day! That was a good one...I wish it was that easy! I decided to take action and find some new ways to help me start my day out right. I wanted to share some tips I use to feel more energized in the morning. Hope you find them helpful!
Go to Bed and Wake Up at the Same Time - Yes, what you've always heard is true. Sleeping, like every other bodily function, is a habit. In fact, your body has circadian rhythms, which control your biological "clock."
The sunlight is actually a strong biological cue, so going to bed early and waking early is natural for your body.
Wake Up Gently - Good news: time to trash your alarm clock - because waking to a jarring alarm actually causes stress to your body. There are better ways to wake up.
Pick a gentler options for waking up, like the Zen Alarm Clock. The Zen Alarm Clock has a gentle series of beautiful Tibetan bell-like chimes to gradually wake you up - on time - and in a much better mood!
If you can, plan to stay in bed for 30 minutes upon waking. Read an inspiring book, listen to soft music or even better, meditate. This brings your body gently into the day, supports your adrenal health and gives you time to become more grounded and focused.
Re-hydrate - Your body needs to re-hydrate, especially after being without fluids all night. Re-hydrating in the morning is an age-old way to add peristaltic action to your colon.
Try to have at least half your water intake by mid-morning, it really revitalizes your system. Upon waking one glass of water could contain lemon juice. The sour tastes stimulates parastalic action in your digestive tract.
Replace Cereal with Soup for Breakfast - You'll notice a difference in your energy and health if you choose a hydrating, nutritious soup for breakfast.
A Body Ecology soup eaten along with our recommended grain-like seeds and sea vegetables is a satisfying breakfast that provides your body with liquids and important nutrients.
Focus on the Positive - Our thoughts create our experiences. If we are waking up tired to the sound of a jangling alarm clock, hitting the snooze button and then rushing to work, it's hard to have positive thoughts about the day ahead. And yet, just the act of focusing with gratitude on the fact that you are alive and then using those positive thoughts to create a happy, productive day could calm your mind and create energy for your day ahead.
I was browsing around this awesome site pinterest.com (Make sure you check it out) and one of the pins was organizing your closet! As you know a major focal point when looking for a home to purchase is the size and layout of the closets. And if you are anything like me then if the closet space is not large enough then it a major negative. Here are some pictures of closets to give you some idea to organize your closet to maximize the space!
An old cubbord can convert easily into a space to store shoes!
A groved piece of wood painted in a fun color gives your closet an extra boost!
Not enough space...add a place to store cloths on your wall!
Tip 1: If the shoe fits
If you are keeping your shoe boxes, label what is inside. We like the Post-it Durable Tabs because they offer a writable surface and are quick and easy to apply. Alternatively, invest in clear shoe boxes with drawer-front pulls; they allow you to see what's inside so you can easily access your shoes.
Tip 2: Measure up
Once you have whittled down your wardrobe, you need to assess the layout of your closet. Measure the space you have, making sure to utilize backs of doors, floor space, and all interior walls. When you go to shop for boxes, bins, and other necessary space-savers, make sure you have your closet measurements in hand.
Use every square inch of your closet. Hang shoe racks on the back of your closet door. Classic belt hangers with multiple hooks are also a good solution for hanging camisoles, bras, or scarves.
Tip 3: Eyes have it
Keep items you use frequently at eye level or below and items you rarely use higher up. Labeled boxes are good for storing things like bathing suits or turtlenecks because you can rotate them higher or lower in your closet depending on the season.
Now all you ladies have to do is take the time one day and spend a few hours or all day and night organizing your closet!!
I have something of interest for your eyes! Have you ever dreamed of waking up and wandering out your door and POOF the beach awaits you...well it is possible!
Check out the video for 2234 Vista Circle, Virginia Beach!
A few signs of life in the housing market top our latest roundup of home ownership headlines.
The Obama Administration’s latest Housing Scorecard showed some housing market improvements. And a Wall Street Journal commentary espies opportunity in the housing market despite sour conditions. Is convalescence afoot? Meanwhile, Freddie Mac announced it would continue to suspend or reduce mortgage payments for unemployed home owners. See what all of this means for you in our latest roundup of top headlines.
The Obama Administration’s most recent Housing Scorecard — a comprehensive report on the nation’s housing market — shows subtle improvements in the market over the past year, but a mixed outlook going forward.
Come December, when we look back at how the housing market fared in 2012, this won’t be a year remembered for how bad it was, but for how bad it wasn’t. Over the course of the six-year housing correction, immense amounts of risk have been bled out of the market to a point where, in general, opportunities for good investments outweigh the risk of further losses. Here are 12 themes for housing in 2012, and while not all represent rosy optimism, they support my continued view that housing bears are seven years late to the party. And while bulls may be early, the good ones always are.
Unemployed home owners will be allowed to suspend or reduce mortgage payments for as long as a year under a new policy announced by mortgage finance firm Freddie Mac on Friday. The new rules take effect on Feb. 1.
How big a whack did your credit score take during the grim years of economic distress following the housing bust? Was it 20 points, 50 points, 100 points — or maybe no drop at all? These are key questions affecting millions of potential home buyers who hope to qualify for mortgages as well as current owners looking to refinance. New research from a major credit-risk evaluation company suggests that the drop in huge numbers of Americans’ scores was dramatic.
Washington may be having trouble finding bipartisan consensus, but a new survey has pinpointed one area where likely voters — Democrats, Republicans, Tea Partiers, Occupiers — agree: home ownership and many of the government programs that support it are important enough to affect elections
Our Earth is becoming more and more populated and this means more resources are being used. Many people do not realize the amount they waste. In order to become more conscious of your individual impact on the world, try recording every resource you use for one week and then learn what your footprint is! You can do this by going to http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/. This website really can open eyes. I also included a few things one can do that will help the environment and shrink your footprint!!
1. Update lightbuldbs. Installing a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) is the quickest, easiest way to save energy -- and money
2. Unplug things that glow. Anything that has an LED (light emitting diode) that glows even after you turn it off continues to draw power.
3. Support local farmers. Typical grocery store produce travels nearly 1,500 miles before it ends up on your plate. All this traveling burns fossil fuels and results in carbon emissions -- a fancy term for pollution. Buying from local farmers means you're not only getting the freshest food possible, you're saving energy
4. Fix that drip. Repair a leaky toilet and you can save $30 a year, which may not sound like much until you realize it means 73,000 gallons.
5. Look at the label. When it's time to replace a household appliance, choose a product with an Energy Star label.
6. Do full loads. Whenever you wash just a few clothes or dishes at a time rather than waiting for a full load to accumulate, you're wasting water, power, and money.
Once Spring and Summer roll around the main activity in these parts is heading to the beach for a fun day in the sun. You pack up your towel, chair, book, and food and right when you are heading out you notice the sun has disappeared and there is an ugly rain cloud looking at you. You think it is just passing over but then it starts pouring....the day at the beach is ruined! Well don't get down because there are many fun activities to do while it is raining!
1. Get pampered
Many hotels and beach resorts have a spa facility on the premises. Why not sign up for a relaxing massage or even a full day of "the full treatment"? You'll be so calm and stress free, the rain will no longer bother you.
2. Head to the nearest ice cream parlor.
Most beaches have an ice cream store nearby. Try to find one with an old fashioned theme. Sit at the counter and have a real ice cream soda, a rich chocolate milkshake, or a decadent banana split. Eat slowly while you gaze out at the rain. The rain won't seem so bad after all!
3. Head for the indoor pool.
Many beach hotels have an indoor pool. You may have to forgo the tan, but you can still have fun splashing around in the water and get some exercise at the same time.
4. Shop for antiques and art.
You're in a new environment where there are probably lots of unique antique shops and art galleries. Get out the hotel yellow pages and chart your shopping course. Find some stores off the beaten path where you'll be less likely to find souvenirs and items designed for tourists. You may come upon some real treasures you can't get in your area!
5. Go bowling.
Most beach areas will have a bowling alley nearby. Bowling can be loads of fun, particularly it you haven't played in awhile. Bowl a few games, then head for the snack bar and order a chili dog with all the fixings. It's a great way to forget about the rain!
6. Head to the local theater.
Check with your hotel concierge to find out where the nearest theater is and what's playing. Get a cup of popcorn with extra butter and relax in the cool theater, munching away to your heart's content. Forget about all the fat and calories in movie theater popcorn for once. After all, you're at the beach and it's raining.
I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout
Spring time is just around the corner! Here are some great tips on how to get your garden ready so you can enjoy the weather in it! Hope you find these tips helpful!
1. A bench or seat around a tree always provides an excellent focal point. Just make sure you leave enough room for the trunk to expand.
2. To achieve the best and most natural effect, never plant bulbs in a row. Plant them in clumps of at least five, seven or nine.
3. Want to attract wildlife into your garden? Bees and finches love lavender. Daisies, whether in wild or cultivated form, are essential because their centres contain an abundance of nectar. Ivy provides nectar for insects and berries for the birds; it also offers shelter: blackbirds, robins and many other birds build their nests in its branches.
4. Experiment by positioning plants in their pots before putting them in the ground. That way you can move them around and adjust them to arrive at the best look
5. The joy of gardening is that nobody ever gets it right first time. Or even second time. It is fine to constantly move plants, replant areas and tinker with colour schemes. No part of the garden will ever be completely perfect and, if it is, the perfection is momentary. But throughout the gardening year there are sometimes quite a few of those moments. It is the reason why gardeners garden.
Keep your clothes washer and dryer running efficiently and reliably with this simple maintenance routine that anyone can follow.
Anything that affects a dryer’s airflow can cause the appliance to fail and possibly create a dangerous fire hazard, warns Doug Rogers, president of the Mr. Appliance repair chain. And when it comes to washing machines, the leading cause of costly home damage is hose failure.
Here’s a list of maintenance tips to keep your washer and dryer running smoothly and safely:
Replace vinyl dryer exhaust ducts with metal ductwork to reduce fire hazards.
Before every dryer load, clean out the lint filter.
Every three months, wash the lint filter with detergent to remove invisible chemical residues that can restrict airflow.
Every month, visually inspect the dryer exhaust duct for crimps, obstructions, and unnecessary bends.
Yearly, remove and clean out the entire exhaust duct line from dryer to exterior.
Replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided-metal ones to reduce the risk of bursting. Expect to pay about $8 per hose.
Monthly, inspect washing machine hoses for tight fittings, bulges, cracks, and leaks. Tighten loose fittings. Replace damaged hoses.
Always ensure that the washing machine is level and on firm footing.
Always use the proper type and amount of detergent for the machine and load.
To prevent washing machine odor in front-load machines, always allow the interior to dry before shutting the door. Families with small children, however, should not leave the door ajar. Instead, use products specifically intended to eliminate odor-causing residues.
One day deep in the forests of Brazil, there was a toucan named Ken that was the talk of the entire forest. You see, Ken wasn’t like most toucans; he had a very unusual disorder that made him stick out from the rest. Ken was covered in hair rather than feathers like all the others. All the birds in the forest laughed and made fun of Ken because of his unusual disorder that he couldn’t control. Sadly, the birds drove Ken away with their taunting and off he went to venture for a new home.
Ken traveled far and wide, like Mosses’ followers, until he finally came to a resting point upon the beaches of Brazil where there he had found an odd shaped being he had never seen before. There, washed up on the shore, was a squid named Hank that was lonesome and crying because he too had been driven out because of the way he looked. Hank had the same disorder that Ken had! Ken, knowing how Hank felt, moved over to his side to comfort him but Hank was too stubborn to realize what was going on.
In almost a flash the fight was on because Hank wanted to be left alone and Ken wouldn’t leave his side. Unknowingly, Ken was forced onto his back and made vulnerable to Hank so he could start to pull and tear at all the fur he had on his body. Ken finally caught on and took Hank high up into the air where he did the same thing to Hank by pulling away all of his fur. They both came to a crashing thud in the middle of the beach where the abruptly stopped fighting each other and began to laugh about what had just happened. They had just waxed each other! Ken and Hank looked like normal animals once again and soon afterward thanked each other for the waxing and headed back to home to show off their new looks to all of their friends.
Happier days are definitely ahead.. sometimes you just have to put a different spin on things. :)
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
An old cubbord can convert easily into a space to store shoes!
A groved piece of wood painted in a fun color gives your closet an extra boost!
Not enough space...add a place to store cloths on your wall!
I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout 
One day deep in the forests of Brazil, there was a toucan named Ken that was the talk of the entire forest. You see, Ken wasn’t like most toucans; he had a very unusual disorder that made him stick out from the rest. Ken was covered in hair rather than feathers like all the others. All the birds in the forest laughed and made fun of Ken because of his unusual disorder that he couldn’t control. Sadly, the birds drove Ken away with their taunting and off he went to venture for a new home.
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