Archives for February 2018

Take Charge of Your Financial Health

Stress over financial matters can affect both your health and your family’s well-being. To ease stress, take charge of your financial health with the following tips.

Gather your documents and store them safely. Over time, you accumulate all sorts of important papers from medical histories to bills and insurance information. It’s a good idea to keep all these important documents in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box or fire-proof strong box. Here are some things you’ll want to store safely and be able to retrieve quickly:

• Insurance plan information – life, health, dental, home owners, renters, auto, boat, etc. 
• Mortgage information 
• Tax information – returns, purchase and charitable contribution receipts 
• Investment paperwork – savings, stocks, bonds and retirement records 
• Will and trust or health care directives

Keep ATM receipts for a month, and paycheck stubs, bills, credit card, bank and investment statements for a year. Hold on to tax returns, medical bills, mortgage and home records longer — up to three to seven years. 

 

Set a monthly budget. It’s important to keep track of your finances and what you’re spending money on in order to determine where you can cut back. Keep an accurate account of your finances for several months, then start trimming expenses where possible. There are excellent software packages available to help you keep your income and expenses balanced. 

Set a savings budget and stick to it. Whether it’s for your children’s college tuition, a home down payment or for retirement, it’s important to make your savings goal part of your monthly budget. Set aside a regular amount — starting as early as you can.

Keep an emergency fund. Financial emergencies can happen when you least expect them. Instead of adding to your debt through a credit card withdrawal or bank loan, keep an amount equal to six months expenses on hand. Get started by arranging a bi-weekly or monthly automatic transfer into your savings account.

Stay on top of your credit score. Good credit opens many doors — auto and home ownership, backup credit lines, even co-signing your child’s student loans can be influenced by your credit score. In addition, spotting fraudulent accounts — such as credit cards opened via identity theft — is much easier when you’re managing your credit score. Free credit report services with email alerts are available online. 

Look to life insurance to help protect your family. If the unexpected happens, you want to know your family is safe, and that includes your finances. Talk to a life insurance professional for help in selecting the coverage and life insurance provider.

Source: www.foresters.com.

 

8 Cheap and Easy Kitchen Facelifts

If there’s not enough money in the budget to remodel your kitchen, Lowe’s home designers suggest you browse the aisles of your home store for ideas and give the room a whole new look with a few cheap and easy makeover options.

1. Paint the walls – Paint covers a multitude of sins and freshens up even the dullest kitchen. If you make one change to your kitchen, paint it – and opt for a color different from the old one.
2. Transform the cabinets – Use a brush or roller to paint wooden cabinets or, if you’re a bit braver, apply new wood or vinyl veneers to change the look of laminated cabinets.
3. Switch out the hardware – Shiny new cabinet and drawer pulls can make a huge difference to your kitchen – and there are literally hundreds of styles to choose from.
4. Replace appliance hardware – Spiff up your old stove and oven with new knobs. You can also change out those pans under your stove’s burners for a cleaner look overall.
5. Get a shiny new sink – Choices include stainless steel, enamel-coated cast iron, and composites – as well as single bowl or double bowl, top mount or under mount models.
6. Change the faucet – For a fun and inexpensive modification, get a new fixture. A spray attachment can come in handy, as can a faucet with a built-in soap dispenser.
7. Alter the lighting – A blend of overhead, natural and under-cabinet lighting can make the kitchen glow. You’ll finally be able to see what you’re cooking. You might also want to add a dimmer switch to your new lighting for times when you want the room a little mellower.
8. Add some simple new décor – To give your kitchen a new look – say, farmhouse, rustic or modern – buy some framed prints to hang on the walls, and add small design touches such as glass canisters, a cookie jar you love, and/or vase or pitcher of flowers. Complete the look and color scheme with new kitchen towels and potholders.

Going Once, Going Twice…Sold! Put Together an Offer the Seller Won’t Refuse

Submitting an offer on a home and waiting to hear back is one of the most stressful parts of the home-buying process. Since there is always room to negotiate when it comes to price, you want to be sure to put in an offer that the seller can’t refuse or you risk losing your dream home to someone with a higher bid. 

While prospective homebuyers are often unaware of current trends in the real estate market, many typically rely on advice and guidance from their parents, friends and coworkers who don’t necessarily have a good pulse on the real estate market. 

That’s why educated buyers who have spoken with their agent about an acceptable offer will have a better chance of hearing “sold” when the phone rings. Not only will a good agent offer valuable information, they can also help you buy the home you want at the price you want to pay.

Real estate agents have access to statistics and trend information that others don’t, so their advice is invaluable. But when it comes to submitting an offer, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s about more than just the money. In fact, there are several things you can include in the bid to help foster a successful deal. 

When it comes to getting a bid accepted, first-time homebuyers often have a significant advantage over repeat buyers because their agent is instrumental in advising them to not only take the time to get pre-qualified, but to also be pre-approved for a mortgage before they even begin looking for a home. And since they don’t have to wait for another house to sell, their offer will be attractive to someone looking to sell a home. 

 

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that sellers are typically attracted to “clean” bids. A clean bid is one in which the buyer doesn’t ask for any contingencies, repairs or updates to be done. In the end, sellers are happiest when they can simply collect their money and move out quietly. 

Buyers should also plan in advance to have funds available for a fast closing. Many agents will tell you that even if you’re not the highest bidder, your bid may still be accepted because you are willing to close right away.

Before making an offer, be sure to talk with your agent and decide what you’re willing to give up in order to have your bid accepted, as it could be the most important bid you ever place in your life. 

For more information on increasing your chances of having your offer selected, contact our office today.

5 Simple Tips to Combat Digital Eye Strain

According to The Vision Council, more than 70 percent of Americans don’t know about or don’t believe they are at risk for digital eye strain; however, anyone who spends time in front of a digital screen—whether it’s a computer, phone or tablet—is vulnerable. Dr. Richard Hom, optometric director for WellPoint offers the following suggestions for avoiding digital eye strain in today’s technology-driven world.

-Pay attention to how much time you spend looking at the computer screen and take a 20-second break every 20 minutes. To truly relax the focusing muscle within the eye, be sure to focus on something at least 20 feet away.

-Installing an anti-glare screen will get rid of the reflection from nearby objects that may be visible on your screen. Take this one step further by covering windows and using a computer hood to block both overhead and peripheral light.

-To ensure that you’re working in proper lighting, rearrange your office setup so that windows are off to the side of the computer screen. To diminish the brightness of the light surrounding the screen, turn off any unnecessary fluorescent lights. Incorporating halogen or incandescent bulbs into the mix is another simple way to foster the proper lighting environment.

-If you spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen, you’re most likely blinking less often, which can cause the eyes to become dry. Next time you find yourself in front of a computer for a prolonged period of time, blink 10 times by closing the eyes very slowly every 20 minutes. This will not only moisten the eyes, it will also help them refocus.

-Revise your workspace so that any printed pages you need to look at can be placed on a copy stand next to the computer monitor. This will help alleviate the stress and strain on the eyes that comes from looking back and forth between the computer screen and a printed page. Poor posture can also lead to problems when it comes to clearly seeing a digital screen. Whether you purchase ergonomic furniture—or simply pay more attention to your posture—aim to have the center of the digital screen 10-15 degrees below the eyes.