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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year

The new year is right around the corner, and many people are starting to think seriously about their New Year's Resolutions. And while the most popular resolutions aren't going anywhere (eat healthy, work out, spend less time in front of a screen), if you're looking to buy a home next year, at least a few of your resolutions should be of the financial variety.

Starting the new year off on the right financial foot by making financial resolutions can set you up for success and help you get closer to your goal of buying a home. Here are four financial resolutions you should consider making if you want to buy a home in the new year:

1. Track your spending

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It's impossible to get a handle on your financial situation if you don't know what this situation actually is. Which is why your first financial resolution needs to be to track your spending.

Tracking your spending will give you a clear picture of how much money you're spending, where you're spending it, and where the opportunities to cut back are.

The key to successfully tracking your spending is to track every single cent you spend. You can create a spreadsheet and manually input every purchase or you can use a money monitoring app like Mint; Mint connects to your debit and credit cards and then tracks and categorizes your purchases throughout the month.

Once you've tracked your spending for a month, it's time to dive into the numbers. How much of your income are you spending on necessities (like living expenses and utilities)? How much is going towards paying down debt? How much are you saving?

It's only when you have a clear idea of your financial situation that you can determine if you're ready to buy a home - and, if so, just how much home you can afford without putting yourself in a financially challenging situation.

2. Cut out unnecessary expenses

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A great side effect of tracking your spending is that it allows you to see opportunities to cut back. Which leads into resolution #2: cut out any unnecessary expenses.

If you're serious about buying a home, you need to rein in unnecessary spending and pad your savings account as much as possible. Are you spending a significant amount of money every month eating out at restaurants? Commit to eating out one or two times a month and making meals at home the rest of the time to save some cash. Is your coffee habit costing you $5 a day? Brew a cup in your kitchen before you leave for work. Are you spending a fortune on a gym membership you barely use? Cancel and use free workout videos on YouTube to get your exercise. Do you pay for premium cable when you'd be fine with basic? Downgrade and lower your bill.

Now, keep in mind - even though you'll want to go into savings mode before you buy a home, that doesn't mean you shouldn't spend any money on yourself. If you don't spend any money on fun and entertainment, it can actually make it harder to stick to your budget. Allot a certain amount of money per month you can use as you please; that “fun money” will make it easier to stick to your budget the rest of the time.

The more unnecessary expenses you cut out of your budget, the more you'll have to put in your savings account - and the faster you'll be able to make your dream of owning a home a reality.

3. Clean up your credit

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Another financial resolution to make if you want to buy a home? Clean up your credit.

Your credit score plays a huge part in determining if you get a mortgage and, if so, how competitive your interest rates. A good credit score can save you thousands (even tens of thousands) of dollars over the course of your loan, which is why it's important to get it as high as possible before you purchase a home.

First, you'll want to get a copy of your credit report and check for any errors. Errors are more common than you'd think, and even a small mistake can drag down your score. If you find an error on your report, you'll need to contact the credit bureaus to have it removed.

Once your report is error free, it's time to do everything you can to boost your credit score. Paying down debt, paying all your bills on time, and keeping the percentage of credit used low can all help to increase your score - which will help you get a better deal on your mortgage when you apply.

There are plenty of resolutions you can make in order to hit your goals in the new year. But if your goal is to buy a house, these financial resolutions are the key to getting there.

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The post 3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Classic Egg Salad

This classic egg salad recipe can be enjoyed for breakfast on toast, or for lunch in a wrap, over salad or in a sandwich. Sometimes I just eat it with a spoon right out of the container!

It's funny how I have so many variations of egg salad recipes on my site, like this Chickpea Egg Salad and this Avocado Egg Salad, yet don't have this classic, which I eat all the time. Problem solved! I make a batch of Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs and make this on the weekend to have for the week. You can easily double or triple this recipe.

(more…)

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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reducing weeds: a 101 on soil solarization, with sonja birthisel

AN ARTICLE about soil solarization for weed control, the practice of covering beds or fields with plastic to keep down [read more…]

The post reducing weeds: a 101 on soil solarization, with sonja birthisel appeared first on A Way To Garden.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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The First Step to Getting Out of Survival Mode – I Had to Let Go of the Fantasy

This post is an excerpt from my book Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection not Perfection. To enjoy my kids I had to come to grips with the fact that parenting would be nothing like I imagined and, in fact, many sweet, memorable moments often happen at the same time as the messy and loud moments.

Letting Go of How I Thought It Would Be

I started out parenting with stars in my eyes. I believed if I just tried hard enough I could do everything right and not make any mistakes. In fact, I built it up as the one thing I could not make mistakes in. I'd do it right! and everything would be cozy! and nice! and . . . perfect! I would be the envy of my other parent friends because I would do it “right.”

And then I had my first baby.

And oh man, everything was emotions and sleeplessness. It immediately became apparent that having a kid was not going to be just how I thought it would be. I felt jumbled and fearful; I was pretty sure I was doing it wrong, certainly not perfectly. I longed to feel competent again instead of confused.

Survival Mode

Years passed filled with ups and downs, sweetness and spit-up, and adding two more kids to our family.

I kept looking for the perfect solution to things like sleep, tantrums, eating . . . Each time I thought I had it figured out though, things would change, my kids would hit a new stage, and I'd be back to searching for another solution.

One day, I realized I was spending most of my time in survival mode, not enjoying the moment, enduring my kids rather than noticing them, and anxious the whole time that I was screwing it all up. I was worried I'd be filled with regret later if I couldn't stop feeling so frantic and exhausted.

I needed a starting place to change how I was feeling. I didn't want to spend their entire childhood in survival mode.

I thought about the brightest moments in my own childhood-they were often simple, like my mom teaching me to shuffle cards, or my dad teaching me to whistle with a blade of grass. I thought about the most treasured moments in our family life. Many of them were just as simple, and yet nothing like I thought they would be.

I'd pictured special times at our dining table doing crafts together. I didn't realize some of our best memories would instead be made when we gave up on the failed craft and, to escape the house, drove down to eat lunch while watching trains.

I was focused on the end result of activities, like swimming lessons, and didn't realize some of our most precious memories would be made on the way there, looking for prairie dogs that make their homes in the lot near the city pool.

When I thought parenting had to be perfect like the picture in my head, I hardly could enjoy the “perfectly imperfect” moments that came every day….

Field Notes: Letting GoWhat did you imagine parenting to look and feel like? What shocked you about the reality versus your expectations? Do you have parenting “fantasies” or imaginings that are getting in the way of noticing the way your family really is? Would you like to let go of any of these ideas?

For more like this check out my book, Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection not Perfection. Read more here.

The post The First Step to Getting Out of Survival Mode – I Had to Let Go of the Fantasy appeared first on Bounceback Parenting.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Why Winter is the Best Time to Complete Your Interior Painting

The winter season brings it's fair share of snow, assuming you live in a region where snow is common. Even so, painting a home in the cold is not exactly ideal, even for painting professionals. Instead of breaking out the winter jacket and earmuffs, it might actually be better to focus on your home's interior instead. While you'll want to get the exterior painted eventually, it's better to wait for a more ideal climate than to brave the frigid weather. Consider these four reasons why interior painting is a great place to start this season.

Take Advantage of Your Holiday Vacation

If you're snowed in, consider this perfect timing to take a closer look at your home's interior. Even if you aren't snowed in, chances are you've taken some time off work and have some time to kill anyway. Just make sure you purchase the paint you want to use beforehand in case you do get snowed in. While you're at it, it may be good to purchase other supplies commonly found in paint stores, such as shovels or salt for your driveway.

Faster Drying Paint

Alternatively, those who live in dryer climates throughout the year can also take advantage of the winter season. Summer means higher rates of humidity, which is not exactly ideal for the drying process. Because winter weather is generally a dryer season, your paint job should dry noticeably quicker than it would during other times of the year. Just make sure to crack the windows so proper ventilation can get in.

Earlier Natural Light

Since daylight savings time occurs during the winter season, you'll get more light during the morning hours. This should act as good incentive to get up early and start your paint job then. If your room has windows and you live in a snowy climate, you can also take advantage of the natural light reflecting off of the snow outside. More light makes it easier for you to see areas of your interior you may miss. It also allows you to work more efficiently, shortening the process overall.

Save Money on Professional Painting

If you plan on hiring a painting company, you'll learn that their rates go down during the winter season. According to some estimates, painting during the winter season can be as much as 40 percent cheaper compared to hiring services during the summer. Getting a professional paint job at a lower rate is always a benefit!

Additionally, getting your interior paint job done now will give you more time to focus on the exterior once the weather gets warmer. You'll also have more time to focus on outdoor projects in general, including garden plots, deck repairs and utility maintenance.

No longer do you have to ask yourself “when is the best time to paint inside my house?” There's no better time than winter to work with a painting company. Call a professional to get your estimate today!

About Platinum Painting

The team members at Platinum Painting are interior experts who only focus on residential homes. That means you can expect knowledge that's catered to you as a homeowner, not vague information that could help any average client. It also means you can get your cabinets and doors painted along with your walls. To learn more about their work or get a free estimate, you can contact them through their website.

The post Why Winter is the Best Time to Complete Your Interior Painting appeared first on Platinum Painting Blog.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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My honeymoon in India

I always talk about living my version of a Rich Life, and I'm so excited that I get to share a small window into that with you in the form of my six-week honeymoon. There were multiple stops.

My wife Cass and I got to share an experience of a lifetime with our parents in Rome, Italy. Then…

We'd always dreamed about going on a safari. And now?

This was a really special part of the trip for me. I always knew that I'd take my wife here on a honeymoon (even before I met Cass). It's where I went with my parents to visit when I was a kid, and it's where I learned about seeing a different part of the world, a totally different culture, about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I couldn't wait for Cass to experience it with me - and for us both to see a different side of India that we'd never seen before.

We started in Amritsar. As I walked around, I noticed families and friends standing around and catching up. I loved how warm it all felt. It reminded me of my family visits to our Sikh temple every Sunday when I was a kid. A couple of interesting things I'd like to share with you about Indian culture:

A “langar” is a free meal that every Sikh gurdwara serves to anyone - no matter what religion they follow - everywhere in the world.

Here in the langar hall, people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and gender - rich, poor, men, and women - sit together and eat the same food that is served for free by volunteers. About 50,000 people eat here on an average day - 100,000 on a busier day! On my visit to the langar hall, we got to take a peek in the kitchen where I've never been before:

Cass had the chance to help make roti as well.

By the way, they actually have a roti-making machine that makes 6,000 rotis per hour (!), but people still make them by hand because they want to volunteer. It's as simple as that.

What an amazing testament to the power of community service.

This experience made me realize that I had been eating this food all my life and am just now getting to appreciate them in a whole new light.

This was an amazing part of our Rich Life - to be able to share culture and food and religion together.

And that was just the first day!

Now … allow me to introduce you to my new favorite hotel in the whole world.

Fun fact: Many top hotels in India were actual palaces that kings once lived in. This one is different: it was intentionally created to be a hotel.

WOW. Plus, something amazing happened when we checked into our room the first night…

I love it. At every hotel we are getting the royal treatment because they know we're on our honeymoon, so they send us champagne and gifts, and put us in a secluded part of the hotel - amazing attention to detail.

On my Instagram stories, I showed some of the behind-the-scenes amenities at these hotels. I used to skip the things they offered because it was too expensive, they were ripping me off, I could do it myself … etc. I ended up not doing them at all. Now, if I know there's something I want to do and they'll create an unforgettable experience, I do them - even if they cost a little more.

Put another way, I had someone write me and ask, “How do I find deals on a luxury trip like this?” My answer: If you're taking a luxury trip, you're not looking for a deal.

And of course, let's not overlook all the amazing food I had here. Here are a few of the specialty Indian dishes I want to share with you:

The way you eat golgappa is to take one of the crunchy fried balls, fill it up with the chutney, and eat it - it's sweet and spicy at the same time. Most non-Indians haven't tried this, but you'll love it.

And one of my favorites…

So good that I was getting delirious! If you watch my stories, I could barely talk.

I mentioned we wanted to balance luxury and local culture. One of the things we did in Udaipur was visit a local woman's home for a Rajasthani cooking class (we call her Auntie out of respect, though we're not related).

Rajasthan is a northern Indian state that borders Pakistan. Because of the climate and for historical reasons, Rajasthani food was often traditionally made so it could last for days and eaten without heating.

We sat with this Auntie for hours and had a chance to hear about her life - how she arranged a marriage with her daughter, how life in Udaipur is different from Delhi (where I'm used to), how they eat. It gave us an awesome insight into her day-to-day life.

One thing I want to show you is the crowds in India. Your first reaction might be overwhelm or chaos. My take: If you look closely, there is charm in the chaos and throngs of people.

During my time here in India, I showed you a juxtaposition of having absolute luxury against bustling local street culture. Why?

You can decide what your Rich Life is. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel, you can. If you want to eat street food, you can. If you want to do BOTH, you can.

I want to show you that a Rich Life can be multi-dimensional and complex … because it's YOURS. YOU get to define what your Rich Life looks like.

If you enjoyed this, I'll be posting the last of my Honeymoon Diaries in Thailand next. You can also follow along in real time on Instagram (@ramit).

One of my goals is to show you how I live my Rich Life - and to encourage you to decide what your Rich Life is. Maybe it's a long honeymoon, or working from home, or starting a business. You decide.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment below or DM'ing me on Instagram (@ramit).

My honeymoon in India is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Finally Sell Their Home to a Buyer You Won't Believe

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Barry King/Getty Images; Kevork S. Djansezian/Getty Images

Since announcing their divorce in June 2015, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been attempting to sell their family home in Pacific Palisades, CA. And at long last, they've found a buyer with similar star power: Maroon 5 frontman and “Voice” judge Adam Levine.

And it looks like the singer behind “Moves Like Jagger” got quite the deal: The five-bedroom, eight-bathroom house was listed for $45 million, but Levine got it for $32 million.

The deal was done privately, off the market, so no one has been able to use the multiple listing service to peep inside the home. But we do know that the 8,800-square-foot, ranch-style abode sits on more than 3 acres of land and was built in 1940 by architect Cliff May.

Levine will join a long list of famous tenants to inhabit the property: Gregory Peck took up residence in the late 1940s, and film producer Brian Grazer bought the home in 1992 (then sold it in 2009 to Affleck and Garner for $17.55 million).

Adam Levine's new pad-Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's old family home

Philip Ramey/Corbis via Getty Images

Affleck and Garner renovated the home, transforming it into a lavish, resortlike property with a swimming pool, outdoor basketball court, four fireplaces, and state-of-the-art movie room.

The couple also built a two-bedroom, three-bathroom subterranean guesthouse just a stone's throw from the main house. (Affleck famously holed up in the guesthouse after his split with Garner was first announced.)

With all these costly renovations, it's no surprise that the home sold for a pretty penny. But still, we have to ask, how did Levine manage to get the abode for a whopping $13 million less than the asking price?

How did Adam Levine snag such a bargain?

While celebrity divorces are sad news for everyone involved, they're good business for deep-pocketed buyers, like Levine. Many celebrities will immediately put their home on the market once they've extricated themselves from a marriage, but that doesn't mean the property will actually sell fast.

“In an everyday divorce, it's oftentimes urgent to sell fast to divide assets,” says Kim Howard, a Chicago-based broker with Howard Homes. “When high net worth individuals have expensive assets, oftentimes they are open to waiting longer for the right buyer since cashflow may not be as much as an issue.”

But the right buyer can be hard to find-particularly in the wake of a divorce. Buyers might be worried about the bad juju a high-publicity, emotional breakup could leave with the house, or about becoming a destination on a bus tour of movie star homes. All of this can lead to a major price cut or-in Levine's case-a majorly lowball offer.

“At some point a seller has to realize that a home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay,” says Kelly Parks, a broker with Paris Gibson Realty in Great Falls, MT.

Parks speculates that since they finalized their divorce in November 2018, Affleck and Garner accepted Levine's offer to tie up the loose ends of their relationship.

“The fact that the divorce was finalized in November, the offer and sale [of the home] represented the final closure of probably the largest asset the couple shared.”

Hopefully, Levine and his family-he and his wife have two young daughters-will fill this home with more positive vibes.

The post Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Finally Sell Their Home to a Buyer You Won't Believe appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Financial SEER: A Way To Quantify Risk Tolerance And Determine Appropriate Equity Exposure

This post is for someone who is wondering:

Whether they have the proper asset allocation

Whether they should sell equities and buy bonds

How to reduce investment stress while still benefitting from returns

How to quantify their risk tolerance

How to continue moving forward on their path to financial freedom despite all the uncertainty

One of my primary goals on Financial Samurai is to help readers build meaningful wealth in a risk-appropriate manner. Because I started my career soon after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, I've experienced a lot of carnage as many international college students in the US had to drop out due to a sudden and massive devaluation of their respective home country's currencies. I fully appreciate how hazardous the road to building great wealth can be.

Even the best-made plans can be laid to waste due to some unforeseen exogenous variable. We always hope for good surprises along the way. Unfortunately, life always has a way of kicking us in the face after knocking us in the teeth. Let's always be thankful for what we have and demonstrate kindness to those who are experiencing difficult times.

Most investors overestimate their risk tolerance, especially investors who've only been investing with significant capital since 2009. Once the losses start piling up, it's not only the melancholy of losing money that starts getting to you, it's the growing fear that your job might also be at risk.

You might also erroneously think that the richer you get, the higher your risk tolerance. After all, the more money you have, the bigger your buffer. This is a fallacy because the more money you have, the larger your potential loss. For most rational people, their lifestyles don't inflate commensurately with their wealth. This is why even rich people can't resist a free rubber chicken lunch.

Further, there will come a time when your investment returns have a larger impact on your net worth than your earnings. As a result, the richer you are, the more dismayed you will be to lose money. Your main hope for recovery is a rebound in investment performance because your work earnings won't contribute much at all.

How Most Of Us Rescue Our Investments

The reason we all continue to fight in this difficult world is because we have hope. But eventually, our hope fades because our brains and bodies slow down. When we're younger, we often think ourselves to be invincible. Then, eventually, we start experiencing the realities of aging.

It is due to our fading abilities that we must bring down our risk exposure as we age. It is only the rare bird that goes all-in after making enough money to last a lifetime to try and make so much more. Sometimes they turn into billionaires like Elon Musk. But most of the time they end up going broke and filled with regret.

The only way most of us can rescue our investments after a market swoon is through contributions from earned income i.e. our salaries. We tell ourselves that when the markets are down, that's alright because we'll simply invest more at lower prices.

However, lower prices don't necessarily mean better value if estimates are cut, but all other things being equal, we like to trick ourselves into believing we're getting a better deal all the same.

To understand reward, we must first understand risk. Since 1929, the median bear market price decline is 33.51%, while the average bear market price decline is 35.43% since 1929.

Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that the next bear market could also bring equity valuations down by 35% over an 8 – 10 month period.

Let me share a quantifiable way to measure how much equity exposure you should have based on your risk tolerance.

I'm calling it the Financial Samurai Equity Exposure Rule or Financial SEER. It's an appropriate acronym because seer means a person who is supposed to be able, through supernatural insight, to see what the future holds.

How To Quantify Your Risk Tolerance

Most people just regularly invest in stocks over time through dollar cost averaging. They have little concept of whether the amount of stocks they have as part of their portfolio or their net worth is risk appropriate.

Hence, to quantify your risk tolerance based on your existing portfolio, use the following formula:

(Public Equity Exposure X 35%) / Monthly Gross Income.

For example, let's say you have $500,000 in equities and make $10,000 a month. To quantify your risk tolerance, the formula is: $500,000 X 35% = $175,000 / $10,000 = 17.5.

This formula tells you that you will need to work an 17.5 ADDITIONAL months of your life to earn a GROSS income equal to how much you lost in a -35% bear market. After taxes, you're really only making around $8,000 a month, so you will actually have to work closer to 22 more months and contribute 100% of your after-tax income to be whole.

But it gets worse. Given you need to pay for basic living expenses, you need to work even longer than 22 months. Good thing stocks tend to rebound after an average bear market duration of 10 months, if you can hold on.

Given everybody has a different tax rate, I've simplified the formula using a gross monthly income figure instead of a net monthly income figure. Feel free to adjust the Risk Tolerance Multiple based on your personal income tax situation.

Quantifying risk tolerance by calculating working months is the best way to go because time is money. The more you value your time, the more you hate your job, and the less you desire to work, the lower your risk tolerance.

The classic scenario is a 68-year-old retiree with a $1,000,000 portfolio living off $20,000 a year in Social Security and $20,000 in dividend income from his portfolio.

If his portfolio loses 30% of its value because it is way overweight equities, it is almost impossible to recover the lost $300,000 on his $20,000 a year fixed income. His dividend income may likely be cut as well as companies hold onto their cash for survival. The only thing this retiree can do is pray the market eventually goes up while cutting spending.

How To Determine Appropriate Equity Exposure

After you have quantified your risk tolerance by assigning a Risk Tolerance Multiple = the number of months you need to work to make up for your potential bear market loss, take a look at this guide below.

My guide will not only give you an idea of what your Risk Tolerance Multiple is, but it will also give you an idea of what your maximum equity exposure should be based on your risk tolerance. Solutions!

My advice to all investors is to not risk more than 18 months worth of gross salary on your equity investments using an assumed 35% average bear market decline in your public investment portfolio.

In other words, if you make $10,000 a month, the most you should risk is a $180,000 loss on a $514,285 pure equity portfolio.

The Max Equity Exposure formula = (Your Monthly Salary X 18) / 35%.

You can certainly have a larger overall public investment portfolio than $514,285 in this example, but I wouldn't risk much more than $514,285 in equities only if you have only a $10,000 a month gross salary.

You can have $514,285 max in equities plus $250,000 in AAA-rated municipal bonds if you wish, for a reasonable 67%/33% equities fixed income split. Your total portfolio size would therefore be $764,285.

Adjust The Assumptions As You See Fit

If you think the next bear market will only decline by 25%, feel free to use 25% in the Max Equity Exposure formula. In the above example, the result would be ($10,000 X 18) / 25% = $720,000 of maximum equity exposure for someone making $120,000 a year.

If you just got promoted and plan to see 20% YoY earnings growth for the next five years, you could use your current monthly salary and a higher Risk Tolerance Multiple to determine your equity exposure. For example, let's say you currently make $10,000 a month, but expect to make $20,000 a month in five years, You also think stocks will go down by 25% at most. The calculation would therefore be: ($10,000 X 36) / 25% = $1,440,000 as your target or maximum equity exposure.

If you decide to live like a hermit in a low cost town in the middle of nowhere, you could increase your Risk Tolerance Multiple to 36. But you've got to question your money priorities for trying to make a bigger return only to never spend your rewards.

Remember, whatever your Risk Tolerance Multiple is, you will have to increase it by 1.2 – 3X to truly calculate how many more years you will need to work to recover from your bear market losses due to taxes and general living expenses.

It is a judgment call regarding how much equity risk you should take. If you've quadrupled your net worth after a 9-year bull market, it's probably wise to lower your risk exposure multiple. Conversely, after a 30%+ correction in equities, it's probably wise to increase your risk exposure multiple.

The closer you get to retirement, the lower your multiple should be as well. Nobody wants to get close to the financially free finish line only to break a leg and get carted off in an ambulance.

Be A Rational Investor With Financial SEER

The valuation of everything is dependent on current and future earnings. It takes time and energy to create those earnings from your job or your business. If you are seriously burning out, please dial down risk and give yourself some time to heal.

For the average person in a normal economic cycle, a gross Risk Tolerance Multiple of 18 is my recommendation. Most people have the fortitude to waste up to around 2-3 years of their lives to gain back what they've lost from a bear market. But after three years of digging out of a hole, things start to feel hopeless as the average person starts giving up.

Remember, things could always be worse! Not only could your stock investments lose more than 35%, you could lose all your home equity due to leverage, your business, your job, and your spouse as well. Please invest rationally and responsibly.

I hope the Financial Samurai Equity Exposure Rule (SEER) helps you take the subjective term of risk tolerance and shapes it into something quantifiable. You now have a concrete way of determining your equity exposure and risk tolerance.

Financial SEER formulas:

Risk Tolerance = (Public Equity Exposure X Expected Percentage Decline) / Monthly Gross Income

Maximum Equity Exposure = (Your Monthly Salary X Risk Tolerance Multiple) / Expected Percentage Decline

Recommended Net Worth Allocation By Age Or Work Experience

The Proper Asset Allocation Of Stocks And Bonds By Age

Readers, how do you quantify risk tolerance? How many months are you willing to work to make up for potential losses in your portfolio? Is your equity exposure appropriate for your risk tolerance? What is your Risk Tolerance Multiple?

The post Financial SEER: A Way To Quantify Risk Tolerance And Determine Appropriate Equity Exposure appeared first on Financial Samurai.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Government shutdown could lead to millions of evictions

Funding for HUD's rental assistance programs would lapse if shutdown drags on

Entering its third week, and with no end in sight, the partial federal government shutdown is putting millions of low-income tenants who depend on funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at risk.

On January 4, HUD sent a letter to 1,500 landlords who house tenants under various rental assistance programs, including Section 8 vouchers and project-based rental assistance, urging them not to initiate evictions for tenants over HUD funding that has now lapsed.

According the Washington Post, HUD officials didn't realize this funding had lapsed on January 1, and the shutdown prevents them from renewing it. HUD officials are now tapping reserve funds and “scouring for money,” according to the Post.

About 95 percent of HUD's 7,500 employees have been furloughed. The remaining 5 percent are exempt because they respond to emergency situations that endanger life or property.

Among the routine HUD functions on pause due to the shutdown are building inspections for properties that receive HUD funding. NBC highlighted the consequences of paused inspections with a report detailing how the floor collapsed under one privately owned, HUD-funding property in Connecticut that had been waiting for months for an inspection.

Rental assistance programs continue to operate on the basis of funding that's already been appropriated, or in situations where life or property are threatened, but should the shutdown carry on, much of that funding would lapse, and HUD wouldn't be able to renew it while the government remains closed.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, local public housing authorities (PHAs) will be able to fund housing vouchers through February, but funding for capital improvements are less certain. Some smaller PHAs may also not have enough funding to continue normal operations. The longer the shutdown goes, the more low-income tenants are at risk of being evicted.

And so far there doesn't seem to be an imminent deal to reopen the government. The shutdown began on December 21, 2018, when President Trump refused to sign a budget bill passed by Congress because it didn't include $5 billion for a wall along the southern border, which was his signature campaign promise.

The president and Democrats have met multiple times in hopes of finding a solution to the impasse, but neither side has budged from their respective positions. The shutdown is currently the second-longest in the country's history, with the longest being the 21-day closure under President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s.

According to NBC, nonprofits and other agencies that rely on HUD were unprepared for the shutdown. Usually, government departments hold an emergency call with relevant stakeholders prior to a shutdown, but because of the sudden start to the current shutdown, these calls didn't happen. It was also reported that Trump didn't know a government shutdown could lead to evictions for those who depend on HUD's rental assistance programs.

This has left many who depend on HUD in the dark on what will happen should the shutdown drag on, which seems more likely with each passing day. HUD has a shutdown contingency plan on its website, but it's the same plan from the February 2018 shutdown, so it's unclear if HUD has reevaluated or adjusted its plan.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Eleven tips for enjoying the holidays with your family

Holiday traditions often make the holiday season the favorite time of year for many people. Those traditions include:

Picking out the perfect Christmas tree;

Participating in secret gift exchanges;

Baking cookies; and

Travelling to visit family.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Your Personal Checklist: 10 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a New Car

When buying a new car, it's easy to let yourself be entrapped in the dream of cruising down the beach street while the sun sets down. You can almost see it turning into reality with the keys in your hand and the sales clerk telling you how much your life is going to change for the better. However, if you don't want to regret your decision later on, you should never purchase a new car on impulse. Instead, it's best to the following 10 principles:

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1. Give it a spin first

Going for a test drive will give you a better feel for how well the car really sits with you. Maybe you like its looks, but after driving it for a couple of blocks, you might find that it's not really that comfortable or just doesn't feel right. Most, if not all car dealerships, will let you do this without raising an objection.

If you're planning on buying a used car, testing it out becomes that much more important, as you want to make sure there are no rattles, scratches, funny noises or anything out of the ordinary. Obviously, this is not going to be a concern when buying new, but to put your mind at ease, be sure to check how long the insurance you're getting with it covers you.

2. Compare prices online

According to www.car-buying-strategies.com, comparing prices online is one of the most important things you should be doing. You'd be surprised how often the same model can be found at a more affordable pricing somewhere else. Oftentimes, you'll see online price comparison tools, which is what you should be looking for; these have been designed to make your search as simple and time-efficient as possible.

If you're just scouting the marketplace, these types of engines also make it incredibly easy to search for a specific brand, model, year of production, etc. Furthermore, many sellers are willing to match the prices if you can show them that another dealership is offering the same car for way cheaper. Therefore, knowing the cheapest prices will give you a good leverage when negotiating.

3. Discuss the purchase with your insurance agent

Before making the purchase, you should probably discuss it with your insurance agent first. The reason being is that no two cars are the same and the costs are different when it comes to insuring each individual one. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you've already purchased one, only to find out it costs much more to insure than others.

While you're there, you can learn many useful things such as knowing the options which car insurance types are available to you, as well as vehicle service contracts. Don't forget to make some price comparisons here as well; only that way will you be able to secure the best insurance deal possible.

4. Don't get pressured into buying what you don't need

In order to make more money, the dealerships will often try to sell you expensive add-ons you don't really need. Despite being valuable in their own merit, you shouldn't just take everything bundled with your purchase. Instead, evaluating everything they offer you separately is the right way to go about it.

Ask yourself this: do you really need paint protection or key insurance? Even if the answer is affirmative, you might not be offered the best deal out there. In case you feel the salesman is trying to pressure you into it, you should be varied – this is often a red flag. Some of them try to hide the real cost of the product behind monthly payments; don't get suckered into it. Bring a calculator and determine how much it's going to cost you in a year or so.

5. Decide on the type of transmission

What do you prefer – automatic or manual? If you're unfamiliar with how to drive a car with the latter, now might not be the best time to make the switch (unless you're willing to go the extra mile to learn the ropes). Those who find themselves driving their car often might prefer the automatic transmission, since it's much less of a hassle to operate. In fact, those who used to drive cars with manual transmission and upgraded to the automatic ones, later on, are seldom willing to go back due to getting used to the extra comfort.

There is a drawback, however; cars with automatic transmission are known to consume more fuel, so if you're traversing longer distances often, they might not be the best choice. If you tend to get stuck in traffic often, on the other hand, they can be a true life-saver. So always make the choice based on your preferences, level of experience, and the intended usage of your car.

6. Petrol or diesel?

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There are notable differences between these two main types of cars. While covering every single detail is beyond the scope of this article, knowing the main differences between them could potentially be the single most important thing you're going to learn today.

For starters, diesel cars are a more cost-effective solution if you're traversing long distances. If you're driving for less than 50 kilometers a day, however, the opposite may be the case, especially since diesel cars are more expensive to maintain in comparison. Also, try to keep in mind that most people find petrol cars easier and more comfortable to drive; their diesel counterparts feel a bit stiffer in comparison. Finally, diesel cars produce more toxic emissions, which is detrimental to the environment.

7. Safety is a consideration

In case you live in a dangerous area with a ton of reckless drivers, it's of utmost importance that your car is fitted with the latest safety technology. This is also true if you often find yourself driving on highways where the speed meter can reach mind-numbing heights. Having a good safety system installed can be the difference between you surviving a potential accident or not.

Make sure that the car you're eying has a good safety bag. If you want to take additional steps to guarantee your safety, make sure that the car has rear set airbags installed as well. Modern safety systems like ABS are also a must; luckily, the cars that you can find nowadays pretty much have it installed by default.

8. Don't succumb to the sales consultant's pressure

Yes, buying a new car is an experience packed full of emotions and excitement. We get it. Allowing yourself to be emotional for a bit is fine, as long as you don't compromise your best judgment in the process. So if you're feeling pressured by the sales consultant, take a step back and re-evaluate the situation, because chances are they're trying to do what's best for the interest of the company they're working for and not yours.

Don't be too kind and submissive, but there's no need to be rude either. Simply walk a fine line between being kind and assertive. A smile will get you quite far. Do know, however, that you always have the option to walk away if you believe you've been offered a bad deal. Not being confident enough to do so is the only way you can be defeated (but this can be prevented as long as you keep your senses focused).

9. How strong does the engine need to be?

Don't believe that picking a car with a smaller engine will lead to money savings. This is a myth! Yes, a smaller engine will consume a smaller amount of fuel… in theory that is. The fact of the matter is that in order to make them withstand the workload that's being thrown at them, they need to be heated more, which leads to not-so-economic fuel economy.

Higher displacement engines mostly remain idle, which sort of averages out the fuel economy. In order to get them performing their best, there is no need to put excess pressure on them. So what's the takeaway? Without making it too complicated, you should always pick the engine based on what you're going to be using the car for and what type of environment you'll most often encounter.

10. Check the resale value

Generally speaking, new cars are not that great of an investment, since their value quickly goes down after the initial purchase. However, cars produced by certain manufacturers have higher resale value than others. In the end, you need to be the judge – do you quickly get tired of your vehicle and feel the need for some fresh air? Then this might be more relevant to you than the other drivers.

In general, bear in mind that European cars are not the best when it comes to preserving value. Japanese cars, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. Those who cannot bear the notion of seeing their cars lose so much value in so little time should consider buying a used car instead.

Conclusion

While this is by no means the end of the story, these 10 guidelines should be more than enough to cover the most important things you need to know when buying a new car. And when you finally do, you'll be able to treat yourself to a good night's sleep, knowing that you've made a choice that you won't regret anytime soon.

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The post Your Personal Checklist: 10 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a New Car appeared first on Punch Debt In The Face.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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Our Holiday Wish List for You

It's that time of year again! So many pleasant things are happening: the holidays, lots of good food, parties to attend, gifts to give, and visits with friends and family. You might also be reminded that it's finally time to make plans to re-do the kitchen, update the baths, or finish the basement.

Your family budget is probably another big thing that's on your mind this time of year. When it comes to updating their home, many homeowners think that getting good design puts remodeling out of reach. The truth is that a high-quality, well-designed project is a great investment that can actually save you money in the long run.

What's on Our List?

The items on our wish list for you – this holiday season AND all year long – are probably on your remodeling wish list, too. Your lifestyle requirements and budget are at the top. We take a look not only at the budget, but also at creative design possibilities that make the most of everything in the remodeled space: from traffic flow and natural light to storage space and style.

Here are three ways we check our list to stretch your remodeling budget:

1. Thoughtful Space Planning

Intelligent space planning carves the most from every square inch of the remodeled space. It rewards you with a home that is designed specifically to fit your lifestyle and needs. You don't want to spend money on a beautiful kitchen remodel only to find out that there is no place for a trash can or the dog's bowl.

Custom kitchen by Merrill Contracting & Remodeling

Space planning can also work magic in reclaiming “lost” space. The space between wall studs can become a niche that displays a favorite piece of artwork or provides an extra bit of storage in a small bathroom. A blank wall in the kitchen might be just enough room for a row of narrow cabinets, perfect for a beverage station or for stashing holiday china and serving pieces.

2. Design Savvy

With good design, any remodeling budget can buy major style. Here's an example: you may love the look of a certain kind of tile, but it's priced out of reach. With some clever design, however, you can enjoy that expensive look for less. It's possible to get an upscale look on a modest budget by combining handsome, budget-friendly tiles with sparing use of high-end accent tiles.

Custom kitchen by Merrill Contracting & Remodeling

3. Products and Priorities

Because we know what products are available and how they work in real-world homes, we can help you spend your remodeling dollars most efficiently. We know what is fabulous and what is a flop! We can also help you get those special, extra items you crave. For example, if it's a priority to have a commercial-style range, we can show you how to include it and still stay within budget by scaling down on your cabinet choice without sacrificing your new kitchen's high-quality look and feel.

Remember, it's the choice of appliances, fixtures, and finishes that can eat up the budget quickly. We can guide you in making selections that don't cost more, but it will help assure that you end up with the features, functionality, and quality you need, and creativity you want.

It won't be long before the holiday gift list is replaced by your list of New Year's Resolutions to clean up and fix up your home. So, when January arrives and you find yourself pondering how to update your home before the next holiday season rolls around, call us and check out our wish list for helping you get the most from your remodeling investment!

Thinking about remodeling? Contact us for a free project consultation

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The post Our Holiday Wish List for You appeared first on Merrill Contracting & Remodeling, Inc..

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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QUIZ: 9 Alcohol Cheats in Animation

Brought to you by responsibility.org for their TalkEarly campaign.

In the past, animated films and shows were, um… rather boozy. A review of every G-rated movie created from the 30s up to 2000 said 47% showed alcohol consumption, and in that same period about 9% percent of all cartoons did as well. That's a LOT of drinking in kids' media.

But times have been changing for a while. Nowadays, it's very rare that you'll see any alcohol references in children's animation. BUT!

When they weren't allowed to show alcohol, writers and animators have cleverly tried to cheat the filters by simply replacing it with something else, so they could still show comical drunkenness, bar scenes, or savage hangovers.

Let's see if you can guess which “kid-friendly” substitutes these cartoons used. Even if you completely strike out on all 9, it's pretty interesting!

What Was Used Instead of Alcohol?

1) The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Illumination Entertainment

Toilet Water

Gravy

Sausages

Cheese Puffs

SAUSAGES

Continue >>

2) Adventure Time (2014)

Cartoon Network

Cucumber Water

Soul Nectar

Melted Glacier

Roll-on Deodorant

CUCUMBER WATER

Continue >>

3) Phineas and Ferb (2008)

Disney Channel

Milkshakes

Juice Boxes

Chocolate Milk

Sports Drinks

MILKSHAKES

Continue >>

4) The Legend of Korra (2014)

Nickelodeon

Noodles

Algae

Soy Sauce

Tree Bark Tea

NOODLES

Continue >>

5) All Hail King Julien (2016)

DreamWorks Animation Television

Pineapple Juice

Dates

Coconut Milk

Vine Sap

COCONUT MILK

Continue >>

6) Chip N' Dale's Rescue Rangers (1989)

Disney Television Animation

Acorns

Rotten Fruit

Catnip Tea

Cheese

ROTTEN FRUIT

Continue >>

7) SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Nickelodeon Movies

Ice Cream

Kelp Juice

Jellyfish Jelly

Tar Smoothies

ICE CREAM

Continue >>

8) Transformers (1985)

Hasbro Studios

Metal

Lava

Energy

Lightning

ENERGY

Continue >>

9) My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2018)

Hasbro Studios

Maple Syrup

Wheatgrass Juice

Cider

Flower Pollen

CIDER

Continue >>

QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation

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This honestly isn't to cast judgement on films or cartoons that show alcohol consumption. We all may have varying opinions on that, but we can probably ALL agree that cartoons aren't always the best teachers.

Apparently, it's okay to animate someone comically misusing alcohol I mean eh-hem… something not-alcoholic that seems very much like alcohol. Characters can “binge” and “drown their sorrows” and “self-medicate,” so long as it's milk or ice cream or such, right? Hmmmm.

Talk to your kids early about responsible drinking, okay? Earlier than you probably think you'll need to. The world is already teaching them more than you know.

–

Thanks to Responsibiliy.org for sponsoring this post. Working with them has opened my eyes much wider to the importance of parents consciously working to stay engaged with their kids, and not just about school or Pok��mon or the latest Pixar movie, but especially to have meaningful conversations about often overlooked topics like responsible drinking. As well as all the obvious bigger life stuff they'll need to have a good head on their shoulders about. Like wearing socks and sandals. Ugh.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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What To Do If Clover Mites Invade Your Home This Winter

Finding hundreds of tiny red bugs in your home can be a little unnerving, no matter what time of the year you find them. And, if you know that clover mites are closely related to spiders, scorpions, and ticks, that may be cause for you to worry even more. But you don't have to worry. Those clover mites won't hurt you. They don't bite people and they don't spread diseases like ticks. They can, however, cause other issues. Let's take a look at these tiny pests and see what we can learn.

What Are Clover Mites?

These are tiny household-invading pests that have long front legs. To the naked eye, they are nothing more than a little red speck, no larger than a pinhead. Usually, they stay outside feeding on clover, grassy lawns, weeds, and other plants. But sometimes they come into homes by the thousands, especially in spring and fall months.

Why Clover Mites Do Not Belong Indoors

While clover mites may not sting or bite or transmit diseases, they are still not good to have inside homes. The red pigmentation in their bodies can stain surfaces that they are resting on when they are squished or wiped away. This can be a problem, especially if they have invaded in large numbers and if your home has light-colored curtains, carpets, walls, furniture, and other belongings.

How Do Clover Mites Get Into Homes?

When temperatures begin to drop in the autumn months, many insects will begin to congregate on the sunny sides of buildings, seeking warmth. They can sometimes be seen by the thousands on siding, brick walls, porch areas, and anywhere else that is sunny and sheltered from the cold. And clover mites are so tiny that, when they do this, it isn't hard for them to find tiny gaps and cracks in which to crawl through and gain access to the inside of a home. They may crawl in through a gap in the foundation. They may squeeze in through a space underneath a screen that is not securely in place. Or they may crawl in through a gap around a pipe or some wiring that is passing through a wall. There are many ways a tiny creature like a clover mite can find its way into a home.

Clover mites are also attracted to heavily fertilized lawns. They feed on plants, grass, weeds, and clover. If you have a large number of them in your yard or on your home, this may be the reason why.

DIY Steps To Prevent Clover Mites From Entering Homes

While it may be difficult to eliminate an infestation of clover mites once they come inside in large numbers, there are some steps homeowners can take to try to keep these little red curtain stainers from getting inside in the first place. But keep in mind that clover mites are so tiny, it is difficult to seal your home enough to keep them out completely.

Carefully examine the perimeter of your home, looking all around the foundation and outer walls. If you find any gaps, holes or cracks, seal them up using a caulking gun or other repair material, or hire a professional to fix these areas. Not only will this help to keep clover mites from entering, it will also help keep a host of other pests from finding their way in as well.

Clover mites love gardens/grass that is rich and abundant. Keeping your perimeter as free of grass and weeds and other growth as possible will help in keeping clover mites away.

Address any areas of wood rot, especially the sills of your home just above the foundation wall.

Make sure all of your doors have weather stripping that makes good contact all the way around.

Call in the professionals. Professional pest control companies can be a huge help, not only in keeping clover mites out of homes but in keeping a host of other insect and animal pests away from and out of your home.

When To Call In Professional Pest Control

If you are seeing a large infestation of clover mites or you would like to be proactive in keeping them out, the best solution is to call upon a professional pest control company. Over-the-counter insecticides are often not catered to a specific pest. This decreases their chances of being effective. At American Pest, we have specific, EPA approved products designed to eradicate clover mite issues as quickly and efficiently as possible. For clover mites, or any other pest problem, reach out to American Pest today.

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francizwalker-blog · 6 years ago

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How to Put Out an Oven Fire in 5 Life-Saving Steps

Knowing how to put out an oven fire can save your life.

You react to the burning smell of an oven fire before it triggers the smoke alarm. Flames shooting up through a stove top burner send you scrambling for the extinguisher.

Are you sure you know how to put out an oven fire? How do you handle a flare-up in the microwave or toaster oven?

This guide covers the basics of extinguishing fires in all types of ovens. We also offer tips on common causes of oven fires and the best ways to prevent this kitchen disaster.

5 Emergency Steps for Putting Out Oven Fires

When you suddenly face an oven fire, knowing what to do and how to put it out can save your home and your life. While there are some differences in tactics depending on the type of appliance, these basic steps apply to all ovens.

1. Leave the Door Closed

Throwing open the oven door feeds oxygen to flames inside. It also exposes you to a dangerous blast that can cause serious injury. Leave the door closed until the fire goes out.

2. Turn Everything Off

Turn off the oven, and make sure top burners are off. As a precaution, unplug nearby appliances, and move everything away from the stove. Keep a very close eye on the flames.

3. Stay Away From Water

Water is not effective against oven and stove top fires. Throwing it on a grease fire spreads the flames, and water is very dangerous around electric appliances.

4. Reach for the Extinguisher

The fire should go out on its on with the oven door closed, but be prepared. Get ready to use your kitchen fire extinguisher if flames spread up through the stove top.

5. Know When to Call for Help

If the flames don't die down or you have any doubts about your safety, evacuate the house immediately. Call the fire department, and don't go back inside until you get the all-clear from first responders.

Not every kitchen fire starts in a conventional oven. In addition to the above five steps, take these precautions when dealing with other types of oven fires.

• Electric Oven Fires – If you can't unplug the stove, shut off the kitchen's electric circuit breaker. • Convection Oven Fires – Follow the same instructions for handling electric oven fires. • Oven Broiler Fires – Smother small fires with salt or baking soda. Never use flour or baking powder. • Toaster Oven Fires – Unplug the appliance, or flip the circuit breaker to the kitchen. • Microwave Oven Fires – Unplug the microwave, or turn off the kitchen's circuit breaker.

Why Oven Fires Happen

An average of more than 170,000 home fires start in the kitchen every year. It's important to note the leading hazards that can cause a dangerous flare-up in your oven.

• Unattended cooking equipment or appliances • Combustibles too close to heating elements • Grease splatters from fatty foods • Batter overflowing pans during baking • Self-cleaning oven fires due to equipment malfunction

How to Prevent Them

The most important safety tip for preventing an oven fire is also one of the easiest to practice: Keep an eye on things. Don't ever leave the room while you're cooking. Follow these precautions too.

• Keep oven and broiler areas clean. • Place a drip tray under items baking in the oven. • An oven can catch fire if left on indefinitely, so never use it to heat the kitchen. • Never try to dry any type of combustible materials in the oven. • Treat equipment to annual maintenance by an appliance technician.

What to Do After an Oven Fire

It's not easy to deal with the aftermath of an oven fire. Soot and smoke cleanup takes time and hard work. It's especially important to thoroughly clean the oven after a grease fire because leftover residue can start another flare-up.

If the job seems like more than you can handle, call a fire damage restoration company. Certified technicians address soot removal and smoke odor elimination with high-tech equipment. They also get the work done quickly so that you can get back to enjoying your kitchen.

Never assume an oven that caught fire is safe to use. The risk is too great. Have the equipment inspected by an appliance professional. He or she can also confirm the safety of your stove's connections.

When You Need Expert Help

If you ever face a kitchen damaged by any type of fire and you're in the Chicagoland area, we're here for you. Our teams are always standing by with industry-certified kitchen fire and smoke cleanup services. When you need expert help in a fire-damaged kitchen, you can depend on ServiceMaster by Zaba.

The post How to Put Out an Oven Fire in 5 Life-Saving Steps appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

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