Anyone ever tried moving? How about buying a place? ...have a good time with that?
Then you are in a very lucky place, my friend. Our homebuying experience has been nothing short of a nightmare. Buying for the first time? Get ready for paperwork? And if anything goes wrong...get ready for LOTS of paperwork. Note: "going wrong" can simply mean the interest rate changed, the wrong box was "x"d and then all the paperwork needed to be redone, or dates get pushed back.
Before going through this, I idolized the home-buying process. I had noticed a few of my peers doing it, and I thought, "Wow! How great for them!" We helped move many of them in, and suddenly they were just home owners. Simple, easy, home owners. One had even noted that this was the 3rd house she'd put a bid on, but I thought, 3? That's not bad! People probably do that all the time.
Then you go through it yourself. Let me tell you, 2 offers is 1 too many. By the 3rd and 4th offer falling through the only thing you feel is discouraged. Frustrated is next. It's like nothing is supposed to be yours. They're just teasing you! The moment you finally receive good news about your bid, the rest of the process starts. And that doesn't mean it's simple, easy, or quick.
Don't forget, you also have LOTS of people to pay. There's a percentage that goes to your realtor (%, not given $, and it's based off the home's sale price); the appraisal and the inspection (which ran us about $300 each), the attorney fees, which are sometimes included in closing costs, and the rest of the closing costs. Plus, you have to think about movers, boxes, packing material if you don't have access to a plethora of boxes and paper/bubble wrap. Suddenly you're in the process of getting ready for the closing and all you see is red.
Plus hope. Have to remember that too. The whole point of buying a new place is because you want or need it. A lot of buyers right now are buying for the, until yesterday, low interest rates, better mortgage payments, and a great home. Many buy to upgrade their life because their family is growing or they can afford more space. Some people are moving for jobs or just life in general. Either way, the idea is that this new place will help fulfill the needs of your new position in life, and that alone brings hope. Hope for a new and better tomorrow than today, and the house is its embodiment.
So be sure you have lots of patience, a good venting system or outlet, and the ability to let the small things roll off your back, because when you're done, it's worth it.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Addicting Shows
My fiancé and I have discovered that we enjoy a very inexpensive activity: watching really good TV series. They're like extended movies and yet broken up enough that we can watch one or two while we unwind together for the evening and still have something to come back to the next day.
Now, anyone who knows me knows I am not a proponent of sitting in front of the TV endlessly. I believe in "doing," as my mother in law likes to joke. ("oh, you're a do-er"...as in, not someone who sits down for long periods of time well). Yet, this, we have found, is a great together activity.
The dilemma became finding a show that we both enjoyed. I like comedy and shows with powerful main characters - people who are strong and bring on a story that makes you think. He likes sci-fi, horror, and action. So, as you can imagine, finding a show we both like can be tricky. For example, I LOVED The West Wing. Him? Not so much. He loves The Venture Brothers and American Horror Story. Me? Not so much.
We were pleased, therefore, when we stumbled across of string of shows we both LOVED. Here is what I highly recommend:
House of Cards
Fringe
Scandal
Sherlock (BBC version)
*love*
Happy viewing!
Now, anyone who knows me knows I am not a proponent of sitting in front of the TV endlessly. I believe in "doing," as my mother in law likes to joke. ("oh, you're a do-er"...as in, not someone who sits down for long periods of time well). Yet, this, we have found, is a great together activity.
The dilemma became finding a show that we both enjoyed. I like comedy and shows with powerful main characters - people who are strong and bring on a story that makes you think. He likes sci-fi, horror, and action. So, as you can imagine, finding a show we both like can be tricky. For example, I LOVED The West Wing. Him? Not so much. He loves The Venture Brothers and American Horror Story. Me? Not so much.
We were pleased, therefore, when we stumbled across of string of shows we both LOVED. Here is what I highly recommend:
House of Cards
Fringe
Scandal
Sherlock (BBC version)
*love*
Happy viewing!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
When Money's Tight
Most people have a small (or, well, maybe not so small) panic attack when they feel the constrains of a (shh, don't say it!) ...budget... creeping its way into their lives. You know what I'm talking about. It's when you come back from the, well we'll just say weekend for now, sign into your bank account, and then gasp! You hold your breath, widen your eyes, and shake your head for a moment before needing to drop your head way below your knees and start breathing in and out of a paper bag for a few (or maybe more) minutes.
Yes, that dreaded moment of: putting yourself on a budget because money's become tight.
No fear! Aside from the fact that we need to take a hard, solid, and immediate look at how and where you're spending your money, the good thing is it's often fixable! Woot! Celebrate! (but maybe only by having a personal little dance party. You can buy youreself....well....nothing)
#1: Take a DEEP BREATH. You're going to be okay!
#2: Before you cut yourself off from society completely (although we may need to momentarily), look at how much you're putting into savings. Yes, I said it: SAVINGS. Don't have a savings? What's wrong with you?! No. Just kidding. But really. That's first, because that leads into #3. But first, #2. What percentage of your income do you put into savings every month? 5%? 10%? And what about retirement? You should always have something in both categories: retirement and savings if-I-need-to-touch-it-now money. Conservatively, make sure you're doing 5-10% Agressively, more like 15-30% (but this doesn't meant tell your financial adviser he's wrong because I said otherwise. Trust people who have the degree or experience first!) Personally, I put 10% in retirement and 20% in savings from each paycheck. Then, on to #3
#3: Assess how long you could survive on your RIGHT NOW savings if you needed to. Then look at how much it would take FROM that account to correct your budget if you did it all at once. Maybe it's $150, maybe it's $3000. But you need to be honest. How far "down" are you from where you expected or needed to be.
#4: What can I cut RIGHT NOW. Look at where you spend your money weekly! I saw weekly and not daily, because, let's face it, some of us get our coffee to go every day, and some of us splurge for that second or forth day, but it's not a standard. Start there. Cut the "extras" back. One less glass of wine or beer at dinner or that week, one less cup of coffee, condense your errand running so you do it on one day and not over three, and see where that will put your spending for the next paycheck cycle.
#5: Still haven't made all the money back through those cuts? Go straight college style again! Invite a friend or couple over for dinner instead of meeting at a restaurant. Same with a girlfriend for coffee. Have her over to chat instead of at the local percolating corner store. Plan your meals for the week and PRE COOK so you have it all divided out. Then if you're still hungry you'll notice what you can spare and maybe what you were just wishing to mindlessly eat.
#6: Think long term. What can I continue doing for another paycheck cycle to help boost me past the "danger" zone again. This way you'll have more of a cushion and less of a panic!
And remember, you work hard for your money. Yes, it comes and goes, but remember to stay savvy, and don't worry about what people will think because you didn't have that cup of coffee or second glass of wine with them. They don't pay your bills. You do. And they don't suffer your panic attacks for your. You do. And you deserve to not have those moments ever....or at least as often as maybe you have been having them.
And if you still feel like you can't get them under control, try MINT: the app on your phone. It will help you keep track after every expense so you can see and up to the minute delineation of your (yes I'm saying it!) budget.
Happy saving!
Yes, that dreaded moment of: putting yourself on a budget because money's become tight.
No fear! Aside from the fact that we need to take a hard, solid, and immediate look at how and where you're spending your money, the good thing is it's often fixable! Woot! Celebrate! (but maybe only by having a personal little dance party. You can buy youreself....well....nothing)
#1: Take a DEEP BREATH. You're going to be okay!
#2: Before you cut yourself off from society completely (although we may need to momentarily), look at how much you're putting into savings. Yes, I said it: SAVINGS. Don't have a savings? What's wrong with you?! No. Just kidding. But really. That's first, because that leads into #3. But first, #2. What percentage of your income do you put into savings every month? 5%? 10%? And what about retirement? You should always have something in both categories: retirement and savings if-I-need-to-touch-it-now money. Conservatively, make sure you're doing 5-10% Agressively, more like 15-30% (but this doesn't meant tell your financial adviser he's wrong because I said otherwise. Trust people who have the degree or experience first!) Personally, I put 10% in retirement and 20% in savings from each paycheck. Then, on to #3
#3: Assess how long you could survive on your RIGHT NOW savings if you needed to. Then look at how much it would take FROM that account to correct your budget if you did it all at once. Maybe it's $150, maybe it's $3000. But you need to be honest. How far "down" are you from where you expected or needed to be.
#4: What can I cut RIGHT NOW. Look at where you spend your money weekly! I saw weekly and not daily, because, let's face it, some of us get our coffee to go every day, and some of us splurge for that second or forth day, but it's not a standard. Start there. Cut the "extras" back. One less glass of wine or beer at dinner or that week, one less cup of coffee, condense your errand running so you do it on one day and not over three, and see where that will put your spending for the next paycheck cycle.
#5: Still haven't made all the money back through those cuts? Go straight college style again! Invite a friend or couple over for dinner instead of meeting at a restaurant. Same with a girlfriend for coffee. Have her over to chat instead of at the local percolating corner store. Plan your meals for the week and PRE COOK so you have it all divided out. Then if you're still hungry you'll notice what you can spare and maybe what you were just wishing to mindlessly eat.
#6: Think long term. What can I continue doing for another paycheck cycle to help boost me past the "danger" zone again. This way you'll have more of a cushion and less of a panic!
And remember, you work hard for your money. Yes, it comes and goes, but remember to stay savvy, and don't worry about what people will think because you didn't have that cup of coffee or second glass of wine with them. They don't pay your bills. You do. And they don't suffer your panic attacks for your. You do. And you deserve to not have those moments ever....or at least as often as maybe you have been having them.
And if you still feel like you can't get them under control, try MINT: the app on your phone. It will help you keep track after every expense so you can see and up to the minute delineation of your (yes I'm saying it!) budget.
Happy saving!
Friday, June 14, 2013
New Book Arrival! Get Ready to Enjoy!
It's official! We'd like to welcome Stephanie Caprini's new book, The Summer of 3! Now available on Amazon, Kindle, and Barnes & Noble.com
During the summer before Rachel’s wedding, three friends must face
realities none had foreseen. In college, everything about life and
the future had seemed optimistic and ideal, but the reality of life
proves more complicated, uncertain, and incongruent with what any of
them had expected.
Chelsea deals with a brutally honest and traditional mother who has an opinion about everything. Danielle is caught with choosing between a career and a relationship threatened to be torn apart by distance, and Rachel must decide if the wedding and life she had always imagined for herself is worth the complications and frustrations it is presenting. Each of the girls must work through and face her own reality while learning from each other’s problems in order to arrive at the answers each so desperately seeks. In the process, each searches to discover her own voice, courage, and ability to succeed in the crazy complicated world of adulthood.
This is a GREAT story for women, teens, or those who just want an enjoyable, honest, witty, and generally good-hearted story! Enjoy!
Chelsea deals with a brutally honest and traditional mother who has an opinion about everything. Danielle is caught with choosing between a career and a relationship threatened to be torn apart by distance, and Rachel must decide if the wedding and life she had always imagined for herself is worth the complications and frustrations it is presenting. Each of the girls must work through and face her own reality while learning from each other’s problems in order to arrive at the answers each so desperately seeks. In the process, each searches to discover her own voice, courage, and ability to succeed in the crazy complicated world of adulthood.
This is a GREAT story for women, teens, or those who just want an enjoyable, honest, witty, and generally good-hearted story! Enjoy!
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