7 Tips for First Time Home Buyers …

7 Tips for First Time Home Buyers …

I remember when I got my first place. It was a little, old trailer, owned by my brother and sister-in-law, and other newly married couples before them. It didn’t have good insulation, so your froze in the winter and roasted in the summer. But, it was home, and I have fond memories of my life as a new wife there. About a year and a half of living there, we found a house that had been repossessed. The worst part of the fixing up had been funded by the bank, but this house still needs a bit of work done. But again, it’s home, and I love the area very much. What about you? Have you been considering purchasing your first home? These 7 tips for first time home buyers will help you get started on the right foot.

1. Don’t Jump Too Fast

Take your time when buying a house. Make sure you’re making the right decision before you sign those papers. Consider all your options and weigh the pros and cons carefully. By doing this, you’re more likely to have less regrets about your house choice later.

2. Consider Your Budget

Sure, you’ve found a beautiful house that meets all the criteria you’ve looked for, but look at that payment! Don’t buy a house you can’t afford to live in. Remember that a bigger and “better” house will come in time. You must work your way to better things. Definitely avoid a house payment that will eat up your paycheck and look for something more affordable.

3. Check The Interest

Interest is the real killer in a house payment. By the time your 20 or 30 years of paying on the house is up, you will have spent more in interest than on the initial loan itself. Keep an eye on the currentinterest rate and take out your loan at the lowest interest rate you can. If it isn’t possible at the moment, try not to get fixed interest, so that maybe in the future, you can refinance at a lower interest rate.

4. Remember, Fixing Things Costs Too

If you find a house needing a few repairs, there is nothing wrong with fixing up things yourself. Just be sure you don’t pay too much for the house on top of paying for the repairs as well. Grab a piece of paper and get to figuring everything out. See if this investment is really worth it.

5. If It Sounds Too Good To Be True…

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. On the flip side of the last point, if you’re getting the deal of a lifetime offered to you, you should do a little investigating. There is a couple I know that purchased a house at a really good deal, only to discover that the floors needed replacing, the roof needed a lot of work and many other things inside needed things repaired as well. When it came down to it, they ended up paying twice as much (if not more) as the original cost of the home.Some bank repo’s are great deals, while others aren’t. Our house was a bank repo, but required a bit of work itself to be able to be lived in. You just need to totally go over the house before buying it – know what you’re getting into.

6. Always Make an Offer

Just because the price is one thing doesn’t mean that the owners won’t come down. especially if it’s being sold by a realtor. Go low and see what their next offer is. Who knows, you may end up kicking off a couple thousand before you purchase the house! Every dollar saved helps, right?

7. Go Slow

My husband, I have to admit, is a smart man. He knows how to handle money, and he has a great deal of advice to offer his unmarried friends. He tells them it’s best to save your money, start making payments on a house and slowly fix it up, all the while, living with your parents. Then, in time, you’ll have a house with a good chunk paid on it, as well as completely fixed up and stocked with furniture, ready to move into. Though I’m glad I didn’t have to wait on him for several years while he done this, I must admit, it is some great advice. Don’t get in a hurry to move out of your parents house. Instead buy a house and go slow in the moving out process. It will make it much easier on you to do it this way!

Buying a home is exciting, I know! Just make sure it’s a house you’re going to be happy with for a long time. What about you? If you’ve bought a house and learned from a mistake you made, please share it with our other readers! We love to hear from you!

Read More

8 Tips on Dealing with a Lazy Husband …

8 Tips on Dealing with a Lazy Husband …

Do you find yourself doing all the chores around the house on your own while your husband lounges about? If you are wondering what to do with your potato-like husband, then take a look at the following suggestions. Here are 8 tips on dealing with a lazy husband that might help you get him to put forth a little more effort around the house. A few of the tips simply help you deal with him in general.

8. Accept help when he offers, even if you don’t need it

One tip on dealing with a lazy husband involves not looking a gift horse in the mouth. You might have to nag a couple of times to get something done, but if your husband goes out of his way to offer help with anything, be sure to take it. Even if it is something you were about to do and will only take a couple of seconds, take the assistance when it comes around. Afterwards, be sure to let him know how much you appreciate this kind gesture.

7. Come to terms that your husband will never think exactly like you

Even if you both like similar things, you will probably always disagree on the way the bathroom is cleaned. When your husband helps you with chores around the house or with anything you ask him to, don’t get upset if it isn’t completed the same way you would do it yourself. Be content with the way he helps out or don’t ask him to do it in the first place.

6. Don’t act like the foreman of the house

Guys don’t want to be told what to do all the time. Most of them do very well at thinking on their own and they don’t want to feel like they are still living at home with mom and dad. Be a loving wife and nicely ask for assistance with a chore around the house or make him a list of things you cannot do and would greatly appreciate if he would do them when he has free time.

5. Don’t redo something your husband has just done

Being content is another important tip on dealing with a lazy husband. You might not agree with the way your husband has just done the dishes, but don’t start rewashing them because you think they should be washed in a different manner. This sort of follows the same line of thought as being content with his work, but this is taking it one step further by showing how discontent you are about the way things were done.

4. Catch him in a good mood when you ask him to do something

Everyone has their moments and your husband might be more willing to do something for you if you ask him while he’s happy about something else. Try not to blurt out what you need. Instead, try to ease into the question or request for your husband to do something so you don’t force him out of his good mood.

3. Hold on to your patience

Losing your patience won’t make your husband any less lazy. In fact, a lack of patience has often backfired on many women and caused their husbands to be lazier than usual. Take a deep breath and walk away if you think you are about to lose it. Some husbands will catch on to this sound and get the hint that they’ve gone a bit too far. A few might even help you right away once they hear the sudden intake of breath followed by a deep sigh.

2. Show him how appreciative you are when he actually does something

This tip on dealing with a lazy husband involves appreciation. Some husbands need to be showered with phrases and gestures that show them just how appreciative their wives are. Carrying out this method will be mostly up to you and how responsive your husband is to the gratitude shown. Some need a little while others require a lot.

1. Don’t yell to get what you want

Yelling will cause most husbands to block out what is being said nearly immediately. A few husbands will not only ignore what is being said in a raised tone, but they might even walk out of the room without a backwards glance. Speak in regular tones and try to continue to be loving when you ask your husband to help you with something.

You might not agree with each of these 8 tips on dealing with a lazy husband, but the friends who suggested some of these say they truly do work! Feel free to share your own suggestions. What techniques do you use to get the results you want; bribery with your special hot wings or maybe holding the remote control for ransom?

Read More

7 Great Work from Home Ideas for Women …

7 Great Work from Home Ideas for Women …

Women who have chosen to be stay-at-home wives or mums have done so only because our presence at home is an essential commodity for the family. That doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t love to make some money as well. That’s what makes us so absolutely great. In spite of running around dropping kids to school, picking them up from soccer practices, keeping the house spic and span, cooking up some great meals, doing the laundry, and fixing things around the house, we still manage to make some time and energy to get some serious work done and bring money into the house as well. So, if you wish to be financially well-off, read on for 7 great work from home ideas for women and start making good money.

1. Sell home-made munchies

Are you skillful in the kitchen? Start churning out baked or fried snacks. Use your creativity to come up with new ideas for quick eats that keep for a couple of weeks and wrap up them up nicely to make them pretty. Start with your friends and let the word of mouth do your marketing.

2. Represent a good cosmetics company

Who hasn’t heard of Mary Kay, Avon or Oriflame? We all have and also like their products. If you enjoy dabbling in skin care and beauty products, why not start with becoming a representative of such a company? You only need to buy a small starter kit and you are off. This is one of the most popular work from home ideas for women worldwide.

3. Organize vacations

Travel services do not require an elaborate set up, only an internet connection, extensive research skills, and a fascination for helping people travel and explore new places. You can find out about the places, plan a route and book hotels and travel online. Getting a few clients initially might take a little time, but one happy customer will bring in many.

4. Create gifting options

Are you good with your fingers? Create beautiful gift baskets and packages for those who are not. Gifting is one activity that will never go out of fashion, but not everyone can put together gift baskets or even wrap up a gift properly. Here’s where you step in. Use your creativity to customize baskets and you have a business rearing to go. It’s not only a great work from home idea for women, it’s also FUN!

5. Make candles

With an estimated eighty percent of American homes regularly burning candles, imagine the potential you have of making good money. You don’t need a lot of equipment for this enterprise. You can work on your own range of colored and scented candles and have them serving a seasonal purpose. You could also take on commission based sales for an established candle maker. Either way, it’s a no-fuss work from home ideas for women.

6. Be a medical biller

A medical billing business is one of the most profitable work from home ideas for women. It is a sought after service as medical providers are busy serving the sick and billing takes up a lot of time. Your clients can be independent physicians as well as larger firms. With insurance companies delaying payments for medical expenses, a medical billing service helps get the doctors their money.

7. Provide pet services

If you are an animal lover and don’t particularly mind particularly moody pets, providing pet service is an excellent business with the excitement of never knowing what challenge your next “furry client” may bring. You can offer a myriad of services from grooming, walking, daycare and well whatever the indulging owners wish for.

Consider your temperament and the skills you already have and choose a business option that best suits your situation from these work from home ideas for women. Get going and there is no stopping you from having fun while you earn from the comforts of your home. Come on then and pull your act together. What are you waiting for?

Read More

8 Clothes to Not Wear on a First Date …

8 Clothes to Not Wear on a First Date …

Planning your wardrobe for a first date is frustrating, even a little scary. You want to make a good impression, and in your desire to do so, it’s not uncommon to choose clothing that you really shouldn’t be wearing. I know that, back when I was still going on first dates, I’d make bad decisions, like going with something too formal or something I thought was flattering, that really wasn’t. If you’ve suffered through fashion foibles like this as well, check out all the clothes to not wear on a first date.

1. Shirts with Messages

Photo Credit: gwgfan

Of all the clothes to not wear on a first date, shirts – especially tee shirts – with messages on them are probably the first verboten choice. Whether it’s a funny message or a political message, you want to avoid advertising either your beliefs or your sense of humor on your clothing. Later, with someone you’re seeing regularly, this is acceptable. On a first date, however, when you don’t know the other person’s humor or political leanings, you can make a bad impression at best, and even start an argument at worst.

2. Revealing Attire

Photo Credit: scavengeinc.com

Revealing clothing is also a bad idea on a first date. You don’t have to dress like a stodgy Victorian or like a Puritan, but you’re going to want to avoid anything too low cut. Likewise, steer clear of fishnets, extreme mini skirts, and things like that. You want to make a good impression, and if your outfit’s too revealing, it’s going to send out the wrong messages.

3. Daring New Trends

Photo Credit: fashionfuss.com

I don’t mean that you can’t be trendy on a first date, not by any means. However, this definitely isn’t the time to try out some extreme new trend, especially if you’ve never before worn it (although I’ll expand on that point in a minute). The rule of thumb concerning clothes to not wear on a first date is that you need to be sure it looks good first.

4. Lingerie

Photo Credit: amazon.com

Obviously, you can wear lingerie under your clothes – that’s what it’s made for, after all! However, wearing visible garters, bustiers, and things like that, as your outfit, well … those aren’t the greatest pieces. The first time you go out with someone, remember, you do want to make the best impression. This kind of clothing, again, can send out the wrong signal.

5. Risque Shoes

Photo Credit: estherlke.blogspot.com

There are also certain kinds of shoes you just shouldn’t wear your first time out with someone new, beginning with really risque heels. You don’t want to wear six inch stilettos or clear heels. For one thing, you’re going to be incredibly uncomfortable, especially if you have to do any walking. For another thing, these are yet more items that can give a guy the wrong idea.

6. Sandals with Socks

Photo Credit: brownbutton.blogspot.com

I cop to occasionally wearing sandals with socks when I’m just hanging out or something, or if my jeans will cover up my sins. On a first date, however, avoid this look at all costs. It can be a comfortable combination, but so often, what feels comfortable actually comes off as dorky … and this is one of those instances.

7. Anything You Haven’t Tried On

Photo Credit: xenavintage

Concerning clothes to not wear on a first date, you definitely don’t want to wear anything you’ve never worn before. That doesn’t mean you can’t go out and buy a new outfit. However, make sure you’ve not only tried it on, but wear it around your house beforehand. Vacuum the house in your new threads, or something, and model the outfit in front of your friends. Make sure it looks all right, and that you’re comfortable. In fact, that brings us to–

8. Ill-Fitting Clothing

Photo Credit: msnbc.msn.com

Those skinny jeans, that tight fitted shirt, or that new, tight skirt might look really good on the hanger, but that doesn’t mean they’ll look good on you. If there’s any chance of buttons popping, zippers falling open, or fabric ripping, keep that article of clothing in the closet. Whether it’s too big or too tight, it’s not for tonight.

There aren’t really a lot of clothes not to wear on a first date, it’s more about using good judgment and common sense. There are certain articles of clothing that simply shouldn’t be worn when you’re first getting to know someone – or at all. What’s your idea of an ideal first date outfit?

Read More