Good Nues

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

INTERESTING

If you like what you have seen, check out his website: www.chasegod.tv

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Traveling Information

Florida - www.floridaattractions.com
Georgia - www.exploregeorgia.org
New York - www.nycgo.com
Las Vegas - www.vegas.com/attractions
California - www.visitcalifornia.com
Louisana - www.lousianatravel.com
Alabama - www.alabama.travel
Alaska - www.travelalaska.com
Arizona - www.arizonaguide.com
Colorado - www.coloradoadventure.com
Connecticut - www.visitconnecticut.com
Delaware - www.visitdelaware.com
Hawaii - www.gohawaii.com
Idaho - www.visitidaho.org
Illinois - www.enjoyillinois.com
Indiana - www.visitindiana.net
Iowa - www.traveliowa.com
Kansas - www.travelks.com
Virginia - www.virginia.org
Washington - www.experiencewa.com
West Virginia - www.wvtourism.com
Wisconsin - www.travelwisconsin.com
Utah - www.go-utah.com
Vermont - www.vtattractions.org
Kentucky - www.kentuckytourism.com
Maine - www.visitmaine.com
Maryland - www.visitmaryland.org
Massachusetts - www.visit-massachusetts.com
Michigan - www.michigan.org/tours
Minnesota - www.exploreminnesota.com
Mississippi - www.visitmississippi.org
Missouri - www.visitmo.com
Montana - www.visitmt.com
Nebraska - www.visitnebraska.com
Nevada - www.travelnevada.com
New Hampshire - www.visitnh.gov
New Jersey - www.visitnj.org
New Mexico - www.newmexico.org
North Carolina - www.visitnc.com
North Dakota - www.ndtourism.com
Ohio - www.ohiotraveler.com
Oklahoma - www.travelok.com
Oregon - www.traveloregon.com
Pennsylvania - www.visitpa.com
Rhode Island - www.visitrhodeisland.com
South Carolina - www.discoversouthcarolina.com
South Dakota - www.travelsd.com
Tennessee - www.tnvacation.com
Texas - www.allacrosstexas.com

www.tripadvisor.com
www.roadsideamerica.com
www.unitedstatestouristattractions.com

Friday, April 5, 2013

TIPS FOR BUYERS

Think about it first, then shop. Ask yourselves these questions: Why are you moving? Because you need to? Or because you want to? Do you want to find a nice family neighborhood? Or a house near the beach? Are you looking for your first home? An investment property? Or a place to retire? Assess your needs ahead of time, and you will have already done half the work.
Talk to a lender. Find out what you can afford. Then look at homes just below and just above your price range. You never know. You might find a bargain fixer-upper. Or you could come across an expensive home with a motivated seller who's willing to work with you. Try never to get too excited, or too worried, and always be willing to walk away from a home that's not right.
Be picky when picking a real estate agent. The right real estate agent can save you time and money and spare you from unnecessary emotional stress. The wrong one will saddle you with a bad case of buyer's remorse or send you whimpering back into the rental market. Don't just chat with agents. Interview them. Hire only a licensed Realtor. Make sure the agent works as a buyer's agent, and ask for a buyer's agent contract. And most important, make sure you like the agent you choose. Good chemistry goes a long way.
Make sure your finances are in order. Don't make big-ticket purchases, like buying a new car. Don't move money around from one bank account to another. That makes lenders suspicious. And finally, get pre-approved by a lender. They will order a credit report ahead of time and resolve any mistakes or blemishes. You'll be a stronger buyer when the time comes to make an offer.
Find out if you're in a hot market where homes get multiple offers. Or a cold market where properties remain on the market for months. The difference is night and day. Get in your car and drive around. Locate the neighborhoods that appeal to you. Take notice of the services and the sense of community each neighborhood has. Visiting open houses is another great way to get a feel for the market.
Having the home inspected is a must, or you could pay for it later. There are just too many unknowns when buying a house. Always get property, pest and roof inspections, and read them carefully. Inspections not only protect you from buying a lemon, they can serve as a valuable negotiating tool.
There are different types of mortgages. Conforming loans. Jumbo loans. Fixed-rate loans. Adjustable-rate loans. Assumable loans. Two-step loans. Balloon loans. FHA loans. VA loans. GPM loans. Zero-down loans. There are mortgages and loan programs for any and every kind of home buyer out there. So don't count yourself out before you investigate your financing options.
Get it in writing. You will be dealing with sellers, lenders, inspectors, and title officers. You'll also be spending thousands of your hard-earned dollars. Protect yourself. Have every promise and agreement put into writing. Never sign anything until you're sure you understand it. And ask for a copy of every document.
Buying a home is one of the biggest, and perhaps one of the most important, decisions you will ever make. Few long-term investments appreciate in value quite like real estate. At the end of the tax year, you can write off the interest from your loan.

SEARCH CRITERIA

Location/country/city/near beaches

New Construction/older charm & character

Good condition/needs cosmetic work/fixer

View/ocean or mountain

Neighborhood – consistent or eclectic

How many bedrooms?

How many baths?

How many living areas?

What size garage?

What area do you want to live?

What style home do you like?

When do you want to occupy?

What is the most important to you in a home?

Are schools important? Yes No If yes, which ones and why:

Where do you work?

When is the best time to look?

Does anyone else have to approve of your purchase?

Weather/sunny or foggy

Yard/ large, small or low maintenance

Near bus lines/shopping

Schools Noise – freeway or traffic

Garage

Kitchen – gourmet or gas stove

Closet and storage space

Pool/Spa/Hot tub

Hardwood/carpets/Tile

In law quarters/ legal rental

Acreage

If we found the right home for you today, is there any reason that could keep you from buying it?

HOME SEARCH WEBSITES:

www.zillow.com

www.realtor.com

www.floridamoves.com

www.remax.com/homes

www.trulia.com

www.mls.com

www.homes.com

www.homefinder.com

Ways to Save Energy at Home

HEATING

Cover all bare floors. Carpeting or rugs add to comfort and heat retention.

Raise the temperature slowly to keep your bill lower.

Set your thermostat to 68-70 degrees during the day in the winter, and 65-68 degrees at night to keep your home comfortable and save on heating costs.

Close the flue in your fireplace and install glass doors to keep in the warm air.

Limit your use of portable heaters. Running a 1,500-watt heater 24/7 can be expensive.

Keep your thermostat close to the outside temperature – it’s cheaper to keep your home at 70°F when it’s 50°F outside than when it’s 30°F.

Don’t block air vents with drapes and furniture.

Get an energy-efficient heat pump and you could cut your heating costs in half.

Change the filters in your heating system every month for optimum efficiency.

Give your air compressor space to work efficiently. Never stack anything against your HVAC or drape anything over it.

Set your thermostat to 60 degrees if going on vacation during the winter months, but don’t turn it off.

Heat your home with the sun's help. Leave window shades or blinds open during the daytime. And consider using solar heat to supplement your normal heating source.

Lower your thermostat every time you leave the house.

COOLING

Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter-clockwise direction In the summer; in the winter, run it at low speed, but clockwise.

Close your exterior doors and windows tightly when the AC is on. Save even more by turning off kitchen and bath exhaust fans.

Change or clean your AC's air filters at least once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.

Make sure your AC has a rating – or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) – of 15. Not only will your AC be more efficient, you could also be eligible for a rebate.

Make saving automatic: Set your thermostat fan switch to "auto" to save energy. Leaving it in the "on" position keeps air running constantly.

Block the sun from overheating your home! Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.

Insulate your walls with injected foam insulation to help you save energy by keeping hot outside air from seeping through porous block walls – check with your local building supply company for details.

Give your AC tune-up. Running an inefficient AC system can result in high monthly bills.

Open interior doors so that cooled air flows freely throughout your home.

Repair leaky ducts to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Install attic insulation rated R-30 and sealing any attic leaks to reduce high home cooling costs. You’ll save money each month.

Check for household leaks to make sure air isn't escaping through openings such as fireplace dampers, doors and windows.

Decorate for a cooler home by hanging light-colored curtains that allow light to enter a room while blocking some of the sun’s rays, and light-colored paint to reflect heat.

Close unused air vents. If you have central AC you can close air vent in rooms you're not using so you're not paying to cool them.

Plant trees to provide shade on the sunny side of your home.

Use ceiling fans to cool off for less. Ceiling fans use no more electricity than a standard light bulb. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave — they only cool people, not rooms.

Install more ceiling fans. Because the breeze of a fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler, you can raise that thermostat and still stay comfortable.

Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees to save on your cooling costs.

Install a programmable thermostat to adjust your temperature during the day.

WATER HEATING

Reduce your water heater temperature setting from 140 degrees to 120 degrees — it will save you money while keeping water hot enough for showers and cleaning dishes.

Look for the EnergyGuide label when purchasing a new water heater — if a more efficient heater is more expensive, you'll save money over time.

Make sure you are washing a full load if you like using hot water for your laundry.

Stop that dripping hot water faucet. Leaky faucets not only increase water bills but also increase gas or electricity use for heating the wasted water.

Install a timer for your water heater that will turn it off when you are not at home.

Choose the right water heater for your needs. While they may promise savings, tankless models are pricey to install – and on-demand water heaters may actually increase your electric bill.

Always wash with cold water, laundry detergent works just as well, and you’ll save 40 cents per load.

Check your hot water pipes for leaks, which can drain your energy savings.

Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads – available at home improvement stores – to reduce your hot water use.

Turn off your water heater until if you plan on leaving home for a few days. And you get back. Most models will reheat the water to the set temperature in about an hour.

Shorten those showers to cut hot water costs.

Insulate the first six feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater. It’ll keep your comfort high and your energy bills low.

Install a solar water heater to save energy and money by using solar power.

Get an insulation wrap to help your old water heater heat in more effectively.

WINDOWS

Install high-performance windows, screens and films to protect upholstery, wood and artwork from UV rays while saving energy.

Save on energy costs with professionally installed high-performance windows.

Eliminate "hot spots" in your home by using High-performance windows, solar window screens and qualified window films.

Consider high-performance windows before you replace your AC system. They’re so efficient that they may help reduce the size and cost needed for a AC system.

Install high-performance windows with double-glazing and spectrally selective coatings that reduce heat gain and avoid cranking up your AC.

Look for the National Fenestration Rating Council label when shopping for new windows: It means the window's performance is certified.

ROOFING

Reduce the strain on your AC by applying reflective coating. This will help you save by decreasing the amount of heat coming into your home.

Keep your roof lasting longer. Reflective roofs not only reduce heat buildup, they also prevent the expansion and contraction that degrade roofs.

Replace the roof with one with an ENERGY STAR® label. It will save energy and help protect the environment through superior energy-efficiency.

ELECTRONICS

Consider a laptop next time you're looking to buy a computer – they use less energy than desktop computers.

Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode instead of using a screen saver so it uses less electricity during periods of inactivity.

Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use. Many chargers draw power continuously, even when the device is not plugged into the charger.

Plug electronics into a power strip, then turn the strip off when not in use to save in energy costs.

Avoid energy vampires. Even when they’re turned off, home electronics in “standby” mode use energy to power features like clock displays.

Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified TVs – they’re up to 30 percent more efficient than noncertified models.

APPLIANCES

Keep the oven door closed while cooking – the temperature can drop by as many as 25 degrees each time you open the oven door.

Grill out more often during the summer. Using the oven in the heat of summer forces your AC to work harder, which raises your energy bill.

Use copper-bottomed pots and pans that use heat more efficiently when cooking on the stove.

Keep stove reflector pans clean to reflect more heat upward while cooking.

Turn off your oven or burners when food is almost ready and let existing heat finish the cooking for you.

Use tight-fitting covers on pots and pans when cooking on the stove to shorten your cooking time and save energy.

Match your pot size to the burner on your stove. Heat is lost when small pots are used on large burners.

Turn off kitchen and bath fans immediately after use.Wash and dry several loads at once, so that your dryer isn't completely cooled down when it heats up for the next load.

Avoid over-drying your clothes. It wastes energy, plus causes static and wrinkling.

Separate wash loads into light and heavy fabrics for the shortest drying times. Or better yet – air-dry your lightest fabrics.

Vent your dryer to the outside to reduce the workload on your air conditioner.

Wash full loads of clothes when possible. When smaller loads are necessary, use less water.

Hang dress clothing to air dry on portable laundry racks; they will also look better.

Clean the dryer lint filter before every load to keep your dryer running efficiently.

Set your dishwashers on economy mode, to use less water and electricity.

Turn off your dishwasher after the wash cycle — and let your dishes air-dry. You'll save energy and keep your dishwasher from heating up your kitchen.

Use microwaves and toaster ovens to cook or warm leftovers. You’ll use less energy than cooking with a conventional oven.

Pull the plug on that second fridge located in the hot garage or utility room.

Set your refrigerator temperature between 30 and 42°F. Use the power-save switch if you have one.

Repair refrigerator door seals if you feel cold air around the closed door or if moisture is collecting.

Replace a refrigerator bought in 1990 with an ENERGY STAR®-qualified model – energy-efficient models cost less to operate than older refrigerators.

Dust your fridge the next time you dust your house. Check the coils behind the refrigerator — and use coil vacuums or dusters to clean it off and keep costs down.

Keep your freezer full – it uses less energy than an empty one. For maximum savings, consider filling your freezer with gallon containers of water.

Choose energy-efficient appliances. They don’t just save you money, but they’re good for the environment because they use less energy.

Replace your refrigerator. Look for the yellow EnergyGuide® label to compare features. Choose models with improved insulation and power-saving switches.

LIGHTING

Consider using timers to turn lights on in the morning and off during the day.

Choose outdoor CFLs for outdoor lighting – they last up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs.

Select light-colored or opaque lamp shades. Place lamps in corners so they reflect light from two walls.

Install fluorescent tubes as an efficient way to light your workshop or playroom.

Replace halogen light bulbs, which can get hot enough to be a fire hazard, with CFLs – they use less energy and don’t get as hot.

Use motion-detector lights for all your outdoor lighting – they’re convenient and efficient.

Recycle your CFL bulbs.

Replace your five most-used light fixtures and/or bulbs with ENERGY STAR products.

Replace standard bulbs with CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are more energy-efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the same amount of light.

Use the right bulb. Make sure you’re using the appropriate CFL bulb for your light fixture – they come in various sizes and types for different lighting needs.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Saving Tips

Live within your means.
Focus on your needs not wants.
Do your own hair and nails if you know how too. Doing this will definitely help you save money. Also, if you have a friend that can provide these services for free or at a discount, take advantage of that.
Carpooling with a co-worker that lives in your area can help you save on gas.
Eating at home instead of eating out. Visit www.allrecipes.com for great recipes and step by step instruction. You don't always have to go to a restaurant or bar to have fun with friends and family. Plan a dinner party at your house. If you don't know how to cook, you can learn by going to the above website and watch the videos of how to prepare a meal from start to finish. If that is not an option for you, you can buy a dish and have your friends bring one also.
You must know how much you earn, bi-weekly, monthly and annually. Make a list of all your bills/expenses, include due dates. Lower your bills. You can do this by either changing your current plans for a lower priced one, or change your service providers. Bundle your services. Having your cell phone, internet, and home phone services provided by the same company can also save you money.
Make a list of all your needs, wants, and goals. Set a realistic time frame in which you can accomplish them.
Make a budget. Use the spending pie chart. Go to www.gailvazoxlade.com/resources.html for more budgetting information.
Pay yourself first. You must save. www.smartypig.com is a great website to use, especially if you have short-term goals. Start with whatever you can afford. Ideally, 10% of your income should go towards savings. Don't worry about the amount, starting and sticking with it is the key. You must increase the amount as your situation gets better, or if your income increases. If you have a hard time remembering to put money aside for savings, I recommend having the amount you have decide to save on a biweekly/monthly bases automatically transfered to your savings account. This can be set-up through your bank. It can also be done through your bank's website.
Use coupons. www.coupon.com
Make a list before you go shopping, stick to it. Making a list will help you stay on track and not buy things you don't need or won't use.
Shop around for the best price. Use websites like www.retailmenot.com or www.thefind.com
Ask your credit card company for a lower interest rate, maybe they will, maybe the won't. You won't know until you try. It doesn't hurt to ask.
Paid your credit card balance in full each month, if possible. If you are unable to do so, pay more than the minimum. Always try to payoff the credit card with the highest interest rate first. Once that card is paid off, apply the money that you were paying towards that card to the next card including the amount you were already paying. Continue to do that until all of your cards are paid off.
Setting up automatic payment from you checking account will help you avoid late fees and interest rate increases.
If you already have a savings account with a good amount of money in it, I recommend transfering some of it into your checking account as a cushion to avoid bank fees.