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Our 2011 Shopping List

Robert Wilkinson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:04:16 +0000

Last year I laid out some of the major purchases we were considering, then updated our progress throughout the year. It was an interesting way to track our progress and see if what we thought we'd buy was what we actually bought. So I thought I'd do the same this year. Here goes:

Vacations -- In addition to our annual trips (2) to see family, I could see us going on three vacations/trips. First, we're thinking of going to a "resort" in upper Michigan (indoor waterpark inside, skiing outside) sometime in February or March to celebrate my wife's birthday. Next, I think we'd all like to go back to Chicago this fall. We had such a blast there last year. Finally, we're considering a trip to Hawaii or some other warm location during winter next year.
Furniture -- We still need a new table for our "school room", a couple recliners for the living room (unless we decide to keep the second couch), and perhaps a desk for my daughter's room.
Windows -- We had the glass replaced in four windows last year -- and we have a couple more that need the same work done.
Snowblower -- The one I bought last year is too big and unwieldy. I'm thinking of giving it to a local non-profit and buying a smaller one on sale late this spring.
Landscaping -- Phase 1 was last year, phase 2 is this year. We still need a plant in the front yard, some work done to the French drain in the back, and some plants added along the side of the house. The major stuff was done last year, so now we're just making minor adjustments.
Television -- I'm thinking of upgrading our old (15 years or so) TV in the basement that we use for video games. The screen is too small and for the prices of TVs these days, why not get a much better one?
Outside lights -- Our outside lights are old and look terrible. In addition, I'd like them to be motion-sensitive for security reasons. I can see an upgrade coming this summer.
Attic insulation -- Been on my list for a few years. Time to make it happen.

How about you? What's on your shopping list for 2011?

10 Things Funeral Directors Won’t Tell You

Robert Wilkinson — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:20:08 +0000

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Professional Home Inspection Service Checklist – Tips & What’s Included

Robert Wilkinson — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:20:12 +0000

If you are about to purchase your first home, there are several things you need to do. It does not matter if the home is brand new and has never been lived in; get the inspection anyway.

The first and most important thing you need to do is get pre-approved for a mortgage, unless you are fortunate enough to be paying in cash. By getting pre-approved for a mortgage BEFORE you start shopping for a home, you will know how much home you can afford and avoid wasting time looking at homes that are beyond your price range. There is nothing worse than finding the home you like, then applying for the mortgage only to be told you can't afford the house.

The second is to find your perfect home. One piece of advice I can offer here is to look at as many homes as you need to to ensure you get the home that is perfect for you. You are probably making one of the largest purchases of your life so you want to get it right. If you don't like your home after you purchase it, you can't take it back and ask for a refund.

One you find that perfect home, the third and perhaps, the second most important thing to do behind getting a mortgage pre-approval is to get a home inspection. This is one expense in the homebuying process that you do not want to overlook.

A home inspection can help identify those problems that may be hiding deep behind the walls of your potential home. As a buyer, you may be too busy checking out how many bedrooms the home has, how many bathrooms the home has or how large a lot the home is. You may even be too busy thinking about the neighborhood or the school district. You probably aren't looking at the little cracks in the wall or know that there is an electrical issue that could cause your home to burn down.

Spending a few hundred dollars on a home inspection can save you from making ...

Are Your Friends Enabling Poor Spending Habits?

Robert Wilkinson — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:20:18 +0000

Have you ever gone out with a bunch of friends, had a great time but found your bank account much lighter when you got home? Or you went to store with a friend just to pick something up, but a few more items ended up in your bag? Whether or not you want to admit, sometimes friends can help enable poor spending habits.

You might want to take a hard look at your friends and avoid hanging out with these personality types:

Bargain Hunter
On first glance, you might think this friend is great to go shopping with. He knows where to go to get the best sales and always haggle his way into a better deal. However, if you find yourself buying things because it’s on sale and not because you need it, then your friend might be enabling a bad shopping habit.

Money to Burn
Money never stays long in this friend’s pocket. He likes to buy whatever catches his eye. Even if he’s got a trust fund or some other way to replacing that cash in his pocket, you find that when you’re hanging out, your money burns a little faster too.

The Latest Thing
Gadgets, video games, sports…it doesn’t matter what his interests are, except that he has to have the latest thing. Then he’ll bring his prize to you to show it off, and it gets you thinking, “Hmmm, I’d really like to get that.” Or worse, you’re at the store with your friend to pick up his latest prize and you find yourself picking one up as well.

Hey Look at That
This friend likes to browse, looking for things that catch his eye. When he finds that new, ...

Top 3 Things to Learn About Personal Finance

Robert Wilkinson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:20:24 +0000

Regardless of your age, position in life, or your financial goals, there are a few things that we all need to learn about personal finance. Once you have the basics down, everything else can just flow naturally. These tips are the strong foundation upon which you can build your financial future. It is never too late to learn about personal finance, and these money making tips can dramatically impact the way that you view your money.

1. Anyone can save money, regardless of how much they make.

Many of us get trapped into thinking that saving is only for the wealthy, or those who have money to spare. The whole point about saving is that it is ideal for those that don’t have a lot of money, but would like to change that.

One of the easiest and pain-free ways to save money can be implemented by anyone. Let’s say that your weekly paycheck is $538. Every week, put that $38 away. You really won’t even notice that it’s gone, and by the end of the month, you’ll have put away $152. It’s a small start, but it will get you on the right road. In a year, you will have been able to put away $1824 without even trying. Think of what you could save if you put your mind to it!

2. Budgeting means surviving on coupons and shopping at discount stores.

Budgeting gets a bad rap and many associate it with scrimping and doing without. On the contrary, budgeting is a more effective means of allowing you to do the things that you want. By keeping track of your finances and seeing where your money goes, you can better direct it in the direction that you would like.

You can look at like this: Let’s say that you spend $25 a week on coffee. You’ve been wanting to take a vacation to Hawaii for the longest time, but putting together the necessary $1200 seems impossible. By looking at your budget, you can determine how you want to spend your available cash, and you can direct your money towards your vacation, instead of on coffee that can be made for mere pennies at home. Taking a trip to Hawaii isn’t exactly depriving yourself!

3. Investing is for rich people.

Again, it is all too easy to put your investing off until you have money. However, without investing, you may never been in a position to have a disposable income. Anyone can start investing, regardless of how much money they have.

One of the easiest ways to get started on the page to sound investing is to find a service, such as Share Builder from ING. This service allows you to buy portions of stock and there is no minimum to invest. For example, if you have $50, and would like to invest in Google, you would buy a portion of a Google share that is worth $50. As you get more money, you can invest it or simply enjoy this as a secondary stream of income.

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Originally posted 2008-09-23 05:39:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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