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Time
for a new car? Deciding whether you want to lease or buy a car can be a
big decision. By asking yourself the following questions, you will be
able to determine what the best course of action will be for you:
- Do you have the money to make a down payment? (Buy)
- Are you the kind of person who likes to have a new car every two or three years? (Lease)
- Are you looking to build equity with your purchase? (Buy)
- Do you put a lot of mileage onto your car? (Buy)
- Are you looking for the lowest monthly payment possible? (Lease)
- Is avoiding major repair expenses a priority? (Lease)
- Do you want to make changes (stereo/tires/etc) to a new car? (Buy)
- Do your vehicles incur damage as a normal part of your life? (Buy)
- Do you want GAP insurance included? (Lease)
As
you can see, there is no easy answer to the question "should I lease or
buy a car?" Leasing and buying are options that allow you vastly
different benefits, and something that you can only decide for
yourself. If you are a real estate agent who loves nice cars, mainly
drives in the suburbs, and who can get a great tax break on the car
through leasing that you aren't able to get through buying, leasing is
a great option. If, on the other hand, you need a heavy-duty work
truck, you'll want to buy it, as all the scratches, dents, and dings
would come out of your pocket on a leased model.
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 Need
to get away from it all? Although it would be nice to embark on a two
week vacation every time you start feeling stressed out, that isn't
anywhere on the map of possibilities for most people. Instead, look to
the small ways that you can completely de-stress yourself.
For
many people, spending a little time outside is a great way to combat
stress. Don't take your work, your computer, or your book with you.
Just sit outside in a natural setting that you find beautiful and
practice taking deep breaths and appreciating the beauty around you.
Find
a relaxing tea blend that works for you. It should smell and taste
wonderful to you, as well as having a mental and physical relaxation
effect. Create a ritual around preparing the tea and drinking it. You
might choose to also find an essential oil blend to rub into your
temples or a scented eye pillow or neck wrap to create the full
aromatherapy experience for yourself.
Getting a little bit of
exercise can work wonders on tension. If you only have a little bit of
time, go for a walk, ride your bike, or go through your favorite yoga
poses or Pilates exercises. You'll relieve tension, boost your
metabolism, and increase your physical health. We all know that the
better our body feels, the better we feel mentally.
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When
one partner loses their job, it often upsets the balance of the whole
home. There are obviously financial ramifications and with the job
market a little bit slower than most of us would like, it can sometimes
be a little while before a new job is on the table. For the in-between
times, it is best to be very clear in your communication with one
another, as financial stresses are one of the highest causes of fights
and relationship problems. Instead of focusing on what your partner is
no longer able to bring to the table, the two of you should sit down
and find ways to take advantage of their "time off."
While job searching is an important thing for the unemployed partner to be doing,
that isn't a 9-5 pursuit, so the household balance of chores might be
something to shift. By having the stay-at-home spouse do more to take
care of the home, this will relieve stress from the now
sole-income-producing spouse. Similarly, if there are around-the-house
projects that need to be done, what better time? If there are children
in the picture, this is also prime-time for them to be able to spend
some quality time with one of their parents.
There
may even be ways in which the unemployed partner can help save money
during this time- something that will certainly be on most people's
minds after losing a job. Even something as simple as mowing the lawn
instead of having a service come and do that can save a good bit of
money in the long run. All in all, it can be a tricky balance, but one
that is vastly more pleasant when both people see that the other one is
working to improve the situation.
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The
following are tips for saving power, which enables you to have a
smaller footprint on the planet and save money at the same time!
- If it's not in
use, turn it off and then unplug it. More electricity than you would
imagine is wasted by electronics that continue to use electricity even
when they are off- televisions are a big culprit, and you'll find many
more in your house.
- Take advantage of
the climate- instead of heating and cooling your house year-round, find
the times of year when open windows and cross-breezes can take care of
all your climate-control needs.
- Wear thick layers in winter and light flowing clothing in summer- don't just rely on electricity to regulate your temperature.
- Turn the clothes dryer off for the summer and hang your clothes out on a clothesline.
- Turn off lights that aren't in use.
- Cook things on
lower settings on the range, and turn your oven off a few minutes
early- both transfer and retain more heat than is actually necessary to
actually cook food.
- Don't use pots that are smaller than the burner.
- Take showers rather than baths.
- Only run your dishwasher when it is full.
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In this Issue:
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Contact Information
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Name
Phone
Website
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BBQ Meals: The Multi-Talented Grill
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If
you think that cooking meat is the only thing that your outdoor BBQ is
good for, think again. You can prepare your entire meal on the grill!
Here is a sample menu that can all be cooked on the grill:
Herbed Chicken Served on a Bed of Peppers with Asparagus, Corn on the Cob, and Garlic Bread
Ingredients to Serve Two:
2 chicken breasts
Herb rub (of your choice)
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 onion
2 corn on the cob
10 pieces asparagus
Preparation:
Score the chicken breast and rub in the herbs. Let marinate in herbs while you prepare the rest of the meal.
Chop the onions and peppers into thin strips. Rub in oil and place in tinfoil container.
Soak corn cobs (in the husks, with any loose husks and excess silk removed) in water for fifteen minutes.
Season asparagus with salt, pepper, and olive oil
Take french bread, cut into slices, and put butter and crushed/diced/powdered garlic between each slice. Wrap in tin foil.
Grill:
This
is the fun part! You'll need to turn your chicken breasts as they cook.
Likewise, keep your corn turning over every five to ten minutes and
roll the asparagus over from time to time. If you have a grill with
multiple levels, keep your tinfoil items, especially the bread, on the
higher (further away from the heat) level. You can cook your items to
your preference, or to temperature/texture. The corn will look quite
blackened- this is fine, as when you peel away the husks, it will be
nothing but yellow!
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Socially Responsible Investing
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These
days, it can be hard enough to determine what investments are safe and
reliable without considering other factors. Fortunately, when you start
considering the socially responsible and forwarding thinking investment
opportunities that are available to you, your options suddenly seem a
little more secure. The reason for this is that you are often dealing
with local and smaller scale businesses and institutions, perhaps ones
that you yourself support.
The other reason is that if you do
your research on a company, you can see where their money comes from,
and where it flows out to. Choosing to invest in a company that
actively contributes to the survival of the human race, such as the
green movement, is a much better idea than oh, say, investing in a
company that makes money off of war or the oil industry. Not only can
you insure your own financial well-being, but you can also vote with
your money, which is the best way to make your voice heard in a
capitalist society.
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Business Travel Tips
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---Save
time by packing everything into one bag. Today, that means condensing
your toiletries down into bottles that are smaller than 3.4 ounces and
all fit into a one-quart bag. If you are in need of small containers,
collect them from hotels and refill them with your own preferred
shampoos, conditioners, soaps, etc.
---Choose luggage that
connects so that everything can be stacked and rolled together. The
fewer items you have to keep hold of, the better.
---Planning to
work in the airport and on the plane? Make sure that you make any
online resources available to yourself so that you can work offline
while on the plane.
---Emergency row exits often have more leg
room, so if you're up for the responsibility, take advantage of the
extra room to get work done more comfortably.
---Plan outfits that can cross-coordinate with each other so that you are ready for any occasion.
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