The perfect gifts for those last minute buys might not be in the mall, but may be waiting for you at your nearest thrift store. Money Editor Stacy Johnson explains…(Video runs 1:31)…
Have you purchased anything at a thrift shop this year? If not, do you plan to start shopping at one in the near future to try and save a few bucks? We'd love to hear your comments about it… just click the comment link below and sound off. Your email address will NOT appear anywhere on this website.
Moving can be one of the most stressful events you can go through. Moving in the winter months can add a great deal of other variables to moving, so it is critical that you prepare for anything. During bad weather, everything moves slower than usual so proper planning can equal less stress.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind if moving during the winter is in your forecast:
This first one may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how easy it might be to overlook this first tip amongst all the confusion of getting ready to move. Keep a close eye on the weather: Keeping an eye on the weather can make the difference between a relaxing move and one that can leave you stressed out totally. If moving to another state, plan in advance for snowy weather and delay, unless you're moving to a sunny warm spot of course. If you're moving FROM a wintery area, be sure your driveway and walkways are shoveled off for the moving crew and trucks. If it's your new home, remember it may not be shoveled off if it snows. Plan accordingly and bring a shovel.
Select your moving company carefully: When interviewing a moving company, make sure they have the experience in moving families in all climates. Moving in the cold weather can be a stressful experience, so make sure you have a team that has moving experience in snow, ice, etc… Make sure they have a plan for taking care of your items in bad weather. You don't want your furniture and personal items stuck on a frozen highway somewhere for days.
Think twice before moving yourself in the winter: Carrying large bulky items in snowy weather and ice can be dangerous to you and the people who may have volunteered to help. A professional moving company knows the ins and outs of moving in all weather conditions. They can keep you safe and keep your possessions from getting damaged.
Leave plenty of extra time: Traveling in any manner, whether it's driving or flying, in winter months can be delayed for a number of reasons. Leave plenty of time to get to your new home and understand that your movers could be delayed if they hit bad weather.
As always, prepare your children in advance for the move. It may take longer to move in bad weather so prepare children in advance. Tell them about the idea and give them some time to adjust. Have an honest question and answer session so you can address their fears and let them know you are interested in their thoughts and feelings.
Don't let a winter move be more stressful than it already is. Remember these tips, and Happy Moving!
Is anyone out there besides us sick of all the government bailouts? Everyone and their brother seems to be getting in line to ask the government to "bail them out."
As the printing presses for the bailouts run at full speed, those in power are no longer even pretending that the new giveaways will fix our problems. Now that we are used to rewarding failure with taxpayer-funded bailouts, we are being told that this is “just a start,” more funds will inevitably be needed for more industries, and that things would be much worse had we done nothing.
The updated total bailout commitments add up to over $8 trillion now, and is anyone really thinking it will stop there?
HELLO!!!
The brutal truth that no one in Washington dares acknowledge is that our economic problems can only be solved by a reduction in consumer borrowing and an increase in savings.
It's the time of year when charities are asking for their annual Christmas help. Here are 3 ways to make sure charitable donations aren't squandered. (Video runs 1:42)…
If you have any tips for verifying charities that others might benefit from, use our comment link below and share them with our readers.
HUD will require, for the first time ever, that lenders and mortgage brokers provide consumers with a standard Good Faith Estimate (GFE) that clearly discloses key loan terms and closing costs. HUD estimates its new regulation will save consumers nearly $700 at the closing table.
Last March, HUD proposed reforms to the longstanding regulatory requirements of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) by improving disclosure of the loan terms and closing costs consumers pay when they buy or refinance their home.
HUD will require the new standardized GFE and HUD-1 beginning January 1, 2010. To view these documents, click on the following links:
