Category: Money matters

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Leaky Basement

I’ve discovered that our basement now has started leaking and gathering moisture in places that it never has before. Looks like I’m going to have to call in a professional to check it out and see what it’s going to cost to fix the leaks. I have a feeling that this is not going to be a inexpensive fix.

For years we’ve been leak free, though the basement has always had a sort of damp cool feeling to it. I had just chalked it up to being a normal Michigan basement as it is called…which I still have never learned the reason why it’s called that, though I do often get various reasons thrown at me.

All I know is now there is some water coming in from someplace and I do have to have it checked out. I wouldn’t call the basement someplace that is actually livable, but it’s good enough to hide from a storm and also to have the washer and dryer down there. I also keep the Christmas decorations and some other items in storage down in our basement where unlike the attic, are easy to get to and some of the ornaments are keepsakes and I don’t want any dampness getting into them, and causing mold. So like I said, it’s time to call in a pro.

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Changing internet services

For quite sometime I’ve not been happy with our internet server and I have been seriously thinking about changing internet service. I can’t see paying a whole lot of money only to be totally dissatisfied with a service that doesn’t help with questions, nor do I get the service I want for the cost I am paying right now. Sometimes the server crashes and is down for anywhere from an hour to three days. When I call to complain, I am promised that I will be refunded on the next bill but so far I’ve never gotten a refund of any kind.

When my work depends on the internet and ability to get and keep a connection, and I can’t…well, I seriously am thinking about switching to a more reputable dial-up internet. I have had a lot of folks tell me they like it, but on the flip side there are some folks who have told me it takes too long to get online and also that they have had problems with it. I think  in the long run I’d  have to try it out myself and see if I would be comfortable with it.

I have been checking out various companies who offer dial up and have found that I can save a great deal of money if I were to switch. I know from experience that I would actually have to have it set up and use it for a time to find out if indeed I will be happy with the results. Trial and error I suppose, which I’m more than willing to do since I am not happy with the service I have now.

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Keeping Cool with EDS Air Conditioning Repair

As some of my readers know, my youngest daughter is home from Florida for a visit and so we can celebrate her 20th birthday. She should be used to hot weather, but we don’t have an air conditioner because it dries my throat out and also makes me cough. She told me about that her air conditioner stopped working and how she used a repair service called EDS Air Conditioning Repair they got it fixed in no time flat and didn’t charge a slew of money. In fact she saved a great deal compared to some of the places she had called.

I think my daughter is getting to be a very good home owner and is and not just hiring the first company she comes to in the telephone book! She went online and then read testimonials of others who had used the service. I’m very proud of her. She has a handle on living by herself and my “baby girl” has grown up to be a kind of wise young woman. Besides that, she loves to save money and find good reasonable prices for repairs and also for other things in life.

She of course misses her air conditioning here, but I have lots of ceiling fans and other types of fans. Perhaps one day I may get an AC for the spare room that is still her room when she comes home. It would be a nice surprise for her and make her more comfortable in this heat.

 

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Planet Lady is Conscious

Thanks to Roman May

I’ve become really conscious of my impact on the environment since I watched a couple of documentaries on the impact of people on the planet. I really worry about the state that we’re going to leave this place for our kids and also how quickly the planet’s resources have been degraded just in the last century or so. I know it’s all part of modernization but I worry about whether or not we’re being really short-sighted when it comes to our energy and our carbon footprints. I went online the other day and looked into http://www.electriccompaniestexas.net to find out who in my area had the best record of giving back to planet-related causes and I think I’m going to make a switch. I’ve been making small but meaningful changes in my life to try and reduce my carbon footprint, personally, like switching to organic produce and turning off the heat when I’m able to burn a wood fire in my fireplace. I try to take it back to the 19th century, that’s what I say, because they knew what they were doing when it came to not hurting the planet for their own good. I don’t want to become a crazy hippie about it all, you know, with dreads and chaining myself to trees and whatnot, but I need to make sure I’m doing my part where I can and not just expecting other people to pick up my slack. It’s important to me to be a good citizen of the earth and I’m trying to make small changes in my every day life to do just that without totally changing the way I live. I like to think some of my efforts will have an impact on my friends and coworkers but who knows. Sometimes you just have to do what you know is right and hope other people follow suit. There’s nothing you can do to make others better people and that’s something you have to accept early on or you’ll drive yourself crazy!

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Nephew needed a Drunk Driving Attorney in Pittsburgh PA

I do NOT condone drinking and driving in any way, but my nephew Scott went to a wedding in PA and from the pictures and description of the reception, a lot of wine, champagne and beer was flowing. Normally if my nephew drinks he makes sure he has a designated driver. He now is in need of a Drunk Driving Attorney in Pittsburgh PA. From the report and he only blew only one point over the legal limit after having two drinks…which had to be really loaded up drinks and now he would like to get a lawyer who specializes in drunk driving. He passed the sobriety test but not the breathalyzer.

Scott did admit to being at the wedding and also having two drinks and thinks that the breathalyzer test was inaccurate, hence getting a good attorney. The catering company bartender will even testify on his behalf, but Scott didn’t want to get a public defender since he is not from PA.

I suggested that he go online and read the Attorney’s Profile and also look into the firm. I think he can find just what he is looking for, if he does this. His work depends on him driving and this could really hurt him financially. He would rather have one of the best in the field than someone who could care less about the outcome.

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Porch needs a new roof

Once I got the nerve up to climb a ladder, since I am not afraid of heights but do have the terrible fear of falling if that makes sense, I was in total disbelief how the porch roof looked. I cleaned the gutters and eaves troughs, but there were shingles that had blown off during the winter and I do need to get a roofer out here to fix it.

I have a dear friend I’ve known since my early teens who is a roofer and he really knows his stuff. My husband who passed away at a young age was a roofer and siding contractor. He taught my a lot, but this job I can’t do myself because of the falling fear factor.

I’m sure my friend will give me a good deal, as he is actually considered family and comes to all our family get together’s. I’ll barter with him and cook for him, since he is a bachelor! He loves my cooking, so it’s a win win situation as long as I buy the materials!

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Dream Living and Golf at Verno Beach

I spent some time with my favorite aunt last weekend and we were talking about her retiring and finding a nice home or villa in Florida. She is an avid golfer and mentioned Golf Verno Beach and that she would love to check out the clubs, the community and also the perks one would have living there. She is all about quiet class and after looking at the site she showed me, I do believe it would be perfect for her and her needs. There are times that I stay with her and help with her various needs and I’m a beach person, so this also would be a choice location to fulfill my needs also.

There are all kinds of various things to make one perfectly content living there and also being a member of a gated community it would mean safety for the most part and a good place for my aunt to live. She is up there in age, but spry from all the activities she does and she doesn’t show or act her real age. She also enjoys the fine things and service she is accustom to, as she worked hard to get to the point where she doesn’t really have to worry about funds for such a great place. We will be going to look at various Real Estate properties there.

My aunt is planning on going down to Florida and do some shopping around for a home or at least a winter place she can live in, since the cold weather where she lives ruins her playing golf when she gets that urge!

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The gift of a Wedding DJ in Miami FL

My favorite niece is getting married at the end of summer and my oldest daughter who is very close to her cousin and I wanted to give a special wedding gift to the couple. We’ve been checking out Wedding DJ Miami FL and seem to have come up with the perfect gift. Both my niece and her soon to be husband are really into music of all kinds and since they were worried about what they would do for entertainment, since they are on a tight budget, my daughter and I wanted to help out any way we could. This seems like a special and logical gift for them.

After we looked at various sites and one we came across had the best services we had seen up to date, which included DJ Wedding Reception Packages. I liked that idea. We can put the music into the hands of the DJ and not worry about all the planning and the headache of making sure everything went smoothly. With the package, the DJ will put it all together according to what kind of music the couple want to have playing at the reception. Also lighting and the other extras that make a reception special would be included in the package. Can’t go wrong with that!

I think that the gift of music is something that I would like, and my daughter agreed that she would have liked the options a DJ can work with. I have a feeling that we are going to save a lot of time, money and also stress by hiring a professional that knows what they are doing.  There are a whole lot of options to choose from with these packages, and now all we have to decide which ones we know the couple would like!

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Help with Real Estate Hamptons NY

Usually people I know are looking for homes to buy or rent, but my friend Michael is looking for help with Real Estate Hamptons NY to rent or sell his home, so he can move closer to his family in Ohio. He is super picky about his property and assured me if anyone could properly sell or rent out his house in the Hamptons, that his real estate agent could do it. He also told me that the fees are reasonable and he’s totally comfortable putting his property in his agents hands.

I have dealt with many realtors who weren’t into selling a home for me or just wanted to make a quick deal and end it. In truth it was a horrible experience. Michale assured me that as he is not sure if he would like to rent on a permanent basis and leave the property without supervision, that the agent would help with all of those particulars. They have a lot of various services to choose from and I think this is great!

It leaves peace of mind that they are experienced in dealing with homes in the Hamptons NY and that if he chooses, my friend can leave his home to renters while he is living out of state. I know of course that he would make annual visits to his place to check on it, but while he is gone, this would be taken care of.

 

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Help from a home energy audit

After hearing how having a home energy audit could save me a whole lot of money on my heating and cooling bills, I’m seriously thinking about looking into having these professionals come in and take a look at how I could cut my bill costs down.  Right now, they are nearly unfordable especially during the winter months. Just thinking of saving even a little amount of money on these makes me want to find out more about it.

I’m told that there are home improvement grants to be had also, something I didn’t know and am curious to see if these folks could help me with applying for one. I noticed so much that needs repair and improvement in this house, when I was doing the little repair work I do while spring cleaning. A home improvement grant would help so much and also make our property value increase.

If I can get a insulation contractor to come in, that would be great and these home energy audit people can help with this, I believe. I know that during the winter it could be a whole lot warmer in the house if we had a professional come in to insulate properly, we would indeed save quite a bit of money on our heating bill.