Starting tomorrow April 16, 2012 I will start keeping a food log. Due to my strange eating habits my wife would like to know what I eat during the week. I am currently trying to lose some weight, so I eat healthier. I eat mostly vegetarian and like vegan foods, however I could not go full vegan. I love ice cream and that is my poison. I do not miss meat, and on a rare occasion I will eat a hamburger. Very rare.
I currently weigh 190.2lbs as of 9pm. I am going to lose as much weight as I can as fast as I can. I am aware that is not healthy, but I have done it before and can do it again. So beginning in the morning I will log everything I drink and eat. My goal is 170lbs. by the middle of May. Look for my next post tomorrow evening.
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Sunday, April 15, 2012
Monday, October 11, 2010
Online Shopping For The Christmas & Holiday Season
The Christmas shopping season has begun. As my family and I strolled through stores to buy Halloween decorations, we also spotted Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years decorations . We are not quite ready for Christmas, however others seemed to be already buying these items, but personally I need to get through Thanksgiving before I look at the other holidays.
I have done all my Christmas shopping online for the past 3 years, and this year will not be any different. I still like to walk through the stores and malls, however I'm just looking at the decorations as I can't take all of the pushy people and the long lines. A lot of people surprisingly don't know this, but you can get most of the same Black Friday deals that are being offered in the stores from the comfort of your home by simply checking online sites. For examples, last year e bought a LG front load washer and dryer for half the regular price at homedepot.com. We got this price at 8am, and it was delivered the next day, and this was the same exact deal they had offered in the stores but in limited qualities based on item availabiity.
I had been in the market for a GPS too, so I logged on to Bestbuy.com to do some shopping and quickly found what I was looking for. Once again I paid almost half so I must say the holiday sales are truly worth waiting for. If I am looking for something that I don't absolutely need, such as the GPS, I will usually wait for Black Friday. Retailers are hoping for a better holiday shopping season this year, so I imagine they will have plenty of promotions and sales to lure us into their physical and online stores.
If you have specific items you are searching for, check to see which online retailers sell them, and add the store to your favorites. This way you can easily check from time to time for sales which can save a good amount of time, especially if you are buying several items on Black Friday.
Something else to remember is, December 17 is the national free shipping day for online shopping. I'm sure there will be plenty of discounts on this day to help drive sales. Also, don't forget about eBay when considering gifts as many sellers already provide free shipping all year long. At my eBay store, about 70% of the items have free shipping. If you are unsure of the free shipping you can always contact the seller to be sure they ship quick. I look on eBay first for most of the product I buy because if you can find what you're looking for, it will most likely be cheaper. If you are someone who does not like bidding on their auctions, you can use the "buy it now" option too which allows you to immediately purchase the item at a resonable price.
Another tip is that you can check your credit cards to see if they offer a warranty on products you buy. I have a American Express that offers a warranty on anything I buy, so there is no reason for me to waste money on extended warranties or protection plan thanks to their protection. Many of the warranty or service plans offered in the stores cost about up to one quarter to half the cost of the item, which can make a huge difference in your holiday shopping budget.
Many stores will be also be promoting their in-store credit cards. These cards often offer discounts on your purchase if you apply(Normally 10%). This can be a good way to save money if you pay it off at the end of the month. Before you apply for the store cards make sure that you are being honest with yourself. If you know you will never pay this off right away, or you will be tempted to spend more than you can afford, forget the credit cards. I did this with a TJ Maxx card and saved enough to buy a tank of gas. Yes, I paid it off.
When shopping online, do a google search for a promo code for that particular store. I have done this several times and I was able to receive free shipping or a percentage off the order I was placing. Sometimes the codes don't work, but if there are several codes you want to make sure to try them all. I buy in bulk for my eBay store, and shipping plays a major role in my pricing. I found a code recently a the last minute, and when I typed the code in and got free shipping. The shipping would have cost me $185 so this can really be worth the extra time.
If you find a deal while shopping online that seems to good to be true, make sure to do your research before you buy. eBay has a buyer protection plan to cover you there, but other online retailers that you never heard of should be checked. Go to Better Business Bureau www.BBB.org to check out the company. The business in question should have a "Contact us" or" About Us" tab and if they do not, don't bother with them. If they do, make sure to get the address and name of the company, then check them out on the BBB website. I searched for a retail store in Los Angeles that had great prices on name brand items, but when I did my BBB check I discovered that they had a F rating and most of the complaints listed were that they did not ship the items. They had a good looking website that was easy to navigate. Their pictures were great and there were lot's of items. It looked as good as Best Buys site, but as I discovered you never know
It is also very important that you watch out for online shopping scams. The copy cat websites will be showing up more the closer we get to Christmas. These site's look like big retailers sites, and they will take your order, and they take your information, then they take your money, and you get nothing in return. If you think something is strange about the website you are on, write down the product number for the item you are looking at. Type the business URL back in, being sure you are on their actual page. If you don't know their URL, then you would want to google the business or even call the company to check if you need to. You are better off spending ten minutes checking, than you are having your credit cards ripped off.
I would recommend using credit cards over debit cards for online shopping. They both have protection, however debit cards can take weeks or months to refund your money if someone uses your card. With credit cards, it was not your money they stole. American Express is one of the best companies to deal with in this situation.
Be smart and safe this Holiday shopping season. The mail will be slow starting in November, so make sure you have plenty of shipping time. It is best to pay for priority shipping with the USPS. This is 2-3 delivery and worth paying for. Your average 2-3 pound package will cost $5 to $10 dollars within the US. Have fun with your families, and don't invite the relatives that make you miserable.
I have done all my Christmas shopping online for the past 3 years, and this year will not be any different. I still like to walk through the stores and malls, however I'm just looking at the decorations as I can't take all of the pushy people and the long lines. A lot of people surprisingly don't know this, but you can get most of the same Black Friday deals that are being offered in the stores from the comfort of your home by simply checking online sites. For examples, last year e bought a LG front load washer and dryer for half the regular price at homedepot.com. We got this price at 8am, and it was delivered the next day, and this was the same exact deal they had offered in the stores but in limited qualities based on item availabiity.
I had been in the market for a GPS too, so I logged on to Bestbuy.com to do some shopping and quickly found what I was looking for. Once again I paid almost half so I must say the holiday sales are truly worth waiting for. If I am looking for something that I don't absolutely need, such as the GPS, I will usually wait for Black Friday. Retailers are hoping for a better holiday shopping season this year, so I imagine they will have plenty of promotions and sales to lure us into their physical and online stores.
If you have specific items you are searching for, check to see which online retailers sell them, and add the store to your favorites. This way you can easily check from time to time for sales which can save a good amount of time, especially if you are buying several items on Black Friday.
Something else to remember is, December 17 is the national free shipping day for online shopping. I'm sure there will be plenty of discounts on this day to help drive sales. Also, don't forget about eBay when considering gifts as many sellers already provide free shipping all year long. At my eBay store, about 70% of the items have free shipping. If you are unsure of the free shipping you can always contact the seller to be sure they ship quick. I look on eBay first for most of the product I buy because if you can find what you're looking for, it will most likely be cheaper. If you are someone who does not like bidding on their auctions, you can use the "buy it now" option too which allows you to immediately purchase the item at a resonable price.
Another tip is that you can check your credit cards to see if they offer a warranty on products you buy. I have a American Express that offers a warranty on anything I buy, so there is no reason for me to waste money on extended warranties or protection plan thanks to their protection. Many of the warranty or service plans offered in the stores cost about up to one quarter to half the cost of the item, which can make a huge difference in your holiday shopping budget.
Many stores will be also be promoting their in-store credit cards. These cards often offer discounts on your purchase if you apply(Normally 10%). This can be a good way to save money if you pay it off at the end of the month. Before you apply for the store cards make sure that you are being honest with yourself. If you know you will never pay this off right away, or you will be tempted to spend more than you can afford, forget the credit cards. I did this with a TJ Maxx card and saved enough to buy a tank of gas. Yes, I paid it off.
When shopping online, do a google search for a promo code for that particular store. I have done this several times and I was able to receive free shipping or a percentage off the order I was placing. Sometimes the codes don't work, but if there are several codes you want to make sure to try them all. I buy in bulk for my eBay store, and shipping plays a major role in my pricing. I found a code recently a the last minute, and when I typed the code in and got free shipping. The shipping would have cost me $185 so this can really be worth the extra time.
If you find a deal while shopping online that seems to good to be true, make sure to do your research before you buy. eBay has a buyer protection plan to cover you there, but other online retailers that you never heard of should be checked. Go to Better Business Bureau www.BBB.org to check out the company. The business in question should have a "Contact us" or" About Us" tab and if they do not, don't bother with them. If they do, make sure to get the address and name of the company, then check them out on the BBB website. I searched for a retail store in Los Angeles that had great prices on name brand items, but when I did my BBB check I discovered that they had a F rating and most of the complaints listed were that they did not ship the items. They had a good looking website that was easy to navigate. Their pictures were great and there were lot's of items. It looked as good as Best Buys site, but as I discovered you never know
It is also very important that you watch out for online shopping scams. The copy cat websites will be showing up more the closer we get to Christmas. These site's look like big retailers sites, and they will take your order, and they take your information, then they take your money, and you get nothing in return. If you think something is strange about the website you are on, write down the product number for the item you are looking at. Type the business URL back in, being sure you are on their actual page. If you don't know their URL, then you would want to google the business or even call the company to check if you need to. You are better off spending ten minutes checking, than you are having your credit cards ripped off.
I would recommend using credit cards over debit cards for online shopping. They both have protection, however debit cards can take weeks or months to refund your money if someone uses your card. With credit cards, it was not your money they stole. American Express is one of the best companies to deal with in this situation.
Be smart and safe this Holiday shopping season. The mail will be slow starting in November, so make sure you have plenty of shipping time. It is best to pay for priority shipping with the USPS. This is 2-3 delivery and worth paying for. Your average 2-3 pound package will cost $5 to $10 dollars within the US. Have fun with your families, and don't invite the relatives that make you miserable.
What If Your Son Or Daughter Was Gay? Do Homosexuals Choose To Be Gay?
Would you be alright with your child being gay? Do you think homosexuals choose this lifestyle? I have been asked these question on several occasions, however they are complex questions. I can not answer them in one word. What would you do if you found out your son or daughter is gay? Some people fear this more than anything.
My honest answer; I prefer that my son is straight, and not for the reason you might think. We live screwed up world. It is hard to be different from what others perceive as normal. Being homosexual is not accepted everywhere or by everyone. It is a challenging lifestyle. Not only do you deal with regular daily life, but you are treated differently because of your sexual preference. There are always cases of assault against homosexual's. On top of that, you deal with job discrimination . I want my son to have every opportunity, and to not be held back for any reason. I wouldn't want to see him treated differently than others, because he is gay. You must be a strong person to be openly gay. I would love him regardless of his lifestyle. If the world was different I would change my answer to, I don't care.
I was reading an article today. It was about parents wanting nothing to do with their children when they come out of the closet. How could this be? If you genuinely love your child, how would that change your opinion? It should not make a difference if they are straight or gay. This is the same person that was loved before the parents knew about it. Many of the parents were worried about what others would think. What happened to family first. I think they need a better class of friends.
I raise my child with hopes that he is happy, and is successful. When I say successsful, I am not implying that he becomes the CEO of Apple. I want him to be successful in life, whatever his goals and dreams are. If he wants to travel the world, and has to beg for money on the street corner to do so, that's fine. If that is what really makes him complete as a person, I will support him. Happiness is the key to success. It doesn't matter where your happiness comes from. What does matter? The company you keep around you, and your family. Good friends and family who support you in life, even if they don't agree with you, is all that matters.
Not all churches are good. The same goes for christians. Churches who reject people because they are gay, are not following the word of god. They think they are. The bible can be interpreted in many different ways. It does not read that you are superior to gays. You are to be kind to everyone, not just a selected group. If you think gay people are going to hell, keep your opinion to yourself. This decision is not up to you anyway. The so called christians, that are violent to gays need to reconsider their actions. Who will really be going to hell.
How does homosexuality affect you? The people who are always picketing and protesting gays are an odd bunch. If I don't like something or someone, I try to avoid contact. People were protesting the gay pride march Serbia. Why? So they don't like it, and want to shelter their children from it. So why would you go their and spend the day protesting? Surrounding yourself with homosexuals is the answer? How many gay folks do you really know. I would bet that most of the people who hate homosexuals, don't know any.
Is being gay a choice, or were you born that way? Another debated question. If you read my profile, you know I'm straight. When I was introduced to my wife, I thought she was beautiful, as well as smart. I did not choose to be attracted to her. I just was. When I look at a man, I see nothing. I did not sit at home and deliberate if I wanted to be straight. It was not a question. Same for gay people. They do not suddenly change their mind one day. They do not sit around thinking about which sex they are attracted to. They know the same as you do. Not everyone thinks Jessica Simpson or Rosie O'donnel is Hot. (I like Jessica) Everyone does not think Brad Pitt or Gary Buseyis a hunk. That's because we all have different views on who or what is attractive. Think about it!
I am not trying offend anyone, or make someone mad. This is my opinion as an outsider. If you disagree with me fine. If you agree with me, you must be fairly intelligent.(Haha just kidding) I am annoyed by the way some gay people are treated. I'm disgusted by the current news. We are all here to live together. This would be a boring place if we all liked the same things. Just because we don't agree, that does not mean we can't be friends. I have a good friend who disagrees with me on almost everything. All humans need to be treated equally. The only people who should be outcasts, are the people causing all the trouble and protesting. If you don't like something, you are not required to be part of it. Think about what you say, and how it may hurt someone. If you feel the need to join a group, find something that is constructive. Not something immoral and potentially destructive. There are plenty of good causes where your time could be spent. Use it wisely as we are not here for long.
Here are some links of things that should not be;
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/04/1739413/2-arrested-in-anti-gay-beating.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/05/1741617/anti-gay-churchs-lawyer-study.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/06/1742146/legislators-anti-gay-slurs-criticized.html
My honest answer; I prefer that my son is straight, and not for the reason you might think. We live screwed up world. It is hard to be different from what others perceive as normal. Being homosexual is not accepted everywhere or by everyone. It is a challenging lifestyle. Not only do you deal with regular daily life, but you are treated differently because of your sexual preference. There are always cases of assault against homosexual's. On top of that, you deal with job discrimination . I want my son to have every opportunity, and to not be held back for any reason. I wouldn't want to see him treated differently than others, because he is gay. You must be a strong person to be openly gay. I would love him regardless of his lifestyle. If the world was different I would change my answer to, I don't care.
I was reading an article today. It was about parents wanting nothing to do with their children when they come out of the closet. How could this be? If you genuinely love your child, how would that change your opinion? It should not make a difference if they are straight or gay. This is the same person that was loved before the parents knew about it. Many of the parents were worried about what others would think. What happened to family first. I think they need a better class of friends.
I raise my child with hopes that he is happy, and is successful. When I say successsful, I am not implying that he becomes the CEO of Apple. I want him to be successful in life, whatever his goals and dreams are. If he wants to travel the world, and has to beg for money on the street corner to do so, that's fine. If that is what really makes him complete as a person, I will support him. Happiness is the key to success. It doesn't matter where your happiness comes from. What does matter? The company you keep around you, and your family. Good friends and family who support you in life, even if they don't agree with you, is all that matters.
Not all churches are good. The same goes for christians. Churches who reject people because they are gay, are not following the word of god. They think they are. The bible can be interpreted in many different ways. It does not read that you are superior to gays. You are to be kind to everyone, not just a selected group. If you think gay people are going to hell, keep your opinion to yourself. This decision is not up to you anyway. The so called christians, that are violent to gays need to reconsider their actions. Who will really be going to hell.
How does homosexuality affect you? The people who are always picketing and protesting gays are an odd bunch. If I don't like something or someone, I try to avoid contact. People were protesting the gay pride march Serbia. Why? So they don't like it, and want to shelter their children from it. So why would you go their and spend the day protesting? Surrounding yourself with homosexuals is the answer? How many gay folks do you really know. I would bet that most of the people who hate homosexuals, don't know any.
Is being gay a choice, or were you born that way? Another debated question. If you read my profile, you know I'm straight. When I was introduced to my wife, I thought she was beautiful, as well as smart. I did not choose to be attracted to her. I just was. When I look at a man, I see nothing. I did not sit at home and deliberate if I wanted to be straight. It was not a question. Same for gay people. They do not suddenly change their mind one day. They do not sit around thinking about which sex they are attracted to. They know the same as you do. Not everyone thinks Jessica Simpson or Rosie O'donnel is Hot. (I like Jessica) Everyone does not think Brad Pitt or Gary Buseyis a hunk. That's because we all have different views on who or what is attractive. Think about it!
I am not trying offend anyone, or make someone mad. This is my opinion as an outsider. If you disagree with me fine. If you agree with me, you must be fairly intelligent.(Haha just kidding) I am annoyed by the way some gay people are treated. I'm disgusted by the current news. We are all here to live together. This would be a boring place if we all liked the same things. Just because we don't agree, that does not mean we can't be friends. I have a good friend who disagrees with me on almost everything. All humans need to be treated equally. The only people who should be outcasts, are the people causing all the trouble and protesting. If you don't like something, you are not required to be part of it. Think about what you say, and how it may hurt someone. If you feel the need to join a group, find something that is constructive. Not something immoral and potentially destructive. There are plenty of good causes where your time could be spent. Use it wisely as we are not here for long.
Here are some links of things that should not be;
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/04/1739413/2-arrested-in-anti-gay-beating.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/05/1741617/anti-gay-churchs-lawyer-study.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/06/1742146/legislators-anti-gay-slurs-criticized.html
Monday, October 4, 2010
Wachovia Is Not BB&T: Know Your Banks
Just a short story of something stupid I did. I have done many dumb things, however this one came to mind today for some reason.
This was about 5 years ago. A big day for my wife and I. We were buying our first house. On this day we were signing all the papers and placing our deposit. I had to get a certified check of a large amount.
So off to the bank I went. I went into Wachovia with a smile on my face, and walked up to the teller. She smiled back, and asked how she could help. I explained why I was there, and she asked for my name. I told her Joel Hawkins. She looked, then asked if it was under another name. I gave her my wife's name. She said she could not find anyone under that name either. "We had just transferred a large amount of money, and now this bank has no record of me," I thought. I explained we have had a account there for years, and there should be some record of us. My blood was beginning to boil. She could tell I was getting nervous. She told me to hold on, and would get her manager. I was getting ready to let someone have it, but I remained calm. The manager called me back into his office. He said he would search for our account another way. He went over our old address, and asked question after question. I was thinking this would be the last business Wachovia ever did with me. I glanced at the man's name tag to make a mental note. I noticed under his name, it said BB&T. I slowly looked around and realized this was BB&T, not Wachovia. I felt like biggest idiot possible. I looked at the man who was nervously searching to find my information. I was trying to figure out how I could get out, without looking stupid. There was no way. I said,"I think I have the wrong bank." He immediately stopped typing and looked at me. I told him that this bank used to be a Wachovia . He agreed and reminded me it was not anymore. I apologized for the trouble and quickly walked out. Very Quick.
I'm sure I was the joke of the week. Maybe I still am. The only thing I am happy about, is that I did not yell or talk down to the teller or manager. I would have looked like a bigger dumb-ass than I already did.
This was about 5 years ago. A big day for my wife and I. We were buying our first house. On this day we were signing all the papers and placing our deposit. I had to get a certified check of a large amount.
So off to the bank I went. I went into Wachovia with a smile on my face, and walked up to the teller. She smiled back, and asked how she could help. I explained why I was there, and she asked for my name. I told her Joel Hawkins. She looked, then asked if it was under another name. I gave her my wife's name. She said she could not find anyone under that name either. "We had just transferred a large amount of money, and now this bank has no record of me," I thought. I explained we have had a account there for years, and there should be some record of us. My blood was beginning to boil. She could tell I was getting nervous. She told me to hold on, and would get her manager. I was getting ready to let someone have it, but I remained calm. The manager called me back into his office. He said he would search for our account another way. He went over our old address, and asked question after question. I was thinking this would be the last business Wachovia ever did with me. I glanced at the man's name tag to make a mental note. I noticed under his name, it said BB&T. I slowly looked around and realized this was BB&T, not Wachovia. I felt like biggest idiot possible. I looked at the man who was nervously searching to find my information. I was trying to figure out how I could get out, without looking stupid. There was no way. I said,"I think I have the wrong bank." He immediately stopped typing and looked at me. I told him that this bank used to be a Wachovia . He agreed and reminded me it was not anymore. I apologized for the trouble and quickly walked out. Very Quick.
I'm sure I was the joke of the week. Maybe I still am. The only thing I am happy about, is that I did not yell or talk down to the teller or manager. I would have looked like a bigger dumb-ass than I already did.
Car Buying & Shopping Made Simple Through Carmax
Buying cars is an exciting time, however it can be stressful, frustrating, and mind boggling. Car shopping can make you want to take the bus. Then through the process you must deal with pushy sales people. I hate the thought of an annoying sales person, getting my money. My wife and I no longer shop at these traditional lots. The hassle is not worth the new vehicle. We do not buy new cars either. Your car will lose 25%-30% when you drive away. We prefer to let others buy the new car, and take the initial loss.
We bought a Volvo XC90 used, with seventeen thousand miles on the car. We paid fifteen thousand dollars less than a comparable new XC90. The shopping was simple because we used Carmax. This is our second purchase from them, and there will be many more. Carmax has given us excellent service with both of our purchases made there. We knew what we were looking for and started searching online. There are three locations near Charlotte with a large selection. We drove to Carmax after finding the car we were looking for. The Volvo was not in condition we wanted, so the salesman took us inside to search online. The car we wanted was in Charleston, SC, about four hours away. Carmax shipped the vehicle to our location, and we had no obligation to buy. After a few days the car arrived, and we decided to make the purchase. There was a small fee for the transport. Carmax will ship to your location from anywhere, however they calculate the cost by the distance.
Carmax uses the Kelly blue book to price their automobiles. This is a fair way to determine the price, which you can check for yourself. If you think the price is high, don't buy. With the Volvo XC90 that we purchased, I felt that they lost money. I would have paid more for the car than we did.
Spend time on their website. They have tools to answer all your questions. The advanced search is a fun tool to search for vehicles. You can search very specific details if there is a feature you must have. If you don't like your results, it's very simple to start over. With over 100 locations nation wide, you should be capable of finding one near you. If you need to drive to another state, it will be worth the trip.
Log on and search for car of your choice. Call the location and make sure your vehicle(s) of choice are available. Schedule a time to meet and look at your choices in person. The vehicles can also be purchased without ever visiting to see the car. If you are making a trade in you will need to visit. You will get a fare price on this as well. We were shocked when they told us the price they would pay for the trade in. We had bought the car from them.
My parents bought a Ford Explorer through Carmax. They had it for two weeks and then had a extremely hard rain. The seal around the front window started leaking. They called Carmax and were given the option of having it fixed, or swapping. They choose the swap. They had to go back and resign new papers, however in three hours they were back home with another car.
Carmax takes pride in their no-haggle car buying. Blue Knob auto sales in Duncansville, Pa is smaller, yet they have a similar shopping experience. I have a friend who makes all his purchases there. He will not haggle with traditional dealers either. Some people enjoy the back and fourth buying, because they feel they can get a better deal. These salespeople do this for a living. They are in the business of ripping people off. I'm not saying every dealership is like this, however most are. I recommend finding a no-haggle place for your car shopping.
My neighbor lost his job and started working at a used car lot. Everyday he would come home tell me the new tricks he learned. He was taught daily how to lie and cheat people. It is a numbers game and the car lot has the advantaged. They take advantage of people to get their money. Car sales people don't have a good reputation for a reason. The joke,"How do you tell when a car salesman is lying, his lips are moving", really isn't a joke.
You can finance your purchase through Carmax, or they will check outside banks such as Bank of America. This will give you different interest rates and monthly payments options. They provide a online calculator to play with. This will give you a rough estimate of your possible payments. You can also find a calculator for your tags, title, and taxes. Use these tools ahead of time to avoid price shock when you arrive. If you are looking for hassle-free car shopping and buying, this is they way to go. I will continue to use them, because this is the way I prefer to shop. I take our Volvo to the dealership for oil changes and service. I can't walk through the lot without having a salesman come after me. This just confirms my thoughts and makes me smile, because I will never buy from people like this again.
http://www.carmax.com/
We bought a Volvo XC90 used, with seventeen thousand miles on the car. We paid fifteen thousand dollars less than a comparable new XC90. The shopping was simple because we used Carmax. This is our second purchase from them, and there will be many more. Carmax has given us excellent service with both of our purchases made there. We knew what we were looking for and started searching online. There are three locations near Charlotte with a large selection. We drove to Carmax after finding the car we were looking for. The Volvo was not in condition we wanted, so the salesman took us inside to search online. The car we wanted was in Charleston, SC, about four hours away. Carmax shipped the vehicle to our location, and we had no obligation to buy. After a few days the car arrived, and we decided to make the purchase. There was a small fee for the transport. Carmax will ship to your location from anywhere, however they calculate the cost by the distance.
Carmax uses the Kelly blue book to price their automobiles. This is a fair way to determine the price, which you can check for yourself. If you think the price is high, don't buy. With the Volvo XC90 that we purchased, I felt that they lost money. I would have paid more for the car than we did.
Spend time on their website. They have tools to answer all your questions. The advanced search is a fun tool to search for vehicles. You can search very specific details if there is a feature you must have. If you don't like your results, it's very simple to start over. With over 100 locations nation wide, you should be capable of finding one near you. If you need to drive to another state, it will be worth the trip.
Log on and search for car of your choice. Call the location and make sure your vehicle(s) of choice are available. Schedule a time to meet and look at your choices in person. The vehicles can also be purchased without ever visiting to see the car. If you are making a trade in you will need to visit. You will get a fare price on this as well. We were shocked when they told us the price they would pay for the trade in. We had bought the car from them.
My parents bought a Ford Explorer through Carmax. They had it for two weeks and then had a extremely hard rain. The seal around the front window started leaking. They called Carmax and were given the option of having it fixed, or swapping. They choose the swap. They had to go back and resign new papers, however in three hours they were back home with another car.
Carmax takes pride in their no-haggle car buying. Blue Knob auto sales in Duncansville, Pa is smaller, yet they have a similar shopping experience. I have a friend who makes all his purchases there. He will not haggle with traditional dealers either. Some people enjoy the back and fourth buying, because they feel they can get a better deal. These salespeople do this for a living. They are in the business of ripping people off. I'm not saying every dealership is like this, however most are. I recommend finding a no-haggle place for your car shopping.
My neighbor lost his job and started working at a used car lot. Everyday he would come home tell me the new tricks he learned. He was taught daily how to lie and cheat people. It is a numbers game and the car lot has the advantaged. They take advantage of people to get their money. Car sales people don't have a good reputation for a reason. The joke,"How do you tell when a car salesman is lying, his lips are moving", really isn't a joke.
You can finance your purchase through Carmax, or they will check outside banks such as Bank of America. This will give you different interest rates and monthly payments options. They provide a online calculator to play with. This will give you a rough estimate of your possible payments. You can also find a calculator for your tags, title, and taxes. Use these tools ahead of time to avoid price shock when you arrive. If you are looking for hassle-free car shopping and buying, this is they way to go. I will continue to use them, because this is the way I prefer to shop. I take our Volvo to the dealership for oil changes and service. I can't walk through the lot without having a salesman come after me. This just confirms my thoughts and makes me smile, because I will never buy from people like this again.
http://www.carmax.com/
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Rent Your House Quick, and Find Good Tenants
Renting your home can be easy when you have good renters. Finding the good renter is the hard part. I rented my house and used some great tools to make it simple. These tools can help weed out the bad renter, or keep them away all together. Late payments, no payments, or damage to your house are all the possibilities we try to avoid. Follow these easy steps to help make the process less stressful.
Step 1) Read all the free information you can find. I found something new every night to read. There is tons of information on the web about renting, and plenty of stories about nightmare renters. It might not hurt to read some horror stories, however I would not spend much time with this. These could be embellished, and this is not your focus. I looked at sites like Rent Law- The National Landlord Tenant Guide. They have individual state laws and renters rights for every state. This is something you must read over and over. It is not exciting, however, it is important to know what you are doing, if a tenant asks you a question. My tenant was shocked to find out he was the first renter I ever had. I was prepared to answer questions, and had forms ready to sign.
The Landlord Protection Agency is a good place to get free forms. They supply all the forms you will need from application to move out time. Most of all they are free. They have Lease Addendum, Rental Binder Agreement, Eviction Notice, Pet Agreement forms and on and on. Do not just print these out and have your tenant sign them. Read the entire forms that you choose to use. There might be unnecessary information that does not pertain to you, or something you need to add. As a landlord you must be covered in writing, with signatures to protect yourself and your property.
Step 2) Place your house for rent on Craigs list. People from all over search here for rentals. My neighbor rented his house in two weeks. The house was in North Carolina, and the renter was from California. With just a sign in the yard and a local ad, the renter would not have found your house. I rented mine in four days, and the advertisement was free. Ad different ways for people to contact you. Give several options like phone, email, or text. Some people would rather text a quick question than call. Be sure to include as much detail as possible. If you don't, you might spend all day or week answering questions. If you get a good question, edit your ad to include it. This can't be done with a newspaper ad. Including in your ad that you require a credit, and backround check, will stop most unwanted renters in their tracks.
Step 3) Require a back round and credit check. Anyone who knows they will not pass, (in most cases) will not bother. Some will apply anyway, but that's OK. Require a upfront application fee. This way they are paying, and you lose nothing except some time. You could charge five or ten dollars more than the actual cost for your troubles. I did not, because it was so simple. TransUnion's SmartMove is your one-stop-shop for tenant screening.
Sign up for a account. It is free to do this. Type in your property name and address. All you need is the tenants email. Type their email into the property you entered on SmartMove. Transunion will send them an email to start their application. You just avoided the need to take any personal information from the applicant. When the hopeful tenant is ready to apply, there are two ways to do this. Collect the money from them to pay for the back round and credit check. I would only do this if you are charging them extra for the application. The other option is for them to pay online with a debit or credit card when they log on. This option give you less hassle. TransUnion will notify you after the process is complete. You can scan their complete credit report and score, plus the back round check. TransUnion is a trusted source, so there is no need to run a check on the the company. There were other credit check companies I found that had a list of complaints.
Step 4) Change your home owners insurance to cover a renter, and require your tenant to carry renters insurance. These laws vary state to state for the requirements, however you must make sure you are covered in case of flood, fire, water leak, or whatever the situation. Renters insurance is cheap, so if your tenant complains, tell them this is required to live here, and have it in writing. You should also get a discount on your insurance policy with proof of this.
Read all you can ahead of time. You want to cover all bases to protect yourself and your renter. Understand the eviction process. Be prepared in case there is ever a need. If you lived here before, you must put aside all sentimental thoughts and memories. Look at this as a rental property only, not your home. You are now a landlord and it is imperative that you act professional. If you do not think you are up to this, and you could not control your emotions if someone damaged your property, there are companies that handle rental process. They keep a portion of the rent each month and do all the dirty work. I prefer to keep the money.
Take your time and do not rush to get a tenant. You need to think about every move you make. Once there is a lease, it is legally binding. You could be sued for trying to break it. The more you know about what you are doing, the easier it is. I am not a professional, or an expert, however we find it gets easier each time we rent. I will continue with the same system since we have weeded out the bad, and continue with the good. I hope this has helped and I wish you good luck.
TransUnion SmartMove •https://www.mysmartmove.com/LandlordsCredit.aspx
The Landlord Protection Agency http://www.thelpa.com/
Rent Law- Find laws for your state. http://www.rentlaw.com/
Craigs List- Place free ads http://charlotte.craigslist.org/
Step 1) Read all the free information you can find. I found something new every night to read. There is tons of information on the web about renting, and plenty of stories about nightmare renters. It might not hurt to read some horror stories, however I would not spend much time with this. These could be embellished, and this is not your focus. I looked at sites like Rent Law- The National Landlord Tenant Guide. They have individual state laws and renters rights for every state. This is something you must read over and over. It is not exciting, however, it is important to know what you are doing, if a tenant asks you a question. My tenant was shocked to find out he was the first renter I ever had. I was prepared to answer questions, and had forms ready to sign.
The Landlord Protection Agency is a good place to get free forms. They supply all the forms you will need from application to move out time. Most of all they are free. They have Lease Addendum, Rental Binder Agreement, Eviction Notice, Pet Agreement forms and on and on. Do not just print these out and have your tenant sign them. Read the entire forms that you choose to use. There might be unnecessary information that does not pertain to you, or something you need to add. As a landlord you must be covered in writing, with signatures to protect yourself and your property.
Step 2) Place your house for rent on Craigs list. People from all over search here for rentals. My neighbor rented his house in two weeks. The house was in North Carolina, and the renter was from California. With just a sign in the yard and a local ad, the renter would not have found your house. I rented mine in four days, and the advertisement was free. Ad different ways for people to contact you. Give several options like phone, email, or text. Some people would rather text a quick question than call. Be sure to include as much detail as possible. If you don't, you might spend all day or week answering questions. If you get a good question, edit your ad to include it. This can't be done with a newspaper ad. Including in your ad that you require a credit, and backround check, will stop most unwanted renters in their tracks.
Step 3) Require a back round and credit check. Anyone who knows they will not pass, (in most cases) will not bother. Some will apply anyway, but that's OK. Require a upfront application fee. This way they are paying, and you lose nothing except some time. You could charge five or ten dollars more than the actual cost for your troubles. I did not, because it was so simple. TransUnion's SmartMove is your one-stop-shop for tenant screening.
Sign up for a account. It is free to do this. Type in your property name and address. All you need is the tenants email. Type their email into the property you entered on SmartMove. Transunion will send them an email to start their application. You just avoided the need to take any personal information from the applicant. When the hopeful tenant is ready to apply, there are two ways to do this. Collect the money from them to pay for the back round and credit check. I would only do this if you are charging them extra for the application. The other option is for them to pay online with a debit or credit card when they log on. This option give you less hassle. TransUnion will notify you after the process is complete. You can scan their complete credit report and score, plus the back round check. TransUnion is a trusted source, so there is no need to run a check on the the company. There were other credit check companies I found that had a list of complaints.
Step 4) Change your home owners insurance to cover a renter, and require your tenant to carry renters insurance. These laws vary state to state for the requirements, however you must make sure you are covered in case of flood, fire, water leak, or whatever the situation. Renters insurance is cheap, so if your tenant complains, tell them this is required to live here, and have it in writing. You should also get a discount on your insurance policy with proof of this.
Read all you can ahead of time. You want to cover all bases to protect yourself and your renter. Understand the eviction process. Be prepared in case there is ever a need. If you lived here before, you must put aside all sentimental thoughts and memories. Look at this as a rental property only, not your home. You are now a landlord and it is imperative that you act professional. If you do not think you are up to this, and you could not control your emotions if someone damaged your property, there are companies that handle rental process. They keep a portion of the rent each month and do all the dirty work. I prefer to keep the money.
Take your time and do not rush to get a tenant. You need to think about every move you make. Once there is a lease, it is legally binding. You could be sued for trying to break it. The more you know about what you are doing, the easier it is. I am not a professional, or an expert, however we find it gets easier each time we rent. I will continue with the same system since we have weeded out the bad, and continue with the good. I hope this has helped and I wish you good luck.
TransUnion SmartMove •https://www.mysmartmove.com/LandlordsCredit.aspx
The Landlord Protection Agency http://www.thelpa.com/
Rent Law- Find laws for your state. http://www.rentlaw.com/
Craigs List- Place free ads http://charlotte.craigslist.org/
Sunday, September 26, 2010
iRobot From eBay, Timesaving Tool to Save You Work
IRobot Roomba, Time saving and affordable when you buy refurbished from eBay.
I recently purchased a IRobot Roomba vacuum on eBay. It was refurbished, and half the cost of a new one. I am not a fan of paying full price for anything. I was leery of buying something for $180 even though I sell on eBay myself. I knew if it did not work, I was responsible for the return shipping. I read eBay buyer protection plan (which I never did before) and some of my fear went away. As with most products on eBay, this was the best price I could find for the machine.
Three days later my package arrived. I opened it up, and it looked like new. After a brief charge, I pressed one button and away she went. Slowing down to barely bump walls and chairs. My wife laughed at me because I could not help myself, and I followed it everywhere. I was amazed with the strange patterns the Roomba would follow, and how it would detect a dirty spot, and circle around it. I was in love. For the first time, my floor was being cleanedwithout my involvement. We have a cat & dog. The dog is part husky, so the hair that comes out of this animal is amazing. We can vacuum with our upright, and still find the hairballs that look like tumbleweeds floating across the floor. The iRobot was cleaning under our couch,a place where the conventional vacuum could not go. The side brush that extends from the machine was cleaning corners that normally require the hose attachment. I continued to watch until the batteries life was ending. The iRobot has a sensor that guides it back to the docking station to charge. The Roomba slowly made it's way back for a break.
After a charge I wanted to try it out upstairs. Downstairs is all hardwoods, and upstairs is carpet. I read reviews before the purchase, and some said it did not do well on carpet. My personal reason for wanting this was for the downstairs. If it did not do well on the carpet, it would not be a problem. If it did, that was just a bonus. My other experiment for the day was the steps. The iRobot is equipped with a sensor that protects it from falling downstairs and drop offs. I carried it up and pressed the start button. I could see that it seemed to struggle on turns, however, the Roomba maneuvered around obstacles, and cleaned under beds and dressers. As it finally made it's way to the steps, it appeared that it was going to go over the edge, the machine quickly stopped, and backed up. I was very impressed. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I was, and still am completely amazed by this product.
A negative review I read had claimed that, the iRobot required daily maintenance. The writer continued that, the reusable vacuum bag had to be cleaned daily, and the brushes cleaned as well. They were 100% right, however this takes two minutes. I do not find it to be a problem to clean the brushes and bag daily. This more than makes up for the time I would normally spend vacuuming myself.
I would not recommend the Irobotvacuum to anyone who has thick carpet. We have a rug that is very thick, and the machine seems to struggle when maneuvering on there. Other than that, I know of no reason why you should not buy one. Because I'm so happy with this vacuum, my next purchase will be the Irobot Scooba. This robot mops the floor, and sucks the liquid back up, all in the same pass. I have mopped our hardwoods, and to do a good job it takes almost two hours. Any device that can save me time is worth while. I, like most people, am very busy. I have much more constructive things to accomplish, and prefer to spend time with my family, rather of working and cleaning. When I leave for work, I push one button and walk out the door. Everyday I come home to a clean floor. I can't think of a better investment
EBay Selling Coach: Get tips and help for your eBay store.
Click here to view more details
I recently purchased a IRobot Roomba vacuum on eBay. It was refurbished, and half the cost of a new one. I am not a fan of paying full price for anything. I was leery of buying something for $180 even though I sell on eBay myself. I knew if it did not work, I was responsible for the return shipping. I read eBay buyer protection plan (which I never did before) and some of my fear went away. As with most products on eBay, this was the best price I could find for the machine.
Three days later my package arrived. I opened it up, and it looked like new. After a brief charge, I pressed one button and away she went. Slowing down to barely bump walls and chairs. My wife laughed at me because I could not help myself, and I followed it everywhere. I was amazed with the strange patterns the Roomba would follow, and how it would detect a dirty spot, and circle around it. I was in love. For the first time, my floor was being cleanedwithout my involvement. We have a cat & dog. The dog is part husky, so the hair that comes out of this animal is amazing. We can vacuum with our upright, and still find the hairballs that look like tumbleweeds floating across the floor. The iRobot was cleaning under our couch,a place where the conventional vacuum could not go. The side brush that extends from the machine was cleaning corners that normally require the hose attachment. I continued to watch until the batteries life was ending. The iRobot has a sensor that guides it back to the docking station to charge. The Roomba slowly made it's way back for a break.
After a charge I wanted to try it out upstairs. Downstairs is all hardwoods, and upstairs is carpet. I read reviews before the purchase, and some said it did not do well on carpet. My personal reason for wanting this was for the downstairs. If it did not do well on the carpet, it would not be a problem. If it did, that was just a bonus. My other experiment for the day was the steps. The iRobot is equipped with a sensor that protects it from falling downstairs and drop offs. I carried it up and pressed the start button. I could see that it seemed to struggle on turns, however, the Roomba maneuvered around obstacles, and cleaned under beds and dressers. As it finally made it's way to the steps, it appeared that it was going to go over the edge, the machine quickly stopped, and backed up. I was very impressed. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I was, and still am completely amazed by this product.
A negative review I read had claimed that, the iRobot required daily maintenance. The writer continued that, the reusable vacuum bag had to be cleaned daily, and the brushes cleaned as well. They were 100% right, however this takes two minutes. I do not find it to be a problem to clean the brushes and bag daily. This more than makes up for the time I would normally spend vacuuming myself.
I would not recommend the Irobotvacuum to anyone who has thick carpet. We have a rug that is very thick, and the machine seems to struggle when maneuvering on there. Other than that, I know of no reason why you should not buy one. Because I'm so happy with this vacuum, my next purchase will be the Irobot Scooba. This robot mops the floor, and sucks the liquid back up, all in the same pass. I have mopped our hardwoods, and to do a good job it takes almost two hours. Any device that can save me time is worth while. I, like most people, am very busy. I have much more constructive things to accomplish, and prefer to spend time with my family, rather of working and cleaning. When I leave for work, I push one button and walk out the door. Everyday I come home to a clean floor. I can't think of a better investment
EBay Selling Coach: Get tips and help for your eBay store.
Click here to view more details
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