May – What a Busy Year

Your Home – Getting Ready for Summer

Can you believe that summer is just around the corner? Soon we’ll be spending more time outdoors, enjoying the longer days, and planning those hard earned vacations. But before getting carried away, don’t forget to spend some time performing some routine maintenance to get your home into shape. Below are some handy tips for preparing your home so that your summer is worry free:

• Dust, Dust, Dust. This is especially important as we’re headed into allergy season right now. During the winter, your home accumulates more dust from the heater, fireplace, and simply keeping the house closed up. Take some time to dust thoroughly, especially if you suffer from allergies. Don’t forget those window coverings, tall furniture, and door frames. When dusting, start from the highest points and work your way down.

• Air Conditioning. Have your air conditioning units inspected early to avoid spending more on repairs during peak season. Be sure to inspect the filters on your conditioning unit and either replace them or clean them thoroughly before use.

• Window Screens. Window screens can become damaged and pick up a lot of dirt during the winter. You can clean your screens by first removing them and spraying them with a cleaning solution and rinsing them with your garden hose. If you do clean your screens, make sure you lay them flat to prevent bending or tearing.

• Ceiling Fans. If you have ceiling fans in your home, be sure to clean them thoroughly before turning them on for the first time or you might just see dust being strewn across your home. Be sure to wipe the sides and tops of each blade as well as the light fixtures.

• Rain Gutters. Always make sure you clean your rain gutters twice a year. Neglected gutters can cause costly damage to your home.

Finances – Reduce Your Grocery Bill

If you’ve been feeling like your money isn’t going as far as it used to at the grocery store, that’s because grocery prices have been rising dramatically over the past 12 months. Coupled with the high cost of gas, many people find that they don’t have any money left over at the end of the month for savings, entertainment, or even to make ends meet. Below are some helpful tips for getting the most out of your grocery budget.

• Visit a Discount Store. Even if you do not want to buy food there, dollar stores and discounters are a great place to go for cleaning supplies, paper towels, and even candles. Making a special trip for these items can cut that part of your grocery budget by 50% and even more.

• Clip Coupons. Most grocery stores have some sort of rewards program where you present a card to get a discount. But they still take coupons and coupons typically present the better value. Try basing your shopping list around the coupons you clip and you can easily save an extra 15% compared to what you would normally pay.

• Buy Store Brands. Odds are that you won’t be able to tell the difference, especially for basics like tomato sauce or cream of mushroom soup and you’ll save money.

• Make a List. Make a list and stick to it. By doing a bit of planning ahead of time you can plan a menu for the week and plan your shopping around that menu. Try to cook meals that use similar ingredients so you can buy in bulk.

• Shop Online. Many grocery stores allow you to shop online and they will deliver the goods to your home. This is a great idea if you are busy and you won’t have to worry about impulse buying.

Personal Interest – Being a Friend

It seems like you cannot watch the news these days without hearing some pretty negative news about the current state of our economy. Despite the hype and spin the evening news adds, the truth is that this is a tough time for many people in our community. Right now, someone you know is probably being hurt by the credit crisis and having a hard time making ends meet. With our busy lives, it’s easy to become caught up in the day-to-day bustle and forget to focus on our friends, family, and neighbors. If someone you know is having a hard time financially, remember that they are probably under a tremendous amount of stress and don’t be afraid to reach out. Invite them over for dinner, rent a movie, or even play some board games. Simple friendly gestures can mean a lot to people and it won’t take much of your time or money. If you know of someone who could use my services at this time or has any questions about their own home, please do not hesitate to have them contact me.