Rick Geary's Blog Party - Advice, Common Sense & Community

Advice, Community & Common Sense

Top 10 Best Christmas Gifts 2011

December 23rd, 2011 2:52 PM

Are you looking for last minute Christmas gifts? You’ll find plenty of gift ideas for virtually everyone on your list at Top 10 Best Christmas Gifts 2011 by Squidoo’s resident gift guru, Flowski.

The lens is a one stop shopping extravaganza of gift ideas with links to many of Flowski’s other lenses that specialize in terrific gift ideas for everyone including babies, kids, tweens, and adults. You’ll find gifts for moms and dads, presents for him or her, fun stuff for video game enthusiasts, gifts that encourage a green Christmas and lots more.

At Squidoo, we call a lens designed this way a lensography, (Think of it as a home page.) and if you’re looking to create, or maybe rework, a lensography for your own group of niche lenses, you’d do well to pay a visit to Top 10 Christmas Gifts 2011 to see an excellent example. In addition to all of the links to lenses with gift ideas, this lens also houses plenty of unique, useful and updated information and a top 10 list of gift ideas of it’s own.

Stop by today to take a look and while you’re there don’t miss the fun Christmas pop quiz and polls.

http://www.squidoo.com/christmas-gifts

ps… According to a recent SquidQuest looking for the most Christmasy Christmas lenses, this lens was a popular favorite. Way to go Flowski!

Posted by Rick Geary on December 23rd, 2011 2:52 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Pumpkin Carving from Squidoo.com

October 30th, 2011 1:20 PM

Pumpkin Carving

Ah, the weekend before Halloween. The perfect time to carve your pumpkin.

Back in the 70's pumpkin carving was pretty simple. Two triangles for eyes, a round nose, a toothy smile and fingers crossed that you didn’t cut your hand off with your moms butcher knife. Boy have things changed!

Now there are special (and safe) tools, patterns and video instructions for getting that perfect Jack-O-Lantern. Luckily Christene has compiled an extremely useful Pumpkin Carving lens to show you the ropes. Now you can carve a cat or a bat, add a stand and eat the seeds.

Better get busy! Halloween is tomorrow!

http://www.squidoo.com/Pumpkin_Carving

Originally Posted on Squidoo.com: 29 Oct 2011 05:36 AM PDT

Posted by Rick Geary on October 30th, 2011 1:20 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Cooking With Kids - It's Fun for the Whole Family!

July 11th, 2011 5:05 PM

Have you ever cooked dinner with the help of your children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, as the case may be? You've probably asked them to set the table or help with clearing and washing the dishes. What about the actual preparation of a sit-down meal? Have they ever participated as assistant chefs? While this may seem like a minor activity, cooking with your kids could have many more benefits than you may realize!

You'll receive help in the kitchen. Our frantic schedules have already led to a significant decrease in the number of family dinners we're able to enjoy. Here's a way that we can create a home-cooked meal and quality family time as well.

This activity instills positive values. Chores not only teach kids about social responsibility, they also promote the idea of making a contribution. The best part is that you're able to take part in the process, unlike when they're cleaning their room or taking out the trash.

You're teaching your kids a practical and marketable skill. You never know, you may have the next Wolfgang Puck on your hands! Besides, can you imagine how grateful they'll be when they're out on their own and trying to cook for themselves?

Cooking teaches kids to take pride in what they eat as well as the importance of nutrition and health. As a nation, we need to be sure that we're making proper choices when it comes to our dietary habits. According to the National Institute of Health, childhood obesity is at an epidemic level. One in every five children is overweight due to poor eating habits.

Preparing meals with your children will leave lasting memories. A mid-week dinner may not excite them as much as the new Xbox, but wait until they're all grown up. That's when you'll see the lasting effect of your efforts.

Here are some suggestions to help you get started cooking as a family:

1. Make sure that the tasks assigned are age-appropriate.

2. Supervise your children at all times, especially when handling knives or anything hot.

3. Concentrate on giving them duties that are fun (i.e. rolling meatballs, mixing meatloaf,
making hamburger patties, etc.).

4. Give your kids a sense of autonomy by providing them with their own cutting boards and select equipment.
Many kitchen stores sell plastic (kid-safe) knives, perfect for cutting lettuce and softer vegetables.

5. Let your kids set the menu. If you have multiple children, let them take turns.

6. Teach as you go. Explain everything you do and why you are doing it.

If you would like to obtain some kid-friendly recipes, visit the Food Network's website at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/cooking-for-kids/package/index.html#. While you're cooking, remember to have fun, too! They'll be grown up before you know it.

Do you have any fun activity ideas for the family? Give me a call, I'd love to hear about them.

Posted by Rick Geary on July 11th, 2011 5:05 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Tax Day 2011 Freebies

April 18th, 2011 11:05 AM

Several companies are offering relief to taxpayers by giving away goodies or offering special deals.

By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

Tax day probably isn't on the top of anyone's list of favorite days. But here's a reason you can actually look forward to April 18 (the deadline for filing your tax return this year): FREEBIES.

Several companies will be offering relief to taxpayers in the form of free treats, food, workouts and massages, and drink and dining specials. Here's a rundown of who is offering what:

Bally Total Fitness is letting anyone work out for free April 18. Members can sign up from April 15 through April 21 for a free 30-minute personal training session. And during that same period, non-members can take advantage of a tax day membership special with a two-year Premier National Access membership for $418, a savings of $61 from the standard price.

California Tortilla is giving customers free chips and cheese (queso) with a purchase on April 18 because "you have to pay the big cheese."

Cinnabon will offer two free Classic Cinnabon Bites on April 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of its Tax Day Bites promotion.

HydroMassage locations nationwide will provide free massages between April 14 and April 18 to help eliminate the stress of tax filing. Get a coupon for a free message at www.hydromassage.com/taxday.htm and call ahead to schedule a session.

IHOP has a kids-eat-free promo the entire month of April. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., children 12 and younger get one free meal with each paying adult.

MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery will offer a free mini ice cream sundae from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 18. The "Sundae Stimulus" will feature the new Crumb Cake Fundae, which includes cinnamon Hostess® Streusel Cake, cinnamon "Cinamoo" ice cream, caramel sauce, mixed nuts and whipped cream.

McCormick & Schmick's will host an all-day Tax Relief Procrastinators Celebration on Monday April 18, featuring a variety of $10.40 entrée specials (available in the bar only) and tax relief drink specials. For extra tax relief, all guests who make a purchase in the bar all day on April 18 will receive a $10.40 dining certificate (while they last) to use the next time they visit the restaurant.

P.F. Chang's is offering a 15% discount on dine-in and carry-out orders April 18 (alcohol and happy hour items excluded).

Unfortunately, several companies that offered tax-day freebies in the past won't be doing so this year. For example, you won't get a free cup of coffee at Starbucks this year. Subway, Jamba Juice, Dunkin' Donuts, Kimpton Hotels and T.G.I. Friday's won't offer any special deals on tax day, either. [Rick: Who says the recession is over?]

Posted by Rick Geary on April 18th, 2011 11:05 AMPost a Comment (0)

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"Uncertainty and mystery are the energies of life"

April 1st, 2011 11:48 AM

While that’s a great sentiment from R.I. Fitzhenry, most of us prefer clarity when it comes to our finances. This month’s issue is all about providing some clarity about important issues related to credit and home loan rates:

“Safe Haven” Impacts Home Loan Rates

Recent news reports from Japan and the Middle East have been impacting our markets as Traders attempt to manage risk. But do you know how this impacts home loan rates?

Here’s What You Need to Know

The first thing to understand is the concept of "safe haven trading." At times of global unrest and uncertainty, like the nuclear crisis in Japan and ongoing fighting in Libya, Traders park money in "safe" investments like Bonds. And since Bonds such as Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) are tied to home loan rates, when Bond pricing improves, our home loan rates can improve.

But it's also important to understand how incredibly volatile this situation is. A "safe haven trade" is a short-term trade. Should events around the world become more stable, this safe haven trade can unwind very quickly - with Bond prices and home loan rates worsening as a result.

In addition, we cannot overlook the impact of inflation, which is the archenemy of Bonds and can negatively impact home loan rates. One news item that pressured Bonds recently was word that inflation in the United Kingdom (UK) jumped to the highest level in two years in February. This is important because inflation around the globe can seep into the US.

In fact, we're already seeing it as the Fed's favorite gauge of inflation - the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, was reported up in February. Additionally, Producer Prices are running at hot levels...with prices up 3.3% in just the last three months. If pricing pressures don't recede for producers of goods and services, companies will have one of two choices:

Either: Absorb the higher cost of goods - and, thereby, hurt earnings growth.

Or: Pass those increased costs onto consumers - thereby, creating consumer inflation.

Both of those scenarios would be bad for Stocks and Bonds. And since home loan rates are tied to Mortgage Backed Securities - which are a type of Bond - those scenarios would also be bad for home loan rates.

The Bottom Line

If inflation is allowed to grow, it can be very difficult to rein in and control...and this will hinder improvement in home loan rates. And, when the situations in Japan and the Middle East eventually stabilize or improve, we could see further unwinding of the "safe-haven" buying of US Bonds, which will also hinder improvement in home loan rates.

The Good News

Fortunately, home loan rates are still at very attractive levels for now. So if you've been thinking about purchasing or refinancing a home, this is the time to see how you can benefit before rates possibly move higher.

Call or email today - and please forward this newsletter on to a friend or family member who could benefit from this information.

Lower Payment vs. Lower Rate of Interest

With interest rates still near historically low levels, an argument can certainly be made for people considering a shorter mortgage term, such as a 15-year fixed rate mortgage. But there are some important factors to consider.

Of course, the greatest benefit of choosing a shorter term is knowing that the mortgage will have a zero balance in 15 years, saving the borrower thousands and thousands of dollars in interest payments over 30 years.

However, the lower rate and shorter term come at a monthly cost for borrowers. The difference between the monthly payment for a 30-year fixed and a 15-year fixed can add up to hundreds of dollars more per month for the 15-year fixed. And in these tough economic times, "cash is king." That is, "cash on hand" is king.

Therefore, many people may be better served by having a smaller mortgage payment under a 30-year fixed - and then saving or investing the extra money. Note, saving and investing rather than spending the extra money is the key point here.

In particular, people who find themselves without a job or who have a pressing financial need would benefit from being able to access these saved funds.

Best Path for all Prospective Borrowers

If you or someone you know is looking to refinance or buy a home, you should remember that a number of attractive mortgage options are still available. However, since an individual's or family's mortgage payment is often their largest monthly payment, it's important to get advice about your unique situation in order to make the best decision.

Call or email today to discuss which options you should consider based on your short- and long-term financial objectives. We can break down the projected costs of those options - not only for the complete term of the mortgage but also for the time you expect to have the mortgage in effect.

Q&A: Impact on Credit Scores?

QUESTION: Can a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) impact my credit score?

ANSWER: Credit expert Linda Ferrari (author of "THE BIG SCORE: Getting It and Keeping It, Buying Power for Life") explains that HELOCs are commonly categorized as revolving accounts. As a result, they are rated using the "Balance to Limit" ratio scenario, which can drop a credit score by as much as 75 points if the HELOC is maxed out to the limit of the available credit line.

If you or someone you know has a HELOC, Ferrari recommends sending a Certified Letter (along with a copy of the HELOC agreement) to the three credit bureaus asking them to change the type of account from "Revolving" to "Line of Credit" or "Other" which can help improve your credit score.

Posted by Rick Geary on April 1st, 2011 11:48 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Mortgage rates are up so the sky must be falling?

December 10th, 2010 12:07 PM

Mortgage rates are up so the sky must be falling?

Commentary: Boy have we been spoiled by low rates

By MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — One thing low mortgage rates are sure to cause: a panic when they start to turn higher. There’s nothing worse than missing a good deal, but when that deal entails saving every month over 30 years it’s a rip-your-hair-out affair when it passes you by.

We’re going to see a lot of that hand-wringing now as mortgage rates have jumped off historic lows, rising this week for the fourth straight time to reach — gasp! — 4.61% on the benchmark 30-year loan. Read more on mortgage rates jumping this week (clicking this link will take you to a different article).

(remainder of original article is cont'd online at MarketWatch.com.)

Posted by Rick Geary on December 10th, 2010 12:07 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Giving Experiences, Not Things, This Holiday Season

December 7th, 2010 11:55 PM

The holiday gift-giving season is upon us once again. For many of us, that means stress. What gift can we give to the people we care about that actually means something? Why do the holidays have to be so expensive after we buy gifts for everyone on our Christmas list? Then, on Christmas Day, we have to find polite things to say about the unwanted gifts we get, and we find ourselves with a bunch of additional stuff to take care of -- whether we like it or not.

All of these problems can be solved by one simple change in your perspective about gift-giving this year: give experiences instead of things.

What do I mean by this? Instead of giving a material gift that would require you to spend money on something you're unsure they'll like and them receiving something that they'll have to now take responsibility for, give them something that isn't material.

Six Ideas for "Experience" Gifts

Here are six quick ideas to get you started, but there are hundreds more just like these if you let your creativity go.

For a child, give a field trip. This could be a trip to a zoo, to a kid-friendly science center (like the wonderful one in Des Moines, Iowa), a wilderness hike, or to a baseball game. You'll handle all the logistics of the trip for them.

For a food lover, offer a home-cooked version of a meal they've longed for. Try making them something challenging like coq au vin or beef bourguignon. Get out your fine china and linens for this dinner, too -- make it something special. It could be a romantic gift for a food-loving couple.

For an art lover, plan a trip with them to the art museum of their choice later in the year. Buy the ticket, and handle the transportation yourself.

For a spouse, pledge to do the dishes for a year -- or give them a few weekends where they can do whatever they want (with or without you).

For a gamer, give them some invitations that allow them to choose a game to play with you. This is a great way to understand someone's hobby better (and perhaps find it interesting and exciting yourself).

For a parent, give a free night of babysitting. To them, this means an evening doing whatever they'd most enjoy doing without having to worry at all about their children.

Barter for Services

If you have some good ideas for experiences but don't have the cash, look into a barter with the person that could provide that service. For example, you might be willing to work a certain number of hours at a museum or a zoo for a certain number of tickets. Perhaps you could provide IT services at a spa in exchange for some gift certificates there. Many businesses are quite willing to offer credit in exchange for your skills and/or your time. Take advantage of that.

The Presentation

Many people balk at such experience gifts because they're unsure how to present it. With a home printer and some time, you can create an elegant presentation of any gift.

First, spend a little on a decent stationery set that you can use for many such gifts over the long haul. Look for something tasteful and simple that doesn't necessarily have to be holiday-oriented.

Second, use a straightforward layout in your word processing program of choice. There are thousands of templates for Word, most of which are compatible with most word processing programs out there.

Fill out the document with the details of the gift, print it on the best printer you have access to, and also print the envelope with the recipient's name on it in an elegant font.

Here's the kicker: include some visuals within the envelope. A brochure that shows what the event is all about is perfect, as is a photograph that provides a visual reminder of what you're going to do. It can even be something as interesting as snapshots from a past event you've enjoyed together.

Why This Works

Aside from the fact that it's less expensive than giving traditional material gifts, giving experiences works for three reasons.

First, it doesn't give a material item that the other person will have to deal with. It's not going to wind up needing maintenance or taking up storage space in their home or requiring a trip to customer service.

Second, it will stand out in a positive way in comparison to the items they receive. When you receive several items for Christmas, something distinct like this will definitely stand out from the crowd. Most of the "experience" gifts I've ever received still stand out for me.

Third, it often allows you to experience the gift together. If the gift is an event you can both participate in, it becomes a shared memory, something far beyond what a material gift can offer.

For us, unfortunately, "experience" gifts are a bit of a challenge since we don't live near many of the people we exchange gifts with. Of course, we have another solution for many of those folks for frugal, unique Christmas gifts, but that will have to wait until next week.

Courtesy: Trent, www.thesimpledollar.com

Posted by Rick Geary on December 7th, 2010 11:55 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Join others already taking advantage of this 'dip'

May 15th, 2010 9:09 PM

We are experiencing an amazing period in mortgages these last couple of weeks! The past three times I have made a "Rate Alert" blog post on a weekend, it has proven to be the best time to catch a brief 'dip' in interest rates. Tell your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers to ensure they also get the best with Emery!

In the world of mortgages, chaos and turmoil usually result in low interest rates and this month so far has proven that. We are recommending anyone that can refinance -- all of your family, friends and coworkers who are not already in process with us to refinance -- do so now to get locked into a lower interest rate before rates head higher from increased global debt loads.

I have outlined below some options for the low loan to value loans with higher credit scores and no 2nd mortgages to leave in place.

"No cost" loans mean that we pay ALL the closing costs and nothing is added to the principal balance. "0 points" means that there are no points but you will be responsible for 3rd party closing costs which are roughly $3,000 and can usually be added to the principal balance.

In between ball games and chores this weekend, take a minute to check-in with me by email here.

A sample range of available rates based on the scenarios I describe above: