With fall upon us, I wanted to share some fun family ideas you can start planning now. I’d love to hear what you’re going to be doing!
Here are 4 quick ideas to help you plan your fall family FUN! Decorate inside & out. When I was a kid, I always looked forward to helping Mom decorate for holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… it was always fun pulling out the treasures and helping Mom put them out. Start a tradition in your home. Family FUN day. Choose a day each month that is designated Family FUN day and plan several hours out of the home bonding together. It could be going to the local pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, taste apple cider, and a hayride or visiting an outdoor park and having a picnic or going to an amusement park before it gets too cold. Or why not have a fun family game of touch football? Think about what your family enjoys, plan it & do it! Toast marshmallows. Who doesn’t like a toasted marshmallow? Head out back one night this month with nothing but the skewer and marshmallows and maybe candy too… no cell phones allowed & enjoyyyyy your family moments! Old-fashioned car ride (or walk). When I was a kid, sometimes my Dad would say let’s get in the car and enjoy the country and off we’d go on an adventure. It was a time to talk, bond, take in some beautiful local sights and would always include stopping for a bite to eat. Creating moments like these for our kids gives them a sense of belonging and connection. It’s just good old fashion fun. (And if a car ride doesn’t sound fun to you, maybe a family walk or hike would be!)
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Saving money is never easy. When you’re hoping to purchase your first home, saving is a necessity!
Try these cost-saving tips and soon you’ll have a nest egg to put toward your new place. 1. Make a budget and stick to it. Consumer.gov has tips for making a budget. Create your budget and then commit to sticking to it (knowing that hard work will pay off when you find that beautiful home to call your own)! Be sure to track what you spend. And make sure to avoid any unnecessary spending – this is not the time to be buying a new car or making any similar large purchase. 2. Talk to a lender about what you can afford. I know it’s exciting to go out looking at homes. But before doing so, you owe it to yourself to speak to a lender. Your lender will ask about your income and expenses and, within about 10 minutes, will be able to calculate what you can afford. Your lender can also help lay out all expenses associated with purchasing a home (i.e., not just the mortgage). These expenses include: homeowner’s insurance, taxes and utilities, among other things. Finally, you need a lender to be pre-qualified. Prequalification is something virtually every seller requires before an offer will be considered. (I know of several terrific lenders. Call or text me for their names and contact info.) 3. Start to save as soon as possible. It’s never too soon to tighten your belt. Remember, you’re saving for the most expensive purchase of your life so the sacrifice is well worth the effort. Choose to cook instead of going out to eat. Watch movies on Netflix instead of going to the theater. Even saving $100+/week can add up quickly. 4. Create a separate savings account for your deposit. If your paycheck is direct deposited, you may want to look into having a portion of it automatically deposited into a separate savings account, earmarked for your deposit and related homebuying expenses. Having a separate account serves as an additional reminder not to touch it. It’s that time again… time to prep your home for the cooler weather that’s on its way. Get these completed so that you can take a much- needed break by taking a nap on the couch or curling up with a good book.
Change décor & bedding. It will soon be chilly and that means the lighter sheets currently on your bed, need to be changed out with layers of warm comfort like maybe wool or fake fur. Also, with the change in season, comes Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas so now is the time to swap out summer pillows and décor for the cozy cooler weather décor and accessories, such as a cozy throw and thicker window curtain panels, etc. Check smoke detectors & carbon monoxide detectors. & replace batteries. Also, now is the best time to check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher too. Lastly, did you know that if your smoke detectors are yellow, it means they need to be replaced? It’s true, so do this life-saving maintenance this month for sure! Schedule furnace & chimney maintenance. As the seasons change, it’s important to have an HVAC pro come out and maintain your furnace. And since colder weather brings about fireplaces being used, it’s also the perfect time to have your chimney inspected and cleaned. Weatherstripping check. Now is the time to check all existing weatherstripping and replace if needed. And add any new to windows and doors that let too much air escape. Your budget will thank you. Your family will be warmer! Inspect your roof & gutters. Roof leaks are the worst, especially during cold & inclement weather seasons, so now is the time to have a pro come out, clean out your gutters and inspect your roof (from on top of the roof) and make any necessary repairs now. If you need any referrals to good contractors, send us a text or email or give us a call & we’ll share with you our go-to list of the best in town! We look forward to hearing from you! Happy September! |
AuthorThree Spunky Eclectic Sassy Darling Realtors® that live in the Hollywood of the South and help people all over the east metro Atlanta area with all kinds of real estate needs. Lynn Pynckels, Dewayna Pullum, and Stepfanie Gray Archives
January 2020
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