3 Ways to Save on Your Phone Bill

Still spending too much on monthly telephone bills?

Start saving today by slashing the cost of long distance and extra features with these super-inexpensive telephone providers:

Vonage: Charging only $25 per month for unlimited long distance – including Puerto Rico – Vonage is a leader in VOIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, phone service. The base rate includes all the extras you have come to know and love at no additional cost. In many areas you can even pick your own phone number. Visit www.vonage.com.

Skype: Make free video calls and regular telephone calls by downloading Skype. Free voicemail, group chats and a variety of other fun features make Skype a popular choice for VOIP. Visit www.skype.com.

Ooma: A relative newcomer, ooma is a bit different than other providers, since there are no recurring monthly service charges. Basically, you purchase the phone system for roughly $200, then receive unlimited calling and a full package of features for free.  Visit www.ooma.com.

Chance of a Lifetime: Tips for First-Time Buyers

While the burst real estate bubble might be bad news for the economy, it could be good news for first-time homebuyers. In fact, now might just be the best buying opportunity of a lifetime. Follow these steps to determine where to begin:

Establish a Realistic Budget. Owning a home involves more costs than meet the eye. In addition to mortgage, taxes and insurance, wise homebuyers set aside a little savings toward maintenance and unexpected emergencies. Remember, you will eventually need to repair or replace many items in the home.

Buy What You Need. While real estate is often considered an excellent investment, it’s important to only purchase as much home as you actually need. Bigger isn’t always better; sometimes it’s simply more expensive. Higher taxes, bigger insurance bills and more maintenance can eat away at even the best budgets. So buy what you need, unless it’s wise for you to…

Plan for Growth. First-time buyers can also be too modest when it comes to purchasing their first homes. If you intend to begin a family, you may quickly outgrow the home. Plan for growth to ensure you will be as happy in the home tomorrow as you are today.

Understand Appreciation. Although you don’t want to base the purchase of your home solely upon appreciation, it’s important to understand how the future value of your home is likely to impact your ability to move up later in life. When the time comes to sell, rent or exchange the current property, a home with long-term appreciation provides greater buying options in the future. Search for neighborhoods expected to rise in value over time.

Work with a Reputable Agent. A great real estate agent or broker is often worth his or her weight in gold, which is why you will typically find that investors would never think of going it alone. Unfortunately, many first-time buyers are under the mistaken impression they can save money by helping the seller eliminate or reduce the commission. Research shows this is rarely the case. Most agents help negotiate a lower sales price and ensure that funding, necessary paperwork and other important legal considerations are all taken care of.

Did You Know?

Can you fill in the missing words in these well-known phrases and sayings? (Answers below)

Mankind ______ an evil man but heaven does not.

The palest ink is better than the best ______.

______ rides a fast horse.

He who begins too much ______ little.

Keep your ______ to the grindstone.

When ill luck falls asleep, let none ______ her.

The girl who can’t ______ says the band can’t play.

(Answers: fears, memory, Trouble, accomplishes, nose, wake, dance)

June Worth Quoting

Here’s a sampling of what some famous people said about the sun:

"I was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sunlight."
Rita Rudner

"There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun."
Pablo Picasso

"There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know."
Ambrose Bierce

"If your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun."
Benjamin Franklin

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining."
John F. Kennedy

Easy Touch-Ups to Give Your Home Curb Appeal

Spruce up your yard in time for summer entertainment with these quick and affordable fixes for the most common curbside complaints.

Pressure Wash and Spray. Start at the roof, then work your way down, to remove stains and dirt from walkways, driveways and even fences. Whiten and brighten the concrete, crevices and other corners of your home and yard to lighten the entire area.

Clear the Clutter. Trim and remove low branches and excess clutter to create the look and feel of clear, open space. Consider purchasing plastic partitions or other low-maintenance storage units to hide away trash cans and other unsightly items that add to the perception of clutter and detract from the beauty of your home.

Touch Up the Paint. Shutters, doors and awnings are all prone to excessive wear and tear over the winter months; make a point of touching up the paint. It’s an easy and affordable way to revitalize the look of your home.

Add a Touch of Color. Bring in fresh mulch; then follow up with strategically placed flowers, potted plants and other enhancements throughout the yard. This will add interest while helping hide those tough trouble spots.

Create a Focal Point. The most successful landscapes incorporate a central element that serves as the focal point for the entire area. Use the same strategy in your own yard. Begin with something affordable and small like a garden bench or pond to add elegance and appeal.

Enjoy a Sneeze-Free Summer with These Allergy Busters

Summer allergies are nothing to sneeze at, especially for those with potentially severe insect or food allergies. Learn how to relieve summer allergies and rejoin the summer fun with these helpful hints.

Prevention

Avoid contact with known allergy triggers such as plants, pet dander and other common culprits by reducing exposure and eliminating possible contact. Cut back trees and keep areas where insects can hide free of debris.

Keeping It Clean

Keep pets and the household clean with frequent dusting, mopping and washing and by using a HEPA air filter. Cleaning upholstery and air ducts is also a great way to reduce watery eyes, asthma symptoms and other air quality issues associated with pollen, pet dander and spores.

Medication

Use an age-appropriate allergy medication that won’t leave you sleepy, and keep a variety of gels, creams and oral and topical medications on hand. For more serious allergies, make sure to wear a medical alert bracelet and keep, if it has been prescribed, keep your EpiPen handy at all times.

Wear Protective Clothing

Invest in a lightweight hat, gloves, eye-glasses and other protective gear that will reduce direct exposure to potential irritants such as grass, pollen or plants. Remove clothing and wash carefully to minimize exposure.

4 Back-to-the-Future Tips to Keep the Family Entertained

Entertaining children over the summer doesn’t need to be expensive or exhausting if you follow these kid-approved tips.

Make a schedule; then add a few of these fun and budget-friendly activities to the list each week. They’re sure to keep kids entertained while allowing adults a little time-out of their very own. Best of all, kids and adults can have fun together to make this the best summer ever.

Renew those library cards. If you haven’t visited the library in a while, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Rent videos and books and encourage children to participate in story time or other fun activities. Not only is a library visit fun and educational, but it provides plenty for kids to do back at home.

Rediscover yard games. Break out the lemonade; then plan a day of fun by rediscovering old-fashioned yard games: horseshoes, croquet, volleyball and other great games are sure to be favorites.

Picnic in the park. Take the family out for a little quality time at the local park. Let the kids help pack the sandwiches; then just sit back and relax while everyone enjoys the fresh air and sunshine.

Roast and toast hot dogs and marshmallows. Summer is a special time, even when the sun goes down. Let your kids share in the simple delight of roasting marshmallows and hot dogs on an open fire; then chasing lightning bugs or watching the moon for a summer full of memories that will last a lifetime.

Tax credit ineligible for FHA down payment

HUD Officials pulled the Mortgagee Letter authorizing the use an up to $8,000 First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit as downpayment for FHA Loans.

Information is currently limited, but sources indicate that the IRS officials shot down HUD's plan stating that using bridge loans as the FHA downpayment, pending actual reciept of the tax credit, could create income tax issues.

The First Time Home Buyer's tax credit is still available, but must be claimed after the purchase of a home. Click here for more information on the tax credit

HUD Withdraws Tax Credit Down Payment Announcement For FHA Loans

Use of the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit is put on hold.

FHA Allows Tax Credit Down Payment

U.S. housing officials will allow some buyers to purchase homes with no money down using the $8000 First Time Homebuyer tax credit money as the down payment. FHA requires a minimum of 3.5% down payments. Using the $8000 tax credit as a down payment could mean a borrower could purchase nearly a $230,000 home with little or no money down. Provided the borrower is qualified in other regards. (Closing costs and prepaids must still be paid to close the home purchase.)

Below is the letter from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development detailing "Using First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credits for the Downpayment"

UPDATE! UPDATE! HUD has removed the letter from their website.

July Worth Quoting

Here’s a sampling of what some famous people said about comedy:
"Comedy is tragedy plus time." - Carol Burnett

"Life doesn’t make any sense, and we all pretend it does. Comedy's job is to point out that it doesn’t make sense, and that it doesn't make much difference anyway." - Eric Idle

"Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long shot." - Charlie Chaplin

"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious." - Peter Ustinov

"Good taste is the enemy of comedy." - Mel Brooks

"Comedy is acting out optimism." - Robin Williams