Dent and rust removal

So you’re on the brink of retirement and you’re looking to sell your car. Perhaps you’re looking to downsize and reduce the cost of car insurance and gas, or maybe you’re looking for a much sportier gas guzzler?

Whatever your motive, you’re obviously going to want to squeeze as much out of the old girl as possible – but how? Below are some quick, easy and relatively inexpensive ways to successfully raise the value of your used motor and help you raise that few hundred extra dollars for your retirement pot.

Image courtesy of AJ Schuster

It doesn’t matter how small a dent or rusty patch is, it’s guaranteed to devalue your car – and obviously, the bigger the dent in the bodywork, the bigger the dent in your wallet. With dent and rust removal services being cleverer now than ever before, you could well see those money-sapping dints and brown patches removed for a fraction of what it would cost you if you didn’t.

Valet

Image courtesy of I see modern Britain

A good valet service will work wonders. A used car salesman will be inclined to offer you much less for a grubby motor – and not always because he consciously thinks he can get away with it. It’s a psychological thing – the messier your car looks, the less value it will carry. Simple. And if it smells stale, smoky or like dog, then they’re going to be even less impressed.

The interior should be free of dust, hair and bits, the seats should be thoroughly shampooed, the bodywork should be gleaming and the tires re-buffed. And the beautification of your car shouldn’t just stop there, either.

Make sure your valet cleans under the hood too: glistening innards will add to the impression that the motor has been meticulously cared for and can only strengthen the car salesman’s offer or even add to it. Don’t give him any excuses to offer you less.

Research, research, research

Image courtesy of English 106

Whether or not you’re used to using the Internet, it’s easy to sell your car online. First, find out how much your exact make and model is worth, and next, see if anyone else has managed to sell the same car as you and have a look at what they got for it. Take a look around the net for handy hints on selling your car and do your research on who in your area – or on the Internet – is best for giving fair deals for used cars.
… Good luck and God’s speed!

This was sent to me and I just had to share it with fellow Boomers!!!

In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.” The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation didn’t care enough to save our environment.”

He was right — our generation didn’t have the green thing in its day.   

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator or elevator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But he was right. We didn’t have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby’s diapers because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts of electricity — wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that young man is right; we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV or radio, in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief — remember them?, not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
But he was right. We didn’t have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But he’s right; we didn’t have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain or the garden hose when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?

Please share this with another selfish older person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smarta#? young person.

With the first of the Baby Boomers set to retire very soon; health care facilities, assisted living homes, and cruise ships will be overrun by our generation. The retirement scene looks to be getting very crowded and careers in healthcare are becoming more numerous every day. Every medical professional sub-specialty from nurses, to X Ray technicians, to medical billing and coding specialists is looking for new talent in order to accommodate the needs of the Baby Boomers.

Most Baby Boomers are waiting until the very last minute to enter the retirement lifestyle and choosing to work in order to buff up their retirement accounts. If you’ve been working in the same industry for a couple of decades now, chances are you might be considering a new career path in order to give a new spin to the third act of your life. Online University rankings and new technical training styles can help you transfer your already expansive knowledge base over to a brand new industry.

Choosing the Correct Field

There are a couple of different things to consider when picking a new career. You will not have the same energy as you did when you were young, so picking something with a laid-back atmosphere and easy work schedule will be vital. You might want to consider finding a job that allows you to telecommute or work from home whenever possible.

Have you been stuck in an office job, crunching numbers and completing mundane tasks for the last several decades? The growing demand for skilled workers in the field of web design and graphic design is growing. Many of this work can be completed from home and because it is deadline driven, you can choose to work at times that fit your schedule.

Harming Other Generations of Workers

By staying in the top paid percent of the workforce, we are not allowing the advancement of other generations of workers. In a San Francisco Chronicle article, one woman from Generation X explains how she has been working in a low level pharmaceutical positions for 12 years because older workers are not retiring.

If we attend an online college and pursue a new career field, there is a greater chance that younger generations will be able to rise to the top and meet their earning potentials. On the other hand, dropping out of certain fields all at once may increase the need for senior management very rapidly and young workers may not be prepared for the new demands placed upon them. Choosing a different field may put you in a less authoritative position, but you can still help management out with your experience and wisdom.

Harming Ourselves by Staying in the Workforce

Most of us think we are doing a favor to the world by not retiring and staying active in the work force. If we think about this for a little longer, we are not doing any favors by staying active in the job market. Several generations are being harmed by an aging workforce, but we might be doing harm to ourselves if we don’t watch out.

According to a report on MSNBC, older workers will need to be accommodated more because of more healthcare requirements. This might also affect the quality of work done because people tend to get sick more often as they age. With the stressful demands that come with having a job, there is also an increased chance you could suddenly get hit with a stroke or heart attack. Finding a new career in a less stressful field might reduce the negative aspects of deteriorating health.

Whether you choose to retire or continue your education; the effects of aging are going to suddenly hit you. The best advice is to be well prepared and make a decision that will benefit your lifestyle the most.

photo credit: andysternberg

People are fascinated by the baby boomer generation, and statisticians seem to be the most fascinated with a never ending stream of facts about boomers. The baby boomer generation is considered to be anyone born between 1946 to 1964, although there is some speculation about the real end of the boom. The baby boom happened as American soldiers returned from World War II after years of being away from their families.

Some fun statistics gathered from the internet about the baby boomer generation:

• The boom started in 1946 when there were 3.4 million births in the US, this was up from 2.8 million births in 1945.
• The peak year for births was 1957 with 4.3 million births.
• The first baby boomer turned 60 on January 1, 2006, meaning that at the beginning of this year, the first boomer turned 65.
• Approximately every 7 seconds a baby boomer turns 50.
• Four million baby boomers will turn 50 in 2011.
• There are about an equal number of male and female baby boomers.
• Baby boomers make up our US economy right now, having the most buying power and being the most in the workforce.
• There are approximately 76 million baby boomers alive right now.
• 12.5% of baby boomers never graduated from high school.
• 29% of baby boomers graduated from college, many being the first in their families to do so.
• The states with the most active baby boomer communities are New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and California.
• The states with the highest number of boomers in relation to the overall population are Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Montana.
• The heaviest concentration of boomers in in the North East and New England.
• Most baby boomers do not have a pension as pensions started being phased out as boomers hit the work force.
• Baby boomers have held 11 jobs over their lifetime on average.
• 16.5 million baby boomers use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.
• The fastest growing demographic of Facebook users is the boomer generation.
• Facebook usage for boomers doubled in one year from 2009 to 2010.
• Baby boomers are now being known as the sandwich generation, taking care of their grown children who are still living or have moved back home and taking care of elderly parents who are having to move in with them.
• Baby boomers are increasingly having to parent for a second time, parenting their grandchildren due to various circumstances.
• Baby boomers are split on whether to stay where they are or move after retirement.
• Boomers are also split regarding living in retirement communities or regular communities.
• The first baby boomer will turn 100 years old on January 1, 2046.

photo credit: s_falkow

Apparently, online payday loans are the new credit card.

This might seem like a bad sign, but perhaps it’s not. Many people look at payday online loans as a non-choice – like the option of last resort. But when viewed as a substitute for credit cards they begin to look like a smart move.

Here’s why:

• A payday loan is limited in size. You can borrow as little as $100 on up to $1500 (in some states), and the loan is structured for payback in one to four weeks.
• Online loans are very easy to get. You basically need a job and a bank account. You also do not need to physically go anywhere or fax any documents.
• Online payday loan interest is accumulated over days or weeks, not years. Media reports on on high interest rates assumes that the borrower will hold the loan for a year or more. That would be dumb; a two to four week loan is what this is about.
• If your credit is bad, it doesn’t stop the loan. Payday loan lenders really are interested in the fact that you work and earn a regular paycheck. That’s the source of the payback, your next paycheck.

Perhaps the biggest advantage over a credit card is pretty simple. You cannot borrow a big pile of money. A payday loan is just the cash you would need in an emergency (an emergency that will cost less than $1500). And you cannot carry online loans for a very long time. The terms of the loan steer the borrower to an earlier, not later, payoff.

You of course would pay interest and origination fees to get a payday loan. The costs of that have to be weighed against the costs of not taking the loan. If you were to incur late fees on other bills, compare those fees to the payday loan. If you don’t work for a week because you cannot afford to fix the car you need to get there, that’s a cost too. Be very objective in your analysis.

We all want to save money on our utility bills. It is such a simple thing to achieve if you just know where to start and what to do. Many small changes can lead to big money savings. Here is a room by room guide to saving money on utility costs.

Family Room

Start by changing light bulbs to energy efficient light bulbs at the correct wattage for your lamps. There is no need to have a 120 watt light bulb in a 60 watt lamp. An even better way to save is to change the bulbs to florescent light bulbs, even changing one bulb can save about $60 over the life of that bulb. Also, turn the TV off when you leave the room and no one is watching. This is a big energy saver.

Kitchen

When purchasing new appliances be sure they are energy efficient. If your appliances are very old, it might be time for an upgrade. Save the stove for big meals, use the microwave or toaster oven when cooking small meals and snacks or for reheating. Unplug appliances when not in use. Things like the coffee maker, toaster, blender and others all use energy when they are plugged in. Only run the dishwasher when you have a full load, just rinse items that might have to sit a bit.

Bathroom

Consider installing a low flow shower head to save water, and only take showers when necessary – not for long hot relaxation. Hang towels to dry and reuse once or twice. Be sure the toilet doesn’t leak or run continuously, and if it does, fix it immediately to save water. If possible, install a toilet with water saving features. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.

Laundry Room

Wash clothes in cold water with special cold water detergents. Only run the washer when there is a full load of laundry. Consider hanging clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. Or partially dry clothes and hang to finish or vice versa.

Attic/Basement

Insulation is key. Insulating the walls and ceiling help save energy by keeping in heat and keeping drafts out. Insulating the water heater saves energy as does insulating pipes as it takes less time for the hot water to heat up. Turn off lights and unplug any power tools or appliances that aren’t being used.

Office

Unplug unnecessary items like cell phone chargers. Turn off the computer when not in use or put it in an energy saving mode. Only subscribe to telephone features that are necessary, avoid paying for fancy extras. Use a phone book or internet to look up numbers rather then paying for directory assistance. Consider low wattage desk lighting rather then overhead lights.

Whole House

Keep the heat turned down and consider zoned heating. Wear extra layers to keep warm rather then turning heat up. Use room by room air conditioners rather then central air. Use weather guards on windows and draft guards on doors. Turn off lights when leaving rooms.

photo credit: jcbonbon

If you have plans to renovate your home but don’t have unlimited resources to do so, it is possible achieve your goals while maintaining a practical budget. Whether you want to update your home in order to put it on the market or desire to live out your golden years in the dream home you’ve always wanted you can do so without breaking the bank.

Here are some tried and true tips to help make your renovation project more affordable:

GET OUTSIDE HELP

Hire a designer or realtor to help you visualize the renovations you desire. A fresh set of eyes can help you figure out what changes are really important to you and will increase the value of your home. If you can’t afford an interior decorator, be your own designer. Get ideas from home magazines and design books to get you started on the right track.

BUY YOUR OWN SUPPLIES

Instead of purchasing painting supplies from your professional contractor, buy your own at the hardware store. Paint averages about $15 per gallon, and buying certain supplies yourself can save you alot in the long run.

DISCOUNT STORES

Not only can you save on buying your own paint, but save yourself some dough by purchasing little things on your own as well. Things like faucets, light switches and doorknobs don’t need to be purchased from a designer store. You can really save a buck by heading to the discount warehouse stores such as Lowe’s to purchase the more insignificant pieces for your project.

WHOLESALERS

While on the subject of discount stores, you can find great products at low prices at wholesale warehouses. For instance, you can save 20-30% if you purchase your carpet at a warehouse rather than a chain carpet and flooring company. And you can still find quality products at warehouses, if you know where to look. Ask around to find a reputable wholesaler.

DEVISE A PLAN

The most important thing you can do to cut costs on home remodeling is developing a plan. Think ahead–if you’re planning on staying in your home for the long haul you’ll want to spend more to make it your dream home. Draw up a budget with a budget calculator. A good place to start setting up a budget is homeimprovementweb.com.

BONDED CONTRACTORS

Lastly, make sure the workers you hire are insured and bonded. The quality of the work can depend on the contractor and how his company is bonded. Make sure all construction workers you hire have a contractor license bond. This guarantees workers will follow state guidelines and regulations regarding the building and construction of their work. It also protects the consumer (you) from faulty work, fraud and unfinished projects.

Just like auto and homeowners insurance, you’ll need to insure your remodeling project as well because investing all that time and money into your project is a very important venture, and you’ll want it to be protected.

Give the Gift of Financial Dreams

If you have grandchildren, or children of your own, and would like to give them a gift that enhances their future, go no farther than Clariity.com. Every year birthdays, holidays, or other special occasions roll around and we go to the store, and struggle with the decision of what to buy our loved ones. Why buy them a toy or clothes that they will most likely get a couple years of usage out of, when you can buy them a gift that would impact their future. Clariity.com is a site that promotes family finance in a fun and energetic manner that will allow you to spend your gift money with more conviction, and will help your loved ones achieve their life goals in the future. They are also looking to become the first true online financial planning company.  If your loved one has trouble putting money aside for their future plans, you could give them the Clariity or jump start they have always needed to enhance their future.

The Family Plan

We have all bought a gift card for a loved one at one point in time, or even a pre-paid credit card. The money goes towards something that the individual wants, or in some cases is wasted because the card is lost, or the user does not utilize the card completely and a small amount is never spent. Clariity is offering you a whole new type of gift card, one that not only never goes away, but is never wasted.

Not only does this gift card not have any wastefulness associated with it, but it will actually gain value over time. That’s because this gift card can be a jump start into a savings plan for anything the individual would need. Whether your loved one is trying to save for college, wedding, family vacation, holiday shopping, home, a new car, or any other type of special or significant expense, you can buy them a gift card to get started or contribute.

The gift card will actually gain value through time because Clariity allows the recipient of the gift card to deposit the gift amount into their pre-existing savings plan, or to create a new savings plan. This new savings plan is not just your ordinary checking account; rather it’s an investment account that will receive interest through time.

The Power of Savings

Giving a small gift card for a huge expense like college or buying a new car seems futile, but the account earns interest through time, so every Clariity gift card you give, will be worth more in the future to the recipient. If the whole family were to give the individual a Clariity gift card, the interest gained on the account would be even higher. Or, with a little bit of pre-planning, you can start putting gift cards into an account before the special event to maximize the amount you can give to fit your budget. The possibilities are endless for why someone would need a savings account, and with Clariity on your side, you will not only make your loved one’s day, you will be investing in their future.

The holidays have long been associated with increased spending – and increase debt. It has become an American tradition at this point to spend outrageous amounts of money to make sure everyone gets a nice Christmas gift (or gifts). Credit card debt runs rampant at this time of the year more than any other, leaving the personal finances of many families in shambles. Some many wonder if there is a better way to make responsible use of revolving personal finance options – such as a revolving line of credit.

photo credit: JMaz Photo

Making A Different Choice

Everyone can identify with that Christmas shopping rush, where you are flying from one store to another to get the best deals and find exactly what your friends and loved ones might like. In this environment it become much harder to stop and think about what type of debt you are building in order to buy these things.

The credit cards offered by many department stores and boutiques do offer some discount benefits up front but they are not necessarily the right option for carrying that debt since they work within specific interest rates you need to qualify to receive. In fact, they are typically high interest cards. This may be okay unless you can’t pay the complete balances before the end of billing cycle. If you don’t those gifts may get more expense due to the hiked interest.

The revolving line of credit is normally a simple way to do your Christmas shopping if you lack the available cash. Now, if you want to get one, you need to have a good credit rating. Additionally, this revolving credit provides flexible capital at low, reasonable interest rates. If you don’t qualify, it’s possible to move your store card balances onto a low interest credit card. There are other options too such as getting a loan to consolidate holiday debt.

Thinking Ahead

If you want to use revolving credit to shop for the holiday you need to some planning beforehand so you can avoid having the real costs exceeding the actual worth of the goods you bought. Obviously, saving strategies and using Christmas club accounts can help you keep things under control. The holidays do not have to be a stressful experience where money worries eat away at the fun and enjoyment. You can spend money provided you’ve consider how you’ll for it and what sort of debt it will lead to in the end. It’s nice to be generous but don’t let your willingness to give (and spend) lead you to added burdens and plenty of regrets when New Year’s rolls around.

You can do it if you take the time to look at the situation before getting caught up in the consumer fervor. Review this information and do more research so you can find a plan that will work best for your particular financial circumstances. This will go a long way towards quieting your worries as the holidays approach and giving alternative gift ideas.

I recently had the pleasure of trying one of the first 400 bottles of a new product.  A friend of mine who previously owned and operated a small restaurant  decided to market and sell his own private label BBQ sauce.  It is called “Rugged Cross BBQ – Apple Chipotle Sauce and Glaze”.

Unique Product, Nice 17 oz. bottle presentation.

I decided to try it out!  I have now tried it on a Sirloin Tri-Tip roast, Chicken breasts Chicken Legs, Stir Fry, and a Pork Tenderloin Roast.I must say I am very impressed.  It adds a unique sweet, smokey,  bold chipotle flavor that does a great job of complimenting the flavor of the meat without covering up the flavor of the meat itself.  

I suggest using it as a glaze toward the end of the cooking cycle on the grill or even a dipping sauce if you need a little extra flavor after you remove the meat from the grill.  My favorite was on the chicken, however it was excellent on everything I tried it on.  It was also great in any stir fry as a sauce.  

Great new taste not available in stores … Yet!  The claim is that it tastes great with everything from ribs on brisket, poppers, egg rolls, stir fry, pulled pork, chicken, smoked salmon … you get the idea!  From my experience I believe it!  It even works as a dipping sauce.  I have to admit I think this stuff is better than the most popular brands that I have tried.

Nutrition facts:

• serving size: 1 Tbsp
• Servings per bottle : 30
• Calories per serving : 40

% Daily Value:

• Total fat : 0%
• Sodium: 4%
• Total Cabohydrate 10g :  3%
• Sugar 10 g.
• Protein 0 g.

Summary

Excellent on everything I tried it on!  Can’t decide … “Devilishly good” or a “piece of heaven”?  Either way it tastes great!  My congrats and good luck to Danny.  I think he has something here.  I highly recommend it.  Unfortunately, I am now out and have to purchase the next bottle!  Give it a try.  Papa B.

To purchase “Rugged Cross BBQ” go to:

Website: http://www.ruggedcrossbbq.com/ Or just Click Here

Also Visit the Blog at http://www.ruggedcrossbbq.blogspot.com/