The Garden Studio Birthday Party

Unless projecting an apocalyptic scenario like in 'The Birds' movie, in which the children gathered to celebrate a birthday outdoors were attacked by the said creatures, a garden studio is a perfect place where to throw a birthday party due to its privileged position in the middle of both nature and civilization. You can keep the refreshments and big cake in the kitchen fridge and take them only gradually outside, if it's hot, or you can just have a buffet inside and people could scatter on the lawn with their goodies and drinks in their hands. You can place some benches out there, especially if the weather is fine, to allow them to sit when tired.

Another benefit of celebrating your birthday in the garden studio is that you would be free to do as you please, not being limited in terms of time and space like you would be in a restaurant. Unlike there, your friends cannot stand you up whether because of the heavy traffic, confusion of restaurant names or for whatever other reasons. Maybe to us, the audience, Carry Bradshaw's 35th birthday in a restaurant just by herself, no friends showing up and she having to buy eventually her own cake and leave seemed hilarious, but to her it definitely wasn't. In your garden studio, the party hours could be as flexible as you want. Besides, you don't have to limit yourself to a booth and listen to other people's anniversary songs. And you can decorate the place as you wish, from balloons and flowers to whatever other ornaments you fancy, reflecting just your own taste.

In addition, your relatives or friends could bring their children and have them entertained in a special area or outdoors, to their liking. You can hire a clown or give them toys and leave them to their own devices.

When you are done with eating, you can use the room as a dance floor, and you can play whatever music you like. You can even move the speakers outside and dance on the lawn, if the ground is flat. Imagine how romantic that would be on a starry night, with the moonshine helped by beautifully designed lamps for that very purpose! Your spouse or intimate friend would feel definitely better than in a crammed room, with all the guests having their eyes on your movements, and understandably so, you being the central characters tonight. Smokers would be pleased, too, to indulge unrestricted in their demanding habit.

So for reasons of both practicality and romanticism, a birthday party in a garden studio would have more chances of success than anywhere else!

The 2 Key Purposes Of The LLC Operating Agreement

LLC business owners understand the importance of forming an LLC in order to receive limited liability protection and get the tax and other benefits of an LLC. However, many of these owners form their LLC and then forget about the LLC Operating Agreement.

Formation under state law is only the first step in completing the LLC organization. Do not forget to put an LLC Operating Agreement in place for your LLC.

Purpose #1: The LLC Operating Agreement Establishes Ownership of the LLC

Did you know that when a limited liability company (commonly known as an LLC) is formed under a state's law, the LLC does not have any members (owners) unless the members are specifically listed in the Articles of Organization?

Because most state LLC laws do not require that the members of the LLC be stated in the Articles of Organization, 98% of new LLCs do not have members right after formation.

The most common way to issue ownership interests in an LLC is through the LLC Operating Agreement. So, the most important purpose of an LLC Operating Agreement is to establish the owners of the LLC and determine what rights and obligation the Members of your LLC have to each other and to the LLC.

You and your LLC's other members should not rely on oral agreements as to who owns how much in the LLC and who has what percentage of votes. You do not want to find yourself in a situation where your LLC is making a lot of money and one of your members then claims he/she owns more of your business!

Purpose #2: The LLC Operating Agreement Establishes a Management Structure of the LLC

One of the benefits of an LLC is that the LLC laws allow Members to decide amongst themselves how they want to run and operate their LLC business.

The LLC Operating Agreement establishes the management structure for an LLC. The Members can decide for themselves whether the Members will have authority to make LLC decisions or whether the LLC will appoint managers to make business decisions.

Now, the LLC laws of each state do provide "default" provisions for management of an LLC in the event you do not have an LLC Operating Agreement. But, you do not want to rely on what your state law says about who controls your LLC. Many of these default laws end up being drastically unfair to the Members of the LLC and definitely not what was intended by the Members.

Conclusion

The LLC Operating Agreement evidences the two most important aspects of an LLC: the ownership structure and the management structure. These two aspects are so important to any LLC and without an LLC Operating Agreement setting forth the details of ownership and management, your LLC is at a high risk of disputes, disagreements, and a lot of other potential issues arising from having an incomplete LLC organizational structure.

Real Estate: Renovating Your Property

Weigh each renovation against its cost, its perceived value and its effect on rent and your tenants. You may want to opt for a complete renovation. This boils down to investing up to 10% of the suites' value, by updating the kitchen and bathrooms.

Again, the higher the inherent value of your house, the better your return. This is certainly not the time to overspend in these areas. If you own a rental property, factor in at least 2-5% of your gross income for repairs and maintenance.

Tidy Up

Clean up the front yard. Mow the grass. In the winter, shovel the driveway and the sidewalk. In the summer, add some flower pots. Wash the windows and window screens. Repaint the front steps.

Exterior Changes

Repair any rotted wood and deteriorating spackle and brick and paint them a contemporary color, preferably a neutral tone. This one improvement alone visually lets residents, passers-by and prospective tenants know that new things are happening at your property.

Replace your front door handle with a solid, new one. If you have an old doorbell, consider replacing it with one that sounds pleasant. None of this comes as any surprise, as these are not expensive fixes. Common sense, however, is not so common.

Roof

Take a look at the roof. Get it inspected, and obtain three repair quotes. If the roof requires repairs, do that first, as the repairs are dirty and may damage or scuff the walls.

Landscaping

Hire a landscaper and make quick changes. Replace old shrubbery and trees, clean up flowerbeds, repair fences, paint retaining walls, fix sidewalks, and replace everything with new, vibrant landscaping. If the roots of a mature tree are affecting the sewer and waterline, cut down the tree. Otherwise, simply trim tall trees, especially if they are blocking any windows.

Trim the lower branches to raise the canopy. Your property will look better, more light will enter your home and your tenants will have a better view.

Signage

Consider changing the name on any signs. Post a contest on your blog or look at a list of building names in your city. You can lease or purchase your sign. Don't choose the cheapest sign. Make it stand out.

Your sign should be visible from at least a half block away. In addition to the building's sign, add a sign at the entrance and a large upright sign at the entrance to every driveway.

Decks & Railings

Inspect all decks and railings. If they are deteriorating or loose, repair them right after you repair the roof. You want a deck surface that is secure and covered with an all-weather material.

Upgrade railings to a contemporary glass or spindle-type design. However, watch the cost as railings can be very expensive.

Parking Lot

If the parking lot of your property is covered with snow, use some photos from the summer. Have your contractor physically examine the lot and the photos. Fix any potholes.

Reseal and repaint stall lines and straighten up concrete tire stops. Tenants will complain about parking issues to you and other tenants. This one step alone can eliminate many gripes and complaints.

Gutters, Drains & Downspouts

Repair all gutters, downspouts and drains to prevent leaks, water backups and pooling water. Ensure proper lot slope and extend downspout drains across the landscaping via weeping tile or concrete troughs. Make sure water run offs the property.

Window Coverings

Repair all windows, screens and blinds. They can be repaired instead of replaced. Seal and cap all windows, replace any broken screens, and fix window slides and crank mechanisms so the windows open easily.

Your manager can install window coverings or supervise that task. Bed sheets and large bath towels are not acceptable window coverings.

Exterior Lighting

Make sure the exterior is well-lit for visibility and to deter crime. Update all your entry lights. Since prospective buyers may be driving past the building in the late evening or early morning, use solar-powered lights along the walkway, sidewalk or driveway to accent the home.

Below the lights, add your street address. Install a new sign. Use energy-efficient lighting or automatic photocells to turn lights on and off.

Interior Renovations

If you own an older B building, the mechanicals for a building can be a major expense. Besides the roof, you may need to repair or replace the HVAC systems, water heaters, fixtures, lighting, as well as all of the floor coverings and cabinetry.

This is but a brief summary of multi family buildings and their investments. Study other books/courses-meet with other investors involved in this area of investing. Join a local real estate investment club-go online and join a forum that discusses multi family investing.

There are hundreds of resources available-take advantage of them.

Justice - The Deadly Search For False Happiness

We are bombarded daily with news stories of people demanding "justice." Our courts are flooded with criminal and civil lawsuits--the participants seeking the justice they feel they deserve. This search for an ever-elusive "justice" is literally killing us.

I recently met with a woman whose twelve-year-old son was killed in a car accident. He was coming home late at night from a football game with her husband when a drunk driver crossed the road and hit their car head-on. Her son died immediately, and her husband was in the hospital for three weeks. Later they found out that the other driver had been charged five other times for drunk driving, and when he killed her son, he was driving without a license. This time he was charged with manslaughter, but because he was injured in the accident, the judge felt sorry for him and gave him a suspended sentence of 5-10 years.

She asked me, "How am I supposed to live with this? How do I sit here and live with the fact that this man is walking around free while my son is dead and will never walk anywhere again? Is that justice? I want to see this man punished for what he did."

Although I have an idea what a terrible loss this has been for her, no one could possibly know how much pain she has suffered because of this drunk driver's behavior. At this point her grief must seem overwhelming, and nothing I say will magically make it go away. I would not be so arrogant to presume that I could.

In addition to the pain of her loss, there is an awful sense of unfairness. She did nothing to bring any of this upon herself, and yet out of nowhere this man made choices that took her son out of this life and away from her.

Between her grieving and the sense of unfairness, she's in a lot of pain. Although I don't presume to try to make this pain disappear, because she asked me, I will offer some perspectives on this situation that are different from the ones she has now, and if she's willing to listen she will feel quite differently in a relatively short period of time. When we can see something differently, we can feel differently about it, and we can then behave differently toward it.

First, let's talk about fairness. Was it unfair that this drunk driver took her son from her? Yes . . . and No. It was unfair in that it was undeserved. She certainly didn't cause this to happen, but our sense of fairness is determined by our perspective. A young child thinks anything is unfair if it personally inconveniences him or her. Homework is unfair. Cleaning her room is unfair. But as parents we have a broader perspective, don't we? When a child complains about taking out the garbage--saying that it's unfair that he has to take out garbage of other people, garbage he didn't generate--he might actually have a small point to make, from one tiny perspective in a small moment in time. But we can see that in the larger and longer scheme of things, there is no injustice involved. We can see that the child must learn his role in the functioning of the family as a whole, and that he must also learn a sense of responsibility and of selflessness. So we might even smile when a child complains that such a task is unfair.

And so it is with the loss of her son. In this moment, from her perspective alone, it might seem unfair that he could be taken from her. But there are far greater principles involved, as well as perspectives that involve every human being on the planet. We live in a world--a universe--where we have the ability to make our own choices. We learn from those choices, and in the process we find genuine happiness. In the process of making choices, we inevitably make mistakes--mistakes that have negative effects on other people--and there is no other way we could possibly learn. The price we pay for living in a world where we can make our own choices, and learn and grow, is that we also have to live with the choices of others--including the foolish, stupid, and harmful ones.

This doesn't justify the behavior of the drunk driver. I only make the point that the greatest gift of this life is the ability to make our own choices, and the preservation of our ability to make those choices is the ultimate justice.

Now, this does not mean that when we make bad choices--like the drunk driver did--that we don't have to pay the price for them. We do, and we'll talk more about that in our next session.

Even though people have the right to make bad choices, that does not mean they don't have to pay the price for them. The drunk driver who killed her son, for example, had to face the judgment of a court. Now, it turns out that the judge--for reasons that baffle all of us--chose to give him a suspended sentence. Very peculiar in light of the fact that the drunk had been found guilty of drunk driving five previous times. Regardless of the sentence, however, the price was not your to administer. That was the jurisdiction of the court. The judge chose to let him walk free, and that is none of her business. Really.

It's none of this mother's business legally, and it makes no sense to make it her business. Now let me show you what I mean by that.

I know that her son's death has been a terrible loss to her, and I know she's having a hard time living with it. But imagine what would happen if I could magically grant her wish for justice? Imagine what it would be like if I were appointed by the courts to be an avenging angel at her disposal. For example, what if I took that drunk driver out behind her house and--while she watched--I beat him to death? Would that make her happy?

Oh, she might get a brief sense of ugly satisfaction from it, but it would not bring her son back, and she would not be genuinely happy. She'd only have a handful of a mean, shallow kind of justice, and that is not happiness. It's not even close. She'd still be alone. She'd still be angry. She would not have even a teaspoon of the kind of profound peace that genuinely happy people enjoy.

Anger is a poison. It's a cancer that's eating us up and destroying our happiness. If I killed that drunk driver for her, she might feel better for a moment, but it wouldn't last. Angry people use blaming and demands for justice like drug addicts use their favorite drug. The effect always wears off, and then they always need more.

So if justice and anger will never make us happy, what will? I'm sure this woman remembers how she felt when she held her son in her arms and told him she loved him? Isn't that the kind of happiness we want? We'll never find it in what we call "justice." No matter how severely we punish that drunk driver, we will never feel that kind of happiness from his punishment. If this mother really wants to be happy, she needs to spend her time around people who can love her, and prepare her to love other people. It's love that makes us happy, not justice.

I spent many years of my life insisting that other people treat me in a way that I called "fair." I was so foolish. In the process all I did was irritate them and make myself miserable. The people around us will always make mistakes. Mistakes are the unavoidable consequence of living in a world where we all get to make our own choices as we learn and grow. Some of those mistakes inevitably inconvenience and hurt other people, as that drunk driver's mistake hurt this woman's son.

When people make their mistakes, we have a choice to make. If we are wise, we will completely accept and ignore most of them. Our happiness is far too valuable to risk losing it as we stop to squabble about the mistakes of other people. Be very careful before you make the decision to spend your valuable time--before you literally spend a part of your life--on insisting that other people see their mistakes and pay for them.

On occasion, however--rare occasions--we do need to require people to be accountable for their irresponsible behavior, as in the case of a drunk driver. If we didn't do that, their behavior could continue and endanger the lives of more people. The punishment given to the man who killed your son may have been too light--we simply don't know whether it was enough to keep him from doing this again--but the responsibility for that decision belonged to the court, not to us.

Any time she now spends obsessing about the decision of the court--a decision that is none of her business--can only destroy her happiness, and that would be such a waste. It is now entirely her choice whether she is happy. If she continues to insist on justice, she might as well put a ring in her nose, attach a chain to it, and give it to the man who killed her son. If she stays angry about this, not only will the man have killed her son, she will be giving him the power to kill her. Does she really want to give him that power? Does she want to allow that man to take two lives instead of one?

If you're in a similar situation, give it up. Give up the anger that can result only in misery for you and the rest of your family. If you don't feel loved and happy, you're wasting your life, and you've only got one. Do you really want to throw your life away? Don't be satisfied with the shallow pursuit of justice, which will give you nothing. Instead, do this: Allow other people to love you, and learn to love them. As you do that, you'll lose the emptiness and anger you feel. Your life will become rich and full again, and that's what you really want.

A Quick Guide To Mahogany Antique Reproduction Furniture

Mahogany furniture is a largely English furniture institution. Much of the antique furniture originating in the 18th Century was made of mahogany. Not only did it look extremely appealing, it was also widely known for its hard wearing and long lasting properties. As mahogany was not native to England, it was exported from Puerto Rico and Cuba for use in furniture making. However, it is extremely expensive today and is not commonly used for furniture. Antique mahogany furniture is also really expensive so if you are looking to decorate your home then you may want to investigate the possibility of buying mahogany antique reproduction furniture.

Mahogany antique reproduction furniture is beautiful as a result of its carved patterns and rich colouring. It can add character to any room and should be the focal point if it is purchased for your home. Mahogany antique reproduction furniture is very popular and can be used to great effect, regardless of whether you choose to purchase one piece or a whole house full.

Although you will not find mahogany antique reproduction furniture in regular antiques stores, there is still a huge market for it. Craftsmen that make the mahogany antique reproduction furniture are highly skilled individuals and give the pieces character and style. As a result, there are a number of stores that have snapped such pieces up to market them effectively. There are online and offline stores that stock mahogany antique reproduction furniture so it is easy enough to locate and not all that expensive to buy. As it is still made of mahogany it does have a fairly high price tag, but not nearly as high as the real thing.

The mahogany used to make mahogany antique reproduction furniture is actually imported from Africa so it should tell a tale in itself. However, by the time its gets you it has a completely different history.

Every piece of mahogany antique reproduction furniture is reliable and should last a lifetime or two. Most pieces are carved in great detail and are very pretty, especially if placed in the right place. The pieces are also functional and can be used in daily life. However, most mahogany antique reproduction furniture is in a more formal style and thus would do well in a room designed for entertaining, such as a dining room or office. Many designs appear in a Victorian style and thus can seem a bit overbearing at times. However, if combined with carpets and walls in lighter tones then it would go extremely well in any room of the house.

You should care for mahogany antique reproduction furniture in much the same way as you would authentic antique furniture, with a little tender loving care and a soft cloth! It can add value to your home and give it an individual flavour that most crave so enjoy it while you can!

High Impact, Action, and Emotional Intensity

"The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred", is a fantastic story, masterfully told. It is a story of a horse, from his auspicious birth while in the care of his Turkish groom, to his peaceful death while in the care of the wealthy Englishman, Robert Byerley. It is most compelling, and contains a graphic intensity that the author Jeremy James, who has knowledge and experience with horses, weaves into his story.

Jeremy James has the ability to take you inside the landscape, and into the hearts of horses and of men. In fact, the way that this story is told, gives insight into an era that is long gone. Buildings, scenery, attire, relationships, protocol, and events are lavishly described. It gives insight to vastly different cultures in conflict, and yet the element of the human heart, and the heart of the horse are amplified throughout. The author has an uncanny ability to involve the reader, so that the passions, horrors, joys and sorrows, are deeply felt.

This is a story of trust, loyalty, and supreme athleticism, during a time of war and upheaval. There are heroic deeds performed as a matter of fact, and in retrospect, deeds with a seemingly supernatural aura... deeds which connected the events with their destiny. There are elements of beauty amongst the serious gore. Fear and friendship, supreme intellect, slavery, survival, suffering and opportunity are juxtaposed inexorably into the landscape spanning from the Ottoman Empire, to Ireland.

The stallion and his groom inspire awe and change, where ever they go. The relationships that they offer are of such a deep and profound nature, that, whether they are at home, or in a foreign land, at times it seems that they are from a different world altogether.

There are emotionally charged sequences of courage and sacrifice made in the name of love, not war. This story illustrates the power of deep relationships, the power of 'home', and the transformative power of understanding.

It is not a story for the faint-hearted. The senses are floridly described in scenes of death, stress and suffering. Partings are painful. Love is not a petty emotion. Devotion is not a fleeting fulfillment of convenience. It is a book of extremes. Extreme beauty and style...extreme dedication, extreme danger, and the fantastic power of a strong-willed and defiant stallion, and the tender moments he creates when the touch of a whisker brings about peace and comfort...

It is the story of how Robert Byerley came to be in possession of the Turkish horse known as the Byerley Turk. Well researched and well presented, it is a wonderful use of the novel in depicting a time in history. It successfully captivates the imagination, and allows the reader to understand the importance of the horse in World History.

"The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred"

Author: Jeremy James

Publisher: Stackpole Books

How to Swim - The Five Keys to Perfect Swimming Technique

Most of us are taught that to become a better swimmer we must train harder and train for longer. This was true 20 years ago when not a great deal was understood about how we move in the water. The reality is swimmers of all abilities (especially beginners) need to focus on the correct technique more than anything else. Thrashing out lap after lap doesn't make a person faster. The key is in reducing the amount of drag. This is where huge leaps of improvement are found.

Here is a list of five tips to help you swim like an Olympian:

Don't train to get fit, train to achieve perfect technique: Everyone must start out by first getting technique right, and then progressing on to improving fitness. If you're focus isn't on swimming with correct technique from the beginning, any training you do will not help you for the long-term.

Find a coach or mentor: An unwritten law of swimming is 'whatever it feels like you're doing in the water, you're probably doing the exact opposite'. The quickest way to get better at swimming is to have a qualified person give you feedback on your technique. Coaches can be found locally or found online. Many online coaches can give you feedback on your technique if you email a video of yourself to them.

Educate yourself: Just like a doctor studies medicine to become a good doctor, to become good at swimming you must study it also. It is much cheaper than a college education though! To achieve correct technique you need to watch the DVD's, read the books and buy the programs which teach it.

Find a training partner: Training with a partner or a group of people makes swimming a lot more enjoyable. It also increase how hard you train and how far you swim because time will go by much quicker. It has been proven that running with another person increases your pace by 18% compared to when you run alone. I'm sure it is no different when in the pool. Find someone who is faster and fitter than you, as this will help you rise to their level rather than take the easy road.

Never quit: Becoming a good swimmer doesn't happen overnight. It can take a few weeks to really change your technique, and many months to see a noticeable improvement in your fitness. The key is to be consistent and train regularly. If you train for 3 days in a row and then take a week off, you can't expect to see results. You must be consistent with it and always focus on practicing the right technique.

WordPress Security: 5 Tips for Creating Strong Passwords for WordPress

Password cracking into WordPress blogs is a common practice among malicious hackers (aka crackers). They use password cracking script that repeatedly try to guess your password and login.

Unfortunately, if your WordPress site gets hacked the results can be devastating. A hacker attack could lead to having thousands of spam links on all your website pages, redirecting your website visitors somewhere else, malicious malware injected that could infect your visitors computers, get your site blacklisted on search engines, having your website defaced, and/or completely wiping out all of your content.

As a website owner, it's your responsibility to protect your site and your visitors.

One area of security is to use very strong passwords for all your administrator, contributor, author and editor user accounts.

5 tips to create strong passwords for your WordPress blog:

Your passwords should be a minimum of 14 characters long. When creating passwords never use words you find in the dictionary, your own name or your website name. Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, number and symbols. According to the WordPress wp-admin/install.php file, it suggests the following symbols for a stronger password:! "? $ % ^ & ). Don't use the same password twice for anywhere you log-in Online, including your FTP, cPanel, wp-admin, database, email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Every month (or quarter), you should change your passwords.

While these tips might seem like a lot of extra work, it's worth your time and effort to make sure that a hacker can't crack into your site by guessing your passwords.

Getting the Right Fragrance for Summer

As warmer weather approaches, fashions change, activities change, even our lifestyles change. So should your perfume. You may even notice that some fragrances advertise themselves as being great for summer. But just what makes a great summertime scent?

Your individual skin chemistry affects how a perfume wears on you. Skin chemistry is reason that the same perfume can smell differently on two different people. The warmer months can change your skin chemistry, including how much you perspire. If you shower more frequently in the summer or if you go out in the sun and your skin gets dry, these things can also change how a scent works for you.

The perfume you wore all winter in the house or at the office may not work as you start spending more time outdoors and wearing looser, lighter, or skimpier clothing. As a general rule, winter perfumes tend to be heavier, muskier, "darker," while summer scents are lighter.

There are lots of great ways to get some summer scents. The fact is that summer is a fun time for most of us, filled with parties and social occasions, vacations, and days at the beach. It's a great time to go for happy, frivolous, trendy kinds of scents. Think light.

Some of the best ideas for summer fragrances are the new crop of so-called fruity-floral perfumes that blend fruity notes into a light floral scent. For some fruity floral fun, sample Sunset Heat by Escada or Sugar by Fresh. If you want to get a great summer scent but still want to get something from a perfume boutique, try Little Italy by Bond No. 9 (http://www.bondno9.com) which is absolutely one of the most drop-dead wonderful citrus fragrances on the planet.

Another great fruity-floral line of products is available from Carol's Daughter, which is best to buy from a large perfume site ([http://www.sephora.com]). Carol's Daughter makes a peachy scent called Groove that is particularly summery.

However, not everybody is going to go wild for fruity scents. Light florals are another good idea. Try Very Irresistable by Givenchy or Chelsea Flowers by Bond No. 9 or Goddess by Baby Phat. These are girly scents, but light and fun for summer.

If you want something a little less girly-girl, there are a lot of fragrances right now that tend to be light and almost cross-gender, that is, it might be unclear in a blindfold test whether they were cologne or aftershave. An excellent example of this kind of scent is One by Calvin Klein. I think it's a fabulous scent, but I only wear it in warm weather.

When buying a fragrance product, your type of product may shift in the summer. In the winter, perfumes and eau-de-parfums work best; they are heavier, last longer, and seem a bit more dramatic. During the summer you may be better served with a nice light cologne or eau-de-toilette even though you may have to re-apply it periodically. But since summer is an active time for most of us, we tend to sweat and shower more in these warm months, so you are just naturally going to need to touch up your fragrance more frequently.

It's true that colognes and eaux-de-toilette do not last as long as perfumes, but the very lightness of these products can make your favorite scents seem more breezy and summer-light. If you can't make cologne last, buy a scented body lotion or cream plus a shower gel in the same fragrance. Then layer the product on. Body lotion (or so-called body butters) in particular will help anchor a cologne.

Copyright (c) 2007 Joanna McLaughlin

Simple Financial Management For Retirement - Part 2 - Budgeting

To gain the most of budgeting, please forget about the concept of restriction and restraint often associated with household budgets. Budgets are not punishment or a means of restriction. They are important, useful tools that guide us to where we want to go. They allow us to plan for our future yet control our circumstances along the way. They are not meant to be exact, but rather flexible and accommodating.

A simple, practical, yet extremely effective strategy is the 40%-30%-20%-10% formula. It allocates your Fixed Costs (essential expenses that remain the same, such as debt repayments, mortgage or rental payments, insurances, etc), Variable Costs (essential expenses such as food and motor vehicle running costs) and Discretionary Costs (non-essential items such as holidays and entertainment expenses) according to the above expenses whilst setting aside 10% of your income as surplus to continually add to your savings and investments.

Starting with your present situation, use this formula to create a budget for the next year and five to 10 years into the future. Because the plan is based on percentages, it is flexible enough to adapt to changing times. As long as you set the formulas, the rest will follow. For example, in Year 1 your plan may be to pay off as much of your existing debt as possible. Set your fixed costs to 60%, variable costs to 25%, discretionary to 5% and 10% for savings. As long as you stay within the formula, you will meet your objective.

All good businesses set annual and 5-year budgets. They usually incorporate these into what is called a strategic plan. The strategic plan outlines where the organisation wants to be and what it wants to achieve within these timeframes.Your own household budget can follow these same rules and by setting goals for 1, 5 and 10 years, cover the main attributes of a constructive strategic plan for yourself.

A critical aspect of budgeting is comparison. We need to always compare what happened to what was supposed to happen. If you have a budget but never go to the trouble of comparing your actual expenditure to the budget, you are only using 50% of the system. It is important that on a regular basis you compare your actual expenditure and outgoings to what was budgeted. The variances will tell you how you fared.

Was your budget realistic? Did you under-budget? Over-budget? If the budget is unrealistic, modify it. Budgets should be dynamic tools, changing where necessary until you get the right mix. Did you overspend? Underspend? Was the budget reasonable but you simply broke the rules and fell back into bad habits? That's OK, the variances will guide you to where you need to focus your attention. Did you waste too much money at the supermarket? Spend too much on discretionary items? Are your fixed costs still too high? Correction. Correction. Correction. The variances will show you where.

Total Loss Vehicle Settlement - What Happens When Your Car Is Totaled

In our last post I explained how your insurance company would likely determine if your vehicle was a total loss from a covered accident. Understanding how your company makes this determination is important, however, understanding how they will value your car is even more important.

Once your car is determined to be a complete loss, the process that follows can be confusing. I wanted to provide some insight, from an insurer's perspective, that can help you get through the total loss process should you ever find yourself in that situation.

It is important to remember that, if your car is deemed a total loss, your carrier has a duty and obligation to pay you the ACV (Actual Cash Value) or fair market value for your vehicle. Understanding that, we want to be sure you are armed with solid & reliable information in the unfortunate event you find yourself in this situation.

The Value or ACV process:

The ACV or Actual Cash Value of your vehicle is a term that is meant to demonstrate & prove what the fair market value of your vehicle is on the date of the accident. Your carrier will have your car inspected, noting all options & features as well as estimating the condition of the vehicle prior to the accident. Below is a short list of some of the main variables involved when determining the value of your car:

Year, make & model Features or upgrades on the car from the manufacturer Is there aftermarket equipment on the car & if there is, does it add or detract from the market value Condition rating: estimate of the condition of the vehicle prior to the accident Mileage (this, as we all know, can have a substantial impact on value)

Your insurance carrier will then use a 3rd party, such as CCC, to secure a fair market value for your car. Here is a short list of things that a 3rd party will look at when estimating the value:

All of the vehicle details noted above Your zip code, which tells them exactly where you live Comps: most insurance companies will require at least 2 solid comparative vehicles

Note that where you live is important as vehicles can have different values based on where you live as the market (where you are) is what dictates what cars like yours would sell for at the time of the accident. Also note that the comps are how a price or value is determined as it is meant to convey what a vehicle like yours, same make/model/year, condition and features, would be worth in it's pre-accident condition.

One question or issue that does come up at times is "there aren't any vehicles exactly like mine where I live, now what?" In this scenario, most of the time the insurance company will then look for a vehicle that is a year newer than yours with similar features & in similar condition. It is usually not permitted to use an older vehicle as a comp in this case.

What if I don't agree with the value?

This is most often one of the biggest challenges when trying to settle a total loss claim: I don't agree with the valuation that my adjuster provided to me. It is ok, though, this happens frequently and if armed with good, accurate information, you can navigate your way through this. Here is how:

Request a copy of the valuation Review the details and ensure it represents your vehicle: options, mileage, condition, etc. If you feel the value is truly not accurate, do some research and find a few comps of your own, ensure they are accurate. Provide your supporting information to your carrier for consideration If they don't move, advise you are formally disputing the valuation. Request that your insurance company issues payment for the "undisputed amount" Secure your own independent valuation, your insurance company will get one of their own The two of you will then come together and compare the valuations and reach a resolution

I know, you now have a few more questions, thought you might. Let's address those:

What do you mean by "undisputed amount?" You don't want your claim halted and, if you have rental coverage and are in a rental car, most insurance companies will only extend rental for a few days after they have made an offer to you to settle your total loss. The undisputed amount example: Valuation comes in at $20,000 but feel your car has a market value of $24,000 but are not disputing it is worth at least the $20,000. So, you accept the $20,000 but continue with the process. This will not prevent you from collecting more money should it be supported but it does get you something right now. If you dispute the value and go down that path, you will have to, at your own cost, have an independent market valuation completed on your car. There are some great companies out there to help you, such as http://www.iada.org/.

I highly recommend that you work directly with your insurance company directly to resolve a dispute like this. Remember, this is a negotiation based on some subjective supporting evidence and some objective information as well, such as the make, model, year and features. The insurance carriers want to settle your claim and will, most of the time, be reasonable and work with you to settle your claim.

In addition, I strongly suggest you review your policy before going down the dispute path so you understand exactly what your policy states as it relates to this type of claim. All policies and companies have differences, some subtle and some not. Your policy will be the guiding rule over your claim so it is important to understand what it says and what your rights are.

You can also refer to your state's Department of Insurance site to see if your state has specific rules and laws as it relates to the handling of a first party total loss claim.

So, in summary, hopefully now you have a better understanding of how a value is obtained, you also have an idea on what you can do if you happen to disagree with the value. Just remember to be sure you are able to support your dispute in value with solid information if you want your company to consider your position. And, recall, this IS a negotiation so be calm and deliberate with your argument and information. I can almost guarantee it will lead to a fair resolution of your total loss claim.

3 Fun Limo Birthday Party Ideas for Teenage Girls

Thinking of a new way to celebrate your birthday each year is always an exciting and fun thing to do. Sometimes you would feel the need to top last year's celebration by going all out this year. What better way to celebrate your birthday than renting a limousine?

Here are some fun limo birthday party ideas that you can do:

1. Have a formal dinner. Invite a few of your close friends for a formal dinner. Book a reservation on an upscale restaurant that you and your friends don't usually go to. Once you have the restaurant set up, you can make a reservation for a super stretch limousine for 6-8 people. Ask them to dress up for the night. Rent the limousine for four or six hours. On the way to the restaurant, you can start partying inside the limo. Give each guest a party hat and other fun party stuff before they enter the limo, play some music, and take lots of pictures.

2. Enjoy a city tour. If you live in a place surrounded by museums, art galleries, and theme parks, then it would be a fun way to drive around in a limo and stop by to each of these interesting landmarks. Plan your itinerary ahead of time. Make sure that you estimate the time travel time and the time it's going to take for you to look around the place. Once you have the total hours, make a reservation for a stretch limo, give them the pickup and drop off addresses. To make it more interesting, print your itinerary on a card and give them out to the guests as they enter the limo or you can make this as your invitation card. It will also serve as a unique souvenir.

3. Get yourself pampered. If you want a more relaxing day on your birthday that doesn't require a lot of planning, you and your friends can simply rent a limo for a couple of hours to drop you off in one of the well-known day spa. You can have a good hour-long massage, get your nails done, or get a facial. Take a lot of pictures most especially after you've had the massage or the mani-pedi. That will make you all looking fresh and happy. Once the pictures are printed, choose the best one, edit it to make it like a birthday souvenir, and give them out to your friends.

These three ideas are fun and quite easy to plan and organize. When choosing what activities you can do for your birthday, think of your guests as well. Think about what your friends like doing so all of you will have a great time. Plan ahead of time and do your research. In this way you can find the best deals in limousine rentals, tickets, and party accessories.

Strategies in Economic Development!

A developing country is one where the per capita income is low relative to that in fully developed countries. In human terms developing countries typically have populations with poor health, low levels of literacy, inadequate dwellings and meager diets. The key to development lies in four fundamental factors namely human resources, natural resources, capital formation and technology.

Human resources:

Many poor countries are forever running hard just to stay in place. Even as a developing nation's GDP rises, so does its population. So it becomes a mammoth task for such nations to overcome poverty with birth rates so high. Equitable distribution of wealth cannot happen in an economy unless and until it becomes self sufficient. One strategy will be to curb the population; even such actions run against prevailing religious norms.

Economic planners in developing countries lay great emphasis on the following strategies of development with regard to human capital:

Control disease and improve health and nutrition Improve education, reduce illiteracy and train workers Above all, do not underestimate the importance of human resources.

Literate people are knowledgeable and resourceful; their analytical skills help them to weigh the pros and cons of specific social situations that affect their standards of living.

Asian countries like India and China with exploding population figures are in a situation to invest their human capital for productive purposes.

Natural Resources:

Some developing nations with meager endowments of natural resources such as land and minerals have to divide the available resources among the dense population. Perhaps the most valuable of all the resources would be arable land, as most of the people in developing countries employ themselves in farming, which is the primary economic activity. Hence the productive use of land with appropriate conservation, fertilizers and tillage will go- far in increasing a poor nation's output. More over land ownership patterns are a key to providing farmers with strong incentives to invest in capital land's yield. When farmers own land, they are more willing to make improvements, such as irrigation systems, and undertake appropriate conservation practices.

The governments have to think in these lines if their economy is based on agricultural activity:

Farmers should be appraised about modern farming techniques and provided with farming equipments and fertilisers at subsidized rates. Note:-nothing should be given as free as freebies make them lethargic and unmotivated. Much of cultivable lands are being destroyed for commercial purposes which have to be checked. Power generation and supply should be copious and uninterrupted as farming, solely is dependent on availability and usage of ground water. Pumping of water is done through jet pumps and electric motors. Budding population can make a marked difference in the field of farming, as it is impossible for a nation to generate white collar jobs for everyone and it definitely elevates the capacity of youth from being mere employees to that of owners. Organic farming has found a place for itself in international market and human capital of developing nations can be employed in research and development of new strains that will facilitate to capture the global market.

Capital formation:

Rates of productive capital formation are low in developing countries because incomes are so depressed that little can be saved for the future. The financing of growth in poor countries has always been an unstable link in the productive mechanism. Countries should definitely have a balanced and cautious approach when they plan to finance ambitious development programmes as they will be forced to borrow heavily from other developed countries or the World Bank.

Technological change and innovations:

This is often associated with investment and new machinery. It offers much hope to the developing nations in as much as they can adopt the more productive technologies of advanced nations. This requires entrepreneurship.

To say that countries must encourage rapid growth in capital and technology does not answer how these key ingredients are to be deployed. The desire for rapid economic growth may be strong, but developing nations have to face so many obstacles such as political opposition, want of technology, capital intensive markets and so on. So the right approach would be to liberalize the economic policies and allow foreign investors to step into the domestic environment, resulting in increased job opportunities for local unemployed population and exposure of domestic market to global competition.

The Shortie Wetsuit Is Great For Warm Water Diving

Wetsuits come in many different styles and neoprene thicknesses. The type of wetsuit you wear really depends on what kind of diving you want to do, how warm the water is, and how deep you plan on going. Depending on your needs, you could go with a simple rash vest for very warm and shallow waters to a thick 6MM wetsuit complete with a hood and gloves for colder waters. One type of wetsuit that can be considered general purpose is the shortie wetsuit.

A shortie is a wetsuit style that covers the diver's torso, upper arms, and thighs. Shorties are one piece units that leave the forearms and calves uncovered. Having some skin exposed is not always a bad thing. By leaving parts of your arms and legs completely free, you will be able to swim and move around in the water better than you otherwise would if they were covered. A shortie wetsuit lets you hold in body heat while having greater movement in the water. Shorties are very comfortable to wear and are great for many different water sports, not just scuba diving.

The good news about shorties is that they are very affordable. Depending on brand, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $100 for a good model. Because shorties are so affordable and versatile, a person is sure to get his or her money's worth out of their new wetsuit if it is used for a variety of activities.

Shortie wetsuits are made by every company that makes wetsuits. Just a few popular brands include Body Glove, O'Neill, Xcel, Neo Sport, Blue Seventy, Performance, and others. Some common features found on many shorties include interior key pockets, heavy duty zippers, velcro closures around the neck, arms, and legs, and others. And of course, shorties are available for men, women, and children.

Scuba Diving in Bonaire, Netherlands

The license plates on all the cars in Bonaire read Diver's Paradise. Need any more be said? Perhaps - for those who have never been to paradise. How about 84 degree water temperature and visibility over 100 feet? Bonaire is not only a "Diver's Paradise" because of the awesome fact that its exceptionally pristine waters are designated as an official marine park, or because its calm, clear waters are the ideal environment for underwater photographers, or because it is famous for its flamingos (which number as many as 15,000 during the mating season!), but also because Bonaire offers tons of wondrous other sites to behold and ventures to experience after a day of diving.

Hike through the terrain of the island's 13,500-acre National Park ~ a wildlife sanctuary where birds, lizards, goats, and iguanas are found in their natural habitat! Mountain bike on the 300+ kilometers of trails, consisting of smooth coastal drives, unpaved back roads, and even goat paths! Windsurf on the shallow, calm waters of Lac Bay ~ an internationally-known hot spot for windsurfers. Kayak on the protected waters of Lac Bay or head for the miles of flats and mangroves to the south where baby fish and wildlife can be viewed.

Birdwatch Bonaire's 170+ species of birds (80 of which are indigenous to the Island!) Deep sea fish for Wahoo, Tuna, Blue Marlin, Amber Jack, Sailfish, and Snapper. (Bonaire is also one of the best kept secrets of bone-fishing enthusiasts!) Sail out on the water on one of Bonaire's charter yachts. Horseback ride at one of Bonaire's horse ranches. More low-key than its Latin-influenced big sisters, Aruba and Curacao, it's really quite cool to see how Bonaire has gone to great lengths to preserve its natural resources. Need any more be said now?

Oh yeah, beach diving is available right out your back door 24/7! While there are lots of waters in the world in which to dive deep below the surface of the sea, it's always great to select a spot that offers lots of natural activities and goosebump-inflicting places to explore on dry land as well.