By Peter AndersonLeave a Comment – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited April 28, 2009.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1
What does this verse mean? Unfortunately it means that I have to pay my taxes, and live under the govenerment authorities God has established. I may not always like it, but as Jesus said in Matthew 22, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. Later on in this passage, it continues:
Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Romans 13:5-7
As the U.S. housing market powers through the coronavirus pandemic, home prices are rising, bidding wars are erupting — and renting is growing more attractive in some booming markets. That’s according to an index released Thursday.
Buying in Dallas, Denver, Houston and Kansas City carries significant risk, because of fast-rising home prices and the potential for future declines, according to the latest Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent Index.
On the other hand, it makes sense to buy in Chicago, Cleveland and New York City. And the rent-or-buy calculus is “a virtual toss-up” in Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Louis, says index co-author Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist at Florida Atlantic University.
The index measures whether consumers will create greater wealth by buying a home and building equity or renting and reinvesting the money they would have spent on ownership, such as taxes, insurance and maintenance. The index looks at 23 metro areas, factoring in home prices, rents, mortgage rates, investment returns, property taxes, insurance and home maintenance costs.
The markets that most favor renting
The Buy vs. Rent Index’s figures for the first quarter show that home prices are above their long-term average in some markets, including Portland, Pittsburgh and Miami. That means consumers should rent and reinvest rather than buy and build equity in those markets.
The five markets that most favor renting rather than buying are places that experienced strong buyer interest during the summer:
Dallas: This metro area’s reading is 0.54 out of a maximum of 1.
Denver: This region’s index is 0.48.
Houston: Its index is 0.43.
Kansas City: The metro area’s reading is 0.33.
Seattle: Its index is 0.27.
The markets that most favor buying
Cleveland: Its index was -0.15 of a possible -1.22.
New York: Its index was -0.21.
Chicago: Its index of -0.23 was the lowest reading.
Housing markets in both Chicago and New York have struggled recently. Chicagoland remains a corporate hub that’s home to dozens of Fortune 500 headquarters, but Illinois has been losing population and posting tepid job growth.
Meanwhile, Manhattan sales volumes have been hit hard by COVID-19, while the surrounding boroughs and suburbs have seen an uptick in demand, according to Jonathan Miller, a Manhattan-based appraiser and head of Miller Samuel Inc.
Johnson acknowledges that buying in Chicago or New York isn’t foolproof. The index’s conclusion that the two major metro areas are underpriced is based on historic pricing patterns. But it doesn’t factor in the possibility that New York real estate could permanently lose its appeal because of the coronavirus pandemic, high taxes or some other reason.
If New York City falls from favor as an international destination, Johnson says, “all bets are off on New York housing. If not, the housing market in the area should ride out this rough patch quite well based on the historical performance of housing for the area.”
The index was created by economists at Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University. Johnson describes the findings for New York City this way: Of 100 people who buy homes in the New York or Chicago metro areas in the fourth quarter, 70 would amass more wealth from owning and building equity, while the other 30 would acquire more wealth by renting and reinvesting the cash that would otherwise be spent on ownership in a portfolio of stocks and bonds.
On Tuesday evening I gave my first-ever presentation about personal finance. I spoke to a group of about 70 graduating seniors from Western Oregon University. My talk went okay. It wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t good. It’s a start. I learned a lot, and I’ll do better next time.
I was the fourth and final speaker of the evening, though. Before I talked about personal finance, three WOU alums spoke about life after college. While my talk might have been mediocre, theirs were outstanding.
Brian Reick
The first speaker was Brian Reick, who described his experience moving from job-to-job. He began knocking on doors right out of school and eventually found work. But the job wasn’t perfect, and neither was he. He was fired after only two years. This experience taught him a couple things:
A job is not a marriage. It’s not “for better or worse”. It’s only for better. If it’s not working out for you or the company, then move on.
Treat your time as an investment. It’s more important to invest your time wisely than to invest your money wisely.
Later in his career, Brian found himself working in a job he didn’t like. He made a promise to himself: “I told myself that if I wasn’t happy with my job one year from that day, I’d leave. That was the best decision I ever made. After a year, I knew it was time to go. It was more important for me to be happy than to chase dollars.” Two other life lessons Brian shared were:
The people you work with are more important than the company. You want to work with people who have high integrity, people you can trust. It’s nice to work for a great company, but it’s better to work with great people.
Don’t rationalize your decisions. As you move through your career, don’t stay in situations that make you unhappy just because you think you’re obligated. Take some calculated risks.
Ron Clark
Next we heard from Ron Clark, a Portland lawyer. Ron shared three major points:
What you studied in school does not matter. Students should major in subjects they enjoy. They should pursue learning. One of Ron’s colleagues is a brilliant lawyer who has a degree in music. He knows a judge with a degree in pharmacology. Your degree does not matter.
Self-discipline is the common denominator among the successful. In order to get into college and to earn a degree, one must exercise delayed gratification. This doesn’t end after school. Delayed gratification and self-discipline are necessary for continued success in life.
Be willing to do grunt work. By doing the entry-level jobs, you’re building skills necessary to move up. As you progress in your career, find things in each job to be passionate about.
Celia Kimbrough
The third speaker was Celia Kimbrough, a professional photographer. As a single mother, Celia applied for the interpreting program at Western Oregon University. She was one of 72 applicants for 16 spots. She didn’t get in — she didn’t let it bother her. “I’ve failed at a lot of things in life,” she says, “but they’ve made me who I am today. It’s okay to fail.” The important thing is to be working toward something, to have a goal.
Still, you should always keep your mind open for other options. Don’t be so locked into your goal that you miss opportunity knocking on the door. Sometimes life will lead you in directions you don’t expect. When she didn’t get into the interpreting program, Celia pursued a degree in Natural Sciences. She wanted to be a teacher. But then life led her in another direction, and now she owns a successful photography studio.
“You’ve got to find your passion,” Celia says. “I changed my major six times. That’s okay. Everything you do leads you to the person you’re becoming. As long as you have some goals, you’ll be fine.”
Celia stressed that it’s important to think about the sort of life you want to live. Some of what she said reminded me of Tim Ferriss’ notion of lifestyle design, building your life and career around what you want to do. Entrepreneurship has allowed her to construct a fulfilling life.
“What’s important to you?” she asked asked the students. “Make your choices based on that. I wanted to be excited about what I do every day. If you’re complaining about what you’re doing, then try something else.“
J.D. Roth
To conclude the program, I gave a short presentation on personal finance. Again, this was the first such talk I’ve given, and it was pretty rough. I actually tried to stress some of the topics Get Rich Slowly readers suggested last Monday:
Develop a basic budget. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Whatever you choose to do, make it a goal to set aside 20% for saving and investing. This sounds like a lot, but if you can start the habit young, it’ll be easier. (And will yield greater returns in the long run.)
Avoid lifestyle inflation. As your income increases, it’s tempting to increase your spending in proportion. The more you can resist this urge, the more successful you will be with money.
Do what you love. A low-paying job that leads to future prospects in a career you like is better than a high-paying job in a career that doesn’t move you in the right direction. Never stick with a shitty job. It’s easier to change jobs now than it will be in five or ten years.
The less you spend, the more flexibility you have. When I graduated, I bought a new car and developed credit card debt. I had to take any job I could find because I was tied to monthly payments. When my friend Sparky graduated, he had a lot of freedom. His debts were minimal. He traveled the U.S., taking whatever job struck his fancy. He spent time in Mexico. He spent five months traveling southeast Asia. He was able to do these things because he didn’t have expensive obligations.
With my speech, I handed out a one-page guide to personal finance, which contained supplementary material.
Conclusion
I felt pretty geeky during this dinner. When the first speaker began, I pulled out my pad of paper and started jotting notes. I couldn’t help it. Though these talks were ostensibly aimed at the graduating seniors, there was plenty of valuable information in them for anyone.
I was surprised and happy to discover that one theme seemed to shine through in all four presentations. Money’s a great tool, each of us said, but it’s not the only thing in life. It’s not even the most important thing. We each in our own way stressed one point above all: It’s more important to be happy than it is to be rich.
There’s no easy answer to the question “Should I rent or buy a house?” It depends on so many factors: your age, your finances, your neighborhood, your future plans, the current real estate landscape, and the mortgage market, to name just a few.
Being a landlord requires a lot of responsibility and quite the investment. But it also comes with a great set of benefits, including becoming your own boss and gaining more control over your time — and earning.
If you’ve ever wondered if it would be worth it to become a landlord (and what exactly that entails), keep reading.
Entire books have been written about finding a good rental property. So much text has been dedicated to the topic because of its critical importance. Buy too expensive a place, and you’ll never make money. But trying to snag a bargain can be troublesome too.
Buying a fixer-upper requires that you have the skills, time, tools, and cash to make the necessary repairs and renovations. But here are some of the biggest concerns you should have before embarking on the journey to becoming a landlord:
Do you have enough in savings?
Let’s just say that your tenants can’t make the rent, but they are not going to move out without a fight.
Before you buy a rental, you need to amass an economic cushion amounting to at least six months of housing expenses, plus a few thousand dollars to pay attorneys. That gives you the staying power required to manage most worst-case scenarios.
Are you handy?
If you’re a handy person who likes doing your own work around the house, light plumbing, perhaps some construction, yard work, and so on, you might be a good candidate for becoming a landlord.
If you’re just starting out, it may be too expensive to handle outside contractors if you expect to turn your rental income into profit. Doing the work yourself saves money.
Are you available for 24-hour responsibility?
Hiring a company to manage your properties is an expense that cuts into your profit. Depending on the location, you may be able to afford this from just your rental income. If that’s the case, work with a professional property management company who will answer the phone at any hour to fix any household problems that arise.
Otherwise, be prepared for calls in the middle of the night. If you’re starting your adventure with rental properties while working at another job, you will find yourself with competing priorities often. Usually, a good idea is to start out small, and see whether being a landlord truly is a good fit for you — before embarking on bigger projects, with many units.
Another question you need to answer is: Are you old enough? You can legally buy a house as young as 18. But bear in mind that, on top of the financial responsibility that comes with a purchase, you will also have to account for the property in the eyes of your renters.
Can you keep tenants happy?
Of all the costs associated with being a landlord, the biggest one is a vacancy.
Every time a tenant moves out, you’re going to spend money, probably quite a bit of it. That means finding and keeping good tenants is the heart of successfully investing long-term in real estate.
Happy tenants are critically important. They’re your customers. And the way you keep them happy is by keeping the property in good shape and treating them with respect.
This means being a landlord also comes with a great deal of hospitality and marketing tasks that you probably haven’t factored in before, but that are crucial to your long-term success.
More helpful tips
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In the past, I’ve shared the story of the worst job I ever had. In a lot of ways, it felt like I was part of a pyramid scheme or multi-level marketing operation. I’ve been approached to participate in similar operations since then: once by my veterinarian (?!?) and once by a stranger in a book store. Sometimes you cannot tell a scam is a scam until you see it up close, and then the sunk-cost fallacy will sometimes force you to make a poor choice. GRS reader Bozemblem recently sent me this story of his close encounter with a “business opportunity” that turned out to be a scam.
I’ve been reading Get Rich Slowly for about a year now, and I can definitely relate when you talk about your struggles and triumphs with money. Here’s an experience I recently had.
I currently work and live in one of the most expensive parts of the United States. I’m going to school part-time to get my MS in Computer Science. School is very expensive, even with my employer paying a great deal of the tuition.On top of that I’m getting married next year and I have a tiny amount of credit card debt. I do a very good job of budgeting my money; I follow it quite closely and it won’t be long before I’ve rid myself of the debt. However, as you might be able to tell, money is a bit of a concern and so I’m always looking for way to either decrease my spending (which I think I’ve done a good job of so far without going crazy) or increase my income (which is much harder to do, and it is my attempt to do so which is why I’m writing you).
Business Opportunity
The other night I was in the grocery store buying some items for my sick fiancee. Unfortunately, there was only one cashier on duty and I was one of an unusually large number of customers that night. As I waited in line, a nice gentleman in line behind me struck up a conversation.I spent some time talking to him and eventually we got around to talking about what we did for a living, and I mentioned that I am a software engineer. Upon hearing that, he got pretty excited and told me that he was a small business owner in need of someone with my skill set. Seeing this as an opportunity to possible earn some extra money, we exchanged number and he promised to call me the next week to talk about opportunities for some part-time work with his company.
Later that next week he called me, and we set up a time to meet. He told me to meet him at a hotel the next week; he and some of his fellow small business owners were part of a larger corporation, and he presented this to me as an opportunity to network and meet other people who may be interested in my skills. Cautiously optimistic, I agreed.
Well tonight I met this individual and had quite the experience. It slowly started to come together for me, and the saddest part about it is that those were three hours that I will never get back. Turns out, it was just one large pyramid scheme, and it didn’t matter if I was a software engineer or not.
Pyramid Scheme
Here’s how the operation works: you join as an “apprentice” of another member, and you maximize your profits by getting other people to become your “apprentice”. It was disguised as an “e-commerce” (sorry for the abuse of quotation marks) operation; basically you bought your home goods from this one organization instead of a place like Wal-Mart. Everyone else you got to sign up and buy those same goods from that organization would gain you some money. And when they got people to sign up, then you would get a cut of the profits as well. As soon as I had an opportunity, I left, feeling disgusted and embarrassed.
I however, was the only one. Of the other “candidates” in the room, only I left. Everyone else seemed excited. It’s not hard to see how. The speaker was very compelling; very funny and personable. He spoke of living a “lifestyle” as opposed to a life (my first red flag). Then he talked about stuff like “how would you feel if you could drive a different car…every day of the week!” He then had us list out which 7 cars we wanted. Actually, we listed out 6. Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces, etc… The 7th car he picked. And it was the car he drove, and he implied that it was through this program that he was able to afford it. I wish I could have left right then, but I was sitting near the front and although I hated myself for being there, I couldn’t bear to be rude either.
Your readers should be aware of these operations! They may sound good, and the money may be real, but it’s all top-heavy. The ones at the bottom (ie. YOU) won’t be making all that money, but you’ll help someone else do it! Beware of the charismatic speaker; this guy was really good; going so far as to say “I don’t even care if you join or not”. Implying, of course, that he’s doing us a favor, despite the fact that he wouldn’t have any money if no one signed up.
But that one statement was so powerful, and I could tell my fellow attendees were getting sucked in. That one statement created such a sense of urgency and yet indifference on his part. He was basically saying that he didn’t need us, that he can find more people, the “right” people. And he kept talking about us being “candidates”, and he spoke often of a selection process. I’m not privy to such information, but if I had to guess, I would say that we were all going to be selected.
Get Rich Quick!
That and numerous other methods were employed to give us a sense of opportunity, and give us a taste of the rich lifestyle. He was damn good at his job, and I don’t doubt that he’s made plenty of money off of his considerable talents. Oh, and don’t forget the $200 registration fee, the $150 insurance costs, and the undisclosed costs of the training materials. By the way, I only got those figures by pressing my “sponsor” until he finally relented.
It’s easy to see how people can get sucked in. Everyone else was just like me; needed a little extra cash, pressed for time and anxious to explore any opportunity, we were rip for picking. I thank goodness that my dad instilled in me a sense of skepticism, else I may have ended up with the rest of them.
Unfortunately, the road to riches isn’t that easy. It’s simple, but it isn’t quick and painless. You just gotta spend less than you earn (by prioritization and reducing the number of unnecessary “wants”), save as much as you can, diversify your investments, and constantly improve the most critical investment, yourself (through taking on a variety of tasks at your job, even if they’re outside of your typical skillset and by continuing your education). Invest in index funds, open a high-yield savings account, contribute at least enough to your 401(k) to max out your company’s match and fund your IRA; doing so will provide plenty of wealth going forward, just do the math!
A Learning Experience
There is one positive that came out of my experience with the pyramid scheme. The speaker preached constantly about how his program is different than a typical job because it gave you “freedom”. That’s not really true, it just transfers your obligations, and it provides you with a significant amount of risk if you are one of those who chose to do that type of thing full time (and there are those people).
The bright side for me was that I realized how much I hated the lack of freedom that working in a traditional career offers. And I’ve always had an idea for a real small business (as opposed to the scheme’s definition of a small business) that I’ve always wanted to open, and I’m going to start working towards that goal. I’ve been inspired to work to free myself from work, and to get to the point where I won’t be susceptible to schemes like the one I got sucked into tonight. Perhaps not the motivation these guys were looking for, but that’s what I got out of it!
Bozemblem’s experience is similar to several I’ve had in my own life. I believe he’s right: programs like this can provide income and success to those at the top, or to those who have special luck or motivation. But for most people, they’re actually a net loss. Do you have experience with pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing? Was this experience positive or negative? What advice do you have for others who might be considering this as a way to make money? Checkout line photo by szlea. Conference photo by Jeffrey Beall.
Holiday shopping is always fun, but shopping for little people takes it to a whole new level. Whether it’s for my own kiddo or for those of friends – so many expectant ladies at the moment – there’s something irresistible about things in miniature form. As a lover of neutrals, I’m here to prove that you can find things your children will love without resorting to crayola colors.
1. All little guys love airplanes. It’s a thing. I love this all natural wood version.
2. Who can resist little tiny baby feet? And you have to keep them warm you know. These little booties are sweetest way to do it.
3. A cute and cuddly sweatshirt will make your little that much cuter.
4. Every tot needs a buddy to cuddle with. This penguin is perfect for the winter season.
5. Our little guy will take a screw driver to just about anything. This workbench is sure to keep any mr-fix-it busy for hours.
6. A pom pom hat. Need I say more?
7. Every little person loves to drum. This one makes a noise that might not drive you crazy
8. For those expectant friends or new moms, this baby rocker is functional and chic.
For more of my favorite finds for kiddos CLICK HERE and HERE.
Inside: Looking for some great Easter basket ideas for girls? Our list has you covered! They will love these easter gifts for special ladies in your life.
Easter is just around the corner and if you’re like me, that means it’s time to start thinking about Easter baskets!
I love putting together Easter baskets for my girl.
Girls love getting unexpected presents, and they love trying out new things. Plus girls are also often very creative, so they can come up with unique and interesting gifts.
It’s so much fun to pick out festive and colorful Easter fillers!
If you’re looking for some inspiration for what to put in your little girl’s Easter basket this year, look no further!
Here are 25 great ideas:
What do girls like for Easter?
Girls can enjoy a wide variety of Easter gifts and treats.
Thus, shopping for girls is so much fun!!
The love items such as jewelry, nail polish, art supplies, plush toys, beach towels, tote bags, backpacks, and notebooks. You can’t go wrong with any of our ideas below.
Find Easter gifts to show your little girl how special she is, while still being fun and age-appropriate.
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What can I put in my daughters Easter basket?
Looking for creative ideas to put in your daughter’s Easter basket?
From fun jewelry, nail polishes, and art supplies to sunglasses, we have plenty of ideas to keep you covered.
You need to consider her interests and personality to make her basket special.
The 25 Best Easter Basket Ideas for Girls
If you are looking for some inspiration for what to put in your little girl’s Easter basket this year, look no further!
This is where you will find Easter basket ideas for teens.
We have gathered together 25 of the most awesome girl Easter basket ideas
Pressed Flower Art Kit
A pressed flower art kit is a great Easter basket idea for girls of all ages, as it encourages creative exploration and allows for unique, handmade projects.
These tools can be used to create a variety of fun projects such as cards, bookmarks, trinket boxes, and more.
Moreover, the recommended age of 5 years and up means the kit is versatile enough to engage both younger and older girls.
Grow ‘N Glow Terrarium Kit
The Grow ‘N Glow Terrarium Kit for kids is packed with amazing features for young botanists to explore and enjoy! The kit includes everything you need.
Perfect opportunity to combine the fun of arts and crafts with science for creative and screen-free activity.
Cross Pendant Necklace
A cross pendant necklace is a popular and meaningful choice for faith-based Easter baskets.
It is a stylish and symbolic way to express one’s faith.
The simple design makes it a timeless item and is a popular choice for teens and adults alike. It is a great way to show your devotion to Christ and to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Kindle Paperwhite
This is something we have purchased before for our kids.
It is such a hit!!
We prefer the paperwhite version over the Kindle Kids.
Spot It Classic Card Game
The Spot It! Classic Card Game is a fun, engaging game for the whole family.
It works by having players search for matching symbols or pictures on cards.
It is an excellent option for an Easter basket for young girls because it encourages critical thinking, visual perception skills, and fine motor skills. It also develops quick reflexes and helps players hone their observational skills.
Squishies Squishy Toy
Squishies Squishy Toys are excellent stress relievers and are great for improving blood circulation in the hands.
These Squishies Squishy Toys make great Easter Basket ideas for girls because they are not only fun and cute to look at, but they are also very safe to play with.
Additionally, they are small enough to fit into Easter eggs and baskets without taking up too much space.
Butterfly Garden
This pop-up, reusable habitat is 11.5 inches tall and made of mesh to allow for easy viewing of butterflies as they go through the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. It also comes with a feeding dropper and instructions for setting up the habitat.
Watching the caterpillars grow and morph into butterflies is a fun and engaging activity that can teach children about the beauty of the natural world and the life cycle of butterflies.
Make sure to order caterpillars separately! https://amzn.to/3YIM2Uy
Easter Lego Set
The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 White Rabbit is a great Easter basket idea for boys because they can enjoy building the 258-piece rabbit, complete with a carrot!
Plus, the set is compact, making it easy to stow away for later use. Not to mention, it’s perfect for the Easter season, with its cute bunny and carrot design.
So, your child can have fun building with their LEGO set and then decorate their room with the finished product!
Fidget Toys
Easter baskets for girls can be filled with a variety of fidget toys
Girls will love the variety of sensory toys in the set and they can use them to reduce stress and anxiety.
Plus, they trade them all the time! So, it is better to buy a bigger set!
Beautiful Hearted Women of the Bible: A Creative Mother-Daughter Devotional
This beautiful month-daughter devotional by Linsey Driskill is a creative and interactive way for moms to connect with their daughters ages 6-10 years old.
Simple step to help grow their relationship with God.
The bonus is quality time with your daughter digging into God’s word.
Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is a perfect Easter basket item for girls since it encourages them to explore their creative side and get outdoors.
As the chalk is washable, it’s also a safe and mess-free option to let kids express their creativity while having fun outdoors.
Furthermore, the vibrant colors of sidewalk chalk add a splash of color to any outdoor space and bring a lot of fun and excitement.
Temporary Henna Tattoos
Temp henna tattoos are an excellent addition to any Easter basket, as they are a fun, creative way for kids (and adults!) to add a special touch to their celebrations.
They’re great for adding a personal touch to gifts and can even be used to dress up Easter eggs or other decorations.
Plus, they are a safe and non-toxic alternative to permanent tattoos, meaning they won’t cause any lasting damage to skin.
Personalized Beach towels
Why not be in style with a personalized beach towel?
Choose your favorite design, add your own text, and let us do the rest.
You can be sure that your towel will make a statement at the beach this summer.
I Spy Easter Book
The I Spy Easter Coloring Book is a popular Easter basket idea for girls because it provides a fun and creative way to celebrate the holiday.
This book is packed with easy-to-color illustrations, featuring bunnies, eggs, chicks, and other Easter themed treats, on single-sided pages that prevent bleed-through.
With its inspiring Easter themes, this activity book is sure to spark creativity and imagination for toddlers.
Easter Bubble Bath Bomb
Bath bombs are a fun way to get clean and enjoy a spa-like experience at home.
They come in all different flavors, but the most popular is probably the bubble bath bombs. These bombs are filled with a variety of scents and ingredients, including bath salts, oils, and even toys.
When you drop them into a hot bath, they form small bubbles that burst and release.
Non-toxic Nail Polish
An Easter nail polish basket is a popular gift idea for girls.
Look for nail polishes that are usually free of harsh chemicals, vegan and cruelty-free, and eco-friendly, making them safe for all ages, including young children.
The Easter nail polish basket is a popular gift idea for girls because it provides them with a fun and safe way to express themselves and decorate their nails with vibrant colors and designs.
Facial Sheet Mask
Facial sheet masks are a popular Easter basket idea for girls because they are an affordable and easy way to enjoy a variety of skincare benefits.
A facial sheet mask is a skincare product that is made from natural ingredients such as shea butter, aloe, tea tree, peppermint, green tea, and lemon, among others.
Not to mention, they are a fun way to show your skin some love and pamper yourself.
American Girl Doll
There are many different American Girl Dolls to choose from, the options are endless.
You can fill the baskets with different types of clothes, shoes, and accessories. They can also be personalized with the child’s name.
Self Love Journal
Journaling is one of the best practices we can teach our girls.
Positive affirmations work wonders! Our brain is so powerful.
This is a gift you will not regret.
Glitter Double Line Outline Pens
The Glitter Double Line Outline Pens feature vivid metallic silver color surrounded by colored borders.
These pens have a unique technology that produces outlines for you automatically to create a beautiful dual-color effect.
The pigment ink is waterproof, chemically stable, and UV resistant, making them perfect for crafts, cards, and other creative projects.
The Armor of God – Teen Bible Study Book
This highly acclaimed bible study by Priscilla Shirer is what teen girls need today.
Learn how to overcome the war raging around you – in your mind, in your emotions.
Make an action plan for putting on your armor and developing a personalized strategy to secure victory against the enemy.
Selfie ring light
Yep, this is exactly what every teen wants!
A selfie ring light is a device used to take selfies, video chat, and live stream videos. I
It also comes with an adjustable phone holder and a weighted tripod, making it easy to take pictures no matter where you are.
Selfie ring lights are popular gifts for Easter baskets because they make it easier to take great selfies in dark areas or whenever natural light is not available.
Crossbody Purse
It is a popular Easter basket idea for girls because of its convenience and versatility.
The faux leather material and small size of the bag make it a stylish and comfortable accessory that can be worn with just about any outfit.
All in all, a crossbody purse is a great Easter gift idea for girls of all ages because of its stylishness, convenience, and versatility.
What stuffed animals can I include in a girls Easter basket?
A girls Easter basket should include an array of plush stuffed animals!!
Here are the most popular:
Personalized Hop ‘N Cuddle Plush Bunny
Squishmallow
Melissa & Doug Burrow Bunny Rabbit Stuffed Animal
FAQ
Girls are more likely to want the frills and ribbons than boys!
A themed Easter basket is a great idea and there are so many fun and creative themes to choose from.
Consider a princess-themed basket with items like princess jewelry, nail polish, art supplies, and a unique tie-dye beach towel.
Or, think of a pool-themed basket with a beach tote, sand toys, and a colorful beach towel.
Make the basket even more special with a few extra touches like a colorful bow or ribbon, a few Easter eggs, or a special note.
With these step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to create a custom Easter basket for your girl that she’ll love!
Are there any Easter basket stuffers specifically for girls that are non-candy items?
Indeed, there are!
From glitter and sparkles to fun friendship art, you can find a wide selection of unique non-candy Easter basket stuffers for girls.
There are so many little fillers you can choose from!
Easter baskets for girls come in a variety of styles and colors, from bright pinks and pastels to custom designs.
From cute gift baskets with lock and key to sporty sparkle backpacks, there is something for every girl.
No matter what kind of Easter basket she’s looking for, you’re sure to find something special for every girl.
Time to Shop for Easter Bunny Baskets
We hope this guide has given you some inspiration for the perfect Easter basket for the special girl in your life.
Shopping for Easter should be fun for your daughter, nieces, or granddaughter.
The ideas are endless and open to inspiration based on their personalities.
You can be sure you’ll find the perfect Easter basket for the special girl in your life.
Don’t forget ideas for boys’ easter baskets!
Happy Easter!
Oh, and don’t forget those Easter basket stuffers!
So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
You’ve found the perfect apartment. It’s got everything you want — parking, amenities and spacious closets. Even the apartment grounds are nice… at least they were. There are few things more frustrating than a pet owner who neglects to clean up. Not only is pet waste unsightly, it can also ruin a decent pair of shoes or stink up your car if you don’t notice you’ve stepped in it.
While most apartment communities have rules and regulations on pet waste, sometimes there’s just one neighbor who won’t play ball. So what do you do when you’re reaching your breaking point?
Know Who It Is? Try a Friendly Chat
If you’ve noticed your neighbor being slightly “forgetful” about bringing out the baggies, and other people are left to clean up after dog waste, try a friendly chat. Mention that you’ve noticed the issue and it’s bothering you. Keep calm and keep it friendly. With some apartment communities levying fines for irresponsible pet owners, the problem person might be glad you talked to them directly instead of going to the apartment manager.
Mystery Culprit? Talk to Your Apartment Manager
If you’ve spoken to your neighbors and can’t figure out who the culprit is, it’s time to enlist the aid of your apartment community manager. They’re invested in keeping the property beautiful too, and will probably be happy to help you. Some of the ideas you can suggest include:
Baggie dispenser near the site
Baggie disposal garbage can nearby
Signs reminding residents to clean up after their dog, and of the consequences if they don’t
Reminder emails to residents
Print Your Own Signs or Reminders
If you and your neighbors are having difficulties, try printing your own signs that remind to clean up after your dog. You can find plenty of downloadable signs on the web that you can easily print, laminate and then hang near problem areas.
Join Your Neighborhood Group
When there’s an issue in your neighborhood, there’s nothing better than rallying your neighbors. Try joining groups like Nextdoor, or see if your community has a Facebook group where you can discuss community issues. You might be surprised to find that some of your other neighbors are also having issues with the very same thing.
An irresponsible pet owner who won’t clean up after his or her dog can be frustrating. But there are things you can do to help alleviate the problem. Have you ever had to deal with an issue like this? How did you handle it? Let us know below!
Few topics bring about more extremism than that of gold investing. For some reason, gold brings out strong opinions in investors, with many concluding that gold is a “barbaric” relic of old times that should be avoided, or those who believe it’s a magical metal that will always beat inflation and is going up, up up.
Earlier here at Bible Money Matters, I wrote an article explaining why I like to own some gold. Now let’s look at the other side of the coin — why being a gold bug is probably a horrible approach to investing.
First, a disclaimer: I own a substantial amount of gold, and plan on always owning the same percentage. I’ll explain more in a bit. First…
What Is a Gold Bug?
A gold bug is someone who is extremely bullish about gold. Many gold bugs have always been bullish on gold — regardless of who is president, what congress is doing, what the money supply looks like or anything else.
The sort of investor who is a permabull for a single asset is going to be right sometimes — even for long stretches of time. But blind bullishness can be seen as the clock that has stopped working — even a broken clock is going to be right twice per day.
The Types of Gold Bugs
There are plenty of different incarnations of the gold bug. Here are a few of the more apparent ones:
The Paranoid Bug. Some people are horrified, and are convinced this is the end of the world as we know it. I believe they’re only partially right — we’re going to see some massive political upheaval and economic changes of the next few years, but rarely is complete paranoia justified. More money has been lost betting on the end of the world than has been lost betting on the world going through a rough patch and then mostly recovering.
The Get-Rich Bug. Some people believe that since gold has made money for investors for the last decade, then it must be the easiest way to get rich possible. These folks are interesting to watch, because they’re usually the last ones to leave an asset — and do so when it finally crashes from bubble peaks. Being greedy is the most efficient way to go broke.
The Inflation Bug. The inflation bug is someone who believes that hyperinflation is right around the corner. While they might be eventually true about hyperinflation, these bugs are almost always off. Since the 90s, I’ve read countless articles predicting hyperinflation within 24-36 months. Plenty of bugs also predicting the dollar would completely collapse when we left the gold standard. They were also wrong — at least by a 3 or so decades.
The Hard-Assets Bug. Some gold investors like gold because they can touch it. These same investors are traditionally more open to real estate, farm land, scram metals, and other hard assets. While there’s nothing wrong with hard assets, you have to remember — hard assets can crash too. Both gold and real estate both have.
There are plenty of different gold “bugs”, but these generally cover most — and often with some overlap. Now, let’s look specifically at the investment strategy of skepticism — something every investor should have a healthy dose of.
Why I’m a Faithful Skeptic
I am first and foremost a Christian. This means I understand that the future is never certain. There is absolutely no such thing as a sure thing — except that which God causes to happen. And when it comes to pretty much anything related to money, that means you absolutely can’t be certain about the future.
In James 4 (NIV), we read:
“‘Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”‘
This is humbling. It shows the foolishness of those who in 1998 were explaining that the future was perfect, rosy, and the Dow was going to triple every few years. It shows the foolishness of those who put all of their money into gold back in early 1980, thinking they would get rich — just to see their wealth collapse.
We’re puny humans. We can never know the future. That means putting every dime into a particular asset is a risky move that generally doesn’t work over time.
That’s one of the reasons in Ecclesiastes 11, the richest man in history wrote:
“Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”
What This Means for Gold
I run a website about gold, and enjoy investing in it. It’s been easy to profit during a massive gold bull market. But I spend more time convincing readers to not put too much into gold than I do anything else — for the same reason putting all of one’s money into stocks or cash or bonds is a bad idea.
The future is unknowable, and diversity is the key to long-long-term profits.
There are plenty of strategies that are based on this. One is the “Permanent Portfolio” strategy, which I partially use. The notion is that if you put 25% in gold, 25% in stocks, 25% in bonds, and 25% in cash, you’ll never get destroyed by a sudden crash — unless it’s an entire system crash.
People who have used this strategy have done fine over the last decade and a half, and will probably do fine in the future. I personally invest with 20% in each asset except for stocks — I put 40% in stocks. This allows me to know that a bull stock market will be just as profitable when it happens as the gold market has been.
More Specific Evidence of Bugs Gone Wrong
Finding a forecast by a gold bug who predicted gold would hit 5-10k per ounce by now isn’t hard.
Almost every pro-gold blog has several such articles. While some predictions are cleverly vague (for example, saying “in the future”, rather than “within five years”), the point should still be obvious — bugs of any sort have rarely been right for long, and have rarely been right consistently.
Less Greed, More Caution
A good investing strategy is one that doesn’t necessarily rest on certain dramatic forecasts too come true — optimistic or pessimistic forecasts. This can take the form of several strategies, like mixing stocks with bonds and slowly changing the balance — or by mixing gold and even real estate into the mix.
Perhaps the simplest reason to not be a “bug” for gold is that being a “bug” for anything is very risky and not a good idea. A single decade of no-returns can take a lifetime to recover from — and the boring investors who focused more on diversity and stability will probably out-earn most of those who lost their hair when the markets crashed.
Stay cautious, don’t be arrogant about future markets, and remember that “you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”
We all know it’s hard to find a mortgage with zero down these days. You can thank everyone who got one a few years ago for that. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Heck, post mortgage crisis, most borrowers have to go with FHA loans if they’ve got little in the way of assets for a down payment, as the loan program allows financing with just 3.5 percent down.
But not all hope is lost for zero down. And you don’t have to travel to some distant planet to find it. In fact, it’s now available right here on Planet Earth.
Are You a Space Traveler?
One little known perk to being an astronaut
Is the ability to get a zero gravity err.. down mortgage
You may not even have to travel to space to get one
All NASA employees including those on the ground are probably eligible
If you travel to outer space often, or live with someone who does, you might be able to get your hands on a mortgage with zero down. This is one of the little-known perks afforded to astronauts, other than exploring new worlds and traveling at 18,000 mph.
That’s right; the folks over at the NASA Federal Credit Union are offering a so-called “High Loan to Value Mortgage” for a limited time to its people.
The “unique loan” allows 100 percent financing for loan amounts up to $650,000, and does not require costly private mortgage insurance (PMI is typically required for loans with LTVs over 80%). However, even when not charged, it’s typically priced into the mortgage rate. So compare the rate to other products.
For those spacemen and spacewomen with loan amounts between $650,001 and $850,00, they are offering purchase money mortgages with loan to value ratios up to 95 percent. Still pretty good given the current lending environment.
The program also offers cash out refinancing up to 95 percent loan-to-value up to $650,000 (and 90% cash out from $650,001 up to $850,000).
But financing is only available for primary residences in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
As expected, the loan program is only available to well-qualified applicants, such as those with good credit and steady income.
It also makes me wonder how much we’re paying our astronauts. Are they not making enough to set aside cash for a down payment? Doesn’t seem fair given the tremendous value they’re providing to us simple Earthlings.