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Apache is functioning normally

By Peter Anderson 11 Comments – 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 March 26, 2014.

Last night I was watching a great set of video interviews by Adam Baker over at ManVsDebt.com with other popular writers, bloggers and world travelers.  I can’t link to the videos because they’re actually part of his great new premium e-book package that he’s offering called “Sell Your Crap“. ( I started reading the e-books in the package last night, and if you’re looking for some creative ways to get rid of your clutter, or tips on selling on eBay, Amazon or Craigslist, his e-books have some great tips and tricks for you to use.  The videos are definitely worth it as well. Highly recommended.  Sell Your Crap E-book – Clutter Crusher Edition)

In any event, in one of the videos I was watching Adam interviews J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly fame, and asks him about falling prey to consumerism, and if things have changed since he has gotten his finances under control, and started earning a better income.    Basically – is it harder to not fall prey to consumerism when you can afford to buy things more?

J.D.’s answer might be surprising to some in that he didn’t think it was harder for him to avoid buying things he might want now.  He talked about how in the past he did fall prey to a voracious appetite for buying comic books, and all the shiny new gadgets that came out.   The problem was, that all of the things he would buy would just turn to clutter.  He would buy all the new comic books that came out, but he would only read certain ones.  The rest would just sit in a box in the corner.  Essentially it was a waste of money.

After J.D. got his finances under control, and was better able to afford things, he realized that while he still wanted to buy certain things that he enjoyed, he didn’t want all the clutter and baggage that went along with buying everything, and buying just out of habit.  Instead he developed a laser-like focus that honed in on a few things that he would like to buy, and he would buy those.  Instead of buying 10 new comics, he would buy only 1 or 2 that he knew he would read, and forgo the rest.

So for J.D., the keys to avoiding the temptations of consumerism, even though he had the money to spend included:

  • Realizing that buying things comes with baggage like debt and clutter
  • It’s OK to buy things that you enjoy, especially if you have the money.
  • Have laser like focus, and don’t buy everything that you think you might want.  Figure out what you like best, and buy that only

Is It Harder Not To Spend, When You Have The Money?

While J.D.’s story really got me thinking, it’s still an interesting question to ask. For a majority of people, is it harder not to buy the things that you want, and fall prey to a high consumption lifestyle if you have the money to spend?  Or does having more money to spend go hand in hand with having better financial discipline, and thus not falling prey to consumerism as easily?

I know for me, our family income has gone up substantially in the last couple years, and we can afford to buy more things than we used to.  To be honest, I have probably bought more things that I wanted during that time than I did in the past, but I haven’t necessarily gone out of control – cluttering up the house or creating debt.  I’ve only paid cash for everything, and the things that I’ve bought tend to be high quality, things that will last for years.

I think for me it was harder to not fall prey to consumerism when I didn’t have any money.  I would use credit cards to pay for spring break trips, and buy the newest game console on my plastic.  In a way, buying things was a coping mechanism, and an escape towards a better life I was dreaming about.  The problem is, the things you buy can far too often take over your life, and the dreams of a more prosperous life they came with, can often turn into a curse of debt and despair.

So what do you think – would it be harder for you to not fall prey to consumerism when you can afford to buy things more?  Or have you overspent more often on things you don’t need when you didn’t have the money to spare?  Tell us your thoughts in the comments.


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Source: biblemoneymatters.com

Apache is functioning normally

Last Updated on March 29, 2023 by Mark Ferguson

Houses that need repairs often can be bought below market value. I base my investing strategy on buying houses below market value and financing those properties, which is not always easy. When you buy a house that needs repairs, many lenders will not lend on that house if the repairs affect the livability of the home. Whether you are an investor or owner occupied buyer, repairs can cause a deal to fall apart. This is why cash offers are so attractive to many sellers who have a house that is in need of work. If you are an investor or an owner occupied buyer there are ways to get a loan on a property when it needs repairs; even extensive repairs.

Why can’t you get a loan on houses that need work?

Most lenders will use FHA guidelines to decide what condition a home needs to be in order to loan on it. That means all major systems like the plumbing, electrical and heating need to be in working order. The roof needs to be in good condition and there cannot be any holes in the walls or floors. FHA used to require flooring to be in good condition, but that is no longer the case. All the carpet can be missing from a home and it will still go FHA. The tricky part is that not all lenders go with exactly what FHA requires.

An FHA loan is federally insured by the government and is a big reason why owner occupants can buy homes with little money down. Conventional loans are loans that are not federally insured or sponsored by any government agency. There are many types of conventional loans and many different requirements on conventional loans depending on who the lender is. Some conventional loans will require everything FHA requires, some less and some more. My lender will not require any repairs to be made on homes that are in horrible condition. If you have one conventional lender that will not loan on a home, that doesn’t mean another conventional lender will have the same guidelines.

There are other loans that are sponsored by the government like VA and USDA. Different states also have loan programs that will have varying requirements. Most government loan programs will have the same or stricter requirements than FHA.

Loan options for different sellers

There are many options to work through lender required repairs. Your choices will differ depending on if you are an owner occupant or an investor. The first strategy is to ask the seller to make repairs so the home is in livable condition. What situations allow the seller to make repairs?

Traditional seller

If a seller is selling a home for retail value, they usually expect to make repairs if the lender requires them. To get top dollar for a house you have to have it in livable condition. For those of us that want a great deal, we are usually dealing with sellers that want to sell quickly without doing any repairs. The better deal you are getting, the lower the chance the seller will make any repairs.

REO properties:

REOs are foreclosures that are owned by the bank. Some REO sellers will make repairs and some will not. The decision to repair or not is usually made on a case by case situation based on how much work is needed. Many REO sellers will say a home is sold in as-is condition, which indicates they will not make repairs. However, some REO sellers will still make repairs if required by the lender.

HUD Homes:

HUD will not make any repairs under any circumstance for lender required items. HUD does have a program to allow FHA buyers that I will discuss later. If you are an investor and your lender requires repairs to be made, you will have to cancel the contract or find a new lender.

Short sales:

Most short sale sellers do not have a lot of money. If you know a short sale needs work and your lender will require things to be done before closing, there is a great chance the work cannot be done. The sellers are receiving no money in most short sales and they don’t want to spend any more money on the house.

Auction sales:

Don’t expect to have any repairs done on auction properties. Properties that are sold at auction are almost always sold in as is condition and will not be repaired.

Know what the bank requires before writing an offer on a house that needs repairs

When you are shopping for a house you should have already talked to a lender and you should know what condition they will require a home to be in. If you are using a conventional loan on a HUD home and the water can’t be turned on, but your lender requires the water to be turned on, guess what will happen? The contract will fail. If a short sale needs $10,000 in work for you to get a loan, the deal will probably never go through. On an REO or a traditional sale, repairs may or may not be made by the seller. Don’t expect HUD or an REO seller to make repairs because your lender requires it.

What if you will live in the house?

If an owner-occupant wants to get a loan on a house that needs repairs, but the seller won’t repair the home; the deal is not always over. HUD offers a program for FHA buyers that allows them to escrow for repairs and add the repairs into the buyer’s loan. HUD’s program is called the FHA 203b loan. It can only be used on HUD homes and the repairs are less than $5,000. This escrow cannot be used on any other type of loan like VA or conventional. For repairs over $5,000, there is an FHA 203k loan that can be used on any house. This loan can have an unlimited amount of repairs but will take more time to close and have more fees. FHA loans are only available for owner occupants.

What if you are an investor?

An FHA 203k rehab loan is not available to investors, which makes it harder for an investor to deal with homes that need repairs. That doesn’t mean investors are out of luck when buying homes that need work. I buy homes that need a lot of work all the time and I get loans on almost all of them.

I use a portfolio lender that does not have any repair requirements for homes that I buy. I can buy houses with bad roofs, bad heating, and my lender does not even require the utilities to be on. Not all portfolio lenders have the same requirements with repairs, but many will work with investors much more than the big banks. My portfolio lender has saved many deals for investors and owner-occupants whose original lenders would not lend on a house because it needed too much work.

It is sometimes possible to escrow repairs. In some cases, you can escrow the repairs so that they are done after closing as an investor. The terms and chances of this happening all depend on the lender. Usually, the lender will escrow for minor repairs but may be hesitant to escrow for major repairs.

There is also a Homestyle Fannie Mae Renovation loan that investors can use to repair houses after they close. This loan is like the FHA 203k loan but meant for investors.

If you are an investor and your lender will not loan on a house that needs repairs and the seller will not make repairs; don’t give up. Search for a local portfolio lender who might have different guidelines and will give you a loan.

Hard money lenders

Another option for investors besides portfolio lenders is hard money lenders. Hard money lenders will be much more expensive than conventional lenders and they offer short-term loans; usually less than one-year terms. Hard money usually works better for fix and flips, because of the short loan term. Hard money lenders may be a decent short-term solution for rental properties, but you will have to refinance the loan very quickly.

Conclusion

Getting a loan on houses that need work is tough, but it is not impossible.  An owner-occupant has many more options to buy houses in need of repairs, but an investor should be able to work around repair issues as well. Buying houses that need repairs is one of the best ways to get a great deal on an investment property.

My book Build a Rental Property Empire, goes over the BRRRR method, and, more specifically, financing properties that need repairs. It also covers how to find deals, finance rentals, manage them, and much more! It is available as a paperback and ebook on Amazon or as an audiobook on Audible.

Build a Rental Property Empire

Categories Real Estate

Source: investfourmore.com

Apache is functioning normally

I have a particularly exciting home tour for you today – because it’s a tour of another room in our house! You’ve seen sneak peeks of this space (here & here) when my design was still in process, but over the past couple of months, I worked with One Kings Lane to finally bring the whole room together. The final result is exactly what I was looking for: a classic, timeless space with a modern touch.

I’ve waited a long time to have a formal dining space. Years of apartment living and 4-person dinner parties definitely put a cramp in my entertaining style. Finally having a dining room gives me what I’ve longed for – a spaced dedicated to bringing people together over good food. I had a strong vision for the room and was thrilled to learn One Kings Lane had a Design Studio and in-house designers who could help bring my dream room to life. I met my designer, Chelsea Conrad at the San Francisco Studio at One Kings Lane. I came armed with my reams of pins – mostly of Parisian pre-war apartments – and Chelsea immediately got my vibe. Witha firm design plan crafted, I was able to set Chelsea out to source the perfect pieces – and she was certainly successful.

Her first find, and possibly my favorite piece in the whole room, is the dining table. It’s an eight-foot long beauty made of reclaimed pine in a soft ash stain. The lighter hue and ornate trestle base keep the table from looking too rustic.

Such a stately table required equally substantial chairs. We tried a variety of options but many dining chairs felt dwarfed by the dining table’s heft. The traditional Louis XVI-style chairs,  that were ultimately selected as our final winners, are stately with nice tall backs that help balance the room’s proportions. I also love how the chairs juxtapose classic detailing with chic black leather upholstery, adding an unexpected edge to the room. The black gives the chairs a glamorous update, while the weathered wood brings the formality back down a notch. And perhaps most importantly, they’re really comfortable.

The dining room is long, rectangular and relatively narrow, but there are little nooks on either side of the fireplace – perfect spots for having a little fun. To the left of the fireplace, I repurposed shelving I used in my old Apt34 studio to house a selection of my tableware collection. After years in this blogging business I have quite a lot. I intentionally kept the color palette neutral and muted. I didn’t want the bookcase to feel too busy. A few of art books and a vintage portrait add some additional texture. I’m also a sucker for a good occasional chair and the high-backed piece placed next to the shelving spoke to me immediately. Right now a shot of my husband holding our son when he was just days old takes prominence of place against the chair-back. I love leaning art rather than hanging it on the walls. It gives a space a more relaxed, undone feel. It also lets you play as your mood and decorating whims change!

When it comes to setting the table, my love of contrast continues. I like a mix of natural organic elements like woven placemats, bouquets of eucalyptus and natural edged dishes, all paired with my modern black flatware. Did you spy the marbleized vases, both on the table and on my bookshelf? Obsessed!

I wanted to bring in some bench seating to both soften the room and break up the formality of the table. I fell in love with the texture and rounded corners of the linen tufted bench immediately. By matching tones in different finishes you can create depth and interest in a room without having to bring in color. The bench also the perfect soft spot for my toddler to scramble up and sit at the table. He loves to “talk” with the rest of the adults.

One of the biggest challenges with this room is proportion. The 12-foot ceilings seem to dwarf things so finding furnishings with just the right scale became key. I firmly that is where you can benefit from outside design expertise the most. You can probably pull together color palettes or identify the style of things that you like with relative ease, but if the scale of your furnishing don’t work together, the whole room is thrown off. To help deal with our crazy ceiling height Chelsea chose a sideboard with tall, narrow legs and a surface that sits higher than the dining table. It draws the eye up. I also love that the sideboard has ample closed storage, allowing me to keep even more of my serveware in the dining room without adding clutter or breaking up all the clean lines. An étagère likewise adds lift to an empty corner.

I firmly believe that you cannot entertain without a proper bar area. On the opposite side of the fireplace from my book shelf, we leaned a floor mirror (which adds depth to the narrow room and also bounces around even more light) and then placed a vintage-inspired – fully stocked bar cart. I love the mixed metallic finishes and the nod to the historic elements of the house.

All told, I couldn’t be happier with how this room came togehter. It’s now a place we not only gather for parties but for nightly family dinners and I often take up refuge for a power blogging session! Because the dining room is connected to the rest of the house it is a key part of the heart of our home.

For a peek at the dramatic before of this room CLICK HERE

For the entire feature on the room’s design CLICK HERE

To shop this space on One Kings Lane CLICK HERE

And if you want to get a really personal view of how the space came together check out the One Kings Lane instagram account at 11:00 AM PST TODAY! I’m going to be doing a live tour of the room – eek!!

photography courtesy of one kings lane, photography of The Studio by OKL delbarr moradi 

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Source: apartment34.com

Apache is functioning normally

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 9, 2014  |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Holly of The Work at Home Woman

It’s no secret that Americans are foodies! In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spent an average of $6,602 a year on groceries and eating out alone (source).

If you’ve been looking to launch your own home-based business and you love to create culinary delights here are 5 different food careers to consider:

1. Teach Cooking Classes

Do people always rave about your cooking? Then perhaps you should launch a home-based cooking class business. Gather individuals or small groups of people in your home and teach them how to cook or bake like a pro.

Don’t want to mess with a business plan and all the logistics of setting up a business? Consider joining Healthy Hands Cooking. It’s a home-based franchise that certifies instructors to teach kids how to cook healthy meals and snacks. Start-up fees are minimal and include training, certification, marketing tools, business materials, as well as ongoing support.

2. Create Gourmet Goodies

Are you a whiz in the kitchen? Then consider starting your own gourmet food business. Foodies not only love to consume delicious goodies, they also make make great gifts! From fancy gourmet sauces and treats, to healthy and specialty snack items.

Set up your own website or use an e-commerce platform like Foodoro and you’re ready to start selling your custom treats.

3. Become a Direct Sales Consultant

Would you love to own your own cafe or bistro but don’t have the funds to invest in a brick and mortar storefront? No problem. The direct sales industry has made it easier than ever to have your very own home-based business within the food industry.

Companies like the Traveling Vineyard, Tastefully Simple, and Dove Chocolate Discoveries offer home-based business opportunities selling products like wine, gourmet mixes, spices, desserts, chocolates, and gift sets.

As a direct sales consultant you will be paid a commission on each product that you sell. Most direct sales companies will also pay you a small bonus commission from consultants who you refer into the program.

4. Start a Food Blog

Do you enjoy writing? Do you love to test out new recipes? Then join the ranks of Julie Powell, who set out to cook all the recipes in Julia Child’s cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Not only did Julie’s blog quickly generate a huge following, but she went on to the write the bestselling book Julie & Julia, which was later turned into a movie. While you can make money through book sales, bloggers can also make money through direct ad sales, affiliate marketing, as well as working with brands.

Tip: Read more on how to make money blogging here.

5. Food Stylist

Do you have an eye for detail? Then working as a food stylist may be your calling. Food Stylists prep and prepare food items for displays, cookbooks, photo shoots, advertisements, and menus. Becoming a Food Stylist requires knowledge of the culinary industry as well as additional training or apprenticeship.

Denise Vivaldo, a seasoned food professional with over 27 years of experience has created workshops and classes for those who are interested in this field. You can also check out her book on Amazon, The Food Stylist’s Handbook.

For more information on ways to make money, visit The Work at Home Woman, where you can read about topics like how to make money completing short tasks, selling your used stuff online, and businesses you can start with no money.

photo source

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Source: moneysavingmom.com

Apache is functioning normally

In my recent review of Pam Slim’s Escape from Cubicle Nation, Chett left the following comment:

I was talking with a good friend last week who is self-employed. I told him I envied his entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to “go it alone.” He told me he envied my work as a teacher and the set hours and guaranteed pay check and insurance. (I told him there was nothing “set” about the hours, so I guess we both misunderstood each others work.)

So many people dream of working for themselves and only find out the true benefits and heartaches after they make the leap. Take you for instance, what do you miss the most from the box factory in terms of security, or interaction? What bothered, (or motivated) you the most to drive you to self-employment and what have you learned about your decision over the past year and a half?

In the same thread, Caitlin wrote:

Every time I real an article like this I wonder if I’m really that unusual because I love my job. I’m a molecular biologist, and it’s just not something I could do on my own…I’ve had a small side business for over 5 years. In that time, interesting and educational though it was, I’ve learned that I don’t particularly want to run a business.

I am not one who believes that everyone should be an entrepreneur. I think there’s a sort of continuum: Some folks should absolutely work for somebody else, others should definitely work for themselves, and many should do a little of both.

Although I tend toward entrepreneurial endeavors, I don’t consider myself a die-hard entrepreneur. The best job I ever had was actually flipping burgers at McDonald’s when I was in high school. I’m not kidding. I loved that job. My fellow employees were smart and fun. Together, we made serving burgers and fries a game; we tried to do the best job we could. Our manager was great, and she fostered this attitude instead of stifling it with bureaucracy.

Since then, I’ve had jobs I loved and jobs I hated, and many that just paid the bills. I’ve also tried self-employment twice: once as a computer consultant, and now as a professional blogger.

Here are my responses to Chett’s specific questions:

What Do I Miss From the Box Factory?

I miss daily interaction with my family. My father began the business almost 25 years ago, and since then there have always been several family members involved with the daily operations. I also miss talking with my customers. As much as I disliked the actual sales portion of my job, I genuinely liked many of the customers I dealt with. I find myself wondering how Robert is doing, and whether Lance finished building his house.

There is almost no social aspect to the life of a professional blogger; I sit here alone in my office typing all day. While this is intellectually challenging, I miss seeing people and being a small part of their lives. This is one reason I’ve struggled with my restaurant spending over the past year. I often go out to lunch simply to be near other people. It’s also one reason I rented office space.

Note: Trent and I both discussed this loneliness on last Monday’s episode of The Personal Finance Hour. How bad does this loneliness get? Very bad. It’s Thursday afternoon as I write this. A couple of hours ago, I had a near panic attack from the loneliness. No joke. To cope, I came down to the coffee shop for a couple of hours.

What Motivated Me to Self-Employment?

There were a couple of things. First, I did not like my work at the box factory. I did not like sales. I wasn’t good at it, it didn’t interest me, and I found it frustrating.

Meanwhile, I wanted to write. I’ve always wanted to be a writer; I just never knew how to make money from this desire. When I stumbled into personal-finance blogging, I was startled to learn I could make an income from it. It seemed natural to make the leap to professional blogger once that income sustained at a level that could support me.

What Have I Learned About My Decision Over the Last Year-and-a-Half?

There’s a difference between blogging as a hobby and blogging as a job. When you’re blogging as a hobby and the income is “extra” income, the process is fun. It’s a lark. But when you throw the switch and it becomes your sole means of making a living, some of that fun vanishes.

I still love what I do — no question — but sometimes I feel as if I’ve lost the spontaneity I used to have. That’s one reason I’m hoping to reduce my workload around here a little. I’d like to pursue other projects: write a book, dabble with other blogs, possibly promote financial literacy education.

There’s a lot of pressure when you are required to generate your own income. Sure, there’s pressure when you work for somebody else, too, but there’s also a sense of freedom. You’re not responsible for the daily decisions. And if you don’t like the job, you can leave. Plus, the actual source of income is not your responsibility.

I often think that working for somebody else is like renting an apartment; working for yourself is like owning your home. Both have their rewards, but they each have drawbacks, too.

Conclusion

As Caitlin mentions, not everyone is cut out to run a business. It just doesn’t interest them. My wife is a perfect example. Kris loves her job. It’s challenging and fulfilling, and she enjoys the interaction with her co-workers. She has no desire to strike out on her own.

As always, I think it’s important to do what works for you.

Now I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever been self-employed? Did you love it, or did you hate it? What prompted you to pursue entrepreneurship? What do you envy about those who work for somebody else? Or, if you work for somebody else, are you content with where you are, or do you envy about the self-employed? What is it that keeps you doing what you’re doing?

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

From pillows and baskets to geometric accent rugs, these brands have what you need to dress your home in sustainable style. So grab the popcorn, cue up Netflix, and slip into your jammies. It’s time to get comfy under your new favorite throw. Ahhh—welcome home!

Note: Not all brands are 100% vegan. When shopping, be sure to check materials for things like leather, wool, etc.

This Black-owned furniture brand not only carries the furniture you need, but they also stock the perfect accompanying design pieces. Find everything from lumbar pillows and candles to square pillows in colors like Indigo, Amber, Seafoam, and more. Their 18 x 18 Square Pillow boasts 100% recycled water bottle filling and a recycled and upcycled fabric cover. Now that’s sustainable home decor!

Courtesy of Sabai

Nothing says sustainable design like an upcycled cotton throw from Hilana. The Fethiye Striped Blanket Throw is perfect for tossing over a chair or storing in a basket beside your sustainable sofa. Hilana also stocks tablecloths—like the Andana Striped and Kayseri.

Courtesy of Hilana

We love AmourLinen for their waffle design pillow covers and throws. Choose from muted shades like Sage, Cream, Mustard, Dusty Lavender, and Charcoal. If you like the drapey look, go with the blanket instead of the throw, and use it as a boho-style sofa cover. While you’re there, check out their sheet sets, duvet covers, and more.

Courtesy of Amour Linen

Take a look at Korissa’s accent rugs boasting natural or renewable materials. These eco-friendly designs are perfect for siding up next to the kitchen sink while you cook up all those delicious vegan culinary creations. The brand also stocks matching pillow covers. And that’s not all! You’ll find plant baskets, woven bowls, hampers, and more. While Korissa is working on phasing them out, please note that some products still contain leather tags.

Courtesy of Korissa

First, grab a good book. Next, choose a super-cozy, slub cotton pillow from Pillowpia. Lastly, enjoy the rest of your afternoon. You’re welcome. Select from the Minerva, Linus, Gemma, and others. The brand offers a variety of sizes, designs, and colors to fit your needs. They also stock baskets, wall art, and macrame plant hangers.

Courtesy of Pillowpia

Prepare to get your cozy on at Zuahaza. Find pillow covers, throws, rugs, and baskets that add a stylish, elegant, comfortable touch to your design. Try the Manglar Euro Pillow Cover, the Sumapaz Large Throw, the Bagotá Area Rug, and the Monserrate Basket Tray. And that’s just for starters! Next, we’re headed to the brand’s kitchen collection for placemats, table runners, and more.

Courtesy of Zuahaza

When it comes to sustainable home decor, find what you’re looking for at Variously. Toss a couple of their pillows on your sofa (like the Chokor Nira Brown), add a throw (Reyti Ochre Organic Cotton, maybe?), and you’re good to go.

Courtesy of Variously

This vegan-friendly brand stocks a good selection of recycled plastic and cotton rugs. Find runners and area rugs in addition to both indoor and outdoor designs. Some also have the convenience of being machine washable!

Courtesy of Fab Habitat

From throws and pillows to candles and diffusers, Sunday Citizen has what you need to complete your design look. Choose pillows in lumbar, mini, body pillows, and more. As for throws, we’re crazy for the Faces Throw in Grape-Lavender.

Courtesy of Sunday Citizen

Will & Atlas is the place to go for jute rugs, baskets, and storage. We suggest filling the Rectangle Tray Baskets with a collection of vegan cookbooks or adding some fresh fruit to the Palm Leaf Woven Bowl. Sustainable home decor for the win!

Courtesy of Will And Atlas

At Indego Africa, you’ll find everything from placemats and coasters to pillows and floor baskets. Check out their Ikat & Indigo Pillow, their Tall Banana Leaf Floor Basket, and others. All designs are handcrafted by groups of artisan women in Rwanda and Ghana.

Courtesy of Indego Africa

Celebrate color and design at Casa Amarosa! From their Aakar Modern Tiles Accent Pillow to their Celestial Throw Blanket, they have what you’re looking for. Need rugs? They’ve got those too! We’re looking at you, Triangle Jute rug.

Courtesy of Casa Amarosa

Keep your shelves cute with storage bins and baskets from Open Spaces. These work great in the bathroom for towels and toilet paper, in the bedroom for books, and in the living room for just about anything! We love this brand for sustainable home decor.

Courtesy of Open Spaces

Head to Azulina Home for bathroom design. The Cali Olive Bath Mat pairs nicely with your favorite plush towels and fluffy slippers. These handcrafted rugs look great and feel nice underfoot. The brand also offers pillows and door mats.

Courtesy of Azulina Home

At VegOut, we curate the best of the best vegan products, so you don’t have to. Our picks are all selected by our amazing team of writers and editorial staff. We may earn commission if you purchase one of these great products by clicking the links above.

Source: vegoutmag.com

Apache is functioning normally

Our semi-regular series on motherhood is back today and I’m particularly excited about this post. While we’ve tackled weighty motherhood-related topics in past posts (breast feeding, co-parenting, self-care, the election) this post is touch different – because we’re talking about books!

Now some moms might be sharing their favorite parenting books, but since I’m always on the hunt for good children’s books (and haven’t found the time to actually read any parenting ones yet – whoops) I’m focusing on books for the littles. Because they really are books for us too. We’re the ones reading them after all!

Surely, the world of children’s books is nearly endless but some books really do stand out from the crowd. And my definition of good is not as straightforward as it sounds. To classify a kid’s book as worthy it has to be visually appealing with lovely illustrations, have a truly good story, be well written (for the most part) and not drive me absolutely bat-sh** to read it for the 1,000th time. I’m tellin’ ya, it’s a tough bar. Pete the Cat does not make the cut. But I’ve managed to begin building a collection of kids books that both I and my kiddo equally adore. To the point where he has half of them nearly memorized. And wants to read each a minimum of three times in a row, stretching evening storytime into a freaking hour, but I digress. Because these books don’t suck, I’m ready and willing to do it.

To remind, I now have a toddler one my hands, so these are not board books. He’s just trustworthy enough to flip through the pages on his own. While I’ve found some good board books I love, classics like Go Dogs Go and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, I haven’t found as many board books that I also find truly compelling. If anyone has any recs, I’d love to see them!

1. Almost an Animal Alphabet by Katie Viggers. This alphabet book takes the ABCs to another level. Charming illustrations, actually interesting information about animals and a hidden joke or two make me smile every time we read this book.

2. Ish by Peter H. Reynolds. Ish might just be my favorite children’s book I’ve read thus far. A truly sweet story about a little boy who loves to draw, but his joy is stymied when he’s teased. But through a lesson, from a younger sister no less, little Ramon finds his love of art again. Delightful illustrations and great life lessons make this book a true treasures.

3. Home by Carson Ellis  Home is a wonderful visual story about the definition of just that, home. Be it a nest, an apartment, a pasture or wigwams or boats, this book celebrates how and where all beings live. The illustrations soar above my bar and the diversity of places keep you guessing and the little delighted. It’s a winner.

4. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. If you’re looking for a book that will crack you up virtually every time you read it, I Want My Hat Back is certainly one. The humor is most definitely adult, but the illustrations keep the kiddos engaged. They might not get the joke in the end, but that almost makes it more fun. This one is also short. Always a bonus when wine is calling. (am I bad mom??)

5. Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts. If books that rhyme start to make you crazy after a while, Iggy Peck will save you. While written in verse, the story of a little boy who falls in love with architecture is witty, entertaining, and truly fun to read. You’ll love the pictures, you’ll love the message. There are also sister books, Ada Twist Scientist, and Rosie Revere Engineer are equally great.

6. I’d Know You Anywhere My Love by Nancy Tillman. This story is about a mother’s love for her children, but told through eyes of a child playing make believe. If your little loves animals this is a perfect book. It communicates a monther’s devotion while also empowering the child to use their imagination. It also introduces uncommon animals like the Blue Footed Booby. I just adore it.

7. We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen. This is the only book on my list from the same author that I mentioned before. The language in these books is so simple (would be good for early readers). The illustrations are a crack up. And there’s another wonderfully adult joke at the end. It’s a gem.

8. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfeld Martin. This is another uplifting little tale about parents’ love for their children. I love the modern, dare I say hipster-esque illustrations. There are great messages for littles about caring, empathy, creativity and joy. There’s a fun little flip out section that makes my little guy say wow. It’s got all the pieces you need for a book both they and you’ll love.

I’m so excited to be raising a little reader. There is nothing more satisfying then seeing my little plop down and pick up a book all on his own. Or recite snippets of the books we read frequently. Books truly do open a child’s mind, inspire, teach and entertain.

I can’t wait to add even more to my little guy’s library with all the other Mamas’ recommendations! Check them out below.

The Refined Woman / Ave Styles / Sacramento Street / The Life Styled / The Effortless Chic / Freutcake / Sarah Sherman Samuel

For our entire Real Talk / Real Moms archive CLICK HERE.

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Source: apartment34.com

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What is renters insurance and why should I consider it?

As of 2019, roughly 36% of U.S. households were living in rental properties, meaning that a large percentage of the population opts to rent instead of own. While renters don’t own the property they live in, it’s still important to have some protection in place, which renters insurance, also referred to as an HO-4 policy, can provide.

A comprehensive renters insurance policy can help cover your personal belongings, liability exposure and additional living expenses, should your home become uninhabitable due to a covered event. Purchasing renters insurance is typically easy and the premiums are usually affordable compared to many other types of insurance. If you’re in the market for renters insurance, here’s what you need to know before purchasing a policy.

What does renters insurance cover?

Renters insurance can cover numerous situations, depending on the endorsements that you add to your policy. However, the main coverages on a renters insurance policy are:

  • Personal property coverage: This coverage is designed to pay for your damaged or destroyed belongings after a covered loss. Covered personal property generally includes your furniture, clothing, household items and some electronics.
  • Liability coverage: Your liability coverage may pay for medical bills and your legal fees if you are found at fault for someone’s injuries or damage to someone’s property.
  • Additional living expenses: If you are unable to live in your rented home or apartment after a loss, this coverage could help pay for the cost of a hotel and other expenses, like laundromat services or pet boarding. Living expenses coverage only covers the necessities. You should ask your insurance agent to see what exactly is covered when you purchase your policy.

You may also have the option to add additional coverages, like identity theft coverage, pet liability coverage and scheduled personal property coverage to your policy. If you are not sure what coverages you should consider, talking to a licensed agent could help.

Most renters policies also exclude damage to your personal items caused by earthquakes and flooding. While earthquake coverage can often be purchased as an endorsement, you may need to buy a separate policy if you live in a high-risk area. Flood insurance is most commonly offered as a separate policy, although a few companies offer endorsements or include this as a coverage option.

How much does renters insurance cost?

Renters insurance costs, on average, about $179 per year, per Triple-I. However, the cost of your renters insurance policy will vary based on several factors, including how much personal property coverage you purchase, the level of liability coverage you select, what additional coverages you choose and your claim history.

What states offer renters insurance?

Renters insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. However, states that have a high density of renters, such as California, New York and New Jersey, may have more active renters insurance markets with more companies and endorsements to choose from.

Renters insurance is not just for those who rent apartments. Renters in condos and homes also have the option to purchase renters insurance. In warmer states like Florida and Georgia, homeowners may choose to rent their homes out for part of the year if they live elsewhere. The renters who occupy those homes can also purchase renters insurance policies to cover their belongings and liability exposure.

What companies offer renters insurance?

There are numerous renters insurance companies on the market, but your options will depend on what state you live in. Not all companies are available nationwide, and not all companies offer renters insurance in each state where they operate. If you are looking for the best renters insurance company, you may want to get quotes from these providers:

  • Geico: Renters who want to handle their policies digitally may want to consider Geico. The company has one of the most highly-rated apps in the industry.
  • Progressive: If you are looking for a highly customizable policy, Progressive could be a good choice. The company offers a long list of optional coverages, including water backup and personal injury.
  • State Farm: Renters looking for an in-person agency experience might want to get a quote from State Farm. The company has over 19,000 agencies across the country.

How do I save on renters insurance?

Although renters insurance is generally much less expensive than homeowners or condo insurance, there are still ways to reduce your premium.

  • Bundle your policies: If you also have an auto insurance policy, consider bundling your renters insurance with the same insurer — you might earn a discount on both policies.
  • Install protection devices: If your apartment has smoke alarms, a carbon monoxide detector or a home invasion alert system, you might save money on your policy.
  • Consider how you pay: If you can pay your annual premium in full, you might save money. If you do need to pay in installments, many companies offer discounts if you sign up for an automatic withdrawal.
  • Increase your deductible: Your deductible is the amount you will pay out of pocket if you file a claim. Generally, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Just be sure to choose a level that you can afford to pay if you file a claim.

Every insurance company is different, so discussing your policy with a licensed agent could help you find additional ways to save.

Frequently asked questions

    • Everyone’s situation is different and purchasing any kind of insurance policy is a highly individualized decision. Renters insurance is not required by law in any state, but a landlord has the right to require tenants to purchase a policy. However, even if you are not required to carry coverage, renters insurance does typically offer quite a bit of coverage for a relatively low cost. If your budget is particularly tight, you may be able to take advantage of discounts to lower the cost of a renters insurance policy while still getting valuable coverages.

    • The process of purchasing renters insurance is generally simple and there’s typically no waiting period, which means you may be eligible to get coverage on the same day you apply. For most people, the first step to getting a renters insurance policy is to obtain quotes from multiple insurance companies. Most companies offer personalized quotes online or by phone, or you could visit a local agency to speak to an insurance agent about your needs. During the quote process, you typically need to provide personal information, like your name, address and date of birth. This information can help determine the options and levels of coverage that are right for you. Once you have chosen a renters insurance policy to purchase, a representative will discuss the next steps. You may need to sign an application, and you will probably need to make at least one month’s payment for your policy to be active.

    • Because there are several insurers that offer renters on the market, you may not know where to start your search. Determining what kind of coverages you need and what features you want — like a digital app, 24/7 customer service or a live agent — may help you to find carriers that fit your needs. You can then request quotes from several companies to compare prices, coverages, discounts and features.

    • If you rent out a property, you may want to consider a landlord dwelling policy. This type of policy covers the structure of the home, detached structures and any personal property that you provide for the home (such as furniture). Your renters should consider purchasing a renters insurance policy, though, because a landlord dwelling policy does not provide any coverage for renters’ possessions.

      If you operate a short-term vacation rental, you may want to speak with your insurance agent to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Your short-term vacation rental tenants likely will not need a renters insurance policy. If they already have a homeowners, condo owners or renters insurance policy, their personal property coverage should transfer to a short-term rental, just as it would transfer to a hotel room.

    • That depends on the situation. Your pets are generally not considered personal property, so damage or injury to your pets is not typically covered by a renters insurance policy. For that, you need pet insurance. However, your liability coverage may cover damage or injury that your pets cause to others. However, some dog breeds and exotic animals are often excluded, and any animal that you do not disclose to your insurance company could also be excluded from coverage. Discussing your pet with your insurance company is often the best way to confirm your carrier’s guidelines.

    • Yes, renters insurance is a common policy. There are about 109 million renters in the United States, and most financial experts agree that renters insurance is a prudent purchase. Because of the prevalence of renters in the country, many different insurance companies offer renters insurance.

Source: thesimpledollar.com

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When it comes to the active vs. passive investing debate, to me, it’s a no-brainer: I’m a passive guy.

My entire portfolio consists of a couple of broad-market stock index funds and a bond fund. I don’t own any individual stocks and zero funds that try to beat the market. I stay invested in good times and bad and I ignore my portfolio as much as possible, except for annual rebalancing. (In practice, this means I look at it once a week. Thanks a lot, Mint.)

I invest this way not (just) because I’m lazy, but because I believe the evidence is overwhelming that a passive approach will outperform the vast majority of active investing strategies over time. Yes, over any given period, some active funds will outperform by a little and a select few will outperform by a lot — they’ll sail through a bear market smelling like honey.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know ahead of time which will be the winning funds and you might end up selecting one of the big losers. Oh, and index funds cost less. That means more money for me and less for a money manager.

As Rick Ferri puts it in his book The Power of Passive Investing, “There’s only a low probability that any fund will achieve superior returns. While it’s possible, it’s not probable.”

Or take it from author Bill Bernstein: “The debate between active and passive management is like the debate between astrology and astronomy,” he said in a recent interview.

As you can tell, I’m convinced of the superiority of index funds and passive investing to the point of smugness, so I thought it would be good for me to talk with someone who fundamentally disagrees. Jerry Webman is the chief economist at OppenheimerFunds and author of the new investing guide MoneyShift: How to Prosper from What You Can’t Control. He dedicates an entire chapter of his new book to building an intelligent argument against my style of investing, and the book is witty and engaging.

Webman and I didn’t have time to hash out the entire classic active/passive investing debate, so I wanted to focus on one of his favorite topics: emerging markets. These markets now account for about one-quarter of the stock market wealth outside the U.S., and we both agree that it’s important for a portfolio to own stocks from emerging economies like Brazil, India, and China. We disagree about the best way to do it, though.

An emerging discussion

MoneyShift argues that most investors, including index fund investors, are missing out on buying opportunities in emerging markets. “Emerging markets is one of the places where it’s easiest to make the case for bottom-up active management,” Webman told me. “You really do have many companies that are not carefully followed, maybe not well-understood, and a careful manager takes the time to figure out what the real market for the company is, and how they fit with the regulatory environment in which they have to work, which might not be fully evolved.”

“It would be foolish to surrender the emerging markets portion of your portfolio to a dumb index fund,” Webman argued. “I want somebody who’s taking a really careful look at it,” he said. “There’s a lot more value to be added by someone who’ll go and do the research in less-understood and less-invested markets.”

To put it another way, it’s hard to learn anything new about an S&P 500 company. Those are the 500 biggest U.S. companies — everyone has heard of them and thousands of analysts scrutinize them all day long.

But who’s keeping an eye on, say, the Peruvian stock market? One manager who takes the time to understand Peru and how to read annual reports from its companies might be able to make a ton of money from insights that would be totally lost on a U.S. stock analyst.

This argument seems intuitively correct. However, I remembered the same argument being made about investing in small companies (aka: “small-caps”) in the United States: the market was less efficient, there was less public information about the companies and the stocks traded less heavily, which meant more opportunities for active managers to make money.

But it didn’t actually work out that way. As Standard & Poor’s put it, “over the last decade, SPIVA has consistently shown that indexing works as well for U.S. small-caps as it does for U.S. large-caps.” SPIVA is Standard & Poor’s Indices vs Active Funds scorecard, which twice a year compares the performance of passive index funds with actively managed funds.

More on that in a moment…

Webman said there are important differences between U.S. small-caps and emerging market companies: In the US, “you do have financial reporting that’s well-established. You have good protection for minority shareholders and you have all of the things that you might not have in an emerging market company.”

I wondered whether SPIVA could help answer this question: in emerging markets, is it better to own a dumb passive index fund that buys all the companies it can, good and bad, or to turn your money over to an expert manager who carefully researches and selects the best companies from each country?

The answer

Well, it’s not even close. Over the five-year period ending in December 2011, only 17% of actively managed emerging markets funds outperformed their benchmark index. Since an index fund hugs the benchmark index as closely as possible, buying the index fund would have put you near the top of the heap. This is typical: it’s difficult to find any five-year period in any investment category where the index fund didn’t trounce most of the competition.

Webman is skeptical of this kind of raw statistical analysis. “I worry about looking at averages,” he said. “It turns out a lot of so-called active managers aren’t so active. And it does look like results are better for active managers who really actively manage their portfolios.” He added that just looking at the number of funds that outperformed doesn’t tell you how much money outperformed. Maybe those few winning funds are actually the biggest funds, which means the average active investor is doing just fine.

Again, this argument sounds reasonable: who cares if most funds don’t beat the index? As long as I can identify a fund that will, I’m golden.

Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that there’s any way to identify the best performers ahead of time, aside from sheer luck. SPIVA also measures performance persistence and the results are appalling. “Very few funds manage to repeat top-half or top-quartile performance consistently,” says the report, which some consider an understatement. For example, in U.S. small-cap funds, less than 4% of funds stayed in the top category five years in a row. They didn’t look at emerging markets funds, but there’s no reason to expect a different result.

High bias

Let’s stipulate that everyone involved in this conversation is biased. Jerry Webman is an executive at a Wall Street firm that sells actively managed mutual funds, S&P is in the business of selling indexes, and I have my life savings in passively managed index funds and am unlikely to go out dragging the river for convincing evidence that I’m investing like an idiot.

If you think Webman is right and I’m wrong, however, I’d like to hear about it.

And let me give Webman the last word: “I think what makes markets is, we’re all going to look at several different kinds of conflicting evidence and come to different conclusions.” I couldn’t agree more.

Matthew Amster-Burton is a personal finance columnist at Mint.com. Find him on Twitter @Mint_Mamster.

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