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Apache is functioning normally

Last Updated: February 11, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner – 48 Comments

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When I originally wrote this article, we had no offers on our home and we were feeling somewhat negative about it. However, last week we accepted an offer on our home and it’s scheduled to (hopefully) close in July. 

It’s been nearly four months and our house hasn’t sold yet.

We’ve had exactly 30 showings and great reviews, yet no offers.

Not even a single lowball offer.

Our home is priced quite competitively and below comparables, so we are afraid to lower the price any further.

We are already going to lose money with what our home is priced at now so we are currently wondering about other possible options. I knew selling a home would be stressful, but I didn’t realize that it would be this stressful. Many ideas have been going through my mind but it’s hard to decide what the best decision is.

Below are some of the things we have been thinking about possibly doing since our house hasn’t sold yet.

Make a temporary decision.

There are many decisions we could make just for the time being.

We could take our home off the market temporarily to see if our neighborhood experiences a rebound. Temporarily doing this could be risky though as our neighborhood could lose value over time instead of gaining value.

However, there is a chance that our neighborhood could go up, which would mean that we might not lose as much money if we were to rent it out while we waiting for it to rebound.

Move back home.

Of course, one of our options is just to move back home since our house hasn’t sold yet. Right now we are just renting in Colorado, so we do have the option to move back home at the end of our lease.

This isn’t the ideal situation as we didn’t move ALL the way out here just to move back to St. Louis one year later. However, this is most likely our best choice as well as the most realistic one if it doesn’t sell.

Moving back home would also get rid of a lot of the worries that go along with the options below.

Rent our home to long-term renters.

We are debating renting out our home on a long-term basis. We could most likely find long-term renters somewhat easily and I definitely think we could charge more than our mortgage payment each month.

We wouldn’t get rich from renting it out to long-term renters, but it could be enough to cover our mortgage and possibly one day even pay it off and keep it as a rental forever. There also wouldn’t be a ton of work involved, at least not when compared to renting it out to short-term renters.

The major downsides of renting out our home on a long-term basis would be if we had bad renters and the fact that we would be long distance landlords. We might need a property management company and if we did that then the revenue from the monthly rent would be much lower.

Rent our home to short-term renters.

On the other hand, we could also think about renting out our home on a short-term basis on a website such as Airbnb, VRBO, or Homeaway. This would also allow us to have a place to come back to, which would be very nice.

The major downside to doing this is that we are so far away and it would be hard to manage something like this from states away. This is because someone would have to clean up after each stay, restock items such as toilet paper, and so on. I’ve also searched and there are no companies in our area that offer property management for vacation rentals either.

Drop the price significantly.

We originally priced the home below what we bought it for back in 2009, and we’ve dropped it since it’s been listed as well.

The last and least fun option would be to just drop the price until someone bites, but that would mean losing a significant amount of money.

However, the plus side would mean that the house would hopefully sell quicker. This is not an option I would ever want to take but it does exist…

Have you sold a house before? Did you ever feel panicky about whether it would sell or not? What would you do if there were no offers on a home you had for sale?

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

Evelynn Escobar, spends most of her time in nature with her one-year-old Isla. She describes her decor style as youthful, expressive, colorful, and fun. “Simply, it’s giving tasteful inner child,” she says. As the founder of Hike Clerb, an intersectional women’s outdoor club, Evelynn has approached motherhood as a “natural extension of the life [she] had already created for [herself].” So her approach for home decor was no different. Inspired by the shadow work required to parent mindfully, Evelynn’s space evokes a warmth and whimsy that is indicative of the process of “surrendering to the journey and embodying what it means to be a mother, to be a cycle breaker, to rid myself of the limiting self beliefs placed on me,” as she wrote in a recent post on Instagram. “Absolutely everything changed from the moment I knew I was carrying Isla.” 

And Isla, who she affectionately refers to as a “GeminIcon,” enhanced Evelynn’s journey as a new mother, but also her design choices. “We buy the pieces she may need developmentally, but in general we’re not doing major changes often because we [had already] added things into the space with growth in mind,” she says. “We already had curated a fun bright vibe for our space and Isla’s little knickknacks fell right in line with that!” 

For Mai Nguyen, a mother of two under two living in Houston, Texas, there’s no tension in the interplay between kids’ objects and decor. “We let her mess around with anything with supervision,” says the designer and founder of Iamai. The I Chair, a sleek and playful dining chair that is made of solid walnut, was created with this in mind. “She climbs on it,” Mai says in regards to her daughter Aaliyah. “We make sure she understands and respects the furniture.”

Mai Nguyen’s carefully curated living room is a place for both rest and recreation.

Photo: Josh Aranda

Mai’s daughter Aaliyah gazes out of their bright kitchen window.

Photo: Josh Aranda

Kristy Scott, a social media personality, digital creator, entrepreneur, and mother of two sons under the age of five, juxtaposes her humorously playful social media content with modern, monochromatic and minimalist decor—which notably consists of a white Restoration Hardware Cloud sectional sofa. This has been her aesthetic of choice since before she had her first child. Instead of swapping her style, and the sofa, for practicality post-baby, Kristy opted for easy to clean modular decor which stays white because of machine washable slipcovers and Ruggable rugs. “To fit [the style] I like, I had to get the white,” she adds. Kristy’s advice is to “get the durable items in the colors that you want.” As for the interplay between colorful kids’ toys and her preferred decor palette, Kristy offers another solution: lots of storage. “They are everywhere,” she says of the multiuse storage pieces placed throughout her home. 

Ashley Lennon, mother to baby boy Sunny, relates to the necessity of storage pieces. Her lifestyle brand Museum of Peace and Quiet designs simplistic objects for everyday use—a commitment to “a clear state of mind.” Ashley and her husband Christion share a “love for design and minimalistic things,” so they gravitate toward vintage midcentury pieces and “rare objects that you find while traveling.” As a result, a lot of research goes into selecting pieces for their Orange County home. “If I’m looking at a storage unit I always think about pieces that serve more than one function.” Ashley considers, “How do I get the most out of this piece that I’m about to invest in?” Sustainability, therefore, is at the heart of her approach to design.

Source: architecturaldigest.com

Apache is functioning normally

Balancing work, your social life, friends, family, church, and staying in shape on top of a full-time work schedule is insanely difficult.

Everyone is trying to find ways to save money, eat healthy, and carve out more time for themselves in their insanely busy schedules. 

Meal prepping is the perfect solution. No more unhealthy takeout on the way home and no more work lunches that add up to thousands of dollars a year. 

Meal prepping can help you save time, money, and help you to eat healthy along the way. 

The problem is meal prepping can be difficult if you don’t know your way around the kitchen. 

These meal prep resources can make meal prep way easier. They’ll help you to find recipes, plan out your meals, get more variety in your diet, and save you time along the way.

Some of the resources are specific to certain diets while others focus on general health while saving you money. 

Here’s a list of the best meal prep resources to use this year!  

Best Meal Prep Resources To Use

Whether you’re a meal prep newbie or looking for more meal prep resources to spice up your game, we’ve rounded up the best meal prep resources to use in 2020. Blogs, websites, social media accounts, you name it, we’ve got the resource on the list.

Read on to find out more about why each of these resources made it onto our list of top picks. 

Blogs / Websites

If you do a quick meal prep recipe search online, the results can be more than a little overwhelming. Where do you even begin when your search results yield millions of results? We’ve got a starting point for you. These blogs and websites are some of the best meal prep resources to use in 2020. 

1. Meal Prepify

I’ve spent the last 8 months trying to create the most epic meal prepping blog that exists. We curate recipes from all over the food blogging community to create resources for anyone trying to save money, eat healthy, and get more time to do what they love. 

Whether you’re looking for keto breakfast ideas, air fryer recipes, or you want to eat vegetarian, we can help you get started meal prepping. 

2. Meal Prep Mondays

Do you think that meal prep must require hours and hours of time? Then, you don’t want to miss Meal Prep Mondays.

This site is designed with busy people in mind. Why the focus on Mondays? The site creators believe that the purpose of meal prep is to set yourself up for success with the week ahead. The focus is on healthy eating at a budget-friendly price point.  

3. Budget Bytes

Budget Bytes has been around for over a decade, and there’s a reason for it. Actually, there are thousands of reasons. Beth’s site features some of the tastiest recipes we’ve seen and provides a detailed breakdown of the cost as well.

As an added bonus, the site is super viewer-friendly. It’s easy to navigate, and their Latest & Greatest feature will have your mouth watching in no time. 

4. Meal Prep On Fleek

Meal Prep On Fleek is an excellent site that even offers a meal prep master course. The purpose of the course is to teach people everything they need to know about meal prep while integrating the importance of mindset and healthy living. 

If you need one more reason to check them out, it’s their pizza chicken recipe. The dish went viral, and it’s no surprise why. It’s a super simple dish that is prepped in one pan. It’s a great go-to whenever you’re craving pizza. 

5. Renaissance Periodization

Meal prep is all about finding menu options that fit your lifestyle. If fitness is your focus, you want to get to know Renaissance Periodization. The site features templates, coaching, and even a diet app to help you meet your fitness goals. Plus, check out their advice for meal prepping on a budget. If you think healthy food is too pricey, their tips will have you reconsidering. 

6. Mashup Mom

This one is for all of our Aldi fans out there. Of course, you can find many of these ingredients at other stores, but there’s something about the magic of Aldi. And let’s not forget their fantastic prices.

Mashup Mom makes meal plans for real life, and her inspiration is the Aldi weekly flyer. Cook along with her using current sale items or dig through her archives for more Aldi-inspired meal prep. 

YouTube

Let us share a little secret with you. YouTube isn’t just a place to find funny videos. It’s actually a fantastic search engine that connects viewers to some of the best meal prep resources online. The best part is that if you find one video you love, there’s a good chance you can subscribe to the creator’s channel for similar content.

Let’s take a look 

6. Fit Men Cook 

Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook promises healthy meals that are never boring, and he delivers on YouTube. These meal prep resources are perfect for men and women who want to focus on eating well while minding their money. ?

Each video includes links to meal plans, grocery lists, and recipes. To get a taste of his channel, check out his video on $75 meal prep using Amazon Fresh. 

7. Downshiftology 

Downshiftology is an excellent resource for everyone, especially people who are focused on following gluten-free diets. Her content isn’t exclusive to meal prepping, but she does have every season covered with meal prep ideas.

If you want to sharpen your skills with healthy basics, this is a great source for that as well. After all, mastering zucchini noodles and cauliflower rice should make meal planning that much easier. 

8. Caitlin Shoemaker

Maybe you think vegan food is boring and bland. Or maybe you think it’s expensive and hard to make. Caitlin Shoemaker’s channel is about to set you straight.

Check out her vegan meal plan videos to see everything from on-the-go ideas to tips for serving up $3 meals with Trader Joe’s ingredients. 

It’s perfect for everyone, whether you’re a long-time vegan or simply trying to test out more meatless options. 

If you aren’t vegan, but want to clean up your diet, then my friend Bethany can help you find ways to eat more vegetables even if you hate them. 

9. Mind Over Munch

Mind Over Munch is the resource for you if you want your recipes served with a side of straight talk. Alyssia knows that eating healthy can be hard, and she’s here to help.

With video names like Easy Healthy Meal Prep in One Hour, she speaks our language. Food that tastes great, is good for you, and comes together in a snap is something that we can (and do!) subscribe to. 

10. Lemonade Mom

Lemonade Mom knows that most of us are short on time. To save us all from ourselves (and our local fast food restaurants), she shares some of the best meal prep ideas on her YouTube channel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all covered thanks to her easy slow cooker freezer meal prep videos. 

She even features ideas on how to make Dollar Tree ingredients work into your meal plans in ways that are both budget-friendly and healthy. 

Instagram accounts

Don’t let the fantastic photos fool you. You don’t have to be a master chef to consult Instagram. In fact, there are plenty of Instagram accounts that are excellent meal prep resources for people who are just getting started.

Here are some Instagram meal prep accounts that we love. 

11. Food Prep Princess 

Food Prep Princess is meal prep royalty for good reason. Her Instagram account features a ton of different meal prep ideas, and she also takes the time to showcase ingredient lists and shopping trips that make her meal prepping successful. 

Her highlights are overflowing with helping Stories, showcasing everything from individual recipes in action to some of her best prep rituals. 

12. Meal Prep Daily

What will you find at Meal Prep Daily? In addition to tons of meal prep ideas, there is plenty of advice for people who are just getting started or want to step up their meal prep game. The account also features fitness ideas and fun content. 

If you want a laugh, check them out! Plus, this account even has a dedicated Stories Highlight about meal prep basics called Meal Prep 101. 

13. The Girl on Bloor 

The Girl on Bloor is a self-proclaimed fit foodie. But don’t think that her Instagram account is only for master food preppers. There’s something for everyone. Her Highlights focus on fit foodie essentials, including meal prep tips, slow cooker recipes, instant pot ideas, one pan meals, and low carb essentials. 

She also does a terrific job proving that meal prep is anything but boring. She often spotlights ways to mix up ingredients, such as her mashed, loaded, and roasted sweet potato post. 

14. Damn Delicious

Damn Delicious is no stranger to being featured on our site. She’s churned out two terrific cookbooks, her website is fantastic, and she has a must-follow Instagram account.

Come for delicious recipes like her cilantro lime chicken thighs and stay for the most adorable Corgi content online. 

15. We Love Clean Food

We Love Clean Food is based in Dublin, Ireland and is dedicated to showcasing what clean eating and meal prep looks like in real life. In addition to getting a behind-the-scenes look at what meal prepping looks like in action, the Instagram account also takes a deeper dive into specific meal ideas and recipes.

If you love cheap and easy keto recipes, then this is the account to follow. 

Communities

What if you could find an entire community of people to brainstorm, troubleshoot, and connect with over great food? You can! Thanks to Reddit and Facebook, there are meal prep communities popping up all over the place.

Check out the ones that made our list of best meal prep resources for 2020. 

16. Meal Prep Sunday Subreddit

Don’t let Reddit intimidate you! Even if you’ve never been on the platform before, you will fall in love with this resource. Basically, Meal Prep Sunday Subreddit is a gathering of dedicated meal preppers who share ideas and inspiration with one another.

If you’ve got questions, they’ve got answers. Additionally, it’s a terrific spot to find new recipes. 

17. Meal Prep Ideas Facebook Group

Meal Prep Ideas Facebook Group is a public group that anyone can join. A quick scroll will leave your mouth watering and your mind spinning. People are very active in the group, sharing snaps of what they’re prepping for the upcoming week. 

In addition to gathering inspiration, you’ll often see people putting their own spin on recipes. This group is worth joining no matter how long you’ve been meal prepping. You’ll be surprised at the new tricks you can learn. 

Paid (But Awesome!) Meal Prep Resources

Don’t get us wrong. Free resources are ideal, and there are a lot of awesome free resources online. There are also a few excellent paid meal prep resources that we have to include on our list of best meal prep resources. The content they deliver makes them well worth the cost. We promise! 

18. $5 Meal Plans

Would you be willing to buy back your time for $5? If you answered yes, then this resource is for you. The purpose of $5 meal plans is to take the time out of meal planning.

For $5 a month, you receive a weekly hand-crafted meal plan that feeds your family healthy and tasty options for $2 per person or less. Over 35,000 people use $5 Meal Plans, and you can try it for free for 14 days!

Source: biblemoneymatters.com

Apache is functioning normally

It’s almost spring, you guys. I don’t know about the weather in your neck of the woods, but that’s a welcome thought where I’m at, and I live in Texas!

(Northerners, feel free to make fun of my idea of a cold winter. I don’t care. I did not sign up for anything colder than highs of 50 degrees.)

At any rate, I’ve been on a cleaning and organizing kick, a bit of early spring cleaning, if you will. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Maybe it’s that the days are getting a little longer and that we’ve finally had some consistent sunshine around here. And those might be the reasons we spring clean in the first place, according to TLC’s How Stuff Works:

“Ultimately, spring cleaning may have more to do with simple biology. During winter, we’re exposed to less sunlight due to shorter, often dreary days. With a lack of exposure to light, the pineal gland produces melatonin — a hormone that produces sleepiness in humans. Conversely, when we’re exposed to sunlight, our bodies produce much less melatonin. It’s possible that we spring clean simply because we wake up from a winter long melatonin-induced stupor and find more energy as the days grow longer when spring arrives. After all, it’s easy to allow a house to get a little gross around the edges when you’re sleepy.”

OK, I don’t know about gross. I am, after all, my mother’s daughter. Case in point: Last Christmas, my mother bought me a Roomba. And she did it because we had a lengthy conversation about how great it would be to have a robot vacuum for daily cleaning. In between real house cleaning, of course.

At any rate, when I awoke from my melatonin-induced stupor, I realized that my files, both physical and digital, were a bit of a mess.

Files, files everywhere

My husband and I are selling our vacant land, and we finally have buyers — yea! (Buyers who need things like our septic system design and copies of permits and title documents — boo!)

The good news was that I kept all of these things in a file folder. The bad news was that every scrap of paper related to the land was also shoved into that folder. So, I started organizing the file. That led to organizing our tax return files. Then I just did the whole stupid file cabinet.

Then I realized that some of my files live on the computer, like last year’s tax returns. But my digital file cabinet was a mess too, so I spent a few hours organizing those files.

Not so fresh and so clean

I was quite proud of my gangsta organizing skills. I labeled stuff. I purged. I digitized the heck outta some documents. My files were pristine.

But then I read a report from Experian’s ProtectMyID, and my bubble burst.

Now, as a financial writer, I get a lot of reports and studies in my inbox. I trash most of them (you’re welcome). But this one caught my attention. It was about tidying up files to safeguard your finances and your identity. And the reason that it caught my attention was that I wasn’t doing a lot the stuff they said I should be doing. Gasp! My financial house was gross around the edges!

So, I demanded some answers. Or rather, I kindly requested an interview. Here’s what I learned from Becky Frost, senior manager of Experian’s ProtectMyID.

1. Shred like Steve Vai. Spring cleaning is a good time to get rid of things you no longer need, including old documents. “You probably have documents that you no longer need to keep, like old financial statements from 1992,” says Frost.

But don’t just throw them away; shred sensitive personal documents you don’t need to keep. “If a document has your current address or an account number on it, for instance, you should shred it,” says Frost. “I highly advocate having a personal shredder at home, and today they’re pretty affordable.”

What to look for in a shredder? One that crosscuts, says Frost. “You don’t want a shredder that shreds in strips, which are easy for a thief to tape back together.”

Also, for tax documents, check with IRS.gov to find out how long you need to hold on to records before shredding.

2. As seasons change, so should passwords. Want to hear something sad? I’m so bad at remembering my own passwords that I tried using one of those services like LastPass that remembers your passwords for you. Then I somehow got locked out of that too. This was what that looked like.

So point is, I’m good at setting unique, strong passwords. I just don’t remember them. And to throw another wrench in this operation, I just learned that I need to change my passwords regularly. Double d’oh.

“We recommend changing passwords with the change of every season,” says Frost, “but that’s not something that everyone likes to do.” No, everyone does not.

But Frost had an old-school suggestion for me that she says is perfectly safe in a digital world: Write your passwords down on a piece of paper. It sounded dangerous, but she says it’s “completely fine as long as you store that piece of paper in a secure location, like a locked safe box.”

Other password tips?

  • Passwords should have at least eight characters, including numerals, upper and lowercase letters, and special characters.

  • They should never be obvious, like part of your name or your mother’s maiden name. “Unfortunately, one of the top five passwords people use is still ‘password,’” says Frost.

  • You should have a different password for every account.

“Also, if you’re using something like a bank app, remember to log out of the app each time and to password protect your mobile device’s lock screen,” says Frost. “Don’t give a thief easy access.”

3. Clean out your wallet. Most of us know that you shouldn’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet. If you didn’t know that, get that thing out of your wallet! Ditto for passports, birth certificates, and anything with your Social Security number printed on it.

But Frost goes a bit further, saying that we should only carry what we need on a daily basis. “If you have multiple credit cards, only carry the ones you use most often,” says Frost. “Keep the others in a safe place, which means a box or a drawer with a lock on it.”

And the lock is important. Many times fraudsters and thieves turn out to be family members, friends, or employees, and not masked bandits. “Put a lock on the drawer so you won’t give people the opportunity to commit a crime in the first place,” says Frost.

Another reason to carry the bare minimum? You might lose your wallet. That happened to my dad last week, and he had to remember what was in it to figure out whom to call and what to cancel.

So, after talking to Frost, it seems that I still have some cobwebs to clean. But what about you? Do your files and accounts need a good spring cleaning? Also, I’d like to ask for your paper shredder recommendations, if you have any!

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

I am obsessed with the film Everything Everywhere All at Once. From the moment I saw the trailer, I knew the movie was meant for me. I was right. The film’s bizarre blend of action, philosophy, science fiction, taxes, and juvenile humor feels specifically targeted to me and my brain.

For those unfamiliar, here’s a quick plot synopsis.

Evelyn and Waymond Wang own a laundromat. Their business is failing, their marriage is fracturing, and so is their relationship with Joy, their daughter. During a meeting with the IRS, Evelyn is visited by a version of her husband from a parallel universe. He says that the multiverse — all of the many parallel universes — is under attack from an evil being named Jobu Tupaki, and Evelyn is the only one who can save it. The rest of the film is about Evelyn overcoming her skepticism and discovering her true power (and Waymond’s).

This trailer pretty much nails the mood and theme of the film. If this preview intrigues you, you’ll probably like it:

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Everything Everywhere All at Once is strange. Very strange. It starts mundane and boring, descends into madness, then ultimately ties everything together in some magical ways. Some people hate it. They can’t finish watching it. That’s too bad, because if you abandon the film during the boring part or the strange part, you never get to the magical part. The tedium and the madness are all part of the journey.

I’ve watched the film five times now (and will likely watch it a sixth later today), and I get something new from each viewing. The movie is rich. And detailed. And layered. In fact, it’s designed for repeat viewing (because frequently there’s no way to know something has meaning the first time through).

The reason the film hits me so hard, I think, is that its themes are aligned with things I’ve been ruminating over throughout 2022. While I was caring for my dying cousin during the spring, I reached some sort of nihilistic nadir. Like Jobu Tupaki, the movie’s “villain”, I decided that nothing matters, that life is inherently meaningless.

At heart, though, I’m a Waymond figure — and I always have been. It didn’t take me long to realize that even if life is inherently meaningless (especially if life is inherently meaningless), then it’s up to each of us to make our own meaning. And that kindness matters.

Then there’s the movie’s wild exploration of the multiverse. I’ve been exposed to this concept repeatedly in 2022, most notably in the novel The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, which has a plot similar to Everything Everywhere All at Once: a woman is trapped in a limbo state between life and death, where she explores the many alternate lives she might have lived.

It’s as if the universe is trying to beat me over the head with a message: “J.D., you bozo, you are not trapped by your current reality. If you’re dissatisfied with this timeline, it’s up to you to create a timeline you like better.”

Message received, Universe.

Designing Your Life

Last week, I re-read a book that helped me understand how to take this esoteric idea and do something practical about it. That book is Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. Ostensibly, Designing Your Life is about finding a career that fits you. In reality, it’s about looking at the multiverse and deciding which of the many available universes you want to live in.

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Fundamentally, Designing Your Life is a career book targeted at young adults. The material here is derived from a Stanford University course taught by the two authors.

Bill Burnett is the executive director of the Stanford Design Program (and was a part of Apple’s early laptop design team). Dave Evans is the co-director of the Stanford Life Design Lab and a very early employee of Electronic Arts, the videogame company.

Burnett and Evans aim to get students (and readers) to apply principles from the world of design to the process of planning their future. While sometimes this approach (and the terminology associated with it) feels forced, most of the time it works surprisingly well. In fact, I found this book was full of aha! moments.

What does a well-designed life look like? What does that notion even mean? “A well-designed life is a life that makes sense,” the authors write. “It’s a life in which who you are, what you believe, and what you do all line up together.” They call this alignment coherence, and I think it’s an excellent concept.

To build a coherent life, the authors encourage readers to practice five disciplines:

  • Curiosity. Curiosity, of course, is about being open-minded, about casting a wide net. The authors want you to explore, to be open to opportunity. Doing so will help you “get good at being lucky”.
  • Bias to action. It’s not enough to simply read and think about things. Burnett and Evans want you to act — even if your actions are imperfect. They want you to try things. They want you to fail over and over, because failure is the foundation of success.
  • Reframing. People get stuck all of the time, and often this “stuckness” is a result of an inability to shift perspective. Designing Your Life urges readers to reframe problems in order to remove barriers and circumvent perceived roadblocks. (Reading this book helped me realize I do a poor job of reframing problems in my life. I allow myself to stay stuck for far too long, in most cases.)
  • Patience. Design, the authors say, is a process. Life design is no different. “For every step forward,” they write, “it can sometimes seem you are moving two steps back.” They advocate what they call prototyping — testing new ideas and solutions. “Life design is a journey,” they say. “Let go of the end goal and focus on the process.”
  • Radical collaboration. Lastly, the book urges readers to seek help. Great design requires multiple minds tackling a problem. In designing your life, you want to consult with friends and family and mentors. You want to meet people and ask questions. You want to get input from people you trust.

Because this book is based on an actual college course, it’s filled with exercises. These exercises were quite clearly homework assignments for Stanford students, but for old folks like me they’re useful tools to gain clarity.

One exercise, for instance, asks readers to write a 250-word Workview (a short statement about what you believe work is for and what constitutes good work), a 250-word Lifeview (a short statement describing what you believe makes life worth living), then explore how the Workview and Lifeview clash and/or complement one another.

But the exercise I like the most in Designing Your Life makes me think of the multiverse.

The Many Versions of You

“This life you are living is one of many lives you will live,” write Burnett and Evans. “The plain and simple truth is that you will live many different lives in this lifetime. If the life you are currently living feels a bit off, don’t worry; life design gives you endless mulligans.”

To prove their point, they ask readers to visualize three versions of the future, to create three five-year Odyssey Plans.

An Odyssey Plan is like a roadmap to an alternate universe. It’s a vision of what your life might might like five years from now. And the authors want you to draft three of these so that you can see clearly that there really is a multitude of alternate realities from which to choose.

  • Your first plan, they say, should be based on what you currently do.
  • Your second plan should be the thing you’d do if the path you’re currently on suddenly vanished.
  • And the third plan should be the thing you’d do if money and/or image were no object.

I love this idea. And, in fact, I think of it as a missing link in my own work.

When I’m asked to speak, I generally talk about money and meaning. I lead audiences through exercises designed to help them find purpose in life. My end goal is to help people draft a personal mission statement.

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But I’ve always felt that my presentation lacks a certain something. Now I know what that something is: Odyssey Plans (or my own version of this idea). An Odyssey Plan helps to put a personal mission statement into action.

Let me give you a real-life example of what Burnett and Evans are after. (This isn’t exactly their exercise, but it’s the same idea.) Let’s look at three possible futures for me.

Future #1: Get Rich Slowly.
The authors say that your first Odyssey Plan should be built around your existing life. In my case, that means Get Rich Slowly. This works well because that’s my preferred plan, anyhow. I have a clear vision of what I want this site to be, and although my aims have been thwarted repeatedly over the past year, I have made progress toward the goal I have in mind.

In this preferred future, five years from now this site will have a clean, elegant design (which I’m currently building here) that puts the reader first. No ads. No tracking. No social media. No bullshit. The site will still feature this blog, of course, but the content will also be organized into sections that resemble “online textbooks” about specific areas of personal finance.

Meanwhile, I’d also like to build out the GRS YouTube channel to feature video versions of the most important articles. And somehow in all of this, I’d be grateful if I could earn an income. (Yes, I realize that’ll be difficult to do without ads.)

My preferred plan is to do what I’m doing now — but more of it…and more intensely.

Future #2: Preserving the Past
Your second Odyssey Plan should be something you’d do if your current work suddenly vanished. In many cases, that means you’d end up doing something similar to what you already do. For me, this is and isn’t true. If Get Rich Slowly suddenly vanished, I’d still write — but not about money.

The two months I spent with my cousin Duane at the end of his life made me interested in finding a way to contribute my talents to hospice somehow. But what can a writer do to help the dying? When I phrase it like that, I suspect you might already see the answer.

For my second five-year plan, I’d explore how to help people tell their life stories. The idea excites me, actually. I think I could do a good job at it because it’d combine a lot of my interests and talents.

The way I see it, I’d sit with people and record their stories. I’d learn to ask questions that elicit memories and meaning from their past, then take these responses and somehow compile them into keepsakes for families. This is something I always wish I’d done with my father. It’s something I tried to do with my cousin Duane. And it’s something that I’ve actually been doing over the past decade with Kim’s family. I have a whole collection of stories from her father and his siblings. (I’m not joking when I say their lives would have made a fantastic Michener novel!)

So, my second possible future is helping people tell their life stories.

Future #3: A Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man
Your third Odyssey plan should be a pipe dream. It’s what you’d do if money (and/or the judgment of others) were no object.

In my case, I’ve had a plan percolating in the back of my head for a year now. My Plan C would be something completely different than I’ve ever done before. I’d go to art school.

You see, I’d like to draw a webcomic about personal finance. I’ve been a comic nerd my entire life. I’ve been writing about money for 15+ years now. This seems like a fun way to combine these two passions. And, in fact, I have a concept already. It’s about a young woman named Penny Short who moves to small village inhabited by colorful characters, all of whom are anthropomorphized animals. Each of these animals is a caricature of one of my colleagues (or their ideas).

There’s Pete, the Canadian Beaver, for instance, who is super frugal and bikes around town and hates rampant consumerism. There’s Sam, the samurai duck, who slices through life’s money mysteries. There’s Marla, the bear. And Tom, the turtle. And there’s a whole bunch of folks who live in the Frugalwoods.

That’s my third five-year plan. I’d go to art school, then create a webcomic about personal finance.

The Multiverse and Me

I hope that small example gives you a glimpse of just how powerful this exercise can be. Exploring three possible versions of your future is mind-opening. And this is just one of many similar exercises in this book.

Designing Your Life is terrific. I recommend it highly. It’s one of those rare books that I’ve added to the mental library of titles I suggest to those who need help. (Other examples of books in this mental library include Your Money or Your Life, I Will Teach You to Be Rich, and The Simple Path to Wealth.)

This book is so good, in fact, that I plan to make time to work through all of the exercises. And I’m not the only one. Kim is going to do them with me, as is my buddy Craig.

Even if I didn’t plan to do the exercises, though, I feel like I would have profited from reading Designing Your Life. The book is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking questions.

For me, though, the biggest takeaway has been that the multiverse isn’t just the stuff of science fiction. That concept can be applied to my own life today. By taking the time to think about how to align my life with my values, then drafting multiple five-year plans that fit with these coherent values, I — and anyone else — can build a well-lived, joyful life.

My biggest pet peeve with this book is the lack of an index. I never understand how books like this make it to print without a way to look things up. Designing Your Life is dense with “sticky” ideas, and I found myself wanting to reference past sections repeatedly. But it was nearly impossible to find the info I wanted because there’s no index. Instead, I had to flip through page by page until I found what I wanted. Such a terrible design decision for a book guided by design principles.

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

Inside: Do you need to make $5000 fast for ways to make extra money? This guide has dozens of ideas for earning money. When you need to know how to make 5000 fast, this list has something for you.

Are you looking for ways to make 5000 dollars fast?

You’re in the right place.

In this post, we’ll share 15 realistic ways to make money quickly.

Your first thought might be SCAM to make this much money fast, but honestly, there are plenty of ways to make extra cash without any special skills or experience.

You just have to decide what works best for you. That is how you will make the most money without feeling like you are working.

I love hustling to make extra money to afford things we couldn’t otherwise.

So if you’re ready to start making some extra cash, let’s get started!

What are the most realistic ways to make $5,000 fast?

Moreover, making $5,000 fast is possible through a combination of online and offline methods.

Selling items, offering freelance work, participating in paid surveys, trading stocks, and pet-sitting or dog-walking services are all viable options.

Set goals, track progress, and experiment with multiple gigs to find what works best for you. With dedication, effort, and a little bit of creativity, you can reach your income goal in no time.

How to double $5,000 quickly?

If you want to double $5,000 quickly, there are several realistic ways to achieve this goal. Here are five options to consider:

  1. Invest in the stock market: The stock market can be a great way to make money quickly, but it also comes with risks. Look for companies with a strong track record and invest wisely.
  2. Start a side hustle: Starting a side business or selling items online can be a great way to make extra money. Consider your skills and interests to find a profitable niche.
  3. Participate in affiliate marketing: Affiliate marketing involves promoting products and earning a commission for each sale. Look for products with high commissions and a strong customer base.
  4. Flip items for profit: Buy low and sell high by flipping items like cars, furniture, or electronics. This can be a risky business, so do your research and start small.
  5. Play the long game: Consider living a frugal life and saving and investing your money over time to see a larger return. This may not double your money quickly, but it can lead to significant growth in the long run.

Each method comes with its own potential risks and benefits, so it’s important to do your research and choose the option that best fits your skills and financial goals.

With dedication and hard work, doubling your $5,000 is within reach.

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.

Are you passionate about words and reading? 

If so, proofreading could be a perfect fit for you, just like it’s been for countless of readers! Learn how you can create a freelance business as a proofreader.

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16 realistic ways to make 5000 dollars fast

If you’ve been looking for ways to make some extra money, there are many opportunities out there.

While most won’t make you rich overnight, if you put in the effort, you can find some that will help you reach your financial goals.

Here are 16 realistic ways to make $5,000 fast.

1. Sell Unwanted Items

If you’re looking to make $5000 fast, selling unwanted items is a great way to do it.

Start by identifying valuable items in your home such as antiques, electronics, furniture, or musical instruments.

Once you’ve identified your items, choose a platform to sell on eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace are all great options.

When pricing your items, do some research to ensure you’re pricing them competitively. Use the “buy it now” feature on eBay or set a fair price on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Don’t forget to take clear photos and provide detailed descriptions of your items.

Check out the most popular items to sell and make money. Plus you can declutter your home.

2. Take on a Part-Time Job

Part-time jobs offer a steady stream of income and opportunities for skill development. Often this is an overlooked way to make money, but there are plenty of part-time jobs available.

Popular part-time job options include retail or food service positions, which often offer the potential for tips or commission-based earnings.

Balancing a part-time job with other commitments may be challenging, but it can be done with proper planning and prioritization. Overall, a part-time job can be a reliable way to generate extra income and reach financial goals.

Many happen to be early morning jobs, too.

3. Invest in Stocks

Investing in stocks can be a realistic way to make $5000 fast. In fact, learn how fast you can make money with stocks.

Since you are interested in making money fast, you need to be an active trader, which means you are trading for income. Not a buy-and-hold investor.

Typically, most active traders prefer to trade growth stocks such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, or Tesla.

It’s important to do your research and choose the right stocks to invest in. More importantly, you have to know when to enter and exit. Here is the best course I know on learning how to trade stocks.

However, keep in mind that investing in stocks is subject to market risk, so it’s important to consult with a personal finance expert and assess your risk tolerance before making any investments.

4. Borrow Money

Remember that borrowing money should not be a long-term solution and explore other ways to make money as well.

If you need to make $5000 fast, borrowing money might be an option. You can borrow from a personal loan, credit card, or friends and family.

  • Personal loans are a good option if you have good credit, but they often come with high-interest rates.
  • Credit cards can offer cash advances, but the interest rates can be high too.
  • Borrowing from friends or family can be a good option, but it can also put a strain on relationships.

To secure the best possible terms, shop around for loans and compare interest rates and fees. Make sure to read and understand the terms and conditions before signing, and ensure you can make the payments on time.

5. Sell Things Online

Selling things online is a great way to make extra cash quickly. This involves buying items you know you can resell online for a higher price.

With the ability to reach a wider audience and the convenience of not having to leave your house, selling online has become increasingly popular.

Platforms like eBay, Etsy, and Amazon offer product-selling concepts that make it easy to sell a variety of items, from clothes to electronics.

To optimize product listings, take high-quality photos, write detailed descriptions, and price items competitively. When handling shipping and handling, use free shipping labels, and provide excellent customer service to ensure a positive experience for buyers.

6. Land a Job That You Can Do From Home

To land a job that you can do from home, it’s important to have the necessary skills and qualifications for the job you’re interested in.

Popular work-from-home jobs include online tutoring, virtual assistance, bookkeeping, social media management, and transcription.

Be prepared to participate in virtual interviews and demonstrate your ability to work independently. With the right skills and job search strategies, you can land a job that you can do from home.

Find the best non phone work from home jobs.

7. Make Crafts

Crafts can be a fun way to turn your hobby into a money-making side hustle.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

  1. Choose your craft: Decide on a craft that you enjoy making and that you think will sell well. Popular options include jewelry, candles, and home decor.
  2. Gather your materials: Depending on your craft, you’ll need to gather materials such as beads, wax, or fabric. You can find these at craft stores or online.
  3. Develop your skills: If you’re new to your chosen craft, take some time to practice and improve your skills. Watch tutorials and read books to learn new techniques.
  4. Create your products: Once you have your materials and skills, start creating your products. Make sure they’re high-quality and visually appealing.
  5. Set up shop: You can sell your crafts online through platforms like Etsy or Amazon Handmade. You can also sell them in person at craft fairs or local markets.
  6. Promote your products: Use social media and word of mouth to promote your products. Share photos and information about your crafts and encourage people to buy them.

By following these steps, you can turn your love of crafting into a profitable side hustle. Remember to be patient and persistent in your efforts to sell your crafts.

8. Rent Out a Space

Right now, your space can be a profitable side hustle.

To make $5000 fast by renting out a space, start by identifying the type of space you can rent out, such as a parking room, garage, or storage space.

You can even get creative and rent out your pool.

Clean and organize the space, then list it on online platforms like Airbnb, Turo, or Neighbor. To ensure a smooth rental process, screen potential renters, set clear rules and expectations, and maintain regular communication.

With some effort and attention to detail, renting out a space can provide a lucrative source of extra income.

9. Sell Digital Goods

This is one of the most popular ways to make money.

Digital goods are products that can be downloaded, streamed, or accessed online, such as ebooks, printables, stock photos, and online courses.

They are a viable option for making money quickly because they require little to no overhead costs and can be sold to a global audience.

The most popular is creating and selling printables. Learn how to make printables.

With dedication and effort, selling digital goods can be a lucrative way to make up to $5000 fast.

10. Join the Gig Economy

The gig economy refers to a labor market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.

Popular platforms in the gig economy include:

Joining the gig economy can be an effective way to make $5,000 quickly. One of the main benefits of working in the gig economy is flexibility, as you can determine your own schedules.

To maximize earnings, it’s important to treat gig work like a business and stay organized, tracking expenses and income.

11. Work as a Shopper

As a shopper, your job is to pick up and deliver items to customers using your own vehicle.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:

  1. Choose a platform: There are several platforms to choose from, such as Instacart, Shipt, and DoorDash. Research each platform and choose the one that best suits your needs.
  2. Sign up: Once you’ve chosen a platform, sign up and complete the application process. This typically involves providing personal information, a valid driver’s license, and passing a background check.
  3. Attend orientation: Some platforms require you to attend an orientation session before you can start working. This will provide you with important information on how to use the app, how to pick up and deliver items, and how to maximize your earnings.
  4. Start shopping: Once you’re approved, log into the app and start accepting orders. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and communicate with the customer if you have any questions.
  5. Maximize earnings: To maximize your earnings, consider working during peak hours when there are more orders available. You can also increase your tips by providing excellent customer service and communicating with customers throughout the shopping process. Additionally, some platforms offer bonuses for completing a certain number of orders within a specified time frame.
  6. Ensure success: To ensure success, it’s important to be organized and efficient. Plan your route ahead of time and try to group orders in the same area together. Keep track of your expenses, such as gas and vehicle maintenance, and make sure you’re earning enough to cover these costs.

With the convenience of on-demand shopping and delivery services, there’s never been a better time to get started.

12. Clean Houses

Cleaning houses can be a lucrative business, with the demand for house cleaning services always high.

To get started, you will need basic cleaning supplies such as cleaning products, mops, vacuums, and cleaning cloths. You can market your services by creating flyers, promoting on social media, and offering referral discounts.

Here are some tips to be successful:

  • Setting your rates depends on factors such as the size of the house and the frequency of cleaning.
  • Negotiating with clients can help you secure long-term contracts.
  • Providing excellent customer service is crucial for building a loyal client base.
  • As your business grows, consider expanding your services to include laundry and organizing, and hiring additional staff to take on more clients.

With dedication and hard work, you can make up to $5000 fast by cleaning houses.

13. Take Photos

If you’re looking for a side hustle that can earn you some extra cash, taking photos on your phone and selling them on stock photo sites is a great option. You don’t need to be a professional photographer, but having some experience can be helpful.

Some of the best apps to sell your photos on include Shutterstock, Deposit Photos, or iStock by Getty Images.

To get started, you’ll need to create a portfolio of your best work and start submitting them to stock photo sites. While you might need to purchase a camera and photo editing software, there’s not much else you need to get started.

It’s possible to make $1 or more per photo you sell.

14. Write Web Content for a Blog

Well-written web content is essential for making money online, as it can attract more visitors to your blog and keep them engaged.

To write effective web content, it’s important to understand your audience and their needs and to use clear and concise language.

Make sure to use headings, bullet points, and images to break up text and make it easier to read. Additionally, provide actionable advice that can help readers make money or solve a problem.

Sharing your personal experiences and stories can also help to connect with your audience and build trust. By following these tips, you can create high-quality web content that can help you make money and increase website traffic.

15. Engage in Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is promoting someone else’s product or service and receiving a commission for every sale you facilitate.

To be successful with affiliate marketing, start by finding products with high commissions and you will need a large number of followers.

Build an audience around the products you’re promoting and promote them through social media and email marketing. Focus on building a strong relationship with your audience and providing value through helpful content.

With the right strategy and persistence, you can earn your first $5000 through affiliate marketing in no time.

16. Provide Virtual Assistant Services

Virtual assistant jobs are becoming increasingly popular as a way to make money from the comfort of your own home.

As a virtual assistant, you can perform a variety of tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing social media accounts, answering emails, creating presentations, and more. The amount of money you can make will vary depending on your skills, but the average hourly rate for a virtual assistant is around $25 per hour.

Additionally, taking virtual assistant courses and learning new skills can help you specialize and earn more money.

How to use what you’ve learned to start making money quickly

Believe me, I have gone down the road of making money with MLMs or (multi-level-marketing). However, I have found the above ways to be better options for me.

Once you find your groove, you will be able to scale up how much money you make.

Step 1: Research ways to make money fast

If you need to make money quickly, there are many legitimate opportunities available.

Try multiple gigs to find what pays the most in your area and what you enjoy doing.

When researching ways to make money fast, be cautious of scams and do your due diligence before committing to anything. With a bit of creativity and determination, you can find practical and actionable steps to achieve your financial goals.

Step 2: Choose a way to make money fast

When choosing the best way to make $5000 fast, there are a few criteria to consider.

  1. First, consider your skills and interests. If you enjoy driving, delivering for DoorDash or UberEats could be a good fit. If you’re tech-savvy, freelance work or online tutoring might be a good option.
  2. Second, consider the time commitment. Some methods, like selling items on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, can be done in your spare time, while others, like starting a side hustle or taking on freelance work, may require more time and effort.
  3. Finally, consider the potential earnings. Some methods, day trading stocks or selling printables, have the potential for higher earnings than others.

Step 3: Get started making money fast

If you’re looking to make money fast, it’s important to take action right away and not get bogged down by analysis paralysis.

Start with the methods that require the least amount of time and effort, such as selling items you no longer need or completing online surveys. These are easy-to-implement money-making strategies that can quickly generate extra cash.

If you need to save up for a course, then set aside your profits to make that happen.

Step 4: Sacrifice your time for money

Sacrificing your time can be a great way to make money quickly.

The best is when you start to build passive income, you are earning money without the need to work. That is when your hard work will pay off.

By dedicating your time to side hustles, you can earn a significant amount of money within a short period.

Step 5: Maximize your revenue with each step

To make $5000 fast, it’s essential to set realistic revenue goals and identify the most profitable revenue streams.

Prioritize the revenue streams that are most feasible and have the highest earning potential. Once you have identified your revenue streams, optimize your earnings by leveraging your skills and resources.

This could include networking, outsourcing, or investing in your own education to improve your earning potential.

FAQ

Flipping items on eBay is a great way to make money.

To start, you need to find items that you can buy for a low price and sell for a higher price. Look for items that are in demand, such as electronics, clothing, and collectibles. You can find these items at flea markets, garage sales, and online marketplaces like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

Remember to reinvest your profits into buying more items to flip. With time and effort, flipping items on eBay can be a lucrative side hustle.

Becoming a content creator on YouTube might be an option for you.

You can make money from ads, affiliates, and sponsored content, as well as selling your own merch and products.

It is important to create consistent and top-quality videos to build up a following, but it can be a lucrative online side hustle.

freelance work, and more. Here are some of the most popular options:

  • Freelance work: Graphic design, web development, digital marketing, typing, and more.
  • Food delivery: DoorDash, Instacart, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and more.
  • Package delivery: Amazon Flex, Roadie, GoShare, Lugg, and more.
  • Rideshare driving: Lyft, Uber, and more.

While these jobs offer flexibility and quick payment, they may come with fees and additional costs. Nevertheless, they are great options for making extra income on the side.

There are plenty of job opportunities in the gig economy, ranging from food delivery to How to make $5,000 in a month?

There are several realistic and actionable ways to make $5,000 in a month.

Freelance jobs like virtual assistance, freelance writing, and web development are great options. If you have an established following, your YouTube channel could also make more than $5,000. Other methods to explore are selling on Amazon, affiliate marketing, and blogging.

While some methods may require more work than others, there’s no reason you can’t earn this money quickly.

Remember to think outside the box and explore all of your options.

How to Get 5000 Dollars Fast

Remember that making money fast requires dedication and persistence, but the rewards can be significant.

The potential earnings and time commitment for each option vary, but with effort and dedication, you can make $5000 within a couple of months.

Selling items can earn you a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, while freelance work and trading stocks can earn you thousands of dollars depending on the quality of your work.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with different methods until you find what works best for you.

Also, consider what works well for one person may not be the best idea for the next.

Maybe earning 5k is more than you need:

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

Source: moneybliss.org

Apache is functioning normally

I realize it’s been quite a while since I’ve offered you an update on the Victorian. Well, that’s primarily because the old saying is true: when you move into a remodel still in progress the work slows waaayyy down. While things were livable when we moved in a few weeks back, they’re no where near “done.” There’s still a lot of finish work that’s left…well unfinished to date, but I’m slowly but surely trying to chip away at it. As of right now, the house feels a bit like we’re squatting in a really nice, albeit unfurnished airbnb.

So while I have to hold off on any big reveals until the house is in tiptop shape, I thought I could tide you over with some hints at what’s to come. For example, designing my dream kitchen. That was probably my favorite part of entire renovation process. I mean, I’d been dreaming about it for years at this point (the blog is almost 9 years old after all). While the kitchen wishlist was pretty standard; bright white counter tops, a stunning backsplash and a range to make a chef proud, I did add one detail that wasn’t part of my original must-haves.

Can you guess what it is? What do you not see in the image above?

Did you say appliances?! While working on our remodel designs, I fell in love with the idea of integrated appliances. That’s when you build cabinetry over the top to blend in with the rest of your kitchen seamlessly. The look is so clean, so polished. With integrated appliances the kitchen becomes the star rather than some stainless steel behemoth. I’m pretty obsessed with the look.

I love how this kitchen still feels very traditional, but timeless. The bit of molding on the cabinets and the classic marble backsplash give it such an elegant feel. Obviously an integrated look can also swing very modern with minimalist lines and dramatic touches like stainless steel counters, or a stunning waterfall island.

We found the prefect refrigerator for the job, the Thermador Freedom Refrigeration system. Completely customizable, we were able find the perfect unit to fit our space. I love refrigerators with french doors. It makes is so much easier to access everything. And freezers on the bottom are a must. You get more storage area and how often do you really dip into your freezer? It’s nice to everything you use daily at arms reach.

I could not be happier with the look of our integrated Thermador appliances. Just like all the images above, the space feels clean, sleek and understated. I simply cannot wait until I can reveal everything to you, but for now, here’s a teaser of what you can expect to see when I do!

lambert & fils chandelier // benjamin moore storm gray paint // school house electric pulls // silestone by cosentino counters in zeus and backsplash in lusso // thermador freedom refrigeration // pendant

image 1 hecker guthrie / image 2 karlavagen 76 / image 3 by armelle habib / image 4 hecker guthrie / image 5 raya todorova

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Source: apartment34.com

Apache is functioning normally

A key component of any financial plan includes securing and protecting your credit scores by minimizing the threat of identity theft. It can often take dozens or hundreds of hours to clean up your credit after your identity has been stolen. However, the real financial threat is much greater. Take an example of a mortgage refinance.

Let’s say your credit has been badly damaged by identity theft and during the process of cleaning up the mess, mortgage rates move to historic lows (much like we’ve seen during the first quarter of 2010).

However, you can’t refinance to the lower rate because of your damaged credit. In this scenario, you could lose tens of thousands of dollars in the missed opportunity to lower your mortgage rate.

The vast majority of identity theft still happens the old-fashioned way:

  • People You Know
  • Theft of a Wallet or Purse
  • Mail Theft and Dumpster Divers

People You Know

Unfortunately, victims of identity theft are most likely to have their identity stolen by somebody that they know. Roommates are the most common culprits. Roommates often will not have a personal connection to you and will not have any compunction about stealing your identity. While they live with you they have access to your mail, will learn where you keep personal documents, and may even have access to a wallet or purse you might accidentally leave out.

However, even homeowners are not immune to identity theft from people they know, including children, grandchildren, and friends of children and grandchildren. These family members do not start off intending to hurt you, but if they get into drugs, start hanging out with bad friends, or get into other trouble they often times will try to get money the easiest possible way; from you.

Keep Your Info Private

Whether you live with roommates, or if you have teenage or adult children or grandchildren staying with you, invest in a locking file cabinet and a safe. Even if you trust your children or grandchildren, you can’t always trust their friends. Any documents that have your Social Security number on them should go in your safe. Other critical papers like passports and birth certificates should also go in the safe. Use the safe to store credit cards you don’t often use. Finally, if you have written down any pin numbers or passwords, these should go in your safe. Documents with account numbers (bank statements and brokerage statements) can go into your locking file cabinet. Account numbers by themselves are not enough to steal you identity so these documents can have a slightly lower level of protection.

Theft of a Wallet or Purse

This is harder to control since most often these types of thefts happen when you inadvertently leave your purse somewhere, or when a professional criminal lifts the contents out of your purse or lifts your wallet in a crowded area. The main vulnerability in these situations is that the criminal has your ID and most likely your credit cards. Precious hours can pass before you realize that your purse or wallet is missing. During these times, sophisticated criminals will have already stolen hundreds or thousands of dollars on your credit cards. The long term vulnerability is the possibility that the criminal will use your ID and credit cards to apply for other credit cards. However, this will be difficult if they don’t have your Social Security number (however, they will have your date of birth from your ID).

Simple to Ways to Protect Yourself

  • Never carry your Social Security card in your wallet or purse. Always leave it at home in your safe.
  • Make sure your Social Security number is not on your driver’s license or other ID.
  • Also, never carry more than one or two credit cards with you. If you have more than two credit cards, leave the rest at home in your safe. That way, if your wallet or purse is stolen, when you call and cancel the stolen credit cards you still have other credit cards in your safe that you can use.
  • Once you realize your wallet has been stolen, immediately call and cancel the stolen credit cards.
  • Next, call the police and file a report. Do this before you even get home if you can. As soon as you get home, notify the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and Transunion) that your wallet has been stolen and give them the information from the police report. This will enable them to add a 90 day freeze to your credit. You can extend this freeze later, but the main thing is you want to do is contain any damage that may happen on the day of the theft.

Mail Theft and Dumpster Divers

Many homeowners have a standard unlocked style mailbox in front of their home. These mailboxes make it easy for criminals to steal your mail. The main things criminals are looking for are boxes of checks being mailed to you from your bank, prescription medications, and credit cards mailed to you. Checks are the biggest vulnerability since criminals can start using these right away. Criminals who steal mail usually have the ability to make a passable fake ID to use when they try to use your checks.

Less common are criminals who go through your trash to find valuable information since going through your trash is pretty distasteful, even for identity criminals. Most criminals will only go through your trash if they already have other information about you.

Protection From Identity Theft

If you currently have an unlocked mailbox in front of your home, replace it with a locking mailbox. It is best to look for a mailbox with a capacity to take small packages like boxes of checks and prescription medication. Next, invest in a heavy duty cross-cut type shredder. I recommend shredding any credit card offers you get in the mail before throwing them in the trash. Basically, anything you get in the mail that has a form you can fill out to apply for something, shred it before throwing it away.

Check your credit regularly

Federal law requires that the three credit bureaus provide you one free credit report every year. The website the credit bureaus have created to meet the requirements of the law is www.annualcreditreport.com. I recommend checking your credit there each year. There are lots of advertisements for companies supposedly offering free credit reports but most of these are misleading and require you to sign up for some service before they give you your credit report. Stay away from these offers and keep with the government required service at www.annualcreditreport.com.

I also recommend signing up for a credit monitoring service. These services charge every month (usually between $10 and $15 per month). Sign up for these services directly with one of the credit bureaus. Credit monitoring services will notify you by e-mail whenever somebody has made a credit inquiry, or whenever a new account is opened. Also, they will e-mail you every month with a status report, even if there has been no activity.

Taking these simple steps will help safeguard your good name and will protect the things you have worked so hard for!  Make sure to protect my ID.

Matt Prestwich is a freelance writer and an expert on identity theft. You can find more of Matt’s writing on his Fightclub Blog.  Matt is not endorsed or affiliated with LPL Financial.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com