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The capital city of Georgia is becoming a very popular destination lately and even has the distinction of being the only American city to land on a recent global “best in travel” list. And why not? With its warm weather, historical significance, happening restaurants, and major airport, it’s a fun, easily accessible place to vacation.

There’s a lot to do in Atlanta, from the Georgia Aquarium to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park; from the Ponce City Market (don’t miss the rooftop bar) to Piedmont Park. Here, you’ll find a list of 10 best things to do in Atlanta, Georgia, plus smart tips for enjoying every minute and staying on budget.

Best Times to Go to Atlanta

Spring and fall are usually considered the best times to go to Atlanta. Atlanta can get very hot and crowded during summer travel. For example, the average high temperatures in July and August are nearly 90 degrees, but it can feel much hotter, thanks to the city’s high humidity. Spring and fall also tend to be less crowded and have milder temperatures, while still being warm enough to spend the days outside. For example, April and October have comfortable average temperature highs in the low 70s.

A great time for music lovers to visit is at the start of summer: The Atlanta Jazz Festival is held on Memorial Day weekend, when you can expect average daytime temperatures to be in the still comfortable low 80s. However, you will also likely have to contend with higher prices and more crowds during big events on major holiday weekends.

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Bad Times to Go to Atlanta

Allergy sufferers may want to avoid springtime in Atlanta, as the city experiences an extreme pollen season. A visible dusting can be seen as early as January. Pollen counts peak in late March to mid-April, with cars and lawns blanketed in bright yellow pollen from oak and birch trees.

Winter is typically the slow season for tourists in Atlanta, and the city offers fewer events during this time. Because of this, hotel prices may be lower, so it may be enticing if you are looking for how to save money on hotels in Atlanta. For example, there are plenty of hotels available for $125 to $175 per night during a weekend in January.

If you do decide to visit in the winter, watch out for snow or ice in the forecast. Although frozen precipitation is rare in Atlanta, when it happens, it shuts down the city, which means you won’t be seeing the sights.

Average Cost of an Atlanta Vacation

As is the case with many city getaways, you can have a great time in Atlanta with nearly any budget. If you are visiting for a week, you can expect to pay an average of $2,419 for two people. That’s a good number to know as you decide where to keep your travel fund and start saving for your trip.

Hotels range from $100 to several hundred per night, with an average of about $180. Price depends on how fancy the hotel is, the time of year you visit, and the location of the hotel.

The pricey areas tend to be downtown and in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood. Less expensive areas include the suburbs and areas around the airport.

Beyond hotel expenses, you’ll find good news when it comes to food and entertainment. Thankfully, Atlanta is still much less expensive than other major cities like New York and Los Angeles or resort areas like Florida and Hawaii. You will eat well: There’s a vibrant restaurant scene, with everything from Indian food to soul food and back again Plus, there are loads of nightlife options, including comedy clubs and live music.

You’ll also need to decide how to get to Atlanta. Given what a major airline hub the city is, you may find affordable fares for plane tickets, though that will depend on where you are flying in from. It’s wise to learn how credit card travel insurance works when booking flights in case of cancellations, lost luggage, and the like. Then you can decide whether to purchase private travel insurance or use your credit card protections.

Worth noting, too, is the fact that the city does not have as extensive of a public transit system as some other cities. If you want to explore various sites, you may want to look into renting a car or budget for Ubering around town.

Recommended: Where to Find “Book Now, Pay Later” Travel

10 Fun Must-Dos in Atlanta

Here’s the fun part: Deciding what to do in Atlanta. There is something for just about everyone in the city. Here is a list of 10 cool things to do in Atlanta, culled from those who have traveled to the city as well as loads of online reviews of top-rated attractions. Whether you’re taking a solo trip or one with friends and/or family, you will probably find more exciting activities than you can pack into your days in town.

While we also made sure to include several free activities, make sure to capitalize on your credit card rewards and use a card that’ll bring you points, miles, or cash back when charging your trip’s expenses.

1. Spend an Afternoon at the Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium is practically a household name and for good reason. It’s the largest indoor aquarium in the western hemisphere. It even serves as a teaching hospital for marine biologists. You’ll encounter dolphins, penguins, sharks, and gigantic but adorable whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea. Take a free self-guided tour via an app that you can download for your visit.

The aquarium is located next to Centennial Park (see below) and is open daily from 9am to 6pm Mondays through Thursdays, 9am until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9am to 4pm on Sundays. Admission can be pricey, around $43 to $48. GeorgiaAquarium.org

2. Get Outdoors

Atlanta may be a city, but you can easily get some greenery on your trip. Piedmont Park, for instance, is a huge park located in midtown Atlanta (between downtown and Buckhead) that offers trails for walking, running or biking, picnic locations, ponds, greenery, and wildlife. Arts festivals, music festivals, concerts, and farmers markets take place throughout the year, adding to the fun. And may we mention that it’s a great destination if you are traveling with pets? It’s a free thing to do in Atlanta and is open daily from 6am to 11pm. piedmontpark.org/

Or check out the adjacent Atlanta Botanical Garden, a 30-acre natural delight with a canopy-level footbridge, suspended 40 feet above lush woodlands, and a Japanese garden. It’s open every day but Monday, and admission ranges from $23.95 to $34.95. atlantabg.org

3. Enjoy an Urban Mall

Ponce City Market is a super-fun food and retail hub (there are even some apartments plus office space there) tucked into a circa-1926 Sears & Roebuck building. Located in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood along the BeltLine (see below), there are local “shop-small” boutiques, with cards, crafts, jewelry, denim, and more, along with national retailers like Sephora and JCrew. Great food abounds inside in the a/c’d premises, whether you’re looking for a latte or yakitori. And don’t miss the rooftop bar and amusement park. Open from 10am to 9pm Monday through Saturday; on Sunday, the shops are open 10am to 6pm and the eateries from 10am to 8pm. poncecitymarket.com/

4. Stroll the BeltLine

The Atlanta BeltLine is an amazing urban revitalization project: It’s a former railway corridor that is being transformed in part into a public path that has art, planting, parks, and attractions. While the complete loop is not fully paved yet (it is expected to be finished around 2030), sections are available for strolling, running, and biking. The BeltLine connects popular locations like Ponce City Market and Piedmont Park, and, since it’s free, can be a way families can afford to travel. Events are held throughout the year, including fitness classes, art events, and concerts. beltline.org/places-to-go/ or consider a bus, bike, or walking tour beltline.org/things-to-do/atlanta-beltline-tours/

5. Visit the Soda Headquarters

Coca-Cola has been advertised as “the pause that refreshes,” so you might enjoy a refreshing pause by visiting the company’s World of Coca-Cola, near the Georgia Aquarium. Coke was invented in Atlanta in 1886, and its global corporate headquarters are still located in the city today. The World of Coca-Cola, which highlights the brand’s history and the soda industry, features a pop-culture museum, a 4-D theater, replica soda fountains, and beverage dispensers where you can try dozens of sodas from around the world. Ticket prices range from $15 to $19, and the attraction is open from 10am to 5pm on Mondays through Thursdays, and 10am to 6pm on Fridays through Sundays. worldofcoca-cola.com/plan-your-visit

6. Honor Martin Luther King Jr.

This park is a great way to remember a great man: It preserves the home where Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised, as well as the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he was once a pastor. Guided tours are available. The visitor center has exhibits on the Civil Rights Movement and its important figures. Worth knowing: The last scene of the Marvel movie Black Panther was filmed two blocks away from the park. This free attraction is open from 10am to 4pm daily, with small ranger-led tours available. nps.gov/malu/index.htm

7. Eyeball Some Great Art

Atlanta’s High Museum of Art is located in a stunning modern building between the Midtown and Ansley Park neighborhoods. Visitors will delight in the museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, with masterpieces spanning folk, self-taught, African, American, and European art and more. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sunday from noon to 5pm, and is closed on Mondays. Admission costs $18.50. high.org/visit/

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8. Let Your Imagination Soar at the Delta Flight Museum

Atlanta is home to the busiest airport in the world, but the airport isn’t the only place to see planes in the city. The Delta Flight Museum, located inside an airport hangar, has aviation artifacts, several airplanes, a hot air balloon, and the country’s sole full-motion flight simulator open to the public (though that’s a pricey experience). If you or a member of your travel posse loves flying, this can be a fascinating place to spend a few hours. The museum is located outside of Atlanta’s airport, which is about eight miles south of downtown, making it a convenient stop if you are heading into or out of the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. The museum is typically open from 10am to 4pm (closed on Wednesdays), but it’s wise to check in advance as it sometimes is closed for private events. Tickets range from $10 to $15. The flight simulator is a separate ticket, costing $425 for up to four people. deltamuseum.org/

9. Pit-Stop at the Varsity

Feeling hungry? Pull into Atlanta’s renowned Varsity, where you can indulge in chili dogs, onion rings, a frosted orange milkshake, and a fried peach pie. It’s an iconic eatery that opened in 1928 and is a popular drive-up experience; there are now six locations around town. You just may want to snap up a Varsity t-shirt after you’ve had your fill of their food. thevarsity.com/pages/locations

10. See a Show at the Fox Theatre

Ready for some entertainment as you look for fun things to do in Atlanta? Head to the Fox Theatre, an amazing space that was built as an auditorium for the Shriners organization and was inspired by Egyptian temples, among other structures. It’s a treat to be inside, and you can catch a show before it hits Broadway. The Fox also hosts comedy shows and concerts. Cool fact: It’s home to “Mighty Mo,” the largest working Moller theater organ in the world, constructed in 1929. foxtheatre.org/

The Takeaway

Atlanta is a lively, vibrant city with so many attractions and experiences, from strolling along the BeltLine to visiting a historical site to dining at a food court inside an old Sears building. By learning more about what Atlanta has to offer, you can be sure to make the most of your trip to this buzzworthy destination.

FAQ

What are some things to do in Atlanta for free?

Atlanta offers plenty of free or cheap attractions, like walking on the Atlanta BeltLine or window shopping in the Ponce City Market. You could also pick up some groceries for a picnic in Piedmont Park.

What are things to do in Atlanta, Georgia with kids?

The Georgia Aquarium, the Atlanta Zoo, and the World of Coca-Cola are some of the more popular attractions for children. There are also many parks and outdoor spaces for kids to run around and play, like the Centennial Olympic Park and Piedmont Park.

What are some things to do in Atlanta at night?

Atlanta has a robust nightlife scene. There are numerous restaurants, bars, and clubs throughout the city. Other options include the Starlight Drive-In movie theater, comedy clubs, and music venues.

What’s the symbol of Atlanta?

Atlanta’s official symbol is the phoenix. The mythical beast represents the city’s history: The area was destroyed in the Civil War during the Battle of Atlanta, then rebuilt from the ashes.

Photo credit: iStock/Sean Pavone

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My neighbor Leslie G. and her husband Doug decided to sell their house. Nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac in Murray, their coveted lot bordered a lush green common area that led to a creek. Nice. Leslie was also a master gardener and the home featured curved brick walkways, an outdoor fountain, and easy-to-care-for perennials. It had serious curb appeal. Based on an appraisal and neighborhood comps, they were hopeful they could get $400,000 for their home. But that was just their beginning point. By employing the following strategies, they ended up accepting an offer $35,000 higher and everyone was happy, including the buyer.

Seller strategies for a scorching market

Clean it and stage it. The G’s had a full life with kids, grandkids and worldwide travels. Their home was equally full. When I walked through the home prior to their listing going live, it was difficult to separate the G’s from their home because personal items were in every room and on every wall. It also reflected a specific style and had the wear and tear of most houses built in the 90’s. A stager spent an hour in the house telling Leslie what to do, then Leslie and Doug spent an entire week cleaning, painting and adding new decor items in select locations. The results were staggering. Cluttered surfaces were cleared. Windows sparkled and sunlight streamed in. An outdated master got a complete refresh with a new bedspread, towels, and rugs. Each room boasted one salient piece of artwork, other than that walls were bare and the wall holes filled in and painted. Fresh flowers and bright new pillows graced the deck and every inch of baseboard in the house was scrubbed to a bright white gleam.

The staged deck has half its normal furniture

Why it’s smart: By removing most of the furniture and all of the personal effects from the house and deck, your house will feel emotionally neutral and move-in-ready. Buyers don’t need to try to imagine the space without your things there, they can see it. And fewer pieces of furniture typically makes a space or room look much larger than its crowded counterpoint.  On Homie’s Provider Marketplace, you can find repairmen, stagers and cleaning teams to help you accomplish this quickly and easily.

Price at or above appraised value. Utah home prices are shooting up faster than bamboo, and desperate buyers are often willing to offer more than even 3-month old comps. Leslie and Doug decided to price their home above its appraised value, feeling that the appraisal did not adequately take the prime location into account.

Appraisals can vary considerably

Why it’s smart: No two appraisals come in at exactly the same value, and sometimes the value can range considerably. In addition, in a market where the housing shortage is forcing prices up above appraised value, your buyers might have enough liquidity so that a below-sale-price appraisal is a none issue. If it does become an issue, you can discuss your options with your Homie attorney. Even if you split or pay the entire difference, you still end up earning top dollar on your home. If you set the price at appraised value, you open the negotiations to buyers who have less to put down, which might serve you well if your home entices first-time buyers. Homie gives sellers appraisal options, including but not limited to a Home Value report, desktop appraisal and more.

Give yourself time to consider multiple offers. The G’s listing specified that they would only accept offers with a seller acceptance deadline at least 72 hours after submission. A common practice of today’s home buyers is to “rush” sellers into accepting their offers before other interested buyers have a chance to tour the house and place an offer. Not surprisingly, the G’s received two offers within a week. They asked both potential buyers to come back with their “highest and best offer,” both of which were above listing price. They also continued to show the house, which ended up being a very good idea.

Building in a 72-hour window gives you time to get your highest and best offer

Why it’s smart: By requiring that offers have a 72-hour acceptance window, you build in time to receive multiple offers. This doesn’t mean buyers can’t make an offer with a shorter deadline, and if you get a “rushed” offer that makes you happy, by all means, accept it.  Still, a 72-hour clause sets the expectation for buyers that you know your house is going to sell and will likely have multiple offers. It also gives you time to ask interested parties to come back with their highest and best offer. They may choose not to make an additional offer, so check with your Homie attorney about the best way to phrase a highest-and-best-offer request. If they do come back with their best offer, check to see that their downpayment amount is large enough that the appraisal will not likely be a problem.

Avoid buyers making offers higher than they’re actually willing to pay. Leslie and Doug didn’t want to get weeks down the road with an offer and then have to renegotiate. When they received offers that were contingent upon a certain appraisal amount, they took care to make sure those buyers were not using high bidding prices to secure the home while planning on renegotiating if the appraisal came in below the sales price. Both buyers ended up backing out of their offers, and the G’s were free to consider other offers that met their requirements. A few days later, they received a third offer from a family they felt would be a great fit for both the house and the neighborhood. They ended up accepting this third offer, which was not contingent upon an appraisal amount.

If you’re concerned about the appraisal, consider buyers with enough liquidity to avoid shortfall issues

Why it’s smart: Buyers are doing their best to find an affordable house, however, in such a hot market it does happen that buyers offer more than the house appraises for. In considering multiple offers, ask your Homie attorney to help you structure your contract to protect yourself against a potential shortfall.

Only accept offers from pre-approved, not pre-qualified, buyers. An offer is only attractive if the buyer can actually close. It’s unfortunate, but many sellers have accepted the “highest offer” only to see the loan fall through and find themselves back on the market two or three weeks later. Today any buyer can get a pre-qualification letter just by entering a few fields into an online platform and allowing a hard pull on their credit, but at this point they have provided no actual income or debt documentation.

Ask your buyers to get pre-approved, so you don’t have to start over 3 weeks into the sale

Why it’s smart: When you ask your buyers to go the extra step from pre-qualification to pre-approval, you know, not only that they’re qualified to buy your home, but also that they can and have provided all the documentation required by the lender to get approved for the loan. And, while they haven’t yet gone through underwriting, which requires a specific contract on a specific house, they can get all the way to that point, which strengthens their offer considerably. Pre-approval status also shortens the amount of time needed prior to a financing and appraisal deadline, which can shorten your closing while also reducing your risk. You can ask interested buyers, even pre-qualified buyers, to get pre-approved at Homie Loans, putting yourself in the best possible position.

In a market like this, use Homie

Yes, it’s a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean showing your house dirty or cluttered will get you your best price. It also means different strategies come into play when considering, countering and accepting offers. Homie provides seasoned real estate attorneys to help Homie sellers understand the nuances of today’s market and negotiate each step of the process with confidence. To list your home with Homie, and speak to a real estate attorney about how you can get the best deal possible for your home, start here. 

Word’s out. Homie has hundreds of new zero-commission listings every month. 

Source: homie.com

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If you’re looking for inspiration for a timeless holiday table, look no further. I am completely inspired by snowy white tablescapes at the moment – it’s the perfect way to create a modern, clean Christmas look.

This ditch the kitsch idea has me ready to say buh-bye to all of my superfluous tableware. The stacks of random decorative dishes are getting a little out of control after all. There is no need for a collection of antique china, or a massive set of holiday-specific stuff to set a celebratory scene. You can in fact, festive up the essentials – white dishes, classic flatware and timeless linens. All you need to add is a touch of greenery, white tapers and some personal touches to make them all feel seasonal.

Replicating this look is easy thanks to the new home brand SNOWE. They can be your one stop shop for the quality pieces you know you should have invested in by now. Everything is designed with a minimalist sensibility and eliminates the paralysis of too much choice when it comes to stocking essentials. SNOWE’s founders,  Rachel Cohen and Andres Modak totally get it. Upon graduating from business school and moving back to NYC to set up their apartment, they realized that the world of home decor was overwhelming and cluttered. In response they got the idea to design and create the must-haves. As they explain:

“One night we’re throwing a dinner party. The next, we’re eating cereal on the couch. And through it all, we want to be surrounded by quality and thoughtful design that’s also attainable. And that’s why we created SNOWE: to bring people everywhere home essentials made from the best materials in the world, thoughtfully designed to be used over and over, for every moment and milestone.”

SNOWE’s dinnerware comes in timeless white (white dishes are known to make food look more appetizing) and made of the highest quality Limoges porcelain – it’s known to be super durable. Glassware is all made in Italy. I’m obsessed with the Essential Glass. There’s something about drinking wine out of a more utilitarian, stemless glass that makes it feel modern. Kind of European. I’m into it. Also, this dine and serve starter set is particularly tailor-made for a house-warming or wedding present. It’s kind of making me want to ditch all of my current stuff and restock my kitchen. SNOWE also offers bath goods and bedding that are all simple and streamlined by design — and available in sets — but a serious step up in quality then you get in places like giant blue box stores that shall not be named.

But back to your holiday table. If you need to build out your set of stemware to host a party of more than four, or make sure you have proper linens in your arsenal (because everyone should), there is no better time to ensure you – or your friends – are ready to play host. I’ve got my eye on this set of grey carafes and essential, use-for-anything-you’re-drinking, glasses. They’d add a bit of texture to a holiday table without being overwhelming. Whether you are looking for a hostess gift or need to up your own tabletop game, you will definitely find what you need with SNOWE. As they say themselves, SNOWE is meant to offer “everything you need and nothing you don’t.” I’ve selected my favorite picks from SNOWE for all the dinner-party throwers out there. These would be the perfect pieces to give to others or grab to get you through the entertaining season looking like you have your s*** together.

GET THE LOOK: 1 serving bowls / 2 linen cocktail napkins / 3 rinse & repeat and staycation candles / 4 wine glasses / 5 carafe and glassware set / 6 4-piece table setting / 7 hostess set / 8 champagne bucket 

And to help whet your dinner party-throwing appetite, SNOWE is also offering Apartment 34 readers 15% OFF all orders with code Apt34xSnowe. This offer is valid until December 11 @ 11:59 PM EST. To start your shopping CLICK HERE.

image 1 photography & tabletop design by homey oh my / image 2 unknown

This post is in partnership with SNOWE. all thoughts are 100% my own. thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and that keep apartment 34’s doors open. 

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Source: apartment34.com

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Sustainable fabrics that are taking over home décor   – Luxebook


Sustainable fabrics that are taking over home décor   – Luxebook


Home Lifestyle Sustainable fabrics that are taking over home décor  

By Arushi Sakhuja  
With sustainability being the need of the hour, many luxury brands are continuously trying to show new and innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint. With the coming up of thrift stores, new fabrics (such as organic cotton and vegan leather), producing zero waste, cruelty-free manufacturing processes and reduced water technology, and renewable energy sources, as well as adopting a transparent supply chain; brands are working hard to adopt more eco-friendly modes of production. According to Saachi Bahl’s, Founder Saahra and #ConsciousEffort Design Show and Conclave, one must acknowledge that there is no unilateral, linear, or perfect formula to be ‘sustainable’. She says….. “It is a complex process, and many times strategies are dependent upon the context of the business, its production and utility. Therefore, we must be receptive to more people in the industry approaching the subject and give them the scope to continually improve their efforts as there is no one size fits all.” 
It is worth bearing in mind that practices like repairing old weaves, recycling or upscaling can go a long way in giving back to the planet. And sustainable fabrics have come a long way, one must acknowledge that sustainable products do not lack lustre and finesse anymore. Rather, there is a rise in the innovation of new fabrics increasingly used by luxury brands such as Gucci, Stella McCartney, Tommy Hilfiger and Bottega Veneta. Décor brands like Kar Conscious Living focusses on the importance of Indian textiles through raw fabrics and subtle designs, showcasing the essence of their weaves.  More and more home décor brands are using materials like organic bio-washed cotton and handwoven wool. 
Selecting the right fabric 
Saachi Bahl
It’s always good to check what goes into the making of our home décor pieces. We’re still a long way from reducing our consumption to optimum levels, so the least we can do is make eco-friendly shopping decisions. That includes digging into the environmental practices of the brands you love and finding out how ethical they truly are in their production and manufacturing processes. “Decor and fashion have always been sectors that other industries look to for ‘what’s next’. Fashion designers have an incredible opportunity to not only reach but consciously influence consumers and other industries by choosing to create with the end in mind, choosing a material like ECONYL® nylon that can help brands close the loop,” said Giulio Bonazzi Chairman and CEO at Aquafil Group.   
Trend-related shopping cycles take a toll on the environment. Home furnishing-related individual buying decisions can also play a crucial role in our carbon footprint. Globally, the furniture market is worth approximately $ 575 billion. Manufacturers deploy vast amounts of resources to meet high demands, including trees, plastic, cotton, fibre and toxic chemicals, and hence the rise of fast furniture further complicates the sustainability dilemma. Contrary to what is believed, creating a home with the planet in mind does not require sacrificing comfort, style or budget. We can curate spaces by choosing earth-friendly materials and optimising sunlight, airflow and ventilation to reduce our daily impact. 
How are materials sustainable?  
You most likely would have encountered a few new terms like  Econyl, Cupro and Lyocell. You know they’re good for the environment because that is the information we are given. But what exactly are these so-called sustainable fabrics that are taking over our world? Luxury labels are shifting their focus to vegan leather and recycled materials. And the fabrics you grew up with simply don’t cut it anymore. “There is a plethora of new materials that designers and textile manufacturers are working with to make fashion more sustainable. Bamboo and banana fibre, leathers made from plant-based materials, and even sustainable silk are being devised. Along with all these innovations, it is vital to remember to buy from accountable and transparent brands, buy less and buy better, and re-wear, repeat and repair your clothes,” believes fashion designer Nachiket Barve. Saachi Bahl’s Saahra Sustain offers womenswear classics handcrafted in GOTS-certified cotton or peace silk, shoes from plant-based bio-leather called Pinatex, collections made from Econyl and even bags made from cork.  On the design side of things, brands are using reclaimed and waste materials that have led to the creation of unique products and the design world is excited to further explore this avenue. Redefining this space, sustainable home decor brands and designers show us the beauty of old is gold.  
ECONYL
Econyl   
Econyl is making its presence strongly felt in the market. The fabric was pioneered by the Italian company Aquafil in 2011 and is a recycled nylon fibre that is regenerated from plastic trash in the ocean, such as fishing nets, discarded bottles and industrial waste. Aquafil cleans and shreds this waste through a chemical purification process to extract pure nylon. That means that the resulting fibre, Econyl, is no different from virgin nylon. Giulio Bonazzi Chairman and CEO at Aquafil Group gets his passion for sustainability from his native place, a beautiful area in the middle of the mountains of Italy (Dolomites and Alps) near Garda Lake. The place taught him to love, value and respect the beauty that surrounds you. We spoke exclusively to Maestro himself to know more about the material. “ECONYL® is regenerated nylon 100% with a different story. It comes from nylon waste such as fishing nets, fabric scraps from mills and carpets destined for landfills. It is used for apparel, carpets, and other interior design products. And it has exactly the same performance as fossil-based nylon.” 
Aquafil econyl
The pace at which brands are adapting to the material is impressive and currently, Aquafil, with ECONYL®, collaborates with more than 2500 brands in the world. “As consumers continue to stay aware of material ingredients, it’s important that brands choose supply chain transparency. This will not only empower the consumer, but will also invite designers to tap into a new level of innovation and creativity. And this is why brands are choosing sustainable ingredients like ECONYL® nylon for their collection,” shared Bonazzi. ECONYL is mostly known by customers due to pieces offered by Adidas in its 2017 collaboration with Parley, Prada’s line of bags made with the fabric in 2019 — Re-Nylon and Gucci and Burberry have also used Econyl in their outerwear pieces and accessories, including the latter’s iconic trench coat. “Brands are using Econyl across different product categories like swim/resort to luxury. It is coming with the functionality of a virgin material making it good for fashion and the planet,” said Saachi Bahl.   
ECONYL is also used for home décor by brands such as Noho, a New Zealand-based eco-chic brand that creates durable and dynamic chairs made with materials from discarded waste. Alcarol in nature creates functional home décor pieces while preserving the natural materials as they would appear in their respective habitats. From the dining room and coffee tables to consoles and shelving, each creation replicates a distinctive landscape, bringing depth, perspective and beauty into your living spaces. Finally, Rols, a Spanish carpet manufacturing brand since 1917, integrates ecological materials such as wool or jute, and ECONYL® regenerated nylon into their designs, believing that ‘quality goes hand-in-hand with treating the earth with respect’. 
Rols
Cupro 
Another sustainable fabric that is fast gaining popularity is cuprammonium rayon, also known as Cupro. This is a plant-based fabric made from cotton linter, which is a waste product of cotton that’s often discarded. It can also be derived from recycled cotton garments, especially T-shirts. Cupro as a fabric is fine, sheer, smooth, soft to the touch, hypoallergenic, stretch-resistant, durable and dries quickly. Some even call this fabric Vegan Silk. Amouve procures organic cotton directly from Indian farmers and this practice has also led to less usage of water as compared to regular cotton. The brand offers a range of products comprising organic cotton bedsheets, towels, pillows, organic kapok mattresses and waffle blankets among others. 
Kar Conscious Living
Amouve
Lyocell 
Ethical bedding
Lyocell (also known as Tencel) is a plant-based fibre that was introduced 30 years ago and is mostly derived from eucalyptus wood, and sometimes oak and birch wood. To create the material, the wood is ground into a pulp and chemically purified to extract raw cellulose. The liquid is then pumped through spinnerets into Lyocell fibres, which are spun into yarn and woven into fabric. Lyocell fabric is soft, breathable, hypoallergenic, and more absorbent than cotton. Eucalyptus trees grow quickly without the use of pesticides, fertilisers or irrigation, making Lyocell much more eco-friendly and completely biodegradable. The material is a great alternative to viscose and makes it great for athleisure, activewear, and everyday basics. Ethical Bedding, a UK-based brand turns organic eucalyptus and bamboo into timeless silky bedding. 
How to make home décor sustainable 
Rug Republic Hestia
Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Chairman and Managing Director, Jaipur Rugs Group throws light on how the carpet industry uses sustainability in its design. “We believe sustainability in the design isn’t just a trend; it’s our responsibility.”. Chaudhary goes on to explain the process followed at Jaipur Rugs. “We prioritize sustainability in every aspect of our carpet design process, from materials to production. To achieve this, we utilize leftover hand-spun yarn to create unique and creative designs, reducing textile waste. Additionally, we use low-impact dyes that are obtained from GOTS-certified and eco-friendly raw materials, making our rugs long-lasting and beautiful while minimizing the environmental impact of the production process. By using sustainable materials and working with ethical partners, we create high-quality handmade rugs that not only enhance the beauty of any space but also promote a healthier planet for future generations.”   
Another brand that champions sustainability is Rug Republic. Their new collection of Floral Rugs is created with recycled materials, colours, designs and textures.  “The demand for sustainable and ethically made products has led to an increase in the appreciation for handmade rugs as well, as people like to spend on products that align with their thought process and values. Having said that, the timeless beauty and craftsmanship of floral rugs have further contributed to their enduring popularity, making them a valuable addition to any home,” says Raghav Gupta, Director of E-commerce at The Rug Republic. 
With climate change knocking on our front door there are three key methods to make a home more sustainable. Firstly, making the switch to regenerated nylon with the use of artisan rugs and furniture made from recycled materials, such as old carpets, abandoned fishing nets and industrial scraps can minimize waste that would otherwise pollute the earth. For example, for every 10,000 tons of ECONYL® raw material, we can save 70,000 barrels of crude oil and avoid 65,100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions from being released into the air. From Jaipur Rugs and other trendy pieces like these Zanotta pouffes pick your products.  
Secondly, shift to Bamboo furniture. It is a sustainable alternative to wood, and is highly versatile for furniture, flooring and light fittings, giving your humble abode a modern and eco-conscious twist. Pick a rattan table from Fleck or Orange Tree’s rattan hanging lamp.  
Orange Tree Canna Hanging Lamp Double
Lastly, switch to bio-glass meaning home décor made from discarded bottles and jars, this material requires less energy and raw materials to manufacture. Bio-glass can transform kitchen countertops, bathroom sinks, walls, and windows into beautiful and unique pieces, adding charm and sophistication to your home. Renjini Thampi from Kerela upcycles glass bottles to make a variety of home decor items and Nicobar’s recycled glass section makes a strong case as well.  
Nicobar recycled glass collection
“India is certainly the country that will have the most spectacular development in the coming decades. And it seems very clear not only to me that the Indian culture as well as the Indian Government and Indian consumers have a strong interest and great attention towards the conservation of the planet and in doing and thinking step by step to find the best solution. Therefore, aiming for India, I think is one of the most strategic and correct actions to take,” believes Bonazzi. To conclude Bahl believes, “the innovative material industry is evolving at such a fast pace, that it’s just fascinating the type of recyclability and plant-based materials that are available in the market.” 
To conclude, daily habits such as composting food waste, cleaning with natural products, and installing solar panels, underfloor heating or double-glazed windows all contribute towards greener living.
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Source: luxebook.in

Apache is functioning normally

Posted on: September 14, 2018

The housing market has been red hot for the past few years, and home rises have been skyrocketing around the country.

Home buyers that have worried about affordability point to increasing home prices and mortgage rates as reasons to not buy a home. The total number of applications for mortgages has been decreasing each week with recent applications dropping 0.1% week over week, continuing a trend of home buyers stopping their search.

Surprisingly, VA home buyers have been leaving the market at an even quicker pace than that.

VA loans are often considered to be the top mortgage product available, thanks to their lower mortgage rates and 100% financing. In a housing market where affordability is one of the biggest issues facing buyers, being VA eligible is a huge advantage.

But what’s happening with VA loans, and are VA rates increasing?

Click to see current rates.

Recent VA rate trends

All mortgage rates tend to follow the same trend, although rates associated with different products can vary.

According to mortgage software company Ellie Mae, the average mortgage rate for a closed 30-year loan in July was 4.91%. By comparison, the same rate in July of 2017 was 4.25%. So, it’s no secret that rates have been rising.

The same is happening to VA rates, although VA rates have been lower. The average rate for a closed 30-year VA loan in July was 4.75%, as compared to 4.00% in July last year.

Even though VA rates have been trending upward, they’ve remained at a lower level, which helps keeps homes more affordable for veterans. While rates have been increasing, there are signs that this increase could be slowing.

What moves mortgage rates?

There are a lot of factors that influence mortgage rates, but there are a few big factors at play.

It mostly starts with the Federal Reserve, which has been raising their federal funds rate. The federal funds rate is the rate that banks borrow money from the government. Essentially, it’s the lowest possible level that any type of interest rate can hit. As this rate increases, all other types of interest rate tend to increase.

In the past two years, the Fed has increased the federal funds rate six times by a total of 1.50%. That’s the largest upward change to the rate in over a decade.

The Fed increases their rate, in part, to keep the economy and inflation in check. As the economy grows, inflation tends to creep higher. Lately, the economy has been growing at a healthy pace, and more attention is being paid to inflation.

Investors also see this happening. When the economy is doing poorly, investors move their money to safer investments. Mortgage backed securities (MBS) are among the safest. MBS are collections of mortgages, and since mortgages are routinely paid off by homeowners, they’re safe for investors.

In a weak economy, investors have a high demand for MBS. This causes mortgage lenders to reduce mortgage rates so they can sell as many as possible. In a strong economy, investors move toward riskier investments. Mortgage lenders respond by increasing mortgage rates, including VA rates, to make MBS more valuable.

All of this combined leads to increasing mortgage rates for home buyers. So, in a roundabout way, a strong economy is actually tougher for home buyers.

Check today’s VA rates.

What will happen to VA rates?

According to Ellie Mae, VA rates have been increasing, but that increase has been slowing down. July’s average rate was 4.75%, and June’s average rate was 4.74%.

The shortage of home buyers coupled with a slowing housing market could be causing this slowdown. While VA home buyers shouldn’t expect mortgage rates to decrease in the near future, they also might not be increasing by a large margin any time soon.

VA rates are already the lowest available, and they seem to have hit a ceiling – for now. VA eligible home buyers can take advantage of this lull in rates and demand. With less competition for homes and the lowest rates on the market, a VA loan could be the perfect tool for securing financing for a home.

Click to check today’s VA rates.

Source: militaryvaloan.com

Apache is functioning normally

I spent a couple hours this morning performing what ought to have been a simple home-maintenance task. The light fixture on our front porch had gone faulty, and I needed to replace it. I’ve done enough wiring projects now that the electrical aspect of the job didn’t bother me. But the woodworking? That was frustrating.

As I fumbled with the jigsaw (“Drat! Another blade bent!”), I wished again that I practiced woodworking more often. I have several friends who do so, and the skills they’ve learned help them to save money around the house. My incompetence this morning gave me plenty of time to reflect on the value of productive hobbies.

Productive hobbies
When I was younger, I spent most of my spare time reading comic books and playing video games. There’s nothing wrong with a little self-indulgence, but the older I get, the more I appreciate hobbies that provide practical skills. Productive pastimes are not only fulfilling, but they can also help save money. (Sometimes they can even generate a little income!)

Here are a few hobbies and pastimes that can help to save (or make) money:

    • Gardening. Kris and I aren’t yet finished with our year-long garden project, but already we know that it has saved us money. (Find out just how much when we post an update this Saturday.) Even if it did cost a little more, it’s fantastic to have fresh food just feet from the front door. You don’t need a lot of space to start a garden. Consider square-foot gardening or container gardening.
    • Photography. Cameras can be a money sink, but photography doesn’t have to be expensive. You can have a lot of fun with a cheap point-and-shoot digital camera. With practice, you may even be able to make money selling digital photos online. I know several people who do this (and I’ve done it myself).
    • Woodworking. Carpentry is another hobby that can consume a lot of cash. But if you have the space and the time, you can also develop skills that yield big dividends in the long run. If I’d taken the time to learn woodworking, I wouldn’t have to pay a contractor to do some of our remodeling projects. (And I wouldn’t have cut a four-inch hole this morning when I only needed a three-inch hole.)
    • Knitting. As with many hobbies, knitting can be expensive, but there are ways to make it less so. Nell at Octopus Knits has pattern companies and yarn folks giving her product (yarns & patterns) to try. Some of my friends have taken commissioned projects. Kris is learning to knit adorable little stuffed animals; she could sell them for $20 a pop.
    • Computer repair. Because I’ve always been a computer hobbyist, I’m able to troubleshoot computer problems instead of paying somebody to do it for me. Before I turned Mac, I also saved money by building my own machines. In fact, for a couple years, I supplemented my regular salary by helping friends and family with their computer problems.
    • Art. Last week, I pointed to the work of lillyella, whose art generates enough income through her Etsy store that she now does it full time. In the past, I’ve also mentioned Ayla, a teenager who sells her art glass at the local farmers market. Kris has a friend who is learning how to work with stained glass, but just for fun.
    • Cooking. My friend Laura has a group of friends that love to cook. They recently organized a cooking evening to provide freezer meals for each of them.  They decided on six menus, assigned the shopping, borrowed a church’s kitchen, divided duties like cutting, slicing, dicing, mixing, frying, cleaning, split the costs and each went home with six different items for future use. But even learning to cook for your own family can save you a lot of money.
    • Baking. Baking is fun for its own sake, but it can also save you money with gifts. Who wouldn’t rather have a couple dozen home-baked cookies than another useless mug? Some people can even turn this skill into a career. My aunt turned a baking hobby into a business, creating cakes and catering weddings. She provided jobs for several other family members, too!
    • Canning. Though Kris has always enjoyed canning, this summer has been amazing. She’s discovered it’s a hobby she truly loves. She derives immense satisfaction from preserving her own food. “It’s comforting to walk into the pantry and know that I made all of this,” she said recently. “I know where the food came from, and I know that we’ll be eating it all winter.” Though the start-up costs are a little high, they repay a hobbyist in time.
    • Making music. My friend Michael has a musician friend who plays the piano and has been paid to play at private events. He has another friend with a great voice. This man loves to sing, and he and his friends hire themselves out as a quartet around Valentines Day and to sing Christmas carols during the holidays. (I’m always jealous of my musical friends. I know it’s hard work to become proficient, but it looks like such a fun way to stay entertained.)
    • Vehicle maintenance. I know little about cars. I wish I knew more. Knowing even basic vehicle maintenance can save you big bucks. I once knew a guy who performed nearly all his own auto work. He could buy a junker car, fix it up, and resell it at a nice profit. He wasn’t going to get rich doing this, but he enjoyed the hobby, and it kept him in money for his own vehicle.
    • Physical fitness. You’ll never get rich running road races, but there’s no question that a healthy body can save you money. Find a physical activity you enjoy: biking, running, hiking, dancing, yoga, weightlifting. Play a team sport. Regular exercise can be fun, but it will also save you money in the long run.

The possibilities are limitless. There are countless fun and interesting hobbies that can either save you money, or maybe help you earn a little on the side.

Quick tips
You’ll notice that none of these hobbies involve collecting. I’m an inveterate collector myself (comics, books, notebooks, movie serials, music of the 1920s, …), so I know first-hand how expensive it can be. Some would argue that it’s a form of compulsive spending, and I can’t really disagree. Since I’ve begun focusing on hobbies that involve doing rather than getting, I’ve spent much less money.

For some hobbies, equipment can be prohibitively expensive. In these cases, you may be able to find used stuff on Freecycle or Craigslist, or you may be able to begin with low-end gear. (This isn’t always a good option. If you think you’re going to be doing a lot of running, you should buy a quality running shoe from an expert, and not settle for cheap sneakers, for example.)

In many cases, it’s possible to jump-start a hobby by taking a course at a community college or community school. I spent a year taking photography classes, for example. The instruction and experience were invaluable, and helped me develop the skills necessary to actually sell a couple photos.

My friend Michael likes woodworking but can’t afford (and doesn’t have space for) all of the equipment. When he needs to build something, he signs up for a community college woodworking course so that he can use industrial woodworking tools at a reasonable cost.

Further reading
I’m a big fan of productive hobbies, and I’m not the only one! Here are some articles on the subject from around the web:

Don’t forget that hobbies are an excellent way to make gifts for less than it costs to buy them. Kris sometimes knits gifts for special occasions. Most years she gives some sort of home-made food to our friends for Christmas. I sometimes give photographs. One of the best birthday gifts I ever received was a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

My son is seven and three quarters years old. Having reached second grade, he is having a nice time defining himself in the little society of the public school system. He likes being the creative one who invents the games that his classmates play at recess. Defines himself as a good reader, a respectful class clown, and the guy who always gets his homework done.

Last week, when finishing up a writing assignment on the kitchen table, he asked for my help and I could tell he was frustrated.

“Dad, I just finished this big story and I thought I was done. But it says I have to write the whole thing out in my notebook now.”

I looked at the sheet where he had meticulously written out his story about a journey to the center of the Earth. At the top were the instructions: “Write a story in your notebook about travel.” Then the whole page below was filled with blank lines, implying that you were supposed to write the story right here on that worksheet, which is what he had done. The instructions were conflicting.

“Ahh”, I told him. “It looks like the instructions were not clear. But since you already wrote your story on this worksheet, you can just hand the page in instead of the notebook. Or if you want to get really fancy, we can cut out the story and glue it into your book!”

This suggestion seemed to bring him great unease. The instructions were telling him to write his story in the notebook, and he had clearly written his on the paper instead. He was in violation of The Rules, and this was scaring him.

I suddenly realized I had some teaching to do. It was time to share a deeper explanation of what The Rules really are, and I thought you might want to join in for the session as well. Because if you look around carefully, you will see that most of the problems of our society are based upon an incorrect understanding of these rules.

Let’s dig into the Money Mustache Mailbox for a recent example. When I first announced that I had bought a new 1950s house and was planning to renovate it, a complainypants comment came in with the juicy content:

This renovation you describe is no small feat and getting a structural engineer to “sign off” on the installation of new roofing system upon a foundation and walls (with 7 foot 8 inch ceilings no less) set over 50 years ago could be challenging as well. I can’t count the number of times I have seen plans similiar to these go haywire because of the unforeseen. And I question the reward by selling the old place and moving…in this neck of the woods “docs and transfers” are significant and sometimes exceed 6% of the selling price and those are historically paid/split buying and selling. And lastly ….am I missing something…this house seems small… very simple…a basic dwelling…80 by 80 lot….not a fan. I spend a lot of time working from and around my home…give me some space…

“Wow“, I thought, “Is this person completely unfamiliar with the principles of this blog?” I went through the usual cycle of one raised eyebrow, two raised eyebrows, a clenched fist, a finger poised over the “delete” button, and then at last I calmed down and saved the text to share with you instead. For while the complainy can’t-do-attitude of this comment is inappropriate for my comments section, the underlying assumptions about rules are worth studying:

“You can’t get a structural engineer to sign off on renovating an older-than-50 house” – Here our friend has assumed that there is a rule that old houses can never be restored. The idea is silly, of course, because people renovate much older houses in the same neighborhood every day. In fact, a friend and I just finished a major addition on a 103-year-old one earlier this year. But if I had started the project with an imaginary fear of such a rule, I would be dead in the water. And at this point I can report that the structural design is just about done and will be “signed off” this week.

“Transaction Fees make house moving too expensive to be worthwhile” – the imagined rule here is that house transactions are always very expensive, so we should shy away from them to avoid this cost. But I have done eleven of these transactions since moving to this country, and some of them were done for only the $50 county recording fee. To tilt the scale further, my wife deliberately earned a real estate license seven years ago to cut the cost of most other transactions in half. Again, the imagined rule proves false and we are all free to move to a new house whenever we like.

“A small and simple house is not desirable” – Hmm, I wonder which society dreamed up this rule? First of all, a 1532 square foot soon-to-be-luxury home on an 80 x 80 foot lot adjoining a 1.3 acre public park overlooking the Rocky Mountains in the walkable central district of one of the most desirable cities in the world’s richest country is probably good enough for plain old Mr. Money Mustache. But if there is anyone who thinks that even a quarter of this standard of living is a key to happiness, you might want to check to see if your brain tissue is sparkly and white, because you have received a near-fatal dose of brainwashing, derived from a book of rules that helps nobody.

But I can’t win this battle with just a list of single-issue defenses. To cure the disease of Rules Excusitis, you need to elevate yourself to the next level and understand exactly what The Rules are. And a nice way to illustrate this is to turn to one of my favorite concepts from Dungeons and Dragons:

In D&D, your imaginary characters come with personalities defined along two different scales:

  • How Good or Evil they are, and
  • How much respect they have for The Rules

So you end up with descriptions like Chaotic Evil, Chaotic Good, Lawful Evil, and Lawful Good. If we put these into a colorful table with some insightful examples, it would look like this:

At this point, you may see the connection between The Rules, and becoming wealthy. I propose that the biggest advantage you can give to yourself and your society is to be as high on the Good Scale as you can be, but pay less regard to your score on the Lawful Scale.

Now, before the police officers among you pack up some handcuffs and begin a stakeout of Longmont, let’s explain that with a few examples.

  • US society has literally adopted the phrase “standard of living” to be synonymous with “amount of money you spend on yourself”. If you follow this rule, you permanently lock yourself into needing more money to feel happy, which dooms most of us to 20-40 more years of office work than we really needed to achieve it.
  • Far too recently, laws existed that made it illegal for African Americans and women to vote. But not long before that, it was legal to own human slaves. Somewhere in there, beer and wine became illegal for 13 years. We had philosophy, steam power, advanced astronomy and physics at the time, and yet these were the rules a lawful person would have to follow. Knowing this, is it logical to assume that our current laws on Marijuana plants, the rights of people who are not heterosexual, or what level of the natural environment we share it is acceptable to destroy are automatically correct? Of course not. In some cases, Goodness requires you to fuck the idea of Lawfulness and do what is right, working to change the laws in the process.
  • Religions impose their own laws, which were often designed with the most noble of intentions but now cause bizarre and impractical side effects. A historical famine or disease made it sensible to ration certain crops or meats at the time, yet the rules were set in stone and are followed blindly to this day. Political alliances or wars generated hate between people, and now their descendants continue to bomb each other’s vegetable markets even centuries after the original sins were buried. Some leaders were opposed to gay people a thousand years ago, and now their descendants still work to write the discrimination into their country’s constitution. Although these may be The Rules today, a quick questioning of their origins should reveal that there is great advantage to all if you are bold enough to break them.

And to collect all of this badass rule-breaking philosophy and apply it to making yourself richer today, just look around you and try stirring up some of your own shit. A few examples to get you started:

  • The Christmas Holidays are coming, and the crap has already arrived in the stores. You’ve been questioning whether you have to participate in the giant blizzard of plastic packaging and trinkets imported from China. You do not. You can go an entire holiday season without buying anything, and apply the spirit to sharing your skills and wealth with others who need it instead.
  • You’re getting married, and your family thinks you need the giant ceremony with the flower designer, the experience consultant, and the limousines. The amazing news is that you do not! You can get married for ten bucks at the county office and then bring 100 friends, some slacklines, fiddles, banjos, boxed wine and a stand-up bass down to the local park and make everyone shed tears of joy when they realize how much fun they are having.
  • You feel oppressed by the rules of your own city, family, or country. The cost of living is too high or the laws are restrictive, and you cannot achieve what you see the Mustachians here around you are doing because you are bound by different rules. You are not. You can move to a different city or country. You can earn a leadership position in your own family, or your own country.  You can work within your own system, or move to any other system, to get whatever advantages you like. With sufficient disregard for The Rules, you will find new avenues of freedom opening in your life wherever you live.
  • Everyone has told you that your kid will only prosper in the expensive school district where nobody speaks Spanish and the horseback lessons 20 miles out in the country are essential to round out the character to qualify for the eventual Ivy League school. Such well-meaning but tragic bullshit! Little MM’s officially-measured reading level is just about to hit the high-school level, and he can beat me at chess. And he shares a classroom with kids who don’t get enough for breakfast. He gets his advantage from parents who keep books instead of televisions in the house, and who sacrificed Mercedes SUVs and private schools in favor of having time to bike to school with him and help both him and his not-quite-as-lucky friends in the classroom when they get there.
  • Junior Money Mustache will have the grades and the financial resources to get into the university of his choice, but also knowledge that there is no requirement to get a college education at all, for either a happy life or for financial success. For this old rule of society is another one to disregard.

I describe these happy examples not as an attempt to boast or to criticize others, but hopefully as an inspiring example of what happens when you question and break the goddamned rules.

So I hope that as my son grows up, he will cultivate his own healthy skepticism for The Rules, and call bullshit whenever something smells foul. Because as it turns out, the people who have the balls to question the rules, find that they are suddenly in the position of making them instead.

—

* This is just me poking a little fun at Mrs. MM. In reality she is a truly badass woman who proudly defies most social conventions, and I love her for it. She can also bench press almost her bodyweight and squat 150% of it. But occasionally we debate on the issue of taking long and educational family vacations because The Rules say that you shouldn’t miss too much school. When interviewed in person, the teacher and principal admitted they thought travel was a great idea for our son and they would gladly bend the rules for us. Yet another example of how to approach things: if you don’t like the rules, talk to, or become, the boss.

Source: mrmoneymustache.com

Apache is functioning normally

By Peter Anderson 9 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 October 30, 2008.

Time to take the plunge and get a new car

The transmission on my old car decided that it no longer wants to continue shifting as it should. After getting several repair estimates, we found that to fix the car would cost us over $2500 in repairs, along with another $1000 or more in other needed repairs in the near future.  We decided that we just didn’t want to pump that much money into a car that wasn’t worth much more than $2500.

So now we’re looking around to find a good, reliable used car that will last us another 5 years and around 100,000 miles.   I haven’t bought a car in about 5 years, so I had forgotten what an ordeal it can be, and how many things you need to remember.  Here’s a list of some things that are important to remember when looking for a used car.


credit: Ben Grogan

Things To Remember When Shopping For A Used Car

  • Use the power of the internet: With the advent of the internet the consumer has a whole new sense of empowerment when it comes to car shopping.  Using the internet you can shop around for a good price and play dealers against each other. Doing this is a whole lot easier than it used to be.  Use online automotive websites like carsoup.com, autotrader.com or cars.com to narrow the field of possible cars, and then get price quotes from dealers that you can compare.  Let the dealers know when you’ve found a better deal, they may match it, or even beat it!  (Dealers hate Internet customers because they usually are well informed, and end up getting a better deal).  Also, use the internet to research your next vehicle through information sites like Edmunds.com where they have exhaustive reviews, customer feedback and true cost to own stats for all makes and models.
  • Used cars have a history:  Make sure that you always check a vehicle’s history report before even doing a test drive.  For a fee you can do unlimited vehicle history reports through services like Carfax.com or Autocheck.com.  All used cars have a history, and for some cars their history is more colorful than others.  For example, when I was searching for a car this time I found what I thought was an extraordinary deal on a used car with low miles and a great price. After doing a history report on the vehicle I discovered that the vehicle had a salvage title and had been in an accident. Big time red flags!   Some of the things you can tell on a history report include accident history, odometer readings (to make sure there hasn’t been an odometer rollback), whether or not the vehicle has a clear title, ownership history (including whether it was a rental car or a taxi) and a variety of other things.   Vehicle history reports are a must have for any used car shopper!
  • Check for signs of tell-tale vehicle damage: Even some vehicles that have a clean history report may have some hidden damage that was never reported, and thus doesn’t appear on the vehicle’s history.  Because of that you will want to make sure that you  inspect the car carefully to make sure it is sound.  Carmax has an article about how to find some tell-tale signs that the car has been repaired.  Signs include: vehicle has been repainted, clamp marks on the frame, welding marks and body filler, engine noise, misalignment of hood, doors or trunk, checking bolts to see if they’ve been removed.  Check the article for more ways to determine if the car has been repaired.
  • Make sure to take a vehicle for a test drive: In the internet age, you’d be surprised at how many people are now buying vehicles before even taking them for a test drive.   (Ebay anyone?) A test drive can be invaluable because it allows you to see the car in action, hear any noises the car may make, and feel how the car performs under normal road conditions.I just test-drove what I thought was a great steal of a car last night, and the brakes turned out to be bad, there were stains on the seats and the car’s shocks were shot.  All of these things I found out on the test drive.    Some things to check when you do a test drive include the interior of the car (check for excessive wear), the tires and brakes, the shocks (press down on the car and see if it bounces back quickly without too much bouncing), steering and acceleration without too much noise, and just listen for foreign sounds.  If your gut tells you something isn’t right with a car, pass on it.
  • Pay for a vehicle inspection by your mechanic: If you really want to make sure that a car is mechanically sound before you buy, take it to a trusted local mechanic who can tell you if the car is in good working order or not. Our local mechanic does a thorough inspection for about $30, but it is well worth the cost. I would especially suggest doing this if you are buying a car from a private party or buying a car without any kind of warranty (which most used cars don’t have).
  • Don’t play the “monthly payment game”: When you’re at the dealer don’t fall prey to the “monthly payment game”.  This happens when the dealer asks at what price range you’d like to keep your monthly payments.   When you respond with “under $400” or the like, that gives the dealer free reign to put you in a more expensive car or give you a longer finance deal – all in the name of reaching that magical monthly payment number.  Instead of playing that game, decide on how much you’re willing to pay, and stick to that number no matter what.  Tell them something like: “I want to keep the purchase price under $9,000” and don’t respond to their talks of monthly payments.  That way you can ensure you don’t end up paying more than you thought you would, just because you wanted a certain payment.  Figure it out on your own beforehand – and stick to your guns.
  • Bring your own financing to the dealer: One of the biggest ways car dealerships can make a good deal turn sour is by padding the deal for your car with back-end fees in the finance office.  All of that can be avoided if you just get your financing ahead of time through your local bank or credit union.  Or even better, save up for your used car purchase as suggested by Dave Ramsey in Financial Peace University – and pay cash!  That’s what we’ll be doing!  Read my previous article about driving free cars and retiring rich – where I talk about just that – saving for your next used car.
  • Make sure the car is insured:  Make sure to call your insurance company and check rates for the cars you’re looking at, and inform them once you do buy a new car.  Don’t let the insurance lapse!  Check insurance rates with other companies when you buy a new car, it may be as good a time as any to save some money on your insurance rates.

Other Used Car Shopping Resources

Here are a few other good articles with tips on buying a used car, in no particular order:

So what is your used car buying tip?  Have a good or a bad experience buying a used car?  Leave us a comment here and tell us about it!

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Source: biblemoneymatters.com