Here’s free advice if you’re buying or re-financing your home. It’s my Free Consumer Guide titled, “7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home.” Call me at
12032433820 to get a copy…
December 2021
New Haven, CT
Rudolph Perkins Presents...
Rudy Perkins Realty Newsletter!
"Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living..."
How To Make Your Diet More Eco-Friendly
It's impossible to ignore all the news about climate change, and yet you might not realize that one thing all humans do can have an enormous impact on the health of the planet-eating. The foods we choose to cook and consume have economic and environmental costs, and it's essential to take them into account. Author Michael Pollan's famous diet advice is as solid as it is succinct: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." In other words, choose natural foodstuffs over-processed foods, don't overdo it, and prioritize plant-based foods over meat.
The industrial food system is responsible for a whopping 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions, and nearly half of that comes from animal agriculture. Reducing meat consumption is a great way to lessen your diet's environmental impact. And before you purchase fish, consult the Seafood Watch website or app (seafoodwatch.org/recommendations) to make sure you're not about to buy something on the "avoid" list.
Vegan and vegetarian diets can be highly eco-friendly, but even an entirely plant-based diet has potential environmental drawbacks. Transporting fresh zucchini, too, say, Minnesota in January has a considerable carbon footprint. Eating what's in the season where you live is always the best option. Look for farmer's markets or a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) resource. Local Harvest has directories for both farmer's markets (localharvest.org/farmers-markets) and CSAs (localharvest.org/csa).
Some of our favorite things, like chocolate and coffee, can have negative environmental impacts when produced on an industrial scale—but simply choosing fair-trade chocolate and coffee reduces that impact in a big way. Palm oil is increasingly hard to avoid these days, as it's found in a wide variety of everyday foods, but its production devastates tropical rainforests. Read the labels on foods before you buy and try to avoid anything that doesn't indicate the type of oil it contains (corn oil, sunflower oil, etc.)—if it's not stipulated, it's probably palm oil.
It turns out that an eco-friendly diet is not only healthier for the planet—it's also more beneficial for us.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Save Thousands When Buying A Home...
Did you know there’s a free consumer report revealing ways to save time and money when buying a home? It’s called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding and Buying Your Next Home,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning to buy soon. Get your free copy by emailing me at [email protected].
Word of the Month…
Studies have shown your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary. Here is this month’s word, so you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…
burgeon (pronounced BUR-jun) verb
Meaning: start to increase or grow at a fast pace
Sample Sentence: Once she committed to practicing for an hour each day, her juggling skills began to burgeon.
Finger-Lickin' Good?
Taking inspiration from its famous slogan, KFC launched chicken-flavored nail polish in 2016. There were two flavors—"Original Recipe" and "Hot and Spicy"—only available in Hong Kong.
The Original "Quarantine"
In 14th-century Venice, a busy trading port, every ship was required to remain anchored in the lagoon for 40 days before crews could disembark or unload their cargo.
This was specifically meant to keep diseases (such as the plague) from decimating the island city-state. The word "quarantine" comes from the Italian word "Quaranta," meaning "forty."
Currently, In A Parallel Universe...
Where are all these extra single socks coming from??
Quotes To Live By…
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
– Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President
“No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong.”
– Albert Einstein, Physicist
“A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.”
– Groucho Marx, Comedian
7 Ideas To Trim
Childcare Costs
As any parent can attest, childcare accounts for a gigantic chunk of a family’s budget. While it’s not exactly something you can cut, there are some things you can do to ease the financial burden.
- Family Members: Extended family nearby who are retired and willing to help, even if it’s only a day or two each week, can help you save money on daycare.
- Securing Daycare Early: When there are multiple daycare options in your area, do your research well in advance and reserve a spot ASAP. If you wait too long, the best (and, often, most affordable) ones will be full.
- Alternating Work Schedules: If either you or your partner has a flexible work schedule, it could be relatively easy to take turns looking after the kids.
- Nanny-Sharing: Hiring a nanny can be expensive, but it could be a cost-effective solution if you share the cost with another family (or two).
- Dependent Care Accounts: Look into your insurance options at work. If you have a dependent care flexible spending account, you can typically contribute $5,000 annually (married couples/single/head of household; pre-tax) for childcare costs. For 2021 only, the American Rescue Plan raised the limit to $10,500.
- Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: If you don’t have a dependent care account, you can typically claim up to $6,000 per year ($3,000 per dependent) with the child and dependent care tax credit. By 2021, families can claim a max of $16,000. Visit https://www.irs.gov (search ‘child and dependent care tax credit’) for all the details on what expenses qualify.
- Investigate Subsidies: In some cases, childcare subsidies may be available to you through work, school, or military service. This map can direct you to what’s available in your state: https://www.childcareaware.org/resources/map/
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
A Heartfelt Message To My Special Clients And Friends...
I want to share a little secret with you. I don’t spend my time cold calling or pestering people for business. Instead, I focus 110% of my efforts on giving such outstanding service that people naturally think of me when a friend, neighbor, or family member needs a caring and competent REALTOR®.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all of the special people in my life who’ve helped build my business with their enduring support and referrals. I couldn’t do it without you!
Brain Teaser
What is full of holes but can still hold water?
(See page 4 for the answer.)
What's My Home Worth?
If you want to know your home's current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit. Request this "no charge" in-depth home value analysis by emailing me at [email protected].
Old-Fashioned Skincare
Witch hazel may have been a staple in your grandmother’s medicine cabinet, but it’s still applicable today. Witch hazel can help alleviate skin ailments like inflammation, itching, and burns due to its high tannin levels. The astringent quality also means it can help fight acne.
When shopping for witch hazel, choose an alcohol-free option to avoid drying out the skin too much and apply a little bit to a small patch of skin (not the face) to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction.
Color Scheme Websites
Whether you’re redecorating a room, designing a website, or just looking for inspiration to add pop to your wardrobe, several websites help you create beautiful color schemes.
Coolers: coolors.co/ The Coolers site (also available as an app and a Chrome extension) creates color palettes based on images you can upload, or you can browse their endless array of popular color schemes.
Muzli: colors.muz.li/ With Muzli’s color palette generator, you start with one color, and Muzli offers options for other colors that coordinate well with it.
Colormind: colormind.io/ Like many similar websites, Colormind will produce color palettes based on images you choose or offer random color schemes for inspiration—but Colormind lets you save the colors/lock them until you land on a palette you love.
Is A Credit Limit Increase Good?
Most credit cardholders have received, at least once, if not regularly, a congratulatory letter notifying them their credit limit has increased. While a higher credit limit might sound good, there are some things to think about to determine whether it’s the right idea for you. You can call the card company and ask them NOT to raise the limit if you choose.
- Impact on Credit Score: A higher credit limit can improve your credit score over time, but only if you keep roughly the same balance. Credit scores consider your debt-to-credit ratio, so charging more when your credit limit goes up can make your credit score go down.
- Rewards Potential: If you stay on top of your credit card bills, having a higher credit limit can earn you bigger and better rewards—like cash back or airline tickets.
- Alternative Sources of Credit: Having a couple of credit cards gives lenders a fuller picture of your ability to repay loans. If you already have multiple cards, a credit limit increase might be the best option. If you only have one card, look into opening a second credit card account instead.
Even though modern life has countless benefits (most people these days aren’t churning their butter, for instance), those benefits come with numerous additional stressors. Everyone feels pressed for time, and self-care often takes a back seat. Next time you need a break from the everyday grind, here are some relaxing activities to try that don’t involve eating or drinking anything.
- Meditating: Simply resting quietly for a few minutes while concentrating on breathing helps relax the body and mind.
- Reading: Put down all the electronics and get lost in a good book.
- Working on a Puzzle: If you have the space, keep an in-progress puzzle available at all times for when you want even just 10 or 15 minutes of relaxation in the middle of a hectic day.
- Organizing: Many people find cleaning and organizing their spaces extremely relaxing, both the process and the result.
- Doing an Art Project: Grab a coloring book and a set of colored pens or pencils. Take a sketchbook on your next walk. Learn origami. Play your favorite instrument.
Playing a Game: Shuffle a deck of cards for a game or two of solitaire. Pick up the newspaper’s crossword puzzle. Or, if you have friends or family around, get everyone involved in a fun board game.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
FREE Consumer Help Is Just A Phone Call Away...
Learn valuable secrets for saving thousands and avoiding costly mistakes when buying, selling or refinancing a home. Best of all, it’s FREE. Ask about my “Insider’s Free Resources” by calling me at: 12032433820
DID YOU KNOW…
Unlike most real estate agents, I DON’T spend my time pestering people with phone calls or bothersome interruptions to find good clients. Instead, I dedicate 110% of my time and energies to providing such outstanding service, people naturally think of me when a friend or family member needs help buying or selling a home. THANKS for your referrals!
Thanks For Thinking of Me!
Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.
Brain Teaser Answer:
A sponge
Educating Siri
Did you know that you can teach Siri how to pronounce things she’s getting wrong? The next time your iPhone’s virtual assistant mispronounces a name (that includes names of streets), reply with, “That’s not how you pronounce…” and Siri will ask you how to say it correctly. She’ll repeat it back to you until you confirm she’s gotten it right.
Deep-Clean Your Showerhead
It’s easy to forget about the showerhead when cleaning the bathroom, but it can often benefit from some deep cleaning—especially if you have hard water. Fill a plastic bag with equal parts water and white vinegar, securing it so the showerhead is submerged. Leave it in place for about 30 minutes to avoid damaging any finishes. Rinse and dry.
THANK YOU for reading Rudy Perkins Realty, my newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you. Your constructive feedback is always welcome.
AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say “Hi,” I’d love to hear from you…
RUDOLPH PERKINS
Rudy Perkins Realty
12032433820
Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.
Q. What homework should I do before I get a loan to buy a home?
A. Here are three big tips many people don’t consider when buying a home:
- Understand how much home you can afford. Calculate the two numbers bankers and mortgage lenders use to determine how much they will loan you: payment-to-income ratio and debt-to-income ratio.
- Understand the basics of home financing. Your ability to afford a home will be related to its price, your down payment (and the amount you’ll finance), the interest rate and points of your loan, the term, and the type of your loan. Study these items and the relationship between them.
- Save thousands by making your mortgage acceleration payment schedule. Take your current monthly mortgage payment of principal and interest and multiply that number by 13. Divide that total by 12 to get your new “accelerated” monthly payment.
Want to learn more ways to save money? Ask for my Free Consumer Report called “7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home.”
Do you have a real estate question you want to be answered? Feel free to email me at [email protected]. Perhaps I’ll feature your question in my next issue!
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
"Who Wants To Win $50.00 Gift Certificate?"
Then be the first person to answer this month's quiz correctly.
Last month's quiz:
What large island is a district of Denmark?
a) United Kingdom b) Singapore c) New Zealand
d) Greenland
The answer is d) Greenland. The largest island in the world, Greenland spans over two million square kilometers.
This month's trivia question.
In 1884, a Canadian chemist patented a food that's become a U.S. kitchen staple. What was it?
a) sliced bread b) potato chips c) peanut butter
d) breakfast cereal
Email Me At [email protected],
And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!