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!)…
 

fortnight (fourt-nite) noun

Meaning: 14 days or two weeks 

Sample Sentence: She will spend a fortnight decorating her new home.

The Leap Year Story

Our next leap year isn’t until 2028, but have you ever wondered why we have leap years in the first place? To keep our calendars on track. As it happens, it takes the Earth 365.25 days to fully rotate around the sun. Recognizing this, Julius Caesar introduced a solar calendar in 45 B.C.E. that added a day to February every four years.

Super Bowl Stats

Here are a few stats to share at your Super Bowl LIX party.

• The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
• The lowest-scoring Super Bowl was in 2019 when the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.
• About 1.25 billion chicken wings are eaten on game day.
• Carol Channing was the first singer to perform at a Super Bowl Halftime Show 1970.
• The very first Super Bowl ticket cost a whopping $12.

Quotes To Live By…

“History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.”

– Michelle Obama, former First Lady

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” 

– Peter Drucker, management consultant

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

–Muhammad Ali, professional boxer

When To Buy Travel Insurance

     Planning a trip is exciting—deciding where to go, for how long, and with whom. We never want to think anything will come between us and our dream trip, but things do happen, and a lot of the time, they’re beyond our control. When booking travel, especially airfare or cruises, we’re usually asked at checkout whether or not we want to add travel insurance. 

     Some reasons to consider the additional cost of travel insurance, which averages between 4 and 10% of the overall price of the trip, include:

• International travel where your health insurance is not valid.
• You’re taking multiple flights or traveling to several destinations, and delays or missed connections are possible.
• You’ve committed to pre-paid, non-refundable expenses.

     Generally, travel insurance policies cover trip cancellation, delay or interruption, delayed or lost baggage, medical expenses, and emergency evacuation. Many travel insurance agencies offer different levels of coverage at different rates so travelers can find the policy that suits them best.

     As far as travel insurance companies, three to consider are Allianz Travel Insurance (www.allianztravelinsurance.com), which offers single trip and annual plans; American Express Travel Insurance (www.americanexpress.com/en-us/insurance/travel), which is available to non-cardholders; and SquareMouth Travel Insurance (www.squaremouth.com), an aggregator that gathers quotes from multiple agencies.  Whichever company you’re considering, if you have questions about a policy, the best course of action is to call and ask.

     Before purchasing travel insurance, check your credit card to see if it already covers it. Travel credit cards like those offered by American Express, Capitol One, and Chase often include travel insurance benefits that may be sufficient for your trip. Call the number on the back and ask if you aren’t certain.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Thank You!  Thank You! Thank You!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Thanks to all of my clients and friends who support my practice and graciously refer me to their friends and neighbors. Rather than pestering people with unwanted calls and visits, I build my business based on positive comments and referrals from people just like you. I couldn't do it without you!

Brain Teaser

What is special about these words: job, polish, herb?

 (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 Sales@RudyPerkinsRealty.com.

Have A Chuckle

When is the best day to wear a tutu?

February second…2/2

Keep Or Toss?

Food expiration dates can be a bit confusing. Do you need to throw food out after the expiration date? Let’s examine a handful of kitchen staples.

• Ground cinnamon: Keep 3 to 4 years after the date of purchase.
• Milk: Toss after the use-by date.
• Dry pasta: Store it in the pantry 2 years after the date of purchase and 1 year after opening.
• Eggs: Keep refrigerated 3 to 5 weeks after date of purchase.
• Ketchup: Keep it in the pantry for one year from the date of purchase and refrigerate it for six months after opening.
• Pasta sauce: Toss after the use-by date.

Greeting Card Websites

These websites make it easy to create your greeting cards. They can save you money, too.

www.canva.com – Create and print greeting cards with a free account.

www.greetingsisland.com/cards – Personalize birthday, get well, sympathy cards, and more; print at home and send.

www.snapfish.com/cards – Design cards using your photos to make them extra special.

Psoriasis Not Improving?
What To Ask Your Doctor

     According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, more than 8 million adults in the U.S. have psoriasis, an immune-mediated disease that causes inflammation. While the cause of psoriasis is unknown, doctors and scientists know that triggers (which vary by person) can include stress, illness, weather, and skin injuries like sunburn, bug bites, and scratches.

     Psoriasis treatments include topical creams, light therapy, and oral medicines. If your psoriasis isn’t improving with treatment, consider making some lifestyle changes. Omitting alcohol, nightshade vegetables like tomatoes and eggplant, dairy, and gluten from your diet may help, as may reducing stress through exercise, yoga, or spending time with a pet.

     Still struggling with your psoriasis? It may be time to talk with your doctor about finding a new plan that will work best for you. Questions you may want to ask include:

• How long should I give my treatment to work?
• What are the benefits and risks of trying another therapy?
• What are my triggers?
• What lifestyle changes should I try?

 Avoid These Small Space Decorating Mistakes

     Decorating a small space in your home can present some challenges, but it doesn't have to be that way. Here are mistakes to avoid and what to do instead.

• Less Is More: Choose a few key pieces you like rather than filling the space with too much furniture. And if they're multifunctional, like an ottoman with storage or built-in shelves, that's even better.
• Size Matters: When it comes to the furniture in the room, choosing pieces that are too big can throw off the balance, while going too small can make it uncomfortable. Find the right fit by measuring the space you must work with before buying.
• Lighten Up: Instead of heavy window coverings, opt for sheers, simple shutters, or blinds to let light in and brighten the room. If hanging curtains, go high to draw the eye up, opening the room even more.
• Lighten Up, Again: Darker walls make a room appear smaller, while lighter colors open it up.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Here's A Free, Valuable Resource...

Now You Can Search The Home Market, Get Helpful Community Information, AND Receive Important Resources For Saving Time And Money When Buying Or Selling At www.RudyPerkinsRealty.com 

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:

They are pronounced differently when their first letters are capitalized.

The Easy Way To Clean Your Blinds

When cleaning the house, everything is pretty straightforward –vacuum, sweep and mop the floors; dust the furniture; scrub the bathroom. When it comes to blinds, however, it’s not that easy…until now. Use these tips to clean your blinds without having to take them down.

• Close the blinds.
• Using an upholstery attachment, vacuum your blinds from top to bottom.
• Flip the blinds and re-vacuum.
• If the blinds are dustier than expected, dampen a microfiber cloth with warm water and wipe them down.
• Be sure to sweep any fallen dust particles when finished.

THANK YOU for reading my

 Newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter with great content that 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…

_{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.}

Real Estate Corner…

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 and debt-to-income ratios. 
• 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, and the term and type of your loan.   Study these items and the relationship between them. 
• You can save thousands by making your mortgage acceleration payment schedule. Take your current monthly mortgage payment of principal and interest and multiply that by 13. Divide that total by 12 for 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 answered? Feel free to Email me at Sales@RudyPerkinsRealty.com. Perhaps I'll answer it in my next issue!

www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

“Who Wants To Win A $50.00 Gift Certificate?"

Then, be the first person to answer this month's Trivia Question correctly.

Last Month's Trivia Question and Answer.

A teenage scientist accidentally created what while working on a formula for a new medicine?

a) mouthwash b) synthetic dye c) artificial sweetener  d) superglue

The answer is b) synthetic dye. In 1856, while attempting to make an artificial version of an anti-malarial drug, William Perkin created the first dye not made from a natural material: mauveine. The purple color became a big fashion hit. 

This Month's Trivia Question.

When were the conversation hearts associated
with Valentine’s Day Invented?

a) 1847 b) 1944 c) 1975 d) 1798

 Email Me At Sales@RudyPerkinsRealty.com. And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!