Here's free advice if you're buying or refinancing your home. It's my Free Consumer Guide titled, "7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home." Call me at (203) 243-3820 to learn more…
December 2025
New Haven, CT
Rudolph Perkins Presents...
Rudy Perkins Newsletter!
"Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living..."
Job-related stress is pretty standard, but it’s important to recognize when that stress is turning into burnout so you can find healthy ways to address it before it becomes a more serious issue. Because “burnout” isn’t a diagnosis, there isn’t a specific set of symptoms to check. Instead, one of the things you need to look at is how you feel about work now compared to how you felt about work in the past—a project that used to feel easy now feels difficult to accomplish, a formerly mundane task now makes you angry, or you’re starting to feel resentment toward coworkers or customers that you used to like.
Burnout can manifest itself outside the workplace, too, which may make it harder to identify as job-related. But suppose you’re feeling tired or ill more often than usual, experiencing insomnia or other sleep disruption, or losing interest in activities. In that case, these can also be signs of job-related burnout. If this sounds like you, find a support network. Talking to a therapist can be helpful, and if your company has an employee assistance program, you may be able to use those services at a reduced or no cost.
You may need to take some time away from work or set boundaries to prevent burnout from coming back—switching work email off when you leave the office, not putting in overtime, or reducing the number of projects you have. You won’t necessarily know what boundaries might help, though, if you don’t know what your stress triggers are at work. Identifying those triggers is a good first step, and (depending on your relationship with them) talking with your supervisor about your struggles may help.
Experts also recommend mindfulness and grounding practices, which can significantly reduce stress in the moment (even simple deep breathing can work wonders), as well as cutting back on doomscrolling and screen time. Additionally, many of the activities that help reduce stress and burnout are habits we should be engaging in anyway for our overall health, such as exercising, eating well, and getting good sleep.
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 that your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary. Here is this month’s word so that you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…
Boondocks (pronounced BOON-docks) noun
Meaning: an isolated or secluded area, usually sparsely populated or unpopulated
Sample Sentence: To see more constellations in the night sky, you need to go out into the boondocks, where there is little or no light pollution.
Ketchup Beyond The Fries
Everyone's favorite fry dip has some surprising uses that go well beyond the kitchen. Here are just a few.
- Polishing: Apply a layer of ketchup to tarnished areas on copper, brass, and silver, leave it for 10-15 minutes, and rinse it clean.
- Rust Removal: Spread ketchup on a rusted cast-iron skillet or the rusty spots on metal outdoor furniture and leave it for 15-30 minutes. You'll still need some elbow grease to scrub away the rust, but not as much as you would without the ketchup.
- De-Green Blond Hair: Blond locks can look a little green after too much time in a chlorinated pool, but ketchup can help. Work ketchup through your hair, wrap it in a shower cap, and let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing and washing your hair.
Quotes To Live By…
“Your body is not who you are. The mind and spirit transcend the body.”
– Christopher Reeve, Actor
“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.”
– William Arthur Ward, Writer
“Health food may be good for the conscience but Oreos taste a ‘heck’ of a lot better.”
– Robert Redford, Actor
Most people have experienced occasional heartburn after overindulging in fried or especially spicy foods. Heartburn is pretty standard—and if it’s infrequent and short-lived, it may be no more than an annoyance. When heartburn lingers or occurs more often, it may be time to make some changes.
Left untreated, heartburn and acid reflux can lead to more serious health issues (including gastroesophageal reflux disorder, or GERD, permanent damage to the esophagus, and even esophageal cancer). Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Here are some easy ways to relieve heartburn and prevent it in the future.
- Avoid triggering foods. Fatty/greasy, spicy, or acidic foods are more likely to cause heartburn, so avoid or cut back on foods like tomatoes, citrus, alliums (garlic and onion), hot peppers, and deep-fried foods. Caffeine can also be a trigger, so coffee, tea, and even chocolate may be on the chopping block. Keep a food diary to find out exactly what your food triggers are. For some, peppermint can cause heartburn, while for others it may soothe an upset stomach.
- Eat more slowly. Eating quickly doesn’t give your brain time to register that your stomach is full, and eating until you’re “stuffed” is a good way to provide yourself with heartburn. Some experts even suggest eating smaller meals throughout the day, rather than three large meals.
- Allow time to digest before lying down. Plan to be upright for at least 3 hours before you go to bed so gravity can help keep stomach acid in the stomach rather than in your esophagus. You may also try sleeping on a slight incline, with the head of the bed roughly 6-8 inches above the foot. Adding lifts to the legs at the head of the bed is a good way to do this—cramming several pillows under your head is not.
- Try home remedies. There are herbal remedies that may provide some heartburn relief, including licorice root or ginger supplements, and even baking soda can be used as an antacid for short periods. Always talk with your doctor before trying a home remedy.
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 providing outstanding service that makes people naturally think of me when a friend, neighbor, or family member needs a caring and competent REALTOR®.
I want to take this moment to acknowledge and thank all 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
It doesn't matter if this 4-letter word is written forward, backward, or upside-down—in any configuration, it can still be read the same from left to right. What's the word?
(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 calling me at: (203) 243-3820.
Dad Joke: A Short One
Did you hear the bad news? The yardstick factory won't be making them any longer.
Way Out In The Bundok
The word "boondocks" has its origins very far afield, indeed: in the Philippines. In the early part of the 20th century, while the archipelago was a U.S. colony, Americans in the Philippines adopted the Tagalog word bundok (which means "mountain") for the word we know today. In the 1950s, "boondocks" was shortened to "boonies" (which became more common).
Volunteer Websites
Organizing volunteer schedules can be hard, but these free sites make it much easier.
VolunteerSignup.org is entirely free (and ad-free) and lets you create signup sheets to coordinate and schedule volunteers for different shifts or tasks. And volunteers don't even have to register.
SignUpGenius.com is a popular site, and you can add a payment option if you need to collect funds from your volunteers. The free option offers unlimited signup pages, but it includes ads.
YourVolunteers.com offers a free plan with unlimited "volunteer focuses," but you're limited to 1,000 volunteers per focus. The free version also includes ads.
Whether you’re starting a small brick-and-mortar business or just selling handmade dog sweaters at the local farmer’s market, it’s a good idea to set up business bank accounts to keep all business expenses and income separate from your personal finances. Not only does this make bookkeeping and tax preparation far easier, but it may also be a legal question—your bank may forbid the use of personal accounts for business transactions. Here are some other reasons why you should consider opening a business bank account, even if you’re operating as a sole proprietor.
- Accepting payments by credit card without a payment service provider.
- Building business credit, which helps when applying for small business loans or grants.
- Securing personal identity by using an Employer Identification Number instead of a Social Security Number.
- Protecting personal assets in the event of a business lawsuit.
Compare business account offers before you sign up by looking at things like monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, limits on transactions or deposits, and interest rates.
When an electrical outlet isn’t sufficient for a room, it’s tempting to add a power strip and plug everything in. But there are some essential safety tips you should know about using power strips to help prevent overheating (or worse). Here are just a few:
1. Make sure you only use indoor power strips indoors. Only outdoor power strips are designed to withstand weather exposure.
2. Do not plug high-wattage appliances and devices (such as air conditioners, microwaves, and power tools) into a power strip, as these can overload it.
3. Avoid cheap power strips. Get high-quality surge-protected power strips to safeguard devices against damage from power spikes.
4. Never plug a power strip into an extension cord or another power strip, and never plug more than one power strip into one wall outlet.
5. If a power strip feels hot to the touch while in use, or if you notice one of its outlets looks burned, it’s no longer safe to use. Unplug it immediately and safely discard it.
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 emailing me at [email protected].
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:
Noon
Say "Prunes"
Have you ever wondered why people in old photos all look so glum? The answer is a mix of rare experiences, technological limitations, poor dental hygiene, and proper etiquette. When photography was new, a person was lucky to have their picture taken a few times in their life. Posing for a photo was akin to posing for a portrait painter, so people donned the serious expressions they saw in formal portraits. An exposure could take as much as 15 minutes, and it's easier to hold a serious face still than a grin. This was also a time when fewer people took care of their teeth the way we do today. Big, toothy grins were considered unseemly, so no one would dream of preserving a smile in a photo. In fact, Victorian-era photographers instructed subjects to say “prunes" to make their mouths look trim and taut.
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 want to stop by and say "Hi," I’d love to hear from you…
Rudolph Perkins
Rudy Perkins Realty
(203) 243-3820
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: I'm seeking financing to purchase a home. What questions should I ask a mortgage lender to get the best deal on a home loan?
A: Before you meet with the lender, learn important financing terms such as origination fee, discount points, and lock period. This way, you'll be prepared to ask relevant questions. Here are some examples:
- Will I be charged an origination fee? If so, how much?
- Will I be charged separate discount points? If so, how much?
- Will I be charged any of these separate fees: processing, document preparation, underwriting, tax service, or flood certification?
- Will there be additional fees at closing?
- Is there a lock period with this loan? If so, how long?
- Are there any penalties if I pay off the note early?
- What interest rate will I be charged, and is it fixed or variable?
- What loan term (length) provides the best payment for my budget?
For definitions of these terms and more financing tips, ask for my free consumer report, "7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home." I'll send a copy right to you.
Do you have a real estate question you want answered? Feel free to email me at [email protected]. Perhaps I'll feature your question in my next issue!
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
A $50.00 Gift Certificate?”
Then be the first person to answer this month's trivia question correctly.
Last month's trivia question:
What non-fruit plant are apples, peaches, cherries, pears, and strawberries all related to?
a) lichen b) sunflower c) ivy d) rose
The answer is d) Apples, peaches, cherries, pears, and strawberries are all in the Rosaceae family. So let’s move on to this month’s trivia question.
What animal hibernates the longest?
a) bear b) sloth c) koala d) snail
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And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!