Selling Your Home Soon? You'll need my Free Consumer Guide titled, "6 Steps For Selling Your Home For TOP DOLLAR." Call me right now at (203) 243-3820 to learn more…
February 2026
New Haven, CT
Rudolph Perkins Presents...
Rudy Perkins Newsletter!
"Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living..."
The Right Way To Wash Your Water Bottles
When you resolve to increase your water intake for its health benefits, the last thing you want is a hurdle that makes that more challenging. But the reality is that most of us probably aren't washing our reusable water bottles frequently or thoroughly enough, and that can have a negative impact on our health.
Even if you only put water in a bottle, repeatedly drinking from it transfers bacteria from the air (and your mouth) into the bottle. Over time, bacteria can accumulate and multiply. Most types of bacteria researchers commonly find in water bottles aren't very harmful to most people, but some (including E.Coli) can make a person quite sick.
Researchers report that plastic bottles tend to collect more bacteria than stainless steel, but the most important factor in ensuring a water bottle is cleaned properly is how easy it is to clean. Bottles with wide mouths are far easier to clean, for instance, as are bottles that have dishwasher-safe components.
How Often To Wash A Water Bottle
If you use it regularly, experts recommend cleaning it daily. This is especially true if you put anything other than water in the bottle (including a simple slice of lemon) or if you take it to places that aren't as clean (like the gym or the bus). If your bottle only contains water and never leaves the house, it's still important to clean it at least every 2-3 days.
How To Wash A Water Bottle
- Take apart all the pieces of the bottle.
- Use warm water and soap.
- Either handwashing or using a dishwasher is acceptable. Scrub each nook, cranny, and any seals thoroughly!
- Use a bottle brush and a straw brush if necessary.
- Let all components dry completely before reassembling.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Thinking Of Buying A Home Soon?
If you're planning to buy a home in the next 6 months, you'll want a copy of my Free consumer guide, "7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Next Home." My report will help you avoid frustrations and costly pitfalls when buying a home. You can get a 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 you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…
brainrot (pronounced BRAYN-rot) noun or verb
Meaning: the consequence of being online all the time, especially if that time is dominated by “mindless scrolling.”
Sample Sentence: I’m taking in-person art classes to get away from the brainrot of spending so much time on TikTok.
Winter Canning
Summer and fall are the height of the canning season—but with enough freezer space, you can postpone some canning tasks for the winter months. Here are some things that you can freeze first and save for later.
Tomatoes: Wash whole tomatoes and freeze them whole; spread them on a cookie sheet until frozen solid. Store in zip-top bags. The skin comes off easily when thawed. In winter, cook into a sauce or soup for canning.
Corn: Cut raw kernels off the cob and put them in zip-top bags to freeze. In winter, pack the corn kernels in hot water or add them to soup for canning.
Berries: Rinse and dry whole berries (with stems removed), then spread them on a cookie sheet to freeze. Store in zip-top bags. In winter, turn into jam for canning.
Peaches: Peel and slice peaches, toss with lemon juice, and spread on a cookie sheet to freeze. Store in zip-top bags. In winter, turn into jam or pie filling for canning.
Quotes To Live By…
“Friendship, like credit, is highest when it is not used.”
– Elbert Hubbard, Writer
“To love is to see need and meet it.”
– Tia Levings, Writer
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
– Charles Schulz, Cartoonist
Antidepressant 'Withdrawal' 101
The fact that some people who stop taking antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms is well-established, but there are still a lot of unknowns among experts when it comes to things like how many people might experience antidepressant withdrawal or how long it might last.
It's important to note that withdrawal when stopping antidepressants isn't the same as the withdrawal one experiences from addiction—antidepressants are generally not considered addictive. In fact, antidepressant withdrawal is more accurately called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS), and researchers are not sure exactly how it occurs.
Symptoms of ADS may include insomnia, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, depression, vivid dreams or nightmares, changes in appetite, and even electric pulse-like feelings often referred to as “brain zaps." These can be especially pronounced if the patient stops taking the medication abruptly rather than tapering off.
Studies report widely varying estimates of the proportion of people who experience ADS, ranging from 3% to more than 55%. There's an equally wide range in study results of how long symptoms last, from as little as five days to as much as 1.5 years. Some of the variation is likely due to the fact that there are no medical tests for antidepressant withdrawal—it's all based on self-reporting. The type and dosage of the medication also factor into the incidence, duration, and severity of the symptoms.
It's no wonder, then, that experts say you should always talk to your doctor before stopping any medication, including antidepressants. They can help you develop a plan to taper medication gradually to reduce ADS symptoms and offer strategies to mitigate or treat symptoms, such as massage, exercise, pain relievers, and anti-nausea medication.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Thank you to all 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 on positive comments and referrals from people like you. I couldn't do it without you!
Brain Teaser
The watermelon and the honeydew decided to have a big wedding. Why?
(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].
A Dad Joke That Sucks
Q: What historical figure always wanted to drink their beverages straight from a cup?
A: No-straw-damus
Cacao Currency
We've all heard that money doesn't grow on trees, but that hasn't always been true. Cacao beans were so prized in Mayan and Aztec cultures that they were used as a currency more valuable than gold.
Used Book Websites
Filling your TBR (to-be-read) pile with used copies extends your book budget. Here are some of the best places online to look for used books.
ThriftBooks.com has operated since 2003, and today the site lists millions of new and used titles across every category. They also have DVDs and Blu-rays.
Alibris.com, founded in 1997, connects independent book sellers with book buyers, allowing shoppers to browse one site for more than 150 million new, used, and out-of-print books from bookstores across the country. The site has expanded to include music and movies.
AbeBooks.com allows independent stores all over the world to list not only new, used, and rare books but also fine art, magazines, maps, photographs, manuscripts, comics, and more—and there are listings on the site from more than 50 countries.
Since the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) took effect in 1974, consumers have had additional protections against various billing errors on credit cards. The act outlines specific procedures to follow for different types of billing errors, from accidentally being charged twice to being charged for something that never arrives or isn't what you paid for.
In these cases, if the vendor will not issue a refund, you must submit a dispute to your credit card issuer within 60 days from the date of the charge on your credit card statement. This process can be relatively simple today if the credit card issuer's app or website has a link for disputing charges, but in some cases, you may want to call them first to find out about their recommended course of action. Find out more about the FCBA's protections on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/using-credit-cards-and-disputing-charges
When you don't recognize a charge on your statement, and you can rule out things like a vendor name being different from what you expect, you should contact the credit card issuer immediately to rule out fraud. If the charge is fraudulent, they should work with you to promptly close the card and issue a replacement. By law, you are liable for only $50 of any fraudulent charges, though most credit card issuers today have dropped that to $0. If you are concerned about identity theft after a fraudulent charge, visit the FTC's Identity Theft website https://www.identitytheft.gov/ to find out more.
Hosting a party might sound overwhelming, but a great party is one where the host has a good time, too. Here are some party planning tips from experts:
1. Focus on what you do best. You love to decorate and plan, but feel hopeless in the kitchen? Hire a caterer and spend your energy creating the magazine-worthy party space of your dreams.
2. Mix up the guest list. Partygoers don't all need to know each other beforehand. Create interesting conversations by bringing different parts of your life together at one party.
3. Ask for RSVPs. Not only do you need a headcount for items like food and seating, but you also want to ensure the mix of personalities you envisioned remains balanced and cohesive if some are unable to attend.
4. Save the deep clean for after the party. Clean the parts of the house the guests will use, but don't do a serious deep clean before the party—you'll have plenty to clean the day after.
5. Let your guests help out. You might ask everyone to bring a shareable dessert, or ask a few friends to act as the welcoming crew for new guests.
6. Take care of solo guests. Make sure anyone who comes on their own isn't left to fend for themselves. Make them feel welcome by introducing them to other guests who share a common interest.
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 for your referrals and for spreading the word about my services.
Brain Teaser Answer:
Because they cantaloupe!
Love Is A Flying Baby?
We know Cupid as a chubby, flying baby, wielding a bow and arrow. But the Romans adapted Cupid from the Greek god, Eros, depicted as a handsome winged youth with incredible powers to make people fall in love. How did that transformation happen? By the 4th century BCE, even the Greeks were afraid of Eros's ability to cause chaos through love, so his mother, Aphrodite, started appearing in their stories about him more frequently. He became more childlike, simply following his mother's instructions, and was less threatening. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the childlike god became the infant we know today—and that was the work of greeting card makers. Modern Cupid's gift is more of a gentle nudge toward love, not the Greek god's power to drive people mad, and an innocent baby with wings fits the bill.
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: How can I secure a low mortgage interest rate?
A: Securing a low mortgage interest rate helps make your monthly payment more affordable and saves money over the life of your loan. Besides using a larger down payment, here are three things to do to secure a low mortgage interest rate:
Compare multiple lenders and meet with your top three. Review the application process and your credit report to address any issues. The higher your credit score, the better a prospect for a lender you will become. Lenders will review the various loan programs with you.
Your debt-to-income ratio should be below 36 percent before you apply for a mortgage. The lower it is, the greater your eligibility for a higher loan amount.
Don’t make any drastic changes, such as changing jobs or making large purchases on credit cards. You want lenders to see that you have a stable employment history and the ability to make payments.
To learn more, email me to request my Free Consumer Report called “7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing.” 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 is the most common street name in the United States?
a) Main Street b) First Street c) Second Street d) Central Avenue
The answer is C. Believe it or not, the most common street name in the U.S. is Second Street. Typically, numerical street names begin with Second, since the main corridors generally are named Central or Main. So let's move on to this Month's trivia question.
The "Ring of Fire" is famous for volcanoes, but some of the world's most active aren't in that area. Which of these non-Ring of Fire countries has the most active volcanoes?
a) Kenya b) Italy c) Ethiopia d) Iceland
Email Me At [email protected], And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!