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 that you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…
 

recondite (pronounced REH-kon-dite) adjective

Meaning: esoteric; not commonly known; hard to comprehend 

Sample Sentence: He thinks using lingo from his doctoral studies makes him sound smart, but the recondite vocabulary confuses everyone.

Cleaning A Top-Loading Washer

It's a good idea to clean your top-loading washing machine a couple of times a year (or more, if you have hard water).

1.  Fill the empty drum with hot water and add 1 cup of chlorine bleach.

2.  Run the washer on its longest hot-water cycle to ensure the bleach is completely flushed before step 4.

3.  Clean the dispensers with a dilution of distilled white vinegar and hot water, and put them back in the machine.

4.  Fill the empty drum with hot water and add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar.

5.  Run the washer on its longest hot water cycle.

Hidden In Logos...

It's easy to miss symbols we see in logos every day, and the FedEx logo has one that's hard to see.  Look at the shape created by the capital E and lowercase x, and you'll see an arrow.

Quotes To Live By…

“Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.”

– M.C. Escher, Artist

“What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong.”

– Robin Williams, Comedian

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

– Anaïs Nin, Author

How To Start Saving For Retirement

     Saving for retirement can seem an overwhelming task, especially if you start later in life.  And while starting a savings plan early is best, the next best is to start saving now.

    You have lots of things to consider and options for savings, and this list can't cover them all.  Consider working with a financial advisor who can help with specific savings and retirement goals and show you how to adjust them over time as needed.

• Envision what you want retirement to look like.  One of the most important factors in determining how much to save for retirement is how you want to spend your retirement time.  You'll have different financial needs if you want to travel the world than if you want to spend more time in your garden.  Knowing how you want to spend your time helps inform how much you need to save.
• Create savings goals.  Experts recommend a goal of eight times your annual salary.  That may seem like a daunting number, so it's broken down by age, with goals of how much to have saved by your 20s, your 30s, etc.
• Look at different types of retirement accounts.  Employer contribution plans are among the easiest retirement savings plans because deposits happen automatically.  But there are dozens of other savings accounts to consider, depending on things like your financial goals—and it's a good idea to have multiple kinds of accounts.  Working with a financial advisor is a great way to get personal guidance on your options.

     Social Security calculators can provide an estimate for what you'll likely get in monthly payments, depending on when you retire.  Some retirement savings accounts also require a minimum annual withdrawal.  The amount changes over time, but it's another automatic source of income to consider.

 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 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

Mississippi has four Ss and four Is. Can you spell that without using S or I?

 (See page 4 for the answer.)

What's My Home Worth?

If you want to know your home's current value, I'd be happy to conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit.  Request this "no charge" in-depth home value analysis by emailing me at [email protected].

Lunchbox Time Savers

Packing lunch for your kids every day can be time-consuming, so here are a few tricks to streamline the process.

• Freeze sandwiches in advance: PB&J and ham and cheese are two sandwich types that freeze especially well.
• Use frozen foods as ice packs: Frozen sandwiches, juice boxes, or yogurt tubes are edible ice packs.
• Couple dinner prep with lunch prep: Chop extra kid-friendly veggies when you make dinner.

Aircraft Tracking Websites

Easily find out where that helicopter that just flew overhead is going, how busy any airport is, or which satellite you can see blinking across the night sky.

www.flightradar24.com provides real-time information on all aircraft flying at any moment, including helicopters and private planes.  You can also see details about each flight.

planeslive.com features not only a global air traffic map, but it also includes information and detailed maps for a handful of the busiest airports in the world.

starwalk.space/en is a fun way to find out in real time what's even further up in the sky, from constellations to planets to satellites to the International Space Station. 

Quick Relief For Sore Muscles

     It's frustrating to commit to exercising only to suffer from aches and pains that prevent you from working out.  While not all muscle soreness is bad, it's important not to let it get out of control and lead to injury.  Here are some tips to use before, during, and after a workout to help you avoid too much soreness and stay consistent with your exercise routine.

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  Experts recommend drinking enough water before and during a workout.  If you exercise for 90 minutes or more, they suggest swapping out water for electrolytes.
• The old suggestion to "walk it off" has some merit.  When mid-workout pain isn't too severe, experts say it may be good to keep moving but switch to a less intense activity. 
• Warming up before exercising can prevent injury as well as soreness, but don't discount the benefits of an active post-workout cool down.  Consider light stretching as well as gentle massage.
• Using a cold compress can help soothe aching muscles in the hours after a workout, though to increase blood flow to sore spots, you need to switch from cold to heat later on.
• Within a half-hour after you're done with a workout, giving your muscles the nutrients they need helps reduce aches and pains later on.  Eating primarily protein and carbohydrates in the first 30 minutes is best.

 Do You Need Backup Internet?

     More and more people are investing in a backup internet plan, especially if they work from home and internet access is critical to their work.  There are two main backup internet options, and the right one for you depends on your budget and internet usage.  If you need internet for your work, you can't have an outage that lasts for days.  So, what about a backup plan?

    Using your cell phone as a mobile hotspot is straightforward and may be easily activated through your existing phone plan.  It works for one device and internet outages of a few hours or less, but it's not ideal for multiple devices or longer outages because you can run into limits on data usage and battery life.

     A more robust option is wireless home internet, which is independent of the wired connection to the power lines on your street.  These connections come through cellular networks instead, meaning outages do not impact them.  They're not as fast as your primary connection, and these plans may have their own data limits.  Check with your local cellular providers for their wireless home internet services.  Monthly plan prices vary.

 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 for spreading the word about my services.

Brain Teaser Answer: 

T-H-A-T!

Take Two S'Mores And Call Me In The Morning

All three components in S'mores, that favorite campfire treat, were once considered medicine.

- Chocolate's medicinal history dates to at least the 16th century.  Healers believed cacao treated infections, coughing, dysentery, and angina, and even cleaned teeth!

- Ancient Greeks used marshmallows to heal wounds, soothe sore throats, and ease coughs.  Until the turn of the 20th century, marshmallows were made with sap from the marshmallow plant's roots and were not sweet.

- The original graham crackers were invented in the early 19th century as digestive aids.  They were deliberately bland, made with an unrefined wheat flour and bran.

THANK YOU for reading my

newsletter.  I wanted to create 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…

Rudolph Perkins

Rudy Perkins Realty

(203) 243-3820

[email protected]

_{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 should I know when buying my first home? 

A: Buying your first home is a big step, and making mistakes can cost you thousands of dollars.  Here are three you should avoid: 

• Not having a professional home inspection.  Review the report carefully so you don't buy a home with serious issues, such as pests, mold, or water damage.
• Not doing a "walk-through" before closing.  Visit the property after all the furnishings have been removed so you won't have any surprises later. 
• Not understanding the contract.  A REALTOR^®  who serves as your "Buyer's Representative" will help you understand your responsibilities and guide you through the process. 

Want to learn more?  Ask for my Free Consumer Report called "Top 10 First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes To Avoid."

Do you have a real estate question you want answered?  Feel free to email me at [email protected].  Perhaps I'll feature 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:

Which fast food restaurant has the most locations in the U.S.?

a) Subway b) Wendy's c) Burger King  d) McDonald's

 The answer is a) Subway.  Believe it or not, there are more Subways across the country than any of the other three: nearly 17,000 shops, with McDonald's coming in second with just over 13,700 restaurants. 

So let's move on to this month's trivia question. 

A few men's soccer teams have won the UEFA European Championship and the World Cup consecutively, but only one has raised a World Cup trophy between two European Championship victories.  Which one?

a) France  b) Italy  c) Spain  d) Germany

Email Me At [email protected].}

And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!