Is It OK for Dad to Quit?
Here's a question I saw recently on social media. "Is it OK for Dad to quit his high paying job and lower our standard of living, just so he has more time to spend with us?"
Most of the 100+ answers were similar: be thankful for a dad to spend time with, rather than having extra money to spend. Many answers came from adult children who had lost their dads due to stress. They talked about dads who didn't have a choice, dads who had to stay in stressful jobs because the jobs paid enough, and there were no acceptable alternatives.
But that was the job. And like many men, those dads did the work—often without complaint—because "that's what you do when you have a family."
My answer to the question is this: Maybe if a dad can maintain a reasonable lifestyle for his family—so that lack of money itself doesn't become a source of stress—then quitting might be worth it. What about your dad?
Does he or did he work a high-stress job? Can you still give him a hug and thank him?
The May 2018 Real Estate Weather Report features statistics and analysis about real estate activity during April 2018 in the East Bay. It compares market activity during April 2018 with April 2017. The information provided in this video is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Bay East Association of REALTORS® or its Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
The concept of a house warming used to be literal.
When someone moved into a new house, guests brought firewood and lit fires in all the fireplaces. This warmed the place physically, but the fires were also believed to ward off evil spirits. Uninhabited homes were thought to attract roaming ghosts, so a new home would have to be cleansed of that bad energy before anyone could move in.
These days, a house warming party is metaphorical—warming up the atmosphere with good friends and cheer. Let me know how I can help you find a new home to warm!
That is the question. Do open houses sell homes? Or are they a waste of time? It depends on where your house is, how long it’s been listed, and other factors. Contact me for a copy of this free report detailing the pros and cons.
Enter today! Scroll down to find the June quiz question and send your answer. Each month, one correct answer will be drawn to win. It's that easy!
Question: What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in a thousand years?
How did the word ‘cattle’ come to refer to a herd of cows?
Fancy a week in France? Dying for a holiday in Dublin?
If so, how about a house swap? A house-swap can put you into a home in your ideal location at a fraction of the cost of a hotel for the same amount of time, or more!
House swapping is a decades old vacationing practice. Today there are many home-swapping websites to choose from, allowing you to use reviews and other customer information to evaluate opportunities.
Experienced house-swappers Mona and Gary Spencer advise using that information fully. "We've spent a month every summer in different parts of the world, and the experiences have been priceless. We usually know what to expect because we contact references and talk to people who've been in the house. We also prefer simultaneous exchanges, rather than one-sided exchanges. We figure if we're living in their house and they in ours, we'll take care of each other's homes."
House swapping sites are not free. You'll need to pay a membership fee to have access to listings and to list your own home. Fees range between $9/month and $39/month, sometimes paid annually.
Here are three special tips from experienced swappers: 1. Get home exchange insurance. Some swapping sites provide this. 2. Be clear about expectations—yours and theirs. Make sure you know if the kitchen is fully stocked, if there is a person to contact with problems, etc. 3. If possible, get your swapper to show you their airline tickets to prove they're committed to showing up. "If they're very experienced exchangers," says Mona Spencer, "we don't bother with the proof. But if they're new, we explain why we want to see tickets."
VIDEO: Cash-Back or Miles...which Is Better?
You might have friends who took an amazing trip or got a brand new mixer using just their credit card rewards. Rewards are free money, but which is best for you...miles or cash rewards? Here's a video to help you compare.
4,383 sq. ft. Lot Size 10,226 sq. ft.
3,405 sq. ft. Lot Size 13,000 sq. ft.
When his paycheck was short $500, Johnson went to the payroll department to complain.
Here’s how to make the greatest side dish ever IMHO—melting potatoes. Imagine potato slices that are caramelized and crispy on the outside and creamy like mashed potatoes on the inside. The best of both worlds.
You’ll need 2 pounds of potatoes; a half stick unsalted butter, melted; 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth; 4 garlic cloves, mashed; salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Preheat your oven to 500°F/260°C. Slice the potatoes into 1-inch thick rounds, place them in a large baking dish, toss them in the melted butter, and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Remove the baking dish from the oven, add the broth and the garlic, and then continue baking until most of the stock has been absorbed, about 15 minutes more. The results? Crispy-saucy deliciousness.
This recipe appears in multiple places online, but a blogger at Smitten Kitchen has traced the history a bit, and offers pictures of the steps here.
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