View Newsletter as PDF The road to homeownership may seem overwhelming but when you take it step by step, you’ll soon reach your destination — your dream home! FIRST HOME Set up a designated down payment savings account. Pay down credit card and other debt. Look into first-time homebuyer programs. [...]
View Newsletter as PDF Change isn’t always easy Fear of the unknown, the cost, the effort—there’s a lot to think about. You may be worried about how your kids will adapt to a new school or feel about leaving their friends and activities. It’s also hard to leave a place where [...]
View Newsletter as PDF There comes a time for many of us to either downsize or upsize. And it’s always good to know your options. Home too big? Has your home and yard become a lot to maintain? Do you have a big home repair on the horizon? Would you rather [...]
View Newsletter as PDF Here are some easy ideas you can use to reduce waste in your own home that will also help you save money. Learn to recycle common items for other uses, repurpose items you no longer need or want, and reduce wasted groceries. REDUCE ENERGY COSTS [...]
View Newsletter as PDF Research has shown that regularly practicing gratitude lowers levels of stress and anxiety. WRITE IT DOWN Send a handwritten note of thanks. Keep it short yet specific. Post a photo of you and another person on social media along with a heartfelt caption. Text someone a [...]
View Newsletter as PDF REDUCES STRESS Journaling can help process and overcome stress. In one study, students who journaled about their test anxiety before the exam outperformed those who only wrote about the test content. RELIEF IN TOUGH TIMES People who spent 15 minutes twice a week journaling about a stressful [...]
View Newsletter as PDF SMARTPHONE SCAMS Texts: Never click on a link in a text message sent from an unknown number. It may include a link to a scammer’s website or app. Apps: Beware of apps that, once installed, steal your information. Scammers might also create a nearly identical copy [...]
View Newsletter as PDF CREATE AN ESCAPE PLAN If a natural disaster or fire strikes, an escape plan will bring some calm to the situation especially for young children who may panic in an emergency. Have a main route for escape as well as a backup option. Practice your plan [...]
View Newsletter as PDF With the FBI reporting an uptick in cyber crime related to COVID, it’s important to stay vigilant while connected at home. USE STRONG PASSWORDS Passwords for WiFi and work accounts should be unique and tough to crack. Start with a special phrase that is at least 12 [...]
View Newsletter as PDF WHEN TO DO IT YOURSELF: YOU’RE WILLING TO DO THE RESEARCH Before you start, take the time to research the project. If you want to paint your cabinets, for example, watch tutorial videos, read about paint options or ask a store associate for [...]
