Summer is a great time to make vacation plans.
But if you want peace of mind while you're away, make safety-proofing your home part of those plans.
Trouble thy neighbor: Ask a trusted neighbor, friend or relative to make periodic checks. If you use more than one person, make sure they know about each other. We forgot once and got a frantic call from our neighbor who caught a man looking around. It was my dad -- who was also asked to help.
Stay mum: Don't tell too many people that you plan to be away.
Keep mail safe: Ask the post office to hold your mail -- which can be done for three to 30 days. Fill out a request (Form 8076) at your local post office or call 800-275-8777. You may also be able to do it online.
Shut off computers, laptops and major appliances. Doing so saves electricity and helps keep your expensive items safe in the event of a power surge. Adding surge protectors is smart, too.
Prevent widespread water damage from a potential leak by placing splash pans under water heaters and washing machines, recommends Home Improvement expert Eric Stromer.
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Public safety tax: Yes
Public safety tax: Yes
Once again, Franklin County is asking voters for a new jail. The economy is tough and each time the voters have turned it down. After all, everyone is making due, and why put more money into criminals?
Unfortunately, this is far deeper than just "the criminals." Besides housing more than double its original intended use, the jail has been subjected to over 30 years of wear and tear, along with the outright abuse inflicted by inmates.
As you sit in the safety of your home, think of the officers who have to "make due" daily to keep you safe. At times there can be 10 or more inmates in a room and one officer at the door. Help, if he needs it, is on the other side of the building, three security doors away. Inmates sabotage locks and doors on a daily basis, and it's far easier to do it on 30-year-old locks. That's only the beginning. The outdated intake and booking area create increased safety issues for both the arresting and intake officers.
Just Ask Gemalto: Why would you move your credit card info to your phone?
Just Ask Gemalto: Why would you move your credit card info to your phone?
Q: Why would you move your credit card into your phone? If it gets stolen, someone could use it, couldn't they?
Ask Mr. Dad: Hey, whose birth is this, anyway?
Ask Mr. Dad: Hey, whose birth is this, anyway?
Dear Mr. Dad: We're about to have a baby and my wife is trying to convince me to have a home birth with a tub of water. I just don't feel comfortable with this idea and would really rather just go to the hospital and deal with a regular doctor. I'm worried about what could happen if something goes wrong. My wife is getting irritated that I won't do things her way. What should I do?
Horoscopes for Friday, February 10, 2012
Horoscopes for Friday, February 10, 2012
Aries
March 21-April 19
Letting go of naive religious teachings that don't allow for
diversity and true compassion may be stressful. The results of
embracing something more intelligent and enlightened are what will
convince you in the end. Inspiration comes to you when you least
expect it.
Lucky Number
873
Financial Outlook
very good
Compatible Sign
Aquarius
Taurus
April 20-May 20
Additional job responsibilities have you racking your brain
for a better approach to the many tasks you face each day. The main
problem may be that you are in a panic. When you calm down and
prioritize your tasks, you will see that things are not so bad.
Lucky Number
689
Financial Outlook
poor
Compatible Sign
Pisces
Gemini
May 21-June 21
The Money Pit: Skip the house down payment and look to smarter investments
The Money Pit: Skip the house down payment and look to smarter investments
If your desire for home ownership is growing, and you’ve been furiously saving for that 20 percent down payment, you may want to take a moment to reconsider.
The American dream is expensive and evolving. After you pay your mortgage, there’s still more to pay: taxes, insurances, home maintenance expenses and sometimes a mandatory homeowners association fee, which typically runs between $200 and $600 a month. Additionally, many of us are upside down on our loans (meaning we owe more than our house is worth), so what was once a solid investment is a lot more complicated these days.
Hedge fund manager and author James Altucher believes that home ownership is not the smartest use of your funds because it’s not liquid cash. If you need your money quickly, you can’t get it out quickly. "You pay maintenance on your house and all these other expenses," Altucher says in an AOL Real Estate article. "You have all this work you have to always do on your investment: mow the lawn, shovel the snow. If you really believe
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