How Much Money Do You Need To Be Happy?

Wealth to most people means money.  

When I used to think about wealth I would think about wealthy people.

The kind of people you see speeding past you in their Bentleys or those people who owned a much bigger house than me with six bedrooms and secure gated entry.

To buy all these things you need money of course and lots of it.

Even to be a millionaire these days is not such a big thing as it once was. The people we look up to as wealthy now are more likely to be billionaires than millionaires.

But most, if not all of the wealthy people I have met in life say the same thing. Money is not the most important thing in their life.

The most important thing for them is happiness. Everyone needs happiness.

The Pursuit Of Happyness is one of my favourite films of recent years not because it was a rags to riches tale of a salesman down on his luck who eventually becomes a very wealthy stockbroker.

The reason I liked this movie was because it said something about what’s inside all of us.

They spelt ‘happiness’ wrong in the title because the Y stands for you.        

Wealth isn’t just about money. You can have a wealth of knowledge, a wealth of family and friends or property. Or you can have a wealth of health which you really can’t put any price on.

Apparently all you need to be happy (and I’m not making this up) is a salary of $50,000. The strange thing was those who made more than this felt no noticeable difference in their happiness.

We might imagine being happier owning that Bentley, or that big house and think that money is then the most important thing. But I can tell you it isn’t.

Because what you imagine is yourself being happy with all those things – not the money.

The pursuit of happiness, as one famous old philosopher called John Locke came up with way back in the 18th Century, is about having the chance not only to be wealthy and have lots of properties but also freedom to enjoy the best life has to offer.

So wealth isn’t about money, you can be just as happy sitting on a park bench and listening to the birds sing. Happiness comes from knowing you have the chance to be wealthy if you try hard enough.

via:http://www.colordarcy.com/wordpress/much-money-need-happy/4750/

Are You One Of The 76% Of People Who Have Broken Promises This Year?

By the time I finish this blog, 76% of people who made a promise to themselves for the New Year will break it.

If you happen to be one of the 76% but you want to join the 24% of people who kept their promise to change their lives, then you will need to understand one thing. It’s all about making progress.

And progress can be made in so many ways.

You can commit to losing a few pounds. You can  organise your life better, get fit or and take care of that desk full of paperwork.

Progress doesn’t even need to be about you. You can help others make progress.

Making progress is easier than you think if you know where you want to get to.

If your goal is to make money from property you need to make progress first. Find the investment that suits you best and make your way towards it. 

One of the things I learned when I climbed a mountain was to concentrate on the steps. Don’t think about how hard it is climbing on those rocks, the achy knees, the sweat and how far away the summit is.

Focus only on taking one step at a time. Then you make progress and it doesn’t feel painful.  

By taking one step at a time you can become more powerful and wealthy than you ever imagined at the beginning.

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How You Can Make More Money Without Turning Up For Work

I spent several years of my life working for someone else.

For a decade I worked in engineering. I gave that up to do a full time degree. Then I worked as writer. 

All the jobs I had led to one place – a dead end.

The dead end is the point where you have reached your ceiling.

Until you reach this point, a job really isn’t such a bad thing.

You get paid and someone else worries about the business side of things. All you need to do is turn up, do your job well, get paid and go to sleep when you get home.

Then you hit the ceiling and suddenly work becomes a chore. It isn’t exciting anymore and you’re not making any more money than you did a year ago. Instead of feeling like you are making progress in life you feel like you are being held back.

While inflation eats into your take home pay the demands of your job keep getting bigger.

Then you start looking at the more tempting things on offer elsewhere. The kind of things that will rescue you from this treadmill you find yourself on.

One of those things might be property. Or buy-to-let property.

With property you can make money without having to turn up for work in the morning. Eventually you won’t need to deal with the boss or staff appraisals that tell you that you must improve.

With buy-to-let property your tenant pays you and you are in charge.  You can also spend time doing the things you enjoy rather than the things you don’t.

But here’s the thing, the job is what gets you the property in the end. If you begin to look at your job as the way to achieve your investment dreams then it becomes easier to do that job.

Property investment is your long term life project. Your job is the vehicle that gets you there. Don’t give it up too soon and don’t give up on your dreams of escape.

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Infographic – The Buy-to-Let Property World Cup

This tournament turned out to be hotly contested but in the end it was Brazil and the USA who came out on top. These two countries offered an unbeatable combination of high capital growth and strong rental returns. Australia and Germany ran the two finalists mighty close with Germany knocking England out once again!

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Can Real Estate Agents Survive Without Social Media?

In 2013 and beyond social media will play an ever-increasing role in all facets of real estate, and real estate agents are quickly forming a dependency. In fact, according to updated statistics published by the National Association of REALTORS®, 89 percent of agents use social media to some extent.

The reality is that real estate agents must use social media channels to not only market themselves, but also respond to a want and need. An infographic from Mashable shows that 73 percent of homeowners say they will be more likely to hand their listing over to an agent offering to do video, yet only 12 percent of the real estate industry utilizes YouTube. This means real estate agents must use social media, namely video content, to appeal to homeowners.

Aside from YouTube, blogging has become extremely important to connect with potential clients, and also improve website ranking in search engines. Content truly is king, which means real estate agents must deliver interesting, high quality content if they wish to rank well. And obtaining high rankings is a critical aspect of preparing for tomorrow.

Even the most successful real estate agents will find that they need social media and can't live without it. They may be very successful and shy away from marketing, however customers are always right and the same customers are now demanding marketing via social media.

via:http://www.fixandflipnetwork.com/2013/07/real-estate-agents-dependent-social-media/

Cedar Garden Bench – The Benefits

Having outdoor cedar garden bench in your plot, veranda or porch is a great way to sit, calm down, and get pleasure from your environment.

Chaim Golan

A durable cedar garden bench is lovely in the yard or on your patio deck. This fine cedar garden bench is the perfect position to stock up all of your lawn and garden tools, your children toys ,or anything else you need in that area.

Cedar is naturally resistant to wetness and insects. Cedar has an remarkably high strength to weight ratio, which means that it is equally tough and easy to move about.

Cedar is a dependable choice for outdoor furniture either as a finished or unfinished wood. . Cedar garden furniture placed strategically surrounded by the lazy fronds of palms render tropical warmth to the garden even in cool weather.

White or red cedar wood, benches and chairs are sturdy, elegant and go well with other furniture items or landscaping decor. The curves of the cedar benches let them to be inserted into a small garden niche, placed at a round table, such as a round teak table or turn around the curves and combine them for a unique flowing design .

Cedar garden benches can vary in fashion from simple backless benches with wooden slats to ornately designed wrought iron benches with tie down cushions.
The benches are ergonomically designed to go with the outlines of lower back for a nicely relaxed fit .

The cedar garden bench may be covered with an outdoor seat pillow to provide additional comfort.

Some outdoor cedar furniture is hand made to last generations , and their stylish beauty only improves with age. The craftsmen may use clear grade western red cedar to hand produce quality patio furniture. Wooden furniture includes beds, bunk beds, chairs, and dining sets made from natural white northern cedar wood.

Prices of wooden garden benches will differ depending on the kind of wood used in its production.
You can find cheap prices on cedar garden benches and furniture from a choice of brands stores, eBay, and Amazon.

With land and home prices at an all time low, the moment has never been better to begin fixing up your home do it yourself, and see your property add to its price even more as the market turns .

Keep in mind that a sturdy cedar garden bench is beautiful in the yard or on your patio deck.
So give your garden a fresh look . It is time to make your garden look southfayettenursing casino alive with cedar garden bench and furniture .

The Author is the owner of Cedar Garden Bench Article. He is retired From a communication company , and enjoyes writing articles. For more information on Benches for home go to http://www.thebenchgarden.com/ Web Site

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Your Kitchen Your Home’s Focal Point

No other room in our homes is as busy as our kitchens. Kitchens are often the focal point of many households across the country.

By Anne Harvester

No longer simply a room where we eat, it has become where the family gathers at the end of the day to talk and unwind. Kitchens are a place where friends and families can hang out over a soapstone stove and discuss their lives.

If your family spends a great deal of time hanging out in the kitchen, you’ll probably want one with not only functionality but also a unique visual appeal which fits your family. Whether you are going for a cozy ambiance or a strictly functional kitchen, one thing to keep in mind is always space. One of the best places to start is with the counter. For example, a soapstone countertop can serve many purposes. It frees up valuable working space, while also adding stunning aesthetic appeal to the loon and feel of the kitchen. A beautiful soapstone countertop matched with a soapstone island can set a nevilogcanada fun filled mood for an evening of great entertaining.

If you are in the market for an easy and inexpensive way to upgrade your kitchen, think about everything you would want in a kitchen and ask yourself if it is feasible to accomplish. Here are a few tips to make your kitchen more stylish, user-friendly, and most importantly, functional.

Put together a list of problems and eye-sores in your kitchen. These can be an old fashioned stove or maybe not enough counter space. Are your kitchen appliances installed too far from one another or your kitchen isn’t lit properly due to insufficient lighting? Many of these problems can be fixed with some hard work one weekend, while others require professional help. The size and scope of your project is all dependent on what you desire in a kitchen.

Get some ideas by looking through home and garden magazines or see how people are using soapstone this year as you walk through some home shows. These are great for seeing the latest trends in kitchen layouts and designs. There are a great deal of television shows and websites dedicated to home improvement and interior design to help you decide exactly what you want.

A kitchen can be one of the best rooms in your home. No matter what the occasion may be, it is always a place for families to gather for meals, quiet mornings, entertaining, or for holidays. It is the place where major decisions are made and memories are formed, so take your time and plan your changes wisely.

Anne has worked on many home improvement projects with soapstone. Her specialties are redesigning ordinary kitchens into the extraordinary using a soapstone stove or a soapstone countertop.

via:http://www.fixandflipnetwork.com/2013/11/your-kitchen-your-home%E2%80%99s-focal-point/

Kitchen Lighting Ideas For Homey Elegance

by Fix & Flip Staff Writer

Kitchen lighting done well transforms even an average looking kitchen from drab to homey elegance. With some strategic planning and creativity, you can light your kitchen for improved functionality and a sense of well-being.

A single overhead kitchen light fixture is too stark for accommodating all that goes on in a kitchen. To add warmth and illuminate all corners of the room, you need to add layers of light sources.

Laying Out a Kitchen Lighting Plan

With all the lighting options available, you could get overwhelmed. A professional victoryag.org lighting the best of the best online casinos in designer can Australia help you plan cutting-edge lighting solutions and save you money in construction and energy efficiency. But even on your own, you can find simple ways to incorporate both direct and indirect efficient kitchen lighting – for subtle and dramatic effects. Before you decide where to place lights, take the preparation time to study the unique interplay of details in your kitchen – layout, ceiling height, space above and below cabinets, surface finishes and natural lighting. As you consider dimensions and way in which you use each space in your kitchen, you can identify where to place direct lighting for task areas and where to add degrees of indirect lighting for ambience.

Direct Lighting for Kitchen Tasks

Effective direct lighting is necessary for the many tasks, which go on in a kitchen, from reading books to prepping food. For hanging kitchen light fixtures, many experts recommend low-voltage pendant lights, usually hung in versatile sizes and shapes about 35-40 inches above surfaces of sinks, islands or tables. Recessed ceiling lights can be aimed to highlight particular spots in a kitchen. If you don’t want to deal with extra wiring, ceiling track lighting is another possibility. Recessed lighting under cabinets directs lighting precisely where a person is working on a countertop.

Indirect Lighting for Kitchen Ambience

Indirect lighting creates an ambient effect by concealing the light source from view. Hidden lighting above and below kitchen cabinets is an effective way to add upscale warmth and ambient glow to ceilings, counters and floors. Miniature track lights are inexpensive and easy to install. For a soft glow from the ceiling, install indirect lighting around an existing soffit or build in a new soffit. For decorative touches, try in-cabinet lighting or other accentual lighting touches to small areas.

Keep Control of Switches and Dimming

Part of the magic of blending indirect and direct kitchen lighting is the ability to adjust each light level for different tasks and occasions. Be sure to design switches so each type of lighting can be dimmed and controlled separately. You gain optimum functionality, as well as save on energy. When you are done with cooking, you can dim the lights to enjoy your meal.

Whether you want simple or elaborate, take the time to design a plan. A well-lit kitchen will increase functionality and comfort, as well as save you money and energy over time. It will also increase the perceived value of your home. Visitors or buyers will linger over the homey and elegant atmosphere created by your uniquely designed kitchen lighting.

Need help designing your perfect lighting? Why not hire a Pro to get the job done today, just choose your project type in our ContractorConnection and we’ll put you in touch with a local expert. Click here to begin your project quote!

via:http://www.fixandflipnetwork.com/2013/11/kitchen-lighting-ideas-for-homey-elegance/

5 Home Upgrades To Increase Resale Value In 2014

By Tali Wee of Zillow

All 35 home improvement projects surveyed in Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report increased in value on a national scale in 2013. Such strong gains are encouraging for homeowners looking to remodel and professionals who facilitate these upgrades.

While all renovations became more cost-effective in the last year, homeowners should focus on upgrades that are most likely to have the highest return on investments (ROI). In order to predict the best investments, consider the five strongest upgrades from 2013.

Steel Door Replacement

Entry door replacements are consistently increasing in ROI each year. Installing a new steel door can lead to an 85.6 percent cost recoup for home sellers. On average, the job costs $1,137 to complete. With a resale value of $974, a steel door investment is a mid-range project where a significant portion of money down is returned after a home sale.

Wood Deck Addition

Similar to steel door replacements, wood deck additions are in the top five home improvements to gain the most value year-over-year. Last year, the average cost for adding on a wooden deck was $9,327 with a resale value of approximately $7,213. Homeowners can expect to recover 77.3 percent of their initial investments after selling their homes. Further, house hunters with families or shoppers looking to entertain are impressed with outdoor living spaces such as decks and patios.

Garage Door Replacement

Both midrange and upscale garage door replacements are consistently strong investments. In 2013, midrange replacements cost an average of $1,496. The potential ROI for a typical new garage door was 75.7 percent. In comparison, an upscale door replacement costs $2,720. However, the recouped costs were 75.2 percent, slightly lower than the ROI percentage of a midrange replacement. In the case of garage doors, home sellers won’t see greater returns for higher-quality doors. Keep return differentials in mind when gauging how much money is necessary to replace a garage door in order to see investment regains.

New Siding

Vinyl siding replacements cost an average of $11,192. While it may seem like a large down payment, the potential resale value averages $8,154. Homeowners can expect to receive a 72.9 percent ROI after replacing the siding on their homes. In addition to its resale benefits, vinyl siding is less expensive than red cedar or redwood and is less time-consuming to install. Further, vinyl siding is attractive to homebuyers because it’s long-lasting and requires little maintenance. A home on the market with vinyl siding may stand out to those looking for a low-maintenance property.

Attic Bedroom Addition

An attic bedroom remodel costs $49,438 on average nationally. Compared to 2013, the value of attic bedroom remodels increased by 15.6 percent and moved from eighth to fourth in overall cost-effective remodels. Adding on an extra bedroom in a home widens the scope for house hunters. For instance, house hunters looking to purchase a three-bedroom home may limit search queries to reflect their needs. Therefore, a two-bedroom home is most likely overlooked by people searching for a minimum of three bedrooms, even if there is potential to build an extra bedroom in an attic space. Adding an extra room prior to listing a home allows the seller to advertise the property with more bedrooms, which widens the buying market and increases competition for a property.

These projects’ values have increased most significantly in 2013 from years prior and are a good indication of the upcoming trends in the home improvement industry.

via:http://www.fixandflipnetwork.com/2014/02/5-home-upgrades-to-increase-resale-value-in-2014/

Will a Short Sale Affect Your Credit Forever?

A local couple in middle Tennessee, Kenny and Sarah from Hermitage, recently asked about this very important, yet sometimes difficult, topic.  They said…

“Last year was a very challenging year for us and we ended up having to sell our home through a short-sale with the bank. Our friends did the same thing the year before and were told they would never be able to buy another home again. Can you tell us if this is true? Is our credit ruined forever now? Will we have to rent for the rest of our lives? We would love to be able to buy another home some day.  Please help!”

A lot of people can relate to this situation, and I really appreciate Kenny and Sarah’s honesty because this can be a hard topic that many people find embarrassing to discuss.  But first and foremost, I want people to know that things happen.  I personally have a short sale on my credit because I co-signed for my sister years ago.  I wish I hadn’t done that, but I did, and things happen.  But the good news is that you can buy another home after going through a short sale.

There are probably thousands of people in middle Tennessee who are wondering this very same thing.  For that reason, I like to consult with David Hammett of First Community Mortgage.  David has come up with a way to help people who have gone through a short sale to be able to buy a home again.

The lender has put together a kit of the step-by-step process that will enable them to buy their dream home. The free “Home Buyer Credit Repair Kit” is a great opportunity for people.  This kit will walk you through the process step-by-step; it will tell you what’s important and what needs to be done first so you are prepared to buy again later.

If you’d like one of these valuable packets, free of charge, simply contact me, and I will be happy to connect you with David.  Again, David has been in the industry for years and I have complete trust in his ability to help people realize their American Dream.

When I think about people never being able to realize their dreams again, it hurts my heart which is why I wanted to address this topic today.

Happy Customers of the Week

Teresa from Ashland City had intended to purchase another home after hers sold, but as it turns out, she wasn’t able to do so.  However, we were still able to save her over $7,000 in fees during the process.

Because I promote my “We Sell Homes 4 Free” program so regularly, sometimes people think that’s all we do, but we do so much more – we do everything that any other agency does as well!  So far this year, we’ve saved 35 families over $300,000 in typically collected commissions.

For more information about buying or selling a home in today’s market contact The Mohr Group at (615) 376-4500 or you can reach Monte directly by calling (615) 300-8393.

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