Meaningful gift giving doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, some of the most precious gifts are the ones that cost very little, but mean a great deal because of the time and effort the giver took in giving the gift. Below you will find a list of gift ideas that are low-cost but high value. Rather than a large chunk of change, these gift ideas require you to invest your creativity and time with only a little of your hard-earned cash.

* Make a scrapbook of the history of your relationship with the recipient. Fill it with pictures, mementos and memories from the past. Include your own heartfelt note thanking the recipient for the value and warmth they add to your life.

* Put your artistic abilities to work and create a piece of art in honor of the recipient. Write a personalized song, do a painting or sketch, or write a poem.

* Use your computer to make a family cookbook with a variety of recipes contributed by different family members. Or make a cookbook of all of your own special recipes to share with the recipient.

* If you have artistic flair, purchase blank note cards with envelopes. Decorate the cards with your own drawings to make personalized note cards for your loved one.

* If you can knit or crochet, make the honoree a new scarf, hat, afghan or pair of mittens. If you sew, create a new apron, fleece throw or keepsake pillow.

* Make an “I Love You because…” or “You’re Special because…” jar. On individual slips of paper, write something you love and appreciate about the honoree. Place the slips of paper in a decorative jar. You can also make an “I Love You” book by writing each thought on a different page of a blank journal.

* Use a desktop publishing program or your calligraphy skills to create a wall-hanging featuring a inspirational quote. If you are handy with a needle and embroidery floss, do the same thing using your needlework skills. Display the finished product in an inexpensive, yet attractive frame.

* For the chocolate lover on your list, fill a gift basket with several varieties of homemade chocolate cookies, candy, and brownies. If the recipient loves sweets but is concerned about weight gain, use recipes for goodies that are low in fat and calories.

* Make a keepsake video containing something that would be special to the recipient: children singing songs, friends telling why they love them, or you recounting funny stories of times you’ve shared together.

* Cook a meal for the recipient and/or put meal(s) in their freezer that can easily be heated and served rather than having to cook.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

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“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” A. A. Milne

In personal development growth occurs more easily when we create space to grow. In order to experience living beyond limits in business or personal lives we must rid ourselves of the chaos and clutter that keeps us clogged up. To change life and business begin by getting organized.

1. Know Your Top Priority Zones: Focus on 3 to 5. Top priority zones are the most valuable areas of your life. Consider the roles you play throughout the day. What means the most to you long-term? Examples are spirituality, self-care, family, business, career, home, education, hobbies, volunteer work, etc. To make the best time management decisions know your priorities. You will be challenged by a new opportunity. Does it honor your priorities? If not, say ‘no’ for now. Under each top priority zone list the top 3-5 priorities. For instance, under self-care you could have exercise, take vitamins, eat 5 fruits/ vegetables, read for 30 minutes, and drink 8 glasses of water daily. The more you can simplify and get focused the better.

2. Schedule Blocks of Time: Blocks of time for your various priority zones give you time and a clear focus on the priorities in each area. Consider how much time you need and how much you can commit to each priority. When is the best time of day to schedule it so that you follow through? Customize your schedule to fit your energy level and personality so your time is used efficiently.

3. Now you can create your “to do” list or “toleration” list: What are you putting up with that needs to be handled. Get it out of your head and into a system such as a list, Day-Timer, palm pilot, blackberry, computer, etc. Plan to do it, delegate it, or dump it. What can you let go of? Give yourself permission to let go so you can focus on what will make the greatest difference.

4. Systematize: Create systems that save you time and make life easier. If there is an area not working for you chances are it is in need of a simple system. How often are you running to the store and what can you do to make one trip? When you buy something new, get rid of something old so your closets never get packed. How can you spend less time waiting in lines, managing e-mail, and handling paperwork? What marketing system can you put in place so you know exactly what to do each day. Create a home for everything so you know exactly where items go. Instead of items landing where they were left have a designated space for office supplies, a space for hardware, etc. Pick up more ideas at http://startingnowcoaching.com/_wsn/page16.html.

5. Set Yourself Up for Peak Performance: Take regular breaks to rejuvenate. In the book the Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal, the authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz suggest taking 10 minute breaks every 90 minutes. Get plenty of sleep and choose healthy energy sources vs. adrenaline for endurance. By the way…I hope you chose self-care as one of your top priorities. Take a day off, get help, do what it takes to organize your life and business. Save time doing what you don’t like and more time doing what gets you pumped. That’s when you will bubble over sharing the special gifts you have to offer and we will all be better off.

Starting Now!

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

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Two: Look for the Energy Star Label. Energy Star-qualified refrigerators use about half as much energy as refrigerators made before 1993.

Three: Get Unplugged. Many home electronics still consume energy even when they are turned off. Many devices with a “standby mode” will continue to use power. Also, chargers and power adapters continue to draw power from the wall socket even if the device is not attached. Unplug these devices or use a power strip to turn off multiple units, when they aren’t being used to make sure that you aren’t wasting energy.

Four: Double-Up on Windows. Replacing old single-pane windows with double pane-windows helps reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer.

Five: Turn Down the Thermostat. Lowering you thermostat by just one degree can reduce costs by about four percent.

Six: Sustainable Floors. Cork flooring not only looks great, but it’s also natural insulator. So when you look into purchasing flooring, consider using bamboo, cork or another sustainable material.

Seven: Earth-Friendly Decks. A lot of deck material comes from tropical hardwoods. These woods look great and stand up to the elements for a very long time.

Eight: Low-Flow Faucets. Low-flow water fixtures such as showerheads, faucets and toilets reduce water consumption and water heating costs by as much as 50 percent.

Nine: Buy Renewable Energy. Check with your local utility company and see if you can purchase renewable energy.

Ten: Recycle! After you replace all those inefficient, windows and fixtures, make sure you recycle all that metal and glass. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. Find more information about programs in your area at www.recycle.com.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. You can even search for energy saving features. California Home Network provides free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

How can adults help?

If you have children, involve them in holiday planning and let them know ahead of time about the events that are going to take place. And as the holidays get under way, try not to overload your kids’ schedules. Give the child some space as far as not making them attend every function or every family gathering. If the child wants to have some alone time, then allow that to happen. Parents need to choose activities to mark the holidays that are both meaningful and manageable. “What most kids really want is your time and attention.”

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing home search results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. Get free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

OptOutPreScreen.com

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you (“Firm Offers”). The FCRA also provides you the right to “Opt-Out”, which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing home search results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. You can even search by Google Map search and even do a home search with energy saving features. California Home Network provides free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

In many American homes, the change of seasons is a signal for storing away some stuff and pulling out other supplies. Whether it’s yard tools or summer clothes, we all have items we put into storage for awhile, and pull out those things we need for another season, like holiday decorations. If you’re selling your home, you should try to store away extra items to make your home appear more spacious.

“A” is for Assessment

What do you have and where can you put it? Take a look at all your stuff and then take a look at where you can tuck it away in your home. Walk through the home with a pad and pen and dedicate an hour of your time to finish this first step.

“B” is for Banish and Box

While this may sound easy, it’s where the hard decisions get made. Box up what you’re going to keep and banish what needs to be thrown out, held for a yard sale or given to charity.

“C” is for Control

These two steps keep your storage areas neat and organized. They should also become a routine part of your storage plan. Maintaining your storage areas with smaller containers (such as see-through boxes, file folders or portable hanging racks) will keep items orderly and easily identifiable. Cardboard or plastic boxes with removable lids are your best bet for corralling stuff. The boxes are easy to handle and uniform in size.

When selling your home and if in doubt of what things should be stored away, ask your Realtor, he/she can give you some fantastic ideas.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing home search results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. You can even search by using the new Google Map search, and even do a home search for energy saving features. Are you looking for extra storage space or RV access? Well, you can search for that too.

California Home Network also provides free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

1. Assemble an emergency kit that would enable you to survive comfortably on your own for at least three days. You’ll need:

• A change of clothes
• Sleeping bags
• Food and water. Plan on using a gallon of water per person per day. Buy canned and dried foods that are easy to store and prepare.
• Supplies. Include a flashlight, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, prescription medicines and toiletries.

2. Make a family communication plan.

• It may be wise to have everyone call an out of state friend or relative.
• Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone.
• Select a “safe room” where everyone can gather. The best choice is an interior room with few windows and doors.

3. Learn more about readiness. Planning helps. Knowing what to expect, you and your family will be calmer during an emergency.

• Find out where to turn for instructions, such as local broadcasting networks, which will broadcast information as quickly as possible about the nature of the emergency and what you should do. In case of an emergency, it’s always best to be prepared.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land. Find your dream home today.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing home search results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. You can even search by using the new Google Map search, and even do a home search for energy saving features.

California Home Network also provides free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Start a blog for free at www.blogspot.com, where the voice of the local citizens can be heard loud and clear. Let your local elected officials know how you feel about the local affairs.

Read what is happening in Folsom with Folsom Talks and Empire Ranch.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing home search results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. You can even search by using the new Google Map search with the cool community search feature, and even do a home search for energy saving features too. Are you looking for extra storage space or RV access? Well, you can search for that too.

California Home Network also provides free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

A blog written by “NYC public school parents”, the authors note that the kids are holding out for higher compensation. Some students are even demanding retroactive pay for last years test scores. One mother recounts a conversation between her teenage son and his friends comparing rewards for good grades: a cell phone for straight A’s, $20 per A, the latest video game station. Although these situations seem humorous, they highlight the serious problem with paying kids for grades. Once you start this trend you must continue to raise the stakes and once kids start to earn their own money, you lose leverage. A child psychologist points out that for a high achieving student, money doesn’t matter. It’s recommended that good grades should be rewarded with a hug, words of encouragement, or a spontaneous treat—anything but cash. That way kids learn the personal satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing home search results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. You can even search by using the new Google Map search with a community search tool, and even do a home search for energy saving features too.

California Home Network also provides free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Today many lenders are more flexible and allow a greater percentage of monthly income to go toward mortgage payments. But they are more stringent on credit card balances. Lenders often count 5% of the balance as a borrower’s monthly payment, instead of the credit card’s minimum payment. If you are planning to pay off some debts before you apply for a loan, consider the ones with the largest monthly payment. Many lenders, for example, prefer to have a car loan paid off, because borrowers are not likely to go out and buy a new car right away. On the other hand, if credit cards are paid off, a borrower might start charging again.

Should I wait until interest rates drop?

Time is money. Can you afford to wait? Of course home buyers want to buy when interest rates are at their lowest. When interest rates are at near-record lows, potential buyers or homeowners looking to move up are asking themselves if the time is right to act. But no one can predict with certainty where rates are headed at any particular time. Waiting for a bottoming out may instead provide time for rates to rise.

What’s the debt-to-income ratio lenders use to qualify borrowers?

Many lenders use two ratios when they decide whether to approve a mortgage. If, for example, the ratios are 28/36, the “front” ratio of 28% means the lender will allow a mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance) of up to 28% of the borrower’s monthly pre-tax income. The “back” ratio of 36% means all loan and credit payments cannot exceed 36% of the borrower’s monthly income.

For more information visit the California Home Network, your:
Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always “Do the Right Thing”, starting with providing premier executive real estate service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free, no registration required, MLS home and property searches with amazing home search results at your fingertips, along with its ease of use, no registration required advanced home search features that will simply astound you. You can even search by using the new Google Map search, and even do a home search for energy saving features. Are you looking for great real estate deals, short sales, or bank owned properties? With this powerful home search engine that information is right at your fingertips now.

California Home Network also provides free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.