Expert Advice Archives - Page 4 of 85

Surviving On One USB Port

I depend on USB ports quite a bit, particularly at work. My desktop computer has six or eight USB ports at last count, but there’s something on the horizon at work that’s troublesome. We’re trying out some terminal systems–a miniature box that connects to a central server upon which all computer functions are performed. The only downside to it, aside from an inability to handle YouTube and other streaming videos, is the lack of USB ports. There are four, three of which are filled up with a keyboard, mouse, and printer. When it comes to the new MacBook, you’ll have even less freedom. The new MacBook will have one USB-C port to do everything. Here’s how to survive with only one actual USB port to use.

It’s good advice, particularly if you’re used to having a lot of USB ports available. It’s going to be very inconvenient, unless you can use one of those USB hubs and plug that into your laptop. Then again, if you do that, you won’t be able to charge your actual computer. Maybe if you’re comfortable running off the battery… still, as useful as one standard port will be for Apple users and the rest of the world, it would probably behoove Apple to make a second port available, even if only as a premium add-on.

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Home Building Regrets

by Kathy T.

Building your own home is the ultimate way to have it completely customized to your wants and needs. When buying or building a home, most people have a list of their requirements. How else will you know what to look for or add? But, sometimes you don’t know what you need until it’s, well, not there. If you’re shelling out the kind of money you need to build a new home, don’t be afraid to splurge on the things that you know you’ll want. Why spend that kind of money if it’s not perfect? Check out this post by Erin at How To Nest For Less for things she wishes she had included when building her home:

-More windows- the more natural light, the better.

-More outlets in the basement. More outlets everywhere- in today’s digital age, you simply cannot have too many outlets.

-Extra cabinets on empty walls in kitchen- it’s difficult to add cabinets later.

Photo Credit: Allen McGregor

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Bringing In Leads With A Real Estate Blog

by Kathy T.

Having a widely read real estate blog is arguably the best way to get your name out there. Local advertising is great, but having your own blog is the perfect way to showcase your knowledge and let potential buyers get to know you personally. I can name at least ten Realtors off the top of my head (from different states!) just because I love their blogs so much. And the same follows for any business blog. Just starting one and promoting yourself well on social media is a great step. But how can you generate even more leads? Check out this post by Tyler Zey at Easy Agent Pro for tips:

-Promoting your blog is what matters most. Try creating a social media schedule!

-Model the best- Read other blogs, and magazines. Notice how catchy their titles are! Try to model this, but with your own local spin. Numbered lists and “best of” posts are always popular.

-Answer questions, don’t sell. Just be informative and fun. It’s not supposed to be like cold calling.

-Think of it as a marathon- Blogging is not “one and done”. Try to write a new post at least once a week.

Photo Credit: Paul Inkles

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Accounts That Everyone Should Have

by Kathy T.

So, hopefully everyone reading this knows that you should have a checking and a savings account. But, there are so many other types of accounts out there that I believe everyone should be taking advantage of. These accounts will help you keep your money organized, and help you maximize your savings while minimizing your spending. Check out this post by Matthew Amster-Burton at Mint.com for accounts that you need:

-A checking account for paying bills- deposit your paycheck and other income here.

-A checking account for daily spending- having two accounts had an immediate positive effect on my family’s finances. We went from worrying about why the checking account was always empty to knowing exactly how much we could spend without endangering our ability to pay upcoming bills.

-An emergency fund- should be an FDIC insured savings account

-A retirement account- IRA or 401k.

-For self-employed people- a quarterly tax account.

Photo Credit: Rikkis Refuge Other

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How to Start Decorating Your First Home

by Kathy T.

If you’re like most people, you probably want your home to look well put-together. If you’re like me, you want that, but have no idea where to start. My favorite design style is “bohemian,” but it’s hard to pull that off without having your home look cluttered and mismatched. For beginner decorating tips that you can match to any personal style, check out this post by Liz Lynch at Who What Wear:

-Begin with paint- decide on a color scheme for the room, or pick a nice neutral color

-Choose classic pieces for furniture, rather than something trendy that will feel outdated in a few years

-Lay down some rugs- they add personality and texture to a room

-Splurge on lighting that you love

-Add textiles

-Put up some inexpensive/DIY wall art

Photo Credit: Maegan Tintari

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Ways To Use A Dirt-Cheap Tablet

by Ron Hogan Leave a Comment

There are a lot of very cheap touchscreen tablets on the market. Hundreds of them, in fact, and all of them are running something Android. So what kind of use can you get out of one of these dirt cheap tablets? Well, if you’re looking for a use for the $38 Datawind Ubislate 7Ci, there’s a lot of fun uses there. It’s not a very powerful tablet, but when you need a great digital clock, it’s a great choice. Here are 12 uses for a cheap touchscreen tablet.

I like the idea of using the tablet as a bedside clock, even if it is a bit expensive for a bedside clock. I like the idea of using it as a digital picture frame, since those are pretty pricey even at this stage of development. Even if it’s not the best tablet in the world, so long as it can connect to the Internet and has some internal storage, you can find a use for it. Maybe mount it to the kitchen cabinet and use it as a digital recipe storage device? The cheaper the better, and the cheaper, the more uses you can find for it.

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Having A Baby And Saving Money

by Kathy T.

Babies are expensive. There’s no denying that. I’ve heard that it takes an estimated $250,000 to $1 million to pay for a child from birth to age 18 (not even counting college). One million dollars over 18 years. That is insane! But for almost everyone, it is worth it. But, if there is any way to ease up on the cost, it’s also worth it to take advantage. For tips on how to frugally prepare for a new baby, check out this post by Stacy at Adventures In Coupons:

-Write out a realistic list of everything you need

-Buy used if you can. Babies grow out of clothes extremely fast.

-Barter with friends for what you need

-Use reusable cloth diapers

-Talk to a pregnancy crisis center- they help low income families with baby supplies

-Sign up for baby freebies and mailing lists

-Breastfeed if you can

Photo Credit: Alamos Basement

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Saving Documents For A Mortgage

by Kathy T.

In January, I made it one of my New Year’s resolutions to start keeping better track of my finances. I made a budget for each month, balance my checkbook by hand, and have created folder to keep all my financial documents in. Well, it’s less of a folder than it is a scrapbook paper/ photo box. I know I should get a fireproof safe or something more secure, but there’s honestly not much in there yet. Anyway, in a year or two, I’m planning on buying a house, so I figured it’s good to prepare now. So far, I keep check stubs and tax info in there, as well as copies of identification. But, what other documents do I need for a mortgage application? Lucky for me, I found this infographic at HouseHunt.com:

-Previous 2 year’s W-2s

-Previous 2 year’s tax returns

-Past 2 pay stubs

-2-3 months of bank statements

-Social security card

-Past addresses

Photo Credit: Adam Rifkin

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Adopted Children- Dealing With Attachment

by Kathy T.

I do not have any adopted children, though I have considered it many times. Being a parent is difficult, and adoptive children come with their own set of challenges. One of the main challenges with adopting is forming deep attachments initially. Often, you miss out on months (or years) of baby bonding time, and you have to work really hard to form that parent/child connection. Some children come from neglectful or abusive backgrounds, and they can be even more difficult to work with. For tips on how to build a stronger attachment with your child (adopted OR biological), read this post by JoAnn Solchany, PhD. At Baby Center:

-Be predictable. Be there for your child. Respond to his cries, yells, and calls either physically or verbally within 15 seconds.

-Be empathetic and sensitive. Ask yourself, “What might my child be thinking right now?”

-Don’t take your child’s behaviors (expressions of fear, anger, frustration, terror, and other difficult feelings) personally. Your child’s ability to express emotion is not yet fully developed.

-Never let her feet touch the floor! Hold her, touch her, and wear her. You cannot hold them or spoil them enough!

Photo Credit: basibanget

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Dealing With Critical People

by Kathy T.

Maybe you’ve decided to homeschool your kids. Maybe you’ve decided that you want six kids, or maybe you only want one (or none!). Maybe you want to adopt children, or become a foster parent. Maybe you need to move for your job, or maybe you want to become a full time stay-at-home parent. Maybe you have a lenient discipline style, or a very strict one. Whatever your parenting choices, they are yours. Sometimes it’s nice to get helpful advice from people who have been through the same situations, but ultimately, you know what is best for yourself and your family, and no one else. Your parents, friends, or in-laws might have their own opinions, but it can often come off as critical. When you find people criticizing how you raise your children, it can be an extremely emotional event– even if they mean well. But it’s important to keep in mind that it is your life, and that all decisions are yours to make. For more on dealing with people that criticize your family choices, read this post by Rachel at The Realistic Mom:

-Develop some kind but firm responses

-Take the positive and constructive element out of any criticism before you brush the whole thing off.

–Differentiate between concern and arrogance

-Remain teachable

-Draw boundaries with people when necessary

Photo Credit: a2Gemma

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