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If you're making New Year's resolutions, here's a fun exercise. It starts with a favorite saying of mine: "How we spend our days is how we spend our lives." To
change our lives, then, we should change how we spend our days...not
necessarily by moving to Bermuda, but by changing small daily habits
that add up to the sum of who we are.
- To do this exercise, sit down, open a blank document, and start answering this one question: What does my AVERAGE day look like?
Describe in detail how you spend your morning, what you do mid-day, what
you eat, what routines you have at work, how your evening usually goes.
"I usually wake up around 6am. Then go make coffee and read for 30
minutes. Then I do 10 reps of my weights. Then go into my office and
start work. I start with email. After working about an hour, I get some
breakfast, usually toast with jam, bacon, and an egg with cheese." Keep going like that. Be honest.
- When you're finished, consider just 1 or 2 places you could make small changes that would add up to the biggest differences in your life.
For instance, if you wanted to lose weight, could you cut out the toast
and bacon in the morning? (Reducing your calories by 250 per day can
result in around 26 pounds of weight loss in a year.) Or if you wanted
to change your work results, maybe you could put off answering
emails until you've done something more rewarding first.
The idea is to change something small -- to tweak something that moves you towards a goal. I hope this helps you have an even Happier New Year! ~Mardin
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Which is larger, two medium (12") pizzas or one large (18") pizza?.
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Send your answer for a chance to win a $5 COFFEE CARD. Last month's Q&A: What is the hottest chili pepper in the world? The Carolina Reaper. Congratulations to last month's winner!
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How much is needed for a down payment?
Some fun facts:
- 62% of Americans believe a 20% down payment is necessary, though most mortgage loans require less than 5% down payment.
- First-time home buyers make a median down payment of 7%.
I'm often surprised that many new home buyers think they need to put 20%
down to buy a home. It's true that with down payments less than
20%, you'll be required to pay private mortgage insurance, or PMI, which
can raise your payment with no clear benefit to you. Therefore, to
reduce your payment, it helps to put more money down.
The point is, you may need less money down than you think to buy. If you or someone you know is thinking about buying, please get in touch with me. Don't assume you can't buy...get answers! Mardin, (408) 210-2073
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Could You Spot a Scam?
If you have elderly relatives or friends (or anyone who's less internet-savvy), send them to these funny videos from ScamSpotter. You'll spark a discussion about scams that just might protect someone you love. Could you spot a scam? Here's a Scamwatch challenge to see if you can spot the signs.
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Just for Fun
A Husband’s Secret to a Happy Marriage
A friend recently asked me: "What's the secret to your long and happy marriage?"
I said, "That's easy. In my house, I make all the big decisions, and
leave the little things for my wife to decide. This keeps everything in
perspective."
"Really?" he asked, surprised. "Exactly how did you get her to agree to that arrangement?"
"It's easy. My wife decides how to dress the kids, which car we
should buy, where to go on vacation, and how much money to save. I, on
the other hand, make the big decisions, like whether America should
attack Afghanistan, who should be the next Canadian PM, and where the
Olympics should be held next. My wife NEVER objects to my decisions, and
I never object to hers. It works out well.”
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How to redecorate a room when you lack "design sense"
When you're ready for a change in style, there are plenty of design apps
to help you redecorate a room. But before you dive into the "design
app" rabbit hole, start with these fundamentals.
- Find
inspiration rooms. Browse the internet or magazines to find rooms that
make you say, "Wow, that's what I like." Save those images.
- Decide
if you want to redecorate with all new items, or keep some of the old.
If you plan to keep some items, try removing them from the space and
only using them as they fit your new plan. Alternatively, keep one or
two main items, and decorate around them in their style.
- Plan
your design. If you've never designed a space before, you might be
stumped. The tendency is to go back to what you had before. Rely on your
inspiration rooms for ideas. Keep in mind how you plan to use the room.
- Finally,
set a budget. List all the items you think you'll need/want to replace,
add paint, and don't forget the lighting. Estimate the cost and trim
the budget as needed.
At any point, you could dip into those design apps for help with color schemes, layout, and furniture styles. Here are 18 design apps to explore for more help.
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What could you get for your house today?
If you're thinking of selling your home, start with a home valuation.
I'll be doing a lot of these in early 2022! Just email me your address,
plus anything special I should know about your house, and I'll provide
an estimate. I'm glad to help..it's what I do. ~Mardin
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