Analyze before you buy
Dear Readers: If you are thinking about BUYING A HOME OR CONDO sometime soon, here are some hints to think about now:
n Check your credit reports now, not later. You might be able to fix anything that is wrong. Trust me, this can take some time, and bad information can affect your ability to get a loan.
n Really sit down and figure out what you can afford. Don’t forget taxes, insurance and regular upkeep.
n A good real estate agent can help, especially if you are new to the area or are a first-time buyer. Ask friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. Real estate agents have a lot of experience, and a good one can help you be aware of red flags that you may not know about.
n When looking at houses, remember to look at the neighborhood and surrounding area as a whole. Are schools important? Medical facilities? Shopping? Near an airport or not?
Home buying can be a wonderful and exciting experience if you are prepared! Good luck! — Heloise
P.S.: Don’t make a snap decision, because the house isn’t going to sell the next day! This usually is a big investment, and you don’t want to make a mistake that is hard to rectify.
SEND A GREAT HINT TO:
Heloise
P.O. Box 795000
San Antonio, TX 78279-5000
Fax: 1-210-HELOISE
Email: Heloise(at)Heloise.com
TRAVEL HINT
Dear Heloise: Several family members take a yearly trip to the beach. We always rent a house that we all share. The first year we did this, we all ended up bringing too much food.
Now we started dividing the meals. One of us will bring everything we need for breakfasts. Another, everything needed for lunch, and the other brings food used for dinner. Then we all bring whatever snacks and drinks we want.
We rotate the “meals” yearly so it evens out financially. This makes the trip much easier — no food or money is wasted, and we usually have everything and don’t have to make an expensive trip to the store. — J. and L. in North Carolina
SAVE MONEY GOLFING
Dear Heloise: My husband and I are avid golfers. They often have staff driving around the course selling drinks and snacks. We were spending a lot of money buying these, without even thinking about it. Now, we take the individual-size powdered drink packages, and I put some small snacks in a zip bag. — Vincent and Ginny in Texas
A very good way to save money! It’s amazing how those little things add up. Keep track for one week, and you will be shocked how much you spend on a soft drink here, a muffin there or a quick candy bar! — Heloise
SOOTHING TEA BAGS
Dear Heloise: I save used tea bags and keep them stored in the refrigerator. When my eyes are tired or a little puffy, I take some time and place a couple of them on my eyelids. It is very soothing and refreshing, and cheaper than a store-bought eye mask. — Paulina in Pennsylvania