Saving money on small items that I
once would have never considered, has made a difference. I can say
that the real estate boom caused me to be somewhat wasteful.
In this issue, there are some tips to consider in saving a few dollars here
and there. These few dollars have a tendency to add up over time. If
nothing else, it helps you with your business mindset in avoiding making
wasteful decisions on the bigger decisions where more money is as stake.
I challenge you to watch your pennies for a whole month and see the
difference it makes with your thinking on the big decisions! And as
always, if you are facing a leasing or purchasing decision, please call me.
I may be able to help you avoid costly mistakes!
Best regards,
Rob Cassam
Carolina
Realty Advisors
704-442-1774 Ext. 100
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Slash Your Telephone Bill and Save! |
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Telephones are no longer considered a luxury but a necessity. People of all
ages usually have a land fixed telephone line plus a cell phone. Kids can't
imagine not having a cell phone to chat with their friends. Some even use
their phone to keep in touch with parents. At least we're communicating more
with each other but it's become a monthly expense that can get out of
control.
Some are afraid to open their phone bill each month and
discover how much they went over budget. If you're spending more than you
should, then it's time to take a good close look at your bill and determine
if you really need all those extra bells and whistles.
For instance,
ring tones are fun, but do you really need them. Can you do without call
forwarding and call waiting? How often do you text message? If you don't
regularly use these extras that you pay for cancel them and save.
It
may be time to go totally cellular. More than 15% of households have done
just that. Before you take the total cell plunge, analyze your phone bill to
see how much you use your landline and then add about 20%. Most people tend
to talk more on their cell than the landline. It just seems to be cool and
convenient.
Comparison shop. Some providers are not opposed to
negotiating for free minutes, lower rates and even free services. There is
lots of competition out there but be sure you have the plan that's right for
you even if you pay more. Ask about combining services and a family plan if
several phones are needed.
Read the contract carefully including the
fine print. Ask questions, but ultimately making the right decisions will be
up to you. Make sure the provider rounds to the nearest second, not minute.
If you'll be talking more in the evening hours make sure you get
their definition of night hours. Roaming charges can take a big bite out of
your pocketbook and vary with the provider.
Take advantage of the
trial period. This can vary from 2 days to 30 days and may be negotiable.
This will give you a chance to use the cell phone in your home and see if
there are any areas of poor reception. Find out if you can access 911 with
your cell.
VOIP (voice over internet Protocol) comes from your
Internet provider and transmits calls over the internet. If you make many
long distance calls this can be a good choice because it usually provides
unlimited local and long distance calls. But, if you have a power failure,
most broadband cell phones won't work.
Another option is the pre-paid
phone cards where you pay for minutes in advance. The price range is about
$15 to $25. This is good for chatty children with a limited amount of
minutes teaching them discipline and budgeting. If you lose the card you
lose the minutes and many have an expiration date.
Going totally
cellular is an important decision. Be honest with yourself on how much you
use the phone. Over estimate rather than under estimate. Avoid long term
contracts. Keep an eye out for special limited offers. Good phone service
can keep you in touch. But, don't lose touch with your budget.
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Biggest Energy Guzzling Appliances In Your Home Are the Same As Your
Office |
Remember when the electric bill was referred to as the light bill? Those were
the days when electricity was used mainly for lighting. There were few
appliances to guzzle energy. You could say those were the good old days but few
of us would want to do without the luxury and convenience of the appliances we
rely on today.
The price we pay for this luxury comes high in the form of
an electric bill that seems to get higher each month. Just look around and
you'll quickly see why. The number one energy user is the central air
conditioning unit, especially if it handles the double duty of both cooling and
heating. In warm regions, the AC accounts for more than half of the electric
bill.
You could install window units and cool only the used areas of your
home, and this is not a bad idea. But, if you're determined to keep the central
unit there are things you can do. If your unit is over 15 years old, consider
getting a new one. Today's models use up to 50% less energy.
If a new
model is in your future, make sure it's sized properly. Consult an air
conditioning expert because a unit that's too big or too small can continue to
work inefficiently. Check the energy ratings - the higher the better.
Buy
a unit with a programmable thermostat that has a built-in timer. With the timer,
you can turn off the AC when you’re gone and set it to restart just before you
return. Studies have revealed that it's cheaper to do this than to have it
recycle on and off while you're not even at home.
Another electric
guzzler is the electric water heater tank. Tanks keep heating water 24/7/365
whether you use the water or not. Tankless water heaters are available for both
electric and gas homes but do your homework before installing.
You could
install a solar water heater but the expensive system may take a while to
recover your investment. If you stay with the tank, turn down the temperature
and wrap it in a thermal blanket. Also, turn off the tank when you're out of
town and save.
Refrigerator/freezers are both guilty of guzzling
electricity, but who wants to return to the old ice box. If yours was made after
2001 it's probably more energy efficient. If you replace an old one, buy the
Energy Star label.
An appliance must exceed federal energy standards by
15% to qualify. Top freezers use less energy than the side-by-side or bottom
models. Save even more energy if you can skip the ice maker and dispenser.
We can't forget the electric dryer which uses about 15% more energy than a
gas model. If gas is not an option, buy an electric dryer with a moisture sensor
to avoid over drying. When clothes are dry it cuts off.
Don't forget to
clean your lint filter too. Concentrate on these biggest electric guzzlers and
you'll see a dramatic difference in your electric bill. Conservation sure beats
doing without. If your landlord owns these appliances, ask of you can make
the modifications or changes first! Of course, it is always best to get it in
writing! |
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Doctors Vs Gun Owners
Doctors
-The number of physicians in
the U.S. is 700,000.
-Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year
are 120,000.
-Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171.
(Statistics
courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services.)
Now
think about this:
Guns
-The
number of gun owners in the U.S.is 80,000,000.
(Yes, that's 80 million)
-The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500.
-The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188.
(Statistics courtesy of FBI )
So, statistically, doctors are
approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.
Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.'
FACT: NOT
EVERYONE HAS A GUN,BUT Almost everyone has at least one doctor. This means
you are over 900 times more likely to be killed by a doctor as a gun
owner!!!
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Contact Information |
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What I do... |
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I
provide
real estate brokerage services for small and medium sized businesses, investors,
and individuals who are fed up with loosing money, paying too much, spending too
much time not getting the right piece of property for their particular
situation.
I act as the quarterback in the real estate transaction for my clients who coach
me in managing all of their different needs.
My clients love not needing to worry about making bad decisions or bad
investments and love winning negotiations.
Ask yourself these questions:
What types of growing pains is your company facing with your location?
Are rising occupancy costs a challenge your company is facing?
Is having too much space or not enough space a challenge your company is
facing?
How much of a problem is dead equity in your property for you?
How long are you prepared to go on doing nothing about situations in
your business that are not quite right?
Give me a call, I may be able to help with your lease or purchase!
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How To
Lease Commercial Property |
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