Tips For The First Time Home Buyer

 Buying a house can be daunting.  And in today's market, it is even more daunting. I am going to give you some tips to consider if you are a first-time homebuyer.

Start Saving Now

There are many aspects to buying a home that requires money!  Closing costs, down payments, and even moving costs.  Make sure to save money now so when you get that final step and are ready to close on your home, you have the funds to do so. 

Check Government Programs

Do you qualify for a VA(Veterans Administration) loan? You must be in or have been in the military and have been honorably discharged.  Make sure you have a copy of your DD214s.  If you do not, contact the nearest Veterans Administration office in your area.  What about an FHA Loan?   There are many government programs to assist you in buying a home.  Each has different sets of criteria you must meet, so be sure to check those out.  They can be very helpful when buying a home and often have grants or low or no down payments.  Also, many states have different programs that help first-time homebuyers.

How Much Can You Afford?

We all have the dream home, but we have to be sensible about buying a home.  Your creditworthiness, monthly expenses, downpayment and will all be taken into consideration before any lender will give you a home loan.

According to this mortgage calculator, my mortgage will vary depending on which lender I use.  If I am buying a house for $325,000 and put a down payment of 20% ($65,000), and choose a 30 year fixed rate, my mortgage payments would range from a low of $1045 a month to a high of $1243.  You must do your due diligence and shop around for a lender and ideally get pre-approved for a home loan.  

Stay up to date on Mortgage News

At the time of this post, the housing market is crazy, BUT there are many government-backed incentives to help you procure a home. Whether you follow a certain mortgage company or government-backed one like Fannie Mae, subscribe to their emails, check their site frequently, and don't be afraid to Google any questions you may have.  

 Look around in your area and go to some open houses.  Realtors often advertise open houses or may just put a sign out in front of the property.  This helps you get familiar with the home buying process.

Do you have any tips you would like to share?  Drop them in the comments below.

Want To Save Money on Dry Cleaning? READ THIS

*  I am a Dryel Ambassador.  This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dryel.

I love saving money on products and services I use.  With that being said, there are NEVER any discounts or savings when it comes to my local dry cleaners in my small, rural town.  Not to mention they have very limited hours that you can drop off and pick up the items you want to be professionally dry cleaned. And it seems like I could never make it to the dry cleaners on time.

Matter of fact, it has been many years since I had anything professionally dry cleaned and I am pretty sure I paid $17 to have a dress cleaned.  That is for ONE DRESS. You can buy a Dryel kit for under $10.   While we are discussing saving money, you can grab a $1 off coupon for a Dryel Kit HERE. So this now brings your total for a Dryel Kit to under $9.  

Dryel is more convenient and much less costly than a trip to a professional cleaner. Dryel can clean your dry clean only and special care clothes for as little as 25¢ per garment.

Read that again.  25 cents per garment. And it smells so clean and fresh when you "Dryel" your special care and dry clean only garments.  I can do this in the comfort of my home, during MY business hours, and at a fraction of the cost of professional dry cleaners.  

I am not only saving money, but I am also saving time. 

Dryel is sold at many retailers and grocery stores.  You can also buy it online. You can check out all the places you can purchase here. Do yourself a favor and purchase it now and you will have it when you need it! 

Choosing the Right Outfit for a Plus-Sized Body

Being plus-sized may come with its challenges, such as finding the right women plus size clothing to complement one’s body. However, here is a rule of thumb. You want to appear sexy with a fitting Cloth. At the same time, you don’t want those overlapping pieces of skin showing through your outfit’s silhouette. In that case, avoid clingy clothes. Don’t be tempted to opt for baggy clothes as well. They will not accentuate your feminine features. For your tops, stick to V-neck collar designs and light fabrics. Your upper and lower sections may spot outfits with similar colour shades but different fabrics. This styling creates an impressive appearance. Accentuate your bust with a brightly coloured outfit and then your hips with a dark hue skirt or pants. Pantyhose and shoes can spot the same colour. Flatter your physique with a large matching handbag, which can be strapless.


Harness Colour Options to Get the Best Look


Colours influence our moods. What mood do you want to reflect in the office today? Do you want something bright and vibrant to depict your happiness? Or do you want something cool? You can express your feelings by implementing the right colour scheme in your outfits. Create unlimited styling options with contrasting, complementary colours as well. When you are not rocking clothes with the same complementary hues, you can always fall back to complementary opposites.


Shaping Plus Size Clothing for Women to Match Your Physique


Online shopping can be fun. But if you don’t know what size to pick, then this experience becomes unpleasant. For this reason, you should have your measurements handy. Online clothing stores also have unique sizing charts and measurement guides. You can compare them to yours to get the best fit. Do you want to define your upper section? Then go for vertically striped dresses to give this part an elongated look. Pair your top with an unbuttoned blazer or cardigan. Horizontal dresses make your upper section appear wider than the lower part. Create a visual balance on the lower section using a knee-length skirt. Avoid wide belts as they distort the mid-section, affecting the other parts as well. Complement your overall outfit with matching shoes. Avoid ankle-strapped shoes; they make your legs appear shorter than they are. Stick to wedges, booties, and stilettos to augment your legs.


Other Factors Worth Noting


Understand that there is no one-size-fits-all personalized styling rule. The key lies in experimenting until you find what works best for you. Trends are great as they keep you in vogue. But also understand that they do not last. As such, you may end up spending more than you should. On the other hand, classics remain relevant anytime and any day. It is not enough to focus solely on your women’s plus size clothing and shoes; your hairstyle also counts. Getting your hair done improves your looks, giving you more confidence to rock your dress in style. It also elevates your mood. So, when next you have an upcoming event, do not forget to have your clothes, shoes, hairstyle, and accessories ready to rock and roll.

Percussion Massager Giveaway

 I have partnered with our friends at Ekrin Athletics to bring you this giveaway for an Ekrin B37 Percussion Massager.  It is one of my picks in our Father's Day Gift Guide.  Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  All entries will be verified.

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Father's Day Lugz Giveaway

 One lucky reader will win these MEN’S ELMRIDGE 6-INCH BOOTS from Lugz.  These boots are featured in our Father's Day Gift Guide.  Make sure to check out the guide, as there are many products that would make a great gift for Father's Day!

Enter the Rafflecopter form below.  Please note that all entries will be verified.

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Summer Car Care Tips

 It's summertime and the kids are out of school!  It's time to do some traveling.  If you are traveling by car, I am going to give you some summer car care tips to get you ready for the road.

Oil Change

I absolutely change the oil in my car every 3000 miles.  When you are getting your car ready for those road trips, I highly suggest getting the oil changed.  You can do this yourself, but be sure to check the owner's manual to ensure you are using the correct oil for your car.  When you change the oil, you change the filter, too.  Or, you can get it done at the dealership or any car maintenance shop.

Check all your fluids

The night before you leave, check all your fluids.  Make sure to check brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, check your oil( even if you just had it changed).

Tires

Make sure your tires are properly inflated.  You can check your owner's manual or look in the door jamb.  Do not overinflate.  Having your tires properly inflated assures that you have a smooth ride.

Emergency road kit

I keep an emergency road kit in the trunk of my car.  It includes jumper cables, a few tools, a flashlight, first aid supplies, and flares.  If your car breaks down, this may very well be a saving grace until you can get it fixed properly.  I also keep a case of bottled water in my car.  You never know when you right need it when traveling.  

Clean your car

I always get my car detailed inside and out before any road trip.  This just makes for a happier ride for all passengers, knowing everything is clean inside and out!  It's also much safer for your windows and mirrors to be clean.

if you get your car ready for your road trip, you can have more fun and not have to worry about car maintenance.   If you have any other tips you would like to share, drop them in the comments below.  Have fun and enjoy your road trip!