Tinkerbell (Saint Bernard), Cutie Pie and Buddy (Pekingese), and Jingle Bells (Maine Coon) were escorted in and presented with the house. They were not as impressed as we had hoped. In fact they looked to us as if they’d missed something, but were perfectly happy to be with us once again. Oh well.

That evening, with much left to be unpacked and my wife and daughter in their beds, I made one last check of the windows and doors before going to sleep. Three dogs and a cat looked to me expectantly.

I realized they probably were not thrilled about sleeping on the tile floors, so I found towels to cushion their slumber until their beds were found. I made sure they had bowls full of food and water, noticing they seemed misplaced and liable to be tripped over there in the kitchen. The cat had nothing to climb. It occurred to me:

Shouldn’t all homes be built with pets in mind?

Over fifty percent of homes in the US have pets and that number is growing. Only a slightly smaller number own multiple pets. Americans spend more than 36 billion dollars every year on their canine and feline family members, and very often a design concept is pet, human, and environmentally friendly all at once.

Pets are one of the fastest growing positive factors in human households and possibly our best method of home protection as well.

I thought of a famous quote:

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.” – Gandhi

Would pet-friendly homes in the US and Canada be moral progress?

The new environment of our new home suddenly seemed unnatural for my pets. I realized home builders generally ignore the fact that there will likely be pets involved, other than an occasional fence, which may have other purposes like security anyway. I thought about what a pet-friendly design for a dog or cat might consider:

Overall

• Resilience
• Ease of cleaning
• Economic friendliness
• Style and comfort
• Affordability
• Customization
• Family and pet-conscious design
• Environmental friendliness

Interior; for comfort, versatility, and durability

• Allergen/odor reducing air filtration
• Durable, eco-friendly flooring
• Pet friendly fabrics and furnishings
• Easy clean surfaces
• Pet friendly mudroom
• Cat friendly windowsills
• Professional series central vacuum

Exterior

• Easy lawn care and landscaping
• Pet containment / fencing
• Pet exterior access doors
• Energy efficient windows and siding
• Low VOC paint (volatile organic compounds, solvents that get released into the air and cause headaches and dizziness)

There were interesting, perhaps even exciting ideas here that would not be hard to implement. But why?

What positive impact could come from a more general acceptance of pet-friendly homes?

Well with less hassles involved in pet ownership the quality of life for pets and their owners rise, and there would be fewer spilling over into shelters of pets that became unmanageable. The movement would at once educate people about joys of pet ownership and simplify owning pets at the same time.

I was inspired. With all the known positive effects of pet ownership I felt I was on to a perhaps new and worthy cause, for both man and animal.

My pet-friendly home would have:

• Dedicated spaces for my pets, perhaps a pet room?
• Their own furnishings, whether built in or added, and incorporated into the design
• Dog couch/beds
• Cat tree/scratching/shelves
• Flooring that is resistant to fleas, dirt and smells
• A central vacuum system for easy hair removal
• Space fitted for/accommodating grooming
• Permanent location for food dispensing
• Dedicated food storage
• Fenced or otherwise contained yard
• Ingress/egress doorways
• Dedicated space for bathing
• A mud room buffer between interior and outdoor play areas
• Easy access for a dog bathroom and cat box
• Great air filtration

Also while I’m at it let’s add

• Green building materials
• Solar electric and hot water
• Efficient insulation
• An electric charging stations for automobiles
• Water purification
• Trash disposal systems that lessen environmental impact and encourage recycling

Some places are already hip to this. Many condominium and townhome developments and redevelopments of the earlier 2000’s included dog-walk paths with doody-bag dispensers and an off-leash fenced area for dogs alongside the tennis or volleyball.

For a veterinarian-owned hotel in Desert Hot Springs, California, pet-friendly means her hotel not only allows dogs but encourages them, provides dogs with freedom to roam (including the pool and breakfast area), and doesn’t relegate guests with pets to only certain rooms are areas.

But it seems all the homes I’ve lived in ignored the fact that the occupants were likely to own pets. Any pet-friendly modifications have always been made by me. Just as homeowners are likely to need a dining area, they are more and more likely to own pets. There could at least be some design elements that make later modifications easier.

I have more than once been stumped by wanting a dog-door in a certain place, only to be thwarted by the presence of a concrete wall. Builders could leave a channel if not an actual pet door.

My musings now sought company! This was too good an idea to sit on, and probably a concept that will emerge alongside the growing number of households with pets and the astronomical amounts already being spent on pets. It seems the only thing missing now is your voice added to the conversation, for ideas and support! Chime in!

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The trends in home size have been a fascinating spectacle to watch, especially here in Florida. St. Petersburg, for example, experienced a boom in the 1950s that is still evident today in the prolific number of two-bedroom, one-bath, one-car garage (or carport) homes. These were designed for the flood of retirees who immigrated to the area back then.

This fact is akin to real estate archaeology. But instead of counting tree rings or measuring layers of excavation, we look at home design and tax rolls. These reveal a great deal about local history.

Prior to the snowbird influx of retirees in the mid-20th century, the homes from the 1920s in St. Petersburg showcased the opulence and craftsmanship of the era—albeit in smaller homes. These homes clustered in areas chosen more for their charm than practicality. They seem to scream “second home” for well-off northerners, telling the tale of a much different culture than we see today.

Fast-forward to the early 2000s. Home construction had continued uninterrupted since the craftsman two-story homes of the 1920s, through the bungalows of the 1950s, and into the widespread adoption of ranch-style architecture. The start of the 21st century, however, saw an explosion of luxury living.

Boom
Much of it rode on the coattails of conspicuous consumption, justified in part by changing lifestyles that emphasized in-home entertainment. It was all fueled by a booming housing market—low interest rates and overly easy financing.

Homes were being built with larger rooms, higher ceilings, and more extravagant amenities. Luxury additions included swimming pools with islands and theater rooms equipped with big screens, theater seating, and even rope-lit aisles. Bring your own popcorn.

Conventional wisdom suggested that the move toward more home-centered family time justified gourmet kitchens and expansive floor plans. But beneath the surface, many suspected it was plain old extravagance—lavishness that exceeded all rational bounds. It was a party.

Burst
And today, in the aftermath of the bubble’s burst—an image perhaps best likened to bubble gum splattered across your face—we’re seeing a new trend: multi-generational housing.

Is this shift a sign of national economic embarrassment or the dawning of a new wisdom and wholesomeness?

“Boomerang kids”—young adults aged 19 to 29—are returning home after college in growing numbers. In the last twenty years, that figure has risen from a quarter to a third. Fortunately, most homes include an extra bedroom or even a garage to accommodate them.

“Multigenerational households,” which include members of three generations, are also on the rise, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Generation X had already begun to depart from their parents’ overt spending and casual approach to debt, opting for a more value-oriented lifestyle. Instead of burning through $400 in gas on a go-fast boat for a few hours of drinking, they were spending their Saturdays hiking or volunteering.

Has housing evolved in a similar way? Instead of building new, smaller, practical homes, are we simply sharing the large ones we already built or remodeled?

How Much Home Does a Family Need, Anyway?

Bunk Beds
When I was a child, my brother and I shared a bedroom and bunk beds—and we always felt we had it pretty good. We were raised by a single mother who worked two jobs to send us to private school. We learned to appreciate everything, and today, the prevalence of entitlement in the U.S. is horrifying to us. It starts early and, it seems, ends later in life—if at all.

Even that wasn’t too little space, but it might have been smoothed by the warmth that filled the house.

A childhood friend of mine came from a wealthy family in Dania, living in a mansion in the middle of nowhere. His room was on one wing of the house, his mother’s on the other. As a child, he said he would wake up terrified by nightmares and isolation, having to run across the estate to reach his mom. Too much space?

On the other hand, when we recently moved and my daughter’s room wasn’t yet ready, the three of us shared the master bedroom. And honestly—it wasn’t that bad. Long term? Probably not ideal due to privacy and comfort issues.

A close family can be pretty close.

But even the most cherished houseguest can become a thorn in your side, given enough time. Excitement turns to encroachment. Dr. Jekyll becomes Mr. Hyde!

Needs
For the average middle-class Western family, how much space do we really need?

That’s a question being asked—and answered—every day in this new economy. In the U.S., we’re seeing high unemployment across the board—from college grads to downsized professionals and displaced manufacturing workers. So, quite literally, we are coming together for economic reasons.

How much is too little?

My goddaughter may move in with us soon to avoid paying over $6,000 a year in college housing. I’ll have to write these articles from another room—but that’s no problem. As my mother used to say:

“There are people starving in Ethiopia.”
Or, even more poignantly:

“The man with no shoes complained until he met the man with no feet.”

The space we need is something we evaluate daily—if not in our own lives, then through the lens of home and garden television shows.

Moolah
The great thing is, many of us have become more intelligent about quality-of-life alternatives. A smaller home means a smaller electric bill, which can translate into more savings, a monthly night out, or another enriching experience—worth far more than square footage feeding our egos.

Or maybe it means less time at work to support our old housing habit, and more time spent with the kids. As the late U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist said (paraphrased):

“If you want to spend time with your young children, you’ve got to do it while they’re young.”

So, the calculus of home size now includes:

• Your finances
• Privacy
• Functionality
• Location and market
• Amenities worth as much or more than the lost economic opportunities

Options
Having a swimming pool costs real money—monthly chlorine, electric pump usage, and more. These costs require either a willing sacrifice (like fewer nights out) or a smarter housing choice (like downsizing to reduce other expenses).

That elusive factor of prestige? Many of us are now willing to shed it. In fact, being conscientious is cool—just look at the popularity of hybrid and smaller cars.

Maybe this is a necessary correction. We’re finally understanding our choices—often because those choices have become limited.

But make no mistake: it’s a kind of growth. And it’s growth we’re lucky to be experiencing.

The post How Big a House Do You Really Need? appeared first on .

Congratulations!

Just the decision to buy a personal residence or investment property is a life-changing event. You start seeing things differently. As an owner, you tend to care more. A sound in the attic or a wheeze in your air conditioner might be more disturbing than before. But as you work through your added responsibility and interest in your home’s condition, you’ll develop a sense of pride in maintaining both your house and your aesthetic neighborhood. You become a part of the fabric of American society. And I mean that.

If you’ve bought well, you’ve started a vehicle for increasing financial stature, net worth, social prestige, and eventual retirement. That’s if you’ve bought wisely. And they say you make money in real estate when you buy, not when you sell. This means buy low, sell high, but it’s about more than just price. The ability to afford your payments has now been spotlighted, and it’s important to remember that.

Look Out!

Many people got into their unwieldy mortgages and now suffer a long list of consequences for several reasons. Homebuyers believed that if they qualified for a loan, they could afford the house. During the boom, many were excited by the prospect of higher mortgages, as long as they had lower interest rates.

One problem was the adjustable-rate mortgage. You might start with a rate you can afford, but in a year, two, three, or four, that rate could increase dramatically. A good friend lost his house when his payment went from about $1,200 to over $3,000 after just one year. He was qualified for the $1,200, not the $3,000. He went through an extremely painful, confusing three years, even facing a threat to his marriage. It was a humbling, reinvention period just to get his feet back on the ground and rebuild his confidence.

In his case, it was simple – there was no way to keep the house. But in other cases, it’s not so clear-cut. Some have been able to hold on longer but still feel the squeeze. Adjustable rates were all the rage, but what about buyers whose payments grow to uncomfortable levels, yet they manage to make it every month? This group is often overlooked. They hold on because of a strong ethical sense, because they don’t want to move, and because of concerns about their credit, which can affect employment.

For these families, what is the opportunity cost of keeping their home? What vacations, educational opportunities, or family activities do they miss to maintain their loan commitment?

What about lost precious time? Perhaps they work extra hours to make ends meet. While the first example suffered obvious social, financial, and personal consequences, this latter group endures significant opportunity loss.

And what about those who have a payment they can afford but suffer from negative equity? Their payment may be manageable, but their home value has decreased. For these homeowners, the worst-case scenario may not be selling, but it’s still uncomfortable.

How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Home Buying

All of this can be avoided if you buy well. Buying well means assessing how well the home meets your current and future needs, predicting the market’s potential impact on your home’s value, and determining how much house you can realistically afford each month.

The last point is the key. Many people trusted government guidelines, but that’s not always wise. Now, this isn’t a manifesto or a rallying cry against government, but it’s a wake-up call to rely on your own judgment when making major decisions that affect your life and the lives of others.

Government Formulas

Everyone assumes that government criteria are foolproof, but that should only be a starting point for your decision-making process. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures home loans that meet specific criteria to encourage homeownership by boosting banks’ confidence in making loans. FHA guidelines state that your total housing payment, or PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance), should not exceed 31% of your gross monthly income.

But what if life throws you a curveball? What if you lose your job, face medical expenses, or have other financial goals? What if your family grows and expenses rise?

The FHA’s criteria may be helpful but aren’t a guarantee. Trusting them blindly isn’t a safe bet. The vested interests in real estate have influenced how we approach housing costs, and they haven’t earned back our trust. Too many real estate agents and mortgage brokers convinced buyers to stretch their limits just to earn a commission.

That said, if you’re in the business today, after all the bubble burst hoopla, you’re likely more committed to real estate as a profession rather than a quick-cash scheme.

So, place your trust in big brother at your own peril.

Aaaaah, That’s Better!

Your best yardstick for determining what you can afford is your own comfort level. It’s about what you can realistically spend on housing, factoring in your income, and your life priorities like saving, family trips, education, and more.

This is a process you’ll enjoy. You’ll learn something about your values along the way and may become more self-aware for it. The Golden Age of Conspicuous Consumption led to big houses, fancy cars, and expensive restaurants, but it also came with high divorce rates, time away from family, and a heavily medicated population. Thankfully, that frantic spending is hopefully behind us.

While we’re still paying for the aftermath, the new generation has learned from the past. They place more value on simple pleasures like time, flexibility, and serenity. If that means a smaller house where you can afford to fix the air conditioner when it breaks, then so be it.

Keeping up with the Joneses was a frantic race. But opting for a simple, frugal picnic in the park? That’s the real win.

The post House Poor, Life Rich – How Much Home Can You Really Afford? appeared first on .

Some argue the ethical question of paying less than originally agreed, but this is counterbalanced by the nature of interest, penalties, and the general design of debt to snowball – increasing in all ways possible – by creditors. If this were not the case, there might not be agencies and legislation that specifically exist for the protection of consumers.

Another factor is simple business. A creditor who has no real hope of ever collecting from you would much rather settle for an amount greater than zero, and indeed greater than a negative figure, especially when you factor in collection costs.

Unsecured Debts

For personal debts such as credit cards, debts to local merchants, professionals, and other general unsecured debts, there are several proven strategies to eradicate the debt for less than owed.

You can negotiate settlements for less than owed either on your own or by enlisting professional help, such as a debt negotiator, consumer credit agency, or consumer protection attorney.

If you handle your own negotiations, the first step is to prepare for your approach. You will likely need to convince the creditor that the amount owed is uncollectible in your case. You might suggest that you are considering personal bankruptcy, in which case they are likely to receive nothing, or at most, twenty percent of the debt over the next five years. How flexible might they become considering those alternatives?

In any written communications, consider sending a copy (cc) to an applicable state comptroller or another relevant regulatory agency. This can have a motivating effect, as it may encourage fair treatment, especially if the creditor suspects that the agency is involved.

While not technically lowering the amount you owe, you might also consider accepting or negotiating for a lower interest rate or reduced payment. This will at least provide some breathing room in the present and allow more funds to be allocated toward other areas of your financial situation.

Bankruptcy

While careful consideration should be given and professional consultation sought prior to filing for personal bankruptcy, it is possible, with a Chapter 7 filing, to eliminate all unsecured debts. A Chapter 13 filing allows you to pay only twenty percent of your debt, spread over five years.

Barter

With these kinds of debts, it may also be possible to barter for all or part of your balance, especially if your trade, service, or profession is something your creditor can use. This can save you cash while creating a win-win situation.

Crowdfunding

A more radical approach, and previously unheard of, is called crowdfunding. Numerous websites connect investors with new businesses and inventors, and some offer a forum for individuals to seek assistance with medical bills and other financial situations from multiple contributors.

Income Taxes

The IRS has several programs in place, as required by law, that allow you to cease collection activity and actually settle your debt for less than you owe.

The Offer-in-Compromise (OIC) is probably the most well-known of these. By disclosing detailed financial information and following the instructions in the guide, you can calculate an offer that is sometimes just a fraction of what is owed, and often accepted by the IRS as payment in full, resolving the back taxes.

The acceptable amount for an OIC is based on your total available cash (let’s say $1,000), your total equity (assumed to be zero), and your available monthly cash over forty-eight months (assumed to be $100), which equals $4,800. The total comes to $5,800. It is not based on the amount owed, but rather on your ability to pay. So, if your debt were $100,000, you might settle for $5,800!

A Partial Payment Installment Agreement is a lesser-known method of paying the IRS less than you owe. Similar to an OIC, this method allows you to pay over several years if you qualify due to your inability to pay the full amount.

Another interesting possibility is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy to wipe out older tax debts. A friend recently discharged over twenty-thousand dollars in tax debt by filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy on his own (without a lawyer!) because the taxes were old enough and met the required criteria.

Mortgage Balance

Mortgage balances have been reduced en masse recently. As so many Americans are upside down—owing more than their home is worth and unable to make payments—banks have resorted to loan modifications and accepting short sales.

With a loan modification, your mortgage company may reduce your mortgage balance and interest rate to help you stay in your home and make your monthly payments.

Student Loans

While private student loans are usually susceptible to the strategies mentioned for unsecured debts, government-insured student loans are generally difficult to reduce or discharge with a federal bankruptcy filing. However, there have been discussions about changes coming regarding the dischargeability of student loans.

Medical Expenses

One of the most common reasons cited for personal bankruptcy is overwhelming medical expenses. Subject to the bankruptcy filings already mentioned, medical expenses might also be candidates for settlements. If payment is in question when medical services are delivered and Medicaid is available, they may pay the bill on your behalf.

Back Rent

Believe it or not, even back rent can be erased. The determining factors are the market, the property, and how much your landlord wants to keep you.

As a former landlord and property manager, I’ve advised landlords in a tenant’s market, where finding a new tenant takes time and rents are decreasing, to forgive past-due rent and even rewrite a lease at a lower amount to keep a good tenant in financial distress. It can be less costly than a prolonged vacancy and the expense of preparing the property for a new tenant.

If cash is tight, you might try asking to renegotiate your rent if you take on more responsibility for repairs or pay weekly, for example.

The only limits to reducing your balances and settling debts for less than you owe are your own creativity and ability to research. Often, an agreeable arrangement benefits both parties, so don’t hesitate to explore your options!

The post Settling Your Debt for Less Than You Owe appeared first on .

With the noise gone, you can regroup, plan your way out of your debt situation, and work your plan in peace. Believe it!

According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Section 802:

“There is abundant evidence of the use of abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices by many debt collectors. Abusive debt collection practices contribute to the number of personal bankruptcies, to marital instability, to the loss of jobs, and to invasions of individual privacy.”

Because of this, the FDCPA was added in 1978 to the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the task of enforcing those laws. In fact if you feel you have been treated incorrectly by a collection agent or agency within the past year you can file a complaint by mailing it to:

Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
Washington, D.C. 20580
877-382-4357 (toll free)

And you can find more information at https://www.ftc.gov/.

According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act collectors of personal debts cannot be abusive, unfair, or deceptive. They cannot contact you at all hours or at work if you tell them you cannot receive calls there.

As a matter of fact, if you send the collection company a letter like the following example, and they continue to contact you after ten days, you may be able to sue them! This simple letter is surprisingly effective, and can reduce your noise to zero.

No-Contact Letter Example :

COLLECTION AGENCY NAME
COLLECTION AGENCY ADDRESS
DATE

Re: YOUR NAME
NAME OF CREDITOR
ACCOUNT NUMBER

To Whom It May Concern,

This is my formal notice to you under 15 U.S.C § 1692c(c) to cease all further communications with me at my home or place of employment except for the reasons specifically set forth in the federal law.

This letter is not meant in any way to be an acknowledgement that I owe this money.

Thank you,

YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR PHONE(S)

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

Albin Renauer, J.D.; Robin Leonard, J.D.; and Stephen Elias, Attorney, How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (Berkeley, CA, NOLO, 2011)

Further, thanks to the FDCPA, debt collectors must contact your attorney if you have one. If they do contact people you know they can generally only do this once, only to try to obtain contact information about you, and cannot discuss your debt with them.

Collectors must also send you a Validation Notice within five days of first contacting you. You then have thirty days to send them a letter saying you don’t owe all or part of the money, and they have to stop contacting you until they send you some verification of the debt, such as a bill.

Sample Collection Dispute Letter: Include the following as the body of your letter:

“I do not believe I owe this alleged debt and I ask that you verify it.
Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. sec. 1692, et seq., I hereby demand that you cease any further attempts to contact me, my family, or any third party regarding this alleged debt.
Should you fail to comply with this instruction, I am prepared to pursue your violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act in federal court. Your cooperation will be appreciated.
This is not in any way an acknowledgement that I owe this alleged debt.”

And believe it or not, even if you acknowledge the debt but simply don’t have the moolah to pay it, you can demand they not contact you by using wording such as the following:

“At the present time I am unable to pay the alleged debt. Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. sec. 1692, et seq., I hereby demand that you cease any further attempts to contact me, my family, or any third party regarding this alleged debt other than for purposes of verifying the debt.”

Recording of Calls

Collectors will usually state their call is being recorded along with other disclaimers prior to your conversation. Often your phone rings, you answer, and there is an annoying hold while some collection agent is alerted that somebody answered the computer-dialed phone number. You are done such a rude disservice only to be collected from.

A fascinating piece of advice came recently from a friend of mine who may have pioneered this idea: He would ask the collection agent if they minded if he recorded the call! He told me they often don’t know what to say and end the call right there.

In the very least, even if they only believe you’re recording the call and you’re not, they will avoid at all costs behavior that could lead them into trouble, giving you a better chance at a mutually amicable conversation, if your only purpose is to obtain the information needed for your No-Contact Letter you will then prepare.

Get More Help

Being helped or represented might be the best way to exercise your full array of rights in your collection matters. Read the laws, seek advice if the situation is serious or multiple.

As mentioned, the enforcement body for your rights in collection matters is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) but you also want to consult a consumer debt counseling agency. Start with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (https://www.nfcc.org) and find a local, non-profit agency from there. For perhaps even more fierce protection of your rights you might even consult a debt defense or consumer protection attorney.

No matter which way you decide to turn, ignorance of the law is no excuse, and I hope this brief article might have at least given you a good foundation and some effective tools with which to stand your ground, and begin to more peacefully handle your situation. Best of luck!

The post Know Your Rights When Dealing with Debt Collectors appeared first on .

It’s been a rocky road until now.

Pre-School

We started her young, just after two years old, and my wife and I would sneak onto the school grounds to peak through the door and watch her, smock-clad, finger-painting.
The private school we had her in was roughly $1,000 per month. The first two years were great. The third year was disappointing and frustrating. With one unruly kid in a class, the teacher was handicapped into spending the whole day trying to calm and coax the unruly element.

Private School

The school was motivated enough by money that the discipline taken on the unruly kid (with wealthy parents) was severely limited. It was a disgusting disservice to everyone involved.

It was disappointing enough that we moved her to a much smaller private school, on the theory she would be given more personal attention.

We trusted the smaller school’s proprietor too much. While all seemed happy and good, we started to wonder how much actual education our daughter was getting aside from moral precepts. A friend of ours who taught older grades at another school interviewed our daughter and was alarmed at how little of the basics she had been given.

Homeschool

We became homeschoolers. The administrative demands of choosing and setting out on a curriculum and the necessity to change hats from mom and dad to teacher were just too much for two working adults, albeit self-employed. But for some, many families do arrive at and stay with homeschooling, just for the record.

Charter School

By about the fifth grade we found a rare opportunity with a local charter school that put an emphasis on the arts. The rare opportunity had a name: Mrs. Rae. The founder and principal, Mrs. Rae took a personal interest in our daughter, bright as she was, with untapped potential and neglected abilities as far as we were concerned. Our daughter had a great two years there before we relocated for work.

But the charter school was a fortunate mix: Close to home, small class size, and a loving authority truly interested in our daughter’s education. Hard to find and hard to duplicate, unfortunately.

Public School

After moving we decided on an A-rated public school which seemed competent and friendly enough for Fallon’s sixth grade, and it almost was. Wary from lost opportunities and lost time in the past, my wife and I were perhaps mega-sensitive to Fallon’s progress academically, and we wanted her to have social opportunities as well.

After a month or so we were concerned. There was the time prior to the school-day getting her ready and safely delivered to school; there was her time in several classrooms where the good-intentioned and able teachers were just stretched too far by the limits of hours and numbers of children to address each child individually.

In this system, it seemed no child was not left behind.

Teachers were doomed to quickly give an overview of subjects before sending children home to really learn the principles missed in school. Fallon’s real teachers were once again mom and dad, unsuited for the task not out of lack of love but by lack of time and expertise.

Fallon was having to learn it all on her own anyway. Her eight hours in the day of preparation and schooling led to another six hours of homework each night, and it all added up to an unbearable burden.

Glib

What she did learn sat briefly in the short-term memory portion of her brain before vanishing, never reaching the long-term memory banks out of rapid necessity and the pressure of her teachers, who in turn were just transferring the pressure of administrators, who in turn…

We held on for the social and physical benefits of a brick and mortar school. I started having lunch with Fallon on campus, as we were allowed to do as parents. One late assignment and a child was made to sit alone, solitary, away from other children. One late appearance in class and their one shot at recess on Fridays was revoked. One other misstep and they were omitted from physical education.

The rapid movement in and out of class; the militaristic glare of the administrator, impatient of unruliness who paced the lunchroom aisle, limiting interaction and laughter; the erosion of music, physical education, and disappearance of recess; they all added to roughly zero as far as social and physical opportunity.

We found virtual school.

Virtual School

Florida is very proudly one of the first states to fully offer virtual school as a state-supported education option through high school. Those who take proper advantage of it are also then able to dual enroll and complete college credits before graduating high school.

With the increasing cost of education this is invaluable, but it is also delivered in a way most interesting and personal to each child, as they choose their classes and where, when, and how to study.

My daughter’s 17-year old tutor has 93 college credits – more than enough for an associate’s degree – before even leaving home, and she did it with virtual school.

We are not her teachers. Fallon enrolls in online classes and follows a state-approved curriculum. She speaks by email, live chat, and telephone with her teachers on a regular basis. The teachers can handle many more students than they otherwise could, all from the comfort of their homes, and the time given my daughter is actual, one-on-one time.

Fallon knows her teachers as people and as friends.

Her teachers are motivated to treat us and her well and to see that she progresses smoothly. They have enviable telecommute jobs with decent pay and great benefits, presumably doing what they love!

Online classes have made it possible for a lot of people to be able to pursue higher studies at lower costs and more convenience as compared with traditional colleges.

This study option isn’t just for school either, as learning online has now become a popular option for those in University, and you can learn a lot of specialist subjects via this method. For example. If Fallon ever decided to become a nurse, she could enroll in a course at Wilkes University which provides great online courses. I feel her online high school education has benefitted her a lot and has given her the skills to succeed if she ever chooses these learning options.

Happy Pontification

Fallon will from time to time, spurred in by some television scene or mention in conversation, give us a full lecture on some subject she has mastered, to our happy amazement. Kids learn on a completely individual basis in virtual school, and her grades are now all A’s and B’s. We are extremely proud, and we are equally optimistic about her future. She talks about her goals with interest.

The academic aspect of Fallon’s life now has a firm foundation. Her social life we have created out of regular meet-ups with other home and virtual-school students, and all of these parents and children already have a great deal in common: we will do anything for our kids’ safety and education.

Efficiency

Rather than a fourteen-hour day spent questionably, Fallon completes her daily work in the sequence and pace she chooses in just several hours each day. There is ample time for friends and there is ample time for furthering her extracurricular interests as well.

Given what I suspect to be an incredible savings of time and fortune coupled with what must be impressive results, I do not yet understand why virtual school through middle school and even high school is not pushed more by the states or even national government.

Take Action!

Is education in North America like Big Tobacco or Big Oil? Is there too much of an old guard protecting an anachronistic system? Too many paychecks at stake? If we don’t find a way to convert quick enough the United States may indeed be doomed to poor education, bad health, and dependence on foreign oil.

What a shame when answers to all three are right in front of us! If corporate America won’t do it and big government insists on getting in the way, the only true vehicle of reform – for us to WAKE UP as it has been in the past – will come through individual awareness that leads to overbearing grass-roots demand.

The organizations to solve our education crisis are already in place. They just need to grow.

We all care – we’re just not always sure what to do about it. Share this article and look into virtual school. For my family, I am eternally grateful we did.

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There’s no such thing as investing in the real estate market in general. Those who choose this investment route typically specialize in one or two areas of real estate that they are comfortable with and excited about.

For example, some real estate investors become foreclosure experts, others focus on fixer-uppers, and some choose to invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which is a popular option among savvy investors who prefer not to get their hands dirty with property management or renovating homes.

Real estate is a vast and open field. The more you know about different aspects of the market, the better you become at negotiating and closing deals. Your progress is measured by the profits you make, the leads that land on your desk, your ability to find people with available cash to spare, and the size of your networking circle.

Investing in the real estate market does not bring success overnight. The truth is, it’s a long and winding road filled with obstacles and barriers. Much of your success depends on how hard you’re willing to work, your understanding of contractual documents, and your ability to hone your negotiation skills. The risks are real, not imagined, but when you learn to circumvent these risks and turn them into opportunities, you’ll be well ahead of the game.

As Donald Trump once said, “Since you’re thinking, you might as well think big.”

Let’s look at a few channels that people eager to invest in the real estate market can explore:

Have the Appetite for Foreclosures?

When people investing in the real estate market experience success with foreclosures, they decide it’s the path for them because they’ve mastered the rules of the game. Like addicted gamblers, they spend their time looking through court records and watching for default notices to add to their list of people to call. Some even sit on the steps of the courthouse to ensure they don’t miss any potential foreclosure deals.

The general idea behind foreclosures is to contact homeowners to offer them a price for their house before their homes are foreclosed. In the United States, a foreclosure process typically takes between two to three months. It may be the same in Canada. Here’s how it works:

A homeowner fails to make a payment on their mortgage loan. The lending institution notifies the homeowner and tries to get them to pay the missed mortgage payment. If the homeowner still fails to pay after a certain period, the lending institution refers the matter to its attorneys.

The attorneys then contact the homeowner and explain that if they don’t make payment, they will receive a Notice of Default. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that receiving a Notice of Default means they have already lost their house.

Not quite.

Only when homeowners receive a Notice of Trustee Sale does the lending institution and the lawyers prepare to auction off the property, and the homeowner’s dispossession becomes imminent.

Some things to keep in mind when investing in the real estate market, particularly foreclosures:

• Banks don’t want foreclosed properties on their books and would rather sell them to interested parties;
• Real estate experts say the best profits are made before and after a foreclosure, not during the auction or bidding process;
• When contacting homeowners who have received a Notice of Default, diplomacy is crucial. Remember, you’re dealing with a very nervous homeowner who is terrified of losing their most valuable asset. Your negotiating skills will be most effective if they’re tempered with diplomacy and compassion.

We haven’t covered everything you need to know about foreclosures. If you’re serious about investing in the real estate market, you should make an effort to join a real estate club or attend seminars. The more you read about foreclosures, the better, because in this business, you’ll need more knowledge, not less. As some say, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

Intrigued by Notes?

Notes are another way of investing in the real estate market. Not many people delve into notes because they aren’t fully understood by everyone.

A real estate note is a document (some call it a “contract”) entered into by two parties that stipulates a promise to pay after a specified period of time. These parties are usually the seller and buyer of a property.

When you hear the terms trust deed, debt instrument, discounted mortgages, or cash flow, these refer to real estate notes. Notes are financial instruments that encompass mortgages, deeds, tax lien certificates, leases, credit card charge-offs, and more. This isn’t a complete list, but suffice it to say that notes are negotiated across various industries. The key things to remember are the “promise to pay” and the “specified agreed-upon time.”

Anyone—whether you or I—can buy notes either to add to our personal portfolios or sell them on the market. To maximize your investment, real estate advisor Robert Allen encourages investors to hold “healthy” notes. By “healthy,” he means notes that don’t require collateral, carry an attractive rate of interest, have terms agreeable to both parties, and require little or no monthly payments.

Investing in the Real Estate Market: A Few Rules

Those who have dabbled in real estate investing and tasted success often become overconfident, ignoring the perils involved. It’s especially hard to warn people of these dangers when there’s a real estate boom and investments are at fever pitch.

Like any industry, however, real estate is subject to market whims and the basic principles of supply and demand. The state of the economy and the job market also directly affect real estate (when people lose their jobs, they can’t afford mortgage payments).

• Know the cardinal rules and educate yourself through literature, networking, seminars, and by mastering the vocabulary of real estate. Some of these rules include:
• Patience. Real estate is both an art and a science and must not be taken lightly. You may hear about quick returns achieved by some investors, but these are usually the result of years of study and keeping an ear to the ground, regardless of market cycles;
• Negotiating skills. Ask real estate gurus about negotiation rules—there are plenty of them. Mastering and applying each rule is crucial. You want to gain the upper hand in any transaction;
• A genuine liking for people. Building a solid networking circle is key;
• Hard work. Real estate is not a 9-to-5 job. It’s 24/7, and you’ll often have to forgo happy hour with friends in favor of pounding the pavement;
• Master the lingo. Know not just real estate, but also banking, taxation, and legal terms;
• Know when to walk away from a bad deal.

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Step One: Decide on a Reward

Our first exciting step for getting out of debt is to decide on a reward. Disclaimer: your reward may change—in fact, it likely will. I might initially decide that I want a motorcycle, but change my mind to a family trip during the process, and end up just as excited about it. I understand how silly this may sound to you right now, as your goal may simply be to not lose your house or car, but humor me and choose something just to give it a shot.

Step Two: Put Out Fires

We must address the most threatening situations first. However, remember that threats are not the same as consequences. Clear your mind, which may be cluttered with worries, and identify which debts pose the most serious consequences. Deal with those first.

Make a list of your debts and assess their nature to determine the best solutions for your situation. A combination of student loans and back taxes, for example, won’t typically be resolved through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and if you’re trying to save your house, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the answer. However, bankruptcy should always be a last resort.

While bankruptcy has benefits and drawbacks, filing creates an automatic stay that immediately stops all collection activities, including foreclosures, evictions, and utility shut-offs. It can even eliminate past-due utility bills, providing a genuine fresh start.

That said, any bankruptcy filing can result in a negative credit entry lasting ten years. If you want to buy a house, you’ll likely need to wait two years with good credit in the meantime before you can secure a mortgage.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is known as a liquidation, meaning all your assets, except those considered exempt (which vary by state), are subject to sale by a trustee to pay your creditors. If the value of your non-exempt assets is minimal and your unsecured debts are high, Chapter 7 might be the right option.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is referred to as a wage-earner repayment plan, where only about twenty percent of your unsecured debts generally need to be repaid over five years. This plan is usually the best way to save a home from foreclosure.

If income taxes are your immediate concern, there are several workable solutions. Bankruptcy will temporarily halt IRS collection actions, but it usually won’t reduce or eliminate tax debt. By submitting a complete financial statement and filing for an IRS Offer-in-Compromise, a Partial Payment Installment Agreement, or arranging an Installment Agreement, you can stop all collection actions. The first two plans may allow you to pay just pennies on the dollar, though they are subject to IRS approval and can be challenging to obtain.

If you’re dealing with unsecured personal or professional debts that are on fire, negotiating a settlement for less than what you owe or at least arranging a repayment plan could extinguish those flames.

All these emergency solutions share a common theme: confronting the problem head-on. The relief from obtaining a written agreement for repayment can greatly benefit your health and sanity!

Assuming you have no fires to deal with or that they are now extinguished, you can begin the process of eroding or chipping away at your debt.

Step Three: Get Back to Basics

No fires? That’s great! It’s time to take inventory. Let’s get back to basics. It’s safe to assume that the basics were either missing or incorrect, contributing to the problem. Quickly assemble the following:

• A Current Bills List
• A List of All Your Debts
• Your Actual Income
• Your Actual Expenses

This task alone can be shocking and suggest immediate actions you should take. With this information, you can work out a budget. I recently did this, and it revealed that the margin we had—the difference between income and expenses—was too small to allow for any savings, trips, or debt reduction. Ouch!
In that case, we needed to audit our expenses. Go over every item and decide (a) is it necessary or important, and (b) can it be reduced, even temporarily? If you have student loans, for example, consider applying for forbearances or deferments until some of your other debts are paid.

Aim to create a comfortable margin of income over expenses, ensuring you have something to pay down your debt each month while still living safely.

Here’s the trick: get the money you’re now allocating toward debt reduction flowing constantly, even if it’s just small amounts from every influx of income, and get rid of it fast! Otherwise, reasons will arise to use it, and you won’t be getting out of debt! If necessary, trust someone else to hold and manage the debt-reducing funds for you.

Also, create a debt-reduction plan. Many advise paying off your smallest debts first. This approach allows you to achieve early successes, encouraging you to continue your efforts. However, also assess which debts are most important to pay off.

Step Four: Widen Your Margin

Go enjoy a nice cold iced tea because if you’ve come this far, you’re already starting to feel great relief from your hard work, and a debt-free life is on the horizon! Now it gets fun!

Like all business legends, you are now tasked with the exciting job of shrinking expenses and increasing income to widen your margin.

Earlier, you reduced expenses that were likely excessive or dangerous. Now, you can get creative. Consider firing the cable guy and getting Netflix; sell your gas-guzzling van and buy a fuel-efficient four-cylinder car or scooter, or even better, start biking to work for both health and savings. Plus, you’ll look cool!

At the same time, grow your income. I was amazed years ago when a credit counselor didn’t once suggest considering making more money! My biggest and best advice here—though it can be risky—is to move carefully. Only bet on proven ideas, and only risk money you can afford to lose. However, there’s no risk in taking a second job or pursuing a profitable hobby with little or no startup costs.

Keep Your Eye on the Mountain

Always remember the hardship that motivated you to roll up your sleeves, as well as the hard work you’ve done to manage your debt. Don’t let it fall apart. Some would say to stay disciplined or stick to the course, but I find it easier to think in terms of keeping your eye on the mountain. Keep your focus on your goal, and if being debt-free isn’t enough to excite you, pull out the reward we discussed earlier. Place a picture of the reward somewhere you’ll see it often. It’s easier to walk a straight line when you’re focused on your destination.

Getting out of debt is a worthy goal; it’s the right thing to do. I congratulate you for wanting to achieve it! If everyone were as concerned about paying off debt, we’d be better people, live in happier communities, and have a healthier, more stable country. Good luck! And when you’re done, announce it! Make it cool. After all, getting out of debt and being financially free to create the life you want for yourself and others is definitely cool—very cool.

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Houseplants are not tricky to keep healthy, but it’s easy to love them too much. Three basic practices will keep your plants happy and healthy. First, establish a flexible pattern for watering and feeding them. Second, apply smart potting and repotting techniques. Third, make sure they have the appropriate light and warmth fluctuations.

Watering and Feeding

Use plant-specific fertilizer to feed your plants regularly, following the directions on the container. Feeding your plants is a necessary part of successful plant care. Fortunately, you generally only need to apply plant food once every four to eight weeks. Most houseplants respond well to an all-purpose nutrient mix, like Miracle Grow or plant food spikes. African violets, orchids, and other specialty plants require a different balance of these nutrients, so it’s a good idea to buy them their own specialized food.
Watering is something all houseplants need. Establish a flexible pattern of watering when the plants need it. You can’t schedule in fill-ups at the gas station for your car, and similarly, you need to be attentive to when your plants actually need watering. Telltale signs that plants are thirsty include drooping leaves, discolored and crumbling leaves, and dry soil. Plants don’t like their roots to be constantly wet and can develop mold if they aren’t allowed to drain thoroughly.

Here’s a green rule of thumb for watering: When the top inch or two of the soil is dry, it’s time to water. Give it as much water as the soil can soak up. Even for tropical plants that need more humidity, don’t overwater them. Instead, place an inch of gravel or pebbles in a shallow pan, cover the rocks with water, and set the whole potted plant in the pan. This will ensure humidity-loving plants get the moisture they need.

Potting and Repotting

How well a plant utilizes the water it receives depends, in large part, on how it is potted. Choose a container that’s big enough to hold all the roots, plus space for one season’s growth. (One exception is orchids, which must feel squished and be allowed to creep their roots out of the pots.) Cover the hole in the bottom of the pot with broken pieces of pottery or large pieces of mulch to ensure proper drainage.
Invest in a quality potting soil mix. Not only will it retain the right amount of moisture, but good potting soil will also be free of pests, mold, and disease. While most plants thrive in similar soil, specialty plants require different potting mediums.

For instance, orchid types may need fine or coarse orchid mix, while African violets, aloe, and other cacti prefer specific aeration and drainage. In fact, some commercial soils don’t even have real dirt in them—hydroponic grow gel is also used in some cases. Just remember: potting soil is not one-size-fits-all.

Lighting Requirements

Likewise, not all plants require the same amount of light. Indirect light sources are fine for most plants, but bright window light can become too intense for some and burn their leaves. Too little light can stunt plant growth or cause them to become spindly as they reach toward the light source.
If you’ve noticed a plant struggling, and you’ve ruled out watering, feeding, and potting issues, try adjusting the light intensity it receives. Research your plant species, as they each have different light requirements. Some, like orchids and ti trees, develop deep, dark green leaves when they don’t receive enough light. Their leaves can turn yellow or brown if exposed to direct window light. Other plants, such as philodendrons, will exhibit the opposite reaction—leaves yellowing or blanching in the shade, and turning a healthy forest green in ideal lighting.

Dusting your plants gently a couple of times each season will help them appear more beautiful and allow them to photosynthesize more efficiently. Be mindful of where you place your plants. Resist the urge to increase small plants’ visibility if it means sacrificing their access to sufficient light. Large plants can create a canopy that steals light and air from smaller specimens.

Fluctuate Temperatures

No matter their size, plants cannot tolerate extreme cold or heat. Keeping houseplants warm, between 65 and 85 degrees, is crucial. Plants that get too hot can become dehydrated, while those that get too cold won’t develop properly.
Houseplants tend to thrive in the same temperature range that humans do. There are, of course, specialty varieties with specific requirements. Seedlings, for instance, prefer warmer soil. But in general, houseplants will appreciate the same temperature that their keepers enjoy.

Plants are natural creatures, and all houseplants have wild relatives growing somewhere in nature. In the wild, temperatures fluctuate between day and night. As a result, many houseplants won’t rebloom unless they experience similar temperature changes. A difference of about 15 degrees is typical. In the wild, air cools off at night, so you don’t need to drastically lower the temperature at a specific time of day. Instead, plants simply need one large block of time when it’s cooler than the other. For practicality, set your thermostat around 15 to 20 degrees cooler when you leave for work in the mornings. Even though light from your windows will heat the house a bit, plants will respond to this cooling-off period.

Caring for houseplants is fairly simple—although it may seem otherwise. Water them enough, but never too much. Give them soil and light appropriate for their needs. Feed them occasionally and simulate a natural atmosphere with humidity and temperature control. Once you establish a routine, your plants will require very little attention. Over-fussing will only be counterproductive. After all, did you acquire houseplants because you have too much time on your hands? No way. Enjoy the tranquil beauty plants add to your home by loving them from afar.

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This quote seems clear at first glance, but the topic is far more nuanced than it appears. Most people have made decisions about price and quality, but they often follow up with qualifiers.

“Remember, son, you get what you pay for. Well, maybe not all the time… You’ve got to be careful. Ah, caveat emptor… just be smart with your money, okay?”

And in that seeming confusion, a gem of wisdom shines through:

• Be smart with your money.

Price and Quality

When we zoom in further and consider individual purchases, should you generally spend more on name brands and quality versus cheaper generics? Does a higher price always mean higher quality? It should, right? Most people assume that price equals quality, but how true is this? According to the Association for Consumer Research:

“The price-quality linkage is inferential, i.e. there is no logical necessity that higher prices indicate higher quality; nor does current empirical evidence suggest a strong objective association.” – Carl Obermiller, University of Washington

It’s important to separate name brands from quality. While they often go hand-in-hand, they don’t always. Your rationale for trusting name brands should be considered carefully.

“Popularity is not an indication of quality.” – Vanna Bonta

Do you buy name brands because of a history of quality, or just for prestige? In either case, you’re getting something for your money. Many dismiss paying extra for prestige, but for many, it’s no laughing matter. In fact, it can often be taken very seriously.

Prestige

In business, we talk about “moments of truth.” For example, if you see a coffee stain on an airplane seat, your confidence in the airline—and in the safety of flying with them—could be shaken. That’s a negative moment of truth.

People instinctively know this. Let’s not belittle people’s desire to present positive moments of truth socially or professionally by displaying taste and intelligence through name brands. For a businesswoman, carrying an expensive purse might imply success and trust. For your teenage son, wearing Nikes might help him fit in and meet new friends, instead of wearing Walmart-brand sneakers. As shallow as it may sound, these moments of truth matter.

Conspicuous Consumption

On the other hand, we have the well-known societal issue of conspicuous consumption. This is when things go too far—fancy clothes, cars, and nights out, creating a culture that glorifies being rich and materialistic. This can give materialism a bad reputation, and rightly so. Over-materialism is an issue when it comes at the expense of more important, long-term survival values, and often without the means to afford such luxuries. These two issues—name brands and over-materialism—are related but distinct.

I still argue that name brand consumption and even displaying it have their proper place.

Would you feel smarter driving a Yugo or a Toyota? Even my word processor didn’t recognize the Yugo and tried to autocorrect it, while nearly everyone knows Toyota as one of the most dependable car brands. So yes, brand names do help guide our decisions.

There’s even an intellectual argument that we discover who we are through the products we buy. I’m not sure I would go that far, but it’s an interesting idea to consider!

Saving Money

Expensive items often come with claims of quality and prestige. But there’s also the argument that spending more upfront on something well-made and long-lasting actually saves you money in the long run. And the best part? You get to continue enjoying the item.

Some items are better off cheap, and some things matter more than others:

• Discount garbage bags?
• Discount gas?
• Discount meat?
• Discount legal advice?
• Discount medical treatment?

Examples

Real-life examples help illustrate the point:

• My last $120 pair of sneakers was comfortable and prestigious, but lasted only as long as my $20 pair.
• My $200 skillet with seven layers of metal cooks evenly, works efficiently, and looks great hanging in my kitchen. It’s safe and non-toxic stainless steel and was a great deal when you consider that most people replace their cheap $20 cookware every two years, while the toxic Teflon surface wears off into your food, potentially causing health issues like infertility and cancer. More on that here.
• I’ll never buy another Gateway computer. My daughter’s was sent back three times for new hard drives in the first year. They were wonderful about the warranty, but so what? My Compaq (made by HP) is still going strong after five years of daily use.

The complexity of this question may not rival rocket science, but it’s nuanced enough to explain the continued success of review agencies like Consumer Reports and other reputable reviewers.

And let’s be honest: We often turn to reviews for guidance. We all know we need the genuine experiences of others to help us with our price and quality calculations.

Think

The key ability we need—and the ability we want our kids to have—is not simply chasing after name brands blindly. It’s in their ability to make calculated decisions. The calculus includes:

• Price
• Current financial situation
• The urgency of the purchase
• Likely intangibles when comparing cheap and expensive products:
  • Comfort
  • Prestige
  • Warranty (if any)
  • How much we like the product (look, design, etc.)
  • Our probable enjoyment of the product
• Tangibles when comparing:
  • How long will it last?
  • How well will it perform?

The human mind is remarkable—it can make all these calculations faster than I can even write about them! The problem arises when we mindlessly buy Brand X without thinking through the decision.

Systems

There’s a difference between Starbucks’ iced mocha (no whip) and the brown sugar-water for a dollar less at McDonald’s. Guess where I go when I need to write and get my coffee fix?

Thanks to modern business systems, our purchases are generally predictable and reliable. A McDonald’s cheeseburger tastes the same in Palm Bay, Florida, as it does in Beijing, China (though it might not be as bad for you overseas—a topic for another article about food colorings!).

The Can Opener

One of my favorite purchases was an expensive can opener.

When I was a young bachelor, I bought the cheapest one I could find—just over a dollar. It didn’t open cans properly.

I bought a slightly better one, but it left a jagged piece of aluminum that I had to keep out of my food. Frustrated, I bought the finest can opener I could find for $20. It worked beautifully and still does, even today. Just using it gives me a sense of well-being, and my cans open cleanly and quickly.

Had I spent money on cheap can openers over the years, I might have wasted more money and had less satisfaction. But could I have gone overboard? Could I have bought a gold-plated can opener? I don’t know—how much is it?

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” – William A. Foster

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