Your Basic Home Maintenance Toolkit

Owning a home requires maintenance.  Many people will hire a handyman but for those who like to do it themselves, some basic equipment and supplies will be necessary.  Everyone has their own preferances but here is a list to get you started:

Basic Home Maintenance Equipment

• Flashlight
• Bucket, 5-gallon
• Ladder, 6-foot fiberglass
• Claw hammer
• Screwdrivers, several sizes of both flathead and Phillips
• Tape measure, 25-foot+
• Utility knife and extra blades
• Wrenches, basic set of open-ended crescent wrenches, set of ratcheting socket wrenches, and set Allen wrenches
• Pliers, standard (slip-joint), long-nose, Channellock, and wire-cutter (diagonal)
• Hand saw, small, multipurpose
• Gloves, rubber gloves and leather
• Safety goggles
• Glue, wood and all-materials (not Super Glue)
• Sandpaper and sanding block
• Caulking gun
• Clamps
• Combination square or speed square
• Drill, cordless, 3/8-inch variable-speed reversible
• Drill bit set
• Flat scraper or putty knife
• Circular saw
• Level, 36- or 48-inch aluminum
• Sawhorse(s)

As a do-it-yourself person, what would you add to this list?

Will a mortgage break my bank?

How much can you spend on a house?

As of 2010, lenders, do not want your mortgage payment to exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income. The lender takes into account the actual mortgage payment, interest on the payment, property taxes and your homeowner's insurance. The total of these factors should never exceed 28% of your pretax (gross) income each month.
To calculate what your maximum monthly mortgage payment allowed by the lender will likely be, multiply your yearly salary by 0.28, then divide that number by 12.

But how much is that really?

For most people, they need the bottom line. Do you have credit cards? Car payments? Medical expenses? When it comes down to shelling out the cash, all these items do not come out of your GROSS income, they come out of your NET income. That being said, you should know your net income. Let's say you and your spouse make a combined income of $75,000 (after deductions). You are likely in the 25% bracket for federal taxes if filing jointly. So you owe about $11,000 in federal tax. (Your income is now $64,000.) And in MN, you will owe approximately another $11,000 in state taxes. (Your income is not $53,000.) So using the mortgage calculation above, ($75000x.28=$21,000/12=$1750 per month), your "maximum mortgage payment" would be about 40% of your income after tax.

Do you have other expenses each month?  Of course!  So how do you know what will be a comfortable mortgage payment for you? Break out the Excel spreadsheet. It's time to figure out your budget!  Some people just cringed and thought "Forget that" but don't move on just yet.  What are you currently paying in rent?  Is it comfortable? Then just use that as the base in your head and contact a lender to help you work the numbers to find a mortgage what you can afford for that payment. :)

(Disclaimer: Not everyone qualifies for a mortgage.)
Need answers to your mortgage questions?  Click here: http://www.curt-smith.com/

Potato Salads (reduced fat versions)

TRADITIONAL POTATO SALAD

what you need 3 hard-cooked eggs, yolks removed, + 1 for garnish
3/4 cup Non-fat Mayo/Mayonnaise
1 tsp.yellow mustard
6 cups cubed cooked red-skinned potatoes (about 1-1/2 lb.)
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp.pepper



Directions

CUT 1 of the eggs crosswise in half. Reserve 1 of the halves for garnish. Chop remaining eggs.

MIX mayo and mustard in large bowl. Add potatoes, chopped eggs, celery, peas, onion, salt and pepper; mix lightly. Cut reserved egg half into thin slices; arrange on top of salad. Cover.

REFRIGERATE several hours or overnight.






SOUR CREAM and BACON POTATO SALAD

what you need
2 lbs. red potatoes, about 6 med.
6 slices turkey bacon
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. dairy sour cream
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper
2 hard cooked eggs
1 med. onion, thinly sliced
Parsley

directions

Cook potatoes in water in their jackets until tender. In meantime, fry bacon, reserving 1/4 cup fat. Drain and crumble bacon. Prepare dressing by combining beaten eggs, bacon fat, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until dressing has thickened slightly. Keep warm.
To assemble salad, peel and slice hot potatoes. Reserve a few egg slices for garnish. Combine potatoes with bacon and dressing. Garnish with hard-cooked egg slices and parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 6 servings.

SOUR CREAM AND BACON POTATO SALAD -2
what you need
•6 medium potatoes, about 2 pounds
•1/2 cup finely chopped cooked bacon
•1/2 cup chopped onion
•1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
•1/4 cup chopped celery
•1 tablespoon butter or margarine
•3/4 cup sour cream
•3 tablespoons vinegar
•1 teaspoon salt
•1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Cook potatoes, covered, in boiling salted water for 25 to 30 minutes or just until tender, Peel and slice potatoes to make about 6 cups. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook ham, onion, green pepper, and celery in butter or margarine until tender; drain off fat. Stir in sour cream, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Heat through but do not boil. Combine sour cream mixture and potatoes in a large serving bowl. Serve potato salad right away.
Sour cream potato salad serves 8.

Videographer Wanted!

We are looking for volunteers to film our Duck Junkies video segments through the summer and upcoming hunting season. We need a couple different people available for travel within the Midwest. Mostly weekends but also for 3 weeks during the duck and goose hunting season. We have a camera/supplies but if you prefer to use your own, let us know. All credits will obviously include the camera person and each camera person will be listed our website. Contact us if you are interested!

Simplify Your Life

Just a few random things to make your days easier and your soul happier...

The rules of "storing things" should be as follows.

Clothes, if you haven't worn it in over a year or it doesn't fit, donate it. (Exceptions: if you were pregnant in the last year you can keep it 2 years, specialty clothes such as a suit or simple black dress that fits or sentimental pieces like your wedding dress)

If it's hobby related, are you still interested in that hobby? If you are not longing to do it, get rid of the supplies.

The Junk Drawer: Organize it with store-bought compartments or an old silverware tray and always put things back in their slot. Once per year, ditch stuff. Super Glue doesn't last forever folks.

Prepare for the next day the night before no matter how tired you are in the evening.

Every time you reach for your wallet to make a purchase, ask yourself:

Why am I buying this?

How often will I use this?

If I don't have this what will happen? (Can I live without this?)

Is this replacing something I already own? Will spending this money cause guilt or turmoil I could avoid?


Too much stuff doesn't make you happier! Be grateful for what you have and find ways to be happy living with what you have. It's much easier said than done.

For some people letting go of things that relate to memories is nearly impossible.

Its emotional and just the thought of letting go causes aching in their heart. I can't give any professional advice but I can remind you that you can't let things control your memories. Live your life and keep making new memories!