Renting is better, right? Hmm... let's think about that...
Did you know that if you are paying $1,200/mo in rent, you've paid your landlord $14,400 in a year? $28,800 in 2 years, and $43,200 in 3 years? That's insane! At that rate, you could pay off a $150,000 home in a little over 10 years (not including interest) or buy a condo in half the time and half the money! And there are people paying $1300 or more renting apartments or homes so you can just imagine how quickly that money racks up. And what do you have to show for it?
Now don't get me wrong! Renting is quick, easy, and you don't have to worry about things breaking down on you. You also have the opportunity to live in highly desirable areas (NOTE: the more desirable, the more expensive), and the amenities that come with it are always a bonus for friends coming over. When your building looks good, it's usually the "in" spot to come to.
In spite of all the good things that renting has to offer, there are several downsides. You have limitations and issues that can come up quite frequently, such as constant noise, thin walls, rowdy and unkempt neighbors, and high electric bills. Worst of all, you're building no equity and the amount of taxes you pay will continue to be high with hardly no return, especially if you're single.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
The Highs & Lows of Life
Today, I had a wonderful time at church. I've grown so much in my relationship with God and faith since I've been a member at Monument of Faith. My pastor and prophet, David Turner, spoke so profoundly about how the highs and lows balance our lives. What was so amazing about it was the fact that he was completely on target as to how I was feeling.
He got the idea from watching the news! It amazes me how he catches things that I would never have thought about. He was watching reports about the storms and weather that has been happening in north Dallas and surrounding suburban areas, specifically the tornadic weather. In order for tornadoes and other severe weather to happen, a high front and a low front must collide. Once the two combine, something amazing is created in the atmosphere. That's so deep.
He expressed that the same thing happens in life. When you hit lows in your life, look toward highs to come and create something for yourself. Sometimes when you stay in your highs for too long, you begin to think that it's YOU that's making things happen on your own and you forget about God. You stop praying, fasting, and seeking guidance, but that's when the lows come. We must find the balance in life. For every measure of success, there's always a balance, but it's up to us how we handle it. We should thank God for the lows, because it is in the lows that we find ourselves and realize that we are much stronger than we thought. The lows teach us endurance and faith, which makes the highs so much more amazing!
What a profound and thought-provoking message! It truly touched me.
He got the idea from watching the news! It amazes me how he catches things that I would never have thought about. He was watching reports about the storms and weather that has been happening in north Dallas and surrounding suburban areas, specifically the tornadic weather. In order for tornadoes and other severe weather to happen, a high front and a low front must collide. Once the two combine, something amazing is created in the atmosphere. That's so deep.
He expressed that the same thing happens in life. When you hit lows in your life, look toward highs to come and create something for yourself. Sometimes when you stay in your highs for too long, you begin to think that it's YOU that's making things happen on your own and you forget about God. You stop praying, fasting, and seeking guidance, but that's when the lows come. We must find the balance in life. For every measure of success, there's always a balance, but it's up to us how we handle it. We should thank God for the lows, because it is in the lows that we find ourselves and realize that we are much stronger than we thought. The lows teach us endurance and faith, which makes the highs so much more amazing!
What a profound and thought-provoking message! It truly touched me.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Tiff's Random Pic of the Day
Have you ever been walking somewhere and see the most random thing that you can think of? So random that you just HAD to take a picture of it? I do all of the time!
And today's random pic of the day is......
The ENTIRE line of Nutrisystem at Big Lots!
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I was picking up a few things for the house when I passed by shelves and shelves of Nutrisystem meals in the front of the store. I didn't think much of it, until I continued shopping and it was in various parts of the store; near the home goods, the canned goods, housewares, and even the bath and body section!!! And it wasn't just this stuff, it was breakfast cereal, cookies, and meal bars! Who buys Nutrisystem from Big Lots?! HOT MESS...
And THAT is my random pic of the day!
Recommendations: Top 3 Grocery Stores in Dallas for the Budget-Conscious
We all know that groceries are expensive. I used to cringe when I went to the grocery store because I knew that I was about to drop $100 and all that I would have in the basket are a couple of boxes of cereal, a few cans of soup, and some chicken breasts! With this in mind, I decided to venture out and find the best grocery stores with the best products and prices for people like me who wish to save a buck or two! You may be surprised with these recommendations, but feel free to throw in your own opinions!
#3. Aldi- 1601 W. Northwest Hwy
This particular store is closest to me, but they are spread out all across the metroplex making it easy to find. Now, you may be looking at me saying, "Aldi? Really?" Well, yes! Aldi specializes in the most sought after items and places a great price on them. The quality is very near what you're used to with a name brand, but it's a better price. I feared that it was a dreaded Sack N Save disaster waiting to happen, but after having the products, I am convinced! I was able to purchase quality whole chickens, 3 to 4-lb roasts, fresh produce, and Tide's-equivalent laundry detergent for a fraction of the cost. It's a staple for us when things are a little tight.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU: Bring your own bags from home, because they'll charge you $0.07 to $0.10 per bag. They don't take credit cards, only cash and debit.
#2. Super Target - 6419 Skillman St.
This location is under construction for a remodel right now, but it's awesome. Most people don't realize that the prices at Target are very similar (and sometimes cheaper) to Walmart's prices, but that fact alone makes for guilt-free shopping. One of the more impressive things about the store is the spice and foreign food section! They have a huge selection of indian, chinese, and japanese cuisine items with great prices! Fish sauce, cardamom, even curries! They also have a clearance/stock up and save section nearly every day of essential items that are discounted very well and, for those name brand shoppers, every now and then, the name brands are a better price than the store brands. Now that's awesome!
#1. Sunflower Food Market, 1800 N. Henderson Ave.
I was so impressed by this little store that I had to put them on this list! Sunflower, in a nutshell, is the more affordable version of Whole Foods Market. I call it the "little market that could"! :-) HIGHLIGHTS: The produce section is beautiful and replenished daily, the seafood is amazing at a pretty good cost, and you can buy good quality wine for like $3, not that I do it, but I was mentioning it for reference. (Everyone knows that I'm the biggest square in America.) Fresh baked bread engulfs your senses when you first walk in and they have a great mix of organic and non-organic foods, so the decision is up to you! It's small, but it gets the job done with healthy products that won't break the bank.
Do you have any other stores that you like? Post them here and let me know! Perhaps I'll check it out on my next grocery trip!
#3. Aldi- 1601 W. Northwest Hwy
This particular store is closest to me, but they are spread out all across the metroplex making it easy to find. Now, you may be looking at me saying, "Aldi? Really?" Well, yes! Aldi specializes in the most sought after items and places a great price on them. The quality is very near what you're used to with a name brand, but it's a better price. I feared that it was a dreaded Sack N Save disaster waiting to happen, but after having the products, I am convinced! I was able to purchase quality whole chickens, 3 to 4-lb roasts, fresh produce, and Tide's-equivalent laundry detergent for a fraction of the cost. It's a staple for us when things are a little tight.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU: Bring your own bags from home, because they'll charge you $0.07 to $0.10 per bag. They don't take credit cards, only cash and debit.
#2. Super Target - 6419 Skillman St.
This location is under construction for a remodel right now, but it's awesome. Most people don't realize that the prices at Target are very similar (and sometimes cheaper) to Walmart's prices, but that fact alone makes for guilt-free shopping. One of the more impressive things about the store is the spice and foreign food section! They have a huge selection of indian, chinese, and japanese cuisine items with great prices! Fish sauce, cardamom, even curries! They also have a clearance/stock up and save section nearly every day of essential items that are discounted very well and, for those name brand shoppers, every now and then, the name brands are a better price than the store brands. Now that's awesome!
#1. Sunflower Food Market, 1800 N. Henderson Ave.
I was so impressed by this little store that I had to put them on this list! Sunflower, in a nutshell, is the more affordable version of Whole Foods Market. I call it the "little market that could"! :-) HIGHLIGHTS: The produce section is beautiful and replenished daily, the seafood is amazing at a pretty good cost, and you can buy good quality wine for like $3, not that I do it, but I was mentioning it for reference. (Everyone knows that I'm the biggest square in America.) Fresh baked bread engulfs your senses when you first walk in and they have a great mix of organic and non-organic foods, so the decision is up to you! It's small, but it gets the job done with healthy products that won't break the bank.
Do you have any other stores that you like? Post them here and let me know! Perhaps I'll check it out on my next grocery trip!
Easy Breakfast Idea For the Family- Ready in 10 Minutes!
I love breakfast, but I don't always like to go out and pay for it. So I wanted to come up with some ideas of meals that I can put together quickly, but also be able to feed an army! What better way to do this than to make pancakes? All you need is 4 total ingredients to make a great and fulfilling breakfast happen!
~Tiff's Cinnamon Meatcakes~
Ingredients:
2 cups Complete pancake mix
1 tbsp Ground or fresh cinnamon
Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage (sliced into rounds 1/4" thickness) or thick-cut bacon (cooked crisp and crumbled)
Pam Cooking spray
Eggs (optional)
Instructions:
1. In a hot skillet, cook sliced sausage over medium heat until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. In a bowl, add pancake mix, cinnamon, and water until the batter reaches your desired consistency. Be careful not to overmix or make it too thin.
3. Spray preheated skillet with cooking spray and pour in the pancake batter. As the pancakes begin to bubble, add sliced sausage or crumbled bacon on top. When the edges start to dry out and the bubbles start to fall apart, it's time to turn!
4. Cook 2 more minutes and add to the plate.
5. Scramble some eggs, if you wish, and enjoy your breakfast!
~Tiff's Cinnamon Meatcakes~
Ingredients:
2 cups Complete pancake mix
1 tbsp Ground or fresh cinnamon
Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage (sliced into rounds 1/4" thickness) or thick-cut bacon (cooked crisp and crumbled)
Pam Cooking spray
Eggs (optional)
Instructions:
1. In a hot skillet, cook sliced sausage over medium heat until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. In a bowl, add pancake mix, cinnamon, and water until the batter reaches your desired consistency. Be careful not to overmix or make it too thin.
3. Spray preheated skillet with cooking spray and pour in the pancake batter. As the pancakes begin to bubble, add sliced sausage or crumbled bacon on top. When the edges start to dry out and the bubbles start to fall apart, it's time to turn!
4. Cook 2 more minutes and add to the plate.
5. Scramble some eggs, if you wish, and enjoy your breakfast!
If you don't want to add meat, try sliced banana with walnuts or pecans and sprinkle with powdered sugar! They're so good, everyone will think you made them from scratch! (It's our little secret!)
Happy eating!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A Little Encouragement to New Parents
I felt compelled to give a little encouragement on this subject because I need to encourage myself. I've discovered that if I help someone else, it is very beneficial to me. If you are parents to young children at home, particularly under the age of 2, then it's a good possibility that you need a good pat and rub on your back with a little reassurance. That's what I'm here for.
As we speak, my son has just randomly woke up and is screaming for me. He first started sleeping through the night at 11 months and it was awesome, but after 6 months of restful sleep for us all, things have reverted back to him waking up in the middle of the night! We had tried every possible method when he was a newborn, the Ferber method, the Sears method, cousin CeCe from down the street's method, EVERYTHING! Nothing that we tried worked! It was such a frustrating time and I've shed many tears on the living room couch due to lack of rest, but somehow we eventually found a routine that worked for us. I guess now we'll have to figure something else out for our growing boy.
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| My baby, Kingston, 2 weeks old |
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| Kingston, 17 months old |
So, I say to you, cherish this time, no matter how hard it may be. It's so amazing to see your little creation discover new things, walk around, and develop. I'm still amazed 17 months later of my son's changes and I will forever be amazed! I believe that having a child is an awesome responsibility, one that neither you or I should take lightly. Our jobs as parents are not just to provide for our children, but to instill wisdom, knowledge, and understanding into them so that they are equipped to handle life's challenges with all of the right tools.
With that in mind, my little man has settled down and THAT is my cue! I'm off to bed!
Toodles!
Sports Overview-NBA
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love sports. (I think that's one of the reasons my hubby married me.)DING! From what I'm told, men are pleasantly surprised when a woman is knowledgeable about more than the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Basketball Wives, and shopping, especially when it's about sports. Because of this, I feel it necessary to speak on a few sports things as they come along just so you guys know that we chicks are on top of things...
NBA: League play has definitely picked up over the last few weeks. It hasn't exactly been the best season since the lockout. We're not even going to mention the HORRIBLE.com All-Star game and Slam Dunk Contest. It's been a marathon season with some surprising trades (never thought I'd see Rip Hamilton in a Bulls jersey or Derek Fisher in a Oklahoma City jersey), but the playoff picture is beginning to show. With only a few games left in the regular season, I'm going to make some EARLY predictions as to who I believe will end up playing for the championship based on the current standings.
NBA: League play has definitely picked up over the last few weeks. It hasn't exactly been the best season since the lockout. We're not even going to mention the HORRIBLE.com All-Star game and Slam Dunk Contest. It's been a marathon season with some surprising trades (never thought I'd see Rip Hamilton in a Bulls jersey or Derek Fisher in a Oklahoma City jersey), but the playoff picture is beginning to show. With only a few games left in the regular season, I'm going to make some EARLY predictions as to who I believe will end up playing for the championship based on the current standings.
2011-2012 MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Eastern Conference Championship Game: Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat Part II
Eastern Conference Champ: Chicago Bulls
Western Conference Championship Game: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Lakers
Western Conference Champ: Oklahoma City Thunder
2012 NBA Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder
I know that a few folks will be mad that I didn't say the Mavs, but I have legitimate reasons. I'm still a little hurt over blowing up a championship team after only one ring. We've milked the ONE ring as much as humanly possible, but we need more! Why not keep the team and change out what didn't work? I won't even touch all of this Lamar Odom business; it's just not worth my time and it runs me a little hot. I don't know why we brought him here in the first place... The fact is OKC is hot right now. They were close last year, and now with Kendrick Perkins and Derek Fisher... I can't help but feel that this year is theirs. Chicago will give them a deep run, but I think it'll be OKC in 6 or 7.
Feel differently? What do you think?
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