4 things to give up for Lent 2020

Lent | Stock photo by Gaston Perez/Pixabay

Lent is upon us. It begins with Ash Wednesday, which is the day after tomorrow.

I know that many Christians - myself included - sometime wonder what they should give up for Lent. Sweets are an old standby but I always feel like it should be something a little less generic. With that in mind, I spent a couple of hours over the weekend searching for advice on what one should give up for Lent.

With that in mind, I want to share five Lenten sacrificss that I feel are worthy of special consideration this year.

1 - Get rid of 40 things over the 40 days
It's always amazing how much random stuff one accumilates over the years. Lent can provide one with an opportunity to reflect on all of that stuff and ask if it is truly worthy of a place in your life. I'm confident that many people would be able to find 40 things in their life that are simply cluttering your life.

Many of these things may have a value to others. In which case, I would suggest that rather than tossing your Lenten clutter into the trash, donating them a charitable thrift store or selling them and donating the proceeds to a worthy charity. For those in the Warrendale neighborhoood, I recommend the Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center (8525 N. Telegraph Rd. in Dearborn Heights).

2 - Stop gossiping
Humans are social creatures. Sharing stories and information with our peers is a fundamental part of who we are. However, like most things, it can always be used in a destructive manner and that is something that one focus on during Lent.

3 - Say three nice things to your spouse and children daily
Family is the foundation of our society. Lent provides us with an opportunity to strengthen your family with a little extra positive energy. This idea, by the way, was inspired by YourModernFamily.com.

4 - Write 40 letters to people you've lost touch with
I saw this one on LifeTeen.com and love it. In the haste of modern life, it is all too easy to lose touch with people. Writing a letter to someone that you've lost touch with not only gives you a chance to re-establish those social connections but the fact that you do so in a letter forces you to put some extra thought into your words.

As a bonus, since letters have become so rare in the age of email and text messaging, an actual letter that shows up in the mail will stand out in mind of your recipient that much more.

There are, of course, many more things that one can give up or do as a Lenten sacrifice. I hope that these ideas spark some inspiration in your life.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. The rest of the tips are are avilable here.

Please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content.

Learn a Martial Art on Vacation

Kung fu master silhouetterd at sunset | Photo by Mohammed Hasan/Pixabay

Have you ever wanted to learn a martial art but couldn’t find the time? Is a vacation the only time you can ever get a break? Consider combining martial arts training and a vacation for an unforgettable experience.

Most people think of going to Disney World or visiting the Grand Canyon for a vacation. That’s nice, but what about something different?

Vacations focusing on experiences are all the rage these days. From motorcycle tours to surfing, you can find a vacation in which you are actively engaged in something instead of just visiting site to site.

What types of martial arts are best to learn while on vacation?
Just about every martial art has a vacation experience. You really can’t go wrong. You can learn kung-fu in China, or train Brazilian Jiujitsu in Thailand. Make sure to use a well known booking vendor such as StudyMartialArts.org to find the type of martial art and camp that is best for you. It's important that you get independent travel advice so that you can get the best experience possible.

Keep in mind that although most martial arts camps will welcome beginners you should double check before you book as each vacation/camp provider is different. Usually absolute beginners are welcome, but make sure that each location offers such services.

Why learn a martial art on vacation?
Martial arts can be great fun and exercise. Combine that with an exotic location, such as Thailand or Brazil and you have the recipe for a great getaway. Beyond the physical and mental benefits, learning a martial art on vacation is a great way to connect with your family and create international friends.

Perhaps the best reason to study a martial art on a vacation is that it can make for a great travel story for years to come. Who wants to hear about the canal tour you took? A story about how you kicked through 5 layers of bricks in Japan is way cooler.

You might be asking, is learning a martial art in a foreign country safe? The answer is that martial arts entail physical activity and contact so there is some inherent risk to injury. That said, martial arts are quite safe when practiced properly. Everything will be fine as long as you follow the rules and are respectful of others.

What else should be kept in mind?
Before you go, make sure you check visa and travel requirements. Also, make sure that you check which accomodations your camp may or may not provide. This includes any special training equipment you might need. Also, don’t forget to buy appropriate travel insurance in case you need to go to a medical provider.

If in doubt call the vendor to confirm. Most of the time everything you need to know is on the website, but you should get the advice of your booking company in case you have doubts.

Forget the beach, get on the mat for your next trip!

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. The rest of the tips are are avilable here.

Please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content

5 ways to stretch your tax refund

Both the Michigan Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service are busy these days processing tax returns and issuing refunds to millions of Americans. The average federal refund last year was $2,869 according to an analysis of data from the IRS.

It’s a sad reality that bars, restaurants, and casinos all get busier when tax refunds arrive. For those who want to use that refund to make a long term difference in your family’s situation, I offer five ways in which you can stretch your tax refund.

Making a payment | Stock photo by StockSnap/Pixabay

Switch to annual payments
Your auto, home, and life insurance premiums. Subscriptions to one streaming service or another. These are just some of the bills that most Americans have that offer a discount if you can pay them on an annual or semi-annual basis instead of paying them monthly. You can save hundreds of dollars by switching to an annual basis and this is one discount that companies are thrilled to give you.

For most Americans most of the year, they simply don’t have enough cash on hand to take advantage of these offers and realize the savings. Your tax refund, however, provides an opportunity to break out of this cycle and start saving money.

I recommend starting with your insurance premiums. Talk with your insurance agent to see what kind of a discount you can get by switching to an annual or semi-annual payment.

Paying | Stock photo by Quinn Kampschrorer/Pixabay

Pay down debt
This one is kind of a no-brainer. The average American has four credit cards and carries a balance of $8,640. If you only make the minimum payments, it will take decades for you to pay that off. Paying down your debt means huge savings in interest charges.This is especially true with high-interest credit cards.

Your tax refund provides an opportunity to pay down some debt. This can either be by taking money directly from your refund check and paying it down or by taking some of the money that you saved from switching to annual payments and adding a few extra bucks to each month’s payment.

For Detroiters looking to get a handle on their debts, help is available through the Financial Empowerment Center. I wrote about this program last November and details about it are available here.

Boost savings | Stock photo by Manuel Alejandro Leon/Pixabay

Boost savings
If you don’t have a savings account, now is the time to start one. If you don’t have at least six months worth of basic living expenses in your savings account, now is the time to make a deposit.

Just like when it came to paying down debt, you can boost your savings directly from your income tax refund or by using the money that you saved from switching to annual payments and/or paying down debts.

Also, remember that you have until April 15, 2020 to make a 2019 contribution to your IRA.

Saving energy | Stock photo by PIRO4D/Pixabay

Energy saving improvements to your home
For most Americans, your home is your single biggest investment by far and utilities are one of the biggest expenses for that investment. By making a few improvements, you not only lower your energy costs but also boost the resale value of your home.

Plus, making energy savings improvements to your home today can also mean a bigger tax refund next year in addition to lower energy bills.

Having fun | Stock photo by Free Photos/Pixabay

Have a little fun
While I believe that the bulk of your tax refund should go towards improving your family’s long term financial strength, there’s nothing wrong with having a little bit of fun along the way. Dinner and a movie with your spouse is a classic option.

For those who want something a little different, websites like Groupon offer deals on all kinds of fun things to do.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. The rest of the tips are avilable here.

Please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content.

Protect your whole house from power surges

Power lines at twilight - Photo by Nicole Kohler/Pixabay

Most of these Tip of the Week articles are the result of brainstorming and some research. This one, however, is purely the result of learning an important lesson and learning it the hard way.
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The lesson is simple: every home these days should have a whole house surge protector. They cost around $100 plus a few dollars more if you want a professional to install it. They can save so much more, though.

A little more than a week ago, the power went out in my house. It came back on approximately three seconds later. When it did, though, it did more than $500 in damage.

This is because, when the power came back, there was a surge of electricity. I had a surge protector for my computer, modem, and router. I’ve had them for decades and thought I was covered.

However, I forgot that there is a computer inside almost every appliance these days. Televisions, washing machines, dryers – about the only appliance in my home that doesn’t have a computer inside of it is my toilet and I’m sure there will be one there before too long.

And the power surge that happened when my electricity came back after being off for approximately three seconds was enough to destroy that computer that was inside of my washing machine. With that out of commission, my machine was nothing more than a large hunk of metal in my basement.

Plus, most manufacturer’s warranties don’t cover damage done by a power surge, which is another fun fact that I learned the hard way.

I had to replace my washing machine and, with delivery, sales tax, and everything else, doing so cost me approximately $500. I also had a whole house surge protector professionally installed for $180 because there is a computer inside of almost everything these days and things could have been so much worse for me.

A whole house surge protector does a lot to protect you. My electrician recommended keeping the old surge protectors on my home computer and the most sensitive of my electronics as an extra layer of protection for them. For everything else, there is now a surge protector installed right next to breaker box.

Please learn from my mistake. Protect your appliances with a whole house surge protector. You can also use individual surge protectors for each appliance. However, there are so many of them that installing a whole house one really is your best bet.

Whole house surge protectors are available on Amazon as well as at Loewe’s, Home Depot, and most larger hardware stores. I cannot recommend getting one highly enough. Getting one is your Tip of the Week for the week of January 20, 2020.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. The rest of the tips are are avilable here.

Please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content

What is better? Term insurance or whole life?

Couple looks to the future - Photo by Tatyana Kasova/Pixabay

One of the most frequently debated questions as it relates to financial planning and personal finance is debate surrounding what type of life insurance a family should have. Everyone seems to agree that life insurance itself is a good idea. However, when the question becomes whether to go for a term policy, which is only good for a set number of years, or for a whole life or universal life insurance policy that is permanent - well, it was an age old debate when I started working for Merrill Lynch back in the 1990s. More than 25 years later, this debate still hasn’t been settled.

I'm my opinion, the entire term insurance versus whole life debate boils down to two questions that everyone has to answer for themselves. There aren’t any purely right or wrong answers in this debate; only one that is right or wrong for your own unique circumstances.

The first question related to this life insurance debate is:can you afford to buy enough coverage to protect your family with a whole life policy?

If you can afford a whole life insurance policy that provides enough coverage to protect your family adequately, great. A whole life or universal life policy might actually be a good idea for you to consider. However, if you cannot afford as much coverage as you need with a whole life policy then, in my opinion, you have to go with a term policy.

In my professional opinion as an insurance agent who blogs about his neighborhood as a passion project, it is always better to have a term life policy that gives your family the coverage and protection that you need rather than a whole life policy that doesn’t.

The second question that I believe one should ask is: what would happen to your family if you died the day after a term policy expired?

Let’s say, as an example, that you're comparing whole life police and a 30-year term one. If you are confident that 30 years and one day from now, your kids will be on their own, your mortgage will be paid off, your spouse won't need your income, and you're not going to have to get a new policy then, by all means, go with a term policy.

Take the difference between your term and whole life policies and invest it or - if you prefer - buy an even bigger boat.

However, and I cannot stress this enough, having to get a new life insurance policy 30 years from now will be a disaster in the making for you. At minimum, you will be 30 years older and that means your rates will be drastically higher.

Plus, there is also a very real possibility that your health will be worse 30 years from now than it is today. This, in turn, raises the possibility that you won’t even be able to get a new life insurance policy when your term one expires.

And there you have it, the two questions that I believe will enable every American family to decide for themselves whether a term insurance policy or a whole life one is better for them.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. The rest of the tips are avilable here.

Please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content. 

Disposing of perscription drugs properly - a guide for 2020

Perscription drugs - Photo by Steve Buissinne/Pixabay

It's a sad fact that one in four teens in the United States, according to data compiled by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. To make things even worse, most of these kids are getting their drugs not from shady dealer but from their own medicine cabinet.

Because of this, one of the best ways to stop perscription drug abuse is to dispose of unused, expired, or unwanted medications properly. Disposing of these drugs keeps them out of the hands of teens or anyone else who shouldn't have access to them.

As an added bonus, disposing of perscription drugs properly also prevents them from getting into the soil or water supply. When this happens, the medications that were designed to heal humans become an environmental hazard for fish and wildlife. After all, these medications were intended for humans and humans only.

All of these reasons make it incredibly important for perscription drugs to be disposed of properly.

For those readers who live in the Detroit area, Henry Ford Health Systems has a total of nine locations throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties where people can drop off unused, expired, or unwanted medications. I used their service myself recently when my doctor changed one of the medications that I take; leaving me with a couple weeks of my old medicine still at home.

A complete list of these nine locations can be found on their website. Besides these Henry Ford Health Systems, one can also find several other locations where people can drop off perscription drugs in Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties by clicking on the appropriate links. Each of these locations will ensure that the drugs are desposed of properly so they don't become a problem for someone.

Last, but not least, for those individuals who are looking to dispose of perscription drugs outside of the Detroit, many pharmacies have drop boxes nationwide where patients can dispose of them safely. One can find their nearest location by visiting this website and searching by address or by ZIP code.

With this many options for safe disposal available, I hope that we will soon see a dramatic drop in the number of teens who absue perscription drugs that they find in their own homes.

This guide to disposing of perscription drugs - updated for 2020 - is your Tip of the Week for the week of December 23, 2019.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life. In the meantime, please feel free to check some of our previous Tips of the Week.

Thank you for visiting the Warrendale Detroit Blog.

Get the best workout with the right exercise clothes

Young woman working out - Photo by StockSnap/Pixabay

Exercise and working out are great. It's not so great when your clothes hinder you. Yes, a white t-shirt might do in a pinch, but ideally you should wear the best clothes for the job. According to an article from Lifehacker, your workout clothes can make a difference in how well you get into shape.

It’s crucial you consider your workout clothes just as much as the workout itself. Your clothes need to match the exercise and your body type.

Consider the following:

• Stick with loose and comfortable clothes
• Clothing should not impede your activity
• When running or biking, don’t use loose pants
• For most activities, find fabrics that wick away sweat

Workout clothes aren’t just about wearing any old rag anymore. Science, function, design and fashion are all factored into sport’s wear these days. Everything from simple guy’s workout t-shirts to women’s hoodies have been engineered to provide top performance and look stylish.

Exercise gear also acts as a lifestyle gear. Consider how multi functional your workout gear should be. Are those shoes just for the gym? Or will they be for everyday use? Can you wear that t-shirt everywhere?

Workout clothes for men should be comfortable, durable and rugged. The same goes for ladies workout gear, which should be stylish but also able to withstand the reps of any activity.

It's essential that your clothes can handle the intensity of your workouts. The last thing you want to happen is for a mishap or accident to ruin your workout, or worse, cause an injury. Injuries can be caused by improper clothing.

The wash cycle is also an important factor to consider. If you are working out a lot, your clothes will need to last. Make sure you review the washing instructions and follow them accordingly.

With these tips in mind, you will find great clothes that keep you cool, comfortable and fashionable whether you are breaking a sweat or just hanging out.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. In the meantime, please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content.

Help is here to get your finances in order

Getting a hand up - Photo by Tumisu on Pixabay

If you look at the statistics, it's clear that most Americans are a financial mess. The typical American family today has too much debt, not enough savings, no financial plan, no life insurance, and is basically one hardship away from financial ruin. The one ray of hope in this is that, for Detroiters at least, the Financial Empowerment Center is here to help.

The Financial Empowerment Center offers professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a free service to Detroiters. They enable residents to address their financial challenges and plan for their futures. The FEC is a partnership between the City of Detroit, the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office, and Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency.

Residents receive free, one-on-one professional counseling assistance with their finances.The FEC's professional counselors can help Detroiters take control of their debt as well as:

• Deal with debt collectors;
• Improve your credit;
• Build your savings;
• Create a budget and create a plan to stick to it; and
• Find safe and affordable financial products.

These professionally trained counselors support their clients in navigating complex financial challenges and choices. They help Detroiters identify and meet present challenges and future ambitions. Counseling services are integrated into other social services including housing and foreclosure prevention services, workforce development, prisoner reentry, and benefits access.

All of their counseling services, including credit report analysis, are availabel free of charge. There are no income limits or residency requirements. Interpreting and translation services are available upon request.

Detroiters are invited to schedule an appointment with a FEC counselor by calling (313) 322-6222. Appointments are available at the Wayne County Treasurer's Office (400 Monroe St.) downtown or at Wayne Metro Lakeshore (7310 Woodward Ave.), in the New Center area.

The Detroit Financial Empowerment Center is funded by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, JPMorgan Chase, Wayne County Treasurer’s Office, and the Skillman Foundation.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. In the meantime, please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content.

10 Tips for funding a major housing repair

Home repairs in progress - Photo courtesty of Pexels

Once you reach a certain stage in your life, you begin to plan for contingencies. In your early 20s, while you are finishing a degree or starting a career, you often live paycheck to paycheck. As you grow older and build savings, earn some credit and start a family, your financial responsibility starts to grow, too -- especially once you purchase a home.

For homeowners, keeping your property healthy will be one of your top priorities. Not only is your house your family’s haven, but it’s also an investment you want to protect. Staying on top of major and minor repairs can help you stay both comfortable and secure in your investment — but it can also be costly.

Many Detroit home owners qualify for an interest-free loan to cover the cost of repairing their home provided that they meet certain income requirements or live in qualified areas of the city. Warrendale is one of those qualified area so residents of our neighborhood are eligible regardless of their income. To get the process started, homeowners need to fill out this information packet.

For those who don't live within the Detroit city limits, here are some ways to help you plan so home repairs don’t cause an unexpected blow to your savings.

1. Start saving early and add to it often. Even if you can’t put much into savings, commit to some amount every pay period. Over time, as your salary increases or your spending habits level out, begin adding more.
2. Take time researching the right contractors. If you know in advance who to hire, you’ll be better able to budget for major home repairs. Ask neighbors and friends for recommendations; they are more reliable than online reviews.
3. Know what your home insurance policy covers and your deductible. Keep track of your receipts and purchases in case you need to make a claim to help with a repair. Be sure your savings account always has enough to cover the deductible.
4. Look into taking a cash out refinance to help pay for the costs of emergency repairs. A cash for remodel option allows you to use your home equity by replacing your current mortgage with a higher-balance loan, providing you with the difference between the two to use toward repairs and improvements, like replacing a roof or installing a new HVAC unit.
5. Tackle easy, DIY projects on your own. Minor repairs like a squeaky floorboard or a loose railing can often be fixed quickly and with simple tools. If you need instruction, there are hundreds of high quality online tutorial videos to follow.
6. Research home loans and grants that could be available to you. If you are a veteran or are making a modification to accommodate a disability, you may be able to apply for grants or loans with a lower percentage rate.
7. Stay on top of upkeep and maintenance. It’s easier to keep your hardwood from getting scuffed than to refinish your floors. Focus on keeping your home’s elements in top shape.
8. Share your space. You can make extra money by renting out an extra bedroom or guest house on a site like Airbnb and VRBO. Put this side income back into your home by funding repair projects and improvements.
9. Get warranties to cover maintenance, upkeep and damage over the years, especially on big ticket items like roofing, plumbing and appliances. 
10. Pay off your debt. Setting a budget and working on a plan to pay off your debt will free up your income for home improvement projects. For example, some people have had success paying off credit cards quickly by transferring a balance to a card that offers 0% APR. That way you don’t wind up spending the majority of your payments in interest.

Homeowners spend an average of 1-4% of their home’s value annually on repairs. While you can’t always be prepared for every kind of repair, having a financial safety net in place will help make paying for these situations much easier.

Rarely is it one solution, but a combination of two or more can help keep repair costs manageable. Home improvement projects can make your home more appealing and enjoyable, both as a place to live and an investment to rely on.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale Detroit Blog as part of our Tip of the Week series. Please check back next week for more advice on your home, money, and life. In the meantime, please feel free to follow the author Frank Nemecek on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great content. 

Best place to get Halloweeen candy cheap

As of today, Halloween is only 10 days away. It won’t be long before trick-or-treaters swarm through our neighborhood streets in their annual extravaganza of candy-induced spookiness.

If you’re ready for the trick-or-treaters and Halloween in general than, well, congratulations. You are better than me.

I’m the guy, after all, who finished his Christmas shopping at 6 p.m. on December 24th last year.

Anyway, while I’m not normally Mr. Super Well-Prepared for the Holidays, there is one tip that I have to share that might be helpful for some folks. You can get some really good deals on Halloween candy online.

For example, I found a carton of 150 fun-sized packs of M&M’s over on Amazon for prices starting at $21.59. Plus, if you order multiple cartons, you can get that candy for as cheap as $19.59 per carton.

This is a much better deal on Halloween candy than I have seen in any of the grocery stores or even the bulk food stores.

This will give me 150 packs of M&M’s candy for the neighborhood kids plus another 150-300 of them for me to eat over the next few weeks. Because when you can get Halloween candy this cheap, it’s insane not to get some for yourself as well.

And if you don’t like M&M’s then there’s a lot of other great deals on bulk candy online as well. You can get Swedish Fish, Jolly Ranchers, Tootsie Rolls, and an assortment of other cheap Halloween candy that doesn’t taste cheap.

Plus, if you place your order today you can still get your cheap candy delivered to your home in plenty of time for Halloween.

Cheap Halloween candy. It’s your Tip of the Week for the week of October 21, 2019.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life. In the meantime, please feel free to check out the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram for more great content as @fnemecek.

Vacation homes: How to transform your home into a destination

Venice Beach - Photo by David Mark

Vacation homes can be great investments, but they can also be a lot of work to maintain. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you understand the ins and outs of turning your home into a getaway before you make any decisions. Whether you want to create a space solely for renters or simply turn your home into a beautiful stopover for travelers a few months out of the year, it’s crucial to think about how to make the most of what you have and how to save money when it comes to updating and upgrading.

Many homeowners don’t realize that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to transform a home into a gorgeous getaway. If your house already has good bones, it’s possible to make some simple, DIY updates and fill the space with little luxuries, such as soft bedding and a stocked kitchen. It’s often the little things that help a visitor feel at home, and this will help you keep costs down as you go.

Keep reading for some great tips on how to turn your home into a vacation spot anyone would love.

Keep location front and center
The location of your vacation home will depend on many factors; some homeowners want to transform a property they already own into a rental, while others are on the lookout for a place to transform from scratch. No matter what your plans are for your vacation home, keep the location in mind first and foremost, since this is crucial when it comes to figuring out what kind of investment you should make.

When choosing a location for your home, you need to take into account how you’ll manage your vacation rental. If your vacation home is a long way from your current home, your best bet will be hiring a rental management company to handle any day-to-day issues. In addition to providing local support, a property manager can handle housekeeping services and online booking for your guests.

Work out the financials
One of the most difficult parts of owning a home is working out the financial end of things, and when you’re going to be renting out the space, you need to make sure that you’ll get a nice return on your investment. That’s why it’s crucial to keep track of your spending and to plan carefully when it comes to what sorts of upgrades you should add. For example, a hot tub can be a great addition to some homes, but it may not guarantee as many renters as adding extra beds or updating the kitchen appliances will.

Don’t forget the details
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a big impression. For renters who want to have a home-away-from-home while they’re on vacation, turning each room into a comfortable living space will be crucial. Keep in mind that if you’re transforming your own home into a rental, it will be a good idea to take down personal photos and decor to make the rooms more neutral, the same as you would if you were trying to sell your home. You can also add some curb appeal by painting the front door, sprucing up the mailbox, and adding some flowers or shrubs to the front yard.

Add some security
When someone rents your home as a place to stay during their vacation, they want to feel safe and secure while their family relaxes. This means you should look at different security system models, price them, and research the neighborhood to find out how common crime is in the area and what other homeowners use to protect their property. Think, too, about how you’ll keep everything safe when you can’t be there yourself, especially if your year-round home isn’t close by.

Vacation homes can take a lot of work to set up and maintain, but if you have the means and are ready to tackle it all, turning your house into a vacation getaway can also be a wonderful investment that gives you the ability to earn extra money throughout the year. By making thoughtful decisions, you can ensure that the process goes smoothly, and that you and your family are set up with a source of income for a long time.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life.

Also, be sure to follow the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great information.

7 things you should do immediately after a roof leak

Damaged roof - Photo by Monsterkoi/Pixabay

At first, a leaky roof is inconvenient. You need to place tarps to block the water, grab pots and pans to catch drips, and move your belongings out of the way of moisture. Afterward, fixing or replacing your roof becomes even more of a headache. The good news is that there are seven things you can do immediately to minimize damage and preserve your home.

Prevent Further Leaks
Your first step when finding a roof leak is to cover the spot where water is coming in. Blocking the water with tarps, plastic sheets, or another watertight material will slow the flow of water. If you know where the leak is, you can also perform a temporary patch job with roofing tar and shingles or plywood. Hopefully, covering the affected area will keep more water from getting in.

Start Drying It Out
Once the water comes in, it can settle and sit all over your house — Inside walls, underneath flooring (including subfloors), and even in appliances. Therefore, you need to begin drying your home out before you can begin to seek potential solutions.

Consider staging fans around your home to dry it from the inside out; open windows when possible or use your oven to warm the air when it’s cold outside. If you have puddles or sopping wet spots, use a wet/dry vacuum to remove moisture.

Find the Cause
Unless a tree fell on your home and created a gaping hole, it might be challenging to find where water is getting in. Common reasons for roof leaks, according to SF Gate, include aging shingles or roofing materials, unsealed vents and piping, and debris. If your roof’s pitch is too shallow, water can also pool on top of the home, seeping in over time instead of running off.

When it’s safe to do so, inspect the surface of your roof for damage. Check the caulking and flashing to ensure no water is getting in between cracks. Look for areas of excess moisture or even small holes to determine where the water is traveling.

Don’t Cover Over Damage
It’s tempting to paint over visible water damage in your ceiling or walls. But by covering up the external spots, you may be locking in internal damage, too. It may look like everything is fine — except for the cosmetic blemishes — but water can cause serious issues within your walls.
Roof leaks can cause a variety of problems, including:

• Attic and ceiling damage;
• Mold and mildew growth;
• Health issues from mold;
• Fire hazards from electric complications;
• Slip hazards;
• Structural issues; and
• Wasted energy on heating and cooling.

Get Expert Diagnostic Help
Because unseen complications from roof leaks can compromise the structural integrity of your home, it’s essential that you seek expert help. Diagnosing electrical troubles or drywall rot are jobs for professionals, not homeowners. Even walking on the roof could cause a cave-in, pushing your repair costs to incremental heights. Minor roof repairs start at a few hundred dollars, but serious repairs can range into the thousands.

Seek Professionals for Repairs
A DIY patch job might stop water from continuing to ruin your roof. However, a professional repair will last longer and address the problem the right way. Plus, if you need electrical, plumbing, or structural repairs, you risk injury or further harm to your home’s structure if you go the do-it-yourself route. Professional plumbers, electricians, and contractors have licenses, insurance, and the know-how to do each job safely. As a homeowner, you should find someone you trust and leave them to the job.

Consider a Full Roof Replacement
A less-than-perfect roof affects more than your enjoyment of your home. Poor roof quality can impact your home’s selling price if you decide to move. Keeping tabs on your roof’s performance ensures your home will be ready to go once you list it.

If roof issues continue to crop up even after you fix the leak, you may want to look at replacing it completely. You can increase your home’s value with a new roof, per Home Advisor. It could help both your bottom line and your timeline — houses with well-maintained roofs tend to sell for a higher price and get off the market sooner.

A leaky roof isn’t something to ignore. If you notice signs that your roof has issues, then it’s time to do something about it. Whether it’s simple repairs or an entire replacement, addressing the problem sooner rather than later can make all the difference in the world.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life.

Also, be sure to follow the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great information.

15 best books about productivity

Summer is, unfortunately, coming to an end soon. With that, it's time for a summer reading list of mystery and romance novels to turn to more serious subject.

The folks at Alux.com published their picks for the 15 best books about productivity. I'm proud to share this with my readers as the Tip of the Week for August 19.

You will find a video from Alux about the 15 best books for productivity embeded above.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life.

Also, be sure to follow the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great information.

Detroit is the most stressed city in USA

Alone - Image by Grae Dickason/Pixabay

According to a report that was released earlier today by WalletHub, Detroit is the most stressed city in the United States. The three key driving factors in our stress levels according to their research is our poverty and divorce rates as well as Detroiters not getting enough sleep. A below average amount of job security in the Detroit area also plays a role in our stress as does traffic congestion in the region.

As part of my Tip of the Week feature, therefore, I would like to pass along some advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on healthy ways one can better deal with stress.

• Take care of yourself. This includes eating healthy, well-balanced meals, exercising on a regular basis, and getting plenty of sleep.
• Talk to others. The CDC recommends sharing your problems and how you are feeling and coping with a parent, friend, counselor, doctor, or pastor.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol. These may seem like they are helping with stress. However, in the long run, they are creating more problems and increase the stress you are already feeling.
• Take a break. If news events are causing your stress then take a break from listening or watching the news.

Readers may find additional advice on dealing with stress in a healthy manner - including advice specifically for parents, young people, and school personnel by visiting their website here.

With this advice, I can only hope that Detroit will not be the most stressed city in the United States in 2020.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life.

Also, be sure to follow the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great information.

Start BJJ for fun and fitness

One of the best ways you can get in shape and learn a new skill is by taking up Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ).  Regardless of what you do for a living and where you stand physically, Jit-Jitsu is something that is made for human beings of all shapes and sizes.

In the Detroit metro area, there are some great BJJ gyms, such as Stronghold Jiujitsu in Livonia, Kaizen BJJ in Northville, and 313 BJJ in Midtown Detroit.

BJJ is great for fitness and self-defense whether you’re over 50, a working mother, a couch potato, a college student, working a 9-5 job, a former veteran or an athlete.  What’s great about BJJ is that unlike other sports, there is very little equipment needed to start. You essentially just need to buy an affordable BJJ gi or a BJJ rash guard and then walk onto the mat of your local BJJ gym.  However, before you do that, here is an overview of some important aspects of BJJ history and its benefits.

Brief History
Jiu-Jitsu or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that stems from Japanese judo and involves grappling and ground fighting. Carlos Gracie is known to be the father of modern Jiu-Jitsu while his lineage has been successful in popularizing the sport throughout the world. The basic concept of Jiu-Jitsu is to use technique, skill, and leverage that to overcome a larger and stronger opponent. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu provides the practitioners with physical and mental benefits, and the discipline to create a strong character which can be used as an overall benefit in all fields of their life.

Physical Benefits
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can provide you with far more extensive results than a typical aerobic exercise. One of the first differences you will notice after you begin training is how easy it is to lose weight and keep it off. Jiu-jitsu training is rigorous and tough but you won't even notice how hard you are working when your mind is occupied with learning and developing new skills and techniques. So, it is easy to fall in love with the process when there is so much fun involved. Jiu-Jitsu will work every muscle in your body, building strength in your core and increasing your overall endurance.

Mental benefits
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also known as human chess. The sport involves using a lot of skill and technique, forcing you to make timely decisions in order to win, hence improving your critical thinking. Along with the physical aspects of the sport, it has a sweet science to it which puts your mind against your opponent’s mind. Not only that, Jiu Jitsu is therapeutic, and a great way to relieve stress, a third space where the only things that matter are learning a new technique and trying it out in live sparring.

Fun
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an incredibly rewarding sport. You will meet people from all walks of life sparring and training on the mats and you are likely to make some new friends on the way. Walk into any academy and ask the newcomers why they train, and they will tell you how addictive Jiu Jitsu is and how it has changed their life. The culture and atmosphere in a Jiu-Jitsu academy will make you fall in love with learning and improving yourself. So get started, and best of luck for your journey.

Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu is your Tip of the Week for the week of July 1, 2019. Please check back in next week for more advice on your home, health, personal finances, or other useful topics.

Open letter to Detroit real estate investors

Detroit homes under construction - Photo by Frank Nemecek

Normally on Mondays, I would publish a Tip of the Week that offers my readers some helpful advice regarding their home, money, or life. Today, however, I want to pass along some friendly advice to those who wish to invest in real estate in Warrendale or elsewhere in Detroit.

A friend of mine works with investors on a professional basis quite frequently. She noticed a mistake that was frequently made over and over by would be real estate developers - especially in the Detroit market. With her permission, I am including her comments below with only minimal editing on my part.

Her comments originally appeared on her personal Facebook page. I am publishing them below in italics.

Dear Detroit real estate investors:

Please, please, please read and ingest this information.

Buying a house that is in decent condition, sitting on it, and waiting for it to inflate in value does not work as well as buying it- putting in new electrical, plumbing- and getting it back on the market.

I promise you...

This is especially true if you’re not here helping the neighborhood you bought in to stabilize. You’re not increasing your value as much as you are paying taxes on a property that will be worth nothing after it’s firebombed or the roof collapses.

Investing is more than buying and sitting on a property. Invest your energy and expertise along with your money.

Thank you!

With this said, I will say that I have shown her thoughts to several people who have made a good living investing in Detroit's real estate market. Every single one of them agreed with this sentiment. Simply holding onto a piece of property isn't going to make its value climb. The financial gains come from getting the property back on the market as a rental or for sale.

With that said, I will simply add that my normal Tip of the Week will return next week.

5 Tips for Spring Lawn Cleaning

Spring 2019 is here at last. This means that the snow is gone and warm days are becoming more common. One of the things that this also means is that it's time to get everyone's lawn ready for the growing season.

To get everyone in the Warrendale neighborhood and beyond started with spring lawn care and clean up, I want to share five tips on what to do first. Ryan Knorr Lawn Care, a professional landscaper from Minnesota, created the video that I embedded above. It gives you a few simple suggestions for getting started.

One of the things that he suggests most strongly is getting a soil test done on your lawn. Loewes, English Gardens, and other stores in the Detroit area have kits available to test your lawn. However, I'm a fan of ordering one from Michigan State University. One can order it from MSU online here.

These five tips for spring lawn clean up as well as where one can get a soil test kit in the Detroit area are your Tip of the Week for April 22, 2019.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life.

Also, be sure to follow the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great information.

How to report a problem to the city government

Reporting | Stock photo from Pixabay

It happens - a Detroiter sees a problem that isn't an emergency but still requires the attention of city hall. Maybe the storm drain in front of their house is clogged. Perhaps someone has dumped a pile of trash in a vacant lot. It might be that a fire hydrant on their block needs repairs. Whatever the issue is, you need to get the city involved and navigating through the City of Detroit's every changing but always a bit more complicated than it needs to be bureaucracy can be a daunting task.

The City of Detroit has a simple yet effective way of reporting non-emergency problems. Residents with a smartphone should download the Improve Detroit app from either the iTunes or Google Play Store. This app enables Detroiters to report non-emergency issues to the City. It also enables them to track the City's response to it; even to communicate directly with the employee tasked with handling it and/or his or her supervisor.

Residents who don't have a smartphone can also report non-emergency issues. Instead of using an app to report it, though, they should instead file their report here on the City of Detroit's website.

I posted about the Improve Detroit app and website when it first came out a few years ago. Regardless, after talking with a few of my fellow Warrendale residents, it was clear that a reminder was needed.

The Improve Detroit app and website are your Tip of the Week for the week of March 18,2019.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life.

Also, be sure to follow the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great information.

There's help to buy a home in Detroit

Homes in Warrendale during the winder - Photo by Frank Nemecek

Anyone who is looking to buy a home in the Warrendale neighborhood - or many of the other outlying neighborhoods in Detroit - can get some great incentives thanks to the Step Forward Program from the Michigan State Housing Authority. For starters, MSHDA is offering $15,000 to eligible homebuyers to cover their downpayment, closing costs, and other prepaid expenses.

While $15,000 to put towards the purchase of a new home in Detroit is great in and of itself, MSHDA and their Step Forward Program are offering even more for qualified homebuyers. They are also working with a coalition of more than 45 lenders to offer a 0% interest rate as well as no monthly payments for eligible homebuyers.

The Michigan State Housing Authority will even forgive 20% of the home loan per year. This means that 100% of the loan amount will be forgiven within five years. Eligible homebuyers essentially get a free house in the Warrendale neighborhood or elsewhere in Detroit, with no monthly payments along the way, provided that they live in their home for at least five years.

There are, of course, several conditions are requirements for homebuyers to gain access to this program. For starters, there is a maximum income limit that ranges from $85,080 to $99,260 depending upon the size of one's household as well as an asset limit of $10,000 excluding retirement savings. Anyone who makes more than that amount or who has assets worth more than $10,000 is not eligible for this program.

The purchase price of the home may not exceed $224,500, which means that any home in the Warrendale neighborhood easily qualifies. Homebuyers will also be required to complete a homebuyer education workshop.

The home that one buys must be in the Warrendale neighborhood or one of the other qualifying neighborhoods in Detroit. (Although, let's face it - buying in Warrendale really is the smartest bet.) The Michigan State Housing Development Authority also requires that homebuyers use an MSDA MI Home Loan for this purchase.

Finally, in order to qualify, homebuyers must have a minimum credit score of 640 (or 660, if buying a manufactured home). If anyone is uncertain about their credit score then I recommend checking out Credit Karma or WalletHub. Consumers can use those sites to get their score for free and do so without a credit card. They also offer a variety of tips on how to improve one's credit score.

There will be a housing and resource fair this Wednesday, November 7 from 4 - 7 pm at the Northwest Campus of Wayne County Community College (8200 W. Outer Dr.) in Detroit. Additional details can be found on this flyer from the Michigan State House Authority.

$15,000 to purchase a home in Detroit, as well as all of the other benefits of the Step Forward Program, are your Tip of the Week for November 5.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life.

Also, be sure to follow the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram as @fnemecek for more great information.

FBI warns about cyber risk to students

Cyber-threats - Stock image by Pete Linforth/Pixabay

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a statement recently encouraging public awareness of cyber threat concerns related to K-12 students. The US school systems’ rapid growth of education technologies, which is also known as EdTech. This technology has led to the widespread collection of student data could have privacy and safety implications if compromised or exploited.

EdTech can provide services for adaptive, personalized learning experiences, and unique opportunities for student collaboration. Additionally, administrative platforms for tracking academics, disciplinary issues, student information systems, and classroom management programs, are commonly served through EdTech services.

The types of data that are collected can include personally identifiable information as well as:

• biometric data;
• academic progress;
• behavioral, disciplinary, and medical information;
• Web browsing history;
• students’ geolocation;
• IP addresses used by students; and
• classroom activities.

Malicious use of this sensitive data could result in social engineering, bullying, tracking, identity theft, or other means for targeting children. Therefore, the FBI is providing awareness to schools and parents of the important role cybersecurity plays in the securing of student information and devices.

Sensitive Student Data
The widespread collection of sensitive information by EdTech could present unique exploitation opportunities for criminals. For example, in late 2017, cyber-actors exploited school information technology systems by hacking into multiple school district servers across the United States. They accessed student contact information, education plans, homework assignments, medical records, and counselor reports, and then used that information to contact, extort, and threaten students with physical violence and release of their personal information. The actors sent text messages to parents and local law enforcement, publicized students’ private information, posted student PII on social media, and stated how the release of such information could help child predators identify new targets. In response to the incidents, the U.S. Department of Education released a Cyber Advisory alert in October 2017 stating cybercriminals were targeting school districts with weak data security or well-known vulnerabilities to access sensitive data from student records to shame, bully, and threaten children.

Cybersecurity issues were discovered in 2017 for two large EdTech companies, resulting in public access to millions of students’ data. According to security researchers, one company exposed internal data by storing it on a public-facing server. The other company suffered a breach and student data was posted for sale on the Dark Web.

Inter-connected Networks and Devices
EdTech connected to networked devices or directly to the Internet could increase opportunities for cyber actors to access devices collecting data and monitoring children within educational or home environments. Improperly secured take-home devices (e.g. tablets, laptops) or monitoring devices (e.g. in-school surveillance cameras or microphones), particularly those with remote-access capabilities, could be exploitable through cyber intrusions or other unauthorized means and present vulnerabilities for students.

Recommendations
The increased use of connected digital tools in the learning environment and widespread data collection introduces cybersecurity risks of which parents should be aware.

The FBI recognizes there are districts across the United States who are working hard to address cybersecurity matters in their schools to protect students and their data. For districts seeking assistance, there are numerous online resources, consortiums, and organizations available that can provide support on data protection matters and cybersecurity best practices.

The FBI encourages parents and families to research existing student and child privacy protections of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and state laws as they apply to EdTech services.
Discuss with their local districts about what and how EdTech technologies and programs are used in their schools.

Families should also research parent coalition and information-sharing organizations that are available online for those looking for support and additional resources as well as school-related cyber breaches which can further inform families of student data vulnerabilities. The FBI also recommends that families consider credit or identity theft monitoring to check for any fraudulent use of their children’s identity. Parents should also regularly search the Internet for their children’s information to help identify the exposure and stop it from spreading.

If you have evidence your child’s data may have been compromised, or if you have experienced any of the Internet crimes described in this PSA, please file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Protecting your children from the latest EdTech cyber-risks is your Tip of the Week for the week of September 17.

These tips are brought to you by the Warrendale (Detroit) Blog as part of our semi-regular Tip of the Week feature. Please check back every Monday for more advice on your home, money, and life. In the meantime, please feel free to check out the author, Frank Nemecek, on Twitter and Instagram for more great content as @fnemecek.