Category: Uncategorized (Page 4 of 4)

      Killing Multiple Birds With One Stone

      June 3, 2010 /

      Try to guess the significance of the following number: 2.5 trillion. If you guessed “consumer debt in the United States,” you were correct. The above stat comes courtesy of the Federal Reserve. If we divide that debt across all American households, you get the often-quoted figure of $8,100 in consumer debt per household. Keep in mind that this is consumer debt, defined as debt that does not include home mortgages. These numbers should not come as a surprise with the fairly easy credit approval process and the average American holding at least two credit cards.

      So how does one dig out of debt?
      Eliminating debt is straightforward when there is only one creditor owed. The situation becomes increasingly difficult for those who have multiple credit cards. Debt consolidation has been a popular approach to help individuals and families start the process of eliminating debt. Consolidating debt is not new but it certainly is spoken of a lot more as economic conditions deteriorate. The concept is simple. Instead of making individual payments to every source of debt, each with a different interest rate, debt consolidation would bundle everything together into one. The debt consolidator would, in essence, become the creditor and would manage the individual payments to the original debts.

      There are many companies that offer debt consolidation. Most companies provide a counselor to evaluate each candidate and their financial situation. The consolidator will usually offer multiple plans, but only after you qualify. Plans will vary depending on how much can be paid monthly and other market forces such as current interest rates.

      Consumers should do their homework and evaluate their options as they move forward in the process. Debt consolidation is not the “magic bullet,” but it can certainly help.

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      Drought Resistant Buffalo Grass

      June 2, 2010 /

      If you are searching for the perfect lawn that will look good all year round, won’t need much watering and will withstand summer heat and foot traffic, try planting Buffalo grass. Buffalo grass is a true North American grass and was one of the grasses fed on by the huge herds of buffalo that once roamed the continent from Mexico to Montana. Buffalo grass also provided the sod of choice used by the first settlers when they built their sod houses.

      Buffalo grass is being widely planted once again due to environmental concerns about diminishing water supplies. Some areas are banning the watering of lawns during the hot summer months when water demands are the highest, and for many the ideal lush green lawn is now a thing of the past. Because Buffalo grass is very drought resistant, looks good and has no disease or insect problems, the ideal lawn is again possible. This grass will turn a golden brown color during long periods of drought and high heat, but it will not die from these extremes. Instead it will turn green and start growing again as soon as the conditions moderate, without irrigation or fertilization. Just about the only thing Buffalo grass cannot do is grow in shade.

      Buffalo grass once covered thousands upon thousands of acres of the prairie states and held up to yearly grazing of large herds of buffalo, as well as long periods of drought and heat. Because it thrived so well under those harsh conditions, new varieties are being developed to take advantage of and strengthen some of the original Buffalo grass traits. Once established, lawns of these new varieties of Buffalo grass are hardy and hold up well to foot traffic, making them ideal for parks and school yards where many traditional sod grasses fail.

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      Renting Green

      March 1, 2010 /

      Looking for an apartment with both an ocean view and an environmental conscience? Good for you. Luckily for you, more and more Oceanside property management companies feature “green listings” of rental homes and apartments, many of which sit right on the beach. You’ll find them in all sizes and all price ranges, too. Renting an earth-friendly ocean-side apartment is just one way you can do your part to help save the planet.

      Of course, creating a green living apartment complex at the seashore should be planned before the developer breaks ground. Still, even older apartment buildings can be refurbished with eco-friendly changes. Simply switching out the plumbing in a building to low flow toilets and water saving faucets can be a big plus for the environment. Adding insulation to older apartment building walls and ceilings can lower utility bills, saving on carbon emissions, and these are just a few ideas.

      Of course, some responsibility for keeping the apartments earth friendly falls on the renters and landlords. Recycling programs on site to help cut down on litter that goes to fill up landfills is only going to work if the tenets bother to use it. Also, landlords who switch out regular light bulbs with those that have longer lives help cut down on pollution. And don’t forget to keep that sliding glass door open and let the ocean breeze do some of your air conditioning for you. It saves money and cuts down on waste.

      The seashore is an environmentally complex and challenged area. If you are concerned about the effect of people living in this delicately balanced eco-system, be sure to check with your local property management company for a listing of green apartments and rental homes. Choosing to rent green will provide you with a place to live that makes things better for both you and for the planet we all call home.

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      Looking to move to Portland?

      February 1, 2010 /

      If you’re looking to move to the west coast, consider moving to Portland. I’ve only heard great things about the city. You might get a lot of rain, but it’s supposed to be very friendly to young families and has plenty to keep just about anyone engaged. The forests are particularly beautiful, especially in the rainy season.

      If you need to find a house, consider a Portland property management company. They often have a lot of property open and available to to show to potential owners. Just make sure you get to know your area before you commit.

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      States rush to get high-speed rail applications ready

      September 3, 2009 /

      The Obama administration has set aside $8 billion in the stimulus package for high-speed rail projects, and states need to submit their applications by October 2, 2009. Some have estimated that the aggregate dollar amount of the applications will exceed $100 billion, so competition is fierce. These aren’t just emergency loans – this is money specifically tagged for building transportation infrastructure in cities that need it.

      The Plain Dealer is reporting on the progress Ohio is making, and the enormous time and effort being devoted by government agencies and private individuals.

      Ohio passenger rail advocates are moving at breakneck speed to fulfill requirements to apply for up to $450 million in federal stimulus money to provide service from Cleveland to Cincinnati.

      They are seeking public input through a Web site, toll-free phone number and meetings across the state as part of an environmental assessment study that is required as part of the funding application, due by Oct. 2 to the Federal Rail Commission.

      The study, which usually takes about a year, will be compiled in less than three months.

      “We are really compressing this process and a lot of it is driven by the tight timeline,” said Stu Nicholson, spokesman for the Ohio Rail Development Commission, an independent agency of the Ohio Department of Transportation. “But I am not overstating this at all to say the level of interest from virtually every community large and small is very high.”

      Under Ohio’s 3C plan, three trains would travel daily from Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati in each direction along the 260-mile corridor. The service, with 79-mph trains, would begin in 2011 with minimal stops. It would eventually add more stops and become part of a 110-mph high-speed network to connect west to Chicago and east to New York.

      The trains would be operated by Amtrak on freight tracks owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern. More than 6 million people live within 15 miles of the route, said ODOT spokesman Scott Varner.

      The stimulus money will be down-payment on an even more aggressive federal push for high-speed rail, and as evidenced by the activity in Ohio, states are serious about moving forward. The impact on the environment and on economic development can be significant. Hopefully budget issues won’t impact the next wave of high-speed rail funding.

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