FYI: Cash Course - Investing & Stocks

Buying and selling stocks is an important part of a strong economy. Watch and learn with this quick video:
 

**

Asking a Wall Street Billionaire How To Invest $100

**

Bathroom Renovation: Keep the Bath Tub!

Why Keeping Your Bathtub Will Increase Your Home's Value
(by House Beautiful) Reports say that a third of those renovating are removing their tubs. Here’s the strong case for keeping them.

One thing everyone agrees on: A bathroom renovation is a smart investment. But as homeowners aim for more space, bathtubs are getting washed down the drain. According to a 2018 Houzz study, nearly 34 percent of boomers are nixing their tubs—and replacing them with massive walk-in showers.

I ❤ You, Isaiah!

Bad idea, say real-estate experts. “I’m now recommending bathtubs to my clients,” says Douglas Elliman broker John Gomes. “We’re making master bedrooms smaller to create larger bathrooms.” The reason is twofold: Bathtubs are great for families—at the end of the day, few kids take showers. And secondly, they facilitate the ultimate method of self-care. “People are starting to realize the immense benefits to pampering ourselves,” says designer Matthew Quinn. “It’s a luxury to be able to soak and recharge at the end of a long week.”

Why Keeping Your Bathtub Will Increase Your Home's Value

**

Real Estate: Booming Australian Housing Market

 Whoa, baby!

The continent of Australia has been on my mind lately because of a wonderful eBay purchase that I had made; and for the very attractive home of the kind Seller. #BeachVibe #OpenConcept

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding:

 but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

(Proverbs 14)

**

After You've Avoided a Financial Disaster

 3 important things to remember after an investing near miss

by Vanguard 

(pc: Vanguard) Stash some cash!

Things are going to happen in life that you'll need money for, friend. Will you have enough to cover an inconvenient car repair? Or a trip to the vet for your pet?

Having a comfy stash of emergency savings can help you regain your footing after an unexpected "uh-oh!"

Everyone's emergency is different. But it's a good idea to have enough saved up to handle a day-to-day headache like a broken window, or even a longer-term situation like being unable to work.

Your emergency savings should be available at a moment's notice and kept someplace safe from extreme movements of the market. That way, you'll always have it when you need it.

Prepare yourself to foot those emergency bills. 

- email from Vanguard

pc: Vanguard

Read full Vanguard article H E R E

***

Real Estate: What You Can Get for $1 Million in the Philippines

Since my BIL moved/retired to the PI and built himself a house for cheap on the family plot, I've been intrigued by homes for sale in the Philippines.

 Don't mind the Realtor's thick accent.
Take a look at this million-dollar cutie!

PROs: swimming pool, expansive windows, 5 BR, 5 Bath, Maid's room, Driver's room, big bang for your $ buck $, safe neighborhood, corner lot

CONs:  hot weather (A/C a must!), Typhoons, Earthquakes, corner lot

For Sale: 58 Million Peso House

Amos 5

**

Fine Art: How to Buy Wisely

art by Agnes Rathonyi

This is a practical and helpful article by kristikohut studio.

Kristi Kohut's Art is on my bucket list: Modern. Bright. Colorful.  Beautiful.

This month, I will be looking and possibly shopping for Fine Art.  Articles such as this are always good for reference.


MAKE A HOUSE A HOME: HOW TO BUY FOR YOUR PERSONAL SPACE

Art is personal, and nowhere is that statement truer than when you’re decorating your home. And selecting work isn’t just about whether you like the flowers or faces in a particular painting. Artworks are, ultimately, objects in space that work in concert with the objects, surfaces, and barriers around them. Here’s some tips for hitting the picture nail on the head.

Keep placement top of mind

First, where will the work go? You can either shop for work by looking to fill a particular space, or by being open to what art speaks to you and then figuring out where it will go. While the latter sounds more romantic—and a personal connection is one of the most important reasons to invest in art—you might find it less overwhelming to keep your space in mind as you shop.

Know your dimensions

Consider both the height and width of the available wall space. Is it in a corner, bookended by windows, above a bed frame, or adjacent to other artwork? It’s important to give other architectural features or furnishings room to breathe: if the available space is 6 feet wide, you may want a foot or more left free on either side of a frame. If you don’t feel like you have an intuitive eye for scale, use blue painter’s tape to mark out a rectangle on a wall and see how its boundaries engage with the surrounding space.

Protect against sunlight

Generally speaking, you can never have too much natural light at home. But the sun can cause the same damage to art that it does to skin. UV rays fade colors, and even the daily heat from a sunny window can cause work (especially paints and glues) to crack. While it’s certainly ok to further enhance the mood of a sunny room with art, prioritize walls that don’t receive direct sunlight—somewhat counterintuitively, that can actually be the walls that hold the windows. Be sure you know the full spectrum of light on a given wall throughout the day so you can help your artwork live its longest, most vibrant life.

Factor in color

Speaking of vibrancy, don’t forget to account for the color palette of your space. Works of art are always in conversation with their fellow paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures. But wall color, furniture fabrics and finishes, accent decor, and even the floor will also have some say in  how your artwork presents itself. And be sure to factor in the tone of the mat, as well as the color and texture of a frame in addition to the hues of the artwork.

IBIZA abstract painting

Don’t forget about the mood

Last but not least, let your feelings come into play. Though we’re not advocating for impulse buys (but if that’s your style, no judgement!), one of art’s greatest gifts is the way it impacts our mindset. Think about how you currently, or hope to, feel in a certain room. Do you wish to cultivate calm in the bedroom, conversation in the dining room, and focus in a study or den? Choose works that align you with the way you like to use your space.

pc: Hapiart, FB

HOW TO BUY FOR YOUR PERSONAL SPACE

***

Real Estate: How to Sell Your Home for Over Asking Price

pc: Domino Magazine

During my daily dog-walks, I take note of the For-Sale signs in the neighborhood.  

Having the sale sign go up for the same house within a short span of time always get me to ponder: 

- why
- are they flipping a home
- will they earn a profit
- what home improvements have they done

Then, of course, I remind myself to pray for the next owners.

I would refer to this list of 15 proven ideas for home projects if I were to look ahead to buying or selling a home. I've taken-on 4 on the list.  Thinking of doing 1 more: 15 Renos That Could Get You 30 Percent Over Ask


HEATED FLOORS: 
Heated floors are the ultimate cold-climate amenity, and in places like New York, they can increase the value of a home by 24 percent. (Domino Magazine)

pc: C Guilfoyle, Domino Magazine

Solar Panels

When IKEA starts doing it, you know you need to get on it, and solar panels are high on the list of most-desired home amenities. Not only can they cut one’s electricity bill by up to 40 percent, but they can also earn you 21 percent more when you decide to sell your home.

pc: R Rak

Herringbone or Parquet Floors
A clear trend in home design is herringbone or parquet floors. Trust us: It will make any interior look extra-luxe. (Domino Magazine)

pc: C Guilfoyle, Domino Magazine

OUTDOOR FIREPLACE
Most homebuyers agree:  An outdoor fireplace is a must for when the weather gets cold. Of course, Los Angeles has the lion’s share with its year-round mild climate, but the rustic brick version in this sophisticated Montauk home has us dreaming of lazy Hamptons days too. (Domino Magazine)

pc: M Vang

FARMHOUSE SINK
It turns out that prep sinks aren’t the only option people look for—farmhouse sinks are still trending in a major way, with homebuyers seeking out these rustic pieces. We’re totally in love with this one in Thomas O’Brien’s pool house. (Domino Magazine)

pc: SK Johnson

SHED or GARAGE STUDIO
It’s not surprising that additional space would result in additional profits, and we’d wager that homebuyers are interested in turning these spaces into home offices, chic hangout spots, or guesthouses. Of course, people could very well just be interested in a place to store their garden tools and bicycles. (Domino Magazine)

pc: J Isaac

Read the full Domino Mag. ~~ H E R E ~~

Reno That Could Get You 30 Percent Over Ask







**

Read This Before You Buy a Beach House

Been binge watching shows on HULU including "Beach Hunters" and "Island Hunters". I was green with envy.  Wouldn't we all like to live in a  house by the ocean?  Oh, if I only had a couple of million dollar$$ to spare!  

Quickly got sober by the lady's Instagram post from real life (though I don't agree that  kids cause a quandary). Learn from her mistakes.  The downside of living by the edge of that beautiful body of water!!

Serena Crawford:  "This was once our bedroom at my beach house. So today’s post is about maintenance. It never occurred to me when we built this (or to the Architect ) that we would have to clean these windows every couple of days. Forever ... That set over a plunging cliff with swirling salty seas below and no safe platform to stand on that it would eventually take two brave window cleaners and a safety harness to sort this problem out every 24 hours. My entire life in this bedroom there were only a few hours every few days when they were spotless from salt fog and they didn’t have someone cleaning them. Also, we needed to erect total scaffolding to change the light bulbs in this triple volume ceiling and paint the windows. My advice is before you design or do anything, think ...’how am I going to be able to clean and maintain this?’. This also applies to: white painted floors, reams of glass. Houses on different continents, preferably minimum 24 hours on a plane away from each other. Immaculate red nail polish, white trouser suits, blond hair if your hair is actually another colour, straight hair if your hair is actually curly. 4 dogs and two children. 
I’ve unknowingly committed all these crimes and gone to enormous trouble to bring them into my life. I had no idea how the hell any of it happened and what it would mean to my life until I was faced with the eternal quandary .... how to clean and maintain all the above. Learn from my mistakes! #keepitsimple #highmaintenace #quandry"

K I S S principle

Backcronym

***

Retirement & Investment: Are You on the Millionaire List per Fidelity?

Number of 401(k), IRA millionaires continues to surge - by Matthew Rocco

The number of “401(k) millionaires” surged in the second quarter, as broad gains in the stock market lifted the value of Americans’ retirement plans.

Fidelity Investments said Thursday the number of people with at least $1 million in their 401(k) plan climbed to 168,000 by the end of June, up 41 percent compared to the same quarter in 2017. The company also noted that the percentage of 401(k) millionaires who are women rose to 21 percent.

source: Fidelity Investments

The number of IRA millionaires also grew, hitting 156,000.

Overall, retirement savings have improved among 401(k) and IRA holders following a dip in the first quarter.

The average 401(k) balance nearly hit an all-time high. Fidelity said the average balance was $104,000, up 6 percent from $97,700 in first quarter last year and just shy of the current record of $104,300. The average IRA balance increased nearly 7 percent year-over-year to $106,900. Balances in 403(b) accounts also posted gains compared to last year.

“The stock market’s performance over the past several years has definitely helped retirement savers, but now would good time for investors to take a moment and make sure they are doing their part to meet their retirement goals,” Kevin Barry, president of workplace investing at Fidelity, said in a news release.

Read the Fox Business article H E R E

Fox Business: Number of 401(k) Millionaires Surge

***

Bathroom Renovation: Shower Rod & Color-Blocked Curtain for Free Standing Tub

Other than out-of-the-ordinary tiles, shower curtains draw the eye in an otherwise typical bathroom. I had loved simple, cotton curtains in white or beige for the past few years.  Time for a change!

Here are my 2 inspirations for our recent renovations:

pc: meadow view farm

pc: Domino Magazine

As much as I love my new pair of clear, color-blocked shower curtains, I plan to keep my beautiful cotton shower curtains from Anthro. They're not going to the donation bin just yet.

pc: Anthropologie, Tender Falls shower curtain

Georgina shower curtain via Anthropologie

Shower Curtain


Bed & Breakfast


Funny Hubby





*****