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Shopping for the Palm Pre
It has been over a year since Palm released the Palm Pre. At that time all the tech reviewers were joking that the Palm Pre was the pre-bankruptcy release for Palm. Well, Palm has not gone into bankruptcy. Three of the four major cell phone carriers offer the Palm Pre. In call seriousness the Palm cell phone is different than the Blackberry, or the many smart phones that use the Android operati...
Shopping for the Chevy Equinox
The Chevy Equinox is classified in what some people want to call "plus-sized crossover, small SUV". This basically means the Equinox is smaller than a full size SUV and larger than your standard crossover. The much advertised feature of the Chevy Equinox is the rear seating and rear storage.  60/40-split rear seat that could be slid almost 8 inches front and rear. In the rear cargo section t...
Money Management from the Mint
Way back in 1995, I remember when I helped a young pest control business get their first computer. We set up their books with a new software from Quicken. Over the years, Quicken has been the only real money management software for personal of business use. Since then there has been several of money management programs to come on the market and many of them leave. Then in 2005, Aaron Patzer sai...
Dean Koontz on Audible
One of the many author found at Audible.com is Dean Koontz. Do you realize you can get his Dean's book Breathless in an MP3, but it on your iPod, or other MP3 player and listen to it while driving to work, or even washing the car, or at the gym.   Breathless was #1 New York Times bestseller. Author Dean Koontz delivers a thrilling novel of suspense and adventure. The mystery unfolds high ...
Clear Expectation of Service
Several years ago, I worked briefly at this computer store. The owner would change the terms of service at least once a week, if not more. When I left there the Terms of Service was very fine print on the back of every receipt. The receipt was printed on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper. This is nothing unusual. Every business has literature that states where their responsibly starts and where ...
32 Inch LCD Recon
I love sitting around coffee shops, and lounge area. What I over hear is so amazing. Just the other day this guy asked a friend, "Where was the best place to get a LCD TV?" The friend answered quick, "Fred Meyer, they have the best prices." I was so tempted to lean over and ask what empirical data he was making statement. Instead I bit my tongue. Without any ceremony, I got up and walked t...
Auto Recon: Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is another one of those little sub compact cars that came into being to easy the strain on our wallets because of high gas prices. The Fit is akin to the sportier Honda Jazz. Introduced at the time of high gas prices the Honda Fit is a subcompact four door hatchback. The first-generation Honda Fit was available for just two years: 2007 and 2008 model year. The base model came wi...
Mattress Recon – Intro
Next to marriage and underwear the mattress you sleep on is the next personal thing in your life. It has been my experience that what on individual sleeps well on is another individuals restless nights sleep. So when asked to help buy as mattress, I had to start with the basics. The number of different types of mattresses far exceeds the three Goldilocks came across in the three bears cottage. ...
Business Books from Audible
Anyone in business will tell you that knowledge and time management is a crucial factor to success. Traveling to an appointment, or waiting in a doctors office can be put to good use. An MP3 player containing an audio book can convert dead/wasted time into an enriched learning experience. Books like "How to Wind Friends & Influence People", "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" make great...
Office Office Which Office
School is almost back in full swing. Last minute shoppers of school supplies and school clothes are bustling through places like Wal Mart and Target with almost the ferver of Christmas shoppers on Christmas Eve. In addition to the traditional school supplies a computer is needed. On that computer is required a word processing program, spread sheet program, presentation program, and internet ac...

Paint Recon – Home Depot

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on August 6, 2010 in Bargin Places, Home, Schelter - Comments: No Comments »

It can be quite intimidating walking down the paint isle at Home Depot. Especially for someone like me who hates to paint. It is not that I do not mind the work. It is that I have been around some people who can do it so neat and fast. I feel like I am back in kindergarten doing figure painting.

I was ask to the cost of paint to paint a room in a clients home. So my first stop was Home Depot because it was the closest to where my client lived.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

It is a Renter’s Market!

Posted By: The Shopping Nazi on August 3, 2010 in Home, Housing, Schelter - Comments: Comments Off

We are one of the millions of people who rent their home. Last month our lease was due for renewal. So before going in to discuss any term changes on the lease, I decided to do a little homework.

The Wall Street Journal has had, this year, several articles stating that apartment vacancies were at a 30 year high. 2009 ended with the vacancy rate of 8%.

CNN Money.com reported that rents are going down on the average of 3% per rental unit.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

Boise Home Buyers Guide to Short Sales

Posted By: Craig Ballhagen on June 8, 2010 in Home, Housing, Schelter - Comments: Comments Off

The following was posted on MyFirstBoiseHome.com. I felt that this information is so important in helping you save money, I have re-posted for you folks.

Real Estate looks a little different today than it did 5 years ago. We’ve seen some good times and we’ve seen some not so good times in real estate but the name of the game is adapting. We can all say we specialize in something but what we need to specialize in is what our clients and prospective clients need. And when I say specialize I mean be proficient, very proficient.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

5 Ways to Summer Energy Savings

Posted By: TSN Boise on May 11, 2010 in Budget, Home, Housing, Schelter - Comments: Comments Off

The weather is getting warmer. Summer heat will soon be here. Some places in the United States have already reached the 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

We can send our electric bill through the roof on just the cost of running our air conditioners, if we don’t do some practical money and energy saving things. They may not seem big, but they can make a big difference when we get the electric bill in the mail.

Turn Off the Computer – Turn off the computers when not being used. Computers generate heat. Computer use up electricity. Just by turning off your computer when it is not being used can save big bucks.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

Use a Realtor & Get An Home Inspection

Posted By: Craig Ballhagen on May 4, 2010 in Home, Housing, Schelter - Comments: Comments Off

When will people learn?  Home buyers are still attempting NOT to use a professional Realtor and home inspector.  What are they thinking?

Using these professional services will save you much more money then trying to go it alone.  The stories about home buyers not using a home inspector are endless.  How much is a home inspection these days?  $250. – $500?

Recently a friend of mine took the sellers word that the property was in great shape and there is not water in the crawl space.   Guess what, there was water in the crawl space and the repair cost was well over $3500.00.  So much for saving a buck.  In the real estate world, these instances are for too numerous.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

Boise First Time Home Buyers Tips

Posted By: Craig Ballhagen on April 27, 2010 in Home, Housing, Schelter - Comments: Comments Off

Tips from My First Boise HomeWhen it comes to buying a home in today’s current economy we need all the help we can get. This is especially true first time home buyer. Whenever, I meet with my good friend Craig Ballhagen, I am amazed at his insight. Below is a reprint from his blog, MyFristBoiseHome.com. I truly believe reading will give you some tip that will save you money and frustration when you go to buy a home.

Boise’s next generation of first time home buyers must step up and take control of their home loan process and take responsibility for the documents they are signing.  Remember you are borrowing hundred’s of thousands of dollars and required to pay it all back.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

Death to the McMansion?-Idaho Consumers Want Smaller Homes

Posted By: Craig Ballhagen on March 9, 2010 in Finance, Home, Housing, Schelter - Comments: Comments Off

Once again, how much is enough? How much square footage does a person REALLY need?  How many rooms in a house are full of “stuff?”

Home buyers are trending towards smaller homes and down-sizing their personal fleet of vehicles from four to two.  More and more realtors are blogging about these exact trends.  Builders are re-thinking their futures and moving towards building 2,000 square feet homes, as opposed to 5,000 square feet.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises

Idaho Housing Rates Guild Best for Boise Home Idaho Loans

Posted By: Craig Ballhagen on February 2, 2010 in Schelter - Comments: 1 Comment »

Idaho Housing Authority named Guild Mortgage of Boise Idaho the number one lender in the third quarter.  That is quite and statement and should give any Realtor or potential home buyer another great reason to consider Guild Mortgage Idaho for their next purchase transaction.

These days in the real estate world, home loans have become a challenging undertaking.   That is why it is so important to establish a lasting relationship with a professional lending institution, such as Guild.

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© 2009 – 2010 Cussins Enterprises


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