#but the downside is that the food is near expiration date
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Thing #926 you can do if you work at home: make garlic confit between break & lunch
#i've started using flashfood and buying their produce boxes#it's been great honestly#i get a shit ton of food for $5#like bell peppers which have become an integral part of the lunches I make for my husband#but the downside is that the food is near expiration date#so you have to use or freeze pretty quickly#kast box had a shit ton of garlic in it#and confit is super easy to make#I put some rosemary & chives & tarragon from my garden in with the garlic#to infuse into the oil#now the apartment smells like garlic bread#10/10 will do again
9 notes
·
View notes
Text
Smart Kitchen Technology Ideas For 2023
There are several innovative and practical smart kitchen technology ideas that can enhance the efficiency and convenience of your kitchen space. These include smart refrigerators, voice-activated home assistants, robotic kitchen appliances and more.
Whether you’re a home chef or just enjoy cooking, a smart gadget can help make your meals more efficient and fun. These gadgets are great for people who like to cook but don’t have the time to do it all by themselves.
Mixing Metal Finishes
The trend of mixing metal finishes in kitchens has become increasingly popular over the past few years. It’s a great way to add texture, create a historical or collected look and make the room more interesting.
When designing your kitchen with mixed metals, choose a base color that will serve as your dominant hue. This will help you select the metal finishes that best compliment it.
Generally, brass, copper, gold, and nickel have warm undertones. Stainless steel, chrome, and other silver metals have cooler undertones.
In general, it’s best to mix two or three different metals, with black frequently used as a third to balance the look. For example, a copper kitchen might have brushed brass cabinet pulls and hammered copper faucets.
Smart Appliances
Whether it’s a smart refrigerator that tells you when it’s time to buy groceries or a food preservation system that keeps foods fresh longer, kitchen technology is making life easier and cleaner. This year, we’re also seeing more ovens and other appliances with smart features.
Smart kitchen appliances are designed to make cooking and cleaning easier, less tedious, and more fun. They’re typically paired with apps that connect to your phone and are programmable via voice controls.
Open Shelving
Open shelving is a popular design feature in modern kitchens. It brings dimension to a space, adds an element of finishing detail and is a great way to save space.
It’s also a budget-friendly option for homeowners looking to update their kitchen without going through a big remodel. The downside is that open shelving requires a lot of maintenance.
The best way to maintain an organized look is to prioritize your items on the shelf. Put the things you use most frequently on a lower shelf, and place the dishes you don’t cook with often on a higher one.
Black Appliances
Black appliances are a great way to add a sleek, modern touch to any kitchen design. They also match well with a wide variety of colors and finishes, making them easy to incorporate into any space.
In fact, the color black is so popular that it’s popping up in kitchens all over. Not only is it a classic that won’t go out of style any time soon, but it’s also a bold addition to your design scheme that won’t overpower the rest of your decor.
If you’re looking for a stylish, dark option for your appliances, black stainless steel is the way to go. Not only does it look gorgeous, but it’s also easy to clean and provides fingerprint resistance. Plus, it’s available in a wide range of prices.
Smart Technology
A smart kitchen is an ideal space for enhancing the efficiency and convenience of your cooking and dining experience. The latest smart technology can be found in everything from voice-activated appliances to smart touchless faucets, and more.
In fact, the smart kitchen is a trend that will continue to grow in 2023. Many of the new technologies are designed to save time and energy while also improving safety.
The technology connects all your kitchen appliances with artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analysis to help you cook more efficiently and safely. This can include determining the correct temperature to make your food at, figuring out when to serve it, and more.
Ultimately, smart technology will reduce food waste and promote healthy eating habits by automatically alerting you when products are running low or nearing their expiration date. It can also keep track of your dietary restrictions and help you create recipes from the ingredients in your pantry, making meal planning easier and faster.
.video-container {position: relative;padding-bottom: 56.25%;padding-top: 1px; height: 0; overflow: hidden;} .video-container iframe, .video-container object, .video-container embed {position: absolute;top: 0;LEFT: 0;width: 100%;height: 100%;}
youtube
Metro Vancouver’s Premier Kitchen and Bath Renovation Company
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so it makes sense that it would play such an integral role in your house’s overall look and feel. It’s also a space that people spend a significant amount of time in, so it must look its absolute best. That’s why Vancouver Kitchen Renovation is proud to offer Kitchen Design and Renovations in Vancouver, BC. We believe that a well-designed kitchen can transform the way you live, and we’re committed to helping you create the perfect space for yourself and your family. Whether you’re interested in updating your existing kitchen or building a brand new one, we can help you achieve your dream kitchen. We’ll listen carefully to your ideas and preferences, and together we’ll figure out which options will work best for you. Once we’ve determined what you’d like to see in your new kitchen, we’ll put together a detailed proposal outlining everything we propose, including a breakdown of the estimated budget and timeline. If you decide to move forward with our proposal, we’ll begin working immediately to bring your vision to life.
We understand that to be successful is to stay ahead of the curve. That means staying current with the latest technology and design trends. We always want to improve our products or services without breaking the bank. That’s why we stay connected to the latest technologies of NKBA, National Kitchen and Bath Association. In addition, at Vancouver Kitchen renovation, our primary focus is providing sustainable kitchen design and renovation packages, and we believe in sustainable living. Sustainable living is a way of life in harmony with nature. It is a lifestyle which focuses on the preservation of our environment. Sustainable living is a philosophy emphasizing respect for the environment and concern for its well-being. This means we should take care of the planet and treat it as if it were our home. We should try to preserve what we have and protect it from destruction. If we do this, we will enjoy the benefits of the earth’s resources for many generations. Whether you’re planning a major remodel or adding finishing touches to your current kitchen, we’d love to discuss your project. Book your showroom consultation online.
Main Areas of Service in British Columbia:
Vancouver
North Vancouver
West Vancouver
Burnaby
Coquitlam
Squamish
Whistler
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four main kitchen layouts?
The four basic kitchen layout plans include L-shaped, U-shaped, T-shaped, and open-concept kitchens. These layouts depend on the space available and other factors such as the number of appliances. Consider these different layouts when designing a functional kitchen for your home.
L-Shaped Kitchen: The L-shaped kitchen is one of the most popular layouts because it’s efficient and can be easily customized. It is great for small and medium-sized kitchens, as it doesn’t require much space. If you have the space, an island can be added to this layout.
U-Shaped Kitchen: The U-shaped kitchen is perfect for medium to large-sized kitchens because it offers many counter space and storage options. You can customize this layout with an island but it is not necessary.
T-Shaped Kitchen. This kitchen design is ideal for large kitchens. It offers lots of counter space and is very versatile. While this layout is customizable with an islands, it’s not required.
Open-Concept Living Room: The open-concept living room is the ideal choice for large rooms. This layout has no walls or boundaries, so it’s perfect for entertaining.
Is open-concept cooking in fashion?
Open-concept cooking is still very popular as they allow for easy access to all the kitchen areas. For a variety of reasons, some homeowners opt for more traditional kitchen designs.
An open-concept kitchen can make it very noisy. Another reason is that open-concept kitchens can be very noisy.
For families that want to cook together, open-plan kitchens can be a great option. If your children love to play in the kitchen and aren’t listening to their parents, open-concept kitchens could be a nightmare. Be sure to weigh all aspects of an open-concept layout before making a final decision.
What’s the first step to renovate a kitchen?
This is a difficult question to answer because every kitchen remodeling project is different. Each one will require a different approach. However, the first step in designing a kitchen renovation is to develop a clear understanding of your specific goals and needs.
This may involve meeting with a professional designer or architect to discuss your ideas, taking measurements of your current kitchen space, and/or creating a mood board or inspiration folder with images of kitchens that appeal to you.
Once you have a sense of what you want, it is time to start planning your budget. Finally, creating a timeline for your kitchen renovation is crucial to stay on track and avoiding any stressful surprises.
If you work with a professional architect or kitchen designer, they will likely lead the design planning process. However, it is essential that you understand your goals and expectations from the very beginning. This will ensure you are satisfied with the final design and it meets all of your expectations.
It is important to measure the kitchen space including its total square footage, as well the dimensions of individual areas such cabinets, countertops, appliances, windows, doors, and windows. You can also take note of any existing structural elements, such as support beams and load-bearing wall. It is helpful to draw a floor plan layout in order to visualize how your new design will look.
It is easy to narrow your search for kitchen design ideas by creating a mood board or an inspiration folder. Pinterest is a wonderful resource for finding inspiration and images of kitchens you love. You can also cut out pages from magazines to collect fabric swatches, paint chips and other visual elements that you like. This information will come in handy when planning your next renovation.
Once you have a plan in place for your new kitchen, you can begin to consider the budget and timeline. How much do you have to invest in this project? What are your must and desirable-to-haves? When are you ready for the renovations to begin? Answering these questions will allow you to move forward in your planning process.
If you plan on renovating your kitchen by yourself, you will need to account for the cost of materials and appliances as well as countertops, cabinets, countertops, and other essentials. Consider the duration of the project as well as any disruptions to your everyday life. A contractor will provide a detailed estimate with all costs and a schedule for completion if you are hiring them.
It is important to establish a timeline for your kitchen remodel in order to stay on track and avoid any unexpected surprises. Once you have a good idea of when each step of the process should occur, you can start to put together a more detailed schedule. In case of unexpected delays, be flexible with your timeline.
By following these steps, you can develop a clear plan for your kitchen renovation. This will ensure that your final kitchen renovation is exactly what you envisioned and that everything runs smoothly.
Do you want to do floors first when remodeling a kitchen?
This will depend on how your floor is installed. Before installing floating flooring, your counter and cabinets must be installed first. If you want to use glue-down, or nail-down flooring, first install the flooring and then place your cabinets. It is a good idea to consult a professional before deciding which option you prefer for your kitchen.
What countertops look best with white kitchen cabinetry?
You can be super bold with your countertop if you opt for a white kitchen. Quartz countertops are now the norm in kitchen design. Here are some top suggestions for colors that will work well in white kitchens with quartz countertops:
Different shades of concrete grey
Bold Granite-like Designs
Veiny marble-like designs
Bright and striking colours, such as sunflower yellow or ocean-blue, are ideal
Statistics
Experts also recommend setting aside 20 percent of your budget for surprises, including unpleasant demolition discoveries. One is water damage, the electricity that is not up to code, or other budget-spiking gotchas. (hgtv.com)
Followed by cabinet cost, labour, and appliance costs consume 20 percent each of your budget. (hgtv.com)
Your most significant cost investment for a kitchen remodel will usually be cabinets, typically comprising 25 percent of your budget. (hgtv.com)
Keep 10 to 25 percent of List 2, depending on the budget. (familyhandyman.com)
It’s a fantastic thing about most home improvement projects: no matter the job. It often seems like the last 20% is the most difficult. (familyhandyman.com)
External Links
familyhandyman.com
Do’s and Don’ts for a DIY Subway Tile Backsplash Installation
Create an Open, Craftsman-Style Kitchen (DIY)
forbes.com
Amazing Kitchen Remodel Ideas that Will Refresh Your House
homeguide.com
2022 Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator
2022 Addition Costs
remodeling.hw.net
Cost vs. value 2021
Cost vs. Value Project: Minor Kitchen Remodel
How To
How to design a Kitchen Layout
Although there’s no perfect layout for a kitchen, some layouts work well in certain spaces. Here are some ways to create a kitchen layout that suits your space.
Start with the basics. First, determine what you require in your kitchen. Decide what can go without. You may not require a large oven or stove if you don’t cook a lot.
You should also consider the traffic flow. Consider how your family uses the space and how it flows. You’ll want to ensure enough room to move around freely without bumping into each other.
Maximize storage. The third step in optimizing storage is to maximize your kitchen layout. This applies to both cookware and food storage. You will want to ensure that everything has a home and is easily accessible.
Integrate your style. The fourth step is to incorporate your personal style into the kitchen layout. This covers everything from the cabinets and countertops, to the flooring and appliances. Pick materials and finishes that suit your style.
Partner with a professional. The fifth and final step is to work with a professional kitchen designer. They can help you create a layout that meets all of your needs and works well within your space
Helpful Resources:
Manufacturers talk 2023 bath and kitchen trends at KBIS
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsDo you place flooring under your kitchen appliances? You can’t ignore the importance of putting flooring under..
13 Standout Products from IBS & KBIS 2022
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhite kitchens are in fashion again? White kitchens are a popular choice for homeowners looking to modernize their..
The New American Home 2023 – Final Phase
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat should I do if my kitchen is being renovated? You don’t have to move out if you’re good with takeouts. However,
New 2023 Amazing Kitchen Design * The Heart of The Home
It’s the center of the Home There will never be a day in your life after you won’t have a reason to enter the kitchen. It’s where your day starts, where you
Rustic Kitchen Design Ideas 2023
Rustic kitchens have a way of inspiring feelings of warmth and comfort. They make a great addition to your home without compromising modern functionality and
Quality Kitchen Cabinets – Vancouver Kitchen Renovation
Looking for the best Vancouver kitchen renovation firm? Our team of experts will work with you in creating the next inspiring kitchen for your family to love.
Smart Kitchen Technology Ideas 2023
Whether you are a chef or just a regular person, there are some innovative and practical smart kitchen technology ideas that can make your life easier. The
All-White Kitchen Ideas
White kitchens are crisp, clean, and elegant. They also provide a great blank canvas for adding other colors that will add character to the space. If
Yellow for Kitchen Design
Bright, cheery yellow is a natural way to add visual warmth and brightness to any kitchen. Known for chasing any chill, this shade of yellow isn’t..
Country style kitchen decor ideas,Decor ideas 2023,Home decor ideas
In this video we will see some furnishing ideas for a country-style kitchen
Amazon product links
1 Bed with drawers https://amzn.to/3KCKMii
2 Pot rack
50+ Beautiful small kitchen decorating ideas 2023 @Classydecorchannel
50+ Beautiful small kitchen decorating ideas 2023 @Classydecorchannel
Portfolio – Vancouver Kitchen Renovation
OUR EXCLUSIVE CLIENT Completed Projects We Have Solutions for All Your Space Related Issues! Featured Kitchen Renovation Projects We’ve been lucky to work with
Mid Century Modern Kitchens
Mid century modern kitchens feature clean lines & spacious cooking areas, often featuring natural materials like wood & plants. They also often use..
Top 100 small modular kitchen design ideas 2023 (Decor Puzzle)
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsYou shouldn’t regret your kitchen remodel. Remain patient. Renovations take time. Kitchen renovations can have a..
Kitchen trends 2023: design ideas and coveted colors set to be big this year
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat are some common mistakes made when renovating your kitchen? You might have a problem installing a new kitchen
Eclectic Kitchen Design Ideas 2023
The eclectic style is a fun and unique way to design your kitchen. It combines different styles and epochs to create a truly personalized and unique look that
Kitchen Trends 2022 | Kitchen Island Ideas | kitchen Design Tips | Best kitchen island layout design
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat are the drawbacks of an open-concept cooking style? Privacy is the biggest issue. You can’t hide your mess from
Blog – Vancouver Kitchen Renovation
kitchen design and renovation experts in Metro Vancouver
BEST INTERIOR DESIGN KITCHEN TRENDS 2023 | Julie Khuu
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhite kitchens are in fashion again? White kitchens have become a favorite choice of homeowners who want to give..
Top Interior Paint Colors for 2023 | How to Pick Paint Colors like a Designer
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat should I do if I need a new kitchen? It would be best to start by creating a list of your wants and needs. This
Best of KBIS | FOTILE Debuts New and Innovative Appliances at KBIS 2023
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsShould cabinets be lighter than walls? There are no guidelines for this. This decision is entirely personal and will
10 Impactful Ways to Update Your Home for 2023 | Our Top Styling Tips
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere do I start when I want a new kitchen? You should start by writing down your desires and needs. This will..
DIY Small Kitchen Remodel | Before and After Ikea Kitchen | 90s Kitchen Extreme Makeover
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat can I do to make my white kitchen more appealing? You can make your white kitchen even more fun. Add coloured..
Contact – Vancouver Kitchen Renovation
GET IN TOUCH Contact Us We Love to Hear from You! Let’s discuss your kitchen or bath renovation project! If you’re ready to start your kitchen renovation, we’d
Early Spring Decor | Simple Spring Decorating Ideas 2023
Shop The Home Depot President’s day sale now til 3/1 for up to 30% off select furniture, mattresses, & decor. Use code: PRESIDENTS23 for extra 10% off til 2/22.
BATHROOM TRENDS 2023 // Interior Design
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do you style small white kitchens? A small white kitchen requires a lot of creativity. The best way to create a..
DesignBites 2023 | Full Event KBIS 2023
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat are some common mistakes made when renovating your kitchen? You might have a problem installing a new kitchen
TOP 5 Kitchen Backsplash Trends | 2022 Latest Backsplash Ideas | Modern Backsplash Designs
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat should you do not have any regrets about your kitchen renovation? Take your time, the renovations can take some
Innovative “stuffs” from World of Concrete 2023
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsAre Kitchen Remodeling Costs Worth it? Remodelling your kitchen can be a great way to improve the look and feel of..
National kitchen and bath News
Get the latest kitchen industry news from NKBA
Latest Kitchen Designs 2023 || Kitchen Design || Kitchen Cabinet Design || Kitchen Ka Design
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do I work out my budget to renovate my kitchen? These guidelines can help you determine your budget. Begin by..
See What’s New in Construction Materials at IBS 2023!
_______Frequently Asked QuestionsAre open-concept and modular kitchens in decline? The appeal of open-concept designs is not dying. They offer modern
Latest Kitchen Designs 2023 || Kitchen Design || Kitchen Cabinet Design || Kitchen Ka Design
Latest Kitchen Designs 2023 || Kitchen Design || Kitchen Cabinet Design || Kitchen Ka Design
friends is video mein aapko latest modular kitchen ke design
BEST/NEW MODULAR KITCHEN DESIGN IDEAS 2023 | LUXURY KITCHEN DESIGNS FOR MODERN HOME INTERIOR DESIGN
BEST/NEW MODULAR KITCHEN DESIGN IDEAS 2023 | LUXURY KITCHEN DESIGNS FOR MODERN HOME INTERIOR DESIGN
When you are planning to renovate your kitchen or
Kitchen Ideas 2023 – How to Use Open Shelving to Display Your Favorite Kitchen Items
Open shelving is a great way to display your favourite kitchen items. You can also use it to organize your frequently used items. The key is to keep the
KBIS | Home
Source the latest product innovations from leading kitchen and bath brands at KBIS! Discover fresh design solutions, expand your network, and fine-tune your
Interior Design Ideas for Kitchens | Kitchen Design Trends 2023 | Room Design Series Episode 4
This video is the fourth in a series on how to design specific spaces and today we’re talking talking about the heart of the home, the kitchen. We’re going to
Interior Design| Top modern kitchen cabinets design ideas| Amazing modern kitchen designs 2023
Interior Design| Top modern kitchen cabinets design ideas| Amazing modern kitchen designs 2023
Latest modern kitchen cabinets design ideas, kitchen
80 Gorgeous Gray Kitchen Ideas
80 Gorgeous Gray Kitchen Ideas. Today we show you beautiful kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms. If you like decor and design ideas, subscribe and watch
FIVE OF THE BEST DECORATING TIPS AND HACKS 2023 / Interior Design Ideas / Ramon At Home
FIVE OF THE BEST DECORATING TIPS AND HACKS 2023 / Interior Design Ideas / Ramon At Home #ramonathome #interirordesign #homedecor
If you fully obey the
How Much Does it Cost to Renovate a Kitchen?
How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen? You’ll want to consider the time and value-added of a kitchen remodel, the cost per square foot of the work, and
Cabinet Hardware – Pulls and Knobs
Find the largest offer in Cabinet Hardware – Pulls and Knobs at Richelieu.com, the one stop shop for woodworking industry.
Kitchen Paint Colors
The right kitchen paint colours can transform your space into a luxurious paradise. Stroll through any home decor store and quickly realize that paint is
‘Favorable Outlook,’ Slower Growth Seen for Remodeling
PALO ALTO, CA — Companies across all sectors of the residential remodeling market have…The post ‘Favorable Outlook,’ Slower Growth Seen for Remodeling appeared
Appliances Add Warmth
While stainless steel appliances are still the go to, colorful finishes are gaining ground,…The post Appliances Add Warmth appeared first on Kitchen & Bath
How to Estimate Kitchen Renovation Costs in Metro Vancovuer
How to Estimate Kitchen Renovation Costs in 2023 in Metro Vancouver Renovating a kitchen is no small task. It can be costly, time-consuming, and stressful
Types of Layout of a Kitchen
How to Decide the Perfect Kitchen Layout for You Figuring out the perfect kitchen layout for your needs and wants can be tough. With The Definitive Guide to
Miele CA | Premium Domestic Appliances
Bringing German engineered domestic appliances to Canadians. Explore Miele’s full line of premium kitchen and laundry appliances
How to Match Black Kitchen Cabinets With Your Appliances
Black cabinets are a great center point for any design scheme. Enhance their bold presence with contrasting pieces like stainless-steel appliances and white
Vintage Refrigeration
Whether designed for entertaining large crowds or a just few intimate friends, today’s kitchens…The post Vintage Refrigeration appeared first on Kitchen & Bath
The Pros and Cons of Open Kitchen Shelves
What are the Pros and Cons of Open Kitchen Shelves? Open kitchen shelves offer an attractive, modern look while also allowing easy access to items in your
How to Create a Scandinavian Kitchen
What is a Scandinavian Kitchen? A Scandinavian kitchen is a style of design that uses neutral and simple colour palettes to create a modern, relaxed living
Custom Kitchen Cabinets Design Ideas
The hottest custom kitchen cabinets design ideas that make any space stand out. Custom kitchen cabinets are the ideal way to create remarkable spaces. From
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove | Legendary Kitchen Appliances
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances offer powerful performance, design and dependability. Learn about products and find inspiration for your dream kitchen.
Should You Build Your Kitchen Cabinets to the Ceiling?
Whether or not to build your kitchen cabinets to the ceiling is a personal decision. There are several benefits and drawbacks to this option. Read on to learn
Planning Family Kitchens
A family kitchen is a vital space in a home. It provides space for the family to gather and eat together. A table and chairs help to keep the area feeling
Trends of Colorful Kitchens
If you’re a fan of colourful design, here are the Trends in colours in kitchens. These colours are ideal for the modern kitchen, and they can be incorporated
Galley Kitchen Ideas For Smaller Spaces
What’s a Galley Kitchen? A galley kitchen is a cooking space with two parallel countertops that are separated by a walkway. It typically includes an oven,
Resurfacing Your Kitchen Cabinets
If you’re considering resurfacing your kitchen cabinets, there are many things to consider. These include how much it will cost, what materials you can use,
Wikipedia: Kitchens
Search Wikipedia for kitchen
Lighter Kitchen Backsplash Ideas
Are you searching for a unique backsplash design to give your kitchen life-affirming energy in 2023? If so, hand-painted tiles may be the ideal solution. They
Traditional Kitchen Design Features
Traditional Kitchen Design Features in 2023 Traditional kitchen design can make your space instantly feel timeless and classic. These features set the stage
How to Renovate a Traditional Kitchen
Soft and neutral colours are the hallmark of the traditional kitchen, providing the ideal backdrop for family activities and daily meals. Classic wood stains
Storage Cabinet Ideas For the Kitchen, Bathroom and Laundry Room
The Ultimate Compartmentalization Solutions that Will Keep Your Home and Life Organized for Good. Organizing can make your life much simpler and stress-free.
KBIS Continues to Roll
The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is enjoying a triumphant return to the Las…The post KBIS Continues to Roll appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News
Kitchen Renovation Guide – Kitchen Design Ideas | Architectural Digest
Kitchen design Ideas from Architectural Digest
KBIS Final Hours
Las Vegas – The third and final day of the Kitchen & Bath Industry…The post KBIS Final Hours appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News
Second-Half 2023 Turnaround Forecast for Housing Market
LAS VEGAS — The housing recession that began in 2022 will bleed into 2023…The post Second-Half 2023 Turnaround Forecast for Housing Market appeared first on
Remodeling Seen Faring Better Than Housing in 2023
LAS VEGAS — The nation’s remodeling sector “remains on solid ground and will do…The post Remodeling Seen Faring Better Than Housing in 2023 appeared first on
Design Contest, Other Award Winners Named by NKBA
LAS VEGAS — More than 30 awards encompassing design and industry achievements were presented…The post Design Contest, Other Award Winners Named by NKBA
Home Design Reflecting Post-COVID Shifts, Cost Struggles
LAS VEGAS — Homebuyer preferences in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with…The post Home Design Reflecting Post-COVID Shifts, Cost Struggles appeared
95 Designer Kitchens That Will Show You How to Make the Most of Yours
So many deliciously chic solutions.
Growing Smart-Home Market Seen Spelling Opportunity
INDIANAPOLIS — The smart-home market continues to exhibit robust growth, with 37% of the…The post Growing Smart-Home Market Seen Spelling Opportunity appeared
2023 DCW Event Draws Record Attendance to Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — More than 200,000 housing and design professionals flocked to Las Vegas…The post 2023 DCW Event Draws Record Attendance to Las Vegas appeared first
PMI Pushing Nationwide ‘Rethink Water’ Initiative
LAS VEGAS — Plumbing Manufacturers International, the association that represents the nation’s leading plumbing…The post PMI Pushing Nationwide ‘Rethink Water’
KBIS 2023 Delivers the Goods
LAS VEGAS – More than 200,000 housing and design professionals descended on Las Vegas…The post KBIS 2023 Delivers the Goods appeared first on Kitchen & Bath
kitchen island lighting
Perfect kitchen island lighting Are you in the process of renovating your kitchen, and you’re thinking about your kitchen island lighting? Regarding kitchen
Issue Fall/Winter 2022 – Dream Kitchens
All the issues of Dream Kitchens & Baths on our Newsstand. Get the subscription to Dream Kitchens & Baths and get your Digital Magazine on your device.
Transforming a small kitchen into a socializing space
How to Transform a Small Kitchen Into a Socializing Space Designing a kitchen is not easy because the kitchen is such an important room in the house. Our
Best kitchen cabinets in Vancouver
Vancouver is a city where people can enjoy the beauty of nature alongside their homes. The modern architecture and scenery make it one-of-a-kind compared to
Open Concept Kitchens
Open concept spaces are those spaces that allow multiple activities to take place at once. They are usually large enough to accommodate several different
Choosing Finishes For Cabinets
How to choose the right finish for your kitchen cabinets When building cabinets, choosing finishes is important. It’s not just about how pretty the cabinet
How to Update Your Kitchen Without Doing a Gut Rehab
A kitchen remodel doesn’t necessarily mean significant structural changes. There are many ways to remodel a space without altering its function or appearance.
The official publication of NKBA and KBIS
Kitchen & Bath Business is the official KBIS publication. We provide design professionals in the kitchen & bath industry with news & trends.
Mid Century Modern Kitchen Design
A practical approach: Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Design Do you love mid-century modern design? Are you looking for inspiration for your next kitchen remodel?
MDF Kitchen Cabinet Doors
If you’re thinking of redoing your kitchen cabinets or building your own, you will undoubtedly come across MDF as a material option. But what exactly is MDF
High-End Kitchens in Vancouver
Cabico Elmwood Series: High-End Kitchens in Vancouver, BC Not many people can resist the charm of a high-end kitchen. From luxury appliances to intricate
2023 Kitchen design trends
Are you looking to upgrade your home kitchen in 2023 with the latest design trends? Kitchen renovations involve more than just updating décor and replacing
The post Smart Kitchen Technology Ideas For 2023 first appeared on Vancouver Kitchen Renovation.
source https://vancouverkitchenrenovation.com/kitchens/smart-kitchen-technology-ideas-for-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=smart-kitchen-technology-ideas-for-2023
0 notes
Text
Maldives Travel Guide for First Timers
Even before we got married, my then fiancé now husband (Jamal) promised to travel with me to different countries– Maldives on top of the list. True to his word, after two years of our marriage, he took me to my dream destination.
I had various reasons why I wanted to visit this country. For one thing, it’s considered by many as “Paradise on Earth” and it’s undeniably true to me– after swimming in the clear, turquoise waters, walking around a local island with sparkling beaches and palm fringes, running on a white sandbar, and seeing aesthetic coral reefs that are home to plenty of marine species. Second, it’s a 100% Muslim country, and it was an exciting thought to beach bum without seeing too much nakedness. Haha. Indeed, if heaven on earth exists, it is definitely in Maldives!
I used to imagine visiting the tropical paradise as an exceptionally luxurious trip– accessible only if I have millions of pesos on my bank balance. I thought of it as a place I will never have the capacity to visit in this lifetime. I may be right years back, but things have changed now. Maldives is now reachable for budget travelers like me, despite it being a luxury destination. Thanks to the government allowing Maldivians to operate guesthouses, staying in a resort is just an option today.
ABOUT THE COUNTRY Maldives is an Islamic country located in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka and India. It consists of 1,192 gemlike islands grouped in clusters called “atolls” but only 200+ are inhabited. Its capital and most populous city, Malé, is geographically located at the Kaafu Atoll and is a ferry-away from the airport island, Hulhule.
Below are some of the local islands near Malé which are accessible by local ferry:
Maafushi Island
Hulhumale Island
Villingili
Gulhi
Guraidhoo
Fulidhoo
You can choose which island you want to stay in but I recommend Maafushi Island based on experience, and Fulidhoo Island based on positive reviews I have read across the internet.
VISA
Filipinos do not need a pre-arrival Visa to enter Maldives. You will be issued a 30-day free Visa upon arrival provided that your passport is valid and will not expire for the next six months from the entry date.
WHERE TO BOOK FLIGHTS Flights to Maldives normally cost around ₱20,000 to ₱25,000 with a layover either in Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand. There are several low-cost carriers servicing the Manila to Malé route—you can try Scoot Air, AirAsia or Cebu Pacific. In our case, we took the MNL-SG-MLE and vice versa flights via Scoot Air for P14,000 ONLY per pax inclusive of a 15kg check-in baggage. I honestly thought I scored the cheapest with the said amount, but unfortunately, several weeks subsequent to booking, I came across Scoot Air’s promotional flight of just ₱8,000 for MNL-MLE round-trip flights. There are times that AirAsia offers the same promo. Insane, right? You simply have to be always on the lookout for these unusual promo fares. It’s a different story if you have the moolah to splurge though.
For more info on how I usually score cheapest golden flights, read here.
HOW TO GET AROUND You might be wondering just how you should be getting around Maldives. Well, there are few methods of transport you can avail depending on your preference and based on factors such as convenience, budget, and safety.
From the Airport Right after stepping outside the arrival hall, you will see a number of booths and their respective staff scattered around the area. If you are expecting your hotel or resort’s staff to welcome you there, just look for a placard with your name on it.
To Resorts or other Local Islands – If no one shows up for you at the airport (insert sad smiley), you may consider taking a speedboat to your preferred resort or local island. Rate depends but it typically starts at 25 USD ~ 1,315 PHP per pax. You also have the option to take a seaplane that costs a lot more than my two kidneys combined. hahajk
To Malé City – If you’re on a budget plan, walk past the booths and locate the public ferry counter to purchase a ticket to Malé City for only 10 MVR ~ 34 PHP. The ride should only take 15 minutes and you’ll arrive at Hulhumale Ferry Terminal.
Ferry Schedule: FROM MALE CITY TO AIRPORT Every 10 minutes from morning 06:00 AM to 02:30 AM Every 30 minutes from morning 02:30 AM to 04:00 AM Every 15 minutes from morning 04:00 AM to 06:00 AM FROM AIRPORT TO MALE CITY Every 10 minutes from morning 06:00 AM to 02:30 AM Every 30 minutes from morning 02:30 AM to 04:00 AM Every 15 minutes from morning 04:00 AM to 06:00 AM
On Fridays, ferries operate every 10 minutes from the morning at 06:00 AM to 00:00 AM.
Conversely, you can ride a speedboat for your convenience. Within two minutes, you’ll reach the northeast part of Malé City.
Because I booked our hotel in Malé within a day before our arrival and because I did not communicate with them our arrival time, no one showed up for us. Wala kaming placard, jusko napaka-dukha feels. Haha. But they were supposed to greet us at the airport since we paid for that one-way airport transfer. Ang tanga ko lang talagang kausap. hehe
Around the City of Malé Arriving at the ferry terminal, you can take a taxi or a mini pickup truck to bring you either to your hotel (if you intend to stay at Malé) or to Villingili Ferry Terminal (if you want to go directly to a local island of your choice). Also, there are bus lines running a circular route around the small city. The downside is—if your hotel is not within their routes, you still have to walk after getting off on the nearest bus stop.
To our Hotel – We rode a mini pickup truck to reach our hotel. Pahirapan kumuha ng taxi, mga bes kaya nagpaka- Megan Young and Mikael Daez kami ni Jamal. Haha. We were charged 50 MVR by the driver. Minimum fare for taxis is 20 MVR per pax during the day and 25 MVR during the night.
To Maafushi Island From Villingili Ferry Terminal, the ride to Maafushi Island will only take about an hour and a half. Ticket price is only 53 MVR ~ 3.50 USD ~ 190 PHP.
Ferry Schedule:
For an updated schedule, click here.
After spending the night at Malé, we went to Maafushi Island where we planned to stay for 5D4N. From our hotel, a staff hailed a taxi for us (and paid for it because of their utang to us) and instructed the driver of our destination.
Since we arrived at the terminal early, we went to a food court nearby and had milkshake while waiting. Sobrang init, mga bes.
Around Maafushi Island From the terminal, getting to your hotel will be either through your hotel’s private vehicle or rickshaw. Yup, rickshaw. Maafushi is a very small island (1.275km x 0.260km) that you can see the entire island within two hours of walking. Some hotels and guesthouses offer a rental bike service for 5 USD per hour. A bit pricey. You can see the locals using motorcycles as a mode of transportation as well, though I am not sure if they are up for lease.
WHERE TO STAY There are a limited number of budget sleeps in Maldives. Unlike in any other Asian country where you will find a 30 USD per night accommodation for two, in Maldives, budget hotels or guesthouses usually cost no less than 60 USD. If you’re lucky, you may come across huge discounts in Agoda. Make sure to constantly browse the app, you might come across a crazy deal like what happened to us.
Or better yet, sign up on Airbnb using this link to earn ₱1,600 travel credit. Or get a 10% refund on your first transaction at Booking.com when you use this unique link.
For high-end tourists, exclusive resorts are the place to be but allot at least 600 USD per night.
The Melrose Hotel – It’s a 450m-walk from Hulhumale Ferry Terminal. We spent our first night here for just 30 USD. It’s the cheapest we could find on Agoda that serves breakfast. Our booking was inclusive of taxes, environmental fees, a welcome drink, one-way airport transfer, and free breakfast. The staffs were friendly and helpful; the receptionist is Pinay, yaay! Our room was small, enough for a 9-hour stay, but very clean. It has toiletries, coffee and tea sachets, iron, and a flat-screen TV among others.
Seven Corals Guesthouse – This was our home in Maafushi for 5D4N. I loved it! The staffs were friendly and attentive, the room was spacious and snug, food was in a variety, and the ambiance was cozy and relaxing. Not to mention the long list of inclusions on our ₱16,500 deal:
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
Welcome drink
Afternoon tea
Express check-in
Fruit basket
Selected watersports (i.e. Jetski, but the schedule was in conflict with ours)
Free local mobile SIM card
Complimentary snacks
Night Fishing
Sunset Cruise
Dolphin Cruise (No dolphins on our cruise huhu)
Snorkeling Excursion
Sandbank Picnic
Taxes and other fees
We tried looking for another guesthouse/hotel that offers the same but only Seven Corals does. Highly recommended to keep an eye on a deal like this.
Adaaran Prestige Vadoo (optional) – One-night rate starts at ~1,000 USD inclusive of breakfast and taxes/fees. Additional of at least ~200 USD per pax for the roundtrip transfers. It can hurt your pocket but recommended to stay if you have the cash. OR- here’s the catch, you can ask a Maldivian in the local island where you stay to contact any resort you prefer and ask them if you’re allowed to arrange your roundtrip speedboat transfer. The local quoted us 100 USD (2 pax; 2-way transfer) only, 400 USD less than the quoted price on Agoda.
Novina Hotel – another great hotel centrally located in Malé City for ~70 USD only inclusive of a welcome drink, buffet breakfast, and airport transfer. Just like our room in The Melrose, it was small but well maintained. The floor was carpeted and there’s a mini-fridge, too. They served decent food which was great. I love the omelette. Staffs were very welcoming and friendly that they let us stay in the lobby after check-out while waiting for our evening flight.
PLACES TO VISIT IN MALE CITY
Masjid Al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al-Auzam
Fish Market
Republic Square
National Museum
Tsunami Monument
ACTIVITIES TO TRY
MONEY SAVING TIPS
If you have a layover in Singapore for at least 5.5 hours to 24 hours, join the FREE 2.5-hour guided tours of Changi Airport. More info about the tours here.
Visit during the low season (June to November) to score off-season rates on activities, accommodation, and flights. Prices tend to drop insanely plus, there are fewer tourists traveling.
Last minute deals exist, just be smart enough to plan your trip.
Currency exchange shops in Malé City offers better rates than those in the Airport.
Bring USD with you preferably in 100s or 50s. Usual buying rate for 50-100 USD is 15 MVR per USD while for denominations below is around 12 MVR per USD.
Resorts and guesthouses only accept Dollars while local restaurants and street side shops need Rufiyaa.
Local Ferry >>> Speedboat
STAY. ON. A. LOCAL. ISLAND.
If you’re into luxury resorts, choose those closer to Malé or to the island you’re staying at.
Get not just a full board stay, but an all-inclusive package. It’s very reasonable than bringing with you your wallet all the time.
Haggle like a pro. Be it souvenirs or activities, bargain a better price.
Pack chips and biscuits.
Do not forget your swimming essentials. Sunscreen lotions and rashies in the local islands are expensive.
For our ultimate travel hacks mostly on how to save on your next trip abroad, check these tips on our previous blog.
SAMPLE 6D5N ITINERARY
OPTIONAL: Stay on a high-end resort.
EXPENSES
*The amounts do not reflect our actual expenditures.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
A semi-local
food store (next town) has A New App (tm) which I normally find creepy af but this time it seems useful. The Customer scans any food item they pick up, and the sell-by date is read into the app. The closer the foodstuff is to the sell-by date, the bigger the discount you get. You see the normal price and also the discounted, and the discounted price is transferred to the checkout when you arrive there. I assume this only works for self-checkout so far, but who knows. The goal is to reduce food waste, which is a good idea, and personally I think anything that makes food more affordable for people with little money is a good thing. There are some foodstuffs where I would not use it, deli meats comes to mind, but my main food source is already an online shop that specializes in nearly- or already-expired goods like beans, dried pasta and other stable things. So far it has worked very well, and I like the combination of low prices and free home delivery for any order over $50 (which is trivial to achieve now). The downside is that the expired-food online shop has a pretty limited selection that also changes by the minute. Mail delivery here is slow, so you need the foodstuffs to survive up to a week in the clutches of the Postwaffe. And the suppliers are of course other shops who are removing things from inventory because the cutoff date is getting near and that means whatever comes in varies. They ship to the discount place, and they ship to the customer. The system in use in the local store would kinda bring that idea into the source store directly and thereby reduce all the zigzag shipping. Of course that means I will never get to use it myself, but them's the breaks.
0 notes
Text
Grocery Shopping For A Quarantine: What To Buy And How Much
Author’s note: I live in Italy, which has just been put under “lockdown” for the next three weeks as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. While I’m not under quarantine, circumstances have forced us all to consider that self-quarantine might be in our near future. I’ve thought a lot about how to keep my family of three comfortable and nourished should that occur. I’ve tried to maintain a level head and not panic while still being pragmatic and prepared. Yet every time I go to the grocery store, I shop as though it might be my last food run for two weeks.
A week ago, it might have seemed unthinkable. But if the reality isn’t setting in yet, it should be. As Italy imposes a nationwide lockdown to halt, or at least slow, the spread of novel coronavirus, the truth is that other countries may soon have to follow suit — including parts of the United States.
And as cases spread worldwide and more people are exposed to the virus, more and more individuals and families are going into imposed or voluntary quarantine — whether they test positive for coronavirus or not. This typically entails two weeks that they are supposed to stay indoors (or, at the most, in their own private yard or outdoor space) without contact or exposure to anyone outside their four walls.
So if the order to self-quarantine does darken your door, and assuming you don’t want to order pizza or Thai food for 14 days of breakfast, lunch and dinner, what food do you need to have on-hand for a two week stint at home? (Consider that once you’re aware that you need to self-quarantine, it will already be too late to grocery shop.)
I spoke to Laura Fuentes, founder of MOMables.com, about meal-planning, nutrition and shopping in advance of a possible quarantine. The overarching message is: Plan ahead, but don’t panic.
Take inventory of what you already have on hand.
Before you rush out to Costco and start scooping bulk-wrapped juice boxes into your cart, take a deep breath, and take inventory.
“[Many] households in the U.S. have enough food stashed in their freezers and pantries to get them through a week,” Fuentes said. “Make a plan to eat what you have on hand first. Then head to the store and buy the other staples that will get you through two weeks.”
Rice, pasta, oats, whole grains and canned vegetables are the most practical choices, she said. “Not only do they have a long shelf life, they’re great meal builders for breakfast, pasta night, chilis, soups and stews.”
Plan meals with common ingredients.
Fuentes also advises sitting down for 10 minutes or so and mapping out a 14-day meal plan that favors meals with the same ingredients. So consider meals built around rice, pasta, legumes and other long-shelf-life ingredients, enhanced with protein and vegetables.
“That doesn’t mean rice and beans every day,” she said, “but maybe it means cooking enough rice for three different meals and incorporating it over several days.” So, for example, if you cook a whole chicken and serve it with rice one night, use the carcass to make slow-cooker chicken and rice soup for lunch the next day, or freeze it for a few days later.
You can also easily incorporate dairy products without worrying about spoilage. “With the exception of fresh milk, dairy products like cheese and yogurt should have an expiration date of at least two weeks,” Fuentes said. “You can also freeze milk and consume it within five days after thawing out.”
The freezer is your friend.
The biggest downside of a two-week shopping haul is the limited availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially into week two. Apples, oranges and pears will last the longest, as will rather pedestrian vegetables like onions, potatoes, squash and carrots. For everything else, Fuentes said, it’s time to cruise the frozen food aisle.
“Frozen fruit and vegetables are nutritionally on par with fresh,” she said, “and frozen broccoli, spinach and mixed vegetables can be steamed, sautéed or roasted, just as you would with fresh.” For a dose of immune-boosting antioxidants, add frozen berries to smoothies, cereals or desserts. Plan on using your fresh produce within the first five days, then switch to frozen when fresh supplies are exhausted.
Stocking up on frozen food is fine, but what about households, especially in densely populated cities, that don’t have a lot of freezer space? For space-saving and meal-prep shortcuts, Fuentes said to remove meat from its bulky packaging and store meal-sized portions in zipper-lock bags. “That also gives you an opportunity to add sauce or seasoning right there, to save time later.” Be sure to label the bags, so you’re not pulling out a bag of frozen mystery meat and hoping for the best.
Skip the junk food.
Speaking as someone who has already consumed the emergency stash of granola bars and chocolate chip cookies, take it from me: Junk food, like a star-crossed romance, isn’t made to last.
Fuentes recently saw panicked shoppers loading multi-packs of individual snacks into their carts (right next to the month’s supply of toilet paper). “What are they thinking?” she said. “Especially if you’ve got kids in the house, those snacks are going to disappear fast” — not to mention their lack of nutritional value.
Instead, if you want to incorporate some cheats and treats into your 14-day routine, maybe plan on a frozen pizza night or spend a free afternoon making cookies with the kids.
Keep it simple and stress-free.
Self-quarantine is stressful, dudes. And while two weeks stuck in the house might conjure notion of baking fresh bread from scratch and whipping up elaborate soufflés, your patience may wear a lot thinner—a lot sooner—than you expect. If you’re working from home while trying to keep antsy kids occupied, you might not want to do a lot of cooking. “This is not the time to try new recipes,” Fuentes said. “It’s the time for spaghetti and tomato sauce, for quick stir-fries, or for tossing everything into the slow cooker.”
Remember, too, that quarantine is not the zombie apocalypse, and society will not experience a complete and utter breakdown. Electricity, gas and cellphones will still work. You don’t need to hoard food, fuel and ammunition like an End Times prepper. Just keep your wits about you, make a plan and do your sensible grocery shopping. And don’t eat the whole box of granola bars in one sitting.
The post Grocery Shopping For A Quarantine: What To Buy And How Much appeared first on Sansaar Times.
via Blogger https://ift.tt/36kLLO5
0 notes
Link
Nearly four months into the COVID-19 crisis, we are witnessing continued evidence of not just cost in lives lost but the economic devastation as well, with the new surge in cases in states previously spared casting doubt on everything from the opening of theme parks and sporting events to the viability of interstate travel. And yet, as bad as things are economically, it remains an open question why things aren’t worse. The answer is simple, and challenging: we may all be in this together as humans facing a virus but we are not equally in this together in bearing the economic toll.
We are not all in this together, by class or, as the recent protests amply highlight, by race, but we have a story in this country that says we are, and that story subtly shapes how we tell our economic narrative as well. We act as if the fact that many of us are hard hit means that the system must therefore be as well. And make no mistake, a less-bad economy in the age of COVID-19 is still a very bad one. But it is not an equally distributed less bad, just as it was not an equally or even equitably distributed good when times were better. The upside to that downside is that the system itself isn’t as harshly impacted; the downside is that the brunt hits those least able to bear it.
The national unemployment rate is likely at about 15%, given that 20 million people are receiving unemployment benefits, and the number who are underemployed is considerably higher. You would think that would translate into an economy-wide catastrophe, but while specific industries have been devastated, overall economic activity has not declined in sync with job losses. The sharp hit during April has been followed by a sharp rebound in many industries. Retail sales increased 17% in May and are only down 6% from May of 2019, which is bad but nowhere near as extreme as the job losses or the catering of air travel and the shuttered movie businesses for instance. New home sales in May not only rebounded from their April crater but were up from May of 2019, which is rather extraordinary given how challenging things are now and how robust the economy was a year ago.
And of course, then there is the stock market, which is up nearly 40% from the lows in March and as of late June is down about 5% year to date for the S&P 500. Markets have one benefit that no person has: the backstop of the Federal Reserve, which is committed to supplying almost endless liquidity in order to ensure no repeat of the 2008-2009 financial collapse. It is undoubtedly a good thing that the financial system is not currently imperiled, but it creates an even starker contrast when 20 million Americans are receiving unemployment benefits and millions more not even seeking employment.
Markets aside, why aren’t those tens of millions out of work having a more immediate negative impact? Why isn’t there an echo of the Great Depression when some of the numbers are Great Depression-like?
There are two reasons, one positive and one decidedly not. The positive reason is that for all the clunky ineptitude of the social safety nets created in April by Congress in the form of direct payments, small business relief and expanded unemployment benefits, those considerable amounts of money ended up buoying the depressed fortunes of tens of millions of people. In fact, given the extra $600 a week emergency supplement provided by the federal government, many people at the lower end of the wage spectrum pre-COVid have been taking home more money weekly than when they were employed. The average amount earned by the 40 million people who have received unemployment at some point since March was less than $750 a week; the average amount received under the various emergency programs? $970 a week. That helps explain why overall economic activity hasn’t declined in lock-step with unemployment or with the contraction of so many industries. Those juiced benefits are due to expire in July, however, raising the prospect that unless those are extended further the trajectory will worsen.
The other reason isn’t so benign. In terms of unemployment statistics and how we discuss work, a job is a job is a job. But in terms of wages and a living wage, all jobs are not created equal. Not even close. For many millions of jobs, the pay is barely above what constitutes the poverty line and isn’t enough to cover food and shelter for one person let alone a family. Hence the strong push in recent years to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour, which many cities such as Seattle have done but which the federal government has not.
In the current crisis, the preponderance of job losses have been human service industries, ones that depend of face-to-face contact and cannot be shifted via Zoom into the digital realm. Those industries – restaurants, hospitality, travel, tourism, retail stores, events – are also amongst the lowest paid. Overall, average earnings in the U.S. are $28 an hour. But earnings for leisure and hospitality are $16 an hour and for retail $20 an hour. Those tens of millions of workers were never accounting for the same level of consumer spending or home sales or travel dollars or economic activity as the tens of millions who work in construction or manufacturing or technology or higher-end service industries such as finance and consulting or public servants like teachers and police. The result is that you can have 15-20% unemployment with 40 million people out of work at one point or another in the past months and not have a one-to-one hit to economic activity.
One powerful lesson of the past months is that massive government assistance actually matters and when it is large and direct and not funneled through humiliating hoops of means-testing and people having to justify their vulnerability and need, you can actually maintain a fair amount of human activity and meet people’s needs. Providing nearly $1,000 a week to people for a few months has been a raise for many of them, which has provided a glimpse into how much we have fallen short of providing a basic level to all people in an affluent society. It is hard to see silver linings in a crisis this deadly, but if we learn that no, we aren’t all in this equally, but yes we have the means to ameliorate those inequities, then the crisis will not have been all for the worst. It will have been the long-needed wake up that we have the power to provide basic economic security to everyone. All that has been lacking till now is the will to do so.
0 notes
Text
Hurricane IRMA Update, Checklist & Important Information
We just got off a conference call with FEMA, NOAA, the National Weather Service and Florida Emergency Management about Hurricane Irma.
Their message was unmistakable: take the threat seriously and prepare accordingly.
Although we cannot control the severity of Irma, we can act ahead of time to safeguard our families, homes and businesses. Governor Rick Scott has already declared a state of emergency as wind gusts are expected to exceed 200 miles per hour. All tolls on Florida highways have been suspended and prescription drug refills covered by health insurance are available early.
A number of simple steps can make a big difference in surviving a natural disaster.
FEMA recommends that you identify your local hurricane evacuation route, make a family emergency communication plan, purchase a portable generator, secure loose rain gutters and downspouts, reinforce roofs, windows and doors and remove any damaged trees and limbs before rainfall. There is absolutely no downside in preparing for the worst.
Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/info/ to get up-to-date emergency information and make sure you follow the directions of local emergency management officials.
If you are thinking of leaving, please check out https://fl511.com/ for routes, cameras, and accidents.
Important website www.readypbc.org
Price gouging hotline is now operational. 1-866-9 no scam
Many stores including Publix, gas stations, and Home Depot have backup generators. We fully expect them to up and running getting new supplies.
Bottom line – Stay calm.
New advisory after Harvey is one week worth of items for your entire family as well as animals, not three days like in the past. It would also be the time to decide if you are staying or leaving. We are in the cone now up to about Orlando. According to the news tonight, the only place not having to deal with the storm much will be the panhandle west, but that is not a given either. Storms don’t read or follow maps. According to again to the news, we might be in the storm by mid day Sunday into Sunday night.
Not time to put up shutters, yet. Get food, water, meds, gas, know where your important documents are, battery operated radio, charge up/check your generators, check your flashlights/battery supply, animal supplies, and maybe a tarp if you need one after the storm and any other items that are important to your household. Also, you will need gloves and cleaning supplies (shovels, rakes,etc..) after the storm.
For those riding the storm out.
Hurricane Checklist 1. Charge any device that provides light. Laptops, tablets, cameras, video cameras, and old phones. Old cell phones can still use for dialing 911. Charge external battery back ups.
2. Wash all trash cans, big and small, and fill with water for flushing toilets. Line outdoor trash cans with trash bags, fill with water and store in the garage. Add bleach to sterilize.
3. Fill every tub and sink with water. Cover sinks with Saran Wrap to keep it from collecting dust. Fill washing machine and leave the lid up to store water.
4. Fill old empty water bottles and other containers with water and keep near sinks for washing hands.
5. Fill every Tupperware with water and store in the freezer. These will help keep food cold longer and serve as a backup water supply.
6. Fill drinking cups with water and cover with Saran Wrap. Store as many as possible in the fridge. The rest you can store on the counter and use first before any water bottles are opened. Ice is impossible to find after the storm.
7. Reserve fridge space for storing tap water and keep the sealed water bottles on the counter.
8. Cook any meats in advance and other perishable foods. You can freeze cooked food. Hard boil eggs for snacks for first day without power.
9. Be well hydrated before the storm hits and avoid salty foods that make you dehydrated.
10. Wash all dirty clothes and bed sheets. Anything dirty will smell without the A/C, you may need the items, and with no A/C, you’ll be sweating a lot. You’re going to want clean sheets.
11. Toss out any expiring food, clean cat litter boxes, empty all trash cans in the house, including bathrooms. Remove anything that will cause an odor when the A/C is off. If you don’t have a trash day pickup before the storm, find a dumpster.
12. Bring in any yard decor, secure anything that will fly around, secure gates, bring in hoses, potted plants, etc. Bring in patio furniture and grills.
13. Clean your environment, so you have clear, easy escape routes. Even if that means temporarily moving furniture to one area.
14. Scrub all bathrooms, so you are starting with a clean odor free environment. Store water filled trash cans next to each toilet for flushing.
15. Place everything you own that is important and necessary in a backpack or small file box that is easy to grab. Include your wallet with ID, phone, hand sanitizer, snacks, etc. Get plastic sleeves for important documents.
16. Make sure you have cash on hand.
17. Stock up on pet food and fill up bowls of water for pets.
18. Refill any medications. Most insurance companies allow for two emergency refills per year.
19. Fill your propane tanks. You can heat soup cans, boil water, make coffee, and other stuff besides just grilling meat. Get an extra, if possible.
20. Drop your A/C in advance and lower temperatures in your fridges.
21. Gather all candles, flashlights, lighters, matches, batteries, and other items and keep them accessible.
22. Clean all counters in advance. Start with a clean surface. Buy Clorox Wipes for cleaning when there is no power. Mop your floors and vacuum. If power is out for ten days, you’ll have to live in the mess you started with.
23. Pick your emergency safe place such as a closet under the stairs. Store the items you’ll need in that location for the brunt of the storm. Make a hand fan for when the power is out.
24. Shower just before the storm is scheduled to hit.
25. Keep baby wipes next to each toilet. Don’t flush them. It’s not the time to risk clogging your toilet!
26. Run your dishwasher, don’t risk having dirty, smelly dishes and you need every container for water! Remember you’ll need clean water for brushing your teeth, washing, and cleaning your hands.
27. Put a small suitcase in your car in case you decide to evacuate. Also, put at least one jug of water in your car. It will still be there if you don’t evacuate! You don’t need to store all water in the house. Remember to pack for pets as well.
28. Check on all family members, set up emergency back up plans, and check on elderly neighbors.
29. Remember, pets are family too. Take them with you!
30. Before the storm, unplug all electronics. There will be power surges during and after the storm.
31. Gas up your car and have a spare gas container for your generator or your car when you run out.
If you can, take a video of your house and contents….walk room to room–open cabinets/drawers and closets. This will help if you need to make a claim later. It will show proof of items and help you list all the items (help your memory, so you don’t forget anything)…I highly recommend!!!
I also heard you should freeze a cup of water, place a coin on top after it is frozen…keep this in your freezer to help you gauge the temperature if the power goes out. If the coin stays on top, the food is staying frozen. If the coin falls into the water, the freezer thawed out and most food will likely need to be thrown away. This is super helpful if you have to leave and come back, as it may appear everything is still frozen, but if the coin is in the cup–you will know!!
Finally, anything that you want to try and preserve, but you can’t take with you—place it in a plastic bin and put in your dishwasher, lock the door—this should make it water tight in case of any water intrusion into your home. But of course, take all the important/irreplaceable items you can!!
Landlines worked during the 04/05 hurricane season; cordless did not work because of no electricity for three weeks. If you have a corded phone, find it and be prepared to plug it into the wall to use if your cell goes out. Keep your cell charged as much as you can around this weekend.
Common sense tells us that after the storm has passed, don’t call FPL to report an outage. They will know that. However, call if all your neighbors have power and you don’t.
If we get a direct hit, pass up the temptation to go outside and assess the damage. Believe me; there will be more in the back half of the storm. Stay safe in your house. With standing water after the storm, don’t go walking in it, if possible. There could be a live electric wire in that water, snakes, red ants and more to name a few. Your safety, your families safety, and your animals safety if first, but if you are ok, check on your neighbors to make sure they are ok as well. This area pitches in to help each other, and we are counting on everyone to help each other.
If you stay calm, hopefully, your animals will stay calm. They will sense the storm before you do. Make sure all your animals have tags with name/phone numbers.
For the larger animals, write your name and number right on them with a grease pen or other pens that are permanent, not wash off in the rain if they get out. I am sure there are plenty of experts out here on animals. Check with your vet if you need to sedate your dog or cat for the storm.
The important take away is to be prepared and stay safe!
Please be safe,
South Florida Review
from South Florida Review https://southfloridareview.com/hurricane-irma-update-checklist-important-information/ from South Florida Review https://southfloridareview.tumblr.com/post/165090218365
0 notes
Text
Hurricane IRMA Update, Checklist & Important Information
We just got off a conference call with FEMA, NOAA, the National Weather Service and Florida Emergency Management about Hurricane Irma.
Their message was unmistakable: take the threat seriously and prepare accordingly.
Although we cannot control the severity of Irma, we can act ahead of time to safeguard our families, homes and businesses. Governor Rick Scott has already declared a state of emergency as wind gusts are expected to exceed 200 miles per hour. All tolls on Florida highways have been suspended and prescription drug refills covered by health insurance are available early.
A number of simple steps can make a big difference in surviving a natural disaster.
FEMA recommends that you identify your local hurricane evacuation route, make a family emergency communication plan, purchase a portable generator, secure loose rain gutters and downspouts, reinforce roofs, windows and doors and remove any damaged trees and limbs before rainfall. There is absolutely no downside in preparing for the worst.
Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org/info/ to get up-to-date emergency information and make sure you follow the directions of local emergency management officials.
If you are thinking of leaving, please check out https://fl511.com/ for routes, cameras, and accidents.
Important website www.readypbc.org
Price gouging hotline is now operational. 1-866-9 no scam
Many stores including Publix, gas stations, and Home Depot have backup generators. We fully expect them to up and running getting new supplies.
Bottom line – Stay calm.
New advisory after Harvey is one week worth of items for your entire family as well as animals, not three days like in the past. It would also be the time to decide if you are staying or leaving. We are in the cone now up to about Orlando. According to the news tonight, the only place not having to deal with the storm much will be the panhandle west, but that is not a given either. Storms don’t read or follow maps. According to again to the news, we might be in the storm by mid day Sunday into Sunday night.
Not time to put up shutters, yet. Get food, water, meds, gas, know where your important documents are, battery operated radio, charge up/check your generators, check your flashlights/battery supply, animal supplies, and maybe a tarp if you need one after the storm and any other items that are important to your household. Also, you will need gloves and cleaning supplies (shovels, rakes,etc..) after the storm.
For those riding the storm out.
Hurricane Checklist 1. Charge any device that provides light. Laptops, tablets, cameras, video cameras, and old phones. Old cell phones can still use for dialing 911. Charge external battery back ups.
2. Wash all trash cans, big and small, and fill with water for flushing toilets. Line outdoor trash cans with trash bags, fill with water and store in the garage. Add bleach to sterilize.
3. Fill every tub and sink with water. Cover sinks with Saran Wrap to keep it from collecting dust. Fill washing machine and leave the lid up to store water.
4. Fill old empty water bottles and other containers with water and keep near sinks for washing hands.
5. Fill every Tupperware with water and store in the freezer. These will help keep food cold longer and serve as a backup water supply.
6. Fill drinking cups with water and cover with Saran Wrap. Store as many as possible in the fridge. The rest you can store on the counter and use first before any water bottles are opened. Ice is impossible to find after the storm.
7. Reserve fridge space for storing tap water and keep the sealed water bottles on the counter.
8. Cook any meats in advance and other perishable foods. You can freeze cooked food. Hard boil eggs for snacks for first day without power.
9. Be well hydrated before the storm hits and avoid salty foods that make you dehydrated.
10. Wash all dirty clothes and bed sheets. Anything dirty will smell without the A/C, you may need the items, and with no A/C, you’ll be sweating a lot. You’re going to want clean sheets.
11. Toss out any expiring food, clean cat litter boxes, empty all trash cans in the house, including bathrooms. Remove anything that will cause an odor when the A/C is off. If you don’t have a trash day pickup before the storm, find a dumpster.
12. Bring in any yard decor, secure anything that will fly around, secure gates, bring in hoses, potted plants, etc. Bring in patio furniture and grills.
13. Clean your environment, so you have clear, easy escape routes. Even if that means temporarily moving furniture to one area.
14. Scrub all bathrooms, so you are starting with a clean odor free environment. Store water filled trash cans next to each toilet for flushing.
15. Place everything you own that is important and necessary in a backpack or small file box that is easy to grab. Include your wallet with ID, phone, hand sanitizer, snacks, etc. Get plastic sleeves for important documents.
16. Make sure you have cash on hand.
17. Stock up on pet food and fill up bowls of water for pets.
18. Refill any medications. Most insurance companies allow for two emergency refills per year.
19. Fill your propane tanks. You can heat soup cans, boil water, make coffee, and other stuff besides just grilling meat. Get an extra, if possible.
20. Drop your A/C in advance and lower temperatures in your fridges.
21. Gather all candles, flashlights, lighters, matches, batteries, and other items and keep them accessible.
22. Clean all counters in advance. Start with a clean surface. Buy Clorox Wipes for cleaning when there is no power. Mop your floors and vacuum. If power is out for ten days, you’ll have to live in the mess you started with.
23. Pick your emergency safe place such as a closet under the stairs. Store the items you’ll need in that location for the brunt of the storm. Make a hand fan for when the power is out.
24. Shower just before the storm is scheduled to hit.
25. Keep baby wipes next to each toilet. Don’t flush them. It’s not the time to risk clogging your toilet!
26. Run your dishwasher, don’t risk having dirty, smelly dishes and you need every container for water! Remember you’ll need clean water for brushing your teeth, washing, and cleaning your hands.
27. Put a small suitcase in your car in case you decide to evacuate. Also, put at least one jug of water in your car. It will still be there if you don’t evacuate! You don’t need to store all water in the house. Remember to pack for pets as well.
28. Check on all family members, set up emergency back up plans, and check on elderly neighbors.
29. Remember, pets are family too. Take them with you!
30. Before the storm, unplug all electronics. There will be power surges during and after the storm.
31. Gas up your car and have a spare gas container for your generator or your car when you run out.
If you can, take a video of your house and contents….walk room to room–open cabinets/drawers and closets. This will help if you need to make a claim later. It will show proof of items and help you list all the items (help your memory, so you don’t forget anything)…I highly recommend!!!
I also heard you should freeze a cup of water, place a coin on top after it is frozen…keep this in your freezer to help you gauge the temperature if the power goes out. If the coin stays on top, the food is staying frozen. If the coin falls into the water, the freezer thawed out and most food will likely need to be thrown away. This is super helpful if you have to leave and come back, as it may appear everything is still frozen, but if the coin is in the cup–you will know!!
Finally, anything that you want to try and preserve, but you can’t take with you—place it in a plastic bin and put in your dishwasher, lock the door—this should make it water tight in case of any water intrusion into your home. But of course, take all the important/irreplaceable items you can!!
Landlines worked during the 04/05 hurricane season; cordless did not work because of no electricity for three weeks. If you have a corded phone, find it and be prepared to plug it into the wall to use if your cell goes out. Keep your cell charged as much as you can around this weekend.
Common sense tells us that after the storm has passed, don’t call FPL to report an outage. They will know that. However, call if all your neighbors have power and you don’t.
If we get a direct hit, pass up the temptation to go outside and assess the damage. Believe me; there will be more in the back half of the storm. Stay safe in your house. With standing water after the storm, don’t go walking in it, if possible. There could be a live electric wire in that water, snakes, red ants and more to name a few. Your safety, your families safety, and your animals safety if first, but if you are ok, check on your neighbors to make sure they are ok as well. This area pitches in to help each other, and we are counting on everyone to help each other.
If you stay calm, hopefully, your animals will stay calm. They will sense the storm before you do. Make sure all your animals have tags with name/phone numbers.
For the larger animals, write your name and number right on them with a grease pen or other pens that are permanent, not wash off in the rain if they get out. I am sure there are plenty of experts out here on animals. Check with your vet if you need to sedate your dog or cat for the storm.
The important take away is to be prepared and stay safe!
Please be safe,
South Florida Review
source https://southfloridareview.com/hurricane-irma-update-checklist-important-information/ from South Florida Review http://southfloridareview.blogspot.com/2017/09/hurricane-irma-update-checklist.html
0 notes
Text
If you’re anything like us, you squeal whenever you find products from Korea in an unlikely place! K-products can be hard to come by unless you live in a bigger city, like NYC or LA. We’re also not the most patient types, so waiting for online orders to be delivered can be impossible if we get the sudden urge to veg out with a K-drama, ramen and a face mask. So, we went out with the mission to find some K-products right in our neighborhoods and met with some surprisingly convenient spots in the U.S. where you just might score that Korean product you were looking for! Check it out!
The Finds
1. Walmart
You can find Nonghshim products at both Walmart and Sam’s Club’s all over the US!
The retail giant has everything from food to tires, but did you notice that they also have quite a few Korean foodstuffs? While perusing the shelves, we found Nongshim ramen! We’ve also seen the ramen bowl noodles at our local Publix and Harris Teeter stores, so we’re guessing they’re close to everywhere!
2. World Market
#gallery-0-9 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-9 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-9 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-9 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
We’re debating whether to give the canned kimchi a try!
Found Korean face masks from It’s Skin!
With a title like World Market, it’s no surprise that one would be able to find delicacies and trinkets from all over the world! We were able to find a few Korean food products like canned kimchi and bulgogi sauce as well as Nongshim ramen, but we also, surprisingly, stumbled upon some Korean beauty products as well! Keep your eyes peeled next time you visit this store!
3. Ulta
We had noticed that Ulta had been adding a couple of Korea products here and there, but on our last visit, we saw a whole rack dedicated to Korean beauty products from Tony Moly to Skinfood! The plus side is that you can also order some of these products from their store online! The downside is that it feels the products are a bit more pricey than they would normally be if you had bought them straight from their sources. For instance, the Tony Moly “I’M REAL” mask collection can run up to near $4 per mask on Ulta.com! We’re used to getting them for $1.99 per mask at most when we visit Tony Moly stores, and even then, they are usually running 1+1 deals! But hey, we guess that’s the price for having Korean beauty more readily available.
4. TJ Maxx & Marshalls
This had to be one of the more surprising spots on our list! Sure, “Maxxinistas” from all over swear by the deals you can find here, but we had no idea that this included Korean beauty product deals! Remember the nearly $4 masks from Ulta? Well, we found the exact same Tony Moly masks on sale here for just $1.49 per mask! What a great find! And before you ask “Are their beauty products safe? I heard they are all expired”, we ask ourselves the same questions since we should all take extra care before buying any beauty products, as expired products could lead to irritation. But, how can we tell when they expire? Where’s the manufacture date? Well, on Korean products it’s usually the only date you see. Some do print an expiration date as well, but if you see the characters “제조” by a number, that’s the manufacture date. According to Tony Moly’s FAQ, their beauty products are safe to use up to 3 years after the manufacture date, but as a general rule of thumb, they should be used between 12-18 months after the manufacture date for the best quality. As far as where or even how TJX (the mother company of Marshalls and TJ Maxx) gets their hands on Korean beauty products, in this Cosmopolitan interview with TJX’s legal team, they mention that they source their products from “department-store cancellations, a manufacturer making too much product or a closeout deal when a vendor wants to clear merchandise”. From personal experience, we have noticed some dates that seem a little older, like a mask we picked up manufactured in 2015, but from that same haul, we got a mask that has an expiration date year of 2020, so it’s really a crap-shoot! Just be vigilant!
#gallery-0-10 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-10 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-10 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-10 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Tony Moly and Face Shop face masks for under $2!
Cristina has been using the Snail Essential face cleanser happily with no problems!
The Take Away
It’s great to see Korean products gaining popularity and accessibility in the United States, and we’re sure as the popularity in Korean products continues to rise, we’ll be able to find even more items like Korean drama DVDs and Kpop merchandise! Have you found Korean products in any surprising places?
STAY CONNECTED WITH US!
Website: www.nuttynomads.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nuttynomads/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NuttyNomads
G+ Page: google.com/+nuttynomads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuttynomads/
Snapchat: nuttynomads
Be sure to sign up for our Newsletter!
[mc4wp_form id=”2330″]
Made in Korea : Surprising Spots to Find Korean Products Right Here in the USA! If you're anything like us, you squeal whenever you find products from Korea in an unlikely place!
0 notes
Text
New Post has been published on Mortgage News
New Post has been published on http://bit.ly/2nQ90Ji
6 Ways to Protect Yourself From Falling Stock Prices
You don’t need a fear of heights to feel skittish about stocks these days. Recently passing its eight-year anniversary, the bull market has been running for more than 2,900 days, the second-longest stretch in history. Even after the market plunged 1.2% on March 21, share prices of large-company stocks are still up 10% since the presidential election alone. As Goldman Sachs sees it, the U.S. stock market is now more expensive than it has been 90% of the time in its history.
See Also: 25 Stocks Raising Dividends for 25 Years or More
A pricey market isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. It usually takes a looming recession to terminate a bull market. But there are no signs of an economic slowdown on the horizon. Quite the contrary. Investors are anticipating faster economic growth, spurred by a rollback in government regulations by the Trump administration, expected tax cuts, and a revival of “animal spirits”—rising confidence that propels business and consumer spending. Economist Ed Yardeni predicts that Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, which closed at 2,344 on March 21, could hit 2,500 by year-end. “The race most likely isn’t over for the latest bull run,” he says.
Nonetheless, some strategists say the market has risen too far, too fast, climbing more on aspirations than real improvement in the economy. Corporate insiders are selling stocks at a breakneck pace—in contrast to everyday investors, who are buying in droves, says economist David Rosenberg, of money management firm Gluskin Sheff. The trend may be signaling excessive exuberance for stocks that isn’t warranted by what company insiders are seeing. For a variety of reasons, Rosenberg says, “we have a market ripe for a near-term correction” (a decline of 10% to 20% from the market’s peak).
Whether a correction or a bear market will come to pass in the next few weeks or months isn’t something we can predict. But we can offer up some ways for you to protect your gains or take actions against a slump. Here are six moves that can help ease the pain if a downturn does unceremoniously arrive.
Advertisement
Take some money off the table
Even if you’re not nervous about the market, rising prices may have pushed your stock holdings well above your target investment mix. If a year ago you built a portfolio that had 65% in stocks and 35% in bonds, market performance has thrown your asset allocation out of whack. With the stock market up 18% over the past year and the U.S. bond market essentially flat, your stock allocation could be above 75% today.
Trimming your stock allocation by about 10 percentage points will get you back to your target mix. You could leave the money in cash. Or plow it into bonds, most of which yield more than they did a year ago. Bond funds we like include Metropolitan West Unconstrained Bond (symbol MWCRX, yield 2.3%), DoubleLine Total Return Bond (DLTNX, 3.4%) and Pimco Income Fund (PONDX, 3.5%). The DoubleLine and Pimco funds are members of the Kiplinger 25, the list of our favorite no-load mutual funds
Choose what you sell carefully. Bank stocks may look vulnerable after today’s 2.8% average decline in financial stocks overall. But many analysts recommend holding onto bank stocks, which should benefit from steeper interest rates and an improving economy. But shares of utilities, makers of food products and purveyors of household goods look especially rich and tend to be sensitive to swings in interest rates, says Bank of America Merrill Lynch. High-yield stocks such as AT&T (T, $42.07) and Verizon Communications (VZ, $50.14) may also slump in a rising-rate climate, though their dividend yields, now north of 4.5%, provide some downside protection. (Unless otherwise indicated, prices and yields are as of March 21; returns are through March 20.)
See Also: The 4 Best Stock Funds for the Next Bear Market
Keep tax consequences in mind. If you dump investments you’ve held for less than a year in a taxable account, you could face short-term capital-gains taxes, which sting at a top rate of 43.4% (including a 3.8% Medicare surtax if your adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000). If you sell after you’ve held an investment for more than one year, the top capital-gains tax drops to 15% for most taxpayers.
Keep your stocks, but sell call options against them
Investors often sell call options against stocks in their portfolio to protect some of their gains and pocket a little income on the side. You can do it yourself, without much fuss, or invest in a fund that deploys the strategy. Either way, selling calls can create a modest buffer against losses in individual stocks or the market overall, though the strategy won’t help if we have a repeat of the stock market’s 37% collapse in 2008.
Advertisement
To do it yourself, you’ll have to know a few things about options. Calls grant the owner the right to buy a stock at a preset price, called the strike price, up to a certain date in the future. One option contract controls 100 shares of the underlying stock. The cost of the option is called the premium, and it generally tracks the price of the underlying stock. Options can last anywhere from minutes to months before they expire. Calls generally gain value as a stock goes up. If the stock declines, the call will usually follow it lower.
If you sell call options against stocks you own, you’ll earn the option premium, making a little money no matter what happens to the underlying stock. And if the stock heads south, the option premium you pocket will help offset your losses in the underlying shares.
Let’s say you own 100 shares of Southwest Airlines (LUV, $51.88) and decide to sell a call against the stock. You could sell one call contract expiring on September 15 with a strike price of $55 for $2.86 per share. You would immediately earn $286 from the sale (less the brokerage commission). If Southwest’s stock exceeds $55, you will likely have to relinquish your shares to the option’s buyer. But you’ll keep the option premium no matter what. If the stock stays at or below $55 and isn’t “called,” you’ll get to keep your 100 shares, too.
Selling calls imposes one big downside. It limits how much you can make off a stock. If the shares bust through the strike price at any time before the option expires, you may have to give up the stock. In a fast-rising market, that can mean forgoing profits. You may also incur taxes on the sale if you hold the stock in a taxable account.
Advertisement
If all this sounds too complex or unwieldy, consider buying a “covered call” fund. Such funds sell calls against stocks in their portfolio or the overall market, covering the options with underlying shares they own. By their nature, these funds have no shot at keeping up with a rising market. They could also falter because of lousy stock picks. But if the market does take a dive, they should hold up better than funds lacking such protection.
Glenmede Secured Options Portfolio (GTSOX) has been a top performer in the covered-call space. The shares returned an average 7.3% over the past five years—a lousy showing compared with the 13.5% annualized return of Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index. But the fund edged the covered-call-fund category by an average of 2.1 percentage points per year. The fund’s annual expense ratio is 0.85%.
PowerShares S&P 500 BuyWrite Portfolio (PBP, $21.82), an exchange-traded fund, sells calls against the S&P 500. The ETF has returned an annualized 6.3% over the past five years, a relatively weak performance. But the fund has held up well when the market has been flat or down. It charges 0.75% in annual fees.
Buy stock index put options
The opposite of calls, put options grant the owner the right to sell a stock at a preset price, up until the option’s expiration date. You can buy puts against just about any stock, sector or market index. Puts generally go up in price when their underlying stocks or the broad market declines. If you think that will happen, buying puts can be a great way to profit.
Advertisement
Say you think the S&P 500 will slide by 10% by year-end. You could buy a put option against the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY, $233.73). The $225 put with a June 16 expiration closed at $3.06 (meaning one contract would cost $306). If the market slumps, you could profit handsomely. If the S&P 500 fell to 2,200 by mid-June, a decline of 6.1% from the S&P 500’s March 21 closing price, the option would be worth roughly $6.50 at expiration—a 111% return.
Conversely, if the market goes up, stays flat or never breaches 2,300, the put would gradually lose value and may eventually expire worthless. If you don’t sell before the expiration, you could lose the entire cost of the premium (plus trading costs).
Buy a bear market fund
If you’re really convinced that stocks will nose-dive, you can take advantage of it with a bear-market mutual fund or exchange-traded fund. These funds may sell stocks “short,” selling borrowed shares that they hope to replace later at a lower price, thereby profiting if prices fall. The funds may also use options or other strategies to wager against the market. Over long periods, the funds aren’t likely to produce the exact inverse of the market’s performance (because of anomalies in the daily compounding of returns). But they can at least turn some of the market’s declines into profits.
The Pimco StocksPlus Short Fund (PSSDX) uses futures contracts and other investing techniques to try to replicate the opposite of the S&P 500’s daily return. The fund only needs a small amount of assets to implement the strategy and invests the leftover cash in low-risk bonds, which generate income on the side. Those payouts haven’t prevented the fund from racking up steep losses over the past decade, with returns sliding at an annualized rate of 5.4%. The losses aren’t a surprise, though, considering that the S&P 500 has returned an annualized 7.6% over the same span.
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 1x Shares (SPDN, $17.66) is an ETF that aims to deliver the inverse of the S&P 500’s performance on a daily basis. Traders tend to dip in and out of such ETFs to bet against the market in short bursts. The Direxion fund’s expense ratio is 0.62%.
Buy a long-short fund
One way to hedge against the market, while staying invested, is to move some of your stock investments into a long-short fund. Such funds have the flexibility to bet on stocks or against them. Schwab Hedged Equity (SWHEX), for instance, holds 270 stocks, with about 57% in long positions and the rest in stocks held short. Over the past decade, the fund has captured 61% of the market’s gains and 63% of its losses, according to Morningstar.
Returning an annualized 8.4% over the past five years, the fund, not surprisingly, has been unable to keep up with the stock market. In 2008, however, the fund lost just 20.5%, compared with the S&P 500’s 37% plunge. Over the past decade, the fund’s 4.5% annualized returns beat 64% of long-short funds.
Embrace Uncle Sam: Buy long-term government bonds
Long-term Treasuries have lost many fans as interest rates have begun to climb. The bonds are highly sensitive to interest rates and could tumble if long-term rates rise sharply. But Treasuries can provide welcome stability when the stock market turns rocky.
If the stock market tumbles, it will drag down all sorts of risky investments. In that scenario, investors will likely flock to the reassuring arms of Uncle Sam. Long-term government bonds have reliably headed in the opposite direction of stocks for many years, says Christine Benz, director of personal finance at Morningstar. Vanguard Long-Term Treasury (VUSTX) illustrates how the relationship works, she says. While the S&P 500 lost 37% in 2008, the fund gained 23%. In subsequent years, when the S&P 500 rallied, the fund posted heavy losses.
See Also: 12 Reliable Dividend Stocks for Every Month of the Year
0 notes
Quote
Author’s note: I live in Italy, which has just been put under “lockdown” for the next three weeks as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. While I’m not under quarantine, circumstances have forced us all to consider that self-quarantine might be in our near future. I’ve thought a lot about how to keep my family of three comfortable and nourished should that occur. I’ve tried to maintain a level head and not panic while still being pragmatic and prepared. Yet every time I go to the grocery store, I shop as though it might be my last food run for two weeks. A week ago, it might have seemed unthinkable. But if the reality isn’t setting in yet, it should be. As Italy imposes a nationwide lockdown to halt, or at least slow, the spread of novel coronavirus, the truth is that other countries may soon have to follow suit — including parts of the United States. And as cases spread worldwide and more people are exposed to the virus, more and more individuals and families are going into imposed or voluntary quarantine — whether they test positive for coronavirus or not. This typically entails two weeks that they are supposed to stay indoors (or, at the most, in their own private yard or outdoor space) without contact or exposure to anyone outside their four walls. So if the order to self-quarantine does darken your door, and assuming you don’t want to order pizza or Thai food for 14 days of breakfast, lunch and dinner, what food do you need to have on-hand for a two week stint at home? (Consider that once you’re aware that you need to self-quarantine, it will already be too late to grocery shop.) I spoke to Laura Fuentes, founder of MOMables.com, about meal-planning, nutrition and shopping in advance of a possible quarantine. The overarching message is: Plan ahead, but don’t panic. Take inventory of what you already have on hand. Before you rush out to Costco and start scooping bulk-wrapped juice boxes into your cart, take a deep breath, and take inventory. “[Many] households in the U.S. have enough food stashed in their freezers and pantries to get them through a week,” Fuentes said. “Make a plan to eat what you have on hand first. Then head to the store and buy the other staples that will get you through two weeks.” Rice, pasta, oats, whole grains and canned vegetables are the most practical choices, she said. “Not only do they have a long shelf life, they’re great meal builders for breakfast, pasta night, chilis, soups and stews.” Plan meals with common ingredients. Fuentes also advises sitting down for 10 minutes or so and mapping out a 14-day meal plan that favors meals with the same ingredients. So consider meals built around rice, pasta, legumes and other long-shelf-life ingredients, enhanced with protein and vegetables. “That doesn’t mean rice and beans every day,” she said, “but maybe it means cooking enough rice for three different meals and incorporating it over several days.” So, for example, if you cook a whole chicken and serve it with rice one night, use the carcass to make slow-cooker chicken and rice soup for lunch the next day, or freeze it for a few days later. You can also easily incorporate dairy products without worrying about spoilage. “With the exception of fresh milk, dairy products like cheese and yogurt should have an expiration date of at least two weeks,” Fuentes said. “You can also freeze milk and consume it within five days after thawing out.” The freezer is your friend. The biggest downside of a two-week shopping haul is the limited availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially into week two. Apples, oranges and pears will last the longest, as will rather pedestrian vegetables like onions, potatoes, squash and carrots. For everything else, Fuentes said, it’s time to cruise the frozen food aisle. “Frozen fruit and vegetables are nutritionally on par with fresh,” she said, “and frozen broccoli, spinach and mixed vegetables can be steamed, sautéed or roasted, just as you would with fresh.” For a dose of immune-boosting antioxidants, add frozen berries to smoothies, cereals or desserts. Plan on using your fresh produce within the first five days, then switch to frozen when fresh supplies are exhausted. Stocking up on frozen food is fine, but what about households, especially in densely populated cities, that don’t have a lot of freezer space? For space-saving and meal-prep shortcuts, Fuentes said to remove meat from its bulky packaging and store meal-sized portions in zipper-lock bags. “That also gives you an opportunity to add sauce or seasoning right there, to save time later.” Be sure to label the bags, so you’re not pulling out a bag of frozen mystery meat and hoping for the best. Skip the junk food. Speaking as someone who has already consumed the emergency stash of granola bars and chocolate chip cookies, take it from me: Junk food, like a star-crossed romance, isn’t made to last. Fuentes recently saw panicked shoppers loading multi-packs of individual snacks into their carts (right next to the month’s supply of toilet paper). “What are they thinking?” she said. “Especially if you’ve got kids in the house, those snacks are going to disappear fast” — not to mention their lack of nutritional value. Instead, if you want to incorporate some cheats and treats into your 14-day routine, maybe plan on a frozen pizza night or spend a free afternoon making cookies with the kids. Keep it simple and stress-free. Self-quarantine is stressful, dudes. And while two weeks stuck in the house might conjure notion of baking fresh bread from scratch and whipping up elaborate soufflés, your patience may wear a lot thinner—a lot sooner—than you expect. If you’re working from home while trying to keep antsy kids occupied, you might not want to do a lot of cooking. “This is not the time to try new recipes,” Fuentes said. “It’s the time for spaghetti and tomato sauce, for quick stir-fries, or for tossing everything into the slow cooker.” Remember, too, that quarantine is not the zombie apocalypse, and society will not experience a complete and utter breakdown. Electricity, gas and cellphones will still work. You don’t need to hoard food, fuel and ammunition like an End Times prepper. Just keep your wits about you, make a plan and do your sensible grocery shopping. And don’t eat the whole box of granola bars in one sitting. The post Grocery Shopping For A Quarantine: What To Buy And How Much appeared first on Sansaar Times.
http://sansaartimes.blogspot.com/2020/05/grocery-shopping-for-quarantine-what-to.html
0 notes