ClothingFind an image consultant in your town and ask if you can have the clothes their clients get rid of. Don't buy into trends. Keep a wardrobe of classic pieces, so you don't have to update your clothes every year. Buy clothes at a thrift store. Wear clothes more than once before washing them. You'll reduce wear on your clothes and save energy by not washing so often. Shop at outlet stores. Avoid buying clothes that require drying cleaning. Cut dryer sheets in half to double the value of each box. Buy your winter clothes at the end of winter/beginning of spring. Buy summer clothing at the end of summer/beginning of fall. Shop at discount stores like TjMax and Ross. 03/31/2008

 Hello everyone!  Buying and Selling homes is $$$$$.  This is the first of several blogs to help you save money in your life.  Give me a "jingle" if you think of any other ones to add to the list  :)Automobile/TransportationWash and vacuum your car at home. Buy a used car. New cars drop significantly in value as soon as you drive off the lot. Get rid of your car.  (one is cheaper) Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess weight puts a heavier load on the engine. Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high gear as quickly as possible. Use your air conditioner only when absolutely necessary. Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a steady pace. Do not rest your foot on the clutch or brake pe... 03/31/2008

 When deciding to enter the Spokane real estate market, one thing that people sometimes do not take into consideration is the importance of realtors in the entire buying or selling process of any real estate property.It is important to remember that there are some things about the national real estate market and industry that the ordinary person is unaware of, or at least lacks the necessary knowledge about in order to be able to make the best possible decision with regards to a sale of any real estate property.Realtors can offer you good advice as to what steps or factors that you may need to take in order to avoid any legal impediments or conflicts later on. They can also help you by providing you with a number of financing options that you may use to your benefit in order to make you... 03/31/2008

Every year our local independent weekly newspaper - the kind you find for free at your favorite coffee shop just released "The Best of 2008" for Spokane.  Below I have listed the big ones and have added a few comments (and businesses) here and there that i think should have been included.  Here are their findings.  Enjoy!Best Asian Food: 1. Mustard Seed 2. Gordy's 3. PF ChangsNo Problem with these choices although I am still a little miffed that Mustard Seed left downtown for a Mall locationBest Burgers: 1. Red Robin 2. The Onion 3. D'LishsI gotta add Zip's to the list.  I love Zip's!Best New Restaurant: 1. Scratch 2. Churchill's 3. Twigs SouthTwigs Wandermere is a good one too! Right by our beautiful new branch!Best Vegetarian: 1. Mizuna 2. Huckleberry's 9th Street Bistro 3. Pita PitNo... 03/29/2008

Hello Everyone, When it comes to buying and selling Spokane Real Estate sometimes you have to look at the whole package an that includes things like do they work in the community, do they donate to any causes, and do they support the community through education. Really it comes down to getting the most for your money. When hiring an agent you can really make a bigger impact by selecting an agent that is active in your community. Most agents can provide basic services, then look for an exceptional agent, then find an exceptional agent who uses their money and time to do good in the community your living in. These are things we build our business on and whether you hire us or another agent look for these things so that you hire responsibly. Realtors work on 100% commission and they count ... 03/27/2008

Hello Everyone, If your searching for homes in Spokane Washington there are good and bad ways to do it. Most people pick up magazines to start looking but this is probably one of the worst ways to search for homes in Spokane . Because most magazines don't come out until about 2 to 3 weeks from the time the ad gets submitted. Then by the time it gets in the stores it can be up to a month old, and it sits there for about a month. So when you go to grab your magazine it can be as much as almost 1 to 2 months old. They usually also don't have all the information. They are generally not timely enough as far as home sales goes. They can't touch the speed and accuracy of the internet. They are mostly a lead generation tool for Realtors. Next we talk about the internet. Once you get on to the i... 03/27/2008

School Supplies - YWCA of Spokane All sizes and colors of new or gently used backpacks. Also markers, colored pencils, calculators and college ruled paper. Contact Information: Linsey Robinson 326-1190 x152 Socks and Underwear - YWCA of Spokane All sizes from small children's up to Women's and Men's XL, both socks and underwear (including boxers for the boys). Contact Information: Linsey Robinson 326-1190 x152 Infant/Toddler Needs - St. Margaret's Shelter All size diapers or pull-ups, especially size 3 and above, baby wipes are also needed Contact Information: Pam Crabtree 624-9788 Grocery and Gas Vouchers - St. Margaret's Shelter Any store/gas station for any amount. Contact Information: Pam Crabtree 624-9788 Personal Hygiene Products - St. Margaret's Shelter Shampoo, conditioner, deod... 03/26/2008

 Here is a local calendar I have put together of Hillyard Associations, Meetings, and Community Events for the Month  :)  GO PIRATES! Neighborhood Happenings... Hillyard Steering Committee MeetingThursday, March 27th, 7:00pm, Northeast Community Center 4001 N Cook St. The Hillyard Steering Committee is responsible for dispersing the funds given to Hillyard from the City Community Development funds.  The HSC meets the last Thursday of every month. Hillyard Festival Association MeetingTuesday, April 8th & 22nd, 6:30pm, Northeast Community Center 4001 N Cook St. The fun has just begun in 2008 for the Hillyard Festival Association.  If you are interested in having fun, building community and bringing first class events to our neighborhood, please come join us. Greater Hillyard Business Asso... 03/26/2008

  Do you have extra "stuff" laying around you want to get rid of?  Well, check your garage for some of these items  :)SPOKANIMAL  is in need of:A laminator Simple Green and Swiffer Wet clothsmop buckets, mop heads and handles blankets and towels a commercial washer and dryer for clinic and receiving bleach, bleach, and more bleach wet floor signs office supplies, writeable CD'svacuum cleanerbathroom tissue, paper towels They need foster homes! To qualify, all owned animals must be spayed/neutered, licensed,current on vaccinations and landlord permission if renting. Dog/cat enrichment programVolunteers to stuff Kongs, provide activities to pass the time for those who wait.Cheez Whiz (kong stuffer) Peanut Butter (kong stuffer) Pig Ears (temperament evaluations) Small kitty toys or ping po... 03/26/2008

Are you a caregiver for a family member or friend?  It can be so hard to stay strong.Do you want to expand your caregiver knowledge?Hospice of Spokane is hosting a series of free classes. Come learn helpful tips and useful insights from pros and peers!Each session will be led by a Hospice of Spokane nurse or social worker with years of experience... attend one or all.Topics include: How caregivers can take care of themselves. How to prepare for legal and other planning issues that are often associated with caregiving. How to talk with doctors andtheir billing offices. How to communicate with friends and families. How spiritual issues play a role in caregiving. Wednesdays, 2:00 - 3:30pmMarch 5 - April 2at Brighton Court1308 N Vercler Rd, near Valley Hospital)Coffee and cookies will be se... 03/26/2008

Author Jeannette Walls to Speak at Women HelpingWomen Fund's 2008 Annual LuncheonBest selling author and journalist Jeanette Walls will be the guest speaker at the Women Helping Women Fund's annual luncheon on May 5, 2008. Her memoir, The Glass Castle, was a New York Times bestseller more than 75 weeks, has sold more than 1.5 million copies, and been translated into sixteen languages. A major motion picture about the memoir is in the works, which is owned by Paramount Pictures and Brad Pitt's Plan B film production company. Its numerous awards include the Christopher Award, the American Library Association's Alex Award, and the Books for Better Living Award.Jeannette Walls was born in Phoenix, Arizona and her family lived in various southwestern towns before settling in Welch, West Virg... 03/26/2008

Whether you are buying or selling a home there are some simplesteps you can take to make sure the price is right. Many people will say location is everything and to a certain degree this is true.If you are moving into a heavily populated area there are definitely differencesthat can boost or lower prices by distances that are under a mile. If you are living in a rural area there are also distinct differenceslike distance to your fire company, school or shopping. For the rest of us that live someplace in between center city andthe third pole on the right after you come to the big red barn the differencesare sometimes very subtle and investigating all of the factors that makeyour home a part of the community is definitely worth the time beforesetting a price or agreeing to one. Checking ... 03/26/2008

 So you've had your home on the market for over three months, you've seen that you're just one of several for sale signs in your neighborhood, your new home is due to close in several weeks, and you are really starting to get anxious. Can it all work out?You bet it can! Don't loose hope. There are a few things that you really need to take a good hard look at, but you can successfully sell your home in a tough market.Check your price. If you are not priced well, drop your price now! If you are sweating carrying two mortgages, drop your home price below the market price. In a tough market price always will sell a property. If you aren't sure what to price your home at, get an appraisal now. Market your home that you are priced below the appraised price. Check your realtor's agreement. Don... 03/26/2008

 You need to sell your home as quickly as possible and for top dollar. But the only buyers in the market seem to be bottom-fishers who want to snap up a bank-owned property at a substantial discount. How can you sell your home when you're surrounded by foreclosures?Foreclosures have been on the rise,  in all neighborhoods, regardless of the socio-economic status.Sellers don't have as many options in a strong buyer's market, but there are some tactics that can tip the balance between a sold home and what Realtors call a "stale listing," which refers to a home that has been on the market so long that buyers have become suspicious as to why no one has bought it.TIP #1CALL ME!  :) Seriously.  I am very good at selling homes.  509-230-4153 ( see I'm marketing to you right now LOL)On an educa... 03/26/2008

All Homeowners have many possibilities for mortgage refinance. If you have had the opportunity to accrue equity on your home, a home equity loan (2nd mortgage) can free up that money for debt consolidation or investment. Another option in refinancing is to procure more beneficial mortgage terms: maybe a longer total loan term or lower monthly payments. Using a Spokane Mortgage Broker, or a broker in any town for that matter can help you avoid  a fast approaching balloon payment, and extend your payoff time frame, and arrange for more manageable interest rates and monthly payments.Homeowners today have an inestimable resource when making refinance decisions: the Internet. If you're looking for an additional source of cash, refinancing your home is not the only option; home equity lines o... 03/25/2008

 Thinking of Relocating to Spokane? You will love it here! We have a great Climate and tons of Great things to do. Whether you like to Ski, Hunt, fish, Golf, or go boating.... we have you covered. The qaulity of life here is just amazing and I am pround to live here! Spokane is located at the eastern edge of the Columbia Plateau's wheat farms and steppe, where they meet the forested Rocky Mountain foothills, the Selkirk Mountains. The Great city of  Spokane is primarily served by Interstate 90, which runs east-west from Seattle, through Downtown Spokane, and eastward through Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and onward to Coeur d'Alene.  Spokane is a conservative community that has undergone major transformations, particularly in attitude, in the last 5-10 years.  We are the largest city ea... 03/25/2008

 Construction Loans in Spokane Construction Loans... how do they work? Construction Loans are loans for building a home. Your Lender needs to know all the details of Construction including cost to built, loan to value, and detailed plans for the home itself. Construction Loans are different in that they are not underwritten by a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. Typically Construction Loans require interest only payments during the construction process and are due and payable at completion of the home. They are usually variable interest rate loans, and a draw or dispersement schedule is draw up between the Lender, Contractor, and the Customer.Construction to Permanent is a financing program that allows the the customer to have the Construction loan automatically after the certificate of occupa... 03/25/2008

 What are all these acronymns on real estate ads?  (Good Question BTW)In order to avoid sometimes high advertising costs, sellers and agents use a form of shorthand, of whose madness there is a method. Here is a key that can help you decipher the listings:  Here are some definitions that may help you navigate the crazy ads out there in our local Spokane area.  Give me a call...I can help even more   :)assum. fin. -- Assumable financing. dk -- Deck. gar -- Garage (garden is usually abbreviated "gard"). expansion pot'l -- May be extra space on the lot, or possibly vertical potential for a top floor or room addition. Verify actual potential by checking local zoning restrictions prior to purchase. fab pentrm -- Fabulous pentroom, a room on top, underneath the roof, that sometimes has views.... 03/24/2008

 Forbes recently announced their 10th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers. The findings help to paint a picture of what is happening in the overall U.S. economy, as well as in specific metro areas across the country. Plus, the rankings offer a wide range of choices for the best places to launch a new business, consider for relocation, and much more. This year, Raleigh, N.C. is number one for the second year in a row due in part, to its strong job growth. For the third straight year, the Southeast is home to half of the top ten, with Lexington, Atlanta and Richmond joining the ranks. The Pacific Northwest is well represented with Boise at number two and Olympia and Spokane in the eight and nine spots. Rounding out the top ten is Knoxville, Tenn. where business cost... 03/24/2008

I'm on the fundraising committee for the Wishing Star foundation and just wanted to share with you all one of the projects that Lexington Homes here in Spokane is donating to their wonderful cause.  Wishing Star Foundation will be the recipient of a major donation through the work of Lexington Homes. The Spokane residential home builder will hold ground-breaking ceremonies Wednesday (February 20) for a very special home to assist Wishing Star."We will build a home in the popular, family-friendly, Twin Bridges sub-division in the Valley, and all net proceeds from this home will go directly to the local Wishing Star Foundation," explained Dave Nerren, president of Lexington Homes.Established in 1983, The Wishing Star Foundation, Inc. is the oldest, wish-granting organization in Eastern an... 03/24/2008