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Tips & TricksH E L P I N G T O E N R I C H Y O U R F A M I LY A N D H O M E

Finishing Summer!

The month of August was a nice break for us. We finished up some big projects and were able to relax. We're now ready for the fall: rain, leaves, and football! :)

We also got to volunteer a bit this month. For the 2nd year we volunteered for the Hood-to-Coast relay. Teams of 12 people come from all over the world to complete the 200 mile relay. It's an incredible accomplishment that takes over 24 hrs.

One of our favorite parts is seeing some of the fun team costumes. For example, this year we saw an Avengers team where Thor handed off to Captain America. We also saw a team of Zombies who looked pretty convincing!

We hope you enjoyed your summer too with opportunities to relax and get some sun. As your getting your sweaters out for cooler days, check out the tip to the right on how to hang it without getting creases.

How to Hang a Sweaterfrom Snapguide

Most people hang sweaters like they would a normal shirt or jacket, but the weight of the material means the hanger can create bumps on the garment's shoulders. Luckily, there's a somewhat wacky way to avoid this:

1) Fold your sweater in half and place the hanger in the arm pit.2) Fold the waist over one side of the hanger.3) Fold the sleeves over the other side.4) The weight is broadly distributed and won’t stretch the sweater.

Furlo&Family&Homes September 2013

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Secrets of the 800+ Credit Score Clubfrom Ann-Marie Murphy, Quizzle Wire

It’s a Catch-22. If you have bad credit, you pay more in interest on home loans, auto loans, credit cards and more, making it more challenging to make your payments, get out of debt and improve your credit score. On the other hand, if you have good credit, you pay less in interest, increasing the likelihood that you can manage your monthly payments, keeping your credit score high and intact.

The truth is, no matter what your credit score is now, you can achieve the “platinum standard” of credit – a score above 800 – and nab yourself the best deals on life’s largest purchases. As your average 30-something, I’ve been in debt, struggled to pay bills and never had a substantial income to bail me out. But, the one thing I do have (now, anyway) is a credit score of 808. And I’m here to tell you my secrets:

Never miss a paymentI’ve never had a payment reported as late on my credit report. This is crucial to your credit score. Payment history makes up about a third of your credit rating. If you have a good score and miss just one payment, your credit score can suffer upwards of 110 points. Besides debt settlement, foreclosure and bankruptcy, a late payment is about the worst thing you can do to your credit score.

Technically, a “30-day late” is any payment received one to 30 days after the due date, according to FICO. However, in many cases, your bank, creditor or lender will give you a grace period of a few days to up to the next due date before reporting your payment as late to the credit bureaus. Find out what your grace period is so you don’t find yourself in a credit crisis.

Keep your balances low and your limits highAnother good chunk of your credit score is determined by your credit utilization, or how much credit you use (balances) compared to how much credit is available to you (limits) – the lower, the better. A good rule of thumb is to keep your balances well below 50 percent of your limits. As soon as you hit the 50 percent mark, your score will begin to take incremental hits. On the other hand, the lower you keep your balances below that 50 percent mark, the

more your credit score will incrementally benefit.

As a point of reference, the average credit utilization of a person with an 800+ score is 7 percent, according to FICO.

Mix it upAnother ingredient to the 800+ credit score recipe is a good mix of credit – revolving credit (e.g. credit cards), installment credit (e.g. car loans, student loans)

and mortgages. I would never recommend that you apply for credit you don’t need, but be aware that the ability to manage different types of credit responsibly bodes well for your credit score.

Don’t apply for credit you don’t need, but don’t close accounts eitherI have three regular credit cards, two of which I use often. I also have two retail credit cards that I use on occasion (mostly for the perks). One of my credit cards I use only for gas. Not only does this help keep my budget simple, but the little amount I charge on it each month, then pay off in full, will be reported on my credit report as “OK,” thereby strengthening my credit history.

Each time you apply for a credit card or a loan, your credit score takes a small hit. While one or two won’t hurt you that badly, many inquiries – especially in a short period of time – can. That’s why it’s a good idea to only apply for credit you need and try not to succumb to the temptation of “10 percent off your purchase” every time you hit the register at your favorite stores.

If you have any credit card accounts you don’t use, don’t close them! When you close an account, you’re lowering the amount of credit that’s available to you and if you carry balances on any other cards, your credit utilization will go up and your credit score may go down. Instead, you may want to dust off that old card and use it for small purchases that you will pay off in full each month – like me with gasoline.

Ultimately, a good credit score is about more than having credit. It’s about having credit and using it responsibly.


5 Time-Saving Tipsfrom Brian Tracy, Brian Tracy International

Here are five ideas that you can use in your personal life to get things done more efficiently and save time:

1. Shop All At OnceWhen you go shopping, do it all at once. Don’t shop at one store one day, and another store on a different day. Go out and do all of your shopping on a single day in a single trip.

2. Bunch Your ErrandsWhen you have several errands to do, bunch them and do them all at once, rather than doing one today, one tomorrow, and so on through the week.

3. Don’t Waste the Time of OthersAsk yourself, ‘‘How do I waste the time of my boss? My coworkers? My subordinates? My spouse? My children? And others?’’ And then make efforts to avoid doing it. If you are curious,ask them, ‘‘What do I do that wastes your time? How could I change the way I use my time so that it would be more efficient for you?’’ Don’t be surprised by what they tell you.

4. Be PunctualOnly 2 percent of people are punctual all the time, and these people are recognized and respected by everyone. Punctuality is professional and courteous. Make a habit of being on time. There is no such thing as being fashionably late. It is really just being inconsiderate and disorganized.

5. Get Things Done QuicklyGet things done by developing a fast tempo and picking up the pace. Move quickly in cleaning up your house, putting things away, getting ready to go out—in all possible household tasks and responsibilities. The faster you work and the more you get done, the better you feel. Most successful people work at a higher tempo of activity than unsuccessful people. They don’t necessarily do different things, but they get things done more efficiently in a given time than the average person. They produce more in less time, and as a result, they get paid more and promoted faster. Fast tempo is essential to success.

Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Dryer Sheets

from popsugar, Wise Bread

Not only is this laundry solution smart, it is also eco-friendly. For only pennies, you'll have dryer sheets that can be used over and over and over again. What makes these dryer sheets better than their store-bought counterparts is they can be personalized with your favorite scent and are free of any toxic additives.

What You'll Need• 1/2 cup of vinegar• 8 drops tea tree or other essential oil• Sealabe container• Cotton cloths

Directions1. Start by cutting your cotton cloths into smaller sections. I used inexpensive dish towels from the dollar store, but old tee shirts or linens would work wonderfully too.

2. Mix together the vinegar and essential oil in a small bowl. Vinegar is a natural softener, and the essential oil gives your clothes a gentle, natural scent. Pour the mixture over the cloths until they are dampened but not soaked. Keep in a securely closed container.

3. To use, simply remove a sheet from the container, squeezing any excess liquid back into the jar, and toss into the dryer. To reduce static cling in clothes, reduce the heat temperature of your dryer. When clothes are dry, simply place the sheet back in the jar for use later.

Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions.


Furlo&Family&Homes1934&1st&Ave&EAlbany&OR,&97321

James & Jessi Furlo1934 1st Ave EAlbany, OR 97321

Cheesy Zucchini Quinoafrom Kevin Lynch, Closet Clooking

A cheesy zucchini and quinoa side dish that is super easy to make and it is a great way to use some of the overflowing zucchini in your garden.

Servings: makes 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 15 minutesTotal Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients• 1 cup quinoa, well rinsed• 1 3/4 cups vegetable broth or water• 1 medium zucchini, grated• 1 cup cheddar, shredded• salt and pepper to taste

Directions• Bring the quinoa and broth to a boil over medium

heat, reduce the heat and simmer covered until the broth has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender,about 15-20 minutes.

• Remove from heat am mix in the zucchini, cheese, salt and pepper.
