Good Morning! Today i wanted to share with you some good news regarding home purchasing! My parents are buying a house and i am so grateful to be on this journey with them! Grab that cup of coffee and read along as you get some insight for what this journey has been like !
Searching For Our Home
The process of house hunting has not been easy if anything it is very stressful searching and placing offers.The market right now for homes is difficult being there are more buyers than houses ! The type of house that we are looking for is either a cape style or a colonial. Working with real estate agents has not been easy either but my mom finally found an amazing real estate agent who understands us! Our real estate agent has been so great at finding us houses that work for us.
The process of putting offers on homes that already have multiple offers ranging from 3 to 8 offers is overwhelming. Questions i would love to know more about would be – How do you know if your biding to low or to high on a house? If there are more buyers interested in a house is it worth it to place an offer ? So many questions that run through my mind when looking for a home and trying to close a deal!
There are so many houses that have potential to be the right home and i can not wait til we settle down in one. The moment when we find our home and have the keys will be one amazing day. The most important thing i will be looking forward to is to making the house be our forever home.
Houses On The Market
As i mentioned throughout this post there are not many houses on the market compared to numerous buyers. However the houses that are available seem to sell rather quickly and making an offer in most cases must be done day of open house or day after. Zillow is a good site to help search for available homes.I have noticed that Zillow does not always update quickly whether a house has been sold.Real estate agents can give you a specified search engine that is specified to a state or two. In many cases the search engine they provide will post the house before Zillow or Trulia and other search engines for homes.
I feel that having access to a home search engine site and searching yourself is very important. Yes the Real Estate agent will search for homes for you but it is best to look and see what is out there. Not only can it help you find the perfect house it can help your Real Estate agent get that house for you. By locating the house you want to see the Real Estate agent can schedule showings faster. The faster you see the house and make an offer i feel the better odds you have of getting the house.
Sellers
The sellers have the most options and its tricky to know what offer will be accepted. Sellers can have many options and can request a counter offer if they didn’t agree initially to the first. I honestly wish i was able to find out what the standing multiple offers are on a house. I wish offer negotiation prices where allowed to be discussed even if to state only higher bids above a threshold is acceptable.Being in the dark about the potential offers is tough to fathom.
Writing a letter to the current owner of the house is an option that is supposed to help ones chances. Letters may not make any difference to the seller and they can do what they wish. Which i find extremely stressful to know the competition for buying a home is hard.
Thank you for reading this blog! I hope you all have a good Monday and please feel free to comment! Share your thoughts will me on what you think ? Do you have answers to any of my prior questions? Any advice? –Kayla
Hi Everyone! Welcome to My Blog Site Coffee & Confidence! The idea for the name came to me from a quote. I have searched everywhere for the original source where it came from but could not find it! My reason for choosing this site name comes from my love for coffee and the reminder of being confident. Confidence is very important to have we need to feel secure about who we all are as individuals. Join me every! Grab your cup of coffee or tea whatever you prefer and read my blog posts! Please feel free to comment and give me ideas about what you would like to read about! Follow this blog 🙂
Good Morning ! I am back from vacation and ready to share with you some quotes that helped me and hopefully help others! I just turned 25 last Friday and i realized it’s so important to continue self growth and focusing on what i want.
I truly believe that if you change your outlook and focus all your energy on the present and future good things will happen. We cannot change our past and should not dwell on it for to long. Our past can shape us to become stronger from the experiences but there is no need to hold on to the past. A positive mindset is so important to keep and if you cant do it alone find those who have good energy to share.We should all have people who lift us up and want to see us succeed in life. Most importantly though is finding it within ourselves to want change and focus on what we want.
However over thinking things to much can be a burden on ourselves and its best to just let it be. What ever happened already happened just learn from it but don’t beat yourself up about it. If your over thinking about something that doesn’t feel right go with your gut instinct. Our individual happiness is so important its OK to be selfish and let go of something or someone. I used to have friendships where i was only giving the most and it wasn’t being reciprocated. I no longer keep friendships where there is no quality i let those friendships fade away. Analyze your friendships and relationships not in a who has done more but ask yourself :”What good has come from this friendship or relationship?How has this person impacted me?”. No friendship or relationship is perfect but if there hasn’t been anything positive from it its time to evaluate – “Why am i keeping this person around ?”. I do not have a large friend circle and i am perfectly OK with that. I rather have people who have quality and are real genuine people instead of surface level friends.
Hi everyone i’m sorry for posting late ! ive had busy couple of weeks so much has been going on in my life. July has been one hectic month so far with personal things going on regarding my family.
Family is so important in my life and i found this lovely quote on Pinterest. I am so blessed and thankful to have wonderful parents and a younger brother. Grateful for my parents for being present in both my life and my brother. I realized that not everyone has parents that are in their children’s life. My parents have taught me so much and i am beyond grateful for them. Living at home with my parents i do not feel like a child as an adult. I am treated as an adult with the benefits of having a loving and supporting family.
Good Morning! as i am having my nice cup of coffee i am reflecting on this month of July. Join me as i tell you what this month has in store for me ! Grab that nice cup of coffee and read along as you get to know a bit about me.
My Birthday is this month!
I was born on July 26th this month i will be 25 years old! Time has definitely flown by pretty fast. I have mixed feelings about turning 25 i am excited yet i have moments where it just feels weird. I am still young and not going through any quarter life crisis yet it just feels a bit strange. I feel that time speed up pretty fast and 25 crept up on me i still have so much i want to (and will) accomplish. When i was much younger i had pictured myself being engaged and settled in a career by 25. I guess that’s what i thought my life had to be like at the time. Now though living in my mid-twenties i don’t let society define who i am or give me a timeline. I know that i am still young and i control my life. I am almost 25 and i am not engaged or even dating yet i am not in a rush to meet just anyone. I have tried online dating and let me tell you i always strike out with the dating apps. If your curious to know more about my online dating experiences i could make an online dating series of posts. As of now though i am continuing to work on myself and if i happen to meet the right guy organically than great! I have been working as a bank teller for almost 3 years now it actually helped shape my college major. I am a business administration major and will be graduating next spring with my A.S. I plan on continuing to get my bachelors but i will take the following summer 2020 off from classes.
I am planing on taking a trip with my family to either Maine or the Cape for my birthday weekend. In all honesty all i want is to by at the beach have a nice Pina Colada or a Margarita ! I can not wait to get a nice tan laying on the beach hearing the sounds of the waves.
Good Morning everyone ! Join me with your cup of coffee as i go over college essentials. I feel that these items are all very important for all college students. I am currently a college student with two more semesters left before I graduate!
1) Planner
Its so important to write down whats due and schedules for class and work. I remember when finals week came and I had a final paper due at 12 am…. I had to work at 7 am the next day so I barely slept. I did not use my planner that week and I would of been prepared had I used it . You can buy a nice planner anywhere I bought mine from Marshalls but Target also has a nice selection!
2) Laptop
I have said this before in my previous college advice post but a laptop is an important investment! I love having the mobility of my own laptop Vs only using the Library desktop. Having your laptop in college is so important.Many classes require you to have access to one! Refer back to my previous college blog for information on whats free to use on your laptop!
3) A Good Backpack or Purse
You should consider buying a durable backpack or purse that you can use all year! Trying to run around with a small bag or just a hefty binder and books is not ideal! Amazon has a great deal on all kinds of backpacks!Pinterest has a ton of bag ideas for a more girly chic style.
4) Water Bottle
I prefer a glass water bottle its Eco friendly there’s no Bpa either! You can use it for ice tea, orange juice but don’t forget water ! Its so important to stay hydrated in the warmer months, Not many class rooms have air conditioner or windows! My favorite one i bought is from Tj Max or Marshalls. I saw some pretty ones on Amazon!
5) Snacks/Lunch
Depending on how long your at college for the day a lunch packed might be a good idea! I will admit i have had the occasional lunch near my college. I have access to so many resturant to eat from!To many temptations! But i learned to bring snacks to keep me going throughout my classes! Melissa from Bless this Mess is a blogger that gives all kinds of recipes i happened to find her post on “10 Healthy Snacks You Can Prep in Advance”
Melissa’s Meal prepped snacks! Super easy in mason jars!
6) A Mini Stapler!
Trust me you will be using this more than you realize! None of my professors had a stapler in class yet they wanted everything to be stapled!
**Just for laughs *
7) Medicine/ Mini First Aid
Its always a good idea to carry some Tylenol, Motrin and Excedrin for those days when you don’t feel good! Ladies get yourself some Midol Complete ( purple box ) It helps with those really bad days ! Also create a mini first aid to keep with you. I would fill it with all the things you need!
Enjoy the rest of your day ! I hope these tips helped i am planning on doing more soon ! I have a bonus blog post coming this week be on the look out ! **** No company pays me to influence products. I just started this blog as a hobby and I enjoy it ! *****
Good Morning everyone ! Grab that cup of coffee and get ready ! The college series has just begun! I’m creating these blogs to help all college students! You can always refer back to these when you start college for any semester!
1) Save Money on books !
When i first started college i made the mistake of only buying my text books from the book store! Even if your teacher claims its only available in the bookstore please check the following : Amazon,Chegg,Vital source and sometimes craigslist !I have had great experiences with finding books on Amazon, Chegg,Vital source and craigslist.
Before you buy the brand new edition of your textbook ask your professor if later versions of the book (1st, 2nd, 3rd edition etc) are acceptable for class. I have had professors that preferred their students save as much money as possible!The oldest edition had similar information in many cases it was fine as long as it was the same series/author !
Lastly sell your books if you no longer need them! I have sold my books on craigslist. (well my dad actually met up with the other students father and sold my book) It worked out just fine! I sold my over priced text book from the school store at a reasonable price! You can always find a way to be safe when selling your books and can meet up some where public like the college or any public space! Maybe you could swap a book with another classmate who no longer needs their book for a class you will take ! You might just have a book they need !
2) Student Discounts!
This is another important factor every college student should realize we get discounts for so many things! The big one is Amazon Prime Student you get a free 6 month trial by signing up with your college student email. After the trial is over all you pay is $6.49 a month! Prime includes free 2 day shipping and Prime Video and much more! Student Beans and UniDays offer’s discounts on fashion, food & drink (shipped to you ),Travel, Health & Beauty and more! Both Student Beans and UniDays are similar offering so many discounts but be on the look out they both offer different discounts! Norton anti virus is 50% for students using Student beans !
3) Free
Yes you read that right Free as in no money coming out of your wallet! So Microsoft is free for students and teachers. Again enter that Student email from your school and you are easily enrolled and gain access to Word,Excel,Power Point and One note. I had a wonderful teacher tell me years back when i first started college! I was so thankful i did not have to purchase Microsoft! Best part its so easy to sign in and download to your laptop! No need to save anything to a flash drive just save and sign in on any laptop and your work is still there!
Google! I love Google slides to create power points especially when doing group work. Balancing college and work it becomes hard to meet up to do a group project! However, Google slides can have everyone join in at once and participate! Again so simple everyone just needs to have or create a google account and share the presentation. The Google slides can be saved as a PDF, ODP, JPEG image,PNG image, Plain text and converted to Power Point slides. Many of my professors just had us sign in and out of our google account to present our slides.
4) Tuition Reimbursement
Depending where you work they may offer Tuition Reimbursement ask your boss if its something the company you work for offers! I work at a bank and they do offer it as well as a discount to a university that offers a bunch of online courses!
5) Financial Aid / Scholarships
I can not stress this enough apply to scholarships and Fasfa for grants that you do not have to pay back. I am 24 years old and i have not had to take out any loans! I did apply for Fasfa and maintained a great Gpa. I also was given a scholarship opportunity for a semester. It is possible to avoid taking out a loan ! I am currently in community college finishing my A.S in Business Admin before i transfer to get my B.S in Business Admin. Going to community college first has helped me save so much money on college! I will be able to transfer a majority of my credits to use towards my B.S degree. Fastweb is a website that has so many scholarship opportunities that are available! Reach out to your guidance counselor for more scholarship opportunities!
6) Make a Budget
Making a budget is so important even more so if you live alone! Create a budget to keep track of your spending and keep yourself in check ! I remember one week i realized i spent to much money at Dunkins! It may be a good idea to take a break from eating out so much and start buying groceries. There are so many apps out there that can help you make a budget like Mint (Android & Apple) and Daily Budget Original (Apple only) Pocket Guard (Apple &Android).
7) Student Checking Account
When you open up a student checking account it is free for a limited time either until your 24 or 5 years which ever comes first. TD Bank, Chase, Bank Of America and US Bank all offer student checking accounts! * If you open account at 17 yrs old you need a parent or guardian or sibling who is older to be on the account with you**
8) Credit Cards
Credit cards can be a great way to boost up your credit score or help you earn credit! Do not use a credit card to freely spend more than you can afford. The best Credit card to start would be Capital one ! You may start with only $300 credit limit but it will increase after first 5 consecutive payments! You want to monitor your credit card usage so use no more than 20-30% or less! Once you use it quickly pay it before or when its due. I like to pay my credit card as early as i can so i do not need to stress it. If you have a carry over balance you will get interest APR % on top of that balance for the next cycle. Its better not to have a balance that carries over to the next cycle! Also cash advances are not worth it! Beware of the temptation of taking cash from your Credit card! Not only is there a $10 or 3% fee which ever is greater ! You get charged another interest fee! To many fees to take out borrowed cash! Just do yourself the favor and only use it only for purchases!
9) Live off campus
I would highly recommend living at home or with room mates vs living on campus! University dorm prices and meal plans are so pricey you are better off living off campus! Do you really want to spend thousands of dollars to live in a dorm with 2-4 other people? and Sharing one bathroom? Think about the cost of living in that dorm for a semester or more is it worth i? I personally think you can make the college experience of meeting others in a different way! I will get into details in another future blog stay tuned!
10) Use the free resources on campus
Every college is different but they all offer resources to help you study or get better in a particular subject. No need to pay for a tutor if a resource center with staff who know the subject are available! Go to the library to print out assignments most cases its free to print! Also ask your college librarian if the text book for your class is available to use while you are there! Many cases they offer a few copies you can borrow while you are in the library! Pay attention to the resources your college offers and use them!
11) Opt out of some college fees
This is another important factor! When you sign up for college classes each semester you will notice a huge fee for Health insurance that they provide you with ! If you have health coverage that qualifies you can get it waived and that deducts around $3,000 or more depending how much the fee is set for. Some colleges have a small fee that funds the college you do not need to pay this fee.
12) Use coupons!
I personally have used coupons and it has helped me save money! It helps when you make a list and look for good deals. I like buying some things in bulk it helps with not having to spend so much on those items in the future.CVS is my absolute favorite place to shop you earn Extra Bucks ( CVS bucks accumulated from savings or given when you buy certain items). I also use manufacture coupons from the local newspaper or printed from Coupons.com and redplum.com. You can also pay for specific manufacture coupon that are sent to you by mail! I used Wecouponclipz and it worked for me!
13) Stock up on college essentials
Finally my last important tip is to stock up on college essentials such as office supplies, loose leaf paper, journals and more stationary products! Over the years i have stocked up and still have a stockpile of stationary items! Staples,Office depot,Target,Walmart and, Amazon are my go to places!
Buy a durable bag/purse to use on campus!
There are so many options out there it depends on your preference! Kathryn June has a YouTube video about whats in her bag i am featuring her video so you get an idea for the type of purse to use!
I also found a video by Chris Ramsey Jr. He made a whats in my bag video with a neat backpack!
Invest in a Durable Laptop
This is an absolute must have! I love having my own reliable laptop and it is so much more convenient to have with me at college! Best Buy has the best deals you can get an open box, clearance, refurbished and pre-owned. I know what your thinking why invest in a pre owned or already opened laptop! Well its simple you get an amazing deal on a pricey laptop! The Geek Squad is always available to help with your technological needs! I bought an Open box Lenovo ThinkPad X380 that was originally almost $1500 for $700 open box it was never used it was labeled open box because it was a prior display! I have had the laptop for 1 year now and its been the best investment !
These are all the main important tips i can think of that are beneficial for saving money in college!Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts with me.What else would you like me to blog about?Like this post and please give me a follow!
* Disclaimer i am not affiliated with any of the companies i mentioned ! No one is paying me *
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