We just heard that we are officially in a recession; although the powers that be say it officially started over a year ago.  I have been writing post about useful web sites as reported by PC World.  I am continuing on my with my series and these are about websites to help us survive the recession.   The funny thing is the PC World I am getting this from is the November edition and they have the category “Survive the recession” but we just now hear that it is official.  I guess they knew it, just like the rest of us, before it was official.

http://www.fuelly.com/  Fuelly is a site that allows you to track your gas mileage over time.  It is a free site but you will need to join.  Once you join you also have the opportunity to set up a profile.  (On a side note I love anyplace where they allow me to put my website link and that was an option.) Once you have your site set up you will need to go and put your cars in then you can keep track of miles driven between fuel-ups or record your odometer at each fuel up.  This way you can record and analyze your mileage and see how much money you can save with small driving changes.  You can also see how your mileage compares with EPA estimates and the mileage of other drivers using Fuelly.  They also have a mobile version so you can add data right from the gas pump.

http://www.billshrink.com/ If you are considering changing your wireless service this is the place to go to.  I decided not to join this one as we get a corporate discount through my husband’s employer but it is my understanding that you join put in your local wireless usage habits and your current plan.  Bill shrink then recommends other plans available in your area that might be better for you.

http://www.prosper.com/  The way PC world describes this is like a dating site that brings people who want to borrow money together with people who want to lend money.  Borrowers post their request and then lenders bid on the interest rate at which they are willing to loan all or part of the money.  Again I did not sign up for this one as I’m in to paying bills off not borrowing more but if you find you need to borrow it is a resource to check out.

http://www.kiva.org/ This is kind of like prosper but with a twist.  This site allows you to extend a loan to a person in an underdeveloped nation who needs the money to launch a small business.  Their mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

http://www.bankrate.com/  According to PC World this is the largest and most complete aggregator of financial rate that they have seen on the web.  The site constantly surveys 4800 financial institutions in all 50 states to provide real time rates on around 300 financial instruments- credit cards, car loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit and mortgages.  (As a real estate agent I’m going to add a caveat to the mortgage part. I personally think you need to use a local lender that knows your area but that is just my 2 cents.)

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/  Since 2003 we are able to obtain one free annual credit report from each reporting agency per year.  This site provides them with no strings attached.

If you know of some sites to help us all with the recession please let me know and I will add them.

This is my fourth in the series of websites from PC World.  If you would like to visit the other three you will find them at:

 Websites about “Planning a vacation”!!

Websites about “Buying, Selling and Renting Stuff”!!

Websites about “Learning Stuff”!!

For all your Spring TX Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332

I really debated how I should start my first post on my outside Blog.  This will mainly be a blog about real estate in connection with the Northwest Harris and Southeast Montgomery County areas but it will also be interspersed with my ramblings.  You will I am sure hear about our flight attendant daughter living in New York City and our son who is an Intelligence Analyst with the Army and is just getting ready to leave for his second tour of Iraq. 

You are probably going to think I am starting it off a little bit on the heavy side but after much personal debate with myself I decided to start off with some words from Irma Bombeck.   At the first of the year a dear neighbor found out that she has terminal cancer and it really starts making you realize that we just don’t know what tomorrow will bring.  It has made me stop and think about how important it is to live our life to the fullest each day that the Lord blesses us with life.  I think I have received these words from Irma Brombeck in an email before but they did not impact me as much as when it gets personal.  She wrote the following words after she found out she was dying from cancer.  Her words are bolded and in italics and then I have added my thoughts.  She gives us some great advice!!

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
(Written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. As I am writing this I am home sick with a cold, case in point.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I have to laugh at this one when we moved here 11 years ago I had a beautiful big snowflake candle that I would not let anyone burn.  Somehow it got up in to the attic that first year and when we brought it down at Christmas it was now in the shape of the box it was stored in.

I would have talked less and listened more. A lesson we all need to learn.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. We went to my sister’s house for Christmas this year and had a wonderful time even though their house was not completely finished.  My brother-in-law was stressed because we were coming with the house not finished but I’m glad we went anyway.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I’m over this one.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. Once they are gone there is no bringing them back so this is a biggy.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. Hmmmmmm I guess I need to help mowing that yard.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. My husband’s car has a sunroof and I have been guilty of this.  I guess I need to go with the flow and let my hair fly.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. I love sitting on the grass so I guess I’m over this one; at least if the bugs aren’t biting.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I’m not a big television watcher but sometimes I need to get my head out of a book.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. It is no fun settling for second best because it is practical.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. This one is huge we blink and they are here and all grown up.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, ‘Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.’ There would have been more ‘I love you’s'; more ‘I’m sorry’s.’   Sometimes; well a lot of times that English side of our family comes out so this is something I need to work.

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!   Most of the stuff is that small stuff.

Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what! Okay this one I have learned with age.  This is one of the beauties of being middle aged; I’m over that.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Those relationships are the ones to be cherished.

Let’s think about what you have been blessed with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. I hope you have a joyous day.  I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED!!

Okay I promise that my post will not usually be this heavy.  With life I try to keep everything in perspective God – Family – Career so this just seemed like a good place to begin.

For all your Spring TX Real Estate needs, contact me today!
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty
Cell: 832-721-8332