Best Home Security System for 2014

Home security is often not addressed until an intrusion has already occurred. According to the FBI, more than 2 million burglaries were reported in 2012. However, homes with alarm systems have shown to be 300% less likely to be broken into. It’s evident that the majority of us are not doing everything we can to proactively mitigate these risks.

Top home security systems have a proven track record in protecting homes and their valuable contents. Read on to begin exploring which best home security system is the right fit for you and your family.

The Simple Dollar’s Top Picks

Here are the five best home security systems:

1. Frontpoint® Home Security


2. LifeShield® Home Security


3. LiveWatch Security®


4. ADT® & ADT Pulse®


5. Vivint® Home Security

Frontpoint®

Frontpoint® is regularly ranked as the #1 home security system. They boast 100% wireless and cellular technology as well as top-rated GE security equipment, and simple DIY installation instructions.

Frontpoint® is one of the few home-security monitoring providers that goes beyond fire, flood, and carbon-monoxide detection by also including a service that can detect if there’s a break in your natural gas line. They also have the ability to connect up to 39 sensors and your mobile device at once, bringing the safety and security of your home right into the palm of your hand.

Frontpoint® continuously falls at the top of the list in all categories when it comes to monitoring, security devices, alerts, and customer service. The key here is that you don’t have to worry about their system falling short in any realm of your home’s security. Their Crash & Smash protection even allows your control panel to send alert signals in the event a burglar attempts to destroy it.

Frontpoint® has a working relationship with Alarm.com that allows them to have a variety of additional features, including Geo-Services. Geo-Services offers peace of mind for many of the imaginable mishaps or potentially intrusive feelings. You can set your system to automatically notify you if you leave a certain perimeter around your home and have not yet activated your alarm system. You also can pause the recording of specific cameras when the user is within the geo-fence. For example, when you get home from work, the security cameras within your home can pause their recording while your outdoor cameras remain on and continue to capture the scene.

You can try out Frontpoint® to ensure it’s a good fit for you and your family with their 30-day free trial. Start protecting your home and your belongings. Call (800)364-0823 for a free quote today.

LifeShield®

LifeShield® has one the fastest response times in the industry. They’ve partnered with DirecTV and are therefore connected to a monitoring station with broadband Internet connection. They offer DIY or professional installation depending on your needs, availability, or ability.

LifeShield® goes beyond other home security systems by providing additional layers of backup in the event that your power goes out or home phone line is disabled:

• Broadband Internet: In the event of an emergency, LifeShield connects to the monitoring center in seconds by using your broadband Internet connection.


• Cellular Network: You’re able to utilize a built-in cellular connection as an additional layer of protection.


• Land Line Phone: LifeShield also offers connection through a landline in the event that your Internet and/or cellular connection goes down.


• Battery Backup: Rest assured you’ll be alerted when your battery is low. Beyond that, the long-lasting battery will keep your alarm system online for up to 24 hours after the power goes out.

LifeShield® offers another unique feature that provides alerts of local crime data so you can make a more informed decision of the level of home security coverage you feel most comfortable with.

LiveWatch®

LiveWatch® was created in 2002 with the goal of making home security easy and affordable without sacrificing quality. They provide truly customizable home security and are able to keep their costs low by DIY installation and avoiding extra, unnecessary hardware.

If you’re worried about the DIY installation, don’t be. A LiveWatch® customer service technician will remain on the phone and talk you through the process. After the installation is complete, they will run live tests on the system to ensure it is working correctly.

LiveWatch® also has an excellent customer-service record and openly broadcasts that the majority of their business comes from customer referrals. After the first 12 months, your contract moves to a month-to-month agreement with no termination fee if you decide to move away from monitoring services. If you cancel within the first 12 months, you are eligible for a refund on any purchased equipment.

ADT® & ADT Pulse®

ADT® has been in existence for over 140 years, serves over 7 million customers, and has the most monitoring service centers in the industry. While length and existence don’t guarantee great service in today’s world, a known name can never hurt in deterring potential intruders.

Aside from their security devices and monitoring services, ADT® provides guarantees to ensure you feel confident about your security investment, including:

• Theft Protection Guarantee: ADT® will pay up to $ 500 of your security deductible if your home is robbed while your security system is armed.


• Mover’s Security Guarantee: ADT® customers are entitled to a free security system in their new home.


• Money-Back Service Guarantee: If you are not satisfied within six months, ADT® offers a refund on the installation price and monitoring fees.


• Homeowner’s Insurance Certificate: With this certificate, you can save up to 20% on your homeowner’s insurance.

In 2010 ADT® launched ADT Pulse® – an upgraded service including home automation with Z-Wave™ technology. It has opened ADT® up to compete with the quickly emerging high tech security systems in accompaniment with it’s household name.

Vivint®

Vivint® is consistently one of the top-rated security providers. With their monitoring services, you get 24/7 coverage 365 days a year along with unique non-emergency alerts, severe weather alerts, and a key fob that allows you to turn your alarm system on or off or call the authorities directly from the device without ever having to enter your home.

Vivint® provides their own internal monitoring, so they’re able to work directly with you. This is a plus because you don’t have to worry about outsourcing of monitoring services and going through a middleman for any issues.

Vivint® also excels at home automation with a forward-thinking mindset. They provide two additional plans to help conserve energy and save you money. The Smart Energy plan is an integrated system that gives you control over your appliances, lights, and thermostat from anywhere. They have gone above and beyond to create savings with your home by establishing the Vivant Solar solution, which streamlines the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy processes by using solar panels installed on your rooftop to supply power to your home.

What’s Important in a Home Security System?

My methodology in determining the best home security system was based on four major components, ranked as follows:

1. Monitoring Services


2. Security Devices


3. Customer Service


4. Affordability

Monitoring services fell at the top of the list, as constant and effective monitoring is key to the protection of your home. Security devices allow you to safely and accurately monitor. Without appropriate customer service, the required action and assistance would fall short of your needs. Affordability, while it does not always limit the available services, is important when making your decision on the comprehensiveness of your home security monitoring.

As you can imagine, home automation often comes with a heftier price tag. However, with this feature, you’re often able to control your thermostat, appliances, and outlets which increases the potential savings that could easily exceed any expenses. Look into what home automation features are available with your home security system to take advantage of these opportunities.

All of the selected Simple Dollar’s Top Picks including the following services in various packages:

• 24-hour monitoring


• Wireless Internet or cellular system


• Internet/cellular monitoring


• Battery backup for power failure


• Online account access


• Door, window, garage door, glass break, and motion sensors


• Panic button


• Flood, carbon monoxide, and fire detection


• Security camera(s)


• Customer support available via email and phone


• Online tutorials


• Alarm history reports

Below you will find a comparison of other components that were not universal within the list:

Feature	Frontpoint®	LifeShield®	LiveWatch®	ADT®	Vivint®
Alert Response Time	30 Seconds	1 Second	18 Seconds	45 Seconds	9 Seconds
Security Equipment Manufacturer	GE	LifeShield®	Varies	Honeywell	Varies
Basic Monthly Monitoring Fee	$ 34.99	$ 29.99	$ 19.99	$ 36.99	$ 53.99
Contract Length	1 Year	3 Years	1 Year	3 Years	5 Years

Wired vs. Wireless Security Systems

Wired home-security systems are starting to be a thing of the past. While ADT® and some less tech-savvy systems still have wired options, they leave your home vulnerable to power outages or disabled phone lines.

They also require actual wiring in your home, which can often be a deterrent. I have a hard time putting a nail in my wall let alone a gaping hole. Wired systems can also be more difficult to take with you when you move and require reinstallation at the new location. ADT® actually leaves the system behind and gives you a credit for your new system if you’re still within the timeframe of your contract agreement.

Wireless Internet and cellular security systems are not only the direction of the future for any tech industry, but they also remove the vulnerability of your phone line being disabled. They use a battery for power and are able to keep coverage long after the power goes out.

Wireless Internet systems use wireless alarm sensors similar to radio waves to communicate with the control panel. The wireless frequency is typically proprietary and therefore will not interfere with other wireless equipment in your home or other wireless systems.

Cellular systems use a cellular device that is installed in the control panel and uses cellular towers to transmit the signal, similar to sending a text message. It’s the newest form of home security alarm-signal technology and is revered as the most reliable monitoring on the market.

With the exception of ADT®, which does provide a wireless option with ADT Pulse®, wireless systems comes standard with the other four top picks.

Home Security Camera Systems

In the past, home security cameras were all based on closed-circuit television technology, which required cabled connections in your home. With the ever-improvement of technology, most home security cameras are now wireless digital cameras that are easy and inexpensive to install, require no video cables, and have cloud-based storage.

With the combination of Internet and your home security camera, you have the ability to view live feed from anywhere including, in many instances, right on your smartphone. Frontpoint® is one of the best home-security camera providers with options for fixed, pan-and-tilt, and/or outdoor wireless cameras.

DIY Home Security Systems

DIY home-security systems are great. Though they may at times be less effective than those that are professionally installed, it is important to keep in mind that there are two different versions of DIY: one where you purchase the devices and services from a home security provider like Frontpoint® and LifeShield® and one where you purchase your own tools and do not pay for any type of monitoring services.

While deterrence from individually provided and installed solutions like motion detector lights, more secure locks, and home security cameras can be effective, it is critically important that you have a direct line to the authorities in the unfortunate event that you need them. For this, a monitoring service from an established home-security system provider is a must.

Home Safety Tips

There are simple measures you should take regardless of whether or not you own one of the best home-security systems. Preventative steps are necessary to minimize the chances of your home being targeted by burglars.

1. Keep your doors and windows locked — even when you’re at home.


2. Get deadbolt locks installed on your doors.


3. Don’t leave valuables in plain sight.


4. Keep your phone ringer volume on low.


5. Don’t post travel plans on social media sites.


6. Do alert your neighbors when you’ll be out of town so they can keep an eye on your home.


7. Lock up important documents.


8. Have a dog (not recommended if only for security purposes).


9. Put away your ladder when you’re done using it.


10. Don’t leave a key outside your home.


11. Do make it appear you are home even when you’re not by leaving a light, TV, or radio on.


12. Clear large bushes or items a burglar could hide behind away from your entryways.


13. Frost your garage windows so potential burglars don’t have clear sight of your car (or its absence).


14. Install motion detector lights outside your home.

Beyond the Obvious Benefits of Home Security Systems

Whether it’s from a burglar, fire, flood, or various other things that can be monitored by your security system, it’s clear that the main goal of a home security or alarm system is to protect your home. However, there are also many other benefits.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, some companies decrease your insurance premium by up to 20% if you install a comprehensive home-security system. Before investing, talk to your insurance provider to get a better idea of the savings vs. the cost depending on the plan you go with.

It also turns out that when you install a home security system, you are not only protecting yourself but also your neighbors. “Neighborhoods in which burglar alarms were densely installed have fewer incidents of residential burglaries than the neighborhoods with fewer burglar alarms,” a study by Rutgers University reported.

What You Should Be Asking Your Home Security Provider

Before you buy any home security devices or sign any contracts, there are many non-advertised answers you should have in regards to your provider and the services you’ll be paying for.

Many home security providers have various methods of response. Some send contracted security professionals to assess the situation prior to contacting the authorities. Every company has a different response time, and some provide additional resources like long-lasting batteries and additional monitoring service centers.

Below you will find a list of questions you can ask beyond what is readily available on all websites:

1. What is the typical response time when the alarm is set off?


2. What is the typical response?


3. If I cannot reach the established emergency contacts (if that’s part of the process), will you reach out to the authorities immediately?


4. When can I expect someone to be at my home after the alarm has been set off?


5. How many monitoring centers service the provider?


6. In the event of a power loss, how long should my battery last?


7. Will I be provided a sign to advertise that I am using security services?


8. Am I able to take the security system with me when I move?

Home Security Summary

Home security is a topic that should not be ignored. A quantitative analysis of the impact of home alarm systems was conducted by Rutgers University and showed that home security systems are effective in deterring and protecting one’s residency from unwanted entry. The study found that burglaries are not concentrated to specific age composition, economic, or metropolitan areas. Burglary affects the masses on a regular basis.

I recently attended a neighborhood watch meeting at the local library near my home. I was blown away by the number of incidents in what I believed to be a safe neighborhood, but the passion and creativity the community had to ensure the safety of their homes and, more importantly, their families was comforting. Very few, however, mentioned home security systems.

Home security systems are proven to be the most effective solution to protect your home, your valuables, and your family. Make sure you maintain your confidence and peace of mind that your home is safe by installing a system sooner than later.

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Ask the Readers: Should We Get Married Sooner to Lower Our Taxes?

This article is by editor Linda Vergon.

Landen and his fiancé are planning to get married in the fall of 2015 and they’re starting to think about how to blend their financial lives together as they tie the knot. There are always a lot of decisions to make when you get married: Will you keep your finances separate or merge them together? Will you add each other onto your existing bank accounts or close them and open joint accounts at a new bank? On and on it goes.

They want to be smart about their finances from the beginning, but somewhere along the line Landen became aware that, in their circumstances, that might also mean they should rethink when they get married. He wants to know: “If we filed our taxes jointly, would we pay significantly lower taxes than if we filed separately? In theory, we could get legally married in 2014, if the savings are worth it, and then hold our actual wedding ceremony with friends and family in 2015. Thanks!”

Landen’s future wife is currently in grad school and keeps a part-time job on the side. It doesn’t provide much income, just $ 10,000 a year approximately. On the other hand, he is established in his career and earns a little less than $ 200,000 a year. The difference between their incomes is big for now, and they don’t own a home or have any investments like a 401(k) plan from his employer yet – but that may change if the company he works for sets up the plan before the end of the year. (If they do, he plans to max that out. If they don’t, he says he would contribute to an IRA and max it out.)

In the Land of Rough, Rough Estimates

Obviously, Landen isn’t a tax accountant – and neither am I! Still, I thought providing a rough (really rough ) estimate of the two different directions might be interesting. I went to the Internal Revenue Service’s website and looked at the Instructions for Form 1040. So even though I make no representation that this is in any way accurate, maybe it could serve to illustrate how to look at the problem and come up with a direction. Here’s what I did to think the problem through:

Earning just $ 10,000 a year, Landen’s fiancé is probably eligible for an Earned Income Credit (EIC) of $ 330 if she were to file single with no children, which would leave her with taxable income of zero after taking the standard deduction of $ 6,200 and a personal exemption of $ 3,950. So from the 2013 Tax Table, her tax liability would be ($ 330). I consulted the 2013 Tax Computation Worksheet – Line 44 instructions to understand Landen’s tax liability below, assuming the same standard deduction and exemption.

Taxpayer	Instructions (2013 Tax Computation Worksheet – Line 44)	Taxable Income	Tax Rate	Product	Subtraction Amount	Tax Liability Filing Single	Tax Liability Filing Married
Landen’s Fiance		$ 0				<$ 330>
Landen	“Over $ 183,250 but not over $ 398,350”	$ 189,850	33%	$ 62,650.50	<$ 15,869.25>	$ 46,781.25
Mr. & Mrs.	“Over $ 144,400 but not over $ 223,050”	$ 189,700	28%	$ 53,116	<$ 12,534.50>		$ 40,581.50

[Note: An earlier version of this article contained different calculations. Thank you to the readers who made suggestions to make it more accurate. – Ed.]

So if, according to my completely, insanely, rough-order-of-magnitude estimate, Landen and future Mrs. Landen were able to enjoy something on the order of $ 5,869.75 of savings on their tax return if they were to get married in 2014 and file jointly, would that be significant enough to change their wedding plans? I don’t know the answer to that question, actually.

But if I were to answer that question just on the basis of finances alone, I would recommend that they get married in 2014 as he suggests. Off the top of my head, I can think of three things I would do with those savings if I were in their shoes:

1. Fund the 401(k) or IRA with it.


2. Use it to defray the costs of the wedding.


3. Put it toward their honeymoon.

I hope they’ll let us know what they decide to do! But what is the best thing for them to do? What would you do? How would the answer change if Landen’s employer did open a 401(k) or Landen maxed out a Roth IRA?

Get Rich Slowly – Personal Finance That Makes Sense.

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Technical analysis of USD/JPY for October 24, 2014

Fundamental overview:

USD/JPY is expected to trade in a higher range. It is underpinned by the positive USD sentiment (ICE spot dollar index last 85.82 versus 85.75 early Thursday) after four-week moving average for U.S. jobless claims fell 3,000 to 281,000 in week ended October 18, its lowest level since May 2000. USD/JPY is also supported by the higher U.S. Treasury yields (10-year at 2.277% versus 2.230% late Wednesday) and demand from Japan’s importers, ultra-loose Bank of Japan’s monetary policy and yen-funded carry trades amid positive investor risk appetite (VIX fear gauge eased 7.5% to 16.53) as U.S. stocks rose overnight (S&P 500 closed up 1.23% at 1,950.82). But USD/JPY gains are tempered by Japan’s export sales and positions adjustment before the weekend.

Technical comment:
Daily chart is positive-biased as stochastics is rising from the oversold zone, negative MACD histogram bars are contracting, bullish parabolic stop-and-reverse signal hit on Thursday, five-day moving average is rising above 15-day MA.

Trading recommendations:
The pair is trading above its pivot point. It is likely to trade in a higher range as far as it remains above its pivot point. As long as the price is keeping above its pivot point, a long position is recommended with the first target at 108.45 and the second target at 108.75. In an alternative scenario, if the price moves below its pivot points, short positions are recommended with the first target at 107.35. A break of this target would push the pair further downwards and one may expect the second target at 107.05. The pivot point is at 107.65.

Resistance levels:

108.45

108.75

109

Support levels:

107.35

107.05

106.75

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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Best Home Warranty Company for 2014

If you’re considering a home warranty to help protect you from costly home repairs, there are several companies that want your business. Unlike the big insurance companies that provide home, life, and auto policies, home warranty companies aren’t household names. For that reason, you may feel like you’re starting from square one in your search.

The good news: I’ve done a lot of the legwork for you. After analyzing several of the top home warranty companies, three stand out as the best:

• American Home Shield


• TotalProtect


• Complete Appliance Protection

I looked at several factors to narrow down my recommendations. In a moment, I’ll detail my criteria on how I selected the best home warranty companies. Later on, I’ll discuss the basics of home warranties, what they cover, and whether they’re the right choice for you.

The 3 Best Home Warranty Companies

#1: American Home Shield

The largest home warranty company in the nation, American Home Shield allows homeowners to select from three plans or customize their coverage by choosing exactly what they want covered. Their build-your-own plan was the only one of its kind in my search. Customers can also raise or lower their service fee, which helps them control the cost of their plan. Of the companies I investigated, American Home Shield also made it easiest to get a quote — I only had to input my email and street address. The company gets solid reviews overall, including an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Upsides:

• Four plans to choose from, including a build-your-own option


• Customizable service fee


• Quick and easy to receive quotes


• Claims center open 24/7


• No exclusions on older homes, appliances


• Solid reviews across the web

Downside:

• Sample contract can be easily overlooked before purchase

#2: TotalProtect

It was also easy to get a quote and compare plans from TotalProtect, which offers three plans and a customizable deductible. Customers can add a wide range of additional items to base plans, but the company doesn’t offer an option to create a plan from scratch. Of all the companies I surveyed, TotalProtect made it the easiest to access contracts by clearly linking to them at the bottom of each plan’s description. Though it seems like a small detail, it’s a level of transparency I appreciated given many customers’ confusion over what home warranties actually cover.

Upsides:

• Three customizable plans to choose from


• Customizable service fee


• Easy to find and view contract


• Quick and easy to receive quotes


• Claims center open 24/7


• No exclusions on older homes and appliances


• Solid reviews across the web

Downside:

• No build-your-own plans

#3: Complete Appliance Protection

In a rare move among home warranty companies, Complete Appliance Protection doesn’t charge any service fees or deductibles for repairs. That means you won’t be shelling out more money on top of the price of the plans. It also doesn’t exclude items from coverage due to a lack of maintenance, which is common among other home warranty providers. Customers can choose from four coverage levels and add on items as needed. A couple of drawbacks that kept Complete Appliance Protection from a higher spot on my list: The website is rather clunky, and the company provides service in only 35 states.

Upsides:

• No service fee or deductible


• No “lack of maintenance” exclusions


• Four customizable plans to choose from


• Claims center open 24/7


• Solid reviews across the web

Downsides:

• Clunky website


• Company services only 35 states

How I Evaluated Home Warranty Companies

Home warranty companies can be tricky to evaluate online. Reviews tend to trend suspiciously positive or frighteningly negative. For that reason, while I considered online reviews while making my picks, I gave them less weight than other factors. Here are all the criteria I considered when looking for the best home warranty:

• Number of coverage options: It’s standard for home warranty companies to offer two coverage levels: a basic plan that covers appliances, and an enhanced plan that covers systems such as heating and plumbing. If a company offers a third hybrid plan, I considered that a plus. A customizable plan that allows you to pick the appliances or systems you want covered was an even bigger perk. Finally, the best companies offered a number of specialized add-ons for features such as pools, wells, and septic systems.


• Customizable service fees or deductibles: Some companies allow you to customize the amount you pay when you request service. This also helps you control the cost of your plan — if you choose a higher service fee, your plan costs less overall.


• Around-the-clock claims departments: If your furnace goes cold at 2 a.m. on a frigid Saturday in January, you probably won’t want to wait until 9 a.m. on Monday to report it. The longer you have to wait to report a problem, the longer you’ll wait for a resolution.


• No exclusions on older homes and appliances: Buying an older home may be your primary motivator in purchasing a home warranty. The best home warranty companies don’t shun your business simply because there’s a greater chance you’ll make a claim.


• Ability to easily receive a quote and purchase plan online: The best home warranty companies make receiving a quote very easy. During my evaluations, it had to be clear where I needed to start the quote process. And given that home warranties don’t vary much from person to person, the less personal information I had to enter, the better.


• Solid reviews relative to the competition: Again, reviews are hard to evaluate for home warranty companies, so I based my evaluation on how they fared relative to competitors on particular sites such as Consumer Affairs, Home Warranty Reviews, and Yelp. A good rating with the Better Business Bureau was a bonus. Remember, the vast majority of negative reviews stem from customers who misunderstand their home warranty contract. Which leads me to my next consideration…


• Sample contracts that are easy to find and view: Before you purchase a home warranty, it’s essential to read the fine print. That means reading the entire contract before you fork over your money. Otherwise, you risk joining the legions of frustrated customers who thought they were getting something other than what their contract specified.

After considering all of these criteria, the three providers I referenced above rose to the top during my search for the best home warranty company: American Home Shield, TotalProtect, and Complete Appliance Protection.

Not sure what a home warranty does, or whether it’s right for you? I’ll tackle the basics below.

Home Warranties 101

Don’t confuse home warranties with home insurance, which protects your home and its contents from natural disasters, fire, and other major calamities. Mortgage lenders usually require you to purchase home insurance. Home warranties help guard against big bills when things including appliances and plumbing unexpectedly fail. They are generally not a lender requirement. Read on to discover the particulars of home warranty coverage, costs, pros, and cons.

What does a home warranty cover?

Home warranty coverage will vary according to the type of plan you choose and whether your home is a new build or dozens of years old. For new homes, a home warranty from your builder typically covers any big structural defects for as long as a decade. Heating and air-conditioning, drywall, paint, appliances, plumbing, and electrical work may be covered anywhere from six months to two years.

For existing homes, warranties typically fall into a few categories:

• Appliance-based plans: These typically cover appliances including your range, oven, built-in microwave, dishwasher, washers, and dryers. Refrigerators may or may not be covered.


• Systems-based plans: These plans focus on heat, air-conditioning, plumbing, electric, and water heaters.


• Hybrid plans: As their name suggests, hybrid plans combine appliance and systems coverage, but are pricier because they are more comprehensive.


• Add-ons: Most home warranty companies give you the option to add on coverage for special items not covered under typical plans. Common add-ons include pools, wells, whirlpools, spas, and septic systems.

My husband and I built a new home that we moved into a year and a half ago, and we benefited greatly from our home warranty. After living in the home for almost a year, we presented our builder with a list of issues to rectify before our warranty was up. It included numerous drywall fixes, interior and exterior paint touch-ups, the repair of a wobbly toilet, and a costly valve replacement on our downstairs air-conditioning unit. The air-conditioning repair alone would have been several hundred dollars without the home warranty.

An important point to keep in mind, especially for older homes, is that home warranties are intended to cover unexpected fixes. Many plans won’t cover routine service or problems that are the direct result of incomplete or improper maintenance.

How much does a home warranty cost?

The price of a home warranty depends on what type of property you need covered — for instance, whether you live in a condo or a single-family home — and whether you stick with a basic plan or buy an upgraded version. Basic plans typically range from $ 350 to $ 500 a year, according to Angie’s List; souped-up plans can cost as much as $ 800. On top of the cost of the plan, you will also have to pay a service fee or deductible of roughly $ 50 to $ 125 each time you need something fixed.

If you’re buying a newly built home, the cost of your home warranty may be rolled into the purchase price of your home. That was the case when I moved into my new home, and it turned out to be a nice perk. You may also find that if you’re buying an existing home, the seller or real-estate agent may throw in a home warranty plan to sweeten the deal.

How do I get something fixed under my home warranty?

The home warranty company will arrange repairs on your behalf after you pay any necessary service fees or deductibles. With rare exceptions, you do not get to choose a company to do the work — the home warranty company already has preferred vendors. You should also understand that a home warranty company is obligated only to make sure covered items are in working order. They don’t have to replace your aging relic of a furnace, even if it’s long past its prime. Same with that funky avocado stove from the early ’80s — don’t expect your home warranty company to swap it out for a brand-new stainless-steel model.

Do I Need a Home Warranty?

For most homebuyers, home warranties are about peace of mind. For some, that’s reason enough to fork over a few hundred bucks. But like any financial product, home warranties have significant pros and cons. Read on to decide whether a home warranty is the right decision for you.

Home warranty pros

A home warranty can be a big help if you don’t have a ton of cash left in savings — a particularly common scenario for homebuyers who just plunked down thousands for a down payment, closing costs, and other incidentals. With home warranty, one big, unforeseen problem may only cost you a small service fee to fix as opposed to shelling out hundreds. A reputable home warranty company can also eliminate the frustration you may feel as you attempt to make repairs yourself or find someone else to do them. So, if you’re the type of person who likes to make one call and leave the rest up to the experts, a home warranty can ease some stress.

Home warranty cons

The biggest con of home warranties may be the most obvious: There’s a good chance you won’t need to request any repairs from your home warranty company, which means you’re out at least a few hundred dollars. If you do need something fixed, you will still be paying a service fee or deductible on top of the initial price of your plan. You may not like the repair company your home warranty company sends to do the work, and you’ll have little control over the speed with which the repairs are done. There’s also a chance your repair won’t be covered, which is a common complaint among home-warranty customers. Of course, you can help guard against this scenario by reading your policy contract extremely carefully.

In my case, it’s unlikely I would have purchased a home warranty had our builder not included one in our home’s purchase price. Though we did end up using the warranty for a costly fix, the chance of major breakdowns is low in a newer home. And as always, you can set aside money in your emergency fund (where it will earn interest, too) to cover unanticipated fixes.

Final Thoughts

Remember the golden rule of home warranties: Read the contract before signing up. And maintain a clear understanding of the pros and cons. Your home warranty policy is meant to keep you from paying big for unexpected fixes, but there are many limits. If you have realistic expectations about what your home warranty can do for you, you may find that the peace of mind is worth the price.

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Intraday technical levels and trading recommendations on EUR/USD for October 17, 2014

The recent bearish slide below 1.2870 invalidated the previous attempt of bullish reversal. Thus, bearish decline towards 1.2680 and 1.2510 took place shortly after.

Last week, the EUR/USD pair looked oversold and was trading beyond the lower limit of the channel before bullish momentum could get it back inside the channel.

That’s why, price action around 1.2580-1.2600 (the lower limit of the channel) was important to determine the next destination.

Bullish recovery was expressed off 1.2500 and 1.2600 to push towards 1.2700 and 1.2830 (back inside the channel).

The origin of the bullish engulfing pattern (around 1.2600) provided a good BUY position as suggested in previous articles. It’s running in profits now.

The upper limit of the movement channel (1.2880-1.2900) is being approached. Bearish pressure is anticipated to be applied.

The medium-term bearish trend remains intact as long as the bears keep defending the price zone around 1.2880-1.2900 (the recent consolidation zone).

A short-term bullish Head and Shoulders pattern was established on the 4H chart as anticipated. 4H fixation above 1.2700 confirmed the reversal and allowed the bulls to reach 1.2850.

A valid BUY position was suggested around the origin of the bullish Head and Shoulders pattern (price level of 1.2660). The final target is being approached today around 1.2900.

Recommendation :

Price action should be watched around 1.2870-1.2900 (upper limit of the channel and previous broken demand level) for one more SELL position.

Stop loss for this short position should be located above 1.2965.

On the other hand, price level of 1.2700 should be watched for price action if visited first. It may provide another intraday long position.

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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Technical analysis of NZD/USD for October 14, 2014

Overview :

• The psychological price will set at the level of 0.7888 today, and it is going to act as a weekly pivot point. Moreover, the NZD/USD pair has formed a support at the level of 0.7710 and the area of 0.7707 is probably going to compose a Double Bottom, hence the price of 0.7707 will form the last bearish wave and will act as a strong support on October 14, 2014. So it will be a good sign to buy above the level of 0.7707 with the first target of 0.7888 and further to 0.7952. The level of 0.7952 will act as a strong resistance today for that it will be a good place to take profit below the 0.7952 level. Also, it should be noted that the weekly resistance will set at the level of 0.8070. On the other hand, in case of reversal takes place and the NZD/USD breaks through the support at the price of 0.7833 then the market will lead to further decline towards the 0.77 level in coming days.

Observations :

• It should be noted that the market was so stable and the trend was also so clear (downward). Therefore, the strong resistance will set at 0.8070.


• Expect a range of 187 pips as downtrend from the level of 0.8070.


• A strong support level will be formed at the price of 0.7707 this week.


• Volatility is 251.84; so the market has called for a high volatility.

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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Technical analysis of USD/JPY for October 13, 2014

Fundamental overview:

USD/JPY is expected to consolidate with bearish bias after hitting near-one-month low of 107.26 this morning. Liquidity was thin as financial markets in Japan, U.S. and Canada are shut today for public holidays. USD/JPY is undermined by the flows to haven JPY and unwinding of JPY-funded carry trades amid increased risk aversion (VIX fear gauge rose 13.22% to 21.24, S&P 500 fell 1.15% to close at 1,906.13 Friday) as worries persist over slowing global economic growth. USD/JPY is also weighed by lower U.S. Treasury yields (10-year at 2.305% versus 2.327% late Thursday), buy-yen orders from Japan exporters and concern among some Federal Reserve officials about USD’s strength. Fed’s Evans said on Saturday that a stronger dollar is a headwind as it will limit the Federal Reserve’s ability to meet its inflation mandate and will impede growth. But USD/JPY losses are tempered by the sell-yen orders from the Japanese importers, broadly firmer USD undertone (ICE spot dollar index last 85.72 versus 85.55 early Friday) on outperformance of the U.S. economy versus other major economies and smaller-than-expected 0.5% on-month drop in the U.S. September import price index (versus forecast -0.7%).

Technical comment:
Daily chart is negative-biased as MACD and stochastics are bearish, although latter at oversold, five-day moving average is below 15-day MA and is declining.

Trading recommendations:
The pair is trading below its pivot point. It is likely to trade in a lower range as far as it remains below its pivot point. Short position is recommended with the first target at 107. A break of this target will move the pair further downwards to 106.75. The pivot point stands at 107.65. In case the price moves in the opposite direction and bounces back from the support level, then it will move above its pivot point. It is likely to move further to the upside. In that scenario, a long position is recommended with the first target at 108.20 and the second target at 108.50.

Resistance levels:

108.20

108.50

108.80

Support levels:

107

106.75

106.45

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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USD/CAD intraday technical levels and trading recommendations for October 10, 2014

Overview :

Two months ago, the ongoing bearish swing (ilogged in March 2014) was hindered at the price level of 1.0620. This price level corresponded to the lower limit of the channel as well as the backside of a steeper bearish one.

In August, bullish breakout off the movement channel took place. This enabled a bullish Flag pattern to be established. Bullish targets were successfully hit, including price level of 1.1230.

Strong bullish momentum has been expressed for a couple of weeks. Note that breaching price zone of 1.1230-1.1260 and fixation above it triggers new bullish swing.

On the other hand, a break below 1.1100-1.1070 is more likely to happen. This indicates that the bearish correction will extend further towards 1.0980-1.0950 where a key-support zone is depicted on the chart (the lower limit of the bullish channel and 50% Fibonacci level).

Recommendations:

The price zone of 1.1250-1.1276 corresponded to previous significant tops on the daily chart. Extensive bearish rejection was expressed as anticipated.

Risky traders can take a SELL entry around 1.1200-1.1245. Bearish targets are located at 1.1080 and 1.0990.

Then, the price zone of 1.0980-1.0950 should be watched for another LONG position to make use of the ongoing bullish trend.

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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Ask the Readers: How much does a creative costume cost to make?

This article is by editor Linda Vergon.

Whenever I’ve purchased a pre-packaged Halloween costume, I’ve usually been disappointed. They rarely fit and the material and accessories are chintzy. But I take my hat off for the clever people that make their own costumes. Extra points if it’s hilarious. Year after year, these people seem to out-do themselves. I don’t know how they do it!

In 2011, April Dykman looked at Halloween spending for us.

“According to The National Retail Federation (NRF), more Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween than ever before, with seven in 10 (68.6%) planning to partake in some sort of ghoulish festivity, up from 63.8% last year and the most in NRF’s nine-year Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey history.”

It’s not surprising that the numbers are higher now that unemployment is starting to go down. The NRF predicts that 75 million adults will dress up in 2014, and they’re expected to drop $ 1.4 billion on their costumes. A billion dollars will be spent on children’s costumes, and $ 350 million will be spent on the family dog, cat, horse, iguana, or turtle. Seriously, sometimes you just need a little Triceratops in your life. (Maybe Scooter would disagree.)

I love Halloween, but I never got that creative gene. So let’s just say that I’ve spent a fair amount on pre-packaged costumes over the years. As an example, one of my more creative homemade costumes was two years ago when I curled my hair, added an apron to my skirt and blouse, donned a pearl necklace and grabbed a large soup pot, ladle, and rubber chicken. I had a lot of fun scooping candy bars out of the pot and filling each child’s plastic pumpkin or pillowcase. I can do a mean imitation of Julia Childs’ “Bon appétit!” I had everything but the rubber chicken, and I think I paid less than $ 5 for that. That’s not too hard on the budget, anyway.

For me, this year’s costume is yet to be determined. But even if I don’t come up with an idea for my own costume, I’ll enjoy all the cherubs that come my way in their terrific homemade and store-bought costumes. I’m a sucker for a fireman, princess, Spiderman, pirate, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Regardless of the costume, when you dress up a 4-year-old, you get nothing but cuteness.

Are you making your Halloween costumes this year? What do you expect to spend? What’s the most creative or hilarious costume you have made, and how much did it cost?

Get Rich Slowly – Personal Finance That Makes Sense.

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Gold analysis for October 10, 2014

Overview

Since our last analysis, gold has been trading sideways around the price of 1,223.00. Our resistance level at the price of 1,230.00 held successful, which caused price to start with downard movement. According to the daily chart, we can observe weak demand in a volume above the average, which is a sign that buying gold at this stage looks risky. According to previous price action, we got resistance level at the price of 1,230.00 and 1,234.00 (swing high like resistance). If the price breaks the level of 1,234.00 in a high volume, we may see testing of the level of 1,244.00. Anyway, since gold has started bearish corrective phase, I placed Fibonacci retracement to find potential support levels and I got Fibonacci retracement 38.2% at the price of 1,214.00 and Fibonacci retracement 61.8% at the price of 1,202.00.

Daily pivot Fibonacci points:

Resistance levels:

R1: 1,231.82

R2: 1,235.28

R3: 1,240.90

Support levels

S1: 1,220.58

S2: 1,217.12

S3: 1,211.50

Trading recommendations: Buying still looks risky since gold is near resistance levels

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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Technical analysis of USD/JPY for October 09, 2014

Fundamental Overview:

USD/JPY is expected to trade with bearish bias.It is undermined by the negative dollar sentiment (ICE spot dollar index last 85.32 versus 85.66 early Wednesday) on dovish minutes of FOMC Sept. 16-17 meeting which showed the Federal Reserve was in no rush to raise interest rates and was concerned that the recent strength of the dollar could hurt U.S. exports and growth as well as putting downward pressure on already low levels of inflation. USD/JPY is also weighed by the lower U.S. Treasury yields (10-year at 2.318% versus 2.341% late Tuesday) and Japan exporter sales. But USD/JPY losses tempered by demand from Japan importers, yen-funded carry trades amid positive investor risk appetite (VIX fear gauge eased 12.15% to 15.11) as U.S. stocks surged overnight (S&P 500 closed up 1.75% at 1,968.89 for biggest single-day gain this year) on the dovish FOMC minutes.

Technical comment:
Daily chart is negative-biased as MACD and stochastics is bearish, five-day moving average is below 15-day MA and is declining.

Trading recommendations:
The pair is trading below its pivot point. It is likely to trade in a lower range as far as it remains below its pivot point. Short position is recommended with the first target at 107.35. A break of this target will move the pair further downwards to 107. The pivot point stands at 108. In case the price moves in the opposite direction and bounces back from the support level, then it will move above its pivot point. It is likely to move further to the upside. In that scenario, a long position is recommended with the first target at 108.30 and the second target at 108.80.

Resistance levels:

108.30

108.80

109.25

Support levels:

107.35

107

106.75

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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Elliott wave analysis of EUR/NZD for October 8 – 2014

Today’s support and resistance levels:

R3: 1.6255

R2: 1.6242

R1: 1.6228

Current spot: 1.6213

S1: 1.6194

S2: 1.6161

S3: 1.6142

Technical summary:

The break below 1.7078 is disappointing, and indicates, that we are not yet ready to a new impulsive rally. Therefore we should expect resistance near 1.6245 will be able to turn prices back down towards the support-line near 1.5977 before a new impulsive rally can be expected. Short-term break below support at 1.6161 will confirm renewed downside pressure towards 1.5977.

Trading recommendation:

Our stop at 1.6075 was hit for a nice little profit. We will re-buy EUR at 1.5985.

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com

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My experience with alternative healthcare insurance

This article is by staff writer Lisa Aberle.

A few months ago, I shared about my health insurance alternative. As a recap, I belong to a healthcare sharing ministry (HSM) called Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), just one of several ministries that are ACA-approved alternatives to health insurance. What we belong to is not health insurance; therefore, we don’t pay a premium (although we pay a “gift” each month or what amounts to a deductible, except it’s called a “personal responsibilty”). We chose this option because neither my husband nor I have access to an employer-sponsored plan. The most important consideration for us was cost, followed by coverage options. We opted for the most expensive level, which means that we have a $ 500 personal responsibility for each medical event that each of our family members experience on an annual basis.

We made some changes, though

At the time of the previous article, I was the only member of my family to belong, and I paid $ 150 per month. Now our entire family of five belongs for $ 450 per month. Even if our family size were to double, that is the maximum monthly contribution we’d have to make.

This amount covered me up to $ 125,000 per event; but, as some readers pointed out, medical bills can exceed that in the blink of an eye. Because of that, we felt that becoming part of our ministry’s extra program would be valuable. For an extra $ 75 per quarter (and an annual fee of $ 40), we have no reimbursement cap per diagnosis.

The process

Shortly after becoming a member, I had the opportunity to try out this way of paying medical bills when I learned that I was pregnant. I called the HSM right away to let them know and ask for instructions. As instructed, I called my doctor’s office and the hospital where I planned to deliver to get an estimate of delivery charges. These documents were submitted to our HSM right away.

Throughout my pregnancy, as I received bills, I called each provider and asked for a discount. Most often, the discount was 20 percent. The greatest discount I received was 25 percent, and some places didn’t offer discounts at all. But I learned not to take the first answer. One place in particular told me they did not offer discounts. When I called back and asked specifically for a 25 percent discount with an offer to pay the entire balance that day, I got what I asked for.

Once I received bills and itemized statements, I sent them to the HSM, although not always in a timely manner (but I’ll explain why in a little bit). Usually, I was reimbursed within 60 days of submitting my bills, although the HSM says they will usually reimburse within 60 to 90 days. However, several months before my due date, I got a check from the HSM with instructions to pay my OB’s charges in full and $ 1,000 to the hospital as prepayment for the delivery charges.

Up to that point, my pregnancy had gone smoothly. Then I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, resulting in weekly fetal monitoring. I was induced, had a C-section, and my son developed jaundice. All these things resulted in expenses that were higher than the original estimates.

What I like (and don’t like) about it

I like paying only $ 450 per month, to be sure. I also like how the personal responsibility is handled. You are responsible for the first $ 500; but if you secure a discount, you are responsible only for the total minus the discount. So, as long as the remainder of my medical bills are reimbursed, I have paid $ 400 out of pocket for delivering a baby because I got a 20 percent discount on my first $ 500. The price is right.

I also liked being able to pay my OB early, as well as to start paying on the hospital bill.

But I encountered a few difficulties as well. I am not a very organized person; so keeping track of all my bills, asking for discounts and itemized statements, and knowing which bills had and hadn’t been reimbursed was tricky for me. By the end, I had created a system that made it more manageable, but it still caused me headaches.

I also wish I would have submitted some bills more quickly. I was having a $ 255.20 test every week; and since it was only (haha) $ 255.20 a week, I paid the bill and collected each itemized statement. After all, I didn’t want to be sending off a letter every week. Wasn’t it better to batch them? Well, as you know, $ 255.20 a week is over $ 1000 a month, not exactly pocket change. That caused us to feel quite pinched. And snail mail? By the end, I was emailing them. Duh, Lisa.

In addition to sending bills in more quickly, I also wish I would have utilized the providers’ payment plans, just to give me some breathing room until the reimbursements came in.

But using the payment plans weren’t my favorite thing either, and I didn’t use them until I had to. Therefore, our savings accounts were dwindling. I felt — I am not sure — maybe irresponsible that I didn’t pay each bill in full as I received it. My hospital bill was over $ 13,000, and while I could have taken money from our emergency fund to pay it, I didn’t want to risk it. Our total bills were over $ 30,000, so if I had started this with that in mind, I think I would have planned better.

However, every single provider was very helpful as I explained our circumstances. And setting up the payment plans was simple; I just felt stressed about it. I think that doing this requires some savings — if you don’t want to be completely stressed out, that is.

So, yay or nay?

As of today, I just have around $ 4,000 yet to be reimbursed. I am feeling relieved as I paid off three bills and have just a couple more to go. Working with the HSM was definitely a pleasure because they were so kind and helpful.

If I were able to get health insurance for my family with a small deductible, I might consider going back to conventional health coverage. However, now that I have had some experience, I know how to make it easier next time. So for as long as possible, our family will probably be paying for our eligible medical expenses in this way.

Have you had experience with an alternative to Obamacare? How did you manage your medical bills and getting reimbursed?

Get Rich Slowly – Personal Finance That Makes Sense.

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The Happiness of Pursuit

This article is by staff writer April Dykman.

Historically, personal development has been a big part of Get Rich Slowly. Back in 2012, founder J.D. wrote, “I’m a firm believer in personal development. Self-improvement is part of living a rich life. In fact, when I started this blog … the self-improvement category was one of the first I implemented.”

But not so long ago, I’d never read a self-help or personal development book. In fact, I avoided that section of the bookstore — it was all too woo-woo and mushy for me. Then I got hooked on yoga, and I read a lot of woo-woo titles, like “Living the Mindful Life” and “Yoga and the Quest for the True Self.” Gross, right?! (But I loved them both.)

Fast forward to today, and I’ve read a lot of personal development books, even non-yoga ones. I’ve paid for several online business courses that also tackled issues like how to stop feeling guilty and how to stand tall and own your pricing.

I estimate that I’ve paid thousands of dollars for self development at this point. And it’s hard to quantify the results, but I did reach my goal of quitting my day job. I’m more aware of the stories I tell myself that hold me back. I’m more likely to pause before I react. I’m far from perfect, but I am happier with each passing year.

So today I want to share the latest self development book I’ve read, “The Happiness of Pursuit.” Written by Chris Guillebeau, the founder of The Art of Nonconformity and author of “The $ 100 Startup,” this book is about finding a quest that brings purpose to your life.

The gist of it

In case you aren’t familiar with Chris’s quest, he set out to visit every country in the world by the age of 35, a goal he reached last year. During his quest, he met a lot of people with their own quests — some travel-based, but many that were not. What the quests had in common, though, was that each of them were enriching the person’s life in some way.

So Chris wrote “The Happiness of Pursuit” as a study of these quests, drawing on hundreds of interviews that reveal people’s motivations, how they dealt with roadblocks, how they funded the quest, how they handled logistics, and more.

Section one: Beginnings

The first part of the book is made up of five chapters about the beginning of a quest. First, Chris defines what a quest is:

• 
  

  It has a clear goal and a specific end point.

  
  


• 
  

  It presents a clear challenge — not easy, but not impossible.

  
  


• 
  

  A quest always seems to require sacrifice of some kind, even if it’s not immediately apparent.

  
  


• 
  

  It’s often driven by a calling or a sense of purpose.

  
  


• 
  

  It requires a series of small steps toward the bigger goal.

  
  

According to the book, one way many people found their calling is by paying attention to the crazy ideas they couldn’t stop thinking about. For instance, Sandi Wheaton had always wanted to travel Route 66 and take photos of the trip. When she was laid off of her job at General Motors, she wasn’t very excited about finding another job. So she decided to be serious about her crazy idea, and she took the plunge. After her trip, her photography landed on the cover of an art magazine, and she started receiving offers for speaking engagements. Eventually, it led to a new career in the travel industry.

Chris says that many quests begin like Sandi’s — from a sense of discontent. “Add action to that discontent,” he writes. “Find a way to do something about the uncertainty you feel.”

This section of the book also includes a chapter called “Defining Moments” that discusses the moment people decided to take on a quest. In most cases, it came from an emotional awareness of mortality (i.e. “I know I will someday die”) versus an intellectual awareness of mortality (i.e. “I know that no one lives forever.”)

“This new awareness may come in response to an external event, such as the death or sudden illness of a friend, or from confronting a serious health problem,” writes Chris. “Other times, there’s a stirring of the soul that increases in tempo until it’s impossible to ignore. Whatever it is, the more we’re emotionally aware of our own mortality, the more we feel compelled to live with a sense of purpose.”

Section two: Journey

The second section of the book covers topics like how to believe in yourself, what to do if you’re risk-averse, creating structure for your quest, accounting for time and cost, examples of how people funded their quests, and dealing with monotony and misadventures.

But my favorite part from this section is the story about Sasha Martin, a young mother who used to travel the world, but was now stationary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Travel was pretty much out at the moment — she and her husband had a six-month-old baby and they lacked the funds.

“The big idea she settled on was to embrace culture through cuisine,” writes Chris. “Stovetop Travel was Sasha’s project to introduce meals from around the world into her home kitchen. If it sounds simple, understand that it was no ‘buy a wok and learn to make stir-fry’ weeklong task … Sasha chose to cook an entire meal from each country’s cuisine every week, following the alphabet in A-Z fashion for a total of 195 weeks.”

Each week consisted of researching, consulting friends around the world who started following her journey, and creating a complete meal — at least one main course and generous number of starters and side dishes. She would even play music from the country of the week.

“Missing the travel experiences of her youth, she hoped to rekindle a sense of foreign connection by dicing peppers and baking pastries,” writes Chris. “Meanwhile, [her daughter's] first solid food was Afghan chicken. By three years old, [her daughter] was equally comfortable using silverware or chopsticks.”

A few years into the project, Sasha’s quest is being replicated by other families, and she’s given talks at schools and in other forums.

Section three: Destination

The final section is about what happens after a quest: the ways it can change you, how to explain your big quest to others, and possible next steps after completing something so big.

“Quests do not always tie up well,” writes Chris. “Sometimes the ending is glorious, and sometimes it’s bittersweet. Either way, take some time to process all you’ve been through. When you’re ready, choose a new adventure.”

There also are three appendices, including the big takeaways from the book, a chart that details the quests featured in the book, and ideas for quests that don’t require relocating to another country or completing 100 marathons. (Just typing “100 marathons” makes my knees hurt.)

My take

For the last year, I’ve been in a huge rut. I’ve questioned the purpose of pretty much everything. And it all stemmed from the emotional awareness of mortality that Chris talks about in his book — which was a result, exactly as he says, of the sudden death of a friend. So, all that is to say that I might not be the most unbiased book reviewer. Fair warning.

But I felt inspired by “The Happiness of Pursuit.” Even if you can’t (or have zero desire) to travel to every country in the world, there’s a lot of great stuff in the book for shaking up your routine and trying something different.

As for what I’ll do with it? I like the idea of a cooking-related quest or something around sustainable living — I’m not exactly sure yet.

But what about you, readers? Have you ever taken on a quest? Do you have a crazy idea you can’t stop thinking about?

Get Rich Slowly – Personal Finance That Makes Sense.

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