The time has come…do I keep renting, or do I buy? Maybe youI've been renting various apartments for most of your life because it's been easy and convenient. However, since you've decided to stay in your city long-term, there's no reason not to start looking at homes on the market. From a financial perspective, it's a lot smarter. You'd probably rather build equity with a home than continue to pay for something you'll never own.

Pros of owning a condo:

Amenities at my leisure.

Along with owning a condo, you have several different condo amenities available to you, which may include a fitness center, pool and play area for children.

No more outdoor maintenance.

The last thing you want to do when you get home from work is mow the grass and work on landscaping. Thanks to the homeowner association, you will no longer have to do any yard or exterior work on your building (that includes the roof!). Also, depending on your association agreement, they may also cover snow removal.

Lower price tag.

Buying a condo is more affordable than buying a single family home. The number, of course, depends on the size of the condo, and the cost of living in the area.

More Security.

Certain condos provide gated entries, doormen, or even security guards for their residents. This is very important for someone who lives alone. Also, being in close proximity to your neighbors is beneficial if you ever have an emergency, or feel like you're in danger.

Cons of owning a condo:

Homeowners association fees.

All of those fabulous amenities, maintenance and other services are only available because of the HOA fees you have to pay every month. Yes, this is on top of paying your mortgage. The fees can range from a $200 to a thousand dollars or more a month, and can be raised at different times throughout the year.

You must live by the rules.

Condo associations have a set of rules to keep the building well-kept and everyone happy. The rules are often things like: no loud music after 10 p.m., keeping up the appearance of your home at all times, and in some cases, no pets allowed. They can even enforce what color they want to paint the exterior of your condo, and you have no say in the matter.

Not as private.

You are very close to your neighbors, so sometimes it can feel like nothing is private. Along with sharing walls, you share parking, pools, tennis courts, etc. There are probably times it will have the same feel as living in an apartment. There is such a thing as detached condos, but that comes with a higher price tag.

Condos appreciate at a slower rate.

This is because when you own a condo, you don't own any land, which is a key factor that increases a home's value. Instead, you only own the inside of the unit. I don't plan on living in a condo forever, so this was a big thing to consider.

foremost.com

Greetings all from the blog team here at Lallis & Higgins Insurance. Thanksgiving, 2023 is just around the corner. We thought it would be appreciated to craft a Thanksgiving-focused blog a bit earlier than usual to give all our readers time to reflect and hopefully act upon the important things before we become too “holiday busy” to do so.

The Thanksgiving holiday conjures an assortment of emotions within all of us. For some, this is a time to reflect upon blessings, current and past. Thanksgiving is an invitation to pause and give thanks for the simple things we might take for granted. Things like the love of family, food on the table, and even for life itself.

Here at Lallis & Higgins Insurance, we never take you, our clients, service providers, employees, family, and friends for granted. Today’s blog post is dedicated to you with hope and trust that this note finds you happy, healthy, thankful, and surrounded by those you hold dear.

Planning a Thanksgiving basket can be simple and fun, making it an ideal Thanksgiving activity to get the kids involved in.

Planning the Menu

The first thing to do is to plan the menu. If you know the family who is receiving your basket, then you can ask them about their favorite Thanksgiving dishes and create a custom menu for their basket.

If you are donating to a church or charity who will distribute the basket on your behalf, then think about the things you and your family enjoy on Thanksgiving.

Grocery Shopping

After you’ve planned your menu, you’ll need to turn it into a shopping list (more on that in a bit).

If you’re planning on making this a family tradition in your household, give each member of your family their own individual shopping list with items for them to find at the store, like a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt!

Packing the Basket

After you’ve finished shopping, place all your goodies in a basket or other vessel to deliver your donations in.

One popular suggestion is to purchase an inexpensive laundry basket to use as your ‘basket’. It will likely be big enough to fit all the groceries and can be used after Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Basket Items List

Many of the items suggested will require preparation of some kind. It should be understood that the family receiving your basket will have access to a kitchen to prepare the dishes.

Here a sample list of items to include in your Thanksgiving basket:

Shelf-Stable Foods

• 1 Canned Ham
• 1-2 Boxes of Stuffing Mix
• 1 Box of Instant Potatoes
• 2 Box of Macaroni and Cheese
• 2 Canned Yams
• Brown Sugar
• 1 Bag of Marshmallows
• 2 Canned Green Beans
• 1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
• French Fried Onions
• 2 Canned of Corn
• 1-2 Canned Cranberry Sauce
• 1-2 Jars of Gravy (Or packets)
• 1 Cornbread Mix
• 1 Dessert Mix (Pumpkin Pie Mix, Brownie Mix, Cake Mix, etc.)
• 2 Jello Mix

The following ideas are optional, but make nice additions to your basket.

Beverages

• Ice Tea Mix
• Coffee
• Bottled Juice
• Drink Mix
• Hot Cocoa Mix
• Apple Cider (that doesn’t need to be refrigerated).

Disposable Plates/Utensils

• Paper Plates
• Plastic Utensils
• Holiday Napkins or Paper Towels
• Disposable Foil Pans

Grocery Gift Card

• A grocery gift card isn’t required, but it’s a nice addition for a family in need. This will allow them to buy any additional fresh ingredients they’ll need to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner.

Source: gatheredagain.com

The single best way to reduce the risk of seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like avoiding people who are sick, covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu.

The tips and resources below will help you learn about actions you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs.

1. Avoid close contact.
   Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2. Stay home when you are sick.
   If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
3. Cover your mouth and nose.
   Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.
4. Clean your hands.
   Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
   Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits.
   Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/