A bigger home is not the only solution to your space problem

Originally posted on July 27, 2010
by Andrea Reynolds

Do we really need 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3 car garage homes to house our families and our stuff? Put another way, do we really need bigger mortgages if we’re already in debt? Let me tell you about the Paulsons. They live in their first and only house.

When they first married they rented a second floor apartment while saving for a down payment. When they did buy, it was a small bungalow on a quiet street. To have enough room for their three kids they spaced them so only two kids were living at home at the same time. They didn’t have pets. When their things took up too much room in the house, they reorganized their basement storage, held yard sales, gave things to the church for its rummage sales, and donated outgrown clothes to charity.

Soon after their 25th wedding anniversary their mortgage was paid off. They lived within their means despite several job layoffs, earned two college degrees in the family, and have lived debt-free for the past 15 years. Their children never felt cramped.

Only in their early 60’s the Paulsons’ retirement years will be cakewalk because they weren’t bitten by the bigger-is-better bug. Did you know that many self-made millionaires live comfortably in modest homes? Did you also know that the trend now is to live in tiny homes? Tiny, as in less than 144 square feet. Do a search on “tiny homes” and you’ll find custom home manufacturers building homes 10 feet by 10 feet.

If you think you can’t live without your stuff, try this. Rent a storage unit, fill it with anything you don’t need for cooking, sleeping, eating, or working, and don’t use what’s inside for a month. You may be surprised at what you don’t need, and happier with fewer possessions around you.

Andrea

Why I started Handy Ande

10 reasons:

1. I liked the name. It was my nickname as a kid and it stuck. (It fits.)

2. I needed income to support myself.

3. I knew my work ethic and standards where higher than many other service providers and professionals I'd observed.

4. I wanted to bring income-generating work to others who need it.

5. I wanted to see that people who work for me are paid better fees than other employers.

6. I wanted to see other service providers raise their standards by teaching them a new work philosophy.

7. I wanted to show service providers that a "boss" could treat them better and show more appreciation... which could lead to long-time, loyal staff.

8. I wanted a business that would continue to bring me income when I could no longer work.

9. I wanted a business that could be franchisable, allowing other women and men to own and run a business of their own, affordably... with support along the way.

10. I wanted to see if I could help to increase economic standards in each community.

Maybe these are lofty goals, but they are do-able.

Andrea

What to do with your unwanted timeshare

A few years ago my elderly father gave up traveling and decided his two week (back-to-back) Labor Day timeshares on the coast of North Carolina was costing him $1,000 a year in maintenance fees. He had paid two "timeshare advertising companies" upfront at least $500 each to sell his shares for him. Of course, they were a waste of money. Months went by and all they did was put a tiny ad in tiny type which was lost in a large catalog of other unwanted timeshares.

So I took on the task. I posted six photos of the timeshare unit, its location, description and map on my web site and waited to see what would happen. Yes, this is passive selling, but it cost me and Dad nothing. In a little over a year someone contacted me and offered $3,000 which was the current value of the points. I knew we would not likely find another buyer so I urged my father to accept, and they used a local lawyer in the same town as the timeshare to handle the transaction. There was no realtor commission to pay, just the lawyer fee which was nominal.

Today I heard Clark Howard say on his radio show that there was no way his caller was going to be able to sell her timeshare and urged her to just give it as a gift to family members. Obviously I don't completely agree.

My father could have done that: just give me his two weeks and then I would have had a lovely vacation spot that would have cost me only $1,000 in maintenance fees. If you have two children and own two timeshares, it would be somewhat easy to split them between the two. And of course if the timeshare sleeps six, erhaps your adult children could share if you have only a one-week share.

You could sign over a timeshare week to your children as a wedding gift so they have a free honeymoon location. Or you could simply allow friends to use your week for a fair payment for honeymoons and vacations. If you can break even on renting it out, you can keep the timeshare in your name for years to come. You can designate family members as beneficiaries of your timeshares in your will.

Or you could donate unwanted timeshares to your local PBS station and let the station figure out a way to sell the timeshares for cash OR put them in their annual fundraising auction to offer to subscribers. Consider other charities that accept vehicles as donated items.

If you give away a timeshare, you don't make money, but you stop having a money drain from the annual fees, and if you talk to your accountant, there may be a tax advantage in giving it or donating it. If you donate it, be sure to get a receipt from the recipient with a date on it.

And of course, if you insist on selling it there is eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, etc., but I think there may be an element of danger - both physically and financially - and I'm not sure I'd attempt to sell anything of signficant value that way. I've encountered a number of scammers on those sites and an elderly person who is trusting may not fair well with a masterful scammer.

So giving away your timeshare(s) may be less hassle in the long run. But keep in mind not everyone wants to own timeshares even if they can trade for a more desired location.

But if your timeshare is sitting vacant, I'd be happy to use it so it doesn't go to waste. ;-)

Andrea

Pantry Organized

This week I organized a pantry: one small room that was overloaded with stuff. Here are 2 of the photos: before and after:




You can read the whole story of what was involved, here on my almost-finished, updated web site: www.AndreaReynolds.com/decluttering.html

Andrea

Tip: Organizing kitchen utensils

I don't like having my utensils in a drawer. Too disorganized.

For several years I had a white flower pot on the counter with all my utensils standing up inside it like a bunch of flowers. Then I found a clear plastic Brita pitcher and put all the utensils inside. It was lighter in weight and I could see inside the pitcher to see the handle of the utensil I wanted. But in both cases, it was difficult putting the clean utensils in and getting them out because they always got tangled.

Then this past week I obtained (through Freecycle.org) an over-the-door shoe organizer. Perfect! My basement door is very close to my stove, and I can use each compartment for related items: ladles, slotted spoons, whisks, rubber scrapers, pancake turners, etc. Here's a photo:



Andrea

Updated web site, lower fees

A quick post to announce the updating of the web site and the accompanying reduction of membership fees. Tomorrow I write and distribute a news release to promote my services locally but also to promote my intention to generate visibility for my counterparts (concierges) in other cities throughout North America. I reduced the membership fee by $5-10, to $5.95 for 3 months membership, $10.95 for 6 months membership, and $19.95 for a full year's membership. To find the detail scroll down to the last link in the navigation bar/menu.

Please have a look around Handy Ande. I invite you to join right away so your services can benefit from my visibility. Let's all enjoy some extra income.

Andrea

A Bit of News

I am no longer traveling and am re-establishing my personal concierge services. You can download my brochure and my business card by clicking on the links on AndreaReynolds.com.

Now that I'm in one place I am considering establishing a network of personal concierges who want to promote their services to generate extra income. The annual membership has been $19.95. This will increase sometime in 2009, so you might want to take advantage of the low price now so I can promote your services to press and media wherever you are and bring you some business.

You can also have a 3 month trial membership for $5.95 and a 6 month membership for $10.95. I want to make these rates affordable for as many as possible.

Andrea