Archive for August, 2009
Choosing The Right Bedding
August 25th, 2009 | 
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Who can afford to buy bedding everyday? For that reason, be careful when buying bedding as you will be sleeping on it for a long while to come.Here are a few things to consider when you are choosing your bed linens:
Please do not buy sheets in the blind. Prior to buying sheets, be sure you know the proper size you will need to fit your bed.Don’t be seduced by the wonderful sale, pretty pattern, or soothing colors! First note the size of the linens you are ga-ga over, because once you remove the sheet set from its plastic wrap, it is so much more difficult to take them back to the store.To play it safe about buying the correct linen size, know the measurements of your mattress.Mattresses are typically produced in a standard size, but some variations may occur.Also, be sure to check the width of your mattress.Got a pillow top mattress? Then you need to buy deep pocket linen. Why, you may ask? Well, if you try to put non deep pocket sheets on your fancy pillow top mattress, you will go insane in your vain attempts to make them fit.Another thing to keep in mind is that the larger your mattress is, the more expensive your bedding will be.Figure in the cost of your sheets if you’ve got your heart set on that king.
If you are like I was, you might have not paid too much attention to the thread count. To express it in the simplest terms, the thread count tells you how many threads, in both directions, are in each square inch of the weave of the sheets. If it is a decent quality sheet set, the count of the thread will be plainly shown on the package.A easy guideline to remember is that the greater the thread count, the softer and more supple the sheets will be.But all that extra comfort will cost you more money.
You may want to consider buying at least two sets of sheets at the same time for a couple of reasons.First of all, when its time to wash the bed linen, you will already have that extra set that you can immediately put on the bed.Another benefit of the two sheet set plan is that no one set gets over used and this in turn will extend the usefulness of each set.
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variable mortgage strategy
Variable Rate Mortgage Strategy
Variable rate mortgages have become very popular over the last few years, and have been used by more and more mortgage borrowers.
A report by Dr. Milevski (York University, Toronto) reveals that between 1950 and 2000, variable rates were less expensive than the 5 by 5 strategy (five years fixed) 88% of the time.
Of course, a variable rate strategy incurs some risk, just by its nature of being variable. But the last half century has shown that it has been a risk well work taking.
Description
Interest rates on variable rate mortgages are based on the base rate of the large banks in Canada. The rate a borrower receives is a rabais over this base bank rate. Variable rate loans are always quoted as a base rate less a fixed percentage.
If the base rate, for instance, is 6.00%, and the bank quotes “base rate minus .90%”, this means that the variable rate loan will be 5.10% for the period that this base rate is in effect. If the base rate is lowered by the Bank of Canada, the loan rate is also lowered: a new base rate of 5.25% will mean a variable mortgage rate of 4.35% for that period. The Bank of Canada adjusts this rate 8 times per year. Note that this rate may be refixed at the same rate (no change), so the base rate does not necessarily have to change 8 times a year.
Advantages
- It has been shown by studies to be the best strategy, especially in stable or decreasing interest rate environments.
- This strategy permits borrowers to take advantage of periods of falling interest rates.
- Payments are normally lower.
- There is a lower penalty fee than with other strategies.
- Many lenders offer this loan option.
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