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Dyin' From Vacation
From the book Spider’s Night on the Boom
by Gary E. Anderson
www.abciowa.com
My parents visited from Oregon this summer, and we saw more of Iowa than we'd seen in all the years since our own arrival. It was a perfect excuse to visit...
How to Develop Your Own Personal Fashion Style
Samuel L. Jackson has a Kangol hat. Jude Law always seems to have a beautiful tailored English suit with a colored shirt. Mischa Barton from the hit TV show "The OC" has her beautiful frilled skirts. What is your personal fashion style? Have you...
The Over-Working Mother
The Working Parent
Since the 1950’s, the number of women going into the work field has risen steadily year-by-year. This change has affected the way men and women are married as well as the way men and women parent. According to the U.S....
Traditional, Classic, And Old World Baby Clothing Dressing Your Baby The Old-School Way
In today's world there are nearly as many styles in baby clothing as there are babies crawling about. Parents who want modern clothing can find it at the nearest Wal-Mart, those who desire alternative forms of clothing for their babies can usually...
Your New Bra - Support the Right Size
Eighty percent of women are rumored to be wearing the wrong bra size. That's eight out of ten! They are facing discomfort and back pain that are unnecessary. Whether you are wearing your bras for supportive comfort, sex appeal, or nursing, it needs...
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Apartment-Hunting Season Returns: How to Arm Yourself
If you're on the hunt for an apartment right now, you've probably noticed that you're in good company. Each weekend, hordes of hunters arrive at the newest and most luxurious complexes. The apartment business is growing increasingly competitive in many markets, and leasing companies are offering tempting specials to sweeten the deal and lure prospective renters away from competitors. Working in this kind of "every man for himself" climate, however, requires a little prior knowledge before you begin your search. It really is a jungle out there.
Afraid you're beginning your search too soon? Forget it. It used to be that renters began looking for their next apartment right before their leases were up. Not so anymore. Apartments are snapped up almost as quickly as they become available. In order to ensure yourself as many alternatives as possible, begin your hunt at least six weeks prior to the expiration of your current lease. Apartment communities generally know what their availability will be six weeks in advance.
Research each community before you visit, and find out if it's even worth your while and the gas money. Find out rental rates and what they include. Believe it or not, some communities don't supply microwaves for their residents, for example. If you don't own a washer and dryer, it's going to make all the difference in the world to have one present in your apartment. Even if you love an apartment, lugging your laundry to an on-site facility is going to color your outlook -- and soon. Ask about utilities. While many communities pay for water consumption, some don't. Whether you stand to gain by paying only for the water you use remains to be seen. To help you get a good estimate of anticipated utility expenses, ask the community representatives for a ballpark estimate of monthly utility expenses. Then call the utility provider to verify the accuracy of that estimate. It's also important to ask leasing agents if the community is willing to take any measures to help residents cut down on their utility expenses. Some communities go so far as to install a transparent screen on windows if residents are experiencing high electricity bills due to an abundance of summer sunlight, for example.
Before you start your hunt, decide what's negotiable and what's not in terms of amenities. Then base all of your decisions on that list. For example, if a security system is top priority with you, don't be swayed by an otherwise great apartment. If
having a security system gives you peace of mind, it's worth the effort to find another great apartment with a system installed. And you'll find one -- particularly if you live in a major metropolitan environment with a cutthroat-competitive rental market. Another point: If your prospective new home has particularly high community fees, ask yourself how often you'll really take advantage of those services. Are you a fitness nut? Do you need that fitness center? Do you need drive-through mail service? All of these amenities make life easier, of course, but some of us still don't mind doing things the old-fashioned (and cheaper) way.
If your upcoming move is being prompted by an increase in rent where you live now, take a moment to consider the costs of moving. Adding to your expenses will be a new security deposit, application fees, boxes and packing tape, moving service, and new phone service, among other things. Now, does paying an extra $25 each month seem awful? And if you're considering a quick move up the road or a few streets away, it may not be worth the expense.
Should you decide to take the plunge and move, be sure you notify your current landlord, insurance company, post office, and credit-card companies of your upcoming move. And don't forget that you'll need to make revisions to your driver's license and automobile registration, as well.
Plan to move into your new apartment on a date that overlaps with your current lease. A period of one or two days is a good guideline, according to Cathy Macaione, author of The Apartment Hunter's Survival Guide and the president of a multihousing company. Allowing yourself that time gives you a degree of assurance that you won't be rushed from your current residence into your next one. In such a scenario, items get lost, are broken, or you run out of time to do things like clean the apartment you're vacating -- which means you're going to lose part of your security deposit at precisely the time you could use a little extra cash.
Moving is fraught with emotion and stress, and apartment hunters aren't immune. But doing your homework -- and starting it early -- is your best defense.
About The Author
Since 1989 Dan The Roommate Man has helped 1000's of people find roommates. Need help? Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.roommateexpress.com
info@roommateexpress.com
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fashion net - the guide to all things chic |
Directory of selected chic fashion, art, luxury, shopping, and work sites. [English and Japanese] |
www.fashion.net |
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Fashion TV - HOME |
International TV channel dedicated to fashion, broadcasts 24 hours a day on satellites and cable systems. Site features programs and lots of info on fashion ... |
www.ftv.com |
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Style.com: the online home of Vogue and W; Fashion, Fashion Shows ... |
Portal of Vogue and W magazines. Detailed coverage of designer runway collections and style news with a list of job opportunities and links to other Condé ... |
www.style.com |
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Vogue Articles, Features, and More on Style.com |
Magazine features and articles, fashion show coverage, celebrity style, fashion trend reports, party and award show coverage, shopping guides, and more. ... |
www.style.com |
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Fashion for women -- fashion designers, latest trends, fashion tips |
Fashion for women: a comprehensive guide to everything about women's fashion including current fashion trends, information about fashion designers, ... |
fashion.about.com |
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Fashion & Style - New York Times |
Fashion & Style · Dining & Wine · Home & Garden · Weddings & Celebrations · Travel · Jobs · Real Estate · Autos · Comedy on the Hot Seat. By ALLEN SALKIN ... |
www.nytimes.com |
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Fashion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
The term "fashion" is frequently used in a positive sense, as a synonym for ... In this sense, fashions are a sort of communal art, through which a culture ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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fashionoffice.org : trends in fashion - Europe . America . Asia |
fashion magazine - international trends in fashion, style, design, photo, film, art, beauty. catwalk TV, shows, photo stories from New York, Paris, London, ... |
www.fashion.at |
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Fashion, from the concrete to the catwalk | fuk.co.uk |
London designer interviews and runway archive, photo shoots, street style, weekly updated news and a fashion clinic. |
www.fuk.co.uk |
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FASHION Magazine |
The web component of Canada's general fashion title, with fashion, beauty, gift ideas and online competitions. |
www.fashionmagazine.ca |
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Telegraph | Fashion |
Fashion Director Hilary Alexander looks at an expanding market. ... Fashion 'Oscar' winner Giles Deacon is to join luxury label Daks, reveals Hilary ... |
www.telegraph.co.uk |
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Telegraph | Fashion |
Fashion 'Oscar' winner Giles Deacon is to join luxury label Daks, ... Buying vintage is more than a fashion trend, it's a good investment says Maria ... |
www.telegraph.co.uk |
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Fashion Jobs | Fashion Jobs at 24 Seven Inc. |
We're 24 Seven Inc., the number one source of fashion jobs and talent for the ... Our success at connecting the right people with the right fashion jobs has ... |
www.fashion-jobs.biz |
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Fashion History Costume Trends and Eras, Trends Victorians - Haute ... |
Pauline Weston Thomas and Guy Thomas place costume alongside the social history of an era, focusing on fashion from 1800. Includes undergarments, haute ... |
www.fashion-era.com |
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Fashion Planet: Summer |
New York-based site looks at collections, trends, personalities and global lifestyles with monthly updates. |
www.fashion-planet.com |
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New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... Spring 2007 Fashion. philosophy and versace European Shows. The best of the big collections. ... |
nymag.com |
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New York Fashion -- New York Magazine - Designers, Fashion ... |
The recently maligned country struts its stuff at a fashion show in Manhattan. ... Fall Fashion. rachel weisz The Sexes Get Dressed. For her? ... |
nymag.com |
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Fashion Icon |
Features latest trends, dressing tips, an ask the fashion experts column, and fun craft projects. |
www.fashion-icon.com |
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Fashion News on Yahoo! News |
Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet Shine at "The Holiday" Premiere Fashion Wire Daily ... JAKARTA (Reuters) - Mention the words Islamic and fashion and most people ... |
news.yahoo.com |
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Hint Fashion Magazine |
Hint Fashion Magazine, featuring fashion news, model pages, photo shoots, designer interviews, beauty reports, party pictures and message boards. |
www.hintmag.com |
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