Pets

Pets and Divorce: Some States Recognize Animal Welfare in Divorce Cases

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Anyone who has snuggled up on the couch with their beloved dog would agree with the statement that for many people, dogs are not assets that can be divided haphazardly, but members of the family, or at least animals with rights that they need. Be considered. Now, family law courts across the country recognize it as well, and several states have enacted divorce law statutes that provide just that.

Alaska became the first state to adopt such a measure, in 2017. Illinois followed suit in 2018, and California joined the club in 2019. State by state, the laws are a bit different. For example, in Alaska, considering the welfare of the animal is a requirement. In California, judges have the opportunity to consider the welfare of the animal, but are generally not required to do so in all cases.

So how do you consider the welfare of a pet in a divorce case? You would have to think about who cares and is most capable of caring for the animal. That can include things like living and working arrangements, financial ability to care for the animal, and even whether the animal is strongly attached to only one of the two parties.

It should also be noted that most people will immediately think of dogs in divorce. However, the aforementioned laws actually deal with all animals that are domestic pets for the couple. So whether it’s a cat or an iguana, the animal would qualify.

When states start passing measures like these related to pets and divorce, it’s not uncommon for the movement to pick up momentum across the country. Even for much more debated issues, such as medical marijuana and then fully legalized recreational marijuana, and same-sex marriage, once some states began passing such measures, others began to do so more quickly.

Years from now, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see many more states across the country also recognize pet rights in divorce cases. Also consider that there are laws against animal cruelty that can result in jail time for violators. Therefore, seeing animals as beings that have rights and need to protect their well-being is not exactly a huge leap in logic.

Of course, as we have been discussing, pets in divorce is a matter handled by individual states. If you are going through a divorce case or may do so in the future, you only have to consider the official statutes of your own state. That’s why it also makes sense to work with an experienced professional who is familiar with all local regulations.

Caring for the welfare of animals is something that is important to many people, and considering their welfare in the matter of pets and divorce cases is a positive step forward.

Real Estate

Quick sale of real estate by owner when fast cash is needed

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The good old days were refreshing. You can put up a sign in your yard and get quick responses from interested potential buyers, or hire a listing agent and not worry about their commissions eating up your cash. The time has changed.

Real estate has become competitive. In some areas, it’s a seller’s market. In others, the buyer takes the reins. Whatever happens, there are thousands more people in real estate now than there were then. With investment seminars and investment shows becoming more common, the real estate group is growing larger every day.

But what if you’re in a hurry to sell? Does that mean you’re motivated? Let’s take a look at what constitutes a motivated seller, and whether or not some of these sales techniques will work for your situation…

Reasons:

  • You are facing foreclosure

Times can be tough. You may have been laid off from that job and not been able to replace the income on time. The bank sent you a letter notifying you of a lis pendens (the beginning of foreclosure, also known as pre-foreclosure) You have no options, and you don’t want foreclosure to end up destroying your credit.

  • You are behind on taxes

As before, this is an immediate situation that can destroy your credit. Taxes will be collected no matter what, so there’s no need to add bad credit to the mix. Back taxes will not only eat up your capital, but will also be attached to your future wages.

  • you have bad tenants

You are constantly receiving complaints about tenants at one of your properties. The police are becoming a normal sight in front of the property. Perhaps the tenants are turning their intended investment into a drug house. He doesn’t want to deal with the situation and would prefer to cash out of the investment and walk away.

  • you are getting divorced

Let’s be honest. Not many are fair in divorce proceedings. Who gets the house? None of you? So you have no choice but to sell quickly so you can avoid your soon-to-be ex like the plague and get some cash to start over.

  • you are retiring

If you’re a landlord retiring from the business, or a couple with a home you’ve owned for years, you just want some cash for your equity so you can move to warmer climates and bingo.

  • you inherited real estate

You just inherited a house or multi-unit property, but would rather have cash instead. You want a quick sale and you don’t want to be bothered with maintenance.

  • You are an out of state homeowner

He thought he could manage the California investment property while relaxing at home in Maine. Unfortunately good help is hard to find and all the property managers happen to be drunk. The grass is tall and you are receiving letters. It’s causing more headaches than it’s worth.

  • You just want some extra money

You don’t need the property in question and simply want to fill your bank account.

These are all valid reasons that would make you a motivated seller. The only question I have for you in this case is… are you greedy?

The number one real estate sales killer is a homeowner who has too much pride to accept that the market won’t support outlandish property valuations. Fair market value may be high, but no one is biting. How’s that quick sale going? The first step to selling your home quickly is recognizing that you need to keep an open mind. If you can keep an open mind about the price of the sale or the terms, then selling fast will be a piece of cake.

Where are my target buyers?

You have quite a few options. Some will take longer than others. Probably the number one way to sell quickly is to find a wholesaler. A wholesaler is a real estate investor who searches for discount properties, writes an offer, and then assigns the contract to one of his many cash buyers. Often the wholesaler will have hundreds or even thousands of investors on their contact list who are ready to buy immediately. His investment partners have been qualified by the wholesaler with proof of funds and will have shown the wholesaler multiple deals they have closed in the past.

There are wholesalers who buy properties in multiple states, while other wholesalers are limited to a single state. Some of them even stick to a specific city or regional area. They are known for using phrases like “we buy houses, any area, any condition.” While many wholesalers stick with deeply discounted properties, others work with low capital deals where Subject2 and seller financing may be at stake. These are some of the techniques that require you to be an open-minded salesperson who is truly “motivated.”

Another option for a quick sale is Craigslist and other classified websites. If you’re going the classifieds route, you need to be prepared for ‘tire kicker’ responses. There can be a lot of novice investors and people who are just looking, which will take you a long time to weed out before you find a real buyer. When posting a classified ad for your home, be sure to include as many details as possible in the ad. Skipping bedrooms, bathrooms, parking, and other features will only mean you’ll have to spend time discussing these things when you’re handling the multitude of calls you’ll be receiving.

If classified ads aren’t your thing, you’ll want to find buyers through a more direct route. Go where they hang out. There are forums like EquityPaper and BiggerPockets that have premium subscription options for real estate listings and other networking tools. These are forums where investors meet to discuss real estate issues on a daily basis. If you list your home in these professional member areas or markets, you can get fairly quick responses from interested buyers.

Determining the value of the property for an investor

When listing your property, there are a few things potential buyers will want to know in addition to the standard property details. ARV (value after repair) is one of them. To find your ARV, go to Zillow, Trulia, and Redfin. On each of those websites, search for your property and write down the estimated value for each of them. Add up all 3 of those values, then divide the sum by 3. The result will be your ARV.

After you have your ARV, you want to determine what the new buyer will have to invest in the property to repair it. If your house is in excellent condition, you only have to consider simple things like paint, appliances and other things related to the tastes of the buyer. You would multiply your square footage by $10 to get the total credit the buyer will want. If the property needs some updates like flooring, new toilet, etc., then you will multiply the SF by $15. Broken windows, doors, etc. they will cost $20. If the house is a disaster and a full rehab, then the multiplier is $30. Now subtract that number from the ARV.

Whether or not the buyer is a wholesaler or flipper, they need to do something about the deal. This can range from $2,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on your property’s location, value, and other factors. However, many good wholesalers will stick to the price of $10,000 or close to it. So take your new ARV and subtract the buyer’s profit to get an expectation of how much money you’ll be offered for the property.

Creative financing for a quick sale

Assuming the final number of calculations listed above wasn’t even close to taking care of what you owe on the property, then you need to learn to get creative. Some wholesalers and flippers will continue to purchase property with little or no capital.

Topic 2 Financing

Theme 2 is a technique that allows new buyers to take charge of their mortgage payments and take control of the property. Sub2 investors seek leverage so they don’t tie up their credit, but can get a rental property at the same time.

A seller may have a concern when it comes to a sub2 deal. For example, what if the buyer defaults on the mortgage and ends up as a bad credit item for the seller? Well, there are protections for sellers during existing subject 2 financing agreements.

  • A single late payment can be a deal breaker. It can be done so that in this case the buyer defaults and loses the property back to the seller. This one possibility is the number 1 reason why this is a rare scenario. Most topic 2 investors are experienced. They have been doing it for years and have made millions through rentals with these types of deals.

  • Limitation clauses, such as the one that requires the buyer to refinance the property in their own name within a set period of time, further reduce risk. Let’s say that in 2 years, the buyer must refinance. By then, they will have built up enough equity through their loan repayment to make this a possibility through traditional lending methods. Even in the worst case, they can get hard cash after that time to take advantage of the extra time to change ownership or get other financing.

Deed contract or lease option

If you’re not in a big rush for a lot of cash, you can sell with a deed or lease option. This will ensure that the buyer is responsible for maintenance, insurance, taxes, and everything else, while providing a monthly income stream with little risk. With either technique, you’ll get a quick sale. The best part is that you keep the deed to the house until the buyer’s obligations are met. If they default, you can simply evict them and start over with a new buyer. The best part is that you are earning interest on your principal at a rate that you agreed to in the sale.

FSBO (For Sale By Owner) doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be quite lucrative and surprisingly fast when you learn to be creative and open-minded.

Shopping Product Reviews

How to make aronia berry juice concentrate

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If you have a lot of fresh aronia berries, but don’t know what to do with all of them, you can make some concentrated aronia berry juice and can or freeze it for future use. Making juice concentrate is easy, requiring only a few pieces of equipment and about ½ day of your time.

Instructions

Things you will need to squeeze juice
16 pounds fresh dark blue aronia berries

8 quart pot

4 cups of Fructevia (natural sweetener without bad taste)

Apple cider press and large plastic container

Method 1 use cider press

  • Rinse frozen aronia berries in the large metal strainer under cold water to remove any debris, insects, or pesticides. Stir the berries in the strainer as you rinse them.
  • Carefully pour 16 pounds of the cleaned aronia berries into the apple cider press.
  • Using the apple cider press on the aronia berries, squeeze out the juice. This pressing squeezes the liquid and separates it from the pulp.
  • For the resulting liquid in a container. There should be about 1 gallon of juice. Add 4 cups of Fructevia or sweeten to taste.
  • For the resulting liquid in the pot and place the pot on the stove. Bring to a boil, while stirring the Fructevia, after about two minutes turn off the stove.
  • Can aronia berry be concentrated and stored in a cool dark place for later use? Here are two reasons to process your juice instead of freezing it: #1 If the power goes out, you could lose your juice. #2 You only have limited space in the freezer
  • Alternatively, let the liquid cool and pour into containers to freeze. You can use this concentrate to make drinks or jellies. For about 1/3 cup of this aronia berry juice concentrate, you can make about a liter of aronia berry drink by adding it to carbonated water. To make jelly you need to use low methoxyl pectin.

Method 2, use a stainless steel steam reamer

  • Wash the aronia berries, leave the berries on their stems, and plunge the entire bunch into a sink of cold water.
  • Fill the bottom section of the Steam Juicer with water and heat to a boil. As you make your juice, watch the water level in this lower section to make sure it doesn’t dry out.
  • Fill the top section of the steam juicer with cleaned aronia berries and place the lid on top.
  • The berries will cook and shrink as the juice vaporizes. Add more berries to the top of the basket as the berries begin to shrink.
  • The heat from the steam will cook the aronia berries. The aronia berry juice will drain into the center section of the steam juicer. Drain the juice by loosening the rubber tube after a couple of quarts have collected in the center section.
  • Keep track of the juice level in the center section. Do not allow the juice level to reach the level of the center cone or the juice will spill into the boiling water in the lower section of the Steam Juicer.
  • Let any leftover pulp drain overnight before discarding.
  • Follow the simple standard canning instructions for canning the juice. Add fructevia to each bottle to sweeten to taste. (usually about 2 cups per quart)

Tips and Warnings

  • You can freeze the concentrate in ice cube trays, take them out and store them in zip lock bags. Adding two of these cubes to a glass of cold water or carbonated water makes a delicious and refreshing drink.
  • You can juice aronia berries on their own or get creative in the varieties you create as you learn how to make aronia berry juice. For example, you can mix apple juice or grape juice with your aronia berry juice.
  • Steam juicers do not create raw juice. Steam juicers cook the juice. A press does not cook the juice. When the product is heated in the steam juicer, enzymes are lost and other nutrients in the juice are destroyed. Pressing the berries to produce juice is better because the enzymes are not destroyed.
Sports

How to play Fantasy Football Squares Pools

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Whether it’s the Super Bowl or whatever other game is being played while you’re hosting a group of people, the desire to have some kind of competition is always a tempting way to add a little excitement to the party. With the help of MFS Squares Pools, you will be able to make the game a bit more interesting. So what is a Squares group and how do you get involved in one?

Square pools are commonly played during the Super Bowl, but can be played during any football game. Square groups are played on a 10×10 grid, producing 100 squares, with each row and column having its own number, ranging from 0 to 9. One member of the group buys each square by placing their name on the square. while empty and unclaimed

Literally anyone can play and get involved in Squares’ free pools, even if you’re not an NFL fan or have limited knowledge of how the games are played. When you participate in the square pool, you are not normally limited to a single square, although there will most likely be a limit on how many you can purchase.

On the 10×10 grid in which the pool takes place, the top row of numbers represents one of the teams playing and the side row represents the other team playing. Teams and numbers are not placed on the grid until the NFL game is filled or begins. The commissioner can activate the random assignment of teams and numbers on his behalf. The commissaire does not want the responsibility, the teams and numbers are randomly assigned by MFS. This is done as a means of keeping the game fair and providing absolutely no advantage to any square.

More important; How do payments work? The most common payments occur at the end of each quarter. At the end of each quarter, the last digit of both NFL teams’ scores is taken and used as a reference on the grid to determine a winner. So if at the end of the first quarter, the Chicago Bears have 10 and the Indianapolis Colts have 3. Then you would find the winning frame by looking for 0 on the vertical scale (where the Bears were assigned) and 3 on the horizontal. scale (Colts location). Where these two numbers intersect on the grid is the winning square. I would continue this for the remaining three quarters, and possibly overtime, if a separate payment is set up.

Free Squares pools are a fun and interactive way to get in on the game, whether it’s Monday Night Football, a rivalry game, or the Super Bowl. Guests who are not overly interested in the game will get excited at the prospect of winning money, which will make them want to watch the game.

Relationship

The McDonald’s Diet: How I Lost 14 Pounds in 30 Days Eating Nothing But McDonald’s

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At first glance, you might think this book is a McDonald’s publicity stunt, or at least an attempt by the chain to undo the damage caused by the Super Size Me film.

It’s neither, and in fact, McDonald’s was in no way involved with the writing, marketing, or even the idea behind the book. Even the burger on the cover is not a McDonald’s burger because they have very strict copyrights on anything related to their brand.

This is a book written by Mark Austin, a certified personal trainer and performance nutrition specialist who works out of his gym based in Switzerland.

Mark Austin specializes in rapid and sustainable weight loss based on a diet and exercise regimen that he has perfected over 27 years in the health and fitness industry. The waiting list to join their gym says it all, and once you’re in, you have to strain, so to speak, or you’re politely asked to leave to make way for the next desperate customer.

The motivation behind the book was a response to all the excuses Mark has given his clients over the years to avoid weight loss: Nothing else to eat at the restaurant…It was a special occasion…it was cooked especially for me…didn’t want to offend the host…didn’t have time…etc, etc.

He decided to write a book to prove that even if you ate nothing but fast food for a month, you could still lose weight if you sensibly met your body’s nutritional needs and exercise program three times a week.

How to use this book

My suggestion is that you read it twice to understand the dynamics of weight loss based on nutritional needs and linked to a progressive exercise program. Study the photos of the exercises and watch the video that accompanies almost all the exercises on the provided website.

The book is written in an engaging and easy-to-understand conversational style, with all expert-backed statements or research findings listed on the back. All non-everyday terms are explained as they are used and followed up again with a glossary at the back.

Then, assuming your doctor clears you for both a new diet and exercise regimen, take the book to your nearest trusted gym and sign up or log in. Follow the photos of the exercises and note your progress in the training table provided. On the way home, stop at a convenient McDonald’s and order your first meal for the next 30 days.

It is better to do the exercise correctly with a lower weight than to strain the body with too heavy a weight used incorrectly. If you’re not ready for weights, you can start at home by doing flexibility and mobility exercises. The instructions that label the photos are very clear and provide several variations of the exercise depending on your fitness and flexibility. Once you can master an exercise with ease, it’s time to “progress” to the next level. Do you need something easier? You can also “go back” one level.

Advantages of eating McDonald’s

The main advantage of basing the foods to be eaten on a standardized source is that there can be no unconscious cheating. McDonald’s was the obvious choice because there are many locations in every major city.

Dieting is traditionally associated with deprivation, while “eating out” is associated with a treat. The main reason people go out to eat is because of its simplicity and convenience. Not having to buy, prepare and weigh “diet food” is already a time saver and a psychological boost.

If you’re ordering takeout from McDonald’s, you can’t be on a diet, right? So get rid of all the well-intentioned family, friends, and colleagues who are waiting to tell you that you’re going to fail, once again. It tastes good and there is a lot of variety. Each item in your diet has been assigned its caloric value, so no calculations are required.

Meals become something to look forward to rather than a test of your creativity with a limited number of low-fat options.

Conclution

The McDonald’s Diet is a slim 225-page book (67 of those pages are made up of exercise photos) that fits easily into a gym bag and into a life. It is one of the few books I have seen that devotes equal page space to both exercise and diet, the two components that are an integral part of any weight loss program.

It covers in a few pages the essentials of weight loss, nutrition before and after exercise, and why yo-yo dieting never works and is a danger to your mental and physical health. The reason it can be so slim and affordable is that no recipe space has been wasted – your meals are waiting for you ASAP. It is written for people who really want to lose weight, without harming their health. It retails on Amazon for $14.

So now it’s your turn.