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Chap 10 – His Ex

26 Saturday Nov 2022

Posted by webbywriter1 in Book Sales: Amazon.com/Kindle Books, dating, marriage, romance, stress

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Chapter Ten – His Ex

Hmm…Mr. Wonderful has an Ex. This can be an ex-wife (wives), ex-girlfriend, ex-‘friend’, ex-fiancée, it could be his mother.

Well, how bad is that? You ask yourself and your besty friend. Well…In today’s modern society, very few people get to the altar without having at the very least one ex. That is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it could be a good thing in that it speaks to your beloved having some history with other women and being able to make some adult decisions about who he really wants to be with. Remember, ‘until death us do part’, can be a long time.

However, that said, what are some tell-tale bad signs about this (those) past relationship(s)?

  • He continues to talk about his ex. He brings her up, not just the once but numerous times.
  • There are continual cute antidotes about the past and their good times together.
  • He compliments her looks, her school, her actions, her decisions, her whimsical choices. Everything, in fact, about her is imbued with an almost mystical power. 
  • There are pictures of her around his place.
  • They are still friends and talk on the phone, send each other emails, stay in touch on Facebook or other social media.
  • You visit her place with him. He wants to hang out with her at this and that event.
  • He compares you to her and the end result is not good.

Stop! The warning signs are written very large here. The only sign you should be looking for is the one that says Exit in red! Because you need out of this relationship now.

Face the facts. Your guy is still in love with that girl, gal, woman (and yes, it can be his mother.) You will never live up to his fantasy of who and what she is (was). And you might as well not waste your valuable time trying. You cannot make him happy simply because you are not her.

Right here, unfortunately, your logical mind might assert itself and say, “But, she’s in a relationship, she’s got a boyfriend, husband, fiancée. She has moved on!” It doesn’t matter. What matters is that he has not and that is what counts. You will always be second best, the also ran, and the one he had to ‘settle’ for. Who wants that?

Okay, we have now leap frogged over all these issues and now it’s time for…

Chap 11 – The Wedding

You can see more of Courtney’s work at Amazon/Kindle or Kindle Vella Library.

Read more of Courtney’s writing in:

https://sites.google.com/view/webbywritercom/page-5?authuser=0

Also: Amazon/Kindle

Negotiating rental leases

06 Thursday Oct 2022

Posted by webbywriter1 in Jobs and the workplace, money, stress, Uncategorized

≈ Comments Off on Negotiating rental leases

In the time of run away rent increases, lack of government controls and rising inflation, it is time for renters to start thinking about negotiating the terms of leases. Attorneys who deal with landlord disputes often get called in only when an eviction is looming. It is time for renters to unite, form blocks of renters unions and set clear guidelines for reasonable, rather than unreasonable, rent increases. My rent has increase 40% in four years. The ‘normal’ amount of increase should have been 12% to 16%. And as always, wages have not kept up.

Negotiations of Leases Between Residential Renters and Landlords


  • GUIDE TO LANDLORD AND TENANT LAW

https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/negotiations-of-leases-between-residential-renters-and-landlords-43918

Renters and landlords are often at opposing ends in real estate transactions. Many landlords have a standard lease form that they use for all tenants. However, there may come times when a renter wants something other than what is in the boilerplate language a standard lease agreement contains. The renter or the landlord may wish to negotiate different terms. Some ways to accomplish this include:

Understand the Motivations of the Parties

Renters and landlords may have very different interests and motivations. A renter may be in a time crunch and may need to move quickly. A landlord may have had a vacant unit for some time and may wish to fill it. The process can get even more complicated when a leasing company is involved. This company often gets paid every month regardless of whether the unit is vacant or not. If the unit is not filled, it is paid for looking for a renter. As such, this company may not be under the same pressures as an independent landlord. Therefore, an independent landlord may be more likely to negotiate than a leasing company. Even if a leasing company is willing to negotiate, the person showing the property may not have the authority to negotiate with the renter.

Research

Research is a fundamental component to any negotiation. The renter should educate himself or herself about the real estate market in the area before signing his or her lease. This includes investigating the respective costs of other units in the area of similar size and style, looking at the amenities that different locations provide and whether there are many vacant units in close proximity that represent competition to the landlord. By being armed with this information, the renter will be in a better position to negotiate more favorable terms.

Identify Strong Characteristics

The renter can also make his or her case better if he or she can show positive characteristics that he or she offers. For example, if the renter has a strong rental history, he or she can point out this information. Landlords prefer stable renters who pay on time, take care of the unit and have stayed on the property for quite some time. By providing solid references from former landlords, a renter can be more persuasive.

Offer Something in Return

If a tenant is looking for something in particular, such as a lower security deposit, lower rent or more amenities, he or she can offer something in return. Some tradeoffs that the renter might be able to make is to sign a longer lease, such as for 18 months or two years instead of a six-month or 12-month lease, paying more in a security deposit or paying advance rent or giving up shared space or a parking spot that is unneeded.

Examine Other Options

One important aspect of negotiation is having other options open so that the targeted location is not the exclusive choice. This gives the renter leverage and options. Additionally, if the negotiations do not go well for the renter, he or she has another option. This requires the renter to actively look for other units that will fit his or her needs.

Consider Preferred Provisions

Once the renter has all of the research completed and points to negotiate, he or she should carefully narrow in on the new terms he or she wants in the lease. He or she may want an option to sublease the unit in the event that he or she has a job change or wants to move before the end of the lease term. This provides additional protection in case one of the offers the renter makes is a longer lease term. The renter might want an option to renew the lease based on the current or new terms.

Carefully Review the Lease

After the negotiations, both parties should carefully review the lease. This will help ensure that the agreement the parties made is actually memorialized. The parties should carefully check provisions related to payment, who is responsible for repairs and maintenance, insurance information and how absences are treated. Both parties should be clear on who pays for what. If the contract has to be enforced in the future, the terms of the lease will be what the court examines.

Seek Legal Assistance

Negotiating a lease can be complicated. It is a legally-binding contract between the parties with legal consequences. To protect their interests, many renters enlist the assistance of a real estate lawyer. A real estate lawyer can review and negotiate the lease.

Provided by HG.org

Read more on this legal issue
Angry Renters, a Management Company and Damages Owed
Why Landowners Decide to Ground Leases


Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication at the time it was written. It is not intended to provide legal advice or suggest a guaranteed outcome as individual situations will differ and the law may have changed since publication. Readers considering legal action should consult with an experienced lawyer to understand current laws and.how they may affect a case.

©1995-2022 All Rights Reserved HG.org Legal Resources – HGExperts.com

Rental Poverty

17 Friday Jun 2022

Posted by webbywriter1 in Jobs and the workplace, money, stress

≈ Comments Off on Rental Poverty

Rental Poverty 

How much of your monthly income should go to rent?

https://www.chase.com/personal/banking/education/budgeting-saving

In the days when I lived and worked in the LA area, I lived in ‘The Valley’ (San Fernando Valley) and commuted into the ‘city’ to attend meetings, hearings, speak with people, so on. Part of my beat was Beverly Hills, Century City, Belair, West Hollywood, etc. All the very exclusive areas. I mostly used the 405 freeway, sometimes the 101 and some side streets. The commute to the city would start before 8 am and the commute back from the city began at about 2 pm. In all this stop and go traffic, I began to observe certain things.

What I began to see (when I paid attention) was the large number of pickup trucks, driven by men, with various tool boxes and gear in the back. I would see the trucks going south in the am and see the same type of vehicles going back north in the pm. Back ‘north’ was the Valley and then further north, Santa Carita, Canyon Country and further north, Victorville. I began to realize that the middle class folks, to include the butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers, could not afford the ‘city’ and were migrating north to affordable housing. In that commute, they were taking their skills with them.

It appeared that the 45 minute to 2 hour drive (depending on the time of day) was adequately offset by their work compensation so, they kept doing it. I began to realize something else. In Beverly Hills and neighborhoods of the like kind, the people who could afford to live there were the rich, the people who cleaned their toilets and washed their cars. No one else.

What happens when the housing is so expensive that no amount of commuting will offset the cost? There are areas in California now like Oakland, Santa Cruz, places in the Silicon Valley, where the cost of living is so great, they cannot attract workers. I was at the swimming pool recently and a young man shared that he had just taken an engineering job in that area. I know that he must be making pretty good money, however, he indicated the price of rent was ‘eating his lunch.’ I wonder how long he will last?

Three and a half years ago I left California, my home state, to come to Arizona. It had become  impossible to live on retired pay plus part-time jobs with the cost of living. When I came here my rent was a comfortable 26% of my salary. Now in just 3.5 yrs, it has jumped to an uncomfortable 34% of my salary. During the same time period, my salary cola increases have been 3%. That plus the rising cost of gas, I am having to check the fridge to see if I have enough food.

Who does this benefit? Well, the landlords of course. But what happens when the cost of living drives out your middle class and you don’t have anyone to fix your expensive houses, expensive cars and teach your children. Who wins? Try no one.

Greed has its price. One that I don’t think our society has even begun to calculate.

Article: Chase Bank

Ideally, your monthly rent payments should leave you with enough money left over for bills, groceries, a bit of non-essential spending, and even savings. Here’s how you can figure out how much of your income should go towards your monthly rent.

What percentage of income should go to rent?

The 30% rule

A popular standard for budgeting rent is to follow is the 30% rule, where you spend a maximum of 30% of your monthly income before taxes (your gross income) on your rent. This has been a rule of thumb since 1981, when the government found that people who spent over 30% of their income on housing were “cost-burdened.“

Under 30%

The 30% rule is a general guideline that renters can follow, but they should also take into account other expenses and factors. For instance, if you have credit card debt or student loans to pay off, consider finding an apartment with rent below 30% of your monthly income, so you can put more of your budget toward reducing your debt.

Why you shouldn’t spend over 30% of your income on rent

If you have to spend over 30% per month on rent, you’ll have less money left over for bills and important purchases, making it more difficult to build savings. Make sure that your monthly rent payments don’t prevent you from paying off credit card debt or loans: your rent shouldn’t cause you to fall deeper in debt.

If 30% doesn’t work for you

The 30% rule does not always perfectly align with your budget. When determining how much you can reasonably pay in rent per month, there are some other things to consider before you say no.

Try the 50/30/20 rule

The 50/30/20 rule is a popular method to follow when determining your expenses in your monthly budget. The rule entails spending 50% of your monthly income on essential expenses such as rent, monthly bills, and groceries, spending 30% on non-essential purchases such as going out to eat, and putting 20% into your savings account. If your rent pushes above 30% of your gross income, by limiting your monthly bills, you may be able to keep rent + bills less than 50%.

Work down loans and debt

When you have considerable debt to pay each month, putting 30% of your income towards rent may still be too much. While finding a cheaper place to live can help you afford all of your essentials, consider working through debt reduction programs to shrink your monthly debt payments so you can put more money towards where you live.

Tidy up your spending habits

If you frequently eat out at restaurants, spend money on entertainment, or travel, consider how these expenses affect your monthly budget. If you would rather live in a more spacious apartment or more appealing neighborhood, cutting back on these extras can help you afford your new space.

Think about where you live

If you live in an expensive area, you may have to spend more than 30% of your monthly income on rent. To maintain a balance in your monthly budget, find ways to decrease your spending in other areas to live comfortably or find other areas to live in for less.

How to calculate 30% of your available income for rent

To find your gross monthly income, take a look at your most recent paycheck and find the line calling out “Gross Pay” (what you’re paid before taxes, health insurance, 401k, and any other benefits are removed from your pay).

Calculate your monthly Gross Pay

If you receive a paycheck every two weeks: Multiply your Gross Pay by 26 (to see your 52-week Gross Pay) then divide that number by 12 (to see your monthly Gross Pay).

If you receive a paycheck twice a month: Multiply your Gross Pay by 2 (to see your monthly Gross Pay).

Does 30% work for you?

If 30% of your Gross Pay is more than you’re currently paying each month in rent, then you’re at a safe level for housing. If 30% of your Gross Pay is less than your monthly rent, many financial professionals would suggest that you find a more affordable home

How to reduce your rent to 30% or less of your income

Split the rent with roommates

Sharing an apartment with roommates can help bring down the monthly rent costs per person. If you can find one or more roommates to comfortably share an apartment with, you immediately save a bit on your rent.

6/17/22 Courtney Webb

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