How Home Equity Can Help Fuel Your Retirement

on
  How Home Equity Can Help Fuel Your Retirement If retirement is on the horizon, now’s the time to start thinking about your next chapter. And you probably want to make sure you’re set up to feel comfortable financially to live the life you want in retirement. What you may not realize is you likely have a hidden goldmine of cash you’re not thinking about — and that’s your home.  Data  from the  Federal Housing Finance Agency  (FHFA) shows that home values have gone up nearly 60% over the last 5 years alone (see graph below): And that appreciation gave your net worth a big boost. According to  Freddie Mac , over the same five-year period: “ . . .  Boomer overall wealth increased by $19 trillion, or $486,000 per household, half of which is due to house price appreciation.” So if you’ve been in your house ever longer than that, chances are you have even more equity in your home. If you want to have access to more of the wealth you’ve built up throughout t...
0

10 Things to Do in Your Garden in March

on

 


  1. March is an exciting time for gardeners as it marks the beginning of spring in many regions, bringing with it opportunities for planting, preparing, and maintaining your garden. Here are some gardening tips for March:


  3. Prepare the soil: As the weather begins to warm up, it's an excellent time to prepare your garden beds for planting. Turn over the soil, remove any weeds or debris, and add compost or organic matter to enrich the soil.


  5. Start seeds indoors: Many vegetables and flowers can be started indoors in March to give them a head start before transplanting them outdoors later in the season. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and annual flowers are good candidates for indoor sowing.


  7. Plant cool-season vegetables: In regions where the threat of frost has passed, you can start planting cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, carrots, and radishes directly into the garden.


  9. Prune: March is an ideal time to prune trees and shrubs before they start actively growing. Remove dead or damaged branches, shape hedges, and prune summer-flowering shrubs to encourage healthy growth.


  11. Divide perennials: If your perennial plants have become overcrowded or are showing signs of decline, March is a good time to divide them. This helps rejuvenate the plants and promotes better growth and flowering.


  13. Control weeds: Stay on top of weeds by regularly removing them from your garden beds. Mulching can also help suppress weed growth while conserving soil moisture.


  15. Monitor pests and diseases: Keep an eye out for any signs of pests or diseases on your plants. Early detection allows for prompt intervention, whether through natural remedies, organic pesticides, or other control methods.


  17. Prepare for late frost: While spring is on its way, frost can still occur in many regions. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared to protect tender plants with row covers, cloches, or other frost protection methods if necessary.


  19. Clean and sharpen garden tools: Before the gardening season gets into full swing, take some time to clean and sharpen your garden tools. Sharp tools make tasks easier and help prevent the spread of diseases between plants.


  21. Plan and design: Use March as an opportunity to plan and design your garden for the upcoming season. Consider crop rotation, companion planting, and succession planting to maximize your garden's productivity and beauty.

Remember to adjust these tips based on your specific climate and region, as gardening timelines can vary significantly depending on where you live. Happy gardening!

Comments

Post a Comment