Easy Storage Ideas - Toilet paper shelf

From the FamilyHanyman.com



Find space in overlooked places

I have to credit my wife with this idea. She bought a deep “shadow box” picture frame at a craft store and asked me to make a bathroom shelf. I slapped a couple of coats of white enamel paint on the frame and hung it around our toilet paper holder. It gives us two convenient shelves for small items in our very small bathroom.

Ron Vanover
Field Editor

Should You Pre‐Pay Mortgage Payments

From enlightenme.com

When considering financial planning, many people consider whether or not it is a wise idea to pre-pay mortgage payments. Paying down your principle by prepaying mortgage payments can subtract several years from the time it takes you to own your home free and clear, and can save you thousands of dollars in interest. However, pre-paying a mortgage is not the best idea for everyone and there are several pro’s and cons to consider before deciding to pre-pay mortgage payments.

Reasons to Pre-Pay Mortgage Payments

The biggest reason to pre-pay mortgage payments is to become debt free. If you value the security of owning your home free and clear, it may be a wise idea for you to pre-pay mortgage payments. Once you eliminate your mortgage debt, you have more financial freedom to invest in other endeavors, or even to take risks such as branching out and starting your own business or leaving a job you hate, since you will be relieved of your obligation to pay a monthly mortgage payment.

When you pre-pay mortgage payments, you will also save money in interest. While this is certainly an incentive, some people argue that this is not a good reason to prepay a mortgage since often you could earn more in interest by investing the money elsewhere than you are paying in mortgage interest.

Reasons not to Pre-Pay Mortgage Payments

There are several big arguments against pre-paying mortgage payments. Many people do not want to pre-pay mortgage payments because they don’t want to lose the tax deduction they get on mortgage interest payments. This may be a valid reason not to pre-pay your mortgage, however you can only deduct interest and not principle payments and thus this incentive decreases as your mortgage term progresses and your monthly payments consist more of principle than interest.

The other major argument against pre-paying your mortgage is that you can invest your money elsewhere to get a higher rate of return. For example, if you are being charged 6.5 percent interest on your mortgage but can invest in an investment that pays 8 percent, it would not be financially advantageous to pre-pay mortgage payments. However, remember that when you have paid off your mortgage you are guaranteed the return on that investment equal to the interest you save. Any other investments that are more speculative may carry more of a risk, and as such the additional money earned comes at the cost of taking more of a chance with your money.

Finally, if you do not intend to stay in your home long term, it may not make sense to pre-pay mortgage payments, especially if you are paying a relatively low interest rate on your mortgage.

Bruce Willis Is Living Free With 2 Bedford, NY Properties

BY CATHERINE SHERMAN

ZILLOW

Source: IMDb

The ‘Die Hard’ star’s latest purchase spans 22.32 acres overlooking the Croton Reservoir.

Bruce Willis’ new digs give his Idaho getaway a run for its money. The “Die Hard” actor is living free with 22.32 acres on one of the highest points in Bedford, NY.

Willis has dropped $12 million on a shingle-style home and adjoining parcel overlooking the Croton Reservoir. The sale closed in August but has flown under the radar until recently.

The main residence has 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, a climate-controlled wine cellar, mature gardens, a swimming pool and heated cabana. Willis also scooped up land not listed on the MLS: 8 acres with an antique house and 2 renovated guest cottages.

It seems the actor is slowly settling back East. He recently listed two of his other properties — a Sun Valley ski home and a Beverly Hills estate — and purchased a Central Park West apartment from U2 bassist Adam Clayton.

Willis and wife Emma Heming will be neighbors with Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who recently sold a Bedford house and are buying another, according to The Journal News.

Tips For Removing Mold and Mildew - Use an Antimicrobial Spray

From the familyhandyman.com



Once the moisture has been dried up, clean and spray the area with an antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold from coming back. In basements or other larger areas with musty odors, it may be more effective to fog the entire room. (Concrobium Mold Control is an antimicrobial treatment available at home centers and hardware stores that can be dispensed by spray or with a fogging machine.)

Free and cheap things to do in Miami - Dec. 5-7

By Josie Gulliksen and Teresa Mears | miamionthecheap.com

Miami on the Cheap has the scoop on the budget-friendly fun in Miami this weekend.

Art Basel has descended on Miami once again. Yes, the colorful snails are back and they’ve brought some friends along. If all the Basel madness is just too overwhelming head instead to Coconut Grove for the monthly Fashion Arts Music Night, South Beach for the Art Center Studio Crawl or Coral Gables for its gallery night.

If you prefer to bring along the family and make it a festive holiday weekend, catch a free holiday flick on Saturday night at The Palms of Town & Country, skip the sand and enjoy a Winter Wonderland on Miami Beach on Friday or visit the Pinecrest Gardens Nights of Lights on Sunday for $5.

Art Basel weekend freebies
If you’re wondering how to enjoy all the events without spending hours stuck in traffic, check out our guide to free and cheap public transportation options this weekend.

There’s more to Art Basel than just art.  Movies, performances and the ever-popular pop-up events to see and be seen are all part of the big Art Week weekend. Give your feet a rest and find a spot at Soundscape Park from Friday through Sunday when they’re running non-stop movies 6 to 11 p.m. Or get a good breakfast while listening to noted sculptor and artist Daniel Arsham on Sunday morning at 9:30 the FIU Frost Art Museum. Check out the full list of free Art Week events here. f you’re wondering how to enjoy all the events without spending hours stuck in traffic, check out our guide to free and cheap public transportation options this weekend.

Intellectually stimulating dance performance
Her striking stage presence will grab anyone’s attention but that’s not enough for award-winning dancer and choreographer Nora Chipaumire. She aims to present thought-provoking performances by creating dances that examine the many stereotypes of her home country, Africa. The Zimbabwe-born dancer, who has studied dance in her homeland as well as in Cuba, Jamaica and the United States, performs free at the Little Haiti Cultural Center on Friday at 7 p.m. as part of the Art of Transformation series.

Tropical nights concert at Tropical Park
It’s hard to believe there’s anything else going on at Tropical Park besides Santa’s Enchanted Forest. But Friday night there is a free Noches Tropicales concert by Lucy Grau, billed as a “salsa sensation” who also performs popular ‘70s hits like “Last Dance” and “On the Radio.” The show starts at 8 p.m.

Art without the Basel
Miami does have monthly art events that draw crowds and several of them are on the first Friday or Saturday of the month. Here are your choices: Saturday night it’s F.A.M. (Fashion Art Music) Night in Coconut Grove from 7-10 p.m. with galleries open late and live music throughout the downtown and business districts. Friday is the monthly Gables Gallery Night from 6-10 p.m. when you can ride the trolley to the various downtown galleries. Or, brave South Beach and do the South Florida Art Center Studio Crawl on Lincoln Road for one-on-one chats with the artists on Saturday from 7-10 p.m.

Afternoon of free jazz on the New River
The SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch has been going strong for years. This weekend, you can hear three stellar groups performing along the lovely New River setting in Fort Lauderdale. On the Esplanade stage you can catch the Valerie Tyson Band while the Debbie Orta Quintet performs on the Connie Hoffmann stage. And over on the Peck Courtyard the duo Cecilia and Martin play. Pack a picnic and blanket or bring your chairs and enjoy a smooth jazz morning. The event is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Renee Zellweger Lists Hamptons Hideaway

BY CATHERINE SHERMAN

ZILLOW

This is the second East Coast home listed by the actress this year.

Source: IMDb

Renee Zellweger is embracing a new lifestyle — one that doesn’t include a farmhouse back East. After listing her historic Connecticut property this summer, the actress has put an East Hampton home on the market for $4.45 million.

Compared to the 1770-built colonial in Pomfret Center, this retreat is newer, dating back to the turn of the 20th century. But both are equally charming.

A few blocks from the ocean, a gated driveway leads to this classic Hamptons-style retreat with 3 bedrooms, a den, 2-car garage and loft. While newly renovated, the interior is understated with light coastal furnishings. The yard, spanning nearly an acre, is secluded with high hedges and mature trees.

Property records show Zellweger purchased the home in 2003, the year she played her Academy Award-winning role in “Cold Mountain.”

The listing is held by Linda Haugevik of Douglas Elliman.

Easy Storage Ideas - Cabinet-end fruit basket

From the FamilyHanyman.com



Keep fruit off the counter

Oh, sure, you can just set your fruit bowl anywhere on your countertop. But you'll free up valuable counter space if you put your fruit in a basket on the end of an upper cabinet near your kitchen sink. The fruits and veggies will ripen nicely, and they'll look beautiful too. Wire baskets work well because they allow light and air to circulate for even ripening. You'll find them at discount, office supply and organization stores. The basket shown is from Target.

Elisa Bernick
Associate Editor