Winnipeg, MB - Blog

Failure to Launch?

pam.sawatzky@century21.ca — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

There was a time when children would leave home. Boys often as young as grade 8 would be sent out in the world to make their way. While I can't imagine my 13 year old son being sent packing for more than his week at summer camp, I also cannot imagine him still being under my roof at age 30. Then again, I have a plan . . .

We have been investing in real estate for almost 7 years now. The intention being that we have something to leave to our kids. That was the initial intention anyway. Now we may not wait so long. Our idea has morphed in the past few months and years as we have contemplated this "failure to launch" syndrome. What if instead of our child being sent out into the great big world to fend for themselves and struggle and claw until they find their feet, we give them a leg up? I'm seeing it work a few ways. . .

1) If they aren't ready to quite leave the nest when they graduate, they can stay - but start contributing to the family finances . . . . something coming out of their pocket so it isn't SOOOOO comfortable for them to stay. 25-35% of what they bring home (depending on how badly we want them to move on). Put this money into an account for them so that when they are ready to leave they will have a downpayment for their first home.

2) If they are ready to leave, put a downpayment on a home where they can begin building equity. 5% isn't that much. We are fortunate enough to live close to the U of M where students are often looking for just a room, but this could work almost anywhere. The idea: rent out the other bedrooms of the house to students to help (or completely) pay for the mortgage. By the time they are ready to take it over on their own, they will have had years of help from others in paying down their mortgage and will not have spent their money on rent.

If all this fails to launch our children . . . we plan to change the locks!

Are you looking to Green with your Cleaning we found some great tips using White Vinegar

tracey.anderson@century21.ca — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

White distilled vinegar is effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its

level of acidity. Cleaning with white distilled vinegar is a smart way to avoid using harsh

chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very

economical.

To shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2

tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon

liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy

texture.

Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted

white distilled vinegar.

Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white

distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a

microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food

will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and

white distilled vinegar.

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled

vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.

For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled

vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing

clean.

Remove mineral deposits from coffee makers with white distilled vinegar. Fill the water

reservoir with 1 cup or more of white distilled vinegar and run it through a whole cycle.

Run it once or twice more with plain water to rinse clean. (Check the owners’ manual

first.)

Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt

(or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.

For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with

white distilled vinegar.

Remove odors from a lunch box by placing inside a slice of bread that has been soaked

in white distilled vinegar. Leave overnight.

Remove ugly film in narrow-necked glass jars, flower vases, and bottles by letting

undiluted white distilled vinegar sit in them for a few hours. Add a little rice or sand and

shake vigorously to loosen stubborn stains. Repeat if necessary.

Easily clean your mini blinds by wearing pair of white cotton gloves. Dip gloved fingers

into a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm tap water, and run your fingers

across both sides of each blind.

To make cleaning the grill easier, spray a solution of half water and half white distilled

vinegar on the cooking surface.

Renew sponges and dishrags by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then

add 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Let them soak overnight.

Remove soap buildup from faucets by scrubbing them with a solution of 1 part salt to 4

parts white distilled vinegar.

Shine colored porcelain sinks by scouring them with undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Rinse away soapy film on countertops with a solution of white distilled vinegar and

water.

Clean grout by letting full-strength white distilled vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and

scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.

Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar.

Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

To remove grime, mildew, and scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe

with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse with water.

To make the toilet bowl sparkle, pour in a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar

and let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.

Get a shining finish on a no-wax vinyl or linoleum floor by cleaning it with a solution of

one cup white distilled vinegar for every gallon of water.

For an economical and environmentally friendly floor cleaner, mix a solution of 3 drops

dishwashing liquid to 1/3 part white distilled vinegar, 1/3 part alcohol, and 1/3 part

water. Spray sparingly and mop for a fast clean-up.

Some carpet stains can be removed with a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar

and 1/4 cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the carpet stain and let dry. Vacuum up the

residue the next day. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet first).

Wash indoor/outdoor carpet with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar in 1 bucket

of warm water. Scrub using a brush or a broom and then hose off.

Clean up pet accidents by first blotting up the area and then adding a white distilled

vinegar-and-water solution. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over

the area and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day.

Clean fireplace glass doors with a solution of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 2 parts

water. Spray or wipe on, then wipe clean with a dry cloth.

Never use white distilled vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.

Clean your grill by spritzing white distilled vinegar over wadded up aluminum foil and

scrubbing the grill vigorously with it.

To remove film in glass baby bottles, fill with equal parts hot water and white distilled

vinegar. Let sit for at least an hour. Scrub with a bottle brush.

To clean and disinfect baby toys add a good-sized splash of white distilled vinegar to

soapy water.

Are you looking to Green with your Cleaning we found some great tips using White Vinegar

yourwayhometeam@century21.ca — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT