Auston Woods Apartment Homes Blog

My friend Lyndsey recently told me about this amazing website that offers discounts to local places in Charlotte. Groupon.com offers a daily deal such as half-off tickets to the theater, discounts off restaurants and unique,cheap packages to your favorite florist, photographer, etc.

It’s simple to sign-up and completely free. All you have to do is wait for your daily email to start saving some dough!

My favorite deal offered was a premium auto detailing from Zoom Impressions for only $49. The original price is $141, that’s a savings of more than 65%. They will even come to you so you don’t have to drop your car off. I plan to use mine after all this pollen settles down.

I love that there is no obligation to buy at Groupon.com. You can even buy multiple deals for the ones that you love!

Has anyone bought a deal from Groupon.com?

Happy Earth Day you gorgeous thing you.
With your lovely green meadows and oceans of blue.

You’ve got birds and fish and mammals and bees
You’ve got flowers and sunshine and clouds and trees.

So why I wonder, do we treat you so bad?

You’re the only Earth we’ll ever have.

We should look after you and take greater care
We need clean water, clean land and clean air.

So to ensure a place for our children to play
We should make Earth Day every day!

Happy 40th Earth Day! Remember to make every day “green”!

The tax credit that is being offered in 2010 is a great incentive for those who are READY to buy a home. Being ready involves many things, some of which people do not consider before taking on the responsibility of home ownership. It is really important that you are both
financially and emotionally ready and some people (including myself) can get easily excited about the prospect of buying a new (or existing) home.

Two of the things that I have learned from home ownership is that it is a place to live, not an investment AND if you need to sell in a
down market, be prepared to wait until the market turns around! If you need more space, crave yard work, or just want to be able to tell others that you live in a home AND you can afford the additional expenses associated with home ownership (down payment, closing costs, taxes, insurance, mortgage interest, repairs, redecorating), etc. then it’s probably a good idea for you.

The tax incentive you may receive will (in most cases) not offset the additional costs. It will also not give you free time on the weekends and the ability to move whenever you want.

Selling a home takes patience and money, not to mention that you may have to sell in a down market and pay money out of pocket to sell!
There are so many things to consider . . . .

By Jennifer Moran

Let’s face it: You want to make more money. Everyone wants to but when it’s painful, we often fall off the saving wagon. Before you attempt uncomfortable methods to increase your bank account, consider these effortless ideas first.

1. Let Banks Pay You: Compare banks and only use high-yielding accounts. For savings, I use the ING Orange account. It’s at a variable 1.10% Annual Percentage Yield, has no fees, and no minimums. When I started this account, I had a measly $50 directly deposited from each paycheck every pay period (usually $100 a month)–and I didn’t even NOTICE the missing money. (Makes me wonder how many smaller purchases I had been making without even realizing…) It was a painless way to create an emergency fund.
If you’re saving for the long-term (rather than an emergency fund), consider an IRA instead. Automate your deposits.
You’ll also want to opt in to employer-contributing 401k programs. They usually pull the money directly from each check to automate your investments.
2. Effortlessly Track Spending: Automate how you track spending by using mint.com.
3. Trade Your Talents: If you have a particular talent, why not use it to trade for something you need? Trade your services: fix things, bake, or babysit. Trade your things: Media (books, CDs), electronics, or even your car.
4. Sell Your Stuff: Ebay & Craigslist will help you liquidate stuff you don’t need quickly. Just stop reading and look around your apartment. See stuff you don’t NEED? I thought so.
5. Identify Additional Income Opportunities: Love crafts? Quit pilling your mom’s house with 10 variations of your work and start making money on Etsy. Love cycling? Help others maintain and repair their bikes. Be creative, but start with what you love to do already.
6. Decrease Expenses. Not sure where to start? Consider these…

* Get rid of cable television. (Netflix, baby.)
* Re-evaluate your mobile phone plan. Are you really using all of those minutes/text messages/data packages?
* Use public wifi. The library is always a great option, with no purchasing obligation.
* Unplug all appliances. Use a power strip to make this easier.
* Drive less. Ride a bike. It’s also way easier (and cheaper!) to park.
* Buy generic. Not just prescriptions, but store brand products. (Compare ingredients if you’re skeptical; they’re most often exactly the same.)
* Don’t eat out. Cook from scratch.
* Drink only water–from the tap.
* Recycle. Never buy garbage bags; use plastic grocery bags instead.
* Minimize the use of heat and air conditioning. Adjust when not in use.
* Repair things, don’t replace them. Ask for help, if needed.
* Buy used. Better yet, see if a friend or family member has something you can use instead. (If not, try Craigslist.)
* Buy in bulk. Pricey to start, but pays off.
* Never pay interest. Pay as much on your debt as possible every month.
* Hang clothes to dry. This also saves ironing time!
* Don’t smoke or drink. Okay, so drinking might be a hard one to nix. I always opt for cheaper wines, because I frankly cannot taste the difference. But definitely avoid buying drinks in public. Drink at home instead–no driving needed!
* Use compact fluorescent bulbs.
* Consider growing your own vegetables.
* Eliminate memberships you aren’t using.
* Do your own manicures and pedicures. Or, better yet, get together with friends and do each other’s.

Interested in learning more? Check out Mint’s 30 Free eBooks To Learn Everything You Want to Know About Personal Finance

By April 15th every year the US requires you to settle-up on your taxes. To some this can be a great relief, especially when you get a refund. But to others, the thought of having to write a big ol’ check to Uncle Sam can be very stressful.

I have some good news that may ease your pain. Lots of business are offering some discounts and freebies with hopes to ease your tax stress today.

Hopefully these businesses can make you feel a little better about having to fork out any dough.

• Starbucks
• Boston Market
• Cinnabon
• Maggiemoos
• IHOP
• McCormick & Schmick’s
• P.F. Chang’s
• Hydromassage

Check out all the details of each giveaway or discount. Is anyone taking advantage of these freebies or discounts?

I’m getting a little weary of the same old sandwiches I take for my work lunches each day.

Being an addict of all things of a southwestern flavor, I went on the hunt for a tasty, well traveling tex-mex sandwich.

I found this delectable recipe for easy to make tortillas that will  be perfect for my lunches.

Try it out here.

We hope all of our residents have a Happy Easter! Here’s “hop”ing you have a great day with your family!

Here’s the lyrics to my favorite Easter song!

Easter Parade
Never saw you look quite so pretty before
Never saw you dressed quite so lovely what’s more
I could hardly wait to keep our date this lovely Easter morning
And my heart beat fast as I came through the door

For, In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it
You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade

I’ll be all in clover and when they look you over
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade

On the Avenue
Fifth Avenue
The photographers will snap us
And you’ll find that you’re
In the rotogravure

Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet
And of the girl I’m taking to the Easter parade
Lyrics by Irving Berlin

Photo by AussieGall

Ready for pranks and tricks today? As the first day of the month, not only do you have to worry about paying your rent, you also have to worry about being gullible and falling for an April Fool’s Day joke!

My daughter already tried one on me this morning. Last night she hid my keys in her father’s computer bag. I couldn’t find them anywhere this morning! Alas, I was late to work, only about 15 minutes. My husband found them after we scoured the house.

Since she’s only 22 months-old, I don’t think it was an intentional prank, unless she’s just pure genius, as my husband would claim. She just thinks it’s great that she is finally tall enough to reach on top of our short counters. I’ve got to make sure THAT never happens again.

Do you have any pranks planned? Any pulled on you? Share with a comment below!

Last year when my daughter was 11 months old it was my first time ever making an Easter basket. Although she was too young to remember and could hardly eat any of the candy, she loved it, and her eyes lit-up when she saw it.

I’ve been planning ahead for the last month, picking-up all kinds of treats and fun gifts to put in her basket this year. I have Peeps, a stuffed bunny, chocolate and the cutest little pastel sneakers. Easter is one of my favorite holidays and it will be even more fun this year!!

I found this cute how-to video about how to make a great Easter basket. What’s your favorite treat to share with your children?

As I get older my sinuses and allergies start to get worse and worse. Now that Spring has rolled around I’m dreading the allergens (especially pollen) that become rampant.

I know there are people out there that can’t even go outside without a facemask because of the severity of their allergies. You can’t control the amount of pollen that’s floating around outside, but you can control the amount in your home and I can help you with that. If you follow these steps you can allergy-proof your apartment.

1. If you’re allergic to dust mites, pollen, or animal dander, it’s wise to invest in a very good vacuum with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters provide filtration of smaller particles than standard vacuum filters. Miele vacuums, while pricey, are known for being among the best vacuums when it comes to trapping allergens.
2. Minimize carpets in your home. Hardwood floors are easier to clean; dust mites and allergens are inevitable with carpets. Of course, we all want to have rugs of some kind, so choose low-pile rugs (which don’t trap allergens as easily as thick-pile) and vacuum them at least once a week. Avoid carpet in the bedroom completely.
3. Buy a re-usable microfiber dust mop. While not as effective as vacuums, these are so easy to use that you’ll likely want to clean the floors more often (instead of having to drag out the vacuum every time). Dust mops do a good job of gathering up potential allergens from little nooks and crannies that the vacuum can’t reach.
4. Focus on your bedroom. This is where you spend the majority of your time at home, and mattresses and pillows naturally develop dust mites over time. Use good quality dust-mite-proof pillow, mattress, and box spring covers. National Allergy covers are reliable (and recommended by allergists). They use a soft fabric that doesn’t feel like plastic (unlike some other commercial allergy covers).
5. We all love to read in bed, but bookcases in the bedroom are a no-no for allergy sufferers too, as books gather a ton of dust. Just keep a couple of books on your bedside table and switch them out as you finish them. Also try to avoid upholstered furniture in the bedroom.
6. If you have a pet, buy a good handheld vacuum so you can easily vacuum your sofas and upholstered chairs. Even if your pet doesn’t lie on the furniture, dander hangs in the air and gets trapped in upholstery. The Shark Handvac is inexpensive and reliable. It doesn’t hold a charge very well (no handheld vacuums do), but if you just charge it for a few minutes before use, it will go for a while.
7. Consider making a shoe-free rule in your house. Even if you’re uncomfortable asking guests to remove their shoes, you can always institute this rule among family members. Keep a shoe rack by your most-frequented door. This is the most effective way to minimize allergens from outdoors.
8. Avoid heavy draperies and blinds on your windows; both are likely to trap more dust than roller shades or washable curtains.
Be sure to add any other tips or tricks that you might have. And don’t forget to Tweet us!

Photo by Subtle Device