PAGE Steve Dana s Service For Life · Quotes To Live By… Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.-Will

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Steve Dana’s SERVICE FOR LIFE! Newsletter January 2016 PAGE

Steve Dana’s …

Service For Life! “Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living…”

Buying A Home Soon? Get my Free

Consumer Guide, “8 Secrets For Saving

Thousands When Buying Your Home.”

Call me right now at 425-327-5948 for

details…

January 2016

Inside This Issue… How To Stick To A Budget…Page 1

These Super Spices Can Improve Your Health…Page 2

Be Safe: Keep These Supplies In Your Car …Page 2

Do You Have Any Of These Annoying Habits?…Page 3

Answer This Trivia Question and You could win a $25 VISA Cash Card

Can I Use A Gift As A Down Payment When Buying A Home?…Page 4

How To Stick To A Budget Having a budget is more important than ever before, but sticking

to one takes time and discipline. Here are ways to help you become a

better money manager.

Track your spending. Most people spend their money on food,

housing and transportation, but there are many other categories, like

household costs, debt payments and entertainment. Try this: Write

down every dollar you spend in a two-week period and see what

you can cut on the list. Doing this with your spouse and your

family members will turn up even more surprises.

Account for your cash. Does it just “disappear” from your

wallet? Try tracking where it is spent. Sometimes, using debit or

credit cards for expenditures can help with accounting.

Understand your debt (mortgage, student loans, credit cards)

and set goals to reduce it. Federal Reserve statistics say the

average household owes $7,529 on their cards. For indebted

households, the average is $16,140. This is a major undertaking,

but check out sites like www.creditcards.com for ideas on how to

deal with high debt (for example, negotiate lower interest rates).

Have a savings goal, including an emergency fund, as part of

your budget. What if you need major car repairs or a new

furnace? Start small and add to this category gradually or you’ll

have to fall back on those credit cards. For long-term planning,

review your investments and consult an expert if you need one.

Use a tool like Mint.com, Quicken or Google Docs spreadsheets.

They’re inexpensive or free and make it easier to track and

categorize your expenses, set budgets, create reports and more.

Warning Before You Sell Your Home...

Don’t put your home on the market without my Free Consumer Guide titled, “How To Avoid 7 Costly Mistakes When Selling Your Home.” My exclusive report will give you all the facts for a fast, top dollar sale. Just call 425-327-5948 anytime, 24 hours, and I’ll rush a copy out to you for free.

https://www.facebook.com/Steve-Dana-Real-Estate-Services-376463949188142/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

https://stevedanahomeseller.wordpress.com/




Spice Up Your Health! You already know about the positive affects of eating garlic,

but here are three “super spices” that have amazing health benefits:

Sage. Did you know the name (salvia officinalis) comes from the

Latin verb meaning “to be saved”? It’s high in vitamin K, which helps

with blood clotting and building strong bones, and it may improve

memory. Here’s some sage advice: Use it in dishes with meat and

poultry.

Peppercorns. They contain piper ine, a pungent substance that is

anti-inflammatory (it may reduce arthritis symptoms). Buy whole ones,

grind them, and add to food at the end of cooking or at the table.

Smelling black pepper oil also can ease the pain of aching muscles.

Oregano. The name is from Greek, meaning “mountain of joy.”

WebMD says oregano contains chemicals that might help reduce cough

and spasms. It also helps fight some bacteria and viruses. Use one

teaspoon daily of dried oregano in salad dressings and many recipes.

Word of the Month…

Studies have shown your income and

wealth are directly related to the size

and depth of your vocabulary. Here is

this month’s word, so you can impress

your friends (and maybe even fatten

your wallet!)…

Podcast, noun or verb

Meaning: a program (of music or talk)

made available in digital format for automat-

ic download over the Internet

Sample Sentence: I frequently

download podcasts on various subjects

that I find on my favorite web sites or

through the iTunes store.

Feel A Cold Coming On?

Here are the first two things you should do:

Drink water consistently. That means

a tall glass every 1-2 hours. You want to

keep the mucus production (ick)

flowing.

Sleep a couple of hours more than

usual. That lets your body focus ener-

gy on supporting your immune system.

Stressed Out?

Apply firm pressure for 30 seconds to the

fleshy place between your index finger and

thumb. It’s called the “hoku” spot in tradi-

tional Chinese medicine. If you’re stressed,

take a deep breath and give it a try.

Quotes To Live By…

Too many people spend money they haven't

earned, to buy things they don't want, to

impress people they don't like.

-Will Rogers, humorist

The secret of change is to focus all of your

energy, not on fighting the old, but on

building the new.

-Socrates

Trust your hunches. They’re usually based

on facts filed away just below the conscious

level.

-Dr. Joyce Brothers

Would You Like To Know How Much Your

Neighbor’s Home Listed Or Sold For?

Maybe you’re just curious. Or maybe you want to know how much your home is worth. Either way, I can help…with no “sales pitches” or run-arounds. Call me or Text me at 425-327-5948 and I’ll give you all the facts.

Things To Keep In Your Car You never know what can happen on the road, so you need to be prepared. Here’s a checklist of supplies you should carry in your car:

Your owner’s manual. Become familiar with it.

A functional spare tire (if your car is equipped with one) and tire-changing equipment.

A First Aid kit, flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, multi-purpose utility tool, cable ties, emergency whistle and duct tape. You can buy these separately or purchase an AAA Road Assistance Kit from Amazon.com for $25-$60.

A charger for your mobile phone.

Road flares.

Fire extinguisher. Buy one specifically made for cars at a store like Home Depot or AutoZone.

Blankets and bottled water.

Emergency cash in small bills ($50).

A tire gauge.

Foam tire sealant. Check out: www.fixaflat.com

TWO





Steve Dana’s SERVICE FOR LIFE! Newsletter January 2016 PAGE THREE

Brain Teaser…

I am so small, and sometimes missed.

I get misplaced, misused, and help you when you list.

People usually pause when they see me, so tell me, what could I be?

(See page 5 for the answer.)

Real Estate Question?

Maybe you want to know how much your home is worth. Or maybe you just need a recommendation for a handy-man, carpet cleaner or plumber…

Either way, I love hearing from all of my good friends and clients. And I’m happy to help answer questions you might have about anything relating to real estate or home-ownership.

If you have a question, tip or idea, call me at 425-327-5948. I’m here to help!

Some Quick Laughs…

What is a spider’s favorite TV show?

The newly web game!

What do you do when two snails have a fight?

Let them slug it out!

How do you know if you are up against a tough mosquito?

You slap him and he slaps you back!

Websites To Protect Your Online Presence StaySafeOnline.org – Read updated infor-

mation on everything you can do to protect

yourself online, including securing your

accounts to preventing malware, ID theft and

fraud.

JustDelete.me – Links you to the cancella-

tion pages for a big list of social media sites,

retailers and other businesses that might

have data on you.

MailDrop.cc – Allows you to create a free

email address that disappears 24 hours after

it’s used. Great for one-time deals or down-

loads.

Food Safety Tip

The cloth bags you re-use to carry your gro-

ceries can be loaded with bacteria. Wash

them frequently in the washing machine

using hot water.

Five Annoying Habits And

How To Deal With Them We all have odd habits that may drive our families (particularly

spouses), friends and co-workers crazy. Here are some common ones

and how you might try to change your behavior:

Habit: Always looking at your cell phone or tablet.

Change: Whether it’s email or Facebook, you may be a little addicted.

Best advice is to acknowledge the problem and make an agreement with

your spouse or friends to set limits on your online time. You probably

already do this with your kids so maybe you can do this together.

Habit: Clearing your throat all the time.

Change: You may not even know you do this. The problem, however,

may be medical (allergies, acid reflux). Try an over-the-counter cough

suppressant or talk to your doctor.

Habit: Selective listening.

Change: Maybe you just tune people out when you’re thinking about

something else. Try this: Pick a code word (not “HELLO!” – that’s

annoying) for your spouse/kids/friends to use when they really want

your attention.

Habit: Being a back-seat driver.

Change: Focus on something else (a conversation on another subject,

something you did that day), not on what the driver is doing.

Habit: Interrupting conversations.

Change: If you’re interrupting, learn to be more patient and listen. If

someone is interrupting you, perhaps you are rambling and should get to

the point. Or, just ask the interrupter to let you finish your thought.

Please Welcome New Clients And Good Friends Into Our Real Estate Family…

I’d like to take a moment to recognize and welcome a couple of my

clients and good friends who have supported my business.

And special thanks to everyone who thought of me with your referrals!

Harold & Doris Morgan

Cheryl Onofrio-Holzhauser

Paul Cowles

Thanks everyone! Your referrals are warmly appreciated





Steve Dana’s SERVICE FOR LIFE! Newsletter January 2016 PAGE FOUR

HAIKU CONTEST

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry charac-terized by its shortness. In its basic form Haiku is a three line poem with the first and third lines containing 5 syllables with the second line of 7 syllables. For our purpos-es, those are the rules.

Here are several Haiku poems I whipped out as examples for you.

Thoughts a bout mov ing

Steve Da na can help you buy,

Or, sell a home fast

Thoughts a bout mov ing?

Want to live in Sno ho mish?

Call Steve Da na now!

Hawks Russ ell Wil son

Sec ond tier foot ball play er

Smash es Cleve land Browns

Sea hawks start slow ly

Pick ing up mo men tum now

Get out of our way

Live in Sno ho mish,

Low er qual i ty of life

The Hub Drive In… Gone.

When we were hung ry

Pan ther bur gers filled us up.

The Hub is still missed

Nos tal gic mo ment

Think ing of Pan ther bur gers

Coastal Bank won’t serve.

Do you think I was reminiscing there a little

there at the end? So I got a little of the

current me in the first section, the Seahawks

in the middle and my old life at the end.

You can do this too. Topics can be from the

news or from your heart.

The beauty of Haiku is the intent to convey

a complex message with very few words so

the words must be chosen well. I would

advise you choose better than I did.

I whipped out these examples in a few

minutes. What can you do?

There is another rule… the content of the

Haiku cannot be obscene and I will be the

judge of that.

Next month, I will announce what the prize

will be, and maybe winners…..

Email entries to [email protected]

AAA WINTER DRIVING TIPS Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA reminds motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather. For more information on winter driving, the association offers the How to Go on Ice and Snow brochure, available through most AAA of-fices. Contact your local AAA club for more information.

AAA recommends the following winter driving tips:

Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.

Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.

Make certain your tires are properly inflated.

Never mix radial tires with other tire types.

Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.

If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.

Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).

Always look and steer where you want to go.

Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Tips for driving in the snow:

Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method

for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take

time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping,

turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to ma-

neuver by driving slowly.

The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased

to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance

needed if you have to stop.

Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is

threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to

apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.

Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to

start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If

you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.

Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels

spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry

you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill

as slowly as possible.

Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an

icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the

snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to

be, watch the snow from indoors.

Visit AAA’s YouTube page for videos on winter driving tips.





Steve Dana’s SERVICE FOR LIFE! Newsletter January 2016 PAGE FIVE

“Who Else Wants To Win a

$25 VISA Gift Card?” Guess who won last month’s Trivia Question? I’m pleased to announce

the lucky winner of last month’s quiz. And the winner is…drum roll please: Carolyn Conley was the winner drawn from four correct entries.

What was the first item ever sold on eBay?

a) A Superman lunchbox b) A Toyota Tercel c) A broken laser pointer

d) The original Hollywood sign

The answer is c) a broken laser pointer. In 1995 Founder Pierre

Omidyar listed the laser pointer to test his new site “AuctionWeb.” He listed

it for $1 and sold it for $14.83. The other items were also sold on eBay but

were not the first.

So let’s move on to this month’s trivia question.

Who was the world’s highest paid celebrity in 2015?

a) Floyd Mayweather b) Robert Downey Jr. c) Katy Perry

d) Roger Federer

Call Me At 425-327-5948 OR Email Me at [email protected]

And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!

Thanks For Thinking of Me!

Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.

Brain Teaser Answer:

A comma!

A Future Doctor? On the way to pre-school, the doctor let his

daughter look at his stethoscope. She picked it

up and began playing with it. This thrilled the

father as he thought, “Perhaps one day she will

follow in my footsteps and become a doctor.”

Then he heard her speak into the stethoscope

“Welcome to McDonald’s. May I take your

order?”

Clean Those Dusty Blinds Make this job easier by putting your hand in a

sock and dipping the sock in a mixture of

50/50 water and vinegar.

Use it like a sock puppet to clean each

individual slat.

It’s True! There’s a basketball court above the U.S.

Supreme Court. It’s known as the highest

court in the land! Real Estate Corner… Q. Can I use a financial gift from a friend or relative as a down

payment when buying a home?

A. Yes. In fact, 1 out of 4 fir st-time homebuyers uses a gift to make

the down payment. Tax law allows gifts of up to $14,000 a year with-

out tax consequences to the giver or recipient. (The amount is adjusted

annually so check IRS.gov publication 950 for the current figure.)

You could get a gift from two parents or two friends (for $28,000) with-

out the givers paying a gift tax. Using a gift for a down payment helps

you buy a home even if it’s not Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-

approved. The best advice is to contact a knowledgeable REALTOR®

and discuss this subject before you start looking for homes.

For more information, ask for my Free Consumer Report called

“4 Quick Ways To Buy A Home With Little Down.” I’ll send a copy

right to you.

Do you have a question you want answered? Feel free to call me at

425-327-5948. Perhaps I’ll feature your question in my next issue!

THANK YOU for reading my Service For Life! personal newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you. Your constructive feedback is always welcome.

AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say HI I’d love to hear from you…

Steve Dana

Century 21 North Homes Realty

425-327-5948

[email protected]

Www.stevedanahomeseller.wordpress.com

Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.






Steve Dana

Century 21 North Homes Realty

722 Avenue D, Suite 1

Snohomish, WA 98290

Inside SERVICE FOR LIFE! this month

How to Stick to a Budget

Spice up your health

Things to keep in your car

Winter Driving Tips

HAIKU of the month

Five annoying habits

Website Safety

BACK

I hope you made it through Christmas in good shape, all the food tends

to drag me down. It always looks so good on my plate before I eat it

then when I’m done the plate is empty and I am stuffed.

And then of course there are the kids. In my family, all the grand chil-

dren and cousins of that generation are all past the cute infant stage.

They are either teenagers or close to it. Do you have any idea how

much food seven teenage boys can eat? Have you seen seven boys all

looking at their phones texting while arguing with each other at the

same time.?

The good news is they all go home.

When we built the new Hub, we hosted a Christmas Eve celebration of

family and friends who didn’t have a place to go or a family to be with.

They became our extended family. Now, years after the Hub closed, we

are still getting together on Christmas Eve to celebrate with those people

we care about. This year, we were a bit smaller than normal with 24 but

we had a great time and great food at the Collector’s Choice Restaurant.

Family ends up being the circle of friends and relatives who care about

you and you about them. We are blessed to be surrounded with so

many. We will get with the ones who couldn’t make it to dinner in the

new year.

God Bless You All. Happy New Year 2016! Bring it on!



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PAGE Steve Dana s Service For Life · Quotes To Live By… Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.-Will