Tucson Real Estate Blog

Have your checked your bank account interest rates?

admin — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:37:21 +0000

I have talked about saving money and I was looking around for the best place to save and have a checking account that paid interest also. I wanted to keep my money in fluid accounts as my needs for the moment vary.

I looked at the Banks and they fell to the bottom of my list. I had a Credit Union account but when comparing rates they were close but not the best. If you are looking, I suggest you start by looking at Hughes Federal Credit Union and compare to them. Their rates as of 1 October 07 were:

Free Checking (no Min)	0.5% paid monthly
Share Account ($50 Min)	1.5% paid quarterly
High yield account ($1000 Min)	3.45% paid quarterly

Rates were higher the month before on checking and shares, but things change. I consolidated all my direct deposits and closed my Bank checking account. Hughes does not have as many branches but they do cooperate with some of the other Credit Unions for deposits and check cashing. Their on-line banking is easy to use also.

You can withdraw from the High Yield account in amounts of $500 or more. I think they now allow smaller deposits than $500. Check that out.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

How to remove desert broom bushes!!!

admin — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:22:26 +0000

This may not seem like the place to see this kind of post, but I wanted my blog to be more than just a place for real estate information and statistics!

I hate broom bushes!! They’re pretty when they’re young but they are weeds and they grow up to have that white fuzzy stuff that gets into everything including pools.

Somewhere I was told or read how to get rid of them as it’s very difficult to dig them up and get all the roots. First I clip everything to an inch above the ground. I discard all the clippings into the trash. Next I use a 6 ounce size yogurt cup and put an inch of Super Concentrate Roundup in the cup. With a one inch brush I “paint” the ends of the bush that are left above the ground. Be very liberal with the Roundup heavily coating the ends. Then you can be confident that you are done as the plant will soon die.

If you don’t want those ends sticking up, just dig around the bush and cut it at the ground level or more before “painting” it.

Then it’s bye bye to fuzz.

Gas prices on the rise… try these tips!

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:14:42 +0000

Gas prices have been inching up and summer is coming with the normal price increases. I have read many things about how to save gas and get more miles to the gallon. Having your car in GOOD running condition can help. When was your last tune-up? Do you check your tire pressure on a regular basis to insure the correct pressure for your brand of tires? How about your driving habits? Do you accelerate quickly from a stop and race to the next red light? Move out slowly and save the brakes at the next stop. Obey the speed limit and this will help save a few gallons. The links in this paragraph are to a website for the United States Department of Energy at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/. It is loaded with tips and information.

Now to me, here is the big thing I am doing to save some gas. I am leaving the house five minutes early and driving 65 MPH on the freeway. I can see my miles per gallon increasing. When I used to live in Willcox, my wife would drive at 65 MPH and it would gain us one trip back to Tucson on a full tank of gas. That was an extra 80 miles… we saw it happen!!

If everyone did the speed limit in town and traveled 65 MPH on the freeway we could have excess supplies of gas. I know 65 MPH is slow in today’s standards but it might only cost you five minutes of time, but how many dollars are you spending for that five minutes? I also feel safer at that slower speed. Why not try it?!?