Anne's Blog

In the wide world of kitchen dcor, the sink is rarely a star. Sandwiched between the granite countertops and the kitchen backsplash, it is perhaps the last thing homeowners think about. But considering how often we use it, and the different chores we use it for, the sink deserves a considered choice.

Kitchen design consultants at HGTV provide kitchen sink basics to think about:

Size and Shape

Classic Farmhouse
A large, single-basin sink, this classic design works well if you plan to use it for multiple chores beyond washing dishes, such as cleaning over-sized pots, pans and baking sheets, or bathing dogs or babies. More common is the double farmhouse sink, with two basins of equal size.

Traditional Double Sink
With two basins of different size, these allow the user to prep in the smaller size and clean up in the larger one, or separately wash small items you dont want to put in the dishwasher. While the 60/40 split is most common, many models offer two sinks of varied size options.

Three-Basin
This sink features two basins of equal size, with one small one and a garbage disposal in the center. Its a good choice if you want to keep food scraps away from the basins where you prep and clean.

Rounded Sides
Some homeowners consider a curved sink easier to clean than one with square edges, and the sleek, minimalist look is attractive.

Materials

Stainless Steel
This is easy to clean and offers a contemporary look, but metal can scratch. Most manufacturers offer bottom grids"wire trays placed in the bottom of the sink to prevent scratching. If you live in an area with hard water, water spots can be a problem.

Porcelain
This looks authentic in kitchens with a vintage style, and if you love color, the choices are endless. Porcelain sinks can chip, however, and metal pans can leave black scuff marks that are difficult to remove.

Granite Composite
Made of granite particles and polymers, these sinks resist scratches and chips and do not show water spots. Lighter-colored granite composite sinks can stain, however, and some special maintenance may be required.

Natural Stone
Natural stone (soapstone being the most common choice) can exactly match your countertop material. But its costly, and it can scratch and chip. Special cleaning products may be required.

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Having more meaningful relationships with friends both new and old is a great goal, and it can start with your conversations. Below are five tips for those of us frustrated with small talk.

Skip the weather. As tempting as it may be to springboard off the weather, this can lead you down the empty-conversation rabbit hole and into a twenty-minute dialogue about rain. Asking about almost anything else should yield more interesting results.

Think of base questions. So, what should you talk about, if not the weather? Come up with a short list of base questions you can turn to in a flash. If you’re talking to a stranger or new acquaintance, try “have you done any traveling lately?” or “are you reading any good books?” These more personal questions show genuine interest and will actually reveal something about your conversation partner.

Make eye contact. Regardless of what you’re discussing, work to maintain or at least occasionally create eye contact, which signals to your conversation partner that you’re listening; this can help forge intimacy.

Keep asking questions. An awkward lull in the conversation? Keep asking questions. If you know your convo partner well, turn to questions about their family or hobbies. If it’s a new acquaintance, ask them if they’ve checked out a specific restaurant you loved, or what they do for fun in the area.

Understand how to wrap up. Nothing is more uncomfortable than not knowing how to escape a conversation when it has run its course. A simple, “well it was great chatting with you,” should suffice, and is a lot less uncomfortable than floundering in social agony.

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Owning a historic home provides old-world charm, but it can also pose challenges.

Historic homes often need more maintenance, and outdated technology, such as heating units, could mean higher bills.

If decorative fixtures need repair or replacement, the materials may be costly or no longer available.

Painting the exterior and other renovations could require approval from officials.

If the home is on the National Register of Historic Places, the insurance premium will likely be high.

Nonetheless, these extra costs and potential hassles might be a small price to pay for owning a piece of history.

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No matter the reason, neglecting to pay your federal student loans can result in a slew of negative consequences, from bill collectors knocking at your door to a big drop in your credit score. It can also make it difficult to be approved for other loans further down the road.

But it doesnt end there. In fact, one of the biggest problems associated with defaulting on federal student loan debt is one that will hit hard every time you get a paycheck: wage garnishment.

To that end, its important to understand that the federal government can take up to 15 percent of each paycheck as a way to satisfy your debt. So, if you take home $2,000 per month, the Education Department can take $300 out of your paychecks each month.

And thats not all they can take. They can also withhold federal benefits such as tax refunds and Social Security payments.

While there are ways to avoid wage garnishment, many of the options arent available until your loan is in good standing. Thats why its important to avoid having your loan go into default, which, for most federal loans, is nearly nine months past due.

Here are some options to consider if your student loan is about to go into default:

Change Your Repayment Plan
If youre having trouble making the minimum monthly payment, then its a good time to ask your loan servicer for other repayment options.

The federal government has many types of payment plans. Options include loan forgiveness for government and nonprofit employees, income-driven plans to make payment affordable and an extended repayment plan that allows 25 years to repay a loan.

Refinance or Consolidate
If youve made loan payments on time, you may be able to refinance your student loans at a lower interest rate. Ask your loan provider if this is an option.

If you have multiple student loans, you may be able to save some money by consolidating the federal loans into a single loan with its own interest rate.

Use the 30-Day Window
If your loan is about to go into default, a collection agency thats working for the federal government will notify you by mail 30 days ahead of time that its going to garnish your wages. You can use that time to negotiate payment arrangements with the agency, provided your first payment is made within that 30-day window.

To avoid any of your pay being garnished, you must request a hearing within that window to appeal the garnishment. Youll fill out a form detailing your income, debt and expenses.

Rehabilitate Your Loan
Borrowers are offered a one-time chance to get out of default through loan rehabilitation. While your wages will still be garnished, theyll be taken into consideration"along with other bills"when deciding how much your monthly payment should be.

Make nine of those payments within 10 months and your loans move out of default. Wage garnishment will then stop, and you can choose a repayment plan that works best for you.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

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Published with permission from RISMedia.

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