While visiting my Dad yesterday, a small business owner, he introduced me to the 3/50 project and gave me a brochure on it.  I had not heard of this project before but immediately understood its importance to our local economy and thought I would share it with you. If you would like more information on this topic please visit the 3/50 website.

3 - Think about which three independently owned businesses you’d miss most if they were gone. Stop in and say hello. Pick up a little something that will make someone smile. Your contribution is what keeps those businesses around.

50 - If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that.

68 - For every $100 spent in independently owned store, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend online and nothing come home.

1 - The number of people it takes to start the trend…you.

There is only 54 days left to be eligible for the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. Many people have been asking me if it will be extended or it there will be another tax credit program in 2010? Honestly, I would like to know the same thing! We will not know until later this year what the government decides. There have been rumors of it completely ending, of it being extended and of it being extended with changed terms. Once I hear I will let everyone know!

As the weather grows colder it is time to make sure your home is ready for the long winter months. Good planning now can help reduce maintenance and unnecessary cost down the road. Here are a few things to do when getting your home ready for fall and winter. Each house has very  different winterization needs, therefore the list below only contains a few simple tips, and is by no means a complete list.

* Test your furnace before the weather gets too cold
* Consider having your heating system checked by a professional
* Make sure your furnace air filters are cleaned – this should be done every month or two depending on your air filter type
* Consider if you need additional insulation anywhere in your house
* If you have a fireplace have your chimney cleaned and checked by a professional
* If you have a sprinkler system make sure you have them correctly blown out and shut off
* Remove, drain and coil all garden hoses
* Turn off the interior shut-off valve for each outdoor faucet and then open the outdoor faucet so that no water can freeze in the pipe that connects the two
* Keep gutters clean at all times. During the fall you may need to clean them several times
* Make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly
* Install a carbon monoxide detector near the furnace and any fireplaces in addition to 10 feet from each sleeping dwelling

For a larger checklist here is a great website you can visit - Winterizing Your Home