The fall weather is upon us and so are lots of fun fall events around Carroll County. If you’re looking for some things to put on your calendar (and help get you out of the house), be sure to browse the events listed here on our blog and register for your favorites!
Borden Wine Tasting Event | October 17 & 18 Black Ankle Vineyards & Linganore Winecellars team up for a wine tasting tour of two favorite area vineyards. Tickets are $85 per person and include a flight of wine at Black Ankle, a tasting at Linganore, and transportation between the vineyards. Meet at the Security Boulevard Park & Ride off I-70 to depart promptly at 10:30 AM and returning by 3:00 PM. Both tastings are outdoors, masks are required while in the vehicle.
Pumpkin Paint & Play | October 24, 28, and 31 Stratosphere Social is hosting a fun pumpkin decorating event for kids on three dates in October. For $10, your child can paint a pumpkin then spend 30 minutes in the arcade. A costume contest will be held during the October 31 event. If you’d like to stay for lunch after the event, a variety of kids meals including macaroni & cheese, hot dogs, and chicken tenders will be available for purchase.
Bends & Brews | October 25 Spend some time getting bendy at 1623 Brewing Company . For $20, you can join a 60-minute all-levels yoga class followed by a draft beer. Tickets are limited and required to join the event. Be sure to bring your yoga mat, towel, water, and a mask!
Piney Ridge Trunk or Treat & Halloween Parade | October 28 Piney Ridge Apartments & Townhomes is hosting a fun & safe Halloween event, right here in the community. Decorate your trunk for a chance to win a $100 gift card or bring a chair and candy to hand out during the parade. A costume contest will be held with prizes awarded for the cutest, scariest, most original, and pet costumes. You must enter in advance to win, registration is required to attend this event. Contact our leasing team to sign up. Watch for flyers and additional information to be distributed throughout the community.
Boos & Brews Halloween Party | October 31 Stratosphere Social is hosting a fun-filled Halloween party with bowling, games, food, and drinks! A costume party will be held, social distancing will be enforced. Be sure to wear your mask (except when eating or drinking). The party starts at 9pm.
If you find thinking about your finances stressful, you're in good company. More than 70 percent of Americans say finances are their biggest source of stress.
Fortunately, getting credit smart doesn't have to be as hard or as scary as it sounds. Here are five easy ways to improve and maintain your credit.
1. Know Your Credit Score
Do you know your credit score ? You should.
Why does your personal credit score matter so much? Put simply, it can open or close doors in every aspect of your financial life.
Adults with strong credit scores:
Are more likely to get approved for loans and lines of credit
Have more freedom and flexibility when it comes to choosing where to live, what to drive, and how to invest
Have more of a safety net when unexpected expenses arise
Get better terms on lines of credit and loans, which can save them hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime
Adults with low credit scores can spend their lives struggling to achieve their financial goals.
Almost everything costs them more
They may not be approved for much-needed lines of credit or important loans, such as mortgages
Lack of access to good credit can drive them to risky or damaging financial and credit decisions
How Do Find Out Your Score?
If you don't know your score, you're in luck. It isn't hard to find .
You can often find your score on your latest credit card statement or on paperwork relating to any loans you may have. Credit counselors working for non-profit or government agencies, such as HUD, can usually provide it as well.
If you've recently completed an apartment rental application or other credit application, the lender or apartment company will likely have pulled your credit score and may be able to tell you.
It is important to be aware that each credit reporting company may have a slightly different score for you. Different companies use their own calculations, which can lead to minor variations. Overall, though, your score should be similar from company to company.
2. Know What Affects Your Credit Score (and What Doesn't)
The next step in getting smart about credit is understanding what affects your score (and therefore matters) and what doesn't. Credit companies base your score on five things.
How much you owe to all creditors in total
How long your credit history is
What types of credit you have
How consistently you pay your debts on time
How much new credit you have applied for
Of these things, how consistently you pay your debts on time carries the most weight. The total amount you owe compared to how much you earn and how much credit is available to you is the next most important factor. The third most important factor is the length of your credit history.
What Does This Mean for You?
How can you use this information to improve your credit score?
First, if you don't already have a credit history, start one right away! Apply for a credit card or a small personal loan, even if you don't need one. This will open a credit history for you and help you down the line.
If you have teenagers at home, help them apply for and get a credit card as soon as it is safe and reasonable to do so. Even if they have a very low limit or barely use the card, having a line of credit open will help them build a strong credit history early in life.
Second, look at your total debt-to-income and debt-to-available-credit ratios. If you have a lot of debt compared to your income or available credit, work out a plan to pay down your debt to a more favorable level. Talk to a credit counselor for help if you need it.
Third, understand that the most important thing you can do to improve your score is to pay your bills on time. Evaluate your current status in that respect.
Do you pay on time every time? Do you miss an occasional payment? Do you often pay late?
If you struggle with paying on time, get help. Find an accountability buddy, set reminders on your phone, or set up auto-pay when possible. No matter what system you use, paying on time is worth any amount of effort.
3. Clean up Your Credit History
Cleaning up your credit history is a quick and powerful way to improve your score. If you intend to submit a credit application for apartment rental or to apply for other credit, take time to clean up your score first. It might very well help you get better terms!
How does cleaning up your score work?
Three national companies monitor and report on consumer credit scores nationwide. They are:
Experian
Equifax
Transunion
Each company is required to provide every consumer with a copy of their credit report upon request once a year. Remember that each company works independently and may have different information on record than the others. It is important to check your report from each company every year.
To clean up your credit history:
Request a free copy of your report
When it arrives, review it carefully
Look for and note any information that is wrong or inaccurate, including dates, numbers, and account status
Contact the company and request that they change your history to reflect the correct information
This process doesn't take very long but eliminating old debts from your report can improve your score. Correcting dates can also improve your score if it makes your history look longer.
Cleaning up your credit history can be particularly important if you:
Used to be on a joint account with a parent, spouse, or child but are not anymore
Paid off or closed out debt in the last year
Recently opened a new line of credit
Have a common name and have had debts erroneously accredited to you in the past
For credit-ninja status, check one report between January and April each year. Check another between May and August, and the last between September and December. This spreads out the burden and limits the amount of time you might go without knowing about errors on your credit history.
4. Know Where Your Money Is Going
Just under one-third of Americans follow a personal or household budget. While it's true that no one enjoys budgeting, you can't live a credit smart life if you don't know where your money is going. At a minimum, every adult should:
Periodically review their monthly and yearly expenses
Understand what their average take-home pay is
Know how much they spend per month on average
Know what they have in savings and how much money they are putting in savings each month
Without this information, it is impossible to make smart money decisions. If getting a grip on those numbers seems overwhelming, then the next tip is for you!
5. Make Digital Tools Work for You
Getting a handle on your finances is important, but you don't have to tackle it alone. Modern money apps and other smart technology can help you:
Track where your money is going
See how much money you have across accounts at a glance
Trick yourself into saving money
Communicate with your partner or family about money
Identify and reach financial goals, such as saving enough for an apartment security deposit
Set up and follow a painless budget
Teach your kids about money management in engaging ways
(If you're the type of person who prefers good old pen-and-paper solutions, trying turning money management into a game instead.)
Digital tools can take the stress out of money management. They can save time and give you a sense of control that you need to make real changes in your financial habits. You may need to experiment to find the right tools for your needs and lifestyle, but the payoff is worth investing the time and energy up front.
Online Courses
Finally, consider taking free online courses about money management or following a few free blogs or youtube channels run by financial experts. These digital tools can help you better understand the larger financial world in which we all live and equip you to make money-savvy choices.
Learn More About Being Credit Smart
Now that you have these credit smart living tips under your belt, continue your journey with our other great articles. Learn smart apartment rental tips and tricks that can help you save money and make the most of your credit on our blog .
The average winter temperature in Maryland is 34.1 degrees . Nothing is worse than sitting in your apartment, shivering. The time to address and prevent this is before winter, when temperatures are still warm.
That way, there's plenty of time for you to prepare your apartment. When winter arrives, you'll be able to sit back and welcome it, knowing that your apartment is ready.
This guide will show you how to prepare for winter so you can snuggle into your apartment and feel warm and happy.
How to Prepare for Winter
Preparing your home for winter when you live in an apartment is less about changing your home's physical structure and more about adjusting your creature comforts. While you want to look for improvements to the building, you'll need to communicate these to the landlord and let them handle it .
Tasks to Leave for Your Landlord
Check the windows for drafts and confirm that they close completely to seal out the cold air. If there are drafts, your landlord will need to have them sealed or even replace the windows.
Look for holes or cracks in the walls, floors, and ceilings. These are the perfect places for rodents and bugs to come in to escape the cold. Your landlord can seal these to prevent you from spending your winter with creepy crawlies.
Check your heating system to confirm that it's working. Doing this early will give your landlord more time to have it serviced. It will also ensure that it's ready when the temperatures drop.
Tasks You Can Do
Start by changing out your bedding from your lightweight cotton summer sheets to thicker flannel sheets. Then consider adding indoor plants to your rooms.
Winter can be depressing for some with the reduced sunlight and lack of green outside. Adding indoor plants improves your indoor decor, reminds you of warmer seasons, and helps freshen the air.
Speaking of fresh air, reverse your ceiling fans. There should be a small switch on the side of your fan that changes the direction your fan spins. this will pull the cool air up and push the warm air down, helping the room feel warmer.
If you find your skin feeling rough and dry or your congestion and allergies flaring up, then consider using a humidifier. Cold air holds less moisture, so you can relieve these common winter symptoms by having a humidifier in your apartment.
Finally, look for ways you can add warmth to your apartment. While you could run the heating system, this can get expensive. Instead, you could add a plush rug to the floor, thick throw blankets to the couch and chairs, and insulated curtains on the windows.
Prepare Your Home for Winter
As you can see, several checks may result in you submitting a maintenance request to your landlord. This makes it necessary to know how to prepare for winter early. That way, your landlord has the most time possible to address the issues.
While you let your landlord handle the building preparations, there are several things you can do to make your apartment more enjoyable. This will create a warm and inviting space.
Instead of preparing your current apartment for winter, consider a change and find your dream apartment today .
Getting along with your neighbors can make your community a happier place to live and to live in a good community, you have to be a good neighbor. Neighbors do not have to be your best friend, but it is nice to have some sort of relationship with, in case you need an egg or borrow a baking pan. Creating a positive and consistent relationship with your neighbor is going to make living in your community that much better. Here are 10 easy ways for you to be a good neighbor today.
Be Welcoming
Moving into a new neighborhood can be stressful. A new place with new people and not knowing what the neighborhood will be like is stressful. Everyone knows what this feels like so take the stress of your new neighbors by going to say “hello”. A simple introduction will make them feel welcome and more comfortable.
Strike Up a Conversation
Do not be afraid to say hello! Good relationships can only be maintained through communication. Whether it is a quick, passing conversation when you see them at the mailbox or a small get together on a Friday night, staying in consistent contact will making living near them much better.
Be Respectful and Considerate
Be respectful and considerate if you are having a large get-together or a small party. Remind your guests not to park in front of your neighbor’s driveways and only park on one side of your street. It is not enjoyable to have blasting music in your backyard when they are trying to relax or go to sleep, so keep any noise level at a minimum. Giving your neighbors a heads-up that people will be coming could be beneficial to you and them as well!
Take Care of Your Lawn and Garden
Keep your lawn and garden mowed and tidy. No one wants to see a jungle of branches and overgrown grass at the house next to them. Try to clean up any toys and items in the front yard to keep organized. By mowing your yard regularly and having a well-kept yard, this will keep your neighbors happy.
Be Responsible with Your Pets
Follow the local laws of having pets in your neighborhood. Make sure that they are vaccinated, licensed, and on a leash when you walk them. If they do their business in your neighbor’s yard, remember to pick it up and dispose of it properly.
Be Responsible with Trash
No one likes a mess. Make sure to keep your property clean by being responsible about where and how you manage your trash. Be sure to take note of when and how your trash is to be disposed of and to do so properly.
Respect Boundaries and Abide by the Rules
Whether it is trash, recycling, or parking permits, abide by the rules of the community. However, balance is important, so do not be to nosey and watch them vicariously. Respect property lines and no matter how close you might to your neighbors, it is important to have some space. Everyone should be comfortable in their own home and on their own property.
Offer Help
A home can be a lot to maintain. It can often be difficult and expensive work to do so. Make sure you let your neighbors know that you are willing to help whenever or however you can. This will help with your relationships with your neighbors, and in turn, result in them being more willing to help you should you ever need it.
Have a Party
A great way to make a lasting relationship with your neighbors is to get everyone together for a party or barbeque. It does not have to be too fancy or expensive, and you neighbors will likely bring food, drinks, and whatever else you might need. A good neighborhood party will be appreciated by all who attend.
Handle Conflict Responsibly
Sometimes, conflict with your neighbor can be unavoidable. Should this be the case, make sure you take the time to think over what you need to talk to your neighbor about and ensure it is something that needs to be brought up. Also, make sure you go over with a level head. You will likely be dealing with your neighbors for some time. Starting a feud with someone who lives right next door should definitely be avoided.
As the weather turns cooler and we start heading back indoors, it seems like the perfect time to curl up with a good book. There are a number of great books out now that can help you transform your apartment into a dream living area, even if your space is limited. Today, our team at Rachuba is highlighting our favorite apartment decorating guides that will give you something good to read and some design inspiration to help you transform your home.
Small Space Decorating by Better Homes & Gardens helps you create space where you thought there was none. Maximize your space stylishly with creative and decorative ways to organize your belongings.
Apartment Therapy by Maxwell Ryan and Janel Laban offers apartment-specific decorating and design advice, just like their informative and inspirational website . Learn how to create a cohesive look throughout your apartment or townhome that will look like you hired a professional interior decorator.
Homebody is the hit design book created by famed designer, Joanna Gaines. Homebody is divided into chapters by room so you can easily envision and design your apartment, room by room. Take a look inside a variety of homes and learn how to create your own unique style to be tastefully showcased within your apartment.
The New Bohemians Handbook: Come Home to Good Vibes is the boho guide to DIY. If you love a variety of eclectic designs and maximalist design, this is the book to help you harness bright, colorful designs into a beautiful, coordinated look in your home.
Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves by Emily Henderson helps you get your furniture and decorative objects situated in ways that don’t look cluttered or haphazard. Give your home a new look without spending a ton of money with her creative arrangement techniques.
Amazing Furniture Makeovers by Jen Crider helps you upcycle your existing furniture or secondhand fines into works of art and conversation pieces, even teaching you how to make minor repairs to broken furniture.
The excitement of trying to get a hole-in-one while dodging obstacles on the course never fades. It is a fun activity for all ages and a great spot for a date. In honor of Miniature Golf Day being on September 21 st , Rachuba challenges you to go show your skills and play a round or two of mini-golf at these courses near you!
Mitchell’s Golf Complex
Located in Reisterstown, MD, this facility features three mini-golf courses that visitors can choose from. Their mini golf courses have holes ranging from long straightaways to holes with 90-degree turns. It is excellent for groups and also features a 9-hole executive course and driving range that is perfect for beginners. Prepare to be challenged at Mitchell’s Golf Complex as the three mini-golf courses can give you a run for your money.
Island Green Family Fun Center
Voted #4 for best mini golf in Maryland by Best Things Maryland, Island Green Family Fun Center is a great place for a day on the mini-golf green. This 18-hole course is in Westminster, MD and provides a beautiful setting with scenic landscaping. Island Green also offers a driving range, batting cage, golf lessons, and pavilion rentals making it a great place for parties and events. If you get hungry after working hard in your round of mini-golf, pack a snack for after and sit at one the shaded picnic tables!
Players Fun Zone
Players Fund Zone mini-golf course is not your average course, it is glow-in-the-dark mini-golf! This course is also conveniently located in Westminster, MD and was designed to make each visitor feel as if they are on their own adventure. The course begins in Ancient Egypt and continues to a glowing underwater seascape, then moves into the lush jungle and taking you back in time to the era of the dinosaurs. It is fun for people of all ages with a surprise around every corner.
Adventure Park USA
Adventure Park USA has not one, but two mini-golf courses to choose from. These 18-hole golf courses, Thundering Falls and Dry Gulch, are designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are decorated with waterfalls, hills, riverbeds, and canyons. If you play a round of mini-golf and still want to continue the fun, Adventure Park USA has many more attractions such as bumper boats, go-karts and much more.
