Verse of the Week

Save money when apartment shopping

Hey Taylor - I’m about to finish my bachelor’s program and move to a new apartment The market seems brutal right now and I don’t think I’ll be able to find a place with affordable rent

With that in mind, are there other ways I can cut costs when I’m moving? I’d love to not rip through my savings straight out of college

- Amy

Hey Amy - Congrats on earning your degree, and sorry that life after college is already asking for all your money Cheap apartments are almost impossible to find, but you can save in other ways when moving See if any of these options might work for you

Take over a lease This requires a little bit of luck, but if you can find someone who’s trying to move before the terms of their lease have expired, you can potentially save a decent amount of money up front Depending on the lease and the timing, you might avoid putting down last month’s rent, a security deposit, and other incidentals the landlord requires Some renters think subletting is the only way to avoid the hefty fees that come with a new lease, but taking over a contract is another good option if the opportunity presents itself

Cut a deal When you’re renting, you need to consider the costs that will add up in the long term

Things like parking, utilities and pet fees pile up quickly and, when totaled, raise your cost of living significantly In addition to keeping these things in mind and looking for units where you either get free parking or the landlord covers water or gas, you might be able to work something out to avoid these costs Remember that landlords hate losing tenants just as much as you hate moving It costs building managers lots of money to

Living with children

clean and fix up emp that’s before listing f sort of marketing If good credit, referenc you’ll agree to sign a lease, there’s a chanc landlord will either r rent or eliminate som monthly fee

Reassess all spending space will always be one of your biggest expenses It might be that you can’t do much to drive the cost down and you need to look elsewhere for savings If you’re currently paying too much for internet or your cell phone, or you have a gym membership you underutilize, this move could be the perfect opportunity to clean house and find other ways to be more frugal Maybe a new cable provider will offer a good introductory rate that allows you to save $50 a month for a while A move can facilitate a reset in many ways, so think about which bills you can eliminate or make lower

You probably won’t find a place that’s $500 a month less than all the other options, but it might still be possible to save that much in other areas Good luck, Amy!

Taylor Kovar, CEO of Kovar Capital Read more about Taylor at GoFarWithKovar com

Disclaimer: Information presented is for educational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein To submit a question to be answered in this column, please send it via email to Question@GoFarWithKovar com, or via USPS to Taylor Kovar, 415 S 1st St, Suite 300, Lufkin, TX 75901

“When are you going to write a book on grandparenting?” is a question asked of me by lots of folks, most of whom - no surprise here - are grandparents

My stock answer: “I might, someday, that is, but right now I’m working on some other projects that are taking up most of my time blah blah blah ”

Don’t get me wrong I’ve thought about a book on grandparenting, and I may still write one If I do, it may consist of real-life horror stories I’ve heard from grandparents around the USA (and, of course, my advice concerning each horror) These tales of woe aside, many Boomers are less-than thrilled with the way many of their children are parenting It certainly deserves a book

So, the bottom line is that I’m not going to write a “how to be the grandparent your grandkids want you to be (whether they know it or not)” book. Maybe my wife, Willie, will write that one, but not me Besides, that book has been written already and I don’t think I could improve upon it

Chrys Howard – her daughter Korie Robertson is the female lead on Duck Dynasty – has a lot more grandkids than she does kids, and as we say in the South, her grandkids love her to death (and the feeling is mutual) Like everything connected with the Duck Commander crew, Chrys is the real deal and so is “Rockstar Grandparent” (Waterbrook, $15 99)

Written like an intimate conversation about Chrys’ grandparenting experience, “RG” is full of real-life anecdotes that reveal the heart of a grandmother who takes her matriarchal role in the family seriously Chrys gives practical advice on how to be a fun grandparent, yes, but she always comes back to her main theme: family She reminds us that grandparents are the glue that holds a family together, an especially important role in times like these when family members are often living hundreds of miles away from one another

Chrys also speaks from experience about the heartaches of death and divorce and how to move forward when tragedy strikes She shares stories about opening her heart and home to children through adoption, foster care, and mentoring She communicates the importance of standing strong on principles and being the example of right moral behavior

All of this is done using songs from the sixties and seventies as jumping- off points which Chrys weaves deftly into each chapter topic. Songs like “The Sounds of Silence” (Simon and Garfunkle) and “Let it Be” (The Beatles) were anthems for the ‘60s teens who are now grandparents The words from these songs will resonate with the reader bringing back fun memories as well as themes for optimal grandparenting

Whether you are just beginning this journey or consider yourself a seasoned pro, this book will inspire you to either “carry on” or “get moving ” The influence of grandparents in the lives of their grandchildren is largely a matter of what the grandparents choose to make of the opportunity to be a steady source of wisdom and counsel This book will encourage and inspire lots of folks my age to make the most of an amazing opportunity

Family psychologist John Rosemond: johnrosemond com, parentguru com

John Rosemond has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971 in the field of family psychology In 1971, John earned his masters in psychology from Western Illinois University and was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society