Interview - Financial Sense

Many of our clients have paper management challenges. Additionally, a lot of our clients have multiple properties, trusts and are dealing with various family members estates. We spoke with Rebecca Feeley from the Darien-based Financial Sense about some possible solutions.

What is Financial Sense?

Financial Sense is a family owned and operated Daily Money Management firm in Darien, CT. We work with individuals and families, both locally and nationally, to organize and manage their financial lives. We offer services such as bill pay, income and expense tracking for planning and tax purposes, budgeting, and financial reporting. Whether you need help staying on top of due dates, reclaiming a few hours of your time, or are looking to better understand and manage your spending habits, Financial Sense can help.

How can your service help busy people?

Typically, our clients have busy lives – children, careers, multiple homes, or some combination of all those things. The busier a person is, the less time he or she has to focus on their financial well-being. Financial Sense steps in and becomes the central hub for all the bills to be mailed. We make sure everyone from the credit card companies to the landscapers are paid in a timely manner. We track all the inflows and outflows, and we provide customized reporting so our clients can comfortably “get out of the weeds” and begin making executive-level financial decisions based on data we’ve provided.

How is your service different from other similar companies and services?

We have a small, close-knit team that brings a very personal, yet professional approach to what we do. We develop friendships with our clients while also delivering expert service and advice. We have a family feel, but with all the bells and whistles of safe, secure, technology-embracing firm.

What is your background? How did you get involved with Financial Sense?

I studied Economics in college and have been in Finance my entire career. First on the investment management side, and for the past 7 years at Financial Sense, on the client side helping individuals and families to better understand and manage their cash flow.

My mom, Keeley, left corporate banking and founded FS when I was in grade school in an effort to be more present for her family. Now that I have a husband and 3 kids of my own, I’m finding the same benefits and flexibility of self-employment that she was seeking 26 years ago. We work very hard for our clients while also making time for our families. It’s the best of both worlds.

How has money management changed over the years? What are some recent developments?

I think people these days are more willing to delegate responsibilities in their lives that they either 1) don’t have time for or 2) are simply not good at. It’s no longer about not being able to pay your bills on time or manage your money, it’s that people have busy lives and many things vying for their attention. Managing household finances is something that can be hired out now, just like a professional organization can be!

Simple Ways To Make Your Rental Property Feel Like Home

When you move into a rental property, you might be restricted when it comes to what you can do to decorate. You might not be allowed to paint the walls, hang art or change up the furniture. Don’t worry, as we are here to show you simple ways to make your rental property feel more like home without making any permanent changes. Even if you are only going to be in a rental property temporarily, you deserve to feel fully relaxed every time you walk through the door. 

Go Wild With The Soft Furnishings

The first and one of the best things that you can do to make your rental property feel more like home. Soft furnishings make spaces so much cosier and you will notice a significant difference when you add rugs, blankets and cushions. Plus, if you aren’t keen on the furniture that came with the property, you can throw blankets and cushions over your sofas and chairs. Soft furnishings are available from so many different places, so you can find the right choice for your budget. 

Add Plants To The Space 

The next thing you can do to feel more at home in your rental property is to add plants to the space. Plants are known to boost your mood, make you more productive, it can reduce stress, fatigue, absorb toxins and produce oxygen. Plus, they look lovely and will really brighten up the space. If you’re new to the world of houseplants, the following are very easy to care for: lady palm, string of pearls, peperomia, pothos, chinese evergreen and jade plant. Try to keep all of these plants in in-direct sunlight and water them once every 1-2 weeks in the summer and once every 2-3 weeks in the winter. 

Buy Standing Mirrors

Another thing that you can do is to buy standing mirrors around your rental home. Mirrors reflect light around the home wonderfully, and although you might not be able to hang new mirrors around the place, you could have standing mirrors around. Perhaps a large standing mirror in the hallway, a tall and thin mirror in the bedroom and small standing mirrors in the bathroom. You should notice that your home is so much brighter! 

Add Personal Touches

To really make your rental property feel like a home, it is important that you add personal touches. You want to look around and see personal memories or decorations that put a smile on your face. You could choose 3D portraits of you and your family, put out memoirs from your family holidays or create a photo wall. These things can be hung using removable hooks that won’t remove any paint (make sure that you buy good quality ones to make sure they work effectively). 

Have A Clear Out 

Last but not least, having a clear out can make such a big difference. If you are only somewhere temporarily, you might not have taken the time to unpack properly. However, this is likely to have a big impact on your ability to fully relax in your home and you will feel super organized. So, taking a few hours to clear out things and unpack properly can really make a huge difference! 

Final Thoughts

Everyone deserves to feel happy and comfortable in their home, even if you are only there for a few months. You will find that your whole mood will completely transform, so taking some time to make it feel like home is definitely the best thing to do! 

5 Tips for Making the Most Out of Your Hot Tub This Winter

Did you pull the trigger on getting a hot tub a few years ago? Have you hardly used it since after that first year? Don’t worry—you’re not alone!

A lot of folks jump on the hot tub bandwagon and are very excited about it for the first year. But then, life starts swinging again, and that hot tub seems more and more like a big cube taking up space on your deck.

Want to make sure you’re actually using it this season? Follow along with some of our tips for making the most out of your hot tub this winter!

Entertain Guests

This is one of the easiest ways to use your hot tub more. Any time you have people over, any time there’s a date night happening, even a family movie night—weave some hot tub time in there!

Give yourself reasons to get on your bathing suit and enjoy the warmth! But make sure everyone knows that hot tub time has to go in phases; you don’t want to push it with more than 20 minutes at a time.

Stock Up on Cleaning Supplies

Hate the process of cleaning the spa? Follow some key sanitation hacks, like keeping extra supplies on hand. You’ll be even less likely to clean up the hot tub if you have to run to the store to get the supplies to clean it.

Not to mention, keeping your hot tub clean and sanitized lowers the chances of bigger problems, especially since small issues become more complicated in cold temperatures.

Use It as a Post-Workout Relaxer

Whether you make it to the gym, dance in your living room, kickbox in the basement, or go on long winter hikes, wind down afterward with a soak! Or maybe you need to use your hot tub as a reward for a workout accomplished! A 20-minute soak in your hot tub will stretch and ease your muscles.

Just make sure to have plenty of water on hand while you relax!

Keep an Eye on Water Levels

Similar to cleaning and sanitizing, this tip for making the most out of your hot tub this winter has to deal with maintenance. You won’t want to use your hot tub if you’re not taking care of it regularly. And you definitely won’t want to sit in there if the water isn’t where it should be.

Not only that, but not keeping a consistent eye on water levels can keep your hot tub from working smoothly. If water levels get low, pumps and heaters can stop running as well.

Drink Plenty of Water

This is a quick tip, but an absolutely essential tip—water. Drink plenty of it. Why will this help you make the most out of your hot tub? Subconsciously, you might have memories of just being drained or not feeling quite right after using the hot tub in the past. That may very well be from being dehydrated.

Your body loses a lot of water while you’re having a good soak. Keep plenty of liquid on hand while you’re heating up in the pool.

There you have it! The more you make hot tub healing a habit, the more that little cube will become an important part of your deck’s aesthetic.

Top Energy Conservation Tips for Your Homes Lighting

We partnered with a solar company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Lighting in a home is just as essential as running water. Your home is your sanctuary and it’s important to have lighting that complements your aesthetic, decor, and energy conservation needs! Let’s take a look at some of the top energy conservation tips that you can practice at home.

Heating and Cooling Systems Maintenance

Practice cleaning or replacing your filters on a regular basis, at least once a month. When the filters of your heating and cooling systems are dirty, your system has to work harder to do its job. Letting your filters go without cleaning maintenance for too long can also encourage mold and mildew build up. So, in a nutshell, cleaning your filters often will save you money and time in the long run. 

If cleaning your filters is not a part of your regular routine, you can easily implement it by adding it to your list of other household items that need to be cleaned on a monthly basis. Clean your filters when you clean your ceiling fans, walls, windows, and other items of that sort. Once you start the routine, it’ll stick and seem like less of a chore.

Upgrade Your Appliances

Older appliances have a tendency to use much more energy than newer models. Refrigerators that are more than 10 years old may use up to 50% more energy! While you may think you’re saving money by holding on to what seems to be a perfectly working refrigerator, you may be losing money in the end. Upgrade your appliances when necessary to ensure you’re owning the most energy efficient models possible. 

Make Lighting Useful

There’s no need for a light to be on in a room if no one is going to be in it. Practice turning off lights while not in use to save energy. And while you’re at it, switch all of the lights in your house to LED lights. LED lights emit light much more efficiently than traditional incandescent light bulbs. 

This tip isn’t necessarily a conservation tip but it’s equally important. Use lighting in your home that you absolutely love. The truth is, your electricity bill will always have a tab on it, even if it’s a small one. Make sure that the lighting in your home is lighting you love seeing on a daily basis.

Are you happy to come home? Are you proud when guests stop by? If you’re not, definitely spend a little more time considering the lighting in your home. While lights are not a painting or sculpture, they are still artistic and can be used as decor elements. 

Mindful Baking and Cooking

If you love baking, you should also love keeping the oven closed while in use. Every time the over door is opened, temperatures can drop by an entire 25 to 30 degrees. Meaning, your oven will have to repeatedly work to remain at the temperature you originally set for it. 

Another great tip to conserve energy while baking is to avoid placing aluminum foil at the bottom of the oven to catch drippings from your tasty dishes. Foil can interfere with those magical browning powers that your oven has, as well as, block air circulation and heat. 

If you’re more interested in the stove top, we have some great tips for you too. Use pot tops as often as possible to bring liquids to a boil faster and cook food more quickly. Using a pot top will ensure all of the heat stays exactly where it needs to be to complete your dish at a fast and tasty rate. 

Water Heaters and Clothes Dryers

If you’re able to gauge the times you’re going to take showers, practice turning your water heater off when it won’t be in use for long periods of time. In the typical household, the shower is usually in use during mornings before school and work and evenings before bed time. There’s no need for your water heater to be on while your family is out and about during the day. 

If possible, dry loads of clothes back to back to take advantage of your dryer's built up heat. Another great practice is to clean your lint filter after you’re done with each load. This practice will help your dryer to dry your clothes more efficiently and also save you from having a heap of lint to clean over time. 

Consider Eco-Friendly Home Energy Solutions

When it comes to enhancing your home's energy efficiency, considering alternative solutions beyond traditional lighting methods can significantly impact your energy bills and carbon footprint. One such innovative approach involves harnessing the power of residential solar panel systems. These systems consist of solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, allowing you to illuminate your living spaces and generate clean energy. Integrating residential photovoltaic systems into your home's lighting strategy allows you to tap into renewable energy sources while minimizing your reliance on conventional power grids. In this article, we'll delve into how these systems work, their benefits, and how you can seamlessly integrate them into your home, ushering in a new era of sustainable lighting and energy conservation.

Practice Makes Perfect

If you’re not accustomed to practicing most of these tips, there’s no need to worry. Practice makes perfect! You can always go the extra step and make daily energy conservation reminders for your family. Place your tips on the refrigerator or hallway so everyone can be aware of your new system. Cheers to saving energy and having a happier home!