Ew! I Need a Shower After Dipping My Toes into Online Dating

I'm not sure what possessed me to do it but I uploaded a profile on a free online dating site this week. (OK, this had something to do with it.) After dipping my toes into the online dating pool, I really need a shower.

Grammy Winner Allee Willis to Wow with "Badeya Baby" Show September 21 & 22, 2012

If you've ever grooved or sang along to Earth, Wind & Fire's hit September then thank Grammy winning songwriter Allee Willis, the Queen of Kitsch. I've introduced you to Allee before and here's more exciting news...

Medicare Supplement: Have You Minded the Gap?

I started the year with a medical bang. The second week of January I had an MRI-guided breast biopsy and four days later – not knowing the results of the biopsy – I had emergency surgery for an appendectomy. Going through both these procedures, I thought, "I'm so glad I have insurance."

Well, not until notices from the insurance company kept rolling in and the hospital billing me $47,000+ - just because the hospital coded things wrong. It took four months and a bazillion phone calls but everything is good now.

I'm young enough to be working and have insurance but for my neighbors in this retirement community, many are relying on Medicare and a Medicare supplement. In exchange for supporting my travel habit, I'm giving you a brief overview of "Medigap" – a private supplemental health insurance covering the "gap" in expenses between the full amount charged and Medicare reimbursement, such as the difference in co-pays, tests, medications, deductibles or other medical-related expenses. Premium costs range from $100 to $1,000+ per month.

Whether paying for private insurance or a Medigap plan, insurance is one of those necessary evils. Remember that $47,000+ hospital bill I mentioned? The insurance company ended up paying just over $6,000 because of their negotiated rates with the hospital. Medical insurance in some form just makes sense.

Remember, I am not an expert on medical insurance or Medicare (I work in the tourism industry). I’m providing this post as a resource so please do your research and make an educated purchase before deciding which plan is best for you.

Adventures in First-Time Home Buying: Ponying Up the Money

I'll be honest, when I decided to purchase a house I knew about having money for a down payment and closing costs, but was naive about other expenses.  I've never been good with managing my money nor have I been good at saying "no" to others who ask when it comes to fundraisers - raising funds to provide wigs for bald squirrels? If you asked, I probably donated to your cause.

First-Time Home Buying: I Need a Residential Generator for My Hurricane Preparedness Kit

I'm purchasing a home and living in Florida, a residential generator is almost as essential as air conditioning. This whole first-time home ownership is a new concept for me with so many things to think of and prepare for. But this must be serendipity because my friends Generators AtoZ have popped into my life and are supporting my travel habit today in exchange for sharing a little info about their offerings. (Which my travel habit is quickly becoming my first-time home buying habit.)

Why do I need one of these bad boys? Because we have a “windy” season (hurricane season) here in Florida and having a portable generator as part of the hurricane preparedness kit is a pretty smart thing to have.  See, it's hot and incredibly humid here in Florida during the summer and during Hurricane Charley in August 2004, I know some people who were without electricity for a week! Generators AtoZ offers a wide variety of generators for residential, commercial and recreational use.

The site allows visitors to compare generators and sort in a variety of ways including by watts, type of fuel and brand (who knew there were so many types of residential generators?) as well as by specific search terms. Prices range from under $300 to over $3,000 and generators on sale are easy to find.

In addition to packing and cleaning, looks like I'll be doing some serious research on portable generators sooner than later, Hurricane Season begins June 1.Are you prepared?

Adventures in First-Time Home Buying

I've been meaning to gather my thoughts since March on this topic to share my adventures in first-time home buying. Yes, at 42-years-old, I have not had the pleasure of owning my residence and going through the process of becoming a homeowner honestly scares me. Both from a long-term commitment and financial perspectives. A 30-year mortgage means I'm tied to it 'til I'm 72???

Since leaving home for college, I haven't lived in one place for more than four years, right now I've just hit my four-year anniversary with both my employer and residence. Am I ready to plant some roots?

I'm in the inspection and assessment process right now of a Southwest Florida home. Since I'm seeking a USDA loan (yes, the United States Department of Agriculture offers 100 percent loans for those looking to live in what they consider "rural" areas), the process is a little more "regiment" (i.e.: nerve-wracking!) compared to if I was a cash-buyer or conventional loan. Since the Southwest Florida real estate market is hot, I was lucky to have an offer accepted.

Stay tuned for cheers and tears from this first-time home buyer.

Shop for a Used Car at Park Auto Mall in Tampa, Florida

Vroom! Who in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area has new car fever? Let me re-phrase that, who has new used car fever? Ya know, who's ready for a change of scenery from behind the steering wheel? My favorite financial experts advise purchasing a used car makes cents, err, sense. And, the place for affordable Tampa used cars is http://www.parkautomall.com, Park Auto Mall.

Although I personally have not purchased from Park Auto Mall (however, I appreciate them supporting my traveling habit), living in Florida I'm familiar with their reputation as a resource for Tampa used cars, trucks and SUVs. Browsing their website makes searching for the perfect car a little easier as you can search by year, odometer mileage, and price. Of course, you can search by make and model and find everything from a sturdy and reliable Ford F 150 to a regal Bentley.

Park Auto Mall has the largest collection of Tampa used cars (with the occasional boat in inventory) and they're committed to helping put buyers drive off the lot in the vehicle of their dreams, which is why they can assist with credit approval. They also purchase used cars, trucks and SUVs.

View the selection of used car videos and while there, read over the blog to keep up to date on new car and truck arrivals and announcements for contests with groovy prizes.

Who's ready to go kick some tires?

2012 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

Heidi-hoe! During the month of April I'm posting a different letter of the alphabet over on SoloTravelGirl.com as part of the 2012 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Pop on over and see what I have to say about each letter.