Bimethyls

Timeshares over time have received a bad rap. When you go to Hawaii you can get 50 to 75% off the price of most activities by attending time share sales presentations.

And then it becomes a number game, which the time share sales people know by heart. 1 in 100 attendees probably buys and has to pay for all the discounts given to the other 99 attendees and the salesman’s commission.

That’s why it is not a good idea to buy a timeshare at these presentations. You can buy good timeshares at resale timeshare companies and there are quite a few available on the Web today.

You can buy them at 50 to 30 cents on the dollar and even at those discounts you have to be very careful that you get value for your money. Because; You now have a fixed place to go to every year. If that turns you on, good for you. There is a yearly maintenance fee that can be fairly steep.

You may be able to get similar accommodations in the same area at a hotel for the same amount as the maintenance costs for the timeshare WITHOUT BUYING A TIMESHARE. To make timeshares more palatable to the general public there are some new twists such as: A timeshare that you can only use one week every 2 years.

That way the annual maintenance fee does not seem so high. And then there is the rotating timeshare so you’re not bound to a specific time every year. But you don’t find out how much of a hassle it is to get your desired week until you try to fill out the paperwork.

How about the new “Destination Clubs”? At first, they seem like time shares, but the “club” says they’re completely different. Most prices are sky high, up to $1,000,000 — but there are clubs offering memberships from $4,000 to $20,000 a year. They say if you decide to leave the club, you’ll get 80 percent of whatever the current membership sells for, thus gaining equity.

They have many names, but in actual fact you’re still buying into a program that qualifies you to use a hotel room, resort, condo, home, airplane or houseboat or other domicile for a set period of time every year, ranging generally from one week to several weeks. In Cabo San Lucas Mexico a 1500 sq foot 1 week oceanfront timeshare with all the bells and whistles sells for $35,000 which will give you the use of the timeshare for 20 years. On top of that you pay another $1200 per year maintenance.

So for 20 weeks use of this oceanfront property you pay a total of $59,000 being $2950 per week. The question then becomes; can I get a 1500 sq foot oceanfront condo for $2950 a week? So caveat emptor. Do your research into similar accommodations in the same area before you buy that timeshare.

After you buy the timeshare there may come a day that you may want to sell the timeshare.And nobody wants it. What now? You try Ebay, but your timeshare is not during high season but during low season and it is in Brampton Missouri.

When you try to sell it you find out that there are 945 other timeshares for sale on Ebay. So there you are with a timeshare you are bored with after 10 years and you can’t give it away and you are still saddled with the annual maintenance costs..

Most people at this point will just walk away. Pity! Just give it away. Yes you can, there are now charitable organizations that will take your timeshare.

So why donate your timeshare? No Cost to You Fast and Easy Process Get a Tax Write-off Save Money in Broker’s Fees No More Maintenance fees, Taxes or Special Assessments

Why should you donate rather than sell? There are literally thousands of timeshare owners eager to sell their timeshare. Listen to this scam, it’s a real doozie. Many owners have been roped into paying a listing company an upfront fee of $300 to $1000 to list their timeshares for sale.

Typically, a listing company representative is able to talk the seller into the listing price by saying the timeshare has a resale value many times the actual amount. Some people cannot believe that their timeshare is actually worth so little.

Once the seller pays the listing fees, the timeshare does not sell because of the unbelievably inflated price. At the end of the one-year listing contract, the agent calls the seller and attempts to get them to re-list for another $300 to $1000. In the meantime the seller has not made arrangements to use the timeshare, expecting it to sell.

In addition to listing fees the seller has also been paying maintenance fees and taxes on the property. Often times a seller will spend $4000 trying to sell a property that will eventually sell for only $1,000 to $4,000.

By making the timeshare a charitable donation donors can get rid of their property in a matter of weeks at no cost to themselves while getting a tax write-off. By donating, timeshare owners capitalize on their profits while also assisting charitable organizations. Before you give away your timeshare spend half an hour with an accountant or a tax lawyer.

It will pay for itself.

You aren’t lightweight backpacking if you are carrying twenty-five pounds for a summer weekend. I invent these standards, but I try to be reasonable. I backpack with less than fifteen pounds total weight for a weekend trip. With a few new pieces of gear, and a little knowledge, you can probably carry less than twenty pounds for a three-day trip, and less than thirty for a week-long trip.

Start by throwing out those pack weight/body weight formulas. Learn the principles of lightweight backpacking, and you’ll never be close to what they say you can carry anyhow. And who wants to carry 25% of their body weight down the trail? The question to ask is “How much do I need to carry to be safe and comfortable?”

Lightweight Backpacking Isn’t Masochistic

The biggest reason for lightweight or ultralight backpacking is to enjoy the trip more. I don’t leave crucial things behind or otherwise make myself miserable, just so I can call it lightweight backpacking.

Here’s a good rule: Go as light as you can without sacrificing things that are most important to you (safety items, a good book, a bottle of rum?). It’s not about giving things up. It’s about carefully choosing what you really need to have an enjoyable, safe trip, AND replacing heavier things with lighter things.

For example, if you really need an inflatable pad, get rid of that 2-pounder and buy one of the new 13-ouncers. My down sleeping bag weighs 17 ounces and has kept me warmer than any 3 or 4 pound bag I’ve had. If you replace items one-by-one with lighter alternatives, you can eventually cut your packweight by half or more.

Start by setting aside your lightest sweater, socks, hat, etc. Then, when you can afford to, buy one of the big three (pack, tent, bag) because this is where you’ll save the most weight. Of course, going light can be expensive, but I’ve gone 110 miles in seven days (no blisters) with $7 running shoes, so it doesn’t have to be.

How Much Weight?

With proper equipment and skills, you probably can be comfortable and safe with twenty pounds on your back for the weekend. Watch yourself on your next hike. What did you actually use, and which items brought you the most comfort? What can you leave behind next time? What can you replace with lighter items?

My first really light backpacking trip was a true test in the mountains of Colorado. It rained or snowed every day. I went 110 miles without a blister, climbed 5 “fourteeners”, stayed warm and dry, and never had more than 17 pounds on my back. Oh, and I never had as much fun with a heavy pack. That was lightweight backpacking at its best.

Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

This article describes how my father taught me the value of money and at the same time also showed me how to reach and attain the goals I had in my life.

I have a friend called Peter and for his seventeenth birthday his parents bought him a very impressive car which would have cost them around £2000. He was very happy and showed off this car to all of his friends including myself. At this stage he was unable to even drive, however it was still a great present to receive.

Peter lived a couple of doors away from me and I showed my father the car and stated that I would love a car for my seventeenth birthday which was only three weeks away. He responded with words like, I bet you would. Despite this remark I felt sure that he would purchase a car for me as he certainly could have afforded to, in my opinion anyway.

My birthday arrived but no car was presented to me, the main present I received was a pair of trainers. I must admit even though I now feel embarrassed to say it, that I was quite disappointed.

Around eight months later, I managed to pass my driving test and my father was very pleased and congratulated me on my success. I told him that I was very happy, however, what was the point of passing my test if I had no car to drive. He seemed to agree but two months later he still had not bought me a car.

It was now nearing my eighteenth birthday and my father asked me what I would like for my birthday. He explained that your eighteenth is a special birthday and that he would be spending slightly more on me this year. I told him that I would like a car and he started laughing. Despit this I felt sure that he would oblige.

My birthday arrived and yet again no car, the main present I received was a watch, a very nice watch I must add but again I was disappointed.

I waited a further two months and then decided to use the head on approach. I went to talk to my father and told him that I needed a car. He agreed so I asked him, so what are we going to do then? If you want a car, go and buy a car, he responded. I pointed out to him that I was spending per week more than I was earning, socialising, buying clothes etc. He stated that I really wanted a car that I would make sacrifices to get it but also stated that whatever I saved he would match.

This very much annoyed me at the time, but something I am now grateful for as it has taught me that if you want something, you have to work hard and make sacrifices to obtain it.

Stephen Hill has a number of websites including:

stuttering information

natural health cure

alternative therapy