Home Sweet Well Managed Home: Essentials of Household Management

By Edwin B. Emery Jr.

Improve your household management skills with these proven essentials.

In the opinion of the author using the information in this book could help some marriages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664220072

Edwin B. Emery Jr.

Graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in management. Worked a total of eight years as an Industrial Engineer in a large steel products company and in a large aerospace company. California registered professional engineer. Worked twenty-seven years as a Contract Manager in a large aerospace company. Owned and operated his own business as an estate and asset manager for thirty years – ongoing. Trustee for several different kinds of trusts – ongoing.

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SECOND EDITION

HOME SWEET

WELL MANAGED

HOME

ESSENTIALS OF HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT

EDWIN B. EMERY JR.

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Copyright © 2021 Edwin B. Emery Jr..

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Blank forms may be copied without prior authorization.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2006-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2007-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021901570

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/30/2021

CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1 Essentials of Household Security

Security Evaluation

Security Equipment

Theft of Personal Identification

Mail Theft

Actions to Reduce Household Theft

Chapter 2 Essentials of Household Safety

Essential Safety DOs

Essential Safety Don’ts

Chapter 3 Essential Household Budget of Cash, Expenses, and Income

Budgeting Format

Cash Budgeting

Recurring Expense Budgeting

Total of Cash and Recurring Expenses

Variable Expense Budgeting

Unassigned Reserve

Estimated Income Budgeting

Ledger of Actual Expense Payments

Budget Concept Advantages

Procedures for Use of Cash and for Payment of Expenses

Chapter 4 Essential Household Files

Budgets and Ledgers

Legal Documents

Insurance

Investment Asset

Income Tax Returns

Personal Property Assets

Social Security

Education Plans

Charge Account Invoices

Chapter 5 Essentials of Household Insurance

Life Insurance

Home Owners Insurance

Auto Insurance

Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance

Real Property Title Insurance

Chapter 6 Essentials of Living Trusts and Wills

Essentials of Power of Attorney Appointments

Chapter 7 Essentials of Time Line Planning

The Time Line

Time Line Planning

Appointment Calendar

Family Events Diary

Chapter 8 Essentials of A College Education Fund

Develop An Investment Plan

Get Started With Your Savings Plan

Responsibilities of the Student

Education Fund Disbursement Plan

Chapter 9 Essentials of Good Health

Exercise

Nutrition

Drinking Water

Air Quality

Cleanliness

Sleep

Work Environment

Medical and Dental Care

Weight Control

Stress Management

Chapter 10 Essentials of House and Auto Maintenance

House Maintenance

Equipment Replacement and Remodeling

Auto Maintenance

Chapter 11 Essentials of Investing

Identify Your Options

List of Priorities

Investment Budget Plan

Master Investment Record

Chapter 12 Essentials of A Personal Nature

Personal Area of Responsibility

Essentials of Caring for Pet Dogs and Cats

Essentials of an Everlasting Life

Chapter 13 Essentials Household Management Forms

Budget of Cash, Expenses, and Income

Actual Expense Payments – Recurring and Variable

Actual Expense Payments – Medical, Dental, and Miscellaneous

Calculation of Household Financial Position

Estimated Spendable Income

Estimated Spendable Income

Master Investment Record

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions

Date and Signature of Principal

Special Requirement: Statement of Patient Advocate or Ombudsman

Bibliography

PREFACE

This book includes descriptions of the basic essentials of household management. Addressed herein are various aspects of security, safety, budgets, files, insurance, living trusts, planning, health, maintenance, investing, and essentials of a personal nature. For the most part, this book is written in summary form so that the reader can save time and get straight to the heart of the matter.

This book is chock-full of good concepts, ideas, specific techniques, detailed examples, and useful blank work sheets. All of these have been tried and proven over a period of many years and may be relied upon to provide excellent household management results. Buy this book and try these ideas – you’ll like them.

For the most part, this writing excludes the subject of interpersonal relationships. Also, you will not find a hundred pages of explanations of whys and wherefores. Rather, the author trusts that the reader will recognize and use the good common sense ideas presented here.

The full size pages were selected for this book to permit the easy reproduction of 8½ X 11 forms.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Sunrise Secretarial Company for typing this manuscript, to my wife Patricia for her editorial help, and to my good friend Bonnie for her financial assistance.

CHAPTER 1

ESSENTIALS OF HOUSEHOLD SECURITY

SECURITY EVALUATION

SECURITY EQUIPMENT

THEFT OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

MAIL THEFT

ACTIONS TO REDUCE HOUSEHOLD THEFT

ESSENTIALS OF HOUSEHOLD SECURITY

Security Evaluation

Start with a careful evaluation of your dwelling security risks. Some police and sheriffs departments have representatives who can provide you with some crime statistics and otherwise help you with your security evaluation. Some will meet with you to provide information specifically applicable to you, to help organize neighborhood watch programs, and to make security suggestions.

Security Equipment

After this risk evaluation is made, acquire adequate security systems to protect you and your home. In a quiet suburban area that experiences little or no crime, a simple system of two or three motion detectors, a control panel, and a smoke detector might be sufficient for your home. In a high crime rate area or to protect high-value assets, you will need some of the following security equipment:

1. Motion detectors covering all dwelling areas.

2. Alarm circuits for each window and each perimeter pedestrian door and for under-carpet pressure pads.

3. Metal bars for each window and each perimeter door.

4. Outside flood lights (usually turned on automatically at twilight).

5. Outside motion-activated surveillance cameras.

6. Motion-activated dummy surveillance cameras.

7. Auto entry gate with key or push button locking system.

8. Automatic emergency light machines or an electrical generator.

9. Heavy steel combination-lock fire proof safe.

10. Robbery or panic push-button alarm system for life threatening situations.

11. For travel, a portable electromagnetic security system or door knob burglar alarm.

12. Wired or wireless driveway motion sensor and monitor.

13. Solid perimeter doors at least 1.75 inches thick. Hollow doors are not secure and can be easily kicked down.

14. For all perimeter doors, use a deadbolt lock. The key-in-knob lock set is not secure.

15. For windows that adjoin exterior doors, use shatter-resistant polycarbonate.

16. Timers to operate lights, radios, and other electrical devices when you are away on a trip. These can be programmed to turn on and off at any time of the day or night as needed.

17. Garage door remote control that changes the remote’s code after each use.

18. Small signs on windows and perimeter doors saying that you have an alarm system – whether or not you have one.

19. Use a sign that says Beware of Dog that is visible from the street – whether or not you have a dog.

Some cities and counties require a permit before an alarm system may be installed. Some charge a service fee for false alarms.

For added security, you may wish to obtain the services of a central monitoring company. This service requires a monitoring agreement for a specified period of time and for a monthly fee. It also requires that someone turn on the monitoring service each time you want this type of protection when the dwelling is unoccupied, and then it requires that someone turn off this alarm service when reentry is made. Some systems provide for periphery doors and windows protection while the dwelling is occupied.

With the installation of an alarm system, a certificate of installation should be obtained. Such a certificate, when sent to your insurance company or agent, may entitle you to a discount in your home owners insurance.

Theft of Personal Identification

Theft of personal identification, especially by computer users, is becoming an increasing problem. Identity theft is the cause of many complex problems and may result in your worst financial nightmare.

There are several steps to take to avoid this type of theft:

1. Make certain that you are receiving bank account and credit card statements and that you are receiving them on time. If these statements aren’t showing up, it could mean that someone has stolen your identity. Review your statements for unauthorized activity.

2. Do not throw away any document that includes such personal information as your social security, drivers license, bank account, or credit card account numbers. Rather, buy a paper shredder and use it to dispose of throw-away documents that contain any personal numbers.

3. Carefully guard your personal information and provide it only when necessary to do so and only when you are certain that it is appropriate. When necessary for purchases or for other valid reasons, provide credit card numbers by using land-line phones only – do not use cordless phones.

4. At least twice a year, obtain a copy of your credit report from any of the national credit report companies. Review it for accuracy and, if there are errors, fill out the proper form to obtain corrections.

At the time of this writing, there were three National Credit Organizations (consumer reporting agencies):

Equifax

Experian

Trans Union

The credit reports issued by these organizations include a file number, your Social Security number, other personal information, all your charge account numbers with amounts charged and paid and the credit limits, bank loan numbers with the balances owed and payments made, and a list of all companies that requested and received a copy of your credit report. Needless to say, all copies of this report should be stored in a locked file cabinet and should be shredded before being discarded.

You have a wide range of rights under both federal and state Fair Credit Reporting Acts. An explanation of these rights is included with each copy of your credit report. You should read about and make use of these rights.

5. Do not share your telephone access code or Personalized Identification Number (PIN) with anyone and don’t carry them in your wallet or purse.

6. Closely limit the number of credit cards and pieces of identification you carry, and store your Social Security Card and Birth Certificate in a secure file.

7. Because of extra security features, order your checks through your bank, make certain each order is accurate and complete.

8. Immediately report lost or stolen checks, charge cards, compromised PINs and passwords to the issuing agency.

9. Do not preprint your driver’s license or Social Security numbers on your checks.

10. Every time you use a point-of-sale terminal or ATM, shield the keypad when you enter your PIN, and make sure to take your transaction receipt with you.

11. When using your charge card for purchases, always check your sales slip to verify the correct amount has been entered before completing the transaction, and always take your receipt with you.

12. For additional information on guarding your identity, write to the Federal Trade Commission or visit it’s web site.

Mail Theft

Mail theft might also be a problem (can be terrible and time-consuming), and steps should be taken to protect your mail.

1. For incoming mail: with an outside, unlocked box, pick up the mail as soon as possible after its delivery; use a lockable mail box; use a mail slot wherein the delivered mail drops inside the house or garage and is out of reach from the outside; or use a rental box at a post office or postal substation. While on a trip, stop all mail deliveries.

2. For outgoing mail: take it to a post office;