The post Top 7 Things to Do for Any Age in Lady Lake Florida appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
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Lady Lake, Florida (near The Villages) is home to diverse activities for all ages, from shopping to restaurants to fun in the sun. ConcordRENTS has four affordable housing properties surrounding The Villages, including:
While The Villages is a popular retirement community, that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of fun and exciting things to do for all ages and stages of life. The Villages has an abundance of shopping and restaurant options while the surrounding area has a rich history and many things to keep you from being bored on a Saturday. Here are the top five things we recommend you make time to do on your next visit to the Lady Lake area.
Things to do
- Lady Lake Public Library – Check out their website for book signings and family-friendly events. If you move into one of our four area properties, you can get a library card to access their online resources, including free LinkedIn Learning courses.
- Lake Griffin State Park – Enjoy the wonders of nature while exploring this 620-Acer park (and don't miss the 400-year-old oak tree on the trail). Are you feeling a little adventurous? Rent a kayak or canoe and go on a guided tour of the marshes.
- Lake Sumter Landing – Lake Sumter Landing is home to free live music 365 days a year as well as plenty of shopping and eating. They always have something going on for the whole family.
- Grand Oaks Museum and Resort – If you or someone in your group is a history buff, this is the place to discover the history of Colonial America. They have over 160 horse-drawn carriages on display, including an English Omnibus, a World War I supply wagon, and a Dutch Tikker. The museum covers a 400-acre site, so take the day and have some fun.
- Lady Lake Historical Museum – This converted train depot houses the area's history. Check out The Teague Room, where you can learn all about life during the Victorian era, and don't skip the famous model train that depicts Lady Lake during the golden age of the late 1940s and 50s after the war.
- The Lakes Golf Club – For the golfing amateur or pro, The Lakes Golf Club offers 9 or 18-hole tee times for groups of up to four people. If you sign up for a membership, you can play as much as you like for the entire year!
- Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures – Have an adventure on an airboat through Florida's swamps and check out some of the swampy residents. Located at Lake Panasoffkee, Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures takes you on a one-hour thrilling adventure, complete with a free photo op with a live gator.
If you are considering relocating to the Lady Lake area, check out one of our four properties and all they offer. You can find our current availability and move in specials on ConcordRENTS.com
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]]>- Kitchen space
- Living room
- Bedroom
- Bathroom
Let's break down the essentials needed for each room to move in and start living your best life!
Kitchen
The kitchen is probably the most challenging room to fill because you never know what you will need until you need it. However, here are a few basic things you can guarantee you will go looking for while cooking almost any meal.
When picking out the cookware, think about if you want it to be non-stick or stainless steel.
Non-stick can be great, but the coating breaks down over time, making it more likely to need replacement. On the other hand, stainless steel cookware is a bit pricier but will last longer.
The difference is that you won't have that non-stick guarantee. Both are available in "sets" that give you a variety of sizes for different uses.
Bedroom
The bedroom is your personal space and needs to be somewhere you feel comfortable laying your head down at night.
Doctors recommend keeping your bedroom at a cool temperature and relaxed to promote healthy sleep. Blackout curtains to keep the light out and a fan to keep you cool might prove helpful in this endeavor.
The bedroom is the most personal of the spaces in your apartment, so let your personality shine.
Bathroom
The bathroom is the most effortless room to fill. A few basics, and you are good to go. If you choose to decorate, have some fun and pick a theme that will have your guests talking long after they've left.
Living Room
The living room is a common area used by you and your guests. Imagine a comfortable spot with plenty of seating to host movie nights or a party.
A sleeper sofa or a futon is an excellent option if you have an overnight guest. A few items that are not essential but fun to have include: TV (smart TVs have streaming services built in, which saves you from buying an additional piece of hardware), cabinet to hold books or games, and plants.
Other Essentials
Your new apartment will have a maintenance team to handle the repairs.
However, that doesn't mean you won't need a few handy items. Surge protectors, a basic tool kit, first aid, and duct tape are a few things everyone needs.
Make it feel like home
The most important thing to remember is to make your new apartment feel like home. Give it a personality that makes you want to spend time there and invite over some friends. You don't have to have elaborate items to make it great. All that matters is that you like it and enjoy being there.
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Why Should Students Learn About Personal Finance?
As a young person with few financial responsibilities, it can be tempting to spend impulsively. That's why it is important to learn responsible money management strategies early on, so you don't end up with poor spending habits later in life when more serious financial responsibilities take hold. In fact, the earlier you can learn about personal finance, the better. Knowing the importance of financial management can help you avoid or minimize debt, making it less likely that you become trapped in a cycle of lifelong money struggles.
Knowing this, how does one learn about personal finance? It depends. While in some cases personal finance education can happen in the home, be aware that not all parents wish to or are even capable of teaching their children about personal finance. If your parents are unwilling or unable to teach you about managing your personal finances, then it will be up to you to find other ways to learn about the subject matter. Fortunately, there are several places you can start.
If possible, enroll in personal finance courses at your school. While not all schools offer such courses, if yours does, then definitely consider taking them—even if your parents are willing to teach you some personal finance lessons at home. If no such courses are currently available at your school, check the library for books about responsible money management or look online for websites covering similar topics.
When learning about personal finance, there are many topics worth exploring. Some of the more useful ones are the importance of spending less than you make, balancing a checkbook, understanding debt, and the consequences of having a low credit score. Having an understanding of such topics allows you to make better spending decisions, so you'll be less likely to find yourself in a never-ending cycle of debt.
It's also important that students transitioning into post-secondary education have a basic understanding of typical tuition costs and know how much of their future income will be tied up in student loan repayments. After all, many students who enroll in post-secondary education later leave with huge student debts. If you plan to continue your education by attending a post-secondary institution, it's crucially important that you learn about personal finance.
Though exploring the topic of personal finance may seem overwhelming at first, it's still something that you really should do to ease your transition into adulthood. To help keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed, seek outside help whenever possible and work through the topics a little at a time. By tackling the subject in stages, you will gradually gain a deeper understanding of how personal finances work, so you can strengthen your money management skills before facing any serious financial decisions.
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]]>The post Affordable Games for the Family appeared first on Concord Management Blog.
]]>Chess
This timeless game is perfect for getting the brain going in the morning. It is easy to learn but takes years to master.
Recommended players: 2. Price: $5+
Spaceteam
"Activate the Quasiturbine!" "Set the Hyperhydrant to three!" These are some of the things you may shout to your family members as you work together to navigate space in this cooperative party game or app.
Recommended players: 2-8. Price: Free (Mobile app), $25 (Card game)
Heads Up!
A family fun app where one person holds up a word and has to guess what the word is based on clues given by the other players. They have 60 seconds to guess as many as they can, or skip if they don't know!
Recommended players: 2+. Price: Free
Codenames
In Codenames, split your family into two teams and give each other one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board, then guess the correct words to give points to your team.
Recommended players: 2+. Price: $10
Coup
Coup is a card game of strategy, luck, and bluffing. The goal of the game is to be the last one left. If your family is looking to get a little competition going, this is a fun and quick game to play.
Recommended players: 2-6. Price: $15
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Did you know that on average, a single person uses 2100 gallons of water per month?* That's more than 4 billion gallons of water per month in Florida alone! Luckily, there are plenty of ways we can conserve water to not only save the environment, but also save some cash on your water bill every month. Follow the tips below!
Kitchen Usage
While a smaller percentage of water use occurs in the kitchen, there are still things that can be done to reduce the amount of water used. Instead of washing small batches of dishes in your dishwasher, wait until it's full to avoid running multiple cycles. If you prefer to wash your dishes by hand, turn off the faucet when you aren't rinsing.
Bathroom Usage
Showers and toilets contribute to the largest expenses when it comes to your water bill. Many of us enjoy a long shower to wake us up in the morning, but you'd be surprised on how much you can save by reducing your shower by 1 minute each time! Also, use a waste basket instead of flushing waste whenever possible, as some toilets use multiple gallons of water per flush.
Other Usage
Similarly to dishwashers, try to stay away from running multiple loads of clothes in your washing machine. Also, remember to set the water level at the appropriate amount when running.
Leaks
Check for leaks on a regular basis and fill out a Maintenance Request from your Resident Portal immediately after finding a leak. This is the fastest and most efficient way to notify your communities' Service Team Member of required maintenance. If you need assistance in logging in or registering to the resident portal, please notify your Community Director for instructions on how to register.
Follow these steps over the course of a month and compare to your prior water bill. How did you do?
*-From www.YESEnergyManagement.com
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Before you begin to look for your first apartment home, be sure to check out these tips to help you prepare!
Budget
Before starting your apartment search, work out a budget for what amount rent you'll be able to afford. Remember, you'll need to have enough funds for the deposit upfront in addition to your monthly rent. Finally, you should expect to have some one-time expenses early on for supplies you'll need in your home. This can range from anything as simple as a mop and bucket to the furniture in your bedroom. There's a lot of things you don't realize you'll need until you're moved in!
Location
Location is one of the most important factors in deciding where to rent. Do you want to be close to work? How close to you want to be to a grocery store? Make sure you think about these questions when deciding on where to look and remember that sometimes you can save by renting further away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Requirements
See what kind of amenities each apartment community has to offer, and if you have a furry friend, make sure you're aware of their pet policy! Heart Healthy Cardio & Fitness Studios will mean less time and money at your local gym. Also, if you work from home or spend a lot of time online, keep an eye out for what kind of cable/internet packages are offered before you move in.
Renters Insurance
It's important to be prepared for the unexpected. Choose the policy that is right for you and make sure you and your belongings are covered in case of fire or natural disaster.
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