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How to Make Your Very Own 100-Foot Water Slide!

June 1, 2021 By Allen Francis Leave a Comment

I think my father took me to a waterpark once or twice when I was a child. And I absolutely hated the experience. I just never understood the appeal of mass bathing with strangers in public places. (Maybe I never got over my stranger danger impulses ingrained into me in the early 1980s?) And maybe such experiences could be more appealing when they are closer to home. I grew up in the South Bronx and it was common in the summers for someone to open a fire hydrant so the neighborhood kids could cool off in the heat. However, there is an easier, and cheaper, alternative to visiting a waterpark or risking a fine by opening fire hydrants to cool off. Learning how to make DIY waterslides is a cheaper and hassle-free way to cool off.

Water parks are big business now, but they are also a hassle to patronize. You will end up standing in a long line to get in and then stand in another long line to get on your favorites rides and waterslides.

And water parks are not free. Depending on the water park you visit, you will have to pay anywhere between $35 to $95, or more, on admission per person. And those costs don’t include travel costs, food, and potential lodging costs if you visit a faraway corporate-owned water park.

You could pay anywhere between $30 to $600 on store-bought waterslides and waterslide contraptions.

DIY Waterslides – The Basics

If you and or your neighbors have a large enough backyard or common grassy area, industrial-grade plastic sheeting or tarp, a hose, and a few other items, then making DIY waterslides should be a no-hassle project. And it will probably take an hour or two to set up.

The first thing you must do to set up DIY waterslides is to scout the perfect area to set one up.

Scout the Layout

According to a 2016 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report, over 2 million Americans injure themselves while frolicking every summer. And over 65,000 Americans injure themselves while engaging in watersports activities or at amusement parks.

Safety must always be a priority when you are installing DIY waterslides in your backyard, front yard, or nearby area. So, before you start any work, you need to find a soft, grassy, and relatively flat stretch of grass that extends for 100 to 150 feet.

Walk along the area. Are there rocks protruding from the ground? Is the ground soft and grassy enough? If you lay plastic sheeting or a tarp on hard ground, the contact friction of people jumping and sliding on it will wear it out quickly. And someone is bound to injure themselves jumping on plastic laid on hard ground.

DIY waterslides should be laid down on soft, grassy hills with an incline. There should be enough space to run and jump before jumping on the waterslide. And there should be enough space at the end of the waterslide to slow down and stop.

Try to construct the waterslide so it ends at a soft, flat portion at the end of a hilly incline.

There should be no obstructions at the end of the waterslide, like parked cars or trees. Also, you need to be near a water hose or source of water to keep the slide wet.

Mentally map out the area and scout it so everyone has fun safely. It may even be a better idea to draw a simple schematic.

DIY Waterslides Material

Buy a long tarp or plastic sheeting at a hardware store with a thickness of at least 6 millimeters, or 1/5^th of an inch. And it should be at least 5 feet to 6 feet wide.

You may need to buy it in sections to reach a full waterslide length of 100 feet at least.

Additionally, make sure you buy light-colored plastic sheeting. Black-colored plastic sheeting will absorb sunlight and potentially become very hot in the midday sun.

Assembly

Try to get two or three people to help you with assembly. Roll out the plastic sheeting on the hill. Use garden staples as stakes to hold the plastic sheeting in place. Then, cover the tops of the staples with thick duct tape.

You may want to roll the ends of the slide around pool noodles and then use garden staples to stake them to the ground. You will create a soft boundary barrier on both sides so people don’t slide off the waterslide midway. It will take extra effort, but it will be worth it for safety’s sake.

Take a walk along the length of the waterslide. Safe DIY waterslides don’t build themselves, so make sure it looks safe before you let children, teens, or adults run and jump on it.

Squirt cheap dishwashing or shampoo soap along the length of the waterslide. Affix a sprinkler attachment to a water hose at the top of the waterslide so that water flows along the length of the waterslide. You may need 2 to 3 water hoses to get the water slide appropriately wet.

Test it out a few times before letting others use it.

And that is it. You can find many DIY waterslides tutorials online to fit your own personal circumstances.

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10 Ways to Save When Building a Pool

May 28, 2021 By Tamila McDonald Leave a Comment

For many homeowners, having their own pool is the dream. The issue is, building a pool can be incredibly expensive, causing many households to hesitate about taking on the project. Luckily, it is possible to shrink the related expenses, allowing you to get your perfect pool for less. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are ten ways to save when building a pool.

1. Go with a Standard Shape and Features

Custom shapes will always cost more than standard ones. Similarly, adding features like slides, diving boards, or attached hot tubs push up the price.

If your goal is to keep the cost down, stick with a typical shape and limit your features. That simplifies the installation, leading to a smaller price tag.

2. Keep the Size Under Control

The larger the pool, the more it’ll cost. Labor and material-related expenses are both higher when the pool is bigger, impacting you on both sides of the equation.

While you want to make sure your pool is large enough to feel usable, don’t go overboard. Consider what you actually need, and set that as the size limit if you want to keep costs down.

3. Choose an Accessible Location

When you’re building a pool, heavy machinery is usually involved. If getting excavating equipment to your pool site is incredibly difficult or essentially impossible, the contractor may have to use a less-than-ideal approach. If that’s the case, expect the cost to rise.

Ideally, you want to choose a spot that’s highly accessible to heavy equipment. That way, you won’t get charged a premium for having to navigate an inconvenience or needing to use smaller machinery.

4. Schedule the Pool Installation for Off-Season

People usually think about adding a pool once the weather warms up, leading to a quick uptick in demand. As demand rises, so do prices. Busy contractors usually charge more because they don’t necessarily need the project to make a living, or adding another pool into the mix dramatically increases their burden.

If you want to save some money, don’t schedule your pool installation until the off-season. Usually, this means aiming for fall if you live in an area where the ground freezes or temperatures fall low enough to make pouring concrete impractical or impossible for a time. If the ground doesn’t freeze in your region and temperatures are milder, then fall or winter could both be solid bets.

5. Factor in Fencing

In many areas, pools legally have to be fenced to meet safety standards. However, not all homeowners are aware of the requirement, causing them to overlook a potentially large line item.

If you factor in fencing in advance, you can potentially save. You may be able to include it into your pool installation, essentially building the cost, or you could shop this part of the project around separately, which might result in overall savings.

In some cases, you might even be able to tackle the fencing yourself. While it can require a lot of time and effort, as well as some tools you may not have on hand, that might help you keep your budget under control.

6. Get Multiple Bids

Once you settle on your pool design and location, get several bids. Ideally, you want to request a minimum of three to five, depending on how many contractors serve your area.

It can also be wise to get referrals. If you know someone with a pool you like, as who installed it. Not only will it make you more comfortable with the company, as you’re familiar with their quality standards, but it may also help your budget. Sometimes, being referred will actually snag you a discount, so make sure to mention if someone told you to reach out to the company.

7. Skip the Heater (at First)

While installing a pool heater when you do the initial build may seem convenient, it’s possible it’s a feature you don’t actually need. Often, it’s smart to skip the heater for at least the first year. That way, you can figure out if you genuinely need one before you pay for the equipment.

8. Plumb for Water Features Now

While you don’t necessarily want to add water features like slides or fountains immediately if you’re hoping to save some money, you do want to get the plumbing for them installed during the build. If you don’t, the amount of work required to get the plumbing in place will be much higher, causing you to spend more overall.

9. Consider Vinyl

When it comes to inground pools, vinyl is usually your least expensive option. Prices are typically far below fiberglass and concrete, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars. Plus, many of the liners last around a decade, so you’ll get years of use before you need to worry about replacing it.

10. Don’t Sacrifice Quality

While going with the lowest bidder might seem like a smart move, it isn’t always. If the lowest bid is far below what the other contractors quoted, that should actually be a red flag. It may mean they skimp on materials or labor, something that could result in an expensive mistake you’ll have to pay to fix.

If the lowest bid is close to what everyone else quoted, then going with them may be okay. However, it’s always best to do your research before choosing any company, ensuring they have a strong reputation for quality work that will stand the test of time.

Can you think of any other tips that will help someone save when building a pool? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

Is It Inflation Or Fear of Inflation?

May 23, 2021 By Max Erkiletian Leave a Comment

You may read or hear the term “inflation fears” being used with increasing frequency. In turn, that raises the question of what we’re dealing with — is it inflation or fear of inflation?

What Is Inflation

Let’s start by defining terms. We will assume you know what fear is. On the other hand, you may not be sure about inflation.

Inflation is the increase in prices throughout the entire economy. Consequently, a rise in gas prices alone is not inflation. However, if food, housing, general goods, and gas prices jump together, you are dealing with inflation.

The primary measures of U. S. inflation are the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), and personal consumption expenditure price index (PCE).

In April, the CPI jumped to 4.2 percent, its biggest 12-month increase since September 2008’s 4.9 percent hike.

Markets React

With one of the primary inflation indicators jumping, many wall streeters started selling. (Cue Chicken Little!). However, the Federal Reserve did not take the bait and stilled inflation fears by reasserting its stand against raising rates. The Fed has said repeatedly it expects “transitory inflation” as the economy reopens.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has stated he does not see a need to tighten monetary policy until inflation runs above two percent for an extended period.

The central bank’s consistency calmed fears and stocks bounced back.

“Inflation is a process and not a one-time event,” said Chris Low, chief economist at FHN Financial told Reuters. “These bottlenecks are one-offs. The Fed will not consider action until it views price levels changes as permanent rather than temporary, something it does not consider possible until the economy is at full employment.”

Was April a False Inflation Positive?

There is an argument to be made that April’s CPI was a reflection of the anormal not the new normal.

Many areas seeing inflation in April’s CPI were the result of an economy recovering from the pandemic. About half of price increases came from four segments. They were: used cars, car rental, airfare, and dining out.

With more vaccinations and COVID-19 restrictions relaxing, Americans accelerated travel and leisure activities. As a result, there was a sudden burst of demand hitting a limited supply. The April CPI reflects the difference between a pandemic lockdown economy and a rapidly rebuilding economy.

Used Car Prices Lead the Way

“The index for used cars and trucks rose 10.0 percent in April,” according to the U. S. Labor Department. “This was the largest 1-month increase since the series began in 1953, and it accounted for over a third of the seasonally adjusted all items increase.”

Shortages

Like many industries, the rise in used car prices is the result of shortages.

The shortage of semiconductor chips has lead to an increase in electronics and automobile prices. With new cars in short supply, the demand for used cars has increased.

At the same time, shortages brought on by the pandemic have moved other prices higher. Car rental companies that drastically cut their inventories during the pandemic are now swamped with customers.

Travel bans and lockdowns lead to airlines cutting back and reducing staff. Meanwhile, restaurants went through the same process. Ramping up again takes time.

The elevated price of lumber has contributed to the rising cost of home purchase and home repair prices.

Is It Inflation or Fear of Inflation?

Shortages are often overcome with increased output. However, it takes time for services and products to catch up. As a result, some sectors, such as leisure, the automobile industry, and travel will recover in time. The question is, how much time?

The Fed’s criteria of two percent inflation over an extended period gives businesses time to recruit workers and ramp up manufacturing. However, it takes more time to grow a tree.

What To Do?

If Chair Powell is right and all the economy needs is a little time for supply to catch up with demand, all we need is patience.

However, some expenses are high regardless of inflation. The cost of education drives most college students into debt and medical expenses are the leading cause of bankruptcy in this country. Nonetheless, those costs may be considered systematic failures rather than inflation factors.

Safe Havens

If you are concerned that inflation is coming sooner rather than later, you might want to make a few moves to balance your assets.

If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, you might consider locking in a low rate with a fixed-rate mortgage.
Floating rate bonds. As the name implies, the interest rate on these bonds fluctuate based on inflation. To get maximum diversity, you can invest in a portfolio of these bonds through mutual funds and ETFs.
Gold. Owning gold has been a favorite tactic of inflation bears for a long time. They like the fact that it holds its value. Again the best way to own gold may be through an ETF or mutual fund.

Caution

Some investments can get you stuck with low returns if inflation does not materialize.

Long-term bonds. Many investors favor these bonds for safety. They do protect principal but lose ground when interest rates take off.
Long-term CDs. Again, this is a popular investment for those seeking safety. Like long-term bonds, CDs protect your principal. However, if inflation accelerates, your CD will be left at the starting gate.

Conclusion

George Bernard Shaw said, “If all the economists were laid end to end, they’d never reach a conclusion.” And people thought he was trying to be funny.

A lot of analysts are talking about inflation. As a result, a lot of average investors are becoming concerned. However, the Fed, which is tasked with reining inflation, is advising patience.

If you’re confused about what to do, that’s understandable. For most of us, the right move is to keep our investments balanced and flexible. That means not getting locked into long-term fixed rates – unless your talking about your mortgage. It also means spreading investment risk through diversity. For most of us, that means finding a few mutual funds or ETFs that align with our financial goals and investing in them monthly.

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Weekly Financial Wrap: Housing, Car Subscriptions, Inflation and Value Investing

May 22, 2021 By Max Erkiletian Leave a Comment

Housing Market Peaking?

Home sales continue at record levels. However, prices show signs of easing — indicating a slightly more buyer-friendly market.

“Even though homes continue to sell faster in what is solidly a sellers’ housing market in most areas, another jump in the number of new sellers compared to a year ago has caused some of our weekly metrics to take a tiny step in a more buyer-friendly direction,” writes Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com. “Home price gains eased this week although they continue to grow at a double-digit pace. On top of this, the size of inventory decline held steady. Buyers will still have to move fast and are likely to face competing offers, but there are signs that as sellers come to market, the intensity of the competition could lessen.”

Stiff Competition

Over the past 39 weeks, demand for houses has exceeded the supply of houses for sale. As a result, many houses are selling above their asking price.

A Realtor.com survey found that 25 percent of first-time buyers lost a bidding war for a home.

On the bright side for buyers, new listings were up five percent the week ending May 8. Plus, another Realtor.com survey indicates more sellers are getting ready to jump in the pool.

More Sellers

“The survey results show that 10 percent of homeowners across the United States plan to sell within the next 12 months,” writes Realtor.com Senior Economist George Ratiu. “The figure is noteworthy because it is 25 percent higher than the typical share of homes which come to market in a typical year.”

That same survey reveals that 16 percent of homeowners said they are likely to list their homes in the next two to three years.

For now, costs are still high with May’s median listing price expected to top April’s $375,000. However, with more sellers indicating they are ready to enter the market, buyers may get some relief.

Car Subscriptions Growing

The next trend in the automobile industry is vehicle subscription services. This business is projected to grow into a $12 billion industry by 2027.

How It Works

A car subscription service provides you with a vehicle for a monthly fee. Subscriptions run anywhere from one to 12 months. The service often includes maintenance, 24/7 road service, and insurance. In addition, you can switch cars as often as every month.

The Future

“Flexibility, affordability, and convenience along with better benefits as compared to leasing drive the growth of the global car subscription market, “ according to a report by Allied Market Research.

Corporations will continue to lead the auto subscription market through 2027, says Allied. However, the greatest growth in subscribers is expected to be consumers. The private segment of the industry will leap almost 24 percent.

Big names have gotten into the car subscription business. Volvo, Nissan, Porsche, BMW, Audi all offer subscription service. In addition, leasing giants such as Hertz and Enterprise are also in the game.

Moving to Electric

In 2019, about 75 percent of subscription vehicles were gas-powered. That dominance is expected to continue for most of the next six years.

“However, the electric vehicle segment is estimated to witness the highest CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 26.5% during the forecast period, owing to high penetration of the electric vehicle sales and traction towards electric mobility,” said allied.

In fact, one auto subscription company, Steer, only offers electric vehicles.

Is Inflation A Fear or A Reality?

A little over a week ago the stock market panicked over inflation fears. Then it bounced back after those fears subsided. So, are we headed toward inflation or not? How do you measure inflation after a pandemic? How do we guard against such uncertainty?

SA will try to answer those questions in Sunday’s focus article.

Return of Value Investing

Corporate earnings for the first quarter have largely exceeded expectations. In addition, the economy is opening wider all the time. As a result, the stock market is simmering just below record highs. However, some analysts say continued gains may be choppy citing the uncertainty of inflation and tax issues. Consequently, investors are turning from growth to value.

Role Reversal

“The S&P 500 Value index — made up of the top 100 S&P 500 stocks deemed to be cheapest as per their price-to-book value, earnings-to-price and sales-to-price ratios — has returned 8.6% in 2021 as of March 8, beating the 2.0% gain for the broader S&P 500 index,” writes S&P Global’s Peter Brennan.

The S&P Growth Index has declined 3.8 percent over the same period, Brennan points out.

So far this year, Russell indexes reflect the same trend. The Russell 1000 Value Index is up 11%. Meanwhile, the Russell 1000 Growth Index is down 0.2%.

That is the widest gap between growth and value stocks since the burst of the tech bubble in 2000.

Results Now

Growth stocks typically refer to stocks with the potential to one day deliver a return while surviving on debt. Low interest rates allowed tech companies to fund their growth that way. However, with concerns about the prospect of inflation, investors are looking for immediate value.

“As the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines quickens and the economy bounces back from last year’s shutdowns,” reports the Wall Street Journal, “portfolio managers are snapping up cyclical stocks—banks, energy companies and others whose fortunes are closely linked to economic growth. Those shares often fit the description of value stocks, which trade at low multiples of their book value, or net worth.”

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How I Bought a Car for Cash

May 19, 2021 By Rachel Slifka Leave a Comment

It’s no secret that vehicles are depreciating assets. The second you buy a new car and drive it off the lot, its value plummets. Even though everyone knows this, it doesn’t stop most Americans from overspending on their vehicles. After all, we all want the nicest things so we can keep up with the Joneses! Well, I was in the market recently for a new (used) car, and made a promise to myself that I would pay for this vehicle outright in cash. And I’m proud to say, here’s how I bought a car for cash.

I Set a Budget

First thing’s first: I set a firm budget.

For some reason, large purchases make it especially tempting to disregard your budget. After all, you are only going to buy a car once every few years, making it easier to mentally justify additional costs. But by setting a firm budget, I was able to ensure I had enough in savings to pay the car in cash. If I went above my budget, I would have needed to pull money from my other savings accounts, such as my emergency fund, to pay for it (or take out a loan for the difference!)

I Set a Monthly Savings Goal

Once I set a realistic budget, I determined how much I needed to save per month. I calculated how much I needed to save per month by taking my budget and dividing it by the number of months I had to save. Obviously, the longer you give yourself to save, the less you will need to save per month. If you have a tight monthly budget, you’ll want to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to save!

I Cut Back and Saved Even More

Buying a car for cash has always been a goal of mine. So, I was super motivated to accomplish it. Because I was motivated, I found it easy to cut back and save more money each month.

When your eye is on the prize, you can really reevaluate your spending decisions. When I was saving for a car, I knew my desire to pay for a car in cash was strong. I realized I would truly rather save money instead of buying things that didn’t mean as much to me.

Keeping connected to my goal helped me purchase a vehicle months ahead of schedule, because I was willing to sacrifice.

I Found the Car with the Best Value

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I shopped around for the best value. I asked family and friends if they had a dealership they recommended. Upon doing so, I eventually found a family member who was looking to sell their own car. It was exactly the type of car I was looking for, and I knew it was well-maintained. In the end, I skipped the dealership and wrote my family member a check for fair market value. We both got more bang for our buck versus going through a dealership, so it was a win-win overall!

Food Prices Continue To Rise

May 16, 2021 By Max Erkiletian Leave a Comment

It started with empty spots on grocery store shelves amid the pandemic. As a result, food prices soared. Now, with vaccinations up and COVID-19 infections down, you might think those prices would be down.

However, grocery prices continue their upward trajectory.

Research firm NielsenIQ reports that seafood has climbed 18.7 percent while baked goods have increased 7.5 percent in the 13 week period ended April 24.

Grocery store prices overall are up 3.3 percent from March 2020 to March 2021, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). If you ordered from a restaurant during that time, your meal costs rose 3.7 percent.

Consumer Price Index Increase

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose last month to 4.2 percent over the previous April. That is the highest inflation rate since September 2008. Most importantly, the core CPI, which tracks food and energy prices rose 0.9 percent. Consequently, that was 0.6 percent above projections.

Short-Term Volatility

Food prices can move almost instantly with a change in weather, geopolitics, social unrest, and a variety of other factors.

A combination of events has come together to impact current food prices.

Oil and Supply Chain

Gasoline is used to fuel everything from tractors used in the planting and harvesting of grains, vegetables, and fruit to delivery of those products in addition to meat and fish. As a result, any price increase in oil contributes to price increases in food.

In addition to gas prices, problems in the supply chain impact not only food prices but other grocery store items. For instance, remember the toilet paper shortage?

Climate Change

Extreme weather events, as well as gradual changes, have had an impact on the food supply. The most recent major weather event is the winter storm that wreaked havoc deep into Texas.

The immediate impact of that storm was knocking out the power grid. That left people without heat and electricity as temperatures dropped to record lows. However, the long-term impact has slashed the supply of many food sources.

Losses from that one storm have been estimated at $600 million. Of that, $14 million in milk, cattle, and poultry were lost. In addition, a vast array of fruits and vegetables were destroyed.

Government Supplements

Government policy has had some effect on food costs by driving up corn prices. More corn is going into fuel tanks. As a result, less is going into stomachs.

The U. S. government pays subsidies to use corm for biofuels. As a result, the price of corn has risen and there is less corn to eat. The creation of ethanol consumes 37 percent of the nation’s corn. That’s more than six times the amount used in 2000.

The Pandemic

You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating. The pandemic upended the food supply and helped drive up the cost of food and many other goods.

The pandemic accelerated in March of last year. Many states and cities instituted safety measures that lead to more people eating at home more often. That increased the demand for groceries. Meanwhile, nations began closing their borders to limit the spread of COVID-19. That disrupted shipping which further limited the food supply. As a result, prices went higher.

Limited Stockpiles

The World Trade Organization (WTO) limits the amount certain foods, such as corn and wheat, can be stockpiled. That policy is designed to level the playing field between countries that subsidize farmers and those that do not. This policy is effective in times of abundance. However, it worsens the problem during shortages.

Rising Meat Prices

Another factor increasing food prices is an increase in meat consumption – especially pork. People around the world are becoming more affluent. As a result, those who could not afford meat a few years ago now can.

So, you say, just raise more animals. Fine, but the animals you want to eat have to eat as well. That leads to a need for more grain. That increase in demand raises grain prices even more. That leads to higher meat prices.

The Darkness Before The Dawn

Reading all the above and watching prices climb at the grocery may lead you to think the solution is simply not to eat. That’s been tried and most agree the results are not satisfactory.

Take heart, the high prices we are experiencing today and, perhaps, for the rest of the year are not permanent.

USDA Predictions

The Department of Agriculture is expecting grocery prices to rise another one to two percent in 2021, before stabilizing as the pandemic passes. Restaurant food costs will grow by another two to three percent, says the USDA.

The Agriculture Department is even predicting beef and veal prices will drop between 1.5 to 2.5 percent by the end of the year.

Of course, the USDA projections can not predict whether a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disasters will disrupt the food supply.

Conclusion

There are many things you can not do about food prices. You can not increase grain yields, cut transportation costs, or change the weather. However, you are not powerless. You can exercise a plan of action to minimize the effects of rising food prices.

There are many sources for inexpensive recipes online and in publications. You can also set a budget and stick to it. Here are some other ideas for fighting food costs.