Save The Dates: Things To Do In Albuquerque This Summer

 

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Summer is one of the most enjoyable times of the year, assuming that you know how to pass the time and ignore the hotter weather. Swimming pools, picnics, and weekend road and beach trips are all great ideas, but sometimes we’re looking for something a little different - whether it be more exciting, closer to home, or just cheaper.

With this in mind, we’ve put together this list of things you can do during the summer of 2013:

●      June, July and August see a great number of special events here. From Festival Flamenco International de Alburquerque to comic expos to the Route 66 Summerfest, there’s something here for everyone. More information about all of these events can be found here, but to help you out, here’s a quick list of special summer events and the dates they’ll be up and running:

○      Blues at the Blueseum - June 02

○      The Albuquerque Film & Media Experience - June 3 - 9

○      Festival Flamenco International de Alburquerque - June 10-15

○      The Albuquerque Comic Expo - June 21 - 23

○      Route 66 Summerfest - July 20

○      2013 USA Roller Sports Speed Figure and Rink hockey National Championships - July 13 - August 4

○      7th Annual Ballet Pro Musica Festival - August 9 - 11

○      Albuquerque Latin Dance Festival - August 22 - 25

●      Go to a concert. From acoustic artists to pop stars like Ke$ha, Albuquerque has a surprising variety of performers coming through down. You can review concert dates and times here.

●      Ball game, anyone? You can always head to an Isotopes game in your free time!

●      If it’s not a game day, hit up one of the area’s multiple museums. Anthropology. Biblical history. Rattlesnake. Turquoise. All of these things and more have a museum dedicated to them! Don’t believe us? Here’s the full list of nearby museums you can explore. (Feel free to visit the local zoo if you’re the type that prefers to see some adorable living creatures rather than items in a museum.)

●      If you’re on a budget, bookmark Albuquerque on the Cheap. They offer a number of daily promotions in addition to their weekly freebies and half-off deals. This is a great way to explore your city while on a budget!

What do you think of these? Let us know in the comments if these helped you or if we forgot any major summer events!

Live Green: Here’s 22 Easy Ways To Save Water and Energy

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Earth Day may have come and gone, but that’s no reason to stop your efforts to “greenify” your living space. Believe it or not, even apartment dwellers can find ways to live a green lifestyle without making major modifications to their living space.

Don’t believe us? Here’s three simple tricks to use around your apartment, courtesy of TLC Home, that help save water and energy:

●      Displace water in your toilet tank by getting a plastic bottle, filling it with gravel, and placing it in your toilet tank. That’s it! You can leave this for the next tenant so they can continue saving water as well.

●      Use CFL Bulbs, which save a lot of energy, whenever possible. (Also, turn off lights when you are not in the room. It’s simple but effective!)

●      Pay attention to your fridge. Keep its compressor coils clean to ensure your energy bill stays low and that you’re using as little electricity as possible. Another thing you can do is line your fridge with water jugs to keep it full and colder. It sounds silly, but it can save a lot of energy!

That’s just three simple, easy tricks that save water and energy. You can get more tips like this by clicking here: the original article listed 22 ideas for saving water and energy!

Top 10 Reasons To Rent

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To rent or to own? It seems like a big question, but really, the answer is simple: renting is better. Homeowners, please don’t hate us for saying so, but it’s true.

Renting has so many more benefits than owning a home. Renters have a much more flexible lifestyle and can relocate much sooner than a homeowner, without the hassle of selling their house. Renters don’t need to deal with mowing lawns or shoveling snow. Renters aren’t slapped with property taxes, either.

But don’t take our word for it - check out this great article that lists not three, but ten reasons renting an apartment is the way to go:

1. There’s more get up and go freedom with renting an apartment. Whether you want to relocate for a job, a love interest or simply want to see what life is like on the opposite coast, renting provides more flexibility.
2. Attempting to sell a house, especially in a down market, can be complicated and time consuming. Whether you have a year lease or a month-to-month, the logistics of renting are less confusing.
3. Are you the type of person who hates mowing the lawn or shoveling snow? A landlord often provides these types of services. While homeowners are digging out from a snowstorm or battling crab grass, you can be skiing or relaxing in a deck chair.
4. As a homeowner, you’re not only responsible for snow removal and lawn care. You’re responsible for everything. Whether it’s a broken hot water heater or a malfunctioning dishwasher, things are going to need to be upgraded or replaced. When you rent, you’re not responsible for maintenance costs. All you need to do is call the landlord when something goes wrong.
5. Many apartment complexes have so many amenities the place resembles an all-inclusive resort. From tennis courts and swimming pools to fitness centers and children’s playgrounds, many renters have these amenities on location. It’s safe to say that most affordable homes don’t come with a tennis court.
6. If the monthly mortgage and maintenance costs weren’t enough, homeowners are also saddled with property taxes. These taxes fluctuate depending on where you live. No property tax means more money in the bank, or at least more money in your pocket to do the things you want to do.
7. Do you want to live in a luxurious neighborhood? You have a better chance of affording rent in a posh neighborhood than you do of buying a house.
8. Some apartment complexes offer referral bonuses. Is there anything better than referring a friend, then getting a check in the mail. You get a cool neighbor and free money.
9. There are often numerous apartments in an apartment building, and this increases your chances of meeting new people and making friends.
10. Many apartment complexes are gated and have their own security and video surveillance. This will not only give you peace of mind, but save you from having to buy a high-end security system for your home.

Original article can be viewed here.