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Financial independence and early retirement are within reach of anyone earning just above minimum wage and who is willing to work for 15 years and follow this 10-step early retirement plan. Buy land, build a home, buy a new car, retire early and comfortably. Read below to learn how.

Created upon request, this article is being written at the insistence of readers of this column's previous "Retire Early" articles who have requested an easy step-by-step guideline toward becoming financially independent and retiring early.

This easy-to-follow 10-step process is a complete guide that enables the low income wage earner (between $8 and $10.75 per hour, full time) to become financially independent and retire in only 15 years**. Two wage earners can work together to execute the below 15-year early retirement plan, each making $10.75 per hour, or one person making $21.50 per hour. If the wages are less than $21.50 per hour (2 people combined or one single worker), early retirement and financial independence are achieved at a slightly slower pace** (table below).

The table at the end of this article shows how much to invest monthly to build a retirement fund (about $400,000) which provides an annual retirement income of over $31,000 for varying amounts of hourly wages ($8 through $10.75). With total monthly living expenses under $500 (detailed below), the $31,000 retirement provides a very comfortable lifestyle with sufficient cash for travel, entertainment, giving, and sharing. It is far easier to live in a new home on $31,000 in an area of low taxes and low cost of living than it is to live on $80,000 near a metropolis where the cost of living is high. This is explained below in detail.

The 5 Prerequisites:

Prior to starting the below steps toward financial independence and early retirement, some prerequisites must be met. Do not attempt to execute the below 10-step early retirement plan if any one of the prerequisites is not met.

1. To retire in 15 years, annual earnings of $44,720 are required. Lower earnings will require more time (see table** below). This can be accomplished if two people work together, each making $10.75 per hour ($21.50 per hour combined) for an average of 40 hours per week. If 2 workers make $8 per hour ($16 combined, or $33,280 annually), they can retire in 21 years. Review the table at the end of this article for varying amounts of hourly earnings.

2. One wage earner must have financial credit sound enough to qualify for a $50,000 loan (detailed below).

3. The wage earner(s) executing this 15-year early retirement plan must be free of unhealthy and expensive habits and must be in good health in order to keep both medical and food expenses to a minimum. This means that the wage earner(s) follow a healthy, inexpensive diet found at WellBeyond100.com and the wage earner(s) are not obese, which can be determined by answering 2 confidential questions at ThinAndHealthyForever.com

4. The wage earner(s) must be able to adhere to a strict budget (below) and have the ability to live frugally for 15 years while building the capital investment that will make early retirement and financial independence possible.

See the article here:
The 10-Step Guide to Early Retirement and Financial Independence on a Low Income

For pretty much anyone in the Western world, the Internet is not only ubiquitous, its practicallyinescapable.Between phones, tablets, PCs, game consoles, televisions and set-top boxes, the Internet exists in every corner of our lives. Almost. In the wake of this years CES, were hearing louder than ever that the future is The Internet of Things,everyday devices equipped with sensors and connectivity to work together, understand what were doing, and operate automatically to make our lives easier. And, of course, well be able to control and configure it all, likely with our tablets and smartphones, or by speaking. After all, Siri and Google Now have taken voice recognition mainstream.

But beyond a well-meaning concept that promises to deliver us all to an even higher state of connectivity, what does the Internet of Things mean? When will it finally arrive? How will it change our daily lives? What happens when it goes wrong?

The phrase Internet of Things is widely credited to Kevin Ashton; hes indicated he coined the term in 1999 while at Proctor & Gamble, but it didnt take off until 2009 with an article in RFID Journal. At a very basic level, Internet of Things means devices that can sense aspects of the real world like temperature, lighting, the presence or absence of people or objects, etc. and report that real-world data, or act on it. Instead of most data on the Internet being produced and consumed by people (text, audio, video), more and more information would be produced and consumed by machines, communicating between themselves to(hopefully) improve the quality of our lives.

A bathroom cabinet that lets you know when its running low on toilet paper could be worth its weight in gold.

Smart devices use Internet technologies like Wi-Fi to communicate with each other, your laptop, and sometimes directly with the cloud. Some also talk to a central hub that serves as control point for many different devices, like theRevolv. Ideally, owners can use that central access point from their smartphones and tablets, either at home or when theyre out and about.

Thats all pretty abstract, so lets bring it down to Earth. The classic example is a smart refrigerator that can read RFID tags on grocery items as theyre put inside, then look up those tags via the Internet to identify milk, eggs, butter, and those four frozen pizzas you just bought. The fridge tracks usage, then cue trumpets! alerts owners when theyre running out of groceries, or need more food since people are coming over to watch the game this weekend. (The fridge can tap into your calendar, of course). The refrigerator could even place a grocery order automatically (perhaps delivered via Amazon Fresh). Similarly, that smart fridge could warn about products nearing (or past) their expiration dates.

In theory, extending these ideas to things like pantries, closets, medicine cabinets is simple. Seniors and others could benefit from smart medicine cabinets that track meds, order refills, and even alert physicians if somethings amiss. And just think: A bathroom cabinet that lets you know when its running low on toilet paper could be worth its weight in gold. Smart closets could help you manage your clothes with reminders you really ought to do laundry (youve got two pairs of clean socks left!), take things to the dry cleaners, or even say goodbye to some items you never wear.

Cant remember whether you need to buy toothpaste? Ask your house. Or maybe your house can save you the effort by recognizing that youre at a drugstore and automatically sending a list of things you need. Stuck out of town on a business trip? Tell your house to stay on vacation mode, turning lights on and off to make the place look lived-in, but not running up heating and cooling bills.

Device-to-device communication creates other possibilities. Simple motion sensors can detect people moving around the house, turning lights on and off, opening or closing blinds or drapes, or even adjusting temperature. This functionality is already so refined, many sensors are reasonably pet immune, so dogs and cats dont trigger automated functions. Got an important phone call and left the TV on? The house could turn the TV off (to save power) but leave the DVR running. Sensors in a bed (or an alarm clock) could notify other devices youre awake; in turn, they could open drapes, start the coffeemaker, and discretely turn on the TV in the breakfast nook for news, weather, and traffic. When the clothes dryer finishes, maybe an alert appears on your TV so you can grab items before they wrinkle. If its dark outside, a sensor in your front door lock could turn on inside lights before you step inside after all, cars have been doing stuff like that for decades.

If these smart home ideas seem familiar, its because many are on the market theyre just not commonplace. One well-known example is the Nest thermostat (now owned by Google). It adjusts heating and cooling based on usage patterns and even billing rates, and can be controlled from a mobile app. Nest has just branched out into smart smoke detectors, and has competition from the likes of Netatmo and many other smart-home solutions.

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You can’t avoid the ‘Internet of things’ hype, so you might as well understand it

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The Kitchen Cousins will speak three times on Saturday, Jan. 25 about their remodeling adventures at the he NARI Home Improvement Show, which continues through Sunday, Jan. 26 at the I-X Center.

The HGTV stars will take questions from audience members on the Main Stage at noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m.

NARI offers homeowners a chance to hear advice from experts like the Kitchen Cousins, and see exhibits such as the Ultimate Outdoor Escape exhibit.

The Ultimate Outdoor Escape exhibit, sponsored by Land Creations Landscaping Co. in Columbia Station, highlights the trend of bringing the indoors to the outdoors, said designer Teal Rickards. It shows homeowners whats possible when creating a spacious and comfortable outdoor living space.

The exhibit is divided into seating, culinary and relaxation zones, Rickards said. Granite countertops, a built-in refrigerator and grill would make it a snap to cook and serve a meal to guests in the nearby conversation grouping.

A pergola created a privacy screen around the hot tub, big-screen television and nearby rain showerhead and drain. You could rinse off before hopping in the hot tub, or on a hot day, you can cool off, Rickards said. On cool nights, a portable fire pit that looked like an old-fashioned wood stove could provide a bit of warmth.

This kind of private-yet-open pergola could be added off a master bedroom, he said.

There are lots of other exhibits to see at the NARI show. Dont miss the display of seven deluxe doghouses designed and built by students at the Lorain County Joint Vocational School. NARI contractors donated all the materials, said NARI spokesman Ed Flash Ferenc.

Theres a lighthouse doghouse, a Mail Pooch Barn, a salt-box doghouse, a pentagon-shaped one and one that resembles a school house. NARI attendees can bid on the doghouses via eBay, and money raised will benefit the Animal Protective League, Ferenc said.

Its an educational experience for students and it benefits the APL, he said.

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Kitchen Cousins and remodeling tips are part of Saturday's NARI Home Improvement Show at I-X Center

A new steel door may not sound like the sexiest addition to your house, but it's one of the financially savviest. According to Remodeling Magazines 2014 Cost V. Value report, homeowners who install a steel door can expect to recoup nearly 97 percent of the cost when the home sells.

Exterior work on a property, from new siding to replacing windows, dominate the list of projects that offer the biggest bang for your buck. They offer the largest return because a potential home sale can be made or broken on the exterior alone, real estate agents say.

Its all about first impression, no question about that, said John Kmiecik, regional vice president for the National Association of Realtors and a Chicago-area real estate agent. When Im sitting with my buyers in my car and we pull up to a home, if it doesn't look halfway decent, my buyers in many cases say, 'John let's take a pass on this, because I just don't like the outside.

Buyers typically assume that if the exterior of the house hasnt been maintained, then the interior hasnt either, Kmiecik said.

So does a steel door really make that big of an impression? Not necessarily, but it improves security and offers energy savings through better insulation. Thats the other reason exterior projects also push up the value of a home -- they tend to be practical. Unlike adding luxurious finishes to a kitchen that a new owner may not adore, new siding or new windows generally appeal to any buyer.

Although home exterior projects may deliver a greater return on investment than interior remodeling, all of the 35 home improvement projects listed in the survey returned value this year, thanks to rising home prices that exceeded increasing construction costs.

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Top 10 remodeling projects for adding value to your home

This kitchen is a relatively closed kitchen with a doorway on one end leading to a more formal dining room and a doorway on the other end leading to the family room.

Brent Murray, Renovation Design Group

When seeing a new house or newer apartment, it will most likely include an open concept kitchen in the design. Many people love the idea of an open kitchen that isn't separated from the rest of the living space and may be part of a great room. They are very desirable for families and people who love to entertain. Builders have caught on and are now including this type of kitchen in almost every new plan.

However, while the majority may prefer it, the open kitchen doesnt work for everyone. While there are many requests to open the kitchen to the surrounding rooms, there are some people who prefer a more private, closed kitchen.

There is no "architectural" right answer, the decision must be based on the homeowners personality and preferences. The introverted type of person, who values privacy, usually prefers a closed kitchen that is separated from the main living space, while the extrovert may feel isolated and suffocated in such a set-up and would prefer the open concept.

If a person is trying to decide which kitchen is right for he or she, here are some pros and cons to consider.

The case for the closed kitchen

The cook who prefers a closed kitchen usually is a more formal, traditional person. They prefer to eat in another room and keep the dishes and remains of meal preparation out of sight.

For centuries the kitchen was closed, and it was improper for anyone to be in the kitchen but the cook(s). The kitchen of yesteryear was secluded and private, and some cooks still prefer it that way. They prefer to focus on the task of cooking and dont want to be disturbed by people passing through their work triangle.

Closed kitchens tend to have better task lighting than open kitchens. Because there are multiple functions happening in an open kitchen, it tends to lose the focus on the proper lighting for the work that goes on there. (This is a common design flaw in new houses, but when you are remodeling you can make sure this doesnt happen.)

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Renovation Solutions: Closed kitchens versus open kitchens

CoStar

North American Lighting Inc. will occupy this now-vacant 75,000-square-foot office building in Farmington Hills.

A vacant 75,000-square-foot Farmington Hills office building will soon be fully occupied by the local office of Paris, Ill.-based automotive lighting supplier North American Lighting Inc.

The 11-year-old building located south of 12 Mile Road and east of Halstead Road has been empty since 2012, when its previous occupant, Henniges Automotive Holdings Inc., relocated to Auburn Hills. It will become North American Lightings Engineering Research and Development headquarters.

North American Lighting currently has 45,000 square feet of space at 38900 Hills Tech Drive, located north of I-696 and east of Haggerty Road.

The deal closed in mid-December and took about five months to negotiate, said Todd Howley, senior vice president of brokerage services for Farmington Hills-based Friedman Integrated Real Estate Solutions LLC, which represented the landlord.

Friedmans construction and design team will turn the space into a lighting test lab and research and development office, according to a press release. Friedman Vice President of Construction Jim Parrinello will oversee the project, which is expected to be complete by June.

In December, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced incentives for North American Lighting to expand to the new facility. The project is expected to generate up to $6.8 million in capital investment and create a total of 76 new jobs, according to the MEDC.

The Southfield office of Mohr Partners Inc. represented North American Lighting, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan-based Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Randall Tarnow, the Mohrs managing partner, said the North American will move all of its 220-230 local employees to the new location once construction is complete.

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North American Lighting to take over vacant Farmington Hills office building

VANCOUVER -- A building boom downtown is creating much-needed office space in Vancouver, city officials say.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson helped break ground Thursday on The Exchange, a $200-million, 31-storey Credit Suisse office tower in the financial district, one of seven buildings now under construction downtown.

Robertson heralded the projects as an end to the citys business vacancy woes, as Vancouver remains one of North Americas tightest markets for office space.

Vancouvers vacancy rate for Class A office space sits at 5.3 per cent. That compares with 8.7 per cent in Montreal and 9.7 per cent in Edmonton. But according to Cushman and Wakefield, Vancouvers vacancy rate is projected to jump to 7.7 per cent this year and to 10.5 per cent in 2015.

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When it comes to the strength of Vancouvers office market, weve come a long way in the last five years. Robertson said. A few years ago our economy was being held back by a lack of space, we had a critical shortage and its wonderful to see the market respond.

He said the city has approved as much office space in the last four years as in the previous decade. Up until recently, the city was projecting a critical shortage of office space by 2031 if land-use policies remained the same. Robertson said new zoning bylaws enacted in 2009 helped get the new towers off the ground. The seven towers under construction downtown will total 2.18-million square feet of new office space.

He said Credit Suisses decision to build from the ground up in Vancouver signals that international corporations realize the city is one of the strongest office markets in North America.

Link:
Vancouver skyline to gain seven new office towers (with video)