Alternate Title You get what you pay for.
Did You All Miss Me? I haven't been around every second of the day; like I usually am, for the past couple of weeks, because I've been Spring Cleaning, among other things. (Although I've checked in and still reading a lot of diaries).
I live in HUD housing and the only thing is, it's incredibly cheap but some property owners are real pains. They're independent companies/contractors who HUD pays the rent to.
They come in and write you up if they say your house isn't clean enough.
Well, I had cataract surgery last August and again in December so I wasn't doing much since I was afraid I'd get cleaning stuff in my eyes.
Also, I have severe allergies to many foods, chemicals and lots of other things, so finding cleaning products I can tolerate has been a challenge.
I've got a 2 step metal ladder with a handle along the top. I bought from one of my building maintenance/managers, back in NJ. Second hand for $10 and all it needed was new rubber feet, which I replaced.
⋆I've been flying all over my apartment⋆ singing, "the daring young man, on the flying trapeze".
Cleaning; doors, tops of doors, closets and metal closet doors, kitchen cabinets, counter tops, refrigerator, stove, windows, blinds, floors, anything washable and vacuuming. update I'm feeling it now. Over did it a bit.
I was planning to Spring Clean, but had no idea of the enormity of the job, because I had cataracts for 20 years.
Bldg manager said she was pleased. I guess she was, I've been cleaning 3 to 4 hours a day for the past month and 1/2! No exaggeration.
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Now; the property owners decided that my formerly smoking allowed all along apartment, has gone non-smoking. Says in the lease that they save money on fire insurance.
Also says in the lease that "tenants are encouraged to report other residents who are committing lease violations"?
Guess someone forgot to tell them, that the 4th Amendment Guarantees me, that my privacy rights are even stronger in my home, whether it's rented or owned.
I checked and there are no Federal laws against smoking in subsidized (HUD) housing. Although of course, they do encourage property owners to go smoke free.
Doesn't bother me. I'm smoking a pack of cigarettes less a day, (I was up to two packs, now I'm smoking under a pack), by going outside to smoke.
I'd be at the computer and forget they were burning away next to me in the ashtray. I was just lighting them, putting them down and forgetting them.
My computer is much happier that I stopped smoking around it too. It's working way better, since I stopped.
My College went smoke free years ago. This is nothing new to me.
I had a Philosophy Professor in College; who told us that, "God; turns evil into good", (not sure if that's always the case, but in my life it's been true). Like, when people try to do things to you, God often turns it into a Blessing. Saving $150 a month; that's, a Blessing to me.
I'm moving to "The Great State Of Maine" next year anyway, where they like smokers.
I now live, in a cul-de-sac, square of duplex town house, 750 sq ft apartments. Built aprox 1980 probably pre-fab structure.
It's fu**ing anarchy here, Inspections on a monthly basis by management, with the threat of immediate eviction at any time. As if!
Since the word has got out; that the no smoking edict is being heavily enforced, the non smoking residents are coming out of their apartments claiming they smell smoke in the open air, that it's coming into their apartments through the windows and building vents, etc.
Smokers are banned to the property line, to burn the adjoining woods down. Makes a whole lot of sense to me, not.
After five years of living here, all of a sudden, I'm supposed to immediately stop smoking inside or bldg manager says she's gonna, supposedly evict me.
(btw, she might be all of 35 years old, talking to a 64 year old), and I'm like just looking at her.
So she says, rules changed two years ago.
This is the first time anyone has told me about it. (She's the third manager we've had in the five yrs that I've lived here). Guess she's trying to do a good job, but she's never had many dealings with the public apparently. Or she wouldn't think she could play a 64 year old.
Anyway, she says, if she comes to my apartment again and smells smoke she's gonna evict me. I'm like yeah right, you rented this apartment to me under false pretenses.
I'm a senior citizen; disabled, (under a Doctor's care) and I rented this apartment with the understanding that I would be, allowed to smoke. I would have never moved in here otherwise. Judges will be sympathetic to me.
Besides there's something called a "Grandfather Clause" that she's obligated to use to exempt me from these new rules, since I moved in here before the smoking ban. She's certainly, trying to play me.
I consider this a violation of my rights. I would never let them evict me without a legal battle. Sorry. If they want to pay my moving expenses and the difference for what it will cost me in increased rent until I find a cheap apartment, works for me, but would it really be worth their trouble? You know, I know, I have a winnable case. I was on the waiting list for 4 years to get in to this apartment and I would not leave without a fight.
If you're a non smoker HUD Housing is good. I pay $92 a month for a one bedroom apartment plus there's a parking lot (I don't own a car. I came here from the city, didn't need to drive) and a laundry room.
Subsidized Housing HUD Department of Housing & Urban Development How To Get Into HUD Housing
HUD's Mission; is to increase home ownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, and credit issues. This page allows you to select a list of agencies for each state below. You may search more specifically for a reverse mortgage counselor or if you are facing foreclosure, search for a foreclosure avoidance counselor.
There Is A Waiting List For HUD Programs, But if you never put your name on the lists, your name can't move to the top of the them.
What are housing choice vouchers?
Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet
The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments.
Housing Choice Voucher Program Guidebook
From Just The Links Man ♥New And More Social Services Links For Civilians And Veterans♥
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Homemade Cleaners How to Make Your Own Cleaners Natural Cleaning Products
#1 Vinegar The Housekeepers Helper
Vinegar Cleans and Deodorizes Anything Washable! It takes soap film off bathroom tile better than all those fancy chemical cleaners.
I started cleaning my tub/shower surround with Brillo and saw all these streaks.
I was like ahhh, how am I going to get that off?
Then I remembered reading that white vinegar is good to use in the last rinse with laundry because it breaks up the detergent/soap and gets it out of the clothes.
I mixed some vinegar and oxi-clean and immediately put it all over. I didn't even let it sit for a while, helps, to allow it to work.
I was so excited I just went back over it with the Brillo and was astonished how it all just came right off.
I like apple cider vinegar to clean surfaces, floors with. But white vinegar is recommend for laundry, apparently other types of vinegar could leave stains. The only kind of vinegar I would never use is; plain distilled vinegar. It's made from alcohol and gave me a buzz when I accidentally bought a bottle. I just poured it down the drain and only use apple cider or white vinegar.
To get rid of tobacco smells put vinegar in bowls in the affected area. Caution with pets or children around. Vinegar absorbs odors of all kinds.
I got these small round storage containers at the dollar store. I'm going to poke several large holes in the lids, less chance of a spill that way.
#2 Baking Soda Another Housekeeping Ally
Baking soda is good for cleaning all surfaces.
To clean an oven sprinkle baking soda, spray with water and wipe a paste of it, all over. Sprinkle with water again after it starts to dry. Then let sit for about 3 hours, overnight is better.
Wet with water again and wipe out with paper towels, a non stick scrubber sponge and some Brillo for burnt on areas.
Sparkling, with no chemical oven cleaner. I found out how to do this because I have severe allergies.
Baking soda is great for cleaning everywhere. Mix it with dish detergent and you have a great, mild, cleaner. The non scratch scrubby sponge is your friend. Brillo is indispensible too.
#3 Oxi Clean It's a salt product, no chlorine. Works better than any cleaner I've ever tried. It just melts the grease off stoves, refrigerators, everywhere.
#4 Lemon Juice I buy bottled lemon juice, again in the dollar store. It cuts grease. I put some in with an oxi-clean, baking soda, dish liquid, vinegar, cleaning mixture to clean counters, stoves, ceramic fixtures, stove top, etc, anywhere I can rinse off. Smells great.
You can clean a lot of things besides dishes with dish soap. (I use; plain old, original, unscented, Palmolive Green).
I use Splenda or other natural sweetener instead of sugar.
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Natural Insect Repellent Plants And Pesticides