Troubleshoot Life Blog

How to Clean and polish plastic eye glass frames [Remove white oxidation]

info@guinardcp.com (Miguel Guinard) — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 20:56:05 GMT

On this guide, I will show you how to clean and polish your glasses to restore the shine and get rid of that nasty white cloudy oxidation.

White oxidation is to be expected

When you buy any pair of plastic glasses, you will face a cloudy future. You will literally get a white cloud-like film on your frames from wearing them.

It can happen as soon as in a few weeks, depending on how often you wear your eye or sunglasses.

We will be using a product designed for automotive applications, so please read all the labels and instructions regarding handling the product.

Products needed:

Rain X Headlight restorer kit (with Lubricant and Sealant)

Microfiber cloth (the kit comes with a small one)

Steps to restore your glasses

Step 1

Apply a small amount of "Rain X headlight restorer" to the microfiber cloth and start working one section of the eyeglass frame at a time. Please stay away from the lenses are you may scratch them.

You may need to go over the same area a few times to eliminate the oxidation entirely.

Step 2

Use the lubricant to clean the "restorer" residue to see if you eliminated the oxidation. If some oxidation remains, repeat step one until satisfied.

Step 3

Once the oxidation is gone, give the frames a coat of sealant to polish the dullness that the restorer left. Give it some elbow grease as this is the step that will restore the original shine of the frames if desired.

Advice about frames

When I was on the hunt for a good pair, I loved the classic design of the brand Persol. The eyeglasses are, to this day, hand made with excellent materials. Depending on where you purchase them, you can find frames starting at just over $100.

I was surprised that many opticians don't carry this brand. One honest employee told me they avoid the brand because of their longevity. Most frames at an optical store are flimsy or easy to break to keep clients coming back. My frames are 12 years strong.

With this guide and products, I hope to make them last another decade.

I f you prefer to watch me restore my frames, I crated a YouTube Video

Have you ever been told by an optical store that there's nothing they can do? How long do you typically keep your frames?

Miguel Guinard

Products in this blog post

the affiliate links below are from Amazon for your convenience. If this guide helps you solve a problem or make a decision, consider using the links to support this blog. There’s no cost added to you.

Rain X Cleaner

Microfiber Cloth

Persol Sunglasses

Video Tutorial

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Complete Homekit dimmer switches guide

info@guinardcp.com (Miguel Guinard) — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:55:22 GMT

In this article, I'm going to show you the complete Homekit dimmer switches guide, the necessary ecosystem, comparison of the top brands, why I chose Leviton, installation, pairing instructions, and solutions to common problems.

This guide reflects my research and experience with the technology without any sponsors. I'm linking to every product for your convenience with my amazon affiliate links. I update this guide regularly.

Outline

Must have ecosystem before you start
Top brands with quick reviews
Why I chose Leviton
Switches vs. dimmers
Installation instructions
Solutions common problems

Must have ecosystem before you start

Router

If you are thinking about controlling your devices with Apple HomeKit, the first thing you need to consider is your wifi system. If you don't have a strong signal throughout the home, you will face connection issues with ANY device. If you look at any bad review for any smart home device, the number one complaint is connection issues. You need a mesh system to limit the number of connection issues. I use a Netgear Orbi system , and it works flawlessly with a strong signal throughout my home. The RBK20w is the best value in the Orbi family, but there are many great choices ,

Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad

You certainly don't need an Apple TV or HomePod to start using your HomeKit devices, but you need at least one of them to control your devices remotely. I started with a couple of light switches and a smart thermostat , but soon after, I bought the Apple TV and activated it as a home hub through the settings. You can also use an iPad as a hub if you leave it at home all the time. Apple TV is the cheapest way to get remote access.

I chose the HomeKit environment for its ease and the increased security compared to the alternatives.

Neutral Wire

If you have a newer home, building code requires the use of neutral wires throughout your home. You will need a neutral wire for most switches and dimmers that work without a hub. If you don't have the neutral wire, your options are limited to the more expensive Lutron Caseta devices and smart bridge that don't require the neutral.

Top Brands with quick reviews

Lutron Caseta

Pros:

No neutral wire required for dimmers and switches (but it requires Smart Bridge )
Unique look
Works with most smart home environments
Fan control devices , but it needs neutral
Fits in current multi-gang setups and standard wallplates
Multiple cover colors
Lutron offers Serena smart Shades But VERY expensive
Can work with 3-way and 4-way configurations but it needs pico remote dimmer and switches and wall plate adapter

Cons:

Requires a Smart Bridge
If the bridge fails or breaks, all HomeKit functionality stops until you replace it.
If you have traditional switches, the custom look can look out of place
Only one year of warranty
Expensive to get started

Leviton Decora

Pros:

Hub-less installation, No smart bridge required but it needs a neutral wire
offers dimmers and switches
Traditional look
Works with current wallplates and multi-gang setups
Every switch comes with white and "ivory" colors in the box
offers different color cover for dimmers and switches
A smart matching remote for 3-way and 4-way installations for dimmer and for switch
Updated firmware in 2019 that solved 99% of disconnect issues
Automatic reconnect and refresh of a wifi connection to keep up with router lease routines.
5-year warranty
wifi connection

Cons

Ability to replace covers gives the feeling of flimsy
Gets a little warm to touch (normal)
If you bought these devices when they first launched, they had tons of disconnect issues but fixed with the latest firmware. Leviton app offers an update-all-devices option.
You must get Homekit only or Alexa and google separate devices instead of an all-inclusive device.

Legrand

Pros

Hub-less installation. Needs neutral wire
offers dimmers and switches
offers screw-less covers (white only)
can work with multi-gang setups and 3-way 4-way with matching remotes dimmer and switch
comes with all wires for installation
Limited lifetime warranty
Good value
Legrand offers a dimmable outlet!
Wifi connection

Cons

No color options
New product not yet tested by time
matching remotes more expensive than other brands
The switch has a 1-second delay when manually pressed. Instant with Homekit

Wemo

Pros:

Distinct look ( a pro and a con)
offers dimmers and switches
Can fit in multi-gang setups
Comes with custom single -gang wallplate ( but most people use existent for consistency
Works with all popular smart home environments
Switches recently updated to work with 3-way and 4-way setups. (NOT THE DIMMER)
warranty for three years
Wifi Connection

Cons :

No color options
Switch and dimmer led lights can be a pain when total darkness is wanted. There's no option to turn off led in the app.
Dimmer finger swipe to dim has problems recognizing gestures. (Not a problem is you use Siri and scenes
Customers claim connection issues, but like any other device, if you don't have a reliable wifi mesh system, YOU will have connection issues.
No dimmer with 3-way or 4-way
All plastic construction, so be careful when screwing on to the wall.

iDevices

Pros

Offers dimmers and switches
Customizable LED night light
Wifi Connection
Unique Bluetooth 3-way and 4-way remote set up for easy installation. (Must use all iDevices)
2-year warranty
compatible with popular smart home environments
The Homekit code is accessible via hidden pull out tab on top of the device!
iDevices offer smart in-wall outlets with power consumption reader

Cons

Very expensive
No color options other than white
3-way and -4way only with other iDevices

Other devices

The options above are top brands for Homekit dimmers and switches in 2020. Brands like Phillips hue , Eve , and others, have light switches and dimmers, but their dependence on Bluetooth, bridges, or out-of-wall applications makes them less desirable.

Why I chose Leviton Homekit switches and dimmers

When I started this smart home journey, there were only two key players, Lutron and Leviton. There were other brands, but they didn't work with Homekit.

What tipped the scale for me with Leviton was the freedom from hubs. With Leviton, I can buy one unit and connect it to my network, and it's ready to go. The switches and dimmers are also a better value, and you can buy different color covers and switch plates for them. The 5-year warranty was a plus vs. the one year with Lutron

The ride with Leviton hasn't been smooth, but with their latest firmware update, these devices work flawlessly.

Switches vs. Dimmers

Dimmers

Dimmers are great for dimmable lights, and you can customize the minimum, maximum, and default brightness levels in the Leviton app. You don't need the app to start, but it will give you the ability to update your firmware and select the bulb type.

Dimmers will make LED bulbs a bit noisier when not operating at full brightness. Bulbs will emanate a high-frequency noise, but the sound is only noticeable in extremely quiet environments. Some bulbs will be louder than others, so I recommend you experiment with different brands of bulbs.

Do not use dimmers with ceiling fans. It will make them unbearably louder, and damage to the fan may occur. You can find Homkit Fans from hunter , but they are costly. I use standard fans with the Leviton Switch since I don't mess with the fan speed. I typically keep my ceiling fans at low or medium speed to maximize quietness and comfort.

Switches

Switches will work with any lighting situation and fans so long as you don't need fan speed control. LED will operate at 100% brightness, and you will hear a noticeable click sound when switching on or off.

Installation instructions

To begin the installation, you will need the following tools. If you prefer to watch me do this rather than read, I’m working on the video now.

Voltage tester
Screwdriver with Phillips and flathead
Small piece of wire (to tie into the switch-Neutral)

Turn off power to the room where you want to install the switch.
Remove the faceplate using the flat head screwdriver.
With the Phillips head screwdriver, slowly remove the light switch to reveal the wires.
Turn the power back on to identify the hot wire. (The one with power) The voltage tested is indispensable. Sometimes there will be different color wires, but as you can see in my home, the wires are black.
Use a piece of tape to identify and turn the power back off to disassemble the switch and free the wires.
The new smart switch will have an additional screw for three and 4-way switch applications. It will let you know on the cover of the screw.
Attach the wires to the new dimmer and carefully manage the cables back in the wall until flush.
Flip the circuit breaker on, and if all installed property, the devices will start to blink fast indication pairing mode.
The typical instruction will tell you to go to the home kit app and scan the code, but I have a better way via iPhone wifi settings.
Go to iPhone settings -> Wifi, and look for the Leviton switch at the bottom of the screen just below the wifi networks.
When you click on it, it will go through the steps to connect it to your wifi network. If this step fails, hold the up button in the switch until the LED light turns red to reset it fully. Exit wifi and go back in to restart the process.
Once the iPhone wifi settings complete the process, you can go to the Home app and scan the code. This unofficial pairing process will speed through the setup process without any problems.

Solutions common problems

Technology’s mission is to make our life easier, but it often adds stress and frustration when it doesn’t work as expected.

Here are the solutions to the top problems with Leviton switches. These troubleshooting tips may work with other switches.

Device not responding in the Home app
Device stuck on or off and can't operate manually at the wall
The device turns back on after giving the command to turn off.
Leviton Switch is connected and shows responding to commands, but it doesn't actually turn on or off the light or fan
Dimmer is making LED bulbs noisy

Device not responding in the Home app

To fix this problem, I'm assuming you have a reliable wifi mesh system installed in your home. Having strong coverage throughout your home will prevent most disconnect problems.

Easy fix

Make sure you have the latest firmware on the switch by going to the Leviton app.
Go the physical device and see if its indicator light is flashing, indicating a problem. Push the up button for ONLY 3 seconds to trigger the disconnect and reconnect routine in the switch or dimmer. Let the dimmer scan and go back to green. Most of the time, this will fix the issue (must have the latest firmware)

Medium fix

If the previous step didn't work, the next easiest step is to cut the power to the device and let it reboot. You will see the lights blink and go through the connection routine.

Super Fix (soft-pair)

If cutting the power didn't work, the next step is to soft-pair the device.
To soft-pair, go to the device with iPhone on hand and hold the switch or dimmers up button until the amber light comes on. (About 6 seconds) DO NOT HOLD ANY LONGER OR YOU WILL TRIGGER THE FACTORY RESET
The light will start to blink fast, indicating pairing mode.
Go to the settings app on your phone and enter wifi settings
you will see the "Decora smart device" pop up below the wifi networks. Click to continue
After successfully connecting, go to the Home app, and you will see your device coming back to life!
You may need to try a few times. I've had to start soft-pair multiple times with a couple of devices while others pair immediately. If you are experiencing consistent failure to connect, reboot your phone and hold the up button on the device for 6 seconds to restart the soft-pairing routine.

Super Pain Fix (Hard-reset)

If the above steps didn't work, the last resort is to do a hard reset of the device. You will need to delete the device from your home app, and any scenes or automations will reset.
To hard-reset, you must hold the up button on the device until the red light starts to blink.
Once reset, Do the soft-reset routine and then add the device in Homekit by scanning or typing the code.
Since updating to the latest firmware, the need to hard reset stoped. If you find yourself having to do this, I will check to make sure I have a strong signal going to the device. Sometimes all-metal-gang applications in the wall prevent the wifi signal from reaching the device.

Device stuck on or off and can't operate manually at the wall

the device getting stuck usually happens after a power failure or brownout.

The only fix is to cut power to the device at the breaker.
If the device has the latest firmware, let it reconnect automatically
If it doesn't connect after about a couple of minutes, you can soft-pair.

The device turns back on after giving the command to turn off.

This "weird phenomenon" only occurs to switches. After it happens, the device will start to reset its connection automatically. It doesn't happen often, but I've had these devices for over three years, so I've seen it all.

Leviton Switch is connected and shows responding to commands, but it doesn't actually turn on or off the light or fan

if you are experiencing this, you will need to contact support at dssupport@leviton.com with a copy or link to your proof of purchase. I've experienced this, and the only fix was to get the device replaced under warranty. The customer support experience was tremendous, and they sent the replacement device right away.

I f you are experiencing any other issue, let me know in the comments.

What should be my next complete guide with Homekit?

Miguel Guinard

Products in this blog post

Wifi Mesh system Options

Ecobee 3 Lite Smart Thermostat

Leviton HomeKit Dimmer

Lutron Homekit dimmers

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How I lost 40 pounds without exercise

info@guinardcp.com (Miguel Guinard) — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:48:12 GMT

Outline

My short weight story (I've gained and lost the weight once before)
My second weight-loss strategy
Why I purposely avoided workout routines
What I ate on most weekdays
Benefits
Side-effects
Resources that helped me get started

My short weight story (I've gained and lost the weight once before)

When I was in my teens and early twenties, I could eat anything I wanted and not gain any weight. Once I turned 25, I started to gain some weight, but nothing alarming as I was always skinny. I lived a healthy, active life with a sales job that had me consistently on my feet. My height is 6'1, and during my mid-20s, my weight was always between 190-200 pounds.

When I turned 26, I started to see more weight gain with no significant change to my routine or diet. Over the next couple of years, my weight would go up to 240 pounds. Yikes! Reaching this weight has been my "you better do something wake-up-call" twice.

The first time I reached this 240 pounds, I joined a pretty special boot camp twice a week. We called it "Devo Boot Camp." What made this boot camp unique was the short Bible devotional before the workout routine.

During my time at the boot camp, I lost 40 pounds in about five months. I was fit and feeling great! My diet was well balanced, but it didn't change much compared to what I was eating before the boot camp experience. As soon as the boot camp season was over, I started to gain weight again.

I was dating my now wife, and by the time our wedding day came, I was 212. A couple of years later, and with my wife pregnant, I gained weight as she did. From what I hear, this happens to a lot of newly married men. Fast forward to 2019, and I'm 240 pounds again. My second, "you better do something wake-up-call," was here.

My second weight-loss strategy

This second time, I was eating "normally" staying within 2000- 2500 calories. The thought of submitting to strenuous workout routines forced me to look at alternative options to weight loss. I did not want to rely on exercise or starving myself.

My research took me to the commonly know "Keto Diet." There are plenty of resources on the subject, and I will list a few at the end of this article.

What attracted me the most to this diet was its simplicity and that I didn't have to starve myself. The basic concept of the Keto diet is to reduce carbohydrate intake to 20 grams per day, high fat, and moderate protein. When I tracked how many carbs I was eating, I was shocked! I was consuming anywhere between 250 and 350 grams every day. Yikes! Potatoes, sugar, rice, bread, orange juice, were all part of my daily diet. On my quest to start this keto diet, I also wanted to avoid the sales tactics from the "diet industry."

The sales process is a normal and necessary part of life. As I mentioned at the beginning, I worked in sales for over a decade. One of the most valuable lessons I've learned while working in sales is that truthfulness and transparency and genuinely helping your clients solve their needs get you the best results and referrals. My experience in this field trained me to look the same in everything I buy. One of the greatest things I learned is that weight gain has nothing to do with calories but with hormones. The more you eat high carb foods, the more insulin you need, the more fat your store.

What I ate on most weekdays

Daily diet breakdown

Monday - Friday

Breakfast:

Twelve ounces of water as soon as I woke up, followed by a cup of freshly grounded and brewed Colombian coffee with a big spoon-full of organic coconut oil, with frothed whole milk, with a handful of macadamia nuts, brazil nuts, or almonds, and two small pieces of dark chocolate.

Lunch:

By the time lunchtime arrived, the urge to eat something had gone away after the initial week. On some days, I would grab a quick fat bomb, one whole avocado, or another handful of macadamia nuts. On other days, I would keep on going without any cravings until dinner time. There was the occasional lunch meeting at a restaurant. If this were the case, I would order something keto-friendly. But this was the exception, not the rule.

Dinner:

Dinner time involved more creativity. Our family dinners varied between fish, steak, chicken, bacon, and a side of low carb veggies. The veggies included broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, lettuce, tomato, and bell peppers. Since I was the only one loving this new diet, we made rice or potatoes for the rest of the family.

On weekends, I will still have my morning "special coffee," accompanied by eggs and bacon. We would either cook lunch or go out following the same dinner guidelines.

Personal Benefits

My 40-pound journey took five months. Here are the benefits:

Stable all-day energy without the 2 pm crash.
Eliminated snoring ( benefited my wife lol)
reduced knee pain after standing for a long time
I no longer have sugary food cravings

Side-effects

Going Keto requires drastic changes to your diet if you are used to the carbs. The "Keto flu" that everyone experiences the first week can discourage many people. When you cut sugar and carb-heavy foods, your body goes on a strike because we've made our bodies addicted to sugar.

In my case, the "withdrawal symptoms" such as brain fog and tiredness, only lasted three days. After the three days, my cravings significantly reduced, and I was on my way to the Keto lifestyle. I do suggest that you start this journey close to a weekend or during time off.

Resources

I read a few different blogs and sites with a focus on Ketogenic diets. The best information and unbiased research I found were from the YouTube channel, "What I've Learned." His research includes sources from the medical field and analysis of the misleading studies that were shoved down our throats by the big corporations.

I will also include a couple of sites with great articles and calculators. Just remember that these sites will try and sell you guides and monthly fees. If you find their info valuable, please support them.

What I've Learned

You tube channel with great resources including analysis of medical studies.

Ruled me Blog

Excellent calculator if you want to be specific about macros.

Diet doctor

an all-around-site with resources on illnesses that can be cured or improved on low carb / Ketogenic diets.

I'm on month ten since I started this diet, and I've managed to stay at 200 pounds through the pandemic in 2020. I want to reach a goal of 190 pounds before my first anniversary of the Keto diet. One of the main reasons I maintained the 200 weight (on average) was by eating more carbs during the food shortages at our grocery stores.

I will write a follow-up article once I reach the 190-pound goal.

Have you tried a low carb or keto diet? If not, what is holding you back? Let me know in the comments

Miguel Guinard

Products in this blog post

Miguel uses products commonly found at Costco. Look under their Kirkland brand for the option below. If you don’t have a Costco nearby, the affiliate links below are from Amazon for your convenience.

Organic Coconut Oil

Macadamia Nuts

Organic Colombian Coffee

Monk fruit Sweetener

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The best tool for focus and productivity

info@guinardcp.com (Miguel Guinard) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 19:57:56 GMT

In this article , I make the case that the AirPods Pro are the best tool for focus and productivity.

The AirPods Pro are expensive. For $250, you can find many other headphones that will give you a wonderful media consumption experience. But have you thought about using this tool to help you focus and maximize productivity?

Here are a few quick tips to help you see these headphones as a need rather than a want.

Noise Canceling
Total silence
The right kinds of music
The importance of focus time

Noise Canceling

In today's world, it is challenging to get away from all the noise. With noise comes distractions that aid in braking your concentration. Lawnmowers, AC units, distant conversations, etc. are no longer an issue. Just turn on the noise cancellation feature of the AirPods, and all your audible distractions disappear.

Total Silence

You heard that right. If you are in a normally quiet space, just turning on the noise cancellation will free your mind to help you develop your ideas. If the concept of total silence is foreign to you, I challenge you to try it. Everything you write, every thought you want to develop, will flow faster if you get accustomed to the idea of silence.

The right kind of music

I find it that I'm more productive in total silence, but there are times where the right kind of music will help me develop an idea. The only way to go is instrumental, of course. You don't want to add lyrics into the mix to break your concentration. I often like to listen to Meditation radio or a focus playlist from Apple Music. If you use other services, make sure you get the ad-free version to avoid more distractions.

The Importance of focus time

The AirPods Pro will only help if you use them in conjunction with scheduled focus blocks of time. If you plan for one or two hours of focus time every day without looking at your email or social media. You will get so much stuff done that you will gain additional time in your day to develop other ideas or skills.

Let me leave you with a question and feel free to answer it in the comments.

What are other tools that help you stay in focus and be more productive?

Miguel Guinard

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Products in this blog post

AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro Leather Case

How to lease a car the right way in 2020

info@guinardcp.com (Miguel Guinard) — Wed, 13 May 2020 19:09:38 GMT

In this article, I'm going to show you how to lease a car the right way and set you up to not only feel good about the process but save money in the long run.

Here is a list of what I'll cover on this article:

Acknowledgment of Financial Independence Advice
Safety Features to consider
Guidelines to see if leasing is beneficial to you
Explanation of the math
Suggestions for 2020

Acknowledgment of Financial Independence Advice

If you listen to anybody in the financial independence community or consumer advise experts, you will hear that leasing is terrible and that you should buy a cheaper used vehicle to save money and invest the rest. This advice is great if you only look at dollars and cents, but life is more than dollars and cents.

I'm not writing this article to change your mind about your purchase habits but to make the case that if you lease, you can do so smartly, have peace of mind, reliability, and even save money.

Safety Features to consider

Most new cars have pre-collision systems that keep you in your lane and stop the vehicle in case of an emergency. This feature alone can not only save your life, but it will offer significant savings on insurance premiums.

With the proliferation of mobile devices, distracted driving accounts for a significant percentage of accidents on the road today. Cars today also have features such as android auto and apple car play that mute notification and help you stay focused on the road. Yes, you can add an aftermarket system for android auto and car play but not for the safety systems.

Guidelines to see if leasing is beneficial to you

You must have an excellent credit score. It's the only way to get the manufacturer incentives and the lowest possible lease factor. Have you set up your credit karma to see where you are?
You must take care of your leased car as if you paid cash for it. Not doing so can cost you at the end of the lease if you don't plan to keep the vehicle. Please read your contract!
If you lease a vehicle with the mindset of buying it at the end, you can save the difference when compared to purchasing the car to fund a Roth IRA or emergency savings. You may even negotiate the residual value at the end of the lease for an even better deal.
Leasing requires higher insurance coverage, usually 100/300, which may mean higher premium but, most leases come built-in with gap insurance, so in the event of a total loss, you're not on the hook for the difference.
You must get the lease factor and residual percentage, not just the payment. These two pieces of information will help you determine if the car your leasing is going to be a good deal to buy at the end of the lease if you want. If a dealer is not willing to disclose those numbers, I would walk away.
The sweet term to lease a car is 36 months for the best rate and residual. There are sometimes deals for 24 months, 30 and 39, but be careful with 39 since there are vehicles that only have bumper to bumper warranty for 36 months.
You must not drive more than 15k miles per year, ideally 12k, so that you can be under warranty with most car manufacturers.
If you like a newly released car, you must be patient and wait until the hype is over. These cars never have incentives or discounts.
You must never put money down on a lease. It only lowers the payment, and the money your put down gets taxed. And if the car is involved in an accident totaling the car, you will likely lose the down payment. The insurance company will only want to pay fair market value, while the gap insurance in the lease will take care of the rest.
If you have a trade, don't mention it to the sales team. Get your car appraised at CarMax or come well educated about the value of your vehicle. Trading a car will avoid the down payment taxes, but I recommend that you cash out most of the value of your vehicle based on my previous point.

Explanation of the math

The lease factor looks like this .000395 or .000095. The way to convert that factor to a rate you can understand is to multiply it by 2400. Or if you multiply .000395 x 2400, you get 0.948%. If you multiply .000095 x 2400, you get 0.228.

The residual value or percentage is the amount the car is estimated to be worth at the end of the lease. A residual of 50 means that a car with an MSRP of $30000, will have a residual of $15000. This residual amount will be in your contract, and its the price that you can purchase the car at the end of the lease plus tax, tag, and title fees. The residual value is always based on the MSRP, not the selling price. A lower sale price will mean a lower payment.

The payment is, of course, essential, but you must also look at the lease factor and residual if you plan on buying the car at the end of the lease.

If you see a deal with a high residual, in the 60s, the brand's bank will likely want those vehicles back at the end of the lease because they predict the car will sell well in the used car market. It is also meant to discourage you from purchasing the vehicle at the end of the lease.

But don't be dismayed. If the car value is lower than the residual value, you can use this to your advantage and try to negotiate. It is cheaper for the banks to sell you the car at a fair price than having to deal with picking up the car, taking to an auction, paying fees, etc.

There are some anomaly scenarios where a car may be worth more than the residual. If this is the case, then you will be protected by the lease contract to buy the vehicle at the residual value.

My favorite combination is a low rate and lower residual in the 50s.

For my last car, I got a 0.2 interest and a residual of 55%.

Since my car is a sedan, and right now, sedans are in low demand, you bet I will negotiate the residual value for a better deal.

Suggestions for 2020

Right now, in 2020, the deals are even better, because of Covid-19. If you are in the position to buy or lease a new car, you will find no better time to buy than this. I suggest that you inquire about quotes at multiple locations to get the best deal. Make sure that when you get a quote, It should show the out-the-door price, including estimated tag and title fees.

If you are at the tail end of your lease, once you negotiated a lower residual value to purchase your car, you will be able to find excellent rates to finance your vehicle.

If you leased for three years and want to buy at the end of the lease, you should try to finance for three years. Financing for longer than that will mean higher finance rates destroying the savings you acquired throughout the lease-term.

I worked for over a decade in the auto industry. If I can be of any assistance, feel free to leave me a comment.

Many factors can affect your decision to lease or buy a new car, or to buy an older but reliable vehicle. If you decide to lease, I wish you the best and enjoy your new vehicle!

What car do you want to buy or lease next?

Let me know in the comments.

Miguel Guinard

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How to get better audio and more value than the iPad Pro

info@guinardcp.com (Miguel Guinard) — Thu, 07 May 2020 21:11:15 GMT

The internet is full of reviews praising the iPad Pro for its many features and specs. Don't get me wrong. It is a beautiful device. But I want to show you today that for the same price of a base iPad Pro for $800, you can buy the entire iPad experience, including the best audio for media consumption.

I recommend the iPad 7 with 128gb of storage that is often on sale for $329 on various stores, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Costco. When you use the Ipad in landscape more, it only has speakers on one side, and they don't sound as good as the iPad Pro.

But guess what sounds better than the iPad Pro? The AirPods Pro!

Every other time I'm working or consuming media on the iPad, I'm using my AirPods.

Combining the price of the iPad 7 at $329 and AirPods Pro at $234.95 gives you a total of $563.95 to create a great value. If you want to spend the additional money you save by purchasing this package rather than a new Ipad Pro 11, you can add the new Logitech slim folio with a trackpad for $149.95 and Apple Pencil for $99. You will have the best value in the Apple ecosystem for $812.90. Wow! That is something to think about before you make your purchase.

You can save additional money by getting 1st or 2nd generation AirPods, but I believe the AirPods Pro are an asset that will make you more productive and help you stay focused.

Do you think this is a great deal? Or are you a hardcore anything pro from Apple? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Miguel Guinard

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How to master any skill

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 21:12:00 GMT

I created a video that showcases some of my guitar playing. you can watch it at the end of the blog.

When I was 12 or 13 years old, I was mesmerized by the performance of a couple of guitar players, Al Di Meola and Paco de Lucia. The song Mediterranean Sundance both left me in awe and scared me with the belief that I could never play like that. Regardless of my fear, I began to familiarize myself with the basic notes and pain while my fingertips developed the necessary calluses.

Once I learned the basics of guitar playing, it was easier to learn more complex styles of music.

Through the years, I was on and off playing my guitar. But like riding a bicycle, once you learn a skill, it never leaves you.

Let me move on now from the music realm into a more general sense.

What motivates us not just to learn something new but to learn a new skill?

I want to make the case that for something become a skill that never leaves you; you must make it a part of your identity.

When I began my guitar learning adventure, I wanted to be a musician. Being a musician is part of my identity now. The more you identify with the skills you want to learn, the faster you can develop your desired ability.

In other words, If you make your desired skill a habit, it will be easier for you to make the skill part of your identity.

If you want to develop the skill to write, you must research the habits of successful writers. If you arrange your days around the practices of a writer, You will become a writer. Once you identify as a writer, you will become an endless source of wisdom and knowledge.

In Conclusion

The beginning of any skill comes out of your desire to identify as the skill bearer.

Here is my list of some of my identities: I'm an exemplary Husband, father, musician, writer, branding expert, graphic artist, and filmmaker.

I recommend that you read Atomic Habits by James Clear . This book will go into much detail on how to develop habits that will help you be triumphant in your life.

The best time to take stock of your abilities is now. I want to challenge you to look at the skills you always wanted to develop and start now. How have you mastered, improved, and preserved your skills and talents?

Miguel Guinard

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The best skill to learn while you're stuck at home

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 20:44:00 GMT

Today is April 16, 2020. The Covid-19 situation changed our way of life, and you are either scared or proactively adapting to the new normal. At some point, the pause on the economy will resume, and we will move on to find a new normal.

Whether we like it or not, we are learning something new and created new habits. It is up to us to make sure that what we learn will be beneficial for the rest of our life.

I want to share some things I've learned that have benefited me, and I hope that if you haven't done so already, that you take inventory of what you've learned.

1-Writing is one of the most creative things you can do.

If you think about it, everything you've been binge-watching for the past month, started with an idea. This idea gave way for writers to create a story. This story became a script that actors memorized.

What about your favorite products and gadgets? They also have a back story that leads to wants and needs.

Look around you. all those products you see were sold to you using a story.

Your story can inspire many, but to do so, you need to develop and write it.

2-Ideas are great, but writing to develop them is magnificent.

When you write a story about your idea, you give it wings to fly. It's effortless to test your ideas in today's world with the help of the internet. With just a few clicks, you can start a website and share your thoughts with the world.

Your end goal should be a storyteller of your talents and experience.

3-Writing, like any other skill, can be learned.

Like the famous Nike slogan, "Just do it," practice makes perfect. The more you do something, the more you can master it.

Guess what? You have more time now during this Covid-19 situation to make practice a habit.

4-There are tools to help you overcome the fear of writing and help you with your grammar.

Like learning how to ride a bicycle, there's some pain involved in the process. The beauty of the internet is that people are always eager to point out mistakes. Take the criticism and fix it! You will reach more people by being genuine and showing that you are learning and growing.

I use a tool called Grammarly . It will not write for you, But it will allow you to focus on the development of your idea and leave the grammar worries behind. There's a free version, but you need to try the pro version. The pro version is like having a professional editor. No, it's not perfect. You still need to proofread once finished, but it will help and teach you grammar.

There are many tools out there. You have to find and use the ones you like the most. Just get in the habit of writing.

5-You are already a writer without realizing it.

Every time you are quietly pondering or having a conversation with someone, you are writing. You're just not leaving a "paper trail."

Get used to putting your thoughts on paper, and you will have an arsenal of ideas to develop in the future.

What if you could "write in your mind?" In other words, slow down and test your concepts before you speak them. Imagine how much your better your relationships will be by avoiding unnecessary conflicts.

How many times have we said the wrong thing by not "writing your thoughts in your mind" and hurt someone in the process?

Wait a second!

I just realized that I need to develop this idea "The art of slowing down."

Miguel Guinard

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How to start a new chapter in life

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 03:30:00 GMT

In this article you will find four reasons on how to start a new chapter in your life. If you heed this advice, your network will continue to grow as you move on.

Outline:

The way you close a chapter will affect the beginning of the new one
Don't let anger get the best of you
Give assistance and support during the transition
Be thankful for the experience

The way you close a chapter will affect the beginning of the new one.

Life offers many opportunities to turn the page and start fresh. Some times these opportunities are planned while others come as a surprise. Being able to distinguish between the two has puzzled many through the ages. Surprises can be good or bad, just like plans. One thing is for sure: You will always learn something new.

In my life, I've seen my fair share of opportunities. Many of them required a leap of faith without knowing where the next step is going to land. Here are some of my leaps of faith:

Moving to a different country with a different language.
Taking a sales job when I am naturally introverted.
Leaving the comfort of a steady paycheck to start a new business.

Every time I embark on a new adventure, I can't help but reflect on the past to see the trajectory of my life. As I look back to the many forks on the road, I noticed that I closed some chapters properly and some not. One of the biggest lessons I've learned rides on the following statement: The way you close a chapter in your life will affect the beginning of the new one.

Circumstances will always affect the way a season in life will end, but if you think beyond what's on the surface, you will have a chance to leave the door open when you move on. Your life is more significant than any particular situation, and your reputation is always on the line. If you are not careful about how you react, every connection related to the circumstance will be affected as well.

"To err is human, to forgive, divine." Alexander Pope

We must remember that no one is perfect. But imperfection doesn't give us a license not to care.

In matters of the heart, leaving a door open is difficult because it usually means a heartbreak. But in business and social dynamics, the following three principles on how to leave properly applies:

Don't let anger get the best of you.

Whatever the reason, fair or unfair, you invested time and effort in building relationships. Don't let anger get the best of you. Friendship with colleagues will often lead to other opportunities. Jobs come and go, but the ever reaching webs of your network don't have to stop growing. The way you exit is a reflection of what's going on in your heart. "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34b

Give assistance and support during the transition.

If you see a door opening with another employer that will significantly benefit you, or the entrepreneurial spirit takes over you, giving the necessary transition time and assistance to your current employer will ensure that the chapter closes smoothly. The people around you will be witnesses of your professionalism and concern beyond yourself.

Do you remember the golden rule? "Treat others the way you want to be treated."

Be thankful for the experience.

When you leave your current situation, even if the new adventure takes you in a completely different path, the experience has shaped the way you are. Every experience teaches you a new skill, and this collection of skills will give you more confidence in the future.

"Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart." Zig Ziglar

When you finally move on, be encouraged and confident of what lies ahead, thankful for all the previous experiences, and willing to help others in the same path.

Do you have any other suggestions on how to start a new chapter in life? let me know in the comments.

Miguel Guinard

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Latest Posts

The best skill to learn while you're stuck at home

1-Writing is one of the most creative things you can do.

2-Ideas are great, but writing to develop them is magnificent.

3-Writing, like any other skill, can be learned.

4-There are tools to help you overcome the fear of writing and help you with your grammar.

5-You are already a writer without realizing it.

Watch our latest video

Latest Posts

How to start a new chapter in life

The way you close a chapter will affect the beginning of the new one.

Don't let anger get the best of you.

Give assistance and support during the transition.

Be thankful for the experience.

Watch our latest Video

Latest Posts