Here is what I am coming from, hope it covers most of the calculation: OP intends to purchase a less expensive new home by moving. Net gain is loosely defined as difference between price of the current home and price of the new home. net-gain = (price of current home - price of new home). If the current house value is $400K, mortgage balance and home equity loan are $100K, cash purchase price of a new place is $200K, OP would free up $100K home equity for investing. $100K = $400K-$100K-$200K. In addition, she does not need to pay mortgage at the new place. The amount OP owes in the current home is relevant, the less it is, the more cash would be available for investing. Using the same example, if OP has a great investment opportunity to turn $100K into $180K after cost in 6 months. This $80K gain and the savings from eliminating mortgage payments could offset the selling/moving costs. OP, the decision of getting a mortgage depends on how you would invest the home equity. We just locked in a 10-yrs no closing cost mortgage for 2.75%. Factoring in the income tax rate, the borrowing cost is indeed attractive.

$171K would reimburse their purchase price and pay the commission. BUT -- maybe they overpaid; maybe yours is a buyers market; maybe their company will pick up some part of their costs. (Never mind that they paid real estate taxes, etc.; they were LIVING there! It's like "rent".) Fair market price may be $175K, but maybe it will sell for less. If you are in a buyers market, and YOU have to sell in another year, what might YOU get for it? I'd offer $165K and start negotiating. You can always go up, but you can't easily go down. You will want a time constraint in the contract offer and a building inspection clause. The house will need to appraise for the price for mortgage approval. I'd bet they would be happy to get their original price back, and that their company will pay the RE commission. If they don't like your offer, they can counter. Don't tell anyone what your top offer would be but know it yourself. ($175K? Less?)

As long as I didn't have to clean up the mess of the shredded paper, I didn't mind wrapped. I kind of enjoyed wrapping gifts. But I do think it's a waste of money and other resources. Better to use the comics or something. You can get creative in wrapping. My sister was the first to start using bags and cheapo that I am, I'd save and reuse them. We'd give the same bag back and forth. Now I use the reusable shopping bags more and more for gift bags. It's an extra gift in itself. As far as what I'd prefer to receive? An envelope. Stuffed with cash. Large denominations. As I've said before, THERE'S a thoughtful gift! You may wrap it in money if you want. Or use cash for the tissue too if you like. Christmas is approaching. Feel free to send anytime. It's cheaper to ship too!

Gifts are good to give out to others due to they can be used for shopping at stores for only they can know and buy what they like. Grocery gift cards are a good one too, in fact if grandparents are doing the cooking all the time for these expensive meals, I see them here and that is a huge cost for them, help them by giving them gift cards for those and not break their budget or go without after its all over, food has become hugely expensive and hard to buy at times. Gas gift cards for those driving cars. Restaurants, book stores, there are such a variety of gift cards that can be bought and what they like and can choose what they like themselves. But think of ones you are giving gift cards and will they use them as all many not like them or not go out and about to use them. I caught this show where they were talking about gift cards and one loves them so much for everything from going to movies, to food, to gas, to shopping all those things to do. Another said she has a huge pile of them and hates them, feels they are a unthought gift. Another said she likes to actually open up a gift given. I tried that with my brother and sil years ago as I couldn't afford their expensive taste so thought I would give card where they shopped back then and they hated them said that is an unthought gift. There are many that are hard to buy for and you give up then as they aren't happy with anything. I would love to have something like grocery gift card, bookstore gift card, for me those are useful and great gifts to have but I have no one to give anything like that to me except if I do it to myself. LOL kathy