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W hy W ait U ntil V alentine ’ s D ay WHEN YOU CAN SHOW LOVE YEAR-ROUND
FEBRUARY 2023
out of their way to make a grand gesture on Valentine’s Day are not doing it for love or to see the joy on their significant other’s face. Instead, I think they do it for attention. It’s usually someone who wants people to look at them and say, “Wow, you’re amazing!” What’s more romantic to me is someone who is present every single day of the year. I know that’s probably not the cool thing to say, but I’d much rather have someone who looks forward to putting the kids to bed, doing the dishes, and picking up prescriptions from Publix. In 1992, Gary Chapman released the book “The 5 Love Languages,” which explained that each of us has one of the following five love languages: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, receiving gifts, and physical touch. Acts of service is the biggest one for me. Things like mowing the lawn or getting up in the middle of the night to care for the kids mean way more to me than hiring a plane to write “I love you” in the sky. I just don’t see the value in that.
If you walked into the grocery store or the pharmacy over the past few weeks, you were likely overwhelmed by the vast array of pink and red heart-shaped boxes and candies. Valentine’s Day takes place this month, and many use the holiday as an excuse to do something big for their significant other. Personally, I don’t think we need to wait until some special day to show our appreciation for the most important people in our lives. I’ve never truly cared for the idea of Valentine’s Day. While it’s an opportunity to do something grand, some have a difficult time during this holiday. It can make single people feel bad about their situation while also putting an extreme amount of pressure on couples who aren’t married to get engaged or classify their relationship. And some have recently gone through a challenging time, like the death of their spouse or a divorce. Valentine’s Day can bring up all sorts of complex emotions they have to sort through. For married couples, Valentine’s Day puts forth an expectation that something exceptional will happen that day — when in reality, it’s just another Tuesday. I don’t view Valentine’s Day as a real holiday, and I rarely put any stock into it. I have a theory that those who go
It’s the everyday things we do that keep our relationships moving forward. Communication and being positive toward each other are essential. Sure, a surprise trip to Hawaii is awesome for the moment and will help you get through the day, but it won’t help you get through the year. That’s not to say you shouldn’t ever do anything special for your significant other. Doing something extraordinary for a milestone birthday or anniversary can be a fantastic gesture, but some people perform these gestures to receive an extra boost of attention. It’s all about why the gesture is conducted in the first place. It should be solely out of love, with no other ulterior motives in mind. Appreciate the time you have with your significant other this Valentine’s Day. Remember that you don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to show your love or be romantic. Your actions will mean much more if you perform them daily rather than waiting for a special occasion.
- Esther Vayman
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I mprove Y our C redit S core by the E nd of the Y ear
KEEP OLD ACCOUNTS OPEN. If you’re trying to improve your credit rating, you’re likely making every effort to pay off your bills and balances. You may be tempted to close out each account as you pay it off, but doing so will not improve your credit score; it’s more likely to hurt it. Closing an account lowers your maximum credit limit, which can lower your score. If the account has a record of on-time payments and you paid it off, leave it open. ONLY APPLY FOR NEW ACCOUNTS WHEN NECESSARY. When you go shopping at your favorite store, they’ll likely ask if you want to open a store credit account to save additional money. Don’t do it. Each new account you apply for will show up on your credit report and lower your score by a few points. Try to get pre-approved if you’re trying to take out a large loan for a vehicle or home purchase. That way, if you are pre-approved, you don’t need to apply for the loan, which will save your credit score.
WITH THESE 3 TIPS
Maintaining a strong credit score is incredibly important, especially with rising inflation. A high credit score will help you qualify for lower interest rates and obtain loans for high-cost items, such as homes or cars. We’re not taught much about credit in school, so many people make the mistake of opening credit cards or taking out loans they can’t pay off. This causes their credit score to go down. It’s not easy to improve your credit score once it’s taken a big hit, but you can do a few things to help it improve gradually.
Here are a few tips to improve your credit score by the end of the year.
PAY YOUR BILLS ON TIME. Payment history is the most influential factor in your credit score. If you aren’t paying your bills on time, you won’t see any improvement in your credit score. Lenders don’t want to loan to someone who has a history of missing payments; it’s an unnecessary risk on their part. Make your payments on time, and if you can’t afford the total amount, pay the minimum amount due. Interest will accrue, but your credit score will be untarnished.
A SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR OUR CLIENTS
O ur C lient C oordinator , G race
company before she landed a job working on Department of Transportation compliance as it pertained to filmmaking. Grace helped manage the team from the legal side of things and ensured everything was done by the book. You may have even recently seen a movie she worked on! Grace decided she wanted to do something different and joined our team last April. She’s been nothing short of fantastic since she started working at Vayman and Teitelbaum. She enjoys being a source of calm for our clients when they’re going through a challenging situation. Grace can always provide our clients with a sense of relief, even if she only talks to them on the phone for 20 or 30 minutes. We love hearing our clients tell us how she completely turned their day around. Often, Grace will pair new clients with attorneys. She takes extra care to ensure everyone’s personalities align so we can provide the best outcome for our clients. Grace is transparent and upfront with them. She’s always available to talk things through or get you in touch with the right person. When Grace isn’t at work, she spends plenty of time walking through Piedmont Park or going to the movies. She’s been able to spend ample time with her parents recently, as they’ve been staying with her while her father works in the area. They’re usually playing board, card, or arcade games together. She’s recently become enthralled with pickleball and can be found at the Pickleball Center a few times per month.
You never truly know where your journey will take you when you start a new adventure. You might move somewhere new for work or school, and something might happen that completely alters your career path or plans. When our client coordinator, Grace, moved from South Carolina to the Atlanta area, she had no idea she would one day walk through our doors for work. When Grace first graduated from the University of South Carolina, she wanted nothing more than to break into the film industry. Initially, she worked as an account executive for a health care software
Grace has become an excellent addition to our team, and we are glad to see her making a difference in our clients’ lives.
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE
Ashlyn Layfield Assorted chocolates Esther Vayman Dark chocolate-covered strawberries Kendall Stockton Godiva chocolate with caramel Loni Mile Strawberry mochi Becky Davey Dark chocolate-covered strawberries Grace Bradford Butterfingers Maggie Szutz Chocolate mousse Emily Long Gummy bears and margaritas Stephanie Weil Margarita — it’s sweet and salty (like me)
Amanda Dickens Brach’s candy hearts Jenny Ohsberg See’s Candies Bordeaux
VALENTINE’S DAY CANDY OR SWEET TREAT?
Aimee Davids Dark chocolate- covered strawberries Julia Spitler Terrapin Liquid Bliss and sour gummy worms Morgan Pfohl SOUR PATCH KIDS Maggie Szutz Chocolate mousse Sara Luke Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries
C hocolate P ots de C reme
ingredients • 9 oz high-quality
BRAIN BREAK
• 6 large egg yolks • 5 tbsp granulated sugar (add an extra tbsp if using bitter chocolate) • 1/4 tsp salt • 1 tbsp powdered sugar
semisweet chocolate, chopped • 1 1/2 cups whole milk • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Impress your valentine with a chilly chocolate treat! This smooth custard is easy to make and the perfect dessert to end a romantic night at home.
directions 1. Place chopped chocolate into a blender. 2. In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, whisk the milk, 1 cup of cream, egg yolks, granulated sugar, and salt over medium heat. Cook, constantly stirring with a spatula until the mixture is almost boiling, 5–6 minutes. Immediately pour the milk mixture over the chocolate in the blender. 3. Cover and blend until smooth. 4. Divide the mixture among ramekins or small cups and refrigerate until set (about 2 hours). 5. Whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream and the powdered sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. 6. Top chilled pots de creme with whipped cream and serve.
AQUARIUS BICYCLE DREAM EQUALITY FESTIVAL GROUNDHOG
KING LINCOLN MUFFIN PANCAKE
RABBIT ROSES
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THE CHALLENGES OF VALENTINE’S DAY
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3 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE
GET TO KNOW GRACE, OUR CLIENT COORDINATOR
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VALENTINE’S DAY CANDY OR SWEET TREAT?
CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME
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UNDERSTANDING INTERNET CRIME LAWS
G uard Y our P rivacy and P eace of M ind STAY SAFE ONLINE!
We live in a digital world where everything can be found online. Whether it’s storing data or gaining access to information, we tend to use the internet constantly. With so many innovations and new technologies being created, it’s no surprise that cybercrimes are becoming more frequent than ever. WHAT ARE CYBERCRIMES? Cybercrimes are criminal activities that involve computers, networked devices, or networks. These are typically committed by cybercriminals or hackers looking for ways to steal information, damage computers or networks, or make a profit — whether personal or political. Some types of cybercrimes include: • Email and internet fraud • Identity fraud (where personal information is stolen and used) • Theft of financial or card payment data • Theft and sale of corporate data
• Infringing copyright • Selling illegal items online
hundred dollars or possibly up to $1,000. At the same time, felony convictions can have fines of up to $100,000. Jail or Prison If someone is convicted of a specific cybercrime, they can face jail or prison sentences. The most severe crimes can even result in a prison sentence of 20 years or more. Probation Depending on the case, a person can be on probation for a year or more and need to report to a probation officer, pay court costs and fines, or maintain employment. Though technology can make life a little easier, there are dangers we must avoid. So, create strong passwords, keep your systems updated, and be mindful of the information you’re giving out.
As more business transactions, such as paying bills, shopping, and trading, have moved online, cybercrimes have affected more people than ever before. Unfortunately, the ill effects often lead to extreme financial ruin for businesses and individuals. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE FOUND GUILTY OF CYBERCRIMES? Laws have been made to address criminal behavior that involves computers, computer systems, and the internet. In fact, each state has its requirements and potential penalties depending on the type of crime — and penalties may be severe, even for first-time offenders. The penalties could include the following: Fines These range widely, but a misdemeanor conviction can result in minor fees of a few
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