Fumble rule of thumb

Fumble rule of thumb. During a football game, a fumble may result in a pile of players fighting for possession of the ball. When this occurs, the rule of thumb for officials is survival of the fittest: whoever has last possession after the pile of players has been untangled gets the ball.
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One-inch rule of thumb

One-inch rule of thumb. You are better off dressing more conservative at work when given the choice. For ladies, the one-inch rules of thumb says skirts should not rise higher than an inch above the knee and heels should not be higher than an inch above the ground.
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Healthy company rule of thumb

Healthy company rule of thumb. A healthy company is certainly one that makes a profit. Restated another way, a general business rule of thumb says a company is healthy when it produces over $150,000 in revenue per employee.
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Resume rule of thumb

Resume rule of thumb. Your professional resume is the very first impression a potential employer sees when you apply for a position. A fundamental resume rule of thumb says everything on a resume should be organized, relevant and, above all, true.
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Welch’s business rule of thumb

Welch’s business rule of thumb. Jack Welch is the former chairman and CEO of General Electric. One of his many business rules of thumb says a company should sell or close a business or business unit that does not have a chance of being number one or two in its industry.
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Spelling rule of thumb

Spelling rule of thumb. There are many spelling rules of thumb to help make spelling a less difficult task. The most common spelling rule of thumb says "i before e except after c, or when pronounced as a."
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Service price rule of thumb

Service price rule of thumb. A service business sells products to customers by serving or applying them. Examples include lawn cutting, hair styling and house cleaning. A business rule of thumb says a service business should charge their customers 2 to 2.5 times their cost in wages.
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Engagement ring cost rule of thumb

Engagement ring cost rule of thumb. A woman usually wears an engagement ring on her left hand, which indicates her upcoming marriage to the ring giver. A rule of thumb for how much to spend on an engagement ring suggests two month's salary.
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1/2, 1/3, 1/6 rule of thumb

1/2, 1/3, 1/6 rule of thumb. There are several methods for writing an essay or article. A good rule of thumb says spend half your time researching and interviewing, one-third proofreading and editing, and one-sixth actually writing.
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Design cost rule of thumb

Design cost rule of thumb. Product defect issues discovered beyond the design process usually cost more to correct. A good business rule of thumb says a problem costing $100 to resolve in the field would cost only $10 to correct if discovered during design.
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Incumbent rule of thumb

Incumbent rule of thumb. A political rule of thumb says it is easier to win an open seat than to defeat an incumbent. Depending on their political office, incumbents have many advantages over their challengers: name recognition, patronage jobs and increased fundraising activity.
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Healthy water rule of thumb

Healthy water rule of thumb. Water is an essential ingredient in our bodies. A healthy living rule of thumb recommends the number of ounces of water per day as your body weight divided by two. For example, at 180 lbs you should drink about 90 ounces of water per day.
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Customer rule of thumb

Customer rule of thumb. It is easier to sell to an existing customer than to a new customer. A good business rule of thumb says customers will leave you for the same reason that they came to you.
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Repair rule of thumb

Repair rule of thumb. A classic situational rule of thumb says "if it aint broke, don’t fix it." This essentially means, unless there is a good reason to do something, do not do it.
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Closing cost rule of thumb

Closing cost rule of thumb. A home sale’s closing costs include attorney’s fees, title search, recording fees, and surveys. A real estate rule of thumb says a home sale's closing cost should equal about 5% of the sales price. For example, if a home’s purchase price is $200,000, closing costs will be about $10,000.
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The rule of thumb for rules of thumb

The rule of thumb for rules of thumb. A rule of thumb presents simplified information or advice that helps you make a better decision. The rule of thumb for rules of thumb says if you use a rule of thumb you may not make the best decision. Be prepared for the consequences.
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Jury deliberation rule of thumb

Jury deliberation rule of thumb. A court jury is comprised of six to twelve people whose duty is to render a rational, impartial verdict on legal issue brought before them. A rule of thumb for jury deliberation says a jury will take one day of deliberation for every week of trial.
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Amdahl's rule of thumb

Amdahl's rule of thumb. Gene Amdahl is a computer architect, known for his work on mainframe computers. Amdahl’s rule of thumb for computers says one byte of memory and one byte per second of I/O are required for each instruction per second supported by a computer.
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Holiday rule of thumb

Holiday rule of thumb. A holiday season rule of thumb says your spouse and kids will likely benefit more from about twice as much time and attention from you, and about half as much of your money spent on them.
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Car budget rule of thumb

Car budget rule of thumb. Most car buyers usually finance some or all of their car purchase. A good rule of thumb on car loan payments says your monthly car payment should not exceed 8% of your monthly gross income.
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Baker’s rule of thumb

Baker’s rule of thumb. Baked goods rely upon a preheated oven in order to bake properly. As an exception, a baking rule of thumb says any recipe that takes more than a full hour to bake completely can bake in a non-preheated oven.
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Retirement withdraw rule of thumb

Retirement withdraw rule of thumb. As a general rule of thumb, a retiree can withdraw about 4% from his or her savings and investments per year and still keep the fund going indefinitely.
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Coffee rule of thumb

Coffee rule of thumb. The average cup of coffee contains about 85 mg of caffeine. Some coffee brands are higher, some lower. The rule of thumb for coffee says the darker the roast, the lower the caffeine content.
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College borrower’s rule of thumb

College borrower’s rule of thumb. The average federal student loan debt among graduating seniors is nearly $20,000. A good rule of thumb says college students should keep total education debt below what they expect to earn in their first year out of college.
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The HR rule of thumb

The HR rule of thumb. "Hire slowly, fire quickly" is a good HR department hiring rule of thumb. On average, it costs a company about one-third of a new hire's annual salary to replace an employee.
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Holiday budget rule of thumb

Holiday budget rule of thumb. The typical American consumer will spend between $700 and $1,000 during the holiday season. To hold the line on holiday spending, a personal finance rule of thumb says spend no more that 1.5% of your gross income on the holidays. This includes gifts, decorations, travel and wrapping paper.
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PC repair versus purchase rule of thumb

PC repair versus purchase rule of thumb. Personal computers may be upgraded to extend their useful service for another year or so. A helpful rule of thumb in making this decision says upgrade if the cost of the upgrade is roughly half of the cost of getting a new system.
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Retail price rule of thumb

Retail price rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says if you are manufacturing a product there should be at least a ten-to-one markup ratio between the cost of making the product and the suggested retail price of the finished product.
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Refinance rule of thumb

Refinance rule of thumb. A financial rule of thumb says go with a home equity loan if current interest rates are higher than your existing mortgage rate. If current interest rates are lower than your existing mortgage rate, refinance your mortgage and pay it off at the lower rate.
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Apology rule of thumb

Apology rule of thumb. An apology is often the first step to better understanding in a damaged relationship. An old rule of thumb for apologies says a meaningful, effective apology should contain exactly one pronoun: I.
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Adages

Adages. An adage is like a rule of thumb. Adages are interesting observations, practical or ethical guidelines, or pessimistic comments on life. For example, "anything that can go wrong will" or "demand creates its own supply."
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Pulpit rule of thumb

Pulpit rule of thumb. For most, it generally takes from five to seven years to become a recognized preacher, priest, cleric or religious celebrant. An old rule of thumb says one hour of study for every minute at the pulpit.
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Commuter’s rule of thumb

Commuter’s rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for commuting says forty-five minutes is the about the longest duration most people will accept for a one-way job commute.
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Espresso rule of thumb

Espresso rule of thumb. Espresso is brewed by forcing very hot water under high pressure through extremely fine ground coffee. A coffee rule of thumb says you make the best shot of espresso with seven grams of coffee in twenty to twenty-five seconds.
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Healthy eating rule of thumb

Healthy eating rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for healthy eating says a well balanced diet consists of 50% to 60% calories from carbohydrate, 15% to 20% protein and 25% to 30% fat.
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Dating rule of thumb

Dating rule of thumb. There are dating rules that men should obey. The essential dating rule of thumb for guys says those in a serious relationship should call her at least once a day.
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Tax versus subsidy rule of thumb

Tax versus subsidy rule of thumb. A government tax collects money from citizens, while a government subsidy provides money. An economics rule of thumb says whatever we tax we tend to get less of, whatever we subsidize we tend to get more of.
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Armed forces rule of thumb

Armed forces rule of thumb. There are roughly three million people currently serving in the U.S. armed forces. A military rule of thumb says it takes ten military support personal to put one combat soldier into action.
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PC depreciation rule of thumb

PC depreciation rule of thumb. The average desktop personal computer has a functional lifespan of roughly two to five years. A common PC rule of thumb says the value of a fully assembled PC decreases by 1% a week.
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GDP rule of thumb

GDP rule of thumb. The gross domestic product (GDP) is the sum of all products and services sold. Employment levels change with the GDP. In the United States, an economic rule of thumb says for every percentage point change in GDP, there is a corresponding 0.4 point change in the unemployment rate.
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Communicator’s rule of thumb

Communicator’s rule of thumb. There is an old saying, "It’s not what you say but how you say it." To this end, a good communication rule of thumb says think twice, talk once.
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Business process rule of thumb

Business process rule of thumb. A business process is a coordinated set of tasks that produce a business result. A general business rule of thumb says it is usually cheaper, easier and more reliable to change a process than to change a person.
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President’s rule of thumb

President’s rule of thumb. Twelve U.S. Presidents have served at least two full terms in office. A political rule of thumb says the power of a second-term president peaks the day after winning the second term election.
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Political party rule of thumb

Political party rule of thumb. The majority of U.S. voters register with a political party. A general rule of thumb for political elections says 80% of voters will vote for the party with which they are registered, regardless of the candidates.
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Property tax rule of thumb

Property tax rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb calculates a homeowner's annual property taxes at about 1% to 3% of the market value of their home. For example, the property taxes for a $200,000 home will be about $2,000 to $6,000 annually.
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Rule of thumb origin

Rule of thumb origin. One variation has it that the phrase "rule of thumb" first appeared during the 1700s in England. A reported common law during this time called the “rule of thumb” dictated that a man could discipline his wife with a stick that was no thicker than his thumb.
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80/20 work rule of thumb

80/20 work rule of thumb. Dr. Joseph Juran originated the use of the 80/20 rule in quality management research during the 1930s in what he called "vital few and trivial many." The 80/20 rule of thumb says roughly 20% of your efforts produce 80% of the results.
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Life insurance rule of thumb

Life insurance rule of thumb. Life insurance is a contract in which an insurance company agrees to pay money to a designated beneficiary upon your death. A life insurance rule of thumb says purchase a policy valued at five times your current earnings, plus two times earnings for every dependent.
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Lightning distance rule of thumb

Lightning distance rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for calculating the distance you are from a lightning strike is one mile for every five seconds between the flash of lightning and the next rumble of thunder.
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80-20 medical costs rule of thumb

80-20 medical costs rule of thumb. Increasing numbers of companies are turning to health and wellness programs to improve the health of their employees. The 80-20 medical costs rule of thumb says 20% of a company's employees account for 80% of its medical costs.
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100-100 rule of thumb

100-100 rule of thumb. Weight loss is a result of healthy eating plus consistent exercise. A good weight loss rule of thumb says eating 100 fewer calories a day while burning 100 more calories a day will produce consistent weight loss over a period of time.
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Firewood rule of thumb

Firewood rule of thumb. As a rule of thumb, a cord of dry hardwood fuel yields about the same usable heat as 200 gallons of heating oil, a ton of hard coal, or about 4000 kilowatts of electricity.
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Workout rule of thumb

Workout rule of thumb. There are many methods to gauge your workout, for example, time, reps, distance, calories burned, etc. A fundamental rule of thumb for measuring a workout says, "No pain, no gain."
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3 to 1 rule of thumb

3 to 1 rule of thumb. A military rule of thumb says a force of one-third the size of the enemy's is required to successfully defend. A force of three times the size of the enemy's is required to successfully attack.
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Wide screen distance rule of thumb

Wide screen distance rule of thumb. A TV rule of thumb says the perfect place for the best wide screen television viewing experience is the distance of 2.5 times the diagonal size of the screen.
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Churchill rule of thumb

Churchill rule of thumb. Sir Winston Churchill was Britain’s wartime prime minister during World War II. Among other famous quotes, a Churchill rule of thumb says, “if you're going through hell, keep going."
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The "3 times" rule of thumb

"3 times" rule of thumb. The "3 times" rule of thumb says a person needs to ask you three times to do something before you do it. Otherwise, it is a request they are not serious about.
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The "impossible" rule of thumb

The "impossible" rule of thumb. By definition, the concept of "possibility" comprises that which one can achieve. The concept of "impossibility" as stated in an old rule of thumb says, "Nothing is impossible to the person who does not have to do it."
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Safe humor rule of thumb

Safe humor rule of thumb. Humor is a great icebreaker, assuming the other party shares your humor. An old humor rule of thumb says if you are in a group setting, play it safe by using self-effacing humor.
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Proverbs

A proverb. Proverbs are like rules of thumb. They are a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people. For example, "all is fair in love and war" and "the longest way around is the shortest way home."
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Day counter’s rule of thumb

Day counter’s rule of thumb. Counting days is a common habit, for example, the number of days until Christmas, the number of days remaining in a political term, and so on. An old business rule of thumb says don't count the days, make the days count.
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Inflation rule of thumb

Inflation rule of thumb. Inflation is the general rise in prices when spending increases relative to the supply of goods on the market. A financial rule of thumb says that times of high inflation are generally good for borrowers and bad for investors.
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The "above the neck" rule of thumb

The "above the neck" rule of thumb. Is it ok to exercise when sick? The "above the neck" rule of thumb says low-intensity workouts are ok if your symptoms appear above the neck (sneezing, sore throat) versus below the neck (stomach, fever).
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Healing rule of thumb

Healing rule of thumb. A rule of thumb says it takes two years to assimilate the death of a parent, one year to go through all the anniversaries and birthdays, and one year to begin the personal healing process.
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Company stock rule of thumb

Company stock rule of thumb. "Do not put all your eggs in one basket," so goes the old adage. As for investing in your employer, a financial planning rule of thumb says you should invest no more than 10% of your savings.
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Dress decision rule of thumb

Dress decision rule of thumb. There may be an occasion where you are not sure if it calls for formal or informal attire. In this case, the fashion etiquette rule of thumb says it is always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
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Smoke detector rule of thumb

Smoke detector rule of thumb. Many home smoke detectors rely on batteries. To ensure they work when needed, a good rule of thumb says to check the batteries when you turn your clocks ahead in the spring, and change the batteries when you turn your clocks back in the fall.
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Football two-point conversion rule of thumb

Football two-point conversion rule of thumb. When do you go for two instead of kicking the extra point? The rule of thumb says go for two after a touchdown when you are ahead by 1, 4, or 5 points, or when you are behind by 2 or 5 points. Otherwise, kick the extra point.
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Negotiation rule of thumb

Negotiation rule of thumb. Everything is negotiable. A rule of thumb for negotiating says know what you are willing to do and not do, and know how much value you place on the issues you will be negotiating.
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Good advice rule of thumb

Good advice rule of thumb. "Some things are better left unsaid," so goes the old adage. A classic rule of thumb says if you don't have anything good to say then keep your thoughts to yourself.
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Job creation rule of thumb

Job creation rule of thumb. An economic rule of thumb says the economy needs to create at least 100,000 to 150,000 new jobs every month to keep the unemployment rate from rising.
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Baseball pitching rule of thumb

Baseball pitching rule of thumb. When two baseball teams face off in a big series, such as the World Series, a baseball rule of thumb says good pitching always beats good hitting. The team with the better pitchers will win.
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Resume GPA rule of thumb

Resume GPA rule of thumb. Your resume is the first impression to a prospective employer. A career resume rule of thumb says omit your GPA from your resume unless it is 3.0 or higher.
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Rule of thumb origin

Rule of thumb origin. There are several ideas for where the phrase "rule of thumb" originated. One suggests the phrase "rule of thumb" came from the use of the thumb as a convenient measuring tool, the distance to the first knuckle usually being about one inch.
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Home renovation rule of thumb

Home renovation rule of thumb. How do you decide to purchase another home versus staying and renovating? A rule of thumb for home renovation says if the renovation costs 10% or less than the price you could sell your home for, it pays to stay and renovate.
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Murphy’s classic rule of thumb

Murphy’s classic rule of thumb. "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong," is Murphy’s Law. One way to translate this quote suggests being proactive and prepared for when things go awry. Another translation succumbs to the notion that everything will go wrong.
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Jogging rule of thumb

Jogging rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for jogging says you burn off roughly ten calories per minute. Jogging thirty minutes, six times a week will burn about 1,800 calories. This equates to losing 1 pound of body fat every two weeks.
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4 to 1 rule

4 to 1 rule. The 4 to 1 rule for managers helps maintain good employee relations. This rule of thumb says make four positive reinforcements to an employee for every instance of corrective feedback.
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Indoor air rule of thumb

Indoor air rule of thumb. Indoor plants are a natural air cleaner and conditioner. To help prevent indoor air pollution, a rule of thumb says place and maintain one plant for every ten square yards of floor space.
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Traffic rule of thumb

Traffic rule of thumb. The typical American spends approximately 34 hours a year in traffic. A rule of thumb within the transportation industry says every minute of blocked traffic due to an incident or accident generates four additional minutes of traffic congestion.
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Purchase versus lease rule of thumb

Purchase versus lease rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for buying versus leasing a car says buying a new car always makes better economic sense. There are two exceptions to this rule: if you trade in your car every two to three years, or if you use your auto for your business.
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"Gettysburg" rule of thumb

"Gettysburg" rule of thumb. Drafting a lengthy email is a signal that a phone call or face-to-face conversation might be the better way to go. The "Gettysburg" rule of thumb for email says the body of an email should have fewer words than the Gettysburg Address.
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1 in 5 rule of thumb

1 in 5 rule of thumb. Americans move because of marriage, education, divorce, jobs, retirement and other reasons. A real estate rule of thumb says the average American changes their residence, on average, once every five years.
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The PC replacement rule of thumb

The PC replacement rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for personal computers says to replace them after thirty-six months and keep the same operating system installed for its entire life.
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Proverbs rule of thumb

Proverbs rule of thumb. Proverbial rule of thumb from the Bible says, "Ill-gotten treasures are of no value."
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Competence rule of thumb

Competence rule of thumb. A good communication rule of thumb says unexpressed competence appears much the same as incompetence.
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Pet ownership rule of thumb

Pet ownership rule of thumb. According to national surveys, about 63% of all American households have at least one pet. A rule of thumb for pet ownership says pets are like vacations, they cost twice as much as planned.
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Credit card balance rule of thumb

Credit card balance rule of thumb. Credit cards provide short term financing with relatively low interest rates. A personal finance rule of thumb says your total credit card balance should be less than 5% of your gross annual income.
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Community ownership rule of thumb

Community ownership rule of thumb. Public and common land is land owned by the people of a government jurisdiction such as a country, state or city. A property ownership rule of thumb says, when everybody owns it, nobody takes care of it.
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Aphorisms

Aphorisms. Aphorisms are sayings that offer rule-of-thumb advice on how to manage one's life. For example, "lost time is never found again" and "that which does not kill us makes us stronger."
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Last minute rule of thumb

Last minute rule of thumb. "If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done," suggests the time management rule of thumb for procrastinators.
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1-99 Internet rule of thumb

1-99 Internet rule of thumb. There are 20 billion web pages produced by 70 million web sites on the Internet. The 1-99 rule of thumb says 1% of the Internet population creates most of its content while the remaining 99% consumes it.
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"Five finger" rule of thumb

"Five finger" rule of thumb. Use the "five finger" rule of thumb to find the appropriate book for a child. Read a page from the book aloud, holding up one finger for each word the child does not know. Five fingers up suggest the book is too difficult.
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Dogs of the Dow rule of thumb

"Dogs of the Dow" rule of thumb. There are a multitude of strategies for buying and selling stocks and building a great portfolio. The "Dogs of the Dow" investment rule of thumb says invest in the ten highest dividend-yielding stocks of the thirty in the Dow Jones Industrial index.
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Collision coverage rule of thumb

Collision coverage rule of thumb. Collision insurance coverage pays for damage caused to your vehicle in an automobile accident. A good insurance rule of thumb says once your auto’s value drops below $3000, stop the collision coverage on the policy and save the extra premium amount.
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Slim clothing rule of thumb

Slim clothing rule of thumb. There are several methods to help you look slimmer without dieting and exercising. One fashion rule of thumb says wearing black or dark color clothing will minimize fullness.
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Landscape rule of thumb

Landscape rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb says the average cost to landscape a new home is about 10% to 15% of the home's value. Studies show that high quality landscaping can add from 7% and 15% to a home's value at sale time.
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Home purchase of thumb

Home purchase of thumb. How long do you plan to live in the home you purchased? A simple rule of thumb says buy a home if you will be in the home long enough for price appreciation to cover all transaction costs. Otherwise, rent the home.
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Dog age rule of thumb

Dog age rule of thumb. There are different methods for calculating a dog’s age in human years. A canine rule of thumb says one dog year is equal to seven human years. Thus, a 3-year old dog is about 21 human years.
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Wine taster’s rule of thumb

Wine taster’s rule of thumb. The wine tasters rule of thumb says for best results put a red wine in the fridge for ten minutes, and take a white wine out for ten minutes, before opening.
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College football rule of thumb

College football rule of thumb. During the era of the flying wedge and wishbone offense, a common college football rule of thumb said a college football team would lose one game for each freshman it started.
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Hourly rate rule of thumb

Hourly rate rule of thumb. A career rule of thumb calculates an employee's equivalent hourly billing rate as their annual salary divided by 2,000. For example, a salaried person making $30,000 has an hourly rate of $15.
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Manager’s rule of thumb

Manager’s rule of thumb. Casey Stengel was known for his comic inspiration during his 25 years as a major league manager. Among his other quotes, Stengel’s rule of thumb for how to be an effective manager says, “Keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided about you.
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1,000 to 1 farming rule of thumb

1,000 to 1 farming rule of thumb. All crops require water to grow, some more than others. An agriculture rule of thumb says it takes one thousand tons of water to produce one ton of grain. Ten inches of rain over one acre equals about 1,000 tons of water.
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College rule of thumb

College rule of thumb. The college inflation rate refers to the annual increase in college tuition and fees, similar to the way that the general inflation rate refers to the annual increase in the cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the college inflation rate increases at about twice the general inflation rate.
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Stock rule of thumb

Stock rule of thumb. Stocks are generally more risky than bonds. A financial planning rule of thumb says your current percentage of stocks versus bonds should be one hundred minus your age. For example, at age 30 your portfolio should be 70% stocks versus 30% bonds.
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Lawn fertilizer rule of thumb

Lawn fertilizer rule of thumb. Lawn experts recommend applying fertilizer to your lawn in the spring and fall and throughout the summer. The healthy lawn rule of thumb says if you fertilize your lawn only one time each year, Labor Day is the best time.
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Tuition rule of thumb

Tuition rule of thumb. A general rule of thumb for estimating tuition costs says if the overall inflation rate is 3%, the cost of college will double every ten to twelve years.
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Curtain length rule of thumb

Curtain length rule of thumb. Curtains are window fashion that provide privacy, keep light out, and reduce drafts. A decorating rule of thumb for curtain length says the curtain should stop either just at the top of the windowsill or just at the bottom of the window frame.
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Tipping rule of thumb

Tipping rule of thumb. The general rule of thumb for tipping in a restaurant suggests the following: if the service was good and prompt, tip 15%. If the service was very good, leave 18% to 20%.
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Affordability rule of thumb

Affordability rule of thumb. With freely available credit and debit terms, judging the affordability of a purchase is not as hard and fast as it once was. An affordability rule of thumb says if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably cannot afford it.
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Book reader’s rule of thumb

Book reader’s rule of thumb. Books and movies are entertainment vehicles that tell a story in a very different way. A book reader’s rule of thumb for movies based on books says the more you enjoyed the novel, the less you will enjoy the movie.
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Turnover rule of thumb

Turnover rule of thumb. Almost all companies experience some form of employee turnover. A human resources rule of thumb says an annual employee turnover greater than 10% is detrimental to a business.
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Technology spending rule of thumb

Technology spending rule of thumb. Most businesses invest in technology to increase productivity and efficiency. A rule of thumb for technology spending says a business will spend about 5% to 10% of their annual revenue in technology.
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Demand rule of thumb

Demand rule of thumb. Andre Paul Gide was a French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in 1947. A rule of thumb coined by Gide's says, "He who makes great demands on himself is naturally inclined to make great demands on others."
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Delivery rule of thumb

Delivery rule of thumb. An old adage says, "No news is good news." A good rule of thumb for delivering news says the worse the news, the more effort should go into communicating it.
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Basketball rule of thumb

Basketball rule of thumb. An arced basketball has the best chance of scoring because it drops through the largest possible rim opening. A good rule of thumb for shooting says arc your shot 3 to 4 feet higher than the basket on a 15-foot shot. For closer in shots, use a 1 to 2 foot arc.
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70/70 cigar rule of thumb

70/70 cigar rule of thumb. Storing a nice cigar in a plastic bag will not do. For maximum life, cigars must be stored in a humidor. A good rule of thumb is the 70/70 rule: 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 70% humidity.
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Yogi Berra’s decision-making rule of thumb

Yogi Berra’s decision-making rule of thumb. Yogi Berra is perhaps the most quoted baseball personality of all time. Among other rules coined by Yogi, his rule of thumb for decision-making said, "When you get to a fork in the road, take it."
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Opportunity rule of thumb

Opportunity rule of thumb. American inventor Thomas Edison holds over 1,000 patents and is world famous for many inventions. A good rule of thumb coined by Edison says, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
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Startup cost rule of thumb

Startup cost rule of thumb. Undercapitalization is one of the chief reasons why businesses fail. A business rule of thumb says it takes twice as long and twice the money to get a business off the ground as originally estimated.
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Memory rule of thumb

Memory rule of thumb. Memory is the ability to remember experiences or learned information. A memory rule of thumb says the span of immediate human memory is around seven plus or minus two items.
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Decision maker’s rule of thumb

Decision maker’s rule of thumb. Sound decision-making is a key attribute of a successful leader. At times, there are critical moments when making a decision can be difficult, perplexing, and nerve-racking. A classic business rule of thumb says any decision is better than no decision.
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TV commercial rule of thumb

TV commercial rule of thumb. Television commercials are one of the most effective methods of advertising to mass audiences. A sales and marketing rule of thumb says people will not remember a commercial until they see it at least three times.
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Retro fashion rule of thumb

Retro fashion rule of thumb. Some clothing styles and trends make a comeback after years or even decades of dormancy. A fashion rule of thumb says if you lived the first incarnation of any clothing trend, you are too old to wear it the next time it comes around.
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Productivity rule of thumb

Productivity rule of thumb. The average U.S. worker logs about 43 hours of work during a normal week. A business rule of thumb says a typical employee is productive for 6.5 hours out of a regular eight-hour day.
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The "good buy" rule of thumb

The "good buy" rule of thumb. A good real estate rule of thumb says a real estate investment is considered a "good buy" if it can be purchased at one hundred times the property's monthly rental value.
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"Use it or lose it" rule of thumb

"Use it or lose it" rule of thumb. A good house cleaning rule of thumb says use it or lose it. If you have not used something within the last year, sell it, donate it, or pitch it out.
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Boater’s 1/3 rule of thumb

Boater’s 1/3 rule of thumb. This rule of thumb says to use one-third of your boat's fuel to get to your destination, one-third to get back to port, and the last one-third as an emergency backup.
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Draft rule of thumb

Draft rule of thumb. Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in a home. A home maintenance rule of thumb says where you find spider webs you are likely to find a draft.
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Horse racing rule of thumb

Horse racing rule of thumb. A long shot is a bet in which the chances of winning are slight but the possible winnings great. A horse racing rule of thumb says if there are too many favorites in a horse race, bet on the long shot.
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1/10,000 job search rule of thumb

1/10,000 job search rule of thumb. The more job experience you have, the longer the duration to find a new job. A career rule of thumb says a new job search takes about one month for every $10,000 of salary.
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Personal savings rule of thumb

Personal savings rule of thumb. The U.S. recorded a negative savings rate in 2005, the first time since the Great Depression. A personal finance rule of thumb says you should save at least 10% of your pretax income every year.
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Auto depreciation rule of thumb

Auto depreciation rule of thumb. Depreciation is the single biggest cost in the first five years of a car's life, far outpacing fuel and maintenance costs. A general rule of thumb says an auto loses 15% to 20% of its value each year.
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1/3 college savings rule of thumb

1/3 college savings rule of thumb. A good financial planning rule of thumb for saving for college says save 1/3 of the expected college costs, pay 1/3 from current income and financial aid during college years, and borrow 1/3 using student loans.
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Life insurance rule of thumb

Life insurance rule of thumb. There are several ways you can determine the appropriate level of life insurance. A good rule of thumb says if you have young kids or teenagers, you will need a life insurance policy that covers from six to ten times your total family income.
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Jet lag rule of thumb

Jet lag rule of thumb. Flying across multiple time zones disrupts your natural body rhythms, leading to sleep problems and other symptoms. A travel rule of thumb says it takes one day for the body clock to adjust for each traveled time zone.
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Generic gift rule of thumb

Generic gift rule of thumb. A gift giving etiquette rule of thumb says a thoughtful gift should not be a generic gift. If you can give the same gift to your parent, sibling, and co-worker, it is a generic gift.
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Hammer rule of thumb

Hammer rule of thumb. "If your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." This old rule of thumb reaffirms the notion of proceeding with caution, especially if you are paying the person who is holding the hammer.
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Sunlight exposure rule of thumb

Sunlight exposure rule of thumb. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It rises higher in the summer than the winter. The sunlight exposure rule of thumb says if your shadow is taller, exposure is lower; if your shadow is shorter, exposure is higher.
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Home cleanliness rule of thumb

Home cleanliness rule of thumb. Some say you can maintain a sparkling house in just 19 minutes a day. A home cleanliness rule of thumb says if you can see the dirt, you have waited too long to clean.
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One-hour study rule of thumb

One-hour study rule of thumb. There are many good methods for studying and learning. A good education rule of thumb says the first hour of studying is the best hour; do not study any one subject for more than an hour at a time.
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Gardener’s rule of thumb

Gardener’s rule of thumb. A gardening rule of thumb says to plant tulip bulbs five inches deep, about six to eight weeks before the ground freezes.
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Idea rule of thumb

Idea rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says if you have a good idea, five other companies are doing the same thing. If you have a great idea, fifteen companies are doing the same thing.
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Go alone rule of thumb

Go alone rule of thumb. American author, philosopher and thinker Henry David wrote during the mid 1800s. Among other quotes, a Thoreau rule of thumb says, "The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait until the other is ready."
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Safe insult rule of thumb

Safe insult rule of thumb. An old rule of thumb for life says, "Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river."
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9-4-4 calorie rule of thumb

9-4-4 calorie rule of thumb. Foods are not equal with respect to calories. A nutrition rule of thumb says a gram of fat has 9 calories, a gram of protein 4 calories, and a gram of carbohydrate 4 calories.
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Hiker’s rule of thumb

Hiker’s rule of thumb. Scottish mountaineer William W. Naismith's rule of thumb for calculating the duration of a hike a route is as follows: for hikers of reasonable fitness, on typical terrain, under normal conditions, allow 1 hour for every 3 miles (5 km), plus ½ hour for every 1,000 feet (300 meters) of ascent.
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Fine print rule of thumb

Fine print rule of thumb. Emmy award winning writer Andy Rooney is best known for his signature essays at the end of the 60 Minutes TV program. A good rule of thumb penned by Rooney says, "nothing in fine print is ever good news".
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Rule of thumb for change

Rule of thumb for change. Change can be good and change can be bad. An old rule of thumb in life says, "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it."
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Measurement rule of thumb

Measurement rule of thumb. An old business rule of thumb says, "What gets measured gets done." The use of consistent, comparable metrics is vital to operating and growing a successful venture.
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Tooth fairy rule of thumb

Tooth fairy rule of thumb. The "tooth fairy" rule of thumb for science fiction writers says a mysterious outside force may be invoked to explain the unexplainable only once in a sci-fi story.
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One-hour meeting rule of thumb

One-hour meeting rule of thumb. About 25 million meetings take place in corporate America on a daily basis. Estimates say half the time spent in these meetings is wasted. A management rule of thumb says limit meetings to one hour to avoid too many topics and run-on meetings.
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90-day credit rule of thumb

90-day credit rule of thumb. If used wisely, credit cards are one of the cheapest sources of short-term credit. To this end, a good credit card rule of thumb says avoid credit card purchases that cannot be paid off within 90 days.
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Quality clothing rule of thumb

Quality clothing rule of thumb. Clothing is like most other products in that you usually get what you pay for. A fashion rule of thumb says buy the best clothing you can afford. Well-made clothes fit and look better.
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Emergency savings rule of thumb

Emergency savings rule of thumb. Emergency expenditures should come from an emergency fund. A financial planning rule of thumb says your emergency savings should equal about three to six months' worth of your living expenses.
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40-12 home sale rule of thumb

40-12 home sale rule of thumb. How long it takes to sell a home depends on several factors, such as the home’s price, its condition, its neighborhood, and prevailing interest rates. The 40-12 rule of thumb says for a typical home forty showings in twelve weeks should result in a sale.
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Software bug rule of thumb

Software bug rule of thumb. A rule of thumb for software bugs says a software bug costs $1 when caught in the requirements stage; $10 in the design stage; $100 in the development stage; $1,000 during the testing stage; and $10,000 after release.
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Politician’s rule of thumb

Politician’s rule of thumb. Political rhetoric is the fuel that drives most politicians. A good rule of thumb regarding politicians says ignore what they say and watch what they do.
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Good project rule of thumb

Good project rule of thumb. A successful project completes on time and under budget. An old project management rule of thumb says it takes ten good projects to recover from one bad project.
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Law expense rule of thumb

Law expense rule of thumb. English novelist and satirical author Samuel Butler is often quoted in books and on the web. A famous Butler rule of thumb says "In law, nothing is certain except the expense."
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Satisfied customer rule of thumb

Satisfied customer rule of thumb. A business does not stay in business without happy customers. A good business rule of thumb says a satisfied customer tells three others while an unhappy customer tells ten others.
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Life insurance rule of thumb

Life insurance rule of thumb. A good financial planning rule of thumb says purchase whole life insurance for permanent needs (funeral, burial, estate liquidity) and term life insurance for temporary needs (mortgages, college costs).
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Colorful food rule of thumb.

Colorful food rule of thumb. A plate filled with an assortment of colorful fruits and vegetables makes for good presentation and helps keep your heart and mind healthy. A rule of thumb says the more vibrant the food color, the healthier it is.
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Clothing rule of thumb

Clothing rule of thumb. You should select clothing colors for season and for accent. A good rule of thumb says choose dress colors that de-emphasize the undertone in your skin, contrast your hair color or compliment your eyes.
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Retirement rule of thumb

Retirement rule of thumb. There are several methods for estimating how much you need to save for retirement. A financial planning rule of thumb says your retirement savings should be twenty times your annual expenses not covered by pension or Social Security payments.
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Tire life rule of thumb

Tire life rule of thumb. Good tire maintenance will ensure safety as well as maximize the life of the tire. An auto rule of thumb says a tire's life will decrease by 10% for every ten percent it is under-inflated.
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Business retail cost rule of thumb

Business retail cost rule of thumb. There are several methods of determining the retail price of a product. A good rule of thumb says most products should sell for four to five times their manufacturing cost.
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College loan rule of thumb

College loan rule of thumb. Most graduating college seniors will graduate with some education debt. The rule of thumb for recent college graduates says you should expect to pay about 10% to 12% of your monthly income toward baying back college loans.
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1/3 grass cutting rule of thumb

1/3 grass cutting rule of thumb. How often you mow your lawn depends on how fast its grass grows. The 1/3 grass cutting rule of thumb says never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade off at a time. For example, for a lawn 3 inches high cut off no more than an inch.
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Earthquake energy rule of thumb

Earthquake energy rule of thumb. The biggest recorded earthquake occurred on May 22, 1960 in Chile and measured 9.5 on the Richter scale. A seismology rule of thumb says for each one-point magnitude increase of an earthquake, about thirty-two times more energy is released.
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Competitive analysis rule of thumb

Competitive analysis rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb for competitive analysis says complete an analysis of two to three direct competitors, one indirect competitor, and one future competitor.
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Persuasion rule of thumb

Persuasion rule of thumb. Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician and philosopher who lived in the 17th century. Among his other quotes, a Pascal rule of thumb says "people are generally better persuaded by the reason that they discovered rather than by those that have come to the minds of others."
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Safe diving rule of thumb

Safe diving rule of thumb. "Feet first, first time" is the safe swim diving rule of thumb. This means before diving into water, go in feet first to find out how deep the water is.
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Calorie rule of thumb

Calorie rule of thumb. It is important to know how many calories you need per day to gain or lose weight. A good nutrition rule of thumb calculates your recommended daily calorie requirements by multiplying your ideal weight in pounds by fifteen. For example, 1,800 calories per day is recommended at 130 pounds.
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Gardener’s rule of thumb

Gardener’s rule of thumb. Outdoor plants get their water from rain and from irrigation, namely garden hoses and sprinklers. To this end, a simple gardening rule of thumb says situate plants with the most need for water closer to your home and those with less need further away.
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Photo thirds rule of thumb

Photo thirds rule of thumb. The rule of thirds is for taking better photos. This rule says divide the picture frame into nine equal parts, like an imaginary tick-tack-toe grid. Compose your images so that prominent elements align with the grid, with the most important ones falling on or near grid intersections.
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Learning rule of thumb

Learning rule of thumb. An expert is a person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject. An old rule of thumb on becoming an expert says the more you learn, the more you learn what you don't know.
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Lunch check rule of thumb

Lunch check rule of thumb. A business lunch is an informal opportunity to meet your clients or associates while having a meal. A business etiquette rule of thumb says the person requesting a lunch meeting should also pay for the lunch.
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Four Cs rule of thumb

Four Cs rule of thumb. The "Four Cs" rule of thumb for making a real estate loan states the following: Credit is the borrower’s likelihood to make regular on-time payments. Capacity is the borrower’s ability to pay based on their income and long-term debt. Collateral is the real estate that secures the loan. Capital is the down payment.
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Teacher’s rule of thumb

Teacher’s rule of thumb. Most schoolteachers obtain at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and pass either a state or local certification test. A less formal teaching rule of thumb says a genuine teacher is one who remains a student at heart.
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The "factor of five" rule of thumb

The "factor of five" rule of thumb. There are several methods for determining the retail cost of a product. The "factor of five" rule of thumb says one-dollar of product cost should equal about five dollars of retail price.
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Repeat sales rule of thumb

Repeat sales rule of thumb. The cost of selling to new customers is usually much higher than selling to an existing customer. A good strategic business rule of thumb says acquire new customers at break even and make all your profit on repeat sales.
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Business attrition rule of thumb

Business attrition rule of thumb. The majority of new business ventures do not make it past five years. A business rule of thumb says 40% of all new businesses die within the first year, and over 80% of start-ups fail within the first five years.
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Home seller’s rule of thumb

Home seller’s rule of thumb. A home seller’s top priority is to make their home appealing to potential buyers. To this end, a good real estate rule of thumb says a home seller showing a home should take out half the contents in the closets and storage areas to make the home look more spacious.
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Car fuel rule of thumb

Car fuel rule of thumb. Heavier vehicles usually get less gas mileage than lighter vehicles. A fuel consumption rule of thumb says most cars will burn about their weight in gasoline every year.
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Bad news rule of thumb

Bad news rule of thumb. There is never a good time for bad news. A public relations rule of thumb says if there is bad news to deliver, always release the bad news late in the day on Friday.
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Lease versus buy rule of thumb

Lease versus buy rule of thumb. Some things appreciate while others depreciate. For example, homes usually appreciate while autos usually depreciate. A general financial rule of thumb says you should buy what appreciates and lease what depreciates.
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Mediocrity rule of thumb

Mediocrity rule of thumb. Galileo, Newton and Einstein observed that our planet follows the same physical laws as our Universe. With respect to this, the scientific principle of mediocrity is a rule of thumb that says, we, and our particular location in time and space, are nothing special.
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Customer rule of thumb

Customer rule of thumb. A business is not a business without customers. A good rule of thumb states what is perhaps the most fundamental business rule of them all: the customer is always right.
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Life insurance rule of thumb

Life insurance rule of thumb. There are several methods to determine the value of a life insurance policy. A good life insurance rule of thumb says you should purchase a life insurance policy valued at five times your annual income.
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Credit balance rule of thumb

Credit balance rule of thumb. Financial planners recommend using credit cards for financing short-term purchases and for emergencies. A personal finance rule of thumb says you should carry two to six credit cards and keep the balance under 25% of the credit limit.
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Summer rule of thumb

Summer rule of thumb. The summer season is the time for bright-colored clothing. A fashion rule of thumb says you should never wear light-beige or white slacks or skirts between Labor Day and Memorial Day.
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Healthy lawn rule of thumb

Healthy lawn rule of thumb. A healthy lawn rule of thumb says grass lawns should receive at least one inch of water per week in order to maintain health and vigor.
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20% rule of thumb for training

20% rule of thumb for training. Most training initiatives result in improved knowledge and performance. The 20% rule of thumb for training says you can improve an 80% performer to a 96, but a 20% performer to no more than a 24.
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Remodel rule of thumb

Remodel rule of thumb. "Location, location, location" also applies to home remodeling. A good real estate rule of thumb says the better the house and neighborhood, the more value a home remodel project returns.
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Real estate appreciation rule of thumb

Real estate appreciation rule of thumb. Real estate prices and price fluctuations vary by locality and are affected by several factors, such as economic cycles and consumer lifestyles. A real estate rule of thumb says, generally, the price of real estate doubles every ten years.
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Life insurance policy rule of thumb

Life insurance policy rule of thumb. There are several methods to determine how much life insurance is necessary for an individual. A good life insurance rule of thumb says you need $120,000 in insurance for every $500 of monthly income.
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Politics rule of thumb

Politics rule of thumb. Politics may be formally defined as the art or science of government. A good rule of thumb definition of politics says the fundamental definition of politics is: "who gets, and who pays."
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High technology rule of thumb

High technology rule of thumb. There is no hard and fast definition of what constitutes a high technology company. A business rule of thumb says a company is "high tech" if at least 10% of its employees are engaged in research and development activities.
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Lap cat rule of thumb

Lap cat rule of thumb. Most domestic cats become lap cats over time. A lap cats will usually look to jump in the lap of anyone setting nearby. A feline rule of thumb says avoid eye contact with a cat if you do not want it to jump in your lap.
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Feather’s rule of thumb

Feather’s rule of thumb. American publisher and author William Feather is often quoted in books and websites. One of Feather’s quotes doubles as a good business rule of thumb, "beware of the man who won't be bothered with details."
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Effect versus affect rule of thumb

Effect versus affect rule of thumb. Many stumble over when to use "effect" versus "affect" in a sentence. The writer’s rule of thumb for effect versus affect says use effect as a noun and affect as a verb.
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Great grandma nutrition rule of thumb

Great grandma nutrition rule of thumb. Modern food processing has introduced a host of food additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. Some not considered healthy. To this end, a good nutrition rule of thumb says you should not eat anything your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food.
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Website design rules of thumb

Website design rules of thumb. Some rules of thumb for good website design: do not use splash pages; do not use excessive banner advertisements; provide simple and clear navigation; have a clear indication of where the user is; and avoid using audio on your site.
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Tester’s rule of thumb

Tester’s rule of thumb. The testing phase of a project is perhaps the most important. Reinforcing this concept, a fundamental project management rule of thumb says what has not been tested does not work.
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Work rule of thumb

Work rule of thumb. Parkinson's business rule of thumb says the amount of work usually expands to fill the time allotted to its completion.
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Woodworker’s rule of thumb

Woodworker’s rule of thumb. A woodworking rule of thumb says always finish the job with the same number of fingers you started with.
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Rebate versus financing

Rebate versus financing rule of thumb. This rule says take the rebate when you have the choice of a rebate versus better financing in a new car purchase. After accepting the rebate, buyers should negotiate the lowest rate of financing available, be it with a bank, credit union or the dealer.
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Garden pruning rule of thumb

Garden pruning rule of thumb. A gardening rule of thumb says prune plants in the winter if they bloom on the current year's growth. For plants that bloom from last year's growth, prune after their blooms begin to die.
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Calorie consumption rule of thumb

Calorie consumption rule of thumb. Dieters commonly count calories to help them stay on their diet. A good nutrition rule of thumb says a person should consume about ten calories per day per pound of body weight. For example, 1,500 calories would suffice for a 150 lb person.
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Supermarket checkout rule of thumb

Supermarket checkout rule of thumb. If you change lines in the supermarket checkout, the one you just left will start to move faster than the one you are now in.
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Horsepower rule of thumb

Horsepower rule of thumb. An energy rule of thumb calculates one horsepower moves 550 pounds per second. Restated, one horsepower equates to lifting 33,000 pounds one foot over a period of one minute.
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Healthy eater’s five-second rule

Healthy eater’s five-second rule. A healthy eating rule of thumb says to consider the floor you are eating from when applying the food five-second rule.
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Homeowner’s insurance rule of thumb

Homeowner’s insurance rule of thumb. Most lenders require a buyer to obtain a homeowners insurance policy. A rule of thumb for estimating the annual policy premium for a home says $3 for every $1,000 of loan value. For example, a $200,000 home would have a $600 annual homeowner’s insurance premium.
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50-50-90 rule of thumb

50-50-90 rule of thumb. The 50-50-90 probability rule suggests that anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there is a 90 percent probability you will get it wrong.
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Bear versus bull rule of thumb

Bear versus bull rule of thumb. A bull market is a prolonged period of rising stock prices. A bear market is a prolonged period of stock price declines. A Wall Street rule of thumb says a bear market is about half as long in duration as a bull market.
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Dog age rule of thumb

Dog age rule of thumb. The average dog has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. A canine rule of thumb calculates a dog's age by counting the first year as 15, the second year as 10, and 5 for each year after. For example, at 3 years a dog is about 30 dog years of age.
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Venture capital rule of thumb

Venture capital rule of thumb. Venture capital is a type of private equity typically directed toward new businesses. Venture capitalists are very selective. A business rule of thumb says venture capitalists invest in about one in four hundred opportunities presented to them.
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Tipping rule of thumb

Tipping rule of thumb. Most restaurant workers earn less than minimum or standard wage, with the balance made up through tips. The rule of thumb for tipping restaurant workers says 15% to 20% of the total bill, with 20% for great service.
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Yogi Berra’s baseball rule of thumb

Yogi Berra’s baseball rule of thumb. New York Yankees legacy Yogi Berra offered up perhaps the best rule of thumb for baseball when he suggested, "ninety percent of baseball is half mental."
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Two-second rule of thumb

Two-second rule of thumb. Tailgating occurs when a person drives dangerously close behind the car ahead. The two-second driving rule of thumb says allow two-seconds of driving distance between your car and the car in front of you to allow enough time to stop your car if necessary.
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Tailor's rules of thumb

Tailor's rules of thumb. Tailors have handed down simple measuring shortcuts through the years. A tailor's rule of thumb says a person's wrist is about twice the circumference of their thumb, their neck is four-times, and their waist is eight-times.
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Remodel rule of thumb

Remodel rule of thumb. Bathrooms are high on the home remodel list for return on investment. A real estate rule of thumb says the amount you spend to remodel a home's bathroom should not be more than five percent of the home's value.
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Gas economy rule of thumb

Gas economy rule of thumb. Economists acknowledge that rising gasoline prices tend to diminish overall economic performance. An economic rule of thumb says every penny per gallon rise in gasoline prices takes about $1 billion out of the economy.
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Credit rule of thumb

Credit rule of thumb. The average credit card debt among all American households is about $8,400. A credit card rule of thumb says every dollar borrowed on a credit card takes three dollars in payback.
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Sports rule of thumb

Sports rule of thumb. A sports rule of thumb says, "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings," meaning the game is not over until the game has ended. This phrase was coined in the late 1970s and is derived from an opera’s final scene featuring a singing heavy-set woman.
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Aviator’s rule of three

Aviator’s rule of three. A simple but potentially life-saving rule of thumb for aviators is the rule of three. If three things go wrong on the ground before departure, do not depart. If three things go wrong in the air, get on the ground.
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Birthday party rule of thumb

Birthday party rule of thumb. When a child reaches pre-school age, celebrating their birthday with a party of their friends and family becomes a big deal. The rule of thumb for a child's birthday party says the number of party guests should roughly equal the age of the child.
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Ad copy rule of thumb

Ad copy rule of thumb. For most audiences, a straight, simple advertisement does the trick. A sales and marketing rule of thumb says avoid the use of highly technical, pretentious, or slang terminology in marketing and sales copy.
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Vegetable rule of thumb

Vegetable rule of thumb. The rule of thumb for vegetables says the darker the color the more nutritious. Maximize the nutrients in vegetables by eating them raw, steamed or baked.
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Name rule of thumb

Name rule of thumb. Many of us are challenged to remember the names of people we meet, especially during a large gathering. A rule of thumb for remembering names says to repeat the person's name at least three times during your initial conversation with them.
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Kraft’s serving size rules of thumb

Kraft’s serving size rules of thumb. Kraft foods rule of thumb for serving size says one clenched fist is about eight fluid ounces, two hands cupped is about one cup, the palm of a hand is about three ounces, and two thumbs together is about one tablespoon.
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Rule of thumb

Rule of thumb. Webster's Dictionary defines "rule of thumb" as follows: 1. a general or approximate principal, procedure, or rule based on experience or practice, as opposed to a specific, scientific calculation or estimate. 2. a rough, practical method of procedure.
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Wirth’s rule of thumb

Wirth’s rule of thumb. Swiss computer scientist Niklaus Wirth stated in a paper in 1995 "software gets slower faster than hardware gets faster." Wirth's Law formally states that computer software increases in complexity faster than does the ability of available hardware to run it.
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Comma rule of thumb

Comma rule of thumb. A comma is used in writing as punctuation that separates a sentence into readable segments. There are rules for when to use a comma. The writer’s rule of thumb for commas says when in doubt leave it out, when you are unsure about the use of a comma.
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Timeout rule of thumb

Timeout rule of thumb. The timeout method for child discipline has been used for years. Professionals recommend parents begin using timeouts when children reach about age 2 ½. The timeout rule of thumb says 1 minute for every year of age. For example, a 3-year-old gets 3 minutes, a 4-year-old get 4 minutes, etc.
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Married tax filers’ rule of thumb

Married tax filers’ rule of thumb. Married couples have the choice of completing two separate individual tax returns or one joint return. An income tax rule of thumb says file jointly unless there are very high deductible expenses, such as medical expenses, accountable to only one spouse.
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IRS hobby rule of thumb

IRS hobby rule of thumb. For tax reporting purposes, the IRS uses the following rule of thumb to determine if a venture is a business or a hobby. If a business reports a net profit in at least 3 out of 5 years, it is a for-profit business. If a business reports a net loss in more than 2 out of 5 years, it is a not-for-profit hobby.
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80/80 designer’s rule of thumb

80/80 designer’s rule of thumb. To keep things within scope and budget, always design for the rule and not the exception. The 80/80 design rule of thumb says design for what 80% percent of people want to do 80% of the time.
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Sales rule of seven

Sales rule of seven. Selling to new customers is more difficult than selling to existing customers. A business rule of thumb says it takes seven contacts with a potential client to turn them into a customer.
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Sunlight rule of thumb

Sunlight rule of thumb. Sunlight sustains all life on Earth through photosynthesis, climate, and weather. The human body produces Vitamin D from sunlight. An environmental rule of thumb says about 4.5 pounds of sunlight falls on the Earth everyday.
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90-50 project management rule of thumb

90-50 project management rule of thumb. The most difficult part of a project is the last 10%. The 90-50 project management rule of thumb confirms this. It comes into effect when you have completed 90% of the project leaving only 50% left to complete.
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Moving rule of thumb

Moving rule of thumb. A real estate rule of thumb says the typical homeowner will move on average every five to seven years. Moving is closely tied to life cycle. People move at certain events such as college, marriage, career advancement, divorce and retirement.
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Repair versus replace rule of thumb

Repair versus replace rule of thumb. The useful life of items such as home appliances or yard equipment can be extended through repairs. The repair versus replace rule of thumb says purchase new if the repair cost of an item exceeds 50% to 70% of its replacement cost.
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Demand rule of thumb

Demand rule of thumb. This rule of thumb says when demand is high, prices are high, and when demand is low, prices are low. Purchase mowers and grills in the winter and buy snow shovels and firewood during summer.
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Supermarket rule of thumb

Supermarket rule of thumb. Supermarkets tend to reap relatively low profit margin due to their large volume of products and high overhead costs. A business rule of thumb says a supermarket makes twenty-five cents profit on twenty-five dollars worth of groceries.
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Moore’s Law

Moore’s Law. Moore's law states that the complexity and capacity of an integrated circuit will double every two years. Among other integrated technologies, this rule of thumb applies to processing speed, memory capacity, and display screens.
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Startup capital rule of thumb

Startup capital rule of thumb. A business rule of thumb says a startup company should go into business with a sum of money at least equal to the projected revenue for the first year of business plus its anticipated expenses.
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Email rule of thumb

Email rule of thumb. Pause before you send an email message you might later regret. Avoid personal attacks and other negative comments. A good email rule of thumb says do not send an email if you would not say it to a person's face.
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Collision coverage rule of thumb

Collision coverage rule of thumb. This rule of thumb says drop the collision and comprehensive coverage from your auto insurance policy if the current value of your auto is less than $2,000. Put the premium savings in your pocket.
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Rule of 72

Rule of 72. This rule of thumb calculates the number of years required to double an investment at a given interest rate. The value is determined by dividing the interest rate into 72. For example, an investment at 8% will take about 9 years to double.
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Wall artwork rule of thumb

Wall artwork rule of thumb. Hanging artwork on a wall requires placement then mounting. A home design rule of thumb for hanging artwork says pieces will be viewed best when hung sixty inches from the middle of the piece to the floor.
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Tax and financial records rule of thumb

Tax and financial records rule of thumb. A tax return cannot be audited after 36 months from its file date. Some exceptions do apply. A tax planning rule of thumb says keep financial records such as tax forms, investment statements, bank statements, or proof of deductions, for at least six years.
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Hiring rule of thumb

Hiring rule of thumb. A good rule of thumb on hiring: excellent people tend to hire slightly weaker people than themselves, while weak people tend to hire much weaker people than themselves.
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