Tag Archives: food for thought

May18

Want To Enjoy The Remote Working Lifestyle?

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Want To Enjoy The Remote Working Lifestyle?

Today, the opportunity to work more flexibly, where we no longer need to commute to an office in order to make a living, can be viable for anyone. For as long as we have a decent internet connection, we can practically work (or study) anywhere in the world. Today, most people are valuing a much more valuable commodity than money, and that’s the ever depleting commodity of time. In particular, they want to squeeze as much out of life as possible and, in order to do that, they often have huge travel plans or at least aspirations, and to travel the world one needs the flexibility and finances that are made possible by remote working.

Indeed, today, “living the dream” is less about having a fancy car and a corner office, it’s more about having the freedom to do what you want, when you want, with who you want – rather than being chained to a job with colleagues you may or may  not get on with, being stuck in congested commutes and getting home knackered to the point you just flop and drop in front of the TV with your family (often, still catching up with work on your laptop).

The freedom of the remote working lifestyle means, quite literally, that the world is your oyster, and in these exciting times, many of us are looking for ways to tap into this lifestyle and the freelance economy.

Similarly, many people wanting to learn new skills are looking at ways of doing this that work around their life, rather than having to work their life around their studies. This is particularly pertinent for mature students who may have existing work or family commitments, and therefore can’t access the full time courses offered by many universities that require regular attendance.

Today, however, even prestigious universities like Exeter University will allow you to study advanced courses like a masters in education online. This means that you could, hypothetically, have your cake and eat it too – as many students finishing their undergraduate studies have the desire to travel the world and take a gap year; but studying online in this way means that you can literally have the best of both worlds.

In summary, the remote working lifestyle is clearly an attractive option, as it enables the time and freedom to enjoy life and ensure that you are living your life for yourself and your family, rather than having to try to squeeze your life in around the office. Today, many companies are offering people more flexible working hours and the ability to work remotely, as they see that in order to stay competitive within the job market, they need to offer the flexibility people have been craving for decades.

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May17

Is A Change Of Career In The Cards?

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Is A Change Of Career In The Cards?

Many of us go about in our working lives in careers that aren’t exactly suited to us. It could be because you were unaware of the options ahead of you, maybe you missed out on getting the qualifications you needed, or due to things like the recession. You simply might have had to take whatever work you could get your hands on at the time. Whatever the situation, it’s never too late to reconsider your options. While changing careers is a huge deal, it’s something that could dramatically change your life for the better.

Your career is a huge part of your life, when you spend eight plus hours a day at your workplace (and have a wage you rely on) a change isn’t something to take lightly. So, before you go ahead, make sure you really do want to make a change. Work out what your reasons are, and be sure that you won’t end up wanting to change again after building yourself up in your new job. In some cases, a complete switch of careers might be what’s needed, but in other cases progressing in your current role could be the way to go.

For example, if you’re already a nurse, studying something like an dnp nnp online will open you up to new and exciting job opportunities. If you think you have a flair for a different type of job, such as PR or Marketing, then you will need the help of a good recruitment agency. They can help you identify any transferable skills from your past job and to brush up your CV to make it more relevant to the work that you want to do. A good agency will also have loads of contacts ready and waiting for new recruits.

It goes without saying that you may have to take a knock to your salary at first. It is vital that you know the minimum amount you can earn without getting yourself into debt or becoming all work, no play because you cannot afford a social life. Work on a good budget and research the expected salaries in your chosen field and within your area. If you can’t make the two work, then you may need to reconsider your options. Don’t let it stop you, though. Be direct and honest with your salary expectations. Tell your agency, if you are using, the lowest you can go and then talk to any potential employers to see if they can accommodate you.

A simpler way of swapping careers could be to cut down your hours at work and take on a part time job. This could give you a boost on your CV and help you balance the finances during a full time change. Even taking a Saturday job in your new field in a volunteer capacity will be useful in changing paths and will show new employers that you are serious and committed.

Finally, don’t let age worry you. While there are lots of bright young things out there as competition, you actually have the edge on them when it comes to proven ability. Even if not through the same industry. You will have references and a more complex CV. Employers know what they’re looking for and they realize potential when presented with it. So be confident and show yourself in the best possible light!

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May15

Six Ways To Achieve An Eco-Friendly Bathroom

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Six Ways To Achieve An Eco-Friendly Bathroom

Planning a home improvement project soon? Why not try making your bathroom an eco-friendly space? Your bathroom is the room in the house where water use is the highest. The longer you stay in the bathroom, the more water you use and the more energy for heating, lighting, and ventilating is used, too. This all translates to skyrocketing water and energy bills every month.

With the bleak forecast about global water and energy scarcity, there’s no better time than the present to gradually transform your home into an eco-friendly space; and the bathroom is the perfect place to start. Here are six ways to achieve an eco-friendly bathroom:

Install Low-Flow Faucet Aerators:

Faucet aerators are fixtures that are capped on the faucet opening to reduce water use, control its flow, prevent splashing, and increase perceived water pressure. How does it work? Faucet aerators save water (and therefore, save you money on water bills) by introducing air into the water flow, so there’s less water flowing but still enough to wash things.

With a low-flow faucet aerator, you can reduce rate of water flow from 2.5 gallons per minute (standard faucets) to as little as 0.5 gallons per minute. That’s saving about 80 percent of water every minute the tap is on.

Faucet aerators are affordable and easy to install. You can get one for $5 to $10 dollars, depending on the brand and features added to the aerator. When buying the a low-flow aerator, make sure you have the right size and one that is compatible with your faucet. Installing the new aerator only takes a few minutes. Just unscrew the old one using a wrench, turn on the tap to wash away debris, and cap on the new aerator. Make sure not to apply too much force to avoid damaging your faucet.

Change To A Low-Flow Showerhead:

Do you like taking long showers every day? If the answer is yes, then you’ve found the primary culprit for your skyrocketing water bills. Standard showerheads use from 2.5 to 4 gallons of water per minute. So every time you shower for 30 minutes, you’re using about 75 to 120 gallons of water. That’s 15 to 24 times more water used than the average person in a developing country. (The statistics is 20 liters of water or 5.3 gallons per person.) When you change to a low-flow showerhead, you save one-half to two gallons of water every minute you shower. Of course, this only works well when you cut down on your shower time, too.

Now, if you don’t have a low-flow showerhead but you’re noticing a change in water pressure this could be a sign of a water pump problem. This is something you will want to get looked at by a professional. If you’re handy and experienced with this type of repair, however, you might be able to use a guide like this https://www.ronix.ir/mag/home-water-pump-installation-guide/ to install a new water pump if it’s needed.

Go For A Water-Efficient Toilet:

Old toilets are one of the biggest water wasters in your house. They consume about 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush, which is a lot for one use. In contrast, new toilets only use an average of 1.6 gallons per flush. If you want an eco-friendly bathroom, then you may want to switch to a water-efficient macerating toilet.

Water-efficient or low-flow toilets save more than regular modern toilets. Some models can go as low as one gallon for every flush. Getting one with a macerating pump also helps with preventing toilet clogging, which saves you from expensive plumbing bills.

Use Energy-Efficient Light Fixtures:

The bathroom is the place where you do most of your grooming, like shaving and doing makeup. These are delicate activities that need good lighting to avoid injury or mess-ups. However, inefficient light bulbs are some of the chief reasons for high electricity bills.

For places like the bathroom, that require good lighting, use energy-efficient light bulbs. These include compact fluorescent lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and halogen incandescents. Energy-efficient light fixtures can last 3 to 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs and save from 25 to 80 percent more energy, making them the eco-friendly choice.

Not only is swapping out for energy-efficient lighting fixtures a money saver, but it will also give the space a mini makeover. While choosing more eco-friendly options for your bathroom, you might want to do a full fledged remodel altogether. This is something that a professional team should assist you with. To begin researching experts, simply enter a search for “bath remodel twin cities” (or your local area) to transform your bathroom into both an eco-friendly and inviting space.

Switch To An Energy-Efficient Exhaust Fan:

Ventilation is essential to keeping your bathroom clean, odor-free, and mold-free. A constantly damp bathroom is conducive for mold growth. However, when you ventilate your bathroom after use, you remove excess moisture and inhibit the buildup of mold spores.

There are two ways to ventilate your bathroom. You can either open the window and door or use an exhaust fan. An exhaust fan consumes energy and can result in mounting energy bills when used too often. It’s not always ideal to open windows and doors, too. Open bathroom windows may invite unscrupulous people (or bugs) in your home while open doors will just transfer the odor (and whatever else is in the air) into another part of the house.

Since you can’t do away with ventilating your bathroom, you can use an energy-efficient fan. To find one, search for an Energy Star-rated model and get 60 percent energy savings compared to standard vent fans.

Choose Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies:

Many cleaning products available in the market today contain harmful chemicals that are dangerous to your health and bad for the environment. Their ingredient includes phtalates present in air fresheners, dish soap, and some toilet papers. Phtalates are harmful to the endocrine system can and reduce a man’s sperm count.

Harmful chemicals, like perchloroethylene (Perc), triclosan, 2-butoxyethanol, and ammonia, attack your health and negatively impact the environment, and they’re common ingredients in many household cleaners.

Avoid these chemicals by opting for eco-friendly products or homemade products that are proven to have no harmful effects. You can consult the non-profit Environment Working Group for a list of cleaning products to avoid.

Take The First Step:

Wasting water and energy has far reaching impact to the environment and the earth’s resources. With global warming, climate change, and scarcity hitting the world in all corners, it’s high time for people to take action to reverse the damage that’s been done to the earth. Converting your bathroom into an eco-friendly space is the first step to building a more sustainable environment for you and your family. Why not start now?

Featured Image By: Pixabay

May13

Freebie Alert!

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Freebie Alert!

Hi! To those of you who love coffee, free things, and free coffee – I have a Freebie Alert for you! If you sign up for the rewards program through Dunkin’ Donuts, I believe it’s called Dunkin’ At Home, they will send you some free samples of their make at home Cold Brew Coffee Packs. They will be shipping the samples out while supplies last until May 17th. This is the email address that sent me the notification: updates@e.dunkinathome.com

I have received coffee samples in the mail from Dunkin’ before, and they are definitely not stingy with what they send you! I am so excited to get my Cold Brew Coffee Packs samples in the mail, because I am a huge iced coffee fan. 😀 Can’t wait!

What is your favorite coffee chain? How do you drink your coffee? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr27

Pain Relief Without Pills In Five Natural Forms

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Pain Relief Without Pills In Five Natural Forms

Many people opt for a natural lifestyle, which includes avoiding taking medicine if there’s an alternative way to cure what ails you. Looking for a natural form of pain relief? Here are five options to consider if you’re looking for a break from meds:

Herbal medicine:

There are plenty of herbal medicines that can offer pain relief. Ginger has long been used to treat stomach pain from menstrual cramps to digestive disorders. Meanwhile, Turmeric is an effective form of pain relief against joint pain. You can even try products such as cannabis oil as found at https://canabidol.com/. Herbal medicines can be taken as capsules or as herbal teas – you may even be able to incorporate them into your food.

When experimenting with THC or cannabis oil, it is always best to do your research before making any purchases. There are lots of comprehensive guides and best of lists online. Then, you can learn about delta 8 vs delta 9 vapes, the best cartridges, gummies, or teas for your needs!

Remember that if you are interested in using marijuana for pain relief, then it is important to do things right. Look into Arizona medical marijuana laws, speak with your doctor, and use a reputable dispensary. There is nothing taboo about using marijuana to manage pain, especially if you are looking for a more natural remedy.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese form of treatment that involves putting small needles in key points around the body. This treatment can be used to fight all kinds of pain from arthritis to migraines. You should always seek out a qualified professional when getting this kind of treatment. It’s a great idea to get recommendations from friends or family or read client testimonials when you search “Acupuncture Near Me“. If you are squeamish with needles, this might not be the best course of treatment for you. However, it can be most beneficial and having a friend to support you at your appointment can make a big difference.

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Ahhhh!!!

Hot water:

Taking a hot bath can also be a simple and effective form of pain relief. Hot water can help to relax your muscles and create a flood of endorphins around the body that can help to combat pain. This can help to relieve pain caused by everything from joint problems to early contractions during pregnancy. Some people find that using Epsom bath salts can also help when taking a bath. There are even professional forms of pain relief using water known as hydrotherapy if you really want to unleash your inner mermaid.

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Take a soak!

Exercise:

Staying active can also help to fight pain in some cases. This is because exercise releases endorphins around the body and helps to reduce stiffness in muscles. Depending on the source of the pain, there may be some exercises that you should obviously avoid. For example, high impact exercises like jumping and running aren’t recommended if you have joint problems – you’re far better off doing low impact exercise such as swimming or yoga. Exercise is best for chronic pain and not for pain following a recent injury, in which you may be better off relaxing until the injury has began to heal. If you’re not sure which exercises are right for you, you could try talking to a physical therapist. Combining exercise with treatment plans from RELATYV At Home Pain Management in North Carolina (or a similar provider in your local area) can be most beneficial in alleviating your symptoms and improving your overall health. As your pain decreases, you will be amazed at how much more you can do when you are working out.

Meditation:

Meditating might not sound like an effective form of pain relief but it can be a major way of reducing stress, which is known to increase inflammation. Meditation involves clearing your mind and controlling your breathing so that your cortisol levels are reduced – cortisol is the stress hormone and plays a big part in triggering inflammation. By relieving stress through meditation, you could help to fight off the pain caused by inflammatory diseases such as IBS and arthritis.

Trying out these natural forms of pain relief might be just what the doctor ordered to get your body feeling back on track.

Apr25

High Paying & High Powered: The Careers You Can’t Afford To Dismiss

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High Paying & High Powered: The Careers You Can’t Afford To Dismiss

There is a lot of conflicting advice out there about how to pick the perfect career after college, with many experts emphasizing how vital it is to do what you love. However, it is also important to acknowledge that 99.9% work because we need the money to survive. With this in mind, careers at the top of the pay scale should always be considered before you make your choice. Read on to find out about some of the highest paying and highest-powered careers there are out there that might be a good fit for you:

Stockbroker:

Fancy working on Wall Street, wearing smart suits, and partying as hard as you work? Then the role of stockbroker may be for you. Of course, it’s not all champagne lunches and, in fact, it can be a pretty stressful environment to work in. Because along with the potential for high returns, dealing in stocks and other financial investments is super risky.

Now, as a stockbroker working on Wall Street, you can expect an average salary of around $300,000 a year. Although, you won’t be investing your own money but currency provided to you from commercial or private clients. You may even work with mutual funds where a collection of investors group together so that they can secure a bigger stake in the market.

You will also need to be highly knowledgeable about stocks and shares as well as other investment opportunities such as forex, ISAs, and CFDs. The latter being entirely different to actual stocks because the money is not exchanged for tangible assets. Yes, it’s a complicated process, but luckily you can get some more info about CFDs by researching them online. Although, do note that unless you have a stellar track record, it’s likely you will need a fiance or mathematics degree to get into this field.

Doctor:

Everyone thinks of medical doctors as being at the top of the pile when it comes to high paying and high powered jobs. Such a role is certainly high powered, as doctors end up making life or death decisions on a daily basis, and have to take the responsibility for these, as well.

Doctors need to use their salary to offset their student loans. However, regarding pay, you might be surprised as to how little doctors earn. In fact, the average MD wage in the US is £200,000 per annum. Although, this can be increased by specializing in a specific area or going into private practice.

Unfortunately, as there is so much schooling needed to become a doctor in the first place, the high loan debts that newly qualified medical professionals have often absorb a significant part of their salary. Perhaps making it a less wise choice for those to whom salary is the most crucial factor.

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Pixabay Image

CEO:

A CEO or chief executive officer is the person within a company that makes the high powered and high pressured decisions. The ones that whether the company will sink or swim are based upon. Of course, this makes it a super stressful environment, but many people thrive on this and enjoy carving out a name for themselves and their company in the commercial market.

Also with the average US CEOs salary being at around 13 million a year, the monetary reward is there, too; making it a fantastic career goal you cannot afford not to consider.

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#girlpower

We live in a world where the moolah is everything, and the above jobs can definitely give you a lot of it!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Apr18

Learn To Live For Today And Plan For Tomorrow

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Learn To Live For Today And Plan For Tomorrow

We all walk a fine line with our finances. We don’t want to spend our time doing nothing, we want to enjoy ourselves and experience life’s little luxuries from trips away to fun purchases. If you constantly favor saving over spending, you’re going to have a pretty boring life. At the same time, though, we have to prepare for tomorrow. We need to think about making sure that we are going to be financially secure ten days, ten months, or even ten years from now.

It seems that we are under constant pressure to plan for tomorrow. Just look at the housing market. As soon as you hit your twenties, there will be people around you, telling you to buy a home. A home gives you some form of financial security sure, but it also ties down your finances. Now, for years, you’ll need to fit in mortgage repayments into your budget. These can be incredibly expensive and will make paying for those luxuries that you love just that little bit harder. As such, it might be wise to not buy a home until you have the income where you can easily cover this cost and still live a full life. Or, simply prepare to accept the fact that, at least for a short time, you won’t be able to afford those fancy trips or that new car. You can learn more about whether you can afford to buy property on www.cnbc.com.

The lesson here, is that it’s a balancing act. It’s about balancing what you need with what you want. It’s about balancing what you must spend with what you’d love to purchase. It’s about planning for the future while still enjoying the present so that one day you’ll be able to look back at the past with no regrets. So, let’s explore some of the ways you can do this, and we can start by thinking about budgeting:

How Should You Budget?

Budgeting is actually easier than a lot of people realize. You need to start by working out exactly what you make per month. This is the total amount you have to play with, and it should include all of your incomes. So, if you have a side hustle, make sure that this is counted. Unless you would rather see that as extra money.

Don’t forget about cryptocurrency too, which certainly counts towards your income. More and more people are turning to bitcoin and the like to make more money. Does the concept of cryptocurrency go over your head? You’re not alone! Check out this Reddit best cryptocurrency guide to learn more about cryptocurrency exchanges.

Then, subtract all of the costs that you are aware of. This includes bills, rent, mortgage repayments as well as an average food cost. So, you might budget fifty a week or more for food. Now, the amount you have left should be halved. Half of this must go into savings. Set yourself a goal to save each month and put this as a direct debit on your account. Just like a tax, it will leave your account at the end of each month. This cuts out the choice of hanging onto it and spending it. Congratulations, you’ve just made a smart choice on how to prepare for your future.

The other money you can spend however you like. Put it towards your holiday, use it for presents or nights out. Maybe an evening at the casino or playing online games at home with friends? Learning how progressive jackpots work can most definitely help to increase your spending money!

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Budgeting is key!

Play With The Numbers:

This is where you need to start cutting costs on things that you need so you can afford things you want. An example of this would be something like energy bills. We all have to pay energy bills, but they should be more manageable if you can go a little more green. Make changes to your home to save energy, and you’ll have a little extra to spend each month. It won’t be much, but it will make a difference. Since you have already set a target, add that to your spending budget for now.

You can also think about boosting your income. What you’re looking for here is a passive income. There’s no point in taking on a second income to enjoy your spare time if you’re going to end up with no time to spare. There are various options for passive incomes from the stock market to property or even looking into cryptocurrency. Research a few and find out which one will benefit and suit you the most. There are plenty of resources available for gaining a better understanding of cryptocurrency like how to YouTube videos or step by step websites. Comprehensive guides can be most helpful and sites of those from local experts or bitcoin trader deutschland will give you a run through of how cryptocurrency works.

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Preparing For Disaster:

Of course, your budget is based on your income. Any hit to your income will kill both your spending budget and your savings. Worse still, it might mean that you have to use your savings to cover expenses that you can no longer afford. You can see how this would be an issue. Suddenly, you don’t have any money in your account for the future. This is where great budgeting advice that is found on www.lifehacker.com comes in handy. But how do you handle this situation?

You have to prepare for any disaster that can be foreseen. You’re probably thinking, wait a minute – unexpected costs can’t be foreseen. That’s why they’re unexpected. It’s not true. You might not expect to develop a disability, but you can forsee that it’s a possibility so you should plan for it. Anyone could develop a disability. You might be involved in a car accident, you could fall at work, or it may even develop due to biological causes. Since it could happen, you should plan for it. According to www.insurestat.com, doctors should definitely do this because anyone working in the medical field who develops a disability will probably be unable to work. As such, they should protect their income. You can protect your income with disability insurance and guarantee that you are always on roughly the same level of pay. Regardless of whether you can work or not.

This isn’t the only disaster you need to prepare for. You have to consider the worst-case scenarios that could impact your finances. Medical bills, for instance, are one of the greatest causes of debt in the USA today. You can plan for this by buying into the right health coverage plan that provides everything you might need.

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Insurance is a must.

Don’t Always Wait For Tomorrow:

Tomorrow doesn’t always come. Or rather, you can miss too many tomorrow’s and before you know it you’ve run out of time to do what you want. This may sound morbid, but you could die tomorrow. So, you might constantly be putting off that holiday to a point where you can easily afford it and when you’ll still have savings. But what if that day never comes? Most people do live their lives on an average, basic income. They never reach that 100K a year paycheck, and yes you can wait until retirement and use your 401K. But, after you’ve retired, you might not have the energy or the health to do everything you wanted. Don’t let life pass you by while you wait around for the right moment to do something.

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 #justdoit

Live For What You Love:

Finally, you need to make sure that you’re not spending your hard earned money on things that you don’t want and that you don’t need. This happens all of the time. We’ve already mentioned one example, and that’s property. Buying a home can be right for some people. But, if you are still moving around and haven’t settled, it’s just a waste of money and adds plenty of stress to your life that you don’t need. Instead, you should continue to rent. While it might be dead money, it can be far cheaper than purchasing a home that you may never pay off.

Ultimately, you have to live your life in a way that makes sense for you and financial purchases should be part of that decision. Some people spend their whole life traveling around the world, work by freelancing, and never once think about settling down into a comfortable routine. This site, www.justonewayticket.com, has some great advice on spending your life traveling. Could this be the lifestyle of your dreams? Perhaps! And as long as you have a plan for tomorrow, you can live however you want to today.

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#goals

Featured Image By: Maxpixel

Apr13

House Buying Considerations: Is Bigger Always Better?

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House Buying Considerations: Is Bigger Always Better?

When it comes to choosing a home, most of us want one thing arguably above all other considerations: space. There’s an inherent association between a property being nice and a property being large; an association so strong that many of us struggle to see smaller homes as particularly attractive at all. However, it’s worth considering whether large homes are actually all that we imagine them to be. So let’s try and settle this once and for all: when it comes to homes, is size always important?

YES: Large houses are more aesthetically pleasing

As discussed above, for some people, size is everything when it comes to aesthetics. If you want a good looking home, then bigger most definitely is better in most people’s eyes. If you are of the same opinion, then it’s worth remembering that you will have to live with, and make the most of, the property you choose. You have to love it, so if you don’t think you could truly love a smaller house, then this alone may be a significant enough factor to justify choosing a larger property.

If you are on the market for a larger home, it’s a good idea to start with newly formed neighborhoods as the home sizes are often geared towards families. Enter a search for “new community in Summerlin” (or your local area) to gather inspiration on what you like and what you don’t. Be sure to include your must haves and nice to haves too. That’s going to make your real estate agent’s job much easier as they will be able to narrow down houses that meet your requirements. When it comes to finding the right house for you, you need to have the right people in your corner to help. Whether you’re looking at Knoxville homes for sale or somewhere local, always research for well reviewed real estate agents to make your home buying experience as easy as possible.

NO: The larger a house is, the more there is to clean and maintain

As attractive as a large home may be, there’s no denying that the larger the space, the more time you’re going to have to spend caring for it. More rooms means more cleaning; large yards means more gardening chores – if you’re not a fan of these and other maintenance tasks as listed on https://www.nytimes.com/, then bigger might be rather unpleasant for you.

YES: Big houses can be downsized if required, so they’re more flexible

Some would argue that big houses have a huge amount of flexibility. If you find that you don’t need a large house, then you can always follow the guide to downsizing on https://wrenrealtyinc.com and sell your property. You can then use the proceeds of the sale to buy a smaller house; potentially even outright. In contrast, if you opt to buy a smaller home and then realize you need more space, you’re not going to have the same level of flexibility. While you could use your smaller house as equity towards a larger purchase in the future, you’re still going to need to obtain a much larger mortgage to meet the cost difference.

Few of us think far in the future when buying a home; we think about satisfying our needs and requirements for the immediate future. Thinking a few decades down the line is an important aspect of securing your financial future, so the downsize/upsize issue is one that you will want to consider. However, situations do arise that make it necessary to move house and that’s okay. If your job requires you to relocate, for example, you could fast track your future by using the services provided by cornerstonehomebuyers.com (Or a similar company in your local area) to sell your house for cash. Planning for the future is a necessity but it’s always a good idea to plan for the possibility of change in your life too.

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 Wikimedia Image

NO: Large houses are more expensive in every regard

If you want to keep your finances under control, then a larger house is not going to help you towards the goal. Larger houses have higher purchase prices, expenses, tax requirements, maintenance costs… the list goes on and on. If you’re budget-conscious to the point where the costs are your only consideration when purchasing a home, it’s safe to say that bigger is most definitely not better.

Having said that, there is still a way to get your dream home that falls under a price that fits your budget. Working with companies like this Gold Coast Buyers Agency (or something similar in your local area) can help you to better narrow down your search so you can spend time visiting homes that fit your budget, preferences, and aesthetic. They can introduce you to properties that you may have overlooked and could be a great resource should your budget be a primary concern.

YES: Large houses are more valuable

This point almost goes without saying, but it is worth noting if you’re intending to purchase your next home as part of an investment in your future. The more square footage a house has, the more potential value it is able to offer. This may be enough of a factor for it to make it worth living with higher maintenance costs, as the potential investment return is more substantial in the future.

When you are considering such a major purchase, it cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to work with a trustworthy real estate agent. They are there to help you save money, stress, and time and should be utilized to their full advantage. If you are beginning the process of shopping for a new house, enter a search online for “top realtor producers in cincinnati” (or your local area) to find the agent who is right for you.

NO: Large houses are often targeted by burglars

It’s obvious why this would be the case; it’s a simple assumption that the level of affluence that allows someone to buy a large house should also mean that they have more possessions worth stealing. Of course, there are ways of protecting your home, and modern home security innovations make this easier than ever. However, it is nevertheless worth considering the potential for enhanced risk of burglary before buying a large house.

Final Thoughts:

As you can see from the above, there are arguments both for and against large houses – so how can you know which is the right decision for you? These points are all things that should be brought up with your Finlay Brewer real estate agent or the local professional you are working with:

  • Which of the facts about is the most compelling to you personally? If you are especially concerned with aesthetics, then a larger house might be the best choice. If you’re more focused on saving money, then a smaller house is more suitable. Focusing on the aspect that is most important to you should help you make the correct decision.
  • Apply subjectivity to your personal situation. For example, if you plan to have children soon, buying a house with more bedrooms than you need right now is justifiable.
  • Ensure that you consider your needs for the current period in your life, but try to keep one eye on the future, as well. Property is an important purchase, so you have to try and think many years into the future. While it’s impossible to predict how things will pan out for you entirely, having some inclination of how you would like your life to progress can be extremely beneficial when making the size decision.
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Which size of house is right for you?

By combining your personal experience with the inherent truths listed above, you should be able to come to a house size conclusion that is well-informed and tailored specifically to your needs. Good luck!

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Apr3

Is Nutrition Just A Balancing Act?

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Is Nutrition Just A Balancing Act?

A lot of times when we read articles about nutrition or see a nutritionist terms such as “balanced” and “in moderation” show up. Yet, surely nutrition must be a little more complex than one big balancing act? Not necessarily. We as humans like to over complicate things due to our intelligent and ego driven brains when nutrition, like so many basic aspects of life, is a very simple equation.

You’ve probably heard of the saying “you are what you eat”. Indeed, this may have been drilled into you from an early age – but how much attention do you honestly pay to this principle? You don’t need GI doctors to tell you that all that sugar, saturated fat, and caffeine is bad for your health and well being. We all know that excessive sugar, fat, and salt are bad for our hearts and can cause Type II diabetes… yet, we keep on doing the same thing.

Rather than beat yourself up and make all sorts of rules about what you can and can’t eat, the best way to approach the great balancing act of nutrition is to picture a bank account. With a bank account there are deposits and withdrawals. The deposits nourish your bank balance while the withdrawals deplete it. If there are too many withdrawals, the account becomes overdrawn, and you end up in financial trouble.

Using this metaphor as a parallel for nutrition, it’s clear that deposits and withdrawals exist. As an example, drinking a vitamin filled smoothie could be considered a deposit because you are investing nutrients that are going to replenish and revitalize your body. Whereas eating a chocolate bar would be considered to be a withdrawal because it is not doing anything for you.

Making the occasional withdrawal is fine, as this way, there is still an equilibrium. If you are to withdraw more from this bank account nutritionally then you are putting in is when you run into problems. That’s when serious diseases start to occur. The word disease represents that your body is in a state of dis-ease; meaning it is out of balance.  No matter what your current condition of health is, the best way to ensure a long and healthy life is to keep your bank account in credit and balance the books!

Nutrition is important. And what is equally as important to what we put in our mouths, is how often and how intensely we move our bodies. Just a twenty minute walk at a moderate pace with some good music will do the trick to get you into the “aerobic zone”.  One of the most universal and all around forms of exercise that requires very little equipment, and is accessible for all, is swimming. It is easy on your body and it sure is fun.

The bank account of your health depends primarily on two things; the food you eat and the amount of exercise that you complete. Hopefully, this simple metaphor of the bank account will inspire you to make better day to day choices and keep on top of the balancing act that is nutrition.

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Apr2

5 Changes To Your Diet That Will Make Your Skin Glow

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5 Changes To Your Diet That Will Make Your Skin Glow

Tired of having dull, lackluster skin? Want to achieve that natural glow that makes you feel great inside and out? Of course you do! While a good skincare routine goes a long way, the key to radiant skin starts from within. Read about five simple diet changes that will help to make your skin glow:

1. Drink more water:

You might be tired of being told to drink more water, but you won’t know the difference it can make to your skin until you give it a try. Drinking more water has many beauty benefits, and it can be a great anti-ageing tool to keep your skin looking plump and wrinkle-free. Start drinking around eight glasses (more if you’re exercising) and keep yourself hydrated.

2. Ditch the caffeine:

Caffeine might make you feel more awake, but it’s not great for your skin. While caffeine alone isn’t responsible for cellulite, it can add to its appearance – so you might want to lay off caffeine as a way to reduce it. If you’re already dealing with cellulite, you can get advice on how to get rid of it from cellulite.com – it’s a great resource for finding creams and lotions to help improve that. Try caffeine-free versions of your favorite hot drinks or beverages or, better yet, go for natural juice and water, instead.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables:

Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals, which are all essential for helping your skin to glow. Some of the fruits and vegetables for good skin include vitamin C rich foods like green peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes. Selenium is a mineral that will boost skin elasticity and keep it firm, and you can find it in spinach, lentils, and carrots. Fill up your plate with healthy fruits and vegetables and feed your skin the goodness that it needs.

4. Switch to healthy fats:

We all know that consuming too many fatty foods is bad for you, but that doesn’t mean that all fats are bad. There are healthy fats that can help give your skin a boost, including omega 3, which is found in oily fish like salmon and mackerel. Avocados, walnuts, and olive oil also contain beneficial fats that will help to nourish your skin. Breakfast is a good place to consume healthy fats, so start your day off right with some eggs and other good fats to help your intake.

5. Lower your soda intake:

Soda isn’t recommended for living a healthy diet, and this is particularly true when it comes to your skin. The syrups and sugars contained in soda can have different effects, including the ageing of your skin. Sodas are also very high in calories, and consuming too many calories can lead to weight gain. Opt for sugar free versions if you must drink soda, or cut them out altogether and stick to water.

Glowing skin is an amazing confidence booster that will help you radiate from within. By starting with a good diet, you can help create a glowing complexion and keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. Make some changes to your eating and drinking habits today to experience the benefits for yourself.

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