Bills, Bills, Bills: Some of the Most Expensive Home Repairs and How To Avoid Them

When you buy a home, it is one of the most expensive things that you will ever buy. It is an exciting purchase, though. You’ll be on the property ladder and be investing money each month, rather than when you are renting and paying someone else’s mortgage for them. One of the new responsibilities that come with homeownership is the cost of all the repairs. There is no more calling the landlord when the home is in a bit of a state. If you don’t keep with the maintenance, though, it can end up costing a lot of money. So here are some ways to avoid some of the most expensive repairs that could occur.

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Foundation Damage

Not only is foundation damage going to cost a lot to repair, but it is a pretty big deal. It can cause major problems if it is just left alone. So to make sure that you don’t get any unexpected damage, it is a good idea to check your basement regularly. Check all spaces in the basement for any signs of cracks in the wall or any water damage. Door frames might have expanded or be out of place, or there may be floors that are uneven. If any of these things are found, then you need to deal with it right away. Water damage is a major factor, so something like basement wall sealing could be a way to fix things before it gets too bad.

Mold

Mold and mildew not only look bad, but they can be very detrimental to health. So as well as causing damage to your home, it can be harmful to everyone in the home. It can appear pretty much anywhere and on any surface. If you have some, it means that there is some damp getting in somewhere. If you’re not sure where then an expert could come to check. Otherwise, you will just be constantly cleaning away the mold, but it will keep coming back. But if you have any leaks or cracks in the wall exterior, they could be the source. So check on these types of thing regularly.

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Roofing

In order to prevent any major disasters with roofing, it is a good idea to regularly check and maintain your roof. If you haven’t got a tall enough ladder, then it is something that would actually be worth investing in. Then you can check your roof without the help of a professional. Be sure to check on your roof at least twice a year, but more when there have been any big windstorms, for example.

Termite Infestation

Termites can cause so many problems to property if they are just left to do their thing. They can cause more damage than even water or fire could! So if you spot any signs of termite damage, then you need to get a reputable pest control professional in to help. The signs to look out for are piles of wooden droppings, any dead bugs or wings, as well as mud tubes on the outside walls of your home.

New Year, New Home? How To Bring Your Personality To A Brand New Home

If you have just moved into somewhere new, it is a pretty exciting time. You have a new space and canvas to create the home that you want. So once the dust has settled and you’ve unpacked your belongings, you can start putting your stamp on the place. You don’t want it to look just like it did when you first moved in. But where do you start when there is a whole house to start personalizing? Here are some ideas, both big and small, so that you can start to put your stamp on the home.

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Get a New Front Door

The first thing that anyone sees when they see the house is the front door. So if you want to make your new home look a little different, then why not start with a new front door? If you have the means to buy a brand new one, then that could be the best route to go down. But if not, you could simple paint the door a different color. You could even get some new home additions like a new knocker, handle or number if you want to put your mark on things.

Hang Photos on the Wall

There is no better way to personalize a home than with photos that are personal to you. Any sign of the previous owners will be gone when you family’s face is all over the wall. You could also think about wall art that means something to you, or paint a few pieces yourself if you’re creative. Nothing more personal that that!

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Change the Faucets

The kitchen and bathroom might be fine as they are. Plus, they can be expensive to replace right away. So you could just make changes to the faucets. Choosing something that is more your style, whether that be classic or elegant, will make more of a difference in those rooms than you would think. Then if the rest of the kitchen and bathroom need to be changed at a later date, you can work around what you’ve already got.

Use Accent Walls

You might have moved into a home that is pretty neutral. It might have been one of the big selling points for you. But in order to put your stamp on the home, you could paint some accent walls in different rooms. It is simple because it doesn’t need you to paint the whole room, as it’s just adding a pop of color on one wall. A small tin of paint isn’t very expensive either. So it could be something that you do shortly after moving in when you’re craving a bit of personality in the room.

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Get a New Rug

If the flooring doesn’t need to be replaced, then you could just add come color or personality with rugs. It breaks up the floor a little and can make the whole room look a little different. So grab a few, large or small, and get creative on your floors! They work for all budgets too as you can just get the ones you can afford.

More Tips on Shopping for a Wedding Ring

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In a previous article, we talked about the things to consider when you’re trying to figure out whether you are ready to get married. Getting married is a big commitment to make, which makes the decision even more important. After you say yes, however, there are still plenty of things to prepare for the wedding.

A beautiful pair of wedding rings is among the many things you need to shop for. Fortunately, getting a gorgeous ring that matches your budget is not as difficult as you think. These next few shopping tips will help you get started with your own search right away.

Set a Budget for the Purchase

It is easy to get carried away when shopping for wedding rings. That extra $200 you’re willing to spend after seeing a more beautiful ring can soon turn to an extra expense you can’t really afford. The little details of a wedding ring change its price a lot. Going from diamond color grade G to D, for example, can double the price of the ring entirely.

A good way to get around this potential issue is by having a clear budget from the start. Understand how much you can afford on the wedding rings and stick to it. Keep in mind that there are still other things to prepare for the wedding – and many other expenses to deal with – so staying true to the budget is a must.

Buy from the Right Retailer

I always advise against going with big jewelry brands, especially those with chain stores. Their jewelry tends to be more expensive because they also spend a lot of overhead costs like advertising and promotions. Indie jewelers and top local brands such as Ascot Diamonds in New York are the better options in most cases.

These jewelers don’t really have to pay a lot on advertising and other costs, which is why they don’t need to mark up the prices of their diamonds so much. To make it even better, local brands usually have more designs and are willing to cater to your needs and personal preferences to the very last detail.

You can still pick up a gorgeous pair of wedding rings, enjoy the same level of service and save at the same time when shopping at the right retailer. Don’t forget to ask for a discount too, since it can help you save even more.

Speaking of discounts…

Know When to Shop

Just like the fashion market, jewelry goes on sale at certain times. Buying a pair of wedding rings off season – usually during the winter – can help you find better deals without hassle. The same can be said for special offers and extra discounts found online and offline.

Knowing when to shop can help you save more than 10% on your wedding ring. You can still get the best cut and color, a beautiful band design and the perfect wedding ring without breaking the bank. Simply apply the tips we’ve covered in this article and start your search for the perfect pair of wedding rings.

Holes In Your Wallet: Three Of The Biggest Financial Problems You Will Face In Your LIfe

Money is probably the biggest source of anxiety for the vast majority of people, and that's pretty understandable. Most of us simply wouldn't be able to function without it after all. Even when everything in your life is normal and going fine, your finances will often be a little niggling worry that sits at the back of your head most of the time. But what happens when things go wrong? What about when the worst possible things happen you're suddenly in a position when your finances have taken a really serious blow? The best thing that you can do is to try to be prepared for things like this when they happen. You can't always predict when something is going to go wrong, but here are a few of the most common financial disasters that you might face so that you're in a better position to avoid them.

A car accident

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A car crash is a lot of people's biggest fear. Not only can it have some serious financial ramifications, but the physical and psychological consequences can be incredibly damaging and long lasting. Many of us use our cars to get to work, pick up our kids from school, see friends and do just about everything else as well. That means that if you’re in a position where you're left without a car it can cause your entire life to grind to a halt. Even worse than that, is the chance that you could suffer an injury from the accident. Physical injury can stop you from working as well as making everyday tasks very difficult to deal with. It's a very good idea to have a lawyer that you can trust to help you deal with the financial problems that can result from a car accident or injury. From the average whiplash settlement to a more serious, long-term injury, there are plenty of options for getting the compensation that you need to protect your finances after an accident.

Losing your job

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Losing your job can be one of the most serious financial disasters that a person can face. Ending up without your main source of income can have some extremely long lasting effects on your financial situation. If you're in a position where you have a partner who can support you, then that's fantastic, but it can still cause problems to any household. The best thing that you can do to protect yourself from this situation is to make sure that you're putting a portion of your income every month into a savings account. That way, in the event that you find yourself without an income for any length of time, you're not going to end up getting into any financial trouble. Of course, you're probably not going to be able to live off your savings for a particularly long time but, at the very least, it can help you to feel a little bit less anxious and rushed while you're looking for a new job.

Problems with your home

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Your home should be your sanctuary. It should be the place where you feel the safest and most secure. That's what makes it all the more horrible if something happens to your house to disrupt that safety and security. Whether it's a robbery, flood, fire or anything else, a household disaster can throw your entire life into total disarray. Of course the first and most important thing that you should do to protect yourself are to make sure that you have insurance that covers you in the event of any of these things. You should also make sure that you get your electrical supply, pipes, heating and appliances all tested as regularly as possible so that you don't end up with any nasty surprises. Make sure that you have somewhere that you and your family can go while any repairs are being done on your home and after that, the best thing that you can do is to try to get life back to normal as quickly as possible. The last thing you want is to let this problem have any long term effects on you or your family's quality of life.

Life is always going to throw curve balls at you; that's just the way the world works. But if you're prepared and you know how to deal with them, you can avoid letting life's nasty surprises knock you to the ground.

Why Homeschooler Parents Need To Get Together More Often

Taking charge of your child’s education and ensuring they learn what they should be can be a full-time job. But helping them develop into fantastic young adults requires more than education. It requires socialization. They need to learn social dynamics, as well as group learning skills, that will help them later in life. It can be hard to connect with non-homeschoolers because of schedule clashes, so why not look into getting them together with other homeschoolers, instead?

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Get connected and get organized

There might already be a collective group for homeschoolers in your area or you may have to start one. Using social media makes it a lot easier to connect with like-minded parents. Whether it’s an established group or one you’ve found, they might need use of some organizational skills to help everyone collaborate. To that end, you can make it a lot easier to keep in touch and exchange ideas through apps like an online directory. How involved every individual member is in this co-operative movement is their own choice, but it’s good to get everyone at least abreast of what kind of collaborations are on offer from you as well as the other members.

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Find group activities that fit everyone

Every parent might have their own approach to how they teach their children. It’s important that you don’t try to or let anyone else railroad the direction of the group. No-one should be excluded because they didn’t want to participate in a certain activity or lesson. The idea is to pool resources and ideas together for those who want them, not to set a curriculum. If you want to show the benefits of the collaboration, however, it’s a good idea to put together a list of potential activities. Group learning is an important skill, and there are plenty of different ways to do it. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a number that the parents can all agree on.

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Remember it’s about more than education

Children learn as much from each other as they do from being educated together. Both structured and unstructured play are important. Structured play helps them learn interpersonal boundaries with a little help. Meanwhile, unstructured play is how they learn about various social dynamics. They learn the problems and solutions themselves without having the answers handed to them. Of course, there’s also the fact that it’s just plain fun. It’s easy to miss the opportunity for collective fun when homeschooling, so consider recommending the occasional break day to the homeschoolers group. Whether that’s a relaxed picnic or a fun-filled day at a trampoline center. Don’t make education the only reason the kids get together.

By connecting with the parents of other homeschoolers, you can make a much more flexible socialization experience for you and your kids. Make sure everyone is comfortable with the direction the group takes, of course. You might not agree on teaching methods, but you can all agree on the importance of your involvement in the child’s development. Make that the cornerstone of all activity going forward.