Moving Long-Distance? Take These Steps First

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When it comes to moving house, some of us choose to move just a couple of streets across, possibly

to find a bigger home or be closer to family. Some of us, however, tend only to move in big chunks,

taking us from one city to another, or potentially even another state or country. You may be in the latter

group if you have a job that requires you to travel, or happen to experience wanderlust.

However, any one of us can end up moving more or less across the country for one reason or another.

Maybe our job demands it, or maybe we have to move to help family during a tough time. Either way,

it is important to be aware of what such a long distance move entails, and how to make sure that you

take all the necessary precautions before you make it.

Read up on state/regional/national law where you’re going

Outside of a vague sense that we’re always operating on the right side of the law, many of us do not

have in-depth legal knowledge, and specifically do not know the difference between the laws where

we are, and law elsewhere. However, if you are moving within the USA, you may need to brush up

on state law in the place you’re moving to. Even neighboring states can have vastly different laws on

issues such as drinking alcohol, gun ownership and driving. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, so make

sure to learn what you need to know.

Heavy weight makes any trip tougher

Though many of us decide to travel light and save money by turning our house move into a road trip,

driving across the country with most of your possessions may well be a false economy; it will definitely

slow your drive, and will lead to more frequent refuelling stops. Assigning this part of the job to the likes

of North American Van Lines is a smart move - then you can move at your leisure, potentially even

flying to save the exhaustion and expense that comes from a long, multi-day drive and several motel

stops. Moving is a tough process, why make it any harder than it needs to be?

Switch over your utilities

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No matter how you’ve traveled, nor how long it has taken, when you arrive at the other end of a

long-haul move you are going to be tired. You will also be the very opposite of fresh, and won’t much

be in the mood for anything beyond flaking out and beginning to relax into your new home. So make

sure that you have alerted your utilities provider in the old home to switch off your service on moving

day, and spoken to your new provider to make sure your supply is on. You will want to shower, and you

are not going to want to do it in the dark, so it’s worth a check-up call a few days before the move to

ensure everything is on target.

A long-distance move can be exciting and filled with learning opportunities, but it is also testing at every

turn, so make sure you’ve got the essentials covered before you move.

Avoiding Debt During the Pandemic

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2020 has been a difficult year in many ways. The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has impacted

pretty much all of us in some way or another, some of us to a greater extent than others. This virus has

posed a serious threat to our health and wellbeing, but this isn’t where its chaos has ended. Instead, in

a bid to slow the spread of the virus and save lives, governments around the world have implemented

social isolation and social distancing measures, which have made businesses of all shapes and sizes

struggle to operate. With people unable to go to work or shop as usual for so many months, many

companies have begun to collapse. Many of us have lost our jobs. Many of us are operating on

reduced hours. Many of us have had to accept reduced pay packets as a means of simply holding

onto our positions. This, unsurprisingly, means that many of us have been struggling with debt as a

result. While debt may be inevitable for some of us right now, there are steps you can take to try to

help yourself as best possible. Here are a few to take into consideration.

Contact Lenders

If you have credit card bills, loan payments, financial agreements or other forms of arranged debt that

you’re trying to deal with and may not be able to meet with your reduced income, it is essential that

you contact the lenders you’re engaging with as soon as possible. Why? Well, many lenders are well

aware that people are struggling right now. Many are offering agreements where they will pause

interest, delay interest or provide payment holidays until you are back on your feet. This can help you

to avoid further fees, fines or marks on your credit record. A simple call can make a huge difference.

Create a New Budget

Creating a new budget is essential if your income has changed. After all, you need to make sure that

all of your essentials and necessary payments are able to be met. This may mean cutting down on

luxury or non-essential spending. To create a new budget, figure out your latest take home pay (your

salary minus tax payments and other necessary legal payments). Then deduct absolutely essential

payments like rent or mortgage payments, food, electricity, etc.  Whatever is left over is what you have

to spend. Even if it isn’t much, you mustn’t exceed it, as you will end up digging yourself into debt. A

professional in financial planning will be able to help you with this if you are struggling.

Consider Extra Means of Making Money

There are different ways you can attempt to make up extra money if there’s a shortfall on any of your

essential purchases:

• Check out government help schemes such as grants

• Take on freelance work or a second job

• Sell belongings you do not need

These really are hard times for many of us, so hopefully, some of the above advice and guidance

might help you to keep on your feet until things begin to return to normal!

Do You Know What Buyers Want From Your Home?

 Are you thinking about selling your home? Even if you’re not planning an immediate future sale, it’s still worth exploring how you can change your home the right way to make it more appealing, such as adding vinyl windows. Ultimately, you need to get into the buyer mindset here and ensure that you offer them exactly what they want. This could be different than what you might presume. So, let’s take a look at some of the options that are most sought after by modern buyers. 

4 Health Hacks For Working Out During Pregnancy

 

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Just because you have a baby brewing in your tummy doesn’t mean you’re ready to stop exercising. Not only have you worked hard to get your body, but you want to remain as healthy as possible during your pregnancy. After hearing all the horror stories, it’s smart to try and stay as comfortable as possible!

Sure, you’re happy to admit there will be a point where you have to wind down - we see you, third trimester - but even then, you can continue to exercise. All you need to remember are the hacks to do it, which are outlined underneath.

Maintain, Don’t Gain

There are plenty of myths surrounding working out while pregnant, and they’re scary. However, pretty much every expert worth their salt is in agreement about one thing - you can maintain your routine in the first trimester. That means, if you used to jog a couple of miles a day, there’s nothing wrong with keeping up with your regime. The trade-off is that you shouldn’t ratchet up the intensity once you find out you’re with child. For example, it’s not healthy to train for a marathon if you’re used to completing a 10k. The same goes for lifting. CrossFit fanatics can lift the same volume, yet you should avoid barbells if you mainly focus on cardio!

Try Pilates

Probably the biggest change when you find out you’re pregnant is to your energy levels. You may not show straight away, but the internal changes will happen very quickly. As a result, it’s hard to find the motivation to work out, which is where a Pilates session comes into play. Firstly, online Pilates classes mean you can do it remotely without putting anybody’s health at risk. Secondly, since it’s a non-impact exercise, it’s ideal for pregnant women to build flexibility, strength, and muscle tone because it trains your core.

Create A Solid Foundation

Your stomach is only going to expand, and it will ruin your posture. You’ll find that there is an ungodly amount of pressure on your back, which is crippling. Something as straightforward as bending over is tough in the third trimester. Thankfully, you can prepare your body from the beginning by building a strong foundation now that you can maintain in the future. Although intense, deadlifting strengthens your back, legs, and glutes through resistance training to ensure your back is ready for the grind when your center of gravity changes.

Use The Talk Test

When your energy levels feel normal, you’ll want to take advantage and there’s nothing wrong with the logic. If anything, it’s encouraged as lots of women miss out on working out in the first trimester due to morning sickness. One thing to keep in mind is the talk test. Holding a conversation while exercising shows that the intensity level is low enough that the heart can pump blood around your and your baby’s body. If you’re out of breath, it’s safer to drop back.

How do you plan on exercising now you have a bun in the oven?!

What is HUD and What Does it Do?

 

You’ve probably heard of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. However, like many government programs and agencies, you may be unclear about what role it plays, and what actions it has the power to undertake. Let’s look at what HUD is, and what it can do for members of the American public. 

Provide and Subsidize Public Housing

HUD is a federal agency overseen by a cabinet-level Secretary. Its primary function is to provide housing to people who might otherwise go without, who are eligible under HUD screening criteria. This often comes in the form of housing projects, or public housing, but it also includes Section 8 subsidizing of rent for low-income individuals or families. 

Insure Mortgage Loans

HUD also oversees the Federal Housing Administration, which insures mortgage loans. In essence, a series of grants and loans, like the Ginnie Mae program, makes it possible for people on fixed incomes, or those with low earning ability, to make down payments and secure home loans. 

Monitor Public Education in At-Risk Neighborhoods

The “development” portion of HUD’s charter includes making sure that children in higher-risk neighborhoods receive adequate public education. This is done by monitoring and evaluating standardized test scores and other variables, for statistical purposes and to determine if any appropriate actions or interventions need to be taken. 

Homelessness Relief

While many social services help to alleviate homelessness in major U.S. cities, HUD serves a unique role in helping place homeless people in housing. They oversee several programs from emergency placements to education, rehabilitation, and subsidization efforts that can help get people “off the streets” and onto a better path.

Poverty and homelessness are major issues in America. HUD’s goal is to work to make them less dominant, giving millions of citizens hope and the ability to have safe, secure housing.