Tag Archives: tips

How to Prepare for Unexpected Unemployment – Top 8 Tips

Posted on by
Reply

Nobody likes to consider the chance that they may find themselves unemployed, but due to the current pandemic and possible future recession, it’s a necessity that everyone should start thinking about. No matter how recession-proof you think your job may be, it’s always a good idea to start preparing for unemployment now.

If you’re unsure of how to prepare for unemployment,check this blog about the top eight ways you can ensure you’re ready for unexpected job loss.

  1. Trim Your Budget

Step one in how to prepare for unemployment is to take a look at your budget. How much of your income are you spending? Compare your spending on necessities versus luxuries. If you have any concerns about losing your job in the near future, cut down your budget as much as you can and don’t splurge on an extravagant vacation! Place all the money that you would normally put towards entertainment into your savings to prepare yourself for months with no income.

  1. Build Up The Emergency Fund

You might not have any specific savings accounts at this point, but you should now separate out at least two: an emergency fund and retirement savings. You should apply all of your extra funds towards these two accounts, with a special focus on your emergency fund during the time when your job may be in jeopardy.

Many people stop paying into their emergency fund once they reach a specific goal, but on our list of how to prepare for unemployment, the emergency fund is a critical part of surviving while jobless. Even if you’ve reached your initial goal for this account, keep paying into it until you have at least a year’s worth of living expenses.

  1. Look At Health Insurance

Many people rely on their employers for health insurance. When they lose their jobs, they never even consider what it means for their healthcare costs. You might think that COBRA could pick up the slack until you find new insurance, but this could be a heavy financial burden.

If you’re preparing for unemployment, you should start searching for health insurance options with your reduced income right now, so that you’re ready for whatever comes your way. There are a number of resources through the ACA that can help you find affordable healthcare no matter how much money you’re making.

  1. Speed Up Debt Repayment

One of the biggest burdens for those who are unemployed is still having to make payments toward various debts. Whether it’s a mortgage, student loans, or credit card debt, you should speed up your debt repayment, even if you have a low income. When preparing for unemployment, prioritize debts that have high interest rates or those that don’t offer deferment.

  1. Apply for Deferments

Rent and mortgage are at the top of everyone’s list when thinking about how to prepare for unemployment. The reason it’s not as vital as building up your emergency fund and trimming your budget is due to deferment and refinancing options. In cases like the current pandemic, many companies are suspending eviction and foreclosure to provide relief for people dealing with job loss.

You can reach out to your lender to see if you qualify for deferment; that suspends accruing interest and postpones payments until a later date. Negotiate with your lender to ensure the new payment dates are at a time when you’re sure you’ll have a steady income.

  1. Apply for Unemployment

Part of the taxes taken out of your paycheck is for unemployment insurance, and you should absolutely take advantage of this program if you lose your job. Part of learning how to prepare for unemployment is understanding the application and claim filing process. After you file a claim, it will take the unemployment office several weeks to process your application and attribute the correct Weekly Benefit Amount and Claim Balance to your account. Once they provide you with a claim summary, you can start certifying for your benefits — even if you have to do it retroactively.

  1. Start Networking

While everyone’s employment situation is different, it’s never too early to start refreshing your resume and networking with potential employers. Hunting for a new job can be very stressful and there are a number of preemptive steps you can take to make it easier.

In addition to ensuring your resume is up to date, you also want your social networking profiles to display you in the best possible light. Add all relevant skills to your LinkedIn profile and share successful projects on your Facebook page. Selling yourself to recruiters is critical for those preparing for unemployment.

  1. Find Supplemental Income

Starting a side job while you’re still employed is a great way to supplement your income and save more money. Whether it’s a hobby with marketable skills that you can turn into a part-time gig or a passion that you eventually want to transform into your own business, now is a good time to start building up your experience and resources. Did these tips help you learn how to prepare for unemployment? We want to hear from you! Comment below to start a conversation about the best ways to prepare for unexpected unemployment that we didn’t include in our blog.

Remodeling Tips For Homeowners

Posted on by
1

Image Source: Pexels

There may come a time when you’re ready to give your home a new look. Rather than move locations, you can remodel your home to fit your needs. From remodeling your kitchen to adding a new style to your bathroom, there are many ways to give your house a new appearance.

Before you start the initial demo, here are some remodeling tips to keep in mind:

1. Have a Plan

Before you start taking sledgehammers to your walls, have a plan. Home remodeling is a bigger step than simply replacing interior decor. You should have a general idea as to what you want to renovate and then put your remodeling plan into motion.

When you have a plan of how you’re going to remodel your home, you can rest easy knowing the finished product will be the right one.

2. Start Small

You don’t need to complete a full home renovation. The remodel can be small and targeted. Pick out an area of the home that is in dire need of a refresh and remodel that area first. Then, when that’s finished, you can work on the next area of your home you’d like to see renewed and vibrant.

3. Know Your Budget

Remodeling isn’t cheap but you can do so on a budget. If you have a certain amount of money to work with on your home remodel vision, keep that budget in mind along the way. After all, you don’t want to get halfway through putting down the new floor and find out you can afford to pay for the rest of the tile.

With a budget in mind, you know your home remodel vision can be successful and complete.

4. Hire a Professional

You may think you’re capable of redoing your kitchen cabinets, but if you’ve never done this type of job before, it may be best to leave this construction up to the professionals. It is well worth the money to ensure the finished product is one with top-notch results.

If it’s something as simple as replacing HVAC filters in your home, and you’re well-versed in this area enough to know the difference between FPR vs. Merv, you can do this job. However, a home remodel is much more involved and usually requires the expertise of a construction professional.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Try a New Style

It may be scary to embark on a home remodel project, especially if you’re going in a totally different direction with style. But, don’t be afraid of a new style!

You don’t want to go through the entire, tedious home remodel process and have the finished product look just a little bit different than the original version. Check out home remodeling and construction sites online to get ideas as to what your finished remodel should look like. You may have an idea as to the look you’re trying to achieve and these websites will help you put your visions into motion.

Pursue a Home Remodel Project Today

If you want your house to look and feel different, and don’t want to move, home remodeling is an excellent way to give your place a new style. Start researching your options today and see what parts of your home could use a little refresh.

7 Ways For Recreating Your Own Spa Oasis at Home

Posted on by
2

What are SPA treatments? Literally, the abbreviation SPA stands for “Sanitas pro-Aqua” and translated from Latin means “Water for health”. Thought the history, the SPA procedures have transformed and today they consist not only of water healing treatments but also of aromatherapy, massage, body wraps, peeling, stone therapy, etc.

In order to arrange a real holiday for your soul and body, you don’t have to pay for expensive procedures in specialised beauty salons. It is quite possible to recreate your own SPA oasis at home.

To arrange a spa session, make sure that nothing distracts you. Allocate 2-3 hours for procedures and ask relatives not to disturb you. Make yourself a playlist with nice music in advance. It may be slow compositions, sounds of nature or modern songs, the main thing is that you like it.

The next preparation step is aromatherapy. You can use scented candles, aroma lamps or aroma sticks. Also, think about what treatments you would include in your spa session in order to prepare everything that you’ll need.

1. Take a bath with salt and oils

Start your spa day with a pleasant, warm bath. Add sea salt to the water: this will help to reduce the appearance of cellulite, and the skin will become more elastic, toned and soft. Three to five tablespoons per bath will be enough. You can also add a few drops off essential oil.

Take a bath for 15 to 20 minutes. You can also use the well-known bath bombs. They are a mixture of salt and soda formulations, which also include essential oils, aromatics, and fatty acids. They will soften your skin and additionally give you a boost of energy and vitality.

If you have any skin diseases, for example, dermatitis or acne, then taking baths with herbal decoctions (green tea, chamomile, calendula or lavender) will help you.

2. Use body scrubs

After a bath, the following step should be peeling and scrubbing. By gently applying a scrub cream to the skin, and then smoothly rubbing it in the direction of lymph flow (from the feet to the hips, from the hands to the shoulders), you can achieve a significant improvement in the condition of the skin, improve its tone, and increase elasticity. It is a great way to get rid of the dead cells from your body and face skin.

For the spa procedure at home, you can also use homemade scrub, that you can make by yourself. There are several common recipes:

1. Mix half a glass of sea salt and one tablespoon of honey. Having prepared a scrub in such a simple way, you can achieve a significant removal of excess fluid from the body.

2. Two glasses of sea salt, finely chopped lemon peel, a few drops of any citrus oil and cedarwood oil (equivalent amount).

3. Use 2-3 tablespoons of oatmeal, 30 ml of warm milk and a tablespoon of oil.

An oatmeal scrub has moisturizing property and it is great for dry and sensitive skin, especially in combination with almond or olive oil.

This scrub will significantly improve the condition of the subcutaneous tissue and cleanse the pores from the accumulated toxins and it has a great tonic effect. This part of your spa routine can significantly improve the condition of the skin of the whole body.

IMPORTANT! Don’t overdo it. IF you don’t want to injure your skin, don’t scrub it more than two to three times a week.

3. Do self-massage

Self-massage is an excellent way of combating cellulite and giving the skin smoothness. It can be done daily after an evening bath with the help of various devices: special hard washcloths, rollers, mittens or brushes. Massage the body with smooth movements from the bottom to upper parts of your body, to improve fluid circulation and enhance lymphatic outflow.

4. Do wraps

Another important step in body skincare is anti-cellulite wraps. Nowadays, there are numerous diverse products that are highly effective for stimulating blood and lymph circulation, as well as enhancing metabolism, moisturizing the skin and increasing its tone.

Apply anti-cellulite product to previously cleansed skin, then wrap the problematic areas with foil. After that, you should cover those areas with something warm, for example, a blanket, and lie down for at least 20-30 minutes. After the procedure, the remains of the product can be washed off with a soft towel moistened with warm water. Usually, it’s not necessary, since the product is well absorbed into the skin.

It is recommended to apply a special anti-cellulite product, which includes lymphatic drainage and moisturizing components. It can be applied daily, preferably before bedtime. This type of cream contains various oils, caffeine, chestnut and seaweed extract.

5. Clay masks

Clay has an incredible healing effect for the skin, and each of its types copes with a specific problem, it cleanses, heals, improves the colour of the skin, tightens pores, refreshes and much more. Clay masks are equally beneficial for the face and the whole body. In addition, they are safe and suitable even for sensitive and delicate skin. Clay varies in colour and purpose:

black clay — for oily skin;

white — for sensitive;

green — for combined and prone to oily;

blue — for normal skin type;

pink (red) — for skin prone to allergies and irritations;

yellow — have anti-ageing properties.

6. Don’t forget to take care of your hands

Every day, due to the frequent washing of hands and their disinfection with various disinfectants, the skin becomes dry, irritated and may even crack. In this case, you should consider using intensive moisturizing creams for both hands and nails. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to use special fabric gloves (or ordinary medical and cellophane gloves): the cream will be absorbed much more intensely, and the skin of the hands will delight you with its softness.

7. Foot Care

To increase general immunity and activate reflexology points on the feet, the use of special massage mats is recommended. You can also perform self-massage of the feet with the help of special creams or oils. The best option is to use a good quality leg massager. That will your best investment and your legs will thank you. Massage will soften the rough skin of the surface of the feet, will have a relaxing effect, and also increase the overall tone of the body.

Special socks with the addition of various exfoliating compositions and emollients will help prepare the feet for the summer. This procedure is called foot peeling. Before doing it, it is recommended to steam the legs, for example, in soda water. It is important to follow the instructions and don’t use the socks for more than 8-10 minutes.

After the procedure, it is necessary to apply a soothing and moisturizing foot cream. You can also use a special foot cream that quickly returns softness to your heels. Often the main components of such creams are urea and salicylic acid. Additionally, keratin, paraffin and various oils may be included.

Conclusion

You should grow a habit of having a spa evening at least once a month. Taking care of yourself does not only improve the quality of your body and appearance but also improves self-esteem. Home spa procedures are affordable and easy, so don’t postpone them.

Smart Small Bathroom Remodelling Ideas On A Budget

Posted on by
1

The most common problem that owners of small-sized apartments are facing is the very modest size of the bathroom. During the repair, you have to solve a difficult problem: how to properly plan a room so that it is both functional and not cluttered?

In fact, everything is much simpler – you just need to use your imagination and a little bit of work. Here are some useful and interesting ideas for a small bathroom.

Layout Features

If you start repairs “from scratch”, and the size of your bathroom is very small — you can think about increasing it due to the redevelopment of walls and partitions. The important thing is to consult an appropriate specialist for this. As a result, it will be possible to combine a bathroom with a toilet, or with a corridor. However, this is a very difficult job, it is better to save this option as a last resort.

A more affordable option may be the thoughtful layout and design of a small bathroom. Due to the visual effects and the arrangement of plumbing, you can greatly expand the visible boundaries of the room and not change its actual size.

First, you need to pay attention to the location of the plumbing — perhaps the toilet is too far from the wall or it can be moved closer to the drain. A door can also take a lot of space, especially if it opens inward. It is necessary to change the door so that it opens outward or even put the sliding doors that take no space at all.

Preparation for reparations  in the bathroom

Walls and floors are needed to be cleaned to the ground. It is necessary to remove all the old coating: tiles, paint, old glue, etc.  If the floor tile is very difficult to remove, then the solution can be to lay a new one on top of it. The cleaned surfaces need to be coated with a primer.

Preparation also includes plumbing and electrical work. For this type of work, you should also seek the help of a specialist.

When these works are completed, you can begin reparation and install plumbing.

Materials used for walls and floors

The most common and ideal option for covering walls and floors in the bathroom are ceramic tiles. Its diversity is so great that it can satisfy any, even the most sophisticated, needs. Just remember the main thing — tiles for a small bathroom should be small. In this case, a mosaic will be an ideal option.

The choice of tiles is one of the most important tasks. After all, it sets the main tone for the bathroom, but you should definitely check other options for your bathroom floor and walls, such as:

You can paint the walls with moisture-resistant paints;

Plastic panels or plastic tiles can also be a great solution.

You can use glass tiles, which are becoming more and more common and popular.

For the floor we recommend tiles.  But, not the ordinary ones, with a smooth glossy surface, but rough. This kind of tile is made of porcelain. It is much stronger and will prevent falling and injuries on the wet floor.

Also, don’t forget about the ceiling – it should have moisture protection and fit into the interior.

Chose of colours

When designing a small bathroom, the choice of the right colour is very important. After all, the main task is to visually increase the small space. In order to do that, choose the tiles in bright colours. But do not get carried away with white and chrome interior details if you don’t want your bathroom to look like the operating room or laboratory.

However, you should keep in mind that designers do not recommend using more than three colours at the same time. You can also use the accessories in the same colour as the interior. Youll get the effect of “merging” when objects seem to be there, but they do not stand out against the general background and do not come to the fore.

It is better not to use large drawings on the walls, floor or ceiling – your bathroom can only visually decrease due to this.

Let there be light

Lighting is very important for a small bathroom. A dim light is absolutely not an option in this case. It needs bright artificial light. How to do it? Firstly, you can install many lights on the ceiling — then the light will be evenly distributed throughout the room. It is also desirable to have a light bulb above the sink.

In order to save energy, you can install energy-saving light bulbs, and enhance lighting with mirrors. But we will talk about this later. If there is a possibility, then make a window in the bathroom -it’s always better to have sunlight in the bathroom during the day! If this option does not fit, then you can make an imitation of a window with the appropriate highlighting — a very original idea.

How to choose furniture

As you may have guessed, the furniture shouldn’t be large, dark and clutter up all the free space. Furniture should create the illusion of transparency, “zero gravity” of the room, and not oppress with its quantity and dimensions.

The colour of the furniture should be light, ideally – merge with the walls or have similar tones. Instead of cabinets, you can use hooks and hangers, or hang a rack over the toilet.

Mirrors

The design of a small bathroom must include mirrors. Together with the right lighting, they can work wonders and significantly increase the room.

Corner mirrors look very original and are able to create a beautiful game of colours and highlights. If you want to install a mirror above the sink, do not forget to add lighting to it.

Decoration for a small bathroom

For a small bathroom, it is better to stick to the principles of minimalism and not to use a large amount of decor. If the design involves the presence of tiles of bright colours or unusual shapes, a small space does not need additional decor. It is better to use bathroom accessories that decorate the interior and are functional at the same time.

Shower curtain. An original curtain for a bath or shower will decorate the entire room. Neutral or similar in design fabric will work well.

Laundry basket. This item can be selected based on the design and style of the bathroom (a wooden basket for the Scandinavian style, metal for the modern, etc.)

Mats, towels. Bright fabrics will add the necessary accents, and brightness but only if your tiles are simple and plain and not too bright.

A set of holders for towels, toilet paper — it is better if the kit is from the same collection.

A set of dispensers for soap, shampoo, shower gel. Multi-coloured bottles and jars will not decorate the bathroom. Therefore, it is worth choosing sets consisting of dispensers and containers of the same design. It is better if they fit in the design of the interior of the bathroom.

Conclusion

If you follow all the instruction above while remodelling your bathroom, we are sure that you will forget that you ever considered it too small. But the most important thing is that you should listen to yourself, your preferences and needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment and include your own ideas. Options and possibilities are countless.

Good luck!

—————————————————————————————————-

Bio: Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.

—————————————————————————————————-

Image source:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/architectural-photography-of-toilet-1571462/

Things You Need To Know About Chronograph Watches

Posted on by
Reply

Although there are a lot of varieties in watches that you get to see on the market, chronograph watches get special attention from men. People usually choose this watch either for its sporty look or to get their running or racing timing right. If its style is your priority, then you may not take much interest in its functionality, though. However, a question remains – what is a chronograph watch? In simple terms, it is a stopwatch or timer. These watches may include one to three buttons for starting, pausing, and resetting the chronograph function. Mostly, car racers wear these wristwatches for tracking their time with precision and accuracy.

How to buy a chronograph watch?

Like everything else, you have to be careful about what you purchase in this type of watch. According to experts, you should look for an easy-to-read watch which comes with bright markings so that you can read it even during night time. For ease of operation, it’s better to opt for the one that has two to three pushers. Also, you should find out a piece that you don’t need to reset every time for convenience. Other than that, factors like water resistance, longer life, and accuracy have to be there.

An Emporio Armani watch in this category can be your best bet as it can offer you maximum satisfaction. The time hands, hour markers, and sub-dials can fulfill most of your needs. Plus, you can enjoy wearing one for its timelessness, sophistication, and functionalities.

Just make sure you don’t get carried away by the options. Some watches can offer you load of features to attract your attention. But these can interfere with the readability factor. Then, you wouldn’t want to pick something for outdoors that cannot cope up with mechanical shocks or water. You have to be careful about the buttons also. If it gets activated with an accidental light touch, you should better stay away from it. At the same time, you also have to be sure about its size for your wrist. An ill-fitting watch is most likely to start, stop, or reset the chronograph by itself, which you wouldn’t prefer for sure.

Why should you buy a chronograph watch?

Whether you are searching for a watch for everyday or occasional purpose, you can trust chronograph watches to deliver your expectations. You can sport it with chinos or formal suits to look your best. It can match your fashion sense without failing, regardless of when you wear one and how. Plus, you can use them to time anything, whether it includes race, cooking, or a work-related project. It would take care of your needs by being accurate. However, make sure you don’t overuse chronograph function as it can consume more power and switch off soon.

Some people stay away from chronograph watch because they find it complicated in terms of functionalities. But that’s not exactly true. When you need to turn the timer on, push the start and then stop buttons on your watch, and when done, you can press the reset button.

Emporio Armani men’s chronograph watches are available in exciting colors and range. You can explore this and other editions of the label for a satisfying experience.

Author Bio:

Sujain Thomas is a contributing author of h2hub.com. She has been passionate about watches since childhood. Although being raised in the digital watch era, she found her way to mechanical timepieces. After being active on watch forums from the 1990s onwards, she decided to start a blog on watches in 2004.