4.29.2021

Smart Organization Tips For Moving Home

 Whether you are looking into long distance moving or moving just a few streets away, you need to pack up your life and move to a new home. It can take a lot of planning, packing, and time, thus knowing some smart organization tips will help the move be more stress-free and smooth.


Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay 


Use packing labels

When you are packing up your stuff, the last thing you want is to misplace anything or forget what you have put where. Thus, using packing labels will make your packing more organized. You can label each box with what’s inside or for what room it is for. To go the extra mile you can add lists underneath the labels to make a note of everything that’s inside. This will make unpacking much easier and you can take each specific box to each room. 


Declutter before the move

Decluttering every inch of your home before you move may sound like a huge task but it will be worth it. Getting rid out of stuff from every drawer will make packing and unpacking a much easier task. You will have less stuff to take to your new home, which will make it feel more minimal and a welcoming atmosphere. It will also make the move much more stress-free.


Prepare some organization in the new home

Before moving in and unpacking your stuff in the new home, it will be a good idea to get some organizers so that you can unpack your stuff and have it in each room in an orderly fashion. For instance, you could buy some wardrobe organizers so that unpacking your clothes can be put into categories, which will make your future life easier and more organized. 


Have realistic goals

Moving home should not be rushed. If you rush the move you may forget to do something, misplace belongings, or not feel relaxed when you move in. Set realistic timeframes and goals to work at your own pace. This will make you feel more organized and not lose focus on the move and what needs to be done. 


Pack a first night box

The first night that you are officially moved into your new home, you may not have unpacked anything. Plus, you will most likely be tired. Thus, making a ‘first night box’ with your essentials will help you have a comfortable first night in your new home. This could include your toiletries, a change of clothes, chargers, and some kitchenware. 


Plastic wrap drawers

If you are planning to move your cupboards to the new home and are happy with the organization of what’s inside, you could plastic wrap them and transport them in this way. This eliminates the unpacking and means they are ready to use as soon as you move in. This will reduce the number of things you need to when moving out of your current home as well as moving into your new home. 


If you lack organization or need some tips for making moving home smoother and more thorough, utilize these tips and see how much easier the move is.

4.22.2021

What Ways Can You Make Extra Money?

 


https://unsplash.com/photos/NeTPASr-bmQ


So you want to earn more? Maybe you’re not sure how this is going to work but you know that you need to earn more to support our life or you want to be able to start saving. To do that, you’re going to want to take a look at your income and see what you can do with it.

 

The good news is, there are plenty of new ways that you can make money – you just have to look for them. From betting with casino-bonus.me.uk, to renting a room out in your home, there are many choices out there. Let’s take a look at some of the options you have when it comes to making money so you can decide which one might be right for you.


Second Job


For starters, you’ve always got the option of getting a second job. As much as this can seem like hard work, if you’re working hours where you can fit this in comfortably, then you’ll definitely be able to earn more. Having multiple jobs can be a positive thing for you too. So give this some serious thought.


With Your Home


You can also look to your home to make money from as well. You could think about renting out a room to a lodger or using it as an AirBnB space. You could rent out your garage and any storage space too. But not only that, you could also think about the idea of sprucing it up a bit and selling your home if you know that you can make money on it too.


Side Hustle

From here, you might even want to think about the idea of starting a side hustle too. It’s always fun to have different income streams, and you always have the ability to start things on your own. Whether that’s trading with something like Metatrader 5 or starting your own craft business, consider your options. It is often best to start with something that you are interested in or passionate about and then see how you can make money from it. For instance, if you enjoy online games, take a look at some blackout bingo reviews and see how you can make money from playing bingo online! It can take time to build this up, but you’ll often find that it’s worth it.


Casual Work


There’s also the idea of doing some casual work. Do you want to be an Uber driver or deliver for Deliveroo? Maybe you like the idea of doing call centre work or working as a porter? There could be zero hour jobs that you can take on for when you’re free to do the work.


Getting A Pay Rise

 

Finally, you may want to think about ways that you can make more in your current job too. However this one isn’t always going to be a quick fix. It could be that you need to work hard for a promotion or prove that you deserve a pay rise. Even if you choose to do one of the other options above alongside this, this is something that you might want to work on over time so that you have got options for earning more long-term as well as in the immediate future.

 

There will always be options for you when it comes to earning more. You just need to be sure that you’re considering them all and actively working on ideas that suit you the most.



4.21.2021

Hidden Risks of Smoking You Might Not Know About

It’s well-known that smoking causes lung cancer and heart issues, but it really affects every

organ in and on the body. While most non-smoking campaigns highlight tobacco’s effect on the

lungs and heart, there are many more issues that can arise from this habit, many of them

hidden and unknown to the general population. So if you need an extra push towards becoming

a non-smoker, here are some less obvious risk of smoking to keep in mind: 


Smoking makes you look older



Aging is a process that can’t be stopped—it’s natural and we all do it. However, while you will

most certainly get some lines on your face with age, smokers’ skin shows more signs of

aging earlier in life. According to studies, people who had a smoking habit and a sun-tanning

habit ended up with a leathery face earlier. Heavy smokers with 35 years of tobacco use under

their belt who also spend a lot of time in the sun are 11 times more likely to exhibit heavy

wrinkles than those who don’t smoke. Signs of aging increase even in spots that are not

exposed to the sun, which states that smoking is the biggest predictor of how much aging

happens on the skin and how soon in life.


Smoking damages your eyes


Smoking also increases your risk of getting a cataract or cloudiness of the eyeball lens. Some

research states that smokers have two times the risk of getting a cataract when compared to

non-smokers, with the risk tripling in heavy smokers (15 or more cigarette per day).

Additionally, tobacco use can also boost your chances of developing macular degeneration of

the eye (loss of the ability to see right in front of you). However, if you quit smoking, the risks

will decrease and you can retain your healthy eyesight.


Smoking affects your digestive system



While it’s known that smoking increases the risk of developing mouth, throat, esophagus and

larynx cancer, it also results in higher rates of pancreatic cancer. Smoking also affects the

body’s ability to generate insulin so smokers have a higher risk of developing insulin resistance

which puts you at risk of type 2 diabetes and all its many complications. It’s very hard to quit

this addictive habit, but  Innokin tobacco replacements  will make it easier to give up tobacco.

With the same mouth-to-lung feel these products provide, you can switch to vaping and reduce

your smoking habit.


It causes issues with your spine



Smoking also affects your spine in many ways. For instance, smoker’s cough can keep you up at

night, but also cause subluxations in the cervical spine due to cough straining. Additionally,

nicotine restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the spine discs, so your spine can be more

prone to premature degeneration and injury. Lastly, smoking slows down the body’s natural

ability to absorb calcium, so smokers have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis and

fractures.


It affects your healing process



No matter if wounds or fractures, smokers are slow to heal due to decreased oxygen levels and

reduced collagen production. The inability to heal fast causes prolonged pain and healing

complications like inflammations.


Smoking can affect your sex life



One of the main causes of erectile dysfunction is smoking. This habit affects blood vessels,

including those in private parts, so it alters the blood flow required for holding an erection.

According to research, smokers have a 50% more chance to suffer from reduced performance

in bed than nonsmokers.


However, it’s not all so bleak! Quitting tobacco will put you on the path to improved health

instantly. And with many cigarette replacements, resources and medications on the market,

you will be able to ditch your habit once and for all.

4.15.2021

Organizing a Major Downsize: Where to Start

 

Image from Pexels - CC0 License


Take the stress out of clearing out your home

Decluttering and clearing out your home can be cathartic, but it’s understandable to dread going through endless boxes and drawers and making multiple trips to rubbish dumps or landfill sites. To make downsizing easier and quicker, it’s an excellent idea to take the stress out of clearing out your home. Once you’ve decluttered and decided what you want to get rid of, look for a reputable local junk removal company to take furniture, electrical appliances and general waste away. You can research online, read client reviews and ask neighbors, friends or colleagues for recommendations to find the best services in your area. If you’re planning to sell or donate items, contact charities and nonprofits and arrange a pickup or drop-off date, plan a yard sale as soon as possible, or list your stuff online.


Declutter All at Once


Before you move, you should declutter your home and get rid of anything that you don't want to take with you. If you don't want to spend a long time picking through all your stuff and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, consider just decluttering all at once. You could find estate sale companies that will help you to sell your stuff so that you can do it quickly and get good money for your things. It could be a good choice if you want to get rid of most or all of your things and start over.


Image from Pexels - CC0 License


Decide What's Coming with You


If you are willing to sort through all of your things, you need to decide what's coming with you and what isn't. There's no point taking stuff to your new home if it's just going to sit in boxes until you finally get rid of it. It would just be a waste of time and money. So before you move, go through your things and decide what's coming with you and what isn't. Don't leave it until the last minute to get this done. It can sometimes be hard to let go of things, even if you don't need them anymore and they don't really have a lot of meaning to you.


Take the Chance to Buy New Things


You might be trying to get rid of things that you don't need, but downsizing can also be a good opportunity to get new things. Of course, you don't want to buy unnecessary clutter, but perhaps moving to a smaller home is the perfect excuse to get a new bed to replace an old one or buy some new furniture that's a better fit for your smaller home.


Image from Pexels - CC0 License


Avoid Renting a Storage Unit


Sometimes you might see advice to rent a storage unit when you're downsizing. This can be a useful thing to do when you're trying to sort out your stuff, but it's probably not a good idea to do it long-term. If you keep stuff in a storage unit, are you going to get around to sorting through it? Will you ever really need to go and get stuff out of it? If it's just going to hold extra stuff forever, it might just be better to sell the things that you don't use.


Downsizing can be difficult, but you can make it easier by being a little tough with yourself to decide what to sell and what to keep.

ow to Get Your Home Ready for Summer

 

Image Pixabay CC0 License


There is not long to wait until summer is here, and for many people, the warmer weather will bring some much-needed sunshine to brighten up their days. As plans for travelling abroad are still on hold at the moment, a long, hot summer will be a welcome addition and the perfect excuse for lazy days and lots of fun. In anticipation of the fast-approaching summer, it is a great idea to spend time getting ready for the arrival of the hot weather so you can make the most of it. Preparing your home for summer is a great way to get maximum enjoyment from the hottest time of year and to make this one a summer to remember. Here are some of the ways that you can get your house summer-ready:


Garden Makeover


Time spent outside in the garden is the perfect way to relax over the summer. But, before you can truly chill out in your outside space, you need to ensure that it is looking at its best. Giving your garden a tidy up by mowing the lawn and removing weeds is essential. However, you may also want to add some colourful flowers to make it look even better.


If you are planning to spend most of your time outside this year, you could invest in your garden by buying a new barbeque for cooking up some tasty al fresco treats. Barbeques are always the perfect excuse to invite friends over, so why not get yours ready and fire it up this summer? For the ultimate relaxing time in the garden, you could get a hot tub. Spending your evenings in the lovely warm water will help you forget all about the lockdown and instead enjoying some serious relaxation.


Stay Cool Indoors


While it is lovely to spend time outdoors in the sunshine, it is less appealing to spend nighttimes boiling and feeling unable to sleep. If your house gets unbearably hot during the night in the summer, you may want to get an air conditioning unit to help you sleep comfortably. Don’t forget to check that it works before the summer arrives. Otherwise, you could be left searching for an emergency ac repair service to get it back up and running. 


Another handy way to prepare for hot summer nights is to get blackout blinds or curtains. Using blackout curtains and blinds will help to keep the heat out of your room, especially if you close them before the hottest part of the day. These blinds and curtains are also designed to ensure that you are not woken up by the bright early morning sun every day, which is a bonus, especially if you are not a morning person!


Put Away Winter Warmers


It is nearly time for you to start swapping your winter warmers for some lighter alternatives. Changing your bedding for lightweight choices and putting away your winter wardrobe is a great way to get organised for summer and ready for the brighter days ahead.


4.13.2021

9 Ways to Effortlessly Improve Your Startup's Performance




Improving the performance of your startup is quite easy if you don’t spare the effort or the

resources. For instance, if you’re not afraid to commit a huge amount of money in order to

move to a bigger office, buy new equipment for  your enterprise, you’ll do just fine. The problem lies in the fact that hiring more people, getting another business

loan and expanding without a workload to follow-through won’t always be an option. With

that in mind and without further ado, here are nine ways how you can improve your

startup’s performance without sacrificing too much in the process.


1. Lower operating costs


The first thing you need to do is understand that the simplest way to increase your profit is to actually limit your spending. There’s one massive hazard here. You see, sometimes by lowering costs, you’re also lowering the quality of your products and your work, in general. Cutting bonuses means leaving your team demotivated, cutting down on the quality (or quantity) of raw materials means undermining the quality of your products, etc. However, you can make compromises and reach effective solutions. For example, rather than hiring new employees and expanding your business, you could instead train your current staff to a higher level and make them more efficient at their existing jobs. This can be especially important in higher roles as it is often harder to find staff for those positions, and hiring internally means that your managers will have an idea of how the company runs. Project managers are worth investing in, with courses, online training, or PMP Mock Exams to help them become more secure in their position. By doing this, you can save a lot more money than trying to find an outside candidate for such an important position. For more information on this solution, you can read up on how long employee training should be and what it should include here. Overall, you need to make sure that the way you’re adjusting your operating costs is safe for your enterprise in the long run. 


2. Focus on return customers


Making a customer return costs you five times less than making a new conversion.

Moreover, people have a chance of returning on their own if they were satisfied with a

previous visit. According to some surveys, 8% of regular customers contribute 40% to your

entire profit. By paying more attention to these people, you will save effort and make a

massive increase in your corporate efficiency. Knowing which methods work is one of the

simplest ways to save time and energy, not to mention grow your organization.


3. Pick scalable options



One of the ways how you can improve your overall organization is by always choosing

scalable options for your enterprise. Chances are that you will use a number of tools and

platforms in order to make your enterprise more effective. Always check if these options are

scalable. Do they have bigger plans that involve more devices and users at the same time?

Do they have low caps that will inconvenience you in the future? These are just some steps

of precaution that you will have to take.


4. Invest in your delivery chain

If your startup relies on deliveries, boosting your delivery chain and lowering operating costs

is one of the simplest ways to make a difference. One of the ways to do so is to invest in

decent fleet management software. First, this will help you save fuel and time by picking

optimal routes. Second, such a thing will allow you to notice which of your drivers are prone

to risky driving behaviors and replace them. Lastly, it will become a lot easier to notice

employee theft, time theft and use of company vehicles for personal needs.


5. Outsource some tasks



One of the most cost-efficient ways to make a difference here is to effortlessly improve your startup’s performance by entrusting some tasks to someone else. Tasks like organisational design take too much knowledge, experience and a team composed of individuals with an affinity towards creative thinking and problem-solving. In other words, making an in-house team capable of delivering comparable results will take too much time, money and effort on your part. What you need is to be innovative, adaptive, and responsive, and one of the simplest ways to achieve this is to outsource.
 
By outsourcing, you find the best person for the job no matter their location. Outsourcing is particularly beneficial for those roles where physical presence in the office, or even the origin country of the business, is not mandatory - for instance, IT support technicians or customer service assistants are two roles that are often outsourced. Outsourcing is also beneficial in terms of cost. This is because the cost of hiring an employee that works remotely, particularly one located in a third country with lower labor costs, will not put as much strain on your purse strings, though will still provide the specialised support and service your business so desperately needs.
 

6. Let some people go

There are some types of employees that are not only not pulling their own weight but are

actively preventing others from giving their best, as well. The slacker and the bully are two

common archetypes of bad employees but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. There’s also

the emotional vampire, the siren, the martyr and the “star”. The problem with these people

lies in the fact that they aren’t necessarily underperforming or making others feel bad

through direct action. Still, your workplace will be a better place without these toxic

employees, that’s for sure.


7. Delegate tasks



In order to really make your team unleash their full potential, you need to start delegating

tasks. Start by getting to know each individual person in your employ. The best time to do

this is during the hiring and training process. This way, you will know their affinities and

skills a lot better and this can help guide your decision-making process. By paying close

attention to your employees, you will also be able to recognize those with the potential to

be future leaders. This way, you can start grooming them for leadership positions early on.

Keep in mind that you can’t do it all on your own and that, sooner or later, you will have to

start sharing responsibility.


8. Diversify your offer

Different items have different seasonal appeal. Then, when you come up with a new line of

products, based on market research, you can get a pretty good idea of what you’re up

against. However, you can’t know with 100% certainty what the best-seller is going to be.

The safest way is to diversify your offer, regardless of if you’re selling products or services.

Keep in mind that diversifying your sources of income makes your firm more resilient. Sure,

it may not help boost your startup’s performance but it does help it deliver with more

consistency.


9. Save your cash

Whenever you have the option of not dipping into your cash supply, you should take that

offer. Sure, you need to burn cash in order to run a successful and lucrative business but

there are alternative ways to make payments. Business loans, personal loans,

compensations and account payables are just some of the ways to avoid ruining your cash

flow. Remember that while it seems intuitive that you should pay now if you can afford it,

running low on cash supply means putting your business at unnecessary risk. It’s probably

best to avoid these risky scenarios.


In the end, the best thing about the above-listed nine tips is the fact that they don’t take

additional effort or massive monetary investment. They also don’t change your business

model by too much. In other words, these are the kinds of changes that you can start

introducing as soon as today. This is something that you can completely alter in a matter of

weeks, even days. The speed at which these decisions can be executed also means that you

get to reap these benefits a lot sooner.

4.11.2021

Party Bus Props for the Ultimate Selfie

 

 
      https://unsplash.com/photos/7OdEH159TV4

 When you are trying to think of a way to have fun and celebrate with friends or family, a night on a party bus should always be up there at the top of the list! Party bus rental is becoming more popular as a way to have a private function without having to find a stationary location, and once you have your bus ready, you need to come up with different accessories to turn it into the best moving party place ever! 

We all know that a good party needs to be documented with plenty of selfies. If you don't have 100 selfies from the night, did it even happen!? With this in mind, here is a list of five party bus props that you should find to create the ultimate selfie station! 

1. Ring Light 
Let's face it, even the most high-tech party bus isn't always going to provide the best light for the most beautiful selfies! You can solve this issue with a simple ring light which is relatively cheap to buy and easy to plug into any outlet. In an instant, your party guests will be treated to professional-grade lighting and the photos taken on the evening will turn out as vivid and well-lit as they can possibly be! 

2. Disco Ball 
No party selfie is complete without a glimmering disco ball shining away in the background! Disco balls have come full circle from being cliché to cool once again and to be honest, we're not sure why they ever went out of style in the first place! You can live your disco diva fantasy and have the light skipping off any selfie that you take on the night. 

3. Masks
Something that has become popular in recent years are photo booth style mask props that people can use to make their selfies more fun and memorable. From comedy glasses to mustaches and everything in between, having a set of mask accessories for your guests to play with adds another layer of fun to the proceedings. 

4. Selfie Stick 
We don't all carry selfie sticks around with us, so a good tip is to have one already placed on the party bus for any of your guests to use. If your party is a big one, then people might not be able to capture all of their friends in a single arm's length! A selfie stick can give you the wider angles to fully capture the fun. 

5. Great Drinks 
All photos look more fun when someone has a funky cocktail in their hand! Try to come up with some stylish drinks that you can serve at your party - the more umbrellas and embellishments, the better!

 So, what are you waiting for? Find out everything you need to know about your party bus rental NY here, and in no time at all, you will be spending the night with your closest companions, having more fun in a vehicle that you ever thought was possible!

4.09.2021

What Really Makes A Home Dirty?

 To keep your home perfect over the years you spend in it, and make sure you’re always feeling cozy when you live in it, you know what you’ve got to do? You’ve got to keep things clean and tidy! After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness, and knowing how to keep your environment organized will ensure both your mental and physical health will be too. Not to mention the good example it sets for the kids! 


But what makes a home dirty, really? What do you need to keep an eye on, to ensure your house has clean air, clean walls, and clean floors? Well, we’ve got some ideas for you to keep in mind about those day to day chores you do below - 


Pexels Image - CC0 Licence


The Tops and Bottoms of Your Walls


Have you ever looked up when cleaning? It’s not a trick question; of course, you’ve dusted cabinets above your head height and you’ve dusted the top shelf of the bookcase in the living room, but have you ever dusted all the way up the wall? Because a lot of dirt and dust (and cobwebs!) can collect there. 


Similarly, have you ever cleaned the base or skirting boards around the bottom of your walls? They’ll definitely get scummy and marked over the years, and every 5 years or so are going to require a fresh coat of paint. Make sure you have a can of gloss on hand to complete a job like this easily, as it’ll really tidy up the corners of your rooms and make your house seem to shine! 


Check on Your AC


Not only is cleaning your AC a big part of keeping your home tidy, but it’s crucial regular maintenance that’ll keep your house breathing right! And your AC can pick up a lot of dirt and debris, especially in its filters, if you don’t clean it out and/or replace those filters once a year at least. 


Don’t worry; if you find anything horrible in your AC ducts that you just don’t want to deal with, you can get in touch with websites like https://www.ductz.com/raleigh-nc/ to sort the problem for you. Sometimes cleaning a HVAC system, after years of letting it sit, is far too big a job for one person to take on. 


In Between Your Tiles


Have you ever noticed the grease stains in the caulk of your backsplash? Or maybe you’ve noticed the caulk around your bathroom tiles getting darker and a bit black? If so, it’s a good sign you’ve got some mold forming in your home, in high traffic, damp areas, and that’s never good! Be sure to use a mold and grease remover on these stains, and then be sure to re-caulk the rooms for a better, cleaner look. Try to better ventilate the areas in future as well. 


Look Over the Window Panes


The frames your windows sit in can get real grubby over the years, and you’ll want to make sure you clean them up at least twice a year. When you do so, you’ll be able to keep your windows in better condition for much longer, rather than allow condensation to set in, and mold/rot to start growing. This is especially a problem for the exterior of your home, and can really ruin the homely and comfortable look you’re going for. 


Indeed, a rotten and/or dirty window pane can even tank the value of your home, as you have little to no curb appeal to work with. If you’re thinking of selling up in the near future, this is definitely a problem area you’ll want to target. 


A General Lack of Cohesion


When you put things on shelves, do you care about the way they’re organised or ordered? Because if not, your home could be suffering from a general lack of cohesion. Things look cluttered and don’t seem to flow, and that can really ruin the coziness of your home, especially when you bring guests over. 


Because you’ve gotten used to the look, and you don’t quite notice the flaws anymore, but take a minute and just look around you. What doesn’t seem to fit? What would look better if it was alphabetised, or color coded? Make those changes and then take another look; does your home seem more put together? 


Your home is getting dirty without you noticing! These areas are the worst offenders, and need your attention urgently; it’s time to take action. 

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