Everyone would like to enjoy a good quality of life for themselves and their family. And sometimes that means taking steps to enjoy a new standard of living. Have a look at my suggestions, and use them to improve your quality of living!

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Upsize

Preparing for a new standard of living is something of a process and one you need to get ready for. Perhaps the best way to enjoy a new standard of living is to upsize your home. This means selling up and moving to a place that is larger, nicer, and more expensive. It’s an exciting move, but it might cost you a lot so you need to be sure it’s the right move to make.

Try Out Luxury Living

If you want a higher standard of living long-term, you need to try it out. You need to check whether it suits your family’s need and your personalities. So, a good bet would be to try out luxury living and see how it suits you. Look at luxury apartments for rent and check out there they are. Then you can move in and start living in luxury for a while. This will give you a good experience of a higher standard of living and prepare you for transitioning into it.

Go Abroad

A lot of people decide that they can’t find the right sort of place they want to get the standard of living they require. And what often happens in this situation is that they decide to move abroad to live. And this is certainly an option you need to consider if you’re struggling to find somewhere. There are so many great places you can find a higher standard of living. But moving abroad is always a viable option as well.

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Talk to the Family

If you want a new standard of living, you don’t necessarily have to move. You can achieve that where you are right now. But you’ll need to speak to the family about it and see how you get on. You see, in order to attain a new standard of living, you’re going to need to make some changes around the house, and with how you live. So you need to discuss this with the family before you start doing it.

Take That Promotion

If you’re on course for a promotion at work, it’s time you took the chance. A better quality of life is great, but you will need to sustain it. And this may well mean extra cost. That’s why you need to make sure you take any promotions you are offered. The increased pay packet will prove invaluable for you and the family. If you haven’t been offered any promotions, it’s time you started working towards one. Buck your ideas up at work and show you are keen and serious about progressing as an employee.

As a parent, it’s up to you to provide a better quality of living for the family and your kids. The thing is, these days everything seems very expensive, and as such it seems more difficult to achieve this. But that doesn’t have to be the case, and I hope by using the suggestions I’ve made you’ll be able to achieve this.

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Many of the posts on this blog are centered around a cushy suburban life. Hopefully, those kinds of posts are all you’ll ever need! However, every now and then natural disasters can strike populated areas. If and when this happens to you, you’ll need to know the best course of action to ensure the safety of you and your family. Try to remember the following tips as best you can. They could save your life!

Flooding from Hurricane Katrina (Wikimedia)

First of all, hurricanes. These are probably the most dangerous disaster that you’re likely to experience living in the states. Hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts from June to November. While there are all kinds of warning systems for these, knowing what to do when one hits can be extremely important. If you know you’re going to be around when the hurricane hits, keep as far away as possible from all windows. As you can imagine, a basement is the ideal place to shelter. If you don’t have one of these, then go to a room on your lowest floor with as little windows as possible. Bathrooms and closets are usually best for this. If you have the time, be sure to gather food, water, a flashlight, and a phone. For extra safety, crouch under a table and cover yourself in blankets.

Here’s a slightly unsettling fact. Forty-five US states have a moderate to severe risk of earthquakes. Unlike storms and tornadoes, there’s little anyone can do to predict these. Because of this, it’s more important to keep your head and act fast. As with hurricanes, avoid windows as a priority if you’re inside. Drop, and cover your head with anything you can. Take shelter under a sturdy table or bed if you can, but don’t risk moving too far during a tremor. If you’re outside, on the other hand, find a clear space; away from power lines, buildings and other hazards.

Floods can be one of the destructive after-effects of a hurricane. Many people who have never experienced a severe flood seem to hold a false view that they’re not that big of a deal. Depending on the conditions, they can be powerful enough to collapse bridges and uproot trees! Usually the best thing to do in a flood is evacuate, and seek higher ground. The most important point to remember is never try to wade or drive through flood waters. It may sound unbelievable, but most cars can be swept away by only two feet of rushing water! A strong sense of attachment to your home could be extremely dangerous. Yes, there will be damage. However, there are many Maryland flood services which are able to do repairs. Take only the bare necessities, and leave as soon as possible seeking high ground.

With this advice, you’ll be prepared for some of the most dangerous weather America has to offer. In any natural disaster, staying calm is one of the most important things you can do. If anyone panics when the disaster hits, try your best to guide them into the safest course of action.

At a certain age, every parent becomes a glorified taxi company. Only, we don’t get paid for the pleasure! If you’ve got a family of little ones, a car is absolutely necessary. They need taking to school, dropping off at art classes, and picking up again. Not only that, but you need a comfortable, practical car yourself. Running errands and getting to work requires a good, reliable motor. If you’re in the market for a new model, here are just a few things you need to know.

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Up front costs

It’s never easy to add up the costs of buying a car. You can start by researching the market, and seeing what’s out there. Even then, the sticker prices are flexible, and it’s always worth negotiating the price. Before you get too excited about your discount, remember, the costs don’t end there. You’ll also need to budget for dealership fees and potential transportation charges. Bear in mind, if you use an enclosed carrier for delivery of your new vehicle, it will cost more.

Running costs

Next up on the budget chart and spreadsheet is your running costs. Again, they’re not easy to calculate, and every new car is different. Once you’ve got a make and model in mind, you can find out the particular tax and insurance costs. (These vary according to size, make, and emissions of every car). Insurance will also take into account your personal information and circumstances. Don’t forget to calculate a rough average for petrol, parking, and general maintenance.

Choosing the right size

Once you’ve got your accounts in order, it’s time to think about specifics. What size vehicle best suits your family? For smaller families, a hatchback is more than adequate. We’re talking about the average Ford Focus or Vauxhall Polo, for example. If you’ve got a bigger family who need more seating and storage space, you might consider an SUV or 4×4. For families with more than three children, it’s probably best to look at the people carriers!

Wide doors and stadium seating

As well as sheer size, it’s also worth looking at the practicality of each vehicle. If you’ve got young toddlers or babies, look for wide doors and stadium seating. Wide doors help you get easy access to the back. That means you can strap them in properly, and get easy access to install booster seats. As for stadium seats, these are raised rear seating, so that the children will sit higher than usual. It helps with car sickness, and easy access to the back.

Safety

Perhaps the most important feature of all is safety. When it comes to your family, there is nothing more important than their security in the car. Every model is tested and rated by an independent crash test company. And every car receives a star rating out of five. Look for four-star cars, and five-star if possible. In particular, look for a vehicle with a good ‘child-occupancy’ rating.

That’s all for now, folks! Check back soon for more tip-top parenting and life advice.

 

A lot of people dream of running their own business in their spare time. That means if you’re a stay at home mom you could still make a fortune without ever leaving your house. How is this possible? It all comes down to the way the business world operates these days. It’s entirely possible to set up a business that will operate mainly online, no matter which type of company you choose to start. Here is an example.

You may have had a past life in engineering or construction. But you stopped working to be a full, stay at home parent. Now that your kids have grown up a little and are heading to school, you’re thinking about getting back in the game. But not as an employee. As the owner of your construction company. You won’t be going out on the jobs, but you will be organising jobs, finding new clients and controlling a team of workers. Is this possible? If you have the history in your industry, it certainly is, and you’re about to discover how to do it.

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Lay Out A Business Plan

The first thing you will need to decide is how your business will operate. If you are set on running your company from home, you will still need to be able to communicate with both clients and employees. It’s crucial that you are not hindered when starting this new business by poor connections. You will also need to think about how you are going to get the staff and of course, fund your home run company. Despite running your business from home, there will still be costs. Particularly if you are a running a business that requires machinery or facilities.

Get Funding

These days there are plenty of ways to get funding for a small, home run business. You can run a crowdsourcing campaign. Through crowdsourcing, you should be able to get the support you need to fund your company. Failing this you can consider taking out a business loan. The only issue with business loans is that ones that are easy to obtain come with high levels of interest. Others can take months to get and this can be frustrating. However, it would be best to be patient, go through the checks and get a better deal.

Buy What You Need

You may think it’s difficult to set up a business from home with the equipment or devices that you need. But it isn’t because you can buy anything that you would need through e-commerce companies. That means if you are running a construction company you can get everything you need online. This includes the technology to keep in touch with your workers like a RUGGEDCOM Node as well as all the machinery. You will even be able to find the employees you need through freelancing sites. Suddenly, running a company from home in your spare time doesn’t seem so complicated does it?

Market Your Business

Lastly, you will need to invest in some marketing for your business. Remember, you can find everything you need to set up your company from home, online. But you’ll also need to find clients and make connections. You won’t be able to do this if they can’t find you.

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We all enjoy the sunshine. It gives us the perfect conditions to go out with family, play sports or even sunbathe. It feels wonderful having that warmth on your skin but sometimes it can get too hot to bear and can be harmful to our health. If your family are not sun worshippers, it can be uncomfortable and frustrating trying to keep cool all the time. Even if you go inside the heat can still reach you. It can be difficult to find some relief from the sun’s powerful rays. But there are things you can do to protect your family from overheating and sunstroke. Use this guide to get you started today.

Install air conditioning

Air conditioning allows use to regulate the temperatures in our homes, making it a more suitable environment for your family. During hot conditions, you can go inside your home and know it’s going to be a safe and comfortable temperature for you all to be in. Contact Wattle Grove air conditioning services to find out if which unit will best suit your home. Just make sure that you don’t become too reliant on the unit. Going from very cool to sweltering hot conditions can shock your body and make you unwell. If you only use it when necessary, you should be okay.

Wear light colored and loose clothing

Dark clothing will attract more heat from the sun. If you know you’re going to be spending time outside, dress your family in light colours and avoid navy and black altogether. These colours will make you feel hotter and more uncomfortable. Choose white and pastel colours as they are ideal for keeping cool. Also, consider lighter options when choosing hats. Wearing a black sunhat will direct heat to our heads. This could be harmful to your health so choose light and bright colors instead.

Also when choosing which clothing to wear, go for loose-fitting garments. Tight fitting clothes will restrict your movement and prevent any air reaching your skin. This will make you warmer and irritable in no time at all. Looser garments will allow your family to move freely and also protect their skin from UV rays.

Take a cooler bag with you

Fill a cooler bag with plenty of ice packs, bottles of water and cool snacks such as yogurt or ice-cream. The ice packs will keep the items cool until you or your family need them. Store out of the direct sunlight to make it stays colder for longer. These cold snacks and drinks will help you keep your family’s body temperature’s at a comfortable level. Being in the sun can also make you dehydrated, so water needs to take priority over everything else in the bag.

Keeping cool in hot conditions will make you have a happier family, and you will be able to enjoy your time together much more. If you can’t avoid spending time outside, stick to shaded spots to prevent any burning and always stay hydrated with plenty of water. There’s no reason we can’t all enjoy being in the sunshine if we follow these tips closely.

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Winter is well and truly upon us. You can feel the chill in the air already, can’t you? Most of us are deeply concerned with making sure that we keep ourselves happy, healthy and warm this winter. But you shouldn’t neglect your home. You probably aren’t aware of this unless you’ve suffered from it before, but your house can be just as affected by the cold as you are. And no, we’re not talking about shivering in the declining temperatures.

The frosty weather can play havoc with our homes, and, in some extreme cases, result in the need for some home repairs. Not to mention with the dark evenings accompanying it, our safety is paramount. With that in mind, here’s a guide to proofing your home for the winter. Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to keep your home happy and safe for the next three months.

Don’t Be Left in the Dark

Along with the winter comes a very sparse amount of sunlight. It seems like you wake up for work when it’s dark, and get out of the office well after the sun has set. That in itself can cause chaos with your mood, but it also means that our safety isn’t as assured as we might think. The early nights are enticing for petty thieves, so it’s no surprise that there’s usually a rise in crime around the winter period.

Are there ways you can protect yourself against that? Yes, of course, there is. A good starting point would be to make sure that you have plenty of lights around the outside of your home. In your garden, install those smart little motion detecting lights to ward off any suspected wrongdoers. Make sure that you keep your doors locked at night, and that your garage is well protected from break-ins.

It’s also well worth investing in home insurance if you haven’t already. That way, if you do find yourself the victim of theft, it’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg. You’ll be covered for situations such as this unless you fail to take the proper precautions.

Getting Down and Dirty

Although nobody wants to hear it, the winter is a time when you can’t neglect your chores. Specifically, the things you need to do outside. Clearing the gutters, purging the drains, and shoveling snow. The kind of tasks you might be tempted to neglect. Make sure you don’t, as even the most innocuous of them can cause damage to your home. Clogged up gutters can cause cracks and leaks, and then you’ll have to pay out for new guttering. Avoid this by simply keeping on top of your outside work.

It might also be worth it for you to check the state of your roof. In the winter, slates and tiles can become damaged by the rapid change in weather. If you find anything untoward, it’s essential that you get it seen to as soon as possible. Leaving it too long will just make the problem worse, and then you’ll have to pay out for a bigger job. Get in touch with a roofing consultant if you suspect any problems.

You can check the roof from inside your home, too. Making the climb up to the loft could draw attention to any problems you were previously unaware of. Look for signs of daylight peering through cracks in the ceiling, as this means you’ll need repair work doing. Also, check the state of your loft insulation, before the weather becomes too unbearable.

Open the Waterworks

The winter can be tough on things like pipework. The frost that develops can cause cracks and, as a result, serious leakage. Anybody that’s ever had to endure this before knows all too well that this is not a problem to be taken lightly. Take the appropriate steps to making sure all your pipes are properly insulated to avoid them freezing over.

It might also be worth having your boiler checked or serviced at this time of year. The last thing you want is to find your central heating is on the blink. Calling out a specialist like Flame-On could prove to be a lifesaver. They’ll be able to spot any problems and, in most cases, get them fixed as soon as possible. That way, you aren’t without your boiler for any longer than necessary. Besides, this is the time of year when you need it most.

If your water tank is located separately from your boiler (and it is, in most cases), you may need to inspect that too. Problems can arise in the winter and that have devastating effects on your home. Flooding, anyone? Not only could they give you quite a scare, but they’re incredibly expensive to get fixed. Make sure everything is in order.

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Go For a Test Drive

It’s not just your home that is susceptible to the cold weather; your car is too. How many times have you spent the morning trying – and failing – start your car in the winter? That’s because the drop in temperature can play havoc with your car’s interiors. Your battery can completely drain in the winter, so make sure that you’ve always got the tools to jumpstart it to hand. Otherwise, you might find yourself running late for that Monday morning meeting.

Did you know that the cold temperatures can affect the consistency of your car’s fluids? That’s why it’s often hammered home to you that you need to check your oil regularly. This is especially the case in winter. Check all your car’s fluids, including antifreeze, brake fluid and power steering. All of these can be compromised by the cold weather.

The harsh air could also pose problems for your tyres, so make sure you perform regular checks. It’s easy to forget about checking tyres, but it’s crucial that you keep on top of it in the winter. This can include checking the air pressure and spotting signs of balding. You must keep on top of this, or you’re putting your own safety at risk.