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How to Instill the Love of Reading in Your Child

January 22, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

When does your child read? A) Every single day – he just loves learning and letting his imagination run free, B) Read? He uses his books to reach the TV dial or C) When I make him, come hell or Lambchops Play-along!

If your answer is ‘A,’ congratulations: Your child will grow pup with initiative, creativity, and knowledge needed in today’s competitive world. If your answer is ‘B,’ welcome to the club; many other mothers get the urge to throw the TV and computer games out the window. And if your answer is ‘C’ – well, it is a step in the right direction. Sort of.

Here are six ways on how to instill the love of reading in your child:

1. Get together with other mothers. Some kids, even if they grow to like books, might eventually abandon them because their friends want to play, or they cannot keep up with the neighborhood discussions on Barbie. Organize some reading group, or at least encourage other parents to fix their own children’s reading habits. Then you can throw back an argument your child has used for most of his life: “other kids are doing it.”

2. Don’t make reading a chore or a punishment. It is easy to tell a hyperactive or underachieving child to “Keep quiet for half an hour and just read a book.” Or “Your grades are low because you do not read enough…from now on I want you to keep books and not to play!” But this will give negative reading connotations that no amount of Brothers Grimm can erase. Separate the situation from the solution. If you do want your child to sit still, tell him to go his room, where books will be waiting for his quiet enjoyment. Or if his grades are low, limit his play, then at another time; gently explain to him how reading can help him in his studies. Books then become the friend, not the enemy, and friendship is the first step to love.

3. Do not criticize his reading. So what if he reads slowly, or if he reads the same books over and over again? The important thing is that he is reading, and if he needs correction, be sure to sandwich it with lots of his effort. “Son, I’m proud that you’re reading a lot, and writing stories of your own too! But don’t write on the books, okay?! Here, I bought you a nice notebook. If you want to write after reading, you can put it here so everyone can read your beautiful stories.”

4. Cultivate a general interest in learning. You have taught your child to love reading; now you have to teach him to take the initiative. Organize nature trips, collect bugs or flowers, or just place him in any situation that will expose him to new things. Now that his senses are stimulated, he will naturally turn to what suggestions number 1-9 have drilled into him day after day. “Hey, didn’t I read a book on that some time ago? I think I’ll look it up again when I get home.”

5. Make books available. Rarely does a child plan to read a book. It is spontaneous, like everything else he does, a hungriness that springs on a sleepy Saturday afternoon or after a wonderful discovery in the garden. So do not keep the encyclopedia set behind a locked glass case, or the fairy tale books on a shelf too high for him to reach. And most importantly, do not cripple him with the fear that he might “ruin the book.” Books are to be read, and if the pages get a little crumpled, then they are beautiful books indeed. Haven’t you read The Velveteen Rabbit?

6. Set him free. After you have instilled the love of reading in him, let him explore its realm for himself. You have given him the most beautiful gift possible, but he will never be able to know this until he discovers this on his adventuring own. If he likes Sherlock Holmes, well and good. If he prefers Ghosts and Goblins, then step back and let them be. After all, your child is A) reading every single day – he just loves to learn and allowing his imagination run free!

Author Bio: Sohail is a content marketer and a blogger, currently he is associated with Smiletutor.sg an online tuition agency in Singapore. His hobbies include writing, reading books, traveling and gardening.

Unconventional Wisdom – 7 Alternative Sources of Renewable Energy

January 18, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Given the global energy resource crisis, it’s certainly important that we now consider unconventional sources of power. We know that continuing to burn fossil fuels is detrimental to the environment, and has only a finite potential.

So, what are some renewable (think-outside-the-box) alternatives when it comes to generating energy?

Solar panels

Perhaps no longer one of the most unconventional of energy sources, solar panels are, nevertheless, one of the most viable. Solar panels harness clean and renewable energy from the sun. They have become easier than ever to source and maintain due to the Australian government’s feed-in-tariff scheme. Solar energy providers, including AGL offer a range of solutions for any budget or individual requirement.

Biomass

Biomass refers to energy which is generated by the breakdown of organic matter (for example wood waste, ethanol and municipal waste). In 2017, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has lobbied to put biomass back on the political agenda as ‘ … as an option to bolster the baseload energy supply.’ Some detractors argue that biomass is not financially competitive and that, in particular, wood waste presents as a threat to native forests. However, unlike solar energy, biomass is readily available and able to be used at any time.

Geothermal energy

This form of renewable energy is innovative. Geothermal technology uses the Earth’s heat for both heating and cooling energy applications. Far below the surface of the crust of our planet, temperatures rise rapidly, whilst tectonic, volcanic and steam systems exist as relatively untapped sources of unbridled power. The practical application of this sustainable underground resource relates primarily to the use of various pumps and systems that take the heat from within the ground and transfer it into usable forms of energy.

Hydropower

Hydropower technology works with the energy of flowing water (kinetic energy) to convert it to electricity. The most common type of hydroelectric power plant uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir. However, even a small canal may be used to turn water through a turbine. A hydroelectric power plant can store power for generators or an energy grid. A small (aka micro-hydroelectric power system) can power a home, farm or even a small ranch. Hydropower relies on the availability of a running water source – so, in some ways this may be limited.

Wind power

Energy derived from the power of the wind provides a clean and renewable form of electricity, and other applications. It is said that as long as the sun shines the wind will blow. The force that is intrinsic in the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area on low pressure is harnessed by turbines and windmills and converted to usable energy. Some of the biggest wind turbines in the world produce enough electricity in a year (around 12 megawatt hours) to supply 600 standard homes.

Marine energy

As much as 95 percent of the Earth’s ocean remains unexplored and considering the power of the tides, waves and currents, marine energy remains another vast source of virtually unused potential. Marine energy uses the movement of water to generate electricity. Wave power plants harness the energy of up and down motion waves and convert this into a reservoir of power. Tidal energy generates electricity using the regular local flows of the tidal cycle whilst ocean thermal energy uses temperature variation in the ocean’s depths.

Artificial photosynthesis

One of the most futuristic of renewable energy technologies, artificial photosynthesis has been cited as the energy source of tomorrow. Photosynthesis is behind the building blocks of every living thing, and is a veritable power packed bundle of organic energy. It is the process that uses sunlight to produce hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. Splitting the water in oceans (and other bodies of water) into these three chemical structures is seen as one of the ways forward in producing artificial photosynthesis – a renewable energy source that may just power the electric cars of the emerging future.

Unconventional wisdom

It’s necessary to think-outside-the-box when it comes to finding renewable sources of energy to fuel our planet’s future. Protecting our environment (and our people) depends on it.

Wallet Wisdom – 5 Tips For Saving Money on Your First Home

January 18, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Buying your own home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make in your life. It’s complicated and even a little scary, but there are a few simple things you can do to make it easier and save yourself money at the time you’re making your purchase and over the life of your mortgage.

Continue reading for five great money saving tips you can employ when buying your first home.

Plan ahead

Whether you are dreaming of a ranch in the country or a project home in Sydney, one of the best things you can do to prepare for home ownership is to reduce your debt. Not only does it make room for the mortgage payment in your budget, you’ll get a better interest rate that can save thousands over time.

What Can You Afford

Don’t base this off of the highest loan amount that you can get approved for because going for the maximum can leave you in over your head later on. Instead, look at your budget and decide what you are comfortable with for a monthly payment. You can start with a home loan eligibility calculator to help you choose a price range.

Get Expert Help

Getting a professional home inspection will help you to find problem areas before you buy and save you money on repairs. Even if you are a handy person, it’s better not to assess things on your own. If the inspector finds something you can ask the seller to deduct that amount from the price or to fix it before you sign the contract, plus you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.

The professionals helping you to find your dream home should also be willing to help you, from your realtor or your mortgage broker to your conveyancer. Ask questions and be suspicious of anyone who doesn’t seem willing to explain the process. Remember, they are working for you.

Know What Your Agreeing To

There can be costs that are separate from the mortgage, such as Homeowners Association fees. These can range from $50 to hundreds per month on top of your mortgage and taxes. Read HOA agreements thoroughly and be sure you understand what the additional cost will be. Take into consideration concessions such as stamp duty or removal costs if you plan to renovate part of the property.

There are also helpful options, such as a First Home Owners Grant, that you may qualify for to help with the cost of buying your first house. Look at the whole picture, not just your monthly house payment.

Kinds of Mortgage

All mortgages are not created equal, so do some reading and see which kind of mortgage will be best for you. It’s smart to talk with your realtor or mortgage broker, but in the end, you will be the one making the payments so it’s important to understand what you are signing up for.

Having Money Saves Money

It’s not a requirement, but if you save up a deposit of at least 20% not only will it improve the interest rate you will be offered but you can avoid having to pay for Private Mortgage Insurance. A PMI agreement protects the seller in case you default and it can add up to thousands over the life of your mortgage.

Ready To Make An Offer

Once you fall in love with a particular house chances are someone else will be interested too, so be prepared to act. By knowing how the process works, what you can pay and being ready to make an offer you will be in a position to snap up that perfect house before anyone else can.

The Question of Quality – 6 Things to Look For in a Community Care Provider

January 16, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Community care is aged care that is provided to you or your aged loved ones within the comfort of their own home. It is a common alternative to residential care, and allows an individual to retain a good measure of independence and control over their own life, while receiving assistance in the areas that they need.

With that said, choosing a care provider can be tricky, especially with so many to filter through. Let’s take some of the stress away from that decision by exploring six different things to look for in a community care provider.

The Level of Support Offered

Not all community care providers offer the same level of assistance with daily living. For example, some may come to clean the home, change the sheets and do some gardening – things that can get difficult with age. Others may come and bring meals, or cook for you, or perform minor maintenance activities around the house.

Others yet may do all of the above. Check in with some different providers and see what level of support they offer you, and see if they can tailor a package that’s right for you or your loved one.

Cost of Community Care

This is an important factor, as you want to be able to afford the best without breaking the bank. Ask some different providers for an outline of the expected costs of community care. It may be worth sketching out a rough budget of your income and expenses and seeing what you can afford. Did you know that the government offers subsidies for community care? This can make it more affordable than you think.

Attitude of Staff

This is really important. Working with aging people requires a great deal of tolerance, patience, compassion, kindness and acceptance. The last thing you want is someone without these attributes providing care for you or your loved one.

Ask to meet with some of the care staff before you choose a community care provider, ask them some questions and try to ascertain their attitude prior to picking a provider.

Allied Health Professionals?

Check in with the providers to see if they offer Allied Health professionals in their community care packages. These are highly qualified physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other specialists that can provide a great level of assistance for those who are aging. Not every provider will have them on the books, and keep in mind that you may incur additional expenses for these individuals.

Frequency of Visits

This is another important aspect of community care. How often are they able to visit you or your loved one? Ideally you will want to work out a schedule that is right for you, and enables you or your relative to live in relative independence for as long as possible before transitioning to residential care.

Do They Offer Social Support?

You may not realise it, but social connections are incredibly important as we age. Social interaction has a range of positive physical and mental health benefits, and the sad thing is that we often do less of it the older we get.

Some aged providers offer a simple drop-in service, where a friendly staff member can come and have a cuppa and a chat. See if the providers you’re investigating offer something like this.

To Sum it Up

So, work out a budget and check how much different community care providers cost, keeping in mind government subsidies. See what the level of support and frequency of visits are, and check to see if social support is provided. Finally, see if Allied Health staff can come to you for extra specialised care and always remember to get a feeling for the attitude of the staff.

How to Turn Your Old Garage into a Brand New Bedroom

January 16, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

When you first bought the house that you and your family are living in right now, you might not have initially paid much attention to the number of bedrooms included in it. You may even have been thinking at the time that your children could share a bedroom, or you yourself wouldn’t mind sleeping in what used to be an office. However, unexpected situations such as guests visiting your house or a relative dropping by and planning to stay overnight can necessitate the need for you to have an additional bedroom. If you’re unable to come up with enough money to have a brand new bedroom added to your house, you might want to consider renovating your old garage instead.

Why Are You Using Your Old Garage as a Junkyard?

Your house might have come along with a garage when you first bought it, as most houses often do. But over time, you may have resorted to just using your old garage as a storage place for all kinds of junk that you have acquired throughout the years.

You might have forgotten somewhere along the way that your garage is supposed to be a place where you park and store your vehicle.
Maybe you don’t even have a vehicle at all, but you bought your house along with its garage anyway.
You’re not letting your old garage realize its fullest potential by merely relegating it to an enclosed junkyard.
A lot of space is getting wasted by dumping items that you feel aren’t that useful anymore inside your old garage and just letting them sit there and collect dust.

How Can You Turn Your Old Garage into a Brand New Bedroom?

Instead of just using your old garage as a storage bin for all things junk, you can turn it into a brand new bedroom by doing the following:

1. Declutter your old garage.

All the old items stored in your old garage have to go for you to be able to turn it into a brand new bedroom.

You can hold a garage sale just outside your house if you think that any of your neighbors or anyone who might pass by the area may find some use for your old belongings.
You can also send your old items to a pawnshop nearest you for them to appraise which ones can be pawned in exchange for some cash.
If you’re generous enough that you’re into helping other people you don’t even know at all, you can donate some of your old things to your charitable institution of choice.

2. Add some insulation to your old garage.

As you would want anyone who decides to spend a night in your garage-turned-bedroom to get comfortable with it right away, you should be sure that your garage is properly insulated.

Since the floor of your old garage is most likely to have a slightly lower elevation compared to that of your house, you would want to raise it a bit by adding a layer of insulation and pouring some concrete on it.
You should also add layers of insulation to the walls and ceilings of your old garage so that whoever wants to hole up in there¾especially during the winter months¾would be able to sleep peacefully.

3. Refurbish your old garage.

Turning your old garage into a brand new bedroom should be less about retaining any garage-like qualities it has and more about totally redesigning it so that it becomes an entirely functional bedroom.

If your old garage doesn’t have any windows, you would want to tear down parts of its walls and install large windows to give it a roomier feel.
The rolling door that you’ve previously had in your old garage could probably use a garage door replacement¾or be updated with sliding glass doors instead.

4. Add some bedroom furniture.

Any bedroom can’t be called as such without any of the furniture associated with it.

It should’ve been evident to you by now that the very first thing you should put in your old garage that you’re turning into a brand new bedroom is a bed¾particularly a double size one, so that two guests can sleep comfortably.
You can also add a dresser, a bedside table, and a handful of shelves in there to further enhance its bedroom quality.

Having a brand new bedroom added to the existing structure of your house costs a lot of money¾not to mention the chaos it would bring to you and your family’s living situation once the construction crew you’ve hired starts working on it. By turning your old garage into a brand new bedroom, you can save money, as most of the renovation work can be done on your own. All you have to do is to carefully plan and invest in features that should make your brand new bedroom a comfortable place to stay.

George Anderson – George is a specialist when it comes to lowes doors and other garage doors. Working in the industry for over 20+ years he takes pride on helping his clients fulfill their needs when it comes to garage construction. In his spare time he loves spending time with his family.

Safety First – 5 Ways to Keep Safe at Home and in the Office

January 8, 2018 by Painter Mommy 2 Comments

Nearly everything used in a home or office operates on an electrical current. Electrical equipment carries a risk of burn or shock if used or maintained incorrectly. Shock and burn injuries occur when any part of the body touches an electrical circuit. An electrical current travels through the body causing pain, damage, and even death.

To protect your household members, guests, or coworkers from electrical injury, teach them right and ensure that your home or office is safe from potential electrical hazards.

Be Smart About Outlet Use

No matter whether you’re at home or in the office, there never seems to be enough places to plug in all the electronics we use every day. For this reason, it’s common for people to overload the outlets they have. Unfortunately, this dangerous practice can result in a fire. Rather than endangering yourself and others, consider hiring a commercial electrician in Melbourne to install the additional electrical outlets you need to ensure that all your appliances and devices can operate safely.

Learn How to Use Extension Cords and Power Strips

It’s tempting to plug two extension cords into each other to reach an outlet, or to plug one power strip into another to give yourself more options, but both these practices can have devastating consequences.

While it is completely possible to plug two extension cords into each other, you must first look at the tag on each to determine if they can handle the load set forth by the device(s) you intend to plug into them. Using cords rated less than ideal for the devices you plug into them can cause them to overheat. The same holds true for plugging multiple power strips into each other. If you are unable to determine the proper load for the cords you are using, err on the side of caution and don’t plug them into each other.

Don’t Cover Cords With Mats or Rugs

Another fire hazard is the practice of covering exposed wires and cords with rugs or mats to reduce tripping hazards. While this achieves the intended purpose in most cases, it creates another more dangerous situation. Take the time to eliminate this fire and tripping hazard by running all cords along the wall instead of through a walkway.

Unplug Electrical Devices and Equipment Before Maintenance or Repair

While this sounds like common sense, you’d be surprised by the number of people who wind up spending their day in the emergency room each year with shocks and burns resulting from failure to disconnect electrical equipment before servicing. A reliable rule of thumb here is to unplug the appliance, then double check that you have in fact done so before beginning any repair or maintenance work.

Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs

If you notice a hot cord or plug, or you hear a strange noise (a hum, or buzz) coming from a piece of electrical equipment, or it sparks or smokes when you plug or unplug it, immediately remove it from operation and don’t use it again. In some cases, you might be able to have it fixed. However, your safest bet is to replace it. It’s tempting to try to continue using a faulty piece of equipment, especially if it’s expensive to repair or replace. However, doing so could result in even more expense and heartache if the device catches fire.

Using electricity is no joke. Most of us take it for granted, but the reality is, it’s dangerous if not used correctly and respectfully. Following the five tips above will help keep you safe at home and in the office.

Awesome Mattress Covers That Use Technology

December 27, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

The third of the well-known laws wrote by the futurist and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke states that: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” There’s a vivid controversy on this assertion, argued mainly by those who say technology isn’t magic and it shouldn’t be presented in such terms, but that’s a debate for another time; I merely believe that sometimes the possibilities brought by modern technology make us feel like living in a kind of magic.

Years ago, if we would have wanted to bring up or down the temperature of the mattress on our bed, we could have tried long and hard to twitch our nose or cast a spell, nothing would have happened. Nowadays, thanks to applied science, that wish is no longer unreachable. All we have to do now is get a smart mattress cover and let it do its magic.

Let me elaborate: technology has evolved so much in the past years, that it has transformed mattresses and mattress covers into items which are aware of our needs and able to learn our sleeping habits. Their goal is to make our rest more comfortable, satisfying and healthy. How could anyone not love such fantastic gadgets? They do pretty much everything except for reading you a bedtime story and tucking you in!

The Eight Sleep Tracker

This highly cheered product fits four standard mattress sizes, regardless of the type. It relies on a sophisticated sensor layer which, once placed over your mattress, turns the bed into a smart bunk. Its highly advanced algorithms make this cover one of the best sleep tracking systems on the market. The device has the dual zone warming feature and can connect to almost any other Wi-Fi enabled gadget in your home.

The information about sleeping, heart pace, breathing rate, tossing and turning, and everything else that happens to you during sleep is available, separately, for two people sharing the same mattress. Eight is capable of setting the temperature independently for each side of the bed. By communicating with other smart devices, the system can control the entire bedroom environment: it dims the lights, plays your favorite nocturnal playlist, lowers the thermostat and locks the door! On top of it all, Eight can start your Wi-Fi controlled coffee maker so that you’ll have your coffee ready by the time you get out of bed. The high-tech cover mattress launched as a crowdfunding project which rapidly raised its necessary money.

Luna Smart Mattress Cover

Second best after Eight, Luna smart mattress cover was also designed to control the lights, the music and the temperature in the bedroom, according to your preferences. After you fall asleep, the smart device slowly turns everything off, allowing you to enjoy an uninterrupted rest. The app to which the mattress cover is connected collects information about your sleeping habits so that you can review them and see what to improve. All that data is well-protected: it’s gathered on the device, then encrypted and sent to Luna center for storage and analysis.

These two I just presented are not the only top-notch products of this kind, but probably the most outstanding ones. Withings Aura Smart Sleep System, for instance, is also a tracking system consisting of a mattress cover, a bedside gadget and an app, which monitors our sleeping patterns, the noise, and the light in the bedroom and records all the data for you. Sleepace RestOn relies on a sensor, which can be placed on any mattress, under the sheets. According to Best Mattress Reviews & Guides, besides doing everything that other gadgets of this kind do, RestOn can make suggestions on what you could do to improve your rest – for instance, it can tell you to cool down the room, cut out late coffee or eat a light dinner.

The Household How-To: 10 Tips For Decorating a Master Bedroom

December 27, 2017 by Painter Mommy 1 Comment

Master bedrooms are arguably one of the most important rooms in any given house. It’s the room you, the owner/renter of the house spend quality time by yourself or with your partner, it’s where you sleep, it’s where you have privacy and it’s where your more personal items are stored. It isn’t a room for anyone or everyone, it’s a private room, and that’s why it’s important.

Making sure your master bedroom is set up the way you want it to be set up is key in ensuring the bedroom feels like your room, and getting it right can be a finicky project. To help you out with this all-important task, we have written down 10 tips for decorating your master bedroom.

Use of Space

While some people like bedrooms to be spacious and relatively uncluttered to promote a clear and free feel, others feel like this wastes crucial space in your home on nothing more than floor space. If you lean more toward the latter kind of person, getting yourself a two-storey bed frame might be a good idea. It elevates your bed to above head height, making room on the floor while still keeping a bed set up.

Lighting

The lighting in your room helps to contribute to the mood, and therefore has a direct impact on how you feel about this personal space of yours. Warmer coloured lights give a more homey feel to a space, while cooler lights in white or blue give a less personal, more sterile feel to your space. Whichever you prefer is what you should go with, after all, it is your bedroom.

Curtains

The curtains in your room should reflect your personal sense of style, as they are the covering for the entryway for the most light in your bedroom. Blinds are just as effective as large, heavy curtains, and often cost less too, so exploring based on taste and preference can be more affordable than you previously thought possible.

Art

The art in your room or lack thereof is entirely up to you, but many people feel that the presence of art makes the room feel more personalised and comfortable. Large sculptures are usually only appropriate in larger rooms, however paintings and small sculptures work well in master bedrooms and promote a healthy artistic outlook on life.

Furniture

The furniture in your room is usually decided by how much space you have, although a couch is often a good addition to a medium to large sized bedroom for working on or to have as a place to sleep if a friend comes around.

Utility Items

Utility items are things like dirty clothes baskets, wardrobes, or bedside tables. Having a bedside table with power point facilities and a lamp is a good idea, as this allows you to charge your phone, plug in an alarm clock, and read by lamplight if you want before bed.

Entertainment

Having a television in your room is a divisive issue, as many people like to fall asleep watching movies or at least like to have the option to watch something if they can’t sleep. There are studies, though, that have proven that a television in your room restricts your sleep cycle significantly, so do your research before plugging in that new 50” screen.

Storage

Storage options in your room could be limited, depending on the space, so making use of all of your available room is important. Try buying plastic tubs and storing them under your bed, packed full of items. This will prevent them from getting dusty while keeping your room clear.

Walk-In Wardrobe

A walk-in wardrobe is an incredible thing, and if you happen to be lucky enough to have one you’ll understand all the space you save in your main bedroom. Try using the space for all of your clothes, and not just the hanging ones. This frees up a lot more room in your main room than might seem possible from such a small adjustment.

Ensuite

One of the best features of a master bedroom is the ensuite. Decorating your ensuite should be fun, because it’s your own personal bathroom. Put a speaker in there for music, and some scented candles for those times when you just need to relax.

With these 10 tips in mind, your master bedroom will basically decorate itself. Have fun with setting up your personal space, and remember to make it represent you!

How To Lower Your Personal Debts Faster When Living On A Low Income

November 28, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Today, consumer spending and household debt have reached levels never before seen. Even adjusted for inflation, today these figures are startling. Residents of developed nations around the world are spending more and more to support a lifestyle that, frankly, they can’t truly afford. As a result, this spending has become financed with debt in the form of credit cards, student loans, car loans, and even personal loans and home mortgages.

For many, the debt has become daunting. The bind in which they find themselves now, having realized that they need to adjust their lifestyle, they desperately want to trim or eliminate personal debts. They no longer want to shoulder these burdens. Many are undertaking this noble goal while already living on low incomes, making the challenge that much greater.

If you find yourself in this category, there are a number of steps that you can take to help reduce your debts more effectively, even while living on a low income. Below are a few suggestions.

Track your finances in detail. The first step in reducing debt is to first ensure you are well-aware of the details of your own situation. You may decide to use bookkeeping software like Quicken or QuickBooks however a simple spreadsheet or notebook will suffice. Keep track of all income and expenses, broken down into categories with as much detail as possible. Also be sure to list all debts that you have, and to make note of any monthly payments that you’re making.
Cut expenses wherever you can. Once you have compiled detail records of your finances, look for areas where you can cut back. This may mean forgoing meals or nights out – as entertainment can comprise a surprisingly large portion of monthly expenses. Depending on your situation, perhaps you can look into cheaper housing options. If you own a car but make payments, might you be able to sell the car and instead utilize public transportation until you have paid down your debts?

Use the savings to start paying down debt. It’s critical, in this step, that you pay down debts in the proper order – that being the highest-interest debts first. Credit card debts, unsecured lines of credit, and other personal loans should be addressed first. Later, you can move on to student loans, car loans, secured lines of credit or home mortgages. You’ll find those lower-interest items much easier to pay down once the higher-interest debts have been eliminated, as their relative carrying costs are much lower. It’s also critical during this step to make sure you don’t fall behind with one debt while aggressively paying down another. All minimum monthly payments need to be made before you start making extra payments toward one or more liabilities.

Immediately direct any windfall towards debt reduction. If you happen to receive an inheritance, a bonus at work, or other cash gifts including for holidays or birthdays, it can be tempting to spend this unexpected cash or otherwise treat yourself. If your goal is to reduce or eliminate debt, though, then that’s exactly how these funds should be used. These unanticipated funds probably won’t have been built into your spending budget – they certainly shouldn’t have been – so you shouldn’t be sacrificing anything to use those funds for paying down debt. These kinds of windfalls, if used properly, can help you to become debt-free much faster.

Add new revenue streams, even if they’re small. For some, this may mean getting a second job. For others, whose skills are always in demand – it can mean freelance or consulting work. Even babysitting, mowing lawns, Uber or other odd jobs can help you earn some extra cash to pay down debts.

Stop borrowing immediately. A wise man once said that, if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is quit digging. Nowhere is this truer than in the area of debt reduction. It is well-nigh impossible to get out of debt if you keep adding to the total. So, whatever you do, once you’ve decided that you want to reduce your debts, first make sure that you are through building them up. Make whatever cuts are necessary to your spending, or sell whatever you must in order to insure you stop accumulating any new debt.

In personal finance, few objectives are more difficult than reducing debt. This is only made more complicated when it is attempted on a low income. Still, it is a noble goal which, for many, is the best way to set right their personal balance sheets and gain all-important peace of mind. If you find yourself in such a predicament, make sure to follow the tips above as first steps toward putting yourself on more solid financial footing.

Guest Post Author: Steven McMeechan

Steven McMeechan is a strategic marketing and communications specialist with over twenty years’ experience in senior marketing management roles across a range of industries including Information Technology and Financial Services. He works for Capstone Financial Planning and lives in Melbourne Australia.

The Drapery Defence – 6 Tips For Avoiding Common Mistakes When Choosing Curtains

November 21, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Nothing beats the superior beauty and elegance of custom made curtains. They can transform a drab window into a showpiece and encourage, filter and diffuse natural light – highlighting a room’s best features and downplaying its worst.

Unfortunately, windows don’t come in uniform sizes, so finding the perfect curtains which match your decor, style, taste as well as fit your windows can be a little daunting. Understanding the common issues around selecting the right curtain fabrics and customising them to complement and enhance your home, is the first step to picture perfect windows.

Length – the long and the short of it

Common mistake: Curtains can make or break the look of a room. Curtains which are too short can appear as if you have scrimped on the fabric or used secondhand curtains designed for a smaller window. A puddle of material due to curtains being too long, can be almost as bad.

Solution: Even if you are getting custom made curtains, you may need to provide accurate measurements to ensure precision fitting. Your curtain provider can give you tips on how to measure your windows for optimal fit but if not, the following instructions may be of some assistance.

Firstly fit all curtain rods and tracks around 10 – 20 cm (depending on personal preference) above all the window recesses you intend to cover. This will give a uniformity to all the gaps between the rods and the ceiling.

Next, decide whether the curtain drop will be to the window sill or the floor.

When measuring, note:

Curtains which drop to the sill usually finish 1.25cm above the sill.
Curtains which drop just below the sill will ideally sit around 15 cm below but this is a matter of taste and personal preference.
Curtains which drop to the floor should allow a 2.5cm clearance to avoid dragging.
Rod and ring curtains should be measured from the bottom of the ring.
To this raw measurement add another 20 cms (5 cms for the top seam allowance and 15 cms for the bottom hem) for lined and unlined curtains with tab or tape tops.
Curtains which have cased headings will require 25 cms added to the finished length (10 cms for the top seam allowance and 15 cms for the bottom hem).

Width

Common mistake: A shortage of fabric in the width of your curtains can make even the most luxuriant fabric look stingy and cheap.

Solution: Again, accurate measurements with enough fabric allowance to allow curtains to crossover in the middle to ensure privacy. They should also have ample fabric to look ‘drapey’ and flowing.

Aim for the width of the fabric to be two to two and a half times as wide as the window.

Uniformity

Common mistake: Selecting mismatched curtains or window treatments throughout a home can be jarring, causing the decor to look hobbled together.

Solution: To create a seamless flow and theme through your home, match curtains, blinds and other window treatments. They needn’t be all the same – curtains in a kitchen will not be the same as those in a formal dining room for instance, but they should complement each other.

A Material Difference – Fabric choices

Common mistake: The use of poor-quality fabrics or those which are unsuitable for their use, can bring a room down quicker than any other feature.

Solution: The fall of a curtain can tell a great deal about the quality of the fabric and workmanship involved in its production. Curtains and window treatments are a substantial investment and as such should be selected thoughtfully with consideration given to each room and use.

Begin by moving from room to room, identifying the amount of light which enters and the desired level of sun blocking and privacy required.

Working within your colour pallette so as to maintain uniformity, use hues and tones to create warmth in living areas, brighten dull, dark rooms or block light to specialty rooms such as baby’s room or home cinema.

Colour Clash

Common mistake: Garish mismatches of colour can prevent a feeling of flow and uniformity. They can also date quickly.

Solution: Obtain some fabric swatches and hold them up in each room to see how they react with light changes over the course of a day. Sticking with neutral tones as much as possible is the safest way to avoid the curtains overwhelming your decor.

Pocket Calculator

Common mistake: If opting for rod and pocket style curtains, making the rod pocket too tight can prevent easy movement of the curtains and making them too loose can prevent them staying gathered when open.

Solution: Pre-shrink all your curtaining fabric, to avoid any nasty surprises down the track. Use your rod as a guide and pin and tack the curtains in place. Check movement for sticking or gaping before sewing.

Beautifully made curtains should be a focal point to any room of the home. Investing time into perfecting the cut, colour, conformity and quality, will pay dividends for many years to come.