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9 Things to Put on Your Bucket List

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1 year ago

March 13, 2023

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You may have seen such lists on social media and wondered what a Bucket List is. Or you already know and simply want to get some inspiration. For those who are acquainted with the term, skip right to the list. For those who aren’t – here’s a short explanation.

The term Bucket List means a number of things that “everyone must do before death”. They’re kind of unusual actions or achievements that everyone should try doing at least once. Right, the wording “before death” may seem too negative for some, but it doesn’t necessarily mean death itself.

It’s more of a point until which you should definitely try doing these things. So it can be any time limit you want. And as for things themselves, essay writing services like https://essaywritingservice.com/coursework-writing-service, will help you free up enough time for those. It’s definitely worth it if you spend that time doing something that would leave a positive mark on you for the rest of your life. Even if it’s as simple as cooking your own meals or going to the gym.

So, for those ones who are ready to experiment, want some adventures, or simply seek advice, here are some things for you to put on the Bucket List.

Educational

Learn a New Language

Learning is always good, but what’s the best way to combine useful and enjoyable? Learn a language, of course. Speaking different languages brings countless new opportunities. From enhancing basic learning skills to being able to speak the native language of a country you’re traveling through.

It doesn’t even have to be a common one. Try getting into coding and learning a programming language. Who knows, maybe it will become not only your passion but a source of income. Just find the one that suits you the best, that fits your inner self. And don’t forget to constantly explore new opportunities.

Create a Painting

Everyone keeps talking that people need to express themselves through art. And well, that’s actually true. The easiest, most affordable, and accessible way to represent one’s thoughts is to draw something. No need to have drawing skills, just take a pencil or a brush and express what’s in your head. Also, don’t be shy, you’re not obliged to show it to everyone. Just find joy in the process itself.

Finish a Classic Book

Books aren’t that popular nowadays, and it’s a sad thing. Books contain whole imaginary worlds written in simple (or sometimes not) text. They are the best sources of inspiration and a useful way to spend your free time. Reading through a detective story can improve deductive thinking. Or maybe a classic sci-fi book will help you to discover an inner passion for tech? Anyway, here are some books you should try out:

The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R Tolkien
1984 by George Orwell
Fahrenheit 481 by Ray Bradbury
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Adventures and Travelling

Ride a Horse

It’s a very simple thing. But most people have never done it. Riding a horse. Just look up where you can do it, sometimes it’s possible to ride one even in a park. Just don’t be afraid and follow the instructions. Nobody can imagine how special the feeling of riding a horse is. And now think of how it used to be the only way to get anywhere for thousands of years.

Visit 7 Oceans

Tired of undo-able challenges like “visit all 250 countries” and such? Well, visiting all 7 oceans is much easier to do. Especially if you’re American, as traveling from one coast to another already gives you 2 points. And then, you only need to visit 5 countries and the goal is reached. Trust me, it does sound impressive when someone says that they’ve seen all the oceans.

Hot Air Balloon Ride in Another Country

We all love these professionally drone-filmed landscapes and time-lapses. But there is a way to experience it yourself. All you have to do is go for a hot air balloon ride. Most of them are held near marvelous sightseeing routes, so you’ll feel just like a bird in the sky. Though, a much slower-paced bird that has time to look into every detail of the landscape.

Physical Activity and Health

Take Archery Classes

For some unknown reasons, people think that shooting an arrow with a bow is simple. Well, the principle is simple, but doing it with accuracy and power is pretty hard to master. That’s why it’s so exciting to take archery classes. Set yourself a tough goal, like hit a 30cm target from 100 meters for example, and start practicing until you can achieve it.

Cook Meals Yourself for a Month

Something so basic but so unachievable for many people. We all love eating junk food, there’s no need to hide that. There’s nothing wrong with that too, but how about trying to cook your own meals? It’s more healthy and will teach you life-long skills. Just set a particular rule, whether it’s allowed to order food or visit a restaurant on a certain occasion. And make sure to follow these rules, because there’s no point in the whole challenge if you’re cheating.

Do 20 push-ups Regularly

Keeping fit doesn’t always mean getting a gym membership. Some things can be done regularly without having one. And doing 20 push-ups is the most basic goal you could think of. If you can do 20 of them in a row – great, now try doing it regularly and increasing the number. If not – then it’s the perfect reason to start working out. Nothing beats the feeling of satisfaction when you can finally do a desired number of reps during a workout.

Final Words

See, there aren’t any impossible things on our list. Yet, they still need some effort to achieve and the reward is worth it too. Because the best prize for accomplishing anything is the skill and knowledge you receive on the way. And if you’re still desperate for adventures, maybe it’s time for something more extreme like paragliding? Just remember to stay safe!

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Tips for Saving Money on Home Refurbishments

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1 year ago

March 13, 2023

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Buying a house is the biggest investment most of us make, but sometimes, despite the high mortgage, the property will require a further substantial chunk of money to bring it up to standard. Depending on the price you initially paid for the property and how much money (if any) you have left over, you may need to think carefully about budgeting.

Like any big project, renovating a house can quickly see costs spiral out of control. This means you’re likely looking at ways to save money, even if you have a relatively large budget to work with initially. If you’re unsure where to start with budgeting a home refurbishment, we’re here to help.

We’ve put together four handy tips that you can use to preserve your budget and make the project less harsh on your finances.

1. Salvage What You Can

The first tip is to salvage what you can. Depending on the nature of your refurbishment, this can relate to anything. For example, if the bathroom of your property is in relatively good condition, you won’t necessarily need to replace it all. You might install a new showerhead and lighting, but you can save money by painting the existing tiles and adding decals rather than buying brand new ones.

If you’re refurbishing the kitchen and like the current layout, you could keep the shell of the cabinets and simply replace the cupboard doors and worktops. Likewise, you can give your sink a new look simply by replacing the taps.

These are all examples of salvaging what you have which will go a long way to saving you money, as well as making your refurbishment eco-friendlier.

2. Wait for Sales Before Making Big Purchases

If you need to make a big purchase as part of your renovation, such as a bath or kitchen appliances, then it’s a good idea to wait a little while before committing to buying. Oftentimes, suppliers will hold sales that see items half in price, meaning you can more often than not find a bargain simply by being patient.

3. Do Things Yourself

One of the biggest costs associated with house refurbishments is labor costs. There will inevitably be tasks that require a professional to step in, such as plastering or electrical re-wiring, but you’d be surprised at the number of jobs you can do yourself. The beauty of the internet is that there are video tutorials of almost anything, including costly jobs like tiling and laying carpets.

By undertaking as much of the work as you can yourself, you’ll soon see just how much money you’re able to save. This is a great option if you’re on a strict budget and don’t mind getting stuck in.

4. Save Up Cash Where Possible

Our final money saving tip for doing a house refurb is to pay in cash where you can. This means saving up money into a bank account and avoiding using credit or loans where possible. Every time you take out a loan or use a credit card, you’re liable to pay back the initial amount you borrowed as well as interest. The amount of interest you pay will depend on the finance agreement you’ve entered into, but it does mean that what you end up paying is more than it would be if you were to pay in cash.

Paying using cash means that it might take you a bit longer to save up, but if money is tight and you have the luxury of time, it’s a good idea. If you’re renovating a house to sell it on, borrowing money won’t be an issue because you should stand to make a profit anyway, but otherwise, try and stick to cash.

We hope you find these tips useful and that your home refurb goes to plan. If you’ve recently undertaken a refurbishment project, what are some tips you implemented to save money?

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What Do I Need to Know to Maintain my Air Conditioner?

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1 year ago

March 13, 2023

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Maintaining your HVAC system is an essential component to your quality of life. When it’s working correctly, you are guaranteed a comfortable environment in all seasons. You are also guaranteed of efficiency in energy consumption. The challenge is that if you do not get the right information on air conditioner maintenance, it can cost you a lot of money. There is also the risk of falling prey to unscrupulous AC repair companies that cost you money and make the problems worse. To help you avoid such issues, here is what you need to know to maintain your AC without challenges.

Finding the Right Company Can Make all the Difference

If you want to maintain your AC without problems, make sure to use a qualified HVAC company. There are multiple ways that you can tell if an HVAC company. The first thing you need to check out for is their certifications. As a rule, always go for a company that has all the right certifications needed for the job. This is usually an indicator that they have the minimum qualifications needed to get the job done. Once you ascertain that they are certified, the next thing to check out for is their customer reputation. One way to tell if a company has a good reputation or not is to check its online reviews. As a rule, go for a company that has more positive reviews than negative ones. It is usually an indicator that they are good at the job, and they deliver on their promises. Using these parameters, one of the best companies you can go for is Doc’s heating and AC Company. They are BBB Accredited and are dealers for top companies like Mitsubishi Electric, Goodman, Amana, Daikin, and Aprilaire. They also have a good reputation with customers including fast response times to customer needs.

Save Money by Taking a DIY Approach to Air Conditioner Maintenance

AC maintenance is not cheap. However, you can significantly cut on these costs by taking a DIY approach to most of the AC maintenance tasks. Some of the things you can do by yourself and cut on your AC maintenance costs are as below:

Replace the air filters

One of the things you can do to cut on costs is to replace the air filters. Replacing the air filter is not hard and you should try and do it once a month. All you need to do is know the right-size filter for your system and stick to it. By replacing the air filter, you avoid a multitude of other issues that will most likely lead to costly repairs.

Cleaning up the coils

One of the biggest causes of inefficiencies in AC systems is dirty air coils. When dirt clogs up the coils, it slows down the airflow, reducing the system’s ability to absorb heat. As such, the system works harder leading to higher energy consumption. Luckily, this is an issue that you can easily deal with on your own. Just spend a few minutes of your free time, once or twice a month, to clean the coils.

Get rid of debris from the AC unit

One of the biggest causes of inefficiency in AC systems is a buildup of debris in the unit. Some of this debris include leaves and small stones, and you can deal with them without the intervention of a professional. For instance, you can start by cleaning up the area close to the air conditioner of shrubs and other plants.

Work on the coil fins

You may have noticed that after a while, the condenser and evaporator coils start to bend. This creates a blockage of the airflow, which then affects the efficiency of the system. To get rid of this problem, try and straighten it whenever you notice that it is starting to coil. It may give you a hard time the first time, but once you learn how to do it, it will take very little of your time, and significantly cut on your cost of maintaining the AC system.

The quality of air conditioner accessories matters

When looking to maintain your AC, you will regularly need to replace things like coils and air filters. When buying these accessories, go for reputable brands. They will serve their purpose well, and for longer. This will cut on your costs while ensuring that you have good quality service in terms of airflow and energy efficiency. You may spend more initially, but long-term, the costs of maintenance will be lower.

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Expanding Your Home Upwards | TechLipz

Published

1 year ago

March 13, 2023

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Changing circumstances can mean that our living requirements can shift, whether it’s due to an expanding family or otherwise. Sometimes, it’s not quite enough to just add an extra room to your home and you’re in need of a whole new floor. Although your first thought might be that you need a new house, sometimes parting with the place you call home is absolutely heart-breaking. Therefore, you may consider adding a new storey to your existing home.

There’s no denying that this is a large-scale operation, so for maximum security and optimal results, you will require a professional trained team on hand. Professionals that work with scaffolding require IPAF training, which equips them with the skills that they need to work at a height in a safe capacity. Therefore, if you lack training such as this, you should always refrain from working at a height as this could result in serious injury and lead to a poor-quality project.

Evaluating the Foundations

Not all structures will be suited to adding another storey, which is why you must evaluate the floor plans ahead or commencing your project. If you can get your hands on the floor plans for your home, you’ll be able to learn what type of foundations are in place. This information includes their depth and whether certain internal walls have foundations. On top of this, you’ll be able to find out more about your drainage system. This information will provide your design team with the means of crafting a plan.

Not everyone can simply attain their floor plans, in this case you would search for your local building records. However, if you’re unsuccessful in doing so, you’ll need to get in touch with a structural engineer to assess your ground conditions for you. In order to do so, they may need to dig some holes to determine the type and depth of the foundations that you have in place.

On top of digging holes, the engineer may need to take a soil sample to send for testing. Otherwise, a geotechnical consultant might need to liaise with your structural engineer. Ultimately, there are many methods of attaining the information that you need, but the results will effectively determine the remainder of your project.

Selecting a Frame

A timber frame is the best solution in terms of adding an extension to your home since it’s need for blockwork is minimal. Therefore, you won’t be required to reinforce your existing foundations due to the lightweight properties of timber frames. Underpinning and strengthening foundations is a lengthy and costly procedure, so it’s wise to steer away from this if doable. On average, a timber-framed upwards extension will cost around £1,800/m².

Before going ahead with a timber-framed solution, you’ll need to get your planning status approved. Typically, a prefabricated timber frame is more efficient than a stick-built alternative. You should get going with your construction as quickly as you can and select one contractor so that your project is at the forefront of their mind.

Other Things to Contemplate

In order to avoid the disturbance of creatures in your roof, a bat survey should be executed.

Within the builders’ contract, you should name your timber frame supplier so that you’re able to manage your expenses. This also alleviates some of the responsibility from you as your builder will be liable for some of the paperwork.

Your scaffolding company will need to be regularly notified about the status of your project to maintain safety measures.

Furthermore, you might sell materials from your existing structure to assist you financially.

Lastly, you should consider an “easi-joist” system as these are simpler than standard joists.