tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5267223620999143052024-02-02T23:45:47.848+00:00Girl Up NorthUK Home & Lifestylegirl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.comBlogger383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-29386546466110541932022-10-12T18:19:00.000+01:002022-10-12T18:19:12.923+01:00How to Cook the Best Budget-Friendly Cut of Steak<p>Steak is probably considered a more expensive choice of meal; something you might have as a weekend treat and as we start to feel the pinch of the increase in the cost of living, saving money on our weekly food shop has become a priority which might make you think that steak is off the menu. </p><p>You might be forgiven for thinking that a cheaper cut of steak means that you're compromising on quality but that doesn't have to be the case if you buy from a reputable butcher and you cook it correctly. I recently ordered some <a href="https://swaledale.co.uk/products/flat-iron-steak" target="_blank">flat iron steak</a> from Swaledale Butchers which is much more budget friendly at less than £10 for 2 steaks. </p><p>Swaledale Butchers say 'Flat Iron, a tender steak that boasts flavour to match the prime steaks. Cut from beneath the shoulder blade of the beast by our skilled butchery team, it is naturally lean, sinew-free and perfect to cook year-round.' </p><p>I enjoy my steak medium rare so the following cooking instructions will produce steak that is cooked as such:</p><p>1. Take Flat Iron steaks out of fridge, remove packaging, pat dry with kitchen paper, pop on a plate and allow to reach room temperature</p><p>2. Oil the steaks and season generously with coarse sea salt and cracked black pepper</p><p>3. Heat a non-stick pan or cast iron skillet until smoking hot</p><p>4. Add the Flat Irons to the dry pan resisting the urge to move them and turn after 2 minutes</p><p>5. Once other side has cooked for 2 minutes, a rich golden crust should have formed. Turn every 30 seconds or so for a total cooking time of approx. 6-8 minutes</p><p>6. Remove from pan and rest for 8 minutes</p><p>7. Slice across the grain and serve</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHvtF9Zzj0tiEzanUp3lFo8lCafcZ9gEcowqqlYfTOMert4ut2AnpgAGPnThy7bIJRHNyu1QLu_76f4Q-rsYsEsZI-vVBQpr_sYYg4EUSjZF3wW_kIEQ_2NyD2_QQPZE09c5XnkVt8kCcwj5W1Qddwf-QB-2b86XdvBolLbIvmhYlRmH6yKjw2uE8nw/s4032/IMG_8033.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHvtF9Zzj0tiEzanUp3lFo8lCafcZ9gEcowqqlYfTOMert4ut2AnpgAGPnThy7bIJRHNyu1QLu_76f4Q-rsYsEsZI-vVBQpr_sYYg4EUSjZF3wW_kIEQ_2NyD2_QQPZE09c5XnkVt8kCcwj5W1Qddwf-QB-2b86XdvBolLbIvmhYlRmH6yKjw2uE8nw/s16000/IMG_8033.HEIC" /></a></div><p>As you can see, I served mine with simple accompaniments of fries and tender stem broccoli and I think this works really well when keeping the meal as simple as possible. No sauce required because the steak was so flavoursome!</p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-29060068420064995872022-09-11T18:25:00.000+01:002022-09-11T18:25:02.495+01:00Tips for getting the most out of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World<div style="text-align: left;">Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is back at Walt Disney World for the first time since 2019 and the whole experience can feel like a bit of a minefield for a first-timer. There's lots of things that are worth knowing before you go to make sure you get the most out of your party time so I thought I'd answer some of the most common questions asked about Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kqtJFxYPY0eqVVyDN0hIsYQnRyNdKWcHc9-YrXG9IYb7Go97Lm5T5Td5ZeAYDM3err0d9oBgU7qDdP08LyPESBqrs3ahiyY0Z5h-yKS9Tng87fQnJpAY5280-HWIYh4ZiC6a1zz26N6tyf6_bPzm9fRM0l5c-DpNgIvK9pV7jIgksLveYE4fMqSNLg/s4032/IMG_6935%202.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="magic-kingdom-halloween-decor" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kqtJFxYPY0eqVVyDN0hIsYQnRyNdKWcHc9-YrXG9IYb7Go97Lm5T5Td5ZeAYDM3err0d9oBgU7qDdP08LyPESBqrs3ahiyY0Z5h-yKS9Tng87fQnJpAY5280-HWIYh4ZiC6a1zz26N6tyf6_bPzm9fRM0l5c-DpNgIvK9pV7jIgksLveYE4fMqSNLg/s16000/IMG_6935%202.heic" title="Magic Kingdom Halloween Decor" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Q: Do I need a park reservation for the day of the party?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">A: No you don't. MNSSHP is an after hours event which requires a separate ticket. You do not need daytime park admission at all, you can just buy the event ticket.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: What time can I enter the park for MNSSHP?<br /></b>A: You can enter the park any time after 4pm with an event ticket. If you'd like to enter before that you must have a daytime park ticket plus a valid park reservation for that day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: If I'm already in the park, can't I just stay for MNSSHP?<br /></b>A: Not unless you have an event ticket. There are several points around the park where you can have your event ticket scanned and you'll be given a MNSSHP wrist band but if you don't have an event ticket you will be ushered out by cast members at 6pm. There's no sneaking around it either; they will want to see a wristband to enter shops, restaurants, rides etc. They're well versed in weeding out those who don't have a party ticket - trust me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: What's different about MNSSHP compared to a normal park day?<br /></b>A: They have a myriad of halloween specials to enjoy throughout the evening; from shows, parades and firework specials to exclusive halloween themed food, merchandise, ride overlays, rare character meet and greets and trick or treating locations. Here are this year's parade and show times:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrlclWzXUdfr-GDC9lWl8PMt2Zha9HF7wZ70ik3Qt0Cdw-VJQ0CexdeVaNb4Gd-s3aLLJj3fLLgCpja4IFC1nz78mkVMEkXvDPm5qOnmyYFzfaXEC6A4H5Uav0fUVGL0lhaK3Gtr2mt8jb985XiwYu3AnAiVjOz7f3B1-Wc0Z8CxybZF0hOiPXR83fA/s4032/IMG_7740.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-show-times" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrlclWzXUdfr-GDC9lWl8PMt2Zha9HF7wZ70ik3Qt0Cdw-VJQ0CexdeVaNb4Gd-s3aLLJj3fLLgCpja4IFC1nz78mkVMEkXvDPm5qOnmyYFzfaXEC6A4H5Uav0fUVGL0lhaK3Gtr2mt8jb985XiwYu3AnAiVjOz7f3B1-Wc0Z8CxybZF0hOiPXR83fA/s16000/IMG_7740.HEIC" title="Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Show Times" /></a></div><br /><b>Q: When should I see the parades and shows?</b><br />A: This is obviously down to personal preference and other advice out there would suggest seeing later shows as the crowds are usually less. However, given that you often can't rely on Florida weather, I would recommend seeing earlier shows if there's something you really have your heart set on; that way you have the best chance of seeing the show/parade if the weather is looking a bit rainy/stormy (heavy rain and lightening will cancel/delay shows and parades due to cast member safety). There is only one Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show so make sure you're ready for that at 10.15pm. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Where can I get halloween candy at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: If you collect one of the party maps on entry it shows all the trick or treat locations marked with an orange lolly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelaVl-tOW895G4PBcBfNw3_UgSlD6znJOymwWeJS1CM35p-zZNj8iV8A_ADra_p__cjvhm2C4dnbpbC0gv2IQ9CW7cqh1FbxCZjgHLOvJYtswtugL7WtPFrF-9z8P5czVS9smPs62pKnIa4TmaT4ZCTrglA4NSx5J-IJTgSGslFmsB5ebNEWRGUpYRw/s3777/ABE9D4AC-8961-44FF-B4E7-F644E601C22A_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-map" border="0" data-original-height="2146" data-original-width="3777" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelaVl-tOW895G4PBcBfNw3_UgSlD6znJOymwWeJS1CM35p-zZNj8iV8A_ADra_p__cjvhm2C4dnbpbC0gv2IQ9CW7cqh1FbxCZjgHLOvJYtswtugL7WtPFrF-9z8P5czVS9smPs62pKnIa4TmaT4ZCTrglA4NSx5J-IJTgSGslFmsB5ebNEWRGUpYRw/s16000/ABE9D4AC-8961-44FF-B4E7-F644E601C22A_1_201_a.heic" title="Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party Map" /></a></div><br /><b>Q: Can I only go through each treat station once?</b><br />A: Nope! You're more than welcome to go through the treat stations as many times as you'd like - the cast members won't stop you!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Do they provide a treat bag to keep all the candy in?</b><br />A: Yes they do - this year it's an exclusive 50th Anniversary 'Boo To You' bag. They are quite small though so I would recommend taking a backpack with you so you can either put any excess candy in there or you can put your treat bag into your backpack for ease when you go on the rides. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: What candy do they offer at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: This year (2022) it seems to be a whole lot of Snickers plus Snickers brownie, Snickers peanut butter, Milky Way, Starburst, M&Ms (3 or 4 different varieties), Skittles and Twix. It does say 'Dove' on the treat stations and they are sponsored by Mars Wrigley but the word is that there have been supply issues with some variations of treats.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Do they cater for allergies at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: Yes they do! If you need allergy friendly treats you can pick up a special bag at the first treat station (turn right as you enter the park, don't go down Main Street - it's all very well signposted), then there are special locations around the park marked with a teal Mickey pumpkin head on the map where you can collect special allergy friendly tokens. At the end of the night you can redeem your tokens for allergy friendly treats down Main Street to the left of Guest Services or in Liberty Square behind the Sleepy Hollow quick service location. A word of warning though - it looks like they're a little more 'conservative' with the allergy friendly treats than the regular ones...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Which characters can I meet at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: Character meet and greet opportunities aren't clear on the map so just to give you a flavour of where they are this year:<br />- Jack & Sally at Town Square Theatre<br />- Halloween Mickey at Town Square Theatre<br />- Jafar, Jasmin and Genie and Captain Jack Sparrow have been spotted in Adventureland (as well as Abu on occasion!)<br />- Belle & Gaston, Ariel & Eric, Winnie the Pooh and Friends, Minnie, Donald and Daisy as well as the Queen of Hearts, Alice, the Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dum, and Tweedle Dee can be spotted in Fantasyland<br />- Stitch and George Sanderson can be found in Tomorrowland<br />You might notice the absence of the Seven Dwarves which has historically been a really popular meet and greet at MNSSHP but no sign of them this year *sad face*.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Can you meet the Sanderson Sisters at MNSSHP?<br /></b>A: Unfortunately not - that would be my dream!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: What are the must dos at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: This, again, is down to personal preference. I would prioritise two or three things that you really want to do - whether that's specific meet and greets or shows/parades and plan your night around those. Be aware that the longest queues will be for character meet and greets - especially Jack and Sally which has been known to reach 4 hours long quite quickly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Which rides have special overlays at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: Pirates of the Caribbean has live actors, Space Mountain is Completely in the Dark, Monster's Inc Laugh Floor is transformed into a treat location with audience interaction as you pass through and Haunted Mansion has live actors in the queue line. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Are ride wait times low at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: Historically yes. I don't remember waiting any longer than 35 minutes for any ride, even things like Seven Dwarves Mine Train which always has a big queue! Most things were a walk on. If you don't have any daytime admission to Magic Kingdom after hours events are a great opportunity to ride some of your favourite rides without some of the hideous wait times which are often in the blazing sun!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Can adults wear costumes at MNSSHP?</b><br />A: Yes they can! One of the only occasions that Disney allow this for adults. <a href="https://www.disneyworld.co.uk/faq/parks/dress/" target="_blank">Click here for more guidance and rules on costumes at MNSSHP</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Q: Ultimate question: Is MNSSHP worth the money?</b><br />A: It is if you don't have any other day admission to Magic Kingdom because you get to experience the park with lower crowds for 8 hours (4pm-12am) plus all the Halloween extras which is well worth it. The jury is out though if you're buying an after hours ticket on top of daytime admission - I think everyone should experience MNSSHP once if you're a fan of Halloween!</div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-2231641874494047482022-07-22T12:47:00.006+01:002022-07-22T12:47:57.690+01:00Florida Travel Day - Manchester to Orlando International Airport flying with Virgin Atlantic<p>We were up bright and early as always but I must admit it was ideal just being able to walk straight out of the hotel into the terminal and not worrying about traffic. As we walked down the Skylink walkway we noticed a humongous queue and I thought 'ooh dear here we go, here's the security line everyone's been talking about' - luckily for us it wasn't, it was the TUI queue. On this occasion the baggage belt had malfunctioned meaning they couldn't check bags in as normal; thankfully Virgin was much quieter so we checked in and off we went to security.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxErgCj9DTuA4g0nwS30Pggxl7Fu8oT4ohXZBOoFTRCjxr39DFDKAnYqbLAerT3BlpZtzOo146FpMEq4Z4vKIUTgEqZB8ebviiKXD2GvER_aCpNiIQYcUhF2BfO58txnz7VtE4xJv67m5TMEy2y0slLnmQ-xLBHYqCOQ43bwR2Xa4cLavnU-LObJIbcg/s4032/IMG_3612.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxErgCj9DTuA4g0nwS30Pggxl7Fu8oT4ohXZBOoFTRCjxr39DFDKAnYqbLAerT3BlpZtzOo146FpMEq4Z4vKIUTgEqZB8ebviiKXD2GvER_aCpNiIQYcUhF2BfO58txnz7VtE4xJv67m5TMEy2y0slLnmQ-xLBHYqCOQ43bwR2Xa4cLavnU-LObJIbcg/w480-h640/IMG_3612.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>We did pay £5 for the security fast track but it wasn't open so we still had to queue as normal; it took around 45 minutes but the staff were very aware of potential passengers who would miss departures so they kept coming round to ask about departure times which I thought was efficient given the circumstances. </p><p>We went up to Amber Ale House for some breakfast - I had a cooked breakfast (which was underwhelming tbh) and Kev had overnight oats. It was at this point I could see Kev was getting increasingly anxious about the flight. He had never flown long haul before and had only flown twice before so he was really, really worried about it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YSXucvglcTgVNk_4vY4bJliSWf9iF-0-1svd8tIAsq8-xwQ2dZVnx-5o5s78-HVzj4GXz7PsceUX5Aemw8-PILb2U9Jw9ZEj4C96sI3c2DHvA-redVs7SAklE7NHBPBfTrZAQd-ibKZFuWFJNzWQPsaIukMkCnrmbuL5jHw7wAJzt80iLLodBZZZiw/s4032/IMG_3613.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YSXucvglcTgVNk_4vY4bJliSWf9iF-0-1svd8tIAsq8-xwQ2dZVnx-5o5s78-HVzj4GXz7PsceUX5Aemw8-PILb2U9Jw9ZEj4C96sI3c2DHvA-redVs7SAklE7NHBPBfTrZAQd-ibKZFuWFJNzWQPsaIukMkCnrmbuL5jHw7wAJzt80iLLodBZZZiw/w640-h480/IMG_3613.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>He didn't eat much and requested some time outside so we went out into the smoking area (the only airside outdoor area). I was at a loss to know what to say to him to put his mind at rest because I know what it's like to have a horrendous phobia (I have one about the dentist) but I tried to explain how it would all be worth it in the end. </p><p>About 1.5 hrs of back and forth conversation later Kev suddenly said 'I can't, I can't do it, you're going to have to go on your own'. I tried to reason with him and encourage him to at least look on the plane but he was having none of it so we went to find someone to see what we needed to do as I knew he couldn't exit the terminal on his own; he'd have to be escorted out. </p><p>We were told to go to the Virgin check-in desk where they were getting ready to board and I explained our situation. By this point we were both in tears, the lady said we had to get his bag off which was a slight issue as half my stuff was in there so we would have to repack before putting it back on but she said just hang on a minute let me see if there's any cabin crew available. </p><p>Ade, the cabin manager, came off and literally laid on the floor in front of kev who was sat on a seat and talked him through everything that was worrying. After about 10-15 mins of chatting he invited us to board the plane first to have a look with no obligation to stay on. When we got on he said we could sit wherever there was a space, we were already in premium and decided to keep our original seats as it was the back 2 near the bulk head. Ade also said we could get up and go to the upper class bar whenever as long as the seatbelt sign wasn't on. I feel like at this point Kev pushed himself to stay on the plane; obviously premium is a bit more spacious and there IFE etc. so we sat down and belted up.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRnZ1UjgP0-AleLCsq5iLy2H4w0XcOF91AQQHprbtnysuyNn0ZyspCDM9QxEdHcCCtJakV2zYegoIPXRXlyxZ_p1HWpkMKJGZDskzUpzuFlQW07REKMyG2O6o-WIaOT4sMrpdkc8zsf9925eqciJ0X4M9ymErCWJJNBkdBw-SOk0esWMitJNkDO9CeQ/s3088/IMG_3616.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRnZ1UjgP0-AleLCsq5iLy2H4w0XcOF91AQQHprbtnysuyNn0ZyspCDM9QxEdHcCCtJakV2zYegoIPXRXlyxZ_p1HWpkMKJGZDskzUpzuFlQW07REKMyG2O6o-WIaOT4sMrpdkc8zsf9925eqciJ0X4M9ymErCWJJNBkdBw-SOk0esWMitJNkDO9CeQ/w480-h640/IMG_3616.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><p>After about 20 mins we were ready for take off and as the plane pushed back I cried tears of relief that he had actually got on the plane with me; I'd prepared myself to go alone but obviously it wasn't what I wanted to do at all. The flight was pretty smooth; the food was ok (I had paneer curry which lacked paneer haha) and the IFE was also ok. I started to watch Boiling Point - all the while keeping an eye on kev who didn't eat anything but I encouraged him to keep drinking water. </p><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYtjaror55xQrEEgjRgdXOK74hJRB4Ksr5oz0IPgGHPBwjzbreU-ABb6w1cxBxdNPiaBc_f7LNxmRBDflDWlKtujNYL1VX_qbZV0PYDNry1lUYf7CPgJfvC_DUA07kRW5obfsySCP-9jop_Xc7Yxolaes2gvHmdrse65v5wWjzI5fSIj9IdacA0Yezg/s4032/IMG_3618.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYtjaror55xQrEEgjRgdXOK74hJRB4Ksr5oz0IPgGHPBwjzbreU-ABb6w1cxBxdNPiaBc_f7LNxmRBDflDWlKtujNYL1VX_qbZV0PYDNry1lUYf7CPgJfvC_DUA07kRW5obfsySCP-9jop_Xc7Yxolaes2gvHmdrse65v5wWjzI5fSIj9IdacA0Yezg/w480-h640/IMG_3618.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJQq_K9oPsTzjYRxh2nRpL8gbVvdILveWKodoD8Mh08L7DYoMjB8UUU16m0TysuDn3zyuq-iJo9ODI8YXU3a7nPRRA2_B-gwRHNIPFNr4Y9EgaJ5NEMKXf1XCL3AI5m4cg9z8bH36anxrxsXQ_R4NxFaEBwSJZnB9-QLY_Z-eYtdaMGmZr-LLTR4U_g/s4032/IMG_3619.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJQq_K9oPsTzjYRxh2nRpL8gbVvdILveWKodoD8Mh08L7DYoMjB8UUU16m0TysuDn3zyuq-iJo9ODI8YXU3a7nPRRA2_B-gwRHNIPFNr4Y9EgaJ5NEMKXf1XCL3AI5m4cg9z8bH36anxrxsXQ_R4NxFaEBwSJZnB9-QLY_Z-eYtdaMGmZr-LLTR4U_g/w480-h640/IMG_3619.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdES0HyTU7AgmQclGZo-iVm-s5L9s4yj2SpDKAXnTgjF6v3mfTBx5GXD6ovIasSISEpjjCmxWqs0_ntSfMkP8kiibrMcxQzxULVgX6ZlVfhVx2EUHy_73OAlp7lGGo3DZNNDWAlu4XZGPOOtJRc6AWTo5pYdrjBRtwBitYAOGkMoBv9fDLun0sKeGBg/s4032/IMG_3620.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdES0HyTU7AgmQclGZo-iVm-s5L9s4yj2SpDKAXnTgjF6v3mfTBx5GXD6ovIasSISEpjjCmxWqs0_ntSfMkP8kiibrMcxQzxULVgX6ZlVfhVx2EUHy_73OAlp7lGGo3DZNNDWAlu4XZGPOOtJRc6AWTo5pYdrjBRtwBitYAOGkMoBv9fDLun0sKeGBg/w480-h640/IMG_3620.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rHomz8bYzMDYYRjV2aOeOND-wjvFIjhOTHH2Qpv06H4J3192tqQndgxwfttfD95VW2p2TMzX7IpMKEcO7QMnSe5n9ViFi70lavx8ouZ1u7qaBTPTf38wVFbv_nzC_PpMVEeMMxKDL6zi8DhlmPSPxiSNY60k2lGVc_FZETeNz5P4yxg0XETTmy-Qjg/s4032/IMG_3621.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rHomz8bYzMDYYRjV2aOeOND-wjvFIjhOTHH2Qpv06H4J3192tqQndgxwfttfD95VW2p2TMzX7IpMKEcO7QMnSe5n9ViFi70lavx8ouZ1u7qaBTPTf38wVFbv_nzC_PpMVEeMMxKDL6zi8DhlmPSPxiSNY60k2lGVc_FZETeNz5P4yxg0XETTmy-Qjg/w480-h640/IMG_3621.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTgtHgG1e94i3_8a-11WL0TiYTq9HjMEwxD8dNR5FBeIMrM12WpvmYghNimj4r_e3IVgjVVa_eOPsbhrdeJaBl5K1yAh6mA6b50chE00haQKF-LS1q7-2Pm2fAqCJYCVgyfdcnI3u3p06imSO_cbZ1a_xsWdBPwOsAHuoa4CsVAeptbCjeHOlrcal0w/s4032/IMG_3624.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTgtHgG1e94i3_8a-11WL0TiYTq9HjMEwxD8dNR5FBeIMrM12WpvmYghNimj4r_e3IVgjVVa_eOPsbhrdeJaBl5K1yAh6mA6b50chE00haQKF-LS1q7-2Pm2fAqCJYCVgyfdcnI3u3p06imSO_cbZ1a_xsWdBPwOsAHuoa4CsVAeptbCjeHOlrcal0w/w640-h480/IMG_3624.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>About 2.5 hrs into the flight he had a bit of a wobble; the beginnings of a panic attack. So we stood up and went to the upper class bar. I gave him a cuddle and reassured him that he was going to be ok; another lovely member of cabin crew came to help too and got us chatting about something else which really helped. After about 30 minutes he was ready to go back to our seat. </p><p>We had our own personal watch party watching Kingsman and then the afternoon tea came which was lovely; some little sandwiches and a scone. Again, Kev didn't eat a thing but still kept drinking water. After that we got the ipad out and watched Sex and the City 2 the movie; although it's not really Kev's cup of tea I think it was familiar for him because I watch it over and over at home. I do think watching movies 'together' really helped to calm him and keep his mind off the flight. </p><p>By the time we'd finished watching the ipad we were starting to descend. I was so proud of Kev for facing his fear and getting on the plane - I knew it would all be worth it in the end. Ade brought us over a bottle of champagne as a congratulations for Kev completing his first long haul flight which I thought was so lovely - the whole Virgin crew were absolutely amazing! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB12yi5NOh7q-0Vd31adNCXmoT4fm0oCCJmnykLQ9xHz_w0A4sAWoRPhPinzuvORK9zJGGXJK4VWDQZKIlU6hmS5ZHl8MojrS4iPBQIf-EAjbHx5MTAHQedrWySA-NblJIgxvqKD_jfxYYzUy79Y_CMITV9UPHKhuPG-YUffL7zZna6RXx-ma6v7SUw/s4032/IMG_3630.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB12yi5NOh7q-0Vd31adNCXmoT4fm0oCCJmnykLQ9xHz_w0A4sAWoRPhPinzuvORK9zJGGXJK4VWDQZKIlU6hmS5ZHl8MojrS4iPBQIf-EAjbHx5MTAHQedrWySA-NblJIgxvqKD_jfxYYzUy79Y_CMITV9UPHKhuPG-YUffL7zZna6RXx-ma6v7SUw/w480-h640/IMG_3630.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><p>When we landed at MCO I had another little quiet cry in the walkway to the terminal; the smell and familiar surroundings just made me realise that I'd finally made it back after 5 years. Security was an absolute breeze - no queues and we had a short wait for the bags. Then it was off on to the monorail into arrivals to wait for our friends Daniel and Jacob to kindly pick us up. </p><p>We arrived at our hotel the Wyndham Orlando Resort iDrive at around 5pm. I have to say I was quite underwhelmed by the room; it was tired and in need of an update but it was fine - it was a bed. We decided to go over to Giordanos for some food which was absolutely amazing (we had the sharer starter and shared a classic chicago deep dish pizza) and made our way back to the hotel for another early night ready for our first park day in Hollywood Studios!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmZW57faYaM52TMQ5aWLisK9gLAd5ET9h1Z0h-HVN2ad2_BkAfImEcZKqgwPx8qBMu_mv0PSej7wkP-fmopCLsxfsxP3ZdKHWz6_CMDdC0kP-3X_giFCvdEjtmw6cCY89D8nnMknasWiio5OeRGEEwJiZexU890duE7yXpj0C-Cx0ljOvWEgOPbnUFw/s4032/IMG_3632.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmZW57faYaM52TMQ5aWLisK9gLAd5ET9h1Z0h-HVN2ad2_BkAfImEcZKqgwPx8qBMu_mv0PSej7wkP-fmopCLsxfsxP3ZdKHWz6_CMDdC0kP-3X_giFCvdEjtmw6cCY89D8nnMknasWiio5OeRGEEwJiZexU890duE7yXpj0C-Cx0ljOvWEgOPbnUFw/w480-h640/IMG_3632.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaxzXVgFUa8I1DmzVyyiXa5jEpThzxGnOFm2L9ClIKTsxaQi63UNQGrig5XrecHRo6NKwEWcaqG4owuVqIujCLDrZ_ze09Dyancxz7BN8RqnQazDj5QkYe9GCnVOVuIlufdd7Bt2QH7TaKMH2FZEXDu1eXx3x_bMmLe3MvvvDEL7kLItJFr8k7JCPpA/s4032/IMG_3633.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaxzXVgFUa8I1DmzVyyiXa5jEpThzxGnOFm2L9ClIKTsxaQi63UNQGrig5XrecHRo6NKwEWcaqG4owuVqIujCLDrZ_ze09Dyancxz7BN8RqnQazDj5QkYe9GCnVOVuIlufdd7Bt2QH7TaKMH2FZEXDu1eXx3x_bMmLe3MvvvDEL7kLItJFr8k7JCPpA/w480-h640/IMG_3633.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMJn30xgXTUP5rzBtUMI5eWJtBcQ0cMIFaY8UmQCBFQbNiXlH1yLdc3cLgDfPHF-RlbKqhCRcpT3abqsImH87aaT1LmNDHs4RXCRcNf-cohrufK6v42PtK5vAWGbcyci0SHha4eac8lbUVPPK_nSKLTVMC8VihuNCmKeei6yusdFzI0NQgeAE5X6KYQ/s4032/IMG_3637.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMJn30xgXTUP5rzBtUMI5eWJtBcQ0cMIFaY8UmQCBFQbNiXlH1yLdc3cLgDfPHF-RlbKqhCRcpT3abqsImH87aaT1LmNDHs4RXCRcNf-cohrufK6v42PtK5vAWGbcyci0SHha4eac8lbUVPPK_nSKLTVMC8VihuNCmKeei6yusdFzI0NQgeAE5X6KYQ/w640-h480/IMG_3637.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFkbnTEr5_nIcdu_xRMId49Gr7iqNRqBJ1m5UWSIVK2jWpXwJN8HffYBBTJIzkHR8Wro7yf4CzlwXMaYvbdT0_2Z3lZRPBanfHXELln-QvimS_LRrDIqvGAjaRqaS9nWJ7QNnZP9oPlOMJVc_gfDiWksWrakTK0uUM9yp99oxEzxlWIPEi4CO36P2jg/s4032/IMG_3644.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFkbnTEr5_nIcdu_xRMId49Gr7iqNRqBJ1m5UWSIVK2jWpXwJN8HffYBBTJIzkHR8Wro7yf4CzlwXMaYvbdT0_2Z3lZRPBanfHXELln-QvimS_LRrDIqvGAjaRqaS9nWJ7QNnZP9oPlOMJVc_gfDiWksWrakTK0uUM9yp99oxEzxlWIPEi4CO36P2jg/w640-h480/IMG_3644.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-74067960887149494192022-03-08T19:15:00.003+00:002022-03-08T19:15:36.319+00:00Home Safety: How To Make Your Home Safe<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-57f42f62-7fff-1f2b-8bfa-c5f2a2e8bf83"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making your home safe is one of the most important things you can do to protect your family. There are several steps you can take to make your home less dangerous and more secure. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most important ways to make your home safe. We will cover topics such as fire safety, childproofing, and security measures. You can help keep your loved ones safe from harm by following these tips.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaItqIB1_NqZXmVLcQYbrdFsJYlvrcyiYE7I9guF3xGXy-QeAVwZKUPXkd_Y2U5htWvyPV6E_6Ahf08yTBFI_xnAjXKdgpY-3j6lksyw0xhHpe3bQMI028hqqlZ5LpTk5KW-nFvJmdCj4t1wW02mJuXLS8wfIeB_qUpeYWNQS26eLeMZvyDRetwml16A=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaItqIB1_NqZXmVLcQYbrdFsJYlvrcyiYE7I9guF3xGXy-QeAVwZKUPXkd_Y2U5htWvyPV6E_6Ahf08yTBFI_xnAjXKdgpY-3j6lksyw0xhHpe3bQMI028hqqlZ5LpTk5KW-nFvJmdCj4t1wW02mJuXLS8wfIeB_qUpeYWNQS26eLeMZvyDRetwml16A=s16000" /></a></div></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b></div>Smoke Alarm and Fire Extinguisher </b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the most important ways to make your home safe is by installing a smoke alarm. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can be produced by burning fuel. It is odorless and colorless, so you may not know it is there until it is too late. A smoke alarm can help save lives in the event of a fire. It is also essential to have a fire extinguisher in your home. Then, if a fire does break out, you will be able to put it out quickly and safely. You can also research some </span><a href="https://www.floorstowalls.co.uk/blogs/news/top-tips-for-a-fire-resistant-bathroom" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">top tips for a fire-resistant bathroom</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and other areas in your home and implement them. <br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Light it Up</b><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another way to make your home safe is by keeping it well-lit. Ensure all entrances and exits are well-lit and consider adding </span><a href="https://www.lightsoveratlanta.com/?utm_term=home%20lighting%20design&utm_campaign=Website+Traffic&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=9367964090&hsa_cam=9643841232&hsa_grp=116842311557&hsa_ad=492877233519&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-11944726&hsa_kw=home%20lighting%20design&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiAjoeRBhAJEiwAYY3nDEDQ2ifgdKTESPivnHra4sQGQatvnUqNauu8wYaSdRxYtDUPd9xBThoCnMgQAvD_BwE" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">motion detector lights</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> near doors and windows.<br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Securing Valuable Items </b><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can make your home safer by securing valuable items. For example, keep expensive jewelry and electronics hidden away, or install a </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Safe-Deposit-Boxes/s?k=Safe+Deposit+Boxes" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">safety deposit box</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to store them in. If burglars can see valuable items through your windows, they may be tempted to break in. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Childproofing</b><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another way to keep your family safe is by childproofing your home. You can do many things to childproof your home, such as installing safety gates and covers on electrical outlets. You should also keep dangerous objects like knives and chemicals out of reach of children.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Case of an Emergency Plan </b><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is also essential to have a plan in place in case of an emergency. For example, you should know how to get out of your home if there is a fire and where to go if there is an earthquake or another disaster. You should also have a list of emergency numbers, such as the police, fire department, and ambulance, handy in case you need them.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Get to Know Your Neighbours</b><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Neighborhood watch programs are a great way to deter crime. Get to know your neighbors and be on the lookout for suspicious activity.</span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-55641250031112319662021-12-18T09:06:00.004+00:002021-12-18T09:06:49.793+00:00How to Protect your Vehicles at Home<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s no secret that Britain is a nation filled with motoring enthusiasts. Unfortunately, car crime is still rife, and many cars get stolen or broken into each month across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may live in an area with a reasonably low crime rate. But, that doesn’t mean crime rates won’t rise in the future. You’re obviously reading this article because you care about your cars, and you want to make sure they’re safe and secure while they’re outside your home.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, what steps can you take to ensure their security? Check out the following suggestions for some inspiration:</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh93S8hTy680ZMtiQPYWAo4CPJFqzzlIRYGJTiE7fuS99JG-YNPZp95MUW5AS42mpRUEyqqe4fitOMEVoImm0zoD1qIE4e4M1VzHrmCyoy82BNjdzMnGebjP64K6J2EiO-SxrdraAsj6w_b-uSwr9PD_zIXOrLmk4IwbRqv9mb61b2E69NByhNuiXfIGQ=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="preventing-car-theft" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh93S8hTy680ZMtiQPYWAo4CPJFqzzlIRYGJTiE7fuS99JG-YNPZp95MUW5AS42mpRUEyqqe4fitOMEVoImm0zoD1qIE4e4M1VzHrmCyoy82BNjdzMnGebjP64K6J2EiO-SxrdraAsj6w_b-uSwr9PD_zIXOrLmk4IwbRqv9mb61b2E69NByhNuiXfIGQ=s16000" title="preventing car theft" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Park Your Cars Out Of Sight</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first thing you need to do is find a way of storing your vehicles out of public view. That means parking their cars in </span><a href="https://www.tradeoakbuildingkits.com/oak-garages/two-bay-garages/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">two bay oak garages</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for most people. The thing about parking cars in garages is they aren’t visible to people in the public eye.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s face it: you can’t steal something that isn’t there, so hiding your cars in plain sight is a brilliant way to thwart any potential theft attempts.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use A Steering Wheel Lock<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you can’t park your cars in a garage, another thing you can do is consider a visual deterrent like a steering wheel lock. They are simple devices that fit through the gaps in steering wheels and get made of solid metal.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s more, their design makes it virtually impossible to remove forcibly. An opportunist car thief is unlikely to steal a car if they have to spend a lot of time trying to achieve that goal. They’d rather opt for a vehicle with no steering wheel lock fitted.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Store Your Keys In A Faraday Pouch<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of today’s modern vehicles feature keyless entry systems. The trouble with such systems is they are incredibly vulnerable, and a pair of car thieves can easily steal such a vehicle in seconds.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you store your car keys in a </span><a href="https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/103187/best-faraday-bag-car-key-signal-blockers-2021" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Faraday pouch</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the signals from the keyfobs will get blocked, meaning car thieves cannot duplicate the signals that would enable them to unlock vehicles and start their engines.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Install CCTV<br /></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-circuit_television" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CCTV</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is both a visual deterrent and an excellent way to capture any criminal activity, such as attempted thefts of your vehicles. If you invest in a high-quality HD security camera system, you will have visual evidence of people trying to steal your cars.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s more, modern CCTV systems allow you to record footage at night thanks to night vision, infrared technology. Today’s CCTV security systems can often get linked to the cloud, meaning you can view footage from anywhere around the world.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Install A Fuel Pump Cut-Off Switch<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, consider installing a hidden fuel pump cut-off switch. It’s a simple security measure that you can fit to any vehicle, and if you hide the switch, no one will know it exists! With the switch enabled, no one will be able to start your vehicle.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure when entrusting someone with your car, give it a </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/04/5-tips-for-cleaning-your-car.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">refresh</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or service, for example, that you keep your fuel pump cut-off switch disabled.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Final Thoughts<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to ensure people won’t try to steal your vehicles, the above ideas will help you achieve that goal.</span></span></div><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-46380f85-7fff-2fb9-10f0-2153cd4a846f"></span></p><div><br /></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-18034856092895139162021-12-14T21:44:00.003+00:002021-12-14T21:44:20.616+00:00As Fresh As A Daisy: The Secrets Of People Who Have Homes That Smell Beautiful<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you ever walk into somebody’s home and stop in your tracks to think: “this smells beautiful”? If so, you’re not alone. It turns out that making indoor spaces smell as wonderful as a lavender meadow is something that you can achieve yourself. It’s just a matter of know-how. </span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find out what to do below: </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZKwRqkE9nVpmltU3Uw4heDj6-CT6Y3EC-vOo3b6myOsOthlndb2oJ4zVv-oPyr0l3QZk_E-EL4jAVsIuFI5Y5cJ0KiT_zq-PSoa4Y6rn1cANEGsIpZyPxXP5aXYy9A2i6s_Rjl3qHjxLb9oBgkH6VDEgkJ42242UiqmSb47EaJFPxiOiYlr8qhMV5SA=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZKwRqkE9nVpmltU3Uw4heDj6-CT6Y3EC-vOo3b6myOsOthlndb2oJ4zVv-oPyr0l3QZk_E-EL4jAVsIuFI5Y5cJ0KiT_zq-PSoa4Y6rn1cANEGsIpZyPxXP5aXYy9A2i6s_Rjl3qHjxLb9oBgkH6VDEgkJ42242UiqmSb47EaJFPxiOiYlr8qhMV5SA=s16000" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Light A Candle</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">If you have a lot of </span><a href="https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/10-most-common-causes-of-bad-smells-at-home/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">stinky smells in your home</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, light a candle. Candles have a wonderful ability to transform how rooms both feel and smell. </span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When choosing a candle, be sure to pick one with essential oils and made of soy wax. This combination offers the ultimate in terms of health, wellbeing and effect. For a relaxing scent, choose either frankincense, lavender or eucalyptus. </span></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Clean The Carpets</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Vacuuming will only remove so much debris from your carpets. If you really want to remove all the odour-causing particles, you’ll need to do some proper </span><a href="https://www.acscarpetcleaning.co.uk/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">carpet cleaning</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When it comes to cleaning your carpets, you have two options. You can either try doing it yourself with a wet vac, or you can get professionals to do it for you. Once the job is done, you’ll notice just how much fresher and lighter everything smells. For some households, it can make a tremendous difference. </span></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Deodorise Your Shoes</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Stinky shoes left in the hallways can produce bad smells that flow throughout the home. If you have a shoe rack, keep some deoderiser nearby, particularly during the summer when people are sweating more. </span></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Open The Window</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">You can also reduce the number of smell particles in your home by opening a window. Just leaving it slightly ajar will allow the air to diffuse, with any bad smells eventually making their way outside. </span></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Clean Your Sofa Upholstery</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Just like carpets, sofas can become a magnet for bad smells. Their fibres trap odour-causing compounds and then release them slowly over time. </span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Again, to clean your sofa, you’ll need to hire a professional. They follow a special technique that allows them to essentially dry </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2019/03/how-to-stay-safe-when-cleaning.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">clean your furniture</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> so that it’s ready again for you to use the next day. They also impregnate it with odour-cancelling particles so that it stays smelling fresher for longer. </span></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Use Essential Oil On Your Air Conditioning Filter</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Essential oils smell great when placed in regular diffusers. But you can also combine them with your air conditioning system. As air circulates, it will pick up scent molecules from the oil and distribute them around your home. </span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">You don’t need much </span><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-are-essential-oils" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">essential oil</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> to create the desired effect. Just a few drops will suffice. </span></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Use Vinegar While Cleaning</span></div></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Plain white vinegar smells quite pungent when you use it, but it is actually one of the best cleaning substances there is for making your home smell great. Its chemical structure allows it to grab onto odour-producing molecules and sweep them away. It is well worth using in </span><a href="https://www.quora.com/Should-a-bathroom-be-placed-near-a-kitchen-in-a-home-Why-or-why-not" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">both the kitchen and bathroom</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">. Don’t worry: that sour smell will soon evaporate away, leaving everything looking and smelling fresh. </span></div></span></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-63362081550361350272021-11-24T21:42:00.000+00:002021-11-24T21:42:01.168+00:00Why People Sell Their Homes<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2018/02/buying-new-build-series-hidden-costs.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Selling a house is a huge deal</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You are going to spend a lot of time packing, cleaning and decorating to ensure that your home is perfect, and that takes some time. Selling your house isn't going to be the easiest thing to do, but if you know why you’re doing it it becomes much more of a simple process.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-802674d9-7fff-7a27-527c-055e82f2cdfd"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-802674d9-7fff-7a27-527c-055e82f2cdfd"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are plenty of reasons that people choose to sell their home, and getting rid of a house can save you time, money and above all - stress! It could even stop your bank from repossessing your house if you’re at risk of that. If you want cash in your pocket quickly, </span><a href="https://www.marksandmann.co.uk/sell-your-home/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">selling your house for over market value</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is going to make a big difference. It’s a sellers market right now and having your home valued is the first step. Below, we’ve got some of the reasons that you should look at selling your house at last!</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_zY_bqMGyrG40AMgqNUGta0lY7ZhIROtOxD0QZOWVg2iOk_WC3z5OF0TCDlxNOaOyjffWwlRG_i4nxw3eZdVa2md0YwS8cDBqpavX7CLX8wA5cQURTysmSDeQAqWsVKjaN2qxcYeRlu1/s1500/Top+Tips+For+An+Easy+Stress-Free+Home+Move+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_zY_bqMGyrG40AMgqNUGta0lY7ZhIROtOxD0QZOWVg2iOk_WC3z5OF0TCDlxNOaOyjffWwlRG_i4nxw3eZdVa2md0YwS8cDBqpavX7CLX8wA5cQURTysmSDeQAqWsVKjaN2qxcYeRlu1/s16000/Top+Tips+For+An+Easy+Stress-Free+Home+Move+%25283%2529.png" /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Repairs. Your house might be falling to bits and while you can invest the money to make the repairs, you might just want to sell the house and get rid of it. The best thing that you can do, however, is make the right repairs and then sell it so that you can upgrade it. If your house is always falling apart, you might want it off your shoulders so you no longer have the stress all over it. </span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You inherited it. If you have been given a house in a Will, you’re likely going to choose to sell it so that you can benefit from the money you get. You might not have a need for a house, and if you don't you can sell it off and not worry about it anymore! You will benefit from the cash, too.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Avoiding more taxes. Owning a property can mean more taxes to pay, and failure to pay this means that you are going to end up with more being paid out than you could want. Selling as soon as possible means that you can stop paying property taxes on a house you don't even use. </span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can’t keep up with the payments. People lose their jobs all the time and if you are one of them, then you need to think about how you plan to pay your mortgage. If you can’t do it, you might think about selling up and downsizing to a property that’s smaller and easier to manage.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You need more space. If you are </span><a href="https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/considering-baby/another/growing-your-family-what-to-expect/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">growing your family </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or your teenagers seem much bigger than they used to, then selling your house and moving to a new one is a smart thing to do. Buying another house can make a huge difference to your bank balance and it can be so much easier to move somewhere smaller. </span></li></ul></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2e497c17-7fff-e9b3-5b72-378e70043fe3"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many more reasons than this to sell your home, but if you know why you’re doing it it’s going to be so much easier to go ahead and let it go! </span></span></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-20925943763727474962021-11-03T21:02:00.005+00:002021-12-08T19:19:10.506+00:00Top Tips for Redecorating Your Home<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your home is where you are going to spend a lot of your free time, so make sure you like it and you are happy in it is really important. However, it can be hard to know what you can do to spruce up the home and redecorate to make sure you are happy with it, there are a few different things you can do to help redecorate your home and make it somewhere you are happy to live and that you want to spend time in. It is easy to get bored of your home so redecorating is an easy way to refresh the home. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although it might seem overwhelming to start with, it doesn't have to be a huge job because you can make some really simple changes which make all the difference to the look of your home; whether it's a fresh lick of paint or a few decorative bits such as some funky prints or maybe even a <a href="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/business/led-neon-signs-a-new-version-of-old-school-marketing/" target="_blank">neon</a> sign. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are a few tips on how you can prepare and redecorate your home to make it somewhere you are happy to live in.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlYxt8ChLQp-G8uLy0YEHgTOZE_3uzUrm45p4oJ_0jyTHvL_drsPqHn-XyNwszPKpNgM8MncwDMaH3AgH6i3wwMPowlze_wXyxMu12pcWoL7HsHkn1ID-XqzqoA549FGtpdEHKP-W5Xg3/s1500/Top+Tips+For+An+Easy+Stress-Free+Home+Move+%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlYxt8ChLQp-G8uLy0YEHgTOZE_3uzUrm45p4oJ_0jyTHvL_drsPqHn-XyNwszPKpNgM8MncwDMaH3AgH6i3wwMPowlze_wXyxMu12pcWoL7HsHkn1ID-XqzqoA549FGtpdEHKP-W5Xg3/s16000/Top+Tips+For+An+Easy+Stress-Free+Home+Move+%25282%2529.png" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Make sure you plan</b></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The best thing to do when you </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/06/10-useful-tips-for-your-next-home.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">start renovating</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or decorating is to plan out everything you are looking to do. By planning this out properly you are less likely to have issues and you can make sure that you are not going to have to redecorate again anytime soon. When planning take into consideration appliances and other certain aspects of the house that could have issues, although you are not changing them before redecorating, it is best to make sure they are insured and that they are maintained and working. This helps to stop unnecessary redecorating due to faults. Also, make sure you are planning your themes and </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">everything you want to change too.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Start with the big things first</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When redecorating it is best to start with the big things first, things like furniture, walls, and floors are a great place to start. This is because it sets the tone for the rest of the house, making it easier to guide you through the theme and make sure you know what you want. For example, if you have a particular theme but you are stuck on colour then buying the furniture you want first and deciding on that colouring will help you determine how to decorate the rest of the room. You could get the </span><a href="https://shawcross.co.uk/collections/dining-chairs" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lion knocker chairs</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you wanted for example and then build around them to help build up the theme and colours you were looking for.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure to utilise good lighting<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When it comes to redecorating or decorating in general the thing </span><a href="https://www.pentagoncm.co.uk/the-importance-of-having-good-lighting-in-your-home/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">people can tend to overlook is the lighting in their home</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. If you look at what the professionals do they are always utilising good lighting for their designs. This can be done by adding decorative mirrors to a room that has bright lighting to make it shimmer and reflect the light around the room and increase the lighting in that room. By doing this you are utilising the lighting you have without having to add more and also decorating the room at the same time.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are looking to redecorate your home and give it a bit of an uplift, but you are unsure where to start or what you can do to make this happen. Then hopefully, these few tips will give you some ideas of what you can do to get started with your redecoration.</span></span></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-4946590713826706432021-10-08T16:49:00.006+01:002021-10-08T16:49:45.906+01:00Top Tips For An Easy Stress-Free Home Move <p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fc5c6ee4-7fff-ba72-24f6-1c5b3800126a"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether you have decided to </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2019/06/lifestyle-what-does-it-take-to-move.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">move across the world</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to pursue your dreams, or have decided to </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/04/how-to-make-downsizing-your-home-easy.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">downsize your home </span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- moving is a big deal. After all, even if you are only travelling a short distance away, you have to uproot your family and move away from a familiar space into somewhere totally new. In addition, the entire process - from finding the right home to signing the contract - can be incredibly time-consuming and expensive.</span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a result, many people associate moving with intense levels of stress. However, it doesn’t have to be that way - you just need to be plan ahead. With that in mind, here are some simple steps you can take to make the process as stress-free and exciting as possible! </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCea9sxq5XZ2OEj1kz17JYOLevORKviHkMPpMZ1QhE7kgvMYOnv5IFvObeCFrtCQbqjkY3mnk5-Q6awOzBieCKV0XfcY2SWRYl-k2vdsvbzj9EjKqNvPMOBv1gs7b0YIB6JU5UkpIvE3rp/s1500/Top+Tips+For+An+Easy+Stress-Free+Home+Move.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCea9sxq5XZ2OEj1kz17JYOLevORKviHkMPpMZ1QhE7kgvMYOnv5IFvObeCFrtCQbqjkY3mnk5-Q6awOzBieCKV0XfcY2SWRYl-k2vdsvbzj9EjKqNvPMOBv1gs7b0YIB6JU5UkpIvE3rp/w427-h640/Top+Tips+For+An+Easy+Stress-Free+Home+Move.png" width="427" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put together a moving timeline. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While you may be excited to move into your dream property right away, it’s important that you do not try to rush the process. Doing so could cause you to make mistakes that cost you further down the line. Furthemore, it’s also likely that you’ll need to save up some money ahead of time - especially if you are a </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2018/10/home-lifestyle-first-time-buyers.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">first-time buyer</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Know what you are looking for in a property. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every day, hundreds of properties are introduced to the market - meaning that you can easily spend hours browsing real estate sites or attending open houses. Therefore, in order to streamline the process, you need to have a clear idea of what you are looking for ahead of time - think location, size, and amenities. The more specific you can be, the better. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t do the paperwork yourself. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very few people actually </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">enjoy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> doing paperwork, however, when you are prepping to buy a house and completing the necessary documents it’s important that you don’t make any mistakes. One faulty transaction could result in you losing the home and having to return to square one. Therefore, you can save yourself a great deal of time and stress and ensure you get it done right by utilising conveyancing services - such as those offered by </span><a href="https://www.gorvinsresidential.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gorvins Residential</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pack a little bit at a time. </span><a href="https://www.thespruce.com/packing-your-home-for-household-move-2436497" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Packing</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is boring - there’s no denying it. However, this does not mean that you should put it off until the last possible minute - otherwise, you’ll be stood surrounded by boxes, ready to scream by the time that the movers pull up. Instead, you should aim to give yourself a headstart on the packing by beginning to pack a few weeks before the big move. Start small, and begin with the items you won’t need ahead of time. The earlier you start, the easier it will feel. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find an outlet for your stress. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the above steps are a great way to reduce any pressure you may feel when moving, it’s important that you find a necessary outlet that helps you let go of your stress too. For example, if you feel like you simply cannot look at any more paperwork - give yourself a break and do something that you love. Alternatively, you can remind yourself exactly why you are moving in the first place - and that a fresh start is just around the corner. </span></span></p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-30358096278489318552021-10-06T17:51:00.005+01:002021-10-06T17:52:15.147+01:003 Tips for Starting a New Fitness Journey<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Out of all the different New Year’s resolutions that get made time and time again, and that often fall by the wayside pretty quickly, the commitment to start a new fitness routine must be somewhere near the top of the list.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone basically knows that being physically active on a regular basis is very beneficial in all sorts of different ways, ranging from better health, to improved mood, higher confidence, and more.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The thing is, starting a new fitness journey – and sticking with it over the long term – can be a bit daunting.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a few great tips to try out when starting a new fitness </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/08/how-to-instil-your-child-with-love-of.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">journey</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, so that you get the most out of the experience.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w29ZFA3b3ezIQhGUYRvDjLRUUP19ixdikqFeVlT146M7L2sUrhNVWlHCvRrFAdozQALsU1UiA3WBetp_BI4yvrfumjIUu9o1zffVjU66UtR-dvizTM9CilNliLJdlLNyIZ5kIx0OpjGL/s1920/girl+up+north.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w29ZFA3b3ezIQhGUYRvDjLRUUP19ixdikqFeVlT146M7L2sUrhNVWlHCvRrFAdozQALsU1UiA3WBetp_BI4yvrfumjIUu9o1zffVjU66UtR-dvizTM9CilNliLJdlLNyIZ5kIx0OpjGL/s16000/girl+up+north.png" /></a></span></div><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reduce barriers to getting started (and consider creating a home gym setup)</span></b></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot of what gets in the way of a new fitness routine is often the fact that our natural mental resistance to doing something difficult meets some external barrier or obstacle, and our willpower or resolve crumbles as a result.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe you go for weeks without missing a workout, then one day you’re tired after work, it’s raining, you have a long drive to the gym, and you just can’t be bothered.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the best ways of improving your consistency on your fitness journey is by taking steps to reduce the barriers to getting started as much as possible.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One great option could be to consider creating a home gym setup, whether that means contacting a </span><a href="https://www.subterraneanspaces.co.uk" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Basement Construction Company</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and having a fully kitted out gym built at your property, or whether it just means getting a few resistance bands and a yoga mat.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Focus on getting the habit of working out solidified, and be consistent with timing</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you can make working out a habit, and a more or less established part of your everyday routine, it is usually going to be a lot easier to ignore that little voice in your mind that tells you to skip your workout and go back to bed, and to just get up and get exercising instead.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you’re first getting your fitness routine established, focus specifically on making it a </span><a href="https://thedoneapp.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">habit</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, before you really work on increasing intensity, or anything else.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pick a set time of day when you will do your workouts, and make a point of showing up regularly and being consistent with your timing.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go for forms of exercise that you genuinely enjoy</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, you hate using the elliptical trainer at your gym, but your friend told you that it’s the best way to get your cardio in, so you force yourself to hit the elliptical day after day.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you think that this is ultimately going to make you more or less likely to stick with your fitness journey over time?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although there are all sorts of commonly repeated guidelines out there about the best way to work out, the basic fact of the matter is that you can get fit by doing a huge range of different activities – so you might as well go for forms of exercise that you actually, genuinely enjoy.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Try a dance class, or a martial arts class. Go </span><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/couch-to-5k-app-hits-5-million-downloads" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">jogging </span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in nature, or cycle to work. Whatever you do, just take steps to make your fitness routine enjoyable and fulfilling.</span></span></p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-87619815488768103582021-09-30T17:48:00.004+01:002021-09-30T17:49:02.165+01:00Stresses That Every Landlord Goes Through<span id="docs-internal-guid-ac264242-7fff-d837-ebc5-710b7283896e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're a landlord, you know that there are many different stresses that come with the job. It can be challenging to manage tenants and rental properties if you don't know what to expect. That's why you must read this blog post of common challenges faced by landlords today!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8XoctPey2Ksw_qSiNkFH6uLywMTe0Y2yWPmieo5qcm230EbTZEd-Ls_e3XXbi0EMqGtZjOfWw6HiTvvxy0jphpHerx2Wvx9dfqofRJQm30TDx0p2cH1AHEyS6qDeY7_29BWOnVQ6GEV3/s1920/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8XoctPey2Ksw_qSiNkFH6uLywMTe0Y2yWPmieo5qcm230EbTZEd-Ls_e3XXbi0EMqGtZjOfWw6HiTvvxy0jphpHerx2Wvx9dfqofRJQm30TDx0p2cH1AHEyS6qDeY7_29BWOnVQ6GEV3/s16000/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Choosing the Right Tenant</b></p></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The eviction process is not an easy one, and it can be expensive if you make mistakes. You need to ensure that the tenant has a job or income, has no criminal record, and provides references from previous landlords. A reference from their employer will also help your decision-making abilities when it comes to choosing a tenant.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, you need to ensure that all the relevant documentation is for a tenancy application. This includes identification and proof of income. If your prospective tenants have not provided this information, it may indicate that they will struggle to pay their rent on time or at all. In other words, you have to be very careful when selecting a tenant.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You also need to check that they can afford the rent and deposit for your property and then consider whether or not their credit rating is good enough to obtain the tenancy agreement. If it's not, there may be other issues with your prospective tenants, such as poor rental payment history, </span><a href="https://cbscreening.co.uk/news/post/the-importance-of-screening-and-the-consequences-of-lying/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a poor employment record</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or outstanding debts.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Enhancing Safety in Your Property</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is essential to take note of the safety features that your rental property has or lack thereof. The safety features also include the </span><a href="https://www.legislate.tech/post/building-regulations-and-fire-safety-in-rental-properties" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Building regulations</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, so you don’t risk injuries on your tenants</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. As a result, there is no need for extensive renovation projects to fix these problems later on down the road.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first step that every landlord should do here with their rental property is to install working smoke detectors throughout each floor of their home or property. It is also a good idea to have carbon monoxide detectors installed for the safety of all tenants and guests who may be spending time in your rental property.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The next step is to ensure working locks on each door throughout the home or building itself. No one ever wants to consider the idea of a break-in occurring in their rental property.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no reason for landlords to ever take these matters lightly. However, if you do not feel confident enough about performing some of these tasks, hiring professionals can be a great way to ensure that everything goes correctly.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Coming Up With a Comprehensive Tenancy Agreement</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every landlord goes through many stresses. One of the </span><a href="https://www.towergateinsurance.co.uk/commercial-property-insurance/landlord-stress-and-how-to-avoid-it" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">most stressful situations</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is coming up with a comprehensive tenancy agreement that will work well for you and your tenant while not going against any rules or regulations.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Several landlords end up in trouble because they did not have a formal tenancy agreement ready. So even if you are not worried about having your property returned to you or other issues, it is still important that both parties have an agreement.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Maintaining the Quality and Functionality of Your Property</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maintaining your </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/09/should-you-buy-investment-property_16.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">property investment</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re doing it all by yourself. If tenants live in the place, keeping up with repairs and maintenance is an even bigger task requiring patience and attention to detail.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just remember that there is a light at the end of every tunnel. Landlords face many challenging obstacles when they first begin their journey, but it's essential to have faith and patience because things will get better in time. You just need to keep going.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-7911103589325646702021-09-18T21:20:00.007+01:002021-09-18T21:20:52.058+01:003 Essential Tips for Selecting Where and How to Move House<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While moving guides are often important, it’s not uncommon to see many blogs taking something of a reductive approach to it. We know that moving is quite stressful for many people, so it’s no wonder writers wish to calm their audience, by showing them how to pack before the removal company comes, or what to do on moving day.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-12ac41ac-7fff-705d-ae95-dae03b82f6a6"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the truth is that a good house move is something that is planned for, not focused on in the moment. You have time to plan, just as you have time to decide what kind of forward progress you’d like to take. Often, </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/09/should-you-buy-investment-property_16.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">taking the first steps</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as well as you can will make all the difference. This all depends on how you approach the moving process from the offset. If you do this </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">well, </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you will no doubt give yourself much in the way of positive wriggle room going forward, and may even be able to avoid the pitfall of having too little time and energy to make good decisions.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbrfCa6f7W2sMWxFby3_3kD33Q9RFw7p3Qo_y6e5enK6IBjil3295p8hrw8BVr9Mv0UDJOKP0jONLwr-ngzWeZn8g087PfGq4NufmWe8t1HrfueCOR7jcVbN8p6WQdoUtckDnIeBwEVp3/s1920/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbrfCa6f7W2sMWxFby3_3kD33Q9RFw7p3Qo_y6e5enK6IBjil3295p8hrw8BVr9Mv0UDJOKP0jONLwr-ngzWeZn8g087PfGq4NufmWe8t1HrfueCOR7jcVbN8p6WQdoUtckDnIeBwEVp3/s16000/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD+%25282%2529.png" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>But this is just preamble. Let’s focus on what matters:</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-12ac41ac-7fff-705d-ae95-dae03b82f6a6"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finding The Best Price</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finding the best price for your property seems like an obvious priority to have. Most people want to be paid the most. But this doesn’t mean driving a hard bargain and being opposed to the essentials of negotiation. That almost never works. What it does mean is taking some time to allow a proper service with the inclination of </span><a href="https://www.madisonfox.co.uk/contact/loughton-estate-agents" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">marketing your property</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as well as possible to take the reigns. Some specialist estate agents may also give you the chance to sell to corporate clients, too. Keep your options open and don’t be afraid of a second opinion.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Considering How Much You’re Willing To Invest</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How much are you actually willing to </span><a href="https://www.countrywide.co.uk/mortgages/blogs/considering-a-fixer-upper/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘do up’ a separate property?</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It might be that you’re happy to do that provided it means you can get a good deal on the baseline house itself. But what does this mean for your ability to move in? Might you have to delay that for a couple months? Is the house livable while you reorient and redesign other non-essential rooms? Consider if you’re willing to invest in making a property yours, or if you’re most drawn to a feature-complete, recently repaired and competently maintained build. It will define your entire approach thoroughly.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s All About The Commute</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many people say that location is the main consideration, and that’s true, but we’d recommend that you focus on the everyday matters of how you’ll operate near the home and how much you’re willing to give in either direction? Is ten minutes less of a commute to your new job worth £10,000 for a different property? Perhaps, if you add ten minutes either way each day over months, you end up saving hours of your time. Is your time over five years worth £10,000? It may possibly be. Keeping the commute in mind may not define your decision, but it really does help you structure the baseline needs you have.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With this advice, we hope you can select where and how to move with confidence, allowing you to transition into the moving process with incredible momentum.</span></p></span></span>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-9793262962438123262021-09-16T17:23:00.001+01:002021-09-16T17:23:39.805+01:00Should You Buy an Investment Property?<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Buying an investment property is a long-term investment that many people are now considering. There are many reasons to buy an apartment as an investment, including the fact that it will provide you with a fixed asset. Investment property can be seen as a good alternative to other investments, such as stocks and bonds. This type of investment is less risky than stocks or bonds, but can still provide you with appreciation in value over time.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c84567fd-7fff-2ff9-b356-4f3dee534c67"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Investment properties are often bought with a buy-to-let mortgage that is designed for people who want to use their home as collateral for loans. Potential buyers should consider the purchase price, the rental income, repayments on both loans, and any other expenses before deciding which type of property to buy. If this is something that you’re considering doing, we’re now going to run through what you need to keep in mind to work out whether it’s right for you.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8bf0dTez3uHGF82hDMFEllrTT5sX0cFsTv7_OCitEklGmYQtTSFd-C5vNq99ds4nTWBXZ8W3NEM6UGInHkJa-uCDW9zRAr5lMPk4tyOXn1WiqWdcFZTtZ1PrZl3oQx4vWCncjJTYo6vs/s1920/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8bf0dTez3uHGF82hDMFEllrTT5sX0cFsTv7_OCitEklGmYQtTSFd-C5vNq99ds4nTWBXZ8W3NEM6UGInHkJa-uCDW9zRAr5lMPk4tyOXn1WiqWdcFZTtZ1PrZl3oQx4vWCncjJTYo6vs/s16000/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD+%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-c84567fd-7fff-2ff9-b356-4f3dee534c67"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Investment</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First of all, when you make an investment in a property, it’s likely that you’re going to want to get a </span><a href="https://www.landlordvision.co.uk/blog/buy-to-let-property-mortgage-vs-cash/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">buy-to-let mortgage</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It is a property loan that lets you purchase a property as an investment. You can then rent out the property you own and make money from it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it comes to calculating the amount of money you will need for an investment property there are two main components that need to be considered. There’s the purchase price and your deposit. The downpayment on an investment property is typically 25% of the purchase price but can vary between lenders (and depending on the climate and circumstances etc). It may also depend on the cost of the property, so bear these factors in mind.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Renting It Out</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Renting out your property can provide a passive income stream. You can rent it out to students, international workers, or people who are looking for temporary accommodation. The process of renting out your property starts by finding a tenant that meets your requirements. You then work with them to create an agreement that outlines the terms of the rental - length of stay, rent, and any other details that may be necessary.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you need help with deciding on what type of contract to use, you can find a list of possible types of contracts online. But you could turn to </span><a href="https://www.hop-property.co.uk/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">letting agents</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for help too. Then, you can also get tips on how to prepare for your first tenants and how to manage the property too (or get them to do it).</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adding To Your Portfolio</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A property portfolio is your collection of properties that you’ve bought and the total number of properties you own. It can be a single property, or many properties. It's never too late to start building a property portfolio if you've been thinking about it for a while. The best way to begin is by starting with one residential home, </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/06/10-useful-tips-for-your-next-home.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">renovating</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it, and building up from there. So now, maybe it’s time for you to think about picking up a second property or planning for when you want to.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-66937023517352248692021-09-05T11:15:00.005+01:002021-09-05T11:15:48.509+01:00How To Get Free Samples Without Being an Influencer<p>Everyone loves free stuff, don't they? </p><p>So I'm here to tell you about <a href="https://triyit.co.uk/" target="_blank">Triyit</a> which is a relatively new product discovery club where you build yourself a profile and they will match different campaigns and products up to you and send you free products for you to try. These products are usually new to the market or have gone through some sort of rebrand and it means that you are part of providing valuable feedback to the brands and you also get to share your thoughts on social media and with your friends in real life!</p><p>I recently received a box full of 5 products:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMEcJzNVOiBAnwMFBk3I42R9Kf8pgvW8Lflmumbtt-63ECCOvVu287dZPmbEJ1Eog40UOJQmNfkwj2ucDn3VdhDPtqxnu8WYG5dOBjez9LuFTGJb6a0n6mKz-WMku2y68y_FOV24oQNgE/s2048/393EA40A-BC56-4BBA-B940-91687B7AC330.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMEcJzNVOiBAnwMFBk3I42R9Kf8pgvW8Lflmumbtt-63ECCOvVu287dZPmbEJ1Eog40UOJQmNfkwj2ucDn3VdhDPtqxnu8WYG5dOBjez9LuFTGJb6a0n6mKz-WMku2y68y_FOV24oQNgE/s16000/393EA40A-BC56-4BBA-B940-91687B7AC330.jpeg" /></a></p>As you can see the majority of the products are full sized apart from the Hooch gin which is a 5ml sample. If you follow me on Instagram you'll see that I've shared my thoughts on a couple of the products but I've also shared more feedback with Triyit through a questionnaire. You have to give the feedback in order to be eligible for more boxes... it's only fair right? You receive the products, try them and give them something back in return. <div><br /></div><div>You don't have to have a huge following or even a platform at all to sign up for this but please note that you aren't guaranteed to receive anything just yet - I've been signed up for over a year and only just received a box but the wait was well worth it!</div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-21531093335006760922021-09-02T20:21:00.003+01:002021-09-05T11:06:09.402+01:00Date Night Ideas for when you don't want to Leave the House<p>I know lots of us have been rejoicing at the fact that things are finally opened up again and we can return to some resemblance of normality but I'm also conscious of 2 other things: the fact that we're spending WAY more money than we have over the last 18 months and some of us need to tighten our belts and secondly all this socialising at once can be a little bit overwhelming and sometimes we just want to have a night in. </p><p>It's been really fab to be able to get out and have date nights out of the house but if, for whatever reason, you want to organise a date night in, here's some ideas:</p><p><b>Cook a meal together</b></p><p>You don't have to be a Michelin star chef to rustle up something tasty in the kitchen and it can be a really nice experience to actually cook together and sit down and eat in a quiet environment, away from the crowds. Alternatively, if you don't fancy cooking from scratch, M&S have some fab dine in deals to be had which often comes with 2 mains, sides, a pudding and a drink for a set price.</p><p><b>Create a drawing/painting using a YouTube tutorial</b></p><p>Whether you're arty or not, anyone can follow a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=drawing+tutorial" target="_blank">drawing tutorial on YouTube</a> and I think it would be quite funny to see how each others creations turn out! You don't have to spend a fortune on equipment either, there are hundreds of simple pencil drawing tutorials.</p><p><b>Bring the fairground into your living room</b></p><p>If you love going to the fair but aren't quite ready for the crowds or the expense that comes with it you could get a <a href="https://www.thebox42.co.uk/" target="_blank">date night</a> in box from Box42 which helps you to create your own fairground experience at home. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcQBxuikMtYeRi2Cx2foExnxqBpvLF9Mitk7ir6RHMlY8yMZiNnIIjRGTWHQK-1rKi3UvHvXOQ1_QAKAg0rt02SXI2yAkZ9la-tFlPmHEgvc25F4otDu1SLjaML8fTsdUQHievwlSIdQW/s2048/278EB591-8087-4484-B39F-D41F78326FF7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcQBxuikMtYeRi2Cx2foExnxqBpvLF9Mitk7ir6RHMlY8yMZiNnIIjRGTWHQK-1rKi3UvHvXOQ1_QAKAg0rt02SXI2yAkZ9la-tFlPmHEgvc25F4otDu1SLjaML8fTsdUQHievwlSIdQW/s16000/278EB591-8087-4484-B39F-D41F78326FF7.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjv3gjiXG98O35lZ5O-faxQuosEq5jm9nxgFYLXlQvczViA4z9SIj33o5XX1chDdRX_zMq8eJca33zzXiXsQEWL6QeyEjNCn64DADUACI8UjSjYcTqbZO1C0qAQwIwcdymMFTgKfiuhiS/s2048/027D1724-9344-4C7A-B674-397FF1112B3D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjv3gjiXG98O35lZ5O-faxQuosEq5jm9nxgFYLXlQvczViA4z9SIj33o5XX1chDdRX_zMq8eJca33zzXiXsQEWL6QeyEjNCn64DADUACI8UjSjYcTqbZO1C0qAQwIwcdymMFTgKfiuhiS/s16000/027D1724-9344-4C7A-B674-397FF1112B3D.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOQ7SK3UxnNCb23xZO6q6E6k8txre8L8BbUjAjenMtVjkwv8okcBlILlPe4bU_IAyhQtkSakmM8s_zdl7F0GobE5sNVn8rRZ43ptNAOYNLsEBTxu8nhXbGWNeoZcurmLhqme_1xe-Izrw/s2048/930E377C-998E-444F-9615-2B39C8EBB304.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOQ7SK3UxnNCb23xZO6q6E6k8txre8L8BbUjAjenMtVjkwv8okcBlILlPe4bU_IAyhQtkSakmM8s_zdl7F0GobE5sNVn8rRZ43ptNAOYNLsEBTxu8nhXbGWNeoZcurmLhqme_1xe-Izrw/s16000/930E377C-998E-444F-9615-2B39C8EBB304.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As you can see, the box comes with lots of goodies inside to help you to create that fairground experience at home with games, drinks and snacks. It even comes with face paints which could definitely get interesting after a few drinks! Box 42 have a full range of date night boxes to help you to create an experience that suits you including pottery, picnics and undercover agents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">You can also set up a subscription to Box42 which would be a fab <a href="https://www.thebox42.co.uk/#subscribe" target="_blank">anniversary gift</a>. Individual boxes are priced at £34.99, however they are £31.99 if bought as a subscription. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Camping in your back yard</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">If you already own a tent and all the equipment that goes with it why not take yourself back to your childhood and camp in the garden for the night; get the bbq and cook your dinner outdoors and later on get your marshmallows toasting while you look up at the stars. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So there are some date night ideas if you're on a budget or you just don't want to be in a crowd right now. Let me know on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/girl_upnorth" target="_blank">Instagram</a> if you've got any other date night in ideas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">*this post contains a PR sample</div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-71216331371820512442021-08-13T12:38:00.001+01:002021-08-13T12:38:30.115+01:00Travelling on a Tight Budget<p style="text-align: center;"><i> Collaborative Post</i></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Being short of money can force you to put your travel plans on the backburner. Whatever you had planned, it’ll have to wait, you tell yourself. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">But do you really need a lavish budget to travel? No, actually. It turns out that there is a whole group of people out there who specialise in getting around the planet on as little money as possible. And they’re here to share some of their wisdom with you. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s what they do. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1n_RSbaUpCtRMY-sSWlQKD1G-wyD7Y59CgqxBmgAnBm1ExiHzV6pYKa8KUVntyHKxUQsr9Vn05rxhLs23lk0mf1z5wqLzubl0aeyrZH5Mf2LN8IeJVZJjIkDunWzdkVhVVY6FC2PT8Jj/s1920/HOW+TO+INSTIL+YOUR+CHILD+WITH+A+LOVE+OF+TRAVEL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1n_RSbaUpCtRMY-sSWlQKD1G-wyD7Y59CgqxBmgAnBm1ExiHzV6pYKa8KUVntyHKxUQsr9Vn05rxhLs23lk0mf1z5wqLzubl0aeyrZH5Mf2LN8IeJVZJjIkDunWzdkVhVVY6FC2PT8Jj/s16000/HOW+TO+INSTIL+YOUR+CHILD+WITH+A+LOVE+OF+TRAVEL.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>Use Your Air Miles</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">If you’ve been using your credit card for any length of time, you’ve probably built up a healthy number of air miles. In some cases, you might have thousands of miles saved - easily enough to </span><a href="https://www.parents.com/health/should-my-family-be-flying-the-latest-coronavirus-travel-advisories-and-precautions-to-take/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">fly you and your family to your destination</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> of choice. But even if you haven’t, you can often save a substantial sum of money off your bill. So much, in fact, that it is the same as taking a short-haul flight. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travel Off Peak</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">If air miles aren’t an option, you can also try travelling off-peak. Airports tend to be much quieter at midnight on weekdays than during the days at weekends because fewer people want to travel. In response, operators lower their fares and ticket prices tend to be a fraction of what they would be usually. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hotels and restaurants are the same. They usually ramp up prices in the summer to discourage too many people from booking rooms. But in the off-season, nobody wants to travel and that forces them to lower their prices substantially. Many families can save up to 50 percent off big ticket holiday items. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drive</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://traveltips.usatoday.com/pros-cons-air-travel-105581.html" target="_blank">Flying is fast and convenient</a>. But in many cases it is actually cheaper to drive to your destination if you have the option. Driving allows you to split the cost of fuel between people you're travelling with and share the cost of parking. You can't do that with an airline ticket.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use Your Credit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, the time is right for you to take a trip. You’re in good health, you have work, and you want to try something before you get too old. In these cases, it might be worth using your credit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you don’t have a good credit score, you can also use </span><a href="https://www.buddyloans.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">buddy loans</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. These rely on the credit score of somebody else you know, allowing you to access the money that you need. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prepare Your Own Meals</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Okay - so maybe you can’t cut the </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2015/06/how-to-find-best-beach-holiday-deal.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">cost of your accommodation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> or transport. But you can always make your own meals to save money. Nobody is forcing you to eat at the hotel restaurant (unless you go for an all-inclusive package). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buying the food you need at the supermarket and then cooking it at your rental massively cuts costs. You might not have a gourmet kitchen, but if cheap travel is your goal, there’s nothing better. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Traveling on a budget isn’t easy. But it is better than missing out on all those adventures because you are stuck at work. Remember, you can still have fun even if you aren’t spending a fortune. </span></p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-6981087933606390852021-08-12T10:31:00.002+01:002021-08-12T11:12:30.133+01:00How to instil your child with a love of travel<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Collaborative post</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’re a big fan of travel and you also happen to have a little one (or a few) then it’s only natural that you want your child to be just as enthusiastic about exploring the world as you are. However, it’s not something that they’re going to automatically develop as they grow. It’s something that often needs to be taught. Here are a few ways you can help instil your love of travel into your kids.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1r3qNhgOOz-T3tPmcqfLQGFAi8vGZIU3F9JdVZFGfxAAcc9MBG6gKnBw-nTERQIPlCHuqNh2iKJjcJC_emQ9YhJrHUEScUOLZkCrYbiLsIzobn7xuAz_W6qz1z4JEGrtN7AU-kI51-Cz/s1920/AF6CDDF6-F624-4906-B323-0CA2BC2C4933.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1r3qNhgOOz-T3tPmcqfLQGFAi8vGZIU3F9JdVZFGfxAAcc9MBG6gKnBw-nTERQIPlCHuqNh2iKJjcJC_emQ9YhJrHUEScUOLZkCrYbiLsIzobn7xuAz_W6qz1z4JEGrtN7AU-kI51-Cz/s16000/AF6CDDF6-F624-4906-B323-0CA2BC2C4933.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">H</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">elp them have brand new experiences</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first tip that you might want to follow is that you should think carefully about the kind of trip that you take your kid on in the first place. For instance, your child might not find it overly exciting to visit a sunny, warm spot if all they can do is lounge on the beach because it might feel much the same as going to the beach in the summer back home. However, encouraging them to try brand new experiences such <span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2018/04/travel-top-tips-for-first-time-ski-trip.html%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1628763829745000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw10sLy7gjk5S_I_R_42-ciy&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1628763829754322&usg=AOvVaw1ff6Kq_5XYgN1q068lsg4a" style="color: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">as a ski trip</a></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> can help them see the sheer diversity of what’s on offer when they can travel. What’s more, it can help them build their confidence so that they’re more willing to try new things in future, too.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; height: 11pt; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Encourage them to travel without you</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Don’t worry, this tip isn’t suggesting that you pack your kid’s bags and send them into the great unknown without any company or assistance. However, it’s likely that there are going to be travel opportunities that your child might be able to take advantage of without you there. If there are activity </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">groups, such as sports teams, that organise trips, religious groups you are a part of that offer field trips, or the classic kind of school trips available at a <span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.diversitystudytrips.co.uk/" style="color: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">student travel company</a></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">, then you should encourage your child to take those trips. Getting the chance to “spread their wings” without your supervision, even if they still have supervision of some sort, can help them find the love of travel for themselves.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; height: 11pt; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Align your trips with their interests</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you love about travel? How well does it fit your other interests and personality? If you’re a person who loves to relax in comfort, then you’re a lot more likely to love a spa holiday at some sunny and luxurious destination. If you’re a bit of a history buff, then you might like more culturally enriched spots, and if you’re a fitness fanatic, you might like somewhere that you can hike, walk trails, kayak and more. Think about your child’s interests, and find destinations that <span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://blog.travelinsure.com/2016/05/vacations-that-fit-your-personality-travel-insurance-services.html%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1628763829747000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1_vZOiCfGPWLZVr1IrStp5&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1628763829754765&usg=AOvVaw3ftAFUn29msjaL4eEKe84X" style="color: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">align with those interests</a></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">. It might mean occasionally having to sacrifice the type of vacation that you normally want for the type of vacation more likely to appeal to them.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; height: 11pt; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 1.15; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; widows: 2;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If your child doesn’t love travel, then it can become undeniably difficult to organise vacations and trips with them. The good news is that it’s not very difficult for most kids to find what “clicks” with them about travel. Often you just need to find the right opportunities or the right angle to frame it.</span></span></p></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-16913760382889566742021-07-29T12:01:00.004+01:002021-07-29T12:02:13.230+01:00HOW TO MAKE MINIMALISTIC DECOR MORE HOMELY<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minimalist decor is very popular right now and when done right, it can look amazing. However, a lot of people find that it feels a bit cold and unwelcoming, especially when compared to rustic decor with lots of soft furnishings. When you have a lot of sleek metal surfaces and hard lines, spaces tend to feel quite clinical and you don’t get the relaxing atmosphere that you are looking for in your home. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you change a few details and make a few additions, you can easily create minimalist decor that feels homely. Here’s how you can make minimalist decor feel cosier.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCeFutNsHKpSQeGEXuejtHnon5kabLXxBSoNcxMl5vsetILr71Cn9ohhmI6ySh7JdjpVTQO8dEm9rM7qskqxTiRJzEsYILprqF5Cx8gpkvzyp2fPjRn92UiVqr0jh_ZEpysx7SzjGwDdO/s1500/HOW+TO+MAKE+MINIMALIST+DECOR+HOMELY.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCeFutNsHKpSQeGEXuejtHnon5kabLXxBSoNcxMl5vsetILr71Cn9ohhmI6ySh7JdjpVTQO8dEm9rM7qskqxTiRJzEsYILprqF5Cx8gpkvzyp2fPjRn92UiVqr0jh_ZEpysx7SzjGwDdO/s16000/HOW+TO+MAKE+MINIMALIST+DECOR+HOMELY.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add Some Curves<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minimalist decor is characterised by straight lines and hard edges, which is fine, but it can look a bit dull and it doesn’t create a very comfortable atmosphere. People often take it too far and remove anything resembling a curved edge from their home, but you don’t need to do that to create great minimalist decor. You can still create a design that leans heavily on hard edges but introduce some soft curves in certain areas. For example, when you are </span><a href="https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/decorate/living-room/a85/buy-sofa/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">choosing a sofa</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the living room, go for something with rounded edges. A circular coffee table is another simple way to break up the hard lines. You only need to introduce a few carefully selected pieces and it makes all the difference. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Install A Fireplace<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People tend to associate fireplaces with rustic decor, but they’re just as effective in a minimalist setting. You can find some of the </span><a href="https://britishfires.com/electric-fires-that-look-like-real-fires/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">most realistic flame effect electric fires</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which can be installed into the wall, giving a sleek minimalist look. But the flame effect also creates a brilliant cosy feel to the room, so you get the best of both worlds. This is a great way to take a very cold room and instantly make it feel homely. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get Some Plants<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bringing nature into the room is another great way to soften the edges of your minimalist decor. That’s why plants are one of the </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/01/3-most-desired-changes-for-living-room.html" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">most desirable changes in the living room</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. By putting a few plants around the place, you can add a burst of colour and introduce some more interesting shapes to offset the hard lines. Plants also clean the air in your home, which is an added bonus. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play Around With Light<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lighting is the best way to transform the aesthetic of a room in an instant. During the day, natural light makes the room feel nice and bright and welcoming. In the evenings, try not to rely too heavily on the main lights in your home. Instead, add lots of </span><a href="https://homedecorbliss.com/decorating-with-floor-lamps/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">floor lamps</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to create low lighting instead. Go for bulbs with warm light rather than cool light too. By adjusting the lighting in your home, you can make it feel a lot more relaxing, even if the decor is very minimalist. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minimalist decor doesn’t have to be cold and drab. Just make these simple changes and it can be just as homely as rustic decor. </span></div></div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-72806245149130841072021-07-17T09:18:00.002+01:002021-07-17T09:18:07.587+01:00How to be a Good Landlord<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it can be an incredibly lucrative and rewarding undertaking, </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/01/managing-rental-property-with-your.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">managing a rental property</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is also rife with stress. This is obviously most often the case because of unvetted or poorly paired tenants, but you can have a picture-perfect family living in your rental, and you’ll still likely experience some issues along the way. After all, far from simply letting out a property and forgetting about it, landlord responsibilities mean that said family's quality of life, and enjoyment at home, also rests on your shoulders. And, as is often the case with homeownership in general, things have a habit of getting in the way of that. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfcYc1jEI54rnnNliuk8KaQHNe7ICp9qsKk3X9ZJ2xL490pSVritXwcihpOA9wKLY9m19gO5QTlDkZac-tMnOc5BigAWjVYv64VbYT7giKXltt5QvjxaZGxnCUuy1pFiYhxTFW1UNOIsf/s1920/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfcYc1jEI54rnnNliuk8KaQHNe7ICp9qsKk3X9ZJ2xL490pSVritXwcihpOA9wKLY9m19gO5QTlDkZac-tMnOc5BigAWjVYv64VbYT7giKXltt5QvjxaZGxnCUuy1pFiYhxTFW1UNOIsf/s16000/HOW+TO+BE+A+GOOD+LANDLORD.png" /></a></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regular home checks and easy communications are, obviously, the best possible ways for landlords to directly prevent escalating problems from taking their toll. But, even before tenants have moved in, there are a few simple steps that landlords can take to keep their properties in the best possible shape for longer, and those include – </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0e101a; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Investing in high-quality appliances</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Countless landlords will opt for cheap appliances without thinking about how this impacts functionality, or how much it increases the risks of breakdown. Unfortunately, issues including boiler breakdowns and broken washing machines are one of the main reasons that tenants have to contact their landlords, and if they keep on happening, it can either lead to lost tenants or escalating repair costs that never quite leave the problem in the past. By comparison, investing upfront in </span><a href="https://pursuitist.com/top-5-best-luxury-kitchen-appliance-brands/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">high-quality, tested appliances</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that will surely stand the test of time is a far more lucrative and honest way to operate, ensuring not only that tenants stick around for longer, but also that repairs are a far less regular requirement. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0e101a; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Removing soft furnishings</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furnished apartments will typically attract higher monthly rates, but it’s important to note that keeping soft furnishings in an apartment from one tenant to another can be problematic, especially as general wear and use create questions around hygiene and appearances. With this in mind, it’s worth removing soft furnishings that could quickly get grubby, including cushions, sofas, mattresses, and even curtains, in place of ready-made bed frames, quality television stands and blinds like those offered by the </span><a href="https://thegreatshutterco.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Great Shutter Company</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This way, landlords can quickly and efficiently clean all furnishings for quality, safe appearances that stand the test of time even between tenancies. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Replace carpets</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carpets can add a real sense of warmth to any rental property, but they also have a habit of getting grubby pretty fast. In fact, with most carpets needing replacements roughly every five years or so, carpet investments are often ruined in as little as two tenancies and can bring monthly rental rates rocketing down. By comparison, laminate or wood floors that stay looking fresh for much longer are again transferable across tenancies and are far less likely to need replacing each time you accept a new family. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Given that the quality of a rental property is essential for ensuring high rents and landlord compliance, these steps towards longevity are no-nonsense ways to secure this investment in the long term. </span></span></p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-75815367886562669312021-06-27T21:45:00.001+01:002022-10-07T18:09:32.649+01:0010 Useful Tips For Your Next Home Renovations Project<div>Renovating a home can be one of the most exciting journeys for just about anyone. It is sometimes easy to forget some of the most critical steps involved with renovating your property. That's why you should have a solid strategy in place, ensuring the planning, work, and final product all correlate with one another. Don't get caught up in advertising and people overselling their ability, do your research, plan well and ensure when all is said and done, you'll be enjoying the comfort of your newly renovated home. This won't only put you in a better spirit most of the time, but you'll see a noticeable difference in how visitors react as well. Just like you dreamt of living in an ultra-modern property like most movies, most of your visitors dream the same. This article will look at ten tips you should consider when planning your next remodelling project.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuVQY7VgL8hGFXnQQFG8iFinSP7X6ItlpwEVQG9m1ycQCzEFi6uRkQSycxLOyUnb4daqHExpY844xEa3azPrhG1ujcH9Izv8BXbw-DkGMmyCOmMDLoLwoBhYvspawa09nYQJGdUVsaLAP/s1500/10+Useful+Tips+For+Your+Next+Home+Renovations+Project.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuVQY7VgL8hGFXnQQFG8iFinSP7X6ItlpwEVQG9m1ycQCzEFi6uRkQSycxLOyUnb4daqHExpY844xEa3azPrhG1ujcH9Izv8BXbw-DkGMmyCOmMDLoLwoBhYvspawa09nYQJGdUVsaLAP/s16000/10+Useful+Tips+For+Your+Next+Home+Renovations+Project.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Know what you want </b></div><div>You must be 100% sure of exactly what you want to achieve with your renovation project. It can be to touch up here and there and to leave your home looking somewhat more pleasing, or it can be a complete property renovation. The budget between the two variants might be significantly different, and therefore it's vital that you understand from the start what you're aiming at achieving. It will ensure you don't leave yourself coming short of the target financially, and your contractors will also know precisely what you need. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Set a Budget </b></div><div>This is where you'll look at what your budget allocated to the project will be. Regardless of whether you're looking at a smaller budget or a budget to include something like <a href="https://californiapools.com/locations/thousand-oaks/" target="_blank">swimming pool remodeling</a>, you'll need to consider various aspects before finalising this criterion of your home remodeling project. Your budget will also be a unique way to show your contractors what you're willing to pay for the services they'll be offering. Think about materials, contractors, equipment hire, storage containers, additional accommodation, and so forth. By doing this, you'll quickly see the actual value of your project. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Get the timing right</b> </div><div>When you think about a home renovation project busy undergoing in your kitchen, the last thing you want to worry about is getting dressed and heading off to work with no breakfast. When you plan a project of this magnitude, see if you can spend most of your time at home, maybe use some leave to ensure the quality of work remains at the standard you were promised at the start of the project. This will ensure you never have to spend more money to redo poor-quality work done by contractors. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Do Thorough Research</b></div><div>Research is of the utmost importance when it comes to remodeling and the budget behind it. If you do poorly in the research part of the project, you might end up with worse contractors, below-average results, and a much more expensive bill. It would be <a href="https://www.archivibe.com/largest-contractors-and-construction-companies-in-the-uk/" target="_blank">best to scrutinize the web for the best affordable contractors</a>, materials, and design ideas. By doing this, you create a base from which everyone can work and understand your needs.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Get Everything in a Storage Container </b></div><div>When you start remodelling your home interior, it'll be dusty, cold, and just an unhealthy area for your valuable furniture, appliances, and so on. The best way of keeping your home interior decorating safe is by moving everything out into a storage container. Yes, your home will look empty, but you know, once the project is over, you can start moving your things inside, and they'll be in working order. You might have to give them a thorough cleaning. Nevertheless, this will purely make 100% sure the renovations project didn't leave anything damaged or dirty. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Arrange for Accommodation</b></div><div>When you're doing complete property renovations, staying in the home with your family and kids might not be the best idea. Seeing as the project's duration may vary from home to home, you should find affordable and comfortable living arrangements. This will ensure you take your time with the project and don't pressure your contractors so that you can move back in. While you're waiting for your brand new home to be unleashed, you can start by creating modern state-of-the-art crafts by <a href="https://www.gluegunsdirect.com/shop/glue-guns/glue-guns-for-arts-crafts/" target="_blank">crafting glue guns from Glue Guns Direct</a>. This will give you something to do and keep your mind moving back into the property. Also, these crafts will make for exceptional decor when your contemporary living room is ready. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>The kitchen</b></div><div>A kitchen is a room in your home nearly all visitors will be exposed to when visiting your property. Creating a modern, sleek kitchen design to fit the rest of your property will be vital in securing that contemporary modern look you were dreaming about. Various <a href="https://www.glotechkitchens.co.uk/about/about-us/?ref=adwords&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2tCGBhCLARIsABJGmZ6V8Eyj7xfeXRyEv9zh-Vfna4jNjepd5bkPdXMJ7bA2FYDzWlpghaAaAlT9EALw_wcB" target="_blank">contractors specialize in kitchen renovations</a> and should provide you with an entire portfolio of completed work. This will instantly give you an idea of what type of projects they'll be able to finish.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Bathroom</b></div><div>When you have visitors over for a dinner party, odds are, they'll need to use the bathroom throughout the night. You want your bathroom to keep on giving them the great impression your home already made. A <a href="https://www.pjdcontractors.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2tCGBhCLARIsABJGmZ4QjKs6ZGL2u5hH4i1I2xBEGF52YVBPisR3ifgE8PJkPz4o1Q9I59caAmutEALw_wcB" target="_blank">light, clean and neat bathroom</a> with modern finishes and touches will do the trick in this department. Ensure you equip yourself with the best affordable bathroom renovation businesses to keep your home up to date. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Exterior</b></div><div>Your home's exterior is one of the first aspects individuals notice when arriving or passing by your property. It's therefore crucial that you leave your home exterior as well maintained as you can. It will also make for great pictures and leave you relaxing every time you approach it after work. Your home isn't just somewhere you go to sleep; it'll be where you spend most of your time, and having a beautiful home will give you an incredible feeling inside; it might just leave you somewhat more confident as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, your home reflects yourself, and keeping it well maintained and neat all the time is vital. Before you know it, you want to spend all your time at home and never go somewhere else. </div>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-51087070318879656712021-05-14T17:28:00.003+01:002021-05-14T17:28:27.309+01:00Furnishing On A Budget? It Can Be Done!<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait to</span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2019/07/making-most-of-space-in-small-house.html" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> decorate your house yourself</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? No one else would be telling you what decor to pick and no one else could choose the color scheme because this was YOUR house and YOUR rules. Now that you’re an adult, you have somewhere to decorate and furnish - but you’ve just spotted the price tag on a sofa cushion and now you need to rethink your life. </span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-a02a0dd5-7fff-daf7-da7a-e8d31156c47d"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Owning or renting a house is exciting, but trying to get the budget together to furnish the entire thing is far more expensive than you ever thought possible. Every single time someone moves into a new house, this is the case for them! It’s more expensive than they thought, so the luxury divan with the memory foam mattress and the squashy headboard is swapped out for one of many </span><a href="https://www.divanbedwarehouse.co.uk/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cheap beds</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The two-door refrigerator with the ice maker offering three types of ice is switched out for the cheap running, second-hand option. The good news is that furnishing an entire house doesn't have to be terribly expensive, and you can get some great bargains for a lot less than you think. So, don't panic at the price tags and check out how you can furnish your house on a budget. Don't worry - it can be done!</span></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a02a0dd5-7fff-daf7-da7a-e8d31156c47d" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a02a0dd5-7fff-daf7-da7a-e8d31156c47d" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPPUSBhHb3zf8AfXHT9-XbMmlEkICK4fMepYU9Qs7eExZ2Abt0JJSKLdnXX2MAe7Frj2jY_FkgPQo_qs_ahlFveD2bxuh0Yi9yXa8ha9STWXIQI2py0IGeee8JyJSRLDuEq-KNgeO28N4/s1500/HOW+TO+FURNISH+YOUR+HOME+ON+A+BUDGET.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPPUSBhHb3zf8AfXHT9-XbMmlEkICK4fMepYU9Qs7eExZ2Abt0JJSKLdnXX2MAe7Frj2jY_FkgPQo_qs_ahlFveD2bxuh0Yi9yXa8ha9STWXIQI2py0IGeee8JyJSRLDuEq-KNgeO28N4/s16000/HOW+TO+FURNISH+YOUR+HOME+ON+A+BUDGET.png" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don't try to furnish the entire house at once. Get your pen ready and start writing lists. Begin with which rooms are the most important ones to furnish, and then write down the essentials. The rest of it - the colorful ornaments and the beautiful paintings - they can wait and you can gradually add to each room until it’s furnished exactly the way that you had always imagined it would be. </span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get someone to help you out. One of the bigger costs for some people is the fact that furniture needs to be put together. You don't have to be the person </span><a href="https://www.airtasker.com/assembly/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">putting that furniture together,</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you know, as someone else can furnish it for you! Designers can take care of all the smaller details and you can do it room by room, so each room will be fully complete before you move onto the next. Shop around for quotes here!</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Head to the charity shops. The charity shops are more than just places for a bargain jacket for a night out. You can get onto Facebook marketplace and start asking around for furniture pieces that others may be selling. When you do this, you can furnish your home with the right hand-me-downs that are as good as new. What’s the use in spending triple what you have to?</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haggle. Some furniture stores allow you to haggle a price or offer a lower price of what you can pay. You may even find a place that offers to charge less if you can find an item cheaper elsewhere. Take them up on this, as you can knock ££ off the price and give yourself a bargain. It doesn't have to be a stressful time, to furnish your home. Do it well and you only need to do it once.</span></li></ol></div><p></p><p></p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-67036715475782455822021-04-21T22:05:00.003+01:002021-04-21T22:05:31.425+01:00How to Make Downsizing your Home an Easy Process<span id="docs-internal-guid-28ca4391-7fff-e7e5-d006-b64f5351c100"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever the reason for downsizing, it's not easy deciding what to move on with and what to leave behind but first, get a suitable home. Do you want to cut the home maintenance fees, energy cost, or you no longer need ample space? Are your children all grown up and independent?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaMQFK4cQVPvCUtuFZz1eTAODMtEL3lZVDZkPJ4OBzj6XVDBmK12HKstfdKwtHHB72k-nOfw4olHPEs_ywoADnyZvfDP5L7jLKl9aZHWNCCR8s2tiCD3itP0Jhv5_j0Ih8Doml4yy2z1-/s1500/HOW+TO+DOWNSIZE+YOUR+HOME+THE+EASY+WAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaMQFK4cQVPvCUtuFZz1eTAODMtEL3lZVDZkPJ4OBzj6XVDBmK12HKstfdKwtHHB72k-nOfw4olHPEs_ywoADnyZvfDP5L7jLKl9aZHWNCCR8s2tiCD3itP0Jhv5_j0Ih8Doml4yy2z1-/s16000/HOW+TO+DOWNSIZE+YOUR+HOME+THE+EASY+WAY.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Once you clearly understand the reasons for downsizing, talk to </span><a href="https://oaksestateagents.com/streatham-properties/" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">estate agents</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> and check the different options in your preferred location. If you want to lower your overall maintenance fees and mortgage rates, look at the entire cost of the new home.</span></div></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make sure that the house is energy-efficient, easily accessible and in a secure environment. Most importantly, it helps you achieve your primary goal, which is to cut costs. Once you have an ideal home, the next step is to relocate.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's much easier to relocate to a bigger </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2019/06/buying-your-forever-home.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">home</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> than to a smaller one because you can carry all your belongings with you. When moving to a smaller home, you have to go through the stress of deciding what to keep, give away or sell. </span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Declutter and Check What You'll Need for the New Home</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first thing you need to do is to declutter. Account for everything that you have and whatever you don't use or don't need, give it away or sell. This includes old furniture, clothes, broken appliances and toys.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After decluttering, analyze your new home's size and design, then determine what will fit there. For instance, your furniture might be too large for the new space, which means that you might sell and buy smaller ones that </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/downsizing-tips-things-to-know-2019-3" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fit in better</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, check the size of your appliances because they might not adequately fit in the new space. As much as disposing of your possessions might be an emotional experience, it's the right thing to do. You'll not be too attached to valuables, and you will only keep what is necessary. As you will realize, it will also reduce impulse buying.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Get a Reliable Moving Company</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Decluttering and getting rid of stuff you don't need makes a move manageable. It will also be cheaper. Working with an experienced moving service provider protects your possessions and takes the burden off your shoulders.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are not moving very far away and have a truck, you can consider moving the delicate items first and then let the service provider handle the rest.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Keep Your New Home Organized and Clutter-Free</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You'd probably wish that all your possessions fit into the new space, but that's not possible. Even after decluttering, selling and giving away some valuables, you might still have more left that will not fit in the new home.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you can, </span><a href="https://www.thebalance.com/home-downsizing-1798313" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">give them away</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to people you value. If you have grown up kids, you can give them some items or donate to a worthy cause.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As your new home helps you achieve your downsizing goals, you'll live a happier and relaxed life. You'll save more and live a simpler life that will not be controlled by how much you own.</span></span></p>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-13329014475930450082021-04-20T21:13:00.003+01:002021-04-20T21:13:50.050+01:00Making Money From Your Home (Without Selling It)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are looking to </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/02/sell-your-home-or-put-up-for-rent.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sell your home</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> because you need to make money quickly, you might be going about it the wrong way. If you need a sufficient cash injection, you might think that selling your home is the best way. However, there are ways for you to make money from your home without selling it. If you need some spare cash or a regular source of income, you can use your home to make money. Let’s show you some approaches. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fcQZCGje9H147-_RX7HM7EQTUJKm9DRsCcj7Wpyp9pL3t8NqicgJfTJLnefAGFmiOtVXNcvL6onnQ4zuZjoBU5FpNnVj0BAuRobfuXvEg7QrBh12Aml8XdBbxkLHIw9EGKmI1sZmg-Ht/s1500/How+to+Make+Money+from+your+Home+%2528Without+Selling+it%2521%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fcQZCGje9H147-_RX7HM7EQTUJKm9DRsCcj7Wpyp9pL3t8NqicgJfTJLnefAGFmiOtVXNcvL6onnQ4zuZjoBU5FpNnVj0BAuRobfuXvEg7QrBh12Aml8XdBbxkLHIw9EGKmI1sZmg-Ht/s16000/How+to+Make+Money+from+your+Home+%2528Without+Selling+it%2521%2529.png" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-836d0c2c-7fff-b46f-b6a5-588275e29b80"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Selling Land</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are living on or near to land that you aren't using, is it possible for you to sell part of it? When it comes to selling land, you can make a significant amount of money. There are a wide variety of things to consider, especially if you need permission. But there is an </span><a href="https://www.nfchomes.co.uk/post/selling-land-what-you-need-to-know-about-planning-permission" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NFC Homes</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> guide on selling land with and without permission that might be able to help you. Selling land is incredibly quick to do. But you also need to make sure you are selling to the right people. If you have a few acres at the back of your property going unused, check if it is classed as being your land. If this is the case, you might have a little gold mine on your hands! </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rent Your Home as a Film Set </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If your property has unique and charming features, you can list your home through an online agency. The great thing about having a film crew is that they will pay hundreds of pounds for your home. While it is not a regular paying wage, if you end up using your home as a film location for a big-budget movie you could make a small fortune. If you have a quirky enough property, you can register your home on the </span><a href="https://www.shootfactory.co.uk/hire-register-house-filming-photo-shoot-location/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shoot Factory</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> website.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take in a Lodger </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, you could always use your spare room for lodgers, however, if you don't want a permanent lodger, a university student may be the perfect option. Hosting a young person, either as an exchange or foreign language student can mean that you will get approximately £100 a week. If you like having people coming in and out of the property, this is a perfect way for you to start meeting new people and is a great way for you to learn about another culture. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rent Out Your Parking Space </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some people have a car space outside the property going begging though this is not actually the case in a lot of places around the UK! You could rent out your website using one of the many websites out there, and you could potentially earn approximately £100 a month doing this. If you live near an airport, this might be the ideal way for you to earn good money off people who do not have the funds to pay for expensive airport parking.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you can see, there's a lot of ways for you to make the most of your home without selling it. It's not easy to get by these days. And if you need to make money quickly, don’t forget, your home may also be hiding a treasure trove of items!</span></span></p></span>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-35619257897663902902021-04-09T18:29:00.004+01:002021-04-09T18:29:56.870+01:00Five Tips For Giving Your Car A Spring Refresh<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>collaborative post</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spring is always a good time to refresh your home, </span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2021/02/getting-your-garden-ready-for-spring.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">garden</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and car. This year, there’s an extra reason to give your car some love. You should, hopefully, be able to get out and about in it more. That means you’ll want it to look and feel good and run well. You’ll probably also want it to run as affordably as possible. Here are some tips.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJfTWEfnBTO-ZHo25jPWfVhppWDonzPj5vqE1If5f3sarn9jssTWGEGOaVJr_Yvs-ZI9Bc_tNg9L-YEsO4NE5-CAbK8U5JQyyU68KBUXJngYu7BfpmfTsus6Wx7UbKBSzpqq1nuWEfoBu/s1500/Five+Tips+For+Giving+Your+Car+A+Spring+Refresh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJfTWEfnBTO-ZHo25jPWfVhppWDonzPj5vqE1If5f3sarn9jssTWGEGOaVJr_Yvs-ZI9Bc_tNg9L-YEsO4NE5-CAbK8U5JQyyU68KBUXJngYu7BfpmfTsus6Wx7UbKBSzpqq1nuWEfoBu/s16000/Five+Tips+For+Giving+Your+Car+A+Spring+Refresh.png" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16pt;">Clean out your boot</span></p></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-79097f98-7fff-0c9a-5b28-6ba5d18a709d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even if you ignore every other tip in this article, do this. Boots filled with needless stuff aren’t just untidy and smelly. They literally weigh down your car. That means your car needs more fuel to work. In other words, it costs you more to run. It might only be a little more each trip, but those pennies add up into </span><a href="https://www.theaa.com/driving-school/driving-lessons/keeping-cost-car-driving-down" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pounds</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take care of your bodywork</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leaving dirt on your car damages the exterior. Give it a thorough clean and take care of even minor scratches. They might not look like much but they can let rust take a hold. If you’re up for some fun, you could add a car decal or two. These are much more affordable (and much less commitment) than a paint respray.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Check your tyres</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spring is guaranteed to bring showers and that can make road surfaces slippery. This means that it’s still important to ensure your tyres have reliable grip. It’s also important to check the pressure regularly. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is because tyre pressure is affected by air temperature. In spring, temperatures are highly variable so you may have to inflate/deflate your tyres to compensate. Digital tyre pressure gauges are very affordable and make it really easy to monitor your tyres.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get that “new car” smell back</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’ve ever been to a quality car dealership like </span><a href="https://www.harwoods.uk.com/jaguar/locations/4763/jaguar-basingstoke/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jaguar Basingstoke</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, you’ll have noticed that all the cars have a gorgeous smell. Getting your car smelling great can really make a difference to how you feel about driving it. It’ll also impress your passengers.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting your car smelling great starts by getting it really clean. At the very least, give it a good hoover and remove any stains, even small ones. If you can give it a proper wash inside (or clean the leather with leather cleaner).</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That should get rid of any lingering smells. If, however, you want to level up from good to great, then you need to invest in a proper car air freshener. You can still get “old-school” sprays, cardboard “pine trees” and gel packs. These days, however, you can also get proper car diffusers. You can also buy fragrances you’d be happy to use on yourself.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sort out your organisation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ideally, you should use your glove compartment for standard </span><a href="https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/tools-and-accessories-to-keep-in-your-car/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">essentials</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> like a first aid kit. Avoid stuffing it totally full because this makes the contents harder to access in an emergency. After this, think about how you use your car and what you need to make your driving experience more seamless.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, you might want to think about investing in a mobile phone mount with wireless charging capabilities. Even if your phone doesn’t support wireless charging, most of these mounts will let you use a regular USB cable to charge your phone on the go.</span></span></p><div><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-526722362099914305.post-41504285324309231182021-03-26T13:15:00.002+00:002021-03-26T13:15:53.676+00:00Renting Out Your Old Home: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Landlord<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Investing in real estate is a great way of building wealth. To start building your real estate portfolio, one smart strategy is to hold onto your starter home after you build or buy your second home. In a healthy real estate market, you will quickly build equity and use the rent to cover your mortgage. However, while becoming a landlord and making money may seem easy, there’s more to succeeding as a landlord. Therefore, before you take the plunge, you may want to read the following guide on how to rent out your first home.</span></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHHeIK2jnxTWfrkhou9p3TUQmOx0u-YcPDZTYSSzXkGuShjuH2z_zK8fpT1aU-lqOSEPgsVk7xlSy18QY-XowP-r_N7K_cjZKMMUojUHsnkswOQDodFszCkRYITIa5AKPl3hTyFANaZaC/s1500/279D9002-265A-4BD4-9E91-0434696FDB48.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHHeIK2jnxTWfrkhou9p3TUQmOx0u-YcPDZTYSSzXkGuShjuH2z_zK8fpT1aU-lqOSEPgsVk7xlSy18QY-XowP-r_N7K_cjZKMMUojUHsnkswOQDodFszCkRYITIa5AKPl3hTyFANaZaC/s16000/279D9002-265A-4BD4-9E91-0434696FDB48.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Understand your responsibility as a landlord</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, you should determine whether you can handle the obligations of a landlord. There are several benefits of renting your property, like generating income, deterring vandalism that often happens in empty homes and the ease of tax breaks. However, as a landlord, you have the responsibility to repair and maintain the property, pay your homeowners insurance, collect rent, and screen tenants.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prepare your home</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the competitive real estate market, you won’t be able to rent out your home as-is. Tenants are choosy and have high expectations. Therefore, you will need to make your home more appealing by deep cleaning your home and ensuring that all appliances are in good working condition. Get</span><a href="https://energyperformancecertificates.co.uk/eicr" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">electrical installation condition reports</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to ensure that all electrical appliances, fuse boxes, and wires are working properly.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Decide how much rent you will receive</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can’t just decide how much rent you will charge. Rent is controlled by the market, and the only way to come up with a fair market rent is to do some research. Ideally, you should rent your house for the same amount as other properties in a similar location, condition, and size.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conduct a background check</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several ways to run a background check on a potential tenant. Additionally, most property management applications have screening tools that can help you. However, before you even start</span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2018/03/08/how-to-screen-potential-tenants-and-save-thousands/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">screening your rental tenants</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, you should first decide what background and credit information you will allow. Generally, some of the things you should look closely include:</span></span></p><ul style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prior evictions</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Felonies</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bankruptcy</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Criminal record</span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bad financial history</span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After you identify the right tenant, inspect the property and take photos of the house before move-in. Remember to also ask for a reasonable security deposit and agree on the appropriate payment schedule.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consider hiring a property manager</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you want to receive calls at 3 a.m about a clogged toilet? If not, you may want to use a property manager. Your property manager will handle everything from collecting rent to scheduling maintenance and repairs. Although you will have to part with a small fee, you won’t go through the hassles of screening tenants, advertising your property, keeping track of financials, issuing legal notices to tenants, filing evictions, or enforcing rental policies.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bottom Line</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several reasons why you should rent out your first home after you buy a new one. Although there’s no format to succeeding as a landlord, taking the time to understand your responsibility as a landlord, preparing your home, deciding how much you should rent, screening tenants,</span><a href="https://www.girlupnorth.co.uk/2020/11/decorating-tips-for-landlords.html" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">decorating your house</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and hiring a property manager will increase your odds.</span></span>girl_upnorthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15744994669206884897noreply@blogger.com0