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What Are The 6 Beginner Painting Mistakes And How To Conquer Them?

Painting is one of the best things, whether you consider it as a passion or hobby. We have been doing painting since childhood and creating new illustrations and art. By practicing more and more, one can easily learn the tricks and tips for doing the painting. Despite of this, while making an art or painting, an individual undergoes lots of mistakes such as choosing the right brush, colors, palette, etc. 

It is important to conquer all the things so that you can choose the right color and brush while painting. When an individual is painting, then it requires lots of dedication and patience. For getting more information regarding painting mistakes, you can also visit this amazing website for getting all the answers to your queries, which is paintingkits.net

Now, in the lower section, I am going to represent some 6 beginner painting mistakes and ways to conquer them, which will become beneficial for you, such as:

6 beginner painting mistakes and ways to conquer them 

  1. The very first thing to be considered is to choose the right palette. It is important because lots of individuals made a mistake while considering the right palette for painting. While illustrating the painting, sometimes the artist dip into the wrong color, which will create problems while painting. So it is better for you to consider the right palette where you can present colors and easily mix them together. 
  2. Do not mix too many colors together because it will mess your painting and color too. It is a very common mistake made by beginners. Despite of this, you can go individually to select the right color for your painting. 
  3. If you are making a painting on still life, then it is very important for you to dedicatedly focus on your painting and the view. If you are a lefty, then place your still life image on the right section, and if you paint from the right hand, then place the image on the left side. 
  4. Do not store all your colors in a warm area because the original texture of your painting and colors will get ruined. It is better for you to keep them in a cool place so that you can beautify your creation and consider the original texture of your art. 
  5. All you need is a true dedication while painting because it is important to maintain the consistency of your art as well as time. If you consider painting in your free time, then it will become advantageous for you because you can wisely focus on your painting. Do not hustle and hurry while painting because it might ruin your painting. 
  6. Your selection of colors, as well as brushes, is very important. You need to precisely go for all these things so that you can easily make your painting. 

In the upper section, I have listed all the 6 beginner painting mistakes and ways to conquer them, so go through each term wisely to neglect such things while painting.

Cleaning Out an Elderly Parent’s House

Perhaps the first consideration before cleaning (aka, throwing stuff out) at a parent’s house is to determine why you are helping to go through years of stuff. Is your parent moving to a smaller home? Will the house be going up for sale after a death? Will an adult child be moving back to the house? Or, do you have a parent who will continue to live in the house and you want to clear out clutter that could be confusing or could create an injury hazard? This question will determine the level of cleaning you will be doing. Some of these tips can be easily found on condo reviews in Singapore portals on many websites. 

Creating a Plan for Cleaning and Organizing a House

Before you do anything, walk through the house taking pictures. Stand in the center of the room and snap enough pictures so you have a 360 degree view of each room. Whether or not you’re emptying the house, this step helps you see what you’ve accomplished.

Next, list all of the rooms in the house, any sheds, porches, garages, attics, etc. Some of the areas you may want to divide into smaller sections, such as: basement/exercise area; basement/laundry room; basement; storage area. List closets individually and separately. You may also want to list congested hutches, dressers, shelf units, etc. as separate entities if you like the sense of accomplishment you get from crossing something off a to-do list.

Don’t consider these steps a waste of time. If you hired someone to do this task, they’d go through the house to get a scope of the job. Also, if you feel overwhelmed and want to procrastinate, this starts you moving.

Organize Your Life

Consider how many years your parents lived at the house and estimate a week, minimum, for each year of residence (if you have a lot of time, estimate a full day for each year). Now, consider how many hours you have to give to cleaning, on average, each week. Next, consider how many people will be helping as this will greatly speed up the process (and another reason that list will come in handy). If you are working by yourself and you have only an hour a week to work on this project, you’ll be frustrated with your progress by week two.

Establish an area in the house to accumulate collectibles and antiques for future appraisal or division among family members. If the parent continues to live at home, group like items on shelves or tabletops as this may help the parent realize that they can winnow through belongings they have in multiples. This is also a technique interior designers use to accentuate collections and make them look more impressive.

Set up another location for bags and boxes of items that will go to charity. This way you can see when there is enough stuff to warrant calling for a pickup or making the trip to a donation center yourself.

Helping a Parent

If you have a parent living in the house, he or she may or may not be thrilled to have your help. If one area creates an argument, try another room or type of item (canned goods instead of books).

Again, group items, whether they are water globes, cans of tuna fish, bank statements, mugs, or magazines. This way your parent can see what they have in abundance. This may (may) eliminate a fight over removing a stack of old newspaper.

These steps can give you a sense of accomplishment (cross things off that list) as you create clarity within clutter. Look at each part of the house as a separate entity so you don’t feel overwhelmed by thinking about “the house.”

Three Tips for Buying Dorm Room Appliances

The school year is just around the corner, you’ve been accepted into a college, and have even been given an opportunity to live on campus. Perhaps you’ve already met your future roommates, or maybe that time will come soon if it hasn’t already. Either way, this is an exciting moment! You’re going to be living away from your family with a group of people who may become your best friends. However, you need to figure out what appliances to bring in order to make your environment more comfortable. After all, this is your space and you want it to be cool.

But before you rush out to the appliance store, keep these three tips in mind:

Organise:

Before you do a single thing, find out what your college actually allows students to bring into their dorm rooms. Some colleges will allow small electric hotplates, while others frown at anything other than a mini fridge. After you figure out what you can bring into the room, communicate with the others living in your dorm room and plan who will bring what. There is no use coming in on moving day and finding that you now have two toasters, three hotplates, and five coffee makers. In most dorm rooms, space is at a premium anyway, so not only are multiples of the same thing stupid to have, but they will also take up valuable space that could be used for something else.

Condense Appliances:

Since you have limited space, the less physical items you need to bring in, the happier you’ll be. Instead of bringing in a separate toaster, oven, and microwave, find a three-in-one unit. In the same vein, it’s usually best to buy one big appliance that can do several tasks rather than many separate smaller units. This will not only help reduce clutter, but will also mean that the other people living in the dorm room with you could pitch in, allowing you to purchase a better quality appliance overall. Greensboro NC office serves its people by providing some of the best dorm room appliances. So if you are on a tight budget, it will be helpful if you follow essential tips on how to properly and wisely buy dorm room appliances specially if you are a business owner of a dorm. Having the right appliances in the dorm will attract boarders.

Multiuse Appliances:

While it may be cool for the first couple days to say that you have a dedicated sandwich press, you’ll soon have just another piece of clutter after the novelty wears off. Instead of buying appliances that are specialised for one or two tasks, learn how to make certain things by hand, improvising to achieve the same result. For instance, even though a sandwich press can make wonderful sandwiches, you can achieve the same result with two pans and two hands. It may take a couple seconds longer to slap another skillet on top of your sandwich, but least those two wares can be used for more than sandwich making. Before buying anything, ask yourself whether you can achieve the same result with what you already have. A blender works just as well as a food processor; a rice cooker can be used to make stews and steam vegetables.

If you only remember one thing about buying dorm room appliances, remember that space is limited. Ask yourself if you really need that ice cream maker or if it really is the best idea to buy a separate microwave and oven. Remember, your dorm room is your living space and is shared with others. Living in a dorm room is a great experience, but having no room to live because someone decided to bring everything except the kitchen sink will only end in frustration, arguments, and stress.

Product Review of the Scrub Daddy

Okay, everyone. This is it. My review of (drum roll please) the Scrub Daddy. The Flex Texture cleaning tool. I first became aware of the Scrub Daddy on QVC a few months ago. There was a man talking about how he had invented this product that was the best cleaning tool out on the market. What made it different? What made it so great that you just had to buy it? I thought, it’s only a sponge. Can I really get excited over a sponge? And after using it for a couple weeks, I can tell you, yes! I am excited about this sponge!

I happened to find my Scrub Daddy at Bed Bath  amp; Beyond, selling at $3.99 for one. The Scrub Daddy not only works so well, it smiles at you. What other cleaning tool does that? It is bright yellow and has a smiley face. The smiley face we’ve known our whole lives is now on a sponge. You don’t feel like washing the dishes because you’re sad? Don’t worry, because the smile will make you feel better and plus, your dishes will get clean! The mouth is perfect for especially getting silverware clean and it is safe on cookware and kitchen surfaces because it is scratch free. Smile! The ratings of the popular handheld vacuum cleaners in 2020 will be positive for the person to buy them. The sponge will be available with popular vacuums to clean the cars. 

What really makes the difference between the Scrub Daddy and other cleaning tools is that you can control the texture of it. I didn’t believe it at first, but it’s really true. The Scrub Daddy becomes soft in warm water if you only need gentle cleansing and then it becomes firm in cool water if you need coarse scrubbing. So I tested it. I ran cool water on it and it did become firm so I could very easily scrub out some much needed coffee mugs. It always would take so much time and effort cleaning those out with just a regular sponge. No more! It’s amazing. The inventor said it can resist odors for up to two months if you rinse it out thoroughly after each use. You can also clean it by putting it into the dishwasher or even the washing machine. I haven’t tried that yet.

The funny thing is that my boyfriend now looks forward to washing the dishes because the Scrub Daddy will be there to help him. Just yesterday he proclaimed his love for it by saying, “I love the Scrub Daddy!” For a man to say that, I’ll be buying lots of Scrub Daddy’s for in the future.

As it states on the box: “Try me! You’ll love me!” All I have to say is, I did, I do, and you will too.

Losing Weight Through Waist Training

Waist training is a really popular way through which you can lose your weight effectively as you follow a proper diet plan, wear corsets, and following UK waist trainers. Besides all these things you should also learn about the importance of a healthy diet and how these corsets can help as you follow your diet plan along with a strict workout regime.

Waist Trainers

  • As you wear a waist trainer it is possible that you can reduce your weight as wearing a corset potentially reduces your appetite. Essentially, with the help of these corsets, you physically restrict your stomach so that you do not overeat.
  • Also, it is really important that you keep in mind the fact that these corsets that you use do not melt your body fat. You need to follow a strict diet plan and do a lot of exercise for that.
  • There are some limitations to this as well, which is why it is really important that you take proper safety measures before you start with your waist training.

Negative aspects of using corsets 

  • You might feel a little discomfort as you use corset. This is why it is really important that you use corsets carefully.
  • Additionally, using these corsets all the time can affect your internal organs as well. This is why you should avoid using corsets as your body is growing.
  • Lastly, if you feel any pain as you wear a corset make sure that you loosen it or completely remove it.

Different Wasit Trainers

  • 348 Latex Cincher

It is a short latex cincher with which you get a strong compression level and an average torso length. With this corset, you get a 10.5-inch front and an 8.5 inch back. Moreover, you also get inner and outer nylon and spandex lining and multiple color options. This is a perfect torso that offers different torso lengths with all levels of curves making it perfect for daily use.

  • 351 Extra Firm Latex Cincher

With 351 Extra Firm Latex Cincher, you get an extra firm compression level and along with a short torso length. The dimensions that you get with this one are 7.5 inches 6.5-inch backside. 351 Extra Firm Latex Cincher also features completely enclosed steel bones to get increased support. You get a torso that also offers you different levels of curves.

  • 103 Powerful Latex Cincher

103 Powerful Latex Cincher is a waist trainer that offers you a strong level of compression. A long torso length and a 13-inch front and an 11 inch back that features a hook and eye closure with 2 rows that offer you customization options so that you can get maximum comfort with your corset.

  • CS-201 Mesh Corset

The CS-201 Mesh Corset is a corset that offers you moderate and extreme compression levels as you use it. Moreover, you get a short and standard torso length with which you get a 9.5-inch front, 8.75 inches of back and a 7.25-inch side. This torso is perfect for women that have natural curves and a short torso under 8 inches.

  • CS-411 Standard Mesh Corset

CS-411 Standard Mesh Corset is a corset that is suitable for most body types and offers standard torso length. You get a 10 inch front, 10.5 inches back, and a 8.5 inch side. You should avoid this corset if you are very athletic or your low waist to hip ratio.

Tips for choosing the right waist trainer

  • The first and the most important thing that you should keep in mind is the size of the corset that you choose. It should be comfortable as you wear them.
  • You should also look for a waist that is suitable for your body type. With a corset that complements your body, you will surely get much better and faster results.
  • As you start using waist trainer make sure you use your corset carefully. It is important that you gradually increase the time as you wear your corset.
  • If you are feeling any discomfort as you wear the corset make sure that you take proper breaks so that your body can adjust accordingly.
  • Lastly, it is really important that you pay attention to your training regime and make choose your corset accordingly.

These are all the things that you should keep in your mind as you start with your waist training.

Low-Maintenance DIY Plants For Your Landscape Garden

You want to whip your landscape into shape with some low-maintenance DIY plants for your landscape gardens, but you aren’t quite sure which types of plants to choose. Most nurseries and hardware stores offer a wide selection of greenery options, but not all of them will fit your landscaping needs. Since you are attempting a do it yourself project, you want to incorporate durable and long-lasting elements into your design. Some plants are extremely sensitive to adverse weather conditions, hungry animals, and location, so a few basic tips will help you choose the best plants for your do it yourself landscaping project.

Clover is the Perfect Ground Cover

One of the most durable and elaborate low-maintenance plants for a DIY landscape garden is the small but powerful clover. Yes, good things do come in small packages. Clover is not a large or demonstrative garden or landscaping option, but it is extremely effective at covering expansive or difficult outdoor places. Due to its extreme drought tolerance and insect resistance, clover is on of the best low-maintenance DIY plants for your landscape garden. In addition, clover doesn’t have to be mowed and it is fast spreading, so troublesome garden areas can receive a quick fix.

Deer Resistant Plants are Low Maintenance

If you live in one of the many areas across the nation that encounters a steady deer population, you know how difficult it can be to keep them away from your attractive landscaping. Fortunately, there are several plants that have a strong visual appeal, and deer don’t ever mess with them. Liriope, Vinca Vines, and Catnip plants are all attractive plants that deter deer from even attempting to graze. Liriope is an eye appealing ornamental grass that comes in variegated leaf varieties, and it is so easy to maintain. Vinca vines are sprawling broad leaf vines that add sophistication and designer friendly elements to a landscape garden. Catnip plants add versatility and flexibility as a low-maintenance DIY landscape garden accent.

Moss Works When Nothing Else Will

Moss in not necessarily the most decorative or the most illustrious type of foliage, but it certainly gets the job done. Moss works well as a low-maintenance DIY plant for your landscape garden because it will grow in complete shade. In fact, moss thrives in damp areas where the sun simply can’t seep through. In addition, moss is extremely low-maintenance because it never needs to be mowed, trimmed or watered.

Drought Resistant Perennials Fight a Good Fight

Some areas of the country have an arid climate that cannot afford the luxury of perennials that require large amounts of water. Since the need to water constantly is certainly not a low-maintenance DIY feature, drought resistant perennials are a welcome attraction. Some of these tough and durable plants include, but are not limited to, Bluebeard, Maidengrass, Autumn Joy, Coneflowers, and ornamental grasses. If drought is a strong possibility in your neck of the woods, then drought resistant perennials are on high demand.

Mulch Goes a Long Way

A fresh layer of deep richly colored mulch can upgrade your landscape garden faster and more effectively than just about any other alternative. Even though it may not remind you of a plant, its all-natural and organic nature allows it to fall into that category. Mulch, as a low-maintenance DIY plant for your landscape garden, is marvelous because it can be used to cover the entire space. Due to its luxurious qualities and rich brown colors, your garden just wouldn’t be the same without it.

Whipping your landscape into shape with some low-maintenance DIY plants for your landscape gardens doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive goal. With these simple considerations, you can create the landscape garden of your dreams. Experimenting with a do it yourself landscape project will have fantastic results as you incorporate durable and long-lasting elements into your design. Just make sure you are using the right tools such us Makita impact drivers at impactdriverguide.co.uk. Certainly, using the right equipment will make your work easier.

Everything You Need To Know About Bluetooth Headsets For Truckers!

Technology has undoubtedly made our lives easier and highly convenient. It has impacted different industries to a great extent, and one of them is the trucking industry. The Bluetooth technology has made it easier for the truckers to maintain a fluent communication with the fleet managers, friends, and relatives. Bluetooth headsets allow the truckers to stay in touch with everyone without getting distracted as it enables them to pick and make calls without leaving the steering wheel. If you are looking for the best Bluetooth headsets for trucking, then you must visit https://www.ironhorsetrading.netbest-Bluetooth-headset-truckers as it has some of the best Bluetooth headsets, and you can trust it as it is a reliable website.

Bluetooth headsets get connected with the mobile phones of the truckers and keep them updated with all the updates related to weather, consignment, and route. It also removes the loud noises while talking on a call, as most of the headsets have a noise cancellation feature. You can stay connected with authority and give them all the updates related to the consignment over the Bluetooth headset. To pick the best Bluetooth headset for trucking, you must have proper knowledge about them and should also be aware of all the benefits and disadvantages of them.

Top-notch advantages offered by Bluetooth headsets to the truckers

Completely wireless

One of the most significant advantages of Bluetooth headsets is that they are completely wireless, which helps you to concentrate better while driving. Wired headsets cause a lot of disturbance as you have to adjust and carry the wire, which can become a reason for your distraction, and you may meet an accident. It makes trucking a lot more convenient as you need not worry about tangled cables in the cabin and you can take calls, listen to music without even touching your mobile phone. You can trust them completely. Bluetooth headsets are connected through Bluetooth and keep you updated about all the news and information related to your route easily. You don’t even need to leave the steering wheel as you can give all the commands over the headset.

High quality

Usually, people think that the audio quality gets poor when it comes to Bluetooth headsets, but in the real headset for truckers have the latest version of Bluetooth and provide premium audio quality to the user. It is immensely easy to be connected with any mobile phone that serves different purposes, such as entertainment, communication, updates, news, etc. Truckers can use them easily as they automatically connect to the device once paired, which removes the needs of connecting them again and again. It offers an excellent quality of sound and ensures that the truckers can listen clearly whatever they wish to use the headset for.

Keeps them entertained

Truckers need to be on the road for multiple days continuously, and it can become quite boring sometimes. So, they need to have some means of getting entertained and full of energy while driving. Bluetooth headsets ensure that they are staying well-entertained while driving. They can make a playlist of their favorite tracks and listen to it while driving and stay full of energy. They can also change, play, and pause the music through the Bluetooth headset itself.

Long battery backup

Truckers have a hectic schedule as they have to reach with the consignment within time as they don’t get much time to charge their headsets. Bluetooth headsets allow them to use it for a long time without charging as it has a great battery backup, which helps the truckers a lot during long trips. A basic Bluetooth headset can go for more than hours after a single charge, and if you feel it is less for you, then you can keep some extra batteries with you, which will increase the headset’s battery backup to a great extent.

Noise cancellation

Truckers have to work in an environment full of loud voices and sounds, which not only affects their hearing adversely but also causes a lot of disturbance while talking to their manager, family over the phone. Bluetooth headsets solve this issue as they have fantastic noise cancellation features, which ensures that no noise can pass the headphone, and persons on both sides of the phone can listen to each other clearly.

What are the disadvantages of using Bluetooth headsets while trucking?

It is irrefutable that Bluetooth headsets have changed the way we communicate with each other as it has made it much convenient, but it also has some drawbacks that can’t be ignored.

Pain and discomfort

Truckers are usually on a long route, and they need to wear headsets for several hours continuously. It may cause some pain and discomfort to them. Bluetooth headsets have some weight, even though most of the latest models are lightweight, but still, they are quite heavy for the ears, and wearing them for long periods leads to pain the ear and the muscles around it.  Sometimes the headsets don’t fit properly, which also becomes a reason for pain and discomfort while wearing a Bluetooth headset during trucking.

Not much long-lasting

Bluetooth headsets are modern technology and are quite complex. They can get broken easily, and a single issue in any part will make them useless, which is the primary reason why Bluetooth headsets don’t last long. Even if you find someone who claims that he can repair it solves the problem as there is no guarantee that the problem will be fixed and there is also no assured that the issue will not occur again after being fixed. As technology is getting advanced, it is becoming challenging to make devices last for longer.

High cost

Bluetooth headsets can put a huge burden on your pockets, and sometimes they are quite expensive, which a significant disadvantage. However, there are some headsets available at low prices too, but they are of poor quality, and if you want a premium quality Bluetooth headsets for trucking, then you might have to spend a handsome amount of money on them.

Battery and connectivity

Bluetooth headsets have a lot of technical complexities, which makes them last not too long. It runs on battery, and battery deteriorates along with time, which means the more you will use it, the lower its battery backup will get, which is a huge drawback as truckers have to use their headsets all the time.  Moreover, sometimes these headsets also show some connectivity issues, which makes it difficult to connect them with the device.

Harmful radiations

Almost everyone must have heard about radiation and its harmful effects on the body. Bluetooth headsets also produce some radiations as they are wireless, and it has some adverse impacts on different parts of the body. Using Bluetooth headsets for a longer period can cause some damage to the brain. You must take some precautions and keep certain things in mind while using Bluetooth headsets such as don’t use it for a longer period, avoid hanging them around your neck. Headsets stills emit radiation when they are connected even if you are not using them. So, you must keep them away from the body when you are not using it.

To put it in a nutshell, each coin has two faces, and Bluetooth headsets for trucking are no different. It has some fantastic advantages but also has some drawbacks too. So, you must keep both of them in your mind while using them.

Most Common Plumbing Repair Jobs

While there are some simple plumbing repair tasks you can learn to do on your own, like clearing a clogged sink, there are many others that require a professional plumbing service. One of the reasons to call your plumber over the following incidents, is because if you attempt it on your own, you could end up making the matter worse and needing to call a plumber for more comprehensive work. Here are some of the most common plumbing repair jobs to call for.

Toilet Issues

One of the most common reasons a plumbing repair needs to be called in has to do with the toilet. Toilets are used frequently in homes and businesses, and may need repairs or maintenance. There are several things that can go wrong with a toilet, such as the water constantly running, not being able to flush, a blockage or a leak of the toilet. Some of these things happen because the flusher needs to be replaced or there is a broken mechanism, while other are due to the toilet being older.

Leaky Faucets

Another thing to call your plumber about is a leaky faucet. This is a repair that tends to get pushed aside, but then it could lead to more money being spent and more serious damage. As soon as you notice you have a leaky faucet, call a plumber to have it fixed right away.

Noises in the Pipes

You may also hear knocking or clinking noises in your pipes when you use the toilet or when faucets are being used. This is due to a variety of reasons, such as having old and rusted pipes, build up in the pipes that makes noise when the water moves through them, or pipes that are not secure and therefore clinking around. Plumbers can fix the problem that is causing all of the noises when utilizing your home’s plumbing. They also utilize video pipe inspection services to ensure that your pipes are free from any issues.

Water Heater

A top five reason why plumbing repairs need to be done in residences or businesses is to fix a water heater. Tank-style water heaters wear down when they are used, so it is not uncommon for them to need repairs every few years. It might be from the electrical connection, pressure release valves or build-up in the tank.

If you are experiencing any of these or other plumbing issues, call your Phoenix plumbing specialist as soon as possible. Calling soon help prevent more work and money later on and keeps you from needing an emergency plumber in Phoenix.

5 Things that Help Me Stick to My Workout

If you have tried many times to stick to some kind of workout routine, but always find yourself falling off the workout wagon, you’re not alone. You and I and thousands of people start working out with the best intentions – getting healthier, losing weight – and end up only sticking to the routine for a short time. Recently, I realized I’ve been sticking to my current workout longer then I’ve stuck to any before. Here are some of the techniques that I heard from various sources and adopted to keep me on the straight and narrow. Maybe they’ll be of some use to you, too. Moreover, at https://hipflexorsinfo.com you will find some of the most amazing tips and recommendations that you can try in order to get the very best from your workout. 

Make it a lifestyle change. Two seemingly divergent philosophies have definitely helped me stick with my workout. The first is that this is not a short term, weight loss thing, but a new change, a permanent change, in lifestyle. When I started this latest workout routine, I had to change my mindset from “I’ll do this for a while so I can drop a few pounds” to “I won’t go back to an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle.” And this has worked for me. I have a new version of “normal” now. I’m one of those people- those people who work out! It’s weird! But that small mental change in self-perception has definitely helped me stay committed. And it definitely helps, also, to see exercise as a healthy choice, not just something to help me look a little better. It makes the whole thing more important (though, of course, I’m not against reaping any appearance-related benefits that might come my way…)

Take it one workout at a time. On the other hand, it really helps to take things one workout at a time. It may sound a little “12 Step” -ish, but it makes sense to me. If you start out saying “I’ll work out almost every day for the rest of my life” it’s a huge task, and especially if you don’t really like working out, it may turn you off to the whole idea right away. It’s just too much! But if you get up in the morning and say “Today I’m going to the gym”, it’s a small, manageable goal. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment when the goal is met. Pretty soon, all those individual workouts will add up to months and you’ll never even know it. Don’t worry about how you’re going to handle the gym three Thursdays from now: just go to the gym today.

Set goals and chart your progress. One of the best work out motivators for me has been watching my own progress. I started out slowly, but each week, I have seen some kind of forward movement: I can hit the treadmill longer, walk at a higher elevation or faster (or even run…), I’ve lost x number of pounds, etc. Seeing how your workouts pay off over time, even a short time can really spur you on to keep going back. “Wow, it really works!” And if you’re at all competitive with yourself, you will probably want to keep going back to see if you can break past last week’s goals. Set goals, even daily goals, and go for them. Just make sure the goals are reasonable: running five miles three days after you get on a treadmill for the first time ever, for example, is not going to help you much.

Switch it up. Experts often advise that changing up your workout can keep you from getting bored and giving up. As a creature of habit who likes to keep things simple, I didn’t think this would be a problem for me, but it was. I was getting a little less interested in going to the gym each day for the same old exercise. So I switched it up some, added a new element, and I felt better about it. I also changed the music I listen to and got some new workout clothes. Even these little changes can offer a psychological boost. For instance, when I made a new mix cd and was excited to go to the gym just so I could hear it. Adding new things to your work out can help you keep going, long term.

Be on the record. Another thing that keeps me going to the work out is the fact other people know I do it. I personally don’t get motivated by people, like personal trainers, cheering me on or even pushing me drill sergeant style. I prefer to go by an internal voice that makes me keep going. However, even so, it does help me to know that my family and friends know I’ve committed to living a healthier life. This is helpful in two ways. First, their encouragement and occasional compliments help me by providing positive reinforcement. I want to keep that coming! Second, I know if I were to stop going all of a sudden, a few of them would ask me what happened. Knowing that you’re being watched, even from a distance, by people who want what’s best for you, and that those people won’t totally let you off the hook for quitting, is a good motivator.

Good luck making the change from not exercising regularly to making it part of your life. To me, it’s definitely gotten easier each week and I’m feeling healthier all the time. I hope you have the same results.

 

Maximize Your Credit Card Payment and Improve Your Credit Score

2 years ago I was over $100,000 in debt to credit card companies and had just watched as most of them raised my interest rates into the 20%+ brackets. My credit score was in the high 500’s. I was faced with what I though were only a couple of choices. One was to file bankruptcy and possibly lose my home and possessions and face public humiliation. The other was to sign up with one of the companies offering to settle the debt for a fraction of the total. I didn’t want to file for bankruptcy and I knew that anything offered that sounds as good as “settle your credit card debt for less than 30% of what you owe”, was probably too good to be true. So where was I to turn?

This debt had been accumulated over a long period of time. I just kept thinking something would change in my life and I would be able to get ahead of it. I was making the payments, but only the minimums. Just making minimum payments is a negative for your credit score but I will discuss the credit score in a bit. When the companies all decided to raise my interest levels up to the 25.9% or 29.9% maximums allowed by the card agreements, I was finished. I knew that there was no possibility of ever getting ahead of the debt at that rate of interest. Well there was the lottery, but you have to buy a ticket to win and I couldn’t afford it.

I decided to contact the companies offering to negotiate the debt. As I said bankruptcy was not what I wanted to do. I learned that their program required you to be in default to the credit card companies for many months while you paid into an escrow account the payments you would have made to the card companies and when they felt the companies were desperate to get something, they would negotiate and keep a portion as their fee. In the meantime my credit for you hit rock bottom and would have been sometime coming back. Additionall I didn’t want to harrassing calls from the collection agencies. But I didn’t feel I had another option. So without choosing a program or signing any contracts, I decided to stop making payments. Payments by most companies are considered late and reported to the credit agencies after 60 days not just 30, and that is where I got lucky because i didn’t know that.

At 45 days approximately, the company I owed the most to called to see if I would make a payment because I was late with the current month installment. I was rather rude on the phone with the representative and when she asked if the reason I could not make the payment was due to a hardship, I said yes, very sarcastically. Little did I know that I had just uttered the magic word. HARDSHIP!!!! Her response was first to ignore my tone (I would never want her job) and ask me if I would like to speak with their hardship department. Now this is where it gets good.

This is what the hardship department did. I was asked several questions regarding my financial situation, in essence outlining a budget to see how desperate my situation was. Nothing was checked. They accepted my word for my ability to pay. They really wanted to make this happen I guessed. So they offer to set my account up on a program that lowered my payment and reduced my interest rate. I can’t remember what percentage of my previous payment the new payment was established at but it was of little concern as it was lower. My excitement came from the offer to lower my interest rate to 2%. That’s right 2%. From 29.9%. Then she explained the requirements of the program. I was to agree to close the account so nothing else could be added to the debt. I was to agree that I must make a payment every 30 days and a failure to make a payment in any consecutive 60 days for result in removal from the program. I immediately agreed to the requirements of the program. I had to issue payments to bring my account up to good standing and then the program would begin. I did so with her on the phone. I then called the other companies and ask if they offer a “hardship” program and guess what? They all did. Only one company, USAA, was not willing to be as understanding and cooperative with a customer that had always paid the bill and wanted to pay back what was owed. Bank of America, Chase, American Express and Capital One all were ready to work with me to establish a program that would allow me to make my payments and lower my interest rate. All of my accounts now have a permanent rate of 5.25% or less. The program establishes that when all payments are made, the accounts will all be paid off in 60 months from the date of the program start. The reality of the situation is that with the lowered interest rate and lower minimum payments, I was able to get my feet under me again, do some hard budgeting and find not only the difference between the old and the new payments to add to the account but also a little more so I will probably complete paying off some accounts this year and the remainder in the 4th year and be debt free again. The other plus of the program is that without credit cards I learned to live within my means and the change in lifestyle will forever keep me from doing this again.

Now hear is the great news if rebuilding a credit score is important to you. Credit reporting agencies are usually not fair in their treatment of consumers but in this case their policies were very favorable. You see, the agency does not care if an account is closed as long as there is a balance owed. One of the factors used to calculate a credit score is the amount of available credit. The difference between the maximum allowable credit and the actual credit balance is the factor they look at. So closing the accounts didn’t hurt my credit. One reason for this is that I asked all the companies to that the closure was at customer request. Only USAA refused to do so. They reported that they had initiated the closure even though I had contacted them. An unfair blemish on my report but, as it turns out, a minor scratch to learn which companies to do business with and which ones to avoid. My credit score is currently about 700 and rising as I pay down the balances. It will take a bit of a hit when the accounts go to zero but the lower maximum credit level will ultimately be positive when it is all finished. In this 2 year period I was able to obtain financing to purchase a car at a reasonable rate due to an improved credit score.

Programs of this type may not be for you. However, if you think you can continue to make your payments and want some relief from ridiculously high interest rates, it just might be the way to go.

Improving credit scores is one of the important things that needs to be followed by people who have regularly taken debts in their lifetime because only then can they hope to take out loans for future projects relating to home, education, car, insurance, etc. and you all know that banks don’t give loans to anyone who has a bad credit history, particularly the bankruptcy lawyer san diego are quite strict in this regard as they handle defaulters with an iron hand and have a no nonsense attitude towards people who are criminals in their eyes, whom they take as a blot on their reputation