An Effective Guide To Costing A Home Reno Project

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When it comes to making an improvement or repair to your home, one of the most important areas that you have to get right is that of costing. Being in control of your budget is vital, or things can quickly spiral well out of what you can afford. When managing a budget, you have to ensure you’re ready for anything that might crop up unexpectedly, as well as managing the money down to the finest detail. It can be exhausting. 

Fortunately, with some advice and practice, nailing the cost side of a home project is relatively simple. There are a few pointers you might need to get you on your way, and ensure that your home renovation goes the way you’re hoping.

Cost Big Items First 

The bigger the renovation project you have in mind, the more important it is to cost this first. 

This is going to be your biggest outlay, so you need to ensure that you have a firm grip on how the money is going to be managed. Work that falls into this bracket includes anything structural or do to with the foundations; or any major work requiring a specialist such as an electrician or plumber. 

Quoting 

When you have identified the areas that are likely to be the most expensive, you can go about costing them. The first step is to obtain at least three quotes before agreeing on a contract for the work with anyone. The three quotes are important. You, as a lay person, don’t know what you need to set aside. 

Ensure that the quotes are a step-by-step breakdown of the work that’s being quoted for. A list of structural repairs, for example, should include: how much to repair the foundation, how much for labor, how much in taxes, how much for any extra work. This can help you tell the difference between quotes. If you just look at an overall bulk figure, then there’s a chance you will be missing out on what’s being included. This could leave you vulnerable to extra costs or, on the flip side, not getting everything that you expect for the work to be done. 

Deciding On A Quote 

If finance is the primary concern, it might seem like the best option is to go for whoever can do the work for the cheapest amount of money.

However, this can be a false economy. It’s generally regarded that the best option is to pick a quote that’s somewhere in the middle of the ones you have received. This means that no tradesperson will be doing the work “on the cheap” and thus be more likely to do a rushed job, nor do you run the risk of being overcharged for something basic. 

Before you sign up for any work, finally, make sure you take into account your intuition. Did you like the person who gave you the quote? Do you think they’re trustworthy? Were they easy to get hold of and did they keep to their appointment time? All of these are important factors too, so don’t overlook what your gut might be telling you.

How to Stop Fighting in Front of Your Kids

It is easy for a fight to break out over the littlest things when you have been with your partner for a number of years. We all go through good times and bad times, and we all have those periods when we seem to be arguing a lot more than usual. However, when you have children, and they see you arguing all of the time, it is certainly not a good thing. Fighting in front of your kids can cause them unnecessary worry, stem their development, and make them nervous. Even if you know there aren’t any serious problems, that isn’t going to translate to your little one when they see you fighting all of the time. So, how do you stop fighting in front of your kids?

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Securing Their Future With More Than Their Finances

Being a parent comes with a lot of new responsibility which most people aren’t ready for. Now, you have to start thinking about someone else’s welfare; not just your own. This means getting up extra early to make sure they have breakfast. And, it may even mean staying up extra late. Of course, most parents want to be able to give their kids the best possible start in life. This usually involves money. But, there’s more to it than that. To help you out, this post will be going through three areas of your child’s life which you have to consider from the very start. So, now, you just have to put the work in.

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Let's Unite Against Wound Infection with Fucidin and Kris Aquino

When Athena developed rashes on her body, her Pediatrician prescribed Fucidin. From then on, it has been part of our Emergency Kit.

Fusidic acid/sodium fusidate Fucidin® is a powerful antibiotic that is clinically proven against wound infection. It is fast-acting, working on the infection 2 minutes upon application and deep-penetrating, reaching the skin’s deepest layer 30 minutes after application. It also helps prevent bacteria from spreading.

Kris Aquino, well known as a celebrity mother who cares for her sons’ health and wellbeing goes full force against wound infection as she also uses Fucidin® . “I have two boys and when they get a cut or a wound, I clean it with soap and water for 15 seconds. Then, I apply Fucidin® agad,” she says. “Fucidin® is part of our wound care kit!”

Children are exposed to different types of wounds and scrapes because of their daily activities. Even in the most harmless-looking places, no matter how hard parents try to protect them, they can still get hurt.

Moms need to make sure the wound doesn’t get infected. Infection occurs when bacteria enters the wound through a break in one’s skin. Bacteria may spread and lead to more serious diseases. Usually, the immediate response is to wash a wound well with soap and water. But cleaning may not be enough. It is also essential to apply a topical antibiotic like Fucidin® at the first sign of wound infection.

Fucidin ® comes in two variants. Fucidin® cream is ideal for exposed parts of the body like the face and hands, while Fucidin® ointment is ideal for dry, scaly or cracked lesions.

Like Kris, stock up on Fucidin® and don’t take chances. Join the fight against wound infection! Fucidin® is available in leading drugstores nationwide. Fucidin® is from LEO Pharma, a Danish pharmaceutical company with a mission to help people achieve healthy skin. LEO Pharma is the pioneer in the development of fusidic acid. It has a wide range of products that are marketed in over 100 countries. LEO Pharma has more than 100 years of trusted heritage worldwide.

Fusidic acid/sodium fusidate is the generic name of Fucidin®. Fucidin® is available in leading drugstores nationwide.

If symptoms persist, please consult your doctor.

Things To Consider When You Have More Than One Kid

Image from PEXELS

If you have a child already and are currently expecting, or planning on having the next, firstly; congratulations, what lovely news! Secondly; you have some planning to do, because having more than one small child in the family is a whole different ball game, so it’s a smart idea to prepare as much as possible.

Space

Obviously, an extra little human in the household is going to require some space of their own, and for all their things. Try to remember all the stuff your first one needed (then double it, because you’re wearing those rose-tinted glasses), coupled with the fact that your firstborn will continue to grow and need more stuff. Therefore, being savvy with storage and space is a smart idea. If the kids will eventually share their bedroom, after baby’s moved out of your room, then it’s important that both feel they have their own areas within the room. Clothes, products, and toys will continue to multiply as is from nowhere; so finding specific places for everything will help the family find stuff with ease (hopefully alleviating any stressful situations). For some ingenious bedroom and storage ideas for your kids, check out Pinterest here.

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/child-playing-front-loader-toy-131777/

Transport

Even if you managed to squeeze one small child in with both parents, and, sometimes, the dog into your first car that you bought as a couple about a decade ago (well done, that’s quite an achievement); it’s unlikely that another baby seat and a new child seat for your first child are all going to fit. As your family is growing, it’s time to invest in a suitable family car, that’s going to last a while and won’t break down on the highway en-route to a family getaway. If you’re thinking about a car upgrade, and don’t want the hassle of traipsing around a heap of car dealerships; then you could check out Cars and Co Mazda CX-5, who consider your time and money carefully, as they can deliver the vehicle straight to your door and offer competitive rates. You’ll feel much safer in a secure, spacious new car, and the whole family will appreciate it on any journey (which will also increase with an extra child).

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Planning

Whether it’s meal planning, or a weekly shop, or even shopping for items like clothes and books; it’s worth planning where and when you’re going to get stuff. Planning ahead allows you to pick some great deals on multi buys, and you’ll have the kitchen fully stocked up when the in-laws pop over for lunch at the weekend. Forward planning might seem like an annoying task, but you’ll appreciate the effort when you saved money and time (because nobody has to rush out to the store at the last minute). Make lists of what you’re likely to eat for the week ahead, and if it’s a large one-pot meal; it’s a good idea to make extra and freeze some, which helps if you need to feed the kids and yourself quickly, and with little fuss. Buying items you don’t immediately need, but will do something in the future, like a vacation, is a great opportunity to utilize sales and special offers. You can then be smug that you’re as ready as you can be for any occasion.

Convert Your Cluttered Attic Into A Stunning Bedroom

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Have you always dreamed of turning your attic into a bedroom? -If so, why wait any longer? - It can seem like a big job, but once it's done there are so many benefits. Let alone it just being really cool!

So here's how.

Short Term Tips For Long Term Health Gains That Are Easy To Follow

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For the modern person stressed with work, family responsibilities as well as the other countless amount of duties to take care of, the words ‘health disciplines’ sound like they come from an alien dimension. How can you find the time? Surely not everyone has the discipline to keep up with a healthy diet, correct exercise as well as maintaining their beauty standards.

Surely a modicum of unhealthy activity is generally necessary in our trying times of 40 hour work weeks, raising children and trying to squeeze some recreation time out at the end of the week? 

I'd say, you’re looking at it in entirely the wrong way.