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How Filing Bankruptcy Can Save Your Home

March 2, 2021 by Bel Leave a Comment

Whether you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments or are facing a foreclosure judgment and sheriff’s sale, you can save your home by filing bankruptcy. Find out how from the office of a noted Philadelphia bankruptcy lawyer.

Chapter 7 Reaffirmation

When you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, the automatic stay “stays” or stops all collection efforts and legal proceedings against you for the duration of your case. This means that collection letters and phone calls as well as foreclosure lawsuits and sheriff sales are put on pause.

The automatic stay gives you a break and the breathing space to decide what you can do about your mortgage. If you have the means to cure the default (meaning, pay all of the missed payments plus fees and interest), you have the opportunity to do that while you are in bankruptcy. Once the bankruptcy ends, you continue paying your mortgage as before.

Few people have the means to cure a mortgage default in one lump sum. If you’ve only missed a few payments, you may be able to negotiate with the mortgage lender to roll those payments into the balance of the loan and recalculate the monthly payment. In the alternative, you may be able to get the mortgage lender to add those missed payments to the back of the loan.

In either of these cases, you will likely have to sign a reaffirmation agreement, which legally “reaffirms” your commitment to pay and the mortgage lender’s right to foreclose if you do not, sell your property, and sue you for any deficiency on the loan after the sale proceeds have been applied to your account.

Mortgage Modification in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Many states have instituted mandatory mortgage modification programs for Chapter 7 debtors who have filed bankruptcy due to a mortgage default. In these programs, negotiations between the debtor and the lender can result in a modified mortgage. Possible modifications include extending the loan term, lowering the monthly payment, forgiving some or all fees and interest accrued due to the default, and even modifying the loan balance.

Do I Have to Reaffirm My Mortgage in Chapter 7?

No. In fact, some bankruptcy attorneys recommend that you do not.

Why? Because reaffirming a mortgage restores all of your mortgage lender’s rights against you. If you default, they can foreclose, sell your property at a sheriff’s sale, and if there is a deficiency balance on your account, sue you for that amount. If you do not reaffirm, the lender has rights only against the property, not you, meaning you can walk away from the property free and clear of debt if you default again in the future and the lender forecloses.

Other Benefits of Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

When you file Chapter 7, you disclose all of your income, expenses, assets, and debts to the Chapter 7 Trustee and the court. Your unsecured debt, such as credit card debt and medical bills, is “discharged” – meaning, you are no longer responsible for paying it.

Having your unsecured debt discharged may make paying your mortgage payments more affordable. And while the following debts are not dischargeable in Chapter 7, again, getting rid of credit card and medical debt may help you pay:

  • Child support
  • Spousal support or alimony
  • Government fines and fees
  • Student loan debt
  • Most past-due income taxes

Chapter 13 Repayment Plan

If you have fallen behind on your mortgage, but your financial situation has improved somewhat and you have a steady income, you might consider filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy to keep your home.

Chapter 13 involves a three- or five-year repayment plan, allowing you to catch up with mortgage arrears over time. You must pay your regular monthly mortgage payment to the mortgage lender each month outside the plan, and also pay the Chapter 13 Trustee an amount that will allow you to catch up over the life of your plan.

Your mortgage lender is stayed from foreclosing while you are in Chapter 13 bankruptcy and must accept your payments. When your Chapter 13 plan is complete, your case closes and you move on as if the default never happened.

Strip off a Second Mortgage in Chapter 13

If your home is worth less than the amount you owe on a first mortgage, and you have a second mortgage or home equity loan (HELOC), you can “strip off” that second mortgage or HELOC and have it discharged as unsecured debt.

For example, let’s say your home was once worth $400,000. You have owned it for some time and when it was worth $460K you refinanced to pay off some debt. A couple of years ago you took out a HELOC to pay for a new roof.

Today, the housing market is down. Your home is worth $410K and you owe $415K on the first mortgage and $18K on the HELOC. Because you owe more on the first mortgage than the home is worth, you can strip off that HELOC as unsecured, and it will be discharged along with your other unsecured debt, such as credit cards and medical bills.

Whether you file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, know that getting your unsecured debt discharged will make paying your other obligations, such as your mortgage, more affordable.

About the Author

Veronica Baxter is a legal assistant and blogger living and working in the great city of Philadelphia. She frequently works with David Offen, Esq., a busy bankruptcy and foreclosure lawyer in Philadelphia.

Filed Under: lifestyle

4 Interesting Tips for Pet Owners

February 28, 2021 by Bel Leave a Comment

Looking after an adorable fur child can be as challenging as it is rewarding. As happy as that little ball of fluff makes you, there is no denying that she requires plenty of attention and tender, loving care to stay healthy and happy herself! Here are a few interesting and helpful tips for pet owners from grooming and playtime to keep your home pet friendly. 

Throw a cover on your sofa

Many will be thrilled to discover that there is a solution if you hate fur or scuff marks on your sofa, but you simply cannot resist the temptation to cuddle your pet when sitting in front of the television. Just throw a cover over the furniture, such as a sheet, a throw blanket, or a specialized water-resistant cover, and wash it regularly. That way, your sofa will remain fur-free, and you can still enjoy snuggles without any stress. 

Invest in auto sliding door systems 

There are few things more annoying than sitting down with a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper or tucking into breakfast only to look up and see your pet begging to go out into the yard for the fifteenth time already that morning! Luckily, auto sliding door systems can remove this frustration from your life. Easily programmed to sense the presence of a familiar animal, these automated systems are designed to open and close for your dog or cat as required, both from the inside and the outside. They can also be programmed to open and close for humans for added convenience. 

Pay close attention to your pet’s diet 

What your pet eats plays a huge role in their overall health and can impact how long they will remain at your side. As such, it is definitely worthwhile to ensure that you are feeding them the right food! While you might be inclined to simply feed your pet a brand that you found at the supermarket, it is a good idea to investigate the product’s contents first – even if it’s a seemingly popular pet food. 

Most regular pet food is packed with carbohydrates and not nearly enough fats or protein. Many pets will develop allergies to the grains used to bulk up the food, so keep an eye out for persistent scratching and gastrointestinal upsets. If you want, you might want to investigate a pet food containing ancient grains, try out a grain-free brand, or experiment with a raw food diet. Every pet is different, so do your research and take your time finding what works for them. 

DIY their toys 

Pet toys are surprisingly expensive. The great news is that they are relatively easy to DIY! For example, you could make a simple puzzle toy with a muffin tin, a re-stuffable dog toy (excellent for those dogs who love to rip their toys apart in minutes), or use some old clothes to craft a classic tug toy. 

You are now well-versed in the art of living with and caring for a pet. Enjoy every moment!

Filed Under: lifestyle

How to Make a Newly Purchased House a Home

February 19, 2021 by Bel Leave a Comment

Moving home provides two strong feelings – the sadness from leaving an old home behind and the enthusiasm to begin making new memories. At first, it can feel like you’ll never truly feel comfortable in the new place, especially if the decoration is lacking. 

You don’t have to wait months for a new place to feel like it is wholly yours – follow these steps, and you’ll soon feel the sense of ease once you step through the front door. 

The flag of the United States of America is a bold symbol of freedom and represents a strong sense of national pride. Many U.S. citizens feel so passionately about what the flag represents that they choose to display one at their home. Did you know there are customs when flying Old Glory? American flag etiquette is taken seriously, because this emblem deserves honor and respect, go to Atlantic Flag and Pole and place one at your house to make it look like a home.

Use Fresh Colors 

The chances are the color of the walls when you first move in aren’t to your taste, so buy some paint, get your overalls on, and get to work painting the rooms. If you want to take it a step further, you could even use Harmony Paints to paint the furniture, too. By doing it yourself, you’ll feel like the space is your creation, bringing you and the house closer together. 

Get the Sentimental Items Out

Don’t leave the photographs, ornaments, and art pieces stored away in boxes for too long – getting them out and placing them around the place will instantly make it feel more home-like. While you might be excited to purchase new items for your place, injecting some nostalgia into the rooms will help you settle down quicker. 

Use Soft Lighting 

Harsh lighting doesn’t feel homely, so instead of putting the big lights on to see, use lamps for some soft lighting. You should also get out all your favorite candles and light them once the evenings roll around, as it’ll help bring a warm feel to the space. 

Lots of Blankets and Cushions 

Comfort equals homeliness, so purchase lots of cute blankets and cushions to throw over all the furniture. In the evenings, when you’re missing your old home, it’ll help to curl up in blankets and feel snug in your new space. 

Crank up the Heating 

Cold feels anything but homely, so don’t forget to increase the temperature, especially on the colder evenings. If you haven’t unpacked yet, the rooms will feel bare and cool, and a little extra heat will help to make the place feel comfortable.

Go Shopping for Household Items 

You don’t just need old stuff to make the place feel home-like, as purchasing new items has a similar effect. Knowing that you’re creating your personal space is enough to create an atmosphere you feel comfortable in. 

Make Memories

The easiest way to make a house feel like a home is to start making memories inside the walls. Cook your favorite meal, invite your friends around, and have a games night with your family to start making the house feel like a place to have fun. 

Over time, the more memories you make, it’ll begin to feel like it’s your comfort space; you just need to do more activities to speed up the process! Before long, your old house will feel just that – old – and your new place will be where you feel at home.

Filed Under: lifestyle

Find the Best Moving Companies in NZ, the Wise Way

February 5, 2021 by Bel Leave a Comment

Moving to a new home can be exciting. You get to start anew, whether your reason for moving home is because of a new job or get better housing. But excitement isn’t all that there is. It can be very stressful too. Leaving friends and family behind can make you feel separation anxiety. On top of that, you will have to worry about the actual moving of your belongings.

Hiring a professional mover will help relieve stress in your home moving. But finding a trusted moving company can be difficult and time-consuming too. With the help of this new platform called Wise Move, searching for the best moving companies in NZ is easier and faster. Whether you are looking for Auckland movers for your move to Auckland or anywhere you needed to move to, Wise Move will reach out to different moving companies anywhere in NZ to give you competitive quotes for your upcoming move.

Wise Move doesn’t only cater home moves, but also all other kinds of moving like single furniture or item move, piano move, and car transport nz, motorcycle and boat transport. So whatever your moving need is, you can submit a listing in Wise Move. 

How Does Wise Move Works?

Once you go to the Wise Move platform, you can select what type of move you need – home move, furniture move, car transport, etc. The form that you will need to fill up will ask for all necessary information about your move – collection/delivery date and location, number of items to be moved, as well as your email address and contact number. If moving a vehicle, you will need to indicate car make, model, etc.

After you submit your request, a notification will be sent out to different moving companies operating in your area. You will then start receiving quotes from different moving companies who will compete to get your moving job. You won’t have to go from one website to another to compare different quotes because all of this is done within the Wise Move platform.

Why Do The Quotes Are Low in Wise Move?

The listing you submit will be viewed by different moving companies and when a mover provides you with a quote, other movers will get to see this. So if you needed someone for your moving job in Auckland, movers around this area will compete to get hired by you. To win your moving job, these Auckland movers will give you a competitive quote to beat other movers. The competition to win your moving job will help you get a lower price.

Also, many moving companies within Wise Move are already travelling along your route and are looking to fill their vacant trucks and trailers. Because of this, they tend to offer a lower price just for them to fill in their trucks and trailers and maximize their trip. 

Are These Moving Companies Trustworthy?

Before being allowed to operate within the Wise Move platform, the moving companies and the person applying to be a Wise Move carrier must submit different identity documents to prove their authenticity. The contact information like email address and phone numbers are collected and verified.

You can check previous customers reviews on the moving company’s profile to see how they performed and provided services to their customers. Customers are always encouraged to leave feedback after the moving job is completed. This helps keep respectful and accountable to the customers. 

Anywhere you are in NZ, whether you are looking for Wellington movers, Auckland movers,  or even movers from smaller cities, trusted movers and moving companies are just one click away. With the help of www.wisemove.co.nz and its trusted transport providers, stress-free moving is achievable.

Filed Under: lifestyle

Five Tips for Moving Your Office Location

February 1, 2021 by Bel Leave a Comment

Changing offices can be one of the most stressful events in a business owner’s life. With so much to consider and so many different logistical challenges, especially while keeping the business running smoothly at the same time, it can seem like a herculean task. If you are moving soon and need a service to help with furniture and equipment, click to view the rates offered by the local moving company. 

Nonetheless, this is something that all companies go through, no matter how big or small. To help you make the process as smooth as it can possibly be, here are five key tips to make that office move a complete success. 

Plan Early and Well 

This type of move should be planned well in advance so everything can be in place in good time, avoiding unnecessary stress down the road. It’s recommended to plan at least six months in advance so you can notify the leasehold owner and avoid having to pay rent once you have moved out. Additionally, any contracts with utility companies can be terminated within the right timeframe and you can get in touch with the new office facilities well in advance to communicate the process of your move.  If you do not have a moving company just yet, try with ADTMoving, they have been very well reviewed by the community.  

Make Use of a Storage Facility

Whether it is a complicated move or new renovation, it’s likely that you will have to use a storage facility along the way to store items until they are ready to be used in the new office. A storage facility can also come in handy if you have too many office possessions that end up not being needed right away in the new location. One great option to make use of is https://thestoragelocker.com/. 

Hire Professionals

Unless your company is a professional moving company, which means you will be completely versed in the ins and outs of professional moving, the chances are you should actually hire a professional company to do the heavy lifting for you. While this will cost your business more money, you will find that it will save you far more stress in the long run, allowing you to still be able to focus on the day-to-day work of your company instead of being completely focused on the moving process. 

Let Your Staff Know Well in Advance 

A good boss communicates with their colleagues clearly and early. By letting them know as soon as you have made the decision, then you will make them much happier about the move. This is especially important if the location is either on the other side of town — meaning a drastic change in commuting times — or in another city entirely! By having time to get prepared for the move, your staff will be able to move into the new office with complete fluidity and ease. 

Change Your Address Early 

What you don’t want to happen is to miss any important mail or messages because people still think that you are operating in your old location. Write a post on your website in advance to communicate to everyone that you are making the move, then change the address on Google Maps so people can quickly find your new business, making the switch much easier for everyone who wants to do business with you. 

Filed Under: lifestyle

A Beginner’s Guide To Better Sleep In 2021

January 31, 2021 by Bel Leave a Comment

As we celebrate the start of a new year, most individuals resolve to lead a healthier life. If this is your goal in 2021, it’s important to know that getting enough sleep is also integral to a healthier life. Ideally, every adult needs to sleep between 7 and 9 hours every night to achieve optimal sleep and overall wellness. 

However, this is easier said than done. Therefore, if you’ve been struggling to improve your sleep quality, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s an in-depth guide on some valuable tips to implement, thereby start enjoying better quality sleep. 

  • Ensure Your Bedroom Is Comfortable And Restful 

Your bedroom’s ambiance greatly affects the quality of your sleep. Because of this, your main goal should be creating an environment that’s peaceful and silent. And if you’re struggling to create a quiet environment, the best thing to do would be to buy sleep earplugs. With these devices, you’ll be guaranteed there won’t be any outside distraction that might distract you from sleeping. 

Another thing you need to do is making sure your bedroom isn’t overexposed to light. It would be best if you also desisted from the habit of using light-emitting screens before going to bed. Once you do this, your bedroom becomes a restful and comfortable environment, and thus promotes sleep. 

  • Create A Sleep Schedule 

Having a sleeping schedule is also a crucial step in helping you improve the quality of your sleep. The best way to achieve this is by aiming to sleep at the same time. And while this might be a challenge during the weekends, you should try to make sure the difference between sleeping time doesn’t exceed an hour. By implementing such measures, you’ll be able to strengthen the sleep-wake cycle of your body. 

A great way to help you stick to a specific sleep schedule is by doing certain activities that act as signals that prepare your mind and body for sleep. This includes taking a bath, reading a book, or listening to soothing music. 

  • Avoid The Use of Electronics Before Bedtime 

Electronics are notorious for creating anxiety and excitement that then destroy your sleep. Therefore, you need to steer clear of all electronic gadgets such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets at least one hour before going to bed. Doing this is crucial since these gadgets produce blue light that slows melatonin production, a sleep hormone, thereby keeping you distracted and awake for longer. 

  • Make Sure To Always Workout

Another often overlooked way to achieving better quality sleep is by exercising. This doesn’t necessarily have to be intense workout routines, but simple things such as a casual walk each day is enough to make it easier to sleep. Exercise achieves this by increasing the effects of the body’s sleep hormones, including melatonin. As a result, you’ll have an easier time falling asleep. 

Because exercising can be stimulating, you should avoid working out too close to your bedtime. Instead, you should try and exercise in the morning hours. 

  • Make Your Bedroom A Sleep Haven 

For you to enjoy better quality sleep, make sure to make your bedroom into a sleep haven. This means freeing your bedroom from all the stressors troubling you during the day. To attain this, consider investing in a high-quality bed, ideally one with upholstered headboards or made with solid wood and not metal beds. You should also buy a mattress, sheet, and pillows of exceptional quality. 

With a supportive and cool mattress, you won’t feel sweaty during the night and will be free from any aches the following day. 

  • Monitor Your Food Intake 

It’s important not to go to bed hungry or too full. Eating too much food before sleeping is especially not advised since it might cause you great discomfort, thereby hindering you from enjoying quality sleep. This means you shouldn’t eat any large meal for two or three hours before going to bed. In case you feel slightly hungry, only take a small healthy snack, such as a couple of whole-wheat crackers. 

  • Manage Your Worries 

Stresses you deal with during the day might spill over to the night and affect you from having a quality sleep. This is because stress is a stimulus, meaning it activates the fight-or-flight hormones which start operating against your sleep. Therefore, it’s critical to come up with some ways of managing your daytime stresses. 

Some of the stress management techniques that can help you de-stress include medication, setting priorities, doing breathing exercises, and being organized. By doing this, you’ll be able to ease your anxieties and, in turn, improve the quality of your sleep. 

Filed Under: lifestyle

How Your Brand Can Stand Out Through Video Production

January 28, 2021 by Bel Leave a Comment

Tv camera in a concert hall

If video marketing is not part of your marketing strategy, then you may not achieve the level of success that you want. With over 88% of worldwide businesses attributing their high ROI to this marketing tactic, it is certainly time for your business to have a slice of the pie.

 But anyone can produce a video, right? 

However, producing top-notch, branded videos is something that requires a higher level of expertise. You cannot get complacent here. 

As your video is your brand’s sole representative, it should be unique, especially since thousands of other brands are using the same marketing technique., if you need some extra tips, visit Sponsoredlinx Adwords and request their help with your brand.  

So, are you planning on creating unique branded video content? Here is how your brand can stand out through video production:

  • Showcase your brand’s identity

Now that you have worked to develop your brand’s identity, why not show it off in your video? Where your competitors can be producing generic videos, you can choose to follow a unique path by `showcasing your team at work as well as your company’s unique ideas and concepts. 

Those quirky moments in the office or celebrations of your first successful project will make your brand stand out from the crowd.

  • Build an emotional connection

“Brand video” and “brand affinity” are two words that go hand in hand. Your brand’s affinity is the ability to bond, connect and empathize with your target audience. Don’t be like every other brand out there that puts out video after video only to garner leads. 

Be different by ensuring that your video addresses pain points. These are the challenges that your audience goes through on a daily basis. By showing that you can relate to them, all of your videos will always carry an emotional connection.

  • Go social

Video has shaped the way social platforms operate. Thus, it is important to channel your video production efforts towards social media. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn have native video platforms. 

Apart from your incredibly-produced brand video, you should make other outstanding videos to be shared on these platforms. 

Have a few relatable and fun videos amidst the serious marketing and you will not only enjoy higher engagement but you will also position your brand uniquely.

Conclusion

While blog posts are great for conveying your brand message, creating high quality videos is the best way to get noticed. With more and more people preferring visual information, it is equally important to change with changing times. 

After Google, YouTube is now the second-largest social platform. This alone should tell you that videos are in high demand.

 However, there is one catch to it all- the use of professional video production services. The last thing you want are sub-par videos. If you are going to stand out, start from the beginning and ensure that you only put out high quality videos.

 It’s time to level up your marketing tactics and tell your brand story through video. You cannot afford to miss out on the frenzy! 

Filed Under: lifestyle

How To Maintain Your Dirt Bike

December 2, 2020 by Bel Leave a Comment

Carrying out routine maintenance of your dirt bike isn’t only important because of their hefty price tag but also to ensure they’re in excellent working condition. And with your dirt bike working as required, you’re safeguarded from avoidable accidents and injuries due to mechanical failure. In addition, this maintenance increases the longevity of your dirt bike, ensuring you get to enjoy great value for your hard-earned money.

If you don’t know where to start to maintain your dirt bike, look no further. Here’s an insightful guide by Tokyo Mods highlighting useful tips on how to best maintain your dirt bike.

  • Regularly Change The Engine Oil 

The oil in your dirt bike cools and lubricates the internal parts, plus it’s the engine’s blood to ensure it runs smoothly. Therefore, it’s vital to inspect its condition before every ride and to change it regularly. Doing this is necessary because engine oil, as time passes, starts to break down due to pressure and heat. This leads to reduced performance and heat-built inside your dirt bike’s engine.

With regular changing of the oil, you’ll be able to safeguard your engine from damage, and the replacement is often quite expensive.

  • Air Filter Maintenance

While cleaning the air filter is undoubtedly a dirty and tedious task, proper cleaning and maintenance is essential. Otherwise, you risk sucking the power produced by your dirt bike’s engine, thereby hindering you from enjoying its full power. To avoid this from happening, you need to always make sure to clean the air filter using a cleaner.

Once you’re through, give it enough time to dry properly and after that, soak it inside air filter oil. Leave it inside the oil for some time for it to become gluey before you install it back to your dirt bike.

  • Check The Chain 

You should always inspect the tension of your dirt bike to make sure it has the proper tension. Doing this is crucial because if the chain is too loose, it increases the risk of disconnecting from the sprocket. In contrast, if it’s too tight, there’s a greater likelihood of the chain and sprockets wearing out prematurely or breaking while you’re riding your bike.

Either of these scenarios is very dangerous as it might lead to an accident and cause you serious injury. So, you always need to inspect the chain and adjust it appropriately to safeguard your wellbeing.  

  • Inspect The Bolts 

The frequent jumps and bumps cause lots of vibrations that, over time, loosen the bolts on your dirt bike. You should, thus, make sure that everything is intact, and the best way to do this is by inspecting each of the bolts- from the side plate bolts, triple clamp pinch bolts, and axle nuts.

  • Assess The Control Cables And Your Controls 

An overall inspection of the clutch and throttle cables is also necessary to ensure they’re in excellent working condition. If there’s any sign of it being kinked or frayed, you need to replace them. You should also examine your handlebars by rotating them their entire range and carefully listen to whether you’ll notice an increase in the engine’s rpm. If there’s an increase, install to the throttle cable a free play, and then proceed to test the responsiveness of your operation.

Filed Under: lifestyle

Is it worthwhile to play basketball at home?

November 26, 2020 by Bel Leave a Comment

Basketball is a popular sport that was founded in 1946. It is enjoyed by more than 2.2 billion fans around the world. A single basketball match typically consists of four 12-minute periods. Apart from being exciting to watch, this sport is also thrilling to play.

If you love playing basketball with friends or you’re looking to improve your game, you can get a sturdy basketball hoop at https://ironcityshowdown.com/best-basketball-hoop/mini and install it in your house.

Here are 5 benefits of playing basketball at home:

  • Perfecting your skills

It’s often said that practice makes perfect. If you desire to get better at basketball, then you’ll certainly need to practice more often. Installing a hoop at home allows you to play basketball regularly, helping to hone your skills in the process. As you practice this sport, you get a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses – this allows you to gradually tweak your game and become better at it. In addition, you can utilize your free time watching how legendary basketball players like Michael Jordan played the game, and then emulate their style in your room or backyard court.

  • It’s convenient and fun

Playing basketball at home provides you with unrivaled convenience since you can play at will. Due to the current pandemic, more and more people prefer to stay inside. However, spending more time at home doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. You can mount a basketball hoop within your residence and enjoy playing basketball whenever you’re bored. Your kids can also have fun playing this interesting game within the safe confines of your home.

  • Getting regular exercise

Doctors recommend getting 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. Sadly, only a third of adults actually receive this amount of aerobic activity. Playing basketball at home is an enjoyable way to work out a sweat. This sport consists of numerous hand and body movements that promote body fitness and heart health. In addition, playing basketball increases stamina, develops muscular strength and enhances bone density. It’s a fun engagement that can help you stay physically fit as you grow old.

  • It’s a stress reliever

The daily hustle and bustle of life can sometimes overwhelm us and cause a gradual buildup of stress. If left unchecked, this stress can trigger mental health issues and deteriorate your quality of life. Luckily, playing basketball is a great way to relieve stress. Engaging in sports such as basketball, triggers your body to release happy hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. These hormones help to boost your overall mood and even promote feelings of pleasure and love.

  • It brings family together

The advent of tablets and other smart devices has caused a dramatic shift from outdoor playtime to indoor gaming. Today, more kids are getting obese and socially awkward because of spending limited time outside. Mounting a basketball hoop inside your home will get your entire family interested in the sport. Consequently, you’ll spend more quality time doing something healthy and fun.

As defined in this article, playing basketball at home provides an assortment of remarkable benefits.

Filed Under: lifestyle

Tips To Bring The Maintenance Cost Of A Home Down

November 25, 2020 by Bel Leave a Comment

Owning a home is a dream for many but people often forget that it is a financial liability as well since one would need to spend a significant amount of money on maintaining their abode.

This is the reason why this post, in the following sections, will enunciate a few tips that can help one to keep their home maintenance costs down.

Here goes – 

Always ensure that your home is being subjected to preventative periodic maintenance

Most problems with Wirral homes or properties in any other location can be avoided in case one subjects their property to regular preventative maintenance. 

Examples are simple.

For instance, one can replace the air filter of the furnace in their Wirral home every three months or so in a bid to increase the operational life of their home’s HVAC system.

Subject your home to regular inspections and carry out repairs early on

It is always a good idea to hire a property inspector and subject your home to a professional inspection at regular intervals. After that, the issues that may or may not surface should be dealt with right away in a bid to keep the repair costs down.

It is as simple as that!

You should prepare your home as per the changing seasons

It is best to prepare your home to tackle the changes that come with the seasons.

In case you live in a home located at a place where there are extreme differences in temperature between each season then you might need to take precautions accordingly.

For instance, before the onset of the winter season, you can always hire a roofing contractor in a bid to ensure that the roof of your home is in its prime condition thus saving yourself from massive expenses in case the roof gave in after a heavy snowfall.

Get the point?

It is always a good idea that you buy the right home

One can dramatically keep their home maintenance costs down given they had bought the right home in the first place by hiring a renowned real estate agent.

If you have already bought a home then you would need to bear with its maintenance costs but if you are still looking for one, then be sure to choose one that was built within the past year or two.

In this way, you will be the owner of a home that has suffered less wear and tear let alone have any underlying issues.

You can also take assistance from a certified property inspector before shaking hands with the seller in a bid to steer clear from properties that may come with severe underlying issues like unstable structural integrity – a problem that will bleed your bank accounts dry if you want to fix it up!

Apart from following the tips mentioned above, you should also remember to keep an emergency fund aside in a bid to meet the costs you would need to bear for maintaining your home. This is not a tip that will bring the costs down per se but mere advice that would make the whole process easier.

Filed Under: lifestyle

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Hi, my name is Bel!


I’m a forty something, mother of two, self-confessed geek!

Here on my blog you’ll find;
books I’ve read, clothes I’ve made, movies I’ve watched, cakes I’ve baked, products I’ve tried, places I’ve been, pictures I’ve taken… plus lots and lots of DISNEY!!

I’m a lifestyle blogger – covering a little of everything I love <3

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