7 Home Improvement Projects to Leave to the Pros

When we’re trying to live on a fixed income, and cut back on expenses, most of us opt to handle things around the house ourselves. After all, what’s so hard about fixing a cupboard door? However, some of the time it really doesn’t pay to do it yourself. 

If we’re out of our depth, it could create more damage that will be more expensive to fix down the road. In fact, sometimes it can be downright dangerous. Here are a few projects that are usually best when left to the pros!

Electrical problems

Unless you’re an electrician, electrical problems are something that should be left to a licensed electrician! This is because of a few different reasons. Not only is messing with electricity dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, but it also means that all of your electrical work won’t be covered by insurance if something goes wrong. 

If you accidentally burn your entire house down because of an electrical project you did yourself, insurance won’t cover any of it.

Some more major plumbing

Can you unclog a toilet by yourself? Yeah, probably. But what if you need to replace a bunch of complicated piping or your toddler flushed a bath toy down the toilet drain and it’s far enough back that you’ll need a snake or other plumbing tool to get it out? 

In these situations, and similar situations, you may want to call a plumber! Your consequences if something goes wrong isn’t quite as dire as an electrical situation, so it really depends on how confident you feel about the situation. 

If you feel out of your depth and hopeless, then a professional may be valuable to you, even if just for the relief and sense of peace of mind.

Asbestos

Didn’t know that asbestos still existed? It does, and it can be horrific. If there is asbestos in your ceiling, call a professional to clean it up. When it becomes airborne, it can get stuck in your lungs, and lead to both lung cancer and major scarring in your lungs. Not worth the risk, honestly.

Waterproofing the foundation of your home

If you’re hoping to waterproof the foundation of your house, it’s going to be a much more difficult job than just digging around your house and installing a membrane. It’s a relatively big undertaking. 

There will need to be weeping tile at the bottom, and a sump pump is usually necessary for proper drainage. This project won’t be cheap, but it should come with at least a 15 year warranty. 

Often, this is a project that you should try to get accomplished before you move in, and you can coordinate it simultaneously while coordinating the move with your movers, since you won’t want to have to deal with it once you’ve already moved in.

Roofing

Way too many people fall from their roof while trying to make repairs up there. It’s easy to lose your balance, or make a simple misstep, and then cause such serious injuries that it can result in death. And that’s just not worth the risk. Call a professional, who will not only be experienced and get the job done quickly, but will be insured. 

Digging out a basement

If you think digging yourself a basement will be an easy job done over the course of a few days with a few handy friends and some shovels, you are sorely mistaken. Digging a basement requires a lot of foundational work, to make sure that your existing home stays safe and structurally sound, as well as taking a lot longer than a few days. 

Calling a professional to dig out your basement will cost you over $30,000 probably, but it’s worth it to not do yourself and risk the foundational integrity of your home.

Installing a skylight

Maybe you’re confident with installing windows or doors. But that doesn’t mean that you’re qualified to install a skylight. In fact, skylights are the most common cause of leaks in homes. This is because of poor installation and improper sealing. Hiring a professional will eliminate the risk for these issues, as well as often come with some sort of warranty.

Isn't There Career Development in Trading as Well

Every career should have a form career development, there is no single career that doesn't involve career development. For example, assume that you are an article writer. You should not think about being an article writer until you die rather think about career development. 

Find the things that you can improve. Find the paths that you can follow instead of article writing alone. So, likewise, you should focus on career development in the trading career as well. 

There are traders in the United Kingdom who run trading as their career. But only a few traders focus on career development. Anyway, being naïve traders you should focus from the basement of trading career. 

He should know a few important factors when you are looking to become a trader by profession. There are countless things that you should consider at the beginning of your trading journey and then, slowly you should learn a few more things when trading as for the career. 

However, you already know that Forex market is decentralized. So, this is not controlled by any of the traders. Although the international banks could be the major market players, they cannot control the market! 




So, basically, this is a market that offers equal freedom to every trader. You may have to know a few factors before you trade the market as a career.

Can You Really Learn to Trade

Do you know many rich people in the world chose to trade as their full-time profession? This is only because they know the huge profit factors in this industry. 

But sadly the majority of traders are losing money since they don’t know how to deal with the complex price movement of the financial instrument. But this doesn’t mean you can’t learn them. If you work hard it won’t take more than six months to develop the basic skills. 

And within a year you can start having your dream life by securing your financial stability. So definitely there is a very good career in the retail trading industry.

Before you step into the market, calculate the costs

No matter what you do, you should focus on the costs before anything. Not only in Forex trading career but in all the other careers you would have to think about the costs. The costs are important because it helps you to understand the amount that you would have to give up. 

Without costs, you wouldn't get to enjoy the trading opportunities. There are no trading opportunities that don't involve trading costs. If you want to generate money you would have to lose money. There are countless methods to make money. 

You can use the Forex trading tips. Forex trading techniques and all the other. But what matters is does it help to improve your trading career? If yes, you should continue to use it. So you must think about the costs and the ways to develop your career. 

In Forex trading, you would usually come across costs like losses, commissions, hardware costs, software costs, and other equipment costs. Compared to the costs involved in other markets, this is much better!

You should know to profit

None of the traders enter the market with the previous knowledge but it is important to be educated about the trading journey. The trader should take time to increase the market knowledge. 

Likewise, you should know to profit from the market using the suitable strategy. When you trade the winning trades should be more than the losing trades. So, even if you don't know to profits from the market, you should learn it.

You should understand the career

How can you run the career if you don't understand it? You should find the differences in traditional trading vs. present trading. You should think about the drawbacks and advantage in trading the market. 

Likewise, it is important to dig more and more information related to trading in the market. You should know the trading career completely before you begin to trade.

Running a Profitable Side Hustle As You Are Aging

The side hustle has become much more popular as many people in all demographics understand the chance to make money online. Those with specific skills can start earning nearly immediately in the cases of virtual assistants, content writers, and web designers. 

A side hustle can be extremely stressful for a person who is starting to feel their age more and more daily. The side hustle is not a main source of income which can help reduce the stress with many older people just wanting something to do with their free time. 

The following are tips to help run a profitable side hustle while keeping your age in mind.

Decide How Much You Are Willing To Work

A side hustle will help you fill the time but you have to decide how much you are willing to work. Those who are a bit older might be technically retired or partially retired. An important detail to look up is how much money can be made before it impacts social security benefits. 

Once you have reached this cap then working could take away your monthly check until you are under the required income. Once you have set a cap on how much you can earn and want to work then a game plan can be written out. 




Hiring other freelancers to complete work is also an option while taking a little bit off of the top. Managing people is different work than writing an article but it can be just as profitable. 

While you might not be able to write 100 articles in a week, you can edit these then submit all of them. Your profit per article is not going to be as high but the number of articles should take care of that.

Expand Client Base Consistently

Freelancers need to constantly expand their client base as clients disappear or simply do not need work completed during certain times of the year. The expansion of the client base will also give a freelancer the ability to choose the easiest and best paying clients they want to work with. 

Freelancer platforms like that of Upwork do take a percentage for bringing the client and freelancer together but it protects both parties in the case of low quality, incomplete work, and failure to pay/refund. 

Taking less money than you think your work is worth might have to be done to establish a high rating on these platforms. Once your profile is established prices for services and work can be increased incrementally. 

Clients are also willing to pay freelancers they work with consistently a bit more as they know their quality of work.

Keep Your Overhead Low

The best thing about working online to supplement income is that internet is reasonably priced. A computer or even tablet with a keyboard attached can help you start earning quickly. 

One mistake that people make is thinking they need a large office so they can concentrate on their work. A virtual office is a much better option as it is more affordable but it also comes with the perks of an office. 

A live receptionist as well as business address comes with the virtual office package. The ability to rent out offices and meeting spaces can allow a side hustler to bring clients to pitch or simply meet with.

Take the time to write out expenses and the ROI each of these expenses bring back in terms of revenue. This will allow you to truly see where the money it going and where the money turns into more profit. 

Keep in mind that business expenses can be written off come tax time so this will provide a little financial relief when it comes to overhead.

Constantly Find Ways To Optimize Work Flow

Working for yourself can allow the freedom to tweak processes to see what works best. Increasing productivity even by 10 percent can lead to that percentage resulting in complete profits. 

A great productivity tip that many professionals in general can benefit from is limiting the checking of email. While client emails are important, they can be answered at the rate of once an hour without issue. This gives a freelancer the ability to keep their train of thought without being derailed by a pushy or angry client. 

Check email once an hour and do the appropriate replying then jump back into your work. This gives clients the ability to email back and forth numerous times in a day without impacting productivity to a very large extent.

Building a decent side hustle as you age can allow for more financial freedom than you have had in the past. In even better cases this extra income can allow you to retire early. Side hustles are here to stay, find one you can profit from today!

Knowing When It’s Time to Move

As we get older, many of us start to notice that our living situation just isn’t what we need anymore. Sometimes we move in order to become part of a senior community, and live close to others in our stage of life. Other times, we want to be closer to family, or downgrade in order to get rid of all those extra projects that come with living in a big house.

Then again, a move can be a huge disruption to your life, and it’s a major hassle from start to finish. So how can you determine whether a move is actually worth all the effort and bother? Well, whether you’re living out your golden years, or moving into your first home with a spouse, here are some helpful tips.

Can You Upgrade Your Existing Home?

Sometimes, there are things that we really want for our home, and so we start looking longingly at shiny new housing listings. If our health is getting difficult, it might not even be a matter of want, but need. 

Perhaps you’re not able to handle the stairs as well as before, or you need a different kind of shower. However, the truth is that most of the time, it’s much more cost-effective for an individual to update their existing home rather than get a new one. 





It’s true that looking at a quote for something like installing solar panels, or putting a granite countertop in your kitchen, can be intimidating. However, when you consider it an investment in your home that increases its value, it puts things in perspective.

Even if you’re planning to move, it might be worth looking into the costs of certain upgrades in order to increase the price point that you’ll be able to get for the house.

Location is the Primary Concern

If the truth is that all the upgrades, expansion, and remodeling won’t answer your needs, then yes… it’s probably time to move. That means that it’s a problem with the location; not the actual house. 

There are so many things that determine whether your location is good or bad. Often, it seems as though location and price are directly correlative, and it’s just a matter of finding as ideal a location as possible inside of your price range, but the truth is that location is highly relative. A prime location for one person won’t be ideal for another family.

Here are the major things that you need to ask yourself when choosing a location that matters to you.

Is the school district important to you? One of the major concerns people have when moving is what kind of school their child will be going to. So, if you don’t have children, or if your children are attending private school, or an alternate schooling program, you can save a lot by not competing for the same thing other families are desperate for. This link has a good guide if school district is a priority for your move.

What does your commute look like? One of the biggest things that contributes to (or detracts from) our quality of life is the time we spend in traffic getting to and from work each day. How much does a long commute bother you? 

Can you use public transit to reduce costs and stress? Don’t forget; it’s not just about the commute to work. The commute to school, to the grocery store, and to your friends’ or family’s homes can all determine how well a location works for you.

What does your lifestyle demand of your surroundings? Some people love to be friendly with their neighbors. Some of us love to be close to the outdoors. Others love a convenient park in the neighborhood. It’s important not to be distracted by things that really don’t matter to you, though. 

Sure, a park nearby is nice, but if you never use or see that park… then it really doesn’t make a difference to you. Let someone else pay for that proximity.

Renting vs. Buying

Deciding whether you’re going to rent or buy will also have a big impact on whether it’s time for you to move. After all, it’s a completely different game. Renting will feel much more temporary. 





If you decide to buy, you want to be comfortable with a more long-term decision. Even if you need to move from that home, will you be able to get good rental rates if you decide to become a landlord? Will it retain its value if you resell it in a few years?

People Matter

Although we usually think in terms of finances and employment while we’re looking into a move, the truth is that there’s one thing that matters more; who you share that space with. In the end, money doesn’t make us happy, and few jobs will. 

On the other hand, people who have the best quality of life, self-reported levels of happiness, and life expectancy, are those who have strong networks of connection with friends and loved ones. 

So, while you’re evaluating your reasons to move, it could be that it just comes down to doing the best thing for your family. That might be enough! Moving doesn’t have to be a terrible hassle if it’s handled right.

Buying Your First Home: 5 Ways Your Finances will be Affected

Even though you’ve never owned a home before, you surely know that the endeavor will be an expensive one. It will be the largest and the most important investment you will ever make. 

Before you make the commitment, you should really sit down to determine exactly how your financial situation is going to change after you procure the mortgage. This will help you to understand what kind of home loan you should be going after and how you will be able to afford monthly payments on your home. 

It should also give you an idea of how to prepare for those unexpected expenses that comes with buying a home. This is especially true if you are buying a home for the first time.

Monthly Home Payments

People who have home loans generally find that the largest chunk of their paychecks goes to that expense. Your mortgage payments are going to be based on the total purchase price of the house minus the down payment that you made. 

Keep in mind that you will also have interest on the loan. In addition to the principal and interest, you will also likely need to pay for taxes and home insurance on a monthly basis.

Additional Purchasing Costs

Financial firms will remind you that the costs involved with buying a house are more than just the down payment and the mortgage. You will need to pay closing costs and a fee to the lawyer. 




Also, you may need to make some renovations to the house before you can move in and procure permits for some of these renovations. The house may pose safety concerns that need to be addressed before you can live there.

Regular Bills

In order to keep your home comfortable and inviting, you’ll need to pay for heating, cooling, electric and water. Some of these bills you can keep down yourself by controlling the temperature in the house and turning off the water and lights when they aren’t in use. 

You may need to do some greater shopping around though as you’re comparing the costs of larger decisions, such as the choice between gas and electric heating. When you’re assessing costs, remember to take both long-term and short-term savings into consideration.

On Your Own

If you are moving out of your parents’ house for the first time, you might not realize how many little costs you’ll have on a day-to-day basis. You won’t be able to open up their refrigerator and take food whenever you want; you’ll need to make sure that the bathroom is stocked with toilet paper and that the laundry room always has detergent. 

These bills are sometimes the most shocking to new homeowners because they forget to factor these elements in when making their budgets.

Recreational Spending

You are likely to see a dip in the amount of money that you can use for recreational spending or discretionary spending, especially if you have never lived on your own before. 

During the first few months in particular, make sure you are careful with how much money you spend. You want to make certain that you are able to put aside enough money in the event that you were to lose your job or if the house need unexpected repairs. 

Remember that houses do require work, and this work requires money.

Owning a home is a great responsibility, and doing so will affect you in many ways. Knowing how your financial situation will help you be prepared to take on your mortgage and all of the other unexpected expenses that come with homeownership.

Short Term Loans to Meet Your Urgent Short-Term Needs

Short-term loans are the ones that are necessarily offered for a short period of usually less than a year. They are one-time loans and come to use when it turns difficult for you to obtain a loan from a bank with a bigger tenure plan. These loans have their rate of interest decided on the amount of the principal advance and payback periods shorter in contrast to other forms of loans.

Individual customers or businesses alike get a short-term loan that is provided by banks or private financial institutions. These loans are usually unsecured in nature. However, few banks offer short-term loans only on collateral guarantees.

Interest rates for short-term loans

Factors that determine the interest rate can be the types of the loan, which are either payday loans or personal loans that are payable in a year’s time or less and the institution that provides these loans. Generally, the interest rate for short-term loans is close to 18%.

Features:

• Can be applied by an individual, a partnership or a business conglomerate
• Can be availed even by those having poor credit histories
• Can be applied online with minimal paperwork
• Can be both secured and unsecured in types depending upon the lender’s preferences
• Short repayment period, which is anything between 2 months to 4 months.

Types of short-term loans:

Personal loans:

• Can be availed by salaried or self-employed individuals
• Loans upto Rs 30 lakhs can be availed
• Loan repayment period ranges from 6 months to 5 years
• Minimal documentation and no restrictions on how to use the fund
• Quick loan approval and disbursement within 2 to 3 working days

SME short-term loans:

• Offered by banks to companies for meeting sudden fund crisis
• Eligibility criteria include the company’s minimum annual turnover
• Composite limit is either Rs.5 crores or a fixed multiplier to the borrower’s actual net worth.

Bridge loans:

• These loans tide you over till you get another
• Usually related to transactions like simultaneous buying and selling of properties 
• Can also be availed by companies waiting for their funds to be processed and notified
• Can be borne by companies to counter expected returns.

Also Read: Bridging Finance- Its Types, Important Facts about Bridging Finance

Demand loans:

• Provided by financiers to mitigate crucial financial concerns
• Can be secured by mortgaging insurance policies and NSCs
• Approved loan amount is a typical 70% to 90% of the maturity value of the collateral savings.

Eligibility criteria

It varies depending upon the types of loans mentioned above. However, a general set of criteria to avail a short-term loan is specified below:

For individuals:

• The applicant has to be salaried or self-employed
• The applicant is eligible with only a monthly or yearly income above a certain amount, pre-fixed by the financing company
• The applicant needs to be aged between 21 years and 60 years, but again based upon the policies conveyed by the financing company
• The applicant must be able to provide all the required documents

For companies

• They may require having a past involvement with the bank
• They may require showing a successful business proposition with a substantial profit making for a couple of years or so. 
• They may require being in continuous operation for a fixed period
• They may require making a specified yearly revenue

Short-term loans with poor credit history or no credit checks

There are financing companies that offer short-term loans to a seeker with a bad credit history. The interest rates are pretty higher but still, the loan is ratified. The poor standing of the credit score dictates the interest rate.

At times, the institutions don’t check the credit history at all. Sometimes they are extended to companies to meet critical financial obligations. This facility lies at the sole discretion of the financing agency.