LIFESTYLE: Life-Long Benefits of Learning How to Drive

 Learning how to drive doesn’t come easy. If you are nervous about it then you are not alone. That being said, the more you practice, and the more you become accustomed to the parts of your car and the techniques of driving, the sooner you will be able to acquire it as a skill. Learning how to drive gives you some fantastic advantages too, including:

Driver’s License

A driver’s license is a very important document as it helps you to prove that you are a fully licensed driver. It also shows that you are legally allowed to operate a range of motorised vehicles. It can serve as a personal ID if you want to apply for a loan or if you want to open a bank account. If you want to apply for a job or if you want to go to college, it’s very useful for that too.

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Freedom

When you learn how to drive, you will no longer have to wait until your parents pick you up and drive you somewhere. It won’t be necessary for you to ask for a lift every time you want to hang out with your friends, and it is also easier to run errands too. The main reason for this is because it gives you the chance to take things into your own hands.

Skill

It’s important to know that driving is a learned skill. When you learn how to drive, you will then learn how to become a responsible driver. When you become more accustomed to it, you will also gain the necessary skills you need to navigate the road and this can improve your perception as well as your general awareness. This can work in your favour, in later life.

Career

Your driving license and your skills in driving could also help you to land a job. There are many companies that hire professional drivers for their deliveries and hotels often hire transport drivers and valets as well. If you have a license, then you may find that you can open up a lot of different career options and this will give you a lot of extra income if you need it. If you are a student and are yet to acquire any job experience yet, then jobs like this could well be the stepping stone you need to gain independence. If you need some help, then it’s more than possible for you to get with a good instructor who is able to meet your needs. You can also book earlier driving tests, if you want to try and make the most out of your driving experience.

Convenience

Learning how to drive can really save you the hassle of having to work late and also being caught up in traffic. When you learn how to drive, you can then get accustomed to the roads in your town rather than having to take the bus. You can also take shortcuts and avoid paths that you know have a lot of traffic. If you can do this, your life will become way easier.

 

 

 


LIFESTYLE: PRACTICAL WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM NATURAL DISASTERS


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Natural disasters like storms, hurricanes, flooding, and earthquakes affect millions of lives every year, and sadly there is little you can do about this. A statistical report suggested that the UK will spend about a record of £5.2bn to tackle flooding in 2021. This shows that natural disasters don’t pose only a severe threat to life but can cause significant damage to what is probably your life’s most prominent investment- your home. So how can you protect your home from these unpredictable disasters? Here are four practical tips to consider.


  1. Caulk your doors and windows


During a terrible storm, strong winds can blow rainwater hard enough to cause some damage to your home. The water can find its way into your home through the holes and cracks found around your windows. This moisture can seep inside your home and cause significant damage. Thankfully, you can prevent this by applying a new coat of caulk around your home’s entry points before the rainy season starts. You might want to do this before priming and painting your interior door frames and wood interior trim. This creates a smoother and more convenient home


  1. Keep your storm drains clear


Storm drains are designed to drain excess rain and groundwater from various surface areas in a residential area, such as a paved street or a sidewalk. Over time, these drains are clogged with debris. In tropical storms or a hurricane, this can be detrimental as it could cause floods that could damage your home. Therefore, you can protect your home by ensuring that the storm drains are always clear. This way, the water can’t build up to cause flooding.


  1. Get homeowner insurance


Getting your home insured is an excellent idea as it offers reliable and beneficial assistance and protection. In the case of a natural disaster, your insurance can help you make claims if your house has suffered some damage. However, this is not the case for every insurance policy. It is vital to ensure that the policy you go for covers damages caused by natural disasters. If your current insurance plan doesn’t cover such damages, it is advisable to have separate insurance cover for natural disasters, significantly when your current insurance doesn’t cut it.


  1. Find out the extent of the damage


Suppose your home was subjected to a natural disaster. In that case, a great way to ensure your home is well maintained is to check for any damages. Look at significant areas such as your roof for any broken, torn or missing shingles. In cases of flooding, you might want to get an electrician to check your home power supply system’s overhead or in your basement areas. You can hire the services of an accredited level 2 electrician to help you spot some problems in electrical systems and get ahead of any future issues.


While you can wait until a natural disaster is imminent to take some of these tips would help you keep your home protected from the damages and stresses natural disasters cause.


LIFESTYLE: Why Is Paris The Capital Of Fashion?

 The most famous Fashion Weeks take place in Paris, Milan, London and New York. But they exist all over the world, with African and Asian cities experiencing a boom. Despite this diversity, Paris - which hosts events both in the spring and the autumn, is the place to be. But where does this laudatory name come from? Paris, City of Light, love… and fashion? This is what makes other capitals jealous. Paris fashion week is certainly the party that everyone wants a ticket for, but where exactly did it start? What is the history of it? What makes this such a great city for fashion?


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It was during the reign of King Louis XIV, the Sun King, that Paris began to influence its neighbors. For Louis XIV, nothing was more important than appearance to impress his enemies. At Versailles, everything was luxury and pleasure, and the clothes of the king and his court were no exception to the rule. He thus used to bring in the best tailors to dress the nobles of his court. The first haute couture house was established decades later, in 1858, by Charles Frederick Worth. This man, considered a pioneer in the fashion world, was also the first to innovate in terms of commercial techniques. He established the principle of fashion shows and collections, in order to create expectations among his customers.


Paris then experienced a flamboyant rise and already had 300,000 couturiers in 1910. The City of Light then placed itself in a position of strength against the competition in this area, as buyers from all over the world came for their shopping sessions. Even in a weakened post-war France, fashion represented 15% of French exports in 1920. The continued success of Paris in the 20th century is due in large part to its creators, who knew how to innovate and revolutionize trends. Thus, Coco Chanel democratized suits for women but is also known for her tweed jacket; Yves Saint Laurent provoked with his pantsuit for women and the invention of the miniskirt; Jean Paul Gaultier launched a trend that has not ended to this day, the striped sweater. Many others can still be cited and, in the 1990s, a fascination developed around these stylists that the press began to consider as "people".


Paris has never ceased to exert its influence but today shares its status with London, Milan, New York and even Tokyo. Some criticize the omnipresence of these haute couture houses in the catwalks because, erected to a status of indestructible, they leave little room for new designers, often forced to affiliate with a house. But today, with globalization, brands no longer really have nationalities. Haute couture, under the influence of finance, no longer makes it possible to identify a house with a capital. However, Paris remains the city of fashion. Handbags handmade in France, and handmade shoes will remain a favourite. They exude a quality like no other and will always be seen as a fashionable place to be.

LIFESTYLE: 5 Tips to Get Your Car Ready To Sell

 When you are ready to sell your car, the vehicle must be in good condition. Cleaning out the inside of your vehicle can be a daunting task, but it will help to get top dollar for your used car. Here are five tips on how to prep your ride so that you can sell it quickly and without any hassle!

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The Exterior

As you get ready to sell your car, it's essential that the exterior of your vehicle is looking its best. It would help if you focused on getting rid of any dents or scratches to reduce potential damage during transport and hopefully increase buyer interest. One easy way to help this process is by using touch-up paint pens right after a noticeable scuff or dent. You can get these from car parts stores, and they are relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of repairing damage after you've sold your vehicle!


Make Sure It Is Mechanically Working

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your car will not break down while being driven. It will be challenging if the potential buyer does not have a way back home, so it's best to get everything fixed before selling the vehicle. If possible, ask for an independent mechanic or someone who knows cars to give it a look.



Take It To A Detail Shop

Next, take the car to be detailed by professionals. They will make sure that everything is spic and span like new (and they'll also do an auto inspection). Remember that you don't need to pay for expensive detailing; get whatever is necessary to make the car look clean and feel new.


Get a Carfax Report

Make sure that you check your vehicle's history report before listing it for sale on Craigslist or some other site. The best way to do this is by going online, checking out what services are available in your area, and paying a fee to have a Carfax report run on your vehicle. The information that you receive from the website will be beneficial for potential buyers, and it will let them know if there are issues with any of the parts involved in getting this car up and running again.


Make Sure That The Potential Buyer Has A Valid Drivers License

It is a legal requirement to buy and sell cars in the UK, and both parties need to have valid driving licenses. The government issues driving privileges as drivers pass tests on how well they operate and then gain experience with lower insurance costs attached. Driving licenses can be revoked if it's found an individual has committed severe offenses like drunk driving or if they have committed too many driving errors. Driving privileges are often revoked after committing a speeding violation. Driving Theory Revision can be taken online in minutes, which is excellent for anyone who wants to get the ball rolling when it comes to getting your license before you sell your car.


In conclusion, there are plenty of things to do before selling your car. Before selling your car, you should always make sure that it is in a condition to be sold. If there are damages or problems with the engine, they need to be fixed before selling it. Make sure all of this is complete and ready before going out into the world to sell your vehicle! Remember that the time spent getting it ready will be worth it when someone buys your car for a great price!




LIFESTYLE: What Gives A Home A Distinctly Old Feel?

 There are so many ways to approach styling your home, and it all comes down to what your personal taste and preference might be. But if you are keen on the old-world feel, then that is something that can be particularly beautiful and interesting to try and make come true. The question is, how can you produce the desired effect when you are trying to make your home feel old? In this post, we are going to take a look at just some of the ways that you can achieve this a little more effectively. You might want to try out all of these in turn.


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Thatched Roofing


Whenever you drive past a home that has a thatched roof, it can’t help but take your breath away. If you want to provide people with that feeling when they see your home, then it is something you can make come true. You might be thinking that not every home can have this, but a lot can - and there are actually plenty of modern thatching services that can do this for you, allowing your home to have a real old-world feel in no time at all. There is nothing quite like this for that kind of effect.



Elegant Woodwork


Although wood and other natural elements are also often used in more modern designs, there is a certain usage of wood that can point to a much more old style, and that is something that we are going to want to look at here. Elegant woodwork throughout a home can immediately make any home look older, so that is something that you might want to consider. You’ll be amazed at now only how stylish it can look but what kind of overall appearance it can provide, so this is something you should consider if you are going to try for that.


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Natural Scents


Something that you see less and less of in modern homes is not actually something you can see at all, but rather is more to do with how the place smells. You’ll want to think about having some truly natural scents in the home, and this is best achieved with pot-pourri and similar objects to that. If you have a lot of those kinds of scents, it is going to help make your home feel so much older in just the right way, so make sure that you are at least considering this.



Plenty Of Furniture


Because the contemporary look is all about minimalism and having as little as possible on display, the opposite of that can really make a place look like it is from many years ago. Don’t be shy of filling out the space in each room with lots of furniture of different kinds. This is an opportunity to aim for the eclectic furniture mix that you might be keen on too. Make sure that you are considering this at least, even if you don’t end up completely filling each room this way.


LIFESTYLE: What Not To Forget When Undergoing A Renovation

 Renovating your home can be a complicated process. Sure, you’re working with a reliable contractor, or you’re assured of your own DIY skills, but it’s still going to take a while to refit that kitchen or whack an extension onto that living room! And not only that, but there are quite a few little mistakes you can make along the way. 


Because of that, we’ve put together this little post to help you keep in mind the most often forgotten renovation details. Make sure you’re setting off on the right foot in adding value to your home, and note down the facts below for your own convenience. 


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Order More Than You Need


When you’re undergoing a renovation, you’re always going to snap bits of wood and drop bricks and break them. As such, you’ll want to order more materials than you really need, to account for these accidents, as well as any emergency work you may need to get done. Any contractor worth their salt will recommend this ahead of time, but it’s good to keep it in mind for the budget from day one. 


Don’t overlook the details


If you’re planning a renovation on a small budget, consider focusing on some of the small details that can make a big impact. You can transform a room simply by making small replacements like replacing overhead light fittings, replacing door hardware like handles, installing a new curtain rail, buying a new toilet seat or adding new taps to sinks.


You can also revitalise many home features simply by repainting them. This includes timber window frames, doors, kitchen cabinets and radiators. Just because the finish on something is looking a bit worn doesn’t mean you have to replace the whole thing.



Your Bathroom is Supposed to be a Wet Area


When you’re renovating your bathroom, it’s important to be careful about your design choices. Of course, you want your new bathroom to look as sleek and luxurious as possible, but not at the cost of its very function! And that means you need to think about the tiles and cladding before anything else, including the bathtub and shower fit, and what colour you’re going to paint it all in. 


So, it’s time to look into your wall and flooring options. If you are looking for bathroom wall cladding, this is the site you’ll want to check out first, as you might not know it, but bathroom cladding comes in many different styles. You won’t have to sacrifice your dream aesthetic, but you’ll definitely need to think about your tendency to get water everywhere!


Damp and Rot Can Set in Anywhere


During your renovation, be sure to watch out for patches of rot and damp - and these can be hard to spot! You’ll want to scan bare walls and flooring very carefully before doing any work on them - if you build on top of a damaged foundation, this damage will spread very fast. 


Most of all, watch out for darkened areas and gatherings of black spots. You should also be able to smell the damp, thanks to its trademark musty scent, and if you notice any of these signs, never proceed before treating the area. Get rid of it now to prevent further expensive problems. 


When you’re undergoing a renovation, make sure you’ve made a checklist of what you want to achieve, and always look into each step in detail. Think about potential problems you’ll run into, and make sure you talk to a professional about your construction needs as well. Even the most experienced DIY expert has to run on advice sometimes!


LIFESTYLE : Running Your Home-Based Online Store Without Annoying The Neighbors

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Running an online store from home has never been easier. More people than ever before have access to computers and internet connections, making it possible to create your own website without having to pay someone to do all of the work for you. Of course, though, while this sort of business can be satisfying and fun, it can also impact those living around you when you don’t take the right steps to shield your neighbors from your work. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the different ways to make sure that your business doesn’t have an impact on those around you.


Deliveries


It’s likely that you need to take large deliveries from time to time for your online business. This will increase as your store grows, and this will mean that you need to put more and more effort into keeping this from impacting your neighbors. It will always be worth avoid deliveries that will require large trucks in residential environments, and it can even be worth having your stock delivered to a storage facility so that your neighbors never have to deal with large vehicles.


Postage


Many small communities have their own post offices. Businesses like this weren’t built to cope with the demand of the modern world, and this means that local establishments can be slowed right down when they are visited by sellers with a lot of packages. This makes it worth looking at ways to have your deliveries collected, saving them from impacting your local community. Alternatively, you could also travel to post offices that have been designed to offer a higher capacity.


Customers


Having customers visiting your home-based online business is never a good idea. While some companies post their address online, you don’t have to do this. Instead, you can use a virtual address, saving you from dealing with customers trying to visit when they think they will be greeted by a store. This sort of option is good for those who live in areas that couldn’t deal with high customer flow.


Waste Management


Online stores create a lot more waste than many people expect, and it will be wrong to expect your local waste service to deal with this. Businesses will usually be required to pay for their own waste collection, and you can handle this using a skip bin hire company to handle your waste for you. This makes it much easier to deal with the waste your business generates, all without having to spend a fortune in the process.


As you can see, there are loads of ways to stop your home-based business from impacting your neighbors and the local community. Your business should always be a positive force for those around it, rather than causing trouble and making their lives harder.


LIFESTYLE: 4 Ways You Can Make Your Holiday A Success

 With there now being a light at the end of the tunnel and covid-19 restrictions being lifted you can now start thinking about where you want to travel to for your next vacation. You have waited so patiently so get your thinking cap on and work out where you want to go. You may even have a travel bucket list that you have been wanting to work through.


You may even be traveling with the kids so some extra planning may need to be done to make sure your trip is as smooth sailing as possible. Here are three factors to consider when planning a trip away. 


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Destination


First, you need to choose where you want to go. Sometimes this is simple as you may stick to the same destination over and over. Quite a lot of people do this as it is safe, familiar, and there is no chance of going to a place you don’t like. If you like to be adventurous and go to a different place each time then be sure to do your research beforehand. Use a website such as TripAdvisor to read actual reviews from people that have been there. 


Once you have decided where you are going you need to decide how you will get there. There are many options depending on how far it is to get to. Obviously, if it is a destination hundreds of miles away then a plane is the only option. However, if it is possible and you wanted to you could drive to your holiday. This is a popular option when people drive around Europe, from London to Paris for example. If you wanted to drive and see different sites along the way then rather than taking a car and worrying about booking hotels you could look at investing in a motorhome.


These are fantastic as you have everything you need right there and you can come and go as often as you want. A good quality motorhome is the Adria, take a look at Adria motorhomes for sale and you won’t be disappointed. 


Entertainment 


If you are traveling with your children then you will need to think about what you will take to keep them entertained at various points along the journey. Even if you are going on an adult-only trip you will need some form of entertainment when you are on your way and while you are at the resort. Either in the form of books, music, or films. 


For the kids you could purchase some flight packs, these are great little drawstring bags filled with goodies to keep your little ones happy and quiet on the way. If you didn't want to buy them then you could create your own at home. Make sure you fill them with activities to keep them busy such as little lego sets or coloring books. 


Things To Do 


Finally, before you go it may be useful to check and see if there are any days out or activities you want to do while you are there. You may just want to chill out by the beach or the pool to recharge those batteries. However, if you are adventurous and want to visit different locations then you will have to research the best places to go. For example, you may want to take a day trip to the waterpark or theme park if they have one. Be sure to check reviews and value for money before you book anything.