Cynthia Madison 's Entries

• 03 Sep 2021
  Top 8 Things to Do in Turks and Caicos

  With its stunning islands, the Caribbean draws visitors from all over, and most of them go there for sunbathing, water sports, delicious food, and exciting adventures. If that sounds like something you've also been longing for, then the Turks and Caicos Islands should definitely be on your travel list. Located off the southeastern tip of the Bahamas, less than 600 miles from Miami, the Turks and Caicos Islands are home to one of the world's largest coral reef systems. Diving is, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular activities here. Fishing is also great, and during the months of January to April, you can see humpback whales on their annual migration route. While they may not be as famous as some of their Caribbean neighbors, this only adds to their allure since there are plenty of things to do, plenty of 5-start resorts to choose from, and you won't have to deal with the overcrowding that we've come to expect from some destinations. These forty islands are a British Overseas Territory, however, only eight of them are inhabited. A paradise of wonders, from the silky sands and luxurious resorts of Grace Bay on Providenciales to the whale-dotted waters of Salt Cay in the south and the captivating colonial canons and harbors of Cockburn Town to the idyllic undersea reefs of Columbus Landfall. The most developed island, Providenciales, is known as "Provo," and its stunning Grace Bay is one of the world's most beautiful beaches. The most dramatic coastline is found on Middle Caicos, the largest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, with limestone cliffs descending into turquoise waters. Now that we've sparked your curiosity let's take a look at the top eight things to do here. Enjoy the Stunning Beaches The Turks and Caicos Islands and especially Providenciales have so many fantastic beaches with crystal clear turquoise water – perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Grace Bay Beach is the most famous and popular one, but you can find lots of smaller and more private beaches. Best part is that they're open to the public, free to use, and never crowded, so you can always find your own little corner of paradise to sit back, relax and let your worries melt away under the tropical sun. A few of the top beaches here include the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach, the tranquil Sapodilla Bay, and Taylor Bay, Leeward Beach, Long Bay Beach, Bight Beach, Malcolm's Road Beach, Sandy Point Beach, and Bambarra Beach. You also shouldn't miss Mudjin Harbour, the sand bars at Fort George Cay and Pine Cay, and Little Ambergris Cay. Boat Cruise to the Caicos Cays Between Providenciales and North Caicos, there is a lovely collection of little cays that offer miles of gorgeous white sand beaches where you can admire the stunning blue waters and snorkeling reefs and discover the Turks and Caicos Rock iguanas. You can either get on a scheduled boat tour through your resort or go big with a luxury yacht charter. This way, you can visit the iguana sanctuary at the Little Water Cay, the sand bars and sunken canons at Fort George Cay, Water Cay's wonderfully peaceful beach, and the Leeward Reef snorkeling site. If you tour the south coast of Providenciales, you'll get tons of other exciting things to see and do, like visit the iguana island of Bay Cay, go snorkeling at Turtle Rock, see the cave at West Harbour Bluff and go diving in West Caicos Marine National Park. Snorkeling The reefs of the Turks and Caicos Islands are not just stunning, they also offer a plethora of vibrant coral, fish and sea animals. Many tourists find that going on a snorkeling cruise is a terrific way to set out on an exciting underwater adventure since the offshore reefs are usually livelier than the ones close to the beach. And while you're on your adventure, you might run into one of the local bottlenose dolphins. The friendliest and most popular one is JoJo the Dolphin – local celebrity and social media influencer. At the Grace Bay and Leeward barrier reef snorkeling spots, you'll find colorful sea fans, intricate coral gullies and caves, turtles, stingrays, schools of fish, lobsters, and nurse sharks. Kayak or Paddle Board The Turks and Caicos Islands include an incredible network of mangrove wetlands and tidal canals, which serve as nurseries for a variety of sea life. A guided expedition into these shallow wetlands will provide you with the opportunity to observe them in their natural surroundings up close and personal. It is not uncommon to encounter young sharks and turtles, barracudas, stingrays, conches, bonefish, and starfish, as well as birdlife. Scuba Diving If you've never been scuba diving, this is the place to start. There are several dive shops that offer open courses, and the Turks and Caicos Islands have so many stunning reefs to discover. The best dive spots are in the Princess Alexandra National Park, West Caicos Marine National Park, and French Cay. Parasailing After swimming with marine life, you might start craving a bird's eye view of the barrier life, exquisite beaches, and glamorous resorts. Then all you have to do is book a tour with one of the many parasail boats on Grace Bay which will let you glide into an amazing experience at 200 feet in the air. Whale Watching If you're fortunate enough to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands between the months of January and April when temperatures hover in the mid-20s and the trade winds bring a calming breeze from the Atlantic, going to Salt Cay is an absolute must. Why, you ask? For some whale-spotting, of course! You can either gaze over the Turks Head passage or charter a whale-spotting boat. During this time, humpback whales are migrating to the warm waters of Silver Banks to give birth. You have a spectacular show of splashing tails and fins to look forward to! Provo Golf Club If you like golf, then you might already know that the Provo Golf Club is one of the best 18-hole championship courses in the Caribbean, and that praise is more than well-deserved. Picture a vast landscape of emerald-green fairways and chalk-white bunkers punctuated by palm trees, pine blooms, and coconut plants. Plus, you'll get to play in the company of herons and migrating flamingos. If you get hungry, head to the Fairways Bar and feast on a medley of Caribbean delicacies.  

  856 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  Top 8 Things to Do in Turks and Caicos

  With its stunning islands, the Caribbean draws visitors from all over, and most of them go there for sunbathing, water sports, delicious food, and exciting adventures. If that sounds like something you've also been longing for, then the Turks and Caicos Islands should definitely be on your travel list. Located off the southeastern tip of the Bahamas, less than 600 miles from Miami, the Turks and Caicos Islands are home to one of the world's largest coral reef systems. Diving is, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular activities here. Fishing is also great, and during the months of January to April, you can see humpback whales on their annual migration route. While they may not be as famous as some of their Caribbean neighbors, this only adds to their allure since there are plenty of things to do, plenty of 5-start resorts to choose from, and you won't have to deal with the overcrowding that we've come to expect from some destinations. These forty islands are a British Overseas Territory, however, only eight of them are inhabited. A paradise of wonders, from the silky sands and luxurious resorts of Grace Bay on Providenciales to the whale-dotted waters of Salt Cay in the south and the captivating colonial canons and harbors of Cockburn Town to the idyllic undersea reefs of Columbus Landfall. The most developed island, Providenciales, is known as "Provo," and its stunning Grace Bay is one of the world's most beautiful beaches. The most dramatic coastline is found on Middle Caicos, the largest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, with limestone cliffs descending into turquoise waters. Now that we've sparked your curiosity let's take a look at the top eight things to do here. Enjoy the Stunning Beaches The Turks and Caicos Islands and especially Providenciales have so many fantastic beaches with crystal clear turquoise water – perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Grace Bay Beach is the most famous and popular one, but you can find lots of smaller and more private beaches. Best part is that they're open to the public, free to use, and never crowded, so you can always find your own little corner of paradise to sit back, relax and let your worries melt away under the tropical sun. A few of the top beaches here include the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach, the tranquil Sapodilla Bay, and Taylor Bay, Leeward Beach, Long Bay Beach, Bight Beach, Malcolm's Road Beach, Sandy Point Beach, and Bambarra Beach. You also shouldn't miss Mudjin Harbour, the sand bars at Fort George Cay and Pine Cay, and Little Ambergris Cay. Boat Cruise to the Caicos Cays Between Providenciales and North Caicos, there is a lovely collection of little cays that offer miles of gorgeous white sand beaches where you can admire the stunning blue waters and snorkeling reefs and discover the Turks and Caicos Rock iguanas. You can either get on a scheduled boat tour through your resort or go big with a luxury yacht charter. This way, you can visit the iguana sanctuary at the Little Water Cay, the sand bars and sunken canons at Fort George Cay, Water Cay's wonderfully peaceful beach, and the Leeward Reef snorkeling site. If you tour the south coast of Providenciales, you'll get tons of other exciting things to see and do, like visit the iguana island of Bay Cay, go snorkeling at Turtle Rock, see the cave at West Harbour Bluff and go diving in West Caicos Marine National Park. Snorkeling The reefs of the Turks and Caicos Islands are not just stunning, they also offer a plethora of vibrant coral, fish and sea animals. Many tourists find that going on a snorkeling cruise is a terrific way to set out on an exciting underwater adventure since the offshore reefs are usually livelier than the ones close to the beach. And while you're on your adventure, you might run into one of the local bottlenose dolphins. The friendliest and most popular one is JoJo the Dolphin – local celebrity and social media influencer. At the Grace Bay and Leeward barrier reef snorkeling spots, you'll find colorful sea fans, intricate coral gullies and caves, turtles, stingrays, schools of fish, lobsters, and nurse sharks. Kayak or Paddle Board The Turks and Caicos Islands include an incredible network of mangrove wetlands and tidal canals, which serve as nurseries for a variety of sea life. A guided expedition into these shallow wetlands will provide you with the opportunity to observe them in their natural surroundings up close and personal. It is not uncommon to encounter young sharks and turtles, barracudas, stingrays, conches, bonefish, and starfish, as well as birdlife. Scuba Diving If you've never been scuba diving, this is the place to start. There are several dive shops that offer open courses, and the Turks and Caicos Islands have so many stunning reefs to discover. The best dive spots are in the Princess Alexandra National Park, West Caicos Marine National Park, and French Cay. Parasailing After swimming with marine life, you might start craving a bird's eye view of the barrier life, exquisite beaches, and glamorous resorts. Then all you have to do is book a tour with one of the many parasail boats on Grace Bay which will let you glide into an amazing experience at 200 feet in the air. Whale Watching If you're fortunate enough to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands between the months of January and April when temperatures hover in the mid-20s and the trade winds bring a calming breeze from the Atlantic, going to Salt Cay is an absolute must. Why, you ask? For some whale-spotting, of course! You can either gaze over the Turks Head passage or charter a whale-spotting boat. During this time, humpback whales are migrating to the warm waters of Silver Banks to give birth. You have a spectacular show of splashing tails and fins to look forward to! Provo Golf Club If you like golf, then you might already know that the Provo Golf Club is one of the best 18-hole championship courses in the Caribbean, and that praise is more than well-deserved. Picture a vast landscape of emerald-green fairways and chalk-white bunkers punctuated by palm trees, pine blooms, and coconut plants. Plus, you'll get to play in the company of herons and migrating flamingos. If you get hungry, head to the Fairways Bar and feast on a medley of Caribbean delicacies.  

  Sep 03, 2021 856
• 03 Aug 2021
  Are people in rural areas more likely to move home?

  no risk of the house sale falling through https://homedin.co.uk/area-guide/  The coronavirus pandemic is pushing people out of cities and into the countryside. However, we can't talk about an urban exodus. Uprooting is difficult, as you leave behind family and friends, not to mention hometown memories and traditions. So, the question is: What motivates individuals to flee the city other than staying safe? The reason why urban downtowns are quickly emptying is that the economy is in trouble and jobs are starting to disappear. What people are looking for is a glimmer of hope and they're stampeding to smaller, quieter places. While some articles point out a drastic reduction in urban populations, others draw attention to the reverse migration. It seems that people in rural areas are more likely to move home as compared to city dwellers. This phenomenon is widely visible in Britain. Following the events of 2020, the vast majority of UK adults are taking into consideration the possibility of changing settings. While city dwellers spend more time at home, people from the countryside are looking forward to moving to the big city. Individuals living in rural or semi-rural areas desperately want a change of scenery, which is evident from the number of houses sold. Even if the grass is greener in the countryside, people want to move to a suburban area.  Just some reasons why people want to move from the countryside to the big city Cities are perceived as being twice as attractive as rural or semi-rural areas because of the employment opportunities. Since looking for a job is an important survival tool for every person on this planet, it's not hard to understand why individuals want to relocate. Living in the big city isn't exactly cheap, but at least you enjoy job security. It's enough to justify going from an easy-going atmosphere to a high-stress environment. Besides a better job market, is there any other reason to move from the big city? Why, yes.  Lifestyle We all know that towns and cities are cool to live in. Amenities and entertainment venues like clubs, restaurants, and cinemas are easy to reach. Most importantly, there's a unique mixture of cultures and ethnicities, so you can make interesting new friends. To put it simply, people can experience a melting pot of things. Let's not forget about the disadvantages that come with living in the big city, such as high prices for goods and services or the lack of green spaces. Not all people weigh up all the options before making a decision.  Educational opportunities Kids live at school, literally, so it's up to parents to make sure that they get the best possible education during that time. All major and affluent educational institutions are located in or near a big city. After finishing high school, youngsters can go to college or university. Urban school systems have significant advantages - more choice and extraordinary professors. It doesn't matter if parents don't succeed in getting their offspring into a private school. The public school system does a great job. What matters is that children don't commute long distances every day.  Access to better medical care  In rural areas, there are many barriers to healthcare access, individuals being affected by distance and density. Living in a big city such as London ensures access to better medical care. Hospitals are prepared for all sorts of emergencies, so people can get the help they desperately need. The outcome is that individuals that inhabit urban areas live healthier lives. Despite some factors that can affect a person's wellbeing, like air pollution, stressful commutes, and the absence of natural scenery, city dwellers tend to be healthier.  Healthcare professionals have the know-how and technology for the job.  The past year has seen a crazy surge of people looking to relocate in Sussex If a place experiences a rapid increase in house prices, that's indicative of its popularity. An ever-increasing number of people relocating to Sussex. West Sussex, to be more precise. Located on the English Channel coast, West Sussex is more affordable than Brighton, although it's not as glamorous. It's God's waiting room. Crawley is the perfect combination of countryside and city living, and it's really close to the airport. Residents live close to the hustle and bustle of London, which is a non-negligible aspect. Traffic has no down side in West Sussex; if it does, it's deeply hidden. Finally yet importantly, there is room for improvement when it comes to the eating scene. Owners manage to get ahead of other sellers thanks to the help of skilled real estate agents, who resort to a combination of online and offline marketing strategies. There's no risk of the house sale falling through. Some individuals sell their homes because it’s more affordable to sell than to repair. This is one of the most common reasons, but there are many others why selling is a good idea. Those wishing to relocate to Sussex have several options to choose from, so the inventory of homes for sale isn’t low. It’s quite the opposite.  Relocating and acquiring a house in a new city might seem like an easy undertaking, but it's more complicated than it looks at first glance. Individuals have to assess their savings and monthly income to determine whether they can afford the place. Additionally, it's necessary to visit the house before moving to look for structural defects.  Equally important is to hire a reputable moving service.  All in all, there's a staggering difference between what we expect and what's going on in the world. Even if some people are getting as far away from the city as possible, observations suggest that people in rural and semi-rural areas are moving to the city. This particular situation leads to new migratory flows. More and more people are leaving rural areas for urban, suburban, or metro counties. And the coronavirus pandemic has triggered this reverse migration. It’s expected that the movement will pick up in the following years, but it’s not so obvious what it means in terms of economic growth. 

  915 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  Are people in rural areas more likely to move home?

  no risk of the house sale falling through https://homedin.co.uk/area-guide/  The coronavirus pandemic is pushing people out of cities and into the countryside. However, we can't talk about an urban exodus. Uprooting is difficult, as you leave behind family and friends, not to mention hometown memories and traditions. So, the question is: What motivates individuals to flee the city other than staying safe? The reason why urban downtowns are quickly emptying is that the economy is in trouble and jobs are starting to disappear. What people are looking for is a glimmer of hope and they're stampeding to smaller, quieter places. While some articles point out a drastic reduction in urban populations, others draw attention to the reverse migration. It seems that people in rural areas are more likely to move home as compared to city dwellers. This phenomenon is widely visible in Britain. Following the events of 2020, the vast majority of UK adults are taking into consideration the possibility of changing settings. While city dwellers spend more time at home, people from the countryside are looking forward to moving to the big city. Individuals living in rural or semi-rural areas desperately want a change of scenery, which is evident from the number of houses sold. Even if the grass is greener in the countryside, people want to move to a suburban area.  Just some reasons why people want to move from the countryside to the big city Cities are perceived as being twice as attractive as rural or semi-rural areas because of the employment opportunities. Since looking for a job is an important survival tool for every person on this planet, it's not hard to understand why individuals want to relocate. Living in the big city isn't exactly cheap, but at least you enjoy job security. It's enough to justify going from an easy-going atmosphere to a high-stress environment. Besides a better job market, is there any other reason to move from the big city? Why, yes.  Lifestyle We all know that towns and cities are cool to live in. Amenities and entertainment venues like clubs, restaurants, and cinemas are easy to reach. Most importantly, there's a unique mixture of cultures and ethnicities, so you can make interesting new friends. To put it simply, people can experience a melting pot of things. Let's not forget about the disadvantages that come with living in the big city, such as high prices for goods and services or the lack of green spaces. Not all people weigh up all the options before making a decision.  Educational opportunities Kids live at school, literally, so it's up to parents to make sure that they get the best possible education during that time. All major and affluent educational institutions are located in or near a big city. After finishing high school, youngsters can go to college or university. Urban school systems have significant advantages - more choice and extraordinary professors. It doesn't matter if parents don't succeed in getting their offspring into a private school. The public school system does a great job. What matters is that children don't commute long distances every day.  Access to better medical care  In rural areas, there are many barriers to healthcare access, individuals being affected by distance and density. Living in a big city such as London ensures access to better medical care. Hospitals are prepared for all sorts of emergencies, so people can get the help they desperately need. The outcome is that individuals that inhabit urban areas live healthier lives. Despite some factors that can affect a person's wellbeing, like air pollution, stressful commutes, and the absence of natural scenery, city dwellers tend to be healthier.  Healthcare professionals have the know-how and technology for the job.  The past year has seen a crazy surge of people looking to relocate in Sussex If a place experiences a rapid increase in house prices, that's indicative of its popularity. An ever-increasing number of people relocating to Sussex. West Sussex, to be more precise. Located on the English Channel coast, West Sussex is more affordable than Brighton, although it's not as glamorous. It's God's waiting room. Crawley is the perfect combination of countryside and city living, and it's really close to the airport. Residents live close to the hustle and bustle of London, which is a non-negligible aspect. Traffic has no down side in West Sussex; if it does, it's deeply hidden. Finally yet importantly, there is room for improvement when it comes to the eating scene. Owners manage to get ahead of other sellers thanks to the help of skilled real estate agents, who resort to a combination of online and offline marketing strategies. There's no risk of the house sale falling through. Some individuals sell their homes because it’s more affordable to sell than to repair. This is one of the most common reasons, but there are many others why selling is a good idea. Those wishing to relocate to Sussex have several options to choose from, so the inventory of homes for sale isn’t low. It’s quite the opposite.  Relocating and acquiring a house in a new city might seem like an easy undertaking, but it's more complicated than it looks at first glance. Individuals have to assess their savings and monthly income to determine whether they can afford the place. Additionally, it's necessary to visit the house before moving to look for structural defects.  Equally important is to hire a reputable moving service.  All in all, there's a staggering difference between what we expect and what's going on in the world. Even if some people are getting as far away from the city as possible, observations suggest that people in rural and semi-rural areas are moving to the city. This particular situation leads to new migratory flows. More and more people are leaving rural areas for urban, suburban, or metro counties. And the coronavirus pandemic has triggered this reverse migration. It’s expected that the movement will pick up in the following years, but it’s not so obvious what it means in terms of economic growth. 

  Aug 03, 2021 915
• 02 Aug 2021
  How does your business can benefit from team sports?

  All business managers want a team that works together because it’s the secret to registering great results. Promoting team sports as team-building activities can help you achieve better results for your company. If you plan to expand your business and hire more employees, your company may deal with a common problem; the teamwork effectiveness decreases because your employees don’t know each other. This also happens because the connection of the old employees with the new ones isn’t very strong, and they fail to communicate.  Additionally, the time the managers and team leaders can dedicate to each specialist working for your company becomes progressively less because they don’t have the resources to handle everyone. Eventually, you may notice that the network of specialists becomes weaker.  Your greatest mistake would be to think that this is just how things go, and you cannot solve the situation no matter what you do. But what if we tell you that the solution to this problem lays in the lack of extracurricular activities your employees engage in together? You can train them to create personal connections and help them communicate.  People have a lot of personal connections in their lives. There’s the family. There are friends. And we should not overlook one of the most important types of relationships people have, the one with their employees or co-workers. Workplace relationships require a different type of approach. In this article, we discuss how team sporting events can support team-building and personal connection and increase the company’s performance.  Some may think it’s impossible to establish the same connections with employees and co-workers, but with the right bonding experiences, the connections can become even stronger.  Engaging in sports can be a safe form of training for your employees Teamwork can be trained as any other skill, but you need to find a way to practice it without hurting the business as a company manager. Here team sports competitions come into play. You can create a safe environment like organising a 5 aside championship where your employees can experiment with their teamwork skills and improve their performance. There’s no better way to build an effective team than giving them the opportunity to train and work on their skills.  If you use team sports to practice teamwork, you allow the workers to train the skills in an environment that doesn’t pressure them to perform. Their results don’t impact the company’s performance. This activity can also remove the frustration the new employees may feel at the office when they don’t perform well in a team. Playing sports allows them to practice without worrying about failure. They have the opportunity to focus on the fun and social tasks at hand. In time, the employees who play in the same team can build personal connections and communication skills, and understand better their capabilities.  Matches can strengthen team cohesion If you run a large company, you can divide the different business sections into teams and organise matches of team sports like 5 aside. Taking part in a team sports tournament implies all divisions to communicate, practice problem-solving skills, and learn about their opponents to find ways to win. Playing team sports and enrolling in tournaments and matches requires group effort that encourages your employees to work together to meet their common goals and build a sense of community. When they play team sports, all the aspects of their game will be transferred into everyday life at the workplace. You should provide them with a channel they can use to strategise and bond together if they don’t work in the same building.  Healthy competition can help you improve company results Team sports competitions improve the performance of single teams and build healthy competition that drives your employees to work better. They don’t forget the skills gained during the event; they maintain their capabilities and the game atmosphere when they return to the office. You’ll quickly notice how the general quality of the work improves when your employees bond outside the office.  Offer rewards for the winners of the tournaments to encourage as many employees as possible to take part in competitions. You can offer money or other benefits. No one complains about receiving gifts. The prize should require the team to spend extra time together. This creates the opportunity for them to hang out together when deadlines and work-related projects aren’t involved and build a sense of comradery into their lives.  Use 5-aside games as examples When you have more employees, you can divide them into teams of 5 or 6 people and encourage them to plan the tournament before they arrive on-site to play the actual games. Set up the prizes before the competition starts, and ensure there are gifts for all attendants. You can offer free launches for the winning team for a month, send them on a weekend trip or provide them with free access to their favourite sports team matches.  Randomise the order of the matches to make sure that each team plays with each team at least once. Team sports set up the perfect opportunity for the creation of personal connections between co-workers. They’re forced to work as a team that works together to meet the same goal, and when they strategise and practice, they bond with each other. Even if you do it in a playful and fun way, you’re using team sports to train your employees’ ability to train their ability to work together.  Create a safety net for sustainability in the long run Team sporting activities are perfect for encouraging your employees to connect and create meaningful relationships. Building friendship relationships in a competitive environment like playing 5 aside can form deep bonds that help people work great together when they’re under pressure. But to ensure that this strategy works in the long run, you need to create a safety net. An annual tournament can provide long term sustainability. It also provides the employees with the flexibility of switching the team and getting to know other co-workers.  If you need a strategy to motivate your employees to work together, playing team sports together can work. 

  816 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  How does your business can benefit from team sports?

  All business managers want a team that works together because it’s the secret to registering great results. Promoting team sports as team-building activities can help you achieve better results for your company. If you plan to expand your business and hire more employees, your company may deal with a common problem; the teamwork effectiveness decreases because your employees don’t know each other. This also happens because the connection of the old employees with the new ones isn’t very strong, and they fail to communicate.  Additionally, the time the managers and team leaders can dedicate to each specialist working for your company becomes progressively less because they don’t have the resources to handle everyone. Eventually, you may notice that the network of specialists becomes weaker.  Your greatest mistake would be to think that this is just how things go, and you cannot solve the situation no matter what you do. But what if we tell you that the solution to this problem lays in the lack of extracurricular activities your employees engage in together? You can train them to create personal connections and help them communicate.  People have a lot of personal connections in their lives. There’s the family. There are friends. And we should not overlook one of the most important types of relationships people have, the one with their employees or co-workers. Workplace relationships require a different type of approach. In this article, we discuss how team sporting events can support team-building and personal connection and increase the company’s performance.  Some may think it’s impossible to establish the same connections with employees and co-workers, but with the right bonding experiences, the connections can become even stronger.  Engaging in sports can be a safe form of training for your employees Teamwork can be trained as any other skill, but you need to find a way to practice it without hurting the business as a company manager. Here team sports competitions come into play. You can create a safe environment like organising a 5 aside championship where your employees can experiment with their teamwork skills and improve their performance. There’s no better way to build an effective team than giving them the opportunity to train and work on their skills.  If you use team sports to practice teamwork, you allow the workers to train the skills in an environment that doesn’t pressure them to perform. Their results don’t impact the company’s performance. This activity can also remove the frustration the new employees may feel at the office when they don’t perform well in a team. Playing sports allows them to practice without worrying about failure. They have the opportunity to focus on the fun and social tasks at hand. In time, the employees who play in the same team can build personal connections and communication skills, and understand better their capabilities.  Matches can strengthen team cohesion If you run a large company, you can divide the different business sections into teams and organise matches of team sports like 5 aside. Taking part in a team sports tournament implies all divisions to communicate, practice problem-solving skills, and learn about their opponents to find ways to win. Playing team sports and enrolling in tournaments and matches requires group effort that encourages your employees to work together to meet their common goals and build a sense of community. When they play team sports, all the aspects of their game will be transferred into everyday life at the workplace. You should provide them with a channel they can use to strategise and bond together if they don’t work in the same building.  Healthy competition can help you improve company results Team sports competitions improve the performance of single teams and build healthy competition that drives your employees to work better. They don’t forget the skills gained during the event; they maintain their capabilities and the game atmosphere when they return to the office. You’ll quickly notice how the general quality of the work improves when your employees bond outside the office.  Offer rewards for the winners of the tournaments to encourage as many employees as possible to take part in competitions. You can offer money or other benefits. No one complains about receiving gifts. The prize should require the team to spend extra time together. This creates the opportunity for them to hang out together when deadlines and work-related projects aren’t involved and build a sense of comradery into their lives.  Use 5-aside games as examples When you have more employees, you can divide them into teams of 5 or 6 people and encourage them to plan the tournament before they arrive on-site to play the actual games. Set up the prizes before the competition starts, and ensure there are gifts for all attendants. You can offer free launches for the winning team for a month, send them on a weekend trip or provide them with free access to their favourite sports team matches.  Randomise the order of the matches to make sure that each team plays with each team at least once. Team sports set up the perfect opportunity for the creation of personal connections between co-workers. They’re forced to work as a team that works together to meet the same goal, and when they strategise and practice, they bond with each other. Even if you do it in a playful and fun way, you’re using team sports to train your employees’ ability to train their ability to work together.  Create a safety net for sustainability in the long run Team sporting activities are perfect for encouraging your employees to connect and create meaningful relationships. Building friendship relationships in a competitive environment like playing 5 aside can form deep bonds that help people work great together when they’re under pressure. But to ensure that this strategy works in the long run, you need to create a safety net. An annual tournament can provide long term sustainability. It also provides the employees with the flexibility of switching the team and getting to know other co-workers.  If you need a strategy to motivate your employees to work together, playing team sports together can work. 

  Aug 02, 2021 816
• 29 Jul 2021
  Feeling Unmotivated? Decide to Live in Peace and Discipline

  Throughout our lives, opportunities and challenges will come and go. Often, these challenges and opportunities come with a change: we’re going to show you the process to use and make better decisions in life, which is important for self-improvement.  There are questions that people ask themselves and deeply impact their lives, such as: What is the purpose of my life? Am I where I want to be in this particular moment of my life? Am I living the life I deserve? These are the questions that most people ask themselves. You may be standing in front of a decision in your life, but don’t know what to do. First, you must decide what’s actually important to you, and what you want in life.  If you don’t have a purpose, it will be hard for you to make a change.  We’ve all been there. Anxious, insecure about anything, wanting to make a change, but don’t know where to start. Once you will be aware of the need to change, you can begin to do what’s necessary until you reach your goal. Changing yourself might be the hardest thing to do, but it’s 100% worth it if you do what it takes to live the life you want and deserve. Be brave enough, to be honest with yourself: admit that you need to change. If you feel like there’s a disconnection between who you are and who you want to be, then that’s all you need to start thinking of the importance of clarifying your vision and start again.  A healthy sense of self-love When people begin to understand how important it is to love themselves, they will start spreading it to others and be loved back. If you don’t love yourself, how do you expect others to offer you love and care? You are the one responsible for your happiness, and the rest will come naturally. But it is impossible to live the life you want when there’s no clarity and purpose. The best way to become a more positive person is to cultivate a sense of self-love. Reconnect with yourself!  This might be the most challenging thing to do, but it will exchange with self-compassion and patience. In order to grow on the inside, you must show compassion and patience to yourself. Cultivating self-love will allow you to be gentle with yourself, as you will go through some changes. Unconditional love begins with yourself.  Feeling unmotivated? We live in a definitely unmotivated time. Studies have shown that there’s a higher percentage of unmotivated and depressed women than men. The answer to that might be the capability of women to show emotion to almost anything. Men were taught from a very young age that they don’t need help, they need to find wealth, greatness, don’t cry, and be strong in any situation.  This is called emotional impedance. On the contrary, women were taught to love unconditionally and sacrifice anything for the love of their other half. Well, the first thing to learn is that we are not half’s, and we don’t need someone in order to feel loved. People need to enter into a relationship as a whole, satisfied with who they are. Then, the love of the other will come as a compliment, not as a desperate need.  Why do women feel most emotional? Most of them don’t want to act, think, and feel like a man. They just want to be understood. Some men would say that women can be ridiculously emotional. But there are some differences between women and men. That’s where most life problems come: from the inability to understand the one next to you. And we’re not talking only about couples.  A motivational speaker might help you with answering your questions about life. They’re the people who can lead anyone to keep up with being positive in life. Here are the best reasons why you should listen to a motivational speaker: To change your perspective on life To relate with the other person’s point of view To learn something new To be different  To learn how to value success and failure, too To be inspired To augment your ideas on many topics  For example, there are lots of people who compete with others on growing their company business, but they are afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone. Captivating and powerful, a women innovation speaker will help you rely on important keys to focus on creating new value for your customers. You will also learn how to keep with the good work and improving yourself. If you are not okay with yourself, the chances are that you will not be as successful as planned with growing your business.  An innovation consultant and keynote speaker will answer some of your biggest and most important questions. If your business needs innovation consulting, then you need a consultant that can bring a unique and innovative perspective to your organization. You need to uncover those negative habits within your staff team that are slowing you from growing. Regardless of the size of your company, a keynote speaker will help your team achieve the next big goal.  As you can see, people have different hidden fears. Whether it’s the fear of failure, trust issues, insecurities, past trauma, perfectionism, negative scenarios, and so on, there is always hope for a change. The underlying causes of your fears in life might be too complex to be understood. But you can find the key to unlock those fears and learn more about yourself.  As mentioned above, people fear failure: a person can be qualified to open up a company, but fears failure, so they decide to stay in the shadow instead. You might be afraid of many different things, but you must analyze those fears and come to a conclusion. Recognize the signs of a letdown early, so you can improve your life accordingly. 

  833 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  Feeling Unmotivated? Decide to Live in Peace and Discipline

  Throughout our lives, opportunities and challenges will come and go. Often, these challenges and opportunities come with a change: we’re going to show you the process to use and make better decisions in life, which is important for self-improvement.  There are questions that people ask themselves and deeply impact their lives, such as: What is the purpose of my life? Am I where I want to be in this particular moment of my life? Am I living the life I deserve? These are the questions that most people ask themselves. You may be standing in front of a decision in your life, but don’t know what to do. First, you must decide what’s actually important to you, and what you want in life.  If you don’t have a purpose, it will be hard for you to make a change.  We’ve all been there. Anxious, insecure about anything, wanting to make a change, but don’t know where to start. Once you will be aware of the need to change, you can begin to do what’s necessary until you reach your goal. Changing yourself might be the hardest thing to do, but it’s 100% worth it if you do what it takes to live the life you want and deserve. Be brave enough, to be honest with yourself: admit that you need to change. If you feel like there’s a disconnection between who you are and who you want to be, then that’s all you need to start thinking of the importance of clarifying your vision and start again.  A healthy sense of self-love When people begin to understand how important it is to love themselves, they will start spreading it to others and be loved back. If you don’t love yourself, how do you expect others to offer you love and care? You are the one responsible for your happiness, and the rest will come naturally. But it is impossible to live the life you want when there’s no clarity and purpose. The best way to become a more positive person is to cultivate a sense of self-love. Reconnect with yourself!  This might be the most challenging thing to do, but it will exchange with self-compassion and patience. In order to grow on the inside, you must show compassion and patience to yourself. Cultivating self-love will allow you to be gentle with yourself, as you will go through some changes. Unconditional love begins with yourself.  Feeling unmotivated? We live in a definitely unmotivated time. Studies have shown that there’s a higher percentage of unmotivated and depressed women than men. The answer to that might be the capability of women to show emotion to almost anything. Men were taught from a very young age that they don’t need help, they need to find wealth, greatness, don’t cry, and be strong in any situation.  This is called emotional impedance. On the contrary, women were taught to love unconditionally and sacrifice anything for the love of their other half. Well, the first thing to learn is that we are not half’s, and we don’t need someone in order to feel loved. People need to enter into a relationship as a whole, satisfied with who they are. Then, the love of the other will come as a compliment, not as a desperate need.  Why do women feel most emotional? Most of them don’t want to act, think, and feel like a man. They just want to be understood. Some men would say that women can be ridiculously emotional. But there are some differences between women and men. That’s where most life problems come: from the inability to understand the one next to you. And we’re not talking only about couples.  A motivational speaker might help you with answering your questions about life. They’re the people who can lead anyone to keep up with being positive in life. Here are the best reasons why you should listen to a motivational speaker: To change your perspective on life To relate with the other person’s point of view To learn something new To be different  To learn how to value success and failure, too To be inspired To augment your ideas on many topics  For example, there are lots of people who compete with others on growing their company business, but they are afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone. Captivating and powerful, a women innovation speaker will help you rely on important keys to focus on creating new value for your customers. You will also learn how to keep with the good work and improving yourself. If you are not okay with yourself, the chances are that you will not be as successful as planned with growing your business.  An innovation consultant and keynote speaker will answer some of your biggest and most important questions. If your business needs innovation consulting, then you need a consultant that can bring a unique and innovative perspective to your organization. You need to uncover those negative habits within your staff team that are slowing you from growing. Regardless of the size of your company, a keynote speaker will help your team achieve the next big goal.  As you can see, people have different hidden fears. Whether it’s the fear of failure, trust issues, insecurities, past trauma, perfectionism, negative scenarios, and so on, there is always hope for a change. The underlying causes of your fears in life might be too complex to be understood. But you can find the key to unlock those fears and learn more about yourself.  As mentioned above, people fear failure: a person can be qualified to open up a company, but fears failure, so they decide to stay in the shadow instead. You might be afraid of many different things, but you must analyze those fears and come to a conclusion. Recognize the signs of a letdown early, so you can improve your life accordingly. 

  Jul 29, 2021 833
• 08 Feb 2021
  Here’s all you need to consider before buying your first pickup

  Are you a first-time truck buyer? This guide is for you! We have plenty of tips that will help you choose the right pickup truck for you.  You’d think that shopping for a pickup truck is similar to shopping for a car, right? You may imagine that it all comes down to picking a color, an engine, and trim, and that’s all you should care about when buying a pickup truck.  Yet, shopping for a pickup truck is actually very different than purchasing a regular car. Why? Because pickup trucks generally fulfill some needs that regular cars don’t, such as providing a lot of extra space, heavy lifting, having a manly look, and being great vehicles for getting your family to camps and the countryside. What’s more, if you think of all the particular uses pickup trucks have and the increasing numbers of styles and options available, you can quickly get lost in a sea of choices.  Understand the difference between cars and pickup trucks First things first, before you go online looking for a pickup truck, it’s best to understand the differences between cars and pickup trucks. There are obviously some evident differences in terms of size, style, and design. But, the biggest difference between the two is the purpose. More precisely, cars are generally designed to carry people but not so many things. In contrast, pickup trucks’ purpose is to carry things and fewer people. You could say that in comparison to cars, trucks are more focused on the job they need to do rather than on how comfortable the driving experience is for the driver.  So, if, say, you need to move a lot of things around and need a lot of extra space, you’d opt for a pickup truck. Whereas, if you’d need to be on the road all the time and wish for a comfortable driving experience, you’d better opt for a regular car. Now that you know the main differences between the two vehicle types, you’d know what’s best to look for when searching for a pickup truck to buy. So, let’s move forward to what are the most important aspects to pay attention to as a first-time pickup truck buyer.  Consider your budget This step is similar to the steps you take when you want to buy a regular car. In fact, it’s similar to making any important purchase that involves a big investment. Yet, the difference is that when you want to purchase a pickup truck, you should be ready to spend more than you would do for a regular vehicle.  Trucks are expensive. And, if you have purchased cars up until now, consider that the price you paid in the past is going to be a lot higher.  In 2019, the average selling price for a midsize car was $26,486, for which the average monthly finance payment was $484. Yet, for a truck, the average price skyrocket by $23,000, making the average selling price for a large truck worth $49.713, for which the monthly finance payment accounted for $713.  So, it’s no doubt that you’ll have to pay a lot more for a pickup truck than you would for a normal car. For this reason, before you go truck hunting, check your budget and see how much you can afford to pay for your first pickup truck.  Choose a carmaker Searching for a vehicle, be it a car or pickup truck, can be a lengthy process. There are hundreds of carmakers in the automotive industry and thousands of vehicle models. Screening each truck model to find the right one for you can take a while and can be a really exhausting process.  So, to narrow your search and speed up the process of finding a pickup truck, you can start by choosing a carmaker that produces vehicles similar to your specific needs and personal preferences.  First, focus on those carmakers that make trucks, including Ram, Ford, Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, and Toyota, which are considered to be the best truck brands of 2021.  Now, how do you choose a carmaker? There are plenty of things to consider, including style, technology, safety features, and prices.  Take Ford pickup trucks, for example. They are undeniable in their popularity and are still the most sold trucks around the world. Why are Ford trucks so popular? Because they are considered versatile, with plenty of cargo space, comfortability (despite the misconception that trucks need to be spartan vehicles), and performance. If you are leaning towards Ford trucks for as well for the same reasons, you can simply visit new ford f 150 dealers and search for your first pickup truck there instead of wasting a lot of time searching online for various trucks from other brands.  Midsize or full-size? One important thing to consider when looking for a pickup truck is what you will be using the vehicle for.  More precisely, if you simply like the idea of a manly vehicle or driving a truck and you don’t necessarily plan to carry anything major with the vehicle, a midsize pickup truck would be a perfect choice. Midsize pickup trucks are much easier to drive and park, and they still provide plenty of space and utility. On the flip side, if you’re planning to make full use of the bed for cargo or you want to tow a heavy trailer, you should be looking for a larger truck.  Your answer to this question will narrow your search a lot by helping you only search for trucks of the size you need. Plus, it will also help you know if you should be looking for a two- or four-wheel drive. For example, if you plan to tow a boat or a Jet Ski, you should consider a four-wheel drive to gain traction on slippery boat ramps.  Consider engine power and size When it comes to engine power and size for pickup trucks, you’ll likely have to find the right balance between having enough power and getting food fuel economy.  Trucks have a long bad rap for being gas-guzzlers. Yet, modern trucks now include more engine options than ever before. Most vehicles provide more fuel-efficient options these days. In fact, a V6 engine could now do the work of a V8 used more than a decade ago in trucks and still get better fuel economy.  Now, you should know that engine size and power matter just as much as the towing capacity of the truck. For example, a smaller 4-cylinder engine might not give your pickup truck the power you want to have to get your work done. But it will save you some money on gas. So, if you plan to tow large boats, you should consider a V6 or even a V8 engine but expect to spend more money on gas. 

  1072 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  Here’s all you need to consider before buying your first pickup

  Are you a first-time truck buyer? This guide is for you! We have plenty of tips that will help you choose the right pickup truck for you.  You’d think that shopping for a pickup truck is similar to shopping for a car, right? You may imagine that it all comes down to picking a color, an engine, and trim, and that’s all you should care about when buying a pickup truck.  Yet, shopping for a pickup truck is actually very different than purchasing a regular car. Why? Because pickup trucks generally fulfill some needs that regular cars don’t, such as providing a lot of extra space, heavy lifting, having a manly look, and being great vehicles for getting your family to camps and the countryside. What’s more, if you think of all the particular uses pickup trucks have and the increasing numbers of styles and options available, you can quickly get lost in a sea of choices.  Understand the difference between cars and pickup trucks First things first, before you go online looking for a pickup truck, it’s best to understand the differences between cars and pickup trucks. There are obviously some evident differences in terms of size, style, and design. But, the biggest difference between the two is the purpose. More precisely, cars are generally designed to carry people but not so many things. In contrast, pickup trucks’ purpose is to carry things and fewer people. You could say that in comparison to cars, trucks are more focused on the job they need to do rather than on how comfortable the driving experience is for the driver.  So, if, say, you need to move a lot of things around and need a lot of extra space, you’d opt for a pickup truck. Whereas, if you’d need to be on the road all the time and wish for a comfortable driving experience, you’d better opt for a regular car. Now that you know the main differences between the two vehicle types, you’d know what’s best to look for when searching for a pickup truck to buy. So, let’s move forward to what are the most important aspects to pay attention to as a first-time pickup truck buyer.  Consider your budget This step is similar to the steps you take when you want to buy a regular car. In fact, it’s similar to making any important purchase that involves a big investment. Yet, the difference is that when you want to purchase a pickup truck, you should be ready to spend more than you would do for a regular vehicle.  Trucks are expensive. And, if you have purchased cars up until now, consider that the price you paid in the past is going to be a lot higher.  In 2019, the average selling price for a midsize car was $26,486, for which the average monthly finance payment was $484. Yet, for a truck, the average price skyrocket by $23,000, making the average selling price for a large truck worth $49.713, for which the monthly finance payment accounted for $713.  So, it’s no doubt that you’ll have to pay a lot more for a pickup truck than you would for a normal car. For this reason, before you go truck hunting, check your budget and see how much you can afford to pay for your first pickup truck.  Choose a carmaker Searching for a vehicle, be it a car or pickup truck, can be a lengthy process. There are hundreds of carmakers in the automotive industry and thousands of vehicle models. Screening each truck model to find the right one for you can take a while and can be a really exhausting process.  So, to narrow your search and speed up the process of finding a pickup truck, you can start by choosing a carmaker that produces vehicles similar to your specific needs and personal preferences.  First, focus on those carmakers that make trucks, including Ram, Ford, Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, and Toyota, which are considered to be the best truck brands of 2021.  Now, how do you choose a carmaker? There are plenty of things to consider, including style, technology, safety features, and prices.  Take Ford pickup trucks, for example. They are undeniable in their popularity and are still the most sold trucks around the world. Why are Ford trucks so popular? Because they are considered versatile, with plenty of cargo space, comfortability (despite the misconception that trucks need to be spartan vehicles), and performance. If you are leaning towards Ford trucks for as well for the same reasons, you can simply visit new ford f 150 dealers and search for your first pickup truck there instead of wasting a lot of time searching online for various trucks from other brands.  Midsize or full-size? One important thing to consider when looking for a pickup truck is what you will be using the vehicle for.  More precisely, if you simply like the idea of a manly vehicle or driving a truck and you don’t necessarily plan to carry anything major with the vehicle, a midsize pickup truck would be a perfect choice. Midsize pickup trucks are much easier to drive and park, and they still provide plenty of space and utility. On the flip side, if you’re planning to make full use of the bed for cargo or you want to tow a heavy trailer, you should be looking for a larger truck.  Your answer to this question will narrow your search a lot by helping you only search for trucks of the size you need. Plus, it will also help you know if you should be looking for a two- or four-wheel drive. For example, if you plan to tow a boat or a Jet Ski, you should consider a four-wheel drive to gain traction on slippery boat ramps.  Consider engine power and size When it comes to engine power and size for pickup trucks, you’ll likely have to find the right balance between having enough power and getting food fuel economy.  Trucks have a long bad rap for being gas-guzzlers. Yet, modern trucks now include more engine options than ever before. Most vehicles provide more fuel-efficient options these days. In fact, a V6 engine could now do the work of a V8 used more than a decade ago in trucks and still get better fuel economy.  Now, you should know that engine size and power matter just as much as the towing capacity of the truck. For example, a smaller 4-cylinder engine might not give your pickup truck the power you want to have to get your work done. But it will save you some money on gas. So, if you plan to tow large boats, you should consider a V6 or even a V8 engine but expect to spend more money on gas. 

  Feb 08, 2021 1072
• 04 Jan 2021
  8 Mistakes to Avoid While at a Car Dealership

  Driving a brand-new automobile can be one of the great experiences of life. Strolling through a dealership to buy one, on the other hand, ranks up there with visits to the dentist and public speaking atop most people’s record of anxiety-inducing prospects. And people have their reasons – it’s easy to end up overpaying by hundreds of dollars or more if you let the excitement of buying a new car cloud your judgment.  But contrary to many inexperienced beliefs, it’s not really that scary if you’re knowledgeable and prepared. Then you can step into that dealership confident, informed, and in charge of the entire process. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid falling prey to them. Setting Your Sight on a Specific Model or Dealership Most automobiles reach at least $10,000. If you plan to make this kind of purchase, you shouldn’t target a single model and disregard all others.   Time is a crucial factor in your purchase, but there could be alternative cars that could actually be better for your budget and family.  Before you head out to the first dealership, check online reviews, ratings, safety, pricing, and reliability. Becoming a smart buyer will make you much more self-assured.  Shopping around at different dealerships also suggests that you’re keeping your options open, so don’t be shy about telling the car dealer which other dealership you’re talking to.  Skipping the Test Drive  When you’re shopping long-distance, it’s easy to assume that what looks good on screen translates to real life. Not all that glitters is gold. Catchy descriptions and shiny brochures aren’t enough- you need to understand and feel how the automobile drives for yourself and make sure there aren’t any unexpected surprises.  How long should you test drive your next car? Spend at least 30 minutes test driving and inspecting the car inside and out – it’s worth the effort to evade the buyer’s remorse, and you will thank yourself later.     Not Digging Deeper into a Used Car’s Condition    Over time, sellers have become experts in hiding the true condition of a used car. Fortunately, test driving is a useful way to catch hidden problems, but it’s not guaranteed. Make sure you investigate the VIN to learn more about the car’s accident history and maintenance.    Negotiating Down Instead of Up   It’s always smart to negotiate for a better bid, but you’re doing it backward if you settle down from the sticker price. Instead, you should try to ask the dealership how much they paid for the car and negotiate up from there. In doing so, you will get a better idea of the seller’s profit margin, allowing you to determine a reasonable price range that allows both parties to benefit evenly.    Only Focusing on the Monthly Payment    The most frequently asked question in a dealership is,” What kind of monthly payment are you looking for?” Be cautious and don’t take the bait just yet. Suppose this becomes the central focus of your negotiations. In that case, the auto dealer may lump the car price, trade-in value, and lease or loan terms together, helping the salesperson fabricate the appearance of a “great bid.”  Instead, haggle one thing at a time, starting with the car’s price. Find your St Louis ford dealer, then mention the trade-in value, followed by leasing or financing to establish the monthly payment.    Forgetting to Research the Value of Your Trade-In   Don’t know what your current vehicle is worth? It means the salesperson may try to offer you a trade-in offer that’s lower than what your current automobile is actually worth. To avoid this, research your car’s wholesale and retail prices. Also, you won’t need to worry about fixing minor issues with your old vehicle before trading it in. Brand new tires, an oil change, and wiper blades won’t bring much value. Save that money for the new car.    Skipping the Call to Your Insurance Company    If the car you’re considering is considerably higher in value or newer than your current car, you could be in for dismay when you update your insurance coverage. To better understand, contact your insurance agent and explain what you’re considering. You may also need gap insurance, which you might not think about, or you could be required to increase your coverage depending on your financing decisions.    Agreeing to Buy Unnecessary Extras   It’s common among salespeople to upsell buyers on extras they don’t actually need. These extras may include fabric protection, rustproofing, paint, or VIN etching. You won’t necessarily need them – reliability surveys prove that rust isn’t a genuine concern with modern cars because they’re already coated to avert corrosion. Not to mention you can treat the fabric and paint yourself using more inexpensive products. 

  1771 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  8 Mistakes to Avoid While at a Car Dealership

  Driving a brand-new automobile can be one of the great experiences of life. Strolling through a dealership to buy one, on the other hand, ranks up there with visits to the dentist and public speaking atop most people’s record of anxiety-inducing prospects. And people have their reasons – it’s easy to end up overpaying by hundreds of dollars or more if you let the excitement of buying a new car cloud your judgment.  But contrary to many inexperienced beliefs, it’s not really that scary if you’re knowledgeable and prepared. Then you can step into that dealership confident, informed, and in charge of the entire process. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid falling prey to them. Setting Your Sight on a Specific Model or Dealership Most automobiles reach at least $10,000. If you plan to make this kind of purchase, you shouldn’t target a single model and disregard all others.   Time is a crucial factor in your purchase, but there could be alternative cars that could actually be better for your budget and family.  Before you head out to the first dealership, check online reviews, ratings, safety, pricing, and reliability. Becoming a smart buyer will make you much more self-assured.  Shopping around at different dealerships also suggests that you’re keeping your options open, so don’t be shy about telling the car dealer which other dealership you’re talking to.  Skipping the Test Drive  When you’re shopping long-distance, it’s easy to assume that what looks good on screen translates to real life. Not all that glitters is gold. Catchy descriptions and shiny brochures aren’t enough- you need to understand and feel how the automobile drives for yourself and make sure there aren’t any unexpected surprises.  How long should you test drive your next car? Spend at least 30 minutes test driving and inspecting the car inside and out – it’s worth the effort to evade the buyer’s remorse, and you will thank yourself later.     Not Digging Deeper into a Used Car’s Condition    Over time, sellers have become experts in hiding the true condition of a used car. Fortunately, test driving is a useful way to catch hidden problems, but it’s not guaranteed. Make sure you investigate the VIN to learn more about the car’s accident history and maintenance.    Negotiating Down Instead of Up   It’s always smart to negotiate for a better bid, but you’re doing it backward if you settle down from the sticker price. Instead, you should try to ask the dealership how much they paid for the car and negotiate up from there. In doing so, you will get a better idea of the seller’s profit margin, allowing you to determine a reasonable price range that allows both parties to benefit evenly.    Only Focusing on the Monthly Payment    The most frequently asked question in a dealership is,” What kind of monthly payment are you looking for?” Be cautious and don’t take the bait just yet. Suppose this becomes the central focus of your negotiations. In that case, the auto dealer may lump the car price, trade-in value, and lease or loan terms together, helping the salesperson fabricate the appearance of a “great bid.”  Instead, haggle one thing at a time, starting with the car’s price. Find your St Louis ford dealer, then mention the trade-in value, followed by leasing or financing to establish the monthly payment.    Forgetting to Research the Value of Your Trade-In   Don’t know what your current vehicle is worth? It means the salesperson may try to offer you a trade-in offer that’s lower than what your current automobile is actually worth. To avoid this, research your car’s wholesale and retail prices. Also, you won’t need to worry about fixing minor issues with your old vehicle before trading it in. Brand new tires, an oil change, and wiper blades won’t bring much value. Save that money for the new car.    Skipping the Call to Your Insurance Company    If the car you’re considering is considerably higher in value or newer than your current car, you could be in for dismay when you update your insurance coverage. To better understand, contact your insurance agent and explain what you’re considering. You may also need gap insurance, which you might not think about, or you could be required to increase your coverage depending on your financing decisions.    Agreeing to Buy Unnecessary Extras   It’s common among salespeople to upsell buyers on extras they don’t actually need. These extras may include fabric protection, rustproofing, paint, or VIN etching. You won’t necessarily need them – reliability surveys prove that rust isn’t a genuine concern with modern cars because they’re already coated to avert corrosion. Not to mention you can treat the fabric and paint yourself using more inexpensive products. 

  Jan 04, 2021 1771
• 30 Dec 2020
  What You Can Really Learn In Couples Therapy?

  We all like to assume we know what’s best when it comes to living the worst or best moment in our relationships. But sometimes it’s more than necessary to ask for help – such as a relationship coach or couples’ therapist – who can share some ways to solve relationships problems, yield some pearl drops of wisdom and impart the knowledge you and your partner possibly never figured out on your own.  While it may prove nerve-racking, sometimes a bit pricey and time-consuming, many couples find it beneficial to seek professional help. In this case, couples therapy is a smart choice for those who feel like they’re stuck in a drama and can’t figure out a realistic solution.  However, not everyone sees couples therapy with the same grain of clarity – going to therapy doesn’t mean that your relationship is deteriorating, or something is inherently wrong. The thing is, we all get stuck sometimes and just having a neutral individual involved can work wonders. Remind Yourself Why You’re Together  After you’ve been together for a while, you can easily forget what initially brought you two together, and even easier to take each for granted.  For this reason, couple counselors often suggest couples to make an effort to maintain the freshness with a few simple tricks. It’s easy to get stuck in the day-to-day routine. Your lover will not always seem novel and steal your heart in an instant, which is why reminding yourself why you love them – and telling them – will keep things fresh front and center.  In couples therapy, you will learn that spicing up your date nights, being more affectionate, and having more sex will nourish that spark. Relationship Issues Are Never One Person’s Fault  We know how tempting it may be to condemn each other for the issues in your relationship, but counselors with years of experience in couples therapy want you to know that it’s rarely ever one person’s fault. There is always something in the “middle.” The problem lies somewhere between interaction and the dynamic that you two have honed and formed over time.  Take a closer look at the “life cycle” or your arguing pattern – there is always a trigger, the same thing every time, but there is a feeling this is elicited in one of you. What’s next? A torrent of actions that, if investigated carefully, can expose what trap you two fall into.  Both of you have the ability to interrupt this dance at any given time, but the struggle is pushing yourself to do something new, so you don’t stay caught in the power of the pattern.   Acknowledge and Embrace the Fact that You’re Both so Different  If you and your boyfriend are total opposites, you might start wondering why and how you’re still together. You will also be prone to think your differences are the gist of your issues. But experienced couple therapists are often quick to mention that opposites attract for a reason.  Couples often seem puzzled about how they could have possibly ended up with a partner or spouse who is so opposite from them. The thing is that their preference is owned to evolution, whose main purpose is to keep people alive and procreating. To put it differently, a child is more likely to survive and thrive if its parents have opposite strengths.  So the fact that you and your spouse are opposite can actually be beneficial – especially if you learn to embrace it. Couples often seek, find, and then disagree with an opposing trait in their partner. But in a healthier relationship, we value these traits because we have something to learn from them.  It’s Ok to Go To Bed Angry  We’re all acquainted with the old “never go bed angry” - we make up right away, so we don’t stew on our fury the whole night through. Yet not every counselor will agree with this advice.  You will be surprised to hear that “it’s perfectly fine to go to bed angry” from a couple therapist.  What you will learn in a therapy session - which is quite obvious if you think about it – is that you can’t find a solution while you’re angry.” Sometimes, couples need to part ways for a few hours. Only once you’ve calmed down can you really address the conflict in the relationship productively and positively. When you’re both mad, and it’s bedtime, you can either fight, argue, and yell until the first hours of the morning, or you can simply accept the conflict is what it is right now, go to bed and wake in a much better state to handle the conflict.  The Sooner Your Stop Assuming, The Better  Most couples therapists point out that when people assume they know what their spouses are thinking, they’re usually 100% wrong.  The reason is oftentimes the same – a lot of couples view a situation strictly from only their perception of the situation. This gets worse when, without complete communication with each other, assumptions can start to flow in about what the other person is feeling, thinking, or doing. Most couples act on their own perception without fully solving the whole equation.  Instead of jumping into a conclusion wagon, it’s much better, even healthier, to ask questions. Ask questions based on what you know and confirm a complete understanding of it. Almost 100% of the time, you were wrong, and that’s not such a dreadful thing – because more than likely, you assumed the worst about your partner. It’s healthier and less stressful to cultivate a deeper connection with your spouse since you both understand each other’s point of view.  You will also need to understand that your partner and your relationship are dynamic and always changing – the second you find yourself in the “it used to be like this situation,” you’re trying to work the wrong way in time. A healthy relationship consists of doing small things regularly and checking in with each other. Small or huge gestures are great but what really shapes emotional kinship is listening to each other and becoming closely aware of each other aspirations and dreams.   

  1915 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  What You Can Really Learn In Couples Therapy?

  We all like to assume we know what’s best when it comes to living the worst or best moment in our relationships. But sometimes it’s more than necessary to ask for help – such as a relationship coach or couples’ therapist – who can share some ways to solve relationships problems, yield some pearl drops of wisdom and impart the knowledge you and your partner possibly never figured out on your own.  While it may prove nerve-racking, sometimes a bit pricey and time-consuming, many couples find it beneficial to seek professional help. In this case, couples therapy is a smart choice for those who feel like they’re stuck in a drama and can’t figure out a realistic solution.  However, not everyone sees couples therapy with the same grain of clarity – going to therapy doesn’t mean that your relationship is deteriorating, or something is inherently wrong. The thing is, we all get stuck sometimes and just having a neutral individual involved can work wonders. Remind Yourself Why You’re Together  After you’ve been together for a while, you can easily forget what initially brought you two together, and even easier to take each for granted.  For this reason, couple counselors often suggest couples to make an effort to maintain the freshness with a few simple tricks. It’s easy to get stuck in the day-to-day routine. Your lover will not always seem novel and steal your heart in an instant, which is why reminding yourself why you love them – and telling them – will keep things fresh front and center.  In couples therapy, you will learn that spicing up your date nights, being more affectionate, and having more sex will nourish that spark. Relationship Issues Are Never One Person’s Fault  We know how tempting it may be to condemn each other for the issues in your relationship, but counselors with years of experience in couples therapy want you to know that it’s rarely ever one person’s fault. There is always something in the “middle.” The problem lies somewhere between interaction and the dynamic that you two have honed and formed over time.  Take a closer look at the “life cycle” or your arguing pattern – there is always a trigger, the same thing every time, but there is a feeling this is elicited in one of you. What’s next? A torrent of actions that, if investigated carefully, can expose what trap you two fall into.  Both of you have the ability to interrupt this dance at any given time, but the struggle is pushing yourself to do something new, so you don’t stay caught in the power of the pattern.   Acknowledge and Embrace the Fact that You’re Both so Different  If you and your boyfriend are total opposites, you might start wondering why and how you’re still together. You will also be prone to think your differences are the gist of your issues. But experienced couple therapists are often quick to mention that opposites attract for a reason.  Couples often seem puzzled about how they could have possibly ended up with a partner or spouse who is so opposite from them. The thing is that their preference is owned to evolution, whose main purpose is to keep people alive and procreating. To put it differently, a child is more likely to survive and thrive if its parents have opposite strengths.  So the fact that you and your spouse are opposite can actually be beneficial – especially if you learn to embrace it. Couples often seek, find, and then disagree with an opposing trait in their partner. But in a healthier relationship, we value these traits because we have something to learn from them.  It’s Ok to Go To Bed Angry  We’re all acquainted with the old “never go bed angry” - we make up right away, so we don’t stew on our fury the whole night through. Yet not every counselor will agree with this advice.  You will be surprised to hear that “it’s perfectly fine to go to bed angry” from a couple therapist.  What you will learn in a therapy session - which is quite obvious if you think about it – is that you can’t find a solution while you’re angry.” Sometimes, couples need to part ways for a few hours. Only once you’ve calmed down can you really address the conflict in the relationship productively and positively. When you’re both mad, and it’s bedtime, you can either fight, argue, and yell until the first hours of the morning, or you can simply accept the conflict is what it is right now, go to bed and wake in a much better state to handle the conflict.  The Sooner Your Stop Assuming, The Better  Most couples therapists point out that when people assume they know what their spouses are thinking, they’re usually 100% wrong.  The reason is oftentimes the same – a lot of couples view a situation strictly from only their perception of the situation. This gets worse when, without complete communication with each other, assumptions can start to flow in about what the other person is feeling, thinking, or doing. Most couples act on their own perception without fully solving the whole equation.  Instead of jumping into a conclusion wagon, it’s much better, even healthier, to ask questions. Ask questions based on what you know and confirm a complete understanding of it. Almost 100% of the time, you were wrong, and that’s not such a dreadful thing – because more than likely, you assumed the worst about your partner. It’s healthier and less stressful to cultivate a deeper connection with your spouse since you both understand each other’s point of view.  You will also need to understand that your partner and your relationship are dynamic and always changing – the second you find yourself in the “it used to be like this situation,” you’re trying to work the wrong way in time. A healthy relationship consists of doing small things regularly and checking in with each other. Small or huge gestures are great but what really shapes emotional kinship is listening to each other and becoming closely aware of each other aspirations and dreams.   

  Dec 30, 2020 1915
• 18 Dec 2020
  Should You Upgrade or Replace Your Laptop?

  When you’ve used a laptop for two or three years, you’ll find yourself wondering whether or not you should buy a new one. With some much time and tons of reviews to consider a replacement, don’t write off that old system just yet. On a limited budget and a bit of technical expertise, you can grant your old system a new life, or at least buy yourself a few more months.  The various components in a laptop aren’t as easy to replace as those in a desktop computer, but it is definitely possible to upgrade a laptop if you have the patience and the right tools. To determine if upgrading is the right choice for you, consider our suggestions below.  My Laptop is Too Slow If your laptop isn’t as fast as it used to be, there are a few ways you can get it working like new that doesn’t involve immediate replacement. Your laptop might have an outdated operating system, or it could have been infected with malware – you don’t know that yet, so don’t rush. The primary hardware that determines the speed of a computer is the RAM and CPU. You could upgrade these components, but it isn’t as easy as you thought, especially on laptops. Actually, if you find that either it is damaged or not up to par with your needs, replacing the laptop is preferably a smart move. However, of the two, the memory part is the easiest to deal with. If you would like to change bad memory sticks or need more RAM, and you’re fine with doing this yourself, you can oftentimes open the bottom of your laptop to do it. With that in mind, before you tear down your computer and replace something or trash the whole thing and buy a brand new one, ensure you at least try out a few easier and not at all costly things first. A slow system can make it seem like it requires replacement or upgrading when maybe all it needs is TLC. Check Available Free Storage If your hard drive is operating on free space, it can definitely grind things to freeze up and make programs and apps slower, or files take forever to save. So, make sure you check your available hard drive space just to be sure.   Reboot If your laptop has not been rebooted lately, make sure to reboot it before considering a replacement. Rebooting your laptop can fix many problems and is an easy first step. Background programs One of the most common reasons for a slow laptop is programs running in the background. Disable or remove any TSRs and startup apps that automatically start each time the laptop boots. Delete Junk Files Temporary files usually take up loads of free space, contributing to a full hard drive and compounding the performance by making apps and programs operate harder or take longer to complete their tasks. Make sure you clean the cache in your web browser. Those files are safe to remove, but when ignored and given time, they will definitely slow down your web browsing and potentially even the whole system. Need More Storage When performing the above tasks didn’t offer enough storage – or you need a second hard drive for your laptop to store data or backup files, consider using an external hard drive to increase your computer storage. The best part about external devices is that they’re actually external connecting to any rent to own laptops over USB instead of sitting inside the computer’s casing like the primary HDD. These upgrades will provide an instant additional hard drive space for whatever purpose, collection of videos, music or games, software installation files, etc. Tip: Purchasing an external hard drive is much easier; in some cases, even cheaper than replacing the internal one. The Laptop Screen Is Bad A poor laptop screen might make it impossible for you to do anything. Replacing or repairing the screen is undeniably attainable and isn’t as costly as replacing the entire computer. Before throwing yourself on the first sparky deal, make sure you research for your specific laptop or at least one that’s similar to your old one. You might be able to find a detailed and step-by-step repair guide on replacing your particular laptop screen.  In case your laptop happens to be more stationary than mobile, a solution would be to simply plug a monitor into HDMI or VGA on the back of the laptop. The Laptop Won’t Charge Sometimes, though, you plug in the AC adapter – usually because the battery is almost drained – and you get nothing. No brightened display, no glowing lights, and no “battery charging” icon in the corner. It sounds silly, but before considering an immediate replacement, you need to make sure your computer is actually plugged in. Check the AC adapter and verify that any removable cables are adequately inserted - and make sure the AC is correctly seated in its compartment. Lose the Battery If your laptop comes with a removable battery, remove it, and hold the power button for nearly 15 seconds just to deplete any residual power from the device. Then with the laptop’s battery still removed, plug in the power cord and turn the laptop on. If the laptop seems to work properly, that means your power adaptor is working properly, and the issue is likely a bum battery. Even though you can always re-install the battery and try again – maybe the battery was just wrongly positioned. Suppose the computer doesn’t have a visible battery cell on the bottom. In that case, it may be integrated into the laptop (like Macs are), and you’ll have to take it to a professional to test the battery. You Just Want Something New  Sometimes, it’s just time to invest that hard-earned money in something that really suits you, if only because you’re ready for something new, faster, and better. But don’t be hasty. Do the research, educate yourself on the latest models and get the right tool for your needs.  

  1779 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  Should You Upgrade or Replace Your Laptop?

  When you’ve used a laptop for two or three years, you’ll find yourself wondering whether or not you should buy a new one. With some much time and tons of reviews to consider a replacement, don’t write off that old system just yet. On a limited budget and a bit of technical expertise, you can grant your old system a new life, or at least buy yourself a few more months.  The various components in a laptop aren’t as easy to replace as those in a desktop computer, but it is definitely possible to upgrade a laptop if you have the patience and the right tools. To determine if upgrading is the right choice for you, consider our suggestions below.  My Laptop is Too Slow If your laptop isn’t as fast as it used to be, there are a few ways you can get it working like new that doesn’t involve immediate replacement. Your laptop might have an outdated operating system, or it could have been infected with malware – you don’t know that yet, so don’t rush. The primary hardware that determines the speed of a computer is the RAM and CPU. You could upgrade these components, but it isn’t as easy as you thought, especially on laptops. Actually, if you find that either it is damaged or not up to par with your needs, replacing the laptop is preferably a smart move. However, of the two, the memory part is the easiest to deal with. If you would like to change bad memory sticks or need more RAM, and you’re fine with doing this yourself, you can oftentimes open the bottom of your laptop to do it. With that in mind, before you tear down your computer and replace something or trash the whole thing and buy a brand new one, ensure you at least try out a few easier and not at all costly things first. A slow system can make it seem like it requires replacement or upgrading when maybe all it needs is TLC. Check Available Free Storage If your hard drive is operating on free space, it can definitely grind things to freeze up and make programs and apps slower, or files take forever to save. So, make sure you check your available hard drive space just to be sure.   Reboot If your laptop has not been rebooted lately, make sure to reboot it before considering a replacement. Rebooting your laptop can fix many problems and is an easy first step. Background programs One of the most common reasons for a slow laptop is programs running in the background. Disable or remove any TSRs and startup apps that automatically start each time the laptop boots. Delete Junk Files Temporary files usually take up loads of free space, contributing to a full hard drive and compounding the performance by making apps and programs operate harder or take longer to complete their tasks. Make sure you clean the cache in your web browser. Those files are safe to remove, but when ignored and given time, they will definitely slow down your web browsing and potentially even the whole system. Need More Storage When performing the above tasks didn’t offer enough storage – or you need a second hard drive for your laptop to store data or backup files, consider using an external hard drive to increase your computer storage. The best part about external devices is that they’re actually external connecting to any rent to own laptops over USB instead of sitting inside the computer’s casing like the primary HDD. These upgrades will provide an instant additional hard drive space for whatever purpose, collection of videos, music or games, software installation files, etc. Tip: Purchasing an external hard drive is much easier; in some cases, even cheaper than replacing the internal one. The Laptop Screen Is Bad A poor laptop screen might make it impossible for you to do anything. Replacing or repairing the screen is undeniably attainable and isn’t as costly as replacing the entire computer. Before throwing yourself on the first sparky deal, make sure you research for your specific laptop or at least one that’s similar to your old one. You might be able to find a detailed and step-by-step repair guide on replacing your particular laptop screen.  In case your laptop happens to be more stationary than mobile, a solution would be to simply plug a monitor into HDMI or VGA on the back of the laptop. The Laptop Won’t Charge Sometimes, though, you plug in the AC adapter – usually because the battery is almost drained – and you get nothing. No brightened display, no glowing lights, and no “battery charging” icon in the corner. It sounds silly, but before considering an immediate replacement, you need to make sure your computer is actually plugged in. Check the AC adapter and verify that any removable cables are adequately inserted - and make sure the AC is correctly seated in its compartment. Lose the Battery If your laptop comes with a removable battery, remove it, and hold the power button for nearly 15 seconds just to deplete any residual power from the device. Then with the laptop’s battery still removed, plug in the power cord and turn the laptop on. If the laptop seems to work properly, that means your power adaptor is working properly, and the issue is likely a bum battery. Even though you can always re-install the battery and try again – maybe the battery was just wrongly positioned. Suppose the computer doesn’t have a visible battery cell on the bottom. In that case, it may be integrated into the laptop (like Macs are), and you’ll have to take it to a professional to test the battery. You Just Want Something New  Sometimes, it’s just time to invest that hard-earned money in something that really suits you, if only because you’re ready for something new, faster, and better. But don’t be hasty. Do the research, educate yourself on the latest models and get the right tool for your needs.  

  Dec 18, 2020 1779
• 23 Nov 2020
  Want to buy a family car? Here are 7 tips to help you get the b

  Does your family need a new car? We have a few tips on how to make sure you get the best deal.  Looking for the perfect car for your family can be a daunting experience. You’re about to make a huge and long-term investment, meaning that you want to make sure you make the right decision.  When you are buying a family car, there’s so much to consider besides its design: is there enough room for children to fit comfortably? Enough space for bulky baggage? What about safety features?  If you need some help to make sure you choose a car that is perfectly suited to your family needs, read our seven tips for purchasing a family vehicle.  Understand your budget As it is with making any other investment, the starting point is your budget because it will help determine your options.  Now, it may sound obvious that you need to know how much you can afford to pay for your new car. Yet, what most car buyers forget about when purchasing a new vehicle is that the car’s price doesn’t just represent its sticker price. You also need to take costs like licensing, registration fees, taxes, fuel, and regular maintenance into consideration when calculating your budget.  So, double-check your budget to see how much you can afford to pay for the car so that you can have enough money to pay for all these additional costs as well.  Consider your future journeys When purchasing a new family car, you also need to consider what you will be using it for so that you better understand your family’s needs.  Will you be using your new car for long commutes, rides around town, or city center driving? Depending on how much you’ll be using the car, you need to choose something more economical.  Also, if you and your family are planning to use the car for long trips around the country, you need to consider aspects like comfort, space, and easiness to drive the vehicle.  What’s more, when looking for a new car for your family, make sure you understand that your family can have different needs than other families. Sure, maybe your friends who are also parents find a certain car suitable for their family. Yet, their families’ needs are likely different than yours.  For example, maybe your friend drives a Volkswagen Golf, a car that is often marketed as an excellent family car. Yet, maybe this car isn’t quite suitable if you have a large family because this car is not that spacious. On the flip side, your friend may think that Ford Focus isn’t a good family car because it may not be suitable for their family’s needs. In that case, we recommend you knowing exactly what your family’s needs are and visiting both a Ford dealership and a Volkswagen dealership to decide on your own which car is best for you.              Choose a four-door car If you are buying a car for your family, we highly recommend you to choose a four-door body vehicle.  Think about it: a three-door car may be a suitable option at the beginning when it just you and your spouse. Yet, a baby comes on board, and after a few months of leaning in the back to install an infant seat from the driver’s door, will soon start to feel on your back. If your family is going to expand, it is time to consider a more family-friendly four-door car.  Safety features Keeping your family safe on the road is by far the most important thing to consider.  If there’s one thing you want for your family is to know that it is always safe, no matter where they are. So, when looking for a family car, make sure you consider whether or not it has high-tech safety features that will keep you and your loved ones safe on the road.  What kind of safety features should you be looking for in a car? You should look for advanced safety systems such as seat belts and child safety, autonomous emergency braking, stability control, and anti-lock brakes, reversing cameras, adaptive cruise control, auto parking, and blind-spot assist.  Look for child-friendly features Child-friendly features are not necessarily a must-have, but if you have some extra money in your budget for your family car, we recommend investing in them. What exactly are these child-friendly features? Integrated sunblinds, dark interiors which can hide stains your kids will probably make, or extra storage spaces, plus entertainment features such as built-in DVD players, Bluetooth connectivity, and speakers that provide actual surround sound.  Consider space and storage Having kids can reshape what storage means to you. When you leave on the road alone, you likely have a bag or two that perfectly fit in the trunk. But then, when kids come on board, there are a million other things you need to take with you wherever you go, from strollers to lots of essentials like baby wipes, clothes, and baby bottles.  When you leave for a trip, or even for a ride to the supermarket, with your kids in the car, there are going to be a lot more things you need to store in your car. So, when looking for a family car, make sure you consider the space and storage it offers.  Can your kids fit comfortably in the rear seats? Will the car provide enough room for all the things you need to carry around all the time? If the answer is “no,” you should look for a more spacious vehicle.  Consider running costs As mentioned above, a car costs a lot more than just its sticker price. So, when purchasing a new car, you also need to make sure that you can afford to maintain it.  Besides regular maintenance, you must also consider surprise maintenance. If the car would suddenly break and you couldn’t afford to fix it, this means that you probably can’t actually afford the car you are thinking about buying. 

  2035 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  Want to buy a family car? Here are 7 tips to help you get the b

  Does your family need a new car? We have a few tips on how to make sure you get the best deal.  Looking for the perfect car for your family can be a daunting experience. You’re about to make a huge and long-term investment, meaning that you want to make sure you make the right decision.  When you are buying a family car, there’s so much to consider besides its design: is there enough room for children to fit comfortably? Enough space for bulky baggage? What about safety features?  If you need some help to make sure you choose a car that is perfectly suited to your family needs, read our seven tips for purchasing a family vehicle.  Understand your budget As it is with making any other investment, the starting point is your budget because it will help determine your options.  Now, it may sound obvious that you need to know how much you can afford to pay for your new car. Yet, what most car buyers forget about when purchasing a new vehicle is that the car’s price doesn’t just represent its sticker price. You also need to take costs like licensing, registration fees, taxes, fuel, and regular maintenance into consideration when calculating your budget.  So, double-check your budget to see how much you can afford to pay for the car so that you can have enough money to pay for all these additional costs as well.  Consider your future journeys When purchasing a new family car, you also need to consider what you will be using it for so that you better understand your family’s needs.  Will you be using your new car for long commutes, rides around town, or city center driving? Depending on how much you’ll be using the car, you need to choose something more economical.  Also, if you and your family are planning to use the car for long trips around the country, you need to consider aspects like comfort, space, and easiness to drive the vehicle.  What’s more, when looking for a new car for your family, make sure you understand that your family can have different needs than other families. Sure, maybe your friends who are also parents find a certain car suitable for their family. Yet, their families’ needs are likely different than yours.  For example, maybe your friend drives a Volkswagen Golf, a car that is often marketed as an excellent family car. Yet, maybe this car isn’t quite suitable if you have a large family because this car is not that spacious. On the flip side, your friend may think that Ford Focus isn’t a good family car because it may not be suitable for their family’s needs. In that case, we recommend you knowing exactly what your family’s needs are and visiting both a Ford dealership and a Volkswagen dealership to decide on your own which car is best for you.              Choose a four-door car If you are buying a car for your family, we highly recommend you to choose a four-door body vehicle.  Think about it: a three-door car may be a suitable option at the beginning when it just you and your spouse. Yet, a baby comes on board, and after a few months of leaning in the back to install an infant seat from the driver’s door, will soon start to feel on your back. If your family is going to expand, it is time to consider a more family-friendly four-door car.  Safety features Keeping your family safe on the road is by far the most important thing to consider.  If there’s one thing you want for your family is to know that it is always safe, no matter where they are. So, when looking for a family car, make sure you consider whether or not it has high-tech safety features that will keep you and your loved ones safe on the road.  What kind of safety features should you be looking for in a car? You should look for advanced safety systems such as seat belts and child safety, autonomous emergency braking, stability control, and anti-lock brakes, reversing cameras, adaptive cruise control, auto parking, and blind-spot assist.  Look for child-friendly features Child-friendly features are not necessarily a must-have, but if you have some extra money in your budget for your family car, we recommend investing in them. What exactly are these child-friendly features? Integrated sunblinds, dark interiors which can hide stains your kids will probably make, or extra storage spaces, plus entertainment features such as built-in DVD players, Bluetooth connectivity, and speakers that provide actual surround sound.  Consider space and storage Having kids can reshape what storage means to you. When you leave on the road alone, you likely have a bag or two that perfectly fit in the trunk. But then, when kids come on board, there are a million other things you need to take with you wherever you go, from strollers to lots of essentials like baby wipes, clothes, and baby bottles.  When you leave for a trip, or even for a ride to the supermarket, with your kids in the car, there are going to be a lot more things you need to store in your car. So, when looking for a family car, make sure you consider the space and storage it offers.  Can your kids fit comfortably in the rear seats? Will the car provide enough room for all the things you need to carry around all the time? If the answer is “no,” you should look for a more spacious vehicle.  Consider running costs As mentioned above, a car costs a lot more than just its sticker price. So, when purchasing a new car, you also need to make sure that you can afford to maintain it.  Besides regular maintenance, you must also consider surprise maintenance. If the car would suddenly break and you couldn’t afford to fix it, this means that you probably can’t actually afford the car you are thinking about buying. 

  Nov 23, 2020 2035
• 28 Oct 2020
  How to Avoid Being Distracted While Driving

  Annually, thousands of people lose their lives because of distractions while they drive. Almost everyone is guilty in some way – in fact, distracted drivers are everywhere if you look around you. Whether they’re on the phone, changing the music, doing their makeup, or eating and drinking, drivers literally forget that those activities should be avoided entirely while they’re on the road. You can start by putting your phone on silent and park your car before you start eating. These are such important things to consider, although you might feel like you control everything. Driving with other passengers might make you prevent distractions, but they mustn’t become a distraction to you! Distracted driving and impaired driving are some of the biggest threats when it comes to everyone’s safety. It really doesn’t matter if you are a new or an expert driver; when you get behind the wheel, you shouldn’t be drunk, eating, or doing any other activity that doesn’t imply paying attention to the road. Innocent people’s lives are taken away daily because of distracted driving. Don’t take risks! Learn how to be a better and more focused driver. Don’t use your cellphone This probably looks familiar to you already, as using the cellphone while driving doesn’t represent a problem for any driver. But it should be used only for emergency purposes, so it’s best to pull over if your phone rings and you really need to take the call. Don’t believe that wireless earphones will save you from crashing in the traffic! Even those can still make you distracted from necessary visual or audio signals while driving. Again, social convos on the phone should not be carried while driving. Moreover, it’s against the law to do such activities while driving; you could be ticked. So, avoid handheld devices while you’re behind the wheel; it could cost your life. If you are sleepy, pull off the road If you ever feel drowsy while you drive, make sure you pull over and take a moment to refresh yourself a bit. Although this cannot compare with a nap or a few hours of good sleep, it could definitely help you avoid a crash on the side road. Sleepiness increases the risk of car accidents significantly. A study showed that 37% of drivers in the U.S. are falling asleep during their driving. If you feel tired, get off the road – trying to get home faster can make you experience horrible things. In fact, you should pull off the road whenever you want to do something that isn’t meant to be done while you’re driving. This can include taking phone calls, eating, drinking, attending your children, etc. And don’t forget to always choose a less busy street to avoid other drivers smash into you. Limit the level of your activities while driving Limiting the level of activities while driving is extremely important, as well as limiting the number of passengers you bring with you. Many countries don’t allow teen drivers to drive with other teen passengers during their first months of driving. Inexperienced teen drivers must be aware of the dangerous environment that could focus more on their friends and less on the road. This is also applicable for other drivers; The interaction with other passengers might put everyone at risk, so it’s best to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Avoid complicated tasks by using technology instead. Supply your car with proper equipment to complete your tasks, such as voice-activated systems, handheld devices, cameras and sensors, and other safety technology that can help you keep your attention to the road. Avoid eating and drinking while driving Being busy shouldn’t be an excuse to get distracted while driving. It may seem like you’re saving time if you finish your breakfast while driving, but it’s much more important to save your life. You could spill drinks and drop food, because let’s face it, no matter how multitasking we think we are, we must also be aware of this major cause of distraction. Even though you might not have enough time to finish your breakfast or lunch at home, you could pull off the road in a safe place to eat. Drivers must do only one thing while on the road: Drive! Multitasking while driving, including chatting, texting, or social media interaction, should be avoided altogether.  Get organized This is another important step for keeping you out of distractions. Remove clutter from your car, organize your documents, and properly store them before hitting the road. Finish your personal grooming at home! Give yourself enough time in the morning to finish breakfast, get dressed, apply makeup, shave, etc. It’s best to wake up earlier and get things done before you walk out of the house. This will help you avoid distractions while driving. If you don’t have enough time in the morning, bring your stuff with you and stop somewhere to finish your morning routine. Get more organized with yourself, especially while driving. Also, avoid angry drivers – if they cut you off, or make inappropriate face gestures, try to simply ignore them and continue driving. Save everything for later or before you start driving Before you start your car:   Ensure you secure all your movable objects so they don’t fall or distract you from your driving.   Place everything in a secure bag and avoid reaching those objects unless you stop the car somewhere safe.   Adjust the climate, radio, mirrors, seat, and other car’s controls beforehand.   Everyone spends most of their time in their cars, so they’ve created a habit to do all those little things done while driving, such as searching for good music, trying to reach certain objects, having phone conversations, text messaging, etc. It’s simple: don’t do it! Your priority is to focus on the road and complete any activity before you start driving. Take the necessary time to drive correctly. Your goal is to keep yourself and other passengers safe on the road. 

  3020 Posted by Cynthia Madison
• By Cynthia Madison

  How to Avoid Being Distracted While Driving

  Annually, thousands of people lose their lives because of distractions while they drive. Almost everyone is guilty in some way – in fact, distracted drivers are everywhere if you look around you. Whether they’re on the phone, changing the music, doing their makeup, or eating and drinking, drivers literally forget that those activities should be avoided entirely while they’re on the road. You can start by putting your phone on silent and park your car before you start eating. These are such important things to consider, although you might feel like you control everything. Driving with other passengers might make you prevent distractions, but they mustn’t become a distraction to you! Distracted driving and impaired driving are some of the biggest threats when it comes to everyone’s safety. It really doesn’t matter if you are a new or an expert driver; when you get behind the wheel, you shouldn’t be drunk, eating, or doing any other activity that doesn’t imply paying attention to the road. Innocent people’s lives are taken away daily because of distracted driving. Don’t take risks! Learn how to be a better and more focused driver. Don’t use your cellphone This probably looks familiar to you already, as using the cellphone while driving doesn’t represent a problem for any driver. But it should be used only for emergency purposes, so it’s best to pull over if your phone rings and you really need to take the call. Don’t believe that wireless earphones will save you from crashing in the traffic! Even those can still make you distracted from necessary visual or audio signals while driving. Again, social convos on the phone should not be carried while driving. Moreover, it’s against the law to do such activities while driving; you could be ticked. So, avoid handheld devices while you’re behind the wheel; it could cost your life. If you are sleepy, pull off the road If you ever feel drowsy while you drive, make sure you pull over and take a moment to refresh yourself a bit. Although this cannot compare with a nap or a few hours of good sleep, it could definitely help you avoid a crash on the side road. Sleepiness increases the risk of car accidents significantly. A study showed that 37% of drivers in the U.S. are falling asleep during their driving. If you feel tired, get off the road – trying to get home faster can make you experience horrible things. In fact, you should pull off the road whenever you want to do something that isn’t meant to be done while you’re driving. This can include taking phone calls, eating, drinking, attending your children, etc. And don’t forget to always choose a less busy street to avoid other drivers smash into you. Limit the level of your activities while driving Limiting the level of activities while driving is extremely important, as well as limiting the number of passengers you bring with you. Many countries don’t allow teen drivers to drive with other teen passengers during their first months of driving. Inexperienced teen drivers must be aware of the dangerous environment that could focus more on their friends and less on the road. This is also applicable for other drivers; The interaction with other passengers might put everyone at risk, so it’s best to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Avoid complicated tasks by using technology instead. Supply your car with proper equipment to complete your tasks, such as voice-activated systems, handheld devices, cameras and sensors, and other safety technology that can help you keep your attention to the road. Avoid eating and drinking while driving Being busy shouldn’t be an excuse to get distracted while driving. It may seem like you’re saving time if you finish your breakfast while driving, but it’s much more important to save your life. You could spill drinks and drop food, because let’s face it, no matter how multitasking we think we are, we must also be aware of this major cause of distraction. Even though you might not have enough time to finish your breakfast or lunch at home, you could pull off the road in a safe place to eat. Drivers must do only one thing while on the road: Drive! Multitasking while driving, including chatting, texting, or social media interaction, should be avoided altogether.  Get organized This is another important step for keeping you out of distractions. Remove clutter from your car, organize your documents, and properly store them before hitting the road. Finish your personal grooming at home! Give yourself enough time in the morning to finish breakfast, get dressed, apply makeup, shave, etc. It’s best to wake up earlier and get things done before you walk out of the house. This will help you avoid distractions while driving. If you don’t have enough time in the morning, bring your stuff with you and stop somewhere to finish your morning routine. Get more organized with yourself, especially while driving. Also, avoid angry drivers – if they cut you off, or make inappropriate face gestures, try to simply ignore them and continue driving. Save everything for later or before you start driving Before you start your car:   Ensure you secure all your movable objects so they don’t fall or distract you from your driving.   Place everything in a secure bag and avoid reaching those objects unless you stop the car somewhere safe.   Adjust the climate, radio, mirrors, seat, and other car’s controls beforehand.   Everyone spends most of their time in their cars, so they’ve created a habit to do all those little things done while driving, such as searching for good music, trying to reach certain objects, having phone conversations, text messaging, etc. It’s simple: don’t do it! Your priority is to focus on the road and complete any activity before you start driving. Take the necessary time to drive correctly. Your goal is to keep yourself and other passengers safe on the road. 

  Oct 28, 2020 3020