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Building On A Difficult Terrain

Adjusting the house to the landscape is the first task to be solved when building on difficult terrain. If your block of land has slopes up to 20{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc} – it's rather regular terrain. The difficulties start to appear on slopes that are steeper than that.

Main problems can be divided into 3 categories:

1) Some additional research to determine the danger of dirt slipping down should be done

2) The foundations and plumbing will require some additional work

3) Some additional work to level the soil might be necessary

And of course any of above translates into additional expenses.

If the allotment is in a real danger of soil slip, for example the soil has a steep rocky slope underneath and gets lots of rainfall or has ground water – it makes no sense to build on it.

However, if that's not the case, then building on steep slope might produce very interesting output. History has many examples of people, who had to deal with difficult conditions, created the most magnificent structures, some of which we can still see in these days. They include the Machu Picchu city in Peru, great castles of Europe, Svan's watchtowers in high mountains of Georgia, and fort Metsada in Israel.

To make the idea of ​​building on difficult terrain a reality, several things need to fall together:

1) The wish to build on this particular block of land and the ability to finance the process

2) A talented architect and engineer who can fit the house into the relief while making it secure, safe and sound

3) Qualified builders who can implement everything according to the plans

So what are the advantages of building on a slope? First, nothing compares to the panoramic view from your terrace. Also, it is possible to create several levels: the garage on the upper level, the bedrooms and living areas below and the back yard and garden on the lowest level. The best thing about this setting is that the road and the driveway – with all the noise and the dust – are left on top, while the house is located below. More of the house is now exposed to the sun light. The garden can have many picturesque features such as little terraces, steps, miniature walls, cozy spots.

The whole presence of the house is improved, as this unique facade is created. The interior of the house benefit from larger windows and various open staircases, they look "weightless" and mix in harmony with the nature.

Another issue to address is the soundness of the house built on a slope. In many ways it depends on the soil underneath the foundations. If the soil is mostly sand or mud, then it makes sense to create terraced foundations, made of concrete bands and retaining walls, anchored in the soil.

If the foundations are to be built on rocks, concrete piles are better. The necessary diameter of a pile for 2 -3 level house is 35 – 40 cm, …

Scam Busting – How to Avoid Scams and Make Money Online

The internet is a world of opportunities but also it is a world of scams. If you are going to be successful online, you'll need to know how to separate money making schemes from pocket emptying scams.

Here are some useful tips:

Use Search Engines

If you come across any program you are interested in, before committing your money to it. Type the website or the name of the program into a search engine [eg Google, Yahoo or MSN Search], you should get results form it if it is a popular program and you will be able to get a general feel of how people perceive the program or site.

One thing I usually do, which helps me get meaningful result is to put scam in front of the program. For example, if I want to verify if a program called "easy money maker" is a scam or not, I'll type "easy money maker scam", I will get a list of results where people are either complaining about the program being scam orraising it for not being a scam. Try it with and without the quotes to get the best results.

Note that this is to give you a general feel of people's perception of the program; some people are just plain lazy and anything requiring a bit of work before results they will quickly label scam.

Use Forums

To determine the authenticity of a program or money making scheme, join good forums where money making skills and programs are discussed. Money making forums, work at home forums etc will give you a good result. Ask around in the forums for anyone who has invested in the program or has second information about it.

Money making opportunities abound online but there are also many scams out there, that was why I started MoneyMakingOnline.org to help people tell the difference and make a wise and informed choice.
Follow the above tips and remember when something looks too good to be true, look hard before you take a leap. …

The Four Money Quadrants: Teaching Kids Good Money Habits They Can Live With

As Teachers, Parents, Grandparents, Godparents, Friends, etc. it is our job to teach children good financial habits as early as possible by demonstrating to them how to properly distribute their money. After all, children are our future. The lesson here is to teach your child not to live their lives from check to check or above their means, but to live in a happy balance. By getting your child into the habit of dividing his money into four specific categories (Spend, Save, Donate and Invest), he will grow up to be more responsible with his finances, so, possibly not adversely affected by any bad economic times.

The trick is getting the percentages right. Some good numbers to shoot for in adulthood is Spend 70{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}, Save 10{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}, Give 10{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc} and Invest 10{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}. For youngger children the Spend percentage should be much lower whereas the Invest percentage should be much higher – of course it will be different based on the individual!

Spend: Teach your child to spend a percentage of their money. Do not teach your child to be a miser with their money, for this can lead to negative associations with money. Teach him to celebrate his achievements and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Allow your child to spend their money on anything they want with this portion of the money (within reason) can be a great self-confidence booster. As an adult this portion will be used for living expenses including the necessities like paying the mortgage, car payments, insurance premiums and buying food as well as for entertainment needs.

Save: Teach your child to save a percentage of their money for larger ticket items that they can not immediately buy like a digital camera, a laptop or even a car. This can teach the importance of goal setting and the virtues of patience and of delayed gratification. As an adult this portion would be your liquid money that may be called the "Emergency Fund", the "Rainy Day Fund" or even the "Saving up to finish the foundation Fund". It is very important to have that extra savings on the side for any unexpected expenses as well as for any expected future expenses.

Donate: Encourage your child to give a percentage of the earned income to charity. Teach him the joy of giving back and helping others. Also, there is actually scientific proof that giving is good for your health. I do not claim to be a scientist, however, apparently when you give; you get a good feeling, and that is because endorphins are released in your body. This release of endorphins is supposedly to be healthy. Besides the health benefit and the fact that it is the right thing to do, you will be bringing up a compassionate person that will not be "all about me." There is a great quote by Jim Rohn that states, "It's best to start the discipline of generosity when the amounts are small. . "

Invest: Help your child invest a percentage …

How to Start a House Cleaning Business on a Tight Budget

"If you use Emotion and Love to drive your sales and your business, you will create Loyalty Beyond Reason. And I promise you, you will build relationships and enjoy a business that exceeds beyond your wildest expectations"

First of all, before you decide to start your cleaning business, make sure this kind of work is right for you. You will need to be in good physical condition. Cleaning is very hard strenuous work. You will need to have good customer relation skills. You will need to have basic office skills and some accounting skills.

If you are planning on leaving your full time position to start a cleaning business, make sure you have at least six months of savings. Or keep your full time job and start out part time.

Research all the aspects of the cleaning service business. From customer service to advertising, taxes, employees, insurance and bonding, what to charge and how to clean a home professionally. Cleaning your own home and cleaning professionally is totally different. Learning how to clean professionally takes a lot of time. When a client pays for your services they expect to come home and find their home spotless.

Getting those first clients takes time, persistence and patience. You will not get a hundred clients overnight.

Obtaining Those First Clients The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients. Most clients want to know how long you have been in business and want references. The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes, you are new to the business but that you have thoroughly examined all aspects of the cleaning business and assure them that you know what you are doing and that you are quit capable of cleaning them home to their specifications. Be confident. I can not stress this enough. Clients love to see confidence. It relieves their worries and lets them know that their home is in good hands.

References: To get a few good references when starting out, ask some friends or family members if you can clean their home for free or at a discounted rate. The sound of working for free may not be appealing but it will be worth it to get some good testimonials.

When cleaning those first homes, go for quality, not how fast you can clean the home. Cleaning efficiently takes a long time, but you will get to the point where you can do a thorough cleaning in a short time. After cleaning make sure you go back and double check all rooms to make sure you did not miss anything. Impress those first clients and word of mouth will spread soon.

Advertising Your company image is everything. Before you start advertising, decide what image you want to portray on your advertising material. Your image is very important. Be consistent with all your advertising. If you have a logo be sure to use it on all your advertising materials. I think it is best to …

Ways to Work Online at Home

Ireland is one of the few countries that are not yet fully aware of the many income opportunities from the internet. But because the whole world is experiencing recession, even the Irish people need to make money on the side to make ends meet.

One good way to earn extra income to sustain the costs of living is to work online at home in Ireland. This may be a new practice to the Irish, but it is really going to help them make a living. There are different options to choose from. Freelance writing jobs are available; They can range from writing, web-designing, marketing, transcription, and data entry. There are several different virtual companies that focus on operating and renting within the country. Any Irish can take advantage of this opportunity.

Affiliate marketing is another way to work online at home in Ireland. This is a bought-after part-time job because it does not require you to take your full attention to the job. When you become part of affiliate marketing, all you do is advertise a company's products in exchange of commission. You must have a website that can host advertisements and banners of the company you sign affiliation with.

If affiliate marketing is not at all appealing to you, you can always resort to online paid surveys. It does not matter what country you are from, survey websites need and value your points of view. All that you really need to do is answer a survey – give your feedback and honest opinion, and you will be paid for doing so. …

Why is Smoking Bad For You? – 3 Main Reasons

We all know we shouldn’t smoke, but why is smoking bad for you? Instead of just taking it at face value let’s break down the specific reasons why smoking is bad for you and, if you are a smoker, why you should stop smoking as soon as possible.

Health Reasons

First and foremost, smoking is horrible for your health and leads to numerous diseases and disorders. Smoking leads to cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD alone kills thousands of smokers yearly. From the first breath of smoke the damage begins and the longer a smoker continues smoking the worse the damage becomes. Eventually the damage is permanent. Worse yet the same damage can occur to the smoker’s loved ones who are continuously subjected to second hand smoke.

Cosmetic Reasons

 

Smoking has many unpleasant cosmetic effects on the smoker. Smoking gives you bad breath. Continuous smoking also leads to yellow teeth. A smoker is three times more likely than a non smoker to lose their teeth. Smoking also has negative effects on the skin. Smokers age prematurely, getting wrinkles and ashen colored skin. If you have seen someone who has smoked for a long time you can see that they look older and unhealthy.

 

Financial Reasons

 

The smoking habit has gotten more and more expensive over recent years. The average smoker spends $30 a week on their habit. That is over $1,500 a year. That is money that could be spent on much more constructive things or money that could go towards bills and life expenses. If a smoker continues to the point they get one of the above mentioned diseases then they will have to spend money to treat these diseases. Also, smokers may have to pay more money for health and life insurance.

 

In Conclusion

Why is smoking bad for you? The three reasons above are a few of the main reasons but there really are many more. If you are a smoker than now is the time to stop smoking before you have severe health problems, suffer cosmetic effects, or spend too much money on the habit.…

What Pet Insurance Will Benefit You With

Pets are loved by people, but we still need to take care of them. Rarely does pet insurance arise when people are discussing the important subject of insurance. Many of the people often associate policies to life, health, car or home insurance. However, for those who own pets, and particularly dogs or cats, it is a great idea for them to seriously consider it for their beloved pets. There are many benefits generated from having a policy for your pet, including:

· The insurance policy is relatively affordable

Pet insurance is inexpensive and easy to obtain. This is one of the reasons why pet owners find it enticing. Nevertheless, different companies charge different prices. Furthermore, the price is largely predicated on many other factors such as the coverage benefits, length of the policy, the insurance company’s issuing policy and the different deductibles, etc. In spite of these factors, the packages are affordable, cost efficient and easy to find. When you engage wise purchasing strategies and some research you will be in a position to find the right policy. If you consider the strategy of comparing insurance, you will be able to find an inexpensive insurance that helps you to maximize on cost efficiency.

· Easy process of approval

It is easy for any pet to receive the policy that is very important for the pet owner and the pet. It is possible the pet could be healthy and appears active for now. However, as time passes and it ages, health complications are likely to arise. Therefore, the easy process of approval offered by insurance companies is particularly helpful. This will go a long way in ensuring the costs of medical attention is catered for.

· Easy to find an all inclusive coverage

Another benefit of the insurance is the fact that it is not too difficult to find the right coverage for your pet. It is common for the insurance companies to offer covers on different types of procedures, medications and medical visits. Some of the pet owners’ argue an all inclusive insurance is not effective considering its cost would fail to offset the visits to the veterinarian- often undertaken once a year. This may be rue to some extent; however, the main reason of purchasing insurance for your pets is to cater for the costs that arise when the pets suddenly need treatment as a result of an illness or other medical procedures. Therefore, an all inclusive coverage comes handy in such circumstances.…

Wholesale Business: How to Start a Beverage Distribution Business

Combine Wholesale Distribution with the Beverage Industry and you get one of the most profitable and fun businesses in the world.

This article will give you an introduction into this great business, how you can start and how much money you can make on each case of beverage sold. Is beverage distribution for you? Find out right now.

Beverage distribution is one of the easiest and most profitable businesses I’ve seen.

I like it because you don’t need a lot of customers to make a lot of money. You can easily make an extra $5,000 with a few customers.

You will see why beverage is one of the best businesses in the world. I started in beverage while I had my tool and novelty distribution business. I was looking for new products, products that I did not need to exchange so often and that I could sell over and over again to the same customers. This last part was key.

You see, when I was selling tools I figured that I could sell up to 1,000 tools per day or more but every customer was unique. In other words, if you buy a hammer at a store on Monday chances are you will not go on Tuesday and buy another Hammer. Even if it only costs $1.98!

Don’t get me wrong, the “tool distribution business” is a wonderful business and I still love it. I was just looking for another type of product to add to my current items.

I figured out that in order to sell the same product over and over again it would have to be a food product. So I started going to trade shows and looking at chocolate, potato chips, candy, and other products. I even looked at name brands like Hershey’s. The problem was that I could not buy directly from the manufacturers and the profit margins were super low, about 12{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc}. I was used to up to 70{4917788a0bd7aa7369c2a945027b4fe6c9853cda4150a24fe1255b18ce3083dc} profit margins.

Finally I ran into a beverage manufacturer of an Energy Drink. They were just starting with their product and it was easier to become a distributor.

Now let me tell you a bit about Energy Drinks. Energy Drinks are the new Super Profitable products. Everybody makes money, the manufacturer, the distributor and the retailer. You see, Energy Drinks sell for $1.99 to $2.40 at the stores for 8 to 16 ounces. This is incredible if you consider that you can buy a soda that’s the same size for $0.50 to $0.75. Even a 20 ounce soda runs you about $1.25.

Distributors love the product because they make about $8 per every case they sell compared with about $2 to $4 for their other products.

Let’s get back to the Beverage Business. The great part of this business is that if you have only one customer going into the store buying your product you sell at least 1 case of that product per month.

You see; if you sell a soda someone can buy …

The Importance of Name Boards for Business

First of all gone are the days when shops and offices would paint their concern’s name on their wall. Now even the sign boards with printed design has also gone out of the market. Here is the time for name boards and signages which comes in different latest trends along with the use of technology. There are front lit boards, back lit boards, name boards which are made using metals, there are name boards which are made using glass, there are name boards which are made using LED lights and neon lights. With all these types to choose it has become a very big and reputed market. As mentioned earlier name boards does boost the sales of the place and it also enhances the reputation of the shops/office and it has become a matter of ego nowadays. When a customer comes to a shopping area he looks all round and the first thing which attracts him is the name boards. Using LED displays and neon lights has become a trend today. The LED lights are high in density and can be viewed from a long distance. The customers very obviously will get attracted towards a name board which is very flashy and good. They don’t even look at the size of the shop, they don’t even want to know what quality of materials are, they don’t want to know the price of the product but the name boards just lures them into the place. Extra bucks should be spent on the name boards due to its importance. Never try to save money on the name boards. Neon light name boards are even better and it suits certain types of business such as hotels, bars, games corner etc. They can be visible in pitch dark and they in fact look more beautiful in dark night. This also is good for their business.

Apart from business the name boards and signage are also very important for corporate companies. Many information technology company find it as an image of the company and definitely want to make the signage perfect. They want their logos to be on their building as signage. Many would have seen that the reception and waiting area of many corporate companies have signages in the reception area. Now this is a need for a good signage with a combination which suits the interior of the company. So it is a matter of prestige. The reception area is made keeping in mind the logo, the company name style, the color combinations and the font style. You cannot just simply print a digital banner and stick it on the wall of the reception area.…

Stuck in a Comfort Zone? – Discover If You're Under Attack by "The Comfort-Zone Killer"

On occasion, we may all find ourselves wrapped up in a warm and cozy "comfort-zone" blanket, with a nice hot cup of soothing procrastination tea. It sure is relaxing for moment, is not it? The real trouble is, some stay in this seemingly safe haven for large portions of their lives and some simply never get out of it at all. There certainly is not anything right or wrong about staying in this comfort zone and some live happy lives there. Although, if one wants to break through self imposed barriers and reach new levels of potential; you must absolutely throw the fuzzy blanket in the fire and toss that same old tea out the back door.

Let's explore for a moment, the long term potential danger of choosing the fuzzy "comfort-zone" blanket, over the crisp clean refreshing air of the unknown. A common perpetual pattern that you may find yourself in is as follows. You are once again very close to reaching a new goal and then you abruptly stop short of it – only to fall back to the snug blanket of general safety from which you came. This could happen through a subconscious self-sabotage or a conscious fear-based withdrawal. However it may happen, it happens … and it is the minority workings of a deadly assassin that is killing your potential. It is extremely rare for this "comfort-zone killer" to strike with a one-time deadly blow. He is much more likely to release drops of dream killer poison into your mind ever so slowly from each retreat and each moment of self-sabotage. This crafty bandit will sit back and relish in the fact that you do not even notice him. He is so sly, so cunning … that one day you just wake up and realize that your life is full of regret and disappointment. He laughs as you remember choices that let to: unlived adventures, dreams unfulfilled, and goals never attained. A life never really lived.

That is a sad truth for some. A truth that simply does not have to become true for anyone … especially for you.

You are free to choose a different path. To live a life of completeness and delight. A life that exudes joy, abundance and passion at every turn. You are free at each of your present moments to choose the joy of the unknown, over that intimate and secluded space of your own personal comfort-zone. The unknown is the sacred space from which the universe goes to work for you, creating your personal reality however you may wish. With each simple choice for happiness, each smile given, each helping hand extended and each dream passionately bought after – your immunity grows stronger and stronger against this outlaw's poison. With each goal written down, each positive action taken towards your goals and each meditation enjoyed – another powerful nail in the coffin is pounded down for this comfort-zone killer. His days are numbered. Although, in order to defeat this …