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5 Tips to Prevent Air Conditioning Repair This Summer

May 8, 2018 by

Air conditioner usage

The last thing that you need is for your air conditioning to break down in the middle of summer. Unfortunately, this tends to be rather common as your AC unit sits unused during winter and spring. The good news is that you can avert any looming disasters by carrying out some simple steps. So, if you want to stay cool and comfortable all summer long, check out these tips:

1)   Maintain, Maintain, Maintain

The only real way to prevent your air conditioning from cutting out on you is to keep up with maintenance. Now, the precise number of tune-ups that your unit will require will depend on the model and what the instruction manual recommends. However, it is a good idea to have someone come and check out the system at least once a year – preferably right before summer starts. This way, you can make sure that everything is in working condition. You will be able to find such services at centers that provide AC Repair Denver.

2)   Change the Air Filter

Now, the main function of your air conditioning air filter is to cut down on the dust and dirt particles that enter the system. However, at the same time, dust tends to build up on the filter over time. When too much of the dirt accumulates on the filter, though, it forces the system to work even harder for a lower output of cool air. If this continues to happen, important components in the unit can break down. This could result in expensive repairs. This is why, to avoid all of this, you should change your filters either once a month or when they begin to look dirty. Therefore, it’s necessary to have a good quality 14x18x1 air filter to maintain the air in your home.

3)   Look Out for Small Problems

It is rare for your air conditioning unit to suddenly stop working. It is quite likely that it first exhibited minor signs and problems that you might have missed. This is why it is important to respond to minor issues when they first show up, including to test AC capacitor. This includes an AC that may not be as efficient as it should be, signs of water leaks around the unit, unusual noises, and similar problems. By taking care of the small issues now, you will be able to ensure that they won’t turn into bigger, costlier problems during the summer.

4)   Keep the Internal and External Areas Clean

Unless you want your air conditioning unit to get blocked or clogged up, you should work to keep the areas around the unit clean. This includes both the parts that are inside and outside the house as well. So, around the inside of the house make it a point to dust, vacuum, and clean on a regular basis. This will prevent the build-up of dust. Around the external portion, make sure that there aren’t any grass, trees, plants, or debris, around the unit that can cause a blockage.

5)   Avoid Overworking the Unit

When it gets really hot outside, you probably won’t think much of cranking the air conditioning up so that you can stay cool. Well, while this may keep you comfortable, it isn’t actually all that good for your AC unit, particularly if you do it on a regular basis. It is much better if you find ways to keep your home cool instead. For one thing, you can minimize the level of warmth that enters your home. So, use dark curtains to prevent the sun from getting in. At the same time, you can cut down the amount of cool air that is leaving the house by improving your insulation.

These are all of the ways that you can prevent your AC from needing repairs this summer. This allows you and your family to stay cool and to avoid any expensive bills as well.




How to Reduce Your Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs

May 5, 2018 by

Healthcare Cost

Rising prices, stagnant wages, uncertainty about taxes, and an increasingly complex and expensive healthcare market may be combining to empty your pockets. And in fact, Americans have been paying more out of pocket for their health care expenses in recent years. But, there are still a host of effective strategies you can use to reduce those out-of-pocket costs.

While everyone’s situation differs in ways that will affect his or her health expenses and impact which cost-reduction strategies will work best, here are 6 key ways that almost anyone can reduce on uncovered healthcare costs:

1. Sign Up For Medicare Advantage

You’ve probably heard the term before, but exactly what is Medicare Part C? A look at its features and benefits can be had by clicking on the provided link. Here, we mention the fact that Part C can save you out of pocket by adding coverage for dental care and prescription drugs, besides still including the hospital and medical insurance of parts A and B.

But who is eligible to apply for this health insurance? People above 65 years are the target group who can benefit from part C health insurance, and also younger than 65 with certain types of disabilities.

Finally, Part C puts a limit on how much you can possibly have to pay out of pocket for A and B type services. After you max out, Medicare cover 100% of those expenses from there on. That gives you certainty about how much you will, at most, pay, besides the extra dental and drug coverage.

2. Comparison Shop and Use Generics

When you begin to research the costs of different major procedures at different medical providers, you will be amazed at how much they can vary. You can often get equivalent care at some outpatient clinics as at a major hospital, but for a much lower price tag.

And to discover what is the average cost for specific types of care in your area, you can use any of the many online search tools that give you such averages in seconds, after you enter your zip code.

Finally, buying generic versions of drugs can save you big, and generics are legally required to use the same active ingredient(s) as the drugs they mimic. So, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to prescribe them in place of more expensive name-brand drugs.

3. Avoid the Emergency Room

If you have a real emergency, with life or limb in jeopardy, the ER is a must, not an option. That said, avoid the ER whenever possible. It costs upwards of $2,000 for an average ER visit, and it doesn’t have to be a “real emergency” to be a costly one. An urgent care clinic or a same-day doctor’s appointment will be much less pricey.

4. Use Technology to Save

Using an online “video appointment” for minor ailments is often 100% effective. Doctor’s can ask questions and see the patient in virtual visits just like in actual ones. And it saves you money.

And if your regular doctor communicates with you via emails, texts, and chat sessions as needed (within reasonable demands on his/her time), that can often save you long waits in the doctor’s office. Also, you can use online services to book doctor or even dentist appointments (here’s an example of Denver`s best dentists listed by Zocdoc – an app for booking doctor appointments online) . And time, after all, is money.

5. Stay In-Network

To reduce your share of medical bills, you need to ensure that your insurance of choice covers your favorite providers. Or, alternatively, pick the providers based on the insurance network. But unless they match, you pay extra out of pocket with every service received.

You also need to check the price points of the providers, of course. For, paying a smaller percentage of a larger bill might mean paying more overall.

6. Call to Challenge Denied Claims

If you do get a bill in the mail for a medical expense you thought was covered, or see less of it covered than you thought should be, don’t hesitate to call your insurer.

Sometimes, mistakes are made. And other times, the insurer may be willing to reconsider if you call and make an appeal. Insurance company decisions are not always set in stone like people think: you’d be surprised how many people have appealed, won, and saved big.




Does IRS-EIN-Tax-ID Have a Refund Policy?

April 24, 2018 by

Refund policy

If you are applying for a tax ID number for your business, IRS estate tax ID, or any other reason, you might be wondering about the logistics of the fees and refund policies should that be needed. We offer great customer service in every area of the tax ID number application process, as well as after your tax ID has been obtained. We take pride in our customers knowing that they are working with a service they can trust, no matter the situation. While we don’t anticipate our customers having an issue with our services in which they would need a refund, we understand that this does occur from time to time. In that event, our customers can feel confident that we do have a refund policy that we honor.

Refund Policy

Should you find yourself in need of a refund for your Colorado tax ID number, we are here to help. If you are ever unsatisfied with the service or experience you received from us, we will first and foremost try to resolve any concerns you might be experiencing. If we are unable to resolve your concerns, we will issue a full refund for your EIN fees. However, our refund does require a $10 processing fee, but we do not ask any questions or pressure you into changing your mind about your refund. You can expect to have your refund, minus the $10 refund processing fee in no time.

While we do offer refunds per request, we will also refund your fees, minus the $10 processing fee, if your application and forms are incorrect or there are multiple errors in which we cannot resolve. Otherwise, you should expect a smooth transaction with your application for your tax ID with IRS-EIN-Tax-ID, and we are happy to meet your needs.




Parent-Child Relationship In The Digital Era

April 23, 2018 by

Parent child relationship

The parent child relationship is a unique relationship in itself. This relationship is so pure and full of trust, care, love and whole heartedness. However the relationship between parent and child has changed a lot with the changing landscape, human development and lifestyle. The relationship today is not the same kind as it used to be in earlier times. The shift towards nuclear family and loss of joint family system caused by rapid urbanization has changed the child rearing approach. It has become more of an individualistic approach rather than a community affair. Also the perception related to parenting has changed tremendously amongst adults too as they consider it to be a choice and not something natural. With the advent of digital age things have changed a lot and so does the dynamics of parent child relationship. The change is most significant in an adolescent child and parent relation as in this phase the child goes through a series of physical, mental and emotional changes that are affected by the changes in his social environment and particularly his relationship with parents.

With the coming of social media, the friend circle and social outreach of children have increased well beyond the geographic limit. Earlier it used to be under the grasp of the parents because of geographic restrictions. This has created more vulnerability for the parent child relationship. Parents also often lag behind children in terms of adoption of new technologies. The pace with which children adapt technological changes is much faster than ever before.  This lag creates a digital divide between the two generations if the parents do not cope-up with it.

The way children interact now with their parents and family members is far more different than earlier times. Technology has changed the interaction methods as it led to a reduction in the amount of physical interaction and made it more of a superficial kind of relationship. This can cause strains in relationship and lesser meaningful interaction between children and parents.

The other effects of digital era include the decline in the amount of time being given to relationships to flourish. Although technological tools do help in increasing communication and making it better but joint social media engagement drops off remarkably for kids who are six years or above. Hence to make meaningful relationship and to keep the relations smooth it is necessary for children and parents to spend more time together which may be either through the use of digital communicating tools.




Motorcycles – Are You For Or Against?

April 19, 2018 by

I have been wanting a motorcycle for as long as I can remember and every time I mention it to Melinda she immediately tells me NO. I am assuming she is afraid that I might crash and hurt myself and she is trying to avoid a phone call to a motorcycle accident attorney.

In a way I can’t say that I blame her because I see serious accident attorney commercials all the time that mention lawyers all over the country even Birmingham, Alabama lawyers. I’m assuming they deal with more than just motorcycle accidents, but I would guess they get their fair share of motorcycle cases. When I watch shows like Sons of Anarchy it makes me want to get a bike. Not because I want to be a motorcycle outlaw or anything, but I can imagine the freedom you feel just cruising down the highway on a motorcycle.

What is funny is Melinda is ok with letting Sabreena, our 16 year old daughter ride on a motor cycle with our brother in law but won’t let me get one for myself, NOT FAIR. Again, I sort of understand her reasoning but really wish she would just trust me and know that I would do everything in my power to stay safe while out on the road. Maybe this post is a plea to Melinda in the hopes that she might change her mind but I doubt she ever will. Melinda is extremely passionate about me not being able to own two things: a gun and a motorcycle.

Now that I put both of those together maybe her fear is me becoming a motorcycle outlaw, LOL.

What are your feelings about motorcycles? Are you for or against them?




Fundraise Smarter, Not Harder: 6 Tips for Moms Raising Cash for Clubs & Teams

April 19, 2018 by
Arrange funding for teams

The biggest social butterflies in the world have trouble making the “ask” for their causes. Asking your neighbors, acquaintances, and fellow parents to support your kids’ athletic teams, school clubs, and community groups isn’t always as easy as it seems.

Just one rejection can reverberate throughout your social circle, feeding a cycle of misunderstandings and hurt feelings that can really set back your relationships.

While these tips won’t totally eliminate the awkwardness of making the ask, they do take off some of the social pressure. And they’re sure to reduce your workload, freeing up your (very) limited time and resources for more important parenting duties.

  1. Table at Community Events

Getting a public permit isn’t as hard as you might think. Once your fundraising campaign is in full swing, set up shop at community events like holiday parades, high school sporting events, neighborhood festivals, and the like. Wherever you expect to see a critical mass of fellow parents and sympathetic neighbors, your organization needs to have a presence.

  1. Host a Signature Themed Event

When in doubt, create your own event. According to the experts at ABC Fundraising, a signature event like a pancake breakfast or themed evening party can dramatically increase your fundraising impact without significantly increasing your input costs. Poll fellow fundraisers or team parents and settle on an event that suits you all.

  1. Camp Out in the Grocery Store Parking Lot

The grocery store parking lot is a popular spot for fundraising of all sorts, from the Salvation Army during the winter holidays to veterans’ groups around Memorial Day. Why not add your voice to the mix? Ask the store owner or manager for permission to set up a table in a designated, out-of-the-way area for an agreed-upon window of time, then work your persuasive magic. You’ll want to have colorful signs, flyers, and other informational materials about your group on hand for skeptics and low-information prospects.

  1. Ask Deep-Pocketed Donors to Match Donations

Approach local businesses and kind-hearted individuals about matching donations on a given day. If they hesitate, cap the match at an amount with which they’re comfortable. You’ll still double your money!

  1. Spin Up a Campaign Website

Even if you’re raising funds in a small geographical area, a campaign or team website can really help boost your visibility. Set one up, and don’t forget to add an email newsletter to keep prospective and current donors appraised of your progress.

  1. Publicly Track Your Progress

Speaking of progress: a donation thermometer in your town square may be overkill (and may contravene local ordinances anyway), but that shouldn’t stop you from announcing key fundraising milestones on social media or your campaign website. Let the public celebrate along with you!

What’s Your Fundraising Secret?

If you haven’t yet tried any of the tips on this list, don’t feel bad. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to run a fundraiser for your kid’s sports team, club, or community group. Whatever gets you to your fundraising goal without encroaching too much on your already-packed schedule is probably worth the effort. With a little luck, you’ll soon be in a position to share your fundraising secrets with your friends and neighbors.




How to Make Money by Spring Cleaning

April 16, 2018 by

Sell Jewellery

The holidays have come and gone, and it’s time to refresh your home. Spring cleaning isn’t just about clearing out those dust bunnies and polishing that heirloom furniture you love so much – it’s also a great opportunity to make some extra cash. Online and off, there are quite a few ways to transform clutter into money you can put to good use!

  • Start with the Big Stuff

Is there a car you’re not driving or a big piece of furniture you’re tired of? Clearing a big space feels good! There are a few ways to get rid of old cars: for example, selling to a dealer is an option, particularly if the car is in good shape. If your old car isn’t a good candidate for sale or for use as a trade-in, you can sell it for scrap or donate it and receive a tax break that’s almost as good as money in the bank. Both methods are fairly easy, and both clear up a huge amount of space in your garage.

What about furniture? Start by ensuring that everything is clean and in good repair, and then scout around to see how much others are asking for similar items. Check to see how much it costs to place a classified ad, or cut costs by listing your items online via a free site like Craigslist or Facebook. Be sure to protect yourself if potential buyers will be coming to your home – if you live alone, for example, ask a friend or two to keep you company.

  • Get Rid of Books

Books take up quite a bit of shelf space that you could use to display other treasures. If you have books to sell, you’ll be glad to know that there are a few great options available. Amazon allows the resale of used books, as does eBay. Bookscouter.com and Powell’s, are two of the best places to sell used books online. If your community is home to a used bookstore, you may want to see whether you can trade your old books for cash on the spot!

  • Sell Jewelry Online

Pawn shops don’t offer much for jewelry – even diamond engagement rings go for very little in most areas. If the idea of parting ways with old jewelry has ever crossed your mind but you’re not keen to sell it at a serious markdown, you’ll be glad to know that there is an excellent alternative. Worthy is an online auction house where you can sell diamond jewelry securely. The company enjoys an excellent rating from the Better Business Bureau. They have your diamonds professionally photographed and graded by the GIA, before putting them up for auction to a network of professional buyers. Thanks to the competitive bidding, they ensure that sellers receive fair market value for their items. If the auction doesn’t meet the minimum price the seller agreed to, the jewelry is simply returned.

  • Consign Expensive Clothing

Most of us have a few suits or sweaters taking up closet space. Local and online consignment stores typically accept gently worn apparel in classic, wearable styles. Check out Thredup if you think you have items you’d like to sell. The company accepts tens of thousands of brands, and happily pays an added premium for designer items. Clean out kits are free, and they come with a pre-paid shipping label. The company recycles anything that doesn’t sell, and you get cash for the rest. Just like Worthy, Thredup has an excellent rating from the Better Business Bureau, and all transactions are completely secure.

  • Host a Garage Sale or Get a Spot at a Flea Market

Once you’ve sold items of greater value, it’s time to get rid of everyday items such as pots and pans, smaller furnishings, old paintings, and other things you no longer want or need. If you have lots to get rid of, consider hosting a garage sale. You’ll attract more visitors if you invite neighbors to join you; multi-family garage sales tend to draw plenty of attention. If you have a smaller amount to get rid of, consider renting a table at a flea market during a busy weekend. Sure, you’ll have to sit there and collect the cash, but this is a tried-and-true method for making quick money. Pack up items that didn’t sell and drop them off at a charity or thrift store.

Clearing clutter feels good! And now that you know how easy it is to make money by Spring cleaning, you may feel more motivated to begin. So grab a bag or a box and start clearing! You’ll soon find yourself relaxing in a fresher, cleaner home while celebrating the benefits that come with a bigger bank balance.

Sources:

https://www.worthy.com/blog/worthy-living/how-spring-cleaning-can-make-you-money/

https://www.aol.com/article/finance/2015/03/19/make-money-spring-cleaning/21154415/

https://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-a-car/

https://www.wheelsforwishes.org/sell-your-car/

https://wellkeptwallet.com/26-best-places-to-sell-textbooks-for-the-most-money/




4 Ways Parents can Help Prevent Teen Depression

April 16, 2018 by

Depression

Adolescence is a very crucial time in life for anyone. Teenagers at this age are full of a variety of emotions, curiosity and anxiety. This makes them vulnerable to different kind of circumstances which may be bad or good for them. Navigating smoothly through this phase of life is not an easy task it requires a whole lot of efforts from the teenagers side and an equal amount of efforts from the side of the parents too. Teenage depression is a pressing problem that the world faces. This also leads to high number of suicide attempts amongst the teenagers. However neurologists, psychologists and scientist studying teen depression have researched a lot on the issue to have a better understanding of what causes teen depression and how to prevent it. What they found was that parents have the major role to play in preventing teen depression. So here are 4 ways parents can help to prevent teen depression.

1. Increased level of Cortisol and C-reactive protein is responsible for higher anxiety and depression. But the levels can be reduced to a great extent if proper parental support and care is provided to teens. All they require at this tender age I the warmth and support of their parents. This greatly helps them to feel relaxed and motivated in difficult situations.

2. Parents should also help their kids by developing strong emotional and social cohesion skills from the very beginning of their life. Being emotionally strong helps the teen to handle a variety of emotions that they feel during the age of adolescence. All they need is the love and support of their parents.

3. Peer relationship is very crucial for teens as they look up to peers for maintaining status getting their approval on daily life activities. However stressed relationship with peers can make things worse for them leading to depression. Parents play an important part in this scenario as they need to understand that breakups and stressed friendship are a part of growing up and they need to make this fact realize to their kids too.

4. Parents can also help teens by making them realize the importance of purpose and goal in life. Parents with their daily involvement in the activities of the teens be it schoolwork or outside school activities can help to teach children to do things which have meaning and purpose for them, so as to remain focused.




Think Your Child Might Have A Learning Disability?

April 3, 2018 by

You love your child more than anything, and in your eyes they can do no wrong. It’s your parental instinct to want what’s best for your child, and sometimes that means facing uncomfortable truths, one of which is that your child might have a learning disability. Make no mistake: it is no mark against them as a person, nor is it a mark against you as a parent; it is simply a fact of life, whose causes are both varied and, often, not well known.

A child with a learning disability might be just as smart (and often smarter!) than their peers, but owing to some neurological difference they might have trouble with conventional learning processes, like reading and writing. Thankfully, with care and intervention, children with learning disabilities can go on to be successful both in school and in their lives thereafter. Here are a few facts about learning disabilities, as well as what you can do if you think your child might have a learning disability.

Learning disability

What is a learning disability?

According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, learning disabilities “refer to a number of disorders which may affect the acquisition, organization, retention, understanding or use of verbal or nonverbal information.” Put another way, they are neurological differences (indeed, some prefer to the term “learning difference”) that cause difficulty in learning. Common learning disabilities include Dyslexia (trouble reading), Dyscalculia (trouble comprehending math and arithmetic), Dysgraphia (trouble with written expression) and Dyspraxia (difficulty forming speech). Early diagnosis of learning disabilities, is invaluable for parents as it provides a roadmap for understanding their child’s challenges and finding effective solutions.
Understanding dyslexia in children and identifying the issues early on, for instance, allows parents to explore various intervention strategies, such as specialized reading programs and individualized tutoring. These interventions are designed to target the specific difficulties associated with dyslexia, helping children develop essential reading and writing skills. Additionally, assistive technologies, audiobooks, and speech-to-text software can provide valuable support for children with dyslexia, enhancing their learning experience and academic achievements.

What are the signs?

If your child has consistent, prolonged difficulty reading; if they struggle with math concepts, even after thorough, repeated explanation; if they have difficulty writing; or they make repeated, often inconsistent errors in speech production, they might have a learning disability. You might have noticed that they have difficulty concentrating, or that their academic performance is inconsistent, which could also be cause for concern. If your child is struggling at school, it could be a sign that there is an underlying learning disability at work, and that you should take them for an assessment.

What are the next steps?

If you suspect your child might have a learning disability, the next step is to access a psycho-educational assessment from a child psychologist. Aside from the value of understanding your child’s strengths and shortcomings better, the benefits of seeing a child psychologist are that they can then offer recommendations to improve learning and address difficulties, as well as offer a helpful diagnosis or identification. There are wonderful health services right here in Ajax that are ready to help, and it’s just a matter of contacting them.

Learning assessment

Though your child might have a learning disability, there is no reason that they shouldn’t get all the same opportunities as others to learn and express themselves. Start here, by understanding learning disabilities better and how to detect them, and then seek the help of a child psychologist, who will assess your child and offer recommendations for learning. You want what’s best for your child, and that means understanding both their strengths and their shortcomings.




Understanding Car Leasing: Commonly Asked Questions

March 26, 2018 by

Auto leasing

So you’re thinking about leasing a car. This can be a fantastic decision for you depending on your circumstances, and in certain ones, makes much more sense than buying a car outright. Leasing a car enables you to have access to a car, without having to pay a hefty sum up-front.

Here are some common questions asked about leasing a car:

1) Is it better than buying?

This really depends on your circumstances; it’s similar to whether buying a property is better than renting. If you’re looking for a mid-term solution, for example, you are only moving to a country for a year or two, leasing would be a better solution than buying as you’ll only need the car while you’re there. If however, you’re deciding to grow a family with your partner, then leasing may present more problems than buying!

2) How do residual values work?

Residual values on a car are how much the car will be worth as the car gets older and used more. These are normally taken into account with the leasing price so that the car’s leaser doesn’t lose out from depreceiation of the car. CreditPlus have a very good explainer on this!

3) How is sales tax applied to lease?

This very much depends on your state’s tax laws, so it’s always a very good idea to check those first! The simplest way to think about it however, is that the base rate of sales tax applies to each monthly payment, as opposed to the whole lease. So you’ll multiply the sales tax for each month and add it onto that payment. There are many exemptions and details however, and the Sales Tax Institute has a good guide on what the exemptions are here.

4) Which parts of a lease are negotiable?

Normally the terms that are most negotiable are financial: The down payment on the lease, the buy-out option and the cost of the lease per month. The others you can negotiate are: time spent leasing the car, the mileage limit and any incentives or discount you can get.

5) What if I want to end the lease early?

Ending your car lease early can be a problem. While most leases enable you to end the contract early, all of them will have penalties and disincentives to lower the risk of you doing so. In most cases, you will have to pay the remainder of the lease amount, a termination fee, costs of cleaning and preparing the car for another sale and others besides. You should always check the contract before you sign for terms of early termination to know your rights.

6) All questions are answered on ICL leasing guide!

We’ve tried to answer most of your questions in this article, but if you have more, then you can find a great guide on the Intelligent Car Leasing site! So go and pop over to them to do your research on leasing!




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