How To Buy A Boat

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Always dreamed of life on the water? Whether you’ve caught the boating bug after a houseboat holiday, or want to take to the high seas, buying a boat can be a very exciting thing. However, a boat is a very big purchase (in more ways than one), so you need to do your homework first to make sure you make the right investment. Here’s how to buy a boat.

Decide What Type Of Boat To Buy

You know you want a boat, but you need to set a budget as your first step, so you can start creating a wishlist for the kind of boat you want. Your budget will play a big part in the kind of boat you buy, and the decision of whether to buy a used or a new boat. You should also consider the size of the boat. The right size depends on a few things:

  • People. How many people will you have onboard? Is this boat for solo adventures, family trips, or parties with friends?
  • Towing. If you will be trailering your boat, remember that the size of the boat will impact the size of vehicle that you need to tow it.
  • Location. Where will you use the boat? If you plan to boat on large waterways then a deeper hull makes sense. Smaller waterways and shallow water need a smaller vessel. If you live in a landlocked area, consider the cost of getting your boat to the water. Compare prices to move boats to be sure.
  • Storage. Where will you keep your boat? If it will be stored at the marina, then the size of the boat will impact the storage costs. If you have a personal dock, take account of space constraints. Remember to think about proper winter storage too to keep the boat safe.

Set Your Budget

Boating is a more affordable hobby than you might think. When you have an idea of the kind of boat you want to buy, narrow the list down further with some practical considerations that will help you set a budget.

Buying a new boat means you get something brand new, that comes with a warranty. If you buy used, you will need to do more thorough checks but will allow you to stretch your budget a little further. Think about the costs of weekends and vacations throughout the year, and you’ll find the boat ownership is pretty comparable.

With a boat and budget in mind, you can now start the shopping process. You can start by doing a general search online of different types of boat, and then focus on individual models through the manufacturer’s websites. Look at dealerships, online reviews, and boating forums. Who do you know who already owns a boat? Could they offer any advice or input? When you have a shortlist, see if you know anyone who owns those models so you can benefit from their firsthand experience and knowledge to help you decide if you are making the right choice.

Upgrading Your Home Without Breaking The Bank

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One of the main reasons that people put off upgrading their home is because of the cost that they think is associated with it. It’s true, it can be expensive to upgrade your home if you do it a certain way. However, at the same time, you can also do this without breaking the bank if you are willing to compromise on how much you’re going to do. There are so many simple things that you can do to upgrade the space you live in, it doesn’t have to be a full renovation where everything is completely new. In this article, we’re going to be looking at some of the ways that you can upgrade without breaking the bank, so if you want to know more about this topic then keep reading down below.

Paint The Walls

First, we’re going to go with something really simple, which is painting the walls. It doesn’t take much, it’s cheap to do, and yet it has the power to transform the entire room. We don’t know if you have ever painted a room yourself before, but you can always hire someone to do it for you if you want the job done professionally, however, this is going to cost more. A new coat of paint can really change the whole feel of a room, so don’t be surprised if it feels as though you are walking into a completely new space.

Sure, if you don’t like the color, you can always strip it and start again, but it’s going to be much more practical to just take your time and get it right straight away. Take your home choosing a new color and wait until you are completely sure. Check out swatches on your wall so that you can see what they really look like, and don’t choose without having seen them on your own wall!

Tackle The Garden

Have you thought about heading out into the garden and tackling the mess that it is? Probably not. Gardening is something that a lot of people don’t like because it is a lot of work, but when you maintain and keep it up properly, it doesn’t have to be. Fighting your way through every couple of months doesn’t have to be the way it is. You can easily do little bits here and there that will keep it looking nice so that you don’t have to spend hours at a time on it. You can find more information about ways to make your garden look fantastic on a site like https://www.housebeautiful.com.

Once you’ve got rid of the weeds and mowed the grass, you can add some wonderful touches to it. Flowers, a water feature, a patio or even a fire pit are all fantastic options here. Not only do they upgrade your home, but they can also add value if you are going to be thinking about selling in the near future. Just something to keep in mind when you’re planning out what to do with the space.

Get Some New Furniture

If you look at the furniture in your home right now, how does it make you feel? Do you like it, or is it simply what you are stuck with? It might be time to get some new furniture. We know that sometimes it can be expensive, but if you shop around and look at sites like www.tvstandsoutlet.com,  then you’re going to be able to find good deals on a number of different items. Think about what you’re going to need and make a list so that you get everything you set out for.

You don’t have to do this all at once, though because we know it can cost a lot if you try to. Instead, just take it room by room or piece by piece depending on what your budget looks like. If you are going to do it in increments though, try to think about your last purchase and whether the next one is going to match the vibe you’re going for.

Fill In All The Holes

Do you have a number of holes around your home where you have hung things up? A lot of people do, don’t worry about it but there is a simple fix to this. Simply head down to your DIY store, pick out some filler and then fill the holes! Smooth it down so that it doesn’t dry as a bubble, and there you go! Depending on the color of your walls, you might want to get some paint and go over the area, but other than this there isn’t much more to do. Filler doesn’t cost a lot, so you’re not going to have to worry about that.

Seeing as it’s such a simple thing to do, it would seem silly not to do it. If you do this every time you take something down that has been hanging on the wall, it’s never going to be a big job at all. Keeping on top of it is the best thing that you can do so that the job never becomes more than a few minutes.

Paint The Kitchen Cabinets

Have you thought about painting the kitchen cabinets? We bet that you didn’t think this would be on the list as an upgrade, but if your cabinets are looking worn, then it’s a good idea. Upgrading just means making better, so just because this doesn’t require a lot of work, doesn’t mean it doesn’t count as an upgrade. Take your time choosing a color so that you don’t end up regretting it and having to do the whole thing again though. You want it to match the rest of the kitchen, but also be something that you like to look at. Don’t rush this choice because we bet that you will change your mind if you do.

Boost The Curb Appeal

Do you ever consider what people see when they look at the front of your home? Have you ever gotten home and thought that the outside looked a bit dreary? If you’ve noticed, then someone else probably has too, so one upgrade that you should think about is boosting the curb appeal. It’s not difficult to do, and they are jobs that you can do by yourself such as mowing the lawn, making the front garden look pretty, painting the front door and so on. Make sure there is no litter anywhere on the front of your property, and anything that looks like it is damaged gets fixed as soon as possible.

These are usually small repairs and won’t take you that long to do. We all know that first impressions count, and it’s still important to keep up a good one even when you live there. If you want some more ideas on how to do this, check out a site like https://bestlifeonline.com/curb-appeal/.

Change Up The Fixtures

If you look at the fixtures in your home, how do they look? If they’re looking outdated or a little worn, then there is no reason not to change them. This includes electric outlets, taps in the bathroom and kitchen, and lights. None of these are particularly expensive to replace if you know where to look, so you can do this relatively cheaply without a lot of issues. Just head to your local DIY store and see what kind of fixtures they have available for you to purchase.

This is another decision that you should take your time with though because you’re going to be stuck with these for a long time. Discuss this with anyone else living in your house and get their opinion, especially if you find yourself unable to decide for any reason.

Mirrors And More Mirrors

Mirrors are always an excellent addition to any home. They look fantastic in all areas of the home, and they also help to open out rooms, making them look bigger than they actually are. You can get a number of different styles when it comes to mirrors so you’re not going to be short on options and they aren’t a massively expensive purchase making them perfect for a cheap upgrade. Have you ever noticed that a room with mirrors automatically has a nicer feel to it? If you haven’t, take the time to consider this when you’re next in a room that has a lot of them in.

Hide Anything That Looks Ugly

If you know that there are certain spots on your walls that are eyesores, cover them up. It’s such a simple trick, but it’s one that will do wonders for your home. For example, if there is something on your wall that you can’t get rid of, then cover it up with a piece of art. It looks fantastic on the wall, and you get to cover the thing that you don’t want people to see! It’s a win-win situation which makes it worth while. Think about what piece of art would compliment the room nicely and then go with it!

We hope that you have found this article helpful and now understand some of the things that you can do to upgrade your home without breaking the bank. Good luck, and we hope that you like the end result!

12 Things You Didn’t Know You Are Not Supposed To Do

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For most people, whenever we think of illegal things or crime, the first things that come to mind are murder, drug charges, assault, theft, name them. However, believe it or not, depending on where you find yourself, there are certain seemingly ‘harmless’ activities that you may never believe could make you a criminal. You may be feeling like a saint for now. But wait until you are done reading this article – those feelings might change. So, pay attention to these things so that you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

1.Keeping a goldfish in a big glass bowl

You may have heard of some ‘weird’ laws in different parts of the world. But you haven’t heard about all of them yet. Brace yourself. Your typical pet may not be a goldfish – unless you have the money to take care of one. Most people prefer to go with a cat or a dog, or both. But even if a goldfish is what you want (or have) as a pet, a big glass bowl is the first thing that will come to mind when looking for the best home for your fish, right? Wrong! That is if you live in Rome. In Italy, it is considered somewhat cruel to keep a goldfish in a glass bowl as they claim the bowl could limit the amount of oxygen available to the fish and potentially cause the fish to go blind. Your jaw probably just dropped.

2.Wearing heels in some places

Don’t we all love the sight of gorgeous legs gracefully gliding in heels and blessing the surface of the earth? Apparently not. In Greece, you are not allowed to wear heels when visiting some of the historical sights. The reason is that the heels can chip away the surfaces of some of the cherished architecture over a period of time. It makes sense, doesn’t it? You may be asking yourself who will visit a historical sight in heels, and you’re not alone. Who goes on tour in heels, anyway?

3.Happy birthday!

Sing along if you can – happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you Wait. So, what if in the middle of your happy birthday song the police barges in and whisk you away? Two things may run across your mind. One, either you sang soo off-key that you caused people’s inner ears to bleed, or two, you crushed the wrong party again. Well, it’s none of the above. Due to copyright issues, it is actually a crime to sing the happy birthday song in the public domain. But don’t worry, no one has been busted yet – at least not in the way we described earlier. Unless you have a lawyer friend who has a weird obsession for copyright infringement, you can go ahead to sing the happy birthday song.

4.Don’t feed the pigeons!

Imagine how weird that will feel being arrested by the police for throwing some breadcrumbs to pigeons. But if you find yourself in San Francisco, that is what could happen to you. It is illegal to feed pigeons in San Francisco. Why? Because pigeons were not always cute and super chill back in the day. A while back, these birds were actually damaging properties and spreading diseases. Thus, in order to help tackle the problem, the city put a ban on feeding these little guys.

5.Sampling items at the store

So, you’re sauntering in the grocery store for some veggies. You find a bunch of grapes that look so appealing, and you decide to pluck one off to taste before pay. That’s a no-no. We know, so you are not a shoplifter or a thief. You wouldn’t even take candy from a child when no one is looking. But when you are going shopping for groceries, you may want to look out for signs asking you not to sample any merchandise. And the fact that a store or supermarket does not display a sign like that does not make it any less wrong. The point is, it is wrong to sample a product in-store when you haven’t paid for it unless it is offered to you for free sampling.

6.Do not go to the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on

If you are a fan of Key and Peele, then you may remember a skit involving a flight attendant trying to stop a passenger from using the bathroom when the seatbelt sign was on. As funny as that skit is when in an airplane, it is actually wrong to get out of your seat to use the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on. And if you are unlucky enough to have a flight attendant that loves American football or rugby, the chances are that you are likely going to receive quite the tackle on the aisle. So, try not to hydrate too much before getting on your flight. Because you will have to remain in your seat and buckled up when the seatbelt sign is on – it doesn’t matter how passionately your bladder disagrees.

7.Public display of affection

This is probably a good time to look away if you are a hopeless romantic. On second thought, you need to read this carefully if you love romance. Sometimes, most of us daydream about that romantic vacation with that special someone to the special location – touching and kissing as often as we can to announce our love to the whole world, or at least, onlookers. But depending on where you are, public display of affection (PDA) is illegal. PDA may not be among the common sex crimes to avoid, but there are quite some strict laws against people who can’t keep their hands close to their bodies, in such places. So, unless you want to experience how romance is behind bars, keep your hands off your lover until you have some privacy.

8.Using fake names on social media

If you are an active social media user, then the chances are that you may have come across some social media profiles with ridiculous names. In fact, someone once joked that Facebook is proof of why people are not allowed to name themselves in childhood. But social media is not the real world, so what’s the big deal? You may be asking. Well, social media has grown in importance, over the past years, to become more than just a fun platform. There are so many fake accounts and scammers committing different kinds of crimes through the power of social media. However, despite the reasoning behind this, this is still a little tricky as numerous social media users also prefer to protect their privacy by not using their real names, or by using a modified version of their names. Where do we draw the line? Your guess is as good as mine. Facebook, though, no longer allows people to use weird names anymore.

9.Eating behind the wheel

During your first days behind the wheel, you are so focused on not making any mistakes or breaking any traffic regulations. But as you begin to build more experience, you become more relaxed and take certain safety measures for granted. One of those safety measures most drivers take for granted is not eating while driving. If your jaw dropped, then you probably didn’t know that this is illegal. How strict the law is on this subject varies from place to place. But the next time you find yourself behind the wheels, and feeling a little hungry, it is safer to stop somewhere for a quick bite.

10.Cursing and profanity in public

Sometimes it’s difficult to hold it in, isn’t it? It happens to the best of us. But as much as cursing is that rare missile some people release when they are pushed, there are others who curse more frequently than will admit. No matter which group you fall in, cursing in public is wrong in some countries. If you live in Australia, for example, this can land you behind bars for a couple of months.

11.Takedown those Christmas lights!

It is understandable if the Christmas spirit fails to leave you even months into the new year – or maybe you’re just one of the millions of procrastinators. But whatever your reason for leaving the Christmas lights on for too long is, if you live in the state of Maine, you cannot leave your Christmas decorative lights on beyond January 14th. As bizarre as this sounds, flouting this law can land you in some waters.

12.Using someone’s WiFi

Are you feeling like a rebel yet? Well, we saved the best for last. There are times when you just run out of data and need some WiFi – even if it is not yours. It could be for something as quick and simple as checking your email or for something else like streaming a video. Whatever your reasons are, using someone’s WiFi without their permission is illegal – it is basically stealing. So before you start boasting about your WiFi hacking skills, think again.