Tag Archives: new you

New Year, New You, New House! – Part 4:

Posted on by

So, it seems that I’m still loving this whole “New Year, New You” series of mine – I keep thinking of more things to write about! Well, in this series (which I think is part 4 – however, I have lost count a little bit…), I’ve decided to write a little chapter for those who are deciding to build their own houses in 2013. After all, taking the decision to build your own home can be an exceptionally daunting prospect for most, so it’s always nice to have a little helping hand along the way.

Part of the problem of building your own home is actually knowing where to start; how do you know what design to choose? How do you go about choosing the best sub-contractors? How do you source the right materials for the right price? With all of these questions, it’s easy to get lost in the self-build-construction-jungle.

Well, in order to help you along a little bit, a good place to start is with the actual structure of your future home; from the bricks, to the walls, to the roof. Surely it’s just as simple as a few bricks and tiles, right? Wrong. Because, the key to a well built home lies with a strong and sturdy well built frame.

You’ve been looking at the range of options available to start with this all-important structure, but with so many choices available, you feel like you’re back at square one with all the confusing questions and decisions. However, in your desperate hunt to find one, you have come across one that sounds quite interesting; timber frames.

But, how do you know if timber frames are the right option to exactly meet the requirements the planned structure you hope to build? Well, this run-down of these benefits may just help you decide:

1. Highly Adaptable

Timber frames are the perfect option for all kinds of building design needs; whether you’re looking to self-build communal buildings, flats or housing, as they can be altered and adapted to fit any structure. As well as providing the highest quality supports for your build, they also boast high environmental performance, energy efficiency and the ability to meet top sustainability targets.

2. Reduce Building Times and Costs

Timber frames also dramatically reduce building times – in fact, timber frame construction requires 20% fewer on-site labor days than traditional methods. So, that means 20% fewer days your sub-constructors have to be on-site, and therefore, 20% less time that you have to pay them for! Sounds like a good option, right? And what’s more; timber frames also save up to 5% in building costs compared to traditional brick and block construction – so you can save your money for other aspects of your home build process.

3. Environmentally-Friendly

Another key advantage of using a timber frame, such as those available from http://www.eco-dam.com/, in a self-build project, is it’s ability to help cut onside waste into the environment. So if you’re looking to help the environment and are particularly conscious about being ec-ofriendly throughout the entirety of the construction process, then a timber frame structure will be the perfect option for you!

New Year, New You – Part 2: Kicking The Habit

Posted on by

In my previous article, I wrote about starting the New Year with a New You – touching on ways to change your job, your wage and your home, if 2012 hadn’t quite been the most of exciting of years in these areas for you personally.

And, by continuing on with this theme, I decided that as we approached the final month of 2012, there was no better time to touch on changing another huge aspect of your life; kicking that habit.  Yes, that’s right, I’m talking about the habit of smoking.

I’m sure you were all aware of ‘Stoptober’ campaign that went on last month, encouraging smokers in Britain to give up the habit for 28 days. It was hard to ignore, and I’m sure it got you thinking – you know you should give up, but actually doing it and sticking to it is something you’re not sure can be achieved realistically.

Well, if you’re currently addicted to the habit, but would love to ditch it for the start of 2013, then the following advice may put you in good stead:

Tell Everyone:

Often, if you tell yourself your going to stop smoking, although you know you’ve got to in your head, actually doing it is a completely different thing. Why? Because, if you’ve only tried to convince yourself that you’re going to quit, if you fail at your attempts, you’re only letting yourself down and you only have yourself to tell off – so, giving up is an easy option.

However, if you tell people around you that you are going to quit and you are going to stick to it, you’ll have them to deal with when you fall at the first hurdle. No-one likes to be the first one to drop out, and no-one likes to be known as a quitter, so when they start saying “Ah, we know you couldn’t do it”, you may find yourself wanting to prove them wrong.

Also, the more people who are likely to know about you wanting to quit, the more likely people will stop you from returning back to the habit when they see you starting to spark up.

Try A New Method: E-Cigarettes

You’ve tried every method going; from the patches, the chewing gum, to even going cold turkey, but somehow you’ve failed miserably at all.  As well as missing that little naughty nicotine habit, you’ve also noticed that the void that’s left between your fingers is another habit you’ve been left trying to fight. You miss the habit of holding one. Well, this is where the relatively new invention of stop-smoking techniques may be able to help you; E-Cigarettes.

You’ve vaguely heard about them, but you have no clue how they actually work. E-Cigarettes, available from stores like E Cig Wizard, are electric inhalers that vaporize a nicotine-infused liquid solution into an aerosol mist, to simulate the act of cigarette smoking. So, rather than being another method that doesn’t quite come naturally to you, it both works like a real cigarette and can be held just like a real one, too. They’re quite simply the perfect solution if you’re looking to start taking those all-important steps to kicking the habit completely.

Shock Tactics:

We’ve all seen the television adverts and the shocking pictures put on the back of cigarette packets, but somehow these shock tactics just don’t have any effect on making you pack in the habit. Why? Probably, because they’re not personal to you.

As you think about giving in from giving up, take time to think about your health as well as those people around you who you love dearly, who are really important to you and those who could be affected by the consequences of your habit. Suddenly, the shock tactics become more real now they’re related to your own life.

Are the long-term affects of that little stick of tobacco really worth more than them? No. So, kick the habit now and get started on the journey for a new you for the New Year.

New Year, New You

Posted on by

2012 is gradually coming to a close; we’re nearly in December and judging by the songs now being played on the radio, Christmas is officially just around the corner.

For many of us, the final few weeks of the year signify a time of reflection. We often reflect on the year gone by and the events that have occurred, and weigh up the things we wish we’d done, what maybe we wish we’d achieved and also perhaps the things we wish hadn’t of happened. And, it’s through these that we make resolutions for the next year, in order to try and make it our best year yet.

Usually when it comes to new years resolutions, things like ‘I must try and eat less chocolate’, ‘I must try to be more on time’, and ‘I must try harder to think about what I say before I say it’ often top the list. And, although these could help to make 2013 your best year yet, there are a few bigger aspects of your life that you wish you could change; starting with your job and your home.

If this is you and you’re struggling for a little inspiration on how to do this, here are some suggestions that could help to make your 2013 truly amazing:

Your Job

There’s one thing about 2012 that sticks out more than anything else when you think about what you’d most like to change; your job. As you’re reflecting on your last year, you’ve realized that maybe 2012 hasn’t exactly been the best year when it comes to your career.

So, with 2013 just around the corner, it’s time to take some action.

Take some time to really think about what you would love to do – don’t be afraid of considering a whole new career change. After all, it’s not uncommon to have just got stuck in your current 9-5 job and want to explore something new.

The end of an old year is the perfect time to take a look on local jobs boards. By searching by your location, you’ll get a comprehensive list of jobs in your area in seconds. So, your new career is just around the corner!

Your Wage

If you love your job, but there’s one thing you’d love to change for 2013 in order to make it that little bit more perfect, it’d most definitely be the pay.

We’ve all been there; we’ve worked hard, you’ve been a member of the team for several years now, and so it’s only natural that you you feel like you’re a little deserving of a pay rise. But, there’s one problem; you have no clue to go about getting one for the New Year.

If this is you, the first thing to do is to evaluate the financial position of your employer in relation to the timing of your pay rise request. Given that it’s close to a brand new year, it’s common for companies to review their employee’s progress. So, if you’ve worked hard and you know your company’s financial position is looking up, it may be the perfect time to take the plunge and ask. But, if it’s the opposite, then it may be a better idea to wait until you’re firmly in the New Year before you put in your request.

Your Home

As you’re sitting in your home reflecting on 2012, you’re also maybe starting to realize that your home is also the result of you feeling uninspired and un-satisfied with certain aspect of your life.

As you’ve lived in it for years, you’ve become pretty comfortable with your home and it’s surroundings. And, it’s probably due to this that you’ve not made any effort to decorate, furnish or do it up.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could start 2012 with a beautiful new home, in fresh new surroundings? But, given the current economic climate and the situation of the housing market, this prospect feels totally unrealistic.

Well, if this you and you’d love a new start in a new home for 2013, you could part exchange your home. Part exchanging is the perfect way to move into a brand new home, quick and easily, with zero hassle. It ensures that you get both a guaranteed buyer and a guaranteed house to move into, as well as make sure you don’t run into broken property chains along the way. And if you’re worried about the whole money issue, part exchanges also offer the best value for money. It makes sure you avoid expensive estate agent fees and you can move knowing you’ve been offered the best possible price for your old home. So, your dream for a better 2013 can be closer to becoming a reality.