Take a defensive driving course and become a better driver
Take a defensive driving course and become a better driver

While most citizens who drive a vehicle are aware of defensive driving courses, many of them still don’t know what the course is about. For those who are unaware of the same, it is a course that helps you gain knowledge that will help you improve your chances of safer trips and also make the roads a safer place for everyone. The defensive driving courses offer great rewards at affordable prices.

Most defensive driving courses include traffic crash statistics, psychological factors that affect driving, human factors that affect driving, the effect of medication on driving, safety tips, ways to handle unfavorable driving situations, crash dynamics and safety equipment, and crash prevention techniques.

In some states, a defensive driving course is also known as the traffic school. Though it is not one of the most popular ways to spend your spare time, it surely does have many benefits. Some benefits of taking a quick course on defensive driving are mentioned below:

Reduce your ticket fines: Everyone makes mistakes and often gets a pass on the harmless ones. However, mistakes made from behind the wheel seldom get a pass and, in fact, cost a lot of money due to ticket fines, court fees, and increased insurance premiums. However, the court may reduce the fine if you agree to take a defensive driving course.

Improve your driving record: You may have a good driving record, but a momentary lapse is enough to tarnish it. By letting your court know about your plan on taking a defensive driving course, you can prevent yourself from getting a traffic ticket added to your driving record.

Subsequently improve your insurance rates: Some insurance companies often ask their customers to consider taking a defensive driving course in exchange for offering them a discount on their premium upon completion. Therefore, apart from keeping a good driving record, you can also save on insurance premium by taking the course.

Enhance your driving skills: All benefits apart, one of the most important ones is improved driving learned by taking the course. With an increase in the number of fatal car accidents, it is important for every driver to be updated with the latest safety driving methods to keep themselves and their loved ones protected.

  • Common Cold and Allergy Symptoms

    Getting a cold is one of the most frustrating things. You have to deal with a runny nose and a constant series of sneezing. Moreover, a cold may be accompanied by a cough or vice versa. It makes things worse when you have to go to school or office. You may end up contaminating the workplace and infecting a whole lot of other people. We sometimes confuse an allergy for a cold as an allergy too causes congestion in the nose and leads to a runny nose. If you are sneezing and coughing, the first thought that comes to mind is a cold. These symptoms could be a sign of an allergy as well. Confused whether it could be cold or allergies symptoms? Read on to know about the similarities in both conditions.

    Similar cold and allergy symptoms
    An allergy occurs when the immune system has an adverse reaction to a substance or a series of substances. When you are exposed to an allergy trigger (which varies from person to person), your immune system releases histamines. The release of histamines to counter an allergen leads to the symptoms of an allergy. While allergies and colds do share some common symptoms, they are entirely different. Wondering if there are any common cold or allergy symptoms? Yes, indeed there are. Here are a few symptoms that occur in both cases:

    • Watery eyes
    • Nasal congestion
    • A runny nose
    • A sore throat
    • Coughing
    • Sneezing

    A common cold may cause some other symptoms, but it is not accompanied by rashes on the skin or a sensation of itchy eyes. Over 50 million Americans experience allergies every single year. Some of the most common allergens in the country are tree grass and weed pollen. These are seasonal allergens and may be difficult to detect at times. Other year-round allergens include the following:

    • Certain food items like eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and milk
    • Dust mite
    • Animal saliva or dander (house pets like cats or dogs may cause this)
    • Mold

    If you are suffering from cold or allergy symptoms, visit a doctor immediately to figure out whether it is caused due to a cold or due to an allergen. It is best to determine what you are allergic to as soon as possible to avoid going through these episodes on a regular basis.

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  • The Best 401(k) Retirement Plan Practices

    A 401(k) retirement plan is one of the best tools for working people and employees of a company for creating a secure retirement fund. For employees, the advantages are pretty obvious earnings and contributions to the 401(k) are tax deferred and secondly, employers tend to provide matching contributions to the 401(k) account (ranging from 0-100% of employee contributions). Listed below are the best practices for an employee’s 401(k) retirement planner:

    Think about a Roth 401(k): Employees can invest taxed money in a Roth 401(k). Hence, those funds aren’t taxed when you withdraw them during retirement. If you’re beginning with a low salary which will rise later, it’s better to take the tax hit before than later. Alternately, if you expect your income to decline, a regular 401(k) will suit you better. The best thing will be if you have access to and can afford and contribute to both types, thus hedging your bets.

    Sticking to the plan: It’s easy to create a long-term investment plan and change it frequently. However, the ideal asset allocation strategy is to choose a mix of funds and stick to the plan even if the market falters it will pay off in the long run.

    Investment advice fees: Free investment advice never hurts. However, if you’re paying someone a percentage of your portfolio to guide you through the choices and the process, you should understand that if you’re a young investor with limited assets, it’s probably not worth it. Instead, go in for the free guidelines and online calculators that many companies offer, to start with.

    Not touching the 401(k) before retirement: Dipping into the 401(k) nest egg is tempting, but do not so it. Not only will you end up paying taxes and extra fees, but you’ll also lose out on possibly compounded returns. Leave your 401(k) alone so that your profits can be reinvested, which will enable your nest egg to grow exponentially year after year.

    Rolling over funds when quitting job: If you are quitting your job, it is very tempting to ask the employer to cut you a check for the 401(k) money, but it’ll cost you huge amounts in penalties and taxes. Instead, leave the account as it is to gain maximum from it. However, if you are asked to leave the company’s retirement plan altogether, roll the funds into the 401(k) at your new job or into an IRA. That way, your retirement nest egg continues to grow and is safe.

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  • Pros and cons of carpet cleaning services available today

    Nowadays, there are a number of carpet cleaning services available in the market. It becomes difficult for you to decide whether to opt for a professional or do it yourself. Listed below are some pros and cons of carpet cleaning services that will make it easy for you to choose from all the available options.

    Pros of carpet cleaning service

    • It helps you remove stored dirt, soil, oils, and debris.
    • It is a quick, easy and inexpensive way of cleaning carpets.
    • It is great for carpets of all kind as the service provider knows all about different kind of carpets and what it takes to clean them.
    • It helps you maintain the appearance of your carpets and sustain longevity.
    • It uses better cleaning equipment that gives you results without damaging your carpet.
    • It helps you remove stubborn dirt instantly, easily, and efficiently without efforts as the cleaners use high-quality equipment and products.
    • Carpet cleaning services work quickly and effectively without causing any trouble.
    • They provide you with neat and clean work.
    • They remove mold from carpet and improves the quality of air in the room.
    • It helps in restoring the originality of carpet.
    • It keeps your room/house/office cleaner for a longer period of time.

    Cons of carpet cleaning service:

    • It may cost you much more than a DIY task.
    • If the carpet cleaning service doesn’t use the right machine to dry your carpet, they may spoil the carpet.
    • If the machine used for cleaning malfunctions, it can result in too much wetting of the carpet.
    • Some methods do not deep clean the carpet.
    • Improper cleaning can result in dust build-up.
    • The threat of having an unknown person at home or in office for cleaning is also a disadvantage of hiring a carpet cleaning service.
    • If a low-quality vacuum is used, all the dust gets piled up again.
    • It may cause allergic reactions due to use of low-quality chemicals.
    • Some of the carpet cleaning services are very expensive, while some overcharge the customers.

    Professional carpet cleaning services help to remove all the dirt and dust from the carpets but in turn, may cost you more than the actual charge. Therefore, look at all the pros and cons before deciding or hiring any professional service provider.

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  • A Quick Guide to FHA Loan Approvals

    A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan is a mortgage loan that is backed by the government. It is ideal for homebuyers who have low credit scores. With the minimal down payment requirement of the loan, borrowers prefer it over any other type of loan.

    The loan is in demand because it fits the needs of the borrowers who have a low credit score. Credit scores as low as 580 are also accepted by the lender. The lowest credit score accepted is 500 in some cases, and no applications from borrowers with a lower credit score will be accepted.

    Loan limits
    For FHA loan approvals, borrowers will need to go through the rigorous procedure. The loan limit is $679,650 for high-value markets and $294,515 for a low-value market. The low interest on the loan is the main reason borrowers prefer it over conventional loans.

    Insurance premium
    Borrowers are required to pay a premium in the form of mortgage insurance in case they default on the loan. The insurance for a typical borrower will be at the rate of 0.5% to 1% of the amount for borrowers, who have a decent credit. In the case of an FHA loan, the borrower will have to pay 1.75% of the loan amount.

    Loan requirements
    In order to get an FHA loan approval, borrowers need to clear a few steps. The borrower will have to submit an identity proof as well as a reliable and stable income stream. He must agree to have the home valued by a home valuer approved by the FHA and the credit score should not be lower than 500. Individuals with no credit history can apply for the loan and the lender might approve it.

    Borrowers with a history of bankruptcy will have to come out of bankruptcy for a minimum period of two years and the loan will not be approved if the borrower is behind on income tax or in federal student loan tax.

    The borrower needs to ensure that the lender is approved by the FHA because since he is not a mortgage lender, he only works with the government for the same. New loans are only approved for borrowers who intend to live in the home and not rent it out.

    Before a borrower seeks an FHA loan approval, they should consider the requirements and verify their credit score before making an application. Moreover, they might have to improve the credit score if it is below 500.

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  • How to get rid of common cold and flu?

    Common cold can be dated back to stone ages. It is one of the easily spread diseases by a virus and needless to say, mankind has been for ages trying to curb the symptoms and the condition altogether. It is also a fact that common cold is one of the condition for which medical attention is seldom sought after and only when the symptoms do not go away do we get it to the attention of the doctor. We as a population, usually go for over the counter medications and treatments for a common cold. However, collectively we have started to treat even the flu condition with equal apathy. Doctors worldwide do caution us that both the conditions are different and though they might carry the same symptoms each would require a different treatment altogether.

    The symptoms of cold differ from person to person. For some it may start with a headache while for some it may start with sneezing profusely which might develop a running nose followed by watery eyes. Later on you might be experiencing a dry throat followed by congestion. However in the case of flu, the symptoms can include the above and along with that a high fever may accompany. You can experience chills and it can last longer than the common cold. Usually the conditions can last up to three weeks whereas in the case of cold it can last from 3 days to a week. In the case of flu you might also experience headaches for longer period. Common cold is usually caused by allergic reactions or by the rhinovirus. Flu is caused by the influenza virus and can spread easily.

    There are many treatment options available for common cold. Many of them are the over the counter products. Also you can use the help of nasal decongestants and sprays for relieving congestion. However, it is advisable to have a consultation with the doctor before you go for such products. If the condition persists do seek medical attention immediately as common cold if not treated properly can lead to pneumonia. The same goes for the flu symptoms. You may be given medications and shots for curbing the virus. Also you can look at the option of getting the flu vaccine to prevent future incidents. Consult with your doctor on its possible implications.

    Prevention is the best medicine for the common cold as in many cases, it is spread by known agents or conditions which exist in our home and environment. Always have your environment clean and dry. Make sure you use a humidifier in your home if you are prone to allergic symptoms. Better know your allergens beforehand by allergy tests and try to stay away from the allergens. Make sure that you practice a good hygiene and always wash your hands with soap and water. Avoid crowded places if there is a spread of the virus.

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  • How to identify and treat poison ivy rash with daily use products

    An allergic reaction to poison ivy is not uncommon in the country, with staggering statistics of 85 out of 100 people suffering from its symptoms. The the fact that many people are unable to identify this plant leaf raises questions and concerns at the same time.

    Symptoms of poison ivy are not so severe and can be cured with timely medical attention and a few quick poison ivy relief home remedies. However, as they say, prevention is better than cure, it is important to identify the cause of the symptoms and more importantly the source.

    How to easily identify poison ivy plant?

    The leaves of this plant will be three pointed and change colors according to the season. Poison ivy leaves are more reddish in the spring, fresh green in the summer and slowly turn out a yellowish or orange tinge right after. Notched edges are also a clear indicator that the leaves might belong to poison ivy bush or even a vine creeper. White berries on the plant are easily noticeable, which indicate a poison ivy bush.

    You might take all the necessary precautions, by wearing long sleeved clothing and pants which can be tucked into your socks at the ankles. However, in case you ever do come in contact with these leaves on any part of your body, here are a few things that might allow for quick poison ivy relief:

    Aspirin paste: Although primarily this medication is used for headaches, making an aspirin paste by mixing it with water and applying will help soothe the affected area and provide quick poison ivy relief. Aspirin contains salicylic acid which speeds up the healing process.

    Mouthwash: This might sound a bit odd, but the mint in your mouthwash will help cool the rash, with alcohol drying out the affected area. The antibacterial properties in the mouthwash will stop the infection or rash from spreading.

    Dish soap: Urushiol is a chemical compound found in poison ivy plants which is responsible for causing the skin irritation and rashes. Dish soap will help rinse the affected area and prevent the oils from penetrating the skin, providing quick poison ivy relief.

    Blow dryer: You can use it for drying out your hair and also for removing the histamines out of the rash. This will help reduce the itching since the hot air will simply clean the developing rash. However one has to be very careful while using blow dryers since prolonged exposure can lead to skin burns.

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  • Things to look for while renting a townhome

    After having done a thorough research, you finally have narrowed down on that beautiful piece of real estate. You have the finances to back you up and at the same time, everything that might be needed to comfortably settle in. But before you do that, have you asked the following question to the landlord before you go ahead and sign the lease agreement.

    Ask about the townhome association rules and regulations. Townhouse are built on a community based system which means that there are a number of common rules and regulations which apply to each and every resident in the gated community. There might also be restrictions on types of pets allowed or in some case no pets allowed inside the community. Check with the people who are already living there, since the owner might just forget to mention some of the byelaws. The association will also have guidelines for any townhome upgrades, for which permission has to be obtained.

    Check with the owner and association for that matter, how much will be the monthly additional fees that will be incurred for maintenance and other purposes apart from the rent you have agreed to pay. This includes a number of items right from grounds maintenance, exterior maintenance, water, sewer services, road maintenance, snow ploughing, trash pickup and other amenities within the township.

    Paying for maintenance is just one aspect, find out exactly who is responsible for the work which needs to be carried out. Talk to the owner and confirm who are the people responsible, ask around with the neighbors if proper repairs and maintenance are carried out on a regular basis.

    Check with the owner and association firsthand about parking spaces, number of spaces allotted and whether there is any guest parking facility available. You don’t want to be stranded in the middle of the road, wondering where to park your expensive ride. Ensure the right people provide you with the proper permits, to avoid future hassles.

    The community will have plans for expansion and additional work which will be carried out. Find out who is in charge of the main complex and will be overseeing the expansion plans. This will be beneficial since maybe down the line you might actually plan to buy a townhome property after trying it out for some time. Having prior knowledge of the community and making the right contacts will enable you to gain the upper hand.

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  • 5 Lift Chairs That You Can Buy Right Now

    Lift chairs are a necessity if you wish to relax after a hectic day at work. Thankfully, a range of lift chairs are available in the market and you can choose a one for yourself from a range of options.

    Golden Capri PR-200 Lift Chair
    The listed price of this lift chair is $910 but is available for a discounted price of $599 on the 1800wheelchair website. This lift chair is made out of a maple hardwood frame and has double doweled stress points which can stand out to the stress of everyday life. The improved filter material creates a comfortable seating ambiance and is known to eliminate any kind of sagging.

    The touch of a button is capable enough of raising the chair into a safe and secure standing position, thus making this one of the lift chairs which is highly desirable. This lift chair is made in the country and is shipped to your location within the country without any kind of additional charges.

    The warranty on the frame is for a lifetime while the warranty on the electronic part is limited for the duration of four years.

    Golden Space Saver PR 931 –MED Medium Lift Chair
    The listed price of this lift chair is $1399 but the same is available for $1049 on 1800wheelchair. This is among the lift chairs which have a seamed back and forward gliding motion. This lift chair can fit perfectly in any room size.

    Each of these lift chairs is handcrafted and comes with a lifetime warranty. The chair has a weight capacity of 350 lbs and comes with two-position recline type.

    Pride LC-835 2 Position Wall Hugger Lift Chair
    Listed for $1,649, this lift chair is available for $1,139 on different online portals and can be shipped to any location within the country in 5-7 working business days. This lift chair is comfortable and easy to operate and comes with a smooth lift system. This lift chair can handle a weight capacity of 300 lbs and comes with a lifetime warranty on frame. The warranty on electronics is however limited to three years.

    The lift chair also has integrated emergency battery backup and operates on a single switch hand control which makes it unique to the core. Not only is this lift chair delivered free to your location but also comes with a one-year in-home service contract.

    Pride Metro PLR 925M Vivalift
    The listed price of this lift chair is $1,599 and the same is available on online portals for $1,099 and can handle a weight capacity of 375 lbs. To provide a personalized ergonomic comfort the lift chair is equipped with a power lumbar.

    This is one of the unique lift chairs which come equipped with Lithium Battery Backup. This lasts for many days, unlike other lift chairs which require a frequent battery change. The lift chair comes with a footrest extension and has spring loaded ottoman for that extra comfort.

    The infinite position recline chair comes with a 7-year pro-rated warranty and will be delivered at your location in the country in 5-7 working business days, once ordered online.

    Pride LC 515Il Grandeur Collection
    This lift chair is available for a price of $1,199 and comes with an easy to remove back along with an integrated battery backup which is of imminent use in case of any kind of power failure. The users also get an option to choose from three different fabric selections along with 7 years long prorated warranty which makes this lift chair special and unique in itself.

    Premium grade laminate and hardwood frames have been used in the manufacturing of this lift chair. The recline type in this lift chair is infinite and it can be considered as a true zero gravity lift chair.

    Choose from the above-listed lift chairs and make your home a truly elegant place to be in and relax to prepare for another hectic day at work.

     

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