Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

Italy is a well known idyllic vacation destination where tourists are guaranteed a perfect holiday. However, it is always advisable to be careful and ensure a hassle free journey by considering the following tips and advice.

1 – A holidaymakers should always have a valid passport with them at all times. While a visa is not usually necessary if you have visited the country less than 3 months before, for those who do require visa it is advisable to always keep copies of your passport, visa and other important documents with you. Keep them separate from the originals.

2 – It is better to leave a copy of your trip planner with your family and close friends, so that incase of an emergency you can be contacted by them. Make sure to mention the places you intend to visit, the hotels you will be staying at and other important information.

3 – Learn some basic but important Italian phrases as English is not widely spoken in Italy. Some basic phrases are given below:

Buongiorno – Good day
Buonasera – Good evening/afternoon – it is customary to use one of these greetings when entering small shops
Arrivederci – Goodbye
Per favore – Please
Grazie – Thank you
Scusi – Excuse me
Parla inglese? – Do you speak English?
Non parlo italiano – I don’t speak Italian
Dov’è il bagno? – Where’s the bathroom?

4 – If you are planning on driving yourself around while on holiday in Italy, make sure you have a valid International Driver’s License. Also citizens from non-EU countries will require International insurance.

5 – Make sure you pack practical clothing such as comfortable shoes, light sweaters and coats for Italy always enjoys a pleasant climate. However, some places and functions may require formal attire, so make sure you take some with you as well on your trip.

6 – It is best to avoid drinking tap water while holidaying in Italy as it can be chlorinated. Stick to bottled water as a safer option.

7 – The good news is all major credit cards are acceptable in Italy such as American Express, MasterCard and Visa Card in all hotels, restaurants, shops, shopping malls etc. Be careful and mindful of your purse, handbag, knapsacks and wallets at all times and always double check that your cards are returned to you and that you have them in your possession at all times.

8 – Always make sure that you exchange your money at recognized money changing agents only. There are money changers available at the banks as well and this can be done every weekday between 8.30 am and 1.30pm.

9- Transport in Italy is quite convenient with coaches, trains, buses being the most commonly used modes. Most towns in Italy can be reached through public transport, so when traveling make sure you have enough Euros with you, so you can pay for your transport.

10 – Even if you are not carrying your laptop do not worry as you can stay connected always. There are cyber cafes all over Italy, while hotels too usually provide excellent communication services.

There are many types of moving companies available for hire both online and offline today.

Deciding on the most suitable company depends on a variety of factors. Moving can be a very stressful time of your life especially if you have children or if you are moving to a whole new part of the country away from family or friends. Here are a few tips to choose a reliable moving company that will help make your transition a smooth one.

1. Are you moving across town, or across the country? Do you need to have your home packed up, or are you doing that yourself? Do you need a couple extra hands to help you move, or do you need a whole team to execute the move without you? These are all questions you need to ask yourself. Finding a company that is geared to the specific help you need, is key to how the whole transition will go.

2. Often friends and family can offer you some solid advice on which reliable moving company you should go with based on personal experience. The advice from a trusted loved one can save you both time and money.

3. You should be able to find all the information you need about a potential company by either phone or internet. Most companies now days are realizing the power of having a website to display all their data and credentials for easy searching. Find out how long they have been in business, and make sure they have proper licensing for interstate driving.

4. Double check to make sure they are licensed and registered with the Department of Transportation. You can look in the phone book or online with the state agencies that take care of transportation services.

5. In case of a dispute you will want to make sure that the company is part of a trade organization such as the American Movers Conference.

6. Check in with the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has filed any complaints with the company and how they were resolved.

7. Look into the terms of service they are offering. If they are asking for large sums of money before the job has been completed, this should be a warning sign that the company may not be trustworthy. Make sure there is no hidden costs demanded of you when the job has almost been completed.

8. Verify that there is adequate insurance being offered to cover any accidents or lossesto your items. You will want to ensure that those precious heirlooms are kept safe and secure.

9. Most reliable moving companies will offer you a free on-site inspection of your goods before determining the actual cost of the move. If the company tries to tell you an estimate over the phone or does not take the time to work with you to ensure everything is clear and determined in writing, you will want to look somewhere else.

10. With many people trying to create business for themselves in these hard economical times, it is really important for you to know that you can trust your possessions to a reliable moving company and not a scam artist who just rents a truck and shows up at your door. There is a site called movingscam.com that is designed to protect clients from a bad experience.

With proper research, a solid plan, and a reliable moving company, you can have the move you desire.

Top Ten Mistakes Host Parents Make When Choosing an Au Pair A surge in parents hiring au pairs is happening in this country, depsite the  weak economy. There is a 37% increase in the number of au pairs recruited by American au pair agencies since 2004!  The low cost is driving the trend.  A frustrating fact for many host parents seeking to employ an au pair is getting factual information about the au pair industry, how one chooses a good au pair with child experience.  All the agencies basically tell consumers the same: our au pairs are screened carefully, can drive well and speak good English.  What the agencies don’t share with parents is that many au pairs slip through the screening process and do not drive, cannot speak English, do not have childcare experience and often come to the USA with a different agenda that being an au pair!   Read our tips for avoiding the most common mistakes host parents make when choosing an au pair:

Mistake 10:  Not Reviewing An Agency’s Qualifications.  If you choose a program because it is cheap, you may be placing your children at risk. You should ask hard questions about how the girls are screened (ask about criminal background checks and psychological testing). The agency should be registered with the Department of State (DOS). 

Mistake 9:  Not Taking the Time to Check the Application Thoroughly.  Each agency will send you an application for each au pair you are interested in.  Many host parents make the mistake of not making the most of this material.  If all applications from one country basically read the same, I would question the agent’s ability to screen the au pair on the important dimensions – personality, English speaking skills, driving skills and childcare experience.  Follow up on references and read the interview carefully.

Tip: Look at the date when the au pair received her driving license and this will tell you how many years experience she has behind the wheel.  Thai young women typically do not drive but they are required to get their license when applying to become an au pair.  All Thai au pairs will be 21 and over yet typically the date on the license will only be a few months old – this tells you they have no or minimal driving experience.

Mistake 8:  Not Reading between the Lines of the Au Pair’s Host Family Letter.  Each au pair writes a letter to her prospective host parent and her letter can be very revealing even before you speak to the au pair. Her letter gives you a sense of her ability to express herself in English and what kind of personality she has. What are her reasons for leaving her home?  Does she come from an intact family who are close?  Does she have siblings? If the au pair’s letter expresses positive statements about herself, her family and about children in general, read the rest of the application.  If the letter does not have these elements, skip it and move onto the next application.

Tip: Does her letter express a  “sunny” and positive personality that may indicate she has good self-esteem and a secure sense of self-identity? Or does the au pair reveal potential emotional issues? An au pair who starts a letter with “My name is Anne and my father left my family when I was age 7” may be telling you she has issues with her father abandoning her and there may be discord in the family – you don’t want a young girl experiencing emotional turmoil taking care of your children and living in your home.  

Mistake 7:  Not Conducting a Phone Interview with the Prospective Au Pair.  You must call any au pair you are interested in!  This phone call is critical to the success of your year with an au pair.  Many times we have heard from host moms that they were too busy to call the au pairs!  They said they “emailed the girl many times” and were confident the au pair was the “one.”  These host moms are usually very disappointed and ask for a rematch soon after the girl arrives.  Once you have the girl on the line, may sure you ask her specific questions that represent real situations that are likely to occur.  Her responses will give you a window into her personality, cultural differences and her ability to think quickly on her feet. Does she sound mature, responsible and flexible?   If you like the answers and like the au pair, call her multiple times before you make a decision – at least a minimum of three – four phone calls. Each time you call her, you will find out more about her qualifications and personality.

Tip: Present a few practical problems: “My child becomes ill and I am at work.  I told you to call me at work when my son is sick and I provided you with my number, but when you call, I am in a meeting.  What would you do in this situation?”  “We do not use corporal punishment in our home.  One child behaves very badly while we are at work and deserves a spanking.  What do you do?”  “We require our au pairs to be in by 10 pm on work nights and when you are working the next day.  How do you feel about that?”  “What do you plan to do on weekends and on your time off?” 

Tip: Not sure what the time difference is when you are planning to make the calls to prospective au pairs?  Click and save this link on your computer and you can quickly type in the city/town where the au pair lives and you will see what time it is before you call her: http://www.qlock.com/time/simple

Mistake 6: Not Getting Tough with the Agency during the Matching Process:  During the matching process you will be assigned a placement counselor who sends you applications. If the agency is sending you applications that do not meet your family’s needs reject them.  Be clear about what your most important criteria are in choosing an au pair (ex. excellent driving skills, experienced infant care, good English skills, etc.).  If your agency will not work with you switch to one who will.

Tip: When we worked in the au pair industry, we experienced host parents that were very demanding during the matching process and refused to “settle.”  Our agencies considered these parents as a nuisance; however, these same parents had successful matches year after year.  Clearly, they were doing their homework and their methods worked.   

Mistake 5:  Matching with an Au Pair that Does Not Drive:  This is a huge mistake – you may think you don’t need an au pair to drive (many host parents decide they will never allow their au pair to drive the children) but au pairs have to drive or have access to transportation to attend college classes; to get to au pair agency meetings (called cluster meetings that are held once a month) and to do her shopping, visit with other au pairs and just to get out of the house. Unless you live in a large city with public transportation right outside your door, do not match with an au pair that does not drive! 

Tip: Don’t expect your au pair who is a non-driver to stay in the house all the time when she is not working.   This is not a healthy situation for any of you as she will become socially isolated and depressed as a result.  One family matched with a Thai, not expecting her to drive.  She was wonderful with the baby, but after three months virtually housebound, the au pair demanded a car of her own.  The parents ended up buying her a car and paying for expensive driving lessons but the au pair had a serious car accident because she was a new and nervous driver.  You must approach the au pair experience with a commitment to choosing an au pair who drives and have a car available to her once she arrives.

Mistake 4: Matching with an Au Pair that has a Boyfriend:  Many au pairs sign up for the program even though are in serious relationship with a boyfriend. They both think they can be apart for 12 months, but eventually, the couple starts to miss each other.  They may spend a lot of time and money calling and emailing each other multiple times a day.  The boyfriend may start to tell your au pair she made a mistake – and if he “wins” the day, you lose big time because your au pair very will break the match and return home to him!  If she doesn’t go home, and tries to stick out the long 12 months, she may end up miserable and unhappy. In that case, your lovesick au pair’s concentration may be impaired and she loses interest in everything. When this happens, your children may be placed at considerable risk. Either way, you will lose money, time and peace of mind if you match with a girl who has a serious boyfriend waiting for her back home.  Ask her nicely during the interview “Do you have a boyfriend?”  If she says yes, our advice is to pass on her – even if she seems terrific. We have seen many good matches break over the “boyfriend” issue. 

Tip: Agents and au pairs are becoming aware that experienced host families do not match with girls who are involved with a boyfriend at home.   The au pairs are advised to deny they have a boyfriend if the host parents inquiry, but there is a way around this.  It sounds a little sneaky, but it works.  If after the au pair says “no” to the question “Do you have a boyfriend” drop it and come back to it again, unexpectedly.  Later, in the conversation, ask, “What does your boyfriend think about that?”  Usually, caught off guard and if the girl is honest and not used to fabricating stories, she will (and if she indeed has a boyfriend) answer in the affirmative “Well, my boyfriend thinks …” 

Mistake 3:  Matching with a Party Girl:  In the au pair industry, we label girls who go out every night and weekend, dancing and drinking and cavorting with men, “Party Girls” and this is often putting it lightly.  How do you avoid a Party Girl?  Ask the right questions: “What do you do on weekends?”  “What are you most interested in doing when you get to the USA?” and “Why did you decide to become an au pair?”  If your prospective au pair tells you she cannot wait to try the clubs in NYC or in LA, think carefully about matching with her.  Party Girls are more likely to bring male strangers into your home and car, get pregnant, become engaged and move out of your home before your 12 month contract is up! 

 Tip: Take a look at her pictures that will accompany her application and letter.  If most of the shots are with friends, hanging out at the beach, drinking beer, dancing at clubs wearing skimpy dresses, and you see very little of her family, think Party Girl.  One host dad always looks at the pictures first, even before reading the application.  What does he look for – family shots where everyone looks happy, close with extended family present.  He also looks to see if the au pair’s outfits are conservative and that she has a neat and tidy appearance.  The photos that are most revealing are the ones that are not taken for the application packet, so look for family celebrations:  birthdays, holiday or vacation photos. 

Mistake 2:  Not Listening to your Local Community Counselor/Local Representative.  Your local counselor is often critical to your success with the family’s year with their au pair. Good counselors have the resources and experience that will assist you when you flounder; provide social meetings and support to your au pair and generally is there for you a phone call away.  If she does not know the answer to your questions, she will find out from the agency.  If there is a problem, be open to her suggestions and try it out.  Your relationship and ability to trust your counselor is very important particularly if you are a first time host family.

Tip: You should interview the counselor before you sign up with an agency.  Most agencies will give you the counselor’s name and phone number (ask if you can call them to get more information about the program).  Find out how many years experience they have; their education and background (do they hold a degree in social work or psychology or counseling – many do, but it is not a requirement).  Ask questions about scenarios that may come up such as “What will you do if I decide the au pair can no longer stay with us?” “Where does my au pair meet you and the other au pairs?”  “Will you help me with the matching process, if yes, how?”  “What is the coverage for night and weekend emergencies?”  Also, do you get a sense that you can work with her personality?  If not, shop around with other agencies until you find a counselor that you feel comfortable with and that is experienced, professional and has a positive personality.

Top # 1 Mistake Parents Make:  Matching with an Au Pair Who Does Not Speak English!  This is a one of the most common mistakes host families make with dire consequences on your time and wallet. You must understand and accept the Number One Reason young women join au pair programs is to improve their English skills. You may speak her language, but don’t assume that others can, including your family!   Your children and your spouse must be able to speak to her, as well as the local counselor.  Don’t assume counselors are bi-lingual because the majority of them are not.  If you have a conflict with the au pair, or she needs legal or medical assistance, you may be the only one who can communicate with her and to others.  Remember host moms; this is not a language program for you – it is a language program for the au pair! 

Tip: Don’t expect your au pair to stay with your family if English is your second language and you and your family always speak your first language in the home. When host families only speak their native tongue instead of English, the majority of au pairs will become very unhappy with this arrangement (even if they agreed to it initially).  She will most likely ask for a rematch with “a real American family that speaks English in the home.”  So, if you are French, Russian or Hispanic, etc., and refuse to speak English in your home, you may not find an au pair who is willing to spend her entire year with you.  You must approach the au pair experience with a commitment to speaking English with your au pair.

With the augmenting prices of gasoline these days, managing fuel costs has become quite difficult for an ordinary man. However, one cannot keep the costs under control; he may go along with a few gas saving tips and tricks to improve the fuel consumption.

The first gas saving tip is associated with the car engine. Revving engine before turning it off should be avoided as it results in the expenditure of fuel. Moreover, idling the engine for prolonged durations has a negative affect on the fuel consumption. Warming up the engine for 35-40 seconds is advisable for saving gas.

Buying the gas skillfully may also contribute towards the recovery of the fuel cost problem. Gasoline should be purchased during early morning or evening because of being highly dense at the respective times. Furthermore, it should not be filled to the top of tank as it results in spilling over, thus draining a considerable amount of gasoline.

Changing one’s ways of operating a vehicle and altering motoring habits may also lead to effective gas saving. Driving the car at 55 mph results in a better gas mileage while use of 5th gear is recommended. Traveling at a high velocity with low gears should be avoided. Moreover, keeping air conditioner turned off while driving also improves the gas mileage.

Besides these, driving on straight roads and avoiding twists and turns conserves the gas. Brakes should not be pumped too often while the gas pedal should be pressed lightly. Carrying heavy loads in the car’s dickey should be obviated. Regular servicing of the car is necessary and the tires should be frequently checked for air pressure. Frequent examination of the chassis parts and the air filters is also commended. Above all, use of the lowest octane gas and a suitable fuel saver such as Tornado fuel saver plays a significant role in gas conservation. Tornado fuel saver functions as a gas-saving tool and can be used in a car, SUV or a truck.

The above-mentioned gas saving tips and tricks will surely benefit the driving enthusiasts. However, if any sort of assistance is needed, CarSnaps customer support is there to lend you a hand. Alternatively, you can start a thread in the Automotive Forum for seeking any kind of advice concerning gas saving techniques.

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Some Great Tips To Help Sports Car Owners Save On Car Insurance
By Gregg Hall

Getting insurance on a sports car can be more expensive than what you are looking to spend. Sports cars usually require a higher rate every month than most other cars. At most all sports car owners want full coverage on their prize winning jewels. Even though getting insurance on your 350z will never compare to getting insurance on your family mini van, there are however a few things that a sports car owner can do to get lower rates. Going by these four tips, can help a sports car owner keep there rates lower than any before.

First, an owner should check to see if any memberships will give any discounts on rates. At times a membership can greatly reduce your rates. Teachers and government workers usually get these discounts but rarely see them. Always ask your agent if there are any clubs you can join to lower your rates. Generally, a club membership can get you lower rates than if you hadn’t joined one.

Next, you should always compare the prices of rates from different companies. It does not take a long time for you to call around and compare the rates for your car. You might find a really low price from an agency you may have never though of. There are aids available to help you compare these rates; these can be the best place to find your really low rates. Although, you may get better offers it will pay off to call around. Most always an agent with the knowledge of the info you need may be able to save you hundreds of dollars by switching to there company.

After that, you may get even more by bringing multiple policies to your agent. A lot of insurance companies can help you with lower rates if you use them to insure everything you have and own. You can save a lot by having all your vehicles insured by the same agency. You can most likely save more by making these deals under the table. The savings may not be pointed at your sports car. Instead you may find cost savings just from having all your cars insured with them.

At last, ask your agent if there are any special programs that you can get into that can lower your rates every month. Some agencies may lower your rates if you take a course online for defensive driving. If a kid is driving a car, there may be lower rates for good grades. Most agencies will offer to lower your rates if you remain accident free for a period of time.

It is of great interest to get good insurance for your sports car. Getting cheaper coverage can lower your rates, but more than likely can leave you unprotected.
If you remember to ask about memberships, compare, and take all your business to one agent they will most likely save you a whole lot on your rates, you can more than likely get the lowest rates around..

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about automotive advice as well as sports car parts at http://www.autopartsplusmore.com

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Overview

We at Tourist Safety South Africa have provided you with an effective list of some important and the key points of safety to take into account when on your visit to South Africa. They have been listed according to the key areas the traveler may encounter when touring in South Africa. These topics are covered in extensive detail in our Comprehensive Tourist Safety Guides for South Africa. We strongly encourage you to get the guide that is best suited to your area of travel when in South Africa. There are 4 safety guides available depending on what specific type of tourist you will be:

1. The Complete Self Drive Safety Manual for Tourists in South Africa

2. The Complete Safety Manual for Sightseeing in South Africa

3. The Complete Event Attendance Safety Manual for South African Tourists

We also have available The Complete Safety Manual for Tourists in South Africa which incorporates all of the above guides in to one comprehensive manual and is the best value for money is you plan to do all of the above activities.

Before Departure

Important Luggage Advice

It is advisable to keep a record of the content of checked luggage, and valuables should be kept in a bag that stays with you at all times.

Travel & other Documents

Make 2 photocopies of every important document you will take on your trip.

Upon Arrival in South Africa

Do not advertise the fact that you are a tourist through brand name items linking you to events you plan to attend.
Avoid withdrawing large sums of cash at the airport, criminals often watch travelers and follow them from the airport with the intention of robbing them later.
All major debit and credit cards can be used throughout the country to draw cash.
When you rent a car, don’t go for the exotic; choose a type commonly available locally if at all possible and favor a vehicle with a large enough boot to store your entire luggage out of sight.
If a stranger wants to talk to you while in your vehicle, do not open the window wide -only 5 cm is enough to have a discussion.
If something seems suspicious, do not talk to strangers, rather be cautious and drive away, you can always call the police to go to the scene if you feel the situation warrants it.
If your windscreen is sprayed by a passing car or pedestrian, do not switch on your windscreen wipers. Carjackers have been known to spray silicone onto passing car windscreens; when the driver uses the wipers to remove the substance, it only smears the silicone across the windscreen and obscures the view. The driver then stops to clear the windscreen by hand, making the car an easy target.

Travelling in South Africa by Hired Car Kidnapping/Hijacking Avoidance Advice

10.  If you encounter obstacles in the road when travelling on an isolated road or at night, do not get out of your car to remove them. If you cannot drive around them, reverse for a safe distance before turning your vehicle around. If you damage your vehicle by hitting the obstacle, drive on as far as you can until you reach a place of safety.

Public Transport in South Africa

11.  If you choose to use public or other  transport, we suggest that you consult the list of recommended taxi services and busses that are available in all hotels or call the National Tourism Information and Safety line for advice

Accommodation Safety & Security Advice

12.  At night always lock perimeter doors and securely close all windows to prevent an intruder from spraying you with a sleep inducing gas before entering your room.

13.  Never leave any valuables, documents or any bags or clothing within reach of a window or in plain sight. Always store them out of reach and sight.

Places and Areas to Avoid

14.  In general it is best to avoid the inner city areas of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban at night time. Suburban shopping areas are safe and usually have a wide variety of bars, clubs and restaurants to cater for all tastes.

Sightseeing Precautions

15.  Try to explore in groups and stick to well-lit, busy streets especially at night.

16.  Consult your hotel or nearest tourism information office about reliable service if you want to call a taxi.

17.  Use registered, qualified tour guides

Event Attendance Advice and Precautions

18.  See to it that everyone in the vehicle with a cellular phone has the numbers of the others passengers on their phones. This might be important when getting lost amongst thousands of spectators.

Health Requirements and Advice for Visitors to South Africa

19.  Malaria is prevalent in some remote areas in the far north and east of South Africa, including the Kruger National Park. A 90 kilometer strip running along the border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe has been designated as a malaria risk zone, with some adjoining areas experiencing malaria risk at various times in the year. Ensure you take the necessary precautions when planning to visit these areas.

How to Handle Money

20.  There are numerous facilities for exchanging foreign currency, including banks, major hotels and various Bureau de Changes in all of the towns and cities. Banking facilities and ATMs are available countrywide at all shopping centers and service stations; ATMs accept most major international credit and debit cards, including Visa and MasterCard. The vast majority of establishments and shops also accept these cards, while Diners Club and American Express are accepted to a lesser extent.

21.  Do not allow strangers to assist you in your transactions at an automated teller machine (ATM). If your card appears stuck immediately call the help number that can usually be found at the ATMs for assistance. Be alert and watch that no one takes the card when you turn your back.

In Case of Emergency

22.  In case of any emergency in South Africa you can call the numbers below

Police & Fire emergency – 10111
Medical emergency – 10177
From a mobile phone – 112

There are many people who want to date, but tell me they are afraid of meeting someone on the Internet.  They’ve heard the horror stories of the impostors, crazies, and users.  Obviously, no one wants to attract trouble.

However, people meet and fall in love everyday with someone they met online.  Just as you would take precautions meeting any stranger anywhere, there are rules to follow and signs to look for that will protect you.  It IS possible to meet someone wonderful.  Dating online is also called social networking.  This term refers to groups of people who share similar interests.  Social networking services that are web based provide ways to email, chat, and instant message.

Over 40 million Americans use online dating services, which is about 40% of the adult single population. Internet dating services are no longer considered to be just an amusing idea, or, for only the lonely.  They are part of the new world of communication and interaction.  They are viable, realistic ways for you to meet someone you might not have ever had the chance to know.  Here are your basic guidelines:

Try several sites.

Do some research and see which sites suit your interests and personality.  There are singles sites for people who love horses, dogs, organic gardening, or travel.  There’s a site for almost any interest.  The best mix would be to choose a large generic site like Yahoo Personals, Plenty of Fish, or Match.com.  A second site could be more specific and tailored to your interests like FitnessSingles.com or SingleParentsMingle.com.  I don’t recommend free sites.  My clients tell me they don’t find good matches there.

Write a good profile.

You want your profile to reveal who you are but you have to keep the information appropriate and generic.  Do not make things up to make yourself sound better—you’ll regret this later.  After you have written your profile, let someone you trust read it.  You may have said something in a way that will send the wrong impression.  Often, we can’t see our own mistakes or confusing messages.

Post recent, good pictures.

Researchers at MIT say that posted profiles with pictures get twice as many emails as those without them.  If you want to start off on the right foot with your date, do not post a picture of yourself that was taken before you gained the fifty pounds or when you were five—or ten—years younger.  Your picture should show you clearly, not be taken from a distance or taken so close up that it only shows one eye and half your nose.  You don’t need your date to be disappointed when they meet you, so stay truthful and current.

Dig deep.

When it comes to writing your profile, you are going to have to think about what’s interesting, different, and amusing in your life.  If you can’t remember, ask your friends to help you.  The only way your profile is going to be noticed and remembered is if: a. you look like a movie star (not many of us do), or b. you write something memorable.  You may be an architect, teacher, doctor, or banker, but if you don’t say something about your hobbies or interests or unique life experiences, you may get overlooked.  Did you grow up with a dog named “Einstein” who couldn’t remember where he buried his bones?  Were you born in one country, grew up in another, and still speak only one language?  Do you volunteer at the SPCA and name the dogs after rock stars?  What can you say about yourself that is different?

Don’t just sit there.

Waiting for someone to find you is a big mistake singles make.  If you use that tactic, you’ll still be “waiting” when you’re in the nursing home. Whether you are out at an event or you are online dating—don’t wait to be found.  Get busy responding to the profiles and pictures that you see and like.  Take responsibility for your outcomes in the dating world.  You have choices and your fate is in your hands.

Keep at it.

If you want success, you must persist.  People who give up too easily don’t get what they want.  I have friends who had more than 50 dates online.  They finally met the one who was right for them.

Safety tips:After “meeting” through email, talk on the phone several times and set up a time to meet. End the conversation if there are ANY inappropriate sexual comments. Always meet in a public place and provide your own transportation. Keep the first “pre-date” short.  You will know within 30 minutes if you want to see the person again. Always tell someone where you’re going and how long you plan to be there. Have a plan for exiting a bad date.

Online dating is one way to meet someone, but, be safe and—be a SAVVY dater.

Whether you own a BMW, Ford, Citroen or a Mercedes, keeping your car in excellent condition is a must and something that needs to be worked on continually. This article will show you just what you need to know in order to look after your vehicle correctly.

Cleaning Your Vehicle The first step in caring for your car is to keep it clean. The car body needs to be kept free of mud and dust which can cause scratches and damage to the paint. A good car wash is perfect, at least once every week. If you are going to wash your own vehicle, make sure that you get into all the crevices of the car body, around the spoilers, etc. certain cars may have special car accessories or features that need to be looked after differently. For example, if your BMW or Mitsubishi has blacked out windows, these will need to be cleaned with special cleaning fluids to avoid scratching them and leaving telltale marks in the tinting. Using a soft cloth that has been well wrung out in plain water is the best way to clean blacked out windows, but if you need something stronger, an alcohol based cleaner is fine to use. If you have alloys on your car, you’ll need to make sure that they are also kept clean. It’s far easier to maintain the vehicle than to try and deep clean it once a year! Alloys need to be treated with care to avoid scratching them. Whenever you are going to clean your car, be sure to rinse everything first with water so you won’t be rubbing particles of dirt into the alloys or paint. It’s a good idea to use a protective polish as well, to keep them from getting too soiled next time. Chrome is another part of your car that needs special cleaning. Be careful not to use abrasive cleaners that can scratch the chrome finish. There are plenty of cleaners designed specifically for cleaning chrome and they work far better than common cleansers.

Tyres are definitely a vital part of your car and they need to be maintained in order to keep your car road safe. The best way to do this is to change your tyres whenever they are wearing down and to ensure that they are always properly filled with air. It’s always best to check the standards within the Highway Code regularly. You will save a lot on petrol this way, too, since under filled tyres cause the car to burn more petrol or diesel. It may not seem like much, but it certainly adds up over time.

Petrol and Diesel Another important consideration, whether you use diesel or petrol, is the quality that you are putting into your vehicle. Poor quality petrol can contain impurities and contaminants that will damage your vehicle eventually and can cause your car to run rougher. For a smoother ride, you want to ensure that your tyres are filled to the right pressure and that your petrol is clean. This will also help keep the exhausts in good condition. There will be fewer impurities to clog things up and you’ll end up with fewer issues over time. It really doesn’t matter what car you own, the basic cleaning and maintenance procedure is basically the same for all of them. You will need to make sure that the entire car is cleaned, tyres filled, chrome polished and alloys cleaned.

Cleaning your vehicle on a regular basis will ensure that you don’t have too many problems. The build up of dirt and dust can be quite difficult to clean if left for a while, so regular cleaning is a must. Maintaining your vehicle isn’t that hard if you stay on top of it and make sure that you use good quality petrol to avoid contaminants.

To keep your car in the best of conditions get all your seat covers, dashboard covers, car covers from customcovers.com. You’ll get the perfect fit, better than the original upholstery in fact and that too at reasonable prices. Customcovers.com is dedicated to provide you with the finest custom automotive accessories available. All the covers available with them are actually made available from Coverking, the top most company dealing in automotive accessories.

As with many businesses you need a plan in place before you get started. Similarly the same will apply if you wish to start your own automotive sales or repair business. Not everyone knows what the recommended steps are so here we go over but a few to give you an idea of what you need to look for and plan for before parting with your hard earned money and starting your dream business in the automotive industry. These steps are not necessarily in any specific order but it is recommended that before you start anything you begin with the Business Plan.

Business Plan

Any new business must make a business plan so that it is understood what is required to get your business started, what your intentions are for the future and your expectations. The costs you are likely to face and the funds you have to deal with all the required financial concerns. Your business plan should look to the future, perhaps with a 1 year, 5 year and 10 year outline of what your business expects to achieve within that period. If you are required to obtain funds to start your business you will be required to provide a business plan to the Lending institution and this also shows your commitment and thought processes for your intended business and its success.

Bank Account

You need to ensure you open a business account only for your business income and expenses. If you do not use this account for all your business related expenditure and income many times you will find that the income has not gone into the business and yet all the expenses are coming out of the business. This is often the reason why many businesses do not succeed. In the initial steps of your business you can expect to run at a loss and this can continue for an extended period of at least 1 year so ensure you are not taking any income from the business unless there is a huge excess of income and it is sustainable, during this first initial set up period.

Insurance

Ensure that you have all the required insurances to cover the operation of your business and the employees you have relating to the business. You need to consider coverage for insurance for your employees themselves as well as any property insurance such as vehicles left on your premises and also any liability issues that you can obtain insurance coverage for.

Do not skimp out on insurance requirements as nobody can see the future. Ensure you get coverage for natural disasters etc. If you are able to with your current insurance provider, shop around to get the best deal. Just because you have insurance currently for your private items with a particular company, this may not make them the preferred choice for your business insurances and they may not even have these on offer.

You should also look into some form of personal insurance as if you are the sole owner or operator of the business and were suddenly unable to work how would the business continue to produce an income? Not to mention of course life insurance coverage in the event that there was a death then generally all debts and profits have to go to someone and you don’t want to leave your family in debt if something were to happen to you.

License

Make sure that you check with all regulating authorities that you have the correct licenses and all of your staff fulfills all required criteria before you start off with your business. You do not want to outlay all your start up costs only to find you missed a simple step such as a permit that you may be required to have and you are shut down for the offence or required to pay huge fees.

Advertising & Promotion

Make sure that you have an allowance in your estimated costs for sufficient advertising and promotion. Once your business is open you want everyone to be able to find you so make sure that you have allowed a budget sufficient to cover your advertising and branding promotion for a minimum 3 month period if not for the entire year. Don’t rely only on newspaper advertising, try to be creative with your promotion and ensure you do some research before you get started. Things to consider are items such as a uniform for staff and small promotional items to give away at the end of a completed job or sale? Perhaps key rings with your logo and telephone number on etc.

If you follow these suggestions and listen to advice of others as well as your own common sense you will find that you have a great starting platform to get your automotive business off to a great start. Research all you can about every aspect of the business you intend to start before you go ahead and this applies in any industry not only business in the automotive industry

.

As with many businesses you need a plan in place before you get started. Similarly the same will apply if you wish to start your own automotive sales or repair business. Not everyone knows what the recommended steps are so here we go over but a few to give you an idea of what you need to look for and plan for before parting with your hard earned money and starting your dream business in the automotive industry. These steps are not necessarily in any specific order but it is recommended that before you start anything you begin with the Business Plan.

Business Plan

Any new business must make a business plan so that it is understood what is required to get your business started, what your intentions are for the future and your expectations. The costs you are likely to face and the funds you have to deal with all the required financial concerns. Your business plan should look to the future, perhaps with a 1 year, 5 year and 10 year outline of what your business expects to achieve within that period. If you are required to obtain funds to start your business you will be required to provide a business plan to the Lending institution and this also shows your commitment and thought processes for your intended business and its success.

Bank Account

You need to ensure you open a business account only for your business income and expenses. If you do not use this account for all your business related expenditure and income many times you will find that the income has not gone into the business and yet all the expenses are coming out of the business. This is often the reason why many businesses do not succeed. In the initial steps of your business you can expect to run at a loss and this can continue for an extended period of at least 1 year so ensure you are not taking any income from the business unless there is a huge excess of income and it is sustainable, during this first initial set up period.

Insurance

Ensure that you have all the required insurances to cover the operation of your business and the employees you have relating to the business. You need to consider coverage for insurance for your employees themselves as well as any property insurance such as vehicles left on your premises and also any liability issues that you can obtain insurance coverage for.

Do not skimp out on insurance requirements as nobody can see the future. Ensure you get coverage for natural disasters etc. If you are able to with your current insurance provider, shop around to get the best deal. Just because you have insurance currently for your private items with a particular company, this may not make them the preferred choice for your business insurances and they may not even have these on offer.

You should also look into some form of personal insurance as if you are the sole owner or operator of the business and were suddenly unable to work how would the business continue to produce an income? Not to mention of course life insurance coverage in the event that there was a death then generally all debts and profits have to go to someone and you don’t want to leave your family in debt if something were to happen to you.

License

Make sure that you check with all regulating authorities that you have the correct licenses and all of your staff fulfills all required criteria before you start off with your business. You do not want to outlay all your start up costs only to find you missed a simple step such as a permit that you may be required to have and you are shut down for the offence or required to pay huge fees.

Advertising & Promotion

Make sure that you have an allowance in your estimated costs for sufficient advertising and promotion. Once your business is open you want everyone to be able to find you so make sure that you have allowed a budget sufficient to cover your advertising and branding promotion for a minimum 3 month period if not for the entire year. Don’t rely only on newspaper advertising, try to be creative with your promotion and ensure you do some research before you get started. Things to consider are items such as a uniform for staff and small promotional items to give away at the end of a completed job or sale? Perhaps key rings with your logo and telephone number on etc.

If you follow these suggestions and listen to advice of others as well as your own common sense you will find that you have a great starting platform to get your automotive business off to a great start. Research all you can about every aspect of the business you intend to start before you go ahead and this applies in any industry not only business in the automotive industry.