Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

5 Things You Should Never Ignore (Even if You’re Broke!)

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The repair and maintenance efforts you make determine the functionality and relevance of your residence. As a homeowner, be keen on several factors that make the right home for your family. Effective inspection should help you identify the repair and maintenance you need to handle. The guide below explains what you should never ignore in your residence, even if you’re broke.

1. Leaks and Slow Drips

While it might start as a slow drip, turning into a costly leak is possible. Whether on the roof or your plumbing system, you should never ignore slow drips or leaks. It is important to inspect the source and cause of the leak and address the problem fast. Look for a plumber or a roofing expert to check for moisture damage and provide the services needed to handle the issues. Apart from the damage, drips and leaks can cause mold growth, putting your family’s health at risk. You should also understand that leaks and slow drips can increase utility bills and affect your financial plan.

2. Unfamiliar Sounds From Your Air Conditioner

Understand that any strange sound from your AC is an indication that everything is not well. You should be keen enough to notice the sounds as this can only lead to malfunctions. Understand that a malfunctioning AC system can increase utility bills and cause injuries to your family. It is crucial to address your AC’s repair and maintenance needs immediately. This also means looking for better versions of the appliance to improve your home’s functionality. The availability of the AirEx Air Cooled Complete Unit on the market should be an option. With a noise level of 94 decibels and a flow rate of 150 GPM, this AC system should meet your expectations. Understand that the sooner you handle the repair needs, the better the services you get.

3. Gas Leaks

That strong, pungent smell from your basement or kitchen should alarm you. The chances that there is a gas leak are higher. It is crucial to check your furnace or stove for a gas leak. Besides carbon monoxide, a gas leak puts your home at risk of a fire breakout. Even if you are broke, you should never ignore a gas leak. It is crucial to call a professional and paramedics once you detect the leak. You need to repair and handle the leaks on time and seek medical attention in case of carbon monoxide poisoning. You should also ensure that your family evacuates the premises and all systems get switched off to avoid further damage as you wait for professional help and guidance.

4. Malfunctioning Fire Detectors and Protection Systems

As you thrive on making your house smart, be keen on the alarm and fire protection systems. To a larger extent, the safety and protection of your premises depend on these systems’ functionality. As soon as you notice any functions, seek expert help. You should ensure that your fire protection systems get inspected at 5-year and 10-year intervals as per the NFPA25 Code and that they are up to date and working properly. This should include regular visual inspections and functional testing done monthly, semi-annually, or annually, depending on the system design. Handling the malfunctioning fire protection system keeps your family safe.

5. Family Dental Care Needs

You should note that running a family entails more physical aspects of the premises. Ensure you handle your family’s health needs on time to keep them functional. Handling dental health issues as soon as they arise should be on your list. Did you know that 1 in 5 (96%) adults ages 65 years and above have had or are suffering from untreated tooth decay or cavity? This emphasizes paying attention to your family’s dental care needs and handling them early. Understand that a healthy and happy family is comfortable and productive. Seek medical help and treatment from experts to meet your expectations.

Running a functional home can be a lot of work. You should be keen on several factors to maintain its relevance. Also, note that there are things on your premises you should never ignore, even if you are broke. The above guide explained the most crucial ones.

Building the Best Business Branding on a Budget

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Starting a small business is no easy feat, especially when you are pinching your pennies and are on a very tight budget. Between making a marketing strategy, developing a selling platform, and advertising to the public, you may find yourself cutting down on valuable elements in your business. While a stellar branding job takes time and skill, it doesn’t have to cost you boatloads of money. In this blog post, we are going to explore some free software and helpful tips to get your business a high-quality and budget-friendly branding job.

Create With Canva

When it comes to free software online, Canva reigns supreme. With its lengthy list of free available templates, you will be sure to find one that you can customize to your business vision. In fact, you can even develop your brand’s logo right in Canva! Canva also hosts a plethora of free photographs and graphic elements that you can drag and drop into your designs, making content creation a breeze.

If Canva doesn’t have the photos you want, Pexels and Unsplash are excellent platforms to get free, high-quality images. You can upload photos into Canva, and even create custom color palettes based on photos that you enjoy. Canva also includes templates for social media, business cards, printed handouts, and much more. Before you spend money on print design software, give Canva an hour or two to show you what it can do.

Influence With Instagram

Instagram is one of the most popular free social media platforms of all time, making it the perfect place for you to grow your business. Having a company Instagram not only gives your business more attention but also helps build trust in your brand. Building your online presence doesn’t need to cost money, especially with handy social media templates from Canva at your disposal. A branded Instagram, paired with a stand-out logo and website, is sure to boost your business’s popularity.

Promote With Partnerships

Clearly, great branding comes with great connections. Once you have an aesthetic associated with your business, look for other local businesses to partner with. Small businesses have a way of building each other up, whether it be through a mutual endorsement or bringing your branded products into their store. One of the biggest goals of branding is to draw people in, so put your product to the test in your community or online.

With over 1.8 billion websites operating at any given time, it is crucial for you to bring your small business into the online sphere. Before you spend a huge portion of your budget on website work alone, explore what you can do yourself. With Canva, social media platforms, and local partners, you are sure to boast a beautifully branded business on a budget!

Don’t Let Your Minimum-Wage Job Take Advantage of You

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Working a minimum-wage job can be a trying experience, but one that’s necessary due to certain situations. It doesn’t have to wear you out all the time and leave you feeling used and abused, however. Read on to see some of the ways in which you can cope with a minimum-wage job and enjoy your life.

Give Yourself a Break

Everyone needs a break every now and then in order to avoid burning out. This is true for people working minimum-wage jobs, so find time to give yourself a break and recharge. You can take a break by spending some time doing something that you enjoy doing, whether it’s knitting, baking, or even just lounging indoors. Use your time off to recharge your energy and you will be happy that you took the time to do so when you get back to work. With the 40-hour-work week established by the Fair Labor Standards Act or FLSA of 1938, it’s possible to find time for a break if you manage your time properly. Make sure not to miss any deadlines, but get what you need to do out of the way so that it doesn’t hang ominously over your head and prevent you from effectively taking a break.

Speak Up

Whenever you feel like you’re being treated poorly or have a lot more on your plate than you can handle, try to speak up about it. While you may fear backlash and work retaliation if you do so, it’s good to plan in advance before you do so. Voice your issues in a way that doesn’t come across as combative and angry, so you don’t have to stifle endless issues that will cause you mental stress and strain. This way, you may improve your treatment and possibly even help to improve the conditions of your fellow workers who may be in the same boat but they’re unsure about what to do.

Learn More Skills

While working a minimum-wage job can be frustrating, you could use it as an opportunity to learn important skills and improve your chances of moving ahead. Whatever your designation is, you should make sure to go above and beyond, and even learn about other aspects of different positions. This initiative will enable you to stand out as an exceptional employee and you may be easily moved up the ranks, leaving the minimum-wage nightmare in your past. With around 60% of remote workers surveyed saying that they would leave their current job for a fully remote position that paid the same rate if they could, it’s clear that many people are looking for different opportunities. With a solid set of skills at your back, you will also have a better chance of getting another job as well, if you choose to look for it.

Make Friends at Work

One thing that will make it more bearable to check into work every day is having friends with whom you share interests. While you may feel frustrated and listless about working minimum wage, remember that most, if not all, of your co-workers, are also there due to similar circumstances. They’re not your enemies, so keep an open mind and allow friendships to form naturally if they will. This will help you enjoy the time you spend at work a little bit more.

Practice Your People Skills

Whether you work in the food industry or construction, where you will get to deal with people who need roof inspections, which, according to Zillow, need to be done at least once every year, you can practice your people skills. Polish them up and you will improve your likelihood of becoming easier to hire or even getting promotions. When you look back on the training you got, you will understand why most employers seek people with a certain set of experiences.

These tips should help you enjoy the time you spend working minimum wage. Try them out and you will see a positive change in both your personal finance and attitude!