Home Articles Posted by Izy Berry (Page 38)
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4 Most Popular Cities in Thailand for Expats
Thailand is considered a popular tourist destination and the go-to place for expats and tourists looking to have a good time. The low cost of living, the exquisite cuisine, amazing activities, its innately friendly locations, and its rich history as a country has made it very popular with nomads and expats. It is a country that boasts of many places that are not just mere tourist spots, but places that one can easily call home.
What Are the Most Popular Tourist Destinations in Thailand?
Whether you are interested in living in Thailand cities or in the countryside, you will find that Thailand has very many locations to choose from. They include:
1. Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has for decades been a renowned home to many expats. It is a city liked and preferred by many for its highly unique vibe. It is a location where you can enjoy living in a city without worrying about the hustle and bustle that comes with city living.
There is more to life in Chiang Mai than just living a city life. There’s plenty of things to do in your downtime, from playing with elephants, learning to cook simple Thai dishes, hiking to observing plants and animals. Perhaps, if you like, you can learn a new language or get qualified to Teach English to Thai children.
Another thing worth noting is the fact that there’s always TEFL job opportunities available in Chiang Mai. In Chiang Mai Old Town, it is very common to see Thai private school students taking English courses in a language institute to improve their English skills. These English teaching jobs are loved and favored by many expats and nomads looking to make some side money.
2. Koh Samui
When it comes to locating Thailand’s most popular cities for a person looking to live a good beach lifestyle in a new country, then Samui is one city that you should consider. It is listed as one of the best places to have a honeymoon trip in Thailand.
Koh Samui is considered by many of its residents as a tropical island haven. It is a haven filled with affordable living places, palm-lined beaches, year-round tropical weather, and an azure ocean.
These are some of the attributes that help make it great for expats looking for an ultra-easy living. The good news is that it is only located an hour and thirty minutes away from Bangkok, Thailand’s capital.
3. Bangkok
Apart from being one of the most popular cities in Thailand, Bangkok also happens to be a modern and affordable city. The city is a former trading port that was once controlled by the Chinese.
It sits along the banks of River Chao Phraya. In Thailand, this city boasts of housing the largest number of expats from all parts of the world. It is a city that earned its spot in history books for serving as an R&R spot during the Vietnamese spot when it housed many American troops.
Over the years, the city has grown to become a flourishing, cosmopolitan, and modern city filled with world-class luxury hotels, and gleaming skyscrapers. Tourists flock to the city all year-round to experience its multicultural vibe and also get to sample its affordable living costs.
4. Hua Hin
Hua Hin was a quiet fishing village that is today known as a relaxed seaside retreat. It was first introduced in the 1920s when it acted as a beach getaway. This was at a time when the royal family in Thailand was actively building a summer palace along its shoreline. When the construction was completed, some of the elite in the country started trooping to the city.
Many opted to establish vacation homes where they could retreat to when they needed to relax on the expansive, sandy beaches. Located two hours from Bangkok, the city has become popular in some expat circles, especially among people looking for a lively seaside city with easy access to affordable living.
READ ALSO: 5 Useful Tips For Travelling To Thailand With Kids
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What Do You Wear to a Casino When Traveling to Las Vegas?
A visit to a local casino used to be a delight for casual gamblers looking for a good time and potential winnings. Now that online casinos offer better gaming alternatives, superior bonuses and other unique advantages, appetite for traditional gambling has subsided. The appeal of luxurious casinos is far from gone and a trip to a fancy place is always worth considering. For the special occasions, it is important to know what to wear, in order to blend in nicely or stand out from the crowd for the good reasons.
Las Vegas casinos accept smart casual outfits
The best online casinos as explained here — in the world are in Las Vegas, so you’ll find plenty of fancy places to gamble in Sin City. Millions of people visit the gem of Nevada every year and a significant percentage of them play at least once at the casino. They are greeted with open arms and very few restrictions, including the rules applying to their outfits. Smart casual will work out every single time in Las Vegas and it’s virtually impossible to find a casino that frowns upon such attire.
During daily sessions, the dress code is even more casual, although flip-flops and shorts are better to be avoided. It is far more important that players focus on comfort and wear clothes that make them feel better during long gaming sessions. At the end of the day, casinos hope to keep players inside for as long as possible, so they must be comfortable at all times. The beauty of Las Vegas casinos is that they welcome players from all over the world and you’ll find all sorts of people at these premises.
European casinos are a different breed
Granted the Las Vegas casinos are the best in the world, some of the most luxurious ones are located in Europe. London has a couple of exceptional casinos that faithfully recreate the glamorous look of old-school establishments. Another fine example of a fancy casino with strict dress code is the beautiful gaming hub from Monte Carlo. This iconic casino has been for hundreds of years the most appreciated place to gamble in Europe. Another classy place to try casino games is the Baden Baden casino.
When preparing for a late night gaming session at any of these establishments, it’s important to wear something elegant. Women have a relatively easier task, as they can choose from dresses and trousers that meet even the highest expectations of casino officials. Men can’t go wrong if they choose to wear a jacket and elegant trousers, as it is not mandatory to wear a suit. These fancy European casinos have slightly stricter dress code, but they still want their visitors to feel comfortable.
In conclusion, when visiting a fancy casino, you need to accept the fact that a more formal close will be needed. In most cases, you can stick to a smart-casual approach and only try to find the most comfortable clothes to wear to fully enjoy the gaming session.
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3 Tips for Unwinding On the Weekend
Your weekdays might be crazy, but your weekend should be a chance to refresh yourself and do the things that you love so that you can start the new week on the best foot possible. I think it’s so important to really relax on the weekends so that you actually get a chance to recharge your batteries. If you’re not sure how to really unwind, here are my top 3 tips for unwinding on the weekend.
1. Sleep In
If you’re able to sleep in, I think it’s such a nice luxury. If you have children, this might not be an option for you, but if you don’t yet then all the more reason to enjoy sleeping in. Monday to Friday I feel like we have to fling ourselves out of bed, rush to get ready for work and spend the entire day out of the house only to rinse and repeat every single day Monday to Friday. Treat yourself to a lazy Sunday where you get up late, or enjoy watching some Netflix in bed instead of starting your day too early. It can also be a nice way to connect with your partner and have some special time together when during the week you probably spend more time apart than together.
2. Spa Treatment
I’m really big into pampering myself in small and big ways. For most of us, it simply isn’t affordable to go to the spa every single week – unfortunately. So I personally like to bring a little bit of a spa feeling home. I’ll treat myself to a nice face mask at least once a week, which is such a lovely way to freshen up my skin. On the weekends I like to indulge a little more and may run myself a bath, put on my favourite channel and soak while relaxing and watching Youtube. There are so many ways you can give yourself the spa treatment feeling at home – things such as foot masks, giving yourself a fake tan, a hair mask and none of them need to be expensive! Whenever I can justify the added cost, I like to book myself in for a massage and a facial. There’s nothing quite like being pampered from head to toe.
3. Do Something You Love
If you’re a movie buff, why not make it a ritual that you’ll watch a movie each weekend so you can make your way through your to-see list. If you love yoga, why not head to your favourite studio and do one of your favourite classes? If it’s been a while since you’ve seen your best friend, give them a call and plan a fun catch up. Doing something you love is the perfect way to spend your weekend and get your stress levels down. Maybe you find smoking to be relaxing, you might want to check out XvapeUsa.com for some healthier options. You can also check out JS Dolls for some things you might find relaxing.
Make your weekend so relaxing that you’re almost ready for Monday when it rolls around!
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Best Places to go as a Solo Traveler
Honestly, I’d say that anywhere is good to go as a solo traveler, but the truth is that some places are better than others. I’ve been some places where it just seems to be loved up couples cuddling and families enjoying their time together and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s a little depressing when you’re alone and just want to meet some one new.
Some places are better for meeting other travellers and of all the places I’ve been, these are my favourite places:
Budapest, Hungary:
This is a seriously underrated European city. It’s easily one of my favourites, it has everything you want: beautiful buildings, a river, cheap wine, rich with culture and a great party scene. I have stayed in a few hostels in Budapest and found them to all be super social and made some great friends there. I found in my experience, that traveling Europe can be a little lonely at times if you’re solo. This is mostly because a large population of the people who stay in hostels are couples that are traveling together in their cute little bubble, as well as friends from other parts of Europe that are quite content hanging out with out. As such, I really treasured the cities where people were a lot more social and friendly and Budapest was high up on that list.
Sydney, Australia:
Another great party destination, when I was there I made so many great friends, especially Germans! Most people who come to Sydney are chasing the good weather and surf, so they tend to be a lot more laid back. There are a few massive hostels here which makes it really easy to make friends. Who knows, you might even end up with some buddies who want to go in on a car and travel all of Australia – you never know.
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand:
This is a fun party island that is a bit tamer than Thailand’s famous Koh Phangan. In my opinion it’s also much more beautiful. This is where my travels started out, so I might be a little biased towards it, but it’s really fun. I stayed in the crappiest hostel ever and met some of the greatest people on my travels. You can also go on a party boat here (super fun) to meet people. Just be warned the hangover is going to suck.
Singapore, Singapore:
Not only is this probably the safest place in the world for solo travellers, it’s super easy to get around. There’s lots to do, see, eat and shop for her. I stay in a great dorm here and every time I meet a great bunch of people. The hostel I stay in is called the Little Red Dot. Great location and it’s a cool capsule design.
San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua:
Ah, Nicaragua. Definitely my favourite country I’ve been to recently. This sleepy beach town comes alive during the weekend and the hostels fill to the brim. On Sunday there’s the famous Sunday Funday which is a great way to make new friends and abuse your liver. I went to SJDS by myself and absolutely loved it.
Marrakech, Morocco:
It’s so funny how a hostel can make or break a place. Here I stayed at a super awesome hostel, maybe the coolest hostel in the world, Hostel Riad Marrakech Rouge. It felt more like a big, chilled out home than a hostel. Morocco can be a bit of a culture shock so it was really nice having such a cool place to go back to each night. I found that in general travellers in Morocco were ultra friendly, perhaps because we were all dealing with some level of culture shock and freaking out a little. While I didn’t tap into the party scene here (I visited during Ramadan) I made lots of friends to explore with.
Bonus: Anywhere you can volunteer! Volunteering is a great way to meet like minded people who care about others (or the environment), so they’re probably the kind of people you want to be friends with, anyway. If you can, I suggest spending a month somewhere volunteering as that will allow you ample time to get to know the other volunteers, as well as the place you’re volunteering. Staying still for a month to volunteer can be a great way to deal with travel burnout, which is something I recently suffered from.
So those are my favourite places in the world to go as a solo traveler. Do you have any places that were particularly awesome? Share them with me!
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Here’s What You Need to Know About Cleaning Smoke and Fire Damage in Your Home
With wildfires raging in California, plenty of Americans are facing the prospect of starting over after a devastating fire. But the danger doesn’t end after the fire is extinguished. Smoke and fire damage can be serious and can continue to pose health threats even after the flames are quenched. That’s why it’s important to take the right precautions when cleaning up smoke and fire damage in your home.
In fact, it’s probably best to enlist the help of professionals for fire and smoke cleanup, especially when it comes to replacing drywall and insulation damaged by fire hoses, cleaning smoke-damaged possessions or rebuilding areas of your home damaged by fire. A company like Daleen, which offers smoke damage cleanup in Burlington Wisconsin, will suffice. But there are some things you can do on your own, to cut costs and get the recovery process underway before the pros arrive. Make sure you prioritize the health and safety of you and your family and dispose of contaminated water, cleaning supplies, and other objects properly.
Put Your Health and Safety First
Even after officials have verified that it’s safe to reenter your home, you should be prepared for threats to your health and safety that can exist in a fire-damaged structure. For one thing, if the fire has significantly damaged your home’s structural integrity, it may not be safe to re-enter at all. Other threats to your health and safety include mold from water damage caused by fire hoses; ash, smoke and soot lingering in the indoor air or on fabrics and surfaces; chemical dust from fire extinguishers; standing water and downed power lines or other electrical hazards. These are just a few of the reasons why it’s wise to contact a professional fire restoration company like ServiceMaster Restore to help you salvage belongings and recover from a house fire.
If you do enter your home to clean up after a fire, wear post- fire personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, a hard hat, safety goggles, work boots, long-sleeved shirts and pants and a NIOSH-approved respirator rated at N95 or above.
Clean Surfaces, Fabrics and Objects Properly
Many objects and surfaces, and even upholstered or fabric items, in your fire-damaged home can be salvaged with proper cleaning. The Red Cross recommends using a detergent that contains tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) to clean walls, floors, ceilings, furniture and fabrics contaminated with smoke, soot or ash. However, TSP is a caustic substance, so you should be careful using it; read the instructions and follow them. TSP works best on fabrics that can be bleached, but you should test any garments or surfaces by applying the detergent to a small area and waiting 24 hours.
To clean furniture, walls, floors and ceilings, use four to six tablespoons of TSP and one cup of chlorine bleach to every gallon of warm water. Start with the floor and work your way up to the ceiling, washing a small area at a time and rinsing it immediately with clear water. Wash the ceiling last. Dispose of dirty water on the ground; do not pour it into storm run-off areas.
You can wash clothing in the same solution, although you may want to first try washing it in your regular laundry detergent with a tablespoon of vanilla extract added. Pots, pans and other nonporous items can be cleaned with soapy water. Leather should be wiped off with a damp cloth and then wiped dry and cleaned with saddle soap.
Know When to Toss Contaminated and Burned Possessions
Sadly, not everything in your home will be salvageable. You should toss any nonperishable food items that have been visibly contaminated with fire extinguisher dust, smoke, soot or ash. Also throw out any food that may have been exposed to the heat of the fire, even if it looks okay. If your power has been out for more than four hours, or if the inside of your fridge smells smoky or has been visibly contaminated by soot or ash, chuck that food, too. You should also throw out any burned, contaminated, charred, melted, sooty or ashy cosmetics and medications. Though unburned clothing may be salvageable, burned clothing should be thrown away.
Call in the Pros
You probably won’t be able to safely restore your home after a fire without professional help. Fire restoration professionals can help you safely clean up the damage and may be able to salvage many of your smoke-damaged or contaminated possessions. You’ll probably need to call a contractor to replace any fire or water-damaged drywall, insulation, electrical wiring, floors or structural elements. Both you and your fire restoration team should agree that the home is clean and safe for occupation before you move back in.
Few things can be more heartbreaking than a house fire. Before you can put the tragedy behind you, you need to start the long process of cleanup and recovery. Take the right steps now, so you and your family don’t suffer from the dangers posed by smoke, soot and water damage to your home and the items within.
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5 Reasons You Need Travel Insurance
Most people opt out of travel insurance these days, with many saying they don’t see the point in paying the extra $250 to $500 for something they’ve never used before. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that the insurance isn’t there to be used constantly. When the time comes that they need it, this traveler will be sore out of luck and also out of money.
Here are the top reasons anyone could use travel insurance.
Someone Gets Injured
Although you’d be lucky to be looking at real estate in Toronto if you got injured, since healthcare is free if you’re looking at homes for sale in America and you’re in worse luck, travel insurance helps you keep above any medical costs that may come from injuries while traveling. Although it’s expensive, the upfront fee is far better than paying the total price of a broken wrist in America.
Your Luggage Vanishes
Many people still keep their laptops in their checked baggage, despite being told repeatedly that it’s a bad idea. Because of this, if your luggage goes missing (something everyone inevitably has to deal with), you could be in charge of monetary loss. Instead of going through that emotional and financial suffering, you can have the insurance cover it.
You Have To Cancel Parts or the Whole Trip
Despite your best-laid plans, sometimes there are moments when a trip has to be canceled. There’s nothing you did wrong, but you can’t go despite having booked every flight and hotel, say for the three weeks. Travel insurance can help you bounce back from this without having to be out thousands of dollars! Instead, you’ll get back a large portion of your money and save for partying another day.
Early Returns
Whether work is calling you, needing you back at the office, or your kid misses you desperately, sometimes we have to go back home early. As much of a bummer as this is, it’s even worse when you realize that all of your planning is going into the trash! Just like when you have to cancel parts or the whole trip, most travel insurance allows room for accidents like this so that you can get back home without going broke.
Bad Weather Rocks Everything
As thoroughly as we like to plan, freak weather happens all the time. From the bizarre winter storms in the Central USA in February of 2021 to the late winter winds hitting the East Coast in May of the same year. If you’re traveling to another country and a sudden storm kicks up, or something that makes it impossible to live out your vacation dreams fully, your travel insurance will ensure that you have somewhere safe to stay while you’re there and will work to help coordinate a way to get back home. This takes the stress off of your shoulders in an already stressful situation and allows you to breathe easily while your flights get rescheduled.
Travel insurance isn’t a relic of the past! This great tool can save any vacation from going to waste, and everyone should invest in it.
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How to Find Cheap Flights
Flights can be one of the most expensive parts of your holiday, so if you can find a way to bring their costs down, you can keep some extra coin for the rest of your trip. Learning how to find cheap flights isn’t easy – there are so many websites and options to explore. Travel agents were good in the past, but the truth is now you’re much more likely to end up spending more on flights if you go down that route. That’s nice if you like to keep people in business, but I’d prefer to stretch my travel money out further – so I set out to learn how to find cheap flights.
Whenever I decide I’m going somewhere, I always pull up these sites to check what the prices are going to be:
www.Adioso.com
www.Skyscanner.com
www.momondo.com
For flights to and from America I find that Expedia is quite useful, or even Kayak.
The key to really saving money is to be somewhat flexible. When I was looking at flights home from Europe earlier this year, originally I had thought, by default, to fly from Heathrow. Flights were going to cost me around $1,500 (NZD) for a one way flight home – that’s expensive, especially as I’d paid a few hundred more and made my way around the entire world. I’d already been to London twice and didn’t really feel the need to visit again, so I pulled up those other sites and reverse checked prices.
I entered for New Zealand to Everywhere and decided to check what places were cheap to fly TO from New Zealand – even though I was planning to go the other way. Istanbul came up as a cheap flight away from Auckland, costing only $800 (NZD). I checked the price and dates from flying from Istanbul to Auckland and it was in fact only $800. This meant that I had an extra $700 to play around with and Istanbul was always somewhere I wanted to visit. A faster way to find this type of multi city flight hack, is to use Hopupon. It removes the reverse search and finds the Istanbul stop in seconds. To find a flight like this with Hopupon all you need to do is put in your departure and arrival airports select Hop One Way and the search. It will combine every direct flight combination, so you can see a new city, save money and get home!
Last night I decided to book flights to Asia. Ideally I’m going to end up meeting a friend in Koh Phangan, but there’s no airport really close to there. I searched for flights from my home town to Thailand, but they all came up fairly expensive. So, I decided that I’d fly from Auckland, which isn’t expensive for me to get to, to Singapore which is an International hub in Asia. From Singapore I can grab a cheap flight to anywhere in Asia. In the end I wound up with flights from New Zealand to Singapore for $520 only three weeks in advance; that’s really cheap!
The flights aren’t amazing; they stop via Melbourne and Darwin for four hours each – but as I’m freelance writing that will be a good opportunity to hopefully charge my laptop and get some more work done. I could have chosen a direct flight, but it would have cost me another $250 and the 4 hour extra flight time is worth saving, for me at least.
When I was booking my flights to Asia I went directly to the airline’s website and entered from Auckland to Phuket, and it ended up spitting out a figure much, much more expensive than SkyScanner had given me. Usually the inverse is true, but it’s always good to directly compare. It turns out it’s much more expensive for me to book Auckland-> Phuket than Auckland->Singapore->Phuket even if I end up on the same flights, so guess what I’d prefer?
The truth about how to find cheap flights is really that you have to learn how to manipulate dates and airports. If you’re searching for cheap flights and struggling, consider flying out of nearby airports or into nearby airports. For most parts of the world, especially in Europe, cities are so close together that you can fly into one, take a train to another and end up at your final destination after saving a few hundred dollars.
Saving money on your flights, before you’ve even left for your trip, is the perfect way to get your adventure started.
Do you have any tips for how to find cheap flights? I’d love to know any travel secrets
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Are private jet charters the new First Class?
Private jet charters have always been a popular form of luxury travel, though one more closely associated with the rich and famous. However, with commercial flight prices changing, many flyers and industry experts are wondering: are private jet charters the new First Class?
Lower cost First Class flights make private jet charters more appealing
First Class has long been seen as the luxury choice on commercial flights, and rightly so. Extra legroom, actually edible meals and complimentary drinks made the whole flight an experience rather than a trauma. But with an increasing demand for cheap upgrades, First and Business Class have become more accessible. This has led to private jet charters being reconsidered for those looking for the more personal, modern version of luxury travel.
Private jet charters often require you to book the entire plane for your trip, rather than being allocated a single seat per person. This means that booking for small groups or families is ideal, giving you as many seats as you need, plus plenty of extra room. Compared to First Class, where legroom and being able to lie down are big advantages, private jets allow you move around a whole cabin like a small, mobile apartment.
Additionally, when it comes to luxury travel, why so many musicians, actors and top business persons choose private jets is the simplicity. No long custom queues or busy airports, and departure times to suit your schedule.
You can still make savings with empty leg charters
Of course, there are still ways to make savings on private jet charters. If you work with a broker – which is far simpler than trying to negotiate a flight directly with a pilot – they can advise you on empty leg charters.
Empty legs are when a private jet has been chartered for a one way trip. As a result, it must make a return journey and therefore would rather book it out that fly without passengers. Bespoke Air Charter report that there are 40,000 empty leg charters every month!
The advantage for you as a luxury flier is that you get the flight at a much reduced rate; the difference is made up by the original booker who will have paid a larger rate.
Book in quiet seasons; unlike the rich & famous
Private jet charters are subject to the same surge prices and demands as commercial flights, albeit on a much smaller scale. While regular private jet charter fliers will be booking flights regardless of busy or low seasons, such as around major holidays or to event destinations like Cannes or New York, smart luxury travellers can get the same experience without the increased prices.
Costs for private jet charters are made, by brokers and individuals, based on availability of aircraft, spaces in private airports and number of seats. As a result, there will always be times when flights are more readily available and so they are more willinging to offer more moderate prices. You’ll still receive the top level treatment but by being flexible, your booking will be more affordable, more often.
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How To Clean Diamond Jewelry At Home
As sparkly and beautiful as diamond jewelry is when we first get it, inevitably over time the dust and dirt gathers and our once brilliant pieces lose a little of their shine – especially when worn every day, like engagement rings. Although it’s best to go for a professional clean if a piece of diamond jewelry is particularly dirty, there are plenty of ways you can give it a quick clean in your own home.
Before starting to clean your jewelry, first give it a once over to check it’s still in good condition – that all the settings are still firm, all clasps are still working, etc. If there are problems in any of these areas then you should take your piece to an accredited jeweler, like www.abelini.com, who will be able to fix it up for you.
The first thing you’ll need to invest in is a very soft toothbrush – a child’s toothbrush works well. It’s important to get the softest bristles you can find, as hard bristles may damage your jewelry.
All you need to do is simply give the piece a wash in some washing up liquid. Especially with an item like an engagement ring that’s constantly exposed, the most common things making your jewellery dirty are everyday contaminants like makeup, creams and soaps. Washing up liquid will easily cut through these substances and instantly bring back some of your jewelry’s shine.
Fill a small container with some lukewarm water and a little detergent, and leave the item to soak for a little more than half an hour. After you’ve taken it out, scrub it lightly with the soft toothbrush to get all the dirt out, and then rinse any residue away. Dry the ring using a cotton cloth, and give it a polish with a polishing cloth to get the metal back up to full shine.
It’s important to avoid using strong household products like bleach which can severely damage the jewelry. If you want to keep your diamonds looking absolutely tip-top all the time, then you should clean them about once a week – however, it won’t do any harm if you don’t do that. It is a good idea to take engagement rings for a professional clean at least once a year to avoid any permanent damage – and twice a year is ideal of if your ring is exposed to a high level of dirt.
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Here’s Why Investing in Real Estate Could be Perfect for You
Image Pixabay CC0 License
There are many different types of investment, so when it comes to deciding what to do with your money, it can be a challenge to know which investment option to choose. There are many factors to consider before deciding how to invest your money, but real estate is consistently a popular choice.
Many potential investors are attracted to the success stories of real estate millionaires, while others enjoy the process of buying and selling properties; whatever the reasons for investing in real estate, there is no doubt that it is popular. Here are some of the reasons investing in real estate could be right for you:
Many Different Real Estate Investment Options
One of the main reasons that investing in property is so interesting is that there are many different ways to do it. You could choose to buy properties that need fixing up, carrying out the work, and then flipping them for profit. Or, you could buy properties that you keep as a long-term investment and rent them out to achieve a healthy yield. Alternatively, you may decide to invest your cash in commercial property. With so many different methods to make money from property, you can tailor your investments to best suit your needs and your financial situation. You may even decide to build up a property portfolio that combines each of these methods.
Real Estate is a Tangible Asset
If you are on the hunt for a new business opportunity, but don’t want to commit to the running of a physical business operation, then property investment is an excellent choice. Unlike many other investment opportunities, putting money into real estate gives you a tangible asset, which makes it an appealing option for many investors. There is something so exciting about putting your money into bricks and mortar and being able to see where you are investing your cash.
Real Estate Offers Flexibility
Real estate investment allows you to be as hands-on or as hands-off as you choose. If you are investing as a side hustle alongside your main job, you may choose to be less involved in the process. But, if you want to make property investment your full-time job, you could opt for the hands-on approach and get stuck into making your new venture a success.
For investors that want to take a hands-off approach, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you could flip properties for profit but employ a project manager to oversee the work so that you have minimal involvement. Another option is to buy properties to rent out and get a realtor to manage your rentals on your behalf. An alternative method is to invest in real estate stocks or real estate investment trusts.
Opportunity to Learn Skills
If you choose to start flipping properties for profit, you could take on most of the work involved yourself. Of course, specific jobs will need to be carried out by a qualified professional, such as anything involving the electrics. But, if most of the work required is decorative, you could save yourself a lot of money and learn plenty of new skills by carrying out these tasks yourself. Once you have completed work on your first couple of properties, you will find that you have developed a whole range of new skills that you can bring to future projects. The more skills you learn, the faster you will be able to turn around renovation projects and the more money you will save, both of which add up to more profit for you to take home.
Gain a Passive Income
Who doesn’t like the sound of a regular income streaming in each month with minimal effort on their part? Investing in property can provide a steady passive income if you buy the right properties at the right time. Buying real estate to rent out and keeping hold of the property for many years should see its value rise. If you have a healthy rental yield, you should be able to pay off the mortgage comfortably and enjoy a healthy profit coming your way every month. If you pay for a real estate agent to manage the rental on your behalf, you will receive less profit but remove the hassle of managing tenants and maintaining the property.
Owning the property for many years should ensure you build up a large amount of equity which equals a healthy lump sum of profit should you decide to sell the property. This makes it an ideal long-term investment.
