Have you noticed that time flies really fast these days? I remembered when I was young, I long for the time to finish my studies and go out to work. Then I long for my kids to grow up and after working for more than 30 years, I long for the time to retire. Then just prior to my retirement, I started to feel that the time has no brake. I started to wish for the time to slow down a bit but no, it didn’t. Now that I am retired, the day passes by so quickly that I still have so many unfinished projects.

We have just bid the month of May goodbye and have stepped into the first week of June. It seemed like we have just celebrated the Chinese New Year but 6 months have already passed by. It was only recently, that my friends from overseas have just posted their grandchild’s photos to us. They have just celebrated their little granddaughter’s 1st birthday. They took her to a photo studio recently for some photo shoots. The photographer used some Easter spring backdrops for photography to take snapshots of the little girl cutting her 1st birthday cake. The rest were group photos with family members.

So far we have only seen photos of their granddaughter. In fact, they were planning to make a trip back to their hometown if everything works out well for them by the end of the year. They look forward to spending Christmas with their extended family members in their hometown. They have been away for many years and they feel that it is time to make a trip back to the place they were born and have grown up.

Last Christmas, the granddaughter was only 6 months old and not convenient to travel long distance. What they did was, they took the granddaughter to the photo studio. Initially, the 6 months old baby made a fuss and they almost gave up taking any photos. Thankfully, after a few minutes of soft and comforting words from the grandmother, the baby quieten down and even managed a few smile for the camera. The photos were taken against a few beautiful Christmas backdrops for photography chosen by the photography. Those were some lovely Christmas photos for sweet memories.

I know of a few men friends who are mostly bald on their head. Most of them are already in the sixties and they have grown accustomed to their baldness. All of them are now retired and many are now grandfathers. Many have accepted their baldness as common for aging men.

Lately, I noticed that baldness also affects much younger men. Could it be due to the types of hair shampoos used or the food consumed by these men? Or could it be due to the work stress and pressure these men go through in their life? It might even be due to the health condition of the scalp. There are many could be’s but no one really know the actual reasons why younger men are going bald too.

I know of a young man who started to lose his hair during the university years. By the time he graduated, he had quite a bad case of residing hairline on his forehead. The residing hairline caused him to look very matured and older than his age. He went through some very embarrassing experiences. Many times he was mistaken for an older person even in his work place and this has caused him to be very conscious of his residing hairline.

One day, he came across an article on wholesale toupee and hair systems for men. He became interested and wanted to find out whether it is suitable for his hair condition. He did some online searching and finally contacted a hairstylist. To cut the story short, one day this young man walked out of the hair salon with a new hairstyle. It was a bit awkward in the beginning with his friends, colleagues and clients noticing him for the first time with the new look. After some time, everyone got used to his new look. He began to like his new image and there was no regrets.

Being a regular client of the hair salon, the hairstylist once approached him to ask whether he will be willing to participate in a salon and hair stylist cooperation with Newhairline. After hearing what the hairstylist had said, he agreed to the win-win situation for himself, hairstylist and the wholesale supplier. From that day, he enjoys a discounted rate for every appointment and for every product that he buys from the hair salon.

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Being in business can have it’s ups and downs. Sometimes, you find that your operations are running smoothly, but then at other times, you can find that things aren’t quite working well enough. And it’s at those times when you feel like you’re falling behind, that you need to rethink the way that you work. It can often be your strategy that needs tweaking, or it could even be the processes that you use to get your work done.

Whether you own your own business, work in high-level management, or are a freelancer, it’s likely that you use a range of different tools on a daily basis. But, do you know whether your business operations are working to their potential? Sometimes, it can be that you have all of the right tools, but you’re not putting to work in the ways that you should. If you want to start maximizing your business essentials to their potential, here’s how to do it.

Cell Phone

Although a cell phone’s primary purpose is to communicate with others, they can often prove to be invaluable in work. To get the most out of your cell phone, or the cell phones that your staff use, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re using them as a sort of little computer, rather than just a communication device alone. Emails, document sharing, and meetings can all be carried out via cell phone. For this reason, you may also want to stay on top of your cell phone repair so that you can always have it on hand.

Tablet

Not everyone will feel as if a tablet is that imperative to business, but it can be a key tool. Tablets can be super handing in meetings. When you’re looking at showing clients examples of your products, or even quotes, tablets can be large enough to show off the information you need, but small enough to carry around with you.

AV Equipment

You may feel as if you don’t overly need AV equipment in your business, but it can actually prove to be quite useful. Presentations can come in handy in everything from new client meetings to staff meetings. You can also use your equipment to its full potential by using special effects within your presentations and entertaining your audience with a mix of imagery, music, and video. However, to do that, you’re going to want to make sure that your equipment is up to scratch.

Computer

You can often need to use a computer for a lot of your work, but you may not be using it to the best of your abilities. If you’re just using it to access your emails and write up reports, you’re surely missing out. So, to see what else you should be getting out of your computer. Let’s take a look at the software programs that you should be using.

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Software

Cloud

Cloud technology is something quite spectacular. In order to benefit from using your computer in the most effective way, you should try to store as much information as you can on in the cloud. That way, you can free up processing space on your laptop, ensure that your information is kept safe, and access it from a range of devices.

Website

Next up, it’s important to recognize just how valuable your website can be to your business. So if you’ve haven’t got one, you need to have one built. Not only can you advertise your business using a website, but you can also connect with your audience, your analytics to guide your activity and even produce content that grows your audience too.

Blog

It’s a shame, but a lot of businesses don’t realize how important it is to have a blog. With a blog, you’re able to draw traffic to your website, share content with your customers, entertain, educate and inform your audience, and also boost your SEO. If you still question the reasons for why your business needs a blog, you can also show off your brand personality, your expertise and also give your business a voice so that customers can relate to you.

Communications

Although you can use your cell phone for communications between yourself and clients and your staff, you may find that utilizing your computer for this purpose can be much more efficient. Tools like slack can become invaluable to the way that your business operates. Not only are you able to communicate instantly with your team, but you can also set work and organize projects, and get feedback, to ensure that your work processes are more efficient.

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Ready to take the plunge and buy a new home? Want to avoid the disappointment of being turned down for a mortgage? Check out this list of things you must have if you want to get approved the first time:

Proof of Your Income

Both you and your spouse, if you are applying for a joint mortgage, will need to be able to provide proof of your income. Usually, this takes the form of W-2 statements going back at least 24 months, along with your most recent pay stubs and any documentation that proves you have other sources of income like child support payments or alimony.

Proof of Your Assets

You will also need to be able to show proof that you have enough cash available to make to cover the cost of your down payment and the associated closing costs that come with buying a home.

An Excellent Credit Rating

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Most lenders will not consider approving your mortgage if you do not have a really good credit rating. That means that, if your credit score is lower than around 620, you will need to start repairing it in any way you can.

If your credit score is low because you’ve never really borrowed money before, applying online loans no credit check instant approval and then paying the loan off on time each month will help to build up your score nicely.

If your score is poor because you’ve been bad at handling your finances in the past, making a real effort to pay your bills and your credit card debts off on time and as quickly as possible will also help to boost your score and make you a better bet for a mortgage.

Verification of Your Employment Status

As well as seeing your recent pay stubs, your mortgage lender will also want to see some kind of verification that you are still employed by your company and that you have accurately reported your salary. Usually, they will call your boss to do this, so make sure that he or she knows that a call is likely to come in soon.

If you’re self-employed, proving your employment status can be more difficult, but as long as you’ve kept accurate accounts and you can provide bank statements showing your earnings, you shouldn’t have too many problems, securing your mortgage.

Personal Documents

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Once you’ve met all of the requirements above, it is obviously necessary to show your lender that you are who you say you are, which means presenting a passport or driver’s license, your social security number and a signature that lets them access your credit report, so that they can check you’re in a good financial position to be awarded a home loan.

It might seem like a lot, but you’ll understand that mortgage lenders have to be very careful about who they do and do not lend their money to and as long as you are truthful, and you take the time to gather together all of the relevant documentation, the process should go fairly smoothly for you.

Good luck with your new home!

There is no doubt that selling property can be one of the most lucrative acts out there. But if you are thinking of doing this, then you will probably want to ensure that you are doing it as well as possible. It is all about the profit you make, after all, and as long as you are happy with what you are making, you can be sure that you are doing it right. If you are about to sell a property you own, you should first ensure that it has been refurbished to a high standard. This will help it sell, increase its value and ensure a happy customer on the other end. But which areas should you focus on in particular for a better home to sell on? Let’s have a look at some key rooms you should consider enhancing, upgrading or renovating altogether.

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Kitchen

According to many surveys, the kitchen is the most important room in the house for many people, especially when they are buying a home. If you think about it, this makes perfect sense. After all, the kitchen is where everyone convenes, where the food is cooked, and is often a communal hub of the home. This is true for families and for groups of friends alike. So if you’re thinking of selling a property, you should definitely first ensure that you’re happy with the kitchen. Is it modern enough, or does it have a good unique design which the new owners are likely to appreciate? Could the use of storage space be improved? Does it navigate well – is it good for actually cooking a large meal? You should make every effort to get the kitchen as perfect as possible, even if you don’t focus on any other room in the house. This will vastly improve your chances of selling, and increase the value more than any other room.

Bathroom

Obviously enough, the bathroom is hugely important for many people. If you are thinking of selling, you should spend some time perfecting the bathroom to ensure that it is as close to perfect as possible. There are a few main areas of importance for most people when it comes to the bathroom. The shower and bath area is one particularly important one. You need to make sure that the shower is appropriate for the space it is in. These days, there are shower enclosures to suit any bathroom, so this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Be sure, also that there is ample lighting in the bathroom, as this is something that people routinely ask for. As long as you have satisfied these demands, you should find that your home is much more likely to sell.

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Bedroom

The main bedroom is important, too. Above all, you need there to be a decent amount of space and, if you are providing a furnished home, a comfortable and spacious bed. These are important to everyone, so ensuring these qualities will be a very good move on your part. Beyond that, you should consider repainting the bedroom, as people tend to really enjoy it if this space looks fresh and new.

With the population swelling all the time and the global housing market constantly going through its ups and downs, there are significantly more renters these days then there have been in the past. If you’ve been looking for a rental property that suits your unique needs, you may have already come up against tough competition for vacancies, and rates that are much higher than you’d like. However, by studying the various quirks of a given property market, and approaching the process in a careful way, you’ll fare much better than you could otherwise. Here are a few proven tips for getting the most out of your experience as a tenant.

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Haggle Over the Rent

Although landlords aren’t exactly going to shout it from the rooftops, the rent on most properties is negotiable. Of course, the wiggling room you’ll have on your rental price depends heavily on the area you’re hoping to live in. If demand is high, and the market is able to turn listings around in a matter of days, then your chances of getting a significantly lower price are pretty slim. On the other hand, if there are apartments for rent you’re interested in, which have sat on the market for a month or so with no movement, then this is a pretty clear sign that you’ll have some decent room for negotiation. To give yourself the best possible chances of a reduction, show a landlord that you’re serious about renting, by making sure you’re ready to sign a lease as soon as the landlord agrees to your offer. By getting deep into negotiations, you can convince the landlord in question that waiting around even longer for another interested tenant will be more costly than knocking something off the monthly bill. Obviously, taking this approach will have its risks, but as long as you’re always considering how affordable a certain rental property is to you, and being firm with your negotiation standpoints, you’ll have very little to worry about.

Defend your Deposit

Security deposits, typically equal to one month’s rent, have a couple of functions. First of all, they’re a defence for landlords against unreliable tenants who duck out of rent. Deposits are also considered insurance against any damage beyond acceptable wear and tear on the property. Ask anyone who’s rented for a number of years, and they’ll tell you that there’s a big difference between being entitled to the deposit you put down, and actually getting it back from a landlord or third party. Obviously, you’ll want to maximise your chances of getting your deposit back when your tenancy comes to an end. To do this, you need to take a very proactive approach, both when moving in and preparing to leave a rental property. It’s a good idea to source pictures of the property dated before you move in, and to take before and after photos on the first and last days of your tenancy. You should also make a point of documenting any kind of repairs, upgrades or other changes to the property which happen when you’re living there. When you’re preparing to move out, insist on one last walkthrough with the landlord. You can even have a witness present if you feel there’s any chance of a dispute coming up later. Finally, read up on your country and area’s laws regarding security deposits, and be sure to make a timely, written request to your landlord for the return of your deposit.

Assess Different Landlords

Most people looking for an apartment will have a fair understanding of what to look for in terms of the properties themselves; location amenities, etc. However, you should also take the time to screen prospective landlords as well. Doing this will give you a little insight into the property owner’s approach to customer service, which will ensure the building you end up living in will have any repairs dealt with swiftly and thoroughly. Do some digging and ask all the right questions, and you’ll be 110% sure that the tenancy you’re getting into is right for you. Talk to some of the neighbours under the same landlord about their management style. Just remember that not everyone is going to get along famously with their landlord, and you should take everything that you hear from other tenants with a grain of salt. The properties themselves can often be a firm indication of the kind of relationship you’re getting into. No matter how badly you need a place to live, always apply common sense when looking around the property. If there’s a dirty carpet, the place hasn’t been cleaned professionally in a while, or some of the electricals or appliances don’t work, this is a firm indication that you’re walking into a negative landlord-tenant relationship.

Get Around the Application Fee

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Most landlords will charge a rental application fee to run a credit check. These are generally quite negligible, and if you’re only going to apply to one apartment, no big deal. However, if you’ve got a lot of boxes to check on your search for a rental property, or you’ve got poor credit, then you may wind up applying to multiple different properties, and having to pay fee after fee. Obviously, you don’t want these little extras to cripple your finances as you look for somewhere to rent, and there are a range of ways you can get around these fees. You can offer to pull your credit report yourself, which some management companies and independent landlords will be happy with. Also, if you’re renting as a couple, and one of you has good enough credit to afford the apartment, then only that person should apply, as two applications will cost you more. Some institutions will even allow you to tack the fee onto the rent, and pay it over a longer period of time. Remember, no two fees or sets of rules are going to be the same.

Don’t Automatically Double Down for Pets

Tenants with pets have typically had to pay higher deposits or other charges for bringing cats and dogs in with them. Some landlords will even charge monthly fees for each animal. This can be a negligible extra, but depending on the market, it can also be completely extortionate! Again, if you’re smart about your approach to renting, you won’t have to pay either pet fees or rent. If you find that the landlords you’re talking to are gnawing away your money from both ends, then keep looking. Requesting more money for potentially destructive pets is understandable, but this should come in the form of either rent or a deposit, not both. If a landlord is insisting on rent or a deposit for a family pet, then it can still be wise to negotiate. However, you’re not going to get far by being as ruthless as you can be with rent. Any landlord operating in a fast-paced market, particularly if they’re fairly established and have a lot of properties, will have the upper hand, and can afford to turn you down. Still, like with any negotiations, it never hurts to ask!

The area you’re looking to rent in might have countless accessible properties, or it may be a seller’s market, where landlords are pulling big cheques for small properties. Whatever the situation, you’ll obviously want to come out with as much financial freedom as possible! By fixing your mind on the process ahead of you, and taking these tips on board, you’ll ensure that you never have to pay more for your next rental property than you have to.

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Your small business needs a website – that much has probably been made pretty clear to you already. But what if you don’t have the tech skills to build your own one from the ground up? In that case, you’ll probably use one of those website builders that makes the whole process incredibly easy. But when you do this, along with other things that new website owners do, you actually don’t have as much control over your website as you should have. The fact is that it’s better to have complete control by taking the creation process into your own hands. Here are the things you need to consider.

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Original designs

Those templates that website builders use? They were, of course, designed by someone else. This generally means you’ll have to have text at the bottom of the web page highlighting that it isn’t yours. And if that person decides to get their template removed from the host’s database, then you’ll end up having to pick something else that you may not like. It’s best to get a website design custom-built for you if you don’t have the skills to do it yourself. You can then have the rights to that design.

Your own code

If you’re not too great with code, then you should look into Java or HTML training. Otherwise, hire a freelance coder to help you develop the website. You should do this because other solutions will restrict you in what you can achieve with your website. You don’t want to be stuck with templated website behavior, nor do you want to be stuck with the clunky, slow code that these website builders often create on the back-end.

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Sourcing your own images

Royalty-free stock images can be your best friend when it comes to building website content. But there are certain images out there that many new businesses use on their website that everyone has seen before. And if these images are removed from that stock database, then you’ll be left with a broken image link. It may be best to take your own photographs for the website, or to hire a photographer to do so. This will add more of a personal touch to your business website, anyway!

Create your own servers

You could create your own servers. While some people may see this as taking things a step too far, many will be delighted at the prospect of being in complete control over their own data and being the true ruler of the services they can provide. If there are ever any failures, you can get to work on the problem yourself instead of hoping another web host is working on the issue. This is something for the advanced among you, however; by and large, going with a trusted host with 99.9% uptime should be fine!

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Terms and conditions

Whatever you do, it’s vital that you thoroughly review the terms and conditions of whatever web host and services you’re using. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’ve basically signed away the rights to everything you put on the website to another business. Check the terms and conditions, as well as independent reviews of the service.