Tips n Wrinkles

New To Blogging? - Take These Tips And Improve

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:56:00 PST

If you are new to blogging and writing then this may well be just up your street. I have given 10 good tips on how to become a more effective blogger and for your popst sot have more clout online. Writing for blogs takes some technique for you to become good at it. Tips along the way will be useful. you may not remember all of them but even 10% will improve the SEO so vital in this writing format.

There is a tendency to write too much, 200 to 300 word is enough, too much puts people off.
Use links within your post - very important to impress Google
Do like I am doing and make bullet points or number lists
Also write about what you think, this is what blogs are about
The Title and first sentence are the most important, make it turn people's heads
Always go over you blog and check for spelling and grammar, you WILL find mistakes and you WILL improve the post by doing this!
Get emotional about your topic or subject, this will spill over to readers
Look at the layout of you blog post, can reader get to scan it easily, if not they might just move on
You may not know about keywords, but if you do make sure you have ample for Google to eat up
The C word - Consistency, important for followers to remain with you and know what to expect

Even if you just follow some of these tips, you will improve you blogging and get more people reading and following you not to mention little 'brownie points' from Google to improve you ranking.

Happy blogging....... :(

Do You Have STP? - Find Out From Home

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:25:00 PST

This is a bit of a sensitive area but a very important area not only for you but others who you have relationships with. Today in this permissive society there are a lot of germs going around, some of these germs are transmitted sexually and this is where today's tip comes into play.

If you at any time feel that there is not something right down below, you needn't have to go to your GP or clinic for a check up, there is a simple DIY test that you can take within the comfort of your own home which will confirm one way or the other whether you have indeed have a STP (Sexually transmitted Disease.) It is always better to be in the know so that you can get treatment and not become the transmitter to others.

Today engaging with new sex partners without getting tested is irresponsible. This happens often though because STD testing has a taboo about it, its embarrassing, takes up time and not least unreliable in many cases. A Home STD Test solves all these problems in one go!

As a matter of routine and care for your partner(s) the tip is to take the test at home. This is more than a matter of consideration, but a matter of health.

Tips For Cycling In Cold And Icy Conditions

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:58:00 PST

Cold winter weather is extended this year, but the cycling goes on. It seems to be colder in March than in previous winter months here for some reason. It can be an absolute pleasure riding in icy and snowy conditions, but only if you take precautions. There is no need to use the winter trainer in front of the TV if you read on.

Dress is important, without proper dressing you will become uncomfortable very quickly. You need to dress against the cold wind factor and wet conditions and layering your clothing is the best method. Three layers is best with a wicking material as a base, the second a insulating material and shouldn't be too tight, synthetics, wool, fleece and down all work well. Lastly a wind and water resistant top layer, gore-tex material although expensive works wonderfully well.

Gloves, booties, toe-covers and arm and leg warmers are essential in really cold weather and of course an insulated cap underneath your helmet to keep your head warm.

You need to warm up before you ride and you should spend a little more time with this in the winter even up to 30 minutes in extreme cold. It is important to get the blood flowing before excursion it made.

Feeding is just as anything else important as you will be working harder than normal in the cold to maintain your body heat. This means yo need more food for the energy you will be using up. Up the amount of liquid and food you take on a normal run in the warmer weather. Remember little and often is the most effective method of intake. Just because yo are not thirsty doesn't mean you are not dehydrating.

Don't just think of yourself think of your bike. You bike is going to take on snow, ice, salt and sand. The last thing you need is poor gear change and braking due to corroded cables. I always put in new cables all round just before winter as an insurance. Mudguards although not fashionable do a great job protecting not only you but you bike frame and components, consider it. Get some heavy duty tyres that will outlast winter road conditions.

Safety has to be your main consideration. If the road is snow or ice bound use a mountain rather than a road bike even consider studded tyres studded tires if it is an ice rink! Always ride defensively and fix lights tot he front and rear as sometime daytime can be quite dark.

With all this in place you should still be able to enjoy the outdoor riding. One last tip though. Go out in groups, if someone has a problem there is always someone there to help out. Besides that and it's more fun sharing the experience in extreme weather and talk about it over a beer or two afterwards!

City Walking Tours - Save Money And See More

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:56:00 PST

Having spent most of my life in London it is quite amazing how little I know about the City. The saying goes that you don't know what is on your doorstep. It was only when I moved away from the Capital I began to learn more about the place. In fact I knew more about Paris than London whilst living in England biggest City. It is quite strange that my hobby is walking but I chose country locations to do it. I'd never thought of walk in urban areas such as London or Paris. It was always a bus or a taxi to destination in the City.

Well last year I returned to London as a tourist not a resident and found some great walks seeing the sites. I never knew there were so many parks and landscaped areas within the centre of London. Being a keen photographer, what better way to get pictures than to be on foot. Far better than being on a stuffy bus or paying through the nose with taxis. I was lucky though as my stay there was subsidised by staying with family - no Hotel bills to worry about.

My plan this year is to visit Paris and do exactly the same thing namely touring by waling with my camera ready for action - I can't wait. It will be more expensive though as I will need a selection Paris Hotels to stay at. Well at least I don't have to put up with sleeping on the sofa as I did in London and there are quite a few bargain a few Kilometres outside the centre of Paris.

The tip here is to recommend walking in cities, you see and experience things you would never see any other way, it's good for your health and the environment and saves you money. In fact the tip is commensurate to this blogs principles of saving money and the world!

Take A Break At Lunchtime - It Makes Sense To Do So

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:29:00 PST

If you work all day you know that lunchtimes is a very important time and what you do in that time will determine how the afternoon goes. It was the case where lunchtimes were used to catch up on other things such as shopping or other errands that involve running around or working like a headless chicken before lunchtime ends. How wrong was I in those olden days to do such things and not even have time for a snack. The tip today is to take a break during lunchtime it make total sense.

Since taking a full hour for lunch, sitting down and eating then for 30 minutes after a cup of tea I slip my hat on to cover my eyes and doze off in the chair or lie down if there is a place to do so doing and doze off. Since doing this daily so my energy levels have increased tenfold for the afternoon of work. My head is clear and thinking straight and the time just whizzes past with my mind focused on the jobs in hand. This is a new lease of life I have discovered since coming to Bulgarian, taking a break is a major find.

Think to yourself, why am I rushing at lunchtimes. There is always other times to do the jobs that you feel you have to do in your time allocated for a break. Some people I know don't take any break at all and work through their lunchtimes, (all for extra money of course) and they look ill. Money is not the most important thing, your health is. not only that these lunchtime workers are less efficient at their work without the mental break and the boost of energy from food and drink needed after a morning of slog.

So whatever your profession, make sure you allocate time during midday for food and rest, it makes so much sense to do so. I won't go into what foods to eat, but something is better than nothing and a ten minutes close of the eyes is better than not rest of the mind.

You boss will thank you for taking a break at lunchtime when they see your work rate rise in the afternoons.

A $8000 Give Away For New Home Buyers - Are You One Of Them?

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:07:00 PST

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

Some tips given here save a few cents here and there but today there is one tip they you can take where you can get a tax credit of up to $8000! It all depends whether you are looking for a new home. Many will be of course now the recession is apparently in decline. There should be a rebirth of property buyers with the confidence to get on the home owning ladder. Who qualifies and how do you go about taking steps to claim this tax give away?

This is open to home-buyers for the first time or people who haven't owned a home of their own in the last three years. The is a condition where if you can get up to $6500 if you haven't been resident in a home consecutively for 5 out of the past 8 years.

There is a bit of a rush as to qualify you need to have a binding contract by April 30, 2010 - The closing date is June 30, 2010.)

On the income front there are income limits of $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for couples that a re married. In addition there's a $20,000 phase-out of the credit for both.

The reason for this 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits give away is that an incentive was needed for the move-up buyers and this would help many to make this move bring the percentage back up to levels that have not been reached since 1991(44%).

If you need more confirmation about this great help in home-buying just have a look at the video on this link:

If for one wish I'd put off the purchase of my home a few years for this offer.

How to tell an egg is bad

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:51:00 PST

Eggs have had a bad press over the years what with salmonella, high cholesterol etc.. The fact is eggs are one of the most natural forms of food you can eat and the bad press mainly comes from business of industry who have a vested financial interest in the public's egg eating habits.

I personally get my own eggs from my neighbour's farm, I know they are laid on the day I buy them so I have no worries. Many supermarket eggs have been through the chemical chain through chickens that have been fed goodness knows what to get bigger and more colourful yolked eggs, however they to have a date on them to give you a guide on how old they are. I personally don't trust anything egg producers (not the chickens!)put on eggs. If I have to buy from a grocer or another source I am not too sure about I have my own method to judge the freshness of the egg.

I simply put some cold water in a bowl with enough to cover the egg. Put the egg gently in the water and observe what it does. If the egg lies on its side on the bottom, you won't get an egg much fresher than this as the pocket of air is small. If on the other hand the egg stands up or bobs up slightly it is slightly older due to more air trapped within. Lastly, and you know what is coming now, if the egg floats on the surface store it is not fit for eating due to being rotten. It does have a use however for throwing at politicians.

A small point but quite important. Only use this way of finding out how fresh eggs are just before you intend to use them for as the immersion in water will block up the shell pores and not allow the egg to breathe.

Progesterone Cream Not Only Good For Women

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:18:00 PST

I know better than most when my partner is about to start her menstrual cycle. Anyone who has a female partner will also know what both partners have to go through during this 'period.' Most times it is consider part of nature and we all put up with it month after month, but sometimes help is needed. This is where today's tip comes in.

The women's menstrual cycle of course is there naturally and fertility and PMS is all part of the process. When things get slightly out of hand there is a simple product that can help to regulate the menstrual cycle and at the same time increase fertility. It is a simple hormone replacement made by administering hormone cream called progesterone. It has benefits that come to the rescue not only to women but men who live with them. It is a therapy that is widely used to great success by many women who want more control over their menstrual cycle.

You can easily get progesterone cream online with lots of information online about on how to use it. In fact I would recommend buying it this way as it is cheaper and you have more choice over product brands. One I found with a good background was "Paraben-Free Pro-Gest®," which is basically a natural progesterone cream that also helps cure issues pertaining to the menopause.

Luckily for me my partner has not reached the menopause stage yet and her PMS each month is not too hard on her and me, but who knows in the near future progesterone cream may well have a place in out medicine cabinet. We're lucky, but other partners may not be so lucky in one sense but lucky to know that there is help at hand with products designed to reduce or eliminate all inconvenient symptoms that are associated with this.

How To Buy One Item From a Supermarket

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:57:00 PST

How many times have you made a trip to the supermarket with a mind just to buy one item and come out with much more than that? More times than you think, supermarkets are designed for you to buy more than you need. How can you avoid being taken for a multi buy ride when you intention from the outset was for one item?

The firs thing to think about is do you really need to go to the supermarket fro one item in the first place. Think of the petrol you are wasting for a start, it is not just the cost of that one item it is time and money getting there and back. You may have a neighbour next door that can borrow you that item which will be replaced next time you bulk shop.

If you really have to go and buy that one item, don't take a shopping trolley, go empty handed into the supermarket and make a beeline for that particular item. Don't take the kids, they will be another distraction for buying extras not needed.

If you are not in a rush, take a walk or ride a bike to the store, this again will make you think about how much you have to carry, save on fuel and of course give you a little exercise - all positive steps.

Only take the amount of money you know that single item will cost and no credit cards, this again will literally force you just to buy that single item you had planned in the first place.

It is all about 'fighting' against supermarket tactics to make you spend more than you need to and if you take steps to counteract this you will have more money in your pocket more than you realise at the end of the month.

Claiming Compensation For Accidents Can Be Free And Easy

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:47:00 PST

A great tip and one that should always be considered as it is in your interest and only fair. Let me just tell you firstly that it is a fact that thousands of people just don't know that they are well within their rights to get compensation from accidents that happen if it wasn't their fault.

There are many companies that specialise in taking on cases with a 'No win, No fee' guarantee, With this what have you to lose? Whether is is a bicycle, motorbike or car accident or an accident at work and you feel it wasn't your fault, you have a case for compensation. A simple Accident Claims can be made and professionals do the rest without any stress or further work from you. Many people have been compensated for accidents this way. The beauty is that making claims improves the health and safety standards across the board.

So if you ever have an accident and you feel that it is because of the negligence of someone else, go for it!

Driving In Snowy Conditions - Tips On Preperation

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:57:00 PST

I occurred to me that there is no provision in driving leading up to the actual test and actually passing that can prepare you for driving in the snow. This is after many years of having to do just that here in Bulgaria during the winter months in a basic Lada saloon. There is no preparation other than first hand experience that driver face when the heavy snow falls. How do you deal with it? I have given some tips that may well help first timers. Even in mild climates now snow may well appear for the firs time since the ice age due to climate change, so be prepared to possibly face it.

Driving aside there are five rules you should check out when snow comes. The first and probably the most sensible is. Do I need to take this journey? Can it be delayed at a time when it is less hazardous? So many driver just think that the have to make a journey when actually a quick phone call to rearrange a meeting or go shopping a day later, (I'm sure most people have a little food stored at home or a neighbour who you could ask to borrow.)

In this day and age there is no need to be isolated and that includes being isolated in you car stuck in snow. So, always take your mobile phone with you on journeys, especially in snowy condition and make sure it is fully charged for the latter.

Before you set off driving in the snow assuming the journey is vital, always make sure you have told someone where you are going. Always check that your destination route is open to traffic and the conditions haven't made it impassable. If it is impassable just resign yourself to not going and not take a chance that somehow you can get through

Before the journey is made make sure you have a blanket and appropriate clothing in case you come to a stand still in traffic. Journeys are always going to be slower and delays inevitable so prepare for it. You may even consider taking a flask of hot tea, even if your journey is short on paper. You can always drink it when you get to your destination so it won't be wasted.

Finally, get mentally prepared for the journey, you know it will take longer and you may have problems en route so accept that. Do not get stressed or impatient as the tendency is to try and make up for lost time by driving more dangerously and with less caution. Believe me this happens. So just go with the flow and just try relax.

More Tips To Save On Winter Fuel Bills

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:38:00 PST

Yet more tips on how to save money on fuel bills in the winter. It is still surprising how many people can be well educated yet the simple things to save money and help the environment are just not taken on board. Sometime the most obvious things are not always seen as the reason for breaking the bank with winter fuel bills.

A fact you may not be aware for is that over 50% of the heat is lost through the walls and ceiling in average home – Yes over half! If you haven’t got adequate loft insulation or double glazing the sooner you get it in the sooner you will save in the long run. You needn’t be faced with the dreaded double glazing salesman either as fitting secondary double glazing can be done at a fraction of he cost and installed yourself.

Another overlooked aspect is taking steps to find out if you qualify for a grant to help improve the insulation in your house. Believe it or not, the government, electric and gas suppliers and many local authorities are all there giving handouts to help cover the cost of insulation. Make sure you are not missing out on this, they don’t generally advertise this fact so it is up to you to make simple enquiries. This can be done online, just look up your local authority and you will find a section veering this on their website.

Another great saving can be made if you replace an old boiler with a modern, energy efficient boiler. You can in some instances claim money back off your old boiler in exchange. This is well worth checking out locally with boiler suppliers who will be in the know as to what exchanges are currently available. So not only will you be saving energy by switching, but possibly getting funds that will subsidise you new heating system.

It has to eb said that aaving fuel is important to all of us and taking steps to make sure you do this is an easy step to take. If only people would take the advice that is put their way.

Ten More Top Tips For Saving Fuel This Winter

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:40:00 PST

It will be – 22 C here tonight so the weather forecast tells us. And so it is quite appropriate that I continue to give tips on how to save money on winter bills in the height of energy expense.

This may sound ‘old hat’ but still millions ignore taking steps to use less energy. It is the best and by that I also mean the ‘greenest’ way to save on fuel bills. Just by doing simple things that are just common sense. Here’s a simple list of ten things you can do:

Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine runs with a full load
Turn lights off when you aren't using a room
Do not leave electric product on ‘standby’
Make sure you freezer is defrosted regularly
Wear more clothing and turn the central heating thermostat down a few degrees
Eat food that involves less cooking
Use less time in the shower
Only fill the electric kettle with the amount of water you will use
Watch less television and read or listen to the radio instead
Draw the curtains full time in rooms that are not being used

All these tips will shave money off your energy bills and help the environment. Think about it. If just each one of these tips saves you 50 cents a month, with the ten tips that’s $5 a month or $20 over the winter! Could you do with an extra $20 just for being sensible?

Again, so many people DON’T do these things, in a way it is rather a selfish thing not to do as it affects not jus them but the whole environment. Such a shame.

More Tips Of Saving Money On Fuel Bills This Winter

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:16:00 PST

My goodness it’s cold right now and bring back to mind some tips to save on winter fuel this winter. I have already given a few for starters and now will give some more to top it up.

Quite often energy suppliers provide electric but gas as well. When you buy both from the same supplier it is technically know as dual fuel plan. Not every supplier does this and this is where you can save even more if you shop around.

Quite simply, it is quite often the case that buying your gas and electric on a dual plan will work out cheaper than using two energy suppliers. Again, so many people are not aware of this and are paying over the odds at a time when most energy is being used. It is also the case that now is the time to act, as each day that goes past is another day of paying more than you should.

On top of this tip ask yourself this question. Are you really struggling to pay for your energy bills right now? If the answer is yes there is help available to certain parties. Both pensioners (people over 60 years of age) and those on job seekers allowances both may be entitled to benefits that would help towards paying the bills. You need to ask at your local pension office or job seeker’s office for details. Can I just say that if you don’t ask you don’t get in many cases, that the way of pensions and benefits policies now!

So, more tips to help you get through this winter and armed for winters to come. More tips to come later n this series of frugal ways to save money on energy bills.

New York's Green Police - Too Little Too Late?

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:52:00 PST

I personally am not a fan of the USA mainly because all the social and environmental problems that are currently over there are man made based on their commercialism and materialism culture. The result of this means that millions of dollars from tax payers have to be invested in law and order with criminal activity ripe down to the greed factor. Surely the best way to deal with this is through education and relearning how to live together in an environmentally caring society.

Perhaps the start of this is nigh as I read that the New York Police Department has a Department that is dedicated to Environmental Conservation and has allocated twenty serving officers to run the cause.They are affectionately and appropriately know as the green police. One of the main causes of pollution are cars and this is compounded by cars that have illegal exhaust emissions that harm the environment further. The green police monitor traffic and pull over vehicles that don't comply with this regulation.

There are many other areas of conversation that the green police monitor as a kind of guardian angel task force trying to ensure that seafood that come from illegal sources don't reach the retail industry.

Now I personally thing that twenty officers is a drop in the ocean so to speak in trying control the evil that has been created by New York citizens who don't care 2 cents about the effect their greed has on their own environment. What I do think is that publicity is a far more effective way of communicating to people about issues that need to be heard. Common knowledge that the green police and the reason for their set up and running in the field in the first place is a far greater deterrent to those who are considering the risk of being caught.

It goes without saying that the green police do a good job, but in my eyes it is far too little and far too late for a upturn in environmental attitudes in this part of the world. It would take more than the green police to change that.

More Tips To Save On WInter Fuel Bills

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:48:00 PST

More on how to save money on fuel bills this winter and tips that will help you feel a bit better about having to fork out wads for energy that is accountable. It is very important that you only pay what is actually due. Many mistakes have been made and people just pay without question.

What do they say? – Computers are only as good as the people that work them! Bear this in mind when you get your next bill as error are more common that you first suppose. Let’s face it, if you don’t check your own energy by looking at the meters you could well end up paying too much for you gas or electric. Getting you money back for overpayments is always going to be tricky. This could also work the other way where you pay too little and of course have to pay more further down the line. To avoid this always compare you personal reading with the suppliers’ reading to see whether they tally up and match.

If you haven’t gone online already then simple do go online and pay by direct debit. Keeping up to date on the most competitive tariffs will be available only to those online and many suppliers offer discounts for paying by direct debit. Two positive steps you can take to save money on your energy costs.

These tips all add up to you being more in control of you energy cost and making the most out of saving that are around for you to take up. It is quite amazing why so many people just accept the bills they get are gospel and pay at the post office once a month. This is probably the worst scenario for expensive energy. Are you one of them?

A Great Online Dating Article - BBC Vetted

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:55:00 PST

The BBC has a reputation second to non in world media circles so when you find and article published on the BBC News' website you would more than likely take note of the contents. Source of articles can be more regarded if vetted by the BBC more than any other form of publication.

The reason this is being put forward its that I have a dating site and it is my job to know more about the ins and out of online dating as it is my business. I came across an article about dating and found it most enlightening. It is not just useful for online dating site administrators but for anyone who intends to use dating online facilities. It is well written and of course has the BBC alongside that you can trust.

The tip here is, if you have or intend o have anything to do with dating online give it a read, you will be well informed after indulging.

Save Over £400 By Switching Your Power Supplier

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:33:00 PST

I am going to start series of tips giving you ways you can save money this winter. It is the time of year where most money goes on fuel bill and this is the area that will be focused on.

The first tip is simple to look at whether you have recently changed your supplier of energy. With the monopoly of power supplies ancient history, you can now choose who you want to get your energy from. You probably already know this. The changes are that you are right now paying more than you need to is you haven’t switched suppliers over the last year.

The simple fact is that by changing your energy supplier you can save over £400 by using a new tariff. Now that’s something well worth looking into and taking up. There are thousands of people who just don’t realise this option is open to them. If you know about it, well you do now tell others about it. Why should anyone pay more for power when a cheaper alternative is there in the wings?

You should shop around to find a tariff that is competitive, this involves a degree of homework of course, bit well worth it. A good tip is to use an online price comparison service that will take a bit of the headache away of doing it all on your own.

When you find a provider it's a good idea to contact your current supplier and explain that you are looking fro another supplier because you feel that their tariff is too expensive for the gas and electricity they supply. The is a good chance that they would then offer you a better deal than risk losing a customer.

There you have it, you may end up saving money just by making enquiries. Good luck. More tips to come in subsequent posts, subscribe to keep up to date on future tips.

Create Fun Pictures For Free Online

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:08:00 PST

A great tip here for those who want to living up their photographs and have a little joke with pictures you have already taken. I have tried this out and sent my friends some of the results – they were quite amazed at the effect that I got and all for the cost of a few minutes.

Here was my first try:

“How did you do that?” I hear you ask. Well there is a website where you can create funny pictures online. It is entirely free and has hundreds of different effect that you might want to used to liven your pictures up or cheer someone up. The cool photo effects are added to each day so will have more options to choose from the following day.

Here’s another example of one I now use as a profile on a forum:

The beauty of this site is that you can make funny photos yourself whereas before perhaps you had to pay for the service or programme to do it. This is a breakthrough in free digital photographic effects and prefect for many things such as Facebook or funny profile pictures.

Just look at the last photograph I had composed with this program – I sent this one to my best friend who now want the site address.

Don’t forget, each one only took less than a minute to make once I had selected my photograph that I wanted to be inserted. Well worth a look and a great tip for photographic entertainment.

Cold Feet Ths WInter? Your Oven Can Help

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:25:00 PST

Here’s a winter tip that will keep your feet warm without any extra cost on heating. It is a simple idea that uses energy that is wasted in many households that can be transferred to your feet on cold winter days.

After using you oven for cooking it usually left empty to cool down. All this heat is there to be used while the cooling period is in progress. This heat can be captured in two bricks that you can place in the oven after the food is taken out. The heat will transfer and now be stored in the bricks after 10 minutes and are ideal as feet warmers. There will probably be enough heat in your oven for more that one pair of bricks that can be warmed up as well.

Not only is it free heating but has a feel good factor behind it with warm feet and knowing that the energy you pay for in heating is being put to good effect.

The idea was taken from brick that were placed on wood burners in Bulgaria as feet warmers and by golly do they need them during the harsh winters that are felt here.

Get Rid Of Damp In Wardrobes

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:53:00 PST

A tip for the winter was discovered this Christmas, let me explain. Every winter in the town house we have to light up our bottled gas heater in our bedroom for half and hour before we retire. The room is empty and freezing during the day so this is necessary, no point in heating a room that isn’t being used for 16 hours a day, but that’s not the tip that’s the problem!

Because the room is so cold and suddenly get heated up quickly condensation forms in the wardrobes that stands against a cold wall. Every year we have to throw clothes away that have been ruined form mildew that has formed from the condensation. This is even with daily wiring down of the damp inside the wardrobes. The only answer up unit now is to heat the room up all the time, but we couldn’t afford the heating bills to do this besides the conscience of waste.

So we sudden realised that what contributes to the damp is a lack of ventilation in the wardrobes. We can put up with damp windows but we can’t afford to throw out good clothing each year with this. The idea was to drill holes in the back of the wardrobe and bring each unit 5 cm away from the cold wall. This would effectively give circulation of air and hot touching cold is eliminated.

One week on after spending a good few hours removing all the clothing, drill in many holes in the backing and moving the wardrobes forward away from the wall, all is well. There is no dampness inside the wardrobes now and we can breath a sigh of relief not having to say goodbye to clothing this year. Not only that, but mildew is also eliminated and that is better for our health as well.

This tip saves money not having to be spent on heating a room all hour in the winter, saves on ruined clothing, both better for the environment and of course for out health without dampness or mould. Shame we didn’t discover the tip a few years ago.

Save Money By Sharing The Load With Parties

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:06:00 PST

Anther great tip from Bulgaria where the econonics and savings never fail to amaze me. It happened today at the factory work party where a great end of year feast was organised for the workers. This is an expensive business in a year where many have been made unenployed due to a turn down in business through a drop in sales. However the company was still in business and that was enough to celebrate this year.

As we were tyring to save money the idea was that every worker should bring in a dish and some drink. All 27 workers brought in a home cooked dish and the end result was a feast laid out fit for a King. The drink was plentiful and of course this didn't cost the company a penny. The left over were fed to the factory chicken and dogs and the left over drink returned to the owners. Most of the drink (wine and rakia) was homemade and it gave a change for everyone to sample different drinks something that many don't get a chance to as 99% of their food and drink are from their own home.

This saves money, noting is wasted therefore economical and a great talking point with the tried recipes and drinks. It was a great success and the workers felt that they also had contributed to the company's financial welfare doing this. We all hope we are in work this time next year and even if things are better business wise will probably do the same thing again it was that good.

So the tip is to share the contributions with parties, people will be more than willing to help and help the host, it doesn't have to be work based but home based.

Tip How To Save Money On Wasting Fresh Foods

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:36:00 PST

You buy fresh food to eat, but how many people end up not eating it and throwing it away as it has past its best. There is a simple solution to this problem where you will be saving money and or course helping cut the waste that so many of us are guilty of.

There are two parts to this solution. The first is quite simple and involves a little calculation and will power. Buying fresh fruit and vegetables are the main culprit of waste, you should know beforehand how much you would need to cover the week's supplies in your household. Stick to your quantity as the grocer undoubtedly will be trying to get you to buy more than you need. Supermarkets are of course experts in this with 3 for the price of 2 a regular taunt to buy more. If you just want 2, just buy two and ask for a discount on these with the offer in mind. this won't work always but always worth asking. Supermarket staff are trained to bend over backwards trying to please so you may be pleasantly surprise if you do ask.

the second method to save money and waste is to get the longest life out of your purchased fresh foods. Ask the manager when the delivery of its fresh fruits and vegetables come in on the shelves. Fruits and vegetables go past their sell by date quickly as they have to be shipped quickly. If they restocks on Monday shop for these products on Monday. You will get a few extra day life on the foods if you do this.

Most people haven't got the courage to ask these things, more fool them! Supermarkets and big grocer stores are making enough money out of you, don't let them palm you off with less than the freshest possible foods and put you in control on how much you want to buy.

Tips To Prevent Home Fires This Christmas

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:05:00 PST

Fire kills and during Christmas and the cold weather fire risks are at their greatest. I have given a few tips on how to reduce the risks and get through Christmas and the New Year unscathed.

Candles are a popular during the festive season. The fact that a live fire is being used means that the risks of fire are increased. Don’t let children play with them and keep away from pets that could knock them over. Place them away from material that is combustible such as curtains and always make sure they are put out before retiring to bed.

Extension chords may be burdened with extra electrical present as gifts. Make sure you don’t overload them as they can overheat and combust in certain instances.

The log fire if you have one may not have been used since last winter. Make sure that it has been cleaned and given a good bill of health. Chimney fires are a common problem with un-maintained chimneys.

Always be present with any cooking you are making. A distraction such as guests turning up can easily lead to you forgetting there is something cooking and this often causes kitchen fires.

Drink is a common element at Christmas; smokers will tend to be very clumsy with their cigarettes so make sure you keep a beady eye on these people. Again cigarettes are a major cause of fires in the home, especially under the influence of alcohol.
If you have smoke alarms, make sure they are working and put fresh batteries in if they run on them.

Lastly, the Christmas tree is a big fire hazard if natural and dried out. Have you ever burnt your old used one; it goes up like a towering inferno! Make sure that you tree is watered and this will stop it from becoming inflammable.

With all this on board you should reduce the chances of your Christmas becoming an unforgettable nightmare with the outbreak of fire in your home and turning it into an Happy Christmas.

Extend The Life Of Your Boots With Leftovers

slivatree@yahoo.co.uk (Martin in Bulgaria) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:49:00 PST

Image via Wikipedia

Here’s a tip that I picked up only yesterday at work and very useful it is as well. It eliminates waste and is put to good use to extend the life of footwear. If ever you are using glue or putty fro filling in gaps in walls or repairs on your car bodywork you are bound to have some left over when you have finished the job here’s what to do with it.

Simply use the leftover putty or glue and apply it to the sole of shoe or boots you may have. It will give further life to the soles and more cushioning when walking. It may not be practical to use it on all footwear, but working boots and walking footwear will certainly benefit from this application from material that would normally be thrown away.

I had some car filler putty applied to my working boots yesterday and it works really well. It is a tried and tested method that many of my workmates have used for years and of course typically Bulgarian in practical application that makes complete sense.