FOR THE GUYS, SEX & LIFE

Is Buying a Boat Worth It?

Is Buying a Boat Worth It?

For many people, the idea of owning a boat conjures images of calm waters, sun soaked afternoons and unforgettable memories with families and friends. From fishing trips to water sports to quiet cruises, the question really does remain as to whether buying a boat is truly worth the investment.

There is a range of options on the market including durable, family friendly vessels like Smoker Craft boats to huge yachts that can sit in a mariner when they’re not being used. So the answer as to whether it’s worth it really depends on your lifestyle, your financial goals and how often you plan to use it. 

Image source: Pexels Photo by Maahid Photos

The Lifestyle Factor

A boat can significantly enhance your quality of life if you live near water or you’re regularly taking a vacation by lakes, rivers or the coast, having your own boat off as a level of freedom and spontaneity that rentals simply cannot match. There are no reservations necessary, and so if you want to take the early morning fishing trip or go tipping with the kids on a hot summer’s day, you can do that. For many boat owners, the convenience and enjoyment alone makes ownership worth it.

Financial Considerations

Boats are not generally considered to be appreciating assets, however, they tend to depreciate, much like cars. That doesn’t mean they’re a bad investment, though, and you should speak to a financial adviser to determine whether it’s the right investment for you. The key here is viewing a boat not as a financial return vehicle, but as a lifestyle enhancer. If you budget wisely enough and purchase a boat that fits your needs, not just your dreams, you’ll be able to bring enormous value through use and experience.

You should consider all of your costs before you buy though. From the initial purchase price to the insurance, the storage, the fuel, and the licensing, it can all add up. A well built boat from a reputable brand will hold its value better and require fewer repairs over time, so make sure that you’re buying smart if you do decide to buy one.

Usage Frequency

How often do you plan to use a boat if you buy one? This will play a huge role in determining whether the cost is worth it. If you’re only heading out a couple of weekends a year, the costs may outweigh the benefits. This is where renting or joining a boating club could be far more practical for you. But if you have water at the back of your property, or you plan to spend every weekend, all the water, it would certainly be worth it.

Emotional ROI

There’s also the emotional return on your investment to consider. Boating creates a unique environment for connection, whether it’s teaching your children to fish or you’re hosting friends on a sunny day. It’s these experiences that are difficult to quantify.

So is buying a boat worth it? If you’re financially prepared, plan to use it regularly and you value being outdoors, then the answer could be a huge yes. Like any purchase, buying a boat should be a decision made with your head and your heart. So don’t go running after your heart first. 

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

SEX & LIFE

How to Cope with Tough Times

How to Cope with Tough Times

Do you feel as though you are going through a bit of a tough time right now? If so, then there are a few things you can do to try and help yourself. If you want to find out more, then the only thing you have to do is take a look below.

Source: Pexels

Accept the Situation

Change is a part of life. A lot of the world is outside your control as well. You can’t control the pace of social change, and you also can’t cope with how the economy behaves either. While it can be tough for you to acknowledge things, you do need to make sure that you are not constantly being drained of your energy, and that you are not left feeling anxious and hopeless.

If you learn to accept your situation and if you can devote your energy to the things that matter, then this will give you way more control over the things that you can do something about. If you have gone through grief or loss, then this is understandably very difficult, but again, there is help out there. It may be that you speak with a counselor, as they can help you to accept the situation. You might also want to liaise with a funeral home, which is also a good way for you to get the emotional support you need. 

Focus on Things You Can Control

Make a list of all the things that you can’t control, and also permit yourself to stop worrying about them.

You also need to make sure that you focus on the action that you can take in the instance. If you are unemployed, then you can’t control whether someone is going to give you a job, but you can control how much time and effort you put into things. If you have a loved one, then ask them to help you with this. If you do, then you will find things much easier to deal with.

Your Feelings are Valid

Another thing you need to do is learn to accept your feelings. It’s tempting to think that the best way for you to get through very difficult times is for you to ignore the painful emotions that you may be experiencing, but this is not the case at all. You just need to accept your emotions, and you also need to learn how to process them. If you go through life ignoring your feelings, then you will soon find that you end up burying your head in the sand, and this will work against you more than you realize.

If you want to do something about this, then it is a good idea for you to try and work around this by not only accepting what you are feeling, but at the same time accepting the fact that you are unable to control everything. If you can let go of control while putting more effort and energy into the things that you can deal with, then this will help you a lot.

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

SEX & LIFE

Careers That Can Help You Mend The Rifts In Relationships

Careers That Can Help You Mend The Rifts In Relationships

One of the best pieces of advice you can ever receive when it comes to your career is to base it on your passion. However, people have passions for a lot of things, and not all of them may immediately reveal a career path. However, if your particular interest is in the romantic relationships that couples need to thrive, there could be people in need of that enthusiasm. You just need to pair it with the expertise to help, first.

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Couples Therapy

One of the most widely used and recognized paths to helping people mend the issues in their relationships is to become a couples therapist. Working in couples therapy requires you to earn a master’s degree and a license, after which you can work directly with partners who are facing issues like communication breakdowns, infidelity, the loss of intimacy, or unresolved trauma. This career relies on evidence-based methods that can help individuals do things like recognize their own destructive patterns, rebuild empathy, and repair trust with their partner. Aside from an interest in relationships, this career best works for those who are empathetic, good listeners, and have an active interest in psychology. Over time, many therapists specialize in areas like LGBTQ+ relationships or trauma recovery. Helping couples reconnect and grow stronger together is profoundly rewarding and can bring about lasting, positive change in their lives.

Sensual Tantra Practitioner

Many couples prefer a more holistic approach to resolving issues in their relationship. Becoming a tantra practitioner can allow you to help individuals reconnect by also reconnecting them with their own sensuality. This is a long-standing practice that focuses on mindful and spiritual energy, using practices like breathwork, meditation, and touch to help awaken romantic energies and dissolve the tensions that often prevent people from being able to experience intimacy as they should. This can include guiding couples to explore touch and nonverbal communication, which can help them build a new level of connection. Tantra training can allow practitioners to ensure their practices bring the experience in somatic healing and bodywork, adhering to the ethics required to build trust with their clients. This path requires deep respect for boundaries, energy awareness, and a calling to help others cultivate intimacy with presence and intention.

Relationship Coach

While relationship coaches do not take as specific or spiritual an approach to helping couples, they also do not typically require the level of education and training required to work as a therapist, either. Instead, they tend to operate on a blend of psychology, building communication skills, and setting practical goals that can help couples navigate their issues from a more analytical side. While therapy often addresses issues through the lens of past experience, trauma, and patterns, coaching focuses on present issues, such as conflict resolution, making time for one another, and rebuilding trust. There are several coaching programs that, while not being strictly necessary, can help coaches improve their credibility.

Family Systems Therapist

Often, there are people beyond the couple involved in a relationship and the problems that can form between them. Family dynamics often play a major role. Family systems therapists work with individuals or entire families to uncover generational patterns, childhood conditioning, and unconscious roles that influence adult relationships. This approach typically involves looking at a couple as part of a larger system, and the context of their family environments and upbringings. Practitioners believe that this can help offer clarity when it comes to patterns in conflicts as well as emotional wounds that have been unresolved since childhood.

Mediators

Often, the problems in relationships can go a lot further than interpersonal conflict. They can potentially involve legal action. Meditators play an important role in helping couples and families resolve their disputes without having to go that far. Often, mediators help where the others mentioned here don’t, such as during a separation or when trying to negotiate co-parenting strategies. Your role as a mediator is to be a neutral guide for each party, helping them reach mutual agreements. While reconciliation is not the goal as it is for the other careers mentioned above, you can play an important role in helping couples maintain understanding and respect, which can be especially important if children are involved.

The relationships we have with our partners can be much more important to our emotional and mental well-being than we might immediately recognize. As such, there is a need for professionals who can help keep those relationships strong, and the career paths above might help you find a way to do just that.

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

4 Effective Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills

4 Effective Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills

Everyone knows that costs are rising — the question is, what can you do about it? 

In some instances, it’s all about being creative; don’t like the cost of eggs? Then use an egg alternative — same result, much cheaper cost. In other instances, it’s about taking temporary measures. With travel more expensive now, it might be wise to postpone your travel plans until you’ve saved up more money/costs have come down.

And what about the rising cost of energy bills? Combating those rising prices involves taking more sweeping, long-term measures. In this post, we’ll run through a few handy strategies that 

should, when all combined, make a big difference. 

Pexels – CC0 Licence

Appliance Upgrades

In most cases, it’s wise to extract as much value from your products as you can. The thinking goes that the longer you have an item, the better the overall cost is. It’s much better to wear your shoes for 5 years, rather than replacing them at 3. 

However, that principle doesn’t apply to your home appliances. If you have an old appliance, then it’s likely using up much more energy than it should, resulting in higher energy bills. Upgrading to one of the latest models will require an investment, but it’ll pay off in savings in the long run. 

HVAC Costs

The cheapest way to reduce your HVAC-related costs is to simply avoid turning it on. But realistically, who’s going to do that? When the temperatures begin to bite or soar, it’s your HVAC system that makes life at home bearable. It’s recommended to have an expert take a look at your HVAC system from time to time to ensure that it’s working correctly. Also, keep in mind that your energy bills will be much higher if the cold/hot air is able to escape through your walls. A company like insulationcommandos.com can provide insulation that will allow you to keep your home at a comfortable temperature without breaking the bank. Beyond that, it’s all about using your HVAC system wisely — the goal should be to be at a comfortable temperature, not the perfect temperature. 

Use Machines Effectively 

Looking for an easy, effective way to keep your energy bills as low as possible? Look at using your appliances effectively. Some people turn on their dishwasher even when it’s only half-loaded. Waiting until it’s fully loaded is the best approach since the dishwasher will use the same amount of energy regardless of how many plates are in there. You can also look at washing your clothes in cold water; unless you’re dealing with difficult dirt, cold water will clean your clothes with no problem, and it’ll use up to 90% less energy. 

Consider Solar Panels

Finally, take a look at adding solar panels to your home. This can be a game-changer for energy bills, reducing them by 50% or more. The technology behind solar energy has increased significantly in recent years, too, so you can have confidence that you’ll have enough energy to run your home even on the cloudiest of days. 

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Is it Really Worth DIY?

Is it Really Worth DIY?

Do-it-yourself (DIY), often associated with Pinterest projects and home improvement TV shows, evokes images of creative projects and the allure of saving money while accomplishing something uniquely your own. But for every DIY success story, there is also one which results in something less than professional. So the question remains, should we pick up that toolbox or craft kit or leave the work to professionals? Here is why:

Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash

The Appeal of DIY

There is no disputing that DIY brings an incredible sense of satisfaction when completed successfully, whether that means revamping an old piece of furniture or painting an accent wall. That sense of accomplishment when saying, “I made that,” can be immensely fulfilling. Not to mention its potential cost savings. Why pay someone else when you can learn how to do it yourself through YouTube tutorials? Plus DIY allows for creativity. Creating projects tailored specifically to you makes the entire experience unique. Who wouldn’t love creating something so special?

The (Not-So-Glamorous) Reality of DIY

Although DIY enthusiasts may perceive DIY to be exciting and economical, the reality can often differ. First of all, novice DIYers often underestimate their learning curve. Tiling your own bathroom might sound easy at first, until you discover you have created an eye-sore instead of the smooth professional finish you wanted. Online guides or tutorials often don’t take into account individual circumstances or skill levels. Costs may also quickly escalate. Materials, tools (for which your existing toolbox won’t contain), and fixing mistakes can quickly add up, sometimes exceeding the costs of hiring professionals. Plus there’s the added aspect of time. Something which could take one professional a day may end up taking more of your weekend and leave you more frustrated than fulfilled.

Hiring a Handyman

Hiring a professional handyman service is often the best solution to home improvement tasks that seem overwhelming or time-consuming, such as furniture assembly, fixing minor household issues, or larger repair projects. Their expert craftsmanship means the task will be completed correctly and safely, often within much shorter timelines than a DIY attempt could. Plus many services offer flexible scheduling to make meeting your list less of an inconvenience.

When DIY Makes Sense

DIY has its place, whether that means decorating walls, building simple furniture pieces, or making minor repairs. DIY can be fulfilling and cost-effective projects. As long as you already possess the tools, skills, and time required if something goes awry it could be worthwhile if done right. DIY also serves as an opportunity to expand your capabilities. By starting with smaller projects you’re bound to gain useful skills while keeping your expectations reasonable.

Conclusion

DIY can be worth your while, but that depends on the project at hand and your commitment. Small, manageable projects with high passion levels and time commitment are great candidates for DIY. For more complex, high-stakes tasks or time-consuming ones however professional services may make more sense in saving you stress, time and money in the end. But if your attempt at DIY ends with duct tape holding everything together, you could end up regretting it in terms of stress and time savings. Choose wisely so DIY can really pay off (just not always).

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

Everyday Tips from Tia