Article: . It is important to get a solid understanding of how much money you have and how much you are spending. This will come in handy when you put together a budget. It will also help you avoid any nasty surprises like overdrafts or identity theft. You'll need to look at how much you earn each month and then subtract all of your expenses, such as rent/mortgage, utility bills, groceries, etc. Use this to calculate how much money you spend in a month and what your expenses are. Try creating a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and enter your income and spending history. You can make categories of your different expenses so you can sort, analyze, and prioritize your spending. Categories may include: housing, utilities, household expenses, groceries, health care, pets, personal expenses, entertainment, and so on. Look at your bank and credit card statements each month to make sure you have enough money. Make sure you look at the individual transactions on your credit card statement and categorize those transactions in the spreadsheet. Further sort your expenses by noting which are fixed versus variable and which expenses are necessary and which are discretionary. . Try to limit your living expenses to less than 65% of your income. This includes housing, utilities, transportation costs and groceries. The remaining income should go towards your savings, paying down debts, and discretionary spending. Sticking to a budget can be tight when your income is tight. Prioritize your needs and find a solution that works best for you. Although it may be difficult when money is tight, paying off your debts will eventually free up some extra money. Interest and late fees can build up and take an increasingly larger portion of your income. If money is tight, pay small incremental amounts towards your debt. However, if you have a little more income, try paying off larger chunks. Maintain good credit by paying bills on time. Try reducing your interest rate. Some credit card companies may work with you to get you a lower interest rate. Consider selling off unnecessary assets to pay off debt. You may also want to consider refinancing your home, consolidating credit cards for lower payments, asking for forbearance for a time until economics improve, etc. Because a recession can cause significant economic instability, it is important to save up some money. You may lose your job, face a pay cut, or find external sources of income limited because of the recession. Therefore, it is necessary to have some resources available to get you through these tough times. Ideally, you would have been saving money all along. However, it is better to start late than never. Make paying off your debts a priority and then begin saving. Open a savings account and try to put 20% of your monthly income into it. A recession may not be the best time to begin a new expensive project. Home renovations or a big vacation may have to wait until the economy has recovered a bit and you have a more stable income. Remember that recessions do not last forever and a recovery is around the corner.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Track your income and expenses Create a budget and stick to it Pay down your debt. Save some money. Delay major expenditures.
Article: This can prevent wasps that have nests near your home from actually getting in. Look for cracks near the edges of your siding, where power lines enter your house, or holes in window screens. Then use an appropriate sealant usually caulk for cracks near the siding or where power lines enter and patches for screens to seal the holes. If you find a wasps nest in one of the cracks or holes you're sealing, don't just seal it in. Some wasps can actually chew through dry wall and get into your house that way! Instead, call a professional pest exterminator to take care of it for you. Wasps tend to show up in yards with a lot of food waste, and if your garbage cans are not closed tightly, wasps might be attracted. Make sure the lid is closed as tightly as possible, and don't ever leave the lid off your cans. This includes the type of nectar found in some bird feeders. Wasps are attracted to sweet-smelling stuff, so having a lot in your yard increases your chances of having wasps. This can also keep wasps away since they're attracted to food waste. Throw away trash and seal up containers that still have food in them.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Seal cracks in your home. Cover your garbage cans tightly. Don't leave out sweet-smelling stuff. Clean up after picnics right away.
Article: It's helpful to have your materials close by and ready for you to quickly and easily make the frame. You can get these materials at your local craft store. 4 wooden dowels that are 3/16 inch in diameter Hand saw Craft knife String, twine, or fishing line The vertical support of the kite will measure 24 inches. The horizontal support of the kite will measure 20 inches. Make sure to ask an adult for help when cutting the dowels. Measure the lengths of the dowels. Mark the dowels with a pencil at the desired length. Cut the dowels with a hand saw to prevent splintering. Use a craft knife to cut small notches into the ends of the dowels. Cut a notch on each end of the dowel perpendicular to the length of the dowel. The notch should go across the dowel, not be in line with it. Craft knives are very sharp, so make sure to get an adult to help you with cutting or cut the notches for you. Use a ruler and your pen, pencil or marker to make measurements on the two dowels. On the 24 inch dowel, make a mark 6 inches from one end. One the 20 inch dowel, make a mark 10 inches from one end. Line up the two marks you made on the dowels by placing the shorter dowel on top of the longer dowel perpendicular to it. The two dowels should make a cross. Use the string, twine, or fishing line to tie your dowels together where they meet in the center. Tie the string in a knot around the two dowels and then wrap the string around the dowels making an x shape as you wrap. Hold the dowels perpendicular in a cross shape as you wrap the string around them. Make sure you are wrap the string tightly. Tie a knot in the string after you have securely fastened the two dowels together. Do not cut the string off after wrapping the dowels together, you will string the frame together next. Bring the string up to top of the dowel cross and wrap it around the notch at the top. Pull the string around each of the four ends of the kite frame in a clockwise direction. Wrap the string around each dowel as you go around the frame. Bring the string back to the center to tie it off around the x in the center. The string should be in the shape of a kite. Pull the string tight as you pull it around the dowels so it is taut.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Gather all the materials needed to make the frame. Cut 3/16 inch diameter wooden dowels to the length of your kite supports. Cut notches into the dowels. Mark the dowels. Align the two dowels. Tie the dowels together. Wrap the string around the outside of the frame of the kite.