As soon as you get the study guide, start studying. It is best to reserve a couple of hours each day in order to discipline yourself, and to teach your brain how to process the words in daily slots. In fact, it is best to take as much time to study before the spelling bee as possible, since cramming a lot of words a couple of days before can be confusing and counterproductive. Index cards are great for studying words before a spelling bee, since they allow you write down the spelling of a word on the front and its meaning on the back, and they are also portable and easy to handle. For instance, you may find it helpful to use different colored index cards to organize the words by categories, such as language of origin, helping you better understand the different patterns of certain words. Reading can be a great way to get acquainted with the spelling of new or unfamiliar words, but few books are as useful for a spelling bee as your trusted dictionary. More importantly, learn your diacritics! These are the weird-looking symbols immediately next to the words in dictionaries which tell you how to pronounce them. Diacritics allow you to quickly master the way different words sound, helping you make educated guesses when you don't know the spelling of a certain word. If you are struggling over a few words, don't stress out. Get a reliable adult or friend to help you test on your spelling words. In fact, the organization in charge of the national spelling bee, Scripps, recommends that you practice with an adult or with a friend. Keep in mind that the spelling bee is a performance, so practicing allows you to rehearse the process before attending the actual competition.
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One-sentence summary -- Study daily up until the competition. Use index cards. Use your dictionary. Get help.

. The first step to starting any business is to write a business plan that outlines your plans and goals, including financial projections. You will need to have a good idea of who will work for you, what your expenses will be, how much you will charge for your product, how you will market your product, and who the competition is. It's essential to have the right employees that is trustful and responsible. Think about how you can differentiate your product from the competition. It helps if you can fill a specific need and tailor your products to a specific audience. For example, you might offer cookies in more unique flavors than your competition, thus catering towards an audience that wants a more adventurous cookie. Alternatively, you could cater towards an audience with certain dietary restrictions by offering cookies that are vegan or gluten free. Now is also the time to figure out financing. Once you know how you plan on operating your business, you should have some idea how much it will cost upfront and on a monthly basis. Most lending institutions will want to look at your business plan when deciding whether to loan you money, so make sure your business plan is very thorough. You should also come up with a name for your business, and maybe even a logo or some sample promotional materials. If you've never written a business plan before, you may want to consider hiring a professional to help you. . You have several options for how to incorporate your business, depending on how many people are involved, how you want to be taxed, and how much personal liability you are prepared to assume for your business. You may want to discuss your option with a qualified attorney and/or CPA. Limited liability corporations (LLCs) are popular among small business owners because they help you avoid double taxation and protect you from being personally liable for money owed by your business. There are other options as well, including sole proprietorships and corporations. As a self-employed individual, you will be responsible for paying estimated taxes on a quarterly basis and filing an annual tax return. If you do not pay the proper amount, you may end up owing a large tax balance, which will continue to grow with penalties and interest if you don't pay it right away. If you are not knowledgeable about accounting for businesses, you may want to consider hiring an accountant to help you. If you plan to sell in a state that has a sales tax, you will need to register your business with the state's Revenue Agency. Most businesses will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number. This number is the business equivalent of an individual's Social Security Number, and is used for tax purposes. You can apply for an EIN on the IRS's website by answering a few simple questions about your business. If you do not plan to open a bank account for your business or hire employees, you may not need an EIN to operate certain types of businesses. Check with your local government to learn more. Insurance can protect you from liability in the case of an accident and can also protect your personal assets. Talk to a local insurance provider to find out what kind of coverage you need.
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One-sentence summary -- Write a business plan Incorporate your business Have a plan for taxes. Apply for an EIN number. Get insurance coverage.

. You might feel like you are too old to go, but if you throw on a cool costume and wear a mask, your neighbors will never know! You're never too old for free candy. If you have a younger sibling or a neighbor who is younger, you could even volunteer to take them trick-or-treating and be their chaperone. That way, you will have a younger kid with you when you go. Do a quick internet or library search to find out what places near you have a haunted history, and check them out with your friends on Halloween. Many cities have historical landmarks that are run as museums, many with haunted histories. Check your community calendar to see if there are any haunted tours of these locations on Halloween. Make sure you have permission to enter any place you choose to go explore. Don't trespass! Decorate just like you would for a big party, but keep it small and fun! Just invite a few friends over and pile up the sleeping bags on the floor in one room. Tell some scary stories once it gets dark. Keep the lights low and challenge each other to see who can tell the scariest story. Play some pranks on your friends and try to scare them every chance you get! Take turns playing "Bloody Mary" in the bathroom: go in one at a time, shut the lights off, and repeat "Bloody Mary" three times in the mirror. Try not to get too scared! Find a dark, creepy place and play hide and seek once it gets dark. Use flashlights and take turns being the seeker. You can do it in your own backyard, or around your neighborhood. Try using flashlights with different colored bulbs. This will make it even spookier when searching for players in the dark. Play in teams or pairs. This way, one person won't be left out in the dark when everyone else has already been found. Make sure you have permission to enter any place you want to play at, and make sure you aren't disturbing anyone when you play.
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One-sentence summary -- Go trick-or-treating Check out haunted places in your city. Have a spooky slumber party. Play hide and seek in a spooky place.

Start from the sewer pipe in the lower level of your house, if possible. Follow the direction it takes as it exits the house. Your tank may be out there and buried. Locating the tank now saves time and money later regardless if you or an inspector clean the tank. Your tank may be buried underground. Before inspection, take a shovel and remove the dirt around the top of the tank. Your tank will have an access port lid which should be strong and on tight. Risers can be added on top of the tank. These help you locate and access the tank without digging. Septic system pumpers can add these. Look along the tank, including the inside, for damaged areas. Cracks need to be repaired by a professional once the tank is pumped so the system doesn't fail. Look for any rusted or broken pieces on the inlet and outlet pipes required for drainage. Check any distribution boxes or pump chambers, if your tank has one attached. It is useful to run some water from your house, such as from the toilet or washing machine, to see if the water makes it to the tank and then drains properly.
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One-sentence summary --
Find your tank. Dig out the top of the tank. Inspect the tank for cracks.