Problem: Article: You will need to provide your Social Security number. This allows lenders to verify your identity and to gain access to your credit history. Lenders will also need to see your passport or your driver's license or state ID (if you don't have a driver's license). To verify your address, you will need to provide copies of recent utility bills, credit card bills, mortgage documents or a copy of your lease. The documents need to have your name on them. Typically, lenders ask that these documents be less than 90 days old. Lenders may also ask for your previous addresses. Copies of your pay stubs for the past 30 days will likely be required. Lenders tally your total salary or hourly wages to determine your monthly income. They want to be sure that you have enough income to make the monthly payments. They may also request certain tax records, such as your W-2 forms for the past two years. Other debt obligations may include student loans, car loans or credit card bills. This is another piece of information that helps the lender evaluate whether you will be able to make monthly payments on the loan. If your other debt obligations are too high, this may weaken your chances of getting the loan. For security reasons the lender might ask you a question to which only you would know the answer. For example, you may have to provide your mother's maiden name or the name of a favorite pet. These security questions help identify you when you contact the bank to discuss information about your loan. They help to keep your financial information private. Tell the lender how much you need to borrow. The lender will want to know specifically how you will spend the money. Also, you will need to state how long you need to pay the money back. Plan to borrow only the exact amount you need and to pay it back as quickly as possible. This way you avoid excess interest payments. Your debt-to-income ratio affects your credit score. This looks at the amount of debt you have in relation to your total gross income. When deciding on a loan amount, be sure to borrow only what you need in order to keep you debt-to-income ratio as low as possible. Aim for a debt-to-income ratio of less than 36 percent. For example, if you earn $6,000 per month, you want to keep your total debt payments to less than 36 percent of this amount, or $2,160 ($6,000 x .36 = $2,160). Plan to borrow an amount that keeps your total monthly debt payments close to this amount.
Summary: Submit proof of your identity. Provide confirmation of your living address. Include verification of your income. Submit information about any other current debt. Create security questions. Specify the amount you want to borrow. Understand your debt-to-income ratio.

Problem: Article: When reading aloud, the speed at which you read can significantly affect your listeners' understanding and attention. Choose a pace that is not too fast or too slow. Read slowly enough that your listeners are able to understand everything you're saying and have enough time to process the information. However, you also want to keep the story moving so that listeners will not become bored. Nerves can cause you to speak faster than usual, even though it might not feel like you are. When you're in front of an audience, make an effort to slow down your speech a little, even if it feels a bit unnatural to you. Chances are you're talking faster than you think. When setting the pace, it is better to speak slower than faster. The audience will likely still pay attention if things are moving a little slow, but you may lose them completely by talking too fast. Mumbling or mispronouncing words can make it difficult for your audience to understand what you're saying. To improve your pronunciation, practice articulating certain sounds more emphatically through exercises. One thing you can do is highlight each word that ends in the letters t, d, p, b, k, or g, and practice over-pronouncing them. Doing so will help you pronounce your words more clearly in your regular speech. Performing daily tongue twisters can also help you articulate your words more clearly. Some tongue twisters you can use are "red-leather, yellow-leather" and "eleven benevolent elephants." If there are words you constantly mispronounce, take some extra time learning how to properly say these words and practice until you get it right. On the day you will be speaking, keep your voice warmed and ready by singing or humming throughout the day. This will help ensure your voice is ready when you go to speak so you don't sound strained. You can also repeat tongue twisters throughout the day to relax your tongue and lips. Repeat the phrase "You see Oz" in an exaggerated manner to stretch your jaw and bring more flexibility to your tongue. What you eat and drink can affect how your voice sounds. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, including a cup before and after you drink any caffeinated beverages. It is best to avoid caffeinated beverages altogether, if possible. Mints, nuts, and fatty foods can cause heartburn or hoarseness in your voice, so avoid these when possible. If you can, bring some water with you when you go up to read. If you find yourself getting hoarse, stop and take a sip.
Summary: Pace yourself. Practice pronunciation. Warm up before you speak. Drink water and avoid caffeine and fatty foods.

Problem: Article: Mix either fine or coarse all-purpose sand with the cement in a wheelbarrow with a shovel. You can buy all-purpose sand online or at a hardware store. If you have access to a concrete mixer, you can use that instead of a shovel and wheelbarrow. Add two parts of sand for every one part of cement dust that you have and make sure that they are well incorporated. If you are trying to make more than 80 lbs (36.28 k) of concrete you should rent a portable concrete mixer instead of trying to mix it by hand. Add four parts of gravel or crushed brick for every one part of cement. This coarse material will help bind the concrete together once it dries. If you want a smoother concrete finish, you should use smaller pieces of gravel or crushed brick. Continue to mix all the dry ingredients together to create your concrete mixture. Fill a 5-gallon (18.9 l) bucket of the way with water and pour the water into the dry ingredients. Pour slowly so that the water doesn't splash around, mixing in between and adding more concrete. Use a hoe or a shovel to mix the water and dry concrete mixture together. Continue to stir the concrete mixture together until it's stiff. If the concrete is still dry and crumbly, you need to add more water. Use a hose on the strongest setting to spray your tools and blast away any remaining concrete before it sets. If there's anything left after you spray, use a wire brush to remove the last bits.
Summary: Mix two parts all-purpose sand to one part of cement. Add four parts of gravel or crushed brick to the mixture. Slowly add water to the dry ingredients. Mix the cement together. Wash off your mixing tools.

Problem: Article: It is rarely necessary to soak apples or use ingredients other than tap water or vinegar to wash them. Fancy waters that involve soaking apples can change their taste. Stick to tap water for the most part, and vinegar if your apples are very dirty. Elaborate washes will do little to clean apples. Many people think organic apples do not need to be washed. While organic apples use fewer pesticides, they are still prone to environmental bacteria and can be contaminated during transport. Even organic apples should be washed under tap prior to eating. Moldy produce does not have to be discarded if only a small corner is infected with mold. If you see a small part of your apple is moldy, cut away that portion with a knife. Unless an apple is completely covered in a layer of fuzzy mold, there is no need to throw it away.
Summary:
Avoid fancy washes. Wash apples even if they're organic. Do not automatically throw out moldy produce.