Most Recent Living Articles
HOW TO HOST SOCIAL-DISTANCING GATHERINGS AT HOME
It might be the end of 2020, but the pandemic isn’t over yet. As strange as it may be to host family and friends under the condition that social distancing rules are to be followed, these precautions are there to help protect you and those around you for as long as the threat of COVID-19 continues to exist. Here’s how to host safe, social-distancing gatherings at home. Create social
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3 WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT FROM HOME FOR FREE
It’s that time of year again to start working on ridding yourself of those pesky festive bulges. But, with money and time being even more limited than usual over the long month of January, it’s understandable how any well-intentioned exercise resolutions can quickly be abandoned. Below are a few ways to lose weight from home without spending any money on gym memberships: Download fr
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3 NEW HOLIDAY TRADITIONS FOR YOUR NEW HOME
Whether it’s setting up the tree as a family on the 1st, baking Christmas cookies with Grandma on the 24th, or gathering for a meal on the 25th, most households have their own set of December traditions that make their holiday season memorable. It’s these kinds of holiday traditions that make selling a property difficult. It’s not easy to say goodbye to the rooms that once hou
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HELP YOUR PET ADJUST TO A NEW HOME
Picture how anxious you might feel if, without warning or explanation, you were taken to an unknown destination where you discovered all your belongings had been unpacked into this unfamiliar space. The anxiety builds as evening draws near and nobody shows any signs of returning you home. This is exactly how your pet feels when you relocate. But, there are a few necessary precautions you can take
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HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES THAT LEAVE YOU BROKE OVER THE HOLIDAYS
Ever wonder where your money goes over the festive season? Rather than ruining your credit score on a month of lavish spending, set up a budget before the season of giving starts so that you don’t end up broke over the holidays and enter the New Year under undue financial pressure. To help you budget for the month ahead, here are some of the household expenses you will need to make room for
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LOCKDOWN STOLEN YOUR FESTIVE CHEER? HERE’S HOW TO FIX IT.
The December festive season is upon us, but with all that is behind us, it is understandable if you’re struggling to find your festive cheer this year. And, while the Christmas stockings, Santa figurines, and elf on the shelf toys can help make things look like Christmas, they might not be enough to help you feel the joy of the season. Luckily, there are a few ways to fix your lack of Christ
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3 GIFT IDEAS FOR HOME-OWNING FRIENDS & FAMILY
Biltong, chocolates, tins of biscuits and socks: any guess what these items have in common? Yep, you guessed it. It’s the annual list of gift options when you’ve simply run out of ideas. If you’re running low on gift ideas, try thinking outside of the box and inside the home this year. Just think how many items you wish you had in your home but are never able to afford thanks to
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HOW TO PLEASE OVERCRITICAL HOUSE GUESTS
If passive aggressive statements regarding the state of your home is something you’ve come to expect from certain holiday house guests, then you might be in for a few jaw-clenching days this festive season – especially if you’ve invited them to stay for a few nights. To please these overcritical house guests, embody the mindset of a seller by going through your home with a fine-t
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3 STEPS TO BECOMING A ZERO-WASTE HOUSEHOLD
There are so many reasons you should live a greener lifestyle – if not for the benefit of the environment, then at least for the benefit of your own pocket. According to GreenCape’s Waste Economy: Market Intelligence Report 2017, 65% of the waste (around 38 million tonnes) that South Africa creates is recyclable. That amounts to an estimated R17 billion/year worth of resources that cou
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ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES THAT INCREASE HOME VALUE …and those that don’t
Investing in eco-friendly enhancements for your home is not only a way to protect the environment, but it can also help you save on monthly energy costs and increase the value of your home. Energy-efficient features can really set your home apart when it comes time to sell, but certain green features tend to add more value than others. To help you make the change for a greener tomorrow, bel
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4 EASY WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
The COVID-19 pandemic has awakened the world to how quickly we can change our behaviours when confronted with a crisis that threatens our very existence. If society can change our ways as quickly as we have in response to this pandemic, then we can hopefully avoid the threat of a global warming apocalypse. If you’re wanting to do your bit to help combat global warming and climate change, bel
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WORKING FROM HOME? YOU COULD QUALIFY FOR TAX DEDUCTIONS
When it comes to tax deductions, homeowners are entitled to certain claims if they are working from home. In these cases, the onus falls on the homeowner to prove that a particular amount is deductible, as well as justify the claim by showing the calculation of how he or she arrived at the deduction figure. Although many homeowners will qualify for a tax deduction, it is sometimes a difficult t
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