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Important Factors When Buying Your First House

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So you are finally ready to buy your first home? Great! There are a lot of factors to consider, but working with the right real estate agent can make all the difference. 

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Before Purchasing Your First House..

..Here Is What You Need To Know:

Check Your Credit Score

Your credit score is one of the most critical factors when it comes to getting approved for financing with Zarwin Baum, especially if you want to get the best interest rate possible. A good credit score will help save you thousands in interest payments over time and give lenders more confidence that they’re loaning money out to someone who will repay them on time.

It’s estimated that around 50% of Americans have less than stellar credit scores. This may be because people tend not to pay their bills after graduating college, so it’s important to check your credit report before you start looking for a loan. If there are any issues with your credit report, you can dispute them and raise your score before buying a home.

Down Payment And Closing Costs

During the housing boom in 2001-2007, it was an average of 55% cheaper to buy than rent across the US. Since then, it seems that renting has become more popular than buying, with demand rising over the past year due to high prices and low inventory on the market.

Aside from checking out what houses are available, buyers should also consider how much money they have for a down payment. The average down payment in the US is around 20% of a home’s selling price, so it’s important to have this money saved up before you start looking for one. Remember, the more money you put down, the lower your monthly payments will be, which means you’ll save more over time.

Determine How Much You Can Afford

Lenders use something called the 28/36 rule to determine how much they’re willing to lend someone based on their income and outstanding debt. This means that lenders will work with homeowners who spend no more than 28% of their monthly gross income on home expenses and no more than 36% of their gross monthly income toward all debts, including housing costs, credit cards, student loans, and more.

If the 28/36 rule comes back with a higher number than you’d like to spend on housing expenses or debt, your real estate agent can help determine if there are any options that will work better for your budget. There are also loan programs available these days that offer lower down payments which means you can get into a home with less money saved up.

Get Preapproved For A Loan

Getting preapproved is one of the best ways to secure financing when buying a house because it shows sellers just how serious you are about purchasing their home. Plus, most lenders will provide buyers with an estimate of closing costs that’ll cover things such as insurance and taxes, so you don’t have to worry about coming up with cash at the last minute.

In Conclusion

Searching for a home is exciting and exhausting, which may make it easy to forget about things like closing costs and other expenses until you’re ready to write an offer on the house. To help avoid this, your real estate agent should be able to provide you with advice and guidance when it comes to financing, in addition to finding listings that match your criteria.

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Falsely Accused: How Can You Prove Your Innocence?

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Innocent until proven guilty! This statement saves so many lives in different nations. Many people get a chance to fight for normalcy after being falsely accused. In a crime with few or no witnesses, you may find it challenging to convince everyone of your innocence. 

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Imagine serving jail time for crimes you didn’t commit! It is unavoidable for some people, but your innocence is worth fighting for with every weapon at your disposal. However, finding the right card to play in such situations can be difficult. Here are some tips on how to go about it:

Hire an Experienced Lawyer

An experienced lawyer may be all you need to get yourself out of the loop of criminal charges. These processes can be draining and exhausting for your mind and body altogether. Finding help from professionals can assure you of good services and a smooth sail through the investigations.

You may need lawyers like Takakjian & Sitkoff, who have an impressive reputation for handling criminal cases. Hiring an experienced lawyer from firms also helps you build confidence in the potential of proving your innocence regardless of how long the process takes.

Disclose Relevant Information to Your Lawyer

Your criminal defense lawyer should be aware of every detail concerning your case. Getting blindsided during court sessions can create doubt in the jury’s mind and eventually work against your favor. It would be best to be honest, and transparent even when the case deals with things that make your skin crawl.

Relevant information can be about what transpired at the crime scene, anything you are afraid to tell the court, or secrets with the plaintiff. Proving your innocence is the main goal in this process, so hiding relevant stuff from your lawyer can make you look guilty.

Sometimes you might forget details of the crime if you stay long without getting the right help. Ignoring anything can lead to getting blindsided in court, and you do not want that! Therefore, it is essential to follow all the steps of crime reporting whenever it happens. For instance, car accidents may require you to call for emergency help before contacting your lawyer.

Believe in Yourself

It would be best if you were your first cheerleader when it comes to dealing with court cases. Once you lose hope, things may start going sideways for you. It is you who should express how innocent you are to the jury and other people involved. What you say or do communicates a lot about whether you are innocent or guilty.

You can also remain calm and collected even when things are going wrong because you believe in yourself. Find something that will root you to the ground so that you do not get to doubt yourself for a bit because a single waiver in your faith can make you tamper with evidence or confront the plaintiff and spoil your luck.

It can also involve understanding the possibility of false forensics leading to false evidence. In short, knowing that there are avenues that may implicate you in a crime can be easier to believe everyone will eventually find out the truth.

Conclusion

Court proceedings can be exhausting mentally and physically. Without help, you may sink deep into a criminal case that you end up paying the consequences. Therefore, it is crucial to go to whatever lengths you can to get yourself out of such a situation as early as possible.

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

The Amazing Benefits of Family Time

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There was a time when if you weren’t at work, you were having family time. These days, with the lures of social media, constant streaming, and the whole world at your fingertips, families are spending far less quality time together than ever before. If that sounds familiar, maybe you should have a rethink about how you spend your free time because family time undoubtedly has many benefits.

Better mental health

Spending time with family is great for mental health, especially if you do it in person. Depression and anxiety are less common in people who spend a lot of time around loved ones who are emotionally supportive through trials and tribulations, often with children and older people benefitting the most.

Improve resilience

When you know you have a strong family unit to fall back on, you are more likely to feel safe and secure in yourself, which means you will take more risks and feel less upset when things don’t turn out as planned, because you know you will be loved no matter what. 

Spot warning signs early

This dedicated team of nursing home abuse attorneys will tell you that many of their clients have suffered for way too long because there was no one around to spot the signs, and many teens will tell you that they have been struggling with issues long before their parents become aware. This is more than likely because we spend so little quality time together these days that it is so easy to miss those signs that something is up. By spending more time with your loved ones, you can spot the warning signs and get them help, whatever that may be, when they need it most.

Improve academic performance

If you have school-aged children in your family, you may be interested to know that children who spend a lot of time with family tend to perform better at school. This is most likely because they feel more supported, to some extent, but also because the more time they spend around family the more time they will be exposed to new ideas. And the more their communication skills will be challenged. They are also less likely to act out due to a lack of attention.

When you know you have a strong family unit to fall back on, you are more likely to feel safe and secure in yourself, which means you will take more risks and feel less upset when things don’t turn out as planned, because you know you will be loved no matter what. 

Live longer

Yes, spending quality time with your family really could help you to live longer. Various studies have shown that forming healthy relationships can extend your life expectancy, by as much as 50 percent in some cases. This may seem like a shocking figure, but when you think about how many elderly people’s quality of life declines because they are lonely, which leads to isolation and depression, it is perhaps not surprising after all.

As you can see, spending more time together as a family will benefit you immensely. That doesn’t mean that you can never go off and do your own thing or that you need to be constantly joined at the hip, but if you can carve out a little time each day to have fun together, your lives will be all the better for it!

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Luxe Getaways for the Men in Your Life

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Let’s face it, going away with friends can be some of the best times of your life. And it’s not because you don’t love spending time with your partner and family, but sometimes a little bit of time away is perfect. Getaways for women are pretty standard, luxury spa weekend retreats, and so on.

But there are also luxury getaway options for men, and if you are thinking of treating the man in your life to a little bit of relaxation, there are some worth your time.

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The amber nectar

Even if you aren’t a big drinker, checking out where bourbon or whiskey comes from can be super interesting. You could choose to book a weekend in the Scottish highlands, close to distilleries –  book the tour, and make a reservation in a local restaurant too. 

Or you might decide to splash out on a five-day vacation in Louisville, Kentucky. These areas have delicious food, and what could be more relaxing and than eat, sipping bourbon, and sleeping for a week?

Golf

Golf is one of the most relaxing sports, and it’s not uncommon for a group of guys to hang out and play a few rounds locally. But how about combining golf with a holiday? Golfing resorts or resorts with huge golfing greens are brilliant. Lanzarote Golf is undoubtedly worth a tee or two!

Not only do golf resorts have some of the best golf around, but they typically serve up incredible meals at the end of the day and have some of the best on-green services that you can find.

So if your guy pal fancies himself as a bit of a Tiger Woods, then consider a golfing trip.

Cabin time

If the man in your life has a stressful job, the last thing they might want to do is head to a city to be surrounded by more noise and extra people and instead be given a chance to disconnect from everything that’s going on entirely. 

Book a few days away, or maybe even a week or more at a cabin in a woody location. It’s not uncommon for people who have high-pressure jobs to have trouble unplugging for the first few days of a holiday. 

So even if they do bring their laptop and their phone, they will still get more rest due to the surroundings.

If you choose to give them cabin time, make sure you also buy them a great pair of walking boots and a weatherproof jacket.

Spa trip

Remember, the spas aren’t just for women; there can be nothing more relaxing than a deep tissue shoulder massage or having someone lay hot stones along your spine. This is one of the most luxurious and comfortable getaways that anyone can have.

The great thing about the spa resort is that couples can go and unwind and relax together. Sipping cocktails once a day is over and resting in luxurious beds can make a whole world of difference.

One of the most important things to remember is that luxurious getaways don’t actually always have to be expensive; luxury is entirely personal. And while one person might find luxury in just having a nap at the weekend, another might be a five-star resort. So choose wisely!

Or perhaps you have a motorcycle-loving man? In which case, plant the perfect trip using this blog post: Tips For Your First Motorcycle Road Trip

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Hobbies and Passions That Can Be a Good Side Hustle

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Do you have hobbies and passions that can be turned into a side hustle? Maybe you sew, knit, or crochet. What about photography? You all know someone good at something, and they could make some extra money by turning it into a side hustle. Here are the top 5 hobbies and passion ideas to help you figure out what might work for your situation.

Beekeeping

Beekeeping can be a great side hustle. However, you may have to convince your spouse or significant other that it is the right thing for you . Still, once they are on board with this new hobby, you can start making money from honey and beeswax products, in addition to learning on platforms like Local Hive Honey about bee health and how to keep your hive safe from viruses and mites.

Cooking

Cooking is a great hobby to have, especially if you enjoy eating. People are always looking for new dishes or something different from the same old thing they eat daily. So if people try one of your recipes and like it, there’s no reason why that wouldn’t be an opportunity to make some extra money on the side.

Baking

Baking is a great hobby that can be turned into side income. If you are already baking for family and friends, why not try selling some goodies to others? While it’s good to have an audience before launching your business, there are many people out there who will buy baked goods if they know where to get them.

If you are new to baking, don’t worry too much about your equipment or lack of experience. You can always start small by selling at a farmer’s market until your product gets recognized and people begin to ask for more baked goods from you. Then, if they like what they try out on the first day, there is no reason why they will not come back for more later.

Science

Science is a great passion, and it can be a great side hustle as well. For instance, you might have some management skills or medical equipment that needs to be repaired or maintained from time to time, so why not offer those services? But, of course, you’ll need the proper training for this type of work to get certified by your regional health department before getting started.

Computer science is another hobby or passion that could be turned into a business idea with enough effort.

Love for Children

Love for children is something that will never go away. Suppose you have someone in your family, a life partner, or even friends who have kids. You can easily use this as another way to make money tutoring on the side, so people love spending time with the little ones, and it also provides a sense of responsibility.

Of course, you may need to take some safety precautions when dealing with young children, but if you are good at handling them, there’s no stopping how much money you can earn by working part-time childcare jobs around town.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many options for making extra money that don’t require much time or effort. They’re all fun and exciting projects to do on the side – which is why they make great hobbies as well.

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

7 Tough Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Move To A New City

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Moving to a new city often seems like a good idea. However, before you take the plunge, you need to ask yourself some essential questions. The decision to move isn’t something that you should ever take lightly. The following are some tough questions you’ll need to ask. 

What’s The Cost Of Living?

Just because you’re moving to another city in the same country, it doesn’t mean that the cost of living will be constant. In fact, it is common for living costs to vary by as much as 50 percent from one place to another. Some cities, such as New York and San Francisco are particularly pricey. 

Do I Need To Take All My Stuff? 

When you move to a new place, your requirements change. For instance, back home, you might have plenty of local trails to go cycling, but if you’re moving to a small apartment in a new city, you might not have much of a reason to take your bike with you. 

When cross country moving, think about what is truly necessary for you to take with you. Often, you’ll discover that you can travel much lighter than you think!

How Long Do I Want To Stay?

How long you want to stay in a new place will determine which type of accommodation you choose. Start thinking about this well in advance. For instance, if you’re only going to stay a couple of months, it doesn’t make much sense to buy a new family home. Renting is the more sensible choice. 

Are The Schools Any Good? 

If you have children, you’ll also want to ask yourself whether the local schools are any good. Again, each district is different. Furthermore, you’ll need to ask whether schools are appropriate if you are moving abroad. Some may not offer English language tuition at all. 

Is The Job Market Healthy? 

You’ll also want to find out whether the job market is healthy in your target area. Some places are seeing a decline in the number of jobs available, while others are witnessing an extraordinary rise. 

Find out as much as you can about the long-term job prospects of the area and then see if they match up with your plans. You may find that the future of some areas is bleaker than others.

Are There People You Can Link Up With? 

Moving to a new city and being totally alone is a challenge. But if you already know people there, that can make it substantially easier. Ask yourself whether you are the type of person who could cope with isolation for the first few months (before you make friends), or if you need to have people there from the start. 

Do I Have Enough Money? 

Lastly, you’ll want to ask yourself whether you have the money to live in a new place. Whatever you think it is going to cost you to move, you should double it. People often underestimate the number of small costs associated with travelling to a new area and setting up a home. 

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Practical Ways to Save Money

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If you try so hard to save money only to find that you never really get anywhere, it can be pretty frustrating to say the least. 

Somehow, no matter what you do, things always crop up to render your efforts null and void, and saving money seems so hard that you hardly know why you bother at all – sound familiar? It’s a common story, but it is a story you can change by employing these very practical ways to save money into your life…

Use the debt snowball method

If you’re in debt, those repayments are likely o be one of your biggest expenses, which means you need to get rid of that debt asap. A great way to do this is by using the debt snowball method whereby you plow any spare cash into eliminating your smallest debt. Once you’ve done that, you move on to the net smallest and so on. Once you’re on a roll, you’ll find it easier, see great results that spur you on, and ultimately get rid of that debt pretty fast.

Don’t buy anything new

Apart from food, medication and maybe underwear, do you really need to buy anything new? From used cars at edmunds to vintage clothing at the local thrift store, you can find everything you need preloved and save a great deal of money doing so. Just be warned: hunting out those pre-loved bargains can become addictive.

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Make a shopping list

And stick to it. The average family of four spends in excess of $928 each month on groceries. This is something you can easily cut down on by making a list containing only the ingredients of the meals you plan to make. When you do this, you don’t throw in those tasty-looking Oreos or end up buying 10 different meat sauces that you will never eat, and over the course of a year, the savings can be pretty huge.

Save the change

Whenever you buy something for say $3.59, instead of keeping the change in your wallet or bank account, why not put it into a savings or investment account instead? There are numerous apps that will round up the change on your purchases and invest them for you, and although it doesn’t seem like saving the difference between $3.59 and $5 when you buy a coffee would make much difference, think about how many coffees you have each year and you can easily see how this could help you save a lot and that’s just coffee – think about all the other small purchase you make, which you could save the change from, too!

Get rid of subscriptions

From Netflix to Amazon Prime, most of us have a lot of online subscriptions, many of which we barely, if ever, use. Every month, audit your subs and if you haven’t used one in a while, cancel it and start putting the equivalent monthly cost into your savings.

These methods might not help you to get rich quick, but they’ll certainly speed up your savings success!

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Preparing Your Teen for Life

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There comes a time in every parent’s life when they have to think about their children leaving home. Once the teenage years arrive, it can be a quick transition from child to teen to young adult. Many parents will agree it feels like the blink of an eye.

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At this time in their lives, it is the perfect opportunity to give them some practical life skills they can take with them as they begin to make their way in the world. But what are the best skills to teach your child when they fly the nest?

Laundry

Lessons include sorting colors and reading labels. Explain why some clothes require special care. Be sure to teach them how to use the washer and the dryer! Which button performs what and when? Mention the advantages of air drying and the distinctions among detergents and stain removers. This is a wonderful moment to encourage finishing tasks. One load from filthy to folded and put away is better than many loads of washed and dried laundry being left around.

Shaving

Both girls and boys need to know how to shave correctly and care for their skin when they decide to do this. Facial shaving for boys can be complicated, mainly if you discuss growing mustaches or beards and the proper care. 

Teach your teen how to shave and care for the skin on their face and neck, along with other body parts they might want to shave. And include alternatives to shaving and hair removal for face, underarms, legs, and genital regions. It can save them a lot of pain and discomfort in the future.

Shopping

Invite your kids to go grocery shopping with you. Discuss choosing the best fruits and vegetables and why the grocery store’s outer aisles are ideal. Show your teen how to make a shopping list with what you currently own. Discuss meal planning and nutrition factors to deepen the learning. Teens love to talk about food and what’s good for their bodies. Use this innate curiosity to communicate.

Money Management

The more money talks your teen hears, the more financial authority they get. Saving money for a school trip or college is a great way to learn about money management. Money conversation is a learned skill for many of us, so remember it before teaching it to your teen.

Time Management

This skill could significantly improve your teen’s life. It helps them control their destiny. Talk about your teen’s schedule. Consider developing a strategy for what to do if time runs out. This saves you later and gives them practice before they need to rely on time management for employment and make their way in the world.

Job Hunting

Finding work is difficult for those with experience, but it can be impossible for teenagers. Take it one step at a time, starting with job-hunting tools. A preteen or teen may build a solid CV at any age. Remember not to compare your teen to others you know. Show them how to play to their strengths and what skills are transferable from day-to-day life to the world of employment, including punctuality, attention to detail, ability to think on their feet, and act independently and confidently.

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Live Your Life Without Regrets: Making Exciting Decisions

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Do you ever feel like there are so many decisions to make in life, but you’re unsure if any of them will lead to the happiness and success you want? If this sounds familiar, then it’s time for a change. This blog post is about how to take control of your future by making exciting decisions today.

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Make Exciting Decisions 

Your life goes by so fast, and you never get a second chance to live it.

As such, you should make the best decisions that can impact your happiness in the long run. In order to do this, don’t be afraid of making mistakes because every decision comes with risks – some positive while others may have negative results. 

Of course, not all risks are equal as there are calculable ones – but both types of risks will give rise to excitement if they pay off or regret if they fail. Regardless of what happens next time after making an exciting decision, always remember that what’s done is irreversible. So make sure to choose what’s best for you in the long run, don’t let fear turn into regret to live a satisfying life with confidence and excitement all at once.

Try New and Scary Things

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and never try anything new. But if you only stick with what you already enjoy, it can be difficult for your happiness levels to increase. The best way to discover amazing things that bring joy into your life is by doing exciting things. So to live a happy life without regrets, start acting on those ideas that seem scary or crazy – take some chances and see where they lead you. 

This could be anything from skydiving to traveling abroad. You could even get a significant tattoo to remind you of your bravery and life experiences. An excellent tattoo artist you should contact is Shaun Bushnell, for a transformative and rewarding experience. 

Something that scares you and pushes your boundaries is a great way to make sure you live life without regrets because it will get you out of your comfort zone and allow the opportunity for growth. 

Go on That Date Night  

You have been with your partner for years now, but you may not realize that the sparks are still there. 

So how do you show them? Well, one of the most important things is to go on a date night. One easy way to ensure this happens is by creating an event in Google Calendar called “Date Night.” Then invite your significant other and make sure it’s private so they won’t see it until that day. This will give you plenty of time beforehand to plan what restaurant or activity you want to spend quality time together at. 

Reconnect With an Old Friend

Reconnecting with an old friend is one of the best ways to ensure you live your life without regrets. If you have ever lost a close friendship or feel like someone out there would be great for you but just hasn’t crossed paths yet, then now is the time to reach out. 

You never know what might happen and who you will meet.

Travel Alone  

Have you ever wanted to travel alone? Maybe it’s time that you do, and here are some tips on how to go about doing this.

-Pack a bag with everything essential for your trip.

-Create a budget.

-Make sure your passport is valid. If not – get started on the process ASAP. 

-Research places of interest in the area or country where you will be going.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many ways you can live your life without regrets. You just need to take a chance and be willing to try new things and go on exciting adventures. If you love what you do, it is much easier not to regret any decisions that lead up to this passion in your life.

Thank you for reading!

Kids/Nannying Lifestyle

5 Reasons Why STEM Toys Might Be the Best Option for Your Kids

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The US will need to fill over a million job positions in the next few years, once senior workers who have established the American STEM industry retire. At the same time, an increasing number of students avoid apprenticeships and work experience that might allow them to enter the industry without student debt and that could truly help them achieve their career goals. 

STEM job roles – or those in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – are always more sought-after and well-paid, but the number of candidates interested in these jobs is decreasing. While you should not force a certain career or study path on your little ones, it could be beneficial to encourage an interest in the STEM field from a young age. And, the benefits of STEM toys go far beyond this!

They Stimulate Their Problem-Solving Skills and Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking is a type of practice that encourages children to come up with several solutions to the same problem. This ensures cognitive versatility and dynamicity and allows your little ones to face future challenges with resilience and motivation. 

Today, an increasing number of schools and educational bodies have started to recognize the benefits of this technique, and they encourage parents and teachers to ask a question and prompt the children to come up with as many answers to the problem. STEM toys can be essential in helping them practice divergent thinking and refine their problem-solving skills. And, these skills will be helpful to them inside and outside the STEM industry!

They Enhance Creativity

You might not choose a career or study path for your little ones, but you can give them all the tools they need to have the best chances in life! STEM toys can help them better understand how to solve problems and allow them to understand important mathematical and scientific principles. 

But even more importantly, these games allow your kids to give space to their creativity and use it to create something new. Don’t forget that the cognitive and creative potential of your little ones is infinite – but it is your responsibility to encourage them to explore it. 

They Prepare Them for a Future Workplace

The workplace of the future cannot be foreseen. However, an always greater part of our daily life relies on technology. Because of this, it is safe to foresee that in the next decades, the jobs that will allow us to build and develop that technology will be among the most sought after. While your little ones might end up studying Literature or Law in the future, they might still retain the principles of how important technology works. 

They Introduce Them to Future Technologies

The economy is changing and, with it, many industries are developing. It might be impossible to foresee these changes, especially as technology develops so quickly. However, you can use certain STEM toys to encourage your little ones to become more familiar with technologies that might be part of their everyday life in the future. For example, toys such as transforming supercharged Astra at Alphatoys.com can help them better understand robots, and simulators can help them understand the basics of coding and programming.

What do you think about STEM toys for kids?

Thank you for reading!