Little World's Fair a big treat
GRAHAMSVILLE — Pairs of Belgian horses took turns pulling a truck across a grassy field Saturday afternoon as Lisa and Vern Lindquist sat watching from a hill, enjoying another year at the Little World's Fair.

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Are you becoming a woodworking show junkie?

If so let this article be a great warning to you and your financial life, because many of these shows are driving people to go after home improvement renovations that they can't afford, making them feel as if they need to keep up with the Jones's.

In recent studies and surveys it was shown that twenty seven percent of those people who renovated their homes spent a lot more than they had counted on because they hadn't planned and budgeted their product before they began. Luckily, there were sixty percent who were wise enough to plan and not end up in over their heads.

It's the truth, keeping a home improvement budget can be difficult, even more so when the home improvement shows that seem to constantly be on the television stir up and persuade you to go in deeper than you had planned on doing. They get you excited for the latest home appliance gadgets and the most expensive décor that you simply do not need, and likely can't afford. You may begin with good intentions to stick to your budget, but if you're not careful, with the influence of these shows you could likely end up stretching that budget well beyond your means, which will no doubt cause much financial stress later on.

This is simply something that nobody needs, don't you agree?

A good financial plan will give you the ability to expect extra expenses, which therefore will reduce the stress of home, your renovations. Experts advise that you should secure financing before the renovation, such as a personal or homeowners' line of credit, which give you the financial cushion that you need to keep stress levels low. However, just because you have a line of credit available doesn't mean that you should use it; it just provides extra security in case you hit unforeseen expenses, for instance re-wiring your home.

The survey showed that 68 per cent of respondents used cash from investments or savings to pay for their home improvements, however not planning could likely mean financial difficulty down the road. This survey also revealed that thirty four percent of homeowners are borrowing to finance their renovations.

Could a Home Improvement Show Devastate Your Marriage?

It looks like this may be the case according to a study done by a UK website called British Gas. They reveal that those who are attempting to emulate TV 'dream homes' could be turning DIY into fuel for divorce. More than half of our do it yourself craze is forged by the influence of TV shows. The bad news is that eighty percent of families admit to having had arguments over botched makeovers. That doesn't include all of the added arguments due to financial stress on these marriages, which is the greatest cause of divorce.

Bottomline, save yourself a ton of headache by creating a budget before starting any home improvement project, be strict with your budget, and don't let the shows that tout easy and simple renovation influence you, simply let it inspire you. Be savvy and keep your savings and your marriage.

Home improvement and woodworking shows may cause more harm than good for some homeowners. Some Canadians, for example, are choosing their dream renovations rather than remodeling within their budget and financial reality. A recent survey showed that sixty percent of respondents who recently took on a home renovation actually developed a budget prior to beginning. However, twenty-seven percent spent more than budgeted. Sticking to a home improvement budget is, definitely, a challenge especially when television shows and magazines influence the desire for the latest appliances and trendy décor. Though the intention is good and many home renovators want to stay within their budget, it is often difficult which can cause major headaches once the project total is realized.

Many individuals considering a home improvement project do not appropriately anticipate extra costs involved with projects. Good financial planning and the inclusion of extra costs can reduce the stress of renovations. It is often suggested to secure financing prior to beginning the project, such as a home line of credit for instance. The benefit of a line of credit is that you do not have to use it, but it does provide some security in knowing the funding is available when you are faced with unexpected expenses.

Attempts by homeowners to renovate their home into their "fantasy home" as seen on television could be turning DIY remodeling projects into divorce, D.I.V.O.R.C.E., according to a study from British Gas' website http://house.co.uk. Eighty percent of families admitted that they have had arguments over unsuccessful renovations. For example, two in three families state that they have had disagreements over color schemes, which has also been cited as the most likely reason for a break-up. Other top reasons for DIY home improvement disputes include an unfinished job, lack of time for the project, the related mess or disruption, the cost, stress, lack of knowledge of home improvement projects and gender differences of opinion.

One way to help avoid DYI disputes is to call a professional contractor or skilled tradesman. Homeowners spend millions in an attempt to fix their DIY remodeling disasters, when the problems could have been avoided in the first place. Many think that performing the work themselves may save money. Though this may be true in some cases, DIY projects can also result in spending extra money in the end as well as many headaches, hassle and a lengthier project. This is something to consider when contemplating renovations on your home. This particular survey on British Gas' website was conducted to evaluate consumers' attitudes toward do-it-yourself home projects. http://House.co.uk provides a national directory of reliable tradesman by HomePro, Ltd., a leading online provider of trade professionals.

If you have your own woodworking shop then you know how important woodworking jigs is to your tool collection. Jigs can be used for lots of different projects. They can help your project to be managed easier and faster. You can buy a jig or you can make one if you choose to do so. You should know that they are pretty cheap to buy, but if you make one from scraps it can be even less expensive. It depends on the kinds of projects that you want to do for deciding what kind of jig you will need.

If you need to make a dovetail then you should consider purchasing a dovetail jig. You can buy these fairly cheaply or you can make your own dovetail jig pretty easily. You can go online to find templates for creating a jig or you can go to a store that sells wood supplies. A lot of the templates will let you create up to twelve different jigs.

You should choosing a dovetail bit that will work for your dovetail saw and your router. These can be very helpful if you want to make a jig yourself. You can use a template that will let you different spaced dovetails that you can use for a wide selection of improvement projects. You can use them for cabinets, drawers, or small boxes. You can also get a system that comes with bits and templates all together to make things easier. This will help you save money or you can purchase the pieces separately.

You can do other fine joint projects using dovetail saws, not just cut dovetails. Dovetail saw blades are thicker than other types of saws. This can help make your saw more accurate and it is very important to get a good saw if you want to create tight joints and make things look professional. You should get a saw that is about fourteen to seventeen points per inch. This shows that the saw is of a high quality.

You can make consistent dowels with a dowel jig. If you use timber then get a self centering jig to be more accurate. You can get an array of sizes from a quarter to one half inch. You can also buy whole kits that will have the dowel jig and also will have a few hundred different size dowels. You may also find glue in these kits.

If you are interested in cabinet making then a kreg jig might be what you should choose. You can get slides that are perfectly positioned and will help your drawers to be smoother. If you use a kreg jig you'll save a lot of time cause you won't need to measure and mark the spaces for the drawer slides. You can also find it easier to mount metal drawer slides. Use these for different drawers such as center, bottom, or extension drawers. This is something that is not expensive, yet very useful.

If you want to make your own jig you can save a lot of money. Just use scraps of plywood to do this. Since you just use one jig for each project you don't want to spend a lot of money on your jig. If you want to use it over and over then you should get a hardwood to create your jig.

Life after cancer full of change
Editors note: This is the third story in a four-part series about cancer.

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