Finance Tips

When you look around your neighborhoods, it’s hard to find any good news. Friends and neighbors may have lost their jobs or be on short-time. There are foreclosed properties on every street. Shops and businesses have been closing down with increasing frequency. These are the signs of a real recession where unemployment and poverty stalk the land. The cause of all this pain is not hard to find. We have all been living beyond our means. When the banks and credit card companies offered us more money to borrow, we just took it. Why bother to save when the value of our homes only goes up? Let’s plan for our retirement by borrowing cheap money and buying stocks and other more risky investments. No-one ever loses if they follow the advice of the credit rating agencies. Well, we know better now. What goes up can also come down. What is given a triple A rating can be junk tomorrow.

In the midst of all this chaos, the credit card operators have been cutting back on the borrowing limits. This has forced pain on us for two reasons. Firstly, finding the money to pay down our debts more quickly means redesigning the family budget. Sacrifices have to be made. Secondly, the way the credit score is calculated depends in part on the extent to which we use the credit cards we have. If the limits are reduced, we look like bad risks because the amount borrowed is closer to the limit. We have less money available to borrow and cut down on card usage so we can repay faster. Put the two together and the score falls. This is a direct criticism of the methods used to calculate the scores. It produces a fundamentally unfair result during a recession.

This would not be a problem if the credit score was only used by banks and credit card operators. But it’s also used by companies to help decide whether to employ you, by landlords deciding whether to rent to you and by insurance companies deciding whether you are a responsible person. National figures show more than half all insurance companies use credit scores as a key factor in deciding your premium rate. This is extraordinary. There is only one possible effect of being in debt when it comes to the way in which you drive. If you cannot afford to repair your vehicle, you drive defensively to reduce the risk of an accident.

Some states like California and Massachusetts have banned the use of credit score for this purpose, but they are a minority. They cite discrimination as a reason for the ban. The majority of the population without access to banking services and credit cards fall into minority racial groups. When they do not have a credit score, they are forced to pay a higher premium simply because of who they are, not how they drive. So, when you are looking for affordable cover, get the maximum possible number of car insurance quotes to find the best policies. If you live in a state which refuses the regulation of the car insurance market, contact your local government representatives and tell them how much pain you are suffering because of this unfair use of credit scores.

Natural Stone Flooring – Add Durability and Lasting Beauty to Your Space

If you’re considering a remodel, whether large or small, you may want to take a close look at natural stone flooring.

Natural stone flooring can add lasting beauty to your space, be it bath, kitchen or living areas. Stone flooring is strong and durable. After all, some of the oldest buildings still in existence were made of stone – can you see how well it lasts?

Natural Stone Flooring Is Available in Many Styles and Textures

It used to be that only the wealthy could afford to have stone in their homes. Stone was difficult to mine, and so required many man hours to pull the stone pieces from the earth.

After it was mined, there was the extensive and labor-intensive shaping process where the stone was cut into tiles or tumbled to smooth rough edges.

Today mining practices for stone are much more efficient, allowing production costs to be reduced and placing natural stone flooring within the grasp of almost anyone.

What Sizes Are Available in Natural Stone Flooring?

Natural stone flooring is available today in many styles and textures. You can find flat tiles in sizes like 12 x 12 inches, 13 x 13, 16 x 16 and as large as 18 x 18 inches.

If you’re looking for something more varied and unique, you might consider pebble tiles. This is a new product made recently available.

The pebbles are small, hand-selected stones that are glued to a wire mesh. The wire mesh makes it very simple to place the piece on the floor or wall with thinset, so even the do-it-yourselfer will find this attractive. Once the thinset cures, about 24 hours, then you simply grout the little pebbles like traditional square tiles.

The result is a modern, crisp feel that will be sure to wow your friends and neighbors!

What Types of Stones Are There?

Natural stone flooring tile is available in granite, limestone, travertine, slate and marble.

The more commonly known large square tiles are always popular.

In addition, you can choose natural mosaic or glazed mosaic tiles which are small flat stones with crisp edges, moon mosaic tiles which are small, completely round stones, “sliced” pebbles which are small oblong stones, or natural, glazed or polished pebble tiles which are simply little stones in various colors.

Natural pebble stones look just like the stones you might see at the bottom of a running stream.

If you opt for these type of tiles, the pebbles are hand-selected and applied to mesh backing so that the stones “fit” like puzzle pieces. This makes installation a breeze!

Whether you like a small or large tile look, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for.

What Are the Advantages to Natural Stone Flooring?

Actually, there are several advantages.

The first is quite simply that your home will look elegant and up-to-date with natural stone flooring.

Another advantage is that stone is highly durable. Stone does not absorb spills, and clean up and maintenance are easy.

Natural stone flooring can increase the resale value of your home. After all, stone flooring has been the epitome of “opulence” for centuries!

Stone tile is also slip-resistant, naturally, so safety is improved in your home. There is no sealant or conditioner required to maintain your natural stone flooring, and stone is naturally resistant to stains.

Stone is versatile, and flooring is just one application. If you’d like to modernize a room, simply tile one (or more) walls. Try a stone tile wainscot. Add a stone tile border. Accent a specific area, like perhaps a counter top or backsplash with tile.

Let your imagination run wild, because stone tile can make your ideas shine.

Where Can You Find Natural Stone Tile?

Actually, many retailers offer stone tile. Your local home improvement stores will carry a few lines of stone tile, but to find the greatest variety you’ll want to look online.

Many stone masons and stone specialty retailers will provide a large selection of their products online so you can decide which look and color you prefer as well as get a good idea as to what it will cost.

Bear in mind that if you do buy from an online retailer, shipping costs can be a major factor in determining your budget. For example, one sheet of the wire mesh natural stone pebbles can weigh as much as 5 pounds.

Ask the retailer if they offer shipping discounts. Some retailers will ship free if you place an order of a certain size.

Whatever your choice, you’ll find that natural stone flooring is a great way to improve your home’s look!