Is your driveway or patio in need of a good scrubbing? Actually, has it needed it for a few years but you’ve been too overwhelmed and intimidated to grab one of those power washing machines and give it a go? Well, have no fear, because we’re breaking it down and simplifying the job for you today.

There could be mildew causing discoloration or even dirt and grease stains messing up your curbside appeal. So, it’s time to get it sparkling clean again! In just a couple of hours, you can take the outside of your home from blah to fab without too much trouble. Let’s have a look, shall we?

What Is Power Washing?

Firstly, pressure washing is the same as power washing so don’t be confused by the two. No matter which phrase is used – it’s referring to the same act.

Power washing is a high-powered hose, basically.

And it’s the easiest and quickest way to clean the outside of your home – from the siding to the driveway! You don’t even have to buy one of these machines, instead, you can find spots that offer them up as rentals (kind of like carpet cleaners).

Cleaning the Driveway

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When it comes to the driveway, there’s a certain amount of prep involved.

What’s Needed to Begin

• Broom
• Pressure Washer
• Cleaner/Degreaser/Washer Detergent
• Hose
• Driveway sealant
• Paint roller, cover, and pan
• Gloves
• Tarp & masking tape

The Steps to Follow

First: Use the broom to get any loose items, dirt, or debris off the driveway. Sticks and the like will get in your way once the cleaning begins. Move cars, get furniture out of the way, remove toys, make sure everything is as tidy and clear as possible.

Second: Use the tarp and masking tape to cover any parts of the home that you want to avoid damage.

Third: Apply the degreaser if you chose to use it.

Fourth: Connect your power washer to the hose (instructions should be in the manual depending on the model you’re using.)

Fifth: Start out with the low-pressure nozzle (where your detergent will be) and start spraying the driveway. Start at one end and go towards the other (instead of beginning in the middle). Try to do this as evenly as possible.

Sixth: Allow the detergent to sit on your driveway for around 15 minutes. Be careful though, you don’t want it to dry. Afterward, start spraying with the high-pressure nozzle (the water) and try going in the same pattern, using the same strokes.

Seventh: Seal your driveway. This will help for the stains not to come back (at least not as quickly.) Allow the driveway to completely dry before you start the sealing process.

Eighth: You’ll apply your sealant just like paint. Nicely and evenly is the way to go.

Cleaning the Patio

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Power washing your patio is very much like doing your driveway – especially if it’s a cement floor. You’ll follow along with the same steps – and make sure you don’t power wash stained wood – it’ll chip!

What’s great about your pressure washer is that it’ll also help clean off some of your patio furnitures such as plastic chairs and umbrellas.

What’s Needed to Begin

• Broom
• Pressure Washer
• Cleaner/Washer Detergent
• Hose
• Gloves
• Tarp & masking tape

The Steps to Follow

First: Use the broom to get any loose items, dirt, or debris off the patio Sticks and the like will get in your way once the cleaning begins. Get furniture out of the way, remove toys, make sure everything is as tidy and clear as possible – just like when you did the driveway.

Second: Use the tarp and masking tape to cover any parts of the home that you want to avoid damaging. Pay extra attention here, your patio is more likely to share space with the exterior of your home.

Third: Connect your power washer to the hose (instructions should be in the manual depending on the model you’re using.)

Fourth: Start out with the low-pressure nozzle (where your detergent will be) and start spraying the patio ground. Start at one end and go towards the other (instead of beginning in the middle). Try to do this as evenly as possible.

Fifth: Allow the detergent to sit on the patio surface for around 15 minutes. Afterward, start spraying with the high-pressure nozzle (the water) and try going in the same pattern, using the same strokes.

Seventh: Now it’s time to give attention to your patio furniture. Your umbrella can withstand the low pressure of the power washer but you could just spray this off with the hose instead.

Then, any plastic furniture that has some yucky stains, you can blast them and see the results instantly.

Quick Tips

• It’s recommended that you power wash your concrete driveways at least once a year. The sealing especially will help you prevent any damages or cracks.
• Wait around 24 hours before parking on a freshly sealed driveway.
• DO NOT let your cleaner dry before rinsing.
• Think about laying down tarps on your landscaping to avoid hurting the flowers, bushes, etc.
• Stay away from windows, the pressure could break them.
• Don’t spray yourself or others, the pressure can slice your skin.

With Halloween just around the corner, parents are making plans to pull some lighthearted pranks on their children. From ghosts and zombies to ghouls and goblins, kids are scared of the typical scary things – the unknown and the monstrous.

Adults may not seem like they’re scared of much, but the truth is that we have more to fear than young kids. From losing a job to identity theft, adults face a lot of really frightening ordeals.

Thankfully, all of these problems can be dealt with if you’re aware of them and take active measures against them. Let’s take a look at some of the scariest things adults face and what you can do to protect yourself against them.

Fraud

Tons of different types of fraud exist, but one of the most common involves financial fraud. One scam that’s growing in popularity is what’s called a “Money Mule.”

A Money Mule is the name given to someone who fraudulently transfers stolen money to criminals. Scam posts on social media – such as people pretending to be your bank or financial institution – are the most common ways to lure people into this trap.

Identity Theft

Having your identity stolen puts your entire life at risk. From new lines of credit opened in your name to extravagant purchases you’re never aware of, an identity thief can quickly ruin your life.

Taxes

There’s no way to protect yourself against taxes, but they’re still scary. Getting your first big paycheck as an adult is a disheartening experience when you look at your net versus gross pay. You can, however, learn more about the tax system, write-offs, and other tax incentives to use in order to keep the most of the money you rightfully earned.

How do I Stay Safe?

This is the logical question anyone would ask in this situation – how can you protect yourself against all of these scary things?

Well, with fraud and identity theft it’s not as complicated as you may think. Fraud is easy to avoid getting into if you remember these simple rules:

• Banks rarely, if ever, use private individuals to promote their products on social media. If a post promising huge returns on a small investment from your bank isn’t posted by your bank’s official page, ignore it. Better yet, report it.
• Get some credit monitoring and identity theft protection. Credit monitoring is free at Capital One and most every other major banking institution. Identity theft protection isn’t an expensive investment, either.

Being an adult has a lot of perks, but it brings with it real-world fears. If you’re nervous about any of these, or other, issues, don’t get too worked up. It’s entirely possible to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft, and to make sure you’re paying the lowest legal amount of taxes possible.

For more information, contact your financial institution today.

It is no secret that school supplies can cost a single family hundreds of dollars per child. If you are on a tight budget, the thought of buying school supplies might make you nervous. But the good news is, there are ways to get all the back to school supplies you need without ending up deeper in debt. Look at how to buy school supplies when you are broke, so you can get the kids back to school even if funds are tight.

How to Buy School Supplies When You are Broke

1. Take advantage of dollar store offerings.
Dollar stores can be your best friend when you are buying back to school supplies. You can find large packages of pencils, glue, pencil bags, lunch bags, white out, crayons, markers, and so much more. They even offer character varieties! Visit the dollar store first and see how much of your list you can knock out.

2. Penny sales are your best friend.
Lots of office supply stores offer penny sales during the back to school season. Be sure to check Sunday circulars for these sales and take advantage of them. Shop with a friend or friends (or even the kids) so you can each take advantage of the deal since they may be limited to one per customer. If you have to shop alone, ask if you can do multiple transactions to get the deal.

3. Take advantage of any giveaways you are eligible for.
Is your city or school corporation offering any type of school supply giveaway? If your income allows you to qualify for these events, attend. These events give out an array of donated school supplies that can help you get your child stocked up even when funds are low.

4. Ask the school which supplies your child will use the first week of school.
Lots of school supplies will go on sale and clearance the week or so after school starts. Ask your child’s school which supplies off the list are a priority and buy those items first. This way you can wait on the other items until they go on sale.

5. Try re-using what you have.
Before you buy anything, go through what you already have and see what may work. You might be surprised at how many supplies from the previous year are still in good shape with some life left in them. Look for extra pencils, crayons, notebooks, and even items that would be great for lunch boxes.

6. Be realistic with your child about your budget.
Fancy school supplies and character branded items tend to cost much more than plain. If working on a budget, be realistic about it with your child. Offer them one of these character folders or notebooks and opt for the rest in plain. This way they still get a fun folder/notebook but you can snag the rest of the folders for as little as a quarter.

Buying back to school supplies can be a financial burden. Try these methods on how to buy school supplies when you are broke and see how they can help make the most of even the tightest budget.