If you haven’t already equipped your backyard To greet visitors after CDC relaxed the restrictionsNow is the time to add the best yard feature: a fire pit. Most fire pits contain quite a bit heavy workThese include buying bricks or blocks of cement, mixing up concrete, or digging out an area for the bricks to sit in. And while this may be a fun long-term project, there is an easier way to get the same safe and strong structure in your yard without becoming a licensed contractor.

Follow your local fire safety regulations

Before you begin, make sure you are following your county’s appropriate fire safety regulations when it comes to fire pits on your property. Standard fire protection regulations Place your campfire or fire pit at least 25 feet from your home, shed, or backyard, and at least ten feet from your property line and your neighbors. The fire cannot rise higher than three feet and must be tended at all times. To be sure you are meeting your local fire safety requirements, quickly call your local fire department for more detailed information on what is allowed in your area.

What does a fireplace cost?

Hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s sell preset kits with easy-to-follow setups. A kit comes complete with a metal fire ring and concrete blocks and should get you walking around on average $ 229 and $ 532 for fancier limestone options. That’s pretty expensive, but doesn’t require any additional purchases.

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Other options require planning, patience, and purchasing all of the materials yourself, but they can save you some change. DIY fire pits can be made for less than a hundred dollars using similarly easy-to-follow steps, though it takes a little muscle to stack the cement or bricks yourself.

How to set up your own fireplace in the backyard

First, let’s set the area: measure the radius of the fireplace in the desired location, then tie a string the length of the radius of the circle to a Dowels in the middle of the circle. Attach a spray can to the string to make the radius with the nozzle and spray a full circle. You now have the parameters of your fireplace.

If your fire pit is on a cement patio, put down the fire pit walls and line the floor with them Fire blocks as protection from heat and flames. For fire pits on earth or grass, dig the fire pit circle down about 5 cm and fill it with a Gravel floor, then wet, tap, and repeat.

Then place your first layer of brick in the circle provided for it. You can use Cobblestones which are common for fire pits and cost about $ 1.98 each. You need one too Solid steel fire ring as an inner circle of protection for your fire pit, which currently costs around $ 80 on Amazon.

Use the metal ring to check that you are maintaining the correct circle size, then add cement glue as you stack the next layers of brick on top. (A tube of cement glue costs about six dollars on Amazon). Be sure to fill the pit with Lava stones managing and containing the fire, which should cost you about another six dollars at a hardware store. You can see Lowe’s Instruction video Here is a visual guide to building your fire pit. Then enjoy being out with your friends again at night with fancy drinks.

Photo: Andrea Chu (Getty Images)

Every year as summer approaches, parents and teachers across the country worry the summer slide. The phenomenon of some students regressing academically during the school months is believed to affect younger children and children from low-income families in particular. And it was already a problem after good, normal, non-pandemic school years.

Nobody is really sure what will happen to a whole generation of children who have just had what is arguably the toughest and most ineffective school year of their lives. However, it is safe to say that those who are normally at risk of summer learning loss are even more at risk this year. These kids – all kids, really – would almost certainly benefit from some academic work in the summer. Here are some ideas to keep them studying, depending on what’s available in your area.

Register them for the actual summer school

No child I have ever met appreciates the combination of the words “summer” and “school”. However, after a year of distance learning, they may heat up to the idea faster than you think. Summer school programs offered through public school districts (and may also be available to charter and private students within the district) often include a combination of academic teaching and extracurricular activities. They provide an opportunity not only to educate children about academic skills, but also to provide them with the long-awaited opportunity to interact face-to-face with their peers.

And than that Washington Post According to reports, many districts are expanding their summer school programs to be available to all students right now, simply because of the sheer number of children struggling during the pandemic:

“Traditionally, the summer school was a program for children who didn’t do well in school in order to reconcile. This year will be different because now it applies to everyone, ”said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators.

Students who need to attend a summer session to receive missing credits for graduation can still do so. Domenech says many districts are also targeting elementary school students who need extra help keeping up with their peers and students with special needs who were unable to get the personal tuition they needed during the pandemic.

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Your district website is likely to provide information on building your local summer school program and registration details. However, you can also ask your school principal about it. You should also speak to your child’s teacher for input on whether they think participation is necessary or beneficial.

Resume your child’s Learning Pod (or start a new one)

When we realized that the school would be largely (if not entirely) virtual that school year, many families decided to start small schools. “Learn pods“So that your children can interact and learn personally with a smaller group and in a safer environment. Once you’ve done this, an easy way to keep them busy all summer without committing to a full summer school schedule is for the pod to keep meeting regularly.

My own 10 year old has been doing this with a group of three or four other children throughout the pandemic. It’s part of learning and part of playing for a few hours a week, and even though the kids are now back to school every four days a week, we still bring them together on days off.

When a summer learning pod fits well, Here are some tips to get you started.

Let children read in the summer

Unless you’re doing anything else academically this summer, one of the best things to focus on is reading. Reading is most likely a priority for them if you provide entertaining incentives. Hence, your own local library’s summer reading program is a good place to start. Scholastic is also hosting one virtual summer reading program That offers free stories, games, and virtual rewards.

Do you know what else motivates children to read? Pizza, that’s what. Pizza Hut is again offering its beloved BOOK IT! program, where preschoolers through sixth grade can read books to get free certificates.

If none of this is noticeable, we also have other tips on how to do it Create your own summer reading program at home.

Photo: SDI Productions (Getty Images)

When it comes to a job, it’s easy to commit to salary because you need money to live. But you should also carefully weigh the benefits offered, as they have thousands of dollars’ worth of monetary value that can result in the acceptability of a salary that is below expectations. Here’s What To Look For When It Comes To Benefits.

Search for 401 (k) s with matching posts

Your employer may offer a 401 (k) pension plan. If you are lucky, he will offer to cover your contributions, usually 50% or sometimes even 100%, usually capped at approximately 4.3% from your salary (The Balance has a good overview of the options Here). This is as close as possible to free money as they are funds that combine with interest over time.

To use an example by FidelityLet’s say you get a full match for up to 4% of your salary. If you make $ 50,000 a year, that means an additional $ 2,000 in “free” money per year. Assuming the return on your 401 (k) remains constant (say 7%), your employer’s respective contributions add up and add another $ 320,250 to your savings by the time you retire.

Use this calculator to get a feel for how much a 401 (k) is worth and use that value when evaluating a job offer.

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Make sure your employer pays the health care costs

Unfortunately, if your employer does not take out adequate health insurance, an above-average salary can be wiped out by high healthcare costs. Plans and options can get complicated, but one thing to focus on is the percentage difference between what you pay and what your employer pays.

According to US News, employees cover on average 81% of the cost for coverage, with the average deductible for the most popular large employer plans being around $ 1,500 for in-network care. You should also research the benefits and how closely they match your medical needs.

Finally, check to see if the plan offers a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) as you can save up to a few thousand dollars in taxes on paying for health expenses.

Check if the vacation policy is negotiable

Compared to retirement accounts or health insurance, employers are usually much more willing to negotiate the number of vacation days in a year. Without sick days and paid holidays, the average employee has ten days off. Before you take a job, consider whether you will have more free time if the employer does not stand out from the salary.

Understand how the bonuses work

Bonuses are great, but come in two forms: discretionary and guaranteed. As the name suggests, discretionary bonuses depend on some type of performance (commission, odds) or are one-time (like a hiring bonus). If a bonus is performance based, make sure the parameters are clear and actually achievable. For example, a bonus based on company-wide performance may not mean that much to you as an individual, especially if the benchmarks are unrealistic and not directly related to your job.

Look for affordable insurance options

Often employers offer insurance at a discounted rate, which saves you the hassle of shopping yourself (e.g. disability and life insurance costs are often fully covered as part of your compensation package). Considering that the annual costs for the dentist are usually around $ 600Low end vision plans are there $ 240and dental is about 600 dollarsThese costs add up quickly. However, not all plans are created equal – you should take a close look at what is actually offered in each plan and make sure they meet your needs.

Also calculate the monetary value of other perks

Perks like home work, subsidized childcare, free meals, fitness passes, and grants for your phone bill or other equipment are worth thousands of dollars, and some of them may be negotiable too. As with the other perks outlined above, you want to know the total value of the perks so you have a full understanding of the rewards package being offered to you.

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If you are forced to deal with a narcissist for an extended period of time – whether you are unfortunate enough to be romantically involved with one or have one in your family – you will need to develop some coping skills, if only to lessen the emotional debris that these toxic people inevitably leave behind. And things are no different when you are only working with a narcissist.

Even if the pandemic is forcing many jobs into virtual space, escaping the manipulative and often destructive behavior of a narcissist in the workplace can be difficult. Now that more of us are starting to migrate back to physical offices, remembering how to deal with someone who exhibits these tendencies is more important than ever – especially when we’re in theirs for 40 hours a week or more Will be near.

What are the different types of narcissism?

Narcissism is a spectrum that works according to different degrees of severity. A generally first on The areas may be helpful to you when dealing with a suspected narcissist in the office. Broadly speaking, there are three types that have the following characteristics:

Grandiose narcissists: These larger than life personalities always need to be in the spotlight. They are people who yearn to be worshiped, often at the expense of others – people who like to be happy and often rise up. (Maybe this person is your boss.)

Vulnerable Narcissists: This term describes an extremely sensitive person who often develops a sense of self-worth by connecting with something they think is successful or great, such as an expensive clothing brand. Even so, this person is easily wounded, sometimes perceived as shy, and craves confirmation, even though they often think they are better than those around them.

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Malicious narcissists: This is by far the most destructive form of the disease. How Lifehacker pointed this out earlier this yearMalignant narcissism is usually a combination of different conditions, including narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), sadism, and paranoia. These people are more interested in hurting people directly than other narcissists.

Understanding the behavior you are dealing with can help you avoid getting drawn into the myriad of problems a narcissist wants to cause.

What To Do If You Are Working With A Narcissist

Narcissism can manifest itself differently in the workplace than it does at home or in a friendship or other close relationship. For example, a terrific narcissist might be inclined to claim credit for the work of his colleagues. When you are in close proximity to this type of person, it can be difficult for you to take ownership of your achievements.

In an article in Fast company in 2019Psychologist Art Markman had this to say about terrific narcissists in the workplace:

When working with a terrific narcissist, you need to realize that you will struggle to obtain credit for your contributions as narcissists tend to co-opt the credit for things that happen within their sphere of influence.

While it can be annoying to lose praise or even professional awards for someone who falsely claims credit for your work, it is wise to set some boundaries. Lisa Romano, a certified life coach who specializes in addiction and narcissistic abuse, says Lifehacker that any attempt to confront a narcissist will ultimately prove futile.

“When dealing with narcissists in the workplace, the important thing is to acknowledge that confronting them doesn’t work,” she says. “Trying to prove them wrong doesn’t work, and trying to hold them accountable doesn’t work. My advice is to focus [your] Aim and imagine that you are dealing with someone from space who does not follow ethical norms. “

So what can you practically do? Romano advises: “[documenting] Your work and [getting] others to log out and bypass the narcissistic agent. “Doing this, in addition to complaining about the situation as little as possible, is probably your best recourse, she advises. And this documentation is important – if it ever becomes necessary, you want to be able to accurately present your own work (along with timelines and facts) to the powers that be, she says.

If you are wrongly stripped of creditworthiness, presenting the problem to your manager may be a better option than discussing it face-to-face with someone who never sees your prospect. However, if the narcissist happens to be your manager, it depends on the behaviors they exude, writes Markman. Vulnerable narcissists will “appreciate everyone else’s successes, but they will also distribute the blame for failures among others without taking any part of it for themselves,” he notes.

Unfortunately, if you work among any of these groups of people, your best thing to do is to follow the advice above and do your best to get transferred from the department – or maybe find another job to help bridge the gap are ultimately hopeless.

A possible advantage?

While most narcissists aren’t fun in the long run, it is possible that having a terrific narcissist for a boss could actually give your career a boost. People with this personality type are usually quite magnetic and often rise to the top of their field, into managerial and even more powerful positions. Markman notes that if you position yourself correctly (and assuming your relationship is positive), “you may be drawn into that person’s inner circle and have a chance to rise with them in the organization.”

Also, in the event that you are unwilling to step into a narcissist’s sphere of influence, doing the exact opposite and staying as far away as possible is a good course of action. “I’ve learned that it helps me to divert my attention, focus, and energy away from such people in order to maintain a sense of peace,” says Romano.

And when it comes to your work environment, isn’t a sense of peace the best you can hope for?