When you live 100 miles or more from the nearest big box store, you don’t want to be caught without the right tools for home repairs and projects.

People out here must be self-reliant; if nothing else, it sure costs less! Doing home repairs, building decks, fixing machinery, and working with construction materials comes with the territory. At any given moment, you might need to cut pipes, corrugated metal, fencing, tile, or stone. Various kinds of saws can help with these tasks.

Of course, you’ll use the good sense you were born with to take appropriate safety measures, like wearing eye protection, hard-toe work boots, gloves, and a respirator where the materials require them. When working with corded electric tools, a clean, dry workspace is essential, and keeping kids away when you’re working with cutting tools is a no-brainer.

Careful attention to your tools and your workpieces can ensure you come home with the same number of fingers you had when you left. Now, on to the saws you might need for your bevy of home improvement projects; here’s a list of different types of saws you should have in your toolshed.

Chainsaw

If your property sustains storm damage, you’re going to need a chainsaw to clean up the debris. If you need to clear a new section of land, you can use a chainsaw to take care of branches and saplings that you must remove.

Keeping a chainsaw lubricated and clean can be a pain, but it’s important to ensure the longevity and safe operation of your chainsaw, as is proper protective gear. Never use a chainsaw above shoulder height or while standing on a ladder. If you need to remove big trees, call in the pros.

Hacksaw

Cutting and replacing damaged sections of metal or plastic pipe is best done with a hacksaw. You’ll get a cleaner more precise cut and have better control than with other types of manual saws.

Circular Saw

Cutting plywood, wood studs, some types of metal, or concrete and stone requires a handheld circular saw. The power and RPMs the saw can produce are part of the equation, but choosing the right type of blade for the job is essential.

Rip Saw

Everyone knows you should have this type of saw in your tool collection. You may already have one handed down from your grandfather. These muscle-powered saws are essential for jobs that are too small or awkward for power saws. They’re also ideal when you have a small job and don’t feel like going through the hassle of plugging in your electric saw and ensuring you don’t trip over the cord.

Other types of saws you may want to explore are jigsaws for cutting curves in lumber, table saws for cutting sheets of plywood or fiberboard, and miter saws for repeat crosscuts or angles for joinery.

If you’re perplexed about a repair or construction job you’re looking to do, don’t fret. You likely have a neighbor within a reasonable distance who might have experience and advice that can help. If you feel like you’re in over your head, the safest course might be to grit your teeth and hire a professional—what you pay for their services might end up saving you in emergency room costs!

Every school system knows how essential it is to effectively communicate with employees, parents, and students. Depending on what you’re trying to communicate, the mode for effective communication will change. One prominent example is sharing school events. If your local school is hosting an event for employees, parents, and students, then you need to effectively share that with them. But you don’t need to bend over backwards to do it. Keep reading to learn about three easy ways to promote school events.

Social Media

Our world is currently obsessed with social media. Teachers share funny stories on TikTok, students Snapchat all day, parents check their Facebook every chance they get, and so on. While social media can be a distraction in the classroom, it can be an asset outside of the classroom. Use this asset to your advantage when planning and sharing school events. Make a filter for Snapchat, create a Facebook event, and decorate a wall for promotional Instagram photos. Once you make the virtual world aware of your school event, your community will show up in person.

Marquee Announcements

Another way to electronically spread the word outside of social media is to post the school event on your marquee. You probably have lots of information on your school marquee already, but you can easily add another slide if it’s electric. If your marquee isn’t electric, then put your announcement up around your event timeline. Share when and how people should buy tickets, if they’re necessary. Share the specific location if you’re only using part of the school to host. Remind people of the day and time as the event gets closer, and offer contact information for people with questions.

Old-Fashioned Paper

Sometimes the best way to communicate is the old-fashioned way. You can use posters to reach people who don’t use social media and don’t drive by the marquee. Hang up the posters within the school where students can easily take pictures, send extra posters home, and hang posters around your community. Make sure to include the same information you’re sharing on social media and on the marquee. Since this is the old-fashioned technique, make sure to include old-fashioned contact information like the phone number and email for the person in charge of the event.

Using social media, marquee announcements, and posters are three easy ways to promote your school event. No matter which way you choose, or if you use a combination of the three, remember to include all the vital event information. If something changes, make sure to update your communication system so everyone who wants to attend the event can get there.

At some point, many of us downsize our homes. Sometimes couples do this to save money, and others do so once they become empty nesters. There’s a long list of reasons for making this change, and completing a few tasks before downsizing your home will ensure the process goes smoothly. Read on to find out what you need to add to your to-do list as you pack up your things.

Know the Sizes of Your Furniture Pieces

Jot down the dimensions of your current furniture as you shop for a new home so you know what will fit into the new space. Compare these numbers to the room sizes of each house you look at. Doing this early on makes packing easier and may require setting aside time to go furniture shopping if your current pieces will not fit your new space.

Pro Tip

Consider modular or multi-functional pieces if you need or want to purchase new furniture. Some couches and ottomans have cushions that lift to reveal areas for storage. This is the perfect place to tuck away extra blankets or pillows.

Go Through Your Belongings

You won’t be able to take everything in your current house with you since you’ll have less space. Go through all your belongings room by room and create three piles:

1. Things to keep—items you regularly use or those with sentimental value.
2. Things to throw away—items that are too worn to use.
3. Things to donate—items that are still in good shape but no longer serve you.

By doing this, you can better understand all the things you’ve accumulated while living in your current home. Also, going room by room allows you to keep the process organized; doing every room at once can feel overwhelming. Once you finish, search for a charity that helps communities and non-profit organizations—just be sure you’re familiar with their list of acceptable items for donation.

Start Early

Doing this task before you downsize your home will prevent rushing the process. Moving too quickly can increase your stress levels, and you may keep things you could’ve donated. Once you start shopping for a new house, walk through your current home and make a mental note of things you could get rid of. Give yourself plenty of time to sort through your home before purchasing a new one.

Ask for Help

Never be afraid of asking for help; going through a large house is an understandably daunting task. It can be emotional to sort through everything, especially if you raised a family in the home you are planning to vacate. But with help from friends and family, you’ll begin forming new memories. And remember, your new home is ready and waiting to provide countless memories of all the new adventures you’ll take through life.