Cutting Glass to Save You Money
While working for a local glass shop, I found that people pay a lot of money just to get there windows and mirrors replaced. Believe it or not, most of the cost is aimed towards labor. Some aspects of window repairs must be left to the professionals but some can be easily done by yourself. The hard part is finding a glass cutter, due to the fact that a lot of companies will not sell you one unless you have a business license in the glass business like website www.coppertonelighting.com.
If you get the cutter then you have overcome the hard part, no to cut the glass. If you have a small window that needs to be replaced, carefully remove the broken glass and clean out the frame. Next, you can either measure the glass yourself and get it cut to size from a glass shop (which is kind of defeats the point). Instead just go to a glass shop and ask if they have any extra glass pieces kicking around. Now remember, you need to measure the length and width of the glass, but you must also remember to measure the thickness.
Once you get you glass piece home, you want to lay it flat on a table that wont scratch it obviously. Next you want to mix up a small container of transmission oil and paint thinner. This is to lubricate the wheel of the glass cutter, giving you a smoother, more consistent cut. You now want to trace out the pattern in marker onto the new glass. Take a ruler that is long enough to reach from the very top to the very bottom of the glass. Line up the ruler along your first cut line, lube up your cutter and then just start your cutter at the very top of the glass and slide it all the way to the bottom, pressing firmly.
While wearing puncture proof gloves and eye protection, put your hands on both sides of the fresh cut and gently lift up, separating the glass. Continue to the next cut, and so on.
Now you have your glass piece cut up, now you need to place it into your frame. Just by doing that yourself, you probably save over $100 dollars. Be careful glass is sharp!
Cutting Glass to Save You Money
While working for a local glass shop, I found that people pay a lot of money just to get there windows and mirrors replaced. Believe it or not, most of the cost is aimed towards labor. Some aspects of window repairs must be left to the professionals but some can be easily done by yourself. The hard part is finding a glass cutter, due to the fact that a lot of companies will not sell you one unless you have a business license in the glass business.
If you get the cutter then you have overcome the hard part, no to cut the glass. If you have a small window that needs to be replaced, carefully remove the broken glass and clean out the frame. Next, you can either measure the glass yourself and get it cut to size from a glass shop (which is kind of defeats the point). Instead just go to a glass shop and ask if they have any extra glass pieces kicking around. Now remember, you need to measure the length and width of the glass, but you must also remember to measure the thickness.
Once you get you glass piece home, you want to lay it flat on a table that wont scratch it obviously. Next you want to mix up a small container of transmission oil and paint thinner. This is to lubricate the wheel of the glass cutter, giving you a smoother, more consistent cut. You now want to trace out the pattern in marker onto the new glass. Take a ruler that is long enough to reach from the very top to the very bottom of the glass. Line up the ruler along your first cut line, lube up your cutter and then just start your cutter at the very top of the glass and slide it all the way to the bottom, pressing firmly.
While wearing puncture proof gloves and eye protection, put your hands on both sides of the fresh cut and gently lift up, separating the glass. Continue to the next cut, and so on.
Now you have your glass piece cut up, now you need to place it into your frame. Just by doing that yourself, you probably save over $100 dollars. Be careful glass is sharp!
Ten Tips to Save Money at Disney World and Other Theme Parks
Hey, You Spent Enough Just to Get in the Gate!
You plan and plan for your family’s big trip to a theme park, you get there and after a very short while, the vacation budget begins to shrink at a rapid rate. Never fear, you are doing the right thing by thinking ahead and learning to stretch your dollars. By following these ten easy tips, not only will you feel more at ease, you will actually be able to relax. Isn’t that why you are going on the trip in the first place? Ok, ten tips from biggest expenditure to smallest –
1. If possible, rent a vacation home for the week. Especially in Orlando, you will find beautiful homes with three + bedrooms and possibly a pool for pretty much the same price you would pay for a hotel. Also, check with the rental agency – sometimes you can get a package deal with a rental car, as well. Obviously, the benefits of a house are many but the two best are private bedrooms and a full kitchen.
2. If you are planning on several days of theme park visits, scour the web for deals. Disney, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Cypress Gardens, Islands of Adventure/Universal and Wet n’ Wild all have multi-day passes. However, if you plan on making Orlando your hub, please know that Busch Gardens is about one-and-a-half hours away, as is Cypress Gardens.
3. If you plan to eat out at the parks choose lunch, not dinner, as your meal of choice. You will find MUCH cheaper prices at the “sit-down” restaurants during the day. Bring a light dinner in a soft-side cooler.
4. I know sometimes scheduling can be a barrier, but if possible, plan a theme park trip for February – April or October – November. You will find the crowds to be greatly diminished and the weather to be greatly improved. Take it from an Orlando resident, walking around outside for many hours in June, July or August is more like a job than a vacation. But if you have to go in the summer, purchase some rain ponchos before you leave home. Much cheaper that way and you will need them.
5. Speaking of purchasing, buy all souvenirs off site. Wal-Mart has Disney items, as does the Belz Factory Outlet Mall right up the street from Disney property. As for the other parks, ummm….Ebay , maybe? Just don’t buy anything while in the parks because you are going to kick yourself when you find the same item for 1/3 the price somewhere else.
6. If you have AAA membership, you can get discounts on many theme park admissions. It’s worth checking into.
7. If you have younger children, they are going to want the glo-sticks and necklaces sold at the parks when the sun goes down. Again, shop off-site beforehand and pick some up at the dollar store. You will pay three times as much (or more) in the parks.
8. Two more items to buy before you go – batteries and sunscreen. You will probably need both and woe to the tourist who has to purchase these in the parks!
9. If your plans call for a visit to SeaWorld, Cypress Gardens, Busch Gardens or even Gatorland, bring a bathing suit for everyone in your family. All of these parks have “soaking” rides and/or attached water play areas. If you are unprepared, you might find yourself having to spring for new (dry) clothes at the park.
10. Finally, drink packets are your friends. They are tiny, delicious and comparatively cheap. Take several along for everyone then ask for free cups of ice in the parks. Fill up at the water fountains all day long. Believe me, there is nothing better than downing a tall cup of (almost) free lemonade on a sticky hot afternoon! Have fun on your vacation!