Jobs That Let You Get Your Hands Dirty
Everyone has a different idea as to what their dream jobs are. Some people like to be in the office, some like to work with other people, and some like physical work that really gets their hands dirty. The following list of jobs you can get your hands dirty doing can be used either for you to decide what you would like to do, or what jobs you will want to avoid depending on what it is you’re into.
Mechanic
Being a mechanic not only guarantees that you will get your hands dirty, but is also a very desirable and useful skill to have. Everyone who owns a car will eventually need a car service. Sydney and Melbourne are great cities to live in as a mechanic since there are so many cars on the road there. Getting good car service in Melbourne is especially desirable as many people rely on their cars to get to work every day.
Archaeologist
When it is your job to dig holes and look for artifacts in the ground, you are sure to get your hands dirty. Being an archaeologist is a very relaxing job as well because you get to be outside and generally there is no stress associated with the job as you aren’t expected to find anything most of the time. For the times when you are lucky enough to make a big find and you can contribute to our understanding of history, then the job can be very rewarding.
Landscaper or Gardener
Dirt will literally get all over your hands in this job, as well as on your clothes and stubbornly under your fingernails. Building a new landscape or creating a new garden can be really rewarding as well as physically demanding, but at the end of the day you can feel good knowing that you turned a plain space into a beautiful one.
Veterinarian
Especially if you are a large animal vet, you may find your hands going places where no hands have gone before. Despite the gross-factor of some of the things vets need to do, you can be proud that your efforts often end in saving the life of an animal.
Plumber
A day in the life of a plumber isn’t always choc-a-block full with constant mess, but when you get dirty in this job you really get dirty! As a plumber, you will never be short of work as this is one of the most highly valued jobs in society. Bad plumber jokes aside, it is a very necessary position as well as highly paid.
Dry Waller
Your hands will get dirty, your face will get dirty, your whole body will get dirty doing the job of a dry waller. This is a highly skilled job and you will be very popular if you can get really good at it.
Surgeon
Sure, you wear gloves when you are performing surgery, but your hands are still in a place where hands don’t normally go. To be a surgeon it takes years of dedication to be good enough, but if you are very dexterous, have an eye for detail and are interested in saving peoples lives, then this may be the job for you!
To Fly or to Drive? Planning Your Next Holiday
When planning your next holiday you may decide you need to hire a car at the holiday destination. Thinking about the cost of car hire brings up the question, are you better off driving or flying on your next holiday?
There are various factors to consider which can help you weigh up each option, and it is more than just rate differences when you compare car hire companies. Read through these points to help you come to a conclusion that suits your situation best:
Time
Time is the first thing you need to consider. Is this a long holiday you are taking, and do you have plenty of annual leave from work saved up? Or are you getting away to attend a wedding over a weekend and need to be back in the office early the next week?
If you have a decent amount of time up your sleeve, then driving is a great option as the journey to the destination can form part of the overall holiday experience. But if you are in a rush, the added pressure of driving on a time limit may not make the getaway as enjoyable as it could be.
Money
You may think the money argument is simply one of fuel vs. airfare. While this is definitely a big factor in weighing up your finances, there are other points you will also need to consider when analysing the budget.
If you are driving your own car, you will need to make sure it is in good condition before taking it on a long road trip. Having a car service in Melbourne before heading off is necessary for safety reasons, but the cost of this may need to be considered as part of the holiday budget. There is also the cost of snacks and meals on the road, and whether or not you will need a hotel or motel overnight on the way.
As for flying, you need to take into account the cost of getting to and from the airport on both ends. Do you need to hire a car when you get to your holiday destination? Do you need to catch a taxi on either end? These costs need to be factored into the overall costs of flying.
With the airfare, be wary of taking the advertised ‘cheap airfare’ as being the final figure you will pay for tickets. There are always additional costs that are included when booking, such as paying for baggage, seat allocation and taxes in some cases. If you are planning a holiday just for you, or just for a couple, then plane tickets may be the cheaper alternative. But once you start to introduce kids into the equation suddenly a family of four will find it a much more expensive option to fly.
Environment
If you drive a relatively fuel-efficient car, then the greenhouse gas emissions that are generated are less than that of flying. However, this is based on one car vs. one airline passenger, so if you car-pool or have a whole family going on holidays, the carbon footprint per person is reduced even further for driving.
Of course taking a bus or train lowers the carbon footprint per person considerably more, so if your reason for driving is due to your concern for the environment, consider buying a bus or train ticket instead.
Peace of Mind
Flying with children, especially toddlers can sometimes be a parent’s worst nightmare. But ask yourself, is it worth flying with them for just a few hours to save you at least triple the time in a car? Being cooped up in a car isn’t much fun but the bonus is that you can stop when you need to and you don’t have to deal with the death stares from other passengers.
Diesel Versus Petrol – What’s The Difference?
Diesel cars are currently taking the Australian car market by storm with sales of diesel-powered vehicles continuing to rise as manufacturers introduce more models on a regular basis. Leading the charge is the growth in sales of SUVs, which families are flocking to as they take advantage of more room and better fuel economy. There are numerous factors to weigh up when deciding between a petrol or diesel model, such as the cost of car insurance, so here’s a guide to the pros and cons of diesel over petrol.
Diesel fuel is cleaner
What is diesel? It’s something we usually associate with trucks and tractors, but the benefits of using it in family cars are becoming more apparent. The difference between diesel and normal petrol is that it is heavier and oilier, meaning it evaporates slower than petrol. As a general rule, diesel is also less refined than petrol. It does not burn as hot as regular fuel and produces fewer emissions – studies have shown diesel engines to produce between 10% to 20% less greenhouse gas emissions that regular petrol engines. The design of diesel engines, which take into account the way the fuel burns and its viscosity, also helps to reduce emissions.
Diesel cars are more fuel efficient
Studies have shown that diesel engines are cheaper to run and fuel consumption can be anywhere from 20% to 40% less than a petrol engine. It’s probably the biggest reasons why more families are choosing the diesel option. However, the price of diesel can be much higher than regular unleaded petrol at the pump, particularly in regional and rural areas. Diesel engines may also not have the performance of its petrol cousin, and this is one of the main reasons why some buyers will lean towards a petrol version. But diesel engines have a lot more low-down grunt known as torque, which is why so many 4WD vehicles go for diesel.
Some costs with diesels are higher
There are several factors that can offset the immediate fuel cost savings of a diesel car. Take servicing your vehicle, for example. Diesel engines are probably going to cost more than a petrol version, whether it is a car service in Sydney, a car service in Perth or a car service in Melbourne. Do your homework first and make sure the mechanic you choose knows their way around a diesel engine. Also, it’s generally going to cost more to fix a diesel engine if something goes wrong. But the design of modern diesel engines is of the highest quality so you should have no reliability concerns when compared to a regular petrol engine. Diesel vehicles usually cost a bit more to buy than petrol versions as well, so it’s another factor you need to consider. On the plus side, insurance is likely to cost less on a diesel vehicle, so shop around for car insurance quotes.
It comes down to preference
In the end, the choice between diesel and petrol is going to come down to that vehicle’s particular characteristics. Studies have shown that when taking everything into account, the running costs over a period of years differ very little between petrol and diesel. So it will likely be performance and engine characteristics that really sway the decision.