With the effect of pandemic, money is still on many of our minds. It can be difficult to balance our budgets during times of economic difficulty, so here are a few tips which could help you look after your money in 2023.

Keep a spending diary

Many of us are guilty of frittering our money away on takeaway coffees and sandwiches on our lunch break, but you would be amazed how much the dollar add up over the month. Before you can make a budget for 2023, it is important that you work out how much you are spending on a daily basis. To do this, buy yourself a little notebook and set aside ten minutes in the evening to tot up what you spent that day and where. This exercise won’t take up much of your time, and if you keep up the habit it will soon become second nature.

Make a budget

Once you know what you are spending in an average month, it is time to analyze your outgoings for areas you can cut back. Whether you are paying your cash advances or  it’s a weekly takeaway or an expensive phone bill, we all have parts of our life where money can be saved. Consider what you need to meet the cost of your essential monthly outgoings like your rent, mortgage payments, food, and bills, and set this amount aside for the month (don’t forget to add a little extra for unforeseen events like appliances breaking and birthday presents!) Then you can organize to transfer the money that you will save into an online savings account, whether it is a dollar or a $100.

[Photo courtesy of Dejan Nouval/pexels.com]

Check your home

Are you guilty of leaving the lights on when you leave a room, or keeping the television on standby? It is surprising how much little things like this can add to your electricity bill. Energy saving tips can be crucial for people looking to save some money, as well as helping the planet out. For example, save up your laundry to make sure you only wash full loads- a full load will use less energy than two half loads- and switch the dial down to cold. And whilst you are in the kitchen, don’t fill your kettle up each time- only heat what you need.

Ditch the ready meals

Not only are ready meals expensive but they are also incredibly bad for your health and your waistline. Home cooked food may sound like a chore, but you don’t have to turn into Jamie Oliver in order to make simple, tasty meals at home. Buy yourself a basic cookbook and start planning your weekly meals in advance. That way, when you go food shopping you will know exactly what you need. Buy plenty of onions, carrots, potatoes and broccoli, along with other things like pasta and cheap cuts of meat, and you will be able to cook up something frugal and delicious. Always try and make an extra portion to, so you can have it for lunch the next day.

The indoor air quality in your home isn’t typically something that most people give a lot of thought to. It doesn’t really keep you up at night, nor does it have you stressing out. But here’s the thing, maybe it deserves more attention than you’ve given it in the past? Did you know that poor indoor air quality can lead to a number of unpleasant sympAtoms? You may suffer from sinus congestion, dryness of the eyes/nose/throat, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, sneezing, coughing, nausea, and heightened allergic reactions.

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to poor indoor air quality such as indoor air contaminants, not enough outdoor air intake, the wrong humidity level, and more. If you are concerned that the indoor air quality in your home is less than ideal, then these five tips can make a substantial difference.

Change the Filter in Your Furnace Regularly

This may sound like a really simple tip, but it has a massive effect on the indoor air quality in your entire home. The filter in your furnace is meant to filter out pollens, impurities, dust, and so forth. If it is so packed full of dirt and grime, it is no longer able to perform the job of filtration. That means all those pollutants and contaminants are just circulating through your home.

Experts suggest that you check your furnace filter every 30 days, and then replace it every three months. As soon as it turns gray, it’s time to swap it out. You can easily purchase a replacement filter online through the Discount Filter Store and have it delivered right to your house.

Switch to Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

The cleaning products you use in your home can also have a negative effect on the indoor air quality. Making the switch to eco-friendly products that don’t contain harmful chemicals will be much better for the air. You can even use all-natural cleaners that are homemade with ingredients such as vinegar and lemon.

Open Up the Doors and Windows

While this may not be practical all year round, another great way to improve the air quality is to ventilate your home and let the air in/out. Opening up doors and windows at least once a week can really refresh the entire home. Even if it is winter, opening up a few windows for a short time won’t be enough to cool down the entire house, but it will help to let that fresh air in.

Indulge in Your Green Thumb

Having greenery in your home is not only beautiful and gives a sense of nature and the outdoors, but plants are heralded for being excellent air purifiers. They are constantly removing toxins from the air and then creating more oxygen. While any plant will be great for the indoor air quality, some are better than others. Ideally you want to look for ivy, bamboo, and various Dracaena plants.

Make Your Home Smoke-Free

Finally, you can make your home a smoke-free environment, as this is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to poor indoor air quality.

All of these tips will help to improve the overall indoor air quality in your home.

Moving in a new home is an exciting milestone for everyone; however, it can be easy to forget a few important things in the midst of so much excitement. For this reason, it is important to take the time to plan each aspect of the move carefully. This will help to ensure that you have everything you need available to you upon your arrival. If you are planning an upcoming move, then the following checklist will help you plan for your move so that everything will go smoothly on your big day.

Turn on the Utilities

If your new home does not already have the electricity and water turned on, then you will need to contact your service provider to establish a time to have it connected. Additionally, many people find it helpful to already have other services ready before they move in their home. By arriving with everything already connected, you will be able to get straight to work.

[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

Stock Up on Food and Water

Upon arriving to your new home, you will need to have the basic necessities, such as food and water, available for you to quench your hunger or thirst. On your first day, bottled water and some snacks will be sufficient; however, if you have children, then you may need to plan for some more substantial meals. While stocking up on food, be sure to include some dishes and silverware so that you will be able to prepare a few simple meals.

Take Cleaning Supplies

One of the first things you will want to do in your new home is clean up the main living areas and bedrooms. Everyone has their own favourite methods of cleaning, so be sure to take along a broom, mop and any household cleaners you prefer. While packing, be sure to also throw in a few sponges and a toilet brush so that you can make sure that the most important areas of your home will be ready when they are needed.

Include Basic Necessities

On your first day in the new home, you will need a few basic items for everyday life functioning. Keys will be necessary to unlock the doors when entering. New homes also rarely come equipped with light bulbs so you may need to invest in a large package if your new home has several fixtures. Finally, throw in some toilet paper, disposable plates and paper towels to ensure that you have an easy way to clean up any small messes.

Bedding and Personal Care

After all the hard work you will do on moving day, it is essential to have a few items available to make bedtime more comfortable. Be sure to pack your bedding and pillows along with your favorite pajamas. If you have young children, then make sure that they have any stuffed animals or other comfort items. Finally, make sure to include anything you need for showering and brushing your teeth. Having your favorite shampoo on hand can help you get ready to face your second day in a new home.

Everyone needs space. The addition of a new family member, or a new hobby, can leave homeowners scratching their heads thinking about how they can free up space in their home.

Here are some ideas for homeowners looking to make more space in their property:

1. Have a clear out

The first thing to do, that doesn’t cost a penny, is to take a good look at all the rooms in the house. How long has that wicker basket sat in the corner holding magazines? Do the baby books that the kids used to read 10 years ago, still sit on the bookshelf? Often, we accumulate clutter that we just don’t need. The first step to gaining more space is to take a good look at the contents of the home.

• Throw away items that are just rubbish. Homeowners with large amounts of rubbish may find it convenient to hire a skip! There are many skip hire companies that can provide skips for reasonable rates. Make sure you choose a company with green credentials.
• Give books and old clothes to charity/friends/family.
• Sell good quality items on ebay.

2. Room use

Right – got rid of all the junk? In doing so, did you notice that there are rooms in your house that aren’t perhaps being overly used? For example, a family with a young child could find that a seldom used office could double as a playroom during the day, and an office at night. Or maybe a guest bedroom could double as a workout room if the spare bed was swapped for a sofa bed. For more tips on dual room use, check out this blog post from theinspiredroom.net.

3. Furniture

Evaluate if existing furniture is being used effectively. It may be that some of the furniture in the home isn’t required, or could be reused in a different way. This page on Pinterest shows some great space saving furniture ideas!

4. Make the most of outdoor space

Lesser used objects be stored in the shed or garage, freeing up cupboard space. Adding a patio heater and a cosy area close to the house, makes the patio feel more like an extension of the living room or dining room, giving the illusion of more space. Those with larger gardens could even add a garden studio or sun house to provide outdoor rooms. Getting an electrician in to run an exterior power supply is not that expensive and providing power to these outdoor rooms increases their usage potential enormously.

5. Extend

This one’s a last resort, as it’s the most expensive option. Relaxed planning laws make it relatively straightforward to obtain planning permission for a house extension. There are also many types of house extension. Examples include loft extensions, conservatories and flat roof extensions – the only limitation is a homeowners property type, budget and preference.

Looking at the house with a fresh eye, and spending a bit of time on de-cluttering is a good start. However, the key when trying to make more space in a property, is to have a bit of imagination!

If your home doesn’t seem to be selling, it could all be down to your property’s curb appeal. What exactly is curb appeal? It’s how good your home looks from the curb. So even if your interiors are up to scratch, a bad curb appeal could be dragging your property down. Want to know how you can increase the attractiveness of your house from the outside? Here are some fantastic ways to do so on a budget.

[Photo courtesy of jaymantri.com/pexels.com]

Invest In Artificial Grass

Don’t want to be stuck in your garden mowing the lawn all summer? Then you should think about buying artificial grass. You can find it for quite low prices in many garden centers and DIY stores. All you need to do is dig up your lawn and replace it with this artificial grass. There’s no need to water or keep it trimmed. It’s a super easy way to create a pretty garden without having to continually spend money on keeping it neat and tidy!

Fix Garage Doors

If your garage doors are noticeably broken or faulty, it can decrease the security of your home. And if potential buyers notice this when they view your property, they may not want to place an offer on your home. So it can pay to renovate your garage doors to ensure they are both safe and attractive. Get a professional company to sort them out, such as www.GarageDoorService.com/overhead-door/

[Photo courtesy of jaymantri.com/pexels.com]

Declutter Windows

If there is a lot of clutter on your inside windowsills, it can make your home appear messy. Even if it is actually very clean and tidy inside! But as passersby will only be able to see items perched on your windowsills, they can make or break people’s impressions of your home. So it is best to keep ones that are visible from the street clean. Move any ornaments to other ledges or surfaces in a room and keep decorations on your windowsills down to a minimum.

Trim Hedges

If you use hedges to plot out the boundaries between you and your neighbours, you need to ensure that they are kept neat and trimmed. They don’t grow as quickly as grass, so you won’t need to trim them as often as a lawn. In fact, just one prune at the beginning of summer should be enough. If you leave them to grow, they can make your garden look overgrown and like a jungle. They could even make it difficult for passersby to notice your pretty flowers and plants! You can find out how to prune a hedge online: www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/pruning_prunehedges1.shtml

Plant Flowers

Keep your front garden and yard bright with lots of gorgeous flowers. They will add beautiful colors to your garden and will certainly catch people’s eyes as they walk by. People may find this very attractive for other reasons too. It means that the garden will look great when they move in, so they won’t have so much work to do!

So, it’s that time of year again. We are all starting to dream of our summer holidays – maybe even our spring holidays! If you’re anything like me, then you probably can’t wait just to get away from it all and soak in some sun. One of the parts of going on holiday that is less fun, however, is the worry that can come with it. It can sometimes be difficult to leave the home behind, even if it is only for a week. You might find that it can be a bit nerve-wracking, especially if you are taking your entire family with you. While leaving the house unguarded is nobody’s dream situation, you have to make certain sacrifices if you want that dream holiday! But don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. Next time you are due to fly off somewhere exotic, just bear these essential points in mind.

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Windows & Doors

Probably the most important part of the whole operation! It is imperative that you check and double-check all of the windows and doors of your house before you leave for a holiday. You want to check any potential point of entry. While it may not be very likely that you will be burgled while you are away, it is worth doing, just in case. Imagine if the worst happened, simply because you had left a back window open! Go around each window and door, one by one, and make sure they are shut and locked tight. Better safe than sorry!

Check the Plumbing

You might not have thought to test the plumbing before you travel, but it is one of the more important items on this list. It is surprisingly common for plumbing to malfunction while families are holidaying. For that reason, it is advisable to check that everything is in good working order before you go. For this, it’s probably best to just get the professionals in.

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Pests

The last thing you want is to come back from your vacation, only to find your home infested with unwanted visitors! Next time you go away, make it easier on yourself: check beforehand. Any pest control company would be happy to give your house a once-over and look for any signs of infestation. A lot of people don’t want to do this, just in case they find something. But think about it: would you rather have pests and not know it, or know it and do something about it? For me, it’s a no-brainer.

Plants

It is also a good idea to give your plants a little bit of love and attention just before you leave. There are few things more annoying than returning home to find all the houseplants dead. It doesn’t take much – just give them a bit of water the day you leave, and they should be okay.

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Odds & Ends

There are also a few little tricks for keeping your house secure. If you have a neighbour whom you trust, then the whole process is much easier. You can just tell them that you are going away, and they can keep an eye out for you. Otherwise, it is a wise idea to put a couple of lights on timers, so it looks like someone’s home. While you’re at it, consider cancelling any grocery or milk deliveries you might have planned.

Hiring real estate is a very complex procedure. There are so many details that need to be looked after, forms to be filled out, information to be processed and meetings that need to be assembled. It is difficult to find your dream home on your own, which is why it is advantageous to hire a professional real estate agent. An experienced real estate agent will guide you through the home buying process and help you to avoid any costly mistakes that could get in the way of you finding the home of your dreams. A good real estate agent has closed on hundreds of deals and they will know how to get you exactly what you want in a home – at the right price.

So what are the main benefits of hiring a professional real estate agent to help you purchase your home? Here are some of the advantages:

They Have Pricing Experience

A real estate agent will have the knowledge and experience to be able to price a home accurately according to its market, knowing the historic and predicted future values in the local neighbourhood. When you are buying a house, this means that they will be able to tell you if a specific house is under-priced or over-priced. They will bring years of experience watching waves on transactions to the neighbourhood.

Identifying Possible Repairs

A real estate agent will be able to spot any possible repairs that might be needed and will also be able to recommend a good home inspector who will provide a detailed report on the problems with the house. The agent will know which repairs are reasonable to request and which ones will make or break a deal if the house is otherwise in good condition.

Finding All Available Homes

A good real estate agent will be able to help you find all of the homes that are available – not just the ones that are advertised online. Some sellers don’t want the fact that they are selling their homes to be publicised widely, so only the real estate agents will know about these homes. This means that using a real estate agent gives you the advantage of having access to homes that you would not otherwise see.

Helping You to Understand the Paperwork

Another one of the main advantages that real estate agents offer the way that they help you to understand all of the complex paperwork that comes with buying a house. There are a lot of documents that need to be filled out, which include the written offer, the counter offer and all of the little details such as specific repairs that were included in the sale. All of the paperwork involved in this can be very confusing and tiresome, which is why it is very helpful to have a real estate agent on your side to help you figure it out.

Unbiased Negotiation

It is also an advantage to find a realtor with good negotiation skills so that they can enter into negotiations about a house without being influenced by emotions. Your real estate agent will be totally objective and will not be overly emotional about the deal. When you are making negotiations yourself, it is easy to get caught up in the emotions of the situation which can cause you to make bad choices.

Saving You Time

Another major advantage to working with a real estate agent is that they will be able to save you time when you are looking for a house. They will spend their time looking through listings and contacting sellers so that you don’t have to. They will come up with a short list of properties that are suited to your needs, so that you only have to spend your time looking at those. You probably work full time and have a busy schedule, so having someone take over this for you can be very helpful.

These are just a few of the major benefits of working with a real estate agent when you are buying a home. When you have an experienced and professional real estate agent on your side, they can offer you a lot of advantages that will make the home buying experience go a lot more smoothly.

About the author: 

Kelly Rossi and her husband are looking to buy their first property and they have a specific vision for the home they want. They are currently in the process of choosing a real estate agent who can help them find their dream property. 

When you get a new puppy there are some changes that you will need to make to your home to protect your belongings and your puppy because small puppies are curious about everything and this can get them in trouble or sometimes be a danger. They can chew anything from wood, slippers and any chewable items that are reachable.

My family has a new puppy at home, it was tame and somehow smart so probably they will not need to look for dog shock collar reviews to trained him because on its first day he knew to behave and where to poop. Yeah right, the puppy they named “Kangchi” went to the bathroom to poop. I am thinking, probably if the puppy can reach the toilet he might poop there.  Ha-ha

As expected young puppies love to get up to all sorts of mischief so one day they find Kangchi sleeping with the stuffed animals, it seems he enjoys the comfort of them.

We started the construction of our house five months ago and below is the latest development, the construction is not continuous  because it only depends if we have funds to hire extra carpenters or laborers. Although my father is working bit by bit when there’s materials to use, like cements, lumbers, gravel and sand.

Well I have thought it wouldn’t be expensive anymore after our house was built but I was wrong because we still need money for windows, ceilings and doors.

Lighting is critical for any workplace. The advent of the electric light changed how we work and electric lighting still underpins all the basic business functions of any urban complex. Without light, you can’t work. No exceptions. This makes lighting a concern that applies to every business. Whether you run an office, a restaurant, a major department store or a tiny boutique, you will need to light it one way or another, and that is going to represent a percentage of your budget every year.

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Compact fluorescent bulbs have become the new industry standard, for the most part. They are very energy efficient and last a very long time. The human eye responds differently to light in different spectrums. The right frequency of light can therefore be supplied wit much less power and be just as effective as a more energy-hungry bulb in terms of effective light provided to the human eye. CFLs produce light in such a spectrum as to properly serve the human eye efficiently. However, CFLs are more expensive. While they last much longer, the initial investment will usually be higher for anyone looking into CFLs.

It is possible to buy CFLs online and save. You can acquire compact fluorescent lamps from GenesisLamp.com and other dedicated lighting outlets online. You need to cover shipping in this case, but it allows you to buy them in bulk at a lower cost in general. This makes the initial cost of CFLs much more attractive for anyone looking to stock a workplace for the future.