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Are You Saving for Home Repairs? You Should Be

31 Jan

One of the reasons people find it hard to save money is because the expense may not even be a reality. For example, people who don’t save for emergencies may believe that they will never encounter an emergency they can’t handle. Unfortunately, emergencies lurk around every corner. Whether it’s a blown head gasket or a leaky roof, emergencies need to be considered when saving money. Here are just a few reasons why you should be saving money for home repairs.

Home Repairs Can Cost Thousands

It’s important to realize that a home repair isn’t just a broken faucet or window. Home repairs can actually be very expensive. While you may think your home is in great shape, there are problems that can lurk beneath the surface. For example, your roof may look fine and then you discover there are several leaks. A new roof can cost thousands. Another problem that may arise is a broken furnace, which can also cost thousands to replace. Don’t let yourself fall behind on your bills or lose your home because these repairs took you by surprise.

You May Need More Than One Funding Source

Because these emergencies can be so expensive, you may not have enough money in your emergency savings account, credit card balance or checking account. This is why it pays to have a savings account specified for home repairs. More importantly, having this money available can help prevent the need for loans or the use of high interest credit cards and can help you to avoid foreclosure if you have to tap into other money and fall behind on your mortgage or loan payments.

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DIY Sports Décor for Your Home

31 Jan

If you’re a sports fan, why not turn your office or rec room into place in your house that honors your favorite teams? This doesn’t have to be tacky or expensive. With the following DIY projects, it can actually look pretty cool.

  • Framed Stadium Pictures

Sports stadiums and arenas are works of art in building form. Find some overhead shots of your favorites, mat them in your team colors, and hang them on the wall. It’s instant large-scale artwork without being too in-your-face about liking a certain team.

  • Colorful Vases

Choose large, clear vases that can be filled with flowers or floating candles for a mature, sophisticated look. Fill the vase with glass beads in the colors of your favorite team to keep with your theme. You can also try filling it with items life gold balls or tees, miniature basketballs/baseballs, or other small items from your favorite sport.

  • Holidays for Fans

During the holidays, try showing your spirit with a tree dedicated to your favorite team. You can buy tons of team-themed ornaments and it’s also easy to find Christmas balls in your favorite teams’ colors. You can find miniature trees for your sports-themed room if you want to have a more traditional larger tree in your house as well.

  • Black and White Photo Series

Think about items that are commonly used in your sport of choice and then take close-up angled pictures of these items (like footballs, hockey sticks, or even cleats. Use photo-altering programs to print these pictures in black and while and create a series of them on the wall using different sized picture frames grouped together.

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Renovating Eco-Friendly: How Green is Your Home?

30 Jan

When you are ready to remodel your house, remember that environmentally friendly, energy-saving techniques, equipment, and fixtures are not only good for the planet, but they also save you plenty of money. Before you start a major renovation project, it is a good idea to review your house plans with an architect or designer who specializes in eco-friendly renovations. You’ll find that any additional up-front expenses for going green will more than pay off in the long run with reduced utility bills and maintenance costs.

First of all, environmentally sound building materials are safer for you and your family than older products that may contain harmful chemicals.  Formaldehyde and high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are environmental pollutants that are best avoided. Install formaldehyde-free boards and paneling and protect them with paints, varnishes and other coatings that are classified as low VOC.

Adequate insulation will save you quite a bit in heating and air conditioning costs. Even if your home plans do not call for any changes to your walls or attic, renovation time is a great time to check to make sure your home is adequately insulated. Be sure to choose an environmentally friendly type of insulation that is free of harmful chemicals. One of the best types of insulation for walls is blown-in insulation, and you can choose between foam, cellulose, and fiberglass insulation for your attic. An expert insulation installer is able to install insulation so that it saves you as much money as possible while keeping your home comfortable.

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Easy Ways to Improve Home Security

29 Jan

Crime is an unfortunate reality of the world we live in and one burglary happens every 10 seconds; but there are a few things you can do to improve your home security and discourage those thieves and vandals amongst us from targeting you and your family. It is important that any changes you do make do not impede your exit if there is a fire.

Doors, Locks and Windows

• It may seem obvious but make sure you have locks installed on all doors and windows and lock them when they’re not in use, even when you are at home.

• All external doors should have at least 3 points at which they lock.

• Make sure your front door has a spy hole and/or chain so that you can see who is outside without opening the door, or so that you can see who is outside by opening it a little way with allowing someone to make entry.

• 3 out of 10 burglaries thieves use no force and instead enter through an open window or door.

Keys

• Always keep house and car keys out of sight from prying eyes; ensure that they cannot be reached via the letter box. Thieves will commonly fashion devices which can be put through the letterbox to hook keys from table tops and hooks; putting house keys and car keys in a cabinet ensures security.

• Do not leave keys in window or door locks, this creates the effect of the door being unlocked and the lock need only be turned from the other side to unlock the door.

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Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks

28 Jan

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Many homeowners participate in a yearly ritual of spring cleaning. While tidying up and general cleaning might be a daily or weekly occurrence, a thorough scrubbing of the entire home can be a great way to start out the year. For some people spring cleaning is a day-long activity, while others spend a full week organizing the contents of their home, polishing items and donating old clothing. For some helpful tips and tricks on spring cleaning, follow this guide to tackle the entire home and leave it spotless.

Sort and Toss: Before any cleaning actually occurs, it is recommended to spend a day sorting through everything you already own. Most homes get cluttered after a few months, and certainly after a year, thanks to an accumulation of items. Start with drawers of paperwork, and file or throw away stacks that have been ignored for months. Another big place to start is with the closet, where there might be piles of clothing that are never worn. Consider donating it to charity if you never wear certain items anymore. Not only does this mean your home is less cluttered, but it also means that you have less to organize and tidy each day, and have more space for storage. If you find that you have lots of large items you rarely use, consider renting out a storage unit to keep them for most of the year.

Storage: A key step in getting organized for a thorough spring cleaning is ensuring you have a place to store or keep things while you are cleaning. You can clear out a space in a garage or basement if you have one, if the floor is dirty consider putting a large blanket or tarp down first – try to make sure you keep all items organized and easily accessible. Another option is to use self storage as a short term aid while you are cleaning or as a way to create more room for the things you need access to or need to use more often. You can consider storing seasonal decorations, furniture and/or clothing to get rid of some clutter and make the cleaning process,  not only easier, but maintenance easier as well.

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