by Mrs C | Nov 18, 2019 | Blog
Updating your home can be a great way to increase the value of the space, get more joy out of your time there, and make it feel more welcoming. However, it’s easy to gather a lot of ideas and still not actually start your work.
Make Your Plan
Try not to start a remodeling venture that can make your home unlivable. If you’re updating the kitchen, invest in a foldable table and a small refrigerator that can serve as a temporary kitchen in another area of the house. If you’re moving walls, get out your tape measure and mark the floor where the new walls will be. Bring home large boxes and stack them in place of your new fireplace or your kitchen island. Find the cabinets, countertop, and carpet you like and get reliable estimates on materials and installation fees. Take those totals and bump them up by at least 30 percent to see if you can get financing. Finally, review your projected value house in comparison to similarly-sized properties in the area to see if you have enough space in the value of your home.
Financing Your Project
Even if you don’t have the equity in your home for the whole remodel, you can still get financing for the renovation. For example, if you’re making a large change to the footprint of the home, you might look at a construction loan. Ultimately, these loans have a shorter-term but can be refinanced into the mortgage when you’re done. You can also borrow against a retirement account for a home improvement plan and pay the interest to yourself. There are different types of financing you can choose from for your home improvement project.
Launch
One of the best ways to launch a home improvement timeline is to pack. Take the boxes you used to visualize your home improvement and pack up everything in your way. DIY demolition can save you quite a lot, but it’s still messy and disruptive. Once you’ve packed your items, put up plastic sheeting to keep down dust and cover the floor to avoid tracking debris through the house. During demo days, try to board your pets and ask Grandma to keep the kids for an overnight. This work takes focus to avoid accidents and injuries. Just make sure that if you board your pets that you send any medications or special food they need with them so they can be comfortable. The same goes for sending kids to Grandma’s.
Your remodel will add great value to your home and increase your sense of ownership. Once you get started, the next steps will follow easily. Stay flexible, be careful, and don’t lose your sense of humor. If you follow these tips, your home improvement project will be less stressful and over before you know it.
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by Mrs C | Nov 14, 2019 | Blog
The commercialization of the holidays has made it more difficult than ever to enjoy the season without breaking the bank. This is especially true when you have kids in the house. Here are three ways that you can give your kids a magical holiday experience when money is tight:
Focus on Experiences, Not Things
By focusing on the experiences during the holiday season rather than the giving of gifts, you will naturally save money. Not all experiences have to be costly ventures. Something as simple as making hot chocolate at home and then heading out to look at Christmas lights is a true treat for young children. Or simply going outside together during the first snowfall can turn into an epic adventure that your kids will remember for years to come. Remember that memories created as a family will last longer than anything that money can buy.
Save Throughout the Year
For most families, it is difficult to come up with the money needed during the holidays all at one time. Saving throughout the year will help to take the sting out of the high cost of this season. Even putting away just a few dollars per week will add up throughout the year. If your budget is tight as a result of a job loss or injury on the job, be sure to look into the many resources available to help people in your situation. If you’ve lost time at work, you could get workers’ compensation benefits for certain injuries.
Give Back
One of the best ways to cultivate gratitude during the holiday season is to give back to those in need. Instead of going on an expensive holiday vacation, you can stay home and volunteer in your community. Waking up Christmas morning and heading to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen to give your time will take the focus off of the presents. You do not even have to go far to give back. Simply baking holiday cookies for your neighbors is a festive gesture. As a bonus, your children will develop a sense of inherent joy in serving others.
Do not let social pressure cause you to spend more than you need to this holiday season. There’s no reason to open a new credit card for the holidays, only to start the new year in massive debt. With a little creativity and the right attitude, you can make this special time of year truly magical without busting your budget.
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by mrscarrigan | Nov 11, 2019 | Blog
About Rakuten
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It’s so simple– you shop at your preferred shops (over 5000 to select from), you accumulate money back in your account, and you earn money through a check or PayPal once a quarter. You do not need to do anything differently with your online purchases besides make certain you’re going to online shops through the Rakuten link. It doesn’t take long for your cash to begin amounting to a nice payout. Be sure to check out to the end of this post to discover a $10 welcome gift for new Rakuten users.
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Are you using Rakuten? Share with us in the comments below how much you have saved! Check out ourblog for more great tips & deals on saving money!
by Mrs C | Nov 2, 2019 | Blog
Traveling to Cancun can be an affordable adventure when it’s done right. Before you embark on your journey to paradise, be sure to keep these three tips in mind so that you are able to balance all of the fun with the associated fees.
Pick Your Time Wisely
Choosing to visit Cancun during off-peak times will boost the chances that you get a good deal on lodging and airline tickets. While being located near the equator means that weather tends to be fairly consistent all year, there is an increase in humidity and precipitation during the summer, which means that summer is the most affordable time to visit Cancun. The late summer and early fall are also inexpensive times to visit as families head back to school. The most expensive time of the year to visit is over the winter holiday season.
Check for Deals
It is easier to find a great deal on a vacation package to Cancun if you know where to look and when to begin the search process. The earlier that you book your package, the more likely that you will be able to score a great deal. If you are a member of Costco, be sure to check out their vacation packages. Groupon is also a good source for deals on local activities and restaurants. Auction websites. such as Sky Auction. may also deliver you an outstanding deal if you know exactly what you are looking for and what constitutes an affordable vacation for you.
Know What You Want
While many travelers swear by the convenience and pricing of an all-inclusive resort, this type of accommodation might not always yield the biggest cost savings. If you plan on spending time exploring the environs of Cancun, you might not get your money’s worth out of an all-inclusive stay. This is also true if you want to experience the flavor of the local off-site restaurants and bars. Conversely, if you plan on lounging around the resort for the majority of the vacation, then all of the food, drinks and included activities of an all-inclusive resort might save you money.
In the end, it is important to understand your vacation style so that you stretch your dollar the most. With the right research and planning, you can get the most for your money while still taking advantage of all that Cancun has to offer. Prioritizing your needs and preferences will provide a guiding framework as you plan your Cancun vacation.
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by mrscarrigan | Nov 1, 2019 | Blog
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by mrscarrigan | Oct 31, 2019 | Blog
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