Moving On A Budget

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Purchasing a new home is likely one of the largest financial investments you will make in your lifetime. And on top of the home cost itself, there are additional expenses that come along with this life milestone, like moving costs. Follow the below ideas for moving on a tight budget!

Compare DIY to professional moving services. Don’t instantly assume that moving yourself is going to be cheaper than hiring help. Collect three to four quotes from various moving companies and compare that to the cost of the truck, dollies, moving pads, and compensation for friends and family who help. If it nets out to be about the same or just slightly different, consider the stress professional help could eliminate.

Move in the off season. If you are flexible with your move at all, consider moving in the fall or winter. By scheduling your move in the off season, you could potential save up to 30 percent on hiring movers.

Don’t pay for boxes. Hunt your office for leftover boxes from deliveries or post on social media to see if any family members or friends have extras hanging around the house. You should also check behind stores like Walmart for any discarded boxes or ask a customer service member in the evenings once new inventory has been stocked.

Purge your home. Decrease the items you need to move by doing a full purge of your belongings. Move from room to room in your home and toss or donate anything that you haven’t used in a year. This will not only help make packing a breeze, but it eliminates unnecessary weight, which is generally used by movers to estimate cost.

How To Save Water (and Money!) At Home

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As a homeowner, if you don’t maintain good water-saving habits, you could be sending more money than necessary straight down the drain every year. Start saving by trying out the tips below!

Replace the shower head. Daily showers account for a huge portion of water usage at home, especially if you have multiple people residing in the house. To help cut down on water used during each shower, swap out your normal shower head with a WaterSense-certified replacement that uses fewer gallons of water per minute. According to the EPA1, this can save a family of four up to 2,700 gallons of water a year.

Fix leaking faucets. According to Forbes2, a leaking faucet can result in up to 20 gallons of wasted water a day. To avoid the expense that comes with this waste, make it a habit to check your faucets regularly for leaks and repair them quickly. Most of the time, it’s a quick fix and can be done with a faucet repair kit purchased online or at a home improvement store.

Don’t hand wash dishes. In this day and age, most homes are equipped with water-efficient dishwashers. By running a mostly full or entirely full load in the dishwasher, you use 1/6 less water than if you hand wash your dishes.

Water your garden by hand. Using a hose to water your outdoor plants and garden can result in a lot of waste. Try opting for an old-fashioned watering can, allowing you to keep your yard alive and well while also controlling the amount of water used each time.

Build Your Ideal Home Office On A Budget

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If you work from home full-time or even part-time, having a dedicated space in your home to sit down and focus is crucial. It should be a comfortable, organized space and everything you need should be easily accessible. And, luckily, creating a motivating workspace doesn’t have to be expensive.

The first step in creating the home office of your dreams is to select the right space or room. It’s most ideal to find a spot with natural light and possibly a nice view of the outdoors. Once you have this selected, consider adding a fresh coat of paint to set the tone for your workspace or select a bright, fun wallpaper print.

Next, it’s time to furniture shop! Measure your office area and find a desk that fits. To avoid overspending on this piece, think outside the box and look on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist. Do you have room for a comfy chair or sitting bench? You may also want a floor or desk lamp, bookshelf, or side table to fill out the room. You can also find these for a reasonable price on these sites.

Once you have your furniture in place, hunt for organizational items like a drawer set if your desk doesn’t have one, desk organizer, file holder, pen holder, and more. Keeping your space clean and organized will help you stay motivated and focused. Then add some desk décor, plants, and wall art into the mix. All these items are fairly inexpensive and can be found at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, or on Amazon.

Must-haves For Your First Home

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You’ve just purchased your first home and it’s time to start filling it up. But, where to start? Below is a list of must-haves for each room in your home!

Living room. Aside from standard furniture, like a couch, chairs, coffee table, and television, there are a few other staples you should consider purchasing, such as a plush rug, floor lamp, TV stand with cupboards or drawers, and throw blankets.

Kitchen. On top of dishes, silverware, and glassware, don’t forget other kitchen essentials such as a can opener, bottle opener, toaster, strainer, oven mitts, baking sheet, measuring cups and spoons, and cooking utensils. Plus, it’s a good idea to stock up on basic seasonings, oil, and other commonly used condiments.

Bedroom. When you think of your bedroom, purchasing a bed frame, mattress, bedding, dresser, hangers, and bedside table are the first items that come to mind. In addition to those, you may want to consider picking up a table lamp, laundry hamper, wall or full-length mirror, wall or door hooks, and under bed storage bins.

Bathroom. A bath mat, shower curtain, shower liner, toothbrush holder, hand soap dispenser, plunger, and toilet brush are must-have items for each bathroom in your home.

Cleaning supplies. New home means new cleaning supplies. Start by purchasing dishwashing soap, laundry detergent, hand soap, disinfectant spray, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, mop, broom, and sponges.

Other. It’s always a good idea to keep a few maintenance and safety essentials on hand in your home. Some items to consider are a step ladder, small safe, first aid kit, batteries, flashlight, lighter, extension cord, toolbox, and duct tape.