3 Reasons Why You’ll Want to Prepare for the Holidays Earlier Than Ever

October 13, 2020 by

Think you have all the time in the world to prepare before the holidays arrive? Think again! 2020 is a year that moves fast. Once the malls decorate with candy canes and pump carols over the loudspeakers, it may already be too late. Here’s why you should prepare for the holidays as early as you can manage. 

1. It’s a Regular Expense

A regular expense is a bill you can count on to arrive on a consistent schedule. Housing costs like rent or mortgage payments are your biggest regular expenses, and they’re often the first ones you think of because they’re due every month. 

Monthly due dates are top of mind, but an expense doesn’t have to have this regularity to fit the bill. A regular expense is anything that you can predict.

By this definition, the winter holidays are most definitely a regular expense that you should plan for in advance. 

So, the next time you look at your budget, treat the holidays like a recurring expense and ensure you set aside enough cash to celebrate. The earlier you do this, the less you’ll have to save each month to meet your target. As a general rule, you’ll want to limit your spending to one percent of your income.

2. Your Budget Will Be More Stable

Saving small amounts over the course of the year will make it easier than ever to foot the bill on your own without feeling the crunch. Come the big day, you’ll feel less financial stress because you prepared in advance.

You won’t have to syphon money from other expenses at the last minute to afford the festivities. Neither will you have to take out money to make sure your kids have the best holidays possible. 

While an installment loan may be a reliable safety net in an unexpected emergency, you shouldn’t use them to afford the holidays. Reserve these loans for when disaster strikes, like when your pipes freeze right before your family is due for the feast, and you need to pay holiday premiums to get a plumber out in time to save the day.

If you still aren’t sure what qualifies as an emergency, check here to learn more about when it’s a good idea to borrow cash quickly online with short term loans. 

3. You’ll Pay Lower Prices

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may seem like the natural start to the holiday shopping season. As some of the biggest shopping days of the year, you’ll find some good deals to help you save.

But to save even more, join the 60 percent of people who start their shopping before Thanksgiving weekend. The earlier you begin, the more time you have to shop and think mindfully about your purchases. You also be able to take advantage of seasonal sales throughout the year to find what you need at the lowest price.

The festivities may unfold in what feels like no time at all, but don’t be fooled. They can have a long-lasting impact on your finances if you don’t prepare in advance. And when it comes to the holidays, there’s no such thing as planning too early. Kick-start your plans early this year to save without feeling like a grinch!

Filed Under: Handy Tips, Home Improvement, House Matters Tagged With: , ,

Stunning Cowhide Rugs

September 28, 2020 by

Cowhides are sophisticated, timeless, and trendy design pieces that make a space more inviting and attractive, while never compromising on style and elegance. Cowhide is at home in any décor space whether it be living, dining, or surprisingly a children’s playroom. A cowhide possesses natural beauty, is versatile, exceptionally hardwearing, and hypoallergenic.

Natural Beauty

Cowhide has been used for centuries due to its ability to fulfill a functional need and due to its durability. Cowhides now are statement pieces that naturally come in a plethora of colors, patterns, and prints, which add to the visual interest and statement that it makes in any space. The natural hues of cowhide include lovely shades of white, beige, black, brown, and red, which can blend in with any design and add a touch of natural beauty and charm. The abstract patterns are unique and can include speckled, spotted, and solid patterns making each carefully hand-stretched and cut cowhide rug one of a kind.

Versatility

There are no limits to the stunning ways in which cowhide’s versatility can add value and natural beauty to a room. It is so versatile that its organic shape can serve as a focal point that adds soft lines to a room with bare floors while maintaining its rugged profile. Cowhide can also be layered by placing it atop a natural fiber rug, which can serve to provide more depth and texture to a space.

Hardwearing and Hypo-allergenic

Cowhide is hardwearing enough to last in any area. The natural oils present in a cowhide make them resistant to most stains. The toughness of the cowhide makes them essentially indestructible and often they will last longer than synthetic rugs. These beautiful qualities make them perfect for spaces with heavy traffic, pets, and children. Unlike synthetic rugs or traditional carpets, cowhides are great in homes with allergy sufferers because cowhide does not release fibers into the air or trap allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander.

Cleaning and Care

The best way to maintain the natural luster and beauty of a cowhide rug is to immediately clean up any spills before they reach the suede. A damp cloth and the use of a mild detergent are also a great way to maintain a cowhide rug. Rubbing a stain or spill in the direction of the hair will restore the rug to its natural beauty. Shaking out the rug or cleaning it with the hose attachment of a vacuum is a great way to get out dust and other surface particles that occur from everyday use.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, House Matters Tagged With: ,

Tips to Makeover Your Room on a Budget

March 17, 2020 by

Room and home makeovers are undoubtedly fun and trendy, but they can also be expensive. If you have a space in your home that feels like it’s in need of a revamp, there are ways you can make a difference in your room without splurging or changing everything in it. A quick example is sprucing up your door handles with an FSB Plugin Handle or a similar type, to give your doors a bit of a flourish. Here are a few more options.

Redo the Walls or Floors

The surfaces in your space significantly impact the way it makes you feel when you’re in it, and they can add to its design as well. Simply repainting your room a different color is a great way to make it feel brand new, or you could consider painting only one wall in an accent color to make a statement. For the floor, you can add a stylish area rug to cover up a floor you don’t like. If you need to change your flooring, go for a budget-friendly option like Provenza floors.

Update a Focal Point

Every room typically has one or a few focal points that catch your attention when you walk in. For a living room, this could be the TV stand or fireplace; for a bedroom, this would likely be the bed. Or if you think your wardrobe draws more attention in the bedroom, then you could consider getting some replacement wardrobe doors with sleek finishes and your choice of color. If you update these items, it will change the feel of the entire space. You could either buy a new item, such as a new TV stand or a new bedspread, or makeover your focal point, such as by repainting a fireplace mantel.

Add or Change Accents

Decorative pieces such as wall art, vases or pillows are often the last elements put in place when redoing a space, but they can make a big difference in the design. If you’re used to minimal accents, try adding more or simply adding art to a wall that’s usually empty. If you want an overall face-lift, you could swap out some of your current pieces for ones in a fresh accent color. If you’re concerned about damaging your walls, you could visit a website like sugru.com to learn about the benefits of mouldable glue. Wall art is definitely the way forwards though!

A room makeover doesn’t have to break the bank to be both fun and effective. Try out these tips to breathe new life into your space.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, House Matters

4 Dressing and Styling Tips for Moms

January 27, 2020 by

With so many responsibilities between the house, kids, and work, being a mom is a busy and often thankless job which will take up the majority of your time and energy. By the time you have got your little ones out of bed, fed, washed, and dressed each morning, finding the time to style your own outfit can seem impossible. Subsequently, most moms find themselves reaching for their sweatpants most days, simply out of convenience. 

However, it is important that you make the effort where you can with your appearance so that you can look and feel great. Taking the time to plan a stylish outfit is going to make a huge difference to how you feel about yourself and will help you be the best mom you can be for your children. So, we have put together 4 dressing and styling tips that are perfect for busy moms.

Accessories Are Your Best Friend 

Even the simplest of outfits can be transformed by adding the right accessories to complement your look. From a pair of statement earrings to a chunky bracelet, you can quickly dress up a look without having to try very hard. When you are a busy mom, it is important that you find quick but effective ways to style your outfits. For example, you may wrap a bold colored scarf around your neck to add a chic look to a dress. 

Add a Designer Shoe

When you become a mom, you find yourself spending less time and money on yourself, and instead spend increasingly more cash on your children. But it is important to remember that you should treat yourself from time to time. So, if you were used to the finer things in life before becoming a mom, it is important that you don’t stop treating yourself once you enter motherhood. 

Adding a designer pair of shoes to your look is the perfect way to add a bit of luxury to your outfit. You can choose from a varied range of different designers, including Gucci shoes from the online luxury fashion store SSENSE. The designer items available via SSENSE are the perfect addition to any mom’s wardrobe. Remember, you deserve the best! 

Go for Dark Denim  

While wearing jeans every day may seem like a distant memory, it is important that you pack the sweatpants away for a lazy day and get yourself a new pair of jeans. Even if you no longer feel comfortable in a pair of skinnies, you can invest in a new pair of boot-cut or pear style jeans that will really flatter your post-birth body shape. 

Invest in the Right Underwear 

A good outfit isn’t complete until you are wearing the right underwear, so it is essential that you get re-fitted once you have entered motherhood. Having children changes every area of your life, especially your bra size, so do yourself a favor and invest in a well fitted bra!

By following these dressing and styling tips, you can transform how you look and feel great, even when you are a busy mom! 

Filed Under: Beauty on A Budget, Mom's Corner

5 Quick Ways to Make a Room Feel Bigger

December 5, 2019 by

While homes are bigger than ever, averaging about 2,600 square feet, it’s possible that after using a house payment calculator, that you’ll find you can’t afford the amount of square footage you were hoping for. The better news is that there are plenty of ways to make a room look and feel much bigger than it is so that you don’t have to go over your budget. While vaulted ceilings and multiple windows are the most helpful in making a room seem larger, that might be impossible to accomplish, or simply too expensive to afford. 

Chairs, Living Room, Table, Contemporary, Furniture

These five inexpensive options are all quick and easy ways to make a room feel bigger.

Mirrors

Mirrors reflect light, creating a brighter space that can make it feel a lot bigger than it is. Hang mirrors directly across from windows to get the maximum amount of natural light. Choose a variety of mirrors in different shapes throughout your home. You might hang them above your fireplace mantle, over dressers, or any empty wall where you might have placed a piece of art instead.

Use Light

Just as you use mirrors to create more light in any room, all types of lights can be used to brighten it and make it appear much larger. Be sure that you have an adequate amount of ceiling fixtures, floor and table lamps. Recessed lighting can be the ideal option for making a room feel larger without using up space – they can be installed in the ceiling, providing lots of light without taking up the table or floor space.

Color Scheme

Avoid painting the room using any dark color, which can actually make a small space feel even smaller. Use neutral paint for your walls and choose furniture in a lighter color palette, which helps to brighten your space and create the feeling of a much larger room. If you must use dark colors in your design, keep them to a few simple accent pieces, such as your rug or an ottoman.

Create Height

Create height in your room by installing a vertical planked wall, painting vertical stripes, or using tall window coverings. You can add height to your room in other ways too, such as drawing the eyes of guests upwards with a statement chandelier, ceiling mural, or faux beams.

Avoid Clutter

Don’t make your space feel even smaller with clutter, oversized furniture, and general disorganization. The smaller the room is, the more important that it’s free from clutter, junk, and knickknacks. Think minimalist look, aiming to keep your design simple with only a few accent pieces. Just one example is instead of creating a gallery wall, consider one piece of framed art that really makes a statement.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, House Matters
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