More people decorate their homes during the fall and winter months than at any other time of the year, and with good reason! We spend more time indoors, we owe it to ourselves and our families to create a comfortable place to be! Here are the best ways to save BIG bucks on your Home Decorating
Start with plan. I know you’ve heard this before, but having a plan doesn’t necessarily mean you know exactly everything you want to do in your rooms ahead of time. What it does mean is having a starting point to keep you in the ballpark, and that will save you A LOT of money in mistakes in the long run. So start with the three things you need…Color, Style, and Formality. Color is easy…if you don’t already have a color scheme you love, find one in a book or magazine, and borrow it! Still unsure? Pick your favorite color, plus white, never fail combo. Style? Maybe you know you love Country Farmhouse. Or maybe you like a little of everything! That’s ok, just make sure you give the room style a name that includes the feeling you want in the room, and that will keep you on track. For instance, I have a Fresh and Sunny Cottage Room for my family room. (I use sunny as a feeling as well as a visual clue!) Keep the feeling in the name, and you will pick the right style every time! Finally, formality. Know if you like a more formal room, where things on both sides of the room match, or a more informal feel. So my family room description would go something like this…I want an informal Fresh Sunny Cottage style full of soft blue, green yellow and white. So every time I buy something, I know if it doesn’t fit in that description, it doesn’t fit period!
Look for alternatives to everything!!! Flat sheets on sale are a great buy…I can get one at my discount store for $2.89. A flat sheet is generally 66×96 inches…that’s over 3 yards of fabric for less than 97 cents a yard! Can’t beat that, and flat sheets come in so many colors. When in doubt, buy white! Use them for tablecovers, curtain panels, making comforter covers, throw pillow covers, or even casual slipcovers! If you find a great color, stock up during a white sale…you will always find uses for fabric that fits into your color scheme.
Look for furniture at yard sales and in the classifeds. You can get quality furniture this way for a fraction of what it would cost you new. Learn to make do with the furniture you have with the art of disguise. Slipcovers, paint and floor length tablecloths go a long way towards dressing up an otherwise forgettable piece of furniture. By the way, you can paint ANYTHING these days! The trick is to use a specialty blocking primer before painting…I recommend KILZ Original. Yes, you can even paint that ugly laminate bookcase or computer desk! All your furniture mismatched in style and form? Paint it all one color, and it will help marry and unify your furniture grouping. (I love white or black for furniture, depending on the style of your room.)
Finally, look for good resources to help you learn to create your own accessories, custom paint finishes, and inspirational ideas such as TheBudgetDecorator.com.
With a little advanced thinking and a bit of creativity, anyone can have a well decorated home!
Kathy Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/save-big-bucks-on-home-decorating-58351.html
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April 17th, 2010 at 5:31 am
Is anyone interested in100 Ways to Save or Make $100 Bucks?Then read on!?
1. Set up an apple cider stand on a crisp fall day.
2. Start a gift-wrapping service at the holidays.
3. Sell items from the attic using an on-line auction service.
4. Wear your winter coat one more season–you’ve always loved it, anyway!
5. Set up an automatic paycheck withdrawal for $2 per week.
6. Hold a garage sale.
7. Barter with neighbors or friends for needed household services.
8. Babysit for neighbors.
9. Mow lawns.
10. Post a flyer at the grocery store offering to help people move.
11. Start a spring cleaning service.
12.Walk dogs.
13. Offer seamstress and tailoring services.
14. Sew instead of buying clothes or home accessories.
15. Provide a taxi service for elderly neighbors.
16. Bike to work.
17. Car pool.
18. Use public transportation.
19. Park in the less expensive lots and enjoy the exercise you get from walking!
20. Conserve electricity at home and estimate monthly savings.
21. Find a student (kindergarten through college) who needs a tutor.
22. Cut out candy and snacks; donate what you save on these purchases and dental bills!
23. Take outgrown kids’ clothes to a consignment shop.
24. Take your duds from the ’70s or ’80s to a vintage shop-everything old is new again!
25. Camp instead of staying in hotels on vacation.
26. Give up cable television for a few months–or forever!
27. Pet sit for neighbors who are traveling.
28. Make Saturday "Homemade Pasta Night" instead of dining out.
29. Borrow the latest best-sellers from the library instead of buying them.
30. Give up soft drinks for a whole summer.
31. Take a Thermos of fresh-brewed coffee to work instead of stopping for gourmet brew.
32. For your birthday, ask friends and family to make a gift to Mennonite Board of Missions, Commission on Overseas Mission, Commision on Home Ministries or Ministries Commission, Mennonite Church Canada in your name.
33. Give up your gym membership for the summer and exercise in the fresh air and sunshine.
34. Use coupons when shopping, and donate the savings.
35. Shop at yard sales and thrift stores–you never know when you’ll find a hidden treasure.
36. For large household purchases, look for bargains on-line.
37. Pay off credit card debt so no interest collects.
38. Don’t let water run while brushing teeth and turn out lights when you leave a room.
39. Offer your services as an office temp or substitute teacher.
40. Design Web sites for local families and businesses.
41. Buy cost-cutter brands for staples and household supplies.
42. Email friends and family instead of calling.
43. Make your own gift cards for holidays and birthdays.
44. Wear more "hand-me-downs" instead of buying new clothes.
45. Buy clothes that mix-and-match for each season.
46. Start flowers from seeds instead of buying seedlings.
47. Put on a family or neighborhood talent show and charge admission.
48. Use vinegar and water for a general household cleaning solution and save on expensive products.
49. Collect cans.
50. Study your health insurance policy and discover ways to avoid health care costs.
51. Plant a larger garden and sell vegetables at a roadside stand.
52. Instead of taking friends or clients out to dinner, send a donation in their name.
53. Donate your holiday club account and give homemade gifts this year.
54. Instead of buying a new CD every week, trade with your friends.
55. Scale back your vacation this year, or choose a service project instead.
56. Wait another six months for any major household purchase.
57. Postpone an upgrade to a software application you use.
58. Make a choice: Chocolate or coffee. Movies or eating out. Experience the one you choose more fully and donate your savings.
59. Buy a live plant instead of fresh flowers to decorate your table.
60. Love your looks–give up hair color, permanents, and other things that detract from your natural beauty.
61. Learn calligraphy and make money addressing invitations and lettering announcements.
62. For special family nights, plan on a video and pizza at home instead of dinner and a movie out.
63. Take the kids to the grocery store with you instead of hiring a babysitter.
64. Restrict your use of the cellular phone to emergencies only.
65. Choose eyeglasses with a sun clip instead of buying prescription sunglasses.
66. Wait for summer clothes to go on sale.
67. Be creative with leftovers–use them for work lunches.
68. Find loose change and save it in a coffee can for a year.
69. Bathe the dog yourself and save the groomer’s costs.
70. Do your own house painting this spring instead of hiring a professional.
71. Play tennis on the public courts and save fees.
72. Give up golf for a few weekends and hike in a state park instead.
73. Rake lawns in your neighborhood in the fall.
74. Donate your expense checks from work-related travel.
75. Hold a bake sale.
76. Have friends over for parlor games instead of going out to the theater or a concert.
77. Shovel snow for money.
78. Organize a neighborhood car wash.
79. Sell lemonade on a hot summer day.
80. Take used sporting equipment to resale shops.
81. Buy a frozen pizza and cook it instead of ordering one from a pizza place.
82. Assign a dollar amount to each book or page a family member reads, then donate family earnings.
83. When you order fast food, don’t supersize it! Ask for water instead of a soft drink.
84. Get rid of your lawn service and donate savings.
85. Start a babysitting coop with people from your church or neighborhood, and donate the money you save on sitters.
86. Dust off that bread machine and treat yourself to homebaked bread for pennies.
87. Offer a matching gift to family members who contribute to Mennonite Board of Missions, Commission on Overseas Missions, Commission on Home Ministries or Ministries Commission, Mennonite Church Canada.
88. Check to see if your public health department offers low-cost vaccines.
89. Plan several vegetarian meals each week.
90. Sell your famous preserves or fruitcake to friends looking for holiday gifts.
91. Buy next year’s holiday supplies at day-after sales.
92. Learn how to change the oil in your car.
93. Skip purchasing season football tickets and have friends over to watch the game on TV.
94. Get rid of phone service add-ons–call waiting can wait!
95. Set the thermostat at 65 and snuggle under a blanket.
96. Only go to matinee showings of movies.
97. Choose the cheap seats for concerts and sporting events.
98. Start a resume or word-processing service.
99. Find a housemate.
100. Organize a cycling or running event with people donating a specific amount per mile covered.
April 17th, 2010 at 10:33 am
i’m sorry to tell you but this is just too long
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April 17th, 2010 at 10:35 am
That must have taken alot of time to write! (unless you just found the list somewhere on the internet)
Good ways to make money, i think maybe il try some.
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