If you are in charge of creating the family budget, chances are, you’ve had the unfortunate experience of having a brilliant budget plan that isn’t executed well. This happens to many families and couples, and with a little attitude tweaking, you can solicit the help of your family in making your budget work.
Create a family budget vision. Talk to your spouse and children about whatever budgetary constraints you are facing, or whatever financial goals you intend to set. By being completely honest about the bills and loans you have to pay, or your intention to save a certain amount of money for a family emergency fund (or a college fund, for that matter), you can help your family understand better your collective financial situation. This will allow them to change their perspective on purchases they make, and will help you make sure that whatever money crunching strategies you utilize won’t be counteracted by a subsequent spree by your teen.
Another good technique is to create a list of usual expenditures per member of your family. Together, identify which items you can do away with in order to save up some extra money from your monthly income. By doing this altogether, you are making your family participate better and see the contributions they can make into making your family’s finances better.
Should your child have the habit of continuously asking for money for minor and oftentimes unnecessary purchases, you can let your children learn to manage their own week’s allowance. With their limited money to budget, they will realize the value of money.
Put a cap on the amount of expenditures you make in a week. The best way to do this is set aside a fixed amount of cash that you will spend for a week. By putting this limitation on your spending, you are forced to prioritize spending on the most essential over other things.
Make it easy for your family to save more. How often do you eat out? Most family budgets are blown over because of the frequency of dining out and the accompanying exorbitant expense of that activity. Eating at home will reduce your expenses, not to mention allow for your family to bond over cooking at home. Do you spend on routine purchases like coffee and newspapers? Cut back on the latte and the paper, and put aside the amount you would otherwise spend. Your family’s collective saving will surprise you.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to create a most efficient driving route, as well as grouping together activities into one car trip. This way, you can save a lot on time and even on gasoline and car expenses.
Saving money and living large on a small budget doesn't have to be a chore.
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques for living the champagne life on a beer budget.
Mahalo.
********************************************************************************
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*****************************************************************************
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Decorate Your Kitchen without Breaking The Bank
Decorate Your Kitchen without Breaking The Bank
For many people, the thought of redecorating their kitchen can be frightening. They start thinking that they need to replace everything in order to get a whole new look. But this they do not need to do, by just following a few or all of the tips provided below, you should be able to create something new for next to nothing.
1. Instead of replacing the cabinets in your kitchen, why not repaint them? There are many techniques around which are easy to learn and will provide your cabinets with an expensive designer look. Such techniques as crackling, faux finishing and glazing are not only simple to do, but will save you money. If you need help on looking for ways to up date old and tired kitchen cabinets, then take a look on the internet.
2. Provide your kitchen walls with a new lick of paint. By painting your walls in warm and inviting colors, you will make the room even more of the hub of the home. Plus, if you have good quality wooden cabinets, a new coat of paint will help the wood to appear richer.
3. Why not spend a little of your budget on purchasing some new hand towels and potholders that will match the color of your new décor?
4. Another simple and easy tip for redecorating your kitchen, and will cost you nothing, is to get beautiful dishes and glassware out of the cupboards, and use them to accentuate the kitchen.
5. But a great way of changing the whole décor of your kitchen is by putting up new curtains. You could try this first before you do anything else. They will help to create a fresh new look to your kitchen, and they certainly will not break the bank. Plus, you may well find that just making this one change will give your kitchen a completely different look. By changing your curtains, you could actually bring out the personality of the kitchen with little or no effort on your part.
6. Why not use fabric in your kitchen? If you have appliances that you wish to hide, then using a fabric is a cheap and cost effective way of doing this. Just get some material that co-ordinates with the décor of your kitchen, and some wire and hooks, and then just place the fabric in front of the appliance. Hey, presto, it’s covered up, and the fabric provides a new dimension to your room. Plus, if it should get dirty, all you need to do is take it off and put it in the washing machine and wash it.
7. Why not consider replacing the cabinet doors. There are many companies around which provided many different designs, colors and shapes of kitchen cabinet doors. This is a much more cost effective way of giving your kitchen a whole new look without actually having to replace the whole cabinet.
8. Also why not just replace the ironmongery on your cabinet doors, and get new handles? Just by doing this you will be giving your kitchen a whole new look.
9. One other affordable way of making your kitchen look different is by adding a kitchen island. They not only provide you with more counter space, but they provide a place where people can gather. However, for those of us on a budget, instead of getting a permanent one, why not instead consider getting a kitchen cart? Because they are on wheels, when not being used they can be put away, and so leave you with room in your kitchen.
10. Finally, if your kitchen redecorating budget is so small that you would be unable to do any of the above. Then why not think about replacing the backsplash instead. Just by doing this, you can really dress up that drab and dull kitchen that you have. The great thing about backsplashes is that they now come in a variety of different colors and materials, as well as styles. But how much you spend on this will depend on what material you select for it.
So as you can see, redecorating your kitchen on a budget can be as simple as just giving the walls anew coat of paint, or changing the existing hardware or doors on your cabinets. But just by making one small change to your kitchen you can give it a whole new look
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques on living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Remember, we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
For many people, the thought of redecorating their kitchen can be frightening. They start thinking that they need to replace everything in order to get a whole new look. But this they do not need to do, by just following a few or all of the tips provided below, you should be able to create something new for next to nothing.
1. Instead of replacing the cabinets in your kitchen, why not repaint them? There are many techniques around which are easy to learn and will provide your cabinets with an expensive designer look. Such techniques as crackling, faux finishing and glazing are not only simple to do, but will save you money. If you need help on looking for ways to up date old and tired kitchen cabinets, then take a look on the internet.
2. Provide your kitchen walls with a new lick of paint. By painting your walls in warm and inviting colors, you will make the room even more of the hub of the home. Plus, if you have good quality wooden cabinets, a new coat of paint will help the wood to appear richer.
3. Why not spend a little of your budget on purchasing some new hand towels and potholders that will match the color of your new décor?
4. Another simple and easy tip for redecorating your kitchen, and will cost you nothing, is to get beautiful dishes and glassware out of the cupboards, and use them to accentuate the kitchen.
5. But a great way of changing the whole décor of your kitchen is by putting up new curtains. You could try this first before you do anything else. They will help to create a fresh new look to your kitchen, and they certainly will not break the bank. Plus, you may well find that just making this one change will give your kitchen a completely different look. By changing your curtains, you could actually bring out the personality of the kitchen with little or no effort on your part.
6. Why not use fabric in your kitchen? If you have appliances that you wish to hide, then using a fabric is a cheap and cost effective way of doing this. Just get some material that co-ordinates with the décor of your kitchen, and some wire and hooks, and then just place the fabric in front of the appliance. Hey, presto, it’s covered up, and the fabric provides a new dimension to your room. Plus, if it should get dirty, all you need to do is take it off and put it in the washing machine and wash it.
7. Why not consider replacing the cabinet doors. There are many companies around which provided many different designs, colors and shapes of kitchen cabinet doors. This is a much more cost effective way of giving your kitchen a whole new look without actually having to replace the whole cabinet.
8. Also why not just replace the ironmongery on your cabinet doors, and get new handles? Just by doing this you will be giving your kitchen a whole new look.
9. One other affordable way of making your kitchen look different is by adding a kitchen island. They not only provide you with more counter space, but they provide a place where people can gather. However, for those of us on a budget, instead of getting a permanent one, why not instead consider getting a kitchen cart? Because they are on wheels, when not being used they can be put away, and so leave you with room in your kitchen.
10. Finally, if your kitchen redecorating budget is so small that you would be unable to do any of the above. Then why not think about replacing the backsplash instead. Just by doing this, you can really dress up that drab and dull kitchen that you have. The great thing about backsplashes is that they now come in a variety of different colors and materials, as well as styles. But how much you spend on this will depend on what material you select for it.
So as you can see, redecorating your kitchen on a budget can be as simple as just giving the walls anew coat of paint, or changing the existing hardware or doors on your cabinets. But just by making one small change to your kitchen you can give it a whole new look
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques on living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Remember, we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
Monday, March 16, 2009
Getting Started On Budget Redecorating
Just because money is tight, there is no reason to not keep up your household. One doesn't need a lot of money to upgrade and redecorate one's household. The first thing you should remember when decorating is that there are no rules except those that you set for yourself. However, having a plan is always a good idea and will help you to keep on budget.
Below are a provided a number of tips that will help you get started.
1. Trust yourself
Remember, you will know more about what looks good for your home than you think.
2. Focal Points
Select the most important element in a room, say a fireplace, and make this the focal point. Then place furnishings and objects around it to draw a person’s eye towards it. You could, if you want, direct the person’s eye towards, say, a window, which then directs them to look outside into the garden.
3. Themes
Provide each room with a theme. You may just decide on a color, or it may be a particular style, say French Country or Italian Tuscany, for say the kitchen. Doing this will give you a starting point, and will help to guide you through the decorating stages.
4. Planning
When planning your design, work from the largest area of the room to the smallest. For instance, start with walls, windows, floors, furnishings and then finish with accessories. It is important to remember the larger the decorating surface, the more impact it will have on the finished design.
But the most important thing of all when decorating on a budget is to have fun!
Shop smart and you will find it easy to keep within your budget and you can have the look you want if you really want it and work for it.
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques to assist you in living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Remember, we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
Below are a provided a number of tips that will help you get started.
1. Trust yourself
Remember, you will know more about what looks good for your home than you think.
2. Focal Points
Select the most important element in a room, say a fireplace, and make this the focal point. Then place furnishings and objects around it to draw a person’s eye towards it. You could, if you want, direct the person’s eye towards, say, a window, which then directs them to look outside into the garden.
3. Themes
Provide each room with a theme. You may just decide on a color, or it may be a particular style, say French Country or Italian Tuscany, for say the kitchen. Doing this will give you a starting point, and will help to guide you through the decorating stages.
4. Planning
When planning your design, work from the largest area of the room to the smallest. For instance, start with walls, windows, floors, furnishings and then finish with accessories. It is important to remember the larger the decorating surface, the more impact it will have on the finished design.
But the most important thing of all when decorating on a budget is to have fun!
Shop smart and you will find it easy to keep within your budget and you can have the look you want if you really want it and work for it.
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques to assist you in living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Remember, we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Living Room Decorating on a Budget
In today's economy fixing up one's house can be rather expensive. However one still likes to change things up once in a while just to keep life exciting. One of the ways to spice up your home life is to redecorate the interior of your house.
There are a number of different ways to provide a new look to your living room. It may be that you are just starting out in a new home, or that you would like to revive an old tired space, but decorating any room, and especially the living room, can be a real challenge. It can be even more of a challenge when you only have small budget to work with.
But the biggest hurdle that we face is how to get a look that expresses our unique personality, without spending a fortune. However, by looking at the items you already have in a different way, you should be able to create a cozy family room for almost next to nothing. Below are provided a number of decorating tips which should help to turn a drab living room into a warm and friendly place for everybody to gather.
1. Paint
Paint one wall using your favorite color, and so make this the focal point of the room. Then hang a piece of interesting art on the wall (it could even be something you have made yourself). Next, place a nice piece of furniture on that side of the room to provide even more accent to the wall. If you want to add extra impact to the wall, then why not use a rubber stamping technique? Although it is extremely easy to do, rubber stamping can look very impressive when finished.
2. Use an Area Rug
This is a great way to define a conversation area and look for one which will complement the décor of the room. Rather than lying it straight, put it at an angle underneath your coffee table (if you have one). Or if not, then just place it in a central location where the seating is situated. Why not add some large cushions as well?
3. Pictures & Mirrors
Hang those which most reflect your personality. If you are able to, try frames that are more ornate. Plus, when hanging a mirror, place it in a position where it will reflect either a nice view, or an interesting architectural element of the room. Including a mirror in a room also creates the illusion of more space in a room because of the light reflecting off it.
4. Lighting
Replace lamps, as these are one thing that will provide clues to your room being outdated. If you are unable to replace the whole lamp, then just consider replacing the lampshade instead.
5. Coffee Table
If your coffee table is looking tired or scratched, then cover it with a small decorative throw rug. Or if you want to be a bit more adventurous, then why not consider tiling the top of it with mosaic tiles or colored glass instead?
6. Rearrange the Furniture
But do not think square; instead, put your furniture at an angle. By doing this you are giving a whole new look to the layout of your room, and is much more inexpensive than going out and buying new furniture.
Also pay attention to the floor space that you have left and use it. You could actually get some scatter cushions and use these as additional seating. It will provide your living room with a much more relaxed atmosphere.
7. Plants
Use plants to add freshness and impact to the décor of your room, and if placed strategically, will hide any ugly flaws in a room.
Finally, if you do not need it, then remove it. You can either donate it to your local charity, or ask a family member or friend if they could use it. By de-cluttering a space, you will not only be providing yourself with more room, but you will also be gaining a whole new look.
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques on living the champagne life on a beer budget. Remember, we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
There are a number of different ways to provide a new look to your living room. It may be that you are just starting out in a new home, or that you would like to revive an old tired space, but decorating any room, and especially the living room, can be a real challenge. It can be even more of a challenge when you only have small budget to work with.
But the biggest hurdle that we face is how to get a look that expresses our unique personality, without spending a fortune. However, by looking at the items you already have in a different way, you should be able to create a cozy family room for almost next to nothing. Below are provided a number of decorating tips which should help to turn a drab living room into a warm and friendly place for everybody to gather.
1. Paint
Paint one wall using your favorite color, and so make this the focal point of the room. Then hang a piece of interesting art on the wall (it could even be something you have made yourself). Next, place a nice piece of furniture on that side of the room to provide even more accent to the wall. If you want to add extra impact to the wall, then why not use a rubber stamping technique? Although it is extremely easy to do, rubber stamping can look very impressive when finished.
2. Use an Area Rug
This is a great way to define a conversation area and look for one which will complement the décor of the room. Rather than lying it straight, put it at an angle underneath your coffee table (if you have one). Or if not, then just place it in a central location where the seating is situated. Why not add some large cushions as well?
3. Pictures & Mirrors
Hang those which most reflect your personality. If you are able to, try frames that are more ornate. Plus, when hanging a mirror, place it in a position where it will reflect either a nice view, or an interesting architectural element of the room. Including a mirror in a room also creates the illusion of more space in a room because of the light reflecting off it.
4. Lighting
Replace lamps, as these are one thing that will provide clues to your room being outdated. If you are unable to replace the whole lamp, then just consider replacing the lampshade instead.
5. Coffee Table
If your coffee table is looking tired or scratched, then cover it with a small decorative throw rug. Or if you want to be a bit more adventurous, then why not consider tiling the top of it with mosaic tiles or colored glass instead?
6. Rearrange the Furniture
But do not think square; instead, put your furniture at an angle. By doing this you are giving a whole new look to the layout of your room, and is much more inexpensive than going out and buying new furniture.
Also pay attention to the floor space that you have left and use it. You could actually get some scatter cushions and use these as additional seating. It will provide your living room with a much more relaxed atmosphere.
7. Plants
Use plants to add freshness and impact to the décor of your room, and if placed strategically, will hide any ugly flaws in a room.
Finally, if you do not need it, then remove it. You can either donate it to your local charity, or ask a family member or friend if they could use it. By de-cluttering a space, you will not only be providing yourself with more room, but you will also be gaining a whole new look.
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques on living the champagne life on a beer budget. Remember, we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Long Term Investing Not Short Term Panic
“Patience Grasshopper” is the key to making it in the markets. The markets may be down but don't count them out just yet. Sure a lot of people have lost money in the short term, but if you are patient you will recoup those losses and more. Right now there are a lot of good bargains and if one does their homework they will find that they will make money. The thing is one has to think long term, hard as that might be these days, but the long term is where you will make it.
There are many ways to invest your money, even if you aren't that fluent in the stock market. Again it all depends upon your risk quotient, your monetary goals and your stage in life
If you are ready to invest money for a future event, such as retirement or a child’s college education, you have several options. You do not have to invest in risky stocks or ventures. You can easily invest your money in ways that are very safe, which will show a decent return over a long period of time.
First consider bonds. There are various types of bonds that you can purchase. Bond’s are similar to Certificates of Deposit. Instead of being issued by banks, however, bonds are issued by the Government. Depending on the type of bonds that you buy, your initial investment may double over a specific period of time.
Mutual funds are also relatively safe. Mutual funds exist when a group of investors put their money together to buy stocks, bonds, or other investments. A fund manager typically decides how the money will be invested. All you need to do is find a reputable, qualified broker who handles mutual funds, and he or she will invest your money, along with other client’s money. Mutual funds are a bit riskier than bonds.
Stocks are another vehicle for long term investments. Shares of stocks are essentially shares of ownership in the company you are investing in. When the company does well financially, the value of your stock rises. However, if a company is doing poorly, your stock value drops. Stocks, of course, are even riskier than Mutual funds. Even though there is a greater amount of risk, you can still purchase stock in sound companies, such as G & E Electric, and sleep at night knowing that your money is relatively safe.
The important thing is to do your research before investing your money for long term gain. When purchasing stocks you should choose stocks that are well established. When you look for a mutual fund to invest in, choose a broker that is well established and has a proven track record. If you aren’t quite ready to take the risks involved with mutual funds or stocks, at the very least invest in bonds that are guaranteed by the Government.
Patience and doing one's homework is the key to making it these days (or any days really) in the markets. Be smart, don't panic and things will work out fine.
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques that assist you in living the Champagne Life on a beer budget. We're all in this together, and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
There are many ways to invest your money, even if you aren't that fluent in the stock market. Again it all depends upon your risk quotient, your monetary goals and your stage in life
If you are ready to invest money for a future event, such as retirement or a child’s college education, you have several options. You do not have to invest in risky stocks or ventures. You can easily invest your money in ways that are very safe, which will show a decent return over a long period of time.
First consider bonds. There are various types of bonds that you can purchase. Bond’s are similar to Certificates of Deposit. Instead of being issued by banks, however, bonds are issued by the Government. Depending on the type of bonds that you buy, your initial investment may double over a specific period of time.
Mutual funds are also relatively safe. Mutual funds exist when a group of investors put their money together to buy stocks, bonds, or other investments. A fund manager typically decides how the money will be invested. All you need to do is find a reputable, qualified broker who handles mutual funds, and he or she will invest your money, along with other client’s money. Mutual funds are a bit riskier than bonds.
Stocks are another vehicle for long term investments. Shares of stocks are essentially shares of ownership in the company you are investing in. When the company does well financially, the value of your stock rises. However, if a company is doing poorly, your stock value drops. Stocks, of course, are even riskier than Mutual funds. Even though there is a greater amount of risk, you can still purchase stock in sound companies, such as G & E Electric, and sleep at night knowing that your money is relatively safe.
The important thing is to do your research before investing your money for long term gain. When purchasing stocks you should choose stocks that are well established. When you look for a mutual fund to invest in, choose a broker that is well established and has a proven track record. If you aren’t quite ready to take the risks involved with mutual funds or stocks, at the very least invest in bonds that are guaranteed by the Government.
Patience and doing one's homework is the key to making it these days (or any days really) in the markets. Be smart, don't panic and things will work out fine.
Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques that assist you in living the Champagne Life on a beer budget. We're all in this together, and I'm pulling for you.
Mahalo.
******************************************************************
Need to learn how to get and stay out of debt and live debt free?
Tips and techniques outlined in our ebook “Debt Free Living”.
For more information:
http://www.renspubhouse.com/debtfree/debtfree.html
******************************************************************
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