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Keeping fit without paying for high gym fees

May 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Tricep Dip Exercise performed using branches o...

Image via Wikipedia

How do you keep fit on a budget.  Gym fees can be expensive and a size-able chunk of your monthly salary.  But there are plenty of ways to keep yourself looking fit and trim whilst saving dollars to spend on other things.  Here are a few ideas to get your heart pumping and the pounds dropping!

  • Get a walking group together.  Friends, neighbours or work colleagues after work on on your lunchbreak.  If  you get a regular group it keeps you motivated and less likely to find an excuse not to do it.  Explore your local area and discover hidden gardens and lane ways right on your doorstep!
  • Use your furniture.  Use a coffee table to do tricep dips and cans from the pantry as weights.  You can balance up against the wall and door push ups from your front door step.  Your own personal gym!
  • Take the dog for a run! The family dog may also be in need of some fitness!  Its a motivator to get the dog out and exercised and we all know a dog is the perfect way to chat to other dog owners or friendly neighbours.  Maybe organise your own puppy group.
  • Swim! If your lucky enough to live near the beach go for a dip in the summer or a refreshing jog along the beach in the morning before work.  Watching the sunrise on the coast and feeling the sea breeze in your hair is a perfect way to set you up for the day!

The key to any fitness success is motivation and the determination to keep at it and keep positive!

 

Filed Under: Budget Fashion, General, Home Decor Tagged With: , ,

Decorating Your Apartment for the Holidays

May 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many apartment residents might not feel they have the space or means to decorate for the holidays. However, even just a few decorations can make a place feel festive, and there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to decorate for just about any holiday.

Halloween Decorations 

Image by Sarah_Ackerman via Flickr

For example, a string of lights can add festive cheer to any space, and can usually be purchased for under $10. Lights can be found in just about any shape and color, adding additional ambiance.

If there just isn’t the space for a holiday tree, pine or gingerbread scented candles can offer a pleasant aroma and give the illusion of a tree. Placing evergreen branches on a table or mantle will provide the scent and fresh green color without having to shell out big bucks for a tree. Many tree farms offer free branches to customers.

Halloween can be a fun holiday to decorate for as well, since a small pumpkin and candle are inexpensive but can add a festive feel to any room, balcony, or porch.

Setting out decorations can also be a great way to reflect an individual’s personal style and beliefs, and make the apartment feel more like home to those living within its walls.

Many holiday decorations are “do it yourself” so it can be a fun way to spend time with friends or family members, creating something special that could be used to decorate for years to come. A studio apartment found on Forrent.com could offer plenty of space to decorate and feel festive and cheerful.

 

Filed Under: Budget Decor, Home Decor Tagged With: , ,

Great DIY tips to upgrade your living room

May 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: A child looks into a ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you’re looking to update a room in your home but don’t have a huge budget here are five great tips that won’t break the bank but will transform your room and inject colour style and a sense of a fresh new makeover

  1. Change your rug.  If you have a neutral coloured room then by purchasing a rug in a strong, vibrant color and adding a couple of cushions of the same material can really make a difference to the look and feel of your room.  Go retro with a burnt orange shag pile rug or a contemporary rug with funky geometric shapes to give your room instant style!
  2. Buy a statement print or large mirror.  A mirror will give a sense of extra space to a small room and a statement print or piece of art can become a real focus and talking point for visitors.
  3. For the bedroom a simple change such as a new Manchester set and a new set of curtains and blinds can give you a brand new peaceful sanctuary to unwind in for very little expense
  4. Recover your couch and armchairs to breathe new life into your comfy couch.  A good couch is like an old friend, if you look after it and keep it re-upholstered to give you many years of comfort.
  5. Lighting can instantly change the mood of a room. Changing your light bulbs to a softer lighting or buying a pair of chic looking lamps will make an instance difference to the atmosphere of a room.

Keeping your home up to date and refreshing your look doesn’t have to cost the earth and sometimes less is more!

Filed Under: Budget Decor, Home Decor Tagged With: , ,

Furnishing your home on a budget

May 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With rising interest rates and bills the average working family is finding it slightly tougher each month to make their salaries stretch to the “extras”.  Furniture for the home may seem like an unreachable luxury right now but here are 3 tips to finding a bargain without losing the style.

  • Change your style. A change is a good as a rest! Choosing an eclectic style such
    Shabby Chic towel, Chic and Shabby, romantic chic!

    Image by Decorative Towels – Created by Cath. via Flickr

    as a shabby chic or country style theme to your home can be an opportunity to bring together different types of furniture tastefully.  Mismatched chairs around a solid oak table can look stunning  and you wont need to spend thousands on a set of chairs! Brightly scattered cushions in different materials can look contemporary.

  • Look online.  Websites such as Ebay and Craigslist have hundreds of items of furniture for sale often in your local area.  Look hard enough and get in quick to find yourself a real bargain.
  • Check out the sales areas or warehouses of furniture stores where there is often a treasure trove of end of line rugs, and slight second drawers and wardrobes.  If you’re a handy man how can blend a scratch or fix a broken handle and you will have yourself a great piece of furniture.

It may take some patience and maybe a little web surfing but by hunting out some great bargains you can transform your home into a stylish, bright and welcoming home.  You can also save dollars by having friends around for drinks and games and save on those expensive nights out!

 

Filed Under: Budget Decor, Budget Fashion, Home Decor Tagged With: , ,

Resources for Learning Home Improvement Skills

April 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
An icon from the Crystal icon theme.

Image via Wikipedia

Home improvement projects often appear daunting and beyond the average homeowner’s ability to accomplish. People are intimidated by the unknowns involved in a project and prefer to hire a “professional” to complete the work. While this is often the wise course of action for major projects, smaller projects can be done by anyone who takes the time to learn what is required. With some research, instruction, the right tools, materials and initiative, it is amazing what a novice homeowner can do.

The first step is tackling a home improvement project is learning what is required to do the work. One of the best and most rewarding ways to learn about home building and repair is by volunteering for a Habitat for Humanity home project. These projects are overseen by professionals who know every aspect of home construction and learning by actually doing the work is one of the best ways to become proficient in home improvement. And what better way to learn than buy volunteering time and effort to help a deserving family move into a home.

Another resource of learning how to complete home improvement projects is through large home improvement centers like Lowes and Home Depot. These stores regularly schedule and conduct free training classes on a variety of projects for beginners, including plumbing repairs, laying tile, building decks, painting and other basic home improvement skills

Community colleges are another great resource and regularly teach classes on different home improvement topics.

Once a person completes a small project and gets beyond the idea that home improvement is always complicated, the home becomes a learning place for many new skills and projets.

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Do It Yourself-Shadowbox displays

April 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Everett, Wash. (Oct. 6, 2005) - Military Worki...

Image via wikipedia sourced-shadowbox

A shadowbox is a box that is covered with a glass plate that displays objects. Many people use shadow boxes as a cute way to display personal objects. shadowboxes got their name because of the shadow they cast on the object placed within the box. Shadowboxes can be found at any hobby store, sometimes in a lower cost quality at wal-mart.See Nature Shadowboxes: A Great Weekend Project (wired.com) First, you have to choose what color of wood you want your shadowbox to have. whatever decision you make, it can match the decor of your room, or just be a finish you happen to like alot. After selecting your box, you then have to decide what to put in your box. Most people put special items,such as rewards(be they academic or military) or personal items in them. many times, you can find specific shadowboxes for military awards. Shadow boxes can even be used as a gift, to thank hosts for a party given in your favor, new mothers,new brides and golden anniversaries. For Ideas check out Weekend DIY: Paper Butterfly Shadowbox (courtneyoutloud.wordpress.com). Most store bought shadow boxes contain storage instructions, but if your creating your box from scratch, you may need glue, Styrofoam backing, wire or screws to secure your objects into your box. When doing a shadowbox from scratch, you have to use size, weight and proportion to decide on just where and how you can place your items in the box for display.

Example of a shadow box for a U.S. soldier who...

Image via wikipedia sourched-military shadowbox

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Save Money on Repairs and Design

February 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Interior Design (album)

Image via Wikipedia

Hiring professionals to perform work around your home is expensive. From basic repairs to interior design, most professionals charge large amounts per hour or per job. With the economy being rough right now, you may have to find other ways to get things done around your home. Instead of hiring someone to do the work for you, consider doing it yourself.

You may think that you are not handy enough to handle basic repairs or interior design. What you may not realize is that many things are easy to do with the right instructions. The internet is a great source of instruction for anything you can think to ask. From simple repairs around the house, like unclogging a drain, to redesigning an entire room, you can find the answer somewhere on the internet.

If you are on a limited budget, you need to learn how to do some basic things around your home. By taking the time to learn a few things on your own, you could end up saving thousands of dollars. If you are not comfortable doing something on your own, talk to your family and friends before contacting a professional. The point of a budget is to keep you from overspending. If someone you know can fix your leaky roof or paint your kitchen for a low price, you will still save money over hiring a professional.

Simple household repairs and interior design are not as complicated as you may think. If you can weld a few basic tools and follow instructions, you can repair small things around your house. If you can handle a paintbrush and have an eye for design, you can redecorate your home. Once you get your feet wet with a few home repairs, you will never want to hire a professional again. After all, why spend money on something you can easily do yourself?

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Easy Accent Pieces

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are looking for an easy way to update the look of your home, consider buying a few accent pieces. Accent pieces can be furniture or just small items that you place in various rooms to enhance the look. Even something as simple as potted plants can change the atmosphere of a room. The added touches of living, greenery makes the room warmer and more welcoming.

Another type of accent piece is a throw pillow. Throw pillows come in a variety of sizes and you can put them anywhere. You can buy large ones and pile them on the floor. Not only do they give a softer look to the room, they make for extra seating when you have company. Small ones work great in chairs and on the sofa. Throw pillows are available in all colors and designs so you can easily add life to your rooms with a few pillows in strategic places.

Lamps are another type of accent piece that enhance the look of a room. Lamps add light to dark corners, making the room seem larger and more open. Lamps come in lots of styles. If you want to add a bit more class to your room, consider a simple chandelier. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling and make a great focal point of the room.

Instead of family pictures on the wall, add artwork. Original paintings are available for affordable prices if you can find a local artists showing. Family pictures have their place in a room. They look fabulous on corner tables and mantles. Just make sure you do not overload the walls with family pictures. You want your guests to have other things to look at besides your family. Pieces of art make great conversation pieces for those times when no one seems to have anything to say.

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How to Find Decorating Deals on the Internet

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Decorating your home on a budget is easier said than done. Many retail stores want you to pay high prices for the items you want. You can end up feeling discouraged by the prices and scrapping your decorating ideas. However, by using the internet, you can find the same things that are in retail stores and you can save hundreds of dollars while you do it!

Start by deciding what type of design you want in your home. You need a solid plan of what you intend to change in each room. Once you know what you are going to do, make a list. List everything that you need to buy. Be specific on your list so you will know exactly what you are looking for online. Then, use your favorite search engine and start shopping.

Never buy your items from the first site you visit. Take your time and compare prices between sites. Bookmark your favorite sites so you can return quickly. Another thing to keep in mind is that you do not have to buy everything at one site or at one time. This is the internet and you can shop anytime you want without ever having to worry about closing time.

Coupons and discounts are everywhere on the internet. If you find a website you like, search for coupons related to that site. Chances are that you will find a coupon for your purchase or some other way to save money, such as free shipping. While buying your decorating supplies on the internet will take more time than heading to your local home improvement store, the money you save will be worth it. You also have the added convenience of buying everything you need without ever leaving home.

Finally, when your purchases start to arrive, store them until you have all of your items. You are now ready to decorate your home and you did it on a budget!

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How to Start Decorating On Your Own

February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
3D interior design of a kitchen

Image via Wikipedia

Learning how to decorate on a budget is easy. The internet is a wonderful resource for learning everything you need to know. You can research and read as much as you want and never have to leave your home or pay for anything. Another reason to utilize the internet for decorating is to find good deals. Thousands of websites compete for your business. They do this by offering the best deals and coupons. With some smart shopping, you can buy all of the items you need for your home and save quite a bit of money.

If you are new to interior design, start by researching the subject. You want to learn the basics before you get started. You can visit forums and other places where you can get tips and advice from other people, including professional interior designers. Be sure and take notes so you will remember key aspects of design, such as favorable colors to mix and match in a room. Once you feel comfortable, pick a room and start decorating!

Kitchens are a great place to decorate. Kitchens today are no longer tucked away in a corner. They often have an open floor plan so that no one is ever cut off from the rest of the home. Kitchens have become a common room, a place where people like to gather. Decorating your kitchen is the perfect way to start redesigning your home’s interior design. Choose colors that make the kitchen warm and welcoming. Avoid dark colors on the walls, especially if your cabinets are stained a dark color. Use light colors on the walls, ceiling and back-splash to make the kitchen open and spacious. One easy way to give your kitchen new life without spending much money is by replacing the hardware on drawers and cabinets. Follow up with a few personal touches on the walls and counters and you have an almost-new kitchen!

Filed Under: Budget Fashion, Home Decor Tagged With: , ,
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