Posts Tagged ‘save money’

How to give your apartment swagger on the cheap

01-30-2012 ** Categories: Home Design and Decor, Lifestyle and Money / Tags: ,

Five simple ways to give your space more style without breaking the bank or your lease agreement

hanging mason jarsSwap your mismatched glasses for mason jars. Surely I am not the only adult who could never keep a set of matching glassware. We started using only mason jars (before Pinterest BTW!) and I love that certain something that they add to our cupboards. We also use mason jars to store things like straws and colored pencils. Our collection is made up of jars in different sizes and designs. They are fun for entertaining too – Tie or hot glue a ribbon or other decoration to mason jars for parties and holidays.

Hang mirrors and tapestries. This tip comes from one of my best friends who makes any living situation look amazing. She had a place in low-income housing for awhile that was more stylish and inviting than anyone else’s home I’ve been to. We were actually bummed when she upgraded to a better place! (I did end up with a lot of her hand-me-down furniture though.) One of her tips for adding warmth and interest, especially to bedrooms, is lots of fabric. Hung straight vertically on the walls and pinned to the ceiling in gathers, lots of fabric can turn any space into a romantic haven. It is also a great way to bring color to an apartment where you aren’t allowed to paint the walls.

Most people know that mirrors make a space look bigger and brighter by reflecting light. Mirrors can be expensive, but you are likely to find a deal at yard sales and some thrift shops. Cheaper small mirrors can be tiled for a fun effect. Door mirrors from Target look more style, less dorm when arranged horizontally on the wall instead.

Create focal points with candles, flowers and figurines. Showcasing small collections is a great way to add personality to your space and flowers are an instant mood-booster. And well, I just like candles. ;) Keep shiny objects polished and it will create the illusion that your entire home is cleaner.

Protip: If you have kids, consider keeping an arrangement of candles and knick knacks on a pretty serving tray. You can keep the tray up and out of reach while the kids are around and bring it down before guests come over, or just as something nice to look at after the children have gone to bed.

Just add curtains. Every apartment I have ever lived in has had the same sterile-looking white blinds. Installing your own curtains is fairly easy (just pin them up if you have to) and makes a big impact. You can sew your own or keep an eye out at outlet stores like Ross or TJ Maxx. Nothing has to match perfectly – In fact, sometimes it’s better if they don’t.

Choose everyday items with care. Our plaid dog bed was the perfect complement to our holiday decor this year, and I still love the warmth it brings to our living room. Toothbrush holders, coffee makers, that hook that you hang your keys on everyday… Those are your life, and choosing ones that you LOVE will make your life better. If you touch something every day, you shouldn’t feel bad splurging on it. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to splurge. My favorite places to shop for cheap housewares are Ross and IKEA, and I always take a stroll through the housewares aisles at thrift stores. It really is the little things.

Got your own thrifty apartment-decorating tips? Please share in the comments!

Easy ways to save your family money

01-25-2012 ** Categories: Lifestyle and Money / Tags:

From blog sponsors to friends, when I tell people I’m “on a budget”, they seem to think it’s just for fun, or just happens to be my blog niche. Unfortunately, while my family is well provided for, I can’t afford not to be frugal. There are a lot of things that we do to save money in our household. Some are harder and some are ‘crunchier’ than others. This list is a few of the easiest, more mainstream ways that you can save money for your family.

1. Keep an eye out for coupons

I don’t extreme coupon because the majority of items you can buy for pennies are crap. Yes, I do sometimes buy $3 shampoo or $1 dog food between paychecks, but I would never stockpile low-quality items. Safe & healthy food & beauty products are worth paying full price for, even if you have to cut money from your budget in other places. My husband Donny does the majority of our household shopping and he does clip things like Walgreens and Sears coupons. Clipping coupons is an obvious way to cut costs, but our biggest savings come from in-store coupons. Sebastian loves to help us grab the ones you find in the grocery aisles, many of which are good for healthy, organic items. Having a rewards or club card where you shop can also result in dramatic savings over time, and many of those programs will give you cents off the gallon on gas as well.

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Perfect summer afternoon, <$15

08-01-2011 ** Categories: Baby / Tags: ,

I love the colors in this shot

This weekend, Donny, Sebastian & I took advantage of the sunny weather for an outing around the neighborhood. I am a firm believer that big fun does not have to mean big spending and have been trying fervently to convince my husband of the same. We live in a small downtown neighborhood that is ideal for walking and window shopping, and there is a park just a few blocks away. Our day date totaled less than $15. As a bonus, Sebastian fell asleep in his stroller on the way home, just a few feet from our door.

We started with a stroll through the farmers market but decided to eat at Sunny Hans, where we ordered some appetizers (‘bong bong’ chicken, rice & gyoza) and ate outside. It’s fun how much attention Sebastian gets when we are out and about, although he keeps a sober puss face and just takes people in.

Sebastian, eating outside Sunny Hans

Taking a slobbery drink

By eating apps instead of entrees, and drinking water, the meal cost around $8 for three people (and don’t be fooled, that baby can eat).

After lunch we visited a few neighborhood shops. At the consignment clothing shop, I spotted a girl trying on a dress I dropped off a couple months ago! (I hope she bought it.) We also visited the antiques shop next door. The husband ogled an old-fashioned camera (Apparently it works with mirrors?) and I looked at handmade ‘steam punk’ bracelets. Today was an exercise in restraint for sure. We ended up spending all of $1.50 on a tank top for Donny and a bath toy for Sebastian at Chase Me Again, and I have a mental list of items in various shops to go back for.

Finally we headed to the park, stopping first at Jazzy Bagels for a bagel and a mango smoothie. (If you go there, we recommend their Lox Box!!) I tried to potty Sebastian in their bathroom but he was only interested in the automatic faucet and paper towel dispenser. Oh well. We took our snacks across the street to the park, mainly because I wanted to go. I didn’t really expect Sebastian to care one way or the other about the park but I was wrong, as he had a blast.

Enjoying the park play structure SO MUCH

The look on his face when he saw the steps and tunnel before him was priceless. He was thrilled. Steps and climbing are so his thing. He liked the swing as well… until he figured out that he was in it. But we did get a quick video of him enjoying it. Climbing and crawling is definitely his favorite though.

Checking out the tunnel

Crawling to Mama

So happy at the park

Squee! The park is so fun

90% of the time now I officially feel like I have a toddler and notsomuch a baby. He will be a year old in just two months now and we will have his birthday party at the park if weather allows. I know that a lot of mamas feel bittersweet and miss their newborns but… Nope. I love his budding personality and that when he relaxes in my arms it’s because he chose to be there.

I do wish we had more money to spend on outings, lunching out, and even toys, but I know that showing him that fun doesn’t cost money will do him more good in the long run. Hopefully I’ll always be able to give him a good balance.

What are your favorite things to do (with or without kids) on the cheap?