Archives for 2017

Remodeling your home has two primary benefits: one, you and your family get to enjoy the upgrades while you live there – which can include having more space, greater aesthetic appeal and fostering a sense of newness. Two, it raises the value of the home in case you decide to put it up for sale. In particular, the kitchen and bathroom areas, when upgraded, fetch a much better price.

Remodeling The Bathroom

This will be one of the highlights of your remodeling project. With a bathroom, there are little changes here and there that lead to big effects. For starters, replacing the wide sink with a free-floating pedestal creates more storage room, and placing a full-length mirror on a free wall opens up the space.

Before you make any big changes to the bathroom, it is imperative that you get the plumbing checked for any leaks. Plumbing Fix is just such a company, and they focus on residential and commercial plumbing problems. Get your drains cleared and pipes fixed before attempting any renovations in these areas.

Additionally, pay careful attention when doing any work that may require displacing some of the plumbing; this is very costly as it sometimes adheres to a city plan. If absolutely necessary, make sure to hire a contractor.

Garage Upgrades

Many homeowners use the driveway leading to their garage to store their cars; it’s a convenient solution to mornings when you’re running late for work – but it only works in regions of the country where the weather doesn’t get very bad. The West Coast is such a region, and if you live there, you might do well to convert your garage into an office.

Many garages have water heaters, and it’s wise to have the place checked for water-related damage. The experts at Restoration Elite in your city are well-versed in all the methods of mold remediation and rectifying the water spots that lead to further damage. If your home has any signs of these, have them taken care of professionally before stripping the walls and construction addendums in your remodeling project.

Kitchen Upgrades

The kitchen is all about functionality and visual appeal – it’s one of the first rooms that prospective homeowners look at when house hunting. Some of the upgrades that can make your kitchen more enticing involve lighting and cabinetry. You can play with lighting using a pendant light, casting an arresting glow about the place.

With cabinetry; you’ve got to be careful – as it’s easy to spend a bunch on the finest cherry-oak. If you’re doing the remodeling yourself, measure everything thrice before you order the replacement shelves, as it is costly having to send stuff back and re-order.

Other upgrades that make a substantial difference to the kitchen space include the addition of an island, granite countertops (or a different material to cut down on costs), and the addition of stainless steel appliances. Even if you don’t change the cabinetry entirely, the addition of new pulls and handles will make a marked difference.

As for the rest of the house, upgrading the living room and bedrooms is wholly dependent on your budget. Usually, new furniture is the most decisive remodeling change; but a fresh coat of paint on the walls and the rearrangement of the current furniture are cheaper alternatives. In fact, using slipcovers or fabric on sofas and chairs works wonders for renewed visual appeal. New blinds for the windows, as well as curtains where applicable, will change the play of light on surfaces in the room.

It’s no secret that charity events are limited by their budget, making it crucial to maximize every cent if you want to pull off a spectacular occasion. You don’t have to throw a sub-par event just because funds are limited, however.

The key to a successful charity event is to maintain quality while ensuring every guest is well attended to, while at the same time cutting out any unnecessary costs so the majority of your funds go to those who need it the most. This is going to require some creativity, quick thinking, and a solid plan. Here’s how you can host the ultimate charity event even on the smallest of budgets.

Make A Detailed Plan

Micro-managing every aspect of your event is crucial. Take the time to write out a detailed list of all possible outgoings while including hidden costs. This will give you a good idea of your breakeven point, which will let you know how many tickets you need to sell to make a profit.

Afterwards, make notes of every expense to provide full detail as what your costs will be. Once everything is in order, you can begin to see what fits into your budget and what does not.

Pick The Right Venue

Give yourself the time to research and visit plenty of event venues so you can choose the cheapest option that is still in accordance to your plans. It is also wise to give them a few different dates for the event, so that you find the most affordable option.

You should also ask about what is included in the cost. Often times, venues include things like technicians, AV equipment, and PA systems. If there is anything in their package you absolutely do not need, see if they can lower the price by removing it.

Add Funding

If you’re already cutting things too close with just the venue, then you may want to seek out additional funding. Using a site like Plumfund is an excellent way to spread awareness about your cause and receive fundraising for your event from people who may not have otherwise heard of it. All you will need to do is create the event’s page, explain what this charity is for in detail, and allow individuals to contribute.

Buy In Bulk

Food and catering can be one of the most expensive aspects of any event. Maybe you plan on serving cheese and cracker hoderves, or using food trays from a catering company. On the other hand, you could keep things simple and cheap with tasty snacks or an assortment of finer delights.

Whatever it is you plan on serving at your event, buy it in bulk. For instance, you could choose to buy bulk candy for a colorful and exciting table. The fact is that you need a large quantity of food anyway, so why not save some money by purchasing it all at once from the same place?

Volunteers Make All The Difference

If you can enlist the help of volunteers, then you’ll be doing your budget one of the largest favors possible. There are plenty of enthusiastic people who are more than happy to share their time and skills to make your charity a success.

Whether they can offer helping hands in getting things set up, live entertainment, or even act as waiters, they’ll save you money as opposed to those requiring a paycheck for their services. Enlisting is as simple as running a campaign on social media to let the world know you need some extra help for a good cause.

There’s no denying that providing for and taking care of a family is tough, not to mention expensive. Just this year, the Department of Agriculture reported that the cost of raising one child through the age of 17 is between $174,690 and $233,610. That, of course, does not include all of the expenses pertaining to yourself.

The costs of raising a family have led many to seek out a side hustle in order to make extra cash, but can these additional jobs actually make a difference? This article is here to show you how they can save you from financial woe and help pad your monthly budget.

Understanding The Side Hustle

Simply put, a side hustle is anything you do for extra money aside from your normal job. Most people might relate the term to driving for a rideshare, but side hustles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some people pick up night shifts at places like UPS, while others walk dogs or babysit.

The possibilities are nearly endless, leaving it up to you to figure out what you would be good at and what can fit around your schedule. Picking up more work can be exhausting when you mix it into your daily routine. Make sure to have a steady supply of coffee or a nootropic handy. You can read more here if you haven’t heard about nootropics yet.

The Debt Problem

A steady stream of extra income can help pay down your debts faster, but it also makes increasing those debts tempting. If credit card bills or other debts are piling up, it’s important to have a solid plan of action to make sure your side hustle is as effective as you would like it to be.

There are all sorts of helpful tools out there that can make eliminating your debt less of a burden. You can learn more here about what a debt relief agency can do for you, but it’s time to dive into what side hustles are out there.

Top Ideas For Side Hustles

These are just a few ideas that have proven themselves lucrative for families in need of relief from a tight budget. Hopefully they get your gears turning and help you find something that will work for you.

Sell Your Stuff

First up is Etsy, which is perfect for anyone who has a creative knack for making handmade items. For instance, some Etsy sellers knit beanies and sweaters that sell for anywhere from $20 to $50. If you have a hobby of creating something, sell it.

Alternatively, you could sell things you no longer need (like clothes your kids have outgrown) on sites like Ebay. A garage sale is great, but having your things available 24/7 online gives them a much better chance to sell.

Online Surveys

If you’re looking for something you can do while watching TV before bed, then sign up for a survey site. It’s free, and can help you make an extra $100 a month depending on how fast you can complete them. It might not be much, but every dollar counts.

Blogging

Let’s say you’re passionate about gardening, turn that passion into a blog by writing about how to grow the best fruits and vegetables. Then, all you have to do is sign up for affiliate programs and feature products on your site. Anytime someone clicks through the affiliate link and buys a product, you make a small percentage of the profit.

Of course, there is always driving for a company like Uber as well as hundreds of other ways to make extra money on the side. Best of luck!

Kids are curious and excited by nature. They’re impulsive, and unlike most adults, they don’t consider surroundings or consequences before acting. Being so cavalier makes moms and dads nervous at best. Keep your kids safe on your next jaunt through the city.

Keep Distance from Tall Displays

Strolling through the city inevitably involves window shopping and perusing stores. Bringing young children into the store necessitates unwavering vigilance since little ones are curious about everything. Most displays are safe yet beware of high towers or leaving kids around stacked merchandise.

Tell Kids to Wait to Board Escalators

The notion of moving stairs may seem fun to kids but adults know the dangers of the rotating escalator. Ensure kids’ shoes are tied and they are holding your hand when you board and exit the stairs. Also, remind them the stairs is not a place for playing.

Stand in the Back of the Elevator

Like escalators, elevators pique the curiosity of the young. They also pose threat to little ones who enter the elevator when it’s uneven with the floor or if they put their fingers, hands, and feet between closing doors. Additionally, don’t accidentally put your child in harm’s way by using the stroller to stop the elevator from closing before you board. Lastly, stand in the back of the elevator so kids are not tempted to push buttons or stand between opening and closing doors.

Keep Tabs on Them

It’s instinct for moms and dads to keep an eye on the kiddies, but even the most vigilant parent can lose sight for a few seconds. Unfortunately, that’s all it takes for kids to wander off and get lost in a crowd. A range of products helps parents track the whereabouts of kids via tracking technology. For example, a child may wear a bracelet that sounds an alarm to help parents quickly locate.

Update Safety Zones

Agree upon a safety zone where you can reunite with your child when separated. It could be the checkout counter at a shopping store or the help desk within the mall. Kids get just as scared as parents when they wander off. Safety zones enable moms, dads, and kids to stay calm. Be sure to continuously update the safety zone depending on your proximity throughout the day. As to help kids feel safer in the hotel, introduce them to the front desk workers at your Marriott Baltimore.

Find Another Family

It’s difficult to relay how to act toward strangers to a kid. Even adults get confused as to who can help or is a possible threat. Some insights, such as looking for a person in uniform (such as a police officer) can be confusing. However, one mother suggests instructing kids to look for moms and dads with other kids if they are in need of the help of a stranger.

Hold Hands

Hold hands when walking in heavy pedestrian traffic, crossing the street, and whenever it’s practical. Kids can’t understand all of the potential dangers of a city but they can understand that it’s important to stay close and to hold your hand.