If you are looking for ways save money, cutting back on grocery expenses is often an easy way to reduce your spending.
Here are ten tips to master frugal grocery shopping. A little planning can save you some big bucks over the long term.
1. Make a list.
Before you head out to the store, prepare a list of everything you need, making sure you have everything needed for your weekly menu. Before you leave, check to make sure you don’t have it in your pantry, fridge or freezer. Stick to that list and don’t buy anything else.
2. Plan a menu.
Plan a weekly menu for each week. This way you will know exactly what to buy. Be sure to plan a leftovers night.
3. Don’t shop hungry.
When you’re hungry, everything looks good. When you shop hungry you’ll end up spending a lot more. Eat first and then you will be able to stick to your list.
4. Set a budget.
When you go to the store, know exactly how much you can spend. Then try your best to stick within that limit. Keep a running tally as you shop to ensure that you’re within your budget.
5. Create a grocery spreadsheet.
Keep your grocery receipts, then enter into a spreadsheet. This will be your price and comparison list. Use it so you know when bulk or sale items are a good deal.
6. Cook and freeze.
Plan to cook a big amount of food and freeze it for multiple dinners. A great idea is to use one Sunday and cook a week’s (or even a month’s) worth of dinners. Plan 5-6 freezable dinners and cook them all at once.
7. Shop for specials.
Every store has specials. Be sure to look for them in the newspaper, or when you get to the store. Don’t buy things you don’t use just because they are on sale; make sure you will use the items.
8. Buy store brands.
Brand names are often no better than generic, and you’re paying for all the advertising they do to have a brand name. Give the store brand a try, and often you won’t notice a difference.
9. No “one-item” trips.
They waste gas, and almost inevitably, you buy more than that one item. If you plan ahead, make a weekly menu, and shop with a list, this should drastically reduce the number of trips you make for a small number of items.
10. Stock up.
Sale items can be a great deal. If it’s an item you normally use, buy a bunch of them.
The last thing you want is a smelly house. When you are trying to sell your home the presence of household odors can affect the sale-ability and the bottom line price. Some of the most common offensive odors are cooking odors, particularly fish and curry odors, smoke from cigarettes or oven fires, pet odors or the odor from illness or incontinence.
In order to remove stubborn odors you will need to give the home a thorough cleaning. Here are some tips to get you on your way to a fresh smelling home.
1. Open windows and doors. Place a large fan in a doorway or window. Have the fan where blow fresh air in. Use a second fan to exhaust the odors out.
2. Believe it or not the smells could be coming from your attic insulation. Odors from cooking rise in the heat and are trapped in the attic insulation. The insulation cannot be cleaned or effectively deodorized so it must be replaced.
3. Clean carpets and upholstered furniture using a steamer. A commercial steam extractor can be rented from an equipment rental place. Things like mattresses and foam pillows will most likely need to be replaced as it is almost impossible to get odors out.
4. All clothing, bedding, and drapes in the home will need to be laundered or dry cleaned. Odors get trapped in these are can linger. Check labels for care instructions and follow the directions.
5. Odor causing particles can get trapped in the duct work. You may need to have the ducts professionally cleaned to remove the particles. Before you do that, you might consider changing the furnace or air conditioning filters once a day until you no longer smell offensive odors.
7. Wash all the ceilings, walls and floors. Use a cleaner designed for this as you would not want to damage the paint or wood floors.
8. Wash your stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer inside and out. Don’t forget the back of the stove and the coils of the refrigerator.
9. Place small dishes of vanilla extract, baking soda, sliced lemons or potpourri throughout the house to capture the odors and replace them with a better alternative.
Did you know that a simple can of paint can spruce up your home’s curb appeal? According to this article from Benjamin Moore you can instantly give your home an eye-catching makeover with these fun and simple painting projects.
Anytime is a great time to enhance your home’s curb appeal—and paint color is an easy way to achieve an updated and refreshing new look. Although a house’s body color might be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about curb appeal, there are other ways to enhance the look of your property without repainting the entire house and spending a substantial amount of money.
The simple application of new paint color on the following architectural elements of your home can also produce amazing results:
Front door: A new coat of paint on your front door creates a visually pleasing focal point. It plants the seed of first impression that sets the tone for the rest of the house.
Porch: A porch boasting a new paint job is a sure-fire way to draw people’s attention to your property. A warm, welcoming look establishes your home’s personality.
Shutters: Whether blending to the body color or serving as a cosmetic accent to the overall color scheme of the house, freshly-painted shutters serve as instant exterior updates.
Trim: New trim paint beautifies the façade, highlights the design of your house, and gives special emphasis to its attractive architectural features.
Garage Doors: Another way to enhance curb appeal is to paint your garage doors to coordinate with the house body color—or make it standout by using a complementary hue. The former holds true for large doors, and the latter, for smaller ones.
Fences: The right fence color can underscore the architecture of your home and add character to your yard. Fences provide a color frame for your property and give the house a distinct personality.
This is a Ranch style home and features 5 total rooms, 2 full baths, 3 bedrooms, 0.50 Acres, and is currently available for $249,900.
For complete details click here.
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