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 [...]]]> 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.

Anytime is a great time to enhance your home’s curb appeal—and paint color [...]]]> 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.

Despite the hassle and time scheduled repairs can take, [...]]]> This spring, homeowners will be mowing grass, trimming trees and planting flowers to ready their home for warmer weather. But homeowners also must not forget the importance of regularly scheduled seasonal home maintenance to keep systems and structures in top condition and prevent costly repairs.

Despite the hassle and time scheduled repairs can take, quarterly home maintenance and preventative measures can keep all areas of the home in good condition for years to come. To help homeowners accomplish this goal, Total Care Property Inspections recommends the following summer maintenance tips.

Tip #1: Clean and seal decks. Winter can leave exterior surfaces stained from fall leaves and dirty from snow melt runoff. Ideally, three consecutive warm, sunny days will be needed. On the first day, dry out the deck. Apply deck cleaner and scrub the deck on the second day, and let it dry 24 hours. On the third day, apply deck sealer. This will keep your deck water-repellant, damage-free and aesthetically attractive for all the barbecues in the months ahead.

Tip #2: Wash the exterior of your house using ordinary garden hose pressure and a mild detergent. Pressure washers are not always the best idea—they are powerful enough to force water under the siding, where it can encourage mildew and rot. If power washing is truly in order, hire a professional.

Tip #3: Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean chimneys. Taking care of this task in the spring or summer—rather than in the peak autumn season—allows plenty of time for repairs before the next heating season. It’s also easier to schedule a sweep than during the fall cleaning season, and sometimes, rates can be lower as a result of off-season discounts.

Tip #4: Caulk exterior joints around all windows and doors. Caulking keeps the house weather-tight and will help reduce high summer energy bills. It can also help keep insects and vermin out of the house.

Tip #5: Clean lint from the entire clothes dryer vent system, from the dryer to the exterior vent cap. Because lint is incredibly flammable, this common build up can create a fire hazard. And if a gas clothes dryer is not properly vented, it can even force deadly carbon monoxide back into the home.

Tip #6: Check the operation and condition of attic fans and roof-mounted turbine vents. Also make sure that bathroom and kitchen vent fans are working properly and are not blocked or obstructed. This can impede the intake of fresh air and removal of stale air from the home. These fans run on little energy and can greatly reduce cooling costs—not to mention increasing comfort inside the home during a hot and humid summer.

Tip #7: Change air conditioner filters—especially if the home was vented with outdoor air during the spring. Consider using a pleated media filter for better dust trapping, or for additional savings, a web element filter that can be washed periodically instead of being thrown out. Also, be sure to clear overgrowth and weeds away from outdoor air conditioning units—if the necessary airflow is blocked, the air conditioner will not be able to operate properly and could even suffer an expensive failure.

Tip #8: Clean any lingering fall leaves from gutters. For clogged downspouts, try using barbecue tongs to reach in and remove leaves. This is also a good opportunity to repair loose gutter nails or other gutter damage before the heavy spring and summer rains.

Tip #9: The heat and humidity of an Indiana summer can cause wooden windows and doors to swell and stick. Before this becomes a problem, remove the door or window, and carefully remove any excess material with a hand plane. For sliding windows, the surrounding trim is often the culprit. Usually, it must be removed and reinstalled to allow for greater movement. To keep windows and doors from sticking in the first place, make sure that they are sealed with a good coat of paint, including the tops and bottoms. Be careful not to paint the channels where windows need to slide, though—instead, use a light coat of linseed oil as a sealer.

Tip #10: To prepare for summer, make sure attics are well insulated and ventilated. Excess heat in the upstairs area of a two-story home, or the sensation of a ranch-style home feeling “hot from above” could indicate insufficient attic insulation and poor ventilation. The age of the home could be a culprit—home inspectors frequently cite poor attic insulation in houses built prior to 1984.