Home Improvement for Women

Keep checking back for great money saving DIY and lifestyle ideas. Here are ten that will get you started on building up, not taking from, your nest egg – and make your life beter too.

1. Sign up for your electric company’s off peak use plan. Many regional power suppliers now offer rebates for consumers who reduce their electricity consumption during periods of peak demand. For instance, wash clothes (and dry them outside) and dishes very early in the morning or in the evening and use a programmable thermostat that is programmed to switch off or lower iteself when you are not at home. You’ll save from $25 to $50 per month on your energy bills depending on the season. Plus, you’re easing the strain on the power grid and lowering the odds of a blackout.

2. Make your own cleaning solutions. For instance, white vinegar and baking soda. A few bucks in extra pantry supplies. Ounce for ounce, homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth of commerical counterparts and they are better for you and the environment. You can save $50 or more per  year on commercial cleaners. A good all-purpose cleaner can be made with 1/2 cup of baking soda; 1-cup distilled white vinegar; 1/4 cup basic liquid detergent; and a drop of any essential oil you like (for natural fragrance). Mix in a bowl and place in one or two glass jars. Use on a sponge to wash almost any surface. Use hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice to wash white and brighten colors (much gentler than harsh chlorine bleach) and let white dry in the sun to bleach and refresh them further.

Make a safe and effective window cleaner by combining 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon of liquid  detergent , 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar, 2 cups of water and place in a spray bottle. Shake gently and use as you wood any spray window cleaner. Liquid detergent is very important because it will cut the residue built up on your glass surfaces from commercial brands you may have used for a long time.

3. Insulate hot-water lines. Performed foam tubes found at home centers are made to fit around pipes thanks to the slit along their length. Takes minutes to complete once you have the foam, and will save $50 per year on energy, and cuts the wait for hot water to come into upstairs sink and shower in half.

4. When replacing a roof choose a light color. While real estate agents may love dark colors (because buyers think they are attractive) light colored shingles have energy costs by reducing the need for air conditioning in hot weather (because light roofs reduced absorption of solar heat. Light roofs cost the same as dark versions, and can save $40 per year or more on summer cooling costs. This cool rook may even earn you a utility company rebate.

5. Shift your shopping strategy. Seasonal sale shopping and looking to your communityfor free stuff is a great way to save a lot of money when you need to replace or buy for the first time things like summer and fall equipment and gardening resources. For example, replace your grill, lawn mower, and patio furniture in the fall, when stores mark down their inventory to make room for holiday decorations and snow blowers. Some online retailers will offer free or greatly reduced shipping fees to unload their extra inventory. Buy firewood  in the spring when it’s cheaper than in winter-and give it some extra time to “season”. Hire a chimney sweep during the summer when their schedules are wide open, and their prices reduced. Look for free trees and shrubs from your town’s yard-waste recycling center. You may score free trees and shrubs from your town too -many municipalities proved and plant ornamental trees between the sidewalk in front of your house and the street. And some will allow residents to pick up greenery that is being changed out for new landscaping plants in front of public buildings.

6. Install a ceiling fan. If you don’t have ceiling fans now, you should have one in each bedroom and common areas-they efficiently and effectively reduce the need for air conditioning and heating. In the winter, run the fan at low speed in a clockwise direction to re-circulate warm air that rises to the ceiling (and lower your thermostat by a couple of degrees). Reverse the fan direction in summer so the airflow creates a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler-and allowing you to turn down or off your AC.

7. Plug in a SmartStrip. Rather than unplugging battery run or electric items after every use, plug them into SmartStrip surge protectors in your kitchen and home office. It automatically kills power to electronics when you turn the strips off and returns it when you switch them back on. You might save up to $250 per year in energy costs especially if your family uses a lot of battery run electronics, like mp3 players, cell phones, laptops and small appliances.

8. Raise the roof on your deductible. If you switch your home owners insurance deductible from $250 to $1,000, or $500 to $2000, you can save $200 – $300 or more on payments per year or more if you have a valuable home. You also won’t be tempted to make small claims , which can (and most likely will) lead to a rise in your rate.

9. Time it. We love this one-put a timer in  your kid’s or your shower. The moderately priced and DIY-easy to install, battery-operated device (about $100-$120)limits showers to 5, 8 or 11 minutes (a 5-minute shower is very earth friendly). Not only can you save $250 a year or more on hot water bills, the whole family will be more likely to have a family breakfast and make it to the office and classroom on time.

10. Make an appeal. When you get your property tax assessment, don’t just blindly accept it. Reject it – or at least go in person to your municipality tax office and appeal it. One in three homeowners who do visit their assessor get their bills reduced, so the odds are with you. That’s according to the National Taxpayers Union. They sell an inexpensive brochure ($7) at www.ntu.org, How to fight Property Taxes that helps homeowners strategize before you go in. You may shave off $400-$500 off your yearly bill for a long time, since assessments are not done on a frequent basis.

These are some things that you can do to help save money and you can do it Barbara’s Way!

The weather authority has predicted a cold winter this year and now is the time to hang those heavier curtains to block window drafts. I am going to tell you how to install/adjust curtain rods and make your windows appear larger.

What you will need: Drapery rod and hardware, 10′ or 25′ tape measure, 4 in 1 level, stud finder, power drill with screwdriver bits or a 6 in 1 interchangeable screw driver, screws and anchors (if studs are out of line with where rods need to go), hammer, pencil, putty knife, joint compound, wall paint, drapery, additional fabric (if necessary to make the drapery longer).

How to get it done:

1. Decide where you want to hang your curtain rod by holding the rod up to the wall. A good placement is about 2 inches below the ceiling. However, if you have large finials, make sure they will fit without bumping the ceiling. All curtain hardware should clear the ceiling by at least 1 inch.
2. Use your level to make sure the position is straight. Be sure your curtain rod will support the weight of the curtains. If the curtains are very heavy, or the curtain rod is longer than 48 inches, use a center bracket for additional support. In general, long rods come with the additional center bracket.
3. Once you’ve decided on the placement of the brackets, use your pencil to lightly mark the top of the bracket and then nail holes on the chosen site.
4. Use the stud finder to locate the wall studs. If you find studs where your brackets are to go, use the power drill to make shallow holes, no more than 1/8″ inch (called pilot holes) to help you start the screws and secure your hardware to the walls.
5. You’ll need to use hollow-wall anchors if you’re going to attach the brackets directly to the walls. Drill a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the anchor you are using, then tap the anchor into the wall with a hammer.
6. Use a putty knife to apply joint compound to fill holes left when you removed the drapes from their original, lower position. Allow the patches to dry and then repaint them with your wall color.
7. If you are altering your original drapes, sew a fabric panel to the bottom of your drape to meet the floor.

Now you can press your curtains and hang them up. And you did it yourself, Barbara’s Way!