No need to spend money on pink flamingos or other tacky decorations, even if it seems that’s all you can afford. The truth is that you can completely change the look of your yard for under $100.

• Yard figurines can be found at Home Depot, flower shops and sometimes at places like the Dollar Store. Choose items that would fit well with a garden theme, such as garden animals or fairies and place them under plants, so they appear to be peeking out, or next to potted plants.
• Plant flowers or trees alongside the edges of the garden. Or create smaller areas within a large yard by planting bushes to create sections. Potted plants also have a place in the yard. Simply set them up in a group in a corner. They’re a good option to create a feeling of lushness and will work in areas where there’s no soil, like near the front steps of the house or under the porch.
• Move some furniture outside. If you have an old table or a couple of chairs that you no longer want inside the house, move them to the yard and create a small breakfast area. Furniture left outside will be exposed to the elements and probably get ruined, so make sure you only use things you don’t mind losing.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you’re renting a place, chances are you’re not allowed to repaint it or make major changes to the structure or look of the place. This doesn’t mean you have to live with the impersonal, dull beige paint that is standard in most rented places. After you finish unpacking your moving boxes try some of the below changes you can make without altering the structure of the place:

• Use a piece of furniture or a folding screen to create a cozy area within a room or to divide a large room into two. The back of a sofa can create a division between the living and dining room, or you can use a bookcase to achieve the same result.
• Change the hardware in your kitchen cabinets. Choose something bright and bold, or something large and ornamental. Make them shine and make an impact.
• Hang large rugs on the wall to change the color without painting it. You might need to ask permission to put nails on the wall, though. Or use Velcro and something lighter, like sheets.
• Floors are easy: just buy a large area rug.
• Just because you can’t hang paintings on the wall doesn’t mean you should give up on the idea. Get an easel to display the pictures or place them on a table, leaning against the wall.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Throw away, donate, recycle. The three commandments of decluttering can save you lots of headaches when trying to get your home organized. If you’re having a hard time parting with things, follow these easy steps.

1. The Rule of 10. Organizers swear by the Rule of 10, which states that every 10 days, you should get rid of 10 items. You can choose anything from knickknacks to old clothes to expired food or old leftovers. Things can be donated or trashed, depending on what they are and their condition.

2. Designate homes for your things. Get large plastic containers, moving boxes, or an extra set of drawers and put everything away. This includes bills, paperwork, seasonal decorations or sport items. Create a rule that whatever gets into the house has to be put in its proper place within five hours (or within a day if you’re on the go).

3. Attack one room at a time. If the room is overflowing with things, attack one box or a drawer at a time. Go through it quickly, keeping only the things that you absolutely love or need. If you can’t decide within 10 seconds, let it go.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Moving is usually an emotional time and chances are you won’t be in the mood (or even have the energy) to make big decisions about anything. The truth, however, is that in the rush of packing boxes and getting ready to leave, you’ll probably end up taking things that you don’t want, need or even remember owning.

If you can plan your move in advance, a good way to make things easier on you (and save you money in the process) is to go through your belongings and get rid of everything you don’t consider essential. If you haven’t used it in a while, it’s broken or has no sentimental value, there’s no reason to cart it along to your next destination.

The process of discarding things should be quick. If you dwell too long on your decision, you’ll have a harder time letting go. Give yourself five seconds to decide whether you want to keep an item or not. If you hesitate, chances are you don’t really want it.

Have a few cardboard moving boxes set up and mark them with the words Trash, Recycle, Donate, Keep. As you go through your closet, kitchen cupboards or storage bags in the garage, quickly put items in specific moving boxes and then keep moving on to the next item. Once a box is full, resist the temptation of looking inside and instead just close it and put it away.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you thought time management was just for work or your social life, think again. Many of the activities we have to do at home can eat away at your time if you don’t plan them well. Lack of planning can also cost you money, as you might end up buying duplicate items or misplacing a bill and forgetting to pay it, resulting in a late fee. While getting organized is important, these time-management tips will also help you improve your home life:

Have a designated place for everything. If all the bills to pay go into a specific folder and all dirty clothes go into the hamper, you won’t lose time searching for them when you need them.

Plan your meals in advance or cook in batches. Instead of making a single lasagna, make two. It won’t take much more time and you can freeze it to use when you don’t have time to cook. Or spend a few hours on Sunday cooking and freezing meals so you don’t have to cook the rest of the week.

Buy in bulk. Not only will it save you money, but you’ll spend less time driving back and forth to the stores to replace things. Try to find a single store (or maybe a couple) that offer everything you need, so you don’t have to drive all over the city to replenish your pantry.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you run a business from home or have your own office, you will need to move it with you when you relocate. Bringing your office along can be complicated if you don’t plan well and in advance.

Before you do anything else, make sure you hire a shipping company that has any experience moving office. Sometimes known as “office removal specialists,” these people will know what should be packed in cardboard boxes and what shouldn’t, how to protect valuable equipment and how to dismantle and reassemble office furniture.

If you have electronic equipment, make sure it gets boxed using padding material and thick cardboard moving boxes. Always seal moving boxes with quality packing tape so there’s not risk of contents getting spilled or shift around.

Aside from moving the actual office equipment, you will need to move the logistics of the business. This means getting new business cards, renting a new office, changing your business address and making sure your clients can find you. If you can’t provide services at a distance, you will need to plan on finding new clients upon arrival.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Packing up the garage can be a little intimidating. Not only do most people keep all sorts of mechanical equipment here, but the garage is usually where unused items, broken or discarded pieces and even off-season decorations end up. When you’re ready to start packing your garage, here are a few tips to make the process as painless as possible.

Decide what things you absolutely must bring with you. Get rid of anything that you use only occasionally or that has passed its useful timeline. Sell heavy or bulky items such as patio umbrellas or grills unless they’re one-of-a-kind and it would be too difficult or expensive to replace them.

Buy heavy-duty cardboard boxes that will stand the weight of equipment and metal parts. Secure them with packing tape all around before you start boxing things away, as the boxes might be too heavy to maneuver properly after the packing is finished.

Secure tools and small metal parts with plastic tabs or place them inside Taperware containers. Make sure you fill the containers to the top so there is no shifting. Place the full containers at the bottom of the cardboard boxes to avoid damaging other items.

Take apart any moving parts, blades or glass sections. Wrap everything individually using bubble wrap for fragile items. Pack everything in bags (so the parts don’t become separated) and then pack inside the same box. Dismantle patio furniture if possible.

Contact a car shipping company if you’re planning on taking your car along. If you’re not moving too far, consider driving the car yourself. Not only will this save you money, but you can also use the backseat and trunk to move extra items that are not allowed in moving trucks, such as plants, or items that are not protected by insurance, such as photo albums, jewelry and CDs or DVDs.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Whether you work from home, run your own business or simply want a place where you can sit down to sort your bills, a home office can turn into a welcome haven. While having a dedicated room for it would be ideal, even a small corner in the living room or kitchen can be turned into a home office if you’re willing to make some sacrifices in space and design. Here’s how to set up a home office in five simple steps:

1. Choose the location. Make sure it’s in a quiet area where you’ll be able to concentrate and out of the way from major family traffic. You can convert a spare bedroom into a home office if possible or have a room play both duties.
2. Buy furniture that fits the space. Don’t buy the furniture first and then choose the placement, or you might be stuck with a piece that doesn’t fit properly or wastes space. For small areas in the kitchen or living room, a small rectangular table with a drawer or a corner desk should be enough. If you can have your own room, consider an L-shaped desk, so you can maximize the surface space.
3. Make a list of the equipment you will need. If budget is tight, start with the basics and then add other pieces as money becomes available. Essential items include a computer, phone (with its own line if you’re running a business), printer (or invest in a 3-in-1 scanner, printer and fax machine) and answering machine. You will also need a hutch or a filing cabinet where you can store office supplies and paperwork.
4. Invest in a good lamp, so you can work without straining your eyes. Even if you have good overhead light, get a desk lamp.
5. Personalize the area. Make it inviting so you will want to spend time there. Add some picture frames with either personal photos or images you love. Make sure your chair is well padded, especially if you decide not to go with a standard office chair. Keep small baskets and penholders on the desk so it’s easy to organize everything at the end of the day.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Wood pellets stoves arte one of the most efficient heating sources you can have in a room. While they can’t warm up the whole house, they will keep a single room quite nicely and without a big expense. While wood pellet stoves burn wood, they don’t burn logs. You will need to buy special wood shavings or sawdust to burn in them.  They do have the advantage of costing less and taking less space to store than logs and larger-size wood pieces.

When it comes to choosing a wood pellet stove, keep in mind:

• Do you already have a fireplace? If so, you can install a special model of wood pellet stove right into it. If not, you can buy a freestanding model (more expensive).

• How much work do you want to do? Cheaper models are more manual-oriented, while more expensive options are completely automated. This means you don’t have to feed the pellets into the stove but only fill up the hopper (a special holding compartment) and the pellets will be released into the fire as needed.

• Check what the contract and service agreement provide and for how long. Because wood pellet stoves have moving parts, chances are you will to have it serviced at some point, which can be expensive if you have to pay out of pocket.

• Finally, choose a size that is big enough to heat the whole room, or you’ll end up wasting energy. You’ll need 25 to 30 BTU per each square foot of room.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Mirrors can do a lot more than serve as a beauty aid. Placed in the right corner or area of your house, they can become a cheap and original way to change the look and feel of a room. Here are some good ideas on how to use mirrors:

• Place a mirror on top of a side table or coffee table and place a series of candles on top. The mirror will double the light and reflect it in unusual and fun ways, depending on what other lights you have on in the room.
• Hang a large mirror on the wall of a small room to make it appear larger.
• Hang a mirror next to window so the light from outside bounces on it and multiplies, making the room appear lighter and brighter. This is an ideal solution for rooms that are naturally dark or cave-like.
• Make a collective display using small mirrors as both decoration and as a trick to increase room size. Choose several mirrors of the same format but different sizes or mix and vice versa. Making sure all mirrors have something in common (size, form, frame or frameless, etc.) will create a more uniform display. This works well on bathroom or dining room wall or on the wall next to a staircase.
• Cover a plain wood tray with a mirror. You can use super glue or craft glue to secure it in place. You can then place the table on a dresser or a window ledge and use it to store perfumes, small knick knacks or jewelry.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites