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Sunday, November 25, 2012

13 ways to save money around the house

Save money and update your home room-by-room with these smart money-saving ideas for the bedroom, bath, kitchen and living room.


Tips to save money

These easy budget ideas will help you spend less on everything from pillows to paper towels. By learning to save money on the home necessities (like cleaning supplies and bedding) you'll be able to keep your home beautiful and keep some money in the bank.


Money-saving ideas for the bedroom

You don't have to spring for new furniture to give this room a makeover. Just update the room's centerpiece: the bed. Pick up a comforter or duvet cover, matching sheets and pillow shams that you find on sale.


Save on bedroom window treatments

From time to time, department stores such as JCPenney and Sears heavily discount curtains and blinds (up to 80 percent off). Make friends with an employee and ask when a clearance sale will be taking place.


Save on bedroom linens

Watch for semiannual bedding blowouts to get deep discounts at retailers—many hold sale.Smartbargains.com, overstock.com and similar sites are the best online sources for high-quality sheets (and other items such as comforters, towels and curtains) at low prices; check them regularly.

 

Cut costs on bathroom basics

Don't let the cost of bathroom supplies eat up your household budget. Save money on the basics and spend a little on the big impact items.

Rather than buy individual hand soaps just buy a large, inexpensive bottle of shampoo. Fill a pump container with half water and half shampoo and use as hand soap. Also you can use it as body wash and bubble bath. (Join the Sally Beauty Club for $5 to get discounts on hair products at 
sallybeauty.com and in stores.)

 

Make your own

There is no need to spend on pricey bath products. You can save money by making your own body scrub.

Just put 1 cup sugar in an airtight container; pour in enough olive oil to cover. Add a few drops lemon or orange extract and stir. This homemade scrub will keep your skin soft and smelling fresh.

Add colorful towels in the bathroom

A colorful new set of plush towels perks up the bathroom. Find options at closeout stores, like T.J. Maxx and Big Lots, or at overstock Web sites, where you can get name-brand items for a fraction of the retail price.
 

Save money in the kitchen

Reduce spending on the kitchen basics and you'll be surprised how much money you can save. For example, extend the life of your kitchen sponge by tossing it in with a load of dishes in the dishwasher every couple of days or so. This will sanitize it and give you several additional weeks' use.
 

Stop buying paper towels

In addition to being a money-saving move, repurposing old T-shirts and cloth diapers as dishrags and cleaning cloths cuts down on waste, so it's better for the environment.
 

Save money on food by freezing

Stock up when the prices are low on your favorite grocery items. Toss them in deep freeze so they'll be fresh when you need them. Buy shredded cheese in bulk when you see a deal. Sprinkle in cornstarch to prevent sticking, then freeze. Consider storing herbs and spices and loaves of bread in the freezer, too, to extend their shelf life.

 

Cut down on kitchen energy costs

After the dishwasher's final rinse, open the door and pull out the racks. Let the dishes air-dry to save electricity.
 

Update the look of your living room

New pillows can brighten a room, as well as hide stains on worn couches and chairs. Buy inexpensive pillow covers ($5 to $10 each) at stores such as Ikea or Bed Bath and Beyond for a quick update and splash of color from season to season.
 

Decorate the walls for less

Design a photo display instead of buying expensive art. Find affordable frames at a craft store, like Hobby Lobby, which sells frames for half off several times a year. Choose different sizes but the same color, and place them together on a wall.
 

Spruce up the floors.

Make your own cleaning solution for your floors. Pick up some wood floor restorer at a hardware store. Just mop it on your floors to make them look shiny and new. One product to try: Rejuvenate floor restorer and protectant.
From Allyou.com/ Posted by Mags

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