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With prices rising everywhere it’s time to get smart about how we use our money. Money is difficult to earn and easy to spend but with a few smart solutions, you can make everyday savings easily. Everyday savings soon add up and can become substantial quite quickly. 

Switch Providers 

Did you know that utility companies don’t reward loyal customers? It’s true, the longer you stay with a provider the more they take you for granted. But the same providers offer excellent discounts to new customers, so, where is the incentive to stay? It’s better to switch providers. 

With energy costs rising continually there has never been a better time to consider switching to save some money on your everyday energy costs. Search the market for a provider that fits your home requirements, many of them offer renewable options. Switch often and save more.   

Budgeting Apps

Budgeting just became a whole lot easier with budgeting apps. Budgeting apps are easy to download and use, you don’t need any special technical skills or knowledge. These days, budgeting apps are super smart as well, they connect to bank accounts for automatic savings. 

Research budgeting apps and choose one that works for you, it’s worth picking a well-known brand or researching the security of the app – most well-known apps are reliable. Create settings that work for you and watch your daily savings increase, you can also invest money. 

No Spending Days 

Sometimes it feels as if there is always money going out and not enough of it coming in, that’s why you need no spending days. No spending days are exactly as described, you make an effort not to spend anything all day. It can be adapted into a low-spending day if that works. 

Of course, it might not be possible to have a no-spending day, there might be bills to pay for instance, but that doesn’t mean you have to go online and buy those candles for the house, wait until a spending day comes around. This discipline can help to save substantial sums of money. 

Cut the Cable 

It might seem like an absurd suggestion, no cable means no TV, but realistically you are prying more for the cable and the online subscription service than you need to. Most people don’t get their money’s worth from cable television and subscriptions give you an on-demand service. 

If you switch from an expensive cable package to a few subscription services you can cut the costs of television in your home and focus your time in front of the screen. There are even ways to subscription hop so that you get the shows you love without paying through the nose.  

Understand Habits 

Understanding your personal habits is one of the best ways to save. If you go to the gym at least twice a week it’s worth taking out a gym subscription, and if you love watching movies in the theater it might be worth getting a monthly pass to see the latest movies on the big screen. 

At the same time, you might want to cancel an online subscription service because you don’t use it nearly enough, or cut down on takeaways to support your health and fitness goals. Spend some time monitoring your everyday habits – perhaps with a notebook – and make the changes. 

Coupon Codes 

It’s not just energy that is getting more expensive these days, everything including food, fuel, housing, clothing; all the essential things in life. It’s challenging but there are ways to cut costs and save on an everyday basis. Most major brands and supermarkets offer coupon codes.   

Take unbounce coupon code, for example, Unbounce is a coupon code provider that offers amazing discounts for a full range of products and services online and offline. For an affordable monthly subscription, you can access thousands of coupon deals and save money on spending.   

Frugal Living 

We all love a special latte at the local coffee shop but they are also getting more and more expensive. Nowadays, buying a coffee from a major brand on the high street costs the same as an entire lunch just a few years ago. Don’t cut out all your treats but live smart and live frugally. 

Instead of buying an expensive coffee on the high street you can make one in your home and take it with you in a tumbler. Tumblers are perfect for keeping your coffee warm for a long time so you can happily take it with you and drink it at a later time. A thermos is an even better idea. 

Side Hustles 

Saving everyday money is important, but so is earning it. Side hustles are easier than ever to set up and turn into small profitable businesses on the side. If you work from home or run a family, a side hustle is an excellent way to support your income and reduce your spending. 

Some effective side-hustle ideas include an e-commerce store, freelance writing, influencer marketing, dog walking services, and more. If you have a little extra time in your life when the kids are asleep or at school, why not put it to good use and earn some money for your home?  

Buy Quality 

Recent years have seen an increase in fast fashion, that is low-quality clothing for an affordable price. Fast fashion gives people the dopamine rush of buying a new item, but the item doesn’t last very long, it might tear or get damaged in the wash. These clothes are also unsustainable. 

The answer is to buy high-quality clothing that is sustainable and lasts for many years. Sustainable clothing brands have ethical supply chains and support workers in poor regions and conditions, they also have a lower carbon footprint. Quality clothes provide better value. 

Manage Emotions 

When it comes to saving you need to manage your emotions, especially when you have that impulse to spend. The impulse to spend can be overwhelming so bring your attention to your breathing and ask yourself whether you need or want the item. Maybe you can buy it later on? 

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Your kitchen is a crucial part of your home. It’s where you spend family time, entertain guests, and cook and share meals. You want it to feel like home, which means you want it to look updated and modern, with touches of your personality. If your kitchen doesn’t feel this way, you probably want to renovate it, but are scared of the steep prices. When you’re renovating a kitchen, the cost can feel like an investment in your home that’s out of reach. But the good news is that there are ways to completely change the way expenses look while you renovate your kitchen. There are ways to reduce the cost without sacrificing quality or function. The key is planning ahead and anticipating all costs of the renovation. This can save you big bucks without making you put up with a kitchen that is far from your liking for years to come. Here are some tips for how to save money during a kitchen renovation:

Ask for quotes from multiple contractors

The average cost of a kitchen renovation ranges from $11,000 to $35,000. This doesn’t include the cost of the appliances, which can easily add another $7,000 to $10,000 to the bill. But there are ways to reduce the upfront cost of a renovation and get a better final product for your dollar. The first way to do this is to ask for multiple quotes from different contractors. Don’t just ask one contractor for a quote. Shop around a little bit and check out your options. Although there are no laws requiring contractors to disclose their rates, most will give you a ballpark estimate if asked. What you’re after is an apples-to-apples comparison of contractor rates. Get estimates from two or three contractors, and compare the costs for the types of materials and services you want. Then you can decide who you want to do your renovations through based on quality and cost, instead of just putting blind faith into one company.

Consider renovating in phases

If you’re renovating your kitchen, it’s likely you have a budget. The trick is to stay within that budget while still getting everything you want. One way to do that is to break the renovation into multiple phases. This will immediately stress some readers out. It is, obviously, much more satisfying to complete the renovation as quickly as possible and has a big reveal worthy of Chip and Joanna Gaines, but a lot of the time this just isn’t practical. Consider dicing the renovation up into phases and saving money for the next phase in between. The first phase might include cabinetry. You could do the appliances for the next phase. That way, you have time to recover from the cost of the cabinetry before paying for new appliances and installation. Then, when you feel financially comfortable, you can start the next project like flooring. It might not be as immediately satisfying, but it will help tremendously in the financial long run.

Shop around for your appliances and materials

When it comes time to shop for your appliances and materials, don’t just walk into the first store you see. In fact, you should probably avoid big-box stores as much as possible. Big-box stores often offer low prices on appliances and materials, but they get their savings by cutting corners on quality. You want a high-quality product that will last. If you travel to several stores to compare prices, you are much more likely to get a high-quality appliance that doesn’t break the bank. You can also shop around for better prices online. There are many online retailers that are able to offer lower prices because they don’t have to pay for overhead.

Sell as much of your old kitchen as possible

Finally, when you’re renovating your kitchen, you can save a lot of money if you sell some of your old kitchens. This is the most commonly overlooked way to save money during renovations overall, not just in the kitchen. Contractors are always looking for cheap sources of used materials. Sometimes, they’ll even pay individual homeowners such as yourself for the items that you’re getting rid of. You can sell scrap lumber and metal, as well as your old tiles and ceramics. Your appliances are great items to consider reselling as well. There are online platforms that will tell you who buys old refrigerators near you. You can also consider posting your materials on a buy/sell/trade Facebook group in your town, listing them on Craigslist, or offering them to friends, family, and neighbors.

A baby is an exciting prospect, and holding your own child is like nothing else in the world. Yet there is a lot of preparation to be done beforehand, and most of it comes down to your finances. Being financially prepared before the arrival of your baby means that you won’t have to worry, and you can really enjoy the experience rather than being distracted by money troubles all the time. Here are some of the ways to be ready financially when your baby arrives. 

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Speak To Your Employer 

Not all women are guaranteed to be paid any form of maternity money when they take time off to have a baby, and it is important that you know this as early in your pregnancy as possible – or perhaps even before you start trying for a baby. Knowing whether or not you can take paid leave is crucial because it will make all the difference when it comes to how much you need to put to one side. 

If you’re concerned about talking to your employer, check your contract to see what it says – there should be a section that deals with exactly this situation. If not, you should seek expert advice because your contract may not be valid. Whatever the outcome, knowing how much (if anything) you will be paid when you are taking time off with your baby is hugely important. 

Make A Budget 

It is also important to know how much money you are going to be spending on your new baby. There are some things that are absolutely necessary from the start, and these include:

• Finding a great OBGYN, such as those at https://www.wwhfrisco.com/ 
• Clothing
• Diapers
• Formula if you are not breastfeeding

When they are old enough you can get some fabulous gifts that will really last at EasyTot, saving you money in the long run as they won’t have to be replaced. 

When you are making your budget, it’s a good idea to look into life insurance too. If anything should happen to you, having the best term life insurance you can get – ideally one that would pay off your mortgage – is crucial for the financial security of your baby.

Start Saving 

The earlier you start saving for your baby’s arrival, the better. Put whatever you can spare into a savings account, ideally with a high-yield interest rate, and you will be a lot more comfortable when you can no longer work, and your income is no longer coming in (assuming you don’t get any maternity pay). 

Sell What You Don’t Need 

If you need to gain some extra money and you want to free up some space for your baby’s new things, you can sell the items in your home that you don’t need anymore. There are a number of different ways to do this, such as selling online or at a garage sale. Put the money you make into your savings fund, and it will soon grow. Don’t sell things you are going to need or that mean a lot to you unless it’s absolutely necessary, but this is the ideal time to really take an objective look around your home and de-clutter while also making some cash. 

Think About Childcare

Parents-to-be always have to make a hard choice. If one of you stays home, your combined income goes down, but if you both go to work, you may have to pay for childcare, which can be expensive.

Obviously, you could avoid this cost if you have family in the area or friends who are willing to watch your kids. But for those who can’t do this, it’s best to make plans ahead of time. Ask around about local nurseries and babysitters so you can get an idea of what’s out there and how much it will cost. There may also be waiting lists, so if you do your research now, you’ll be ready when the baby comes.

As a side note, even if one of you plans to stay at home for much longer than the first year, you should still think about childcare if you don’t have family or friends who can watch the child. Taking care of a baby or toddler all day, every work day is a great way to get to know them better, but it can also be hard to handle. Even a half day of child care once a week can help a parent who stays home with their kids get some rest.

Your retirement years can be the best years of your life, but that won’t automatically be the case. You’ll need to make it happen. After a lifetime of work, it can take a little bit of time to get used to life without the constraints of employment. But it’s important that you do so — you only live once, after all! Plus, no one ever regrets living their best life in retirement. People only regret the opposite. In this blog, we’ll look at some useful tips for ensuring your golden years are the best of your life. 

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Dream Big 

Now’s the time to dream big. You can dream big when you’re working, but mostly only in a career sense. Now you’ve got the time to explore other sides of your being. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas of how you should spend your retirement, begin by asking yourself, “what’s the best possible life I could lead”? You might find that your top choice isn’t realistic for whatever reason, but no worries, then you can just move down until you see something that is realistic. It’s good to be ambitious at all times, and retirement is no different.

Get Moving

It’s easy to fall into a static way of living. Many people end up staying at home much more than they’d like to in their retirement years, and it’s not necessarily through choice. If you feel yourself getting stuck in a rut, then get moving. When you’re not sure of where to go or what to do, moving in just about any direction will help you. You might have to stay outside of your comfort a little, but that’s fine — in fact, it’s recommended that you do that. You never know where it might take you!

Take Care Of Your Body

If your body is in good shape, then you’ll find it’s much easier to live your best life. You’ll have energy and confidence in yourself, and those two things put together can be a powerful force. There are a million ways to take care of your body. You might want to get a hair transplant or vaginal rejuvenation treatment or finally have surgery for an injury that you’ve been putting off. Or you might decide to invest in your wellbeing in other ways, such as by starting exercising or engaging in weekly yoga practice. It can take time for the benefits of those activities to arrive, but when they do, you’ll notice the impact. 

Keep an Open Mind 

Finally, remember to keep an open mind. We’re all prone to getting stuck in our ways, but that doesn’t mean that those ways are the best thing for us — there could be something better out there if we just look. Plus, by keeping an open mind, you’ll find that you’re able to have many more experiences than you otherwise would. You might end up seeing concerts that you’d previously ignored or try new hobbies that turn into your new passion.

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Cutting your costs is a great way to save money or make ends meet when times are hard financially, but being frugal does not always mean cutting costs to the bone, and there are some things that you should avoid cutting at all if you want to take good care of your financial life, including the following:

Insurance

Okay, so you can definitely switch to a more affordable insurance provider in many cases, and it is sensible to do so, but you should never think about canceling your insurance policies to save money because it is a decision that is highly likely to come back on you in the future, particularly if it is health or pet insurance. Insurance protects you when things go wrong, so you should look to make cuts in any other area you can before you let your circumstances affect your insurance policies.

Security

If you live in an area where crime is a concern, taking precautions like installing a telephone intercom and having a manned security system in place are a good way to keep safe, You might be tempted to not bother with them because it is an expense you can do without, but if it means you lose your peace of mind, and potentially your safety, it is definitely not worth it.

Healthy food

Eating healthy food helps to keep you fit and healthy so you can keep working, live longer, and hopefully not need medical treatment. This means that it is a net benefit to you that will likely save you a lot of money over the years. So, if you can, try to avoid cutting spending on healthy food and find other areas, like unnecessary subscriptions where you can make cuts instead. That is not to say that you cannot look at finding healthy groceries at lower prices, but do not do so at the expense of your nutrition.

The Internet

You might think getting rid of the internet is a good way to cut down on your costs, but if you have any other choice, keep your internet subscription in place. Why? Because these days everything from banking to applying for jobs is often done online, it is no longer an essential but a utility, and without it, you would struggle to do things as well as other people. Not only that, but the internet can be a good source of frugal information and bargains in its own right, so if you use it properly., it will undoubtedly save you time and money over the years. It really is that simple. So, switch to a cheaper provider, yes, but do not turn it off completely.

Cutting costs when they are non-essential or when they really do constitute a saving is sensible, but as you can see, it is not always the smartest move to make in a number of important areas. So, in your quest to be more frugal, always remember to think carefully, be smart, and only sacrifice things that it truly makes sense to do so.

With the rising cost of nearly every food item having a drastic impact on the average weekly grocery bill, it’s never been more important to learn some handy tricks that can help you cut the cost of eating well. Fortunately, this guide contains some of the most effective ideas that you can make the most of to cut your food bill today, so if you’re interested in learning more, then simply read on!

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Buy Your Favorite Ingredients In Bulk 

Do you and your family absolutely love pasta, or can you not get enough of fried foods, coated in breadcrumbs and crisped in oil? Then buying in bulk could certainly be a great option to help you save cash, as there are so many food items that you can purchase in larger quantities which work out to be cheaper overall. For example, it’s far more affordable to buy 5 kilograms of rice than it would be to purchase lots of 500-gram packets, as there is less packaging and many manufacturers offer a better deal when you want to buy a bigger amount. Make sure that you only ever stock up on ingredients that aren’t going to go out of date very easily, such as oils, seasonings, canned foods, jars (preserves, sauces, etc), baking items (flour; breadcrumbs, etc ), as you can safely store these in your pantry without having to worry about them going to waste too quickly. You can also buy frozen foods in bulk to save cash too, as it’s generally much more affordable to buy a big packet of frozen chicken breasts than it would be to find a much smaller fresh version. Bulk is always best when you’re looking to cut the cost of your grocery bill!

Find Cost-Cutting Recipes 

There are lots of cost-cutting recipes that you can explore to save money on your food bill without having to forfeit taste. You might be wondering how to make chicken Parmesan on a budget, but thankfully you needn’t have to fork out for a meal at your local Italian restaurant to enjoy your favorite dish – there are so many cheap recipes for every kind of cuisine when you can just take the time to seek them out! Taking the time to find affordable recipes online could transform your weekly grocery bill, and you’ll even gain the opportunity to expand your skills in the kitchen too – what’s not to love?! It can be a good idea to find a few recipes that feature a couple of key ingredients, as this way you can buy them in bulk as mentioned above to save even more cash. 

Cutting your food bill has never been such a simple task when you can take the opportunity to utilize some of the brilliant tips and ideas that have been carefully detailed above, so what are you waiting for? Get out there and transform the cost of your grocery shopping today for the sake of your bank balance!

Currently, the housing market is healthy. This will depend on where you live, but it’s true for most places. However, experts aren’t predicting that’s going to be the case one year from now. Next summer could be a completely different story. That’s why it’s important to know how to sell a home in a less than desirable market for the right price. Here are some suggestions we recommend. 

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Photography 

When it comes to making your home look amazing, it is incredibly important to photograph it well. You can do this yourself, however, there are professional housing photographers that can do a much better job. Usually, if you are selling your home through a realtor, they will know someone who will photograph your home. The difference between you doing the photography and an actual photographer will be the lighting and the high-tech camera. This is able to see past any imperfections and you will have potential buyers queuing up at the door. 

The Home Touches 

It is all about how you make your home look and feel. You don’t want your home to be so tidy it ends up looking like a show home. Potential buyers are always looking for a home that is well-looked after and appears lived in. There are small touches you can make to your home to make it more appealing to buyers. You can make sure the garden is ship-shaped with the addition of some beautiful flowers. 

Landscaping 

You might also want to consider options such as landscaping. Remember, first impressions count when you are selling a property. The first impression that they receive, with the exception of pictures, will always be the outside. So, you need to make sure that you are putting your best foot forward here. One of the ways that you can do this is by getting a landscaper to completely reinvent your yard and ensure that it looks absolutely incredible. Of course, you do need to be wary of the budget. You don’t want to spend more than you’re going to get back from a final sale figure. 

Staging 

First, you should think about staging your property the right way. Home staging is a critical service for people interested in selling their homes. It essentially presents your home in the right light with experts suggesting that it could add as much as 20% to the value of your property. You can stage your home without help however it can be worth hiring a professional. They’ll see things that you won’t because they’ll be looking at your home from an outsider’s perspective. 

Staging might cost a little money. However, you will always get back more than you’ll ever need to spend in this area. 

We hope this helps you understand how to sell your home when the real estate market isn’t quite as lively and vibrant as you might like. By exploring the right options here, you can avoid a situation where you end up losing money that you might need to buy your next property.