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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.

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. 

Being a single parent can honestly be pretty tough. There may be a wave of reasons why you’re having to go about this journey alone, but in the end, you know in your heart that you’re still going to be providing your little one with nothing but the very best. While many parents are having to get second jobs in order to keep their family afloat, there are some other things that can be done to help keep your family happy and healthy. 

You can make money work for you, while it doesn’t mean that everything is going to be perfect, you can still make it work for you in the end. So, here are some ways that you can cut some costs here and there while being a single parent.

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Opt for cheaper food options

When it comes to getting groceries for the family, this can honestly be tough. One of the best things to do is to make a very tight budget. While yes, this can mean that your children will be eating more things that they dislike, it’s just going to be something that is going to need to be done. Couponing can honestly be great, and this is also a way to cut back on costs. 

Switching to generic brands for groceries can also be an additional way to get more for your buck as well. And last, but certainly not least, it may be best to not buy prepackaged meals. While yes, they taste great and are super quick to make, these can be two to five times more expensive than making something by scratch. But of course, you’ll need to use your discretion and think about how much time you have each day to cook for your little ones.

Cut back on entertainment

This may not exactly be ideal, but it might be best to take a good look at what you’re spending on entertainment each month. If you have a bunch of subscriptions, it may be best to cut them in half. Something like the internet at home is going to be needed, but maybe not that Hulu subscription or that Disney Plus subscription. 

There are free options out there for entertainment such as YouTube. But what about family outings? While you shouldn’t cut back on that, you can cut down on costs such as going to the park, taking a walk, or seeing if there are free events within your area.

Pack your child’s lunch

If your child is in daycare or school, then usually the food needs to be paid for there unless you and your child are in some program. These lunches are usually terrible and expensive. Instead, it may be best to make the food for your child. This alone can save you quite a bit of money and you know exactly what they like. This way, you’re providing a great lunch, they get their nutrition, and you’re saving money. This alone can be a win-win!

Go thrifting

While years ago, thrift shops use to have a negative stigma, this has been thankfully changed due to being eco-friendly. Buying your children’s toys and clothes at a thrift shop can be a great way to be eco-friendly while still saving money. While you don’t need to buy all of their clothes from there, some things can be purchased. Kids grow up fast, and their clothes may not last too long anyway. So, with this in mind, going thrift shopping can be far more beneficial than at first glance.

Cut back on trips

While this is never ideal, this may need to be something that you have to do. Try to not go on a trip every year, and instead try to make it every other year, that alone gives you time to save up. When it comes to being a parent, you deserve support. You deserve praise, validation, and emotional support for single mothers is out there. It’s never easy being a single parent and for one reason or another, with these circumstances being thrown at you, it’s just so important to know that you’re strong. It can be stressful, and even downright scary to feel like you can’t provide all of those nice luxuries that other parents give to their kids. 

But just remember, you’re doing the very best that you can to be a good parent. You’re doing the very best that you can in order to provide the things they need and deserve. While it can be very discouraging from time to time, just remember that you’re doing the best that you can with the circumstances that you’re dealing with.