Lessons Learned From Home Ownership

Moving from an apartment to a newly purchased home is an awesome task! Getting organized by figuring out what you own, packing and moving it effectively takes willpower. energy and creativity. And that's only half the story, Managing things and yourself after moving in is the other half. You learn, although there are still things that you wish that someone told you about. such as STAY CALM AND THINK Say that the water heater or central air has stopped working and you feel yhe panic rising from within. Now is NOT the time to sit down and cry. Instead, take a deep breath and relax for a second. What contractors are available, where are they located and how do you contact them? It might help to have a handy list of who to call and their availability. No need to panic when you have the necessary information ready. HAVE A REGULAR SCHEDULE FOR CHORES AS HOUSEKEEPING. This is important to know, especially if you are a procrastinator! Saying or thinking that you will clean something later isn't going to cut it Things like laundry and dusting have a way of accumulating and worsening with time. A;; of those unfinished chores add up to an overwhelming mess! Do them now! Begin by deciding what days or times you will do laundry or go grocery shopping or clean the floors and make an appointment with yourself to do them Turn those appointments into a habit. PAY BILLS RIGHT AWAY Have a regular place to store bills temporarily until you can open and pay them. Mail payments asap. Keep a record of each payment. Or arrange to pay online. Doing so will give you an idea of how much disposable income is left OPT FOR WHOLE FOODS AS FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Avoid buying items as cakes pies and sodas. You will ne able to maintain a healthy weight and body. Dealing qith chronic diseases as diabetes is no fun. And you'll save tons of money on drugs and prescriptions. SHOP WISELY. Never buy on impulse! Take time to think/ Do you need an item immediately? For cleaning purposes, vinegar and alcohol may be cheaper and more effective options. What other jackets or slacks or tops would match with any new ones that you are being tempted to buy? How often would you wear the new items? Are they expensive or ill fitting?

Top 5 Ideas to Save Money at Home

1. Make your own cleaning products Vinegar It is widely known that white vinegar is one of our best friends when cleaning. It is powerful enough to dissolve grime from smooth surfaces, yet it cleans hardwood floorings without damaging them. White vinegar can be used to neutralise unpleasant smells, too. When you undertake a cleaning task around the kitchen, mix water with vinegar and use the solution to clean countertops and backsplash zones. In the bathroom, you can use the very same solution for cleaning the shower/tub walls and even the outside of the toilet. If the grime is too stubborn, heat the cleaning solution in the microwave and spray the affected area. Let the solution sit for a couple of minutes. Then rinse and that's it. Did you know that you can use vinegar as a fabric softener substitute, too? It is perfect especially if you have a sensitive skin. Baking soda The baking soda is the perfect replacement for expensive store-bought cleaning detergents. Sprinkle some soda onto a dampened sponge or a towel to deal with dirt particles. It has deodorising properties which is only another advantage. If the grime is a lot tougher than you thought, mix water with baking soda till paste is formed and apply it to the affected areas. The paste has to sit for about 15 minutes till the dirt deposits can be removed. Rubbing alcohol To wash the window or other glass surfaces, use rubbing alcohol. 2. Use old rags instead of paper towels If you want to save more money then using paper towels is not the right step you need to take. Actually, rags are much more absorbent than a paper towel. When they get dirty, you can easily launder them in the washing machine. 3. Ketchup to shine brass? Yes, this is not a joke. You can use ketchup to shine brass! So it is not necessary to buy a specialised brass detergent which definitely costs a lot of money. If you have ketchup in your fridge, all your problems are solved. Put a small amount of ketchup on a towel, scrub the surface and then rinse! 4. Dish soap for the win Not many people know it but dish soap can be used not only for washing the dishes. It can also remove stains. If you accidentally drop something on the carpet, treat the stain with a solution of warm water and a liquid dish soap. Forget about rushing to the near store to bye expensive carpet stain remover. 5. Make your own Laundry Soap You do not have to throw away precious money on buying a specialised laundry detergent when you can make your own at home. You will need 1 cup of washing soda, 1 cup of borax, a few drops of essential oil and a bar of grated bar soap. Start with grating the soap, then the washing soda an borax should be mixed. Simply add a dew drops of essential oils and mix all of the ingredients. Keep in hermetically sealed container or a jar.