Cheapie Ways to Stretch your Dollar in the Bathroom

Decorating or re-decorating your bathroom does not have to cost you your entire savings, or your whole paycheck. You can find creative ways to renovate one of your home's most-used rooms for a fraction of what you may think it would cost.

Useful Bathroom Re-Decoration Tips

You can find plenty of timeless decorative items at thrift stores, rummage sales, and online stores. Items people have found to accent their bathroom include one or more of the following: brass toilet paper holders, tissue holders, hanging shelves, towel racks, and shower curtains.Â

If you do not like the color of your bathroom tile you can find paint that is especially made for porcelain materials at your local hardware store. You might even be able to find out if you can repaint your toilet as well which would save you even more money.

Beware that you will need to sand it before you attempt to paint any porcelain fixture. You will also want to take precaution by testing the paint in an inconspicuous area of the fixture you want to change the color of. is advisable to test the paint in an inconspicuous area of the time you want to change.

If you want to somehow update your outdated bathroom color scheme you can do so without ripping the entire bathroom apart. For instance, sometimes if you add the smallest change, such as wallpaper border that blends with the two or more colors of your bathroom.

You can also accent the outdated color scheme by purchasing inexpensive modern bathroom decor. For instance, you can buy a toothbrush cover, soap dish, tissue holder, or framed picture to hang in this beloved room of your home.Â

Perhaps if you want a change paint the walls of your bathroom to compliment your cabinets, sink, or bathtub if they are a different color. Similarly, you can use colored rugs that coordinate or contrast with the rest of the colors of your fixtures.

One recommendation for painting in your bathroom that would not take much work or money would be the "in" color Terra Cotta. It is one that is more popular now. You could possibly use various texturing techniques to combine a new color over the top of the old color if your walls are still in prime condition.

If you have a very, very, old and ugly shade of green, yellow, gold, orange, or similar color you could try for a certain theme. For instance, you might want to try a tropical theme, and perhaps you can find a palm tree border.

You can take care of rust problems on fixtures such as towel bars with a special cleaner. Before you know it they will be like new again. Rust-o-leum paint is one of the most current recommendations, and they are coming out with brand new colors now.Â

Another easy way to add some life to your stale bathroom is to purchase stencils and special craft paints. In fact, one experience indicates certain craft paints are removable from tile just by applying a razor blade (something to try at your own risk, especially if you rent).

The use of Deco-Stix or cling plastic accents is also used to decorate tiles. These are also very easily removable if you want to change the theme for various holidays, seasons, or special occasions.

The easiest way to recover a mix-up bathroom that includes all kinds of mismatched colors is to add a multi-colored rug that includes all the same colors. It will cleverly look like your bathroom is supposed to be crazy like it is.

The above-mentioned ideas should get you started. If you are still cannot decide on what inexpensive measures you can take to re-decorate your bathroom take some time to view samples of bathroom themes.Home improvement websites and do-it-yourself magazines often feature various rooms of the home you are interested in changing. You can even find instructions on how to carry out the change you would like to implement in your bathroom interior theme.

Seven Simple Ways to Save Money Today

Are you feeling the pinch in your pocket? If you are, you are certainly not alone. Millions of people are feeling the effects of an economic downturn, environmental uncertainty and a slow job market. Saving money has never been so important in some households than right now. With this need to save money so urgent, here are seven simple ways that you can help you start saving money today.

Cook your own dinner

Even if you don’t know how to cook or think you may not like it, eating out is by far one of the most costly pleasures that many of us indulge in. Eating out may not seem like a big part of your spending budget, especially if you are careful about where you eat and head for the happy hour specials. But eating out is often one of those seemingly invisible drains on our savings. Unlike a major purchase or a vacation, it can be hard to keep track of how many times we eat out every week or how much we spend on that smoothie, latte or brunch. One of the simplest ways to begin to save money is to get into the habit of cooking often at home.

Brown bag it to work

Speaking of eating out, work lunches are another of those invisible drains on our wallet. Eating out for lunch often does not feel like eating out because it is usually not a pleasure outing. You are simply filling up before heading back to work. But if you are like most people, it can be very easy to eat out several times a week without even realizing how much money you are spending on lunch. If you’re serious about saving your hard-earned cash, make it a priority to brown bag your lunch at least three times a week. If you still need incentive, sit down and do the math. Once you have seen exactly how much you’re spending just by going to work, you might feel differently about brown bagging it.

Make a shopping list (and stick to it)

One of the biggest mistakes that most of us make before going shopping is that we arrive at the store unprepared. It can be very hard to resist temptation if you arrive at the grocery store without a plan of attack. Without a list, there is a very high chance that you will buy items that are not urgent or even necessary. You may even leave the store without buying one or more of the items you came to buy! Before heading to the grocery store, make a real effort to sit down and make a complete list of everything you really need. Don’t rely on your excellent memory and cross off each item as you move along the aisles.

Stock up on perishable items when they’re on sale

Be savvy when you go shopping. You will always need certain items: toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, cereals and other common household goods are good things to stock up on when they happen to be on sale.

Use your local library

Maybe you haven’t stepped inside a library since . . . ever. If you are not familiar with the modern library, you will probably be surprised about what you’ll find inside. Free internet use, new release movies, bestsellers, free movie nights—many local libraries offer numerous opportunities for free entertainment. Remember that your taxes pay for the library, so go ahead and use it.

Make comparison shopping a habit

No matter what kind of purchase you’re making, large or small, the smart consumer always does a complete price check. Whether you’re planning on buying a new book or a new car, simply checking online and making a few calls can save you a lot of money.

Get organized

One of the easiest ways you can save money year-round is by becoming more organized. Organize your monthly bills, credit card accounts, shopping lists, clip coupons and organize all of these in one easily accessible folder. Save money on unnecessary late fees and don’t overpay simply by organizing your financial papers and accounts.

Top Ways to Increase your Net Worth

Talk with your plan administrator

Contact your employer’s benefit representative to learn the details of your plan. In summary, you must first reach the statutory limit of $15,500 in 2008, or other required limit before you are eligible to make catch-up contributions. Furthermore, employers are not required to match catch-up contributions.

Pay Yourself First

The catch-up contribution is a great opportunity to invest more dollars into your retirement account. However, some 50-year old individuals are embarking on life-changing financial events in their personal lives or careers, where they are in the midst of starting a new marriage or second family, going through financial upheaval from a marital divorce, finishing a first or second college degree, trying to pay down credit card debt, making mortgage payments on a new home or second mortgage, providing for adult children who remain or return home, or suffering the loss of a spouse. Even in light of these pressing circumstances, try to turn your attention on your future retirement needs. It’s easy to be distracted by these tough and emotional matters, but you need to consider your own financial future as well.

Talk with your personal financial advisor

If you are faced with any of these financial challenges and feel that you just cannot make additional contributions, talk with your employer’s benefit representative or your personal financial consultant for advice on how to take advantage of this provision. Now is the time—it’s not too late.

Assets

An investment is an asset (money or something of value) set aside for future sale or use. Examples: savings accounts, property, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, individual retirement accounts (IRA), pension funds, emergency funds, rare coins, precious metals, and gems.

Balance

While it is very common for most people to have credit card debt and owe bills, it is important to pay down your debt. As you reduce your debt, the value of your investments will increase—much like tipping a weighing scale

Career

Your ability to earn money from gainful employment or entrepreneurship is one of your greatest assets. While you may have graduated from college many years ago, it’s important to protect your investment in your career by taking continuous training or retraining to remain competitive in the job market.

Diversify

According to the old adage, “you should never put all your eggs in the same basket.” Avoid investing all your funds in the same type of investment or the same type of industry.

Expenses

Expenses are payments and charges—for tangible and intangible items—necessary and unnecessary—that cause money to come out of your wallet, bank account or other reserve. It’s important to evaluate your spending to determine where you can eliminate unnecessary

Growth

When making an investment, it is important to realize whether it will grow at a steady and continuous pace (e.g., interest rates on bank accounts) or will the investment be affected by market trends (e.g., real estate and stocks).

According to Marotta Asset Management, everyone should compute their net worth once a year. They also state that, “By age forty-five you should be worth at least five and a half times your annual spending. Between 40 and 60 you should increase your net worth by half your annual take home pay every year.” What does this exactly mean for the net worth of an average 40-something?

Your income is expanding in your 40s, as well as your debt. This is at least typical in America today. There is also less time to recover from financial mistakes. The median income for 40-something households, nearly $58,000, is about 20% higher than for 30-something households, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Finances.

Smart Ways to Cut Costs and Realize Savings Each Month

Whether you are single or married with children you are likely in need of additional money-saving tips. The most obvious is to have a disciplined mindset.

More specifically you will want to apply one or more of these principles:

Make your own gourmet meals instead of going out. This is perfect for a couple who wants to indulge in a romantic evening but does not make enough money to invest in a night out on a town. Your favorite food, a reasonably-priced bottle of wine, and an old music collection to play in the background may be ideal.

Repair or alter damaged/outdated clothing. If you or someone near you is handy with needle and thread you can very quickly make easy repairs. Furthermore, if you know anything at all about sewing you can alter outdated items to keep up with today's fashion.

Find less-expensive ways to entertain your family. It can be hard to always invest in fun for your whole family if you have one. Days at the local beach, trail walking, or window shopping are often fun activities. If you go to fairs you may want to pack a picnic lunch if permissible. It will save you from spending all your hard-earned cash on over-priced fairground food.

Make wise purchases on video games, audio devices, and appliances. For instance, you will want to purchase items that can be repair or replaced for cheap rates. Do not waste your money investing in items you know will be outdated. For instance, many places are now selling video cams for cheap because the new HD will be coming out the following year.

Order water instead of soda with your meal. This can save you $7.00 a week if you eat out at least once a day. This is often the case with persons employed in business-related and financial-related fields. Ironically enough, even people knowledgeable about wise investment need this advice too.

Prepare "convenience" foods ahead of time. You can prepare and store your own on-the-go foods for lower prices than you would if you buy single-serving foods in the store. This is great advice whether you are single or not.

For singles: Share an apartment. There is no shame if you are a legal adult and making it on your own to want to save money sharing a place with someone. Do not ever let anyone think of you as less of a person if you are paying all your own expenses.

Besides, if you are truly independent living with someone is not going to change that. You are still likely to take care of yourself and be responsible. It would be less lonely for you to live with someone as a single person anyway.

Consider alternative housing situations. You can even find whole communities of people who live on the same plot of land and share resources and expenses. Each situation is set up differently so you will be able to find one that is most suitable for you.

Cut down on unhealthy, costly habits. Just think of all the gadgets, trips, and essentials you could by if you were not spending an average of 40 to 100 dollars per month on alcohol, cigarettes, and other substances. It is even recommended that you cut down on soda, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages.

Purchase in bulk. If you must have a vice or two, such as soda or beer, it is often cheaper to purchase it in bulk. All types of foods can be purchased this way. The cost up front is much more but you will not need to shop for awhile.

Capitalize on unused items. If you own items or find items that are no longer used by you or someone else sell them. Someone out there is bound to buy them even if you think they are absolutely useless.Â

This list of creative money-saving tips should get you started. There are more bits of advice where this came from!

Eight Ways to Save Money on Gas without Going in Debt

Do you find yourself using your credit card just to gas up? Bad idea. With sky-high gas prices, it can be difficult to gas up without going into debt these days. Here are eight ways to save money on gas without going into debt.

Tip # 1: Shop around for your gas

Maybe you are not used to shopping around for your gas. In the good old days of $2.00 gallons, you could afford to stop at the first gas station you came across in order to fill up. Not anymore. Now it is possible to feel the difference simply by filling up at a station offering its gas for a few cents less per gallon than the competition across the street. Make sure to shop around for gas before filling up. In most cities you can find gas stations selling gas for ten to fifteen cents less per gallon than their competitors. Use web sites such as Gas Buddy in order to find the cheapest gas in your area.

Tip # 2: Buy gas from your grocery store

One of the trends we have been seeing in recent years is grocery stores offering discount gas to customers. Many stores are now offering these types of savings discounts. Usually you will need to sign up for a store savings card, and some stores offer deeper discounts after you have spent a certain amount on groceries. Some stores are known for offering deep discounts during special promotional periods, so keep your ears and eyes open.

Tip # 3: Ride your bike for work and simple errands

So you haven’t ridden a bike since you were twelve, you say. It’s time to practice your skills and remember why riding a bike was so much fun in the first place. With more people on bikes than ever before, you will probably not be alone in commuting to work on your bike. Plus, you get the added bonus of getting in shape. Get a good basket put on your bike and use it for small shopping errands around your neighborhood. Even if you only ride your bike a few times a week, the savings on gas will quickly add up.

Tip # 4: Start your own rideshare

Even if you have never commuted before, it’s probably time to start. Commuting is a low-stress and money-saving way to save money on gas. There are many web sites that now help connect people who need to save money on their daily commute. You would be surprised how many people in your neighborhood probably drive to roughly the same area.

Tip # 5: Move closer to work

If you are used to a long commute, it’s probably costing you an arm and a leg just to make it to work. If you rent an apartment or even if you own your own home, it may be the right time to consider making a move. If you love your job and are willing to make the move, this can save you considerably on transportation costs. Sit down and do the math if you are not convinced, and think about how much time and stress you will save by working close to home.

Tip # 6: Invest in a bus pass

Even if you have never ridden the bus before, maybe it’s time to start. Many cities offer discounted bus passes for commuters. You would probably be surprised how easy, efficient and relaxing it can be to sit back and let another person do the driving for you.

Tip # 7: Always fill up with cash

Many gas stations are now offering discounts for cash purchases. Not only is cash a cheaper way to buy gas, it can also help you stay out of debt. The last thing you want is to spend five years paying for a gallon of gas, but that’s what interest rates will do to you.

Tip # 8: Telecommute

If possible, look into the option of telecommuting. Even telecommuting once or twice a week from home can save you a lot of money on gas.