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Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

8 Safety Tips for When You’re Doing Your Own Home Renovations

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Home renovations can be a fun and rewarding experience, but they can also be dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken. Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure that your home renovation project goes smoothly and safely.

1. Plan Ahead

Before you start any renovation project, it’s important to have a clear plan in place. This includes determining what materials and tools you will need, as well as creating a timeline for the project. Make sure to also consider any potential safety hazards and take steps to mitigate them. Whether you’re working with power tools or handling potentially hazardous materials, it’s important to protect yourself. Wear protective eyewear, gloves, and a mask if necessary, and make sure to follow all instructions for using tools and handling materials safely.

2. Use Caution

Electrical work can be particularly dangerous, so it’s important to use caution when working with electrical wiring or outlets. If you’re not comfortable with electrical work, consider hiring a professional to handle it for you.

3. Consider Stone Coated Steel Roofing

If you’re planning to replace your roof, consider using stone-coated steel roofing. Not only is it 100% recyclable and lightweight (just 1.4 lbs per sq ft), but it also has a Class A fire rating and Class 4 hail impact resistance. This makes it a safe and durable choice for any home renovation project.

4. Know Your Rights

Unfortunately, accidents can happen during home renovation projects. If you or a loved one is involved in an accident that results in wrongful death, it’s important to know your rights. A wrongful death lawsuit may be filed if the defendant is found to have acted negligently or committed malpractice, made a faulty machine, sold a risky drug, or served bad food to the deceased. If you are initially denied in a wrongful death lawsuit, you have 60 days to start the appeals process. The first appeal is called reconsideration, and it usually takes an average of 60 days to complete.

5. Follow Proper Ladder Safety

Ladder accidents are a common cause of injuries during home renovations, so it’s important to follow proper ladder safety. Make sure to set the ladder up on a stable and level surface, and use the four-to-one rule (meaning the base of the ladder should be one foot away from the wall for every four feet of ladder height). Always face the ladder when climbing or descending, and never lean too far to the side or overreach.

6. Be Safe When Working With Heavy Materials

If you’re lifting or moving heavy materials, be sure to use proper lifting techniques to avoid injury. Lift with your legs, not your back, and get help if the material is too heavy to lift on your own.

7. Keep Your Work Area Clean and Organized

A cluttered and disorganized work area can increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Make sure to keep your work area clean and organized, and put tools and materials away when they’re not in use.

8. Know when to Call a Professional

If you’re not comfortable with a certain task or if you’re not sure how to proceed safely, it’s always a good idea to call in a professional. Don’t risk your safety or the integrity of your home by attempting a task that’s beyond your skill level.

By following these safety tips, you can ensure that your home renovation project goes smoothly and safely. Remember to always prioritize safety, and don’t be afraid to call in a professional if you need help.

How to Decorate for the Holidays on a Budget

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Decorate for the Holidays on a Budget

My husband and I were married at the beginning of December. Unfortunately, we were broke college students. He was in graduate school full-time, and I had just started my first full-time job as a teacher. As you would expect for a novice teacher, the pay was low, and we were living in a high-cost-of-living area. Despite this, I wanted to make our new (apartment) home cozy, so I quickly learned how to decorate for the holidays on a budget.

Get Married During the Holidays

Okay, not everyone will do this, but because our wedding was so close to Christmas, many guests bought us holiday décor. We got a snowman Christmas cookie jar, some keepsake ornaments, and holiday plates and towels. Those items weren’t on our registry, but we loved them because they gave us things to decorate the apartment.

Shop Garage Sales

Shopping garage sales is the best way to decorate for the holidays on a budget. People are ALWAYS selling their used holiday items. I bought many of my Halloween and Christmas decorations this way, each costing me less than $1.

Shop Black Friday Sales

For big-ticket items like holiday comforters, Christmas trees, and outdoor lights, research the list price. Then, wait for Black Friday sales, and you may find items up to 50 percent off or more. These items usually sell out, so if you get them at 40 or 50 percent off, you’re getting a good deal.

Shop Clearance AFTER the Holidays

This tip won’t help you with decorating this year, but if you have patience, you can get holiday decorations for 70 to 80 percent off if you shop AFTER the holidays. You will see the steepest discounts the first five days after Christmas. Then, next year, you’ll have decorations for your home, and you’ll know that you got them at rock-bottom prices.

Shop Michael’s

If you sign up for Michael’s email list, the company will regularly send you coupons, often for 40 percent off the price of one full-price item or 20 percent off all items, including items on sale. You can use these coupons to buy holiday decorations or supplies needed to make your holiday decorations, which is what I did.

Make Your Own Holiday Decorations

Decorate for the holidays on a budget

I made some of my holiday decorations using the supplies I bought at Michael’s for a discount. For instance, I made a garland wreath to hang on our front door at a fraction of the price of a pre-made wreath.

Final Thoughts

With patience, you can easily decorate for the holidays on a budget. Finding all the decorations you want, whether large or small, may take you a few years. However, waiting is worthwhile, especially when your budget is tight and you need to save money. My husband and I have accumulated our decorations through the years, and we’ve spent very little money doing so.

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Buying a House With Bad Credit

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Buying a home is a big deal, and it’s usually not a decision that is made without careful planning and consideration.  One thing that holds many people back from becoming homeowners is a low credit score. Bad or no credit can throw a major roadblock on the path to purchasing a home. The good news is that there are options to help potential buyers who are afflicted with an unsavory credit score. You might be surprised to learn about various home purchasing possibilities available even if poor credit is an issue. Even so, the process of buying a home with poor credit can be frustrating and overwhelming. Fortunately, here are some helpful tips and loan options for buying a house with bad credit.

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