Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

Here’s How to Paint Your Home on a Budget This Spring!

By Leave a Comment

Spring has arrived, and it’s the perfect time to give your home a fresh wash. Thankfully, you don’t have to go broke trying to make your home look nice. Follow the tips in this article on how to paint your home on a budget this season. With a little planning and a decent amount of elbow grease, you can transform your home’s exterior in a way you never imagined.

Power Wash Your Home’s Exterior

The first step in the exterior painting process is to power wash all the surfaces completely. It’s important because it helps clean and remove dirt. The clean surface allows for a smooth and even paint application when you’re ready. Renting a power washer is fairly inexpensive. The cost will pay for itself by making your paint job look more professional.

Saving on Exterior Painting Services

Did you know that the average cost for exterior painting services is around $3,000? Don’t let that number scare you off. You can get friends and family to help, or you can just DIY the whole project and save money. In addition, before you panic, understand that there are other ways to lower the price, too.

Find the Best Deals

One of the easiest ways to save cash painting your residence is by hitting the pavement and shopping around for the best deals on products and materials. Look for sales and discounts at your local hardware store or online. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for advice from store employees. They will often recommend the best supplies for what project you’re doing and how much you want to spend.

Choose the Right Paint

While it might be tempting to go for the cheapest paint you can find, remember that you often get what you pay for with these kinds of things. Investing in a higher-quality paint will save you money because you won’t be touching it up in the same short time you would have to a lower-quality product. Painting the exterior of your home has the potential of getting you a 55% return on investment (ROI). So, spending a little more on quality paint is always the smarter choice financially.

Invest in the Proper Tools

It may cost a bit more upfront to purchase or rent high-quality brushes, rollers, and other supplies, but these tools are a crucial part of a good paint job. They’ll make the job easier and help you achieve a more professional-looking result. Plus, if you have well-maintained tools, you can reuse them for future projects.

Set a Realistic Timeline

Before you begin the process of painting your property, get a plan in place. In addition, set a realistic expectation for a timeline for completion. Think about factors like how big your house is, the predicted weather, and any other commitments that might get in the way. By setting a clear schedule, you can avoid costly mistakes or delays that could increase the cost of your project.

Don’t Forget About Prep Work

Prepping your home’s exterior surfaces before you start the painting work is essential if you want a successful finish. It may include things like scraping off old paint, caulking gaps, and filling in cracks or holes. By taking the time to prepare, you’ll help guarantee a smooth and even paint application and most likely save time, energy, and money on touch-ups later.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to painting your home on a budget this spring! Plan ahead, shop smart, and invest in the right tools and materials. If you do it right, you will transform your home’s exterior without emptying your wallet. Remember, it’s not just about saving money. You should also be able to take pride in your home and increase its value. With a fresh coat of paint, your home will look completely renewed, and you’ll fall in love with it all over again!

 

4 Tips for Cleaning Your Home on a Budget

By Leave a Comment

It’s essential to clean your home.  This is because it’s one of the things that can help you to keep it comfortable and safe. While maintaining a pristine home under various circumstances may cost a lot of money, you could cut these costs if you try. Please have a look at the four tips below that stand to help you clean your home on a budget. They will also help you to enjoy a space that feels every bit as fresh and unique as it looks.

1. Invest in Quality Cleaning Supplies

The first thing that you need to do is to invest in quality cleaning supplies. Get your cleaning supplies from a janitorial supply store or a local hardware shop to have an easier time. They’ll have much better quality items in stock that you won’t keep breaking. Buying flimsy, cheap supplies several times will likely cost you a considerably higher amount of money than you’d have to spend on getting quality items once. When you get the supplies you need, remember to clean your entire house and the various elements as often as they need to be cleaned. For instance, manufacturers suggest you clean heat exchangers at least once every five years.

2. Shop Around for the Right Cleaning Service

When you need to pay for a cleaning service to get your home in better shape, it’s a good idea to shop around for one. This is because various cleaning services will have different pricing options. They may also offer differing cleaning solutions, so it’s best to find a company that can give you the specific service you need. While shopping around, you may be interested to learn that many cleaning services, according to Thimble, cost $100 to $150 for each job that they do. This should give you a good idea of the costs that you’re likely to encounter. This way, you’ll not be likely to get overcharged and should be on high alert if a cleaning service asks for a lot less.

3. Clean Regularly

If you want to lower your expenses on cleaning your home, it’s best to clean often. Doing this can help you keep the amount of cleaning needed each time to a minimum. You’ll also spend less time cleaning your home to get more done quickly. While doing this, ensure to dispose of waste safely and responsibly, recycling and composting as necessary. Paper is one of the most recycled materials, according to Reader’s Digest. This means that you can live more sustainably if you clean frequently and eliminate waste correctly.

4. Declutter Religiously

Last but not least, you should declutter your home regularly for the best outcome. Doing this will make it easier to clean and keep your home tidy. To have an easier time once you declutter and get rid of everything you don’t use, ensure that everything has its spot in the house. You could donate or sell unnecessary items around your home so that you don’t have to pay to keep them in storage when you may never use them again. Practice getting things back to where they need to be once you’re done using them, and there will be less that needs to be done to get the home in good shape.

These four tips should help you clean your home on a budget and enjoy living in a clean and beautiful space. While it may be hard to form the habits you need to practice to keep your home clean, it’s worth the effort. Teach your family the same habits, and they could benefit from them for the rest of their lives as they’ll know what to do to keep their homes clean on a budget.

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

By Leave a Comment

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.