How Your Backyard can Help You to Live Frugally

September 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Many people try to live a frugal lifestyle, but often find it hard to put their plans into practice, or are unsure how to get started in the first place. Everyone likes to grab a bargain and save money, but to live completely frugally takes a more focused approach. The great news is that saving money is all about getting back to basics, so you don’t need to look far to make your dreams of living a frugal lifestyle a reality.

 

Are you fortunate enough to have a home with some outside space? If so, are you using it to its full potential? Utilizing your yard is an excellent way to save money. Outdoor space provides you with so many opportunities to reduce your costs; here are some of the ways that you can use your outside area to enhance your frugal lifestyle:

 

Spending More Time at Home

 

The pandemic has helped many people to appreciate their time spent in their homes and caused them to realize that they don’t always need to venture out to stay entertained. Many people have found that they have inadvertently saved a lot of cash by merely staying home more during the pandemic. If your attitude towards going out and spending money has changed, you may decide to continue being at home more often. Investing just a little time and money on improving your backyard right now can save you lots of cash in the future. Once you have created an outdoor space that you love to spend time in, you can enjoy life at home even more, saving you money on going out.

 

Get Gardening

 

Gardening is an excellent hobby, even if you don’t have a naturally green thumb. Being out in your garden and taking care of your plants is beneficial to your health and well-being. Gardening is excellent exercise, and a whole lot cheaper than a gym membership!

 

To get your backyard looking beautiful, you will need the right tools and equipment to help you. Finding tools that perform well and last will save you money in the long term, and also make tasks in the garden far easier. To ensure you save money and choose the right tool for the job, it is useful to make an informed purchase by looking at reviews and carrying out research before buying, such as this ego trimmer review.

 

Grow Your Own

 

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is not only a really enjoyable hobby, but is also a really simple way to save cash on your grocery shopping. The great news is that it is also good for the environment, as your food miles will be zero, and packaging is eliminated, so you will be actively reducing your carbon footprint while saving money at the same time! Many fruit and veggies can be grown in containers and don’t take up too much space in your yard. Why not get the kids involved too? They will love helping out and watching the produce grow.

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14 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

July 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

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First impressions are everything, and you know what they say; you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. This is why curb appeal is so important. No matter whether you are trying to sell your home or you simply feel like giving it a bit of revitalization, we have some top tips for those who want to give the exterior of their property a boost. Read on to discover more.

  1. Invest in quality door furniture – First and foremost, while we all want to do things without spending a lot of money, it does pay to spend a little bit more in some instances. Door furniture is a prime example of this. From letterboxes to door knockers, choose something that is in keeping with the style of your property, and allocate a little bit more of your budget to this if possible. After all, cheap can look cheap.
  2. Build a walkway – Another way to give your home some more curb appeal is to build a walkway. This will make your property feel more inviting and warm. If you have a straight concrete path, and you want a subtle upgrade, you could apply a colored concrete resurfacer to the old walkway, and then edge it with stone or brick borders.  If you are after something more dramatic, why not replace the concrete with a walkway that is made from brick or stone.    
  3. Dress up your driveway – Does your driveway have vegetation sprouting from it? Perhaps it is stained or cracked? If so, you can upgrade your driveway without having to spend a fortune on completely redoing it. Firstly, you should kill the weeds, and repair the stains and cracks. Once you have done this, you can affix flagstones or stain the concrete to dress it up.
  4. Tile your doorstep –Tile your doorstep to create a permanent welcome mat. There is no end to the creativity you can display when going for this option. The sky is your limit.
  5. Replace gutters – If you have an old gutter system on your property, it is likely that it is suffering from rust spots, peeling paint, and a number of other problems. It is a good idea to replace your gutter system so that you don’t give off a sense of neglect. Here are some signs you should replace your gutters: http://www.weatherguardgutters.com/5-signs-to-replace-gutters/. Copper systems are quite expensive, but they have an unmistakable look of quality.
  6. Create a new planting bed – Add color and contrast to the exterior of your home with a new planting bed. The best spots for curb appeal include immediately in front of your property, along walkways or driveways, and at the front corners of your yard. When you choose a flower bed, you shouldn’t choose features that are going to obscure your home. Instead, look for those that will frame your home. To edge the bed, precast-concrete blocks are ideal. You should also include a mix of texture, color and plant size for the best results.
  7. Add some outdoor art – You can add some sparkle and personality to your outdoor space by investing in outdoor art. This could be anything from wind chimes and sculptures to metal cut-outs and birdbaths. Choose something that complements your home’s exterior elements and natural palette. Water sculptures are an amazing choice because they look incredible and they add a soothing and peaceful element to the home too.
  8. Install window boxes – An easy way to add charm and color to your home’s curb appeal is to add window boxes. For a cottage feel, opt for painted wood window boxes. If you want a more traditional look, choose iron or copper.
  9. Give your mailbox a makeover – Your mailbox should complement your home, and it should express your personality too. There are so many cool and fun mailboxes available, or you could go for something with more of an antique and old school vibe. The options are endless, but you should ensure your mailbox is a statement piece that demands attention.
  10. Create an instant garden – You can create an instant garden by adding containers with plants around the front of your home. This is a great way to add color and personality to your home, plus you won’t need to spend a lot of money either.
  11. Paint the exterior of your home – This is one of the easiest ways to add value to your property, and it makes a massive difference too. You can find out more about exterior residential painting services at www.ecopainting.ca/residential-painting/. When it comes to painting the exterior of your home, you need to choose a quality company to ensure that the harsh weather does not have an impact.
  12. Install outdoor lighting – One of the best ways to boost your home’s curb appeal is by adding landscape lighting. This is the perfect way to create a welcoming atmosphere.
  13. Create perfect symmetry – Symmetry is really easy to arrange, and it looks incredible on the eye too. A symmetrical composition of front-door accents and light fixtures generates an entry that is welcoming and has lots of curb appeal.
  14. Dress up the front door – When it comes to curb appeal, the focal point is always the entry to your home. You can make a real statement by giving your front door a makeover. Why not opt for a custom wood door? Or, add some vibrancy with a striking colored door? The options are endless. You should also use metal polish on door fixtures and clean off any dirty marks around the doorknob. Remember, your personal style is always the most important, so make sure it is reflected here. Your home’s entry should be an indication of the interior inside.

All in all, there is no denying the importance of ensuring your property has plenty of curb appeal. This is the first thing people will notice about your house, and you want to make a good impression, especially if you are planning on selling it. Use the tips mentioned above, and you will give your house a makeover that will turn heads for all of the right reasons.

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Why A Garden Room Is So Much Better Than An Extension

May 24, 2017 Leave a Comment

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There has been a topic of conversation that has taken over most of our family dinners recently. To build an extension or not to build an extension, that was the question. But then threw a curveball into the mix and it had us all umming and ahhing, “what about a garden room?”

We have to admit, the first image that popped into our head was a Wendy House, like the one we used to play in as kids. Basic, practical, functional and a space that quickly got filled with tools. Needless to say, we dismissed the idea. We were wrong to do this it seems.

Garden rooms have basically evolved into extensions, just ones that don’t have to be fixed to your home. They can sit all pretty at the bottom of your garden for instance. What’s more, you don’t need to borrow huge sums of money because you could just use your family home loans and tap into the equity you have already built up in your property. We know right!

 

Anyway, we started making a list of ways a garden room would be a better investment than an extension, and this what we came up with.

 

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A Place Of Peace

An extension certainly gives you more space in your home, but it doesn’t exactly allow you to escape because, well, you’re still in the thick of it. A garden room, however, is a home away from home; your own space and place of peace. You can run away to it. Take a book, a cup of coffee, an iPod, a notepad; whatever. There will be nothing to distract you but your garden and the beautiful outside of your home. Total and utter bliss.

An Outdoor Office

Millions and millions of people now work from home. Freelancing, entrepreneurs, flexible working conditions; there are loads of reasons why. However, working from home isn’t the easy ride people think it is because you need to have the right conditions in order to be as proactive as possible. That’s where a garden office comes in. You’ll have an inspiring setting that is nice and quiet, and you’ll be able to separate your work life from your home life.

Are You Not Entertained

All work and no play make someone a dull something. Basically, playing is just as important as working and relaxing, that’s what we’re trying to say, and what better place to play with your friends and entertain than your garden, and one with a garden room. You could slip a little kitchen out there and have garden dinner parties, or have it as a nice adult play room with comfy sofas and a projector screen for movie nights. You could make it into a games room, or a place for your kids to play their crazy and loud instruments. Your imagination is your oyster on this one. Just know that it will entertain.

Pinch More Privacy

We all love our gardens. Some of us are a little more secretive about this than others, but we all love them. The only real downside of a garden is the lack of privacy, especially if you live in a built-up area. That’s where a garden room would come in. Not only would you have somewhere inside your great outdoors to enjoy a spot of nice weather and no eyes, but the area in front of your garden room will be protected too. Perfect.

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