According to Houzz, two in every five homeowners admitted to using their bathroom to relax. You shouldn’t have to go to your guest bathroom to find a quiet place in your home. If you’ve been thinking of transforming your backyard into your own private oasis for your family, but you’ve been worried you couldn’t afford it, no worries! Here are a few ways you can transform your landscaping and boost your curb appeal all on a budget.

Raise Your Flower Bed

One great way to improve curb appeal on your family home is with flowers. Flowers add beauty and fragrance. However, raising the flower bed can give you these benefits while also creating some more contrast between the parts of your yard. As you plan to raise your flower bed, consider the different materials you could use. If you need to go with the cheapest option, that’s alright. But if you can spend just a little bit more money, consider going with solid wood. Solid wood is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than other popular landscaping materials. It also makes the flower beds more attractive.

Plant a Functional Garden

Your garden can serve both an aesthetic and practical purpose. Consider a vegetable garden that will feed your family. Plant things like herbs, fruits, and vegetables in your yard. They’re often very beautiful, with foliage and flowers that are perfect for decorating. Then, once the edible parts are ripe, you’ll also be able to provide fresh, healthy food. If you’ve never gardened before, start simple and try a few plants that you know you like. Then experiment each year as you build your garden. It will add color and personality to your yard, boosting your curb appeal.

DIY a Walkway

Having a walkway from the sidewalk to your door is a simple way to improve your curb appeal. However, getting it done by a professional can be expensive. Look into DIY options to set it up yourself. Using paving stones can create a whimsical, yet useful walkway without having to spend hundreds of dollars on supplies. If you keep it simple, you can get very good results this way. It will not only serve a practical purpose, but it will also add some uniqueness and contrast to your yard.

Add Lighting

Landscape lighting is beautiful, adding a warm glow to the yard in the evening and at night. While there are expensive options available, you can also get great results cheaply. Use solar pegs to illuminate your walkway. These are often inexpensive and can also serve a practical purpose by guiding visitors toward the safe ways to your front door. Look into string lights, as well. With the right lighting, you can make your yard look cozy, exciting, or both at the same time!

Hang Window Boxes

By hanging window boxes and filling them with flowers, you can improve the appearance of your home’s exterior without spending a lot of money. Flowers add a splash of color to the front of your house, making it look cheerful to anybody passing by. You can do a number of different things with your flower boxes. Plant identical flowers in each one to keep a neat theme going. Or plant various flowers together to get a rainbow of colors in your home.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to improve your home’s curb appeal. With a few cheap purchases and some extra work on your part, you can have a home and yard that look expensive and comfortable. This can help if you’re planning to sell your house, but it can also just make it a more enjoyable place to live.

Travel on a Budget: How To Explore the World Without Breaking the Bank

Traveling the world can be a life-changing experience, but it can also be expensive. With careful planning and a bit of creativity, it’s possible to explore new places without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a student on a budget, want to take a family vacation, or simply looking to save money on your next adventure, there are plenty of ways to travel on a budget.

In this guide, we’ll share nine tips and tricks for saving money on travel so you can make the most of your trip without overspending.

Plan ahead

Planning ahead is crucial for traveling on a budget. If possible, planning 6 to 12 months in advance should give you plenty of time to do your research, create a travel budget, and start saving. This will also give you time to book transportation and accommodations at reasonable prices and plan out your itinerary with budget-friendly activities and attractions.

Choose an inexpensive destination

One of the easiest ways to save money on travel is to choose a destination that is less expensive to get to and stay in. For example, traveling to Southeast Asia or Central America can be much more affordable than traveling to Europe or North America. If you’re staying within the States, consider a lesser known destination to save money on airfare. Or maybe there’s a nearby city or town you can reach by car or train to avoid flying altogether.

Consider travel peak time

Another way to save money is to travel during the off-season or shoulder season when prices are lower. This may mean traveling during the winter months or in the spring or fall when there are fewer tourists. However, keep in mind local school holiday breaks — when many families hit the road — to avoid crowds and the prices that come with them.

Stay in budget-friendly accommodations

Accommodations can be a major expense when traveling, but staying in budget-friendly accommodations such as hostels or Airbnbs can help you save money. If you’re traveling solo or with other adults, hostels are often much cheaper than hotels and can be a great way to meet other travelers. Airbnb can also be a great option if you want to stay in a local neighborhood and have access to a kitchen — especially if you’ll be traveling with kids.

Cook your own meals

Eating out at restaurants can be expensive, especially if you’re traveling for an extended period of time. To save money, consider cooking your own meals instead. This can be done in hostels or Airbnbs with a kitchen, or you can opt for street food or local markets. If cooking every single meal isn’t feasible, try to cook just one meal a day (breakfast is generally easy).

Use public transportation

Transportation is another major expense when traveling, but using public transportation or walking instead of taking taxis or renting a car can help you save money. Public transportation is often much cheaper than taxis and can give you a chance to see more of the area and interact with locals.

Look for free activities and attractions

There are likely plenty of free activities and attractions to enjoy in your destination. Look for free walking tours, museums with free admission days, or local parks, beaches, and gardens to explore. Go on a hike, enjoy some free live music, peruse a local street fair, or play a game of cards while you people-watch. Free activities are often the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Use travel rewards points or credit card rewards

If you have a travel rewards credit card, you may be able to use your points to cover some of your expenses, such as flights or hotels. This can be a great way to save money on travel — so long as you manage your credit card responsibly, of course.

Be flexible

Finally, staying open to different travel dates, destinations, and modes of transportation can help you find the best deals and save money on your trip. Keep an eye out for last-minute deals or flash sales on flights or hotels, and be willing to adjust your itinerary to take advantage of these deals. This includes staying flexible even while you’re on your trip. For example, if a certain attraction or activity is too expensive, you might look for a cheaper alternative or skip it altogether.

Conclusion

With these tips and tricks for traveling on a budget in mind, it’s time to start planning your next adventure. Remember, you don’t have to break the bank to see the world and create unforgettable memories. With a little bit of creativity and some careful planning, you can explore new places and have an amazing time without overspending. So, what are you waiting for? Start packing your bags and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

How To Plan a Party in 2023 Without Breaking the Bank

Planning a party can be a lot of fun, but it can also be expensive. Between the food, decorations, and entertainment, costs can quickly add up and break the bank. However, throwing a memorable party doesn’t have to come at a high price tag. With some creativity, resourcefulness, and strategic planning, it’s possible to plan a fun and festive party that won’t leave you in debt. In this blog post, we’ll share some tips and tricks on planning a party on a budget.

Be thoughtful when making the guestlist

When planning a party, it’s crucial to carefully consider who to invite, especially if you’re working with a tight budget. Firstly, keep in mind the size of your venue, as it may limit how many guests you can invite. Secondly, think about the purpose of your party and invite specific groups of people accordingly. If it’s a birthday party for your child, invite their classmates and close family members. 

If it’s a casual get-together, you can be more flexible with your guest list. Thirdly, consider your budget and don’t feel pressured to invite everyone. The more guests you invite, the more food, drinks, and supplies you’ll need, which can add up quickly. Lastly, prioritize your closest friends and family members, as they are the ones who mean the most to you. By being thoughtful when making your guest list, you can ensure that your party is enjoyable, memorable, and within your budget.

Cut corners with decorations (literally)

Print-outs are a cost-effective and customizable way to add a personal touch to your party decorations. From banners to signs to table decorations, there are print-outs available for every occasion. You can find a variety of printables online for free or at a low cost and customize them to fit your party theme by using different colors and fonts. Print-outs are also reusable, unlike store-bought decorations that are often one-time use. They eliminate the need for disposable decorations that end up in landfills and contribute to a more sustainable environment. 

You can create beautiful and unique decorations without spending too much money. So, next time you’re planning a party, try printouts and see how they can transform your space into a festive and personalized celebration.

Take invitations into your own hands

Making your own party decorations is a cost-effective and fun way to add a personal touch to your celebration. You can use various materials like paper, fabric, or ribbon to create unique decorations that reflect your personality and taste. Making your own decorations is often more affordable than buying pre-made decorations and reduces the need for disposable decorations that end up in landfills. 

It also allows you to involve your family and friends in the party planning process and make it a fun DIY project. So why not give it a try at your next party and see how your creativity and imagination can transform your space into a festive and unique celebration?

Recycle past party themes

Recycling past party themes and decorations can help you create an affordable and sustainable celebration. To do this, you can mix and match decorations from different parties, repurpose old decorations, and get crafty with materials you already have at home. First, choose a theme for your party and gather decorations from past parties that fit the theme. By mixing and matching these decorations, you can create a unique and personalized look that doesn’t cost much. 

You can also repurpose old decorations, such as using Christmas lights to create a romantic ambiance for a Valentine’s Day dinner or using party hats as centerpieces for a baby shower. If you’re feeling creative, consider making your own decorations using materials you already have at home. You could create a DIY photo booth backdrop using old bed sheets or make your own party favors using leftover ribbon and wrapping paper. 

Recycling past party themes and decorations helps you reduce waste and saves you money. So, the next time you plan a party, consider recycling decorations from past celebrations and getting creative with what you have.

Choose the time wisely

Choosing the right time for a party is crucial to ensure that your guests are satisfied with the food and drinks you serve. Consider scheduling an afternoon party between 2 pm and 5 pm to serve light finger foods and drinks. Hosting an evening party after 7 pm allows you to serve light dinner options and drinks. Brunch is another option between 10 am and 1 pm to serve breakfast and lunch options. By scheduling your party outside of traditional meal times, you can offer light and delicious options without needing a heavy dinner. Choose a time that will allow you to serve food and drinks that your guests will love, and remember, timing is key to hosting a successful party.

DO THE MEAL MATH

Planning a party on a budget requires figuring out the least amount you can spend to feed the entire party. This involves making a list of the types of food you want to serve and the number of guests you’ll be feeding. Research prices at different grocery stores and online retailers to find the best deals on the items you need. 

Calculate the cost per serving for each item by dividing the total cost by the number of servings it provides. Add up the cost per serving for each item to determine the total cost of the food. If the total cost exceeds your budget, consider adjusting the menu or looking for ways to spend less, like buying in bulk or purchasing generic brands. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of drinks, snacks, and any other items you’ll be serving. Plan for leftovers to get the most out of your food budget. 

When planning a party on a budget, pizza is one of the most cost-efficient food options as you can purchase it in large quantities, customized to fit different tastes, and you can calculate exactly how many to make or buy using an online pizza calculator.

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I chatted a few weeks ago about needing to refocus on our financial goals. Sometimes the road to debt freedom isn’t straight. We have gotten off track and faced some setbacks with unexpected expenses, but we still make a little bit of progress every month.

However, we are both a bit tired of how slowly it has been progressing. Because of this, we’ve been looking for additional ways to make money to snowball our debt.

The Debt Snowball

If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you know all about the snowball method. Essentially, this method of paying off debt has you set aside an emergency fund. Once that is done, every extra penny you have goes to paying off your debts.

This involves having a set budget. Once you look at your budget and see how much excess money you have, you can see how much you can put towards your debts. It is important for people who are snowballing their debts to also budget for some entertainment. Not doing so typically leads to overspending or abandoning your budget altogether.

The debt snowball method oftentimes includes searching for additional work to throw at paying off accounts as well. For instance, if you can make a few extra bucks selling things in your attic or walking the neighborhood dogs, you’d use that cash to pay off debt. We’ve been looking for more ways to increase our income so that we can do this.

How We Are Hustling to Pay Off Debt

First, we have both been looking for ways to trim the costs of day-to-day life. This includes my husband coming home for lunch every day. This saves us between $25 and $50 per week, all of which goes toward paying off debts.

My husband has also been picking up small jobs to earn a little extra money on the side. For instance, someone in our building needed a battery put into their car. He went down on a Sunday. It took all of 10 minutes and he earned an extra $50 to go toward paying off his tool accounts.

I’ve also been picking up a little extra work here and there. Every once and a while a freelance article pops up and I take it. This usually only makes me between $25 and $100 per article, but every bit counts. I’ve also picked up a modeling side gig that pays $175 per photo. This is less consistent and doesn’t happen as often as freelance work, but it is still a great way to earn a little extra to put towards my student loans and other debts.

As the weather gets colder, we will also be cleaning out our closets. We will be trying to sell these items on Facebook Marketplace for extra cash to snowball our debts. All in all, each of these things seems very small but they are helping us tick down our overall debt tremendously.

Readers, have you picked up a side job or hustle to snowball your debt? What have you done? 

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