Decorating on a Budget

If you’re one of the 52 million paying Costco members across the world, chances are you love a bargain. And seeing as the company has an 88 percent renewal rate, customers are clearly coming back for more. But when it comes to plunking down that fee for your annual membership, there are a few ways to save a couple bucks. Costco membership prices vary depending on what level of membership you are seeking.

At this point, most of us can spot a BILLY bookcase, KALLAX cubby, or LACK table a mile away. Basic and affordable, they’ve been some of the most popular items at IKEA for years, and our first apartments would’ve been bare without them.

It's easy to think you need to spend a lot of money to get a well-organized pantry—but you'd be wrong.

In the age of smart home devices, setting your thermostat and dimming the lights have never been easier. But these purchases have more long-term payoff than convenience alone. A one-time buy like a smart thermostat or home security system may feel pricy upfront, but by potentially lowering other monthly payments, they could pay for themselves over time—and have you feeling like a genius.

If you’re like me, you subscribe to a bunch of streaming services. While they’re not particularly expensive, those monthly fees can add up. But there’s some good news for the multi-streamers among us: Spotify Premium members can get Hulu for free. Yep, totally free. If you’re already paying the $9.99 to listen to Spotify ad-free, there’s a new perk. The Verge reports that you can bundle the basic Hulu plan into your account for no extra monthly charge.

Those little tools, utensils, and gadgets in your kitchen drawer somehow add up to quite a large sum of money. Ten bucks on a pizza cutter here, 12 on a grater there… before you know it, you’re spending hundreds of dollars stocking (or restocking) a single drawer. Luckily, some companies—like Brandless and Tobox—are hoping to help you change that, selling all sorts of kitchen gear for just $3 a pop.

The biggest misconception about rental kitchens is that they’re unchangeable. Too many renters think that just because their appliances are mismatched, they have to stay mismatched. Or that there’s no getting around looking at the neighboring brick wall while you do dishes. There are lots of temporary rental solutions that won’t risk your security deposit.

You are probably losing money right now, without even realizing it. If you’re less than pleased with your recent home energy bill, don’t fret. There’s room for improvement and savings. Heating accounts for the largest portion (45 percent) of our energy bills, according to the U.S.

There’s no shortage of good deals to be had at IKEA, from the plant department to the annual kitchen sale. In fact, some of the best buys cost less than $15. But what if we told you that there were even better deals to be had if you dared to venture into the store’s As-Is section? What’s that you say? You already knew that? Here’s something you may not know: A little strategy can help you find better merchandise and save you even more money.

Think outside the frame.

It makes sense to assume that because home improvements are, by nature, improving your home, they must increase its overall value, too, right? Sadly, that’s not always the case. While some updates (new windows, minor kitchen remodels, and somewhat surprisingly, a new garage door) nearly pay for themselves, the projects below don’t earn quite the return on investment (ROI) you may think they should.

If you’ve been to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in midtown Manhattan, you’ve probably marveled at its permanent collection, which includes some of the most iconic and immediately recognizable works, ever — there’s the melting clocks of Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, the soft-focus pastels of Claude Monet’s massive Water Lilies triptych, and everyone’s go-to poster from their freshman year, Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

The web is brimming with department store-style marketplaces, if you're looking to switch up your shopping.

Do you love 2019 already? It’s okay, we’re still on the fence about it, too. What about your kitchen? If you’re not totally enamored of the space, we’ve got some ideas to help you heart it some more this upcoming year. Each idea is seriously easy and inexpensive (especially compared to a renovation) to pull off. And you don’t have to do all 19, either—pick and choose from this list and your kitchen will be more lovable and up-to-date in no time.

Never underestimate the power of the pen. Sometimes getting information down on paper can really change your mindset—and your finances are no exception. We gathered a handful of money-saving strategies that start with a pen and paper. From spending journals to shopping lists, read ahead for five handwritten ways to help manage your finances.

The owners of the impressive and inviting converted Sprinter van we featured recently made a conscious decision not to install a bathroom. But, the owners of this van decided a bathroom was a must, and somehow manages to squeeze in a toilet and a shower. Rob and Emily of The Road is our Home—@theroadisourhome on Instagram—transformed an LWB Mercedes Sprinter into a rolling home.

We like to think that we’re seasoned bargain hunters. So when we caught wind of an investigation into Target’s app, our interest was instantly piqued. KARE11 did a two-month investigation into the Minneapolis-based retailer’s app, and discovered that the prices on certain items change depending whether you are inside or outside the store. Here’s an example: Target’s app price for a specific Samsung 55-inch Smart TV was $499.99.

Think you know everything there is to know about how best to shop HomeGoods? Well, think again. We reached out to Christine Lee, the mastermind behind Instagram account @HomeGoodsObsessed, to share her super shopper-approved insider tips and tricks for getting the best deal and scoring the best finds at the bargain home decor treasure trove. Read on for seven secrets only the savviest HomeGoods fans know. When are you most likely to hit up HomeGoods? On the weekend?

Living in a home where you can’t make any permanent changes can be frustrating, but clever apartment dwellers know that just means it’s time to get creative. Here are some of their go-to moves for turning even the most cramped, outdated, characterless spaces into a cozy, personality-filled home. Hint: It doesn’t involve buying all new furniture.

There is one show-off of a tool that I deeply believe everyone should have in their kitchen.

When I moved into a sprawling old Victorian in Louisville, Kentucky three years ago, my neighbors terrified me with their tales of four-digit utility bills. I’d swapped an under-900-square-foot bungalow for the three-story, 1890 behemoth, and was so scared of the bill the first year, I chose to freeze rather than turn up the thermostat.

When it comes to health and wellness, nothing matches the motivation that comes with fresh start of the new year. But new stuff comes pretty close. If January had you motivated to try a new workout class or integrate more exercise into your routine, the secret to keeping up those healthy habits in February might be treating yourself new workout gear.

It's our new favorite place to shop budget.

Ok, so maybe this isn’t the world’s tiniest bathroom, but it’s close. When Lara of The Unprofessional set out to renovate her tiny attic bathroom, her issues with the space weren’t just cosmetic. Thanks to its small size, the bathroom had lots of unusual quirks: the vanity door wouldn’t open all the way, the bathroom door swung out and blocked the hallway, and the toilet was so close to the door that doing your business was a bit uncomfortable.

Custom framing can be mind-bogglingly expensive when you're trying to dress up your walls on the cheap.

Going on vacation can be one of the best things that your family does together—you can make memories that will last a lifetime. As much fun as traveling can be, the flight costs to your destination can be crippling for a family, especially ones with multiple kids. Children over the age of two are charged a full-price ticket by most airlines, and even if that 3-year-old is going to demand to sit in your lap the entire time, you often will have to pay for a seat for them on the plane.

As January turns into February, it would seem that the harsh cold weather is here to stay. One day we have temperatures in the 40s, and the next, it’s a frigid 5 degrees. With these fluctuating temperatures comes dry skin and brittle, damaged hair. The winter weather can even take a toll on those who don’t color or use heat tools, or those who already have silky hair. One way to combat dryness is using a hair mask to help keep your locks hydrated.

Margaret lives in a condo in Atlanta’s Garden Hills neighborhood, in a 12-unit building that dates back to 1919. Old buildings sometimes come with unpleasant surprises, like when Margaret learned that the outside wall of her breakfast nook would have to be completely replaced due to water damage. But instead of seeing inconvenience, Margaret saw an opportunity to make her charming old home even more charming. Here’s a closer look at the breakfast nook alone.

We did the math, and the benefits of being a Costco member actually work out in your favor on this one.

Every once in a while, I get to visit a truly grand home in which every piece is obviously there on purpose, nothing is cobbled together, and there are no placeholders. I love these homes—especially because I love their residents—and have tried to find ways to incorporate what makes them work into my own decidedly more humble abode. Here are five ways to fake fanciness, without looking cheap.

Staying on a budget throughout the holidays is no easy feat. On top of all the gifts, travel, and seasonal soirees you have to save for, New Year’s Eve is right around the corner—making it difficult to have enough money to celebrate the new year once Christmas is a wrap. But fret not my penniless friends; we’ve got a great idea: Have a No Spend Week from December 26 until New Year’s Eve!

It’s the week before Christmas and all through the house, everyone is stressing and starting to grouse. If the holidays makes you anxious, you’re not alone. While there’s inevitably a lot to do, it’s important to work some self care into your routine, not only to preserve your sanity, but so that there’s enough gas in the tank for the marathon of parties, family gatherings, and other obligations about to bombard your every waking moment.

While I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love a good bargain, the truth is that savvy shoppers come in all sorts of varieties when it comes to coupon clipping and deal sifting. Some of us are dedicated to dig until we find that perfect deal, while others think a 10-percent-off coupon in the mail is good enough for the bottom dollar.

Who doesn’t love a bargain? So many of us walk into Target to buy something small, like a roll of toilet paper. And naturally, we end up leaving with a cart full of stuff we didn’t know we needed. So in the spirit of saving a few bucks, we thought we’d highlight our favorite—yet often overlooked—bargain section of the store: the end caps. For those who didn’t even know they had a name, end caps are the shelves at each end of a store’s aisles.

They say idle hands are the devil’s playground. Or is it an idle mind? When our twitching fingers tap from “add to bag” to “checkout” before we know what happened, it certainly feels like our good intentions of not spending money uselessly have been thwarted by a devilish boredom that whispers, pitchfork held aside, to go on ahead and just check to see if there are any good sales.

Bathroom renovations take time and come with a hefty price tag. The national average for a restroom remodel is $9,724, according to Home Advisor’s 2018 True Cost report. And in the upcoming year, homeowners plan on shelling out an average of $2,406 on upgrading their baths, according to the cost analysis. You don’t need to break the bank to upgrade the look of your bathroom.

Ever notice how Amazon sometimes discounts certain colors of products? For example, these 52-by-63 inch blackout curtains are priced at $19.99 in navy blue, but if you want them in a bolder shade, like purple, you’re going to have to fork out 10 bucks more and pay $29.99 for the exact same size. Are some colors simply just more expensive when used to manufacture products? Or are more popular colors priced higher on Amazon?

As magical as the holidays are, this time of year can also be a bit stressful—between handling a barrage of party invites, planning your own get-togethers, wrapping up the year, visiting family and getting all your holiday shopping done… well, it’s a lot. And then there’s the whole spending money thing. Shopping and celebrating add up, but it doesn’t have to be quite so painful.

When taking on a home improvement project as major, time-consuming, and expensive (!!!) as a kitchen renovation, the last thing that you want to do is make a few choices now that you end up regretting later—especially if that ends up meaning you wasted money. To help identify the biggest money-wasting no-nos to avoid, we consulted a few kitchen design experts. Having been around plenty of renovations, they had some good live-and-learn lessons and what-not-to-dos to share.

While we all need a little more #selfcare in our lives, not all of us are lucky enough to have a tub to soak in with a glass of wine and a good book. But just because you’re in a shower-only home or apartment doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a little luxury every time you step in. It’s really simple to upgrade even the most practical of bathroom set-ups.

Maybe you’ve already stretched the dollars you’ve saved during what has become, somehow, Black Friday month. Or you could be one of those who would never dream of spending a precious day off saving money at the cost of braving dense crowds on the prowl for a good deal. Whatever your reason for skipping shopping on Black Friday, there’s a day—the same day—just for you: Buy Nothing Day.

Staying financially afloat during the holidays is no easy feat. That’s why it pays to set a budget and decide exactly how much you want to spend before you go gift shopping. And once you have a budget, you have to do everything you can to stick to it.

Gone are the golden days of flying, when you would wear your best clothes onboard to eat a steak dinner served on white linen “tables”—while the flight attendant mixed up martinis in the back. But just because the flight experience has changed doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. There are a couple of sneaky ways to try to get out of economy and behind the blue curtain into first class the next time you fly.

Stop spending your paycheck on this stuff.

How I got what I wanted, for a whole lot less.

I am all for saving money. And since I started writing about cooking—and more recently spending hours researching prices for groceries and other goods at my local grocery and bulk stores—I’ve become an obsessed price-per-ounce reader and comparison shopper. But even though I believe in getting the best possible price for comparable goods, there are some products where the list price doesn’t reflect the item’s true value.

This mental trick is simple, but it could pack a big punch in your budget.

When you’re redoing a kitchen, flooring has a huge impact on the way the room looks. The orangey faux terra cotta we inherited in our Victorian kitchen drove me nuts and I couldn’t wait to replace it. New floors aren’t cheap though. If you’re considering an overhaul of your kitchen up to and including the floor, it’s easy to drop way more than you intend to. The good news is you don’t have to.

Budgeting is too often misunderstood. The problem: Many people look over their expenses after the money is gone. Then they get startled or—even less productively—embarrassed at how much money was spent on things like eating out or buying new clothing, and vow to cut back next month. It’s an endless cycle that does little to change your spending habits.

Full bathroom remodels can run you tens of thousands of dollars. If that amount of money isn’t in your budget right now (or it makes you cringe to spend that much at any stage of the game), take inspiration from these light remodels, all of which cost under $3,000. These reasonable and affordable redos show it’s possible to get a brand-new-to-you bathroom without taking out a huge loan.

Feeling like it’s time to size up your space? By all means, do it. But know that it’s going to likely require a bigger investment month-to-month, and probably drain your change right now as you scramble to pay for moving costs and the other expenses that inevitably creep up when you decide to pick up your roots and settle down in a new spot.

A good household cleaner can make housekeeping a breeze. But a good household cleaner that only costs five bucks or less? Well, that’s a game-changer for your home. To help make your housekeeping endeavors go more smoothly (and affordably), we rounded up the best commercial cleaning products under $5.

So you’re going to build a tiny house. It may be small, and it may be cute, but you’ll still need a plan to build from, just like with any other house. Even if your tiny budget doesn’t allow for an architect, there are plenty of free (or very inexpensive) tiny house plans available on the internet. Here are some of our favorites. This tiny home has a distinctly modern look, and the inside is filled with light.

This powder room boasts a pretty pedestal sink (that doesn’t offer much surface storage space), a nice big mirror in an interesting shape (but those faceted clips are less than ideal), and nice pale walls (though it’s that generic cream-beige). It was an excellent setup that could use a bit of a spruce… Oooh baby, this is so much nicer. The changes aren’t huge, but they’re so, so effective, especially considering they only cost about $100.

The first whiff of colder weather makes you dream excitedly about boots and cozy sweater outfits. As you run to the closet to dig out your sweaters, you find… moth holes? Don’t throw out those old sweaters though. Sweaters make perfect upcycle material and can be transformed into a myriad of useful (and cute) DIYs. Check out our favorites below. Teapot cozies keep your tea of choice warm as you settle in for a snug night.

You know the drill: Any improvements made to this rental kitchen needed to be affordable and reversible, so that the renter could get the security deposit back. With just $500 in upgrades and some very clever re-styling, this kitchen now looks like a million bucks. I was all ready to gush over this ridiculously adorable wallpaper, when I realized that it’s not wallpaper: It’s renter-friendly removable decals.

If you’re building or remodeling a home, or even just thinking about it, you’ve probably come across this particular conundrum: Do you pick laminate flooring, or go for real wood? Laminate, which consists of a layer of fiberboard with a photorealistic image of wood (or sometimes stone) applied on top, sometimes gets a bad rap for looking cheap or fake. But many modern laminates are actually quite realistic, and almost indistinguishable from wood.

What would you say if I told you I stumbled across $2,000 in free money that I’m using to go to France? It sounds like the beginning of an email scam you’re too smart to click on, right? Well get this: It’s a true story. This summer my husband and I replaced the decrepit roof on our 128-year-old house.

You dream of having a smart home the way others dream of having a closet full of designer shoes. The only problem? You’re on a budget, and smart home solutions are way beyond your means… Or are they? It’s true that just like designer shoes, many smart home devices and systems come with a high price tag. Truth: High-end connected appliances and kits costing thousands of dollars are nice, but they aren’t essential to creating a smart home experience.

Let’s start this off by saying I don’t usually send cards to people. I like to think I’m a gracious, considerate person—but I’ll be the first to admit I’ve forgotten to send my own thank you notes on more than one occasion (more like every single freaking time!). Hey, when you don’t have your mom nagging you every day for the month after your First Communion, it’s easy to forget that displaying gratitude is something you should prioritize.

Anyone who’s ever done a renovation on a budget knows that you have to find places to cut costs. Everything can’t be a splurge, after all. When my husband and I redid our home’s third floor to make it a full-time Airbnb, we were starting from scratch, so expensive things like HVAC systems ripped huge chunks out of our budget. I knew we had to restore the gorgeous original wood floors, and that meant another big expense.

“It’s the thought that counts” usually only comes up when a gift hasn’t quite hit the mark. But the phrase takes on a totally new and wholly positive meaning when a gift displays the giver’s labor of love and forward thinking—regardless of how much money the gift cost. Making plant babies (aka propagating) is exactly this kind of gift-giving.

If you love a bargain, you’re going to do cartwheels over Target’s latest announcement: a new line of everyday essentials that undercuts its existing house brand, Up and Up, by nearly 50 percent—and with most items under $2. The new line of lower price point essentials and everyday personal care items from Target features more than 70 unique products in the Smartly line, from body lotion and all-purpose cleaner to razors and garbage bags.

Home Depot is a home run when you’re in need of screws, plywood, and mulch, but it may not be the first place you think of when it comes to decorating. And while I’m not about to say that it should be, necessarily, it certainly shouldn’t be ignored.

We’ve all been there. You’ve found just the right fill-in-the-blank (light fixture? bag? end table?) you’ve been looking for online, and are ready to load up your cart and check out. Then that nagging suspicion hits that there might just be a better price out there. It’s a valid concern. Prices can vary, sometimes drastically, from site to site, promotion to promotion. So how can you be sure you’re getting the very best price?

Not to frighten you, but the holiday season is quickly approaching. If you want to be generous with your giving but mindful of your spending, you need to start pinching your pennies now. Good news: Beyond those trusty daily habits like making coffee at home and bringing lunch to work, there are some more season-specific ways to keep your expenses down this month.

Bathrooms are sometimes neglected when it comes to design, but that doesn’t have be the case (and shouldn’t be). While, yes, you may do your “business” there, it’s also a space for practicing self-care (I know, it’s a buzz word, but it is really important) and may be the only place you ever find yourself alone. Whether you’re a renter or homeowner on a budget, renovating your #selfcare space doesn’t have to be impossible.

If you’re anything like me, getting the most of your beloved (and often pricey) bathroom supplies—a.k.a. quality shampoos, body washes, skincare, etc.—is always a priority. And while flipping your bottles upside down when they start running low might seemingly work well enough, we found an affordable item that will ensure you get every last drop of all your most precious products (even the ones with the pump tops).

If you’ve ever fallen as a willing victim to the IKEA marketplace, you already know: When home basics are well-designed, aesthetic, and affordable, we can’t get enough. But there’s another spot like the marketplace to get your fix. It was right under our noses the entire time—right in the store’s name. Muji was founded in 1980 in Japan, but has since arrived stateside (including online) to offer up brandless quality goods.

Investing major money into one measly item always hurts. Some items, though, are more painful than others. My painful everyday expenditure: floor rugs. For an item that endures near-constant contact by the likes of dirty feet, pets and mucky shoes, $600 to $1,200 seems disproportionate. And if you have kids, toss in the very real possibility that within weeks of purchase, it could be irreparably ruined by a pool of ketchup.

There are some great deals to be found at both stores, but consider this the next time you're shopping.

Store-brand products aren’t usually something to get excited about. They’re cheap and … that’s about it. But Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand of products are a bargain-hunter’s dream because they are not only economical, but also often top-of-the-line.