The days are getting longer…that usually means I start thinking about all the things that need doing around the house.
I’ve had paint sitting in the basement for close to two years now. I had every intention of painting the entryway, but got too sidetracked with projects in the yard. It’s on my to do list and I’ve told myself once it gets warm enough to crank open a few windows, I’m painting those walls.
Another project I’d love to tackle, but not sure if it’s in the budget right now, is the entryway and kitchen floors. Right now both floors are covered in black marble vinyl tiles that were installed by the previous owners. They were okay at first, but now I’m ready for a change. I’d really like to switch to wood flooring, but hate to think how much it would cost for someone to install it. However, I think it’s a project that’s definitely meant to be. Today I opened up my e-mail and I'd received a newsletter containing an article about best places to buy wood flooring on a budget and how easy it is to install yourself. Do you think someone’s trying to tell me something?
All this has got me thinking about things we need to do around the house to keep it looking good and in tip top shape. An hour of your time, and say $100, fixing something now, can offset having to hire outside help and a lot more money later. So as the days start getting longer, check around your house and see what needs fixing or what needs updating. Anything that adds value to your biggest investment is never wasted money.
For the last month I’ve been planning meals two weeks at a time. I’ve been writing down what I plan to cook on each day and then making my grocery list from that plan. I’ve also switched to biweekly shopping and have to say I think I’ve saved money. I’ve also been less stressed about ‘what’s for dinner’. And I’ve also cut down on the amount of food that’s wasted. By making two recipes that use the same ingredients at the same time, nothing goes to waste any more. For example, half a can of refried beans or half container of ricotta cheese doesn’t sit in the fridge until no one can identify it. Give it a try and I think you’ll be pleased with the results.
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