This post was a long time in coming since we actually did our mini kitchen reno over a year ago! Regardless, we still learned some valuable tips to help us get the most bang for our buck that may come in handy when you set out to do some renovations.
Our main goal in our kitchen renovation on a budget was to replace the counter top. Not only was it an awful colour (burnt orange) it was showing signs of major wear. The other not as important aspects, were to replace the broken dishwasher and leaky tap.
Here’s what we did to stay within our $1,000 budget:
Used as much existing stuff as possible
We don’t intend on living in this condo forever so it wasn’t important to us to have that “dream” kitchen this time around. So, since the cupboards were still in pretty great shape we opted to leave them in place. This saved a huge chunk of money and time! I believe new cupboards are the most expensive part of a kitchen renovation, so if you can work with what you have already, you’ll be well on your way to staying within budget! The stove and fridge were also not an expense for us since they were both in working condition.
Price things out
It’s important to check out all your options and price things out before you get started on a project. In our situation with the counter tops, we had a few different options:
Special order the counters in the arborite of our choice in the exact measurements we required and have them professionally installed.
Purchase premade counters from the shelf at Home Depot, then have the counters cut to our specifications and install them ourselves
Purchase plywood, glue the arborite on top, then install ourselves.
In the end we opted for the second option because this was the most cost effective and time efficient option in our situation since my Dad and my husband can be pretty handy. We chose the arborite pattern that appealed to us the most then purchased the lengths we needed according to our measurements.
Do it yourself
In almost every situation, opting to do it yourself is the way to go if you want to save some change. Since my Dad and my husband are quite handy and are good at figuring things out, this was obvious to us. A couple of times they had to do some Google searches to figure things out, but not only was the reno a success, I think they had fun too. 🙂
Hire professional services when necessary
Since we decided to buy premade counters, we were left with some angles needing to be cut into our long rectangular counter tops. Rather than attempting to do this ourselves, we thought it wise to pay a small price to have the counters cut with the proper saw at a local business. The possibility of ruining the counter tops (thus having to purchase them again) was enough to convince us to not do this step ourselves.
Shop around
On our list to purchase was a dishwasher, a tap, a sink and counter tops. We shopped around at Rona, The Home Depot and some local hardware stores and decided that The Home Depot had the best options and prices for us. Except the dishwasher. We bought that from a local furniture store. Even though we bought most of our stuff from one store, it was still worth it to see the other options available to us.
Search for clearance items
I decided I wanted a really basic (read: cheap) kitchen tap. I wanted to pay less than $100 since I knew I didn’t want to sink money into a home we wouldn’t be staying in forever. There were a few options but none of them were really jumping out at me. They seemed very poorly made and I was afraid we’d end up replacing it again. Low and behold, my husband spotted a really nice name brand tap on clearance for $90 ($100 off!). Once he pointed it out I made up my mind and bought that one. Long story short, watch for those bight coloured clearance stickers!
Ask for a discount
When it came time to purchase the dishwasher, we were on the hunt for a basic white dishwasher. We found a great one on sale at a local furniture store. Turns out, only the floor model was left. So I asked for a discount to make up for any wear and tear it may have received from others looking at it. The sales associate obliged! I learned that day it never hurts to ask for a discount!
A year and a half later, I’m still commenting to my husband about the spectacular counters he installed for me and the amazing, unleaky tap he found on clearance. 🙂 With all the tips I listed above, we were able to update our little kitchen for about $1,000. While the results aren’t spectacular, I’m happy to have a more updated counter top and functioning appliances!
Have you got any tips for saving money on a renovation?
So you want to decorate. Liven up your home with a new few things. The thing is, the piggy bank is pretty empty. But that doesn't have to stop you. There are plenty of ways to decorate on a budget, especially if you know where to shop.
Here are 5 places to shop when you're decorating on a budget:
Dollar stores
Dollar store decor is definitely cheap, price and quality wise, in most cases. But, dollar stores always seem to have a nice selection of candles, candle holders, vases, wall art and more. Not only do they have "pre-made" decor items, they provide a great selection of craft supplies so you can create your own unique decor. As another example, I recently purchased two simple wooden picture frames that I intend on using for framing some nice papers I own to add some colour to the walls.
Thrift stores
Thrift stores can be amazing places to go decor shopping. They often carry furniture, paintings, accessories, vintage fabric and more. If you find a piece of furniture you like, but it's a little on the worn side, you can always refinish, re-paint, or reupholster it. Old paintings and mirrors can be re-framed, or frames can be used for new pieces of art. Finally, clean, polish or spray paint the neat accessories you find.
Garage sales
Similar to thrift stores, garage sales can be a treasure chest full of cheap home decor items. While many items might need a little bit of TLC, you may find some beautiful items for sale simply because the sellers have changed their tastes.
Kijiji, Craigslist and Buy & Sell sites
If you're on the hunt for some new-to-you furniture, I think Kijiji, Craigslist and Facebook Buy & Sell sites are a great place to look. We recently were on the hunt for a new couch and love seat. I had been scouring the flyers a good sale, but nothing jumped out at me. It wasn't until a leather couch set appeared on a local Facebook group that I got excited. We ended up getting a great deal because we opted to purchase something gently used.
Homesense
Possibly the most expensive option on this list, Homesense is a great place to look for brand new lamps, pillows, bedding, baskets, dishes, towels, bathroom accessories and more at marked-down prices.
Where is your favorite budget-friendly place to shop?
Clear out your closet and earn some cash by selling your unwanted clothing on consignment! Not only is selling on consignment a great way to earn some extra cash, you could essentially use the cash to purchase the clothing you really want! Maybe a guilt free solution to your shopping habits?
With almost every season, I find a small pile of clothes to bring in to a local consignment shop. It’s pretty exciting to stop by later in the year to pick up the cash I earned for items I would have otherwise simply donated.
Here are my tips to help you get the most money out of the items you bring to consignment:
Make sure your items are clean
Give your gently-worn clothes a wash to freshen them up and to get any stains out, you’ll have more luck selling items that are in great shape.
Make sure your items are ironed
Going along with my previous point, having clothes that are newly ironed will help your items sell for top dollar.
Make sure your items are current/in style
You will have the best luck selling more “current” clothing; nobody wants to wear your grandmother’s polyester pants!
Don’t hold on to something you know you won’t wear
The longer you hold on to an item you know you won’t wear, the less it will be worth when you decide to finally clear your closet.
Not only is consignment great for buying pieces for your wardrobe at affordable prices, it’s also a great way to part with some of your gently-worn clothes and make some money while you’re at it!
What are your selling on consignment tips? Have you ever brought any items to consignment shops?
I love free stuff. You love free stuff. Everyone loves free stuff! I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone that claims to dislike getting stuff for free. Everything we want can be bought with a price tag, but before you head to the store to purchase an item, read my tips for acquiring the things you need for free.
Here are my 6 favourite ways to get stuff for free:
Borrow
Borrowing could be ideal if you need a particular item only for a short time. I do this all the time with friends and family. Especially with serving ware used for big gatherings that I don’t have room to store. 🙂
Check Freecycle
Freecycle.org is an online network found in most communities around Canada that provides you with a way to acquire something you need for free. It’s also a great way to unload items you don’t have a use for any more! You simply create a post stating what you’re looking for, then someone will reply to you via email if they can fulfill your request!
Exchange Services
Say you would like a room in your house painted, but you’re terrible at paint brush control. You do, however, know how to build a very sturdy shelf that a friend of yours has been hunting for. Why not suggest exchanging services? You’ll get a painted room and your friend will get a nice shelf in exchange for a few hours of work. Win win!
Use coupons
If would be silly to not mention using coupons as a way to get things for free. While getting stuff for completely free is not possible (you still have to pay taxes), it’s a fantastic way to get stuff you need for pennies. If you follow my weekly Coupon Match Ups that get posted on Thursday’s, quite often you’ll find items on the list that are free when you match a coupon to a sale price. Many companies are also offering FPC’s (Full Price Coupons) these days, most often through their Facebook pages. See also the How to Coupon in Canada series for more coupon details.
Swagbucks
For the past several years, I’ve been collecting Swag Bucks through their search engine (and other options), then redeeming them for free Starbucks, Amazon and PayPal gift cards! They offer a ton of different products in their Rewards store, but those three are my favourite. Here’s a post I wrote featuring 6 Ways to Earn More Swag Bucks that may help answer some questions.
Sign up for Freebies
At least a few times a week, I’ll post a great freebie offer that a company is offering. The offers range anywhere from sample size body lotions and shampoos to full size products, like bacon! There are also frequent Mail in Rebate offers that will pop up from time to time good for a free box of dish detergent or stain remover, for example. While you do have to pay out of pocket initially for mail in rebate items, you will be reimbursed if you fill in all the paperwork correctly.
There you have it, 6 of my tried and true methods to get stuff for free! Have you tried any of these methods? What are your tips for getting stuff for free?
As summer approaches, your thoughts may be starting to turn towards planning and saving for a family vacation. Though money seems to always be an issue, that doesn’t mean you can’t plan a fun family vacation on a budget! It just means you’ll have to use some smart thinking to pull it off.
Here are some ideas that I believe to be useful when planning a vacation on a budget:
Travel when others aren’t
Weekends, especially long weekends are popular travel times throughout the summer. Maybe plan your trip to start on a Tuesday (or Wednesday or Thursday) when there are likely to be less travelers. Hotel rates are usually higher on weekends too
Rethink the hotel stay
If staying in a hotel doesn’t have to be your only option, why not consider staying in a hostel, going camping, or renting a home? When we went to Florida a few weeks ago with family, we rented a beautiful home through AirBnB. It was much cheaper than if we were to pay for a hotel room for all three families! If you must stay in a hotel, be sure to look for deals. I’ve used Priceline and Expediawith great success as well as finding deals through travel emails I’m signed up for. Many deal sites like Grouponand WagJag have sections within their websites featuring only travel deals, you may find something there!
Plan your meals
Much like how you might plan your meals at home, planning for meals during vacation is important if you want to stay within your budget. You may like to eat out for every meal and if that’s the case, check for grouponsto local restaurants or search for coupons in local newspapers. If the budget won’t allow for you to eat out every meal, consider eating out for breakfast and dinner only. If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, use it, and cook some delicious meals! Another option that we like to do is stop by a grocery store to pick up staples for picnics. Our selection usually includes sandwich meat, buns, cheese, fruit, granola bars, juice boxes and maybe a bag of chips. We also like to take advantage of hotels with free breakfast. We’ll eat a lot, then we’re usually good until dinner with a snack in between.
Research budget activities
Fun activities are a must for any vacation, but they don’t have to cost a lot. Doing a bit of research beforehand can really help keep your budget in check. Look into local parks or historical sites that offer free admission or cheap rates. Beaches are also a great way to unwind and even horse around at no cost. When we’re on vacation, we always like to find hiking trails to explore, which are free unless we’re stopping in a national park. If you have a vehicle, you may also like to drive around to acquaint yourselves with some local neighborhoods. The Entertainment coupon books can also be a great place to look to coupons for local attractions.
Share costs with another family
As I mentioned previously, we rented a house with other family members on a trip to Florida. This not only saved us a bundle when it came to accommodations, we saved a bunch by sharing grocery costs! While this may not be ideal for some families, we really enjoyed it because we still had the freedom to do our own activities if we wanted to “escape” to do our own thing as a family.
Plan a staycation
If you’re really on a budget, or wanting to stay close to home, a staycation may just be the ticket you need to have some fun as a family. Plan your Staycation just as you would a regular vacation. Set a budget, research activities and find restaurant deals. Reacquaint yourselves with local attractions, camp grounds, and parks. Take advantage of free concerts or stay up late stargazing in your backyard. The options are endless!
Have a Plan B
In order to stay within your budget, it may be important to have a Plan B for some of the activities you want to do. Due to unforeseen circumstances, one (or more) of the activities you wanted to do may be closed or cancelled. Having a budget friendly backup plan in place will still ensure you’ll have a blast!
Taking a family vacation doesn’t have to be stressful or too hard on the budget when you keep these tips in mind!
What are your tips for planning a family vacation on a budget?
You may collect them, but never use them because you may think they’re only for travel. (And when you use it for travel, there are
administration fees.) There are all sorts of things you can get with Air Miles – including Dyson vacuums, laptops, cameras and much much more. It’s a great way to save money on items you need, and use up the otherwise wasted Air Miles!
