Search Results for: blog buying a house

What’s the Best Value: Buying Big vs Buying Small?

Sometimes you have to buy big and sometimes you have to buy small if you want to get the best value for your money. It all depends on the circumstance. At the grocery store, you want to buy big when buying in bulk will save you the most money. Of course, it doesn’t always work that way. Always check unit price and do a comparison of your various options. Usually this works well on items that aren’t otherwise on sale, don’t have coupons, can be used up before they expire or are purchased at a bulk warehouse store where normal … Continue reading →

Three Ways to Control Impulse Buying at Christmas

The shiny decorations, the pretty lights, the wonderful smells, the bustle of shoppers, the increase in commercials, and the demanding kids all combine at Christmas to raise the risk of impulse buying. Many debt services report that the number of phone calls they get for help really drops off in December, as people put aside the idea of debt and just go ahead and spend. Of course, the calls in January are another story. These agencies often see their highest traffic then, as people find themselves in debt crisis. Don’t let this happen to you. Control your impulse buying at … Continue reading →

Buying A New Roof

When I bought my house the inspector said the roof was leaking. Being the optimist I am, I thought a little roof tar and I would be good. That just shows how little I knew about roofs. After waking up to a steady stream of water entering my attic I found I had a lot to learn. Once the rain stopped I patched the roof but knew I had to do something about this aging roof. I did some research online and since the roof was the original one on the house, it was time to replace it. Asphalt roofs … Continue reading →

When Buying Generic Doesn’t Pay

Are there times when it doesn’t pay to buy generic products? Of course there are. Use this handy guide to help you make the best savings decisions about when to buy generic groceries and when to stick with the name brands. When you can combine deals If you can combine two or more deals, you are usually better off buying name brand products. Use a manufacturer’s coupons plus a store coupon, or combine a manufacture’s coupon with a sale. You can also use a coupon, store coupon or manufacturer’s coupon with clearance items. Often when you combine two or three … Continue reading →

Safe Housekeeping During Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, you may find yourself suddenly motivated to clean more than you usually do. Of course, you may not, and that is also perfectly normal. I never experienced an overwhelming urge to clean house during either of my pregnancies, although I did clean a little more than normal during my second pregnancy. Cleaning during pregnancy is not harmful in and of itself. When the urge to clean strikes, be careful about what products you use to clean, and about some of the chores that you choose to tackle. If you have been bitten by the housekeeping bug, … Continue reading →

Selling Your House in the Spring

You can really tell that spring has arrived by all the for sale signs in people’s yard. Spring is a wonderful time to sell your home. It’s like Mother Nature has put on her best dress and pearls so your house looks it’s very best. There are still some things you can do to help Mother Nature and your realtor. Studies are showing that more people start their home search online. Gone are the days of busy open houses, instead we can log in and see hundreds of homes in the time it takes to drive across town. It’s important … Continue reading →

Cleaner, Greener Houses

April is Earth month and all though we all know the things we can do in our home to get rid of toxins and make it more Earth friendly, sometimes we need a reminder. Here is your reminder. You’re welcome. *Dust with a damp cloth to make sure the toxins in the dust in your home don’t just get redeposited in the air. *Open your windows occasionally, even in the winter, to allow fresh air in and stale polluted air out. *Buy organic food for your family. It is grown without pesticides or fertilizers and meat contains no drugs or … Continue reading →

Buying a House as a Single Parent

I’ve recently been looking at houses for my son and I. It will be a little while before we are ready to move, but I like to see what’s out there so that I can make plans early on. I have to admit I’m feeling rather discouraged. It seems Logan and I may be destined to live in an apartment for the rest of our lives. With one income the idea of us ever becoming home owners seems completely impossible. There is so much to consider when you are buying a home. Is it in a good area? Can we … Continue reading →

Saving Money on a New House

One of the easiest ways to save on a mortgage is by making a substantial down payment. The larger your down payment, the less you will have to pay on a monthly basis. In most cases, home buyers are required to cough up at least 20 percent of a home loan in order to avoid Private Mortgage Insurance. Whereas it would be wonderful if we could all put down 20 to 30 percent of our dream home’s total price, many potential buyers struggle to come up with even half that. Fortunately, for many first-time homebuyers, down payment assistance is available. … Continue reading →

January Check In: New Year’s Resolutions in Housekeeping

It’s the end of January, which means checking in to see how you are doing with your New Year’s Resolutions. Not everyone includes housekeeping in their list of things to change but this blog might get you thinking about it. The biggest thing I had on my mind for the year 2012 was to cook more often for my family. I am happy to say that I have adopted a meal plan that is really working. It feels so good to accomplish something. But at the same time, I know that I need to address other areas in my home, … Continue reading →