We are a house proud lot in the UK. Our homes are our castles and our gardens are a refuge away from the stresses and strains of modern day life.
But with most of us looking to keep our spending to a minimum and the majority of us looking for ways to save money anyway we can, finding the extra money to pay for sprucing up your home can become increasingly expensive.
Follow these tips from Savoo.co.uk on how to spruce up your home on a budget.
Get the Paint Brush Out
You will be amazed at the effect a coating of paint can have on a room. Transform that 1970s wall paper into a stylish and modern room. Paint costs far less than wallpaper and is easy to get right yourself: check for deals at stores like Homebase for great money savings. Another good tip is to keep the colour plain and simple on the main walls, perhaps adding some brighter colours to door frames or skirting boards.
De-Clutter Your Home
For modern, busy families it’s all too easy to create a chaotic home life: the kid’s toys are everywhere; your work is on the kitchen table; the cat food is in the living room – the list is endless. A simple, but extremely effective way to improve your home without spending any money whatsoever is to try and reduce clutter in your home. If there is anything you do not need or use regularly, think about selling it or donating it to websites such as Freecycle.org – this way you will be able to free up space in your home.
Let There be Light
We know it isn’t much of a summer we are experiencing at the moment, but most homes look better with more light. There are simple ways to create the feeling of more light in a home. Adding mirrors to walls, painting walls a lighter colour and removing any old-fashioned net curtains are a good place to start to bring more light into a room. Additionally you could look to buy more lamps for any particularly troublesome dark corners, too.
Find more tips and money saving ideas at the Savoo.co.uk blog at http://www.savoo.co.uk/blog/blog.html #/BREAK#
#TITLE#Can Families Holiday Abroad on a Budget?#/TITLE#
The Summer Holidays are upon us and children are leaving school with thoughts about this year’s summer break. September will once again play host to the playground top-trumps of summer holiday experiences, but how exactly are mums and dads meant to afford these trips?
We all know that the cost of holiday packages increase during the peak summer months – seeming to punish adults for keeping their children in school during term-time rather than whisking them away to sunnier climates.
As always, a host of deals start to become available, claiming to offer fantastic savings for the average family (which, just to be clear, means those containing two adults and two children), but is it really possible to afford a summer holiday abroad on a restricted budget?
Before deciding if holidaying abroad is viable for you it is important to consider the hidden costs that could await you. Think about issues such as whether travel insurance is included in the price or whether it needs to be purchased separately.
You should also check what the economy and currency of your potential destination is like as some popular destinations – thanks to the exchange rate – mean that basic amenities, such as food and drink are highly priced.
How you are going to travel when on holiday is another important consideration. Check for deals on car hire as well as researching the public transport options provided, too.
There are a number of deals available which offer great opportunities for families wishing to travel a little further from home this summer.
Saving deals that allow kids to stay, eat and play for free in Dubai with additional free attraction tickets, for example, can help families get away for less.
Keeping your eyes peeled for deals on websites such as Savoo.co.uk will help you find a range of affordable holiday destinations. A good tip however is to make sure that you consider the overall cost of the holiday before making your booking.
Find more ways family money saving ideas.