Previous

quoteSearch from 250 + construction management programs in our databasequote

Construction Management School Search

Your Zip Code:

quoteConstruction Managers' averaged $58,588 in annual salary in 2008.quote

Icons

quoteSearch our database to find construction management schools near you.quote

Construction Management School Search

Your Zip Code:

Next

Pinching Pennies? Improve Your Home on a Budget

Home is where the heart is, and vice versa. If you love your home, you’re going to want to take good care of it and make sure it does not disintegrate into an unmaintained wreck. But any home improvement or renovation takes a great deal of time and money, one of which you may have and the other of which you definitely don’t have. If you’re looking to pamper your home with a limited amount of money, here’s how you can get the most bang for your buck using these five Ps:

  1. Plan: There’s nothing that could increase your budget and make it hit the roof like poor planning. As long as you know what you want to do and exactly how you want to do it, you should be able to control your spending. List out all your potential expenses, with enough leeway for emergencies and unexpected roadblocks, so that you don’t have to change your plans midway and incur additional costs in the process. Also, it’s not wise to change or redo what you’ve already done since this could end up eating into your already meager budget.
  2. Purge: A clean home is easier to spruce up than one that hasn’t been maintained for some time. Grime and dust have a way of making things older and shabbier than they really are. It’s best to adopt a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule, but if you haven’t been doing that, try scrubbing your home from attic to basement and see the difference it makes to the way it looks. Besides, your paint jobs and other alterations will be easier with a clean house.
  3. Paint: Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint is all a house needs to look new again. Try changing your color schemes if you want a different look, and use paints that do not contain volatile organic chemicals (although they may be costlier than regular paint) if the fumes tend to make you sick.
  4. Pamper: Treat your house to great looking furniture and appliances, preferably those you can pick up at bargain prices and those that match each other and complement your house and its décor. If you have large, unused spaces, try breaking them down into smaller rooms that are cozier and easier to maintain.
  5. Prune: If you have a yard, driveway and garden, it goes without saying that you must keep the outside of your home looking great and tidy. For one, it makes your house look good, and for another, if you’re planning to sell your home, it helps to bring in more potential buyers and a good asking price.