As Seen in Newsweek, Woman's Day, Woman's World, Quick & Simple, the Family Life Network, NY Times and Associated Press

BetterBudgeting.com has been featured in publications all around the world... where have you seen us?

Where Did You
Learn About Us?
Contact Editor

Living a Better Life - The Free Money Saving Tips Ezine

Enter Your E-mail Address to Receive a FREE Subscription and BONUS GIFT... "Dealing with Debt"

Dedicated to Helping Families LIVE a BETTER LIFE...
Not by Spending MORE Money, but LESS! 
Since 2001

  Join Us Today!!!

Home | Register for Budgeting Class | Free Budgeting Worksheets
Free Debt eBook | Sign Up for Your Free Subscription

, 2008 

Learn How to Save Money with Thousands of FREE Tips on Everything from Budgeting, Getting Out of Debt, Frugal Family Fun, Saving Money on Groceries and Work-at-Home Business Guides

Welcome to BetterBudgeting!
Michelle Jones, Founder and Editor of BetterBudgeting.com
Meet the Editor
Dinner Blog

Home
Translate
Article Index
Monthly Tip Rewards Contest
Search this Site


Budget Help
Budget Help:
Budgeting Articles
Budgeting Class
Budget Calculators
Budget Planners
Budget Software
Free Budgeting Forms


Resources to Help You Save Money
Resources to Help You Save Money:
Books
Credit Reports
Credit Scores
Dealing with Debt
Dental Plans
Entertainment Coupon Book
Free Insurance Quotes
Find a Job
Frugal Cookbook
Grocery Coupons
Grocery Savings
Lower My Bills
Menu Planners
Paid Surveys
Shop & Save
Unclaimed Cash
U.S. Tax Help
Work-at-Home Business Guides


More Money Saving Topics!
More Money Saving Topics:
Bargain Shopping
Decorating on a Budget
Frugal Household Tips
Frugal Living
Frugal Parenting
Frugal Recipes
Frugal Travel Tips
Gas Saving Tips
Getting Organized
Holidays - Frugal Crafts & Homemade Gifts
Thrifty Money Saving Tips

TOP "HOW TO" EBOOKS:

How to Cook Great Meals for Your Family on a Budget

How to Own Your Own Paycheck Again

How to Shop Smart with Our Very Own Black Belt Shopper

How to Start a Home Business

How to Use Coupons Wisely and Finally Get Organized So You CAN Use Them

 

 

Budget Decorating
(featured column)

Spring Renewal for Your Home's Exterior

by Kathleen Wilson

Come every Spring, we become a little more conscious of the way our home looks to all those who pass by. Often times it is out of our budget to repaint, or remodel the exterior of our home. Here are some great tight budget tips for dressing up the outside of your home with "Creativity, Not Cash!"™  More...

1. Stand out on your sidewalk and take a picture of your home from the street. Often times we do not really "see" what is there because we have become so accustomed to it. Take your photo to a copy shop and print out a few copies of it, blown up to fit the paper. Now you can spend some time drawing in your wish list for changes, add a fence, draw an arbor over your entry walk, add planters, and come up with some low cost ways to accomplish it! (Kind of a low cost version of that expensive software) This one step could save you a lot of time, money, and work, not to mention get you to the home you want in a much smoother fashion!

2.Consider learning some woodworking skills. With just a little education and a rented saw, you can build arbors and decorative fences for a fraction of what it would cost to have it installed. You can often get free instruction at your local home improvement center. Check out http://www.hgtv.com or http://www.bhg.com for some help. Now remember, if you can't afford to totally fence in your yard, or build a big gazebo, how about just adding a little decorative fences at the corners of the yard, and a simple decorative gate marking the entrance to your yard? It only takes a little to add a whole lot of character.

3. If you already have a concrete drive and walkway, and you find it boring, dress it up by lining it with brick. It doesn't cost much, and all it takes is a little elbow grease digging a trench to lay the brick in alongside the walkway, then pack the dirt back around them to hold in place, no mortaring necessary for this! Another low cost option? Use porch paint and stamp a brick walkway with a large rectangular sponge. You can use a basket weave pattern, or lay it on the diagonal, whatever works for you!

4. Add shutters to your windows. Now, you don't have to buy those expensive premade ones that everyone else has, you can make simple ones yourself. You can use plywood and edge it in wood trim, then paint, or just hang a few vertical 1x2's 4 inches apart to form the a rectangular shape alongside your window, indicating shutters. You may be able to find much of this wood in scrap piles. Just make sure the pieces are not warped. Now paint with exterior trim paint, and watch the charm go up! Be sure to use galvanized screws or nails to build and hang them so they won't rust.

5. Finally, add some personal touches to your entry, to make your home more welcoming. Hand paint a wood plaque from the craft store with your family name or a favorite quote and hang it beside your front door. Add a wreath or a swag to your entry door. You can make one easily from a grapevine or straw wreath and add your own touches, some garden tools, silk flowers, small wood plaques with the family member's names, seashells, whatever represents your tastes. Fill a planter with flowers or shade plants and place it right by your door to add life, add a chair or bench if you have room. If you have a table and a covered porch, don't be afraid to bring out candles, throw pillows, and even a throw rug to create your porch "room"! Just remember to use your creativity, add your personal touch, and use that elbow grease, and soon people will stop when they pass your home impressed, by your creativity!

 

*  *  *

Copyright © 2004 by Kathleen Wilson.  All rights reserved.

Budget Decorating Article Index

Want more money-saving tips?  Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly newsletter!

 

Special Features

FREE 30-DAY TRIAL:  
Mvelopes Personal Budget System

GROCERIES:
Print Free Grocery Coupons at Our Grocery Site  

DINNER BLOG:
Frugal Family Recipes - What's for Dinner Tonight?

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON GAS: Over 50 Free Gas Saving Tips


MONTHLY TIP CONTEST:
Thrifty Money Saving Tips

SHOP & SAVE:
Clearance Sales, Gifts, Shopping Discounts

Order Our Frugal Cookbook

Frugal Family Recipes by Michelle Jones

Frugal Family Recipes... From
Our Home to
Yours!

FEATURED FRUGAL RECIPES OF THE MONTH
Cheap and Inexpensive Recipes for the Frugal Cook on a Budget!
Michelle's Meals on a Budget
Frozen Chocolate Banana Pops

Readers' Recipes
Easy French Bread
Hot Dogs and Baked Bean Casserole
Crock Pot London Broil

More Recipes...
Share a Recipe...
Order Cookbook...

EDITOR'S BOOK PICK OF THE MONTH

Joel Osteen - Become a Better You

Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day

More Book Picks...


Free Budget Help and Tips to Save Money

How Financially Fit are You?

Take this Financial Fitness Quiz to find out!

Help a Friend Today, Tell Them About Us!
Send an E-mail
Link to Us
Free Brochures

Support Our Favorite Charities

American Bible Society

American Cancer Society

American Red Cross Disaster Relief

More Charities and Your Local Food Banks...

 

RETURN TO HOME PAGE

Thank you for visiting with us today!  
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE SUBSCRIPTION & BONUS GIFT!

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Article Index | Free Article Reprints | Media | Advertising | Affiliates
Disclaimer | Privacy | Reader Feedback | Subscribe | Unsubscribe-Change Address

Charities & Food Banks

Copyright © 2001-2008 by BetterBudgeting.com
a subsidiary of Blue Ridge Publishing, Inc.  All rights reserved.