Category: Money matters

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Old house and ancient plumbing

While remodeling the spare bathroom, we have found that they no longer sell the bath and shower fixtures that will fit our ancient bathtub. The tub is small and is made out of molded cast iron. It’s also on an outside wall. To replace the tub, we would have to totally knock out the whole wall, somehow cut the tub into pieces and then haul that away, put a new tub and plumbing in and also new walls. This means we’d also have to replace the outside wall and siding. What a job.

What makes things worse, is on the other side of the adjacent wall where all the pipes are, is my son’s bedroom. That wall would also have to be knocked out and it is going to be one heck of a major project. The hot water was leaking and we tried to find the right parts to get it at least semi fixed, until we could go a head and do this improvement but my husband had to rig one up, since the hardware stores don’t carry the part.

I had to laugh when we took the parts in, because the man who was to help us looked at the  part, then at us with the most odd look. Like we were asking for something that was from the moon or whatever. He said he hadn’t seen one of these parts since the 40’s and even then they were nearly obsolete. Great. For now, we’ve decided to hold off on this project as long as we can, as we honestly don’t have the funds right at the minute to do a total remodel job. We have just finished the main bathroom. In the mean time, I am going to pick out tile and flooring, paint and at other items I may want to use once that darn tub is out and the plumbing in there is fixed. I can always look shop and get a idea of various prices.

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Curtains or Blinds

I’m debating about going to using blinds in my house instead of the lace curtains I have used for years with variations depending on the season. The family say to get both the curtains and the blinds, but they don’t have to pay for them I do, and my budget is limited when it comes to window coverings.

Right now I have long Irish lace curtains in the living room, which is the room I want to start thinking about for coverings. The windows face the road and on the right east side, face the neighbors. I’m not worried about the neighbors, as there are very large pine bushes that block the window partially and no one can see in. In the front however, I’m glad we know everyone in our small village, because a person can see right into my house, if by chance they are looking.

I guess if I got new summer curtains and also blinds, I could pull the blinds partially down at night, but the other problem besides finances for this improvement since I have six double hung windows, is the fact that I’m terribly claustrophobic. I really like being able to see out, even at night. So now I have something else to mull over and some decisions to make and in the mean time, I still am going to go shopping for new lace curtains for the summer months.

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Luxury patio furniture for this summer

Last year while putting away the things that I didn’t want outside during the winter, I decided to look at luxury patio furniture and find a set that I liked. I have even saved up some money to buy myself and my family comfortable chairs and perhaps benches to kick back on and also a big patio table with room enough for my whole brood and the grand kids, neighbors and friends. I even thought about maybe buying two sets, depending on if I could get a good deal and they weren’t really that expensive, yet they had class.

As everyone knows, I like to look on the internet to get ideas, prices and deals on things that I want to buy for my yard or home. I always consider items like this sort of home improvements. I found a place that sells luxury outdoor patio furniture, and has been in the business of furniture and accessories for about 35 years. They carry some really beautiful furniture and also besides being in business for so long, it is family owned and has that family type of atmosphere. This is something I like when I am looking for a place to shop.

I’m really looking forward to getting this furniture. I keep thinking about the kids having friends over and enough places to sit and eat, or just talk and hang out. Also I’m looking for some other patio furniture to go around the pool. If I can find something suitable for that space, I’d absolutely buy them. And of course because of the changeable weather here, I’d need the furniture and accessories to be sturdy and well built. The site I found seems like it is indeed going to fit all my wants and needs for this new home improvement. Looking for these kinds of items makes me want summer to get here even faster now!

 

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Home automation and awsome renovtions to a home

Through out most of my blog I’ve mentioned in blog posts that I would love to have a place for my sons to play their music, and have other innovations added to my house. I was doing the hit and miss play on words to find a sight that was what I was really looking for. One of the sites I happened to land on was, home theater scottsdale. Of course I clicked on this since how great would it be to have a big theater, since the guys like to have a get together and watch their music movies and such. All of this keeps running through my mind and of course the financial aspect comes to mind also. It is home improvement, a great asset and may even help with bringing the family closer together. At least in my way of thinking.

What I totally am into is the home automation scottsdale. Truth be known it totally blew me away to know what this company can do for a home and also for the residents…especially me! Unreal! Everything from control of the music in the whole house, the movies and video. To security, lighting and oh shoot, the list goes on. I actually have to say that I’ve visited a lot of sites on my own and some that friends have recommended to me, but this one did indeed strike my fancy. I don’t generally rave about businesses, but then now and again one comes across and just flat intrigues me.

I really would love to have all of these home improvement ideas in my house. Unfortunately Scottsdale is a very  long way from here. But ya’ll living down that way, check it out. Like I’ve said, I’ve been wanting this this kind of innovation in my home for a long time. I love the whole concept.

 

 

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Covering a hardwood floor

As much as I hate to do it, I’ve decided to look at carpet for the living room floor, which is tongue and groove hardwood.  My house is very old and despite of the insulation in the crawl space, the floor in that room tends to make walking on it even with socks on, a chilly experience. I find myself hopping from area rug to area rug which I’m getting a bit too old to do. Besides I look like an idiot doing  this. Slippers are not an option as I have to take them off to put boots on when I take the dogs out. It’s a hassle. Especially when the dogs want outside at that very minute they have to do their business.

I was thinking about a Berber type carpet for high traffic areas, but I would like to look at other options. I love the hardwood floors so perhaps a rug that covers a good deal of the floor would be the way to go for that room. I could always roll it up in the spring and then put down smaller area rugs that I have. It would definitely save money.

At any rate, I’m up for some kind of change and warmer feet in the winter. There is a carpet outlet in the city I live near, but also I’ve been looking on line for other ideas and floor covering sites that may have delivery since I do know how to lay carpet and flooring. (Thank you Dad, for this knowledge!)

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Shopping for PTAC Units

Last summer when we had exceedingly hot weather and a drought, our air condition unit decided it didn’t want to keep us cool anymore and the motor basically exploded. It was an old unit and we are fortunate it didn’t start a fire, but this has led us to do some early shopping for various ptac units, that we can afford. When I was younger, the heat didn’t bother me at all, but I have found for the last few years, I get overheated and of course without the air conditioner, it gets so hot and stuffy in the house that even the dog would rather be outside under a tree where he may get a hint of a breeze. My family gets miserable, and then I have to hear the complaints. I’m not going to go through that again this year.

While shopping, I looked at Amana ptac units and from what I was told by the expert helping me, they would save money and also work well in my home. In the long run this would be less expensive than running just plain fans, and would regulate the air in the house and keep it at a cool temperature that we all could handle. Not to mention, we wouldn’t just be stirring the hot air around like floor and ceiling fans do.

I’ve also talked my mom into checking out these ptac units, since she has a two story house and I stay in the upper part while I am there on most weekends. To say it gets hot up there, is an understatement. Despite the fact that she indeed has central air conditioning, her unit isn’t large or heavy duty enough, to cool the upstairs, due to the size of the rooms I have up there. To even try to cool the upstairs is so expensive, I’ve been depending on fans and a cross breeze with the windows open. A new until would not only save her money, but also make it comfortable enough to actually get a good night’s sleep!

 

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PeachSuite for Hotel Supplies

Having a close friend who owns a resort hotel, I have heard her often complain about not finding the supplies she needs, until she discovered PeachSuite Hotel Supply. She was thrilled at basically the “one stop shopping” online and the expert and helpful and sufficient way the company handle the costumers who are looking for their hotel needs.

Hotel Catering Supplies are a must, as the resort is on a Lake Front with a events like dinners in the banquet hall or even on the lawn when the weather is nice. It’s a great experience and my friend makes it as such, but she does need plenty of supplies and a reasonable price, since during the winter she often has to deal with business being slow. During the warm months, her place is packed and she wants the best so her customers come back. Buffet supplies are a must for her and it makes it so easy for folks to have a good time and also for her to mingle with the guests without the hassle of having the dinners served by employees.

Hotel Supplies are also a big thing to try and save money on, yet get a durable product that is good quality. Her resort is doing very well, and when she needs supplies now she knows where to get them!

 

 

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Gathering seeds and doing household repair

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been gathering seeds from what I call, my “blown out herbs and flowers” so I can put them in packages, mark them and then plant again next year. I love having herbs, flowers and other plants that I have grown and then gathered the seeds, and planted again the next spring. Generations of plants, so to speak.

I’m also getting the house ready for the winter. There are some repairs needed to be done on the outside of the house, due to the drought and yet also the terrible storms that passed through when we did get rain.

All of these things I love to do but need help with, and I have to admit that my kids have been wonderful about helping me with the a lot of the things that need to be done. This gives me peace of mind and also knowing that I am going to be prepared (sort of) for the winter and also have the spring seeds to plant, will save money and help me to keep from a great deal of worry.

 

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Cold weather has moved in

Most people are saying the chilly weather we are now having feels great. I say I’m very cold and not enjoying it at all.

I believe if it wasn’t rainy and damp, this may be a refreshing change instead of having 105 degree temperatures for weeks, but it feels down right like a rainy fall. This rain has come too late for the farmers crops though. It’s sad

I can imagine what grocery prices are going to be like come winter…as if they weren’t high enough. It’s going to be a frugal winter.

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In need of outdoor furniture repair

Because of someone, meaning my sons and husband, seem to have had a small party over the weekend, they or their friends went a bit overboard and now I am in need of someone who specializes in outdoor furniture repair. Around here, this is no easy task. I really like the furniture I have and want to keep it, but I know that it might be hard to repair or heaven’s forbid cost more than it would take to replace it. But I’m bound and determined to have my old furniture repair. It matches my deck and all of the other finishing touches I added that also mate the furniture.

To refinish patio furniture, I want someone who knows exactly what they are doing and I believe I have found such people to do this. I’m glad, since my furniture is not antique, but it is vintage and I’m really partial to all of it.

I have one patio chair that is going to need a whole lot of work. It is my favorite and happens to be the chair I always sit in. It looks like it went though a hurricane and was spit back out by the wind and ocean, after being dragged to yonder and back. I indeed will be needing a patio chair repair person who knows exactly what they are  doing. I know for a fact that the next time I go away, there will be no parties or disrespectful people here, but at least I found people who can fix my furniture, at a good price, so I don’t have to go out an buy new things that can’t compare with the good items I have.