Image courtesy of Bhgrealestate.com

One thing about college life I took for granted was having my own room. My mom, who shared a room through her whole childhood, college and then marriage, tells me I had it good for 18 years. For the past three years, I’ve shared a bedroom with a roommate. But soon, my roommates and I are going to be moving into a new apartment where we’ll have our own rooms. I’ve been dreaming about creating my own space, and my new room is just the place.

The downside to all of this is I’m still on a college-student budget. My parents always find ways to help me out, but they’re thrifty too. As move-out gets closer, I’m also closer to achieving my dream room. If you’re getting your own room like me or looking to spruce your space with the same budget limitations, here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way:

• Find inspiration. Before I even got started, I looked at magazines, online articles and blogs for inspiration on color and design. (I really love Lovelyundergrad.com for design ideas.) This gives a starting point to decide what you like and how to go forward.
• Brainstorm. After you have ideas, start thinking of ways you can get the same aesthetic without breaking the bank. Maybe you can make something more cheaply than buying it or another retailer has something that looks designer but costs less.
• Garage sales and Craigslist. I’m currently looking for some furniture so my mom has been helping me scope out garage sales and search for people in the area selling on Craigslist. And used furniture doesn’t mean it’s bad. I found a nightstand and dresser in good condition for $50!
• Be your own handyman. I thankfully have a dad who is great at all things maintenance. I have him enlisted to paint any furniture I find, and he’s also making me a headboard. If you don’t have a “handyman,” many sites offer step-by-step instructions on how to make almost anything. I actually found directions for the headboard at the Better Homes and Gardens Web site.
• Revamp what you have. Sometimes, the things you already have just need a change here or there to fit in with your new room. The desk I have now was a color I didn’t like so I asked my dad (of course) to spray paint it so it fit with the other furniture. Also, I really don’t want to waste money on new artwork. So, I’m taking photos I already have and using Photoshop to change them up so they’re like my own little works of art.

Just because you’re on a budget, doesn’t mean you can’t have a space you love. There are many ways to keep it inexpensive. It also feels so much better when you’ve contributed to the space. I know I’m going to love that my room was my creation from the beginning idea to colors to furniture.

Ashley Thill, Better Homes and Gardens, budget, college, decorate, design Hide

Image courtesy of Mybodybeats.com

Payday! But $600 goes towards rent, $350 for the car payments, $65 for the cell phone leaving only $50 to $60 for groceries for two weeks. While $50.00 could buy one hearty meal at a fancy restaurant, it seems unthinkable it can sustain you for two full weeks. With a little creative planning, portion control, and diligence, it is quite possible to buy all you need and stay under budget.

First, coupons and discounts are your best friend! Pick up a copy of your grocery store’s weekly flyer to have with you when you sort your list of items to buy. It can help determine meal plans for the weeks ahead. Remember not to get carried away with a deal, however, because that box of cookies could be only $1.99 on sale, but it will take away a potential staple for meals.

Figure out what you already have in the house that you can utilize for your meals. For instance, peanut butter, spaghetti noodles, tomato paste, kidney beans, milk or other food products may seem unusable on their own. But paired with another ingredient, you are talking about a delicious meal in the making.

Now decide what you need each day per meal. If you want to ensure you get your daily intake of each of the food groups, you can print a guide off of Health Canada’s online source. Start with a week’s worth of breakfast meals and determine what you need to complete your day. When choosing products, it helps when you can fashion more than one meal out of it. Eggs, bread, fruit, cereal and pancake mix are all excellent low-cost choices that can be incorporated for more than one day. If you are a fan of juice, instead of purchasing costly brand name carton products, opt for the canned variety that will last longer in the freezer or even Crystal Light powdered drinks that are low calorie and low cost.

Moving to lunch and dinner, choosing foods that may not spoil quickly and that are in season will allow for longevity and multiple usages. Leftovers are always a great way to provide a meal for the following day. Some people even opt to make large portions of pasta or casserole. That way you minimize on ingredients and maximize on time, budget, and filling foods. Stocking up on items such as apples or whole grain breads, will help diminish cravings throughout the day.

When plotting your visit to the grocery store, remember all of the essentials are usually situated on the edges of the store. Then work your way in to the non-essentials. Go shopping on a full stomach to avoid temptation. The more expensive items are generally placed at eye level so don’t be shy to grab the stepladder to find a product of equal quality for half the price.

There are plenty of ways to stick to a budget and still have a balanced diet. So get planning and enjoy the tasty rewards!

balanced diet, budget, Genevieve Castonguay, grocery, grocery store, leftovers, meals, savings Hide

As an interior designer (and daughter of a notable antiques/collectible dealer), I’ve spent many hours combing stores for hidden treasures — some more valuable than others. One of the least expensive and most creative ways to furnish your home is shopping at your local thrift store.

Sometimes my friends have a hard time using other people’s second hand goods, and there are certain items to avoid — like mattresses and bedding. I know some people steer clear of upholstered furniture, but most designers can look past the ugly, stained pink damask upholstery and see a beautiful, newly-upholstered antique chair.

Here’s a short guide to successful household hunting at thrift stores:

Art appreciation. There’s so much good art to be found at thrift stores. My mom once found a really famous piece of art that sold for thousands at an auction. I’ve found extremely valuable art as well. (My most recent score was an Ansel Adams photo.) I also have random works of art from unknown artists hanging on my wall. If you like it and it’s a good deal, buy it.

Novel discovery. Many valuable first edition books can be unearthed at thrift stores. A lot of used book stores and libraries donate to these stores and you can use the antique and tattered editions for decorating purposes. Look for books according to their cover.

Mismatched set. Stores like Anthropologie find amazing vintage products at thrift stores and then copy them with new materials. I prefer the original. I love old decanter sets and antique plates. Since many of the plate sets are missing a piece, you can mix and match pieces from different collections to create your own set. Just make sure you check the bottom of the piece (reproductions are getting really good, so watch out for labels reading “Pottery Barn”).

A good case. Thrift stores have tons of cool vintage and antique bookcases. Just make sure to bring someone with an SUV or truck along with you to the store. (Some thrift stores deliver, but charge an extra fee.) Occasionally you’ll come across a beautiful buffet or side table that can be used as-is, but other pieces require minimal restoration. My favorite find — a pink, vintage metal locker for a remarkable $5. Similar lockers on eBay sell for hundreds of dollars.

Upholster. It is highly unlikely you will find a piece of furniture that doesn’t need to be re-upholstered. Remember to include the cost of fabric and re-upholstering the piece when deciding on whether or not it’s worth buying. Re-upholstering a chair can cost anywhere from $150 to $300, while a sofa may run anywhere from $250 to $800. Some designers buy a sofa for $150, re-upholster it for about $500 (including fabric) and turn it around and sell it for close to $3,000.

Thrift store shopping does require some creativity, but doesn’t demand an expensive budget.

photo by stephen jones

ansel adams, anthropologie, budget, decor, design, ebay, pottery barn, thrift, thrift store, upholster Hide

I’ve tried to budget before – wads of cash hidden under the bed, leaving the debit card at home – we’ve ALL tried. What I realized last spring was that I was trying to regulate a shadow, telling myself I had to spend a certain amount without knowing EXACTLY how much I was spending. My budget was based on how I thought I should be, not how I am. It’s time to keep a record of my rights and wrongs.

It’s laughable that at 27 I consider myself crotchety and set in my ways. Yet at any age, a willful decision is no walk in the park. So here I am, raising my glass of Vino Verde to an entire year of managing my money. If you’re nodding and thinking “yeah girl,” keep reading.

•    Pay UP! I get money from three different paychecks. Though I list these numbers at the top of each two-week entry, how much you start off with isn’t so important and I don’t look at them very often. What I do watch is what and where I spend.

•    Know Thyself. Split up your budget into less than 5 simple categories. I use:

Bills. Groceries. Eating Out. Expenses.

$12 for fishnets ordered off sockdreams.com is an expense. Deli pasta salad at the co-op is eating out. Save those receipts and mark down the totals, the automatically debited car payment, the money you count out in quarters from the tip jar.  Staying on top of the paper is the most annoying bit, but it keeps me on track with my budget maintenance because once there is more white than green in the pocketbook, it’s time to evaluate.

•    Knowledge pays. I began shuffling money into my savings account within the first month. By that point, I had noticed a trend in my spending: roughly $60 bucks a week on non-essentials like manicures and beers at the Duck Island. So, if I didn’t spend the expected amount I would simply pull open a new tab and transfer it into savings.

•    Keep it simple. I use Excel, but a notebook and a calculator will suit. Do the math yourself; let everyone else play Sudoku.

It sounds too easy, but trust me. Once you start writing it all down and focusing on where your money goes – you’ll spend less. And it’s not about ‘accidentally’ charging appetizers and french75′s at Oliver’s Twist and having to forgo going out for a week to make up. I splurge, totally. Having a budget simply let’s the smart girl know what cards she’s willing to throw down on the table.

Let me put it this way: my spreadsheet is better reading than a diary. When you can read through your budget the way you look at old photo albums there will be a new understanding that takes place. Those little white slips of paper will start to mean something; they are proof…of who you are and how you can change.

photo by jeff keen

bills, budget, excel, expenses, finances, money, organization, paycheck, savings, sudoku Hide