The Shaker of Salt

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So perhaps your kid wants to join a sports team but isn’t sure which one to try? You wouldn’t want your child getting burned-out by doing too much, what with school work also. That’s why it’s good to focus on one sports team that they are committed to. Basketball can be an excellent choice because it’s fun and has a wide range of different benefits for the body and mind. Let’s take a look at what those are.

Cardiovascular Health

 Basketball is a sport that will ensure excellent cardiovascular health for your kids as it’s a very high-intensity game! The running, dribbling and jumps will keep your kids incredibly physically fit and healthy, which will in turn aid their wellbeing too. Getting enough cardio exercise is vital to boost your brainpower, so you’ll be ensuring that your kids are set up well for their school classes too. 

Hand-eye coordination 

 Your kids can develop excellent hand-eye coordination via the practices that are involved in basketball. Perfecting these skills will help them throughout their other school classes and allow them to improve their levels of quick response and coordination. These abilities will give them cross over skills for sports that they might pursue in the future. 

Dexterity 

 Basketball players will develop excellent dexterity skills due to this fast-paced game that changes direction and requires dodging and thinking fast. The more skills that your kids have, the more that their personal development will grow.

Make new friends

 When you’re a child, it’s essential for your social development to meet lots of different children. Doing so will allow you to have those interactions where you learn about behaviour and different personalities. Joining a new team will increase your children’ social circles, and this, in turn, will allow them to develop confidence and independence too. As social creatures, we benefit greatly from lots of positive human interactions. Your kids will likely develop great teamwork skills and perhaps enjoy wearing some custom team uniforms, which make them feel special and part of a group.

Strengthens Bones & Muscles 

 The playing of basketball allows the strengthening of both your bones and muscles, allowing you to be healthier and fitter overall. You will want your children to get into good habits now, which will mean that they are aware of how to take care of their bodies as adults. If they know about these benefits that sports have, they are more likely to grow into adults who value their physical health.

 Independence 

 Practicing team sports like basketball will increase your independence because children will be taking responsibility for their practice and training. This is turn will allow them to be more self-disciplined, another excellent skill to carry into the rest of their school life. 
   Often it can be tricky to make decisions as a child; they will likely appreciate your advice on which kind of sports team is right for them. Having a basketball practice with them at home could be a good idea if they are thinking of joining a team. You could also have a chat with their teachers at school to determine which sports they have shown talents for in their fitness classes.

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Life is very rarely easy on a laptop. Whether you fly around the world or just take your device from room to room in your home, laptops are subjected to much more punishment than desktops. Regardless of how well you treat your device, it is going to have some problems eventually. If you’re relying on your laptop for school or work, this can spell disaster, costing you time and sometimes even money. Thankfully many common problems with your laptop can be solved relatively easily. With that in mind, here is how you can repair seven of these issues.

1. Won’t Connect To Wifi

Part of taking your laptop with you wherever you go is expecting to be able to connect to the wireless networks available, whether they be in hotels, cafes, or airports. The trouble is, wifi can be quite troublesome. Before assuming a serious issue, however, you should check that you’ve enabled wireless connectivity. Often there is an external switch or button that you must use to do this. If the problem continues, you can troubleshoot the network connections in the control panel.

2. Stuck Pixels On Screen

Stuck pixels can be frustrating on an otherwise functional laptop screen. These pixels tend to remain red or green and don’t light up properly with the other pixels on the LCD. The trouble is, most manufacturers won’t replace the display for just a few dead pixels. In fact, many require tens of them before they will take action. That being said, you can often resolve this problem yourself by using a soft material, such as a felt cloth, to massage around these stuck pixels.

3. Turning Off By Itself

It can be quite scary when your laptop turns off for no apparent reason. Most people automatically assume that something very serious must be wrong, but this is often not the case. Instead of going into a panic, you should lift up your laptop and touch the bottom of it. If the device is hotter than normal, then overheating is likely the issue. Dust is a common cause of overheating, which means that you can remedy this problem by opening up the laptop and cleaning every part of it. 

4. Rattling Noise While Running

Never disregard strange noises when your laptop is running. Even if your device seems to be working fine, there is a chance that the rattling you hear could be coming from the hard drive. Before attempting to fix anything, you should save all of your important files on an external drive. After you’ve done so, you should open up the device and turn it on, carefully observing the hard drive. If the noise is coming from there, it means that it is almost broken and needs replacing.

5. Unsightly Scratches On Lid

Modern laptops place a great deal of value on aesthetic appearance. However, that doesn’t change the fact that they’re made from plastic. This leaves them exposed to wear and tear, which can cause unsightly scratches. You can try to minimize these scratches using cases, laptop stickers, and skins, but it’s unlikely that you’ll avoid them altogether. A small amount of commercial plastic polish, however, should be enough to clear away any scratched on your lid.

6. Battery Won’t Hold Charge

Laptop batteries don’t last forever. In fact, after just a few years, the lithium-ion battery in your device will provide power for only a fraction of its rated runtime. The good news is, replacing your battery is fairly simple. All you have to do is pop out the battery from the back or bottom of your device and put in a new one. These can be quite expensive, but it is possible to save money by shopping around. Many computer repair experts offer much better deals than manufacturers do.

7. Water Damage From Spills

Laptops are much more vulnerable to liquid spills than desktops are. The reason for this is that, when you spill tea, coffee, or water on a desktop, it’s usually only the keyboard that is affected. This can be replaced easily and relatively cheaply. When using a laptop, however, the liquid can seep into vulnerable parts of the computer. Once you’ve spilled a liquid on your device, you must shut it down right away. You will also want to remove the battery and leave the laptop to dry. 

Fixing a laptop isn’t nearly as difficult or expensive as people often think. If you don’t know what to do, however, it is best that you seek out professional help.

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It can be exciting and it can be stressful, but one thing is for sure, property hunting is never easy! It is a huge decision as we need to work out where we want to be and the place that we want to live in. Whether this ends up being your view 24/7 or just a base as you work and play for long hours, you will want to get this one right. Sometimes it can be difficult to even know where to start your search, which is why we have come up with a few suggestions to help you when you are struggling to work out how to find the perfect property. 

Thoroughly research the location

If the area is new to you, then you will need to spend some time doing your research. 

You will probably want to look into the local amenities available and commuter and transport links, and potentially check out the schools in the area. Try to visit at different times and on different days to get a really good feel for the neighborhood. Read any local newspapers and check out any reports as finding an affordable place is much easier when you have access to reports for your specific city. 

If it’s possible, get talking to people already living in the area, using online forums if you are unable to get there and do it in person. 

Stay in touch with realtors

The best properties tend to come on the market and then get snapped up really quickly. You need to be consistently checking real estate websites and it is worth building relationships with realtors in the area. Let them know what you are looking for, share with them how great a buyer or tenant you would be and contact them regularly. You are then likely to be the first person that springs into their mind when the right property comes on the market and they will give you a call. 

Is there work that needs to be carried out?

You might be very lucky and find your dream location with your dream tick list and it is exactly as you would want it to be inside, you can literally just move your belongings in. But this is rare! 

The chances are that you will need to make some changes. You might go for some remodelling work such as a kitchen makeover or new bathrooms, you might even look to add a full extension to the property. It might be more about adjusting things to your taste, so redecorating and cosmetic changes are all that you will need. If you are renting, ask the landlord about making changes like this and you might find they have a budget for it if it hasn’t been done in some time and could do with freshening up. The point here is that when you are viewing properties, don’t rule one out if it doesn’t meet your exact criteria, you might find that with a little work it could be the perfect home for you. 

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Who doesn’t love to invite family and friends around in the summer and enjoy some Outside gatherings? Of course, entertaining can be hard work, especially for the host, as they often end up spending more time in the kitchen than they do chatting to guests. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to make throwing a get together in the summer a little less hassle. Read on to find out what they are.

Decorate the easy way

If you think that you need to spend all of your time getting your home and garden to throw a successful party, you will be relieved to find out that you don’t. In fact, for summer parties people really don’t need to be inside at all apart from to use the WC, so that means you only have the garden to deal with.

Luckily,  there are some speedy things you can do to your outdoor space to dress it up that won’t take up too much of your time. One of these is to string battery powered white lights in the trees and over the patio, and simple bunting can work well to enhance this as well.

You can also use empty containers and jam jars that have been washed out and fill them with a little water and some flowers for the garden, which is super quick and straightforward too. Something that can really make your space even prettier for your guests.

Set up a drinks table

Next, if you want your party to be as easy as possible, it’s a good idea to set up a drinks table where guest can help themselves then you don’t have to be on duty the whole day serving them!

The easiest way to do this is to use a long table and have non-alcoholic drinks at one end along with paper cups for the kids. Then you can add a cooler with beer and wine at the other end. You can even use disposable wine glasses to save on the washing up later on!

Fire up the grill

The easiest way to cater to the food needs of your guests is to use the grill at a summer party. After all, everyone loves BBQed food, and you only need one person to keep an eye on it. The key to an easy BBQ rather than a hard one, however, is not to do too many options. After all, each different type of meat your offer will need separate preparation and will take varying times to cook.

Instead, it can work a lot better if you choose one or two really tasty and popular grill favorites such as St Louis style spare ribs and homemade burgers. In fact, by doing this, your BBQ will be much easier to manage, and you can be sure that every guest will get a plate full of delicious food.
Of course, it is also a good idea to put on some side dishes as well such as macaroni salad, coleslaw, corn on the cob, and even some rice dishes like you will find in my post here. All of which can be created beforehand and so will save you loads of effort and time on the day of the celebration.

Put on some entertainment

When it comes to making summer parties as easy for the host as possible, it can be a fantastic idea to include some entertainment for everyone to get involved in. In fact, by providing this focus for your guest, you can be sure they are having fun and mixing with each other, without having to flit from one group to another all day!

In particular, using simple household objects like Dixie cups, chopsticks, marshmallows, and balloons to create some ‘minute to win it’ games can be a laugh riot! Just check out the video below for some inspiration.

Cleaning up

For many that entertain its not the preparation but the clear up that take the most time and effort. Happily, there are some statistics you can use to minimize this and get everything back to normal with the minimum of work.

One is to use disposable cups, plates, and cutlery, which can then be thrown away instead of collected and washed up. You can even get biodegradable versions now, so you won’t have to compromise your values concerning the environment to do so.

You can also make things super simple for yourself by providing plenty of trash bins and recycling that people can use during the party too. After all, if the containers are right there in front of them all marked up with what can and can’t go in, people are much more likely to use them. Something that means you will have a lot less work to do once everyone has had their fun and going home!

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A basement is an excellent addition to any home, offering extra space for the kids to hang out, a home office, or even a games room. To keep your basement as a useable space, you will need to make sure that it is properly maintained. Basements have the potential to receive all sorts of damage caused by water if the rest of your home isn’t properly maintained.

Sump Pump

If your basement is lower than the water table, you will probably find that groundwater naturally finds its way into your basement. Obviously, this is something that you won’t want to leave, as it could eventually damage your home. In this situation, a sump pump is an ideal solution. A sump pump will pump away the water that has gathered in your basement, and allow you to drain it off elsewhere, where it won’t be able to cause any damage to your home. You will find that sump pump prices vary so you should be able to find one that suits both your needs and your budget.

Keep Your Gutters Clear

Cleaning your gutters may seem a little strange when talking about maintaining basements, especially as they are at opposite ends of the house. However, a blocked gutter can quickly cause problems throughout your home, and in particular in the basement. As the lowest point in your home, your basement is especially susceptible to damage from a blocked gutter, or from downpipe that’s not doing its job correctly.

Blocked gutters can cause water to leak down the side of your home instead of being channeled away from it along the gutter and then down through the downpipe. Over time water leaking down and gathering at ground level could penetrate through to your basement. Even if an actual leak doesn’t occur, if left unchecked it could lead to damp and mold forming on the walls of your basement. Damp and mildew are not only unpleasant to look at it, but they can also cause your basement to smell of damp, and the mold could spread to your furniture and other items in your basement. Black mold can be harmful to your health and can be responsible for a range of health problems, so avoiding mold forming by preventing the cause of it is the best course of action to take.

To prevent problems with your gutters, they will need to be cleaned at least once a year, and maybe more depending on how clogged they get. If trees surround your home, you will find that the guttering gets blocked up by leaves and twigs more quickly, so a more regular clean is a good idea.

Keep it Dry

Aside from water leaks, smaller amounts of water and moisture can also have an impact on your basement too. Make sure that you don’t dry your laundry in the basement, as this will add extra moisture to the air. If moisture still seems to be a problem, you may want to use a dehumidifier.

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iPhones are easily the most popular phone in the world and people everywhere use one every day to take photos, connect with loved ones and even simply play games.

The iPhone is a technological marvel for many of us and it does things which many of us never thought a phone could do. But this little piece of tech isn’t perfect.
Today we are taking a look at some of the most common iPhone issues which come up and how we can work to solve them this year. We can sue these simple Phone Remedies to get our phones up and running again without the need to head for a repair center or genius desk.

Wifi won’t connect

One of the most common issues which can be gave d by our phones is that it won’t connect to a WiFi network. When anything like this comes up it is a good idea for you to hard restart your phone and try again. You can do this by holding the lock button and home button together until the phone restarts. Once it has restarted the connection pathway will refresh and you should be able to connect. If not, look at the bottom of your WiFi page for HTTP proxy and set to auto settings.

No update

Sometimes you will hear of a new update being or for your phone, but for whatever reason the phone won’t give you the regular option to update. If this happens to you you need to plug your phone into your computer and force restart it. Once you have done this you should see the update option come up on your phone for you to click. If this doesn’t work try restoring your phone to remove data and this should help.

A cracked screen

iPhones are stunning pieces of technology but they are no Nokia 3310. When you drop an iPhone the chances are the screen will crack because it is made of glass. There’s nothing worse than using a cracked phone and this is why you can use it next tip to help you fix it. There are DIY kits out there which can help you fix it, but taking it to a professional will get you better results and soon enough you will be back out there with a shiny new screen.

Data is lost

It can be more than a minor inconvenience when you lose all of the data you have on your phone, and this is why it is important that you have iCloud backup set up to save all of your data. When you have this you can sync your device to the iCloud and it will release your data back to your phone. If you don’t have this option you can head to the apple store and they will likely be able to help you.

The camera doesn’t work

One of the things which iPhones are known for us having amazing cameras, and you will likely want to use it all the time. If it isn’t working you might have some restrictions set up on the phone. Head to settings – general and turn on the camera. It’s such a small setting and one which you might not even realise exists but it can impact your usage.

Battery draining

iPhones are amazing in the technology field and they have some of the best graphics and apps of any type of mobile device. But with this comes a cost, and the battery power you have on your phone can often suffer from this. When your battery is draining quickly it is important to make sure you don’t have lots of apps running in the background and turn on power saving mode on your settings.

Water damage

A bit of steam here, a drop of rain there, or a full drop you phone in the bath situation. All of these things can be awkward to deal with and it can have an impact on your phone. The first thing you should do if your phone is wet is to pour some rice into a Tupperware box and place your phone inside. Place the lid on and leave overnight. Rice should absorb the water and hopefully your phone will be restored. If not, you can contact the Apple store and they will be able to suggest some things to you.

There are a lot of simple issues with phones that can be solved easily so make sure to always try and do it yourself before you head to the Apple store!

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You keep a clean, neat and tidy home, right? You ensure that the place feels neat and spotless yet cozy and welcoming for your family and visitors alike. The last thing you’d want is for your home to look unkempt or untidy or, worse still, unwittingly be home to hidden dangers which could compromise your family’s health and well-being. Yet, while you run a tight ship, sometimes even the most fastidious of us can neglect the aspects of household maintenance which are a little less obvious and a little more hidden  away. Don’t worry, everyone neglects these! However, for a house that is truly clean, happy and healthy, make sure your maintenance schedule includes…

Your HVAC servicing

Your HVAC keeps your home at just the right temperature all year round. However, when your HVAC isn’t serviced and filters aren’t changed your AC system can become both a breeding ground and a delivery system for all kinds of nasty bacteria including potentially fatal legionnaires disease. The good news is that servicing is cheap and affordable, and you may be surprised at how easy it is to handle it for you. For example, some plumbers are also fully licensed HVAC technicians.

Checking your attic insulation

Your HVAC keeps your home at just the right temperature all year round. However, when your HVAC isn’t serviced and filters aren’t changed your AC system can become both a breeding ground and a delivery system for all kinds of nasty bacteria including potentially fatal legionnaires disease. The good news is that servicing is cheap and affordable, and you may be surprised at how easy it is to handle it for you. For example, some plumbers are also fully licensed HVAC technicians.

Checking your attic insulation

In this gorgeous spring weather, you’re probably not even thinking all that much about your attic insulation. Nonetheless, it’s best to inspect it at this time of year while you have some natural light on your side. Check for damp patches which could indicate a leak in your roof and also be sure to check for signs of bite marks, burrowing or animal droppings as these can be signs that your home either has an infestation or is vulnerable to one.

Checking your smoke detectors

Smoke detectors save lives… But they need to be in proper working order to be effective. According to the USFA your smoke detectors should be checked once a month to ensure that they are in proper working order and your batteries should be changed at least once a year.

Checking the seals around your windows

You’ve invested heavily in stunning top of the range double glazed windows. Yet, while they look fantastic and do a great job of keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer, a window is only as strong as the seal between it and the wall. Over time the sealant around your widows can deteriorate, letting in a slight breeze which undermines your home’s energy efficiency. Make sure that you check your window seal and reapply it when necessary.

Clearing the yucky stuff out of your gutters

I know, I know. Gutters are just… Bleugh! Even the word “gutter” sounds like something which should never be touched by human hands. Nonetheless, when guttering isn’t kept free of dead leaves and less obvious things like toys or even birds’ nests it can lead to flooding in your yard and even compromise the integrity of your home’s foundations.

Make sure you don’t neglect these 5 oft-forgotten aspects of home maintenance and you’ll always enjoy a perfectly clean and happy home.

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Your home should be your sanctuary and the place you feel the safest, but there are often hidden dangers in residential properties. Although you can’t always see them, you should take steps to ensure these harmful toxins aren’t present in your home…

Lead paints and pipes

Although the dangers of lead are now well-understood, this wasn’t always the case and many older homes still have lead pipework and/or lead paint inside them. Exposure to lead can cause a myriad of health problems, such as mood disorders, developmental issues, migraines and headaches, difficulty concentrating, abdominal pain and/or joint stiffness and discomfort.

If you’re unsure whether there is lead present in your home, contact a reputable specialist who can confirm whether there is any lead paint or pipework present and remove if it necessary.

Carbon Monoxide

Known as a ‘silent killer’, carbon monoxide can make you very ill, very quickly. Unfortunately, the gas is odorless and colorless, so you may not realize you’re being poisoned until it’s too late. Often causing fatigue, nausea, dizziness and other flu-like symptoms, carbon monoxide can cause you to lose consciousness and exposure may even be fatal in some cases.

Appliances, such as gas heaters and stoves, are common causes of leaks so it’s essential that only qualified technicians carry out appliance repairs and services. Your home should also have working carbon monoxide alarms which will alert you if a leak occurs.

Asbestos

Commonly used in construction, many homes still contain asbestos in some form or another. Old ceilings, floor tiles, insulation and roofs often contain asbestos and this can be particularly harmful to your health. Exposure to asbestos can cause serious and/or fatal illnesses, such as asbestos and mesothelioma, so it’s important to get certified asbestos testing and removal carried out in your property. It’s the only way to be sure you’re safe.

Mold

Unfortunately, mold can be difficult to completely remove and it’s likely that there’s already mold present in your home. Most commonly found in areas which are poorly ventilated, mold can make you feel very unwell. Coughs, sinus congestion, chest infections, and asthma can all be caused or triggered by the presence of mold, but there are various specialist products and services which can help to minimize and remove mold from your property.

Salmonella and E. Coli

These bacteria are responsible for many cases of food poisoning but they can do more than cause vomiting and gastrointestinal symptoms. In severe cases, contracting salmonella or E. Coli can be fatal, so food handling and storage should always be taken seriously. Keeping raw meat separate from other foods, maintaining high hygiene standards, cooking food thoroughly and using separate utensils, storage containers and cookware to prepare raw meat can help to minimize the risk of ingesting the bacteria and may prevent you from becoming unwell.

Now you’re aware of common household toxins and the harm they can cause, it’s time to take action. However, some household toxins can be particularly dangerous when they’re disturbed or moved so getting specialist help and assistance is always advisable.

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We all love our kids unconditionally. But sometimes they can drive you a little insane. Most of the time it will be just at that crucial point where you need quiet or concentration. Even just five minutes to yourself in peace. However, a lot of the time, the reason why they are driving you mad is that something disastrous has happened in their lives. This may not be on the same level as what you would think to be devastating, but their worlds end. This will be down to certain home repairs. So let’s see if we can all relate, here are some of the home repairs that will need a quick response to save your sanity when it comes to your kids.

The TV Breaks

You can end up having a love/hate relationship with your TV. Sure it’s there when you need some peace, but then you worry that your kids watch too much of it. But, when the TV breaks it is like nothing you’ve seen before. Children don’t know what to do with themselves, and they declare that they are bored. Oh no! So the best advice would be to get an engineer round right away. It may just need some wiring. You may have to replace the TV. But you do it, no matter what the cost because whether you love it or hate, you sometimes think you need it.

Video consoles or smart devices breaking down

The xBox has a blinking red light, your phone or iPad smashes to the floor. These things are important assets to some children and families, and right or wrong these things are in our children’s life. We may worry more than we should about how long they spend on them. But when these things go wrong it’s in your best interest to get them sorted. This is when taking it to a specialist or looking into a iFixYouri Smart Device Repair would be advisable. Everything in moderation but technology is taking over, so you may as well embrace it.

The oven stops working

One of the worst things that can rock your sanity is a hungry child. They go from fine to starving in 0.3 seconds flat, and you know about it. So the oven breaking is one of the worst things that can happen in your home. Some people have emergency cover for things like this, where an engineer will come out to quickly resolve the issue. If you haven’t it might be worth checking these covers out as they can be a lifeline at dire times.

The power goes out

Everything can stop when the power goes out, that means phones can’t be charged, video consoles can’t be played, food can’t be cooked. Everything! While mostly these things are temporary, it would be handy to have an emergency box to hand for these cases. Things like candles and torches will come in handy. Don’t forget a takeaway menu, just in case everyone goes a little hungry.

No hot water

Finally, the last home repair that would need quick attention would be the hot water going off. No child wants to take their evening bath in cold water. Neither would we for that matter. So get a plumber out as soon as possible to try and resolve the issue. You will thank yourself later for saving your sanity.

Let’s hope preparation is the key to avoiding some of these disasters in the home.

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Do you often find yourself browsing through home decor magazines, Pinterest and Instagram at the beautiful homes and wishing yours could look that nice? You might have written off the idea thinking it’s out of your budget, but there’s plenty of ways you can get a gorgeous looking property without breaking the bank. Here are a few ideas.

Paint the walls

Paint is inexpensive and can massively transform your home. Remove fussy, peeling old wallpaper, give the walls a sand down and paint them in a light neutral color. It will make your home look clean, fresh, modern and spacious. Paint skirting boards and doors in a brilliant white to finish the look, and your home will look completely different. A beautiful blank canvas for whatever else you put in there.

Make your own decor

Making your own decor is a great way to get unique, inexpensive pieces and have fun in the process. You could use a vinyl cutting machine to make your own art, vinylcuttingmachineguide.com has a rundown of some of the best models. You could sew your own cushions and curtains, you could paint your own artwork or design prints using Photoshop. If you already have a creative hobby, find a way to utilize it and make yourself some beautiful pieces for your home. Another option would be to upcycle furniture, you can find old pieces cheaply and bring them back to life with some paint and new hardware.

Shop for second hand bargains

We live in a ‘throw away’ society– people often get rid of things that are perfectly good just because they no longer like the style. This however can be great news for you, as it enables you to snag some second hand bargains. Check out classified listings, eBay, Craigslist and Facebook marketplace also often have awesome items that don’t cost a lot. In some cases they’ll be next to new, other times they might just need a little smartening up.

Rummage the sales

Why pay full price if you don’t have to? When the sales are on, do some research and see if there’s anything you want or need at a heavily discounted price. It’s a great way to get the look of a high end home but without being too hard on your wallet. End of line clearance stores are another way to get huge prices off the retail price for a product that’s perfectly good and brand new.

Add plants

Plants make your home look well cared for, and add a pop of colour without being fussy. Plants have been shown to make us as humans happier and more productive too. If you’re not very green fingered, faux plants will give the same effect and last forever. Buying plants when they’re small and nurturing them until they’re bigger will cost you less. You can find them cheaply from places like Ikea.