Posted by gzfreezeadmin on March 12, 2010 · Leave a Comment
In order to renovate a kitchen with less than four thousand dollars, you must plan ahead, cut out over spending on frivolous items, and stick to a budget. Most kitchen projects run over budget because of poor planning or under estimations. Knowing what you need and where to get the supplies will help you stay within your budget and still have a modern kitchen.
Proper renovation begins with good planning. How long is the tear out going to take, where am I going to dump the old materials, and do I need help getting the old stuff out are all good questions to ask yourself. Tearing out a kitchen usually does not take as long as you would think. Especially if you have extra help; one or even two people will cut your work time in half. Things like old appliances, large cabinets, or sink bases can take two or three people to remove. If your going at it alone, be prepared to add an extra hour to each time estimation. How you will dispose of these items might be a concern in your city or neighborhood. Some local municipalities will take large items and others will make you haul them away yourself. There are plenty of junk haulers in every community and a lot of these people now take old items for free, because of their recycling value. Note: the junk haulers like 1-800 got junk do not want you to know that most of these junk items that you are paying them to take, can actually be taken for free by other enterprising junk collectors.
Next is planning a list of items you need and where you will get these items. Things to keep in mind: flooring, paint, wall tiles for backsplash, kitchen cabinets, appliances, possibly windows, counter tops, lumber for construction (if necessary), moldings, lighting, fixtures, and possibly some other items. Some of these items you will have to buy locally and I highly suggest buying from a local store for these items, avoid big box retailers. You may save some money upfront but you are sacrificing better customer service and local people who need your business much more than a big box retailer. Other items you can buy online. Things like lighting, fixtures, and kitchen cabinets can be purchased online. Yes, even kitchen cabinets can be bought through the internet; this is done with RTA kitchen cabinets. (RTA stands for ready to assemble kitchen cabinets).
Sticking to a budget is easier when you look online for your kitchen supplies. If you cannot buy online, make sure you look in multiple locations and compare prices among multiple stores. Armed with this knowledge will not only save you money, but it can save time, but it can also give you a variety of choices that can produce better quality products.
Keeping these things in mind will help your project with budget and should provide a better variety of materials. Keep in mind that buying local will help your neighborhood economy and you will be doing your part to help the small business owner. Also plan ahead, look online, and remember to schedule your friends to help with you kitchen project.
Filed under Kitchens · Tagged with $4000, Better Customer Service, Box Retailers, Counter Tops, Extra Hour, Kitchen, Kitchen Appliances, Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Projects, Kitchen Renovation, Lighting Fixtures, Local Store, Lumber, Modern Kitchen, Municipalities, Old Stuff, Paint Cabinets, Renovating, Renovating A Kitchen, Thousand Dollars, Time Estimation, Under, Wall Tiles, Work Time
Posted by gzfreezeadmin on February 9, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Every year around holidays, the famous TV show host Oprah Winfrey sparks a frenzy among loyal fans of the show with her list of top 20 of her favorite things of Holiday Gifts. Oprah’s 2007 list of favorite things has many gifts ranging in price from affordable to not so affordable for mere mortals.
However Holiday Shopping and Gift Giving need not break your budget if you shop smart and be sensible about giving gifts to loved ones.
Although it is hard to match Oprah’s list but we can certainly suggest several things under $30 that would make excellent and appreciable gifts.
For starters lets look at what is available for “HER”
Monogramming and Personalization is all the rage in gift giving these days, so why not give a gift that is just for “HER” and nobody else. How about a beautiful Monogrammed Tote Bag or Carry All which is a very handy gift and at the same time a very “In Style” gift as well.
Or how about a very unique gift of Monogrammed Clogs or Flip Flops! I bet that would be enough to capture attention and who knows may even start a new trend in Gift Giving.
Hers is another Idea although it is not a very new one, Personalized Jewelry. Every body loves to see their initials carved on watches or earrings or bracelets or even necklaces. You can even engrave lines of messages on bracelets or anklets or bangles or necklaces. There are unlimited choices and varieties in the jewelry and with engraving so cheap these days, also very affordable.
Lets see what is available for “HIM” under $30
Well How about a toolset for that very handy around the house guy, a set of tools with his initials on the box or the tools, how can you go wrong with that?
For the well dressed how about some swanky cufflinks! Boring and old, well they can be classy and stylish if they are the right kind. How about some CD’s initialized for the techie kind, I bet he would be thrilled to get an entire set of those with his name or initial or a special message on them. For the sportsman there are a number of options that you cant go wrong with like personalized Golf clubs or Golf Balls, baseball bat or any number of sports items that can be thrilling for the sports lover at the receiving end. For the more humdrum I mean sedentary person there are endless options. For the Food lover how about some gourmet berries or chocolates with their initials on every chocolate, that would be a trip every mouthful.
We cannot forget the “LITTLE ONES” as they make holiday season worthwhile
Why not give something memorable or fun keepsake rather than just some plastic toy which holds attention for a few seconds before being relegated to a corner in the closet. How about a Money Box with their own name engraved on it or a miniature something that they really identify with.
Holidays need not be a stress or a stretch for ones budget. On the contrary they can be fun without breaking the bank and incurring debt which you will pay for the rest of the year. All These Gift Ideas are not very expensive but very affordable and sensible and they can also be really very meaningful and fun. The Gift recipient would enjoy receiving these gifts and would be appreciative of the sentiment and thoughtfulness gone into the gift.
Filed under Bath Showers · Tagged with All The Rage, Anklets, Bangles, Clogs, Cufflinks, Favorite, Giving Gifts, Holiday Gifts, Holiday Shopping, Initialized, Initials, Loyal Fans, Mere Mortals, New Trend, Oprah Winfrey, Oprahs, Oprahs Favorite Things, Personalization, Personalized Jewelry, Show Host, Special Message, Things, Toolset, Under