Saving for the Average Person: {Spruce up Your Pad for Cheap!}

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with trying to save money that we never actually save money. I have learned that saving in small ways can lead to big savings. Just look around your everyday life. There are tons of ways to cut back if you only give it a chance.

One easy step that most people bypass is stopping and thinking for a moment about where they are going to spend their money and how much they will spend. Just picking up a local paper or doing a web search can find some amazing deals. And it only takes a little bit of your time and effort.

One area that you can save in is sprucing up your home. After years of living within the same dingy walls you may want a change. But you don't have the big bucks to ditch all your furniture and start anew.

Luckily paint is very affordable and can change the look and feel of a room in a weekend.
If you plan ahead and watch the sale papers for deals in your area you can get more for your money. For instance when I wanted to paint our living room, bathroom and kitchen, I found a fabulous deal on Behr paint. At the time Home Depot had it at buy one get one free. I painted twice as much for half the cost.

After painting you will undoubtedly look at your furniture and frown, not just because it has dog hair on it or the kids spilled juice all over it, but because you know there is no way you can afford to burn it in effigy.

The answer to that problem is slip covers my friends! Sure you could run out to your local home store and buy them for $50, $80, $100; and that would still be cheaper than a new couch. But if you wander down to your local second hand store such as the Salvation Army store you might just find something just as nice but a whole heck of a lot cheaper.

Two years ago I wanted slip covers for my couch and love seat. I patiently waited and watched out for some and about a week later I found two covers brand new still in their packages, for get this….$5 a piece at the Salvation Army store!

I looked them up on line and found them new for $80 a piece! $10 versus $160! Now that was a good buy!

Another way to get those slip covers for even cheaper or free is to use what you already have around the house. Old sheets cover and tuck beautifully. As do blankets and throws.

If you want to change your throw pillows cover them with pretty fabric or pillow cases and pin them in the back; no sewing required!

Curtains can be found at second hand stores too, or you could whip some up out of sheets easily. Some sheets already have a "sleeve" opening… just slip them on your rods!

Throw rugs and area rugs are cheaper than replacing an entire carpet and can be found relatively cheaply if you keep and eye out for those sales and deals. Just toss them over your worn spots and near the doors for an instant pick me up! Plus they will help catch dirt before it gets to the rest of your carpet.

And do not foget the most important source of free furniture! The curb! Now that I live in a rural/suburban area and not the big city I sure do miss all the stuff people would throw out. You can find near perect stuff the night before trash day. And with a little white paint anything looks fabulous! Tables, dressers, tv stands...anything!

Before you know it you have a new room and you did it affordably….or heck let's just say it…you did it cheap and you are proud of it!