How To Save Money On Bedroom Furniture

17/02/2016 By All Mum Said 1 Comment

How To Save Money On Bedroom Furniture

The bedroom should be the most relaxing room of your home. Your sanctuary in all the crazy.

Unfortunately because we tend to just close the door, the furniture within your refuge is often outdated and drab. Over time this can lead to it being the most avoided room of your house. Don’t let that happen to your haven.

Update your bedroom and not spend a fortune

Does your bedroom need a freshen up? An overhaul? Perhaps you think you don’t have the money to achieve the look you lust over but you can add charm without spending a large amount of money. Here is how:

• Research – Research is everything! Jump online and find out the average price of the bedroom furniture you are looking for, the delivery costs associated if this is required and then ring the local stockists and see what sort of deal they can do for you.

• Buy on sale – Sounds simple enough, right? This is part of your research. Find out when stores will be having sales, get online and check. Read your junk mail and wait until the sales start to make your purchase. Bedroom furniture is expensive so never pay full price!

• Haggle – This is crucial to getting a bargain! If you cannot haggle, take someone with you who can. Play the retailers against one another until you get a price you are happy with. You can even offer to take floor stock but ensure you get a further discounted price, particularly with beds and mattresses because every Joe Blow and his dog have been laying it!

• Upcycle / refurbish – Upcycling has become extremely popular for those who want new things but cannot afford it. It allows the purchaser to buy it cheap and add their own creativity to produce a one of a kind personalised item.
Tip: When searching for bedroom furniture to refurbish, look for sturdy pieces that will last longer than your chosen bedroom theme. This will then give you the option to upcycle again at a later date or sell it. Check out these great DIY room ideas for inspiration!

• Second hand – If you cannot afford to purchase items brand new; look on your local Buy, Swap and Sell pages on Facebook, visit nearby thrift stores and even check out weekend garage sales. You can often find bed frames, bedside tables, chest of drawers, etc. that are in near new condition for just a portion of the retail price. The only downside to this is that you don’t get the warranty that you would if you were to buy it from a store.

• Accessories – Accessories are your best friend. They can brighten up the room, add life to the area and just give it a fresher and more up to date overview without having to replace all your bedroom furniture.

Everyone wants to feel relaxed and inspired when they walk into their bedroom. They want that sense of calm and hominess to wash over them as they enter. Don’t let your old, dark furniture be the eye sore of your home.

Use these tips to create the bedroom you want while staying in your budget!

How do you save money on bedroom furniture?

Disclosure: This is an S1 POST.

Tips To Find The Right Investment Property

20/10/2015 By All Mum Said Leave a Comment

Tips To Find The Right Investment Property

It’s time to put your future first. Don’t retire with nothing to back you up financially, get ahead now!

Investing in your prospective years can make all the difference to how you live when you give up work. By setting yourself up financially in your younger years, you can get a head start on achieving your goals. Find the right investment property and you will be well on your way!

Why is investing in property important?

Property investment is not for everyone. Some people prefer to invest their hard earned dollars in shares and stocks. But for those interested in investment property; it is typically considered one of the safer options to invest in.

If this is a route you are considering, you must first be aware of the pros and cons that are associated with investing in property.

Pros and cons of investing in property

There are so many factors to consider but the main ones consist of:
PROS

• Insurance – You can insure your investment against a wide variety of risks; natural disasters, fires, tenant damage/tenants leaving, etc.

• Capital growth – If you have chosen your investment well, you will see a rise in property value over the years to come in addition to regular rental returns.

• Tax benefits – If your property is negatively geared it could provide potential tax benefits. This is not always the case and should not be a deciding factor but is often a benefit to investing in property.

CONS

• Problematic tenants – While this doesn’t happen regularly, you could end up with the tenants from hell. They could damage your property, refuse to leave, not pay rent and cause several other headaches that could take months to resolve.

• No tenants – There is occasional periods where you will have no tenant occupying your property and you will be required to pay the mortgage repayments.

• Ongoing costs – In addition to the initial cost of the property, you will also find that there are ongoing costs associated with property investment. These include: rates, body corporate (if applicable), repairs, insurances, water, maintenance and more.

Property must haves

Similarly to when you are purchasing or renting a house for yourself and your family, the property must consist of certain features to make it an enjoyable and desirable place to live. Investments are no different.

• Location – You have heard it before and you will hear it again. A good location is important for attracting the right tenants. A good location is safe, offers peace of mind and is close to public transport, schools, shops, etc.

• Storage – From ample linen space to bedroom closets; storage is a crucial decision-making factor.

• Parking – Surprising to some, not every property comes with parking. By adding the option of a garage, carport, undercover or off street parking; you will increase tenant interest dramatically.

• Maintenance – It is in your best interest to find a property that requires minimal yard maintenance. Tenants don’t want to pay for upkeep of pools, gardens, etc. so unless you are willing to pay a professional to maintain the grounds, stick with simple!

Research the property you want

Buying property can be an emotional experience; however when making the decision, use your head and not your heart!
Research must be done into not just the property but also the area before taking the plunge.

• Infrastructure – What is happening in the area? Are future buildings, businesses or projects planned? This can have both devastating and beneficial effects on the value of your property, so ensure you know what is going on.

• Return potential – The expected return of a property is one of the most important things to consider when purchasing property. Do research and compare the property with those similar in the area on rental sites.

• Investment strategy – Do you plan on negatively gearing the property or receiving a positive cash follow? What is the loan rate? Suburb growth? Do you want a unit, house, etc? By comparing your answers to the above questions on the Homesales.com.au Investment Property Search, you will be shown options around Australia that are expected to produce the results you want.

Don’t just jump in and buy a property. Make sure you take the appropriate steps to ensure it is what is best for you financially and that your purchase will indeed be an investment. Don’t risk buying a bottomless money pit. For more information on property investment, click the link.

Investing in your future doesn’t have to be stressful. By considering the above points and doing your research, you will find the right investment property for you!

What tips would you offer someone trying to find the right investment property?

Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor and this article should not be used as such. For financial advice, consult your financial advisor.
This is an S1 POST.

A safe bet for retirement savings

14/08/2015 By All Mum Said Leave a Comment

With the increase in the retirement age, changes to our superannuation and the anticipated reduction in the asset limits for retirees, saving for your retirement is not easy.

On top of the challenges given to retirees from the government, there are so many different packages and ways to invest your money that sometimes you just don’t know which way to turn. Then again, you hear of so many people losing their money, due to poor investment choices, that just finding an honest to goodness investment is fraught with an unhealthy amount of stress.

That’s why it is good to know that you can still put together a sizable nest egg for your retirement, which will help you out of a tight spot in later years – and it’s all about bricks and mortar.

Save for your retirement with real estate

There is no better time to purchase real estate than in today’s financial market. With interest rates so low, it seems daft to put your money anywhere else. After all, Aussies have always loved their homes and the property market is always a safe bet.

Yes, the market cycles up and down, but if you keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground, you can easily purchase the right property at the right price. So long as you don’t buy at the height of a real estate cycle and try to sell at the bottom, then over time, capital gains will continue to grow your nest egg nicely.

With a few properties under your belt, you will have a much more positive outlook on life and a much better foundation for your retirement. One of the positives about buying investment properties is that the rent pays off your mortgage and if there is any difference between the two, then you just negative gear it at tax time.

You can also claim a lot of improvements against your tax, so the out of pockets might be either non-existent or very minimal. Once you retire, then you can decide whether or not to sell one or more of your investment properties and realise the gains or just continue on and accrue more capital gains.

Fixed rate loans vs variable rates for your investment properties

When the interest rates are so low, it just makes sense to go with a fixed mortgage and lock in a really low rate for the next 3-5 years. With a low fixed rate on your investment property loans, you can focus on the capital gains and with low $ loan repayments (due to fixing at a really low interest rate), then the rent quite often covers all of the remaining expenses.

So if you want to set up a sizable nest egg for your retirement, check out the fixed rate interest home loans found at NPBS and look forward to a bright future.

What are your tips for saving for retirement?

This is an S2 POST.

5 Typical Reasons People Fall into Debt

24/04/2015 By All Mum Said Leave a Comment

Are you keen to avoid falling into debt? Do you want to ensure that you don’t fall further into debt? If the answer is ‘yes’ to either of these questions, it’s time to engage in active prevention. This means understanding the common reasons why people fall into debt and recognising the warning signs in your own life. Here are five common factors to keep an eye out for.

1. Too Much Pride

Owing some money is one thing, but being deep in debt is another level altogether. Unfortunately, for many people, one leads directly into the other. When you start to see red flags that you might be headed into financial strife, it’s crucial that you don’t let your pride prevent you from seeking help. Expert agencies, such as Debt Rescue, are skilled at helping people manage their money without passing judgment. If you think trouble could be brewing in your bank accounts, don’t hesitate to think about what people might think; take action straight away by getting a professional on your side.

2. Failure to Adapt

It can be very difficult to adapt to new situations, especially ones that impact heavily upon your finances. Things like loss of income and unemployment can quickly lead an individual down the path of debt if they don’t adjust their lifestyle to suit their new budget. It’s important to always spend and save money in accordance with your current circumstances rather than your past ones.

3. Not Knowing When to Fold ‘Em

Gambling is a widespread problem that causes countless people to fall into debt. This pastime’s addictive nature makes it a perfect trap for dollars that should be allocated elsewhere. When you’re focused on winning that jackpot, it’s all too easy to forget that you may end up spending more than its value in your pursuit of it! Take advantage of one of the multiple support hotlines if gambling has become a source of financial woes for you and your family.

4. Medical Expenses

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away… but this is clearly just not the case. As healthy as the fruit might be, there are numerous illnesses and injuries that can land us in need of the hospital, regardless of our diets. Unexpected visits to the doctor or emergency room can create quite a problematic dent in anyone’s bank account; medical expenses are the cause of debt for many people. This can be significantly worsened if combined with the final point below.

5. Having No Safety Net

If something in life goes wrong that affects your finances, such as a sudden illness or work termination, your savings should provide you with a temporary safety net. Falling into debt often occurs when unfortunate events combine with an individual’s failure to provide themselves with this safety net. It’s crucial that you start building up your savings account from the moment you first start earning money. It’s impossible to know what the future might throw at you, but it’s guaranteed that having extra cash stowed away is a better option than having none should something bad happen.

These are five of the most common reasons people fall into debt. Have you experienced any of them yourself? Perhaps you’ve seen someone you know go through one of these five experiences.

Feel free to share your story and/or insights in the comments below – you may just help another reader avoid or recover from their own financial drama.

Back To School with Budons

14/01/2013 By All Mum Said Leave a Comment

Well it’s that time of year where it’s all about getting organised for back to school. Some parents are over excited and others dreading it – battling the crowds to buy books, rulers, pencils, etc. can be almost as hectic as Christmas shopping when the stores start their back to school sales (almost).

There are so many different types of stationary on the market but this year I recommend having a look at Budons kids stationary. The variety of items are fun, unique and suit both boys and girls. You can mix’em, swap’em, trade’em and collect the clip Budons. They have scented erasers, scratch ‘n’ sniff books, scratch ‘n’ sniff sticky labels, water bottles and even pencil cases.

As I said the range is quite extensive and caters to most of your childs schooling needs whilst maintaining the quality that every parent wants when purchasing school items.

Budons can be found at Target and on Budons website.

Are you looking forward to the kids returning to school or have you enjoyed having them home?

Disclaimer: I received no form of cash payment for this review.

I did however receive a few Budons items in order to review them.