Simple Tips for a Successful Bathroom Renovation

Read article : Simple Tips for a Successful Bathroom Renovation

From design inspiration to choosing the right materials and fixtures, we’ve got all the information you need to complete the perfect bathroom renovation project.

Regardless of whether you live in an apartment or a house, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the home.

A practical and modern bathroom dramatically enhances the appeal of any home, so if you’re planning a bathroom renovation it’s important that you get the details right. So if you’re looking for a host of handy tips and tricks to help you turn your tired and impractical bathroom into a relaxing and luxurious retreat, you’ve come to the right place.

Getting started

Before you start thinking about design ideas, colours, and choosing shower heads and tiles, you need to sit down and work out exactly what you want to achieve with your bathroom renovation.

If you’re renovating an ensuite to create a peaceful space where you can unwind, warm tones and a modern free-standing bathtub might be high on your wish list. If you need a bathroom for your growing family, then durable materials and plenty of storage will be essential inclusions.

So take the time to develop a clear idea of what the bathroom will be used for and any features on your must-have list. Once that’s done you can start planning the finer details.

Design ideas for different projects

There are several features and factors you’ll need to consider when planning your bathroom renovation, including:

Layout

The right layout is essential to create a functional and comfortable space, so consider ambience, flow and practicality when deciding on your bathroom layout. Speak to an architect or a builder about the functionality and layout of the space. There’s a seemingly endless array of floorplan options available, though you may be constrained by the location of existing plumbing connections. Consider the features you want in your bathroom, for example maximising natural light or ensuring an easy flow from the bedroom through to your ensuite shower, when deciding on the right layout.

Shower

The shower is one of the features of your bathroom that will get the most use. From choosing a screen for privacy to deciding on a shower head to sourcing the right water flow, there’s plenty to think about when selecting your shower. You can choose a fixed or hand-held shower head, massage showers, waterfall showers and high- and low-pressure jets. In terms of shower screens, do you want a framed, frameless or semi-frameless screen, or perhaps no screen at all? Chat to an interior designer and shop around at bathroom specialist stores to learn more about the different options available on the market and how they fit into your plans.

Bath

A contemporary bathtub is a must — and there’s a seemingly limitless range of beautiful designs to choose from. There are freestanding tubs that are statement pieces in their own right, recessed baths that use minimal space, easy-access baths for the elderly or those with a disability, as well as full jacuzzi setups for a touch of luxury. However, if you live in a second-storey house, be mindful of having a bath on the second floor as the weight of a full bathtub may put pressure on the upper floor. The amount of space available is also going to have a big influence on the bath you select.

Vanity and basin

Every bathroom needs a sink, but if you and your partner are usually getting ready at the same time, could the space benefit from his and hers sinks? Ample storage space is a must for any vanity unit, while looks should never be neglected in order to ensure that the vanity you select matches the rest of the bathroom. The right vanity will combine good looks and handy storage options with plenty of usable bench space. From wall-mounted vanities to cabinet vanities and even minimalist vanities with a simple shelf system, there’s a huge range of choices available.

Fixtures and fittings

From taps and towel rails to frameless shower screens, the right fixtures and fittings are practical inclusions that complement the design of the rest of the bathroom. Taps come in an extensive selection of materials, including chrome, brass, gold and stainless steel, and there’s no limit to the styles available depending on the space available and the look you want to achieve. The sink, shower, bathtub and toilet should all serve a practical purpose but should also seamlessly integrate with their surrounds and complement one another perfectly.

Tiles

Tiles play a hugely important role in determining the look and ambience of your bathroom. From floor tiles to wall tiles and even special feature borders, choosing the right tiles is crucial to the success of your bathroom renovation. It can also be a daunting process, You’ll need to consider the ambience you want to create in your bathroom, your colour scheme, the size of tiles you want and how they will be laid out. For example, do you want to use contrasting tiles to add a feeling of space to a small bathroom, or do you want tiles with a textured surface to create a unique and interesting feature? Tiles come in ceramic, glass, natural stone, porcelain and clay, so research the looks and benefits of each option before making your choice.

Storage space

A bathroom with insufficient storage space is impractical and cluttered, so make sure you’ve got ample room for all the toiletries, towels and other odds and ends you need to store in your bathroom. Vanity cabinets, shelves and drawers are the obvious places to keep your items so they don’t clutter up the rest of your bathroom, but there’s plenty more you can do to maximise storage space. There’s a huge range of clever internal hardware options available to cleverly use the available space, while a recessed niche built into the shower cavity is great for storing shampoos, soaps and the like. Even installing a simple ledge-style shelf can help keep the vanity top free of mess.

Lighting

Last but certainly not least, don’t overlook the importance of lighting in creating a welcoming and refreshing space. The bathroom is one area of the house where it’s important to be able to see clearly, but where you can also relax in comfort if that’s what you feel like doing. Whether you’re looking for soft LED down lighting, a feature pendant that stands out or simply the warmth of natural illumination, include lighting considerations in your initial renovation plan. Light fixtures will obviously need to be moisture-proof and capable of standing up to life in your bathroom, while you may also want to consider heat lamps if you live in a cold area. One other thing to remember when choosing lighting is energy usage - the right choices can make a noticeable difference to your power bill.

Bathroom design ideas

Back to top

Renovating a small bathroom

When you’re renovating a bathroom, space is the final frontier. In a larger space, having more room to work with often means that you have more flexibility to add privacy and create different zones for each bathroom task.

When you’re renovating a bathroom, space is the final frontier. In a larger space, having more room to work with often means that you have more flexibility to add privacy and create different zones for each bathroom task.

Unfortunately, most bathroom renovators only have a limited area to work with, so they need to take advantage of clever ideas and design solutions that help them make the most of the available space. For example, a normal hinged door can eat up much more space than you have to spare, so a sliding door can offer a better solution. Other great space-saving and space-creating ideas include wall-mounted toilets, neutral colour palettes with occasional bursts of colour, and including handy built-in storage nooks and crannies wherever possible.

Renovating a small bathroom means you’ll also have to be more ruthless when deciding what belongs on your bathroom wish list. For example, while soaking in a hot bath might sound appealing, are you really willing to sacrifice such a large amount of floor space to include a tub?

Do it yourself or get in the experts?

If you’re keen to save as much money as possible on your bathroom renovation, you may want to consider a DIY project. While this lets you take control of your bathroom renovation, it’s always wise to think about your options before going the DIY route as bathroom renovations can become complicated very quickly.

Some jobs are fairly simple for the DIY renovator, such as stripping out your old bathroom and prepping the space for your new bathroom. Other jobs, for example waterproofing and tiling, you might also be able to do yourself if you have the right experience under your belt.

Plumbing and electrical work will need to be done by the professionals, however. A good plumber can help you through your renovation from start to finish, so find a plumber you trust before you start knocking down walls or stripping out tiles.

What can you DIY and what's best left to experts?

Where to buy bathroom renovation supplies

From tiles to toilets, there are several options when you need to stock up on the right supplies for your bathroom renovation. A good place to start your search is a large hardware store like Bunnings, Masters Home Improvement or Home Timber and Hardware. This will give you a good idea of some of the fixtures and fittings available to include in your bathroom.

It’s also a good idea to browse specialist renovation and bathroom supply stores — research online to find one near you, and where you find one bathroom store you’ll often find a few more. There’s a huge range of products to choose from for every aspect of your renovation, from the smallest of tiles to the largest of freestanding baths, so take the time to consider all the options available before making your decisions.

Back to top

Top tips to help you save money on your bathroom renovation

• Do your research. Jump online and visit local bathroom renovation specialists to see what kind of materials and fixtures are on offer. Speak to architects, building experts and bathroom renovation specialists to ensure that your renovation plan and budget is feasible. Source several quotes from different suppliers before deciding which company to go with.
• Plan ahead. Don’t start your renovation unless you know exactly what you want to achieve. Getting halfway through your project and then deciding that you don’t like the layout, you want different tiles or you’d like to make room for a bigger bath can be an expensive and stressful mistake. Work out exactly what you want before you reach for a hammer.
• Make a budget and stick to it. Bathroom renovations have something of a reputation for unforeseen costs and budget blow-outs. Around $15,000 to $20,000 is a realistic estimate for many bathroom projects, see our guide on the costs of bathroom renovations, but sit down and work out the material and labour costs for your project. Once you’re fully aware of how much your project should cost and how much you can afford, it’s time to start work.
• Know what you can do — and what you can’t. While DIY renovations are great for saving money, it’s important that you don’t get ahead of yourself when choosing what jobs to take on and what to leave to the professionals. If you’re at all unsure about your ability to complete a particular task, you’re much better off getting the experts in to avoid problems occurring later down the track.
• Take your time. While it can be frustrating having your bathroom out of action for a couple of weeks or more, when you’re doing it yourself it’s important not to rush things. Measure everything twice and be certain you’re doing the right thing before you cut, lay or install anything.
• Plumbing costs. You might want to completely rearrange the features and layout of your bathroom, but take note that plumbing costs can sometimes make this prohibitively expensive. Moving plumbing pipes and outlets for sinks, toilets, showers and baths can cost thousands of dollars, so you may be better off leaving some fixtures where they are to lower your costs.

Back to top

The latest dining chairs

Read article : The latest dining chairs

Save money on your bathroom renovation with these tips and advice from industry experts. Includes advice on design, planning and choosing your materials.

Scroll down to read more or jump to a topic from the list below…

‘Keep your existing layout and consider functionality’

Nick Rowland, product manager at Heritage Bathrooms says: ‘The key to a successful renovation project is planning. As soon as you start repositioning plumbing the job can become very expensive, so stick to the existing layout if possible.

‘Although installers can find great deals, do your own research as well to see what other bargains are out there. Ask yourself whether you need the installer to fit the whole bathroom. What could you do yourself? Picking up the smaller, less technical tasks, such as hanging mirrors, putting up towel rails and painting walls, can lead to considerable savings. Check whether a “good price” really is value for money – does it offer quality? Will the product stand the test of time? Is it guaranteed by the manufacturer?

‘The only area where you may want to consider cutting corners by spending less is on fittings without a working function. For example, static pieces, such as a basin and pedestal, are only required to hold water and allow it to drain away. In contrast, the WC has more moving parts and the pan and cistern need to operate properly for years to come. With this in mind, I recommend only buying a WC from a recognised manufacturer that will understand its functional needs and will carefully manage the manufacturing process to ensure that the cistern and pan do not leak.

‘A bath needs to be robust enough to hold your weight as well as the water. If you are satisfied that this basic requirement has been met then you won’t need to spend money on baths with additional reinforcement, which have little benefit for domestic use.’
?Back to top

‘Consider what you can do for yourself’

Jamey Seaman, bathroom expert at Ikea says: ‘There are many ways to make your budget go that bit further when it comes to improving your bathroom. It’s surprising just how much work you can do by yourself. Save money by purchasing ready-to-assemble basin and bathroom cabinets, and avoid paying someone else to fix units to the wall.

‘You can also make savings by buying a complete set of bathroom furniture, including a basin, cabinet and mirror, rather than individual pieces, which could cost more. You don’t have to blow your budget on bathroom storage all at once. Start by fitting storage beneath and above the sink and add more at a later date when you have the time and budget.’
?Back to top

ABOVE (left-right): Venice shower-bath, (H)47x(W)85x(L)170cm, £525; basin and pedestal, (H)85x(W)60x (D)45cm, £273; close-coupled WC, (H)83x (W)36.5x(D)63cm, with cistern and soft-close seat, £432, all from the Zaar collection at Heritage Bathrooms; Godmorgon/Vitviken washstand with two drawers and porcelain basin, (H)66x(W)63x(D)49cm, £170; Dalskar chrome-plated basin mixer tap, (H)18cm, £65; Godmorgon mirror cabinet, (H)96x(W)60x(D)14cm, £180; high cabinets, (H)192x(W)40x(D)30cm, £150 each, all Ikea.

‘Mix inexpensive ceramic tiles with luxury mosaics’

Beth Boulton, head of marketing at Topps Tiles says: ‘Instead of tiling an entire room in expensive mosaics, keep down costs by using them sparingly as a feature wall or to zone a shower area.

‘With the latest advancements in the ceramic printing process, there are now ceramic tiles available featuring highly realistic interpretations of natural stone, marble and wood. By cutting sheets of tiles in half or into strips to create a vertical feature behind a basin, or a horizontal statement around a bath and corner of a shower, you can make a real impact without overspending.’
?Back to top

‘Spend wisely and look out for bargains’

Rob Whitaker, brand director at Fired Earth says: ‘In general, you will get what you pay for. While cheaper products may look very similar to more expensive equivalents, they’re unlikely to have the same quality of finish or to last as long. For example, the chrome on very inexpensive taps may start to peel, or the surface of a bath may be more likely to crack or stain, so it is worth spending as much as you can afford to save money in the long term.

‘Think about installing a shower over the bath rather than building a separate shower area. As well as saving on product and installation costs, this is a good space-saving solution, too. If you would love a classic, freestanding cast-iron bath but it is beyond your budget, a bath made from a resin and stone composite is a great, cost-effective alternative. Factory shops often have fantastic bargains, so it’s well worth paying them a visit. If you can, it’s a good idea to wait for the winter and summer sales as the discounts on large items such as baths, washstands and boxes of tiles can be considerable.’
?Back to top

ABOVE (left-right): Glossy flat ceramic wall tiles in white, (W)20x(L)25cm, £7.60 per m²; Slate square glass mosaic tiles in silver, £13.99 for a (W)30x(L)30cm sheet; large-format Crystal porcelain floor tiles in white, (W)44x (L)44cm, £49.54 per m², all Topps Tiles; Flow roll-top bath, made from resin and ground stone with chrome feet, painted in Mercury Eggshell, (H)66x (W)80x(L)175cm, £1,650; Avebury bath and shower mixer tap, (H)42x (W)18x(D)20cm, £1,125; Abbey Fountains porcelain floor tiles, (W)19.9x (L)19.9cm, £74.70 per m², all Fired Earth; Athena Black 1700 freestanding bath with chrome feet, (H)56x(W)75x(L)170cm, £349.95; Modena 60 Semi Pedestal bathroom suite with ceramic basin (H)48x(W)58.5x(D)39.5cm, and ceramic WC, (H)83.5x (W)37x(D)65cm, £179.95, all Better Bathrooms.

‘Think about selling your old suite’

Joe Cummings, product advisor at Better Bathrooms says: ‘The rising popularity of auction sites has provided a fantastic platform for selling secondhand items. Any unwanted fixtures in good condition are worth selling, from taps and basins to tiles. This is the perfect way to recoup some of the expense you have lavished on your new bathroom.

‘Labour costs are the greatest outlay in any renovation project, so try doing some of the work yourself. Demolition and debris removal, along with tiling and brassware installation are simple jobs even for the most novice of DIYers. There are installation videos on the Better Bathrooms website (betterbathrooms.com) offering step-by-step guidance on how to install a range of sanitaryware in your home yourself, including shower enclosures, basins and baths. This will help to eliminate high-cost construction bills. However, it’s not always a good idea to undertake all of the work a bathroom renovation entails yourself – this can end up costing you more rather than saving money. Large, technical jobs, including any changes in plumbing, will require experienced tradespeople, so shop around in order to find the right person for the task. You will need someone you trust who will do the job at the right price. Acquiring multiple quotes from different contractors will not only give you an estimate of the cost of the work, but will ensure the price is fair and help with your planning.’
?Back to top

‘Research affordable options for flooring’

David Snazel, buyer at Carpetright says: ‘Updating your bathroom flooring doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to lay out a huge amount of money. If you like the look of stone or hardwood floors, but want a more practical and affordable option, it’s certainly worth considering vinyl. Functional yet stylish, vinyl is waterproof, remarkably durable and comes in a variety of styles – from natural wood and classic tiles to modern patterned designs – making it the ideal bathroom flooring solution.’
?Back to top

‘Never cut corners when it comes to brassware’

Leanne Robey, senior designer at Ripples says: ‘There are lots of ways to save on a bathroom project, but you should always invest in quality brassware as this includes the items that are in use every day, in particular concealed valves that regulate the temperature of the water in your home.

‘Always buy a good quality showerhead, especially if you prefer to take a shower than a bath, and look for “rub clean” showerheads with easy-clean nozzles that will prevent the build-up of limescale – great if you live in a hard-water area.

‘For further savings choose an eco-friendly showerhead with a sophisticated flow restrictor, various jet options and air infusion, which all work together to cut your water consumption by up to 60 per cent. This will help keep down water costs and will also cut energy bills, as less water will need to be heated.’
?Back to top

ABOVE (left-right): Urban Planks vinyl flooring in Eden Walnut 857, £44.99 per m², from the Tegola range at Carpetright; Crema Marfil marble wall tiles, (W)30x (L)60cm, £68 per m²; Fairfield easy-clean showerhead, (dia.)20cm, and arm, (L)41cm, £433; ¾-inch concealed flow control stop valve, £292; thermostat, £675, all Ripples.

All prices and stockists correct at time of publishing

Smart Devices in the Washroom? It's Not as Crazy as You Think

Read article : Smart Devices in the Washroom? It's Not as Crazy as You Think

Advertisement

For centuries, the washroom has arguably been the most private room in the house. You could shut yourself away inside, lock the door, and escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

Not anymore. Hundreds of companies are trying to join you in there, ready to log, record, and advise on every aspect of your bathroom routine.

Whether that’s for better or for worse is highly debatable. However, I’m not here to discuss the relevant merits of smart devices in the washroom — I just want to let you know about the best gadgets available right now.

Here’s what an average day could look like in a smart bathroom.

Morning

First, let’s take a look at a typical morning routine.

7:00 AM: Empty Your Bladder

Time to get real. The first thing we all do in the morning is head to the toilet. And at that ungodly hour, the last thing you want to be doing is dealing with cold surfaces, loo roll, and toilet seats.

Advertisement

It’s easier to get a smart toilet and let technology do the hard work.

The Ove Smart Toilet offers all the bells and whistles you could ever want. It has a heated seat, a five-jet bidet, water temperature controls, an automatic flush, a self-cleaning feature, and an automatic seat. Models from other manufacturers might even offer foot warmers, overflow protection, nightlights, and Bluetooth speakers Best Bluetooth Speakers Under $25 and up to $300 in 2016 Best Bluetooth Speakers Under $25 and up to $300 in 2016You can't beat the convenience of going wire-free. Great audio quality may always need wired speakers, but for music on your phone Bluetooth speakers are a must-have accessory nowadays. Read More.

7:05 AM: Weigh Yourself

Once you’ve emptied yourself, it’s time to get on the scales. If you weigh yourself before you start eating and drinking, you’ll get the most accurate results.

However, if you’re striving for a 21st century bathroom, an old analog scale isn’t going to cut it. You need a high-tech body analyzer Use Automated Health Tracking to Lose Weight and Live a Healthier Life Use Automated Health Tracking to Lose Weight and Live a Healthier LifeHealth tracking is about taking care of your food, your workouts, your productivity, and your moods. Modern fitness trackers can now automate it all to help you lose weight and live a healthier life Read More.

Check out the Withings Smart Body Analyzer Wi-Fi Scales (UK). Obviously, these scales can tell you what you weigh, but they will also display your body fat measurements, body mass index (BMI), heart rate, and information on the air quality in the room.

Withings Ws-50 Smart Body Analyzer, White Withings Ws-50 Smart Body Analyzer, WhiteHeart rate measurement by stepping on the scale Buy Now At Amazon$119.00

7:15 AM: Shower

Opinion is split on whether a steamy bathroom is a good thing. On the one hand, it is great for your lungs and offers some welcome warmth on cold winter mornings. On the other, everything gets saturated (including electric plug sockets), and you then have to wipe down the mirror.

If you prefer a stream-free washroom environment, get a humidity sensor such as the Aeotec MultiSensor 6 (UK).

Rather than powering up the extractor fan every time you turn on the bathroom light, you can combine the two so it only runs whenever excess humidity is detected. This little sensor can save you power and cut back on unnecessary noise.

Aeotec Multisensor 6, Z-Wave Plus 6-in1 motion, temperature, humidity, light, UV, vibration sensor Aeotec Multisensor 6, Z-Wave Plus 6-in1 motion, temperature, humidity, light, UV, vibration sensor6-in-1 Z-Wave Plus MultiSensor: motion, humidity, temperature, light lux, UV, vibration sensor. Buy Now At Amazon$58.99

7:30 AM: Get Out of the Shower

Once you get out of the shower, you’ll need a towel. And, if you’ve installed a humidity sensor, it’d be preferable if the towel was already warm since there’s not going to be any hot steam in the room to keep you toasty.

Sounds like you might need a heated towel rail. However, if you want a smart heated towel rail, you need to connect it to a smart switch The Automated Outlet: What Can Smart Outlets Really Accomplish? The Automated Outlet: What Can Smart Outlets Really Accomplish?Here are seven creative and useful ways you can make smart outlets work for you. Read More. It will let you program your towel to get warm at the same time every morning.

Consider pairing the VonHaus Electric Towel Rail, which has an AC adapter, with a Belkin WeMo Smart Switch (UK).

WeMo Switch Smart Plug, Wi-Fi, Works with Amazon AlexaWeMo Switch Smart Plug, Wi-Fi, Works with Amazon AlexaWorks with Amazon Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately) Buy Now At Amazon$42.00

8:00 AM: Get Ready

After breakfast, it’s back to the bathroom to prepare for the day. For most people, that means a lot of time spent looking into the mirror.

Smart mirrors are becoming increasingly popular. For example, in October 2016, Panasonic debuted its Smart Mirror at the Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies conference in Japan. It can do everything from offering make-up advice to recommending what outfit you should wear in light of the weather forecast 5 Apps That Make the Weather More Entertaining 5 Apps That Make the Weather More EntertainingWeather apps with jokes and GIFs; with pixels and profanity. Your morning will never be the same. Read More.

I covered smart mirrors in more detail when I described a smart home of the future 10 Future Technologies You'll See In Your Home in 3 Years 10 Future Technologies You'll See In Your Home in 3 YearsWhat technology do experts think you'll have in your house by the turn of the decade? I'm going to walk you through a typical day in the smart home of the future. Read More elsewhere on the site.

Another option is the Tech2O Cyber Mirror. It’s a mirror, TV, and web portal all rolled into one. It boasts a 32-inch screen, and it’s got an IP65 waterproof rating, meaning it’s safe for using in damp conditions.

Evening

After a long day at the office, a smart bathroom can offer you everything you need to unwind.

7:00 PM: Bath Time

If you thought running a bath was as simple as putting in the plug and turning on the tap, think again.

You can now get baths that offer “chromotherapy.” For those that don’t know, chromotherapy attempts to use colors to make your body healthier 4 Subreddits You Should Read For Tips To Stay Healthy and Fit 4 Subreddits You Should Read For Tips To Stay Healthy and FitI will tell you right now that I couldn't possible write an article about living a healthy life. I'm a self-confessed Taco Bell connoisseur. However, I can certainly tell you where you can find some other health tips.... Read More and more harmonious. Pegasus offers a bath with 11 different colors and five preset energizing programs. And if you’ve already got a Whirlpool bath, you can buy chromotherapy lights directly from the company’s online store.

If you’ve not got time for a bath, don’t worry. There are plenty of smart showers to choose from as well.

KOHLER K-9245-CP 2.5 GPM Moxie Showerhead and Wireless Speaker, Polished Chrome KOHLER K-9245-CP 2.5 GPM Moxie Showerhead and Wireless Speaker, Polished ChromeIncludes showerhead, wireless speaker and micro USB charging cable Showerarm and flange not included Buy Now At AmazonToo low to display

One example is the Moxie showerhead. It has Bluetooth speakers that can play music, podcasts, or the radio for up to seven hours continuously. You can also adjust the water flow from a bill-slashing 2.0 GPM to a full-force 2.5 GPM.

If you want to go more upmarket, check out the offerings from Moen. Its “U” product has a connected app that can program the shower to start at the same time each morning, adjust the temperature, and even set which nozzles are used.

10:00 PM: Freshen Up for Bed

As the evening wears on, you might want to freshen up your hands and face in a bid to relax yourself before bed. Your splash-and-dash wash will be much more enjoyable if you have a digital electronic faucet.

They are touchless (and thus reduce germs), they have digital flow controls (saving you water and money), and frequently come with digital temperature control settings and programmable flow configurations. The programmable flow is especially useful when you’re brushing your teeth. The water won’t cut off if you take your hands away from the infrared sensor.

Check out the offerings from Grohe if you want one in your washroom.

Would You Like a Smart Washroom?

In this article, I’ve shown you 11 devices and appliances that can turn your boring “dumb” bathroom into a washroom from the future.

But is a smart bathroom right for you? Would you enjoy having all this tech around you while you shower, or do you appreciate the bathroom’s value as one of the last bastions of tech-free living?

Whatever your opinion, I’d love to hear from you. You can leave all your thoughts and opinions in the comments section down below.

Previous PostGoogle Home Now Supports Multiple Users By VoicesNext PostHow to Use Siri With Your Smart Home Devices

Master Bathroom Remodeling Ideas | Master Bath Remodel

Read article : Master Bathroom Remodeling Ideas | Master Bath Remodel

Master Bathroom Remodeling Ideas" class="pin" width="620" height="620" />

Put yourself in this picture. Finally at home after a long day at work, you head directly for your spacious master bathroom. First, a workout on the stationary cycle. Next, a quick shower before you slip into the whirlpool for a soothing soak. But not before you've dimmed the lights, switched off the evening news and dropped a favorite CD into the entertainment unit. After you've soaked, wrap yourself in a heated towel. Or skip the soak and take a few minutes to relax in a steam shower.

Get up to 4 Free Quotes!

Sound like an impossible dream? Like something from a movie set? This sybaritic fantasy can be a reality if you're willing to add or borrow enough space to create an at-home haven in a master bathroom.

In the not-so-distant past, builders put little emphasis on bathroom space. The result: Full baths in many houses more than a decade old measure a minimal 5 x 7 ft. and contain a utilitarian and uninspired collection of the three necessary fixtures—bathtub, toilet and washbasin. Lighting consists of a lone fixture in the center of the ceiling. There's a single tiny window and, in rare cases, a fan for ventilation.

But, times have changed. Today's new homes offer bigger, more luxurious bathrooms—often called power bathrooms—with all kinds of comfort and convenience features that add value to the home when the time comes to sell. As a result, the owners of older homes can feel a bit more confident about jumping on the remodeling bandwagon. If you own an older home and add or expand a bathroom with the aim of creating a master suite, not only do you get to enjoy the space, but you also help your house become just as desirable to buyers as newer homes.

A new bathroom takes second place in the list of the most popular remodeling projects. A well-designed and well-executed master suite can be expected to return a nationwide average of 87 percent of the construction costs if you sell your home within a year or so. And that figure rises in hot real estate markets to as much as 135 percent in Denver, 117 percent in New Haven, Conn., and 125 percent in San Francisco.

Where to Start

Bathrooms are not only costly, they are complex to remodel. They demand lots of function packed into a small space. And there are myriad details to consider, ranging from door-swing clearances to building code requirements. Bathroom remodels demand the skills of all the major crafts. And while you might be able to take your sweet time about remodeling the family room or even the kitchen, no family can exist comfortably without at least one fully functional bathroom for even a day or two.

A safe way to minimize some of the potential problems of a bath remodel is to hire a bathroom designer. There are several ways to go about this. Look in the Yellow Pages or ask friends and neighbors to recommend an independent bathroom designer. They'll charge you a fee, ranging anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the complexity of your job. In return, they will meet with you, discuss your needs and wishes and then draw elevations and plans that you can execute yourself or take to a contractor to have built. You can also find many bath designers at kitchen and/or bath dealerships or home centers that offer design services, products and installation. The fee for their design time is generally rolled into the purchase price of the bathroom. 

A design fee is often money well spent if it helps to maximize the space you have and avoid even one glitch in the project. But keep in mind that all bath designers are not created equal. Ask about their training and experience, and check references. 

What to Include

Everyone's idea of luxury is different. To some, it's opulent materials. For others, it's an extra bit of storage space or privacy or the space to work out at home. Begin your bath remodel by defining what luxury means to you. Make a list of everything your "ultimate bath" would include—you can eliminate some of the frills later if the cost becomes prohibitive.

Get up to 4 Free Quotes!

"Today's master suites are luxurious in terms of comfort rather than glitz," says kitchen and bath expert B. Leslie Hart. Instead of acres of marble and gold faucets, bath remodels today focus on space. "You won't find too many telephone booth showers in today's remodeled baths," says Hart. But you might note an effort to incorporate outdoor space into the bath via a small patio or garden shower or just a large window that takes advantage of a great view. Tumbled marble, nickel, pewter and antique brass hardware finishes are most popular. 

As a rule of thumb, the components of the luxury bath suite consist of some combination of plenty of space, a soaking or whirlpool tub, a sauna or steam generator, a large shower (with multiple massage jets and a seat) and a toilet and possibly a bidet that are separated from the rest of the bath in a private compartment. In addition, the room will have good lighting from a variety of sources (perhaps a skylight or greenhouse window), sufficient, well-planned storage so that all you need for personal pampering is right at your fingertips, and good ventilation. If space allows, designers may include a dressing room, laundry facilities, perhaps a small refrigerator, microwave oven and coffee maker, and enough space for some type of exercise equipment. And don't forget the entertainment system—with telephone, television and sound.

What You Will Spend

What will it cost to have luxury like this? The exact price is hard to pin down because you can put in an $80 faucet or $2,000 faucet, a $400 or $4,000 tub. But it's not unusual to spend $20,000, $30,000 or even $50,000 depending on materials and the scope of structural work necessary. As a rule of thumb, plan to spend about 2 1/2 times the cost of the products you choose on construction. According to Remodeling magazine, upgrading an existing 5 x 9-ft. bath with new fixtures, lighting, and ceramic tile floor and walls will set you back about $8,563. A 6 x 8-ft. full bath addition that includes a standard tub and shower, lighting, linen storage and a ceramic tile floor and walls within an existing floor plan carries an average price tag of $11,721. The average cost of adding a 24 x 16-ft. master suite that includes a separate bath with whirlpool and separate ceramic tile shower, ceramic tile floor and a double-bowl vanity over an existing crawlspace is $37,388.

Finding the Space

Obviously you can't fit all the components of a luxury bath into the typical 35 to 65 sq. ft. allotted for a bathroom in many homes. So you'll need to be creative and look elsewhere for the space. Or add the space for the new bath along with a new master bedroom.

Because so much has to do with the configuration of the other rooms near it, there is no ideal size for a bathroom. But, if you aim to include anything more than the three necessities, allot at least 90 to 100 sq. ft. of space.

If an existing bath backs into a garage it's relatively easy to steal space for a larger shower or tub. If there are neighboring hall closets you can live without, consider eliminating them. Take over all or part of an adjacent bedroom. But don't do this if it means you convert your three-bedroom house to a two-bedroom house.

What to do if this sounds wonderful, but your home doesn't have any spare space? Not to worry. Even a 5 x 8-ft. bath can offer some luxury if it's well-planned. Many of the features mentioned here, such as innovative lighting, proper ventilation and a combination steam room/shower, require very little, if any, additional space.

Use a combination whirlpool/ steam tub/shower unit. If there's just enough space for a 5-ft.-long tub, get a deeper one instead. Several manufacturers offer uniquely shaped shower enclosures made of tempered clear or tinted safety glass. For high-end function as well as appealing looks, opt for a number of pulsating showerheads that provide an all-over body massage. Storage space should be well-organized. Maximize storage potential with clever vanity design, rollout trash bins and shallow drawers, instead of just leaving a cavernous space behind two doors. Plan shallow shelves recessed between the studs and an oversize vanity top that extends over the toilet to create a bit more countertop space.

In the case of a small bath, create luxury with materials, not volume of space. Think about using marble and mirrors, decorative moldings, ceramic tile and/or glass block. Consider a skylight, or roof windows, to ensure the bathroom is bright, even on dark, dreary days. And be sure to plan for more than a single electrical ceiling fixture. Consider specifying low-voltage lighting in the vanity toe kick to provide drama and to function as a nightlight. And plan adequate lighting around both sides and along the top of the mirror so you can see what you're doing when shaving or applying makeup. A tight budget doesn't mean you can't create a power bathroom. Careful choices can keep the budget in line and still produce a luxurious personal retreat.

If cost is your primary consideration, choose laminate over more expensive solid surfacing materials, wood paneling over marble. If you decide to use ceramic tile—one of the most popular, cost-effective and easy-to-maintain options for the bath—select carefully. Tile prices start at a reasonable $2.50 to $3 per square foot, uninstalled. Or you can spend 10 times that. Other suggestions: Forgo high-fashion or custom-color fixtures or hand-painted washbasins, and choose white, which is usually less expensive. And stay away from precious metals for faucets, towel bars and other fittings.

Get Ready

Spend some time in your existing bath and see what's lacking. Notice how you use the space for things like dressing, applying makeup and drying hair. What would you add if you could? Before you order components or begin construction, check local code requirements.

For example, a whirlpool for two will require a 3/4-in. waterline instead of the typical 1/2-in. supply line so that the tub can be filled in a timely fashion. And you must plan ahead for how you'll access a whirlpool tub motor, or the steam shower generator. If you choose multiple showerheads, the contractor needs to know that before planning the configuration of the rough plumbing that will service the shower. Where is the water supply coming in? Is the line large enough? What is the water pressure like in the area?

Careful planning will help you create a bath that adds convenience and luxury to your life as well as value to your home. 

Tub Tip

A whirlpool or soaking tub is a substantial investment, costing anywhere from $200 for a basic model up to more than $20,000. Most fall in the $1,000-to-$5,000 range. Shop for one just as you would any other consumer good. Examine size, material, price, style, safety, color and optional features.

If you decide to include a whirlpool in your new bath suite (not a must, according to bath designers and real estate agents, as long as at least one other bath in the home has a tub), your first consideration is size. Do you want a unit that is large enough for two? Would your needs be better served by a smaller tub and a separate shower? Is your choice limited by available space? And remember, the larger the tub, the larger the water heater, the water bill and the cost.

A word of caution to those who enjoy an occasional soak: You wouldn't dream of buying a suit or pair of shoes without first trying them on for size. Likewise, you shouldn't buy a tub without sitting in it first. If they won't let you climb into the tub where you're shopping, shop someplace else.

Keep in mind that the slant of the backrest as well as length and depth of tubs vary. Make sure the tub fits you. Some whirlpools let you choose the number of jets, usually ranging from four to eight. If your prime interest is in therapeutic massage action, opt for a tub with at least four jets located so they reach the major muscle groups and joints of your body. Some tubs offer jets that are directionally adjustable while others allow you to adjust the air-and-water mix.

The size of the motor determines how powerful the flow of the water is. Motor size also affects how much noise the whirlpool generates. If you find the prospect of motor noise unpleasant, be sure to discuss tub and motor placement, as well as extra insulation, with your contractor or bath designer.

Because a whirlpool is both a plumbing fixture and an electrical product, both service requirements must be taken into account. Most tubs require a 15-amp, 115-volt electrical service that should be placed on a separate electrical circuit. And if you opt for a heater to maintain the water temperature (don't expect it to heat up cold water) you'll need an additional heating circuit.

Consider the faucet to fill your new tub, too. Manufacturers recommend a faucet that flows at 20 gal. to 30 gal. per minute for a standard size whirlpool. If you opt for a larger tub, consider a faucet that flows at a rate of 55 gal. to 120 gal. per minute.

If you do purchase a tub, be sure that it will fit through existing doorways and that there's sufficient maneuvering space to get it into the bathroom. Measure any tricky or tight turns in hallways and stairwells that could sabotage your plans. If you must remove walls to get the tub in, installation costs will soar.

Copyright © Popular Mechanics 2001. Reprinted by permission.

Get up to 4 Free Quotes!

Secrets of a Cheap Bathroom Remodel

Read article : Secrets of a Cheap Bathroom Remodel

Contrary to popular opinion, the cheap bathroom remodel is absolutely attainable.

It can be difficult to wrap your mind around this because we have become numb to mid-to-high five-figure bathroom remodels that begin by ripping everything down to the studs. For these,  ​everything must be tossed and replaced by the most premium materials.

Bathroom remodeling is second only to kitchen remodeling in terms of pain, misery, dust, cost, and unmet-timetables.

Given the sickeningly high cost of bathroom remodeling, it pays to think outside the box.

The quick, easy, and cheap bathroom remodel detailed here and will not make you the star of cocktail conversations because you won't be able to brag about how you had to take out a second mortgage to afford the remodel. Instead, you'll have lots of money left over to spend on other parts of the house--or other parts of your life.

In the end, you will have a clean, bright, and functional bathroom. And more money in your bank account than homeowners who went the expensive route.

Cover and Re-Surface Instead of Replace

Briefly:  If the material still works, fix it up and reuse it.

This is the guiding principle of any surface-level renovation, with the caveat that you never want to cover anything because it needs to be replaced.

For example, in bathrooms, there is no better way to cover up the lower portion of walls than with easy-to-install wainscot.

Wainscot is a pre-fab board that extends as high as 48" and eliminates the need to fix any unfortunate wall dings and minor holes. But should that wallboard be speckled with mold and mildew, the last thing you want to do is cover it up. Unfortunately, you need to track down the source, stop it, and replace affected portions of wallboard.

Search for Low-Cost Substitutes

Briefly:  Often, cheap alternatives look amazingly like the real thing.

More and more, the less expensive alternatives are looking as good as the originals. Instead of real wood plank flooring, try luxury vinyl flooring. You only think you want that radiant-heat granite floor. But that purchase alone will blow your entire remodel budget.

Old-school vinyl is gone; things have changed. Vinyl now looks better than ever, with innovations such as luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) and plank vinyl that look fantastic.

Refinish Tub Instead of Replacing It

Briefly:  Consider total replacement of your bathtub to be the last thing you try. Instead, try relining or refinishing.

Bathtub or shower refinishing is a prime example of "cover, not replace." If the problem is mainly cosmetic--a yellowed surface and some cracks and nicks--you can refinish your shower or bathtub.

Alternatively, bathtub and shower liners--a staple of infomercials--are not as cheap as they seem. Never a permanent fix, they will carry you through a few years. Liners require professional installation. Refinishing, instead, is cheaper and looks better.

Install a Pre-Fab Shower Rather Than a Tiled Shower

Briefly:  Pre-fabricated shower units generally are cheaper than tiled showers.

Have you decided that your tub or shower is beyond refinishing?  The absolutely most expensive option is hiring tradesmen to build a unit out of tile from scratch.

Instead, consider pre-fabricated shower units. If you absolutely must have that tiled shower, fusing a poly shower pan with the tile saves some hassle and a little bit of cost.

Install Your Own Toilet

Briefly:  Save a few hundred dollars by installing your own toilet.

Do not call in the plumber to switch out the old toilet. Install your toilet yourself. It is much easier than you can imagine, the hardest part being physically moving the toilet into place. For that, get a cheap hand truck or enlist the services of a friend.

Paint Portions of Your Interior By Yourself

Briefly:  Interior painting can be accomplished by even the least skilled DIYer.

Do not use a painter. For whole-house painting, you may want to consider hiring a professional painter--due to the large scale.

But consider how little painting you need to do in bathrooms:  walls are taken up with mirrors, showers, tile, bathtubs. In the end, you only have a few square feet to paint. You can paint this by yourself in two days.

Resist the Urge to Move Major Plumbing

Briefly:  Save money by leaving toilet and bathing facilities where they are.

Do not move plumbing if at all humanly possible. Moving water supply and/or drainage immediately drives up the cost of any remodel project. If you want to move it, then pay close attention to the next step...

Consider Doing Some Plumbing By Yourself

Briefly:  Innovations like PEX plumbing pipes make it easier for homeowners to do their own plumbing.

If you hate calling upon the services of a plumber for remodeling work, stop for a minute and ask yourself if you possibly can do the plumbing by yourself.

Moving the sewer line:  maybe not. Moving the sink supply and drain lines a few feet:  sure.

With the advent of Tinkertoy-like PEX plumbing pipes and push-in Sharkbite fittings, even the least confident DIY plumber can do light plumbing tasks for a pittance.

If your notion of plumbing work is still rooted in the days of soldering copper pipes with an open flame (or even worse, working with galvanized pipes), give this one some extra thought. You just might find out that PEX and push-in fittings are perfect for your needs.

Install Your Own Bathroom Vanity and Top

Briefly:  Bathroom vanities and tops practically come assembled for you.

Because bathrooms are small, it is possible for you to buy nearly or fully assembled bathroom vanity units and vanity tops and have them in place within a couple of hours.

Vanity units come in certain sizes ranging from 24 inches to 60 inches wide. Coordinating tops (counters) can be purchased that even have sinks fused into them--no sink installation and caulking woes!

Design Your Bathroom Yourself

Briefly:  While bathroom designers are great, they also can break your bathroom remodel budget; consider doing it yourself.

Whole-house remodels, additions, and kitchens can benefit from the expertise of a qualified designer. But what about bathrooms?

If you need to save money it is possible to design your own. One factor in your favor is that you are not moving fixtures around (see previous advice on this).

Bathroom designers are good at not just the "pretty stuff" but at powering through difficult logistical problems (door clearances, etc.).

So, half of your design burden is instantly lifted. You are left with a few of the more fun aspects of bathroom design:

Should you live in an RV? Here’s why some young people are ditching homes for the nomadic life.

Read article : Should you live in an RV? Here’s why some young people are ditching homes for the nomadic life.

The days of living in the same home until you retire are becoming as outdated as that pair of denim jeggings stashed in the back of your closet. Some millennials are ditching the notion of the white picket fence altogether and opting instead for a home that will travel: better known as a recreational vehicle or “RV.”

To cut expenses — think, five-figures for a used RV versus six-figures for a home — and live less tethered to one city, young people are increasingly drawn to the “house on wheels” concept. The chance to take road trips without paying for hotel rooms and restaurant meals doesn’t hurt either.

RV ownership is at an all-time high, with more than 9 million households owning an RV as of April 2017, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. With ownership up 16% since 2001, buyers between the ages of 35 to 54 make up the largest share of owners.

What would prompt someone to reject the age-old tradition of home ownership? For Chris Trenschel and Tamara Murray, who moved out of their California condo and into a camper van, it was the desire for more meaningful life experiences. “We were dead inside,” Murray told Vice in February 2016. “Travel, learning about new cultures and meeting new people, having meaningful experiences — that’s what is important to us.” Like many millennials, Trenschel and Murray began working remotely so they could travel as much as possible.

Other young professionals have similar stories, where they had previously established what appeared to be the perfect life, only to discover that instead of owning possessions, the possessions owned them. Selling everything, finding remote work and purchasing a house on wheels, such as an RV, trailer or motor home, pushed the reset button on their lives and allowed them to embark on a new life adventure.

What are the upsides to buying an RV?

The movement to bypass or delay a traditional home purchase makes sense as millennials prefer experiences over things. Millennials “aren’t spending our money on cars, TVs and watches,” Taylor Smith, CEO and co-founder of employee benefits firm Blueboard told CNBC. “We’re renting scooters and touring Vietnam, rocking out at music festivals or hiking Machu Picchu.” In fact 78% of millennials in a 2014 Eventbrite poll said they would rather spend money on an experience rather than purchasing an item.

This includes young families like the Podlahová family, who purchased an RV so they could see the country from their RV. While the family lives in a condo in Foster City, California, Michelle Tsai Podlahová said in an interview they purchased their RV so they could continue to camp and enjoy nature with their two young sons.

The Podlahová family on an RV adventure

Source: Michelle Tsai Podlavhová

“We decided to get one because we used to camp and hike before we had kids and still wanted to do it with them,” she said. “Camping is really difficult with little ones, but the RV allowed us to still be in nature, but with the added comfort of having our own bathroom, shower and being able to cook food.” Podlahová and her family love their RV so much, they decided to ditch a traditional Christmas this year and instead spend the holiday traveling the countryside with the kids in the RV.

What are the real costs of RV life?

Aside from the allure of travel, RV or mobile living can save you over $139,000 over 15 years, according to calculations from the travel site Wand’rly. First off, a used motorhome can be relatively affordable, with an average cost of about $35,000. But even a new RV would save you money.

Consider this example: You purchase a home for $343,000 (the average home price in 2015), which includes a monthly mortgage payment of $1,310, utilities at $240, property taxes at $150, insurance at $50 and homeowners association fees for about $300 per month. Over 15 years you end up paying around $437,600. (This estimate does not include gas or parking fees.)

Compare this expense to purchasing a new motorhome, which goes for about $122,000. Your monthly payments could be a little higher at $1,380, but you don't have to worry about utilities and property taxes. Insurance could run about $135 a month. Over 15 years, your total approximate expense is $297,900. That’s $139,700 less than you’d spend on your home.

For those interested in just using their RV for a vacation, you still save cash. A party of four traveling by plane, renting a car, eating meals in restaurants and staying in a hotel would spend about $4,045 for a seven-day trip, according to Recreation Vehicle Industry Association estimates. Travel by RV, on the other hand, can get your costs down to $2,035 for a seven-day vacation, for a savings of over $2,000. (This excludes the RV purchase price.)

Before you buy

While you can save money on travel and homeownership living in an RV, do your research before taking the plunge. Here are four key things to consider:

1. Rent before own

If you aren’t 100% sure RV life is for you, rent one for a period of time to see if you like it, Go RVing.com suggested. Typical rent prices can range from $50 to $450 per night for a newer motorhome, RV Share reported. This will also help you figure out which amenities are most important to you and how much you can afford.

2. Decide whether to buy new or used

While a used RV will be significantly less expensive, consider some of the same factors you might ponder if you were to purchase a new or used car. Before purchasing a used RV, consider depreciation, if the vehicle is under warranty and if you can spot any unknown damage, TripSavvy advised.

3. Have a parking spot

Unless you live in a suburban or rural area that allows you to park your RV in your driveway you’ll have to consider where to keep it when you aren’t traveling. RV parking spots can run anywhere from $50 up to $450 a month depending on the size of your RV and needs, Storage.com stated.

4. Factor in extra costs

Maintenance, gas and the sales tax on your initial purchase can all add up. Gas is surprisingly expensive since most RVs only get six to eight miles to the gallon. That means you could drop as much as $10,000 on a 20,000 mile trip around the country, Kiplinger estimated. Maintenance costs include $2,500 for tires, $1,700 to replace carpets, $182 for a new toilet and $120 to upgrade your thermostat, according to AxleAddict.com.

Is the nomadic life right for you?

After you’ve figured out the practical side, it’s time to do some soul searching on whether RV life is really what you want. Although you can save cash and travel, it’s wise to have a serious talk with your partner (and yourself) about whether life on the road is your true calling. Make sure you can deal with living in a small space without a large shoe closet and room for a lot of clothes and accessories, as well as put up with your partner's items or clutter.

No matter how fun it might sound to travel at the drop of a hat, it’s definitely not for everyone. “Trulia’s research shows that many millennials would rather live in a more traditional home and neighborhood,” Lynnette Bruno, Trulia’s real estate and lifestyle expert said in an email. “The inclination that we see among young adults to live in RVs, yurts, shipping containers, micro-apartments and tiny homes is more of a reflection of how hard it is to find and buy an affordable home in today’s market.”

Be realistic about the nuisances you may encounter. Those with olfactory issues may be put off by some smells that are amplified in a small space, plus you may have more mold and mildew than what you’d find in a regular home, the RV Nomads notes. You may also encounter noisy neighbors at some campgrounds, and you should be open to rotating through a variety of doctors, dentists and mechanics, since you’ll be moving a lot.

See the country in your RV.

Source: Travel Math/Pinterest

But for those who find the journey to be more exhilarating than the destination, RV ownership may be ideal for you. Just do your homework and have a budget to ensure you can not only afford to purchase an RV but maintain it for years to come.

Sign up for the Payoff — your weekly crash course on how to live your best financial life.

Top 15 Tips For Saving Thousands On Your Bills - Hifow

Read article : Top 15 Tips For Saving Thousands On Your Bills - Hifow

Quick & Easy Food Recipes at Hifow.com

Saving money is the hot word at the moment as the world economy gulps for air. Here I give tips on how you could save thousands by making a few changes to your home and lifestyle. The items are listed in no particular order, and the amounts I personally saved by trying these tips is listed at the end of each segment. Enjoy!

Holidays are often seen as a necessity, but luxury holidays can work out more expensive than they are worth. Traveling to other countries for your holiday can be full of hidden costs, such as airport taxes, insurance, and even the price of a passport, so one thing to consider is just how far do you need to go for have a few weeks of fun?? At the bottom end of the scale, camping holidays can be enjoyed for the price of a tent and a food budget, and a well planned trip could mean you are waking in a new location every day. Similarly, consider hiring a camper or motor-home – and take a tour of the wilderness. Holidaying in foreign parts may still carry a note of prestige, but who needs prestige when you’re broke? Average yearly saving (£): Over £2,000 ($3,000).

Buying ‘New’ costs more, and even more so when considering buying cars. A car can lose up to 50% of its worth in just 12 months, so the second-hand car market is ripe with good quality almost-new vehicles. At the bottom end of the market, a good car may cost as little as £1,000 and could be just as comfortable, reliable and economical as a brand new equivalent. The second-hand hard goods market is also awash with good quality gear. Online auction sites are by far the best places to buy gifts and gadgets at a fraction of the cost of their retail counterparts. For example, a one-week-old computer processor was found for just £90 on EBay – saving £60 – £80 on the price of a brand new one. Charity shops can be gold mines for clothing, drapes, toys and dvds, and because charity shops almost always insist on goods being of the best order, whole outfits can be bought for next to nothing. Average yearly saving by not buying new (£): Unlimited.

Many items have a higher price tag even though they may be carbon copies of other brands; simply because they have a popular label. Many motor manufacturers rebrand imported products to sell the same thing for a higher price. Many clothing manufacturers do the same. So if you can swallow your vanity and shift the ego, there really is no need to wear a label in order to look smart. If you must do, why not just buy a box of sew-on labels and do it yourself! On the shopping front, you may have to ask why you always buy Pepsi when multipak cola feeds the same need for less? Ok, so it might taste better, but it also costs… Again, if you must be suckered into wearing named brands, there are many places which sell the same things for less; and charity shops always have a nice selection of pristine labels on offer. Average yearly saving (£): £250 ($380).

The second most expensive single item on this list is a wedding. Weddings happen to most people, and most have to save for years to get what they want. However, there are always alternatives. One way would be to organize your own wedding using one of the many priests in your area. For example, I asked a Shaman to marry myself and my wife-to-be in a special clearing by a river; I created my own vows; and the whole thing came to under £400. There are many people willing to marry folks for the fraction of the price of a church service, and getting married on a beach, or in a forest – or having a themed wedding – may prove much more memorable and special. Collective saving over a church wedding (£): Over £2,000 ($3,000).

Perhaps the most controversial item on this list is the Rent vs Mortgage argument. In a lot of cases, renting can be as low cost as getting a mortgage and comes with a number of benefits. Firstly, you won’t owe £150,000 to be payable over 40 years! This means these debts wont be passed on to your next of kin should you die before you pay for the house. Renting means you can move to a larger or cheaper place as and when you like – or to a new area altogether. House maintenance should be taken care of by your landlord, and even some utility bills may be thrown into the price. If you fail to keep up your mortgage repayments, the banks will move pretty swiftly to boot you out, but many rental agencies or private landlords can often be paid much smaller sums in order to keep the roof over your head. Finally, if you are lucky enough to get help with your housing costs, many agencies will pay more to rented tenants than mortgaged individuals. Buying a house may still be seen as a good investment should the housing market go up in price – but at the moment it’s going down! – turning the whole thing into more of a gamble. Average lifetime saving (£): Variable.

With Gas and Electricity prices rising all the time, by far the easiest way to heat a home is to go back to the old ways – with a wood burring stove. Stoves can be bought relatively cheaply, and one will pay for itself in a couple of years. Fuel is never a problem (and often free) as long as you live near a wood yard, a coppice project, a paper mill, a saw mill, or even a dump (where wood is available by the skip load). A cheap circular saw can be bought for as little as £10, and means you can chop up tables, cabinets, dressers, and just about anything else. Sick and tired of all that junk mail? Bung it in, and make it heat your home! Endless stacks of paper products?, cereal boxes?, packaging? Recycle it the original way and save the planet. Supermarkets are also a good source of material – and are usually more than willing to see the back of banana boxes and all kinds of packaging. On top of all that, a good stove burner could be adapted into the water system of your home; so you can use it to take a bath. Stoves can also be cooked upon too!. Finally, they are great for giving a home that natural heat that helps you feel drowsy and have a good nights sleep. Average yearly saving (£): Over £140 ($210)

With the advent of the Internet, technology now allows a cheaper viewing experience. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where most of the material on TV is available online and on demand, there really is no reason to pay for TV anymore. In the UK, the cost of a TV license can be over £100 a year. With a good graphics card on your computer, you should be able to connect your TV to it; meaning ANY output from your machine can be directed to play on the big screen with the touch of a button. This also means that your television watching habits can be tailored to your own on-demand needs, and you won’t be paying for all those waste-of-time shows which clog many networks these days. Finally, with the advent of shared downloads, you can now have your favorite shows on your hard drive and play them direct – saving you buying or burning all those DVDs. Average yearly saving (£): Over £120 ($180).

Now this had to come up at some point, but this could make a HUGE difference to your expenditure over a year. By far the easiest way to budget is to type in all your outgoings and bills in monthly columns on a spreadsheet. Below these, enter whatever income you have – and then take the outgoings amount away from your combined income. Hay presto! Your disposable income pops up at the bottom. Budgeting a whole year in advance can show you what shape your bank account will be in during the months to come; helping you save more if things look tight, or to afford those little luxuries without fear of going into the red. A budget can also help you as you tinker with the figures – shaving money off here and there – allowing you to maximize whatever money you have available to you. Average yearly saving (£): Unlimited.

On several occasion I have house-shared as a means of cutting the house-hold bills in half. A paying guest can ‘lodge’ for any price you set – and many are happy to pay as much as you would pay to rent the house on your own. Similarly, many are willing to split the rent and the bills; resulting in a very much less expensive way to live. Of course, house sharing does have a few drawbacks; such as privacy;
but at the end of the day it’s up to you whether you want to keep them or to send them on their way. House mates can also be very good company, very good partners on a night out, may be great (free) babysitters, and may be a convenient way to car share. Average yearly saving from a house-share (£): £3800 ($5,800).

In some parts of the world, water bills are calculated on the average usage in your community, or at least on your block. That is fine if you use as much as everyone else; but not so good if you live on your own or prefer to smell nasty from not taking baths! For singles or students then, having a water meter installed could save you a small fortune as it means you will only pay for what you use. So, by not washing the car, or by doing the dishes in a bowl rather than in a dish-washer, or taking showers instead of baths – you can save on your usual water bill. For quite a few household jobs – such as watering the garden and washing the car – the water you need comes from the sky – for FREE – and is worth collecting if you have a water meter. Average yearly saving (£): Over £120 ($180).

Running a car can be a very expensive business, so fuel economy can be an easy way to save those extra penny’s. First of all, keeping your car in shape is by far the quickest way to start saving. For example: ensuring the tires are inflated to the correct PSI and have plenty of rubber, changing the air and oil filters, removing excess weight, and driving carefully; can mean your fuel can last at least 10-20 MPG longer. Race starts, revving the engine, and driving over 70MPH (112kph) uses up fuel quickly, and could only result in saving you minutes at the other end. The best speed for fuel economy is 56MPH (90kph). Buying a diesel or a car with good fuel economy (over 50mpg) is also a big consideration, and could cut the average fuel bill by half over a year. Car sharing is great as it means you are sharing the cost of driving between you, and if you alternate between each others cars it could mean you are traveling half as often in your own car. Small journeys eat into your fuel reserve more than long ones because of the time it takes the car to warm up. If you reach your destination before the ‘choke’ switches off you will have used an extra 10% of fuel in your journey. For this reason, it is better to shop around all in one day rather than popping into town every day for little bits. If you can, walk. Walking is free, and every trip saved is an extra trip you can make on the same tank of gas. Average yearly saving (£): Over £100 ($150).

Now this might sound obvious, but eating take-outs can be far more expensive than eating your own home cooked meals. Take-outs; although often very tasty; can contain materials which actively make you hungrier or thirstier – causing you to consume more as a result. Ordering out for food or going out for meals can really make a big difference to a shopping budget, and can turn one of life’s greatest luxuries into a taken-for-granted habit. Saving take-outs for special days (i.e. Saturdays) and special occasions can make the experience even more exciting, even more sumptuous, and a whole lot cheaper. Average yearly saving by eating less take-outs (£): Over £120 ($180).

If saving on food is a little beyond your comfort zone then this next classic will have you screaming. With the credit crunch propaganda infiltrating the airwaves of late, many are left wondering how they will afford the basic household bills. One way is simply to economize on life’s luxuries – and by far the most common (and most expensive) luxuries are those concerning cigarettes and alcohol. For example, if you were to smoke 20 cigarettes a day, your yearly expenditure may average around £1800 ($2,800). If you were to cut down from 20 cigarettes a day to 10, this would go down to £900 ($1,400, a saving of £900 a year – or x30 fuel bills!). 7 cigarettes a day, and the cost goes down to around £550 ($850) a year; quit smoking and you could save the full £1800 ($2,800). Alcohol is very similar in that a single night out may cost anywhere between £20 and £60; so by going out just once a week less often; you could save between £960 (1,470) and £2880 ($4,400) over a year. Average yearly saving after quitting drinking and smoking (£): Over £6,660.

There are many ways to cut the shopping budget down to size. For starters, choose your shops carefully. If it can be ordered and delivered cheaper online (i.e. hard goods, media), this could save up to 50% on retail prices. As far as food goes, one supermarkets’ prices may not be too unlike anothers’, but there can be huge saving to be made if you are willing to shop around for the basic items. Convenience stores often hike their prices thinking that consumers will shop there anyway and swallow the difference. Milk, for example, may be a third more expensive at your local shop or gas station than it may be at a superstore. Over the year, these expenses mount up. However, if the price of a cheaper loaf of bread would cost you more in gas money to drive over and pick one up, then this would be false economy in that it would cost more overall for the same result. Average yearly saving (£): Over £480 ($).

Finally, why not maximize your income by eating healthily! Contrary to what you may think, eating veggie is very VERY cheap, and a full weeks worth of food may cost from as little as £10 ($15) a head. By far the cheapest way to have the best quality vegetables for your pot would be to grow your own. For the price of a packet of seeds (or a few carrot tops and sprouting potatoes) you can grow and rotate your stocks to provide an endless free supply of basic foods. A good steamer unit, an oven, and a magimix (for soups) will also save hours of gas or electricity bills as neither of these use too much juice to run. Eating veggie doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding meat – that’s up to you – you don’t have to be a vegetarian to eat veggie! Meat, fish and chicken can be used as you like, along with eggs, cheese, sauces, pickles and spices. The point is to avoid shopping for pre-packaged foods; in whatever variety they come; and simply eat fresh. Aside from fresh being far less expensive (even totally free!), fresh also contains far less additives, comes with far less packaging, and is FAR more beneficial for the mind and body. Average yearly saving by growing your own veggies (£): £900 ($1,400) per head.

Summary: So there you have it. If you invest in a good budget and a wood burning stove to heat and cook on, get a suitable house mate, cut down or cut out the cigs, booze and the take-outs, get a water meter, don’t pay for TV, and grow and eat veggie – you could save a fortune. I did all the above, and although I didn’t sacrifice too much of my social life I still managed to save… £12,700 year-on-year ($19,500).

Contributor: Lifeschool

Read more: http://listverse.com/2008/11/30/top-15-tips-for-saving-thousands-on-your-bills/

Quick & Easy Food Recipes at Hifow.com

Source link