Whether your child is a toddler, teen or 'tween, decorating a kid's bedroom can be complicated by tight budgets and personal tastes.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
When the heat and rain come, ants and other insects seem to multiply. Keeping them in check doesn't have to wreck your budget. J.D. Roth, author of the personal finance blog Get Rich Slowly (www.getrichslowly.org), said he and his wife Kris were at war with the ants in their old home. The exterminator charged $100 per visit and did not solve the ant problem.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
To make your kitchen function better, handle food and cleaning products with more care. That's the word from Chris Wagner, director of operations at Johnson & Wales University in Miami.
Twenty-years ago, 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth became a New York Times bestseller. This month -- just in time for Earth Day April 22 -- an updated version of that classic text on green living is being released (Hyperion, $12.95).
FRUGAL DUCHESS
Earth Day is April 20 and many consumers hope to do their spring cleaning with ''green'' or nontoxic products. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the environmentally friendly goods from the eco-pretenders.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
Wedding guests spend about $19 billion annually on gifts selected from bridal registries, according to The Knot, a wedding planning resource.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
The push to live green and save money is giving solar-powered gadgets and home systems a boost. Appliances charged by the sun provide an alternative source of energy, especially during power outages and emergencies.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
The family garage is probably the most used and abused room in a home. ''The average two-car garage has basically become a no-car garage because it's crammed full of so much clutter,'' says Barry Izsak, author of Organize Your Garage In No Time (Que Publishing, $11.50).
FRUGAL DUCHESS
Don Quixote battled windmills. We duel with junk mail. Americans tossed about 6 million tons of catalogs and other pieces of direct mail solicitations during 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency reports. Junk mail represents a waste of time, money and paper.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
The cost of a first-class stamp will increase to 42 cents on May 12. But between now and May 11, it's possible to lock in lower rates by purchasing ''Forever stamps.'' Introduced in April 2007, Forever stamps are valid first-class stamps regardless of future price increases.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the huge difference between my electric bill and a neighbor's despite our similar lifestyles and apartments.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
Whether or not to buy extended warranties is a hot topic in consumer circles. Here's an even better approach: buy products that come with extended warranties or lifetime service guarantees at no extra charge.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
A neighbor's electric bill shook me up. It was only half of what mine was even though our households and lifestyles are similar. Both homes include three children, pets and lots of appliances in comparable three-bedroom apartments. Her children occasionally sleep with the lights on. But my teen/tween household has lots of high-tech gadgets. Those differences, I figure, cancel each other out.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
From breakfast through dessert, a good cup of coffee plays a major role in South Florida. For many of us, that means buying a good coffee maker.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
To save water and energy, I'm giving my bathroom a makeover that will include a new clock and a shower head. There are also various municipal programs that will underwrite a portion of the bathroom makeover if I opt for water-efficient appliances.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
It was a satisfying afternoon. In two hours, I cleared several suits, skirts and blouses from my closet. While in excellent condition, they have languished unworn for too long. Gently used professional outfits as well as eyeglasses and electronics donated to various charities can help those less fortunate.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
There's a simple mathematical formula that will help you calculate the hidden value in your home. Divide your mortgage or annual lease by the total square footage in your home and use that value to calculate the cost of your living room, dining room or other underutilized rooms.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
We all hope to fulfill New Year's resolutions, and an organized home could be the key. Standolyn Robertson, owner/founder of Things In Place, an organizing consulting company in Massachusetts, claims that is the secret to accomplishing our goals.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
It's an annual ritual. We make promises on Jan. 1. And within a week, our resolutions look as promising as the discarded gift boxes.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
If you want to sell a home, look at a hotel. Most specialize in depersonalized and clutter-free areas designed for mass appeal. That concept is a winner in residential real estate, say home stagers.
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Compact fluorescent light bulbs rank high on Monique Tilford's holiday gift list. Tilford, deputy director of the consumer group Center for New American Dream, is giving a package of CFLs to an elderly aunt and including an offer to install them for her.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
I've had a busy afternoon trying to get a five-pound package from Miami Beach to Brooklyn during the holiday season. Fortunately, there are many options, ranging from $3.50 to $95 for the same package.
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Lighting up your home for the holidays does not have to cost a fortune. By decorating exterior and interior spaces with solar, battery-operated or LED electric holiday lights, it's possible to help the environment and your holiday budget, says Amy Brunjes, an FPL spokeswoman.
FRUGAL DUCHESS
An unused shower stall in one of our bathrooms has become a sports center. Hidden behind an elegant shower curtain are scooters, bikes, roller blades and other small items that once cluttered various rooms of our home. The spare shower provides a creative solution to our lack of storage.
