Spring is officially here, and many homeowners are looking to spruce up their s

paces to bring in some fresh and fun energy. Of course, upgrading your space isn’t always the most affordable, especially when it comes to renovating.

The good news is that there are a few ways you can improve your home and even boost your home’s value while sticking to your budget. Here are some simple ways you can give your home a spring refresh this season without breaking the bank.

Upgrade your cabinet handles and drawer pulls

Up to 85% of U.S. homes built before 1980 are in need of home improvement, but going ham on kitchen renovations isn’t always a great idea. Fortunately, switching out your kitchen hardware can give you the kitchen upgrade you’ve been looking for without having to dip into your kids’ college funds. In fact, switching out your cabinet handles and drawer pulls for chic and modern designs can cost less than $50. Check out clearance and sale sections on home improvement or decor sites like Wayfair, Overstock, or Target for even better deals without sacrificing quality.

Do some seriously deep cleaning

Deep cleaning is not only a great way to literally spring clean your home but it can also increase the value and longevity of a lot of your home’s features. For instance, it’s recommended to deep clean your home’s carpeting every 12 to 18 months. With regular maintenance and cleaning, your carpet can last up to 15 years. Talk about a return on investment!

Another part of your home that needs some tending to now that the weather’s warming up is your water heater. Your water heater ought to be set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid high water bills, and it’s important to flush your water heater if you haven’t already. This is recommended at least once every six months.

Freshen up your water

A great way to add value to your home while also improving your health this season is by setting up a water filtration system. A water system may be closer toward the top of your budget, but it has its benefits. Filtered water removes chlorine, reduces limescale, and can even reduce acid reflux. Continuous electrodeionization is typically a key part of a larger ultrapure water system, but there are other whole house water filtration systems available, too.

Add flowers and plants outside

Landscaping is one of the key ways you can boost your home’s value without going overboard on your budget. In fact, realtors typically recommend that home sellers upgrade their landscaping and curb appeal before they put their homes on the market because it increases their resale value by 14%. Of course, you don’t need to go wild with your landscaping. Adding some potted plants or flowers outside your door or in your yard can also help to give you the curb appeal you’re looking for.

You don’t need to completely renovate your home to give your house a fresh look. Upgrading your landscaping and kitchen hardware, filtering your water, and giving your home a deep clean (professionally or as a team with your family) are all great budget-friendly ways to boost your home’s value this spring.

Keeping your home clean isn’t easy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be tempting to reach for expensive cleaning tools and brands to make sure your home stays virus-free. But before you head for that Checkout button, consider how you can keep your home clean while also sticking to your budget. Here are four budget-friendly ways you can help to keep your home clean while saving money along the way.

Wash your hands frequently

This may seem like a no-brainer. After all, washing your hands is one of the top three ways to avoid spreading COVID-19. But washing your hands frequently is also a great way to reduce how often you need to clean and disinfect surfaces around your house. If you don’t wash your hands immediately after coming home from the store, for instance, you’ll need to clean and disinfect everything you’ve touched after coming in through the door. Washing your hands reduces the number of sanitary wipes and disinfecting wipes you need to use around your home.

Make your own all-purpose cleaner

It’s important to remember that cleaning and disinfecting are two different things. To disinfect a surface, you need to use chemicals to clean away germs and remove contaminants and viruses. For instance, the average elevator button harbors millions of germs and is one of the most common sources of COVID-19 in apartment buildings. An EPA-registered disinfectant can help to remove those germs.

When all you need to do is clean a surface in your home, not disinfect it, it’s a good idea to make your own all-purpose cleaner. In a spray bottle, mix 50% water with 50% vinegar. You can use this cleaner on porous surfaces such as wood countertops and it won’t damage the wood. If you need to disinfect a wood surface such as wood floors or countertops, you can use 3% hydrogen peroxide in a separate spray bottle and spray it directly onto your countertops or floors. Let the peroxide sit for a few minutes before wiping it. Remember never to mix household cleaners, even DIY cleaners.

Don’t be sour about your stainless steel

Another DIY cleaner you can use for stainless steel, in particular, is a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda. Lemon juice is naturally acidic and, when mixed with a base like baking soda that’s naturally abrasive, it can help to remove watermarks. Start by removing any spots from your stainless steel with a paper towel or rag damp with white vinegar. From there, make a paste consisting of water and baking soda and gently tub the paste onto the stainless steel. Wipe the paste away and dry your stainless steel. Make another paper towel or cloth damp with lemon juice and rub across your stainless steel. This will help to remove any limescale from your fridge, counters, or other stainless steel appliances. Rinse the surface with water and wipe dry.

Be smart about which store-bought products you buy

When it comes to disinfectants, it’s sometimes better to opt for the store-bought kind. Hydrogen peroxide can only do so much. Of course, it’s important to make sure that you’re being smart about which products you buy.

Avoid choosing products solely based on their price. Cheaper brands can sometimes be less effective than their more expensive counterparts. Some pharmacy-brand creams, for instance, lose up to 50% of their antioxidant capability in just six months. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend an arm and a leg on pricey brands. You can typically find brand-name products like Clorox for lower prices at the Dollar Store or Big Lots.

Keeping your home clean is no easy feat. Fortunately, with the tips above, you can help to keep your home safe and sanitized while sticking to your budget.

You want your home to be comfortable and safe, but you also don’t want sky-high monthly utility bills. What are some ways you can lower these bills while maintaining a comfortable if not higher-quality home? Check out these eco-friendly tips.

Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances and HVAC Systems

Consider investing in energy-efficient appliances. This includes kitchen appliances, such as dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators, freezers, and ovens, as well as washing machines and dryers. There are several sustainable and energy-efficient options available nowadays to choose from. You should also be sure to pick appliances that meet your family’s needs. Don’t get enormous or expensive appliances just because you can.

HVAC systems in your home can also be updated to increase energy efficiency in your home. For example, the 500 CFM fan system, which is a household ventilation fan system, can run on a normal household current with no special electrical considerations. Additionally, Arista.com writes, “The Department of Energy has found that you can save up to 35% annually in energy costs if you increase HVAC energy efficiency by adding or replacing parts.” Consider how your home’s systems can be updated for the better.

Insulate Your Home

Especially in colder months, house insulation is crucial. You may consider hiring a professional to insulate your home for you. Insulating plumbing pipes, the attic, external and internal walls, between stories within your house, and ceilings will be your best bet. Installing window wraps and utilizing doorway seals will also help keep heat in. This way, your home won’t lose heat as easily and your monthly utility bills will remain low.

Check For Leaks In Your Home

10% of homes in the United States have leaks in their plumbing. While small, they can contribute to at least 90 gallons of wasted water every day. With this being said, checking for leaks in your plumbing systems as well as in other parts of your home is important so water and heat aren’t being wasted or lost. Check for leaks in your doors and windows too, as they can contribute to these issues as well.

Consider Your Laundry Habits

There are some other minor changes you can make when you do laundry to reduce wasted water and heat and increase energy efficiency. These include:

• Use cold water as often as possible
• Consider using drying racks instead of the dryer each time you do a load
• Reuse towels
• Run full loads rather than several small ones
• Adjust settings appropriately

Consider Programmable Thermostats

The EPA writes, “installing a programmable thermostat can save [consumers] anywhere from 10 to 30% on the space heating and cooling portion of their energy bills.” Consider investing in a programmable thermostat. You’ll be able to easily control how cool or warm your home is, which affects your monthly utility bills. Plus, it’s best to keep temperatures in your home low when you’re not home or when you’re sleeping to save heat and energy.

Programmable thermostats are also handy in rooms that need to maintain a particular temperature, such as a wine cellar. You want to be sure your wine cellar’s walls are insulated and the floors are sealed against moisture. The “R” factor, which is the ability to which the insulation works against heat, should be at a 19 or higher. A sunroom is another example of a room that may require temperature control in order to maintain its comfortability and warmth.

Energy efficiency is important. Not only will it allow for lower monthly utility bills, but you’ll also be living more sustainably and contributing to less energy being used by homes when it’s not needed. Consider these tips throughout the remainder of the winter and into the spring as you look to improve the quality of your home and lower your bills.

You can also get rebates from your energy provider when you purchase a programmable thermostat!

For more tips see my articles:

10 Simple Ways to Save Money and Energy at Home

10 Ways to Save Money on Your Water Heating Bill

Despite the state of the economy, the real estate market is still quite hot. Many Americans are still very interested in becoming homeowners, which means that the 2019 homeownership rate (which was 65.1%) could be poised to increase over the next few years. That said, the market will likely continue to be quite competitive — and that means it’s important for prospective buyers to strengthen their offers as much as possible.

One way to do that is by offering a larger down payment. While it was once possible to obtain a mortgage loan with only 5% or 10% down, lenders during the pandemic would prefer to approve loan applications from borrowers who are able to make a down payment of 20% or more. But, of course, being able to afford a more substantial down payment is no easy feat — especially when you have a family already. That said, it isn’t impossible. Here are just three ways your family can save up for a down payment on your future home.

Explore a Side Hustle

If you don’t have an opportunity to ask for a raise or seek a promotion at your current job (or if you stay home with your kids full-time), it might be worth exploring whether you should join the “gig economy.” Just about everyone has a side hustle these days — and while no one wants to glamorize ruining a hobby you enjoy with monetization, it can be a good way to bring in some extra cash. Plus, with more people working from home, remote side hustles are becoming more prevalent than ever. You could teach online or create a virtual course, take on some freelance work in your area of expertise, or make no-contact restaurant deliveries. Anything that’s relatively low-risk and that can allow you to create an additional income stream should be considered to ensure you have a bigger financial cushion later on.

Cut Out Extra Expenses

Nearly two-thirds of 40-somethings have less than $100,000 stashed away for retirement, with many others having virtually nothing saved for emergencies. If you’re looking to save for a house, you need to take a closer look at your budget and assess where you can cut back. Extra expenses like home entertainment, subscription services, and even non-essential food items may need to be eliminated for now. When grocery shopping, stick to your list and plan out expenses ahead of time. Talk to your kids about how you’ll have to find other ways to entertain yourselves over the next few months, as well; if you make them part of the conversation, you might be able to help demonstrate financial literacy early on in life for them.

Set Up Automatic Savings Transfers

Around 24% of home buyers still have student loan debt and it’s important to pay off as many debts as you can before you buy a home. But whether you’re paying off an existing loan or you’re saving up for a down payment, automating can make things a lot easier. There are apps or services you can use that will automatically deposit a certain amount from one account into another, allowing you to save without having to remember to make a manual transfer. You can set this up so it comes out of every paycheck or happens at a certain time each month. This can essentially trick you into thinking you have less money to work with, allowing you to make do with a smaller amount while still making progress toward your goal. As a side note, this can be a great way to save money toward your child’s education or help them save as they get older and establish their own financial goals.

Owning a home is a dream for many Americans, but it comes with a rather steep price. To make buyers present themselves as desirable as possible to lenders, it’s a good idea to make as large a down payment as possible. By using these ideas to grow your nest egg, you’ll present yourself better to lenders and will have a larger choice of homes at your disposal.