Remodeling a kitchen can be a rather large expense. Before beginning a project of this size, you should first figure out how much you are willing, or able to spend. The average person spends anywhere between five and fifteen per cent of the value of their home when remodeling their kitchen. However much you decide on, you should make sure to have an extra ten to twenty per cent of this figure available to you. The unexpected can happen and you don’t want your financing to run out before the work is done.

The first thing that you should do is make a list of things you want. Shop around to get an idea of how much these things will cost you. Try checking several stores to compare prices, to make sure that you get the best deal. Talk to several different contractors. Find one that is not only affordable, but also trustworthy. Once you have a good idea on what you will be purchasing and how much it will cost, add it all up. If this number falls within your budget, it is time to begin. For most people, however, it will not. Now is the time to start asking yourself a few questions.

Is there anything that you can do yourself? Small jobs likes painting and tiling can cost much less when you do them yourself. Contractors will generally lower their fees if you remove your own countertops, cabinets, flooring, and appliances. If you cannot do these things yourself, paying a relative, friend, or neighbour will still save you quite a bit of cash.

What do you really want to have in your new kitchen? If there is a specific item you are designing around, keep it. Make sacrifices on other, less important things. Keep in mind that granite counters, custom cabinets and fixtures will cost you much more than their standard versions.

Do you need to replace everything in your kitchen? Not replacing one major item can dramatically decrease your expenses. Your kitchen counter can look drastically different when new cabinets and lighting are installed. Many kitchens can be designed around existing cabinets. Think about keeping your existing appliances. New appliances are very expensive.

If your budget is still too tight, another option to consider is giving your kitchen a “facelift”. Refinishing cabinets, installing countertop overlays, painting, and even tiling can make your kitchen look new and fresh. Adding an island, if room allows, can alter the appearance of your kitchen.

Once you have finalized your plans, be sure to keep your budget in check while work is being done. Adding little things here and there can add up very quickly. Finally, and most importantly, enjoy your new, stunning kitchen.

Guest Post by Isaac who writes on behalf of Cliq Studios a home improvements business who design, manufacture and sell quality kitchen cabinets which come with a lifetime warranty. Use the Cliq Studios website to visualise your new kitchen, request free kitchen samples or to simply browse the kitchen design blog for inspiration. Whatever your requirement – trust Cliq Studios’ Kitchen Cabinets to exceed expectations.

Cook. Clean. Wash, dry, and iron clothes. Cook. Clean. Wash, dry, and iron clothes. This is the humdrum life of a housewife before World War II. Women didn’t have much voice or opportunities before it was “absolutely necessary” for society to utilize them in manning the workforce while the men fought for our country’s liberties.

After the war, the men returned home and back to their factory jobs. Women were expected to return back to their lives of monotony. But luckily, frozen foods stepped in to save the day! Refrigerator technology was finally cheap enough to be afforded by the average American family! This meant that frozen foods became the hottest item on the market. TV dinners were taking over and the modern housewife had much more time on her beautifully manicured hands.

Once women got a taste of the workforce, it was difficult for them to want to go back to the simple task of household upkeep. They wanted more. They wanted to contribute to the world at large. More than 80% of women wanted to continue working, it gave them a feeling of self-worth and importance. So they teamed up and started to fight for their right to join the outer world around them.

Though children and husbands had frozen dinners to feed them, some speculators claim that the reason children declined into troublemakers and societal nuisances is because their mothers were not around to discipline them. Mothers were considered the head of the household before they became interested in joining the workforce. Men were the breadwinners and women did everything else that needed to be done.

I do not personally agree with the critics words of blame. I believe that men and women are equally responsible for making sure that their offspring stay out of the cookie jar and mind their manners. I think the idea that children misbehave because their mothers want to contribute to society is a crock of nonsense.

If anything, the mothers want to better themselves and their financial situations so that their children can have an even better life than they already have. And why would women want to stay in and waste time in the kitchen cooking when the food industry has made it so simple for them not to. Frozen foods, amongst other innovations, gave them the freedom to take part in activities they thoroughly enjoyed like just leaving the house!

In the 1950s, technology gave women a chance to leave the house to pursue their career dreams. Technology has continued to evolve and better the lives of humans for the past 60 years. Frozen foods were women’s savior back in the 20th Century and now computers are their deliverers from the undesirable! Women wanted to leave the house back then to find a life more fulfilling, but more recently the exact opposite is true, women are wanting to stay at home yet still find a satisfying career.

In today’s rapid growing world of technology, women are capable of earning an online degree through computer training and a virtual learning experience. Women can be all they want to be and more with the aid of common technology. It’s amazing to me how quickly we have evolved as a society, and how many opportunities we now have at our fingertips, literally.

J. Sample is a writer, blogger, and a working mom.

It’s May, and for Mother’s Day you promised your wife that you’d finally honestly seriously clear out the garage this spring. A week after Mother’s Day you’re regretting your decision not to default to the over-priced roses and gamble chocolate, but a promise is a promise. But somewhere between the tools, the lawn equipment, and the motorcycle, you’re not sure where to start. Everything belongs exactly where it is . . . right?
If you’re one of about 1/3 of Americans who have downsized recently or simply don’t own a home over 2500 square feet, you aren’t alone in the battle to find a place to fit everything. Your stuffed garage, stuffed basement, and over-stuffed attic aren’t necessarily attempts to accumulate more stuff—life just happens. I couldn’t believe how many things my wife and I acquired in our first year of marriage, and none of it was simply “junk.” If you want more space, throw out or sell everything you can bear to part with. For the stuff you can’t part with, let’s talk about storage units.
Money is one of my first decision-makers, so here’s the skinny: I found some Los Angeles storage units for about $42 a month. If they’re paying $42 a month in LA, how low do you think the price is in Milwaukee? And for those of us who are snowbound, we should seriously consider storage units for the seasonal stuff. I bet you could organize almost everything in your home storage areas into at least three categories: summer, winter, and year-round. Take an inventory, consider the storage space you’ll need, and then start weighing your options and your prices.
And the garage isn’t the only place to clear out. You know that there’s no reason for your snow blower and skis to share space with your lawn mower and golf clubs. So why are your snow pants and your swim shorts in the same drawer? Speaking of clothes, have you seen how many winter clothes are in your kids’ closets? Of course you can’t throw those out, but they’re not wearing them for another 6 months, either. As long as you’re clearing out the seasonal stuff, don’t stop with obvious. Get creative and get the clutter out of the whole house!
So pay for the storage unit by selling off what you don’t need and then keep all the must-haves where they belong—out of sight and out of mind. Wow. I think you just became your wife’s hero all over again. Good call on that Mother’s Day promise, champ.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jared Heath is a freelance writer whose passions are his wife, his writing, and his snowboard. Jared loves to find new ways to keep the clutter out of his house and out of his life. To find out more about what Jared has been writing, email him at jheath.biz@gmail.com.