How to Plan a Holiday on a Budget

Wanting to spend some time away but worried you don’t have the budget for it, or have no clue where you want (or can afford) to go?

Why not take a different approach to the usual holiday planning: rather than trying to think of places where you could go, why not think about the people you know who live in different cities?

Going to visit friends and family, or even house swapping for as little a time as a weekend or for months on end, can be a great way to enjoy a holiday but at an affordable price.

1. Enlist the help of family and friends.
The best way to find an affordable and enjoyable destination on a budget is to ask around family and friends.

You never know who might have the perfect holiday house or who can rent out their vacation home to you at an affordable price. Finding somewhere not too far from your home but by the beach, or in a remote area with a variety of activities to keep you occupied – for example, entertaining pool supplies, maybe a spa and sauna – could turn out to be better than any resort you might choose to go to.

2. Make the most of long weekends.
To keep the costs down, why not add on a few extra days holiday to a long weekend? You won’t have to take too many days off work, meaning it might be more likely to get the holiday approved, and you won’t have to use up too much of your annual leave.

The only downside to this is that many people have the same idea, making holiday traffic and prices for holiday homes at these times typically more expensive.

However, if you plan ahead and can find a great deal or a friend who can help you out, then this is the perfect way to enjoy a holiday. You won’t have to feel guilty about the cost or the time spent away from work.

3. House Swap.
If your home is comfortable, in a great location, or has a beautiful backyard with garden fencing so you can enjoy summer nights outdoors in peaceful privacy – why not house swap with some friends who live in a different city?

If you don’t have friends who would be interested, then anyone who comes recommended by someone you trust could be an option. They are entrusting you with their home in exchange, and you both get to enjoy a holiday without having to pay anything for accommodation. It’s a perfect solution to your lack of holiday budget!

4. Do you even need to go out of town?
If heading out of town and the price of accommodation is what is limiting your vacation plans, why not stay where you are but behave as if you were on holiday?

Plan a week where you check out your home city’s attractions, and see for yourself why they always seem to be so popular with visitors. Spend the evenings trying out restaurants you’ve always wanted to try, the days exploring new areas in your town. You’ll be surprised at how relaxing and how effortlessly fun a holiday in your own home can be.

5. Act as the locals do.
However, if you really do feel like you need a change of scenery, there’s a way to afford this on a limited budget too!

Resign yourself to spending what you have to on accommodation in your dream destination, but limit the amount of touristy (and therefore, expensive) things you choose to do. Behave like a local!

Walk around your new location, choose accommodation where you can cook your own meals, check out online local deals, and explore your holiday destination in a more simple way. Often a town’s best attractions are those you don’t pay for.

Finding the money for a holiday is easy if you just know how to budget for it appropriately. The tips above will mean you can soon be enjoying some time off sooner than you ever thought possible. Enjoy it!
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5 Tips for Having Christmas Lunch at Your House

The best part about an Australian Christmas is being able to have it outdoors. It can make the day a lot less formal and if you want you can cook your turkey outdoors in the barbecue and save creating a lot of mess indoors. Protect yourself and your guests from the sun by setting your table up under the veranda or retractable awning and choose a menu that is either traditional or suits the Australian climate. If you are going to eat indoors keep your home cooler by opening the doors and windows. You can keep the insects out by having proper security screens on your windows.

Plan your menu

Whatever the occasions, it helps to be organised and plan your menu well in advance. Supermarkets can sell out of ingredients, such as dried fruit for Christmas puddings, so make sure you shop for non-perishable items in advance. Know exactly what it is you have to prepare and what dishes can be cooked in a few weeks or days earlier, such as the Christmas pudding and Christmas cake. Know what foods you need to buy the day before and work out what food you will need to order.

Order meat early
To get the best turkey you should order it early from your butcher. Christmas only comes once a year, so don't just settle for a frozen one from the supermarket. If you like to have seafood on Christmas day you will find that you need to pre-order this as well if you are planning on having it freshly caught.

Be creative with decorations

This year throw away those paper napkins with Father Christmas on them and be a little more creative with your decorations. Instead of the traditional red and green perhaps choose a different colour scheme. Silver or gold look great on your Christmas table and tree or go for something like a pale blue or even pink theme. Keep decorations on your tree simply by having the one colour theme, with perhaps a hint of a secondary colour.

Decorate your table with individual gifts wrapped in coloured ribbon, instead of having the usual Christmas crackers online shopping. Have a collection of candles of different sizes or use fresh flowers placed in teacups. Cover chairs with white material and have a coloured ribbon tied around them with a big bow at the back. Sprinkle Christmas tinsel across the table or use rose petals instead.

Indoors versus outdoors

Some families like to have a traditional and more formal Christmas lunch. For this type of meal eating indoors is likely to be more appropriate. If you like spending Christmas day just relaxing and having a few drinks with the family a more informal barbecue outdoors could be more your style. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate Christmas, just as long as everyone is together having a good day.

Gift giving
You need to decide before the day what the protocol is for gift giving. Your family may go all out and buy gifts for everyone or just have Kris Kringle, with each family member getting one gift. You might choose to do Kris Kringle, but exclude any children, with kids receiving gifts from everyone else.

Best Furniture for Your Home

A house without furniture inside can’t be called as a home; it’s only an empty building. Furniture is an important element of your home as it can create the look and the feel of a home that you crave for. If your aim is to make a comfortable home for your family, choosing the right furniture that suits your family’s needs and lifestyle is a must. It will make your home the most desired destination to be after doing activities all day.

Looking for the right furniture for your home isn’t a simple job. When it comes to buying furniture, you should avoid impulse buying since it may only cause a huge disappointment. Every time you want to purchase furniture, you must consider several things first.

The space and the amount of your family will determine the size and quantity of items that are needed to purchase. For example, a large or small bedroom means that you should select cheap bedroom furniture that has been measured accordingly. You should know how to apply the existing space in every room effectively!

Do you feel confused to furnish your home from empty rooms? Discovering and keeping desired pictures from various resources like magazines, books and websites can be a good reference. It’s also a good way to recognize your own personal style and preference. If you want to buy living room furniture like sofa and coffee table at shop4furniture.net online store; since it will be often used by every family member, make sure that you choose comfortable, durable and easy to maintenance ones. To avoid wasting money, always think twice about the furniture’s function and safety before you take it to your home.

The furniture will give most function if it’s placed in the right rooms. You should know that there are different cabinets and tables proper for each room of your home. Placing the right furniture in the right rooms will make every room not only purposeful but also wonderful to see at once.

Nowadays, you’ve got almost limitless option of quality furniture. Even you can shop online and choose furniture from the comfort of your home. It’s offered to you in wide variety; surely you’ll find the right furniture that suits your need, style and budget!

8 Great Improvements to Make to Your Garden

Make the most of your garden, and give yourself somewhere to relax and play, by making some simple improvements. There are lots of different things you can do, from planting trees for shade, erecting a pergola or even, if your budget allows, putting in a pool. Remember, with a pool, as well as the continual maintenance, there are additional expenses, such as a pool filter, plus the cost it's going to add to your water bill when you initially fill it.

Landscaping

It's not much of a garden if you don't have any plants. If you feel your garden is lacking something, or if you have just built a house on a vacant block, it is important to do something about the landscaping. With a brand new home it is a good idea to start putting in your garden as soon as you can so it gives it plenty of time to get established. You can hire a landscape designer, who will create a backyard haven for you, taking in to account your budget, the climate, the slope of your block and the style of your home. Otherwise you can do it yourself. There's plenty of advice out there, both online and in books.

Patio

Having a patio or veranda will give you somewhere to get out of the sun while you are in your garden, and a great place to relax. It is also a good idea to have a patio or veranda so that you can have your own outdoor entertainment area. Build or place your barbecue under the patio so that you can use it no matter what the weather, and also keep your outdoor furniture protected from the elements.

Vegetable garden

A vegetable garden will not only provide a splash of colour in your yard but it will also provide you with an almost endless supply of vegetables when the season is right. Start preparing your soil in winter, adding plenty of fertiliser to your soil, and just before spring you will be ready to plant a whole variety of vegetables. There is nothing quite like home grown vegetables, plus it will help save you some money on your weekly grocery bill.

Play area

Build a play area for your kids. It will encourage them to get outside and out from in front of the television. It will mean they get some fresh air and some all important exercise. You can build a cubby house, tree house, put in swings and other equipment, and even leave aside a garden plot for them to plant their own flowers or vegetables.

Paving

Create pathways through your garden by putting down paving. It is a good idea to have pathways to the areas that you use the most in your garden, such as a path to your clothesline or the garden shed. This will stop you from wearing a track through your lawn.

Pool

If you have the space and the budget then why not consider putting in a pool. Australia is a lucky country with a climate that lets pool owners get a lot of use out of their swimming pool, so it will be money well spent. A pool will not only help keep you cool this summer, it is also a good excuse to have friends over and it will increase the value of your property.

Outdoor kitchen

For the ultimate outdoor luxury you should put in an outdoor kitchen. As well as your barbecue you can put in a large bench space, with a weather proof bench top, a sink and even a bar fridge. If you entertain a lot it will make your life much easier.

Somewhere to relax

Importantly you should consider creating somewhere you can relax. Separate your garden into 'rooms', with an area for children to play, the entertainment area and then a quiet corner with a comfortable hammock or outdoor lounge for you to rest, read or even sleep.

Any improvements you make to your garden will not only increase the value of your property, but also increase your use and enjoyment of your garden.

When IS The Right Time To Buy Property?

Deciding to buy property is somewhat similar to deciding to have a baby. It can be a trying process, it’s scary, and people constantly offer you unsolicited advice. Of course, the other similarity is that there’s always that niggling doubt about whether or not it’s the ‘right’ time to jump in and do it. Sadly, we can’t tell you how to decide whether it’s the right time to have a baby, but we CAN share some tips on figuring out whether the time is right to make the leap into property ownership. Whether you’re looking for an investment property or a first home, the leap is a scary one, but there are a few Dos and Don’ts to live by.

Don’ts

Firstly, let’s start with what NOT to do when deciding if the time is right.

Don’t base your decision on newsletters sent to you by Real Estate agents, ‘investors’ you meet at dinner parties or articles in the paper. If you look long enough, you notice that day in and day out the papers report a different state of affairs in the property market, proclaiming one day that the property market in Australia is a bubble that is about to burst, and the next that we’re about to see prices rise even further. Basically, other people’s opinions are like baseball cards. They’re good to collect, but you need more than a few of them or at least a really special one for them to be worth much at all.

Don’t Let yourself be panicked into it. Things like the First Home Buyer’s Grant coming to a close or the market starting to rise are factors to consider to be sure, but they shouldn’t be factors that cause you to over-commit before you are ready. Think about it logically: are you prepared to go into possibly unmanageable debt simply to save $14,000 on the purchase price of the house?

Dos

Now for the things you SHOULD do when deciding if the time is right to buy.

Do your research. Watch properties over a period of time, and figure out exactly what it is you’re looking for. If you start looking before you know what you’re looking for you’re likely to be confused by everything out there on the market; first, make a list of all the things you want from a property, then go searching for options that fit your budget and wish list.

Do talk to a financial advisor and go through what you can and can’t afford, and where you want to be in five or ten years. Markets go up and down, property prices rise and fall, and if you’re in it for the long haul (which we recommend—property investment really only pays off if you hold onto the properties for a while) then the biggest factor in deciding whether it’s the right time has to be you. YOU need to decide if you can handle the commitment, and you need to decide if you’re ready.

At the end of the day, whether you’re buying an investment property in Sydney or a family home in Brisbane, there’s not such thing as ‘the right time to buy’, only the right time for YOU to buy.

How to Make Moving Home Easier

Moving home can be extremely stressful, because as well as having to pack up all your belongings, organise the removalists, cancel your accounts with your utility providers and change your address with a whole host of different organisations, you also have to continue going to work and going about your normal day to day life. Make sure that when you move your contents insurance is up to date so that when the removalists shift your furniture and belongings that they are covered against any accidental damage.

Hire a removalist

The easiest way to move, by far, is to hire a removalist and have them do all the work for you. A can have a removalist pack your belongings too, although this will cost you extra. The benefits of having them do this, however, is that they will pack things properly so they won't get broken or damaged and they will have the right sort of boxes and packing materials. It will also save you from doing the heavy lifting when it comes to shifting your furniture, and once again, you will avoid items being damaged because the removalists will load the truck in such a way that they will fit more on while avoiding ruining any of your furniture. They will also have a truck and can move everything in one trip and they will have the right things to pack and stabilise your furniture when it is in the truck.

Moving yourself made easy

There is no reason that you can't move your furniture and belongings yourself. You can either hire a small truck, which you can drive with a normal license, or organise all your friends with utes. Make sure you have plenty of blankets to protect furniture and if you are using a trailer everything needs to be tied down properly. It's not difficult to move furniture and your belongings yourself, you just need to have the time and it does help if you can get either friends or family to help. Make a weekend of it and once it's all done treat your helpers to a big feast of take away food as an impromptu house warming. It is unlikely you will feel like cooking so take away Chinese or Thai food, pizza or fish and chips is perfect.

Start packing early

You don't realise how many personal items you have until you start trying to collect boxes to pack it all up. Moving is also a good opportunity to have a big clean out, so anything that you haven't used or worn in over six months should either go to the op shop or you could have a garage sale. Rather than waiting until the day before the move and frantically trying to pack everything start a few weeks in advance and gradually pack a bit at a time. Pack up those things that you don't use often first and other things like books or the clothes you currently aren't wearing because it's the wrong season.

Detailed lists

It also helps to make detailed lists of everything you need to do before and after the move. This includes things like changing your address with your bank, on your drivers license and with all the other organisations you are with, and arranging for the utilities to be switched off in your old house and turned on in the new one.

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