I was just thinking the other day about the time when I moved a friend from his apartment to his house and how awful it was. It was a terrible experience because he had no plan and no organization. Can you save money planning a move? More than likely. A lot of people will favor doing it themselves over a moving company but this might not always be the most economical. Factor in your time, the cost of your gas, a rental truck, food and beverages for those helping, time off from work vs getting a moving company to do it all at once for you.

Get several quotes from as many moving companies you can. Cheap isn't always the best, compare the price to what you are getting and always find out if there are extras involved that are going to cost you.

If planning to do it yourself make sure you are prepared by having a proper vehicle and plenty of moving boxes and supplies on hand. Formulate a plan so as to the least amount of trips as possible.

In the end, calculate the cost of a moving company between everything you have to do to get the job done yourself and go for the most economical.

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A quick scan around some of the majors news sites on the web today I saw a few articles talking about proposed electricity rates coming this summer. Not only are you paying more at the pumps for gas but the high cost of fuel is also going to mean higher electricity rates. "Dominion Virginia Power announced yesterday that it would seek permission to raise electricity rates 18 percent this summer to make customers pay for part of the increased cost of coal and other fuels." The message should be clear to us. Now more than ever we have to change our habits to cut down on our hydro bills. It's scary to think just how much of our pay check will be going to gas for our cars and our utility bills. There are a number of tips on how to save on your utility bills and car costs within this blog. Please have a read over them and feel free to suggest other tips that you may come across.

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Organization is the key to a balanced life! Organization saves you time, energy, frustration, and confusion. To be organized means to be efficient in the way separate elements are arranged into a consistent structure. In other words, everything has its place, find the place, and when you're done put it back. In all my years of counseling people in the area of personal finances, one of the biggest issues that cause money woes is the lack of organization.

When you are not organized life feels chaotic, excruciating, and out of control. You can actually feel your sanity slipping away. But like everything else in life - you need to admit that you have organization issues, and that want to change. Next, you need to make a commitment to get organized, and get your life in order. Then come up with a plan. If you're too overwhelmed to get started, have a friend or a professional help you get organized. Your life and financial future depends on it.

Organize your time - Use a calendar, palm pilot, or organizer to manage your time. Think of your time as money. When you waste your time you are throwing away money, so plan and schedule your time.

Organize your files - Start a paper filing system. Get manila folders to organize statements, bills, letters, and other important papers. If it's important it should have a place to go.

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When you’re buying or selling a house the most important rooms of the house are the kitchen and bathroom. If you think about it, most bedrooms and family rooms are similar, but the kitchen and bath usually stand-out. In a house that is for sale, the kitchen usually is the most popular show piece. The biggest reason for this is the fact that the kitchen is where people seem to congregate. Whether it is to eat a meal, or just a social gathering, guests always seem to gravitate to the kitchen.

Kitchen cabinets and kitchen appliances usually stand out as the most important features of a kitchen. Countertops are a nice compliment, but the cabinets and appliances seem to be more popular.

Buying kitchen cabinets is usually an expensive endeavor and this is where you can save money. A new option for saving money on kitchen cabinets is the RTA kitchen cabinet. It might sound like a strange name but it stands for ready to assemble. The reason you can save money on these cabinets is because you actually put them together yourself. My first thought was that I could not put a cabinet together. Then I read a little about these cabinets and found out that they are easy to put together. When I say easy, I mean these RTA kitchen cabinets go together with a screwdriver and the one page of directions that come with the cabinet.

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Everyone wants to have a home like those featured in Architectural Digest, but if you're like most, your finances will not allow for it. There are, however, several approaches to decorating and designing that you can take without breaking the bank.

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for brightening up a room, or even changing it completely. Having a room professionally painted can be pricey, however, depending on the contractor hired and the type of services provided. Rather than hiring someone, painting is a skill that is easily acquired and can even be fun to do. While it may be time consuming, it is not a difficult skill to master. A roller, pan and brush set will cost about $10.00, and a gallon of paint between $20.00 and $30.00. Add in some extra money for spackle to fill any cracks or nail holes, some primer or a base coat, drop cloths and paint remover. If you figure on two gallons of paint, depending on the room's square footage, you could have a white-walled room turn a beautiful hunter green for less than $150.00 all told! In the end, you will be left with a freshly painted, new look and the pride of having done it yourself. Read more »

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