Saving for a House Deposit

It is not easy to save for a house deposit and we’re going to come out and say that now. If you have hopes and dreams of being a homeowner and getting your foot on the property ladder, then you have a long slog ahead of you. It is absolutely worth it, but if you’re wondering where you’re going to find all of that money to save, don’t panic too much.

Saving for a deposit doesn’t mean you have to go without any treats or any kind of life. Instead you just need to understand how to manage your money better so that you can be a part of the housing market. You need actionable tips and tricks to make sure that money savings are realistic and sustainable for you. You need to be able to watch those pennies pile up into their pounds although sentence into their dollars. The housing market may not be easy right now, and interest rates may be making you feel a bit hesitant about buying a house, but it’s always going to be worth it. Here is what you need to make sure that you can get that deposit saved.

Image source: Pexels

  • Set yourself a savings goal. When it comes to saving money, you need to do more than just mindlessly Chuck money into a pot. If you have the ability to Chuck money into a pot, go for it, but it’s easier to have a goal. Find out what your borrowing power is and then you can work out what kind of deposit you need for the house that you want. When you do this, you will be able to have a continuous reminder as to what you are working towards. You have one overall goal, and then break that goal into smaller mini savings goals. This way there is always something to strive for.
  • Create a rule to safer deposit. Allocate 50% of your income for what you need and your bills. You then need to allocate 30% of your income for what you want. And then allocate 20% of your income for savings. If you do this, then you will be able to have continuous savings moving into your account and that way you know what you must have and the things that you are being frivolous with. Doing this is going to help you to save your money, and it’s going to help you to get closer to that house.
  • Get involved in savings challenges. Making saving money fun has to be the answer. Saving money can feel like a chore especially when you are watching that figure grow and you just want to blow it on going traveling. If you make it fun with savings challenges, you’re going to be able to see your money grow and know that you are following the calendar.

Saving money doesn’t have to be a drag – in fact, knowing you are going to own your own house at the end of it should be everything that you need to drive you!

Get the Look: The French home of Isabelle Townsend

In the October 2010 issue of Vogue, I came across a romantic write-up about the new home of Isabelle Townsend (former model for Ralph Lauren) and her husband Patrick DeedesVincke. The cottage, Le Moulin de la Tuilerie in France, was a former weekend home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. I’ve featured the living room from the story and how to get the look below.

The Living Room.

The glossy red cabinet adds the perfect juxtaposition to the natural feel of this room. It’s the perfect balance of color in my opinion, and you can get a similar version at Ikea for $99. Great for storage too:

Ikea PS Cabinet, $99

A rug from West Elm, very similar to the one pictured above increases coziness:

Jute Boucle Rug, $19.99-$159

And finally, the arc lamp modestly ties the room together without taking attention away from the decor. It reminds me of this lamp from IKEA:

Regolit Bow Floor Lamp, $49.99

A fuzzy sheepskin throw makes a casual butterfly chair luxurious and anything but cheap:

Buttefly Chair from butterflychairs.com, $64.95

Ikea Rens Sheepskin $24.99

For the coffee table, try putting two matching end tables side by side, or a simple elegant table that matches the theme:

Ikea PS Bruse Coffee Table, $149

Thanks for reading, stay tuned for my coverage of the other rooms!

Ahead of the Curve: Top Tips for Accelerating Your Fashion Manufacturing Process


When you’re running a fashion business, time is of the essence. The faster you can get your products to market, the more likely you are to be successful. But how do you speed up the manufacturing process without sacrificing quality? This blog will give you some tips on how to stay ahead of the curve and accelerate your fashion manufacturing process.

Design an Efficient Production Schedule

One of the best ways to speed up your fashion manufacturing process is to design a production schedule that is efficient and easy to follow. When you have a clear plan of action, it will be much easier for your team to execute the production process quickly and efficiently. Make sure to allow enough time for each stage of production so that there are no bottlenecks or delays.

Invest in High-Quality Equipment

If you want to produce high-quality fashion products, you need to invest in high-quality equipment. This doesn’t mean that you need to break the bank – there are plenty of affordable options out there – but it does mean that you should take the time to find the best possible machines for your needs. The right equipment will make a big difference in the quality of your finished products.

Streamline Your Communications

Frequent and effective communication is essential for any manufacturing process, but it’s especially important in the fashion industry. Make sure that everyone involved in the production process – from designers to pattern-makers to sewing machine operators – is on the same page so that there are no misunderstandings or miscommunications. This will help to ensure that the manufacturing process runs smoothly and efficiently.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Technology can be a great asset in the fashion manufacturing process. There are a number of software programs out there that can help you to streamline your operations and make your workflow more efficient. Investing in the right technology will help you to save time and money in the long run.

Hire an Experienced Manufacturing Partner

If you’re not experienced in manufacturing fashion products, it’s a good idea to partner with an experienced manufacturer. They will be able to provide you with the knowledge and expertise that you need to get your products made quickly and efficiently. This can be a great way to accelerate your fashion manufacturing process without sacrificing quality.

Optimize your Floor Plan

The layout of your factory floor can have a big impact on the efficiency of your fashion manufacturing process. Make sure that your workstations are laid out in a way that is logical and easy to navigate. This will help to minimize confusion and maximize productivity.

Invest in Quality Control

Quality control is essential in the fashion industry. You need to make sure that your products meet the high standards that your customers expect. There are a number of ways to ensure quality control, such as using inspection cameras or appointing a dedicated quality control team. By investing in quality control, you can be confident that your products will meet the expectations of your customers.

Storage

The way that you store your products can have a big impact on the efficiency of your fashion manufacturing process. Make sure that your products are stored in a way that is convenient and easy to access. Work with a Portable Storage Box Company to streamline your storage. This will help you to save time and money in the long run.

Automate Where Possible

Automation can be a great way to speed up your fashion manufacturing process. There are a number of tasks that can be automated, such as cutting fabric or attaching labels. By automating these tasks, you can free up your team to focus on more important aspects of production. This will help you to get you to save money in the long run.

Via Unsplash

The fashion industry is fast-paced and ever-changing. In order to stay ahead of the competition, it’s important to optimize your manufacturing process. By following these tips, you can be sure that your fashion manufacturing process is as efficient as possible. This will help you to save time and money and produce high-quality products that your customers will love.

Smarter Ways To Heat Your Home This Winter

As the temperatures get colder, it’s important to heat your home properly. But this year, with the ongoing cost of living crisis, you’re probably wondering how you can heat your home smarter and keep your costs down. Finding ways to cut back on your heating costs shouldn’t have to leave you in the cold, and finding better ways to heat your home could even help your carbon footprint.

Stay warm and comfortable this winter with the help of these smarter heating tips.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

Put your heating on a timer

Using a timer for your heating can help heat your home as and when you need it. It’s a myth that leaving the thermostat up all day saves money overall. If your thermostat has multiple settings for different rooms, set it to only use it in the rooms that need it.

There are also smart heating options that can help you run your heating more effectively, taking better control of your heating and making sure you only use what you need.

Take care of drafts

Your heating can work overtime if your home is letting the warmth out. Checking for drafts can help make sure the heat stays in your home instead of disappearing outside. Check around windows and doors for any signs of a weak seal or a broken window. You can also buy draft blockers to place under doors to keep the heat within one room as much as possible.

Make sure your heating system is properly maintained

For your heating system to work effectively, it needs to be properly maintained. Professional furnace cleaning can help keep your heating system in working order, preventing the build-up that can cause your heating to be ineffective. When your heating system has to work harder, it uses more energy, which can increase your bills. Ensure your system is regularly maintained and book a service call if something doesn’t seem right.

Use other heating sources around the house

Heating your home doesn’t just have to use your central heating system. There are other ways you can heat your home effectively, including:

  • Invest in better insulation for your home.
  • Use hot water bottles and thicker blankets in bed.
  • Keep your feet warm with cozy socks and slippers.
  • Use drapes to block out the cold from outside.
  • Use rugs to help insulate your floor.

In addition to heating your home smarter, you could look at other ways to save money on your household expenses, freeing up some money to put towards your energy bill. You could also see if you are eligible for any Government Benefits that could help you with your living costs.

Making your home warm in winter is important, helping keep you and your family safe and healthy. While the increased cost can be scary, you can prepare yourself by ensuring your heating system is working correctly and that your home is free from drafts. Use your heating smarter to warm your home this winter without increasing your energy use.

Side Hustle Idea for a Brighter Tomorrow

There are many ways you can make a bit of money on the side. However, one of the most rewarding is through a side hustle. If you have a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit and want to enter the business world but have a steady income from your 9-5 and don’t want to jeopardize that security, then a side hustle could be the answer. A side hustle is a way of itching that entrepreneurial bug without the huge risk of quitting your job. The name is pretty self-evident. It is a business that you create alongside your normal job. It can remain a side hustle until such time you feel it is financially viable enough to do it full-time. Below are a few side hustles that may be worth investing or tome in:

Image from Pixabay

Buy and Sell

This is pretty much the crux of every shop in existence, so we already know it is a business model that works. However, how can you make money out of it? With the Internet, it has never been easier than ever before you buy and sell. You have a potential customer base of anyone who uses the Internet, so that is positive. The aim obviously is to buy something cheaply and sell it on for more. To do this, you can exhaust all the cheap places such as thrift stores, car boot sales, and garage sales, as well as hunting about online – local buy and sell sites, gumtree, eBay, etc. If you have any specialist knowledge about certain items, perhaps that will give you an area to focus on. You will know if something really is a deal, and you may well know where to sell them on for more money. Jewelry can always be pretty lucrative if you know what you are doing. If you don’t, it may be worth finding out the value of items. Something like a watch appraisal could tell you exactly hope much it is worth. 

Get Creative

Maybe you are a bit of an artist, or maybe you can turn old clothes into something amazing, or perhaps reupholstering is your forte. There are many ways a creative pursuit could turn into something profitable. Maybe you can create things to order? Offering your customers something bespoke item is always a great business model. When it comes to marketing your side hustle, the great thing is that you can very easily create a website using a content management system such a Wix or WordPress. Not only can you make a site easily using their templates, but they will also host it for you too. That means you can make a site, without the stress and show off your talents to the world. If you enjoy creating, then there is nothing to stop you from making money from it too.

Mow Lawns

Do you live in an area where there are a lot of gardens, but some of them are a little overgrown? Well, maybe you could make a bit of money on the side by offering to mow laws in the local area. Not only does this improve the look and feel of the area you are in, but it is also a great way for u to keep fit too. If you enjoy gardening, then maybe you can add to your portfolio but offering to look after shrubs and plants too.

Rent Out a Room

Do you have a spare room, a granny annex that is never used, or even a second home? Empty space is wasted space and could be making you money instead of wasting it. Well, maybe you could advertise these things on Airbnb. Airbnb is a great way for you to advertise these unused spaces and turn them into profit. Remember, there are other sites other than Airbnb, so do a little investigation. 

Start a Blog

A blog is a great way to get information out there. Once your site has been going for a while, you may be able to sell advertising space. Your blog could be on random things, or it could be on something more specialized. If you are an expert in any field, consider starting a blog about that. Try and work out what people interested in your specialist field will type into Googe and ensure your blogs are littered with words and phrases – keywords – to match the search queries. You cod also use something like Substack, which allows you to create subscriptions for people to read your specialist content. Remember, knowledge is power, and if you know something others want to know, you have the potential to charge for it. 

10 Old Inherited Possessions That Could Be Worth A Lot Of Money

Pexels. CCO Licensed.

When a loved one passes away, we can often end up inheriting a lot of junk. Sure, some of it is likely to be useful or of sentimental value. However, a lot of it is likely to be of no value to us. However, that doesn’t mean that it won’t be of value to someone else? Before you start donating items or chucking items away, it could be important to check that there aren’t any hidden valuables. Something as innocuous as a soft toy or a pack of Christmas baubles could fetch a lot of money. Below are just a few different inherited possessions to check the value of.

Books

Certain old books could be valuable – especially if they’re first edition and in good condition. Some first edition copies of popular novels are so rare that they can fetch hundreds of dollars. If you inherited a small library of books, it could be worth valuing them online. There are sites that you can use to value old books using the ISBN number. 

Vinyl

Was your loved one an avid vinyl collector? If so, it could be worth looking through some of the records to see how much they are worth. There are some rare first pressings of records that are worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Even a few records valued at $30 each can add up and be worth selling. 

Toys

Some old toys including beanie babies, board games and action figures are now worth a huge amount of money because of their rarity. Such toys are typically more valuable if they’re still in the box. It could be worth checking if there are any old toys or board games among your inherited belongings that never made it out of the box – some of them could be worth a fortune now. 

Jewelry

Many of us inherit jewelry belonging to parents, grandparents and even older ancestors. It’s possible that you could have some valuable antique jewelry in your possession – if you’re willing to sell it, you could potentially make hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Seek the opinion of an expert to see if any of your inherited jewelry is worth anything. 

Silverware

A lot of households used to collect silverware including silver plated cutlery and silver dishes. Some of this silverware could be quite valuable and worth researching. It’s worth noting that the quality of silver is more to do with the craftsmanship and condition than the silver content – a large silverware collection that is damaged or poorly made may not be worth much. 

Fine china

Did your loved ones own any fine china pieces? These items could also be worth a lot of money – particularly if made from fine bone china or made by a renowned manufacturer. Your best option when valuing china items is to talk to an expert. They will be able to authenticate it and determine its worth. 

Rotary phones

Rotary phones have largely disappeared from homes, but they’ve made a comeback in recent years as a collector’s item. If your loved ones owned a rotary phone and kept it in good condition, there’s a chance it could be worth a lot of money. Some original rotary phones are even worth hundreds of dollars. 

Tools

Don’t throw away that old toolbox. Many old tools that have been kept in good condition are also prized by collectors. This includes old hammers, drills and wrenches. Specialist rare tools can be particularly valuable – even if they may not have a use today, they could be seen as an exciting piece of history by some people. Matching sets of old tools can also be worth a lot of money.

Artwork

It’s also worth valuing old artwork. While it’s unlikely your loved one had an original Monet painting on their wall, there’s still a chance that some of those old paintings may have been painted by someone who is now famous. Old paintings of locations that have since changed could be valuable to some locals. If you’ve got any old paintings of locations and you don’t want to keep onto them, consider selling them. 

Xmas ornaments

Old Xmas ornaments that have been passed through the generations could also potentially be valuable. This could include old baubles or an angel. There are collectors that look out for these decorations in the lead up to Christmas. If you have some old ornaments that you don’t want to hang on your tree, why not get them valued? They could be worth more than you think.