Everyone loves a good do-it-yourself project, especially when it saves you a ton of money and looks like it was bought at a high-end store. You don’t have to be an expert builder or even that educated in DIY in general with all of the millions of YouTube and TikTok videos done by non-experts that are willing to walk us all through the steps to put something together. This DIY bathroom tray from TikToker “woman.of.gold” is both of those, costing less than $5 and giving that high-end vibe that everyone wants in a bathroom.
How to pull it off
Woman.of.gold wrote that the “plastic plate was only £1.49” and “the tea light holders only 50p each” so the total cost was £3.49 (approximately $4.34) since she already had the paint and baking soda at home. (And even if you don’t have those supplies, a little paint and baking soda won’t add too much to your total cost.
In the video, you can see her gluing four upside-down tea light holders onto a plastic tray, ones you can find in any home decor store for cheap. Then, using books, she lets the holders and tray set and dry. Once all is set, she spraypaints the entire piece in a gorgeous ivory color. She uses a baking soda paste to antique the finish and, once dry, turns it over to show a beautiful bathroom tray that you can put candles, lotions, soaps, and your finest perfumes on. This would look stunning in a primary bathroom next to a bathtub or in a guest bathroom holding everything your family and friends need to get ready in your home.
Other uses
There are endless possibilities that you could find to use to make a similar tray, and even one that is larger that could be used on a coffee table in a living room. You might need to support a larger tray with two more tea light holders in the middle, but using a plastic serving tray would give more room to place books, candles, or even picture frames. The tray offers a depth and character that you wouldn’t get just from a painted tray alone, and it allows varying heights on a table or countertop.
There are so many similar videos on TikTok showing viewers everything from how to restore a car to refinishing a piece of antique furniture to easy and inexpensive decor updates you can make that offer a high-end look for a fraction of the cost of buying it in a store. You can use the search bar at the top of the app to narrow down what you are looking for or, on sites like Reddit, search for a subReddit page like r/HomeImprovement to get a wealth of information at your fingertips. Happy DIY’ing!
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
Are you tired of having credit card bills? Do you wish you could get out of debt once and for all?
If you want get out of debt permanently, first consider this: Debt is not a financial problem. Hard to believe, but true.
Debt is actually a personal problem that masquerades in financial clothing. That is why so many people have persistent problems with debt. They look outward for financial solutions, when the true solution is found by looking inward.
Planning a Permanent Debt Solution
Defining your debt problem correctly is critical to solving it.
That is where most debtors run into trouble. They mistakenly define debt as a financial problem and develop financial solutions. That is why their debt returns shortly after paying it off. They fail to identify the root cause of debt, opening the door to repeating the vicious cycle.
For a debt solution to be effective your plan of attack needs to be based on principles that actually work. Unfortunately, when you just pay off your balances you relieve the pain, but the underlying condition that put you in debt in the first place still lurks under the surface, ready to return.
Let’s face it, the real causes of overspending are your personal habits and attitudes. In other words, the true solution is personal — not financial. That is a key, and understanding this principle is what will make or break your success in slaying the debt monster for good.
Masking The Problem
When you get a headache what is the logical response? You reach to the medicine cabinet for immediate pain relief. Unfortunately, the various pills do nothing to cure the underlying disease: they merely treat the symptom. The cause could be excessive stress, brain cancer, dehydration, eye strain, or any number of other issues. By taking a pill you’ve treated the symptom — not the underlying cause.
The same is true with debt. Everyone knows they need to make more and spend less to solve their debt problems. So they pursue financially driven solutions to relieve financial symptoms. It seems logical on the surface.
Whether you choose to consolidate your credit card debt to lower interest rates or you choose any of the quick-payoff strategies (inheritance, gift, sell an asset, bankruptcy, home equity line of credit, or refinancing), the reality is you are treating the symptom and not creating a lasting cure.
Your financial problems are merely the accumulated reflection of the many small financial mistakes you are making on a daily basis — often without knowing any better. That’s why teaching a debtor to spend less and earn more is like telling someone to lose weight by eating less and exercising more. Everyone already knows that is the answer. The difficult part is not knowing what to do, but actually getting it done. The solution lies in your daily habits and attitudes.
[Related Article: 3 People Who Dug Out of Deep Debt]
Money Breakthroughs
I first discovered this approach to debt recovery in my work as a money coach. I started out making the same mistakes as everyone else. I thought debt problems were financial, so I coached my clients to financial solutions. The lackluster results proved it was the wrong approach.
The breakthrough came when I noticed my wealthy clients had mirror opposite attitudes and behaviors compared to my get-out-of-debt clients. For example:
My wealthy clients viewed their financial situation from a position of self-responsibility, whereas my debt clients were victims of their finances.
My wealthy clients planned their finances, but my debt clients had no plan.
My wealthy clients organized their plans around delayed gratification, whereas my debt clients pursued instant gratification.
My wealthy clients associated their self-worth with intrinsic values, while my debt clients associated self-worth with extrinsic stuff.
These are just 4 examples from a long list of opposing traits. They are guidelines or tendencies that generally hold true. While there may be personal variation, on the whole the patterns were unmistakable. These mirror opposite attitudes produced mirror opposite financial results in life.
[Related Article: 7 Ways to Avoid a Debt Relapse]
Amazingly,when I applied these principles, coaching habitudes instead of specific financial actions, the debt problems solved themselves over time.
This is obvious when you think about it. Your daily financial decisions result from your habits and attitudes that drive those decisions. For example, consider the following choices and their obvious financial implications:
Do you buy fancy coffees throughout the day or do you make a pot of your favorite coffee in the morning and bring it with you?
Do you lease a new car every few years or maintain your reliable used car?
Do you dine out frequently or cook healthy meals at home?
Are you a minimalist or do you desire the latest designer fashions?
Do you shop to get what you need or do you shop for pleasure and recreation?
When you focus on financial solutions, you treat the symptom instead of the cause. When you focus on your attitudes and habits, you focus on the cause, and the symptom takes care of itself automatically without any self-discipline.
Let me be clear — this isn’t a quick fix. The results you produce from this approach will occur gradually over time. Just as it took time to accumulate the debt, it takes time to unwind it when you work with root causes.
However, the solutions are as permanent as the new attitudes and habits you adopt — and that makes all the difference.
The truth is the financial results of your life aren’t dependent upon how much money you make. Instead, they depend on how well you manage the money you already have. This article series will show you the easiest way to adopt wealthy habits and attitudes and be smarter with your money so that you can get out of debt — permanently.
[Related Article: 5 Ways to Get Out of Debt: Which Will Work for You?]
Todd Tresidder is a financial coach and consumer advocate. His unconventional take on worn financial topics has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Smart Money magazine, Yahoo Finance, and more. He’s authored 5 financial education books including How Much Money Do I Need To Retire?, Variable Annuity Pros and Cons, and the 4% Rule and Safe Withdrawal Rates In Retirement.
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A farmhouse built in 1700 on a 22-acre horse property in Flemington, NJ, is the oldest home on the market this week on Realtor.com®.
Many period details remain in the three-bedroom home, including a walk-in fireplace, wide-plank floors, exposed-beam ceilings, and two staircases. A window seat, arched ceilings, and built-in cabinets can also be found throughout the comfortable dwelling.
Other historic homes to hit the market this week include an affordable abode in Connecticut, a Virginia farmhouse where Thomas Jefferson is believed to have once dined, and a modernized Cape in Massachusetts.
Scroll down for a full look at this week’s 10 oldest homes.
Price: $725,000 Year built: 1700 The ultimate vintage house: Designed for equestrian lovers, this three-bedroom residence sits on 22 acres and comes with a horse barn.
The bright kitchen has wide-plank flooring, an exposed-beam ceiling, and a built-in cabinet. The sunken dining room boasts a walk-in fireplace. There are two more fireplaces found on the main level. The bedrooms are all upstairs and spacious and feature wide-plank flooring.
There’s a screened porch that spans the back of the house, and a tack room, tractor barn, and fenced paddock are included in the sale.
But be forewarned: The listing states the home needs “a little TLC.”
———
Price: $710,000 Year built: 1700 The Henry Marshall Garrison: This three-bedroom charmer features many original details, including the hardware, fireplaces, and built-in cabinetry.
The newly updated kitchen has a cathedral ceiling, exposed beams, stainless-steel appliances, and custom cabinets. The cozy living room has a wood-burning stove in the walk-in fireplace. The dining room features built-in cabinets, an exposed-beam ceiling, and hardwood flooring.
Enjoy views from the screened porch or oversized deck. The 1-acre, wooded lot also has a finished barn with a garage and storage space.
———
Price: $1,595,000 Year built: 1700 Pretty as a postcard: This enormous spread offers income potential or the opportunity for multigenerational living with five separate living spaces.
The well-maintained main house boasts stone fireplaces, wide-plank flooring, and exposed-beam ceilings. The updated kitchen has a cathedral ceiling, custom cabinets, a spacious center island, and French doors that open to an oversized deck. Ten bedrooms and seven bathrooms can be found throughout the 6,442-square-foot property.
The 30-acre lot also features a two-stall horse barn, expanded bank barn, and carriage barn.
———
Price: $899,000 Year built: 1706 Historic registry home: This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a stone section from 1706 and an addition made in the 1800s.
The well-maintained home offers three bedrooms and many period highlights, including exposed stone walls, a Dutch front door, wood-beam ceilings, and restored hardwood floors. The bright, modern kitchen features stone countertops, a farmhouse sink, and a center island with a prep sink. The cozy living room has a large fireplace with a cooking pot and wood mantel.
The almost 4-acre lot also features a pool, a gazebo, a two-bedroom guesthouse, and a building with a workshop and office.
———
Price: $380,000 Year built: 1720 Affordable and adorable: This three-bedroom residence boasts original wide-plank flooring, three fireplaces, exposed-beam ceilings, and many built-in cabinets.
The 2,244-square-foot house features a family room with a cathedral ceiling and wood stove. The cute kitchen has been updated with stainless-steel appliances and a breakfast bar. The three bedrooms and one bathroom can be found upstairs.
The property also comes with a workshop with electricity, heat, and a half-bathroom.
———
Price: $925,500 Year built: 1724 Elm Shadow Farm: This modernized, three-bedroom dwelling still features four fireplaces, pine floors, and oversized windows.
The kitchen comes with high-end appliances, an oversized fireplace with a beehive oven, and a butler’s pantry. The family room is surrounded by windows and has an arched, exposed-beam ceiling and hardwood flooring. The primary suite comes with a working fireplace and a walk-in closet.
The 1-acre lot includes a two-car garage with a home office above.
———
Price: $339,000 Year built: 1736 Cape Ann Colonial: This four-bedroom home features wide-plank hardwood floors, custom built-ins, and two fireplaces.
The 2,628-square-foot dwelling offers an updated kitchen with many cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. A Dutch door opens to a back patio. The wood-paneled living room, study, family room, and dining room can also be found on the first floor. The spacious bedrooms are all located upstairs, and one even has a built-in office.
———
Price: $1,100,000 Year built: 1737 Dunleith Estate:Thomas Jefferson is believed to have once dined in this four-bedroom farmhouse, according to the listing.
Historic highlights of the 4,358-square-foot home include pine floors, custom woodworking, exposed-beam ceilings, dormer windows, and several fireplaces. The updated kitchen features granite countertops, a farmhouse sink, stainless-steel appliances, and a spacious island with a cooktop.
You can enjoy views of the 42-acre lot from the covered porch or back patio with a pergola.
The property includes a two-bedroom cottage, a four-paddock barn, a tack room, and a regulation riding arena.
———
Price: $985,000 Year built: 1739 Melding old and new: This three-bedroom Cape is said to be the oldest inhabited house in Stockbridge. It has been thoughtfully modernized over the years.
The 2,432-square-foot abode now offers an ultramodern kitchen with a cathedral ceiling and windows that overlook the private yard. Wood-paneled walls, numerous built-ins, and restored hardwood floors can be found throughout the home. The primary bedroom is on the first floor, and the remaining two bedrooms are found upstairs.
There’s also a studio with heat and custom cabinetry, and the 1-acre lot leads out back to the Housatonic riverfront.
———
Price: $1,450,000 Year built: 1744 Built by Peter Wentz: This well-maintained farmhouse features original hardwood floors, custom millwork, exposed-beam ceilings, and five fireplaces with mantels.
The four-bedroom home spans 3,036 square feet of space. The cozy living room has built-ins and a stone fireplace. The family room has an original stone fireplace with a wood stove insert. The updated kitchen offers a walk-in fireplace, butcher block counter, modern appliances, and a coffee nook. The primary suite also comes with a fireplace.
The screened porch features a vaulted ceiling and a pass-through to the kitchen.
The 22-acre lot includes a 6,700-square-foot barn, several outbuildings, and a stocked pond.
Check out the best cities for remote work to ensure all of your lifestyle needs are met when living and working remotely.
Since 2020, work-from-home (WFH) has become the new normal in the workplace. While some companies are pushing for a return to office, others are embracing remote work indefinitely. When the world is your oyster, where should you go to live and work remotely?
Well, the team at Rent. did our research to put together a list of the best cities for remote work. So, if you’re ready to explore the country while working remotely, consider any one of these top best cities for remote work.
The 10 best cities for remote work
As a remote worker, your physical location hardly matters. As long as you have a productive workspace and a strong internet connection, you can pretty much work wherever your heart desires. Do you enjoy sitting on a patio while you take your Zoom calls? Well, as long as your connection is strong you’re good to go!
We looked at a few things to make our recommendations:
Median rent and rent change year-over-year
Access to the internet and average internet speeds
WFH population and number of coworking spaces
If you’re a digital nomad who wants to fully embrace WFH, consider these top 10 locations across the country that have been named the best cities for remote work.
Median rent: $2,075
Average Mbps: 83.46
Number of coworking spaces: 68
% of population WFH: 19 percent
Orlando is the number one best city for remote work based on our ranking methodology. With a population of 309,154 people, it’s a perfect mid-sized city in the sunny state of Florida.
You’ve got well-known amusement parks. You’ve got crystal blue beaches and sunny skies. And, you’ve got a solid environment for remote work. Retirees and young professionals alike are flocking to Orlando and it’s easy to figure out why. Consider this city if you want to be a remote worker.
Median rent: $1,528
Average Mbps: 117.89
Number of coworking spaces: 78
% of population WFH: 38 percent
Austin is the second-best city for remote workers. It’s a hopping metro with a young millennial crowd. The rent is reasonably priced and there is no state income tax, which is a bonus for remote workers and residents alike. Austin is particularly appealing to the IT sector and is commonly called “Silicon Hills.”
So, if you’re a remote IT worker, this city is even better for you! But if IT isn’t your field of work, don’t fret: You can still live in Austin and enjoy the benefits of remote work in your chosen industry.
Median rent: $1,339
Average Mbps: 80.71
Number of coworking spaces: 11
% of population WFH: 13.2 percent
Ranking third on our list is the city of North Charleston in South Carolina. With a smaller population just shy of 120,000 people, this city is the perfect place to settle down to get a mix of big-city life with small-town charm.
People rave about the dining scene, so you can work remotely from a coffee shop or restaurant! This city is full of history and has a diverse cultural scene and stunning scenery. If you’re looking for a place that seemingly has it all, check out North Charleston.
Median rent: $1,338
Average Mbps: 76.26
Number of coworking spaces: 23
% of population WFH: 15.7 percent
Grand Rapids is a great city for outdoor recreation and beer scene. If you’re a digital nomad who wants to flex the Midwestern value of “work hard, play hard,” this is the city for you.
The city alone has over 40 breweries. You’ll be able to go on a nice trail walk and cool down with a beer. Additionally, it’s one of the largest office furniture-making cities in the U.S. So, you can definitely find yourself a sweet office set up for your remote work office here.
Median rent: $977
Average Mbps: 129.12
Number of coworking spaces: 7
% of population WFH: 12 percent
Columbus, GA, is the fifth city on our list of best cities for remote work. If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to live, consider Columbus. This city is rising in popularity as it’s an easy-going town with friendly people.
There are lots of parks, restaurants and bars so you’ll have a good mix of outdoor and indoor activities when you’re not working. One thing to note is that you may experience severe weather in this pocket of the country.
Median rent: $2,220
Average Mbps: 92.68
Number of coworking spaces: 92
% of population WFH: 38 percent
Because it’s a large metro, Atlanta is a great place to live and work remotely — or to look for an in-office job if you tire of the WFH life. You also have several large corporations headquartered here, such as Delta and Coca-Cola, so job options are plentiful and rent reasonable compared to similar-sized metros.
Median rent: $1,183
Average Mbps: 55.53
Number of coworking spaces: 15
% of population WFH: 12 percent
You don’t have to be a Packers fan to live in Green Bay (although it wouldn’t hurt!) People love this family-friendly city and rave about the small-town community traditions and vibe you experience living here.
Ranking seventh on our list of best places for remote workers, Green Bay has affordable living and is recently experiencing an influx of people moving here. Enjoy football games or farmer’s markets when you’re not working from home.
Median rent: $1,444
Average Mbps: 94.95
Number of coworking spaces: 128
% of population WFH: 15.6 percent
Houston is another Texas city that made our list of the best places for remote workers. It’s a larger city, compared to Austin, so if you’re looking for a big metro area in Texas, consider the nation’s fourth-largest city.
This metro is known for its diverse food and entertainment scene. Since it’s a huge city, you pretty much have a good mix of everything to do. Plus, rent is fairly inexpensive, making the cost of living affordable.
Median rent: $1,613
Average Mbps: 119.41
Number of coworking spaces: 26
% of population WFH: 33.1 percent
Another southern city makes our list of the top 10 best places to work remotely. Raleigh has great weather, so if you’re looking for a beautiful and mild place to live, this is for you.
Additionally, it’s known to be a great city for small businesses and entrepreneurs, which is good news for remote workers hoping to branch out on their own and network. It’s also been ranked as the most climate-resilient city, the best for work/life balance and one of the best places for college students to live.
Median rent: $1,041
Average Mbps: 82.95
Number of coworking spaces: 9
% of population WFH: 16.7 percent
Last but not least is Appleton, WI. With a population just shy of 75,000 people, Appleton is the smallest town on our top 10 list. So, if you’re looking for a quiet, small city to live and work remotely, this is the place for you.
Residents like the mix of outdoor activities and in-town activities. It’s also been named one of the best places to raise children. Check out Appleton if you’re wanting a great city to be a remote worker and raise a family.
Other cities to consider when working remotely
We’ve listed the cities that rank in the top 10 best places for remote work, but there are several other places across the U.S. that made our list, as well. Check out the top 100 cities in the nation that remote workers can call home.
Daytona Beach, FL
Savannah, GA
Rapid City, SD
Greenville, SC
San Fransisco
Chicago
Pittsburgh
South Bend, IN
Dallas
Waukesha, WI
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Chattanooga, TN
Greensboro, NC
San Antonio
Shreveport, LA
Interesting findings from the top 25 best cities for remote work
While looking at the data, we found some interesting highlights that are worth calling out.
24 of the 25 best cities for remote work are in the South or Midwestern United States.
Only one of the top 25 best cities for remote work is on the West Coast. San Francisco is the only West Coast city to make our list.
Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all rank well for remote workers with three cities in each state making the top 25 best cities for remote work.
The majority of the best cities for remote work have populations under 250,000 residents. While there are a few outliers, the best cities to WFH are generally smaller cities compared to large metro areas.
What to consider when working remotely
Regardless of where you choose to live to work remotely, there are a few common things you must consider to be a successful WFH employee. Here are a few considerations and questions to ask yourself when choosing a city for remote work.
How much internet speed do you need? Depending on your location — rural, suburban, or urban — your internet needs will vary. Having a strong internet connection and the right internet speed is crucial for success as a remote worker.
Do you have the right office set up? Relaxing poolside while responding to emails is appealing, but there are times when you’ll need a physical office or desk set up. Make sure you have the right desk, chair and computer equipment
How long do you plan to stay in your location? Some people choose to settle down in one place and others move frequently. Your choice will determine the length of your lease. You’ll want to consider if a fixed lease or month-to-month is better for your lifestyle.
Is your job remote-first indefinitely? Before you pack up and hit the road, ensure that your job is going to be WFH long-term. You don’t want to make a cross-country move only for your company to demand a return-to-office six months later.
Find the right city for you
With so many WFH options available, you really can go anywhere in the U.S. or the world, for that matter. We hope our data and insights on the best cities for remote work help you as you decide where to move and pursue a WFH lifestyle.
Remember, these are the best cities for remote work according to our methodology; however, there are several places in the country that may work for you. Do your research before moving and you are bound to find an apartment and place to live that fits all of your lifestyle needs.
Methodology
Cities were ranked and scored based on the following:
Rents: 30 points
Median Rent: 20 points
Rent Change YoY: 10 points
Internet Speed and Access: 40 points
Num. Int, Providers, 100mbps: 10 points
Avg. Mbps.: 20 points
Lowest Cost Int. Plan: 10 points
WFH Population and Coworking Spaces: 30 points
% Population WFH: 10 points
Coworking per 1,000 WFH: 20 points
Our rent prices and changes are from Rent.com’s Rent Report. Internet speed and access numbers are from Broadband Now.
The number of coworking spaces is from FourSquare. Population numbers and proportion of people working from home is from the Census’ American Community Survey (ACS).
Cities with insufficient data were excluded.
The rent information in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
Are you thinking of designing a smoking haven in your house or apartment where you can retreat to after a long day?
Not only can a personalized smoking room be helpful in reducing the exposure of smells and smoke throughout the rest of your living space but creating your very own smoking sanctuary can also add character and a high-ly unique style to your residence (see what we did there?)
Plus, you get your own personal space to dedicate to an activity that brings you joy — you get an extra thumbs up from Marie Kondo for that.
While brainstorming your in-home dream lounge, there are a few key points to keep in mind.
First, you will want to decide on the best location for your set up. Second, you’ll want to focus on the furniture and décor of the room.
Lastly comes the selection of smoking accessories. These are often the most important in that they are what you’ll be passing around and consuming with, ultimately completing your overall smoking experience.
Location, Location, Location
Choosing an appropriate location for your smoking room is half the battle.
Whether you plan to designate an entire room, basement, attic, or shed, you will want to make sure that the location you choose is not exactly smack dab in the middle of your main living space.
Smoke has a tendency to spread quickly through a home (and, let’s face it, weed stinks), so allocating a relatively remote place will grant smokers the freedom to enjoy their cannabis consumption without any negative impact on non-smokers, or additional members of your family or household.
If ventilation is of any concern, you can consider installing an exhaust fan (which can be as simple as a wall mount, or as complex as a professional-grade air ventilation system).
Let’s be honest, we’ve all spilled, or been in a room where someone has spilled, bong water and it is less than pleasant (to say the least), especially when not cleaned up quickly or properly.
To get ahead of these, you can use candles, incense, or essential oil diffusers to reduce unwanted odors while also creating a relaxing ambiance. Otherwise, incorporating trees and large plants in and around the room will help to clean and recycle the air while also adding to the overall atmosphere.
Furniture & Decor
When laying out your smoking room, you’ll want it to match your own personal style.
Whether you decide to design a psychedelic, retro, modern, or traditional stoner-style space, there are a few key things to consider in regards to furniture and décor.
Comfortable seating is an absolute must. Floor pillows and bean bag chairs are often a rather cheap and comfortable way to provide seating for multiple people, while also making it easy to add, reduce, or rearrange your seating set up.
Hanging chairs are more costly, but also provide a more unique look, while a loveseat, futon, or couch can always do the trick and can seat several people at a time for those larger sessions or parties.
By hanging some colored LEDs or black lights around the room, you can reduce harsh lighting and help achieve a relaxing vibe in your area.
With black lights, you can add some reactive wall art, such as tapestries, decals, or paintings, and further set the mood. If you want a more energetic feel, look for warmer colors with hues of red, yellow, and orange with matching LEDs (which are very energy efficient).
For a more chill and calming feel, utilize more soft colors like blue and violet. For the animal lovers out there, consider adding a fish tank with neon reflective fish!
Decorate the tank as you wish and enjoy zoning out on your new beautiful swimming companions. Just don’t forget to feed them and clean the tank regularly.
Blankets and pillows of different fabrics will not only add to you and your guests’ comfort, but the different materials will also be fun to feel and cuddle up with when your sessions conclude.
Having different items around like musical instruments, games, speakers for music, picture/activity books on the coffee table, and other tactile objects will also add some fun to your smoking sesh, whether you are sparking up alone or with others.
Smoking Accessories
Perhaps the most important feature of your newly designed room will be the equipment you use to consume.
As with most pieces you use to smoke, you’ll want to have somewhere to trash the ash, especially if you prefer to use rolling papers like our Rowll All-In-One Rolling Kit.
It might seem obvious, but it isn’t uncommon for people to ash in whatever they can find, be it a water bottle, on their leg, or the floor.
We recommend our Glow In The Dark Cup Ashtray, or our Silicone Ashtray. Silicone is great for those who prefer to smoke out of pipes or bongs, since you won’t break your glass against silicone.
If you are looking for a full setup, without having to shop around for each individual piece, you will be relieved to know that at everythingfor420.com/ we offer several bundles to cover everything you could need!
Our Green Herbalist bundle, which includes rolling papers, hemp wraps, a rolling tray, 3-layer kief-catching grinder, and a beautifully crafted 10-inch tall Highlander Bong, is one of our best.
This bong features a tree percolator, diffused downstem, and an ice-catcher to filter, cool, and deliver the super smooth and super potent hits.
There is an endless amount of ways to personalize your smoking room.
Once you have your location selected, the rest is simply personal preference. Whether you are the type to prefer black lights and glow-in-the-dark decorations, or a more simplistic vibe like tapestries and LEDs, the world of design is your oyster.
Regardless of the style you choose to go with, it’s always fun to have a poster, book, chalkboard, or whiteboard that can serve as a stoner guest book where all who enter can leave their mark and keep the memories alive.
But, more importantly, making sure you get the highest quality smoking accessories on the market is where we come in.
More tips for your fancy home
Top 4 Safety Hazards Around the House and How to Address Them The Benefits of Massage Chair Recliners and Why You Should Get One for Your Home 3 Things to Consider When Buying an Air Filter for Your Home How to Safely Light Artwork in Your Beautiful Home
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
Teenagers tend to have few financial obligations. They may need to work a part-time job to earn spending money, but generally, no one is expecting them to put food on the table or manage important assets. It’s usually understood that high schoolers don’t yet have the life experience or maturity for those kinds of responsibilities.
And yet, we allow them to take out tens and even hundreds of thousands in student loan debt before they turn 18. That’s a financial obligation on par with buying a home, entrusted to kids who can’t even rent a car. Unfortunately, it’s a reality for most young people looking to get a degree.
That’s why every student needs to be prepared for the harsh reality of borrowing so much money. The more prepared you are to pay back those loans as soon as possible, the less likely you’ll be struggling financially in your adult years. A strong repayment approach can mean the difference between a debt-free life in your 20s and a lingering debt burden in your 30s – and thousands in owed interest. Using a loan calculator with amortization schedule will show you how much your payments need to be in order to pay down the loan in a given time frame.
If you’re about to take out student loans or already have them, here’s what you need to know.
Know What Kind of Loans You Have
Student loans often get lumped into one group, but they can vary widely. The two main types are private loans and federal loans. Like their namesake, federal loans are offered by the federal government. A private loan is a loan offered by a private bank or credit union. Most students have federal loans or a mix of both federal and private.
Federal loans are considered a better option than private loans because they have more repayment and forgiveness options. They also tend to have lower interest rates.
Private loans often require a cosigner, someone who will take on the responsibility of paying off the loan if you default or can’t make payments. Most students have their parents act as the cosigner.
Write down what kind of loan you have, the account number, the interest rate and the amount you originally borrowed.
Know How Much You’re Borrowing
Many students sign up for student loans assuming they’ll be able to pay them off easily after graduation. Most don’t realize how much they’re borrowing until they’ve graduated and the loan comes due.
The best thing you can do for your future self is to look at how much you’ve borrowed so far, how much you’re taking out currently and how much you’ll need for the duration of your time in school.
In 2012, Indiana University started sending out letters to current students explaining how much they owed and how much they would have to pay each month after graduating. Those letters proved to be very effective, reducing how much students borrowed by more than 10%. Three years later, the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill mandating that all state schools release similar letters to their students.
Knowing how much you’ve borrowed will make you more aware of your financial reality, and motivate you to find alternate ways of paying for school. You may try to take more classes per semester and graduate early or apply for more scholarships and grants. Even working a few hours a week in the student library or behind the front desk at your dorm can make a significant difference.
Most students borrow the maximum amount they’re allowed, but that’s not always necessary. Do a projection of how much your expenses will be this semester, including rent, groceries, transportation, utilities, parking, books and other fees. If you end up needing less than you anticipated, tell your loan provider that you’d like to take out less. If you need the same, then stick with that amount.
Looking at your loans on a semester-by-semester basis can help you borrow more or less depending on your circumstances. Create a budget each semester and stick to it, so you can be confident in the amount you’ve chosen to borrow.
Know Your Interest Rate
Every loan has its own interest rate which depends on the kind of loan, when you borrowed and other factors. Interest rates for federal student loans are determined by the government, but private lenders are allowed to charge as much as they want. Currently, federal interest rates for undergraduate loans are 5.05% and graduate degree loans are 6.6%. In 2017, the average variable interest rate for a private student loan was 7.81% and the fixed-rate average was 9.66%.
Know You Can Pay Back Your Loans Early
If you have federal loans, you can start repaying them while still in college. If you borrow too much or find a lucrative part-time job, you can use some of your income to pay back your loans. Doing that now will mean lower payments after you graduate.
If you have private student loans that don’t allow early payments, you can still save money in a savings account and put that toward your loans once they become eligible for repayment.
Know If Your Parents Took Out Student Loans for You
It’s not uncommon for parents to take out loans either from the federal government or a private lender. Some parents do so without telling their kids, because they want to help fund their education. Even if your parents don’t expect repayment, it’s always good to have an idea of how much they’ve sacrificed to get you there.
Other parents take out student loans and expect their children to repay them, as well as any individual bonds they borrowed. As a student you won’t have access to your parents’ loan information, so you have to ask them for the specifics. If you know you’ll eventually be on the hook for any debt your parents took out, you need as much information about the loans as possible.
Ask Your Parents if Any of Their Financial Information Will Change
How much grant and scholarship money you’re eligible for is often dependent on your financial need. Your parents’ income is the single most important factor in determining that eligibility.
If your parents’ income doesn’t fluctuate, you’ll generally receive the same amount every year. If your parents get divorced or your single parent remarries, then your FAFSA could look quite different for the coming year. When my friend’s dad lost his job, she immediately qualified for more need-based grants the following semester.
Know When Your Loans are Due
Even if you’re a freshman in college, it’s important to know when your student loans will come due. Federal loans give you a six-month grace period after graduation, so you don’t have to start repayment until the fall if you graduate in the spring. Private loans have their own system determining when the first payment is due, which varies from lender to lender.
If you’re a senior in college and plan to graduate this year, it’s not a bad idea to look up when your first bill is due. You don’t want to graduate May 15 and find out you owe $500 on June 1. Knowing when that first payment will hit can save you months of worry, and help you create a repayment plan in anticipation.
Know That Student Loan Debt is Real Money
When you first take out student loans, it’s easy to feel like the amount you borrow is just a number. You won’t be forced to deal with it for years, so that $50,000 total doesn’t actually feel like $50,000 dollars. For a teen used to making minimum wage at a coffee shop, that amount is hard to wrap your head around.
But make no mistake, that money is very real – and you will have to pay it back eventually. Acknowledging the reality of your situation can help inform the decisions you make about applying for grants and scholarships, working a side job and managing expenses throughout the year.
Talk to a friend or family member who graduated college with student debt and ask them about their experience. They may be able to shed some light on the reality of living with debt after graduation.
Where to Find Help
The financial aid office at your university can help you suss out where your loans are coming from, how much you’ve borrowed and how to contact your lenders. Once you know who your lenders are, you can reach out to them for more specific information.
You can find a list of the loans you’ve taken out by checking your credit report, which you can do via AnnualCreditReport.com. There are three credit bureaus that publish credit histories, so you’ll want to check all three if it’s your first time looking at your report.
Some lenders may fail to report student loans on your credit, so don’t rely on that exclusively. However, if your credit report shows student loans or other loans that don’t look familiar, contact that lender. It’s possible for lenders to report student loans to the wrong person if you have a similar name or social security number.
If you know you’ve taken out student loans and don’t see them on your credit report, that doesn’t absolve you of the debt. Mistakes made by the lender will still affect you, so be vigilant.
The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of Intuit Inc, Mint or any affiliated organization. This blog post does not constitute, and should not be considered a substitute for legal or financial advice. Each financial situation is different, the advice provided is intended to be general. Please contact your financial or legal advisors for information specific to your situation.
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Zina Kumok is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. A former reporter, she has covered murder trials, the Final Four and everything in between. She has been featured in Lifehacker, DailyWorth and Time. Read about how she paid off $28,000 worth of student loans in three years at Conscious Coins. More from Zina Kumok
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While we don’t yet have flying cars that collapse to the size of a suitcase, pneumatic tubes that transport us from room to room or machines that automatically bathe and clothe us in the morning, every day we’re getting closer to living in a Jetsons-esque future. Thanks to today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to put mundane aspects of your life on autopilot, so you can spend less time stressing out about your tasks and more time doing what you love.
Here are a few easy ways to free up your schedule and start living in the future by having your tasks take care of themselves.
Cook Up Tech Recipes
In a world where many of us carry computers in our pockets and have accounts with dozens of online services, it only makes sense to have these different technologies talk to each other. That’s where IFTTT comes in. An abbreviation for “if this, then that,” IFTTT is a free, easy-to-use service that lets users create “recipes” involving different digital triggers (“this”) and outcomes (“that”). IFTTT supports more than 300 channels (think Instagram, Spotify, Gmail, etc.) and can be used in millions of ways to make life easier. Here are some examples of recipes you can create:
Instantly save your “Liked” Instagram photos to a Dropbox folder.
Receive a text message whenever your favorite sports team scores.
Trigger your air conditioner to turn on when the outside temperature hits 80 degrees, or make your lamp emit purple light when it starts to rain. (RIP, Prince.)
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Spend some time playing around with IFTTT and you’ll be amazed by how you can automate your life.
Ditch Your Dining Decisions
Why worry about what to make for dinner, when there’s a free tool that suggests meals based on your unique dietary goals? Eat This Much is a mobile app and online service that provides users with customized meal plans to help them live healthier, happier lives. Simply punch in your desired caloric intake and how many meals you eat each day, and the service delivers a daily diet with step-by-step recipes that align with your eating aspirations. Here are some other perks:
The service can offer suggestions tailored for those with food allergies or who want to avoid eating meat or processed foods.
Eat This Much automatically generates shopping lists each week, so you know exactly what to pick up on your next trip to the store.
The app can be personalized to fit your budget.
In addition to keeping you from experiencing anxiety about what to eat, ETM also prevents you from making less-than-ideal decisions about your diet. Sign up for a free account and see what a difference it could make in your life.
Ship, Don’t Shop
Between driving to the supermarket, fighting for a parking spot, wandering aimlessly down aisles and standing in line to fork over your money, going to the grocery store can be a drag, right? This is especially true if you buy the same stuff month after month. Rather than wasting your time shopping for everyday household goods, eliminate this errand from your life by having consumables delivered to your home on your desired schedule. Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program can free up hours of your life by shipping vitamins, coffee, paper towels and hundreds of other items to your door on whatever day suits you best. Here are a few other perks:
Save 15% off Amazon’s already competitive prices.
Score free shipping on every Subscribe and Save order.
There’s no need to be an Amazon Prime member, and you can cancel at any time.
Setting up your monthly delivery is a breeze. Simply select the products you typically pick up at the store, enter the quantity you’d like delivered and choose the day that’s best for you. Give it a shot and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Automate Your Life and Say “So Long” to Stress
Life gets busy. With meetings, phone calls with clients and the roll of the dice that is traffic and red lights on the way home, getting to those everyday tasks can seem just a little much at the end of the day. But this is 2016. And it’s a brave new world of magical technology here to help us out!
As our technology grows increasingly sophisticated yet simpler to use, we can benefit from less stress and more peace of mind. And remember, when it comes to managing your money, Mint makes it easy to leave your worries behind by allowing you to manage your finances wherever you are. Our tools not only save you time, but by ensuring that you never miss a payment, you’ll save on late fees, too. Download our free app today, and start living your best life.
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Last week I discussed how I’m surviving living in our unfinished renovation: trying to find places to organize amidst the chaos. Well, one of my best opportunities to do that was with my pantry. First off, I’m still in shock that I actually have a pantry. Nothing has ever made me feel more adult – not having the baby, buying the house…nope. It’s this massive space to organize canned goods that makes me feel like I just might finally have my sh** together. Jury’s still out.
But back to the design! So I have this large room – think of a giant shoe box, but with 10ft ceilings. I wanted the space to be highly functional and serve multiple purposes. Not only is it my primary storage for all food-stuffs, but I also wanted to create additional prep and work space for things like our coffee maker and kitchen tools we use less often like my KitchenAid mixer and my juicer (sadly. I keep swearing I’m going to start using it again!). To say I’m happy with the final result is a major understatement. But I won’t pretend to take all the credit for the final result. I called in the big guns for this job including California Closets to design the storage and Neat Method to help me get myself organized.
But let’s go back to the very beginning. Here’s where there room started out. This goes a whole year+ back to when our walls were still open.
You can kind of make out the frame of the pantry in the middle of the pic.
To make sure this space both worked perfectly and looked amazing I worked with designer Paige Gordon at the Bay Area California Closets to help devise the ultimate storage solution. It was not the easiest of tasks given the relatively narrow space, crazy ceiling height and the massive (original) window at the end of the room. Sadly, all that gorgeous molding actually limited some of our design options as we only had four inches of space along one wall.
To accommodate that, Paige designed a double stack of floor to ceiling shelving on the left hand wall as you enter the doorway. It left a little space between the shelves and the window (how we used it, I’ll get to in a minute). I also wanted to include wine storage because it’s real purdy (and it is how all mothers of toddlers survive). The x-shaped wine boxes Paige designed offer the maximum amount of space and look like a wine cellar. It’s also up off the floor to stay away from tiny fingers. Love.
On the right-hand wall we added closed storage for some of the less pretty things, a section of baskets for things like fruit, potatoes and linens as well counter space that runs wall to wall. Happy dance! A bit of open shelving at a lower height is perfect for things like art & crafts supplies for my kiddo. All the shelving heights are adjustable to accommodate changing storage needs. With this design, the room is fully utilized and maximized. All of the California Closets cabinetry is in white finish with a slight faux wood grain. Like I said about our laundry room, when I think of utilitarian spaces I think white and bright and I’m so happy with the result. But let’s get back to the fun part – the after!
I also wanted to put in open shelving as it’s my favorite thing ever. I turned to a carpenter to create shelves for the space above the California Closet cabinetry. I wanted to use natural wood to warm up the room and match some open shelving that will also go in the kitchen. I’m so thrilled with the result.
When it came to getting my organization game together as it pertains to everything that was actually going into this room, I turned to Neat Method. They are an amazing service staffed with professional organizers that will come to your house, inventory everything you already have, help you figure what else you should have and then devise a plan about how to store it not only effectively (aka easily accessible, easy to see, easy to keep track of what you need), but also to make your organization beautiful. Added bonus: they don’t just tell you how to to it. If you need, they’ll actually do it for you. Hello crazed, overworked, overbooked mom savior from heaven! I mean, just look at my shelves.
This is proof positive that everything looks better decanted. Packaging will just make your eyes cross. I love the uniformity and zen quality of everything being in the same type of container. We may have gone a bit glass jar crazy, but I love it. And each jar is labeled. I went with white written directly on the jar for a more subtle look. Cooking instruction for whatever is inside each jar is simply tucked inside at the back. (The label can be changed with a just a bit of rubbing alcohol). Baskets on the upper shelves contain more random things, cleaning supplies that need to stay out of a toddler’s reach and the stuff I use really infrequently. All organized and labeled of course.
The great thing about a pantry like this, as Lisa Ruff my Neat Method guru explained to me, is that everything is visible. When things are hidden you forget about them and don’t use them. This leads to things going bad and a lot of waste. Now I know what is at my fingertips at all times. All my food stuffs are organized into sections. Nuts, grains, pastas, baking, snacks, canned fruits or veggies. It’s made grocery shopping so much more efficient because now I know exactly what I need and I can avoid the annoyance of being in the middle of a recipe and not having a necessary ingredient.
Now I also have space for paper goods and my ever-growing collection of pitchers and vases. It is so amazing to finally have places for all that stuff to go!
One of my favorite moments in the room is right as you walk in the door. Just to your left I hung picture rail shelves to display my collection of cookbooks. It’s so fun to get to see the covers because that’s why you buy a cookbook half the time anyway, am I right? While I started with three shelves, my collection is so big I’m thinking I’m going to have to add a couple more above. Thank goodness for step ladders!
So there you have it. While the rest of my house looks like we moved in yesterday (not nearly 5 months ago), my pantry is currently my little happy place. I may just go and stand in there from time to time. No judgements.
Oh and if you are in need of some organization help, right now you can get a FREE consultation from the Neat Method. Just mention Apartment 34 when you contact them (which you can do right here).
For the rest of the updates about our remodel CLICK HERE or to read about the history of our historic San Francisco Victorian CLICK HERE
original photography for apartment 34 by michelle drewes
With modern and bohemian trends being so prominent in the design industry these days, it has been refreshing seeing some of our favorite lines bringing back the traditional aesthetic.
Kate Spade New York’s new fall home collection has done this impeccably. The collection mixes glamorous materials with traditional patterns keeping things looking classic without being too stuffy. There is also still an air of whimsy which is the Kate Spade trademark. We especially love the new collection’s classic black, white and gold pieces that promise to keep your home timeless regardless of the rest of the design trends du jour that are continually circulating.
We love the look in spaces that feature classic design details like crown molding, parquet floors or wainscoting. But a traditional piece can also add that traditional style if your home is lacking those timeless bones.
We’ve gathered our favorite pieces to help you achieve the new traditional look in your home. A classic stripe, a stately couch and a few fun accessories like a glamorous table lamp or marble-topped coffee table will add the extra touch of personality that a room needs to feel special.
Dickinson Large Pendant / Downing Sofa / Double Stripe Pillow / Keaton Bouquet Table Lamp / Duncan Side Table / Syrie Coffee Table / Norwhich Chair / Color Block Throw / Daisy Plate
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This post is in partnership with Kate Spade New York. All thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Thanks for supporting posts that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.
After this week, who is ready for an escape? While I’m not actually going anywhere (there’s too much to do here), I am going to take this weekend to fantasize about life in far away places. Like this Swedish apartment photographed by the incredible Jonas Ingerstedt.
This space takes you through a moody and muted journey. Each surface is adorned with collectables making you feel as though you are stepping into a museum. Every design detail serves a purpose, but feels casual enough to be livable. Tones of green so soft, make the backdrop feel neutral enough to layer in pops of color. Rich textures and unexpected details add warmth, comfort and a touch of whimsy.
From an interior design standpoint, what makes this space so interesting is the way that the space is utilized from the floor to the ceiling. Each surface, even the lowest point in the room, is decorated. Art is placed on the floor instead of hung on the wall. A bookshelf starts at the lowest point and reaches to the top of the ceiling. A gallery wall fills up an entire room. Every surface from the coffee table, to the dining table, to the kitchen island is accessorized with such intention. From every object to each floral arrangement, you never question the purpose of so much detail in one small space. That in my opinion is design done right.
This design proves that neutral does not have to be tones of white, but instead can be your favorite vibrant hue in a muted form. Different tones of green whisper from room to room, acting as the perfect contrast to the pops of red sprinkled throughout the space. I love how this space has an abundance of natural greenery and floral arrangements translating the muted green color palette into something much more tangible. While I’ve gone uber neutral in our house, I’m thinking a layer of this understated green might be the perfect addition.
SHOP THE POST 1 Page Plant Hanger | 2 Mid Century Bamboo Rocker | 3 Agate 4 Book Ends |4 Wool Blend Throw | 5 Florence Sofa | 6 Cream Pillow | 7 Modern Candelabra | 8 Marble Coffee Table |9 Wide Armed Dining Chair | 10 Glass Cone Bottle
This space is the perfect example of how to push the limits of design, I hope you are inspired to run with a color palette that pushes your boundaries. After seeing this space, you won’t regret it!