Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
After a brutal winter, many of us are ready to embrace spring with open arms! The arrival of spring also signals seasonal cleaning duties such as cleaning windows, putting away the winter wardrobe and breaking out the flip flops.
But don’t forget to include your personal finances in your spring cleaning “to do” list! Spring is the perfect time to tackle financial clutter–from refreshing budgets to going paperless to cleaning up your credit score.
Here are 5 tips that make it easy to do a financial clean sweep this spring:
1. Refresh your budget
Kick off your financial spring cleaning by refreshing your budget. Revisit the financial goals you set January 1. How are you doing so far? If you’re over budget, look at where you can make changes and cut back on spending. Remember to adjust your budget to satisfy current needs as well as long-term savings goals.
2. Reduce financial clutter – go paperless
You know that amazing feeling when you get rid of clothes you haven’t worn in years? Getting rid of that filing cabinet filled with old bills and credit card statements can feel just as freeing. A good way to cut down on clutter is to opt for electronic bill payments using a free bill-paying app like Mint Bills – which allows you to pay all your bills and schedule bill payments via an easy to use web and mobile platform.
3. Check your credit score
If you haven’t checked your credit score, now might be a great time. This number is a critical part of a consumer’s financial portfolio. Understand your score and the factors impacting it so you can learn how to improve it. If your credit score is low, commit to making your payments on time and focus on chipping away at large balances on your credit cards.
4. Pay off holiday debt once and for all
Cleaning up this debt quickly can put you in a much better financial position for the rest of the year. Start by clearing up your credit lines and pay off the purchases you made over the holiday season. If you have to, put yourself on a stricter debt payoff plan specifically focused on paying off the debt you accumulated over the holidays.
5. Sell unwanted items
Instead of throwing away your belongings to reduce clutter, consider selling your stuff to help boost your savings goals or earn extra money. Getting rid of old furniture? Try Craigslist. Cleaning out your closet? Try selling your clothing and accessories on Threadflip, a site that helps list, price, and ship the items for you.
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It’s almost spring, you guys. I don’t know about the weather in your neck of the woods, but that’s a welcome thought where I’m at, and I live in Texas!
(Northerners, feel free to make fun of my idea of a cold winter. I don’t care. I did not sign up for anything colder than highs of 50 degrees.)
At any rate, I’ve been on a cleaning and organizing kick, a bit of early spring cleaning, if you will. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Maybe it’s that the days are getting a little longer and that we’ve finally had some consistent sunshine around here. And those might be the reasons we spring clean in the first place, according to TLC’s How Stuff Works:
“Ultimately, spring cleaning may have more to do with simple biology. During winter, we’re exposed to less sunlight due to shorter, often dreary days. With a lack of exposure to light, the pineal gland produces melatonin — a hormone that produces sleepiness in humans. Conversely, when we’re exposed to sunlight, our bodies produce much less melatonin. It’s possible that we spring clean simply because we wake up from a winter long melatonin-induced stupor and find more energy as the days grow longer when spring arrives. After all, it’s easy to allow a house to get a little gross around the edges when you’re sleepy.”
OK, I don’t know about gross. I am, after all, my mother’s daughter. Case in point: Last Christmas, my mother bought me a Roomba. And she did it because we had a lengthy conversation about how great it would be to have a robot vacuum for daily cleaning. In between real house cleaning, of course.
At any rate, when I awoke from my melatonin-induced stupor, I realized that my files, both physical and digital, were a bit of a mess.
Files, files everywhere
My husband and I are selling our vacant land, and we finally have buyers — yea! (Buyers who need things like our septic system design and copies of permits and title documents — boo!)
The good news was that I kept all of these things in a file folder. The bad news was that every scrap of paper related to the land was also shoved into that folder. So, I started organizing the file. That led to organizing our tax return files. Then I just did the whole stupid file cabinet.
Then I realized that some of my files live on the computer, like last year’s tax returns. But my digital file cabinet was a mess too, so I spent a few hours organizing those files.
Not so fresh and so clean
I was quite proud of my gangsta organizing skills. I labeled stuff. I purged. I digitized the heck outta some documents. My files were pristine.
But then I read a report from Experian’s ProtectMyID, and my bubble burst.
Now, as a financial writer, I get a lot of reports and studies in my inbox. I trash most of them (you’re welcome). But this one caught my attention. It was about tidying up files to safeguard your finances and your identity. And the reason that it caught my attention was that I wasn’t doing a lot the stuff they said I should be doing. Gasp! My financial house was gross around the edges!
So, I demanded some answers. Or rather, I kindly requested an interview. Here’s what I learned from Becky Frost, senior manager of Experian’s ProtectMyID.
1. Shred like Steve Vai. Spring cleaning is a good time to get rid of things you no longer need, including old documents. “You probably have documents that you no longer need to keep, like old financial statements from 1992,” says Frost.
But don’t just throw them away; shred sensitive personal documents you don’t need to keep. “If a document has your current address or an account number on it, for instance, you should shred it,” says Frost. “I highly advocate having a personal shredder at home, and today they’re pretty affordable.”
What to look for in a shredder? One that crosscuts, says Frost. “You don’t want a shredder that shreds in strips, which are easy for a thief to tape back together.”
Also, for tax documents, check with IRS.gov to find out how long you need to hold on to records before shredding.
2. As seasons change, so should passwords. Want to hear something sad? I’m so bad at remembering my own passwords that I tried using one of those services like LastPass that remembers your passwords for you. Then I somehow got locked out of that too. This was what that looked like.
So point is, I’m good at setting unique, strong passwords. I just don’t remember them. And to throw another wrench in this operation, I just learned that I need to change my passwords regularly. Double d’oh.
“We recommend changing passwords with the change of every season,” says Frost, “but that’s not something that everyone likes to do.” No, everyone does not.
But Frost had an old-school suggestion for me that she says is perfectly safe in a digital world: Write your passwords down on a piece of paper. It sounded dangerous, but she says it’s “completely fine as long as you store that piece of paper in a secure location, like a locked safe box.”
Other password tips?
Passwords should have at least eight characters, including numerals, upper and lowercase letters, and special characters.
They should never be obvious, like part of your name or your mother’s maiden name. “Unfortunately, one of the top five passwords people use is still ‘password,’” says Frost.
You should have a different password for every account.
“Also, if you’re using something like a bank app, remember to log out of the app each time and to password protect your mobile device’s lock screen,” says Frost. “Don’t give a thief easy access.”
3. Clean out your wallet. Most of us know that you shouldn’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet. If you didn’t know that, get that thing out of your wallet! Ditto for passports, birth certificates, and anything with your Social Security number printed on it.
But Frost goes a bit further, saying that we should only carry what we need on a daily basis. “If you have multiple credit cards, only carry the ones you use most often,” says Frost. “Keep the others in a safe place, which means a box or a drawer with a lock on it.”
And the lock is important. Many times fraudsters and thieves turn out to be family members, friends, or employees, and not masked bandits. “Put a lock on the drawer so you won’t give people the opportunity to commit a crime in the first place,” says Frost.
Another reason to carry the bare minimum? You might lose your wallet. That happened to my dad last week, and he had to remember what was in it to figure out whom to call and what to cancel.
So, after talking to Frost, it seems that I still have some cobwebs to clean. But what about you? Do your files and accounts need a good spring cleaning? Also, I’d like to ask for your paper shredder recommendations, if you have any!
This week’s garage sale map for Wausau-area yard sales is a service of Saint Vincent de Paul of Wausau. Submit your free listing for a future sale at this link.
NOTE: This week marks the annual Wausau Southeast Side Neighborhood Garage Sale weekend. Due to crowding on the map, we are providing the full list below of all participating sales. Thanks to Nicole Guenthner for providing this information!
May 19, 20 AND 21 734 Lake View Dr. Clothing, Books, DVDs, Homegoods, etc
May 19, 20: 8am-2pm 176 Lake View Dr. Household, clothing, books, tools, outdoor/indoor furniture, Christmas decorations
May 18: 4pm-6pm, May 19: 3pm-6pm, May 20: 9am-5pm 2408 Midway Blvd. New ping pong table, antique vanity, kitchen essentials, sporting gear, tools, housewares, decorations, camping gear, reverse osmosis system, lighting, ice fishing gear, games and much more.
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-3pm 915 Ross Ave. Misc household
May 18, 19: 9am-5pm, May 20: 8am-11am 725 Lake View Dr. Baby and kids items including clothing, toys, art easel, tricycle, high chair, swing, and car seat. Household items such as small appliances, electronics, decor, and books. Womens clothing
May 18, 19: 8am-4pm, May 20: 8am-12pm 609 Ethel St. Toys, loads of great puzzles, Stampin’ Up stamp sets(most never used), household, some camping, vintage boxed silverware, lots of Thirty-One bags, and never used rice cooker. Kids clothes: girls newborn to 5 and boys newborn to 2T.
May 20 704 Kent St. Two kiddos, 7 and 10 years old, will be hosting their own yard and bake sale to earn money for a summer trip
May 19: 9am-4pm, May 20: 9am-12pm 605 Ross Ave. Dumbbells, teen boys clothes, DVDs, CDs, housewares.
May 19, 20 2505 Mount View Blvd. All the usual garage sale items. No children’s items.
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-5pm 205 Broadway Ave. Womens Plus-sized clothing, shoes, Tupperware and other household goods, decor, hand painted glassware and many other miscellaneous cool things!
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-4pm 201 Weston Ave. Crafts and art pieces, clothing, toys, misc.
May 19, 20 421 Ruder St. Household furnishings, brand name Juniors/Women’s clothing, accessories, formal dresses; Christmas decor.
May 18, 19: 8am-4pm 1918 Fairmount St. Multi-family sale with a variety of items.
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-5pm 502 Kolter St. Multi-family sale! Spring cleaning and purging, something for everyone! Household items-popcorn machine, kitchenware, furniture, dog kennel, video games, toys, clothing for men, women, and boys, shoes, designer handbags, jewelry, and much, much more!!!
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-4pm 1912 Zimmerman St. New Bradley Smoker; FitMi portable home suite; magnifying light; doll-house; Weider weight bench; rugs; clothing; and this-n-thats.
May 18, 19, 20: 9am-5pm 1629 Plato St. Household, books, etc.
May 18, 19: 8am-5pm, May 20: 9am-12pm 121 Weston Ave. Boys and girl clothes, toys, shoes, tools, some antiques, golf clubs and balls. Variety of household items. Bows and arrows. High chair
May 19, 20, AND 21: 8am-4pm 619 Ruder St. Toys, Nerf, antique furniture, motorcycle, misc clothes and accessories, video games
May 19, 20: 8am-5pm 2517 Pied Piper Lane Multi-family sale! Treadmill, household items and decor, highchair, tow behind bike trailer and other baby items
May 18, 19, 20 1921 Roosevelt St. Housewares, tools, movies, CDs, collectibles
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-4pm 2401 Mount View Blvd. Multi-family sale. Baby items, baby and toddler furniture, toys, nursery decor, household items, household decor, women’s clothing (medium-xxl), maternity clothes men’s clothing, women and men’s shoes
May 19: 8am-4pm, May 20: 8am-12pm 816 Ross Ave. Home decor, household/kitchen items, men’s clothing size L, XL and tons of young women’s clothing, size XS, S
May 19, 20: 9am-5pm 710 Ross Ave. 5 family garage sale–clothes, shoes, house goods
May 19: 8am-5pm, May 20: 8am-3pm 2624 Oakwood Blvd. Girls clothing 7/8 to 10/12 and boys 3T-4, women’s clothing L-2xl, men’s clothing L- XXL, toys, shoes, household items, sports cards and memorabilia, many other miscellaneous
May 18, 19, 20: 9am-5pm 146 Eau Claire Blvd. Household items, toys and clothing size child 6 – adult.
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-6pm AND May 21: 9am-4pm 2401 Pied Piper Lane We have a variety of kitchen items, dining room table, furniture, pet supplies, women’s and men’s clothes ( most sizes are large to XXL, with some mediums), books, some linens for crafts, household decor, some bathroom and bedroom accessories, a tonneau cover that was one a F-150 6’5” box, and many more items. We will also have a snack station available. $5 fill a bag for clothes sale and $3 fill a bag sales for books every day. Saturday at noon, 1/2 off smaller items and best offer for larger items.
May 18, 19, 20, AND 21: 8:30am-until it slows 212 Weston Ave. Boys and Girls clothing and shoes sizes 7 – teen Women’s/Junior’s XS – L, Furniture, Gas Grill, Household, Nerf guns, Legos, and more!
May 20: 9am-4pm 415 Broadway Ave. Household items, decorative, clothing. $5 for all items you can fit in a bag. Individual items or larger items please make an offer.
May 18, 19, 20: 9am-5pm 1906 Emerson St. 3 wheel push golf cart, lawnmower, misc household and quality men’s clothes
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-5pm 807 Graves Ave. Huge multi family sale including but not limited to – Men’s Clothing Sizes L-2XL, Men’s Shoes Sizes 11-12, Women’s Clothing Sizes S-L, Women’s Shoes Sizes 8-9, Girls Clothing Sizes 3T-5T, LOTS of Kids Toys, Decor, Kitchenware, Holiday Items, Outdoor decor, And much more!!
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-5pm 904 Lake View Dr. US & world coins, Denmark blue & white plates, Disney snow globes & water fountains, collector plates (Star Trek, eagles, Elvis, etc.), books, lighted beer signs, CDs, DVDs, sports figures, racing, fantasy axes and shields, Beanie Babies, Beanie Buddies, unused sporting tickets, vinyl records and more.
May 18, 19: 9am-5pm 1927 Lamont St. Estate/Rummage Sale. Rain or shine!! (HUGE tent!) More items added from last week’s sale. Furniture, kitchen items, home decor, brand new and used exercise equipment, tons of bedding and curtains, rugs, baskets of all sizes, luggage, dishes, Christmas items, German movies with multi-region DVD player. Too many items to mention. Make me a REASONABLE offer!!!
May 18: 12pm-5pm, May 19: 9am-5pm, May 20: 10am-5pm 722 Weston Ave. Multi-family sale. Maternity, girl clothes: newborn-24 months, womens and mens clothes, kitchen items, house items, unopened formula, play kitchen, craft stuff, wedding stuff, AC units and MORE!
May 19, 20: 8am-4pm 2503 Marshall St. Boy Scouts National Jamboree fundraiser will be selling coffee, donuts, and additional drinks.
May 18, 19: 8am-5pm 147 Eau Claire Blvd. Old Army trunk, Jenny Lind maple full size bed with frame, vintage lawn chairs and vintage wood folding chairs, Pyrex, nested bowl sets, vintage graters and cookie cutters, Ohio art checkerboard, DVDs, backyard privacy screen, some tools, housewares, canning jars, new lids and rings in boxes and much more. NO CLOTHES.
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-5pm 401 Eau Claire Blvd. Wrought Iron outdoor dining set, Outdoor Lounger, Weber Charcoal Grill, De-Humidifier, Punching Bag, 2 person ice fishing Shelter, Fosse Ball Table, Bike, DIY Swing Set Hardware (NEW), 5-Drawer Dresser, Leaf Blower, Adult Clothes – S-L, Boys Clothes 8-12 , Toys, Bedding, Misc Household Items WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING Look for the GARAGE-A-POLOZA sign!!
May 20: 8am-3pm 326 Ross Ave. Sports Cards/Memorabilia, Collectibles, CD’s, DVD’s, Vinyl/Records (Oldies to Current), Men’s Shirts (Brewers/Sports Related), Women’s Clothing, Snowboarding Jacket, Ice Fishing Bibs, Women’s Scrub Tops, many other items!
May 20 AND 21 1913 Kings Court Watermelon and cucumber Agua fresca (fresh water)
May 18, 19: 7:30am-5pm 1635 Plato St. Eclectic sale of mostly man items: knives, axes, traps, welder, troy bilt rototiller, vintage cans, cast iron, Coleman Lanterns, and military items. Some kids items and a fair amount of jewelry. A lot of vintage/collectible items that are priced to move! If raining, the sale will be shut down.
May 18, 19, 20: 9am-5pm 729 Graves Ave. GINORMOUS Multi-Family Sale. If we don’t have it, you don’t need it!! Household, Tons of Books, Clothes, Shoes, Toys, Canoe Bookshelf, Camping Lanterns, Stuffed Animal Cage, FUNKO POPS and so much more. If it is a major downpour, we may not open or close early since there is so much stuff and not everything will display inside the garage.
May 17 AND May 18, 19, 20: 9am-5pm 1410 Fairmount St. Medical supplies, women’s/men’s clothes, homemade woodwork crafts, antiques, kitchen gadgets, books, etc.
May 18, 19, 20: 8am-4pm 1923 Zimmerman St. Antiques and collectibles.
May 20: 8am-4pm and may be open May 18th and 19th after school 304 Eau Claire Blvd. Kiddo is running a treat stand with prepackaged snacks and drinks
May 18: tentatively open. May 19, 20: 8am-5pm 152 Bertha St. Womens and men’s clothes, purses and bags in very good condition, some household decor items and art.
Now that you’ve checked off everything on your spring cleaning list, it’s time to decorate. Sure, you could pull out your old spring decor, but in the season of freshness, why not mix in some new pieces? There are so many customer-loved home decor options that also happen to be super affordable on Amazon. And the best part is, they’re all under $35.
If you’re ever wondering if a home product is worth the buy, it’s smart to just look at the ratings. A dead giveaway is if the item has thousands of five-star ratings—and all of these decor picks do. They’re ranking on Amazon’s Best-Sellers list for Home Decor Products, so you know they’re good. You’ll find items guaranteed to refresh your living room and beyond, like gold accent mirrors, faux flowers, rugs, candles, and more. Plus, many of these picks are also on sale, up to 70 percent off. Sounds like your lucky day.
Best-Seller Home Decor Under $35
Utopia Bedding Throw Pillows, $17 (was $18)
Cocorrína Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Set, $20
BeautyPeak 18-Inch Round Metal Frame Mirror, $26 (was $60)
Mandy’s Artificial Tulip Silk Flowers, $21
Ygeomer Rustic Wood Floating Shelves, $20 with coupon (was $35)
Sullivans Farmhouse Decor Vase Set, $30 (was $35)
Yankee Candle Home Sweet Home Large Jar Candle, $17 (was $31)
Loloi II Layla Collection Accent Rug, From $24 (was from $79)
Capri Blue Volcano Blue Signature Jar, $34
Ashler Home Deco Faux Fur Rug, From $21
Redecorating your home doesn’t require a full revamp. Sometimes it’s just adding a few new accents to make a room feel more contemporary, and accent pillows certainly do the trick. These throw pillows have a plush quality thanks to its fluffy polyester filling, making them comfortable to rest your back and head against. They come in seven colors, so you can use them as-is or put them in patterned pillow covers to change up the look.
To buy: $17 (was $18); amazon.com.
Want to make an impact as soon as you and your guests walk through the door? Try investing in a new home fragrance, like this essential oil diffuser. It’s available in so many light scents that are perfect for spring, like clean linen or cashmere vanilla—both just sound luxurious. And when you walk through the foyer, you’ll also love the look of this diffuser. It comes with pretty minimalistic preserved flowers that make it a decor piece that pleases both smell and sight!
To buy: $20; amazon.com.
Speaking of flowers, you can’t welcome spring into your home without a bright bouquet. But if you don’t have a green thumb, these truly realistic-looking faux tulips will do. The petals are made with a silky soft material that gives the flowers a natural appearance, just before fully blooming. Still skeptical? Tons of shoppers are willing to prove you wrong, stating that they are high-quality and one even said, “These are the most realistic fake flowers I’ve ever seen.” The 20-piece set comes in tons of hues, including this pretty pink option.
To buy: $21; amazon.com.
And if you’re looking to add a little flair to your floors, go with this vintage-style accent rug. It’s available in 17 earthy tones and patterns that make it look like the rug was passed down from generation to generation. You’ll love that the low pile, stain-resistant rug is easy to clean, too. You can get it in several sizes ranging from small accent options to large room-encompassing picks. Just keep in mind that prices increase with the size, but nothing goes higher than $185.
To buy: From $24 (was from $79); amazon.com.
See what other best-selling home decor options are at Amazon by checking out the list below.
If you’ve spent any time around TPG, you know that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of our most beloved cards. We often recommend it as a great travel rewards card for beginners and travel rewards veterans alike for its solid earning potential, excellent point redemption options and relatively low annual fee.
We love the card so much that it made multiple appearances on our list of cards TPG staffers can’t live without.
If (for some reason) you haven’t gotten it yet, make that your next move.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with a sign-up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 in your first three months of account opening
But if you’ve already listened to us and gotten the Chase Sapphire Preferred, your next card decision might seem more daunting. If you ask a few of us which card you should get next, you will likely hear different answers. It can feel like choosing your next card is complicated when, in reality, there are just a lot of really good options of cards you can get to take you to the next phase of your points and miles journey.
Today we’re going to break down the three major schools of thought on which card you should get to pair with your trusty Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Three approaches
Your options fall into three categories:
There’s no single right answer that applies to everyone, so you’ll want to consider your own situation to identify which makes the most sense.
Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta
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Option 1: A card to earn additional Ultimate Rewards points
This is a great choice if you love the options to redeem and transfer the Chase Ultimate Rewards points from your Sapphire Preferred. With one of the Chase Freedom cards, you can maximize your spending categories to earn even more of these points from your everyday spending.
On their own, the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex are marketed as cash-back cards. If you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, though, you’ll be able to combine your Chase Ultimate Rewards points and transfer them to the full range of Chase transfer partners.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on all purchases up to $20,000 spent in your first year.
Rewards rate: Earn 5% on travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% on dining and drugstores, and an unlimited 1.5% on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: This card is excellent to pair with your Chase Sapphire Preferred because it earns 1.5% (or points per dollar spent) on all purchases, which is 50% more than the Chase Sapphire Preferred (1 point per dollar spent on purchases outside of its bonus categories).
Even with my own more advanced card portfolio, this is a card I reach for often. It allows me to earn a decent return on purchases that don’t fall under most bonus categories, such as auto repairs and specialty items. With a current bonus of earning an additional 1.5% back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent) in your first year, it’s a no-brainer for most Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders.
Related: Chase Freedom Unlimited: A great card for beginners and pros alike
Official application link: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Flex
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Rewards rate: 5% (or 5 points per dollar) cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. You’ll also get 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on drugstore purchases and dining, and 1% on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: With this card, you’ll get 5 points per dollar on qualifying purchases in merchant categories and at specific retailers that change each quarter. For example, during the second quarter of 2023 (April 1 through June 30), the bonus applies to Lowe’s and Amazon purchases — perfect timing for your spring cleaning and graduation gift purchases. This card gives you a great way to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points on different spending categories.
If you find yourself ready to juggle a few cards but want to keep earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can use all three cards (Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex) to maximize your points earning potential on all your purchases. Just be sure to time your applications carefully to maximize your approval chances.
Option 2: A card to earn additional points with a Chase transfer partner
If you consistently transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to a specific transfer partner, like United MileagePlus or World of Hyatt, you can get a cobranded card to maximize your points.
United Quest Card
Annual fee: $250.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Rewards rate: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases (immediately after earning the $125 United purchase credit) and 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride-sharing services and tolls. You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar on dining and select streaming services and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: Since United is one of the most valuable Chase travel partners, this card will greatly improve the value you receive when you transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to United. For example, when you have a United Quest card, your miles will go much further due to the additional award availability offered to all United cardholders.
You’ll also receive a free first and second checked bag for yourself and a companion, priority boarding and access to Premier upgrades on award tickets. Other benefits include two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits, 25% back on United inflight purchases and up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. A $125 annual United purchase credit will take the sting out of this card’s $250 annual fee.
If you fly United regularly, the United Quest card and Chase Sapphire Preferred combination offers valuable flexibility.
Related: 4 reasons to get the new United Quest Card
Official application link: United Quest Card
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Annual fee: $95.
Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points, including 30,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening and another 30,000 points by earning 2 points per dollar on purchases that normally earn just 1 point per dollar in your account’s first six months (on up to $15,000 spent).
Rewards rate: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt properties; 2 points per dollar at restaurants and on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: The World of Hyatt program is easily the most valuable hotel transfer partner offered by Ultimate Rewards, so you’ll want to enjoy as many perks as possible when redeeming your rewards for stays at Hyatt. You’ll receive Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open and five qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year. Plus, you can earn two additional qualifying night credits every time you spend $5,000 on your card, making it much easier to reach the next tier of elite status even if you’re not on the road constantly.
Another popular benefit on the card is the annual free night you receive after your cardmember anniversary (valid at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort), as well as an additional free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
Official application link: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Option 3: A card that diversifies your rewards
This is the one that opens the door to other options.
Suppose you feel comfortable using your Chase Ultimate Rewards and want to unlock even more possibilities. In that case, you’ll want to open a card that will build you another set of transferable points. Here are some great choices:
American Express® Gold Card
Annual fee: $250. (See rates & fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 within six months of account opening. However, check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome offer (subject to change at any time).
Rewards rate: Earn 4 points per dollar spent on restaurants and 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar). Earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or on Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: The Sapphire Preferred doesn’t offer a grocery bonus, so this is an excellent card to use at U.S. supermarkets.
Most importantly, you diversify your rewards by accessing American Express Membership Rewards, including unique transfer partners that Chase doesn’t have, such as Hilton, Delta Air Lines, ANA, Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas. Other benefits include up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 each year in Uber Cash that you can use toward Uber Eats purchases or Uber rides in the U.S.
Related: American Express Gold card review
Official application link: American Express® Gold Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $95.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Rewards rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases.
Why this card pairs well: The Sapphire Preferred has incredible transfer partners, but they can’t account for all travel purchases. However, the miles you earn from your Capital One Venture can be redeemed for statement credits toward nearly any travel purchase.
Capital One also offers you the ability to transfer your miles to a lengthy list of airline and hotel programs, which have little overlap with Chase’s partners. Valuable additions include Wyndham Rewards, Turkish Airlines, Qantas and Choice Privileges. However, you also have access to some shared transfer partners like British Airways and Avianca LifeMiles, so pairing the Venture with the Sapphire Preferred could accelerate your potential earnings with these programs.
This card also offers you up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit.
Related: Capital One Venture Rewards credit card review
Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Citi Premier® Card
Annual fee: $95.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Rewards rate: Earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. For a limited time, earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) when you book through the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.
Why this card pairs well: The Citi ThankYou Rewards program offers several transfer partners that Chase doesn’t, such as Qatar, Etihad and Turkish. It also offers valuable bonus earning rates at supermarkets and gas stations, which the Sapphire Preferred doesn’t. This card also comes with a hotel savings benefit worth $100 off a $500 single hotel stay (excluding taxes and fees), once each calendar year. However, that stay must be booked through Citi’s travel portal, limiting its utility to some extent.
Related: Sizable rewards, manageable annual fee: Citi Premier credit card review
Official application link: Citi Premier® Card
Bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is excellent on its own, but it’s even better when paired with other cards. Whether you want to focus on earning more Chase Ultimate Rewards points, build out your stash of points or miles with one of Chase’s transfer partners or diversify into another set of transferable points, you have great options available to you.
Remember, there is no wrong choice when choosing your next card. Regardless of your choice, you’ll build on the knowledge you’ve obtained through the Chase Sapphire Preferred and take another step toward paying for your next trip with points and miles.
Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be the first rewards card in your wallet
Additional reporting by Jason Steele.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card please click here.
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
The advent of fall serves as a good reminder that you may need to correct course and keep your financial responsibilities in mind. On the first day of fall, the autumnal equinox, the lengths of day and night are roughly equal, and the daylight grows shorter from there. Use the diminishing sunlit hours to get you and your money back on course after a summer of sun and fun.
Start over
Every year at back-to-school time, there are ads for notebooks, fancy pens and backpacks. Even if you don’t have children, the fall season brings to mind stacks of blank paper, waiting for you to write your story….or re-write it! Are you financially off-track and your money goals are nowhere in sight? Start with a clean slate and get back to basics. Create fresh goals. Redo your monthly budget. Commit anew.
Become a night owl
We turn our clocks back on November 1. Use that hour to reflect on your day, unwind and set action items for tomorrow that will keep you on the right financial path.
Spring cleaning isn’t just for spring
If you live in a cold climate, now is the time you are pulling winter gear out of storage. Purge ill-fitting or never-worn garments and gear and have a fall yard sale. You’ll clear space in your life and earn a bit of money you can put towards your saving goals.
Give your bills a checkup
Scrutinize your bills. Are you paying the right amount for utilities, cable or broadband, phone, and other recurring monthly expenses? Are there any hidden fees? This is a good time to get organized, adjust your data plan or cut some channels out of your satellite TV package to save a few more bucks.
Pay attention to open enrollment
Many employees benefit plans run open enrollment — the period when you can make changes or sign up for new benefits — at this time of year. Instead of ignoring those flyers or emails, open them! Make sure you are taking advantage of vision, dental, and health insurance, and contributing to your employer’s retirement plan. Look at how much you spent this year on healthcare costs and see if a healthcare savings account may benefit your family. Keep in mind that Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment for 2016 is from November 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016.
Stock up for next year
Now is the time to purchase used summer gear like patio furniture, pool toys and bikes. When others are deciding what doesn’t get to stay in the garage for another year, you can snag a great bargain on something you’ve wanted to add to your warm-weather activities. Grab it now and look forward to using it next year.
Resist the pumpkin spice latte
You can’t open your eyes in September without seeing an ad for a pumpkin spice something. It can be tempting to embrace the fall flavor, but did you know that a pumpkin spice latte can be as much as $5.25? I don’t know about you, but every year I succumb to the advertising pressure and long for the tasty warm treat. It’s a good reminder to skip the coffee stop and make your latte at home and save a fiver. Or at least custom order yours, which could save you half the cost!
Watch the calendar
The countdown to Christmas is alive in social media feeds. Whatever winter holiday you celebrate, plan accordingly. They happen at the same time every year, so now’s the time to make your plan — don’t let them sneak up on you and force you into overspending on food, travel, or gifts at the last minute.
Snuggle and save
When it gets cold outside, we tend to stay in, watch movies or invite friends over. While this routine may get old by March, at least you’re not out somewhere spending money! Silver lining, right?
Kim Tracy Prince is a Los Angeles-based writer. If she didn’t have a husband and 2 young boys who love sports, she’d save money by staying in and reading all the books that she never has time for.
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
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My New Financial Reality in the “Real World”
CHICAGO — You can catch a screening of a White Sox documentary, shop local at the Spring Cleaning Market, check out the Logan Square Farmers Market on its opening day and more.
Here’s 19 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
1-7 p.m. Saturday
Chicago Fair Trade Museum, 1457 N. Halsted St.
The biggest World Fair Trade Day event is coming to Chicago this weekend. Learn how to grown your own greens at home, join a cross-cultural knitting project, compete in a bake-off using fair trade ingredients and more. There will also be tastings of fair trade chocolate, tea and wine. The event is meant to raise awareness of fair trade, a business model aimed at combating poverty, exploitation and climate change. You can buy tickets, enter the bake-off and donate online.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Lincoln Avenue from Roscoe to School streets
Shop handmade paintings, sculptures, home decor, jewelry and more at this free North Side fair hosted by Special Service Area No. 27. Enjoy food, music, painting classes, selfie stations, interactive art activities for kids, Sunday morning yoga and more. Sign up online for a chance to win $100 in Art Bucks to spent at the fair. Attendees can also bring their gently used wall art to donate the Chicago Furniture Bank, a nonprofit that distributes furnishings and art to people who are leaving temporary shelters and moving into permanent housing.
5-11 p.m. Saturday
CHAOS Brew Club, 2417 W. Hubbard St.
Alongside a taco bar with all the fixings, birria and pastor, enjoy seasonal ales and lagers crafted by CHAOS brewers at this 10th annual Cerveza de Mayo. You’ll also be able to tour the brewhouse, listen to music by Brian Hoyt and sit by fire pits. Tickets are $45 online. Each ticket includes admission, unlimited food and drink and a 45-day membership to the brew club.
Spring Cleaning Market
1-5 p.m. Sunday
Easy Does It, 2354 N. Milwaukee Ave.
You can grab a glass of wine and oysters while buying art, ceramics, floral arrangements, vintage good and more from local artists. There will also be a motor shucker providing raw bar options and DJ at this market by Common Violet.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave.
“Last Comiskey” is a new documentary about the White Sox’s final season at Comiskey Park, the team’s old ballpark. This event includes a screening of portions of the film and a Q&A with producer and director Matt Flesch, White Sox pitchers Donn Pall and Wayne Edwards, longtime Chicago sportscaster Tom Shaer and White Sox organist Nancy Faust. Admission is a $25 donation benefitting the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. You can buy tickets online.
6-11 p.m. Saturday
The Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Presented by the Japanese Arts Foundation, “Melanated and Animated” is a 21-and-older event that highlights the intersections of Black and Japanese culture. Listen to a panel discussion with industry guests — including game designer, professor and digital artist Derrick Fields and Kotaku staff writer Isaiah Colbert — and watch the director’s cut of critically acclaimed anime series “Afro Samurai.” There will be music, Japanese spirits, onsite gaming and more. Tickets are $35 online.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
Wicker Park fieldhouse, 1425 N. Damen Ave.
Herbs, vegetables, flowers, hanging baskets and other plants hand-picked by Wicker Park Garden Club members will be for sale this weekend in Wicker Park’s namesake park. There will also be free native pollinator seeds and a children’s potting area, where volunteers will work with children to decorate pots, fill them with soil and plant seeds to take home and grow.
Doors and silent auction 7 p.m., music 8 p.m. Saturday
Bim Bom Lounge, 5226 W. Belmont Ave.
Bim Bom Lounge’s new owners have spent the past year transforming the former dive bar into an recording space. Construction is still underway, and the studio will be literally raising the space’s roof this month. To kick off renovations and raise money for the studio, there will be a BYOB roof-raising show with music and a silent auction with goods donated by local creators. Entry is $10-$20 on a sliding scale. RSVP online or pay with cash at the door to avoid processing fees.
Noon-2 p.m. Saturday
Wilson Abbey, 935 W. Wilson Ave.
The Lighthouse Foundation, a Black- and queer-led social justice nonprofit, is hosting a soul food brunch where people can learn more about the organization’s efforts to ensure equity for Black queer people in Chicago’s LGBTQ nonprofits. The event will feature live music performances, a panel discussion among Black LGBTQ+ workers and a presentation by Executive Director Jamie Frazier. Tickets are free and available online, and a $35-$100 donation is recommended.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
3025-3113 W. Logan Blvd.
Shop from more than 100 vendors this weekend for the first Logan Square Farmers Market of the year. The beloved outdoor market will be along Logan Boulevard between Milwaukee Avenue and Whipple Street. Logan Boulevard from Milwaukee to Sacramento avenues will be shut down to drivers to make more room for shoppers and vendors. Alongside produce and farm products, there will be live music and informational booths helmed by local organizations. The Sunday markets take place through Oct. 29.
Noon-4 p.m. Saturday
Mahalia Jackson Court, 1 E. 79th St.
Meet local designers, see some of their fashion, paint flowerpots with your child and shop for Mother’s Day at this free fashion show. There will be food, music and more.
8-10 a.m. Sunday
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2400 N. Cannon Drive
Lincoln Park Zoo is offering a Sensory-Friendly Morning for guests this weekend so they can experience the zoo in a comfortable and inclusive way. The Sensory-Friendly Morning program is offered to visitors who are sensitive to their environments, including people with disabilities, chronic illness, autism, PTSD and dementia. Modifications include limited capacity and muted attractions. The gift shop will open 8 a.m. and Landmark Café will begin selling beverages at 8:30 a.m. Admission is free, but you must register in advance online.
7:15-8:15 p.m. Sunday
Cuddle Bunny – Club, Care & Community, 2901 N. Clark St.
Stretch and rest your mind with bunnies at this bring-your-own-mat yoga class. All skill levels are welcome, and it’s open to people 8 and older. Admission is $22. Sign up online.
2-9 p.m. Saturday
Kehrien Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd.
Local, national and global artists will perform new and ancient South Asian pieces using a variety of instruments and languages at this is event presented by Kalapriya, a nonprofit that celebrates Indian performing arts. There will be Indian food to buy. Tickets are free and donations are encouraged. You can get your ticket and donate online.
Noon Saturday
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St.
Teens and young adults 13-25 are invited to a free printmaking workshop led by Marimacha Monarca Press, a queer and trans people of color collective of artists and educators based on the South Side. Attendees will create and carve an original design for a rubber block stamp, drawing inspiration from the “Giving Shape: Yollocalli Artistic Practice Through the Years” exhibition. Participants should bring their own items to print with their stamp, like a T-shirt or tote bag. Email [email protected] to register. Spaces are limited.
Bidi Bidi Boom Boom: The Selena Tribute Dance Party
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St.
Celebrate the legacy of Selena, the queen of Tejano and Cumbia music, at the National Museum of Mexican Art throughout the weekend. Dance the night away, sing your heart out to Selena’s music and enjoy drag performances by Chicago artists. This is a 21-and-older event. Tickets are $30 and include admission and adult beverages. You can buy tickets for Thursday here, Friday here and Saturday here.
2-4 p.m. Sunday
Epic Art House, 1850 N. Western Ave.
Create your own mosaic art from scratch this weekend at Epic Art House’s free Mother’s Day workshop for children and families. You will learn how to choose colors and materials, how to cut and arrange the pieces and how to adhere them to create your final piece of art. RSVP here.
Noon-3 p.m. Saturday
Rizzo’s Bar & Inn, 3658 N. Clark St.
Dress your pup in their best attire for Rizzo’s red carpet “Pup Prom.” There will be raffles, silent auctions and photo opportunities. The first 150 people to buy tickets will get a dog-friendly swag bag. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
11 a.m. Saturday
Anne’s Haven, 5629 W. Irving Park Road
Anne’s Haven is a nonprofit where women, girls and nonbinary people of all ethnic, racial, sexual and religious identities can gather together, support and learn from one another. This weekend, the group is hosting a ribbon-cutting for Anne’s Haven Honor Tree, a piece of artwork honoring women. You can be part of the honor tree by buying a butterfly at the event, available on a sliding scale of $75-$150 or more. Pecan pie, cupcakes and champagne will be served. There will also be a pop-up market with women makers after the ribbon cutting.
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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
When the snow melts and bulbs are blooming, buyers are out in force. If you’ve heard that spring (and leading into summer) is a good time to sell, you can tell whoever told you that they’re right for the most part! In many areas, the warmer weather means that people are eager to get out of the house, move while the kids are out of school, and are ready to look at homes with beautifully manicured yards. While hotter climates might have a slight downturn in the market during the 100+ degree weather, other markets thrive. If you’re considering listing your home this spring, you can optimize your home for higher offers with these seven timely tips.
1. Embrace Every Blooming Thing
Crocuses, hyacinth, and tulips peeking through your soil? Great. Blooms can be one of your greatest spring selling assets. If you don’t currently have bulbs in your yard, hit the nursery and purchase sprouted bulbs or opt for plants like pansies and primrose that look great and can withstand an unpredictable spring. Add additional color and curb appeal with planters and pots. You can even plant blooming daffodils or tulips to beds that need a refresh.
Brighten up porches, decks or balconies with potted blooms.
2. Touch Up the Yard and Exterior
When the snow melts, it reveals all the blemishes and flaws that were covered all winter. Before you list, give your home’s exterior a good once-over. Note any dead grass, chipping or fading paint, and damaged sections of fence. Turn your observations into a to-do list and get to work. Rake the grass, clean out beds, fertilize, lay sod, and edge the lawn. Do you need to repair fences, railings, steps, or decks? What about adding paint and stain in those well-worn areas? Even if you don’t find much to fix, consider giving your home an instant facelift by rubbing mineral oil on a painted front door or adding new house numbers.
Paint your front door new leaf green or robins egg blue to make your home one to remember when it comes time to put in offers.
3. Deep Clean
It’s called spring cleaning for a reason. After months shut inside the house, everything can use a good, thorough scrubbing. Have carpets cleaned and wash the windows both inside and out. Clean out closets and attack junk drawers. Wipe down the walls, make tiles and counters gleam, and pay attention to smaller things like grout, which can take a room or wall from dull to sparkling with just a little elbow grease. Clean the oven, and organize and wipe down the laundry room. Sort through towels, sponges, and other cleaning tools and toss ones that are shabby or smelly. Have slipcovers, upholstery, and pillow covers cleaned.
Do your spring cleaning before you list; they might want to buy the furniture too!
4. Perform Pre-inspection Repairs
If you’re selling your house, then you know a buyer is going to want to have ahome inspection completed before they seal the deal. Why not perform a preemptive strike and do your own inspection first? Identify small things that you can update or repair before the buyer can point them out. Often small issues lead buyers to fear there are larger maintenance issues, so making simple repairs before you list is smart. Change out filters, fix that wobbly banister, and take care of small things like torn screens or loose shingles.
Free painted-shut windows, repair screens, and fix broken panes.
5. Box Up Winter
You can make your house and yard feel bigger by simply packing away winter toys, tools, and clothes. Put your winter wardrobe in storage to make closets feel larger. Box up mittens, gloves, hats, and boots. Trade out ice melt and shovels for watering cans and gardening tools. If possible, store winter items neatly in sealed boxes or containers in a shed or off-site storage facility. You don’t want to crowd the garage or yard with items you’ve packed up. Trade out heavy, wintry throws and pillows for brighter, lighter pieces that feel more like spring.
Don’t crowd the garage when you clean out the house; organize it or get a storage unit.
6. Brighten the View
After you’ve cleaned those windows, let the sun shine in. Wash window coverings and trade out dark, dingy drapes for sheers that give your home an airy feeling. Clean blinds and make sure to keep them open during showings. Consider removing valances, which tend to box windows in and create a more formal, stuffy feeling. Add brighter light bulbs to every room to add more light. Outside, add window boxes full of flowers or herbs to set off windows and provide a pleasing view from every angle.
Add sheer drapes inside heavier ones.
7. Bring Spring Inside
Don’t let buyers lose that bouncy, spring feeling once they cross the threshold of your front door. Continue the colors and scents of spring throughout your house. Open windows and let fresh air blow away the remnants of a closed-up winter. Add fresh flowers to mantles, side tables, and the dining room. Display fresh fruit in the kitchen. Use diffusers and candles to bring the crisp, inviting scents of spring inside. Trade out linens, towels, and accents for light, bright colors and clean patterns that make buyers want to cozy up and call your house home.
Fresh flowers will put a spring in buyers’ steps.
Spring is a time for new beginnings, and it can be the perfect time to sell your home, especially when you use Homie! With our low flat fee, you get a dedicated agent who can advise you on how to make your home appealing to buyers, from staging to pricing! Click here to learn more about listing your home with Homie.
I’m the first to admit I’m not the neatest person the world. For a time I was. Growing up, everything had a place and there was a place for everything. Down to the mini horse figurines arranged perfectly on my desk! But somewhere in the teens that all went out the…
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