Home Improvement for Women

With a speedy commute, flexible hours, and lots of independence, working from home can be a great luxury, especially when your home office is comfortable and efficient. Here are 5 simple steps you can take to make your home office the most productive space in your house: 

1. Make the space work for you. Assess what you really need from your office. If you are transitioning from a job outside the home, consider what worked best about your old workspace. Was everything in one place? Do you like to spread out your papers to work? Are your files on your hard drive, in a filing cabinet, or on your Blackberry or iPhone? Do you expect to share the space with your family (for kids to do homework, or as a guestroom), or will your office be a place for you and you only? Don’t set up your office based on how you think you should work. Set it up based on how you are already working.

For example, because I have an office for my business, I don’t feel like I need a formal workspace at home. I can work in any space as long as there is an outlet for my laptop! I tend to gravitate toward serene spots, where I can be creative and think, which is why my desk is in my bedroom, rather than in a family area. 

2. Set your budget and think outside the box. Are you planning on building a new space for your office, or converting a garage or attic? If it’s a simple conversion of existing space, a general contractor should be able to give you an estimate. Get multiple estimates, and check all references from anyone you are thinking of hiring. If your budget is lean, you can still create a useful working space in your home. Get creative: do you have a guest room that rarely hosts guests? A playroom that your kids have outgrown?  Extra space in the kitchen? Designate office space using low-cost solutions like screens, bookcases, and modular storage units to preserve privacy and contain your work. 

3. Get wired. Once you’ve decided where your office will be located, lay out how the finished room will look. Take measurements and sketch how furniture will fit in the room. List the office equipment you will be using to determine where to place additional electrical outlets, reducing the need for extension cords. For me, one of the most crucial things in a workspace is lighting. I prefer both natural and overhead lighting. If your room lacks windows, make sure you have enough overheard and area fixtures. You’ll also want a desk lamp for adequate task lighting. Consider what other wiring you will need: Do you do all your business on a cell? Or do you need a landline, or two? Is the room hard-wired for high-speed Internet service? Or should you invest in a wireless router, providing Internet access to the whole household without needing to “plug-in”?  

4. Make yourself comfortable. I sometimes like to work on the floor in a big pile of pillows, near a sunny window. When I’m comfortable, I’m willing to stay where I am and focus on the task at hand. Your home office should be a place you look forward to going — not somewhere you are eager to escape! Arrange your work area in an L or U shape - this way you’ll have all your important items within easy reach. If you plan on spending lots of hours at your desk, make sure that you get a comfortable chair with adequate back support. Place your computer keyboard and monitor are at the proper height. Consider how you will heat and cool your space. Ceiling fans and programmable thermostats are proven energy savers. (Go to www.barbarasway.com for info on how to evaluate and install these proven money and energy savers!) 

5. Create a place for everything. You can install wall shelving (inexpensive and easy to construct), use free-standing shelves (I’ve got instructions on my website for how to build a nifty and functional shelving system on wheels), or invest in stackable modular storage pieces. My book, Room for Improvement offers more great ideas for do-it-yourselfers. Consider hiding your office equipment in a computer armoire. Bookshelves, or even fabric panels can double as room dividers, creating a separate area for client meetings.

Finally, remember that working at home is not just a lifestyle decision — it’s your business. Review your at-home productivity and profitability at six-month intervals and be prepared to make necessary adjustments. With a smoothly running home office, you can find a new job, launch a new business, or take your home-based career to the next level.

Home staging - the art of making your home highly appealing in today’s volatile real estate market is a smart way to spark buyer interest that can result in a quicker (and potentially more profitable) sale. When done well, staging can make your home look bigger, brighter, cleaner and, best of all, like the kind of space a potential buyer can imagine moving right into. Brokers have used professional stagers for years, but there’s no reason you can’t implement some of their most effective strategies yourself.

The first step is to clear the clutter. If you haven’t used something in three months, box it up and store it away; if you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it. If you can’t do either, find a place to hide it, like a covered container. Be ruthless with furniture, too. Professional stagers often remove half of the owner’s furnishings, leaving rooms looking much bigger.

Once the clutter is gone, you can swap out furniture and accessories among rooms; it can give your house a fresh new look without spending any money.

Choose a few pieces of appealing art, and be creative about how you display them. Try grouping pictures, staggering them a bit higher or lower than the next. Or position them in a triangular arrangement. If you have high ceilings, consider hanging art in a verticle line to accentuate their height.

Remove heavy drapery and replace with something light and airy. Natural light improves the look of any space and makes a room appear larger. Extend curtain rods to make narrow windows seem wider. If your ceilings are low, hang the rods at the ceiling line and let the curtains create an illusion of height.

Once you’ve let the sun shine in, turn your attention to the artificial lighting in your home. Most rooms aren’t shown off to their best advantage because they are improperly lit. Aim for about 100 watts (use a variety of light fixtures) per 50 square feet of space. Once you’ve got lighting in place, install dimmers so you can vary brightness levels according to your mood and the time of day.

Don’t be surprised if after all your hard work, you find yourself wondering why you ever wanted to move in the first place. Do it Barbara’s Way!

For more tips, videos and how-to’s, visit barbarasway.com

Are you putting off looking for a new, bigger place until the economy improves, your bank account is bigger or your debt is smaller? The good news is that the place you’re in probably isn’t as cramped as you think. There are lot of ways to expand without doing a full-blown renovation or addition. Here are some affordable suggestions for taking advantage of unused, or underutilized, space in your home.

IN THE KITCHEN

Make short cabinets taller by using the top of the cabinet as a shelf. Take off the old door and replace it with a 42-inch door. Lowe’s and Home Depot both sell stock cabinet doors. And Naked Kitchen Cabinet Doors (nakedkitchencabinetdoors.com) has them starting at $9.95. Cup hooks can be screwed under a cabinet or shelf to hold mugs; pot racks hold cookware; a plant hook in the ceiling holds baskets for produce and other supplies. Spice racks, adjustable sheet racks, plate racks and over-the-door racks can store everything from herbs to extra bottles of ketchup to cleaning products. Elfa door and wall storage systems are on sale now at the Container Store, with prices starting at $6.99.

IN THE BATHROOM

Replace your tiny medicine cabinet with a bigger one. Most cabinets come right out of the wall with the help of a screwdriver, and a deeper or taller one can be installed in its place. Floating shelves, available at IKEA, Home Depot and Target, offer smart, attractive storage solutions for a bathroom, especially tight spaces. They can stylishly display rolled and stacked towels, toiletries or even a pretty pyramid of toilet paper. IKEA’s “Lack” floating wall shelves start at $9.99. Baskets - the classic storage standby - can be stacked on shelves or under the sink to corral all sorts of loose items, such as a hair dryer, linens and bath products.

IN THE LIVING ROOM

Place a blanket or hope chest - easy to find at flea markets and second-hand stores or online - under your window, doubling as storage and seating with a view. There are several attractive examples, many with cedar lining, starting at $99 on eBay. Use storage cubes as a coffee table: They keep extra blankets and remote controls accessible but out of sight. Crate & Barrell sells leather versions (in green and red) for $149. Turn a book case into an office by removing two of the lower middle shelves and installing cork at the back (for tacking up important papers) and a deeper shelf that extends out to form a desk.

IN THE BEDROOM

Take advantage of the height of your closet by installing multiple shelves to hold out-of-season duds and rarely used items. Use baskets for efficient storage. And add a simple shelf 6 inches from the floor of the closet to add more surface area for your shoes. A pull-down clothing rack installed in the closet can double the space for clothing. Kitchen Source (www.kitchensource.com) sells these items for less than $125 each. Put your bed on sturdy plastic risers, available at big-box stores, to add up to 6 inches of storage space underneath. Target sells a set of four for $9.99 - if you are raising a queen or king size bed with six legs, buy two sets. A shelf installed around the perimeter of a bedroom (lower for a child’s room, higher for adults) can neatly hold artwork, collectibles, toys, books - even handbags and shoes if they look good!

See how easy that was! Now enjoy your “bigger” and more organized space. Do it Barbara’s Way!

So another new year is upon us and that “Rosy Red” paint chip didn’t quite turn out to be the color you thought it was going to be! Sometimes repainting your living room or rearranging your furniture (again!) isn’t enough to really freshen up the look of your space. However, with some imagination and a modest investment (around $500 or less) you can make dramatic changes to the appearance of your home.What better way to start the year “fresh” than with a little face lift for the home. Nothing gives quite the feeling of looking forward to a brand new year than repairing and replacing things to give your home a comfortable, clean, and organized start.

Here’s my list of top ten make-over’s – one or more will refresh tired living rooms and revamp boring kitchens and baths.

Always use my new Barbara’s Way/Isotoner gloves to make the work easier (and to protect your manicure!)

1. Kitchen facelift! You will not be able to replace your countertops with granite or marble for $500, but laminate now comes in many styles that mimic stone or look gloriously mod. You might be able to replace worn laminate with new laminate for about that price depending on the size of your kitchen. Then paint your kitchen cabinets a glossy white and add new handles and knobs. Adding new knobs are easy. All you will need is a screwdriver (or power screwdriver). There! You’ve got yourself a new look kitchen for $500!
2. Lighten up! Change the hanging fixtures and add sconces to the walls of your living room or bedroom. Depending on the cost of the fixtures, you can find replacement lighting in a new style and have it installed by a licensed electrician for about $500 per room. Check eBay for vintage versions (new wiring may be a must) or big home centers for modern looks.
3. Roll out the carpet! Cover a floor with sisal or jute cut and trimmed with a contrasting fabric to almost cover the entire floor. It’s a wall-to-wall look without the hassle. Jute and sisal rugs give your rooms a modern look, and also allow traditional Oriental rugs to stand out.
4. Fixture it! Change all fixtures in your bathroom. Mount extra shelves, and new towel bars, bathrobe hooks, shower set, and soap dish. Save on labor costs and do it yourself. At first glance, this may seem daunting especially if you have a tile wall and shower, but with the right tools it’s pretty simple. Make sure you have my 12 volt drill with variable speeds and a set of masonry drill bits – and if you don’t own one, buy one! Place heavy duty tape over the tile where you are going to drill and use toggle bolts which help strengthen and distribute the weight of what you are hanging.
5. Clean up! Regrout Bathroom Tile! If you’re like most people you’ve put this job off for too long! The best time to deal with this problem is as soon as you see cracks that indicate the wall grout has failed. Extract the existing grout by using an abrasive grout saw to remove as much grout as possible from the joint. Make sure you vacuum all debris and dust. Clean the grout with a commercial mildew remover to remove all mildew. Make sure the surface dries thoroughly. Apply the grout with a grout trowel and spread diagonally across the tile going over the area 2-3 times using your fingers where you have too
6. Replace window shades! Replace mini blinds or paper shades with bamboo or matchstick blinds. Big box stores such as Target and K-Mart sell good quality, but inexpensive versions. For $500 you can probable unify and outfit 3-4 rooms…these types of blinds never go out of style and always look chic, especially when draperies are layered over them.
7. Mirror it! Hang large mirrors in your living room or bedroom instead of art work Large mirrors bring sparkle and light into rooms, make the space feel bigger, and give it a chic, modern look. A great tip. To locate the right spot on your wall for heavier mirrors use construction paper or newspaper. Trace the mirror or picture on the paper and use tape to hang the paper on the wall. Then step back to look, so you know the exact spot and you’re not fumbling for it while holding the heavy mirror. I do it all the time!!
8. Minimize and replace! De-clutter one room – and be ruthless. Everyone usually has too much “stuff” in their rooms, not too little. Simplify, and get rid of any furniture or accessories that are broken, ugly, old, or tired. Then, bring one new piece into the room – such as a sculpture, a new rug, a fabulous pair of table lamps, a side chair, or coffee table. If you shop wisely, each of these items can be found for $500 or less.
9. Material change! Change the entire look of your rooms by replacing their drab or broken doorknobs. There are so many styles to choose from now and this is a project you can do on a weekend. Go to any home center or hardware store and pick out the style that best suits your taste. Make sure you keep all the parts organized. All you will need is a screwdriver or power screwdriver for quicker action. All the appropriate hardware usually comes with the doorknob. Remove the existing doorknob by loosening the two screws that hold the plate on (if there is one, you may have to remove the cover (usually by turning it) to get to the screws). Pull the two sides of the doorknob apart and remove it and then the two screws holding the bolt. To install the new knob, place the trim piece between the new doorknob and the door and insert the doorknob into the hole in the door. Insert the other side of the doorknob with the trim piece on the opposite side of the door making sure the two are aligned. Insert the screws and tighten. Add the covers if there are any and you’re done!
10. Stencil Painting! Cover one or more of the walls of your bedroom or living room with new paint using stenciling. This effect will make it look like you spent thousands of dollars on some fancy wallpaper. I created an elaborate looking headboard out of stenciling using great colors. It’s a project you can do on a weekend that costs less than $200 (and that included some expensive paint)! Buy the stencil for pennies at any good hardware or paint store.

Now you’re on the road to total independence!

Why not give yourself the gift of home improvement? Winter is the perfect time to catch up on seasonal projects, many of which will have you saving energy, money and/or the environment.

Cold Case - Did you know your refrigerator uses more energy than any other home appliance? And when dust , dirt and pet hair accumulate on the condenser coils (located on the back), they trap heat. Cleaning them will help your fridge run more efficiently and reduce your electricity bill. Temporarily cut off the power to the refrigerator by unplugging it or flipping it’s circuit breaker. Try Brushtech’s Refrigerator Coil Cleaning Brush, $7.99 at amazon.com

Brush Up - Thanks to new low-and no-VOC paints (volatile organic compounds make paint smell terrible and are bad for the environment), you can paint on a chilly afternoon without having to open all the windows. Sherwin-Williams Harmony line (pictured) is no-VOC, costs about $30 a gallon and comes in an array of attractive colors.

Made to order - Organizing your kitchen, bathroom and closets pays big dividends-once you know what you have and where to find it, you’re much less likely to buy things you don’t need. The Container Store sells under-bed drawers ($21.99); stacking shoe bins ($7.99); and Expand-a-Shelf kitchen cabinet shelf organizers ($3.74 to $14.99).

Here it comes - WINTER - and I’m ready to celebrate the season with friends and family, relax in front of a roaring fire, ski a little, and dream (a lot!) about the summer to come. Cold weather is also tje perfect time to catch up on some seasonal projects, things I’ve been meaning to get to, but havent had time for, mostly because the crisp fall weather was too seductive for me to spend much time indoors. I’ve put together a list of 10 to do’s that I plan on tackling during the coming winter months, starting today. They’re perfect “down time” projects that save or make money or time - and all of them improve home life in one way or another. Perhaps you want to add them to your winter DIY list too? I hope so!

1. Winterize the car: If you plan on driving to grandma’s house or the holidays, or just planning on taking a ski weekend, you have to take ome extra precautions with the car. I can tell you that driving around the Hamptons when it has snowed or sleeted is no picnic. Quite the opposite. This year I’m going to be ready for any driving trouble by creating a handy emergency kit for my car. I can put together inexpensively at any Auto Zone or the automotive department of a big box store like Target, Wal-Mart, or K-Mart. It will be filled with: 6 flares, yellow rotating light, plugs into the cigarette lighter, GPS, hand held, battery or plug into cigarette lighter, 3 reflective triangles, 40-foot log chain, An extra parka, 2 car blankets, Elk Skin gloves with liners, Half dozen energy bars, bottled water, tire repair spray, basic first aid kit, spare tire and jumper cables.
2. Now that my car is prepared, I’m planning a winter trip that’s close enough to do in a day or weekend, but different enough to feel like I’m really away. I love hte beach but in winter The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley, PA is tempting and only 2 1/2 hours from New York City. The 58-room luxury destination spa has rooms and a complete spa facility set on an incredible 75-acres or woods, streams and a 15-acre lake. The 40,000-square-foot spa features a full range of treatments as welll as an Aqua Garden with heated hydro-massage waterfall pools. Call toll free 1 (866) 255-3353 for a reservation.
3. Once I’m back from the spa, it’s back to real life…and I’m finally going to clean the condensor coils on the back of my fridge. Seriously. I know it’s not the most glam job in the world but it sure makes my appliance work better and as a result, cuts down on my electricity bill. Did you know your refrigerator  uses more energy than any other appliance in your home? They work hard ’round the clock - you can’t turn them off - so the more efficiently they run, the better. When dust, dirt, and pet hair accumulate on the coils, they blank and trap heat in. Temporarily cut off the power to the refrigerator by unplugging it or cutting its circuit breaker-since the job takes just minutes nothing will spoil as long as you keep the doors closed. I love Brushtech’s tapered Refrigerator Coil Cleaning Brush-B47C. At 7.99 it’s a steal.
4. Winterize: Why not - it’s winter! Check for cold air leaking inside around windows and doors and window air conditioning units. Seal any openings or replace old worn weather stripping. I use AM Conservation’s Foam Outlet and Switch Gaskets to block drafts around outlets and light switches. At 10 cents per piece, you really can’t afford not to get this simple task done. While you’re at it install door sweeps on entryways, and apply weather stripping or caulking around windows.
5. Look into permanent holiday lighting. ChannelBrite Permanent Outdoor LED Lighting System remains on your home year-round so you are instantly decorated for every occasion at the press of a button-whether it is for Christmas or a summer time backyard blow out. The system is made to blend seamlessly with your home’s trim and ensures that the lights remain perfectly straight and beautiful for years. The LED lights are extremely safe and 90% more energy efficient than traditional holiday lights, giving you savings on your energy bill as well. They’re also programmable, so homeowners can control the speed, pattern, and color of the lights. ChannelBrite costs about $25 a foot to install and comes with a 3-year warranty.
6. Cuddle the water heater. Unless you have a tankless water heater or you have one with a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), adding insulation to your tank can reduce standby heat loses by 25%-45%, which can save from 4%-9% in annual water heating costs. To find out if a blanket around your tank  is needed, simply touch the tank. If it feels warm, it needs insulation. Home centers sell pre-cut water heater jackets or blankets for about $15-$30, depending on the size. Choose one with an insulating value of at least R-8 and wrap it around the tank following manufacturer’s instructions, such as Frost King’s Water Heater Insulation Blanket. It has an R-value of 11, and it’s about $22 at Home Depot.
7. Paint: It’s about time you redid your living or bedroom, right? Well with the new low and no VOC (that’s the stuff that makes paint smell really bad) you can paint on a chilly afternoon without having to open all the windows. And when there isn’t much else to do, you’ll be happy come spring that you painted over the winter. Sherwin-Williams Harmony line of paint is no-VOC and costs about $30 a gallon-and comes in an array of yummy colors besides.
8. Organize: Another task that’s so easy to put off when the sun and sand beckons, organizing your kitchen, bathroom, and closets pays big dividends. Once you know where to find everything, and you know exactly whatn you have, you’re much less prone to buy things you don’t need because you can’t find them or you can’t remember  you already have whatever it is you think you’re out of. And since The Container Store is offering a whole bunch of organizing tools at new, permanent lower prices, there’s no better time to shop for under-bed drawers ($21.99); clear sox boxes ($5.99); and stacking shoe bins ($7.99), and Expand-a-Shelf brand kitchen cabinet storage steps ($3.74-$14.99).
9. Replace standard light switches with dimmer switches-romantic and flexible. Dimmers allow you to use just the amount of light you needm which saves energy. They’re super-simple to install - follow manufacturer’s easy instructions,  including cutting power to the switch you’re working on. Lutron’s new MeadowLark eco-minder dimmer (about $30) shows you saving 15% or more energy via an LED light that changes from red to green as you dim the lights. It controls up to 600W incandescent/halogen lighting, and its sleek design will blend unobtrusively with any decor.
10. Install motion sensors on outdoor lights or replace your current lights with motion-sensing models. They provide security and also ensure lights aren’t going all night unnecessarily. Motion detector light fixtures switch on when they sense movement. You can set the amount of time the light stays on after motion is detected (perhaps the amount of time it takes you to unlock your door and get inside, or the time it takes to raise your garage door). SteinelAmerica’s Dual Floodlight with Motion Sensor ($64) is super-sensitive, and programmable. If you buy it from The Home Security Store (homesecuritystore.com), you’ll also get free lifetime technical support.

I didn’t know I needed a hard hat to go to the bathroom at my spin class, but boy, did I found out the hard way!  As I shut the door, I heard a loud crash and ended up on the floor, woozy, with what seemed like a million pieces of glass around me. 

The ER doctor who ordered my CAT scan urged me to rest for several days.  When my mind cleared, I realized the crash was a large, framed print that had been improperly hung and had fallen on my head. How ironic it seemed that this would happen to someone who makes a living by teaching people how to hang and attach things!

In the interest of my readers safety, follow these simple, sensible rules for hangingn a picture, and accidents like these can easily be avoided.

First, assemble the proper equipment: a hammer,  screwdriver, level, tape measure, stud finder, pencil and picture hook and nails or screws. (Use a nail with a hook if it’s less than 15 pounds; use a screw if it’s more than 15 pounds.) You may also need a power drill and wall anchors.

Center the picture on the wall using the tape measure, and mark the spot with a pencil.  If you are hanging a group of pictures, put the largest in the center and arrange the others around it.  Aim to hang pictures at eye level about 5 feet from the floor. 

For many pictures, a simple hook and nail will suffice. But before you start hammering away, make sure the hook is rated to hold the weight of your picture. Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to hang a 50-pound picture on a hook designed to hold 10 pounds.  Not only will you damage your wall, you will likely damage your art and possibly your head too!  For heavy pictures or mirrors, one option to consider is using two hooks spaced a beam apart. Always put the hanging hardware at a downward (with the hooks sticking upwards) so the picture can’t pull away from the wall.

My Best Tip:  Look for the weakest link.  It’s not always the hook on the wall; it could be the attachments to the frame (such as the picture wire on the back). Also, remember walls move. So make sure the picture is not hanging on a wall affected by vibration. (a door slamming or a ventilation shaft).

Next, take the wall studs into consideration, whether your hanging a picture of a stud like George Clooney or a beautiful piece of art. Using the stud in the wall will give what you hang extra support, beyond just hammering the nail right into the drywall.

 Use a stud finder, but if you don’t have one, you can try to locate the stud by knocking on the wall and listening to the discrepancy in sound. Also, studs are usually placed 16 inches on center within the wall.  Use a tape measure from a door window or corner.

For heavier pictures, you can also use a drywall anchor (shield or wall plug), which will provide the stability of a stud in drywall. They come in different sizes based on the weight of what you are hanging. You can use a cordless drill (best) or a hammer and screwdriver.

Drill a hole slightly smaller than the wall anchor. Be sure to drill at a downward angle. When installed, the anchor will expand within the drywall and help secure your screw in its place. Insert the screw in the anchor. <ake sure you don’t screw it in all the way; it should stick out to accept the wire of hanging device on the rear side of the frame.

You are now ready to hang your picture and you did It Barbara’s Way!

Keep checking back for great money saving DIY and lifestyle ideas. Here are ten that will get you started on building up, not taking from, your nest egg - and make your life beter too.

1. Sign up for your electric company’s off peak use plan. Many regional power suppliers now offer rebates for consumers who reduce their electricity consumption during periods of peak demand. For instance, wash clothes (and dry them outside) and dishes very early in the morning or in the evening and use a programmable thermostat that is programmed to switch off or lower iteself when you are not at home. You’ll save from $25 to $50 per month on your energy bills depending on the season. Plus, you’re easing the strain on the power grid and lowering the odds of a blackout.

2. Make your own cleaning solutions. For instance, white vinegar and baking soda. A few bucks in extra pantry supplies. Ounce for ounce, homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth of commerical counterparts and they are better for you and the environment. You can save $50 or more per  year on commercial cleaners. A good all-purpose cleaner can be made with 1/2 cup of baking soda; 1-cup distilled white vinegar; 1/4 cup basic liquid detergent; and a drop of any essential oil you like (for natural fragrance). Mix in a bowl and place in one or two glass jars. Use on a sponge to wash almost any surface. Use hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice to wash white and brighten colors (much gentler than harsh chlorine bleach) and let white dry in the sun to bleach and refresh them further.

Make a safe and effective window cleaner by combining 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of liquid  detergent , 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar, 2 cups of water and place in a spray bottle. Shake gently and use as you wood any spray window cleaner. Liquid detergent is very important because it will cut the residue built up on your glass surfaces from commercial brands you may have used for a long time.

3. Insulate hot-water lines. Performed foam tubes found at home centers are made to fit around pipes thanks to the slit along their length. Takes minutes to complete once you have the foam, and will save $50 per year on energy, and cuts the wait for hot water to come into upstairs sink and shower in half.

4. When replacing a roof choose a light color. While real estate agents may love dark colors (because buyers think they are attractive) light colored shingles have energy costs by reducing the need for air conditioning in hot weather (because light roofs reduced absorption of solar heat. Light roofs cost the same as dark versions, and can save $40 per year or more on summer cooling costs. This cool rook may even earn you a utility company rebate.

5. Shift your shopping strategy. Seasonal sale shopping and looking to your communityfor free stuff is a great way to save a lot of money when you need to replace or buy for the first time things like summer and fall equipment and gardening resources. For example, replace your grill, lawn mower, and patio furniture in the fall, when stores mark down their inventory to make room for holiday decorations and snow blowers. Some online retailers will offer free or greatly reduced shipping fees to unload their extra inventory. Buy firewood  in the spring when it’s cheaper than in winter-and give it some extra time to “season”. Hire a chimney sweep during the summer when their schedules are wide open, and their prices reduced. Look for free trees and shrubs from your town’s yard-waste recycling center. You may score free trees and shrubs from your town too -many municipalities proved and plant ornamental trees between the sidewalk in front of your house and the street. And some will allow residents to pick up greenery that is being changed out for new landscaping plants in front of public buildings.

6. Install a ceiling fan. If you don’t have ceiling fans now, you should have one in each bedroom and common areas-they efficiently and effectively reduce the need for air conditioning and heating. In the winter, run the fan at low speed in a clockwise direction to re-circulate warm air that rises to the ceiling (and lower your thermostat by a couple of degrees). Reverse the fan direction in summer so the airflow creates a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler-and allowing you to turn down or off your AC.

7. Plug in a SmartStrip. Rather than unplugging battery run or electric items after every use, plug them into SmartStrip surge protectors in your kitchen and home office. It automatically kills power to electronics when you turn the strips off and returns it when you switch them back on. You might save up to $250 per year in energy costs especially if your family uses a lot of battery run electronics, like mp3 players, cell phones, laptops and small appliances.

8. Raise the roof on your deductible. If you switch your home owners insurance deductible from $250 to $1,000, or $500 to $2000, you can save $200 - $300 or more on payments per year or more if you have a valuable home. You also won’t be tempted to make small claims , which can (and most likely will) lead to a rise in your rate.

9. Time it. We love this one-put a timer in  your kid’s or your shower. The moderately priced and DIY-easy to install, battery-operated device (about $100-$120)limits showers to 5, 8 or 11 minutes (a 5-minute shower is very earth friendly). Not only can you save $250 a year or more on hot water bills, the whole family will be more likely to have a family breakfast and make it to the office and classroom on time.

10. Make an appeal. When you get your property tax assessment, don’t just blindly accept it. Reject it - or at least go in person to your municipality tax office and appeal it. One in three homeowners who do visit their assessor get their bills reduced, so the odds are with you. That’s according to the National Taxpayers Union. They sell an inexpensive brochure ($7) at www.ntu.org, How to fight Property Taxes that helps homeowners strategize before you go in. You may shave off $400-$500 off your yearly bill for a long time, since assessments are not done on a frequent basis.

These are some things that you can do to help save money and you can do it Barbara’s Way!

The weather authority has predicted a cold winter this year and now is the time to hang those heavier curtains to block window drafts. I am going to tell you how to install/adjust curtain rods and make your windows appear larger.

What you will need: Drapery rod and hardware, 10′ or 25′ tape measure, 4 in 1 level, stud finder, power drill with screwdriver bits or a 6 in 1 interchangeable screw driver, screws and anchors (if studs are out of line with where rods need to go), hammer, pencil, putty knife, joint compound, wall paint, drapery, additional fabric (if necessary to make the drapery longer).

How to get it done:

1. Decide where you want to hang your curtain rod by holding the rod up to the wall. A good placement is about 2 inches below the ceiling. However, if you have large finials, make sure they will fit without bumping the ceiling. All curtain hardware should clear the ceiling by at least 1 inch.
2. Use your level to make sure the position is straight. Be sure your curtain rod will support the weight of the curtains. If the curtains are very heavy, or the curtain rod is longer than 48 inches, use a center bracket for additional support. In general, long rods come with the additional center bracket.
3. Once you’ve decided on the placement of the brackets, use your pencil to lightly mark the top of the bracket and then nail holes on the chosen site.
4. Use the stud finder to locate the wall studs. If you find studs where your brackets are to go, use the power drill to make shallow holes, no more than 1/8″ inch (called pilot holes) to help you start the screws and secure your hardware to the walls.
5. You’ll need to use hollow-wall anchors if you’re going to attach the brackets directly to the walls. Drill a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the anchor you are using, then tap the anchor into the wall with a hammer.
6. Use a putty knife to apply joint compound to fill holes left when you removed the drapes from their original, lower position. Allow the patches to dry and then repaint them with your wall color.
7. If you are altering your original drapes, sew a fabric panel to the bottom of your drape to meet the floor.

Now you can press your curtains and hang them up. And you did it yourself, Barbara’s Way!

Though the past couple of months have yielded better news about the housing market, many owners and would-be sellers (like me) are still in shock from the nosedive in home prices.

So understandably, most homeowners are a bit leery of investing in their nest. But let me set you straight. Now is exactly the time we should be sprucing up our property - the biggest asset most of us will ever have.

We might not have the funds to transform our baths into “spa retreats” or load up our kitchens with fancy appliances. But we should devote (a little) money to making small but critical enhancements: the kind that are both recession-proof (they’ll in crease the value of your house) and recession-friendly (not a budget-buster among them). And best of all, you can save money by doing them yourself!

POWER UP: Cheaper than painting, power-washing will instantly improve the look of your home and, should you live in an area that is prone to mold or mildew, extend the life of your siding. A good power-washing can last several years, but don’t forget to seal it with a proper exterior-sealer. You can rent power-washers at home superstores for about $30 to $50 per day. Buying one can run you anywhere from $200 to $1,000, depending on the size and the pressure of the washer. A washer hooks up easily to your existing hose or water supply. You will need a ladder for second stories, and for a 2,000-square-foot house, you can typically finish the project in two weekends.

WASH AND DRY: Give your outdoor furniture a scrubbing; there are special, expensive products for this, but sudsy water and a garden hose do the job just fine. Let the furniture air-dry thoroughly, then store it covered with an old sheet (inside) or plastic drop cloth (outside). Doing this prep work now will make setting up next summer a breeze.

SQUARE ROOTS: Put those weary-looking annuals out of their misery; replace them with affordable, hardly mums in the golden colors of fall. And don’t toss those green tomatoes! When the nights begin to chill, bring them inside and store at room temperature in a brown paper bag to ripen.

EASY BREEZY: With fuel prices sky-high, now is the time to think enery-efficiency and install a ceiling fan. The best thing about adding a fan is that you can save big at least $1,000 on your seasonal heating bill - by circulating the warm air through your house. Plus, you are helping the environment by saving energy. (And while you’re installing your ceiling fan, don’t forget to call in the experts to have your furnace tuned up - this simple maintenance ensures peak efficiency.)

STOP THE RUNNING: Fix that running toilet: That constant drip is money coming out of your pocket! The new Barbara’s Way Toilet Repair Kit (available at select Wal-mart stores and Amazon.com for $19.99) comes with easy instructions to help you replace the fill valve, gasket or flush valve (usually the source of the problem).

GET COZY: Now’s the time to make sure everything fits snugly. Check the weather-stripping around doors and windows - a little extra measure of protection. Installing weather-stripping is a snap and requires minimal equipment: just a trusty tape measure and safety goggles. My favorite brand is Frost King, which retails for between $9.99 and $19.99. Do it Barbara’s Way!