As Seen in Newsweek, Woman's Day, Woman's World, Quick & Simple, The Family Life Network, NY Times and Associated Press

Michelle Jones, Founder and Publishing Editor of BetterBudgeting.com

E-mail Michelle
Facebook
Twitter
Bookmark and Share

Enter Your Email for Our FREE Monthly Ezine and Free Ebook... "Dealing with Debt"

Reader Feedback

Dedicated to Helping Families LIVE A BETTER LIFE...
Not by Spending More Money, but Less! 
Since 2001

  Join Us Today!!!

Home | Register for Better Budgeting Class | Print Free Budgeting & Debt Worksheets
Free Debt Ebook | Subscribe - Free Membership to Living a Better Life™ - Yes, it's FREE!

, 2009 

Save Money with Thousands of FREE Tips on Budgeting for People Who Hate to Budget, Getting Out of Debt, Frugal Family Fun, Frugal Recipes, Saving Money on Groceries and Work-at-Home Business Ideas

Welcome to BetterBudgeting...


Home
Article Index  

Monthly Contest Tip Rewards
Meet the Editor
Dinner Blog
Translate
Search this Site


Budget Help
Budget Help:
Budgeting Articles
Better Budgeting Class
Budget Calculators
Budget Planners
Budget Software
Free Budgeting Forms


Resources to Help You Save Money
Resources to Help You Save Money:
Book
Credit Reports
Credit Scores
Dealing with Debt
Dental Plans
Entertainment Coupon Book
Free Insurance Quotes
Find a Job
Frugal Cookbook
Grocery Coupons
Grocery Savings
Lower My Bills
Menu Planners
Paid Surveys
Shop & Save
Unclaimed Cash
U.S. Tax Help
Work-at-Home Business Guides


More Money Saving Topics!
More Money Saving Topics:
Bargain Shopping
Decorating on a Budget
Frugal Household Tips
Frugal Living
Frugal Parenting
Frugal Recipes
Frugal Travel Tips
Gas Saving Tips
Getting Organized
Holidays - Frugal Crafts & Homemade Gifts
Thrifty Money Saving Tips

TOP "HOW TO" EBOOKS:

Frugal Family Recipes - How to Feed Your Family at Home on a Budget

How to Own Your Own Paycheck Again

How to Shop Smart with Our Very Own Black Belt Shopper

How to Start a Home Business

How to Use Coupons Wisely and Truly Get Organized So You CAN Use Them

 

 

Budget Decorating
(featured column)

How To Turn Yard Sale Finds into Home Decorating Masterpieces!

by Kathleen Wilson

 

The time of year is here for yard sales, and there is no better place for budget decorators to find the best treasures! The trick is in recognizing an item's potential. Here are some great ideas for turning low cost yard sale finds into great home decorating accessories for your home!  More...

1. Look Little  

Don’t overlook the impact little items can make in your décor. Costume jewelry, craft beads, even hardware wire can be transformed into beautiful details for your home. Use earrings to pin together guest towels, wrap a chandelier with a crystal necklace, or use the wire to string on beads and twist around iron staircase railings.

2. Look Big  

An old 70’s waterbed might not seem like a good find, unless you just use the headboard, paint it white, and turn it into a cottage style display case for your china and glassware! Old laminate storage cabinets can be transformed into a gorgeous armoires by adding some molding, priming with Kilz, and adding the paint color and technique of your choice!

3. Look for Raw Materials  

You can find resources for fabric at yard sales in clothing, sheets, and quilts and blankets. Remember, a stained lace tablecloth can be cut down to make placemats or runners, and a beautiful ski sweater can be used to front a throw pillow. That silk dress you pick up for $3 might offer great fabric for covering storage boxes, photo matting, or edging towels. Used blankets can be washed and used to line quilts, or cut, rolled up and covered to make neck roll pillows.

4. Look Beyond 

Many items at garage sales may be used for different uses than originally intended, if you just keep your eyes open! You may find a beautiful serving bowl, but get it for $1 because of it’s chipped edge! No worries, a gorgeous planter for the front porch! A small bookshelf that isn’t sturdy enough for books could be painted and placed on the deck or the entry to hold plants or knick knacks. I even saw one person cut the toe out of an old leather boot, and use it as a splashguard at the downspout! If an item catches your eye because of color or interest, try to see how it could be used in a different way, and buy it for a song!

5. Learn Some Creative Paint Finishes

Most of the things you find at yard sales can be upgraded in an afternoon with an interesting paint finish. You can find many instructions on the internet. I really love www.PaintIdeas.com for some great inspiration. 

There you have it! Put a couple of bucks in your wallet, always remember to offer a lower price than marked, and don’t be afraid to pick up something because you love it, even if you don’t know what to do with it quite yet! (Keep reading my Budget Decorating column, you’ll think of something!)

*  *  *

Copyright © 2005 by Kathleen Wilson.  All rights reserved.

Budget Decorating Article Index

Want more money-saving tips?  Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly newsletter!

Special Features

TRY IT FREE:  
Mvelopes Personal Budgeting System - Free Trial!

SAVE $100s ON GROCERIES:
Print Free Grocery Coupons and Get Hundreds of Free Tips at Our Grocery Site

VISIT OUR HOME PAGE:
Read Recent Articles, Money Saving Tips and Frugal Recipe Contest Details

MONTHLY TIP REWARD CONTEST:
Thrifty Money Saving Tips - You Could Be Our Next Winner!

Order Our Frugal Cookbook

Frugal Family Recipes by Michelle Jones

Frugal Family Recipes... From
Our Home to
Yours!

FEATURED FRUGAL RECIPES
Cheap and Inexpensive Recipes for the Frugal Cook on a Budget!

FRUGAL FAMILY RECIPES:
Frugal Recipe Index & Dinner Blog...

Order Cookbook...

EDITOR'S BOOK PICK OF THE MONTH
Organize Now! - A fantastic guide on getting your life organized!

Organize Now!: A Week By Week Guide To Simplify Your Space And Your Life

More Book Picks...


Free Budget Help and Tips to Save Money


Help a Friend Today, Tell Them About Us!
Send an E-mail
Link to Us
Free Brochures

Our Favorite Charities

Red Cross Disaster Relief

American Bible Society

American Cancer Society

More Charities and Your Local Food Banks...

 

RETURN TO HOME PAGE

Thank you for visiting with us today!  
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE SUBSCRIPTION & BONUS GIFT!

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Article Index | Free Article Reprints | Media | Advertising | Affiliates
Disclaimer | Privacy | Reader Feedback | Subscribe | Unsubscribe-Change Address

Charities & Food Banks

Copyright © 2001-2009 by BetterBudgeting.com,  a subsidiary of Blue Ridge Publishing, Inc.  All rights reserved.
No portion of this Web site or its publications may be reprinted without the written permission of the editor. Please ensure that any reprinting of the content from our Web sites and publications include full credit back to us with a link to BetterBudgeting.com.

Thank you for your support... Have you told your friends and family about us?