Best of TBC
- Planting Fall Bulbs: Budget Gardening Tip
- Cloth Napkins: The Look for Less
- Chalking It Up: Look for Less
- Free Shipping on Bedding Items at Target: Daily Deal
- Weekend Guest Welcome Kit: Entertaining on a Budget
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Welcome to The Budget Casa, where we help you create a fabulous home on a budget. Check out our home decorating tips, easy do-it-yourself projects, advice for entertaining on a budget and share your tips in our decorating forum.
Featured Post
Planting Fall Bulbs: Budget Gardening Tip
September 7, 2008 08:00 AM
First, decide where you want the flowers to bloom – a backyard area shaded by trees, or a sun-filled spot near the front porch? The amount of sun the potential area receives will determine whether the flowers will thrive once planted. Does the area receive rainfall, or is it a dry patch that will require watering? Most bulbs do best in well-drained soil.
Also consider the arrangement and color combinations of the flowers once they bloom. Be sure to plant taller flowers in back, and plan for complementary or even a monochromatic color effect. Think about your house’s color and style as well – choose a complementary color combination, and one that will not blend into the background.
Some common and easy to grow bulbs include crocuses, which are one of the earliest bloomers, typically February-March; snowdrops, which will bloom February-April, depending on variety; daffodils, which bloom March-May; tulips, which can bloom from March-May, depending on the variety; and hyacinths, which will bloom April-May.
Photo: Van Dycks
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Cloth Napkins: The Look for Less
September 6, 2008 08:00 AM
Cloth napkins not just for those fancy-pants restaurants; they can be used at home to add or change the mood of any table, and quite inexpensively as well. They're also much more environmentally friendly than paper napkins or paper towels – just think of how many uses you can get out of them! They can last for years with heavy usage, and won’t clog up the landfills or your trash can like those thin little paper counterparts.
Cloth napkins can cost a few dollars each to more than $5 each – and the ones in stores still might not be quite your style. But you can easily make your own cloth napkins at home with minimal effort -- and get maximum results. You don’t even necessarily need sewing skills; they can be made either by finishing the hems or by simply raveling them for a fringed look.
To make cloth napkins, start with good, 100% cotton fabric. Fabric can be purchased at craft stores like Joanns, fabric stores, or even discount stores like Wal Mart, for under $2 per yard.
Next, wash, dry and iron the fabric. When it’s dry and smooth, cut out 14 inch squares to make dinner napkins, or 6 inch squares for cocktail napkins. Fringe the fabric squares by gently pulling out the strands of string along the edges, starting at the top of the cloth. Pull about ¼-inch of strings on all four sides for even seams.
Use a different napkin ring for each family member to differentiate between the napkins, or designate a different color or design for each person, and use them over and over again until they require laundering. In addition, you can designate a certain color or pattern for wiping down the counters, cleaning spills, etc.
To wash, simply toss into the laundry with other colored or white fabrics on the gentle cycle. About 10 dinner napkins are the equivalent of one t-shirt in weight and size. Dry on low heat and remove promptly to reduce wrinkling. You can also line dry the napkins in the summertime. If they do wrinkle, iron with a warm iron to smooth out the fabric.
Cloth napkins can cost a few dollars each to more than $5 each – and the ones in stores still might not be quite your style. But you can easily make your own cloth napkins at home with minimal effort -- and get maximum results. You don’t even necessarily need sewing skills; they can be made either by finishing the hems or by simply raveling them for a fringed look.
To make cloth napkins, start with good, 100% cotton fabric. Fabric can be purchased at craft stores like Joanns, fabric stores, or even discount stores like Wal Mart, for under $2 per yard.
Next, wash, dry and iron the fabric. When it’s dry and smooth, cut out 14 inch squares to make dinner napkins, or 6 inch squares for cocktail napkins. Fringe the fabric squares by gently pulling out the strands of string along the edges, starting at the top of the cloth. Pull about ¼-inch of strings on all four sides for even seams.
Use a different napkin ring for each family member to differentiate between the napkins, or designate a different color or design for each person, and use them over and over again until they require laundering. In addition, you can designate a certain color or pattern for wiping down the counters, cleaning spills, etc.
To wash, simply toss into the laundry with other colored or white fabrics on the gentle cycle. About 10 dinner napkins are the equivalent of one t-shirt in weight and size. Dry on low heat and remove promptly to reduce wrinkling. You can also line dry the napkins in the summertime. If they do wrinkle, iron with a warm iron to smooth out the fabric.
Chalking It Up: Look for Less
September 5, 2008 12:00 PM
With everything there is to do in a day (let alone a week), keeping track of your schedule is important (important being an understatement). And unless you want to be chained to technology forever (we’re talking to you, you crack-berry addicts), finding a cool way to keep your sked at the forefront of your mind is essential.
Sure, you could write everything down in a notebook or you could buy a bulletin board. You could even create an intricate filing system comprised of folders marked ‘to do today,’ ‘to do tomorrow,’ ‘forget forever.’
Instead, why not check out our latest chic and totally cheap find: the peel and stick chalkboard from Taylor Gifts (pictured above, $19.98). About half the price of wall-mounted chalkboards, this incredibly versatile board can be stuck on any wall or surface. And because it’s reuseable, you can move it from room to room without the hassle of fixing nail holes. All you do is peel and stick.
It’s the perfect way to keep track of your schedule, without the muss or the fuss.
If only rolling out of bed in the morning were so easy.
Sure, you could write everything down in a notebook or you could buy a bulletin board. You could even create an intricate filing system comprised of folders marked ‘to do today,’ ‘to do tomorrow,’ ‘forget forever.’
Instead, why not check out our latest chic and totally cheap find: the peel and stick chalkboard from Taylor Gifts (pictured above, $19.98). About half the price of wall-mounted chalkboards, this incredibly versatile board can be stuck on any wall or surface. And because it’s reuseable, you can move it from room to room without the hassle of fixing nail holes. All you do is peel and stick.
It’s the perfect way to keep track of your schedule, without the muss or the fuss.
If only rolling out of bed in the morning were so easy.
Free Shipping on Bedding Items at Target: Daily Deal
September 5, 2008 08:00 AM
The Deal: Free shipping on select bedding at Target.com
The Lowdown: As the nights grow cooler and the days grow shorter, there's nothing quite like snuggling up in some cozy new bedding for a good night's sleep -- at Target right now, go ahead and order up a set with free shipping. We're partial to the bed-in-a-bag, like this set from Contemporary Home, which features 8 pieces on sale now for $59.99 to $99.99.
Shop: Target.com
The Lowdown: As the nights grow cooler and the days grow shorter, there's nothing quite like snuggling up in some cozy new bedding for a good night's sleep -- at Target right now, go ahead and order up a set with free shipping. We're partial to the bed-in-a-bag, like this set from Contemporary Home, which features 8 pieces on sale now for $59.99 to $99.99.
Shop: Target.com
Weekend Guest Welcome Kit: Entertaining on a Budget
September 4, 2008 12:00 PM
Having guests over for the weekend can be both fun and stressful – which can end up reflecting back on your guests and make them feel less than welcome. Even when you’re hosting on a budget , you can still start the weekend off right by treating your guests to a welcome basket so that they’re sure to feel at home all weekend long.
First, find a basket or box that suits your guests’ taste, such as a photo box for an old friend (remember to...
First, find a basket or box that suits your guests’ taste, such as a photo box for an old friend (remember to...
Smith & Hawkins Free Shipping on Holiday Sneak Peek: Daily Deal
September 4, 2008 08:00 AM
The Deal: Free Shipping on Holiday Sneak Peek items at Smith & Hawkings
The Lowdown: Yep, we know the holidays are a ways off . . . but with Halloween decorations in the stores already, Christmas won't be far behind. Get a jump on the season -- either for gift giving or sprucing up your own holiday decor (with something like these Venetian egg ornaments for $34) -- at Smith & Hawkins right now, and get free shipping. So you'll have some holiday...
The Lowdown: Yep, we know the holidays are a ways off . . . but with Halloween decorations in the stores already, Christmas won't be far behind. Get a jump on the season -- either for gift giving or sprucing up your own holiday decor (with something like these Venetian egg ornaments for $34) -- at Smith & Hawkins right now, and get free shipping. So you'll have some holiday...
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