Handy Household Hints
Some New Tips and Some Old
© Barbara Bothwell

May 11, 2008

Mothers pass some hints on to us, some we learn by habit and some, unfortunately, we forget. Hopefully this list will help you to remember.
The useful thing about household hints is that they make the work easier and, in many cases, are time-saving. Something which we all need in this day and age. Here are some hints from my collection:

It is surprising that, in this day and age of security minded-ness, we are still asked to dictate our names, addresses and telephone numbers. Often when there are people nearby. Have some business cards printed. It is much safer to hand one over so that the information is simply between you and the requestee and not the rest of the world.
Got a problem with chewing gum (or similar substance) on the bottom of a shoe or - worse! - on the carpet or in the children's hair? Don't despair. A piece of ice rubbed over it will harden the substance so that it will then fall off or can be easily picked up.
Do you make a list of chores? One that gets longer and longer and longer? Make a second list from the first one, picking out the jobs that will only take five or ten minutes to do. It is amazing how quickly the list gets reduced and you lose your sense of despair.
Keep cut flowers fresh by putting just a couple of inches of water in the vase. Cut the stems at a slant, strip off leaves and remember to change the water every one or two days. Each time you change the water trim a little more off the stems so that the flowers can more easily drink. Not only do the flowers last longer, you also don't get the horrible smell of rotting stems.
What will they think of next? I recently saw an advertisement for a device to stop one getting electric shocks when touching the car. There is a much cheaper method - touch the metal with a plastic pen such as a Bic.
Fed up with continually tidying and cleaning the cupboard under the sink? Buy some foil roasting dishes. That way you can keep the various items in some semblance of order and are able to quickly find what you want. It also keeps the floor of the cupboard clean. And the bottles don't tip over because of the high sides of the dishes.
Are you bugged by weeds in the garden path? An easy answer is to spray them with malt vinegar. They quickly disappear and won't begin to reappear for about another six months. But - be careful not to get the vinegar on your plants.
And one last one to add to your packing list when going on vacation:

If traveling abroad and taking prescription medication, carry a copy of the prescription with you (or a note from your doctor). Some countries are very strict about which medications they let in. Whether you take medication or simply vitamins, don't throw away the empty bottles - use them to take exactly the right number of pills with you. At the end of the vacation you can then throw away the empties.
Now sit down with the list and add your own tips to it. You will be surprised at how many you can add to this list.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

An Apartment Checklist of What to Buy First

Getting your first apartment is exhilarating. That empty space is full of promise and prospects for shopping. Let your imagination wander. Depending on your shopping personality, it is easy either to get carried away and blow your money on nonessential (but gratifying) items; or to tremble at the thought of spending your hard-earned income on expensive furniture. Below is a list of 11 essential purchases for turning your first apartment into a comfortable, functional home. My suggestion is to purchase at least the first five items before you move in. 1. Mattress / Bed This first purchase is a no-brainer, especially after you've spent a night or two on a cold hard floor in a sleeping bag. Those first days, weeks, or months in your first apartment, your bed can be the place where you eat, read, and watch TV. Remember to measure your bedroom, before you buy the mattress. Also, think about how much you can spend on sheets. Queen-size sheets cost significantly more than twin sheets. Compare Mattresses 2. Trash Cans I like having a minimum of three trash cans, one each for the bathroom, the kitchen, and my bedroom. 3. Shower Curtain and Shower Rings Not all apartments come with a shower curtain, and I would be suspicious of how clean one is, if it does. Shower curtains come in all different texture, colors, and can be opaque or transparent. With this inexpensive purchase, you can really add style and personality to your apartment bathroom. Compare Prices 4. Curtains or Blinds If you have bare windows in your first apartment, purchase curtains or blinds as soon as you can--for the sake of privacy. Blinds are more functional, but curtains have a soft appeal. Plus, the fabric of curtains is a better barrier against sound and the cold outside. Compare Prices 5. Chest of Drawers or Hanging Closet Organizers There are many ways to store your clothing. As long as you have one, you're all right. A chest of drawers is great, if you have the space. A cheaper alternative to a dresser is stackable plastic drawers. You can also buy hanging shelves with hooks that sit on your closet rod. Hanging Closet Organizers: Buy Direct 6. Dishware, Cups, and Utensils It's much cheaper to eat at home than at a restaurant. Acquire some bowls, cups, plates, forks, spoons, and knives--disposable or permanent.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

How to Rent an Apartment or House
By eHow Personal Finance Editor

The rental markets in many cities are cyclical: a few boom years with renters scrambling for any available studio followed by a glut in availability. In either scenario, the most desirable rental units are snapped up the quickest. Do your homework, then hit the pavement.

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InstructionsDifficulty: Moderate
Conduct the search
Step1 Be prepared: Create a renter's re'sume' with your current and previous five addresses and landlord phone numbers, your employer and length of employment, your current salary and other income, personal references, among other information. Include a copy of your credit report (see How to Shop for a Mortgage, Step 5). You want to look as good on paper as possible to stand out from other applicants.
Step2 Look in the newspaper classifieds, apartment hunter publications, college campus bulletin boards, and online for available units to investigate. Ask friends about openings in their buildings.
Step3 Consider how much you can afford to pay. A good rule of thumb is no more than 30 percent of your take-home monthly income.
Step4 Enlist a rental agent to narrow your search. Depending on the market, this service may be free (paid for by landlords) or cost you a percentage of your rent when you land the apartment.
Step5 Turn to a roommate service if you're looking for cheaper space to share. Be clear what qualities you desire in a roommate, as well as types of people or habits you'd prefer to avoid, such as smokers.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

10 Tips for Small Spaces
From Fred Albert,
Time-Tested Advice From AFMA Helps Make Small Spaces Bigger
The 87 percent of Americans who describe their home as small to medium in size know the importance of using every square inch to maximum efficiency. Rather than making their space look bigger, people want a cozy, intimate feel and prefer to use their space wisely and get the most out of it.
"One of the great things about small rooms is that they help us think creatively about the way we live," said Jackie Hirschhaut, Vice President of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association. "Furniture is a true complement to a small abode – it helps you maximize your space by providing function, comfort and style."

AFMA suggests the following tips for ways to increase square footage without building on an addition:

Go Vertical
Consider tall furniture rather than wide to preserve precious floor space.

e taken advantage of the valuable space under the bed – in style. Use decorative boxes and storage bins to stow out-of-season clothing, wrapping paper, sporting goods or anything else.

Retractable Doors
When shopping for an armoire or entertainment center, look for ones with retractable doors to provide more space when the doors are open.

Try the Kids' Department
Youth furniture is designed to fit into smaller rooms but also accommodates adults just fine. Have a small guest bedroom or a little alcove office? A child's dresser or desk might be the perfect fit.

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
Many pieces of furniture have wheels – whether it is a sofa, a coffee table, a storage shelf, kitchen table or an ottoman. Enjoy extra mobility and function with a wheeled piece of furniture that is fashionable and practical.

Don't Leaf It Out
If a full-size dining room table is just too big for the dining area, ask your retailer about one with removable leaves.

Accent It
A mirror is always a nice accent to any room, but especially a small one. Mirrors add light and depth when space is limited. And the right accessories will highlight one's personal style and enhance the intimacy of a small space

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Subletting your Apartment (Rate this article) You’ve finally landed the job of your dreams. It allows you to do the work you’ve always dreamed of doing for a great salary and amazing benefits. The perfect opportunity, right? It would be, if it weren’t 200 miles away. You don’t mind moving but have a lease for the next six months. Don’t give up that ideal opportunity until you read over our advice on how to sublet. Subletting means essentially sharing a lease with someone else until it expires. It has its risks but if done properly, it will be possible to move early without breaking a lease. Here are the steps you need to follow to make your sublet experience a success. Get Your Landlord’s Permission Read your lease to determine your subletting rights. If your landlord profusely forbids it, try to explain your situation in writing and negotiate a solution. You can offer to help your landlord find a new tenant, although you are still responsible for the rent until a new lease is signed. If subletting is permitted, get your landlord’s permission in writing before moving on to the next step. Find a Trust-worthy Leaser Ask around your circle of friends and co-workers first. If you don’t get a response, post a flyer in a coffee shop you frequent, community center or place an ad in the classifieds. Describe your apartment and the dates that it will be available along with your contact information. You can try to advertise for the same rent you are paying but may have to reduce the rate since you are limited in time. Interview interested people just as if you were hiring them to work for you. You will still be responsible for the lease so you need to make sure the person who moves in will pay rent on time and keep the apartment well-maintained. Here are some questions to ask a potential sublessor: Where are you employed and what is your monthly after-tax income? Why are you seeking short-term housing? How many people will be living the apartment? Any children? Any pets? Do you plan on having any social events or guests staying at the apartment? Do you consider yourself a clean person? (The person’s appearance is one clue to the answer although it is not a guarantee that their appearance reflects their housekeeping habits). Give the best potential sublet candidates a tour of the apartment. Answer their questions as honestly as possible and be candid about any problems. You don’t want the sublessor to back out in a month or two since you will be left to fill in the rent. Sign a Written Agreement Even if you were lucky enough to have a friend to take over your lease, you still need to have a written agreement. You can make one yourself but unless you’re a lawyer, this is not advisable. The Internet Legal Research Group has a sublet form for every state. Go to http://www.ilrg.com/forms/sublease/us/ and print out the form for your state. A professionally formatted version of the form is available for a fee. If not mentioned in the agreement, you need to add in a statement regarding the security deposit. Since your landlord is most likely not required to return it to you until the lease is over, you will need to come to an agreement over it. For example, if the sublessor puts a hole in the wall is he/she responsible for the security deposit? If you don’t address it the money will surely come out of your pocket. Depending on the terms in your lease and state laws, you may have tenant’s rights over the sublessor. This means you can evict the person if they do not pay rent or in any other way violate the terms of the written agreement. Explain this to the sublessor so that there is no confusion later. Make sure the sublessor is clear on when he/she can move in and leave them a way to contact you as well as the owner of the apartment. Leave an emergency maintenance number as well as the place where the rent should be delivered.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing.  They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments.  Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county.  For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.