Spruce Up Your Home this Year [w/o taking on debt]

The snow is melting, the birds are chirping, the daffodils are peeking out from the freshly thawed ground. It’s spring!

There are some things you probably need to attend to around your home. Of course, there are also probably a handful of wants you’d love to address.

Here’s how you might consider sprucing up your home this spring, plus a plan to pay for it all!

Review Your Springtime Needs and Wants

Whether you rent or own, using the springtime to spruce up your living space is important. Why? Two reasons.

Part of maintaining your home in the springtime is about preventative maintenance. You tackle small problems to prevent more significant issues later.

Additionally, by using the springtime to create a space you love both inside and outside your home, you’re more likely to spend time at home.

Whether you are a budgeting newbie or a money-savvy marvel, you know staying in is good for your wallet.

When your house looks and feels the way you want it to, you’re more likely to have dinner parties, potlucks, game nights, and backyard get-togethers. All of which can lead to considerably more money in your wallet than continually going out.

Routine Home Maintenance

Take the time to cross the things off your to-do list that have been adding up over the winter.

You might already have some ideas in mind, or you might take a simple inventory of your home. If you’re not sure where to start, we have you covered, inside and out.

Action to take inside includes:

• Clean your carpets
• Vacuum dryer vents
• Change your furnace filters
• Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Swap out old light bulbs with LED-style bulbs

Action to take outside includes:

• Repair loose shingles or siding
• Tend to overgrown landscaping or bare patches in the lawn
• Power wash windows and siding
• Stain wooden patios, fences, or furniture
• Replace weatherstripping on drafty windows and doors

Decor & More

Repeat after me: this is not an audition for HGTV.

Instead, think of this as an opportunity to liven up your space, making it more practical and inviting.

Small touches can go a long way. Plus, this is an excellent opportunity to tackle any organizational or storage issues you might have noticed over the winter.

Entryway organizer – If you always find yourself dashing around for things before you leave, finding the perfect entryway organizer lets you create a single space to stash all of your stuff.

No matter how many people live in your house, the right organizer can keep things neat and tidy. Many options even integrate coat hooks, shoe caddies, and seating.

Doormat – I’m not sure when it happened, but it did. Doormats got cute. Seriously, there are some fun, unique, and personalized styles on the market now. Plus, they’re totally practical.

A good doormat will help keep the inside of your house cleaner by encouraging people to wipe their feet. Because nothing says springtime quite like muddy puddles.

Shelf storage – Shelves are your secret weapon this spring. They can be decorative, but they can also help you corral some of your stuff. From books and picture frames to toys and DVDs, shelves address your storage needs without taking up valuable floor space.

Take Your Living Space Outdoors

Just like when you are sprucing up the inside of your home, it’s important to be practical outdoors…and not just with your budget. Think about where you live and what the weather is generally like.

For instance, if you live in a state where the mosquito is practically the honorary state bird, perhaps you want to focus on porches and patios rather than the buggier parts of your backyard.

Quality outdoor furniture – By investing in outdoor furniture that's functional and comfortable, you’re actually getting maximum bang for your buck.

Cost-per-wear is talked a lot about in terms of clothing. Apply that same philosophy to your outdoor furniture. An uncomfortable patio set that wobbles isn’t a bargain if no one ever sits on it.

Outdoor rugs – The perfect outdoor rug can truly do wonders for extending your living space to the outdoors.

Look for something specifically designed for outdoor use to ensure it can stand up to those April showers you know are headed your way.

Fire pits – A fire pit is a perfect way to get maximum use out of your backyard.

There are wonderful options to suit just about any backyard aesthetic. From tabletop models to full-blown campfire designs, fire pits are the perfect way to celebrate nicer weather.

• How Do I Start An Affordable Home Garden?

How to Budget for Your Home Spruce Up

You’ve identified your needs, and you’ve made a list of your wants. That’s the fun part. Now it’s time to figure out how to make room for these items in your budget.

Check out these four reminders as you start to get your home ready for spring.

Establish a Sinking Fund

One of the best strategies to plan financially for your needs and wants is to create a separate sinking fund. Open a high-interest online savings account separate from your regular accounts. That way, it’s out of sight until you actually need to spend it.

After you’ve created your account, set up a timetable. Do you plan to make these purchases in the next month or two? Are you making one large purchase?

Maybe you anticipate making several smaller purchases throughout the spring and summer months.

Once you have a timetable, fund your sinking fund accordingly. Maybe that means setting up an automatic contribution of $10, $25, or even $50 a week. If you don’t think your budget can swing an extra contribution, check out the next step.

Look for Other Sources of Income

If your current income isn’t enough to cover the cost of your springtime spruce up dreams, then look into alternate sources of income. There’s nothing quite like a genuine want to fuel your fire to hustle.

Maybe it’s building a side gig around a commitment or skill you already have. Rover or Wag let pet owners do their own dog duty while making money caring for other pets.

Even if you don’t want to set up a separate side hustle, look at smaller sources of income. If you use apps like Ibotta, earmark those funds for your springtime wants and needs.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Landscaping and home repair can both be pricey. If you have a green thumb but don’t feel comfortable on your roof, offer to swap roles with a friend or neighbor. Sharing talents can save money and foster community.

If you prefer to avoid the DIY-route, you can still work with your neighbors.

Splitting a yard of mulch or black dirt is a better alternative than carting dozens of bags back and forth from your local hardware store. You can also look into group rates for fertilizing, lawn mowing, driveway seal coating, and more.

Don’t Go into Debt

A fire pit can absolutely make your backyard look and feel inviting. Refreshing your landscaping can make you fall in love with your home all over again and boost its curb appeal.

However, no non-essential is worth going into debt over.

If you intend to put these purchases on credit, make sure you have a plan to pay it off in full. If not, you could be carrying the purchasing decisions you make this spring into the next season…and the next and the next.

Final Thoughts on Sprucing Up Your Home

There is plenty to do to keep your home feeling sweet this spring. Crossing off some routine maintenance can keep a bunch of small projects from turning into big issues.

After you tackle the needs, there are plenty of wants to address for your home both inside and out.

By creating lists of the things you need to do and the things you want to do, you’ll have a clearer picture of how much this spring house spruce up will cost.

Once you’ve got your lists and your money game plan, you can roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Article written by Penny