There are many ways to upgrade the look and feel of your home. One of the best is to rip out that old carpet and replace it with something fresh. Of course, this is easier said than done. Last month, I found out for myself that buying new carpet was not an easy task.

Here are several tips to follow as you shop for carpeting:

1. Shop around. While this can make things more confusing, in the end you will be glad that you did. Before I made a purchase, I received quotes from three comparable providers. And guess what I found? The first company quoted me at $2,900. The second was more expensive at $3,500. Finally, the last company offered to do the job for $1,950. Since all three offered the same product and service, I decided to go with the cheapest option.

2. Learn as much as you can about the different types of carpeting. Do you know the difference between plush and berber? Not only are there different materials to choose from, but the quality within each material can greatly differ.

Once I chose my material, I had to choose between three “quality levels.” The product at the bottom was priced at $1.50/square foot. The middle option, which is the one I selected, came at a price of $2.90/square foot. Finally, the most expensive, and the one with the highest quality, was priced at $4.00/square foot. Once you’ve chosen the material, you have to consider all your options in terms of quality, and then determine how much you are willing to spend.

3. Don’t forget about the pad. Many people get so caught up on the actual carpet that they overlook the importance of a good pad. Make sure you request an explanation on your padding options including the different types, weight, and life expectancy. Keep in mind that when your pad begins to wear out, you will need to think about getting new carpet.

Tip: Don’t opt for the cheapest pad just to save money. You will regret it if you want to keep your carpet for an extended period of time.

4. Miscellaneous services. Will the company you hire move any furniture that is in the way? If so, do they charge for this? Also, don’t overlook the fact that some companies will charge for the removal and “haul away” of your old carpeting.

One company that I considered charged extra for removal and haul away. While at first this may seem like a downer to some, I saw it as an opportunity to save money. By choosing that particular provider, the option to remove the carpet myself and save hundreds of dollars was available. The other companies instead included these services as mandatory, but had much higher prices.

5. Does the company employ their own installers, or do they outsource to contractors? This is a very big detail, and one that you don’t want to overlook. You can buy the nicest looking carpet in the world, but if it is installed incorrectly, you are going to be angry in the end. Make sure you get clarification on who will be installing your carpet, as well as what experience they have. Don’t be shy about asking for referrals as well.

Also, don’t forget to inspect the job before your installers leave. This way, any problems can be discussed and solved on the spot.

Don’t let all these tips scare you away from buying carpet for your home. Even though I put in a lot of work, I was very happy in the end. New carpet is a great upgrade, and one that you should consider if you are in need. Just remember to follow the advice above to ensure the best chance of 100% satisfaction.

(photo credit: Abby Lanes)

Buying a pet is a great idea for many reasons. In addition to the joy that they bring, many studies have shown that pet owners live longer. But before you make the decision to buy, you should first consider the financial implications. Whether or not you own a cat, dog, or some other sort of pet, expenses are going to come up from time to time.

I have owned at least one dog for more than 15 years. Over this time, I have learned a lot about pet care, including how to save money. Here are several tips to keep in mind:

1. Search for pet food coupons. At first, I believed this to be a waste of time. But soon enough I began searching online and realized that coupons were available for pretty much every type of pet food and treat.

Sometimes I save a couple of bucks on a bag of dog food. Other times I find a really great “buy one get one free” coupon. If you search online and through local periodicals, you will eventually find coupons that can help you save money. When added up over the course of a year, it is easy to look back and realize that I have saved hundreds of dollars.

To get a better idea of what is out there, check out these sites: Coupon Cat, Fancy Feast Coupons, Purina, and Pedigree.

2. Buy pet insurance. When you take your pet to the vet, regardless of the reason, you can expect to pay a lot of money. On the low end, a basic checkup will set you back around $75. If something is wrong with your pet, though, the sky is the limit for how high your bill can soar.

If you buy pet insurance, you are able to offset some or all of these expenses. If you don’t understand how pet insurance works, think about it like this: it is the same as health insurance for humans. There are things that will be covered, things you will have to pay for on your own, deductibles, and out of pocket limits.

To learn more about pet insurance or to purchase a policy, visit: PetInsurance.com, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, and Pets Best.

3. Shop at the dollar store. This may sound completely crazy, but it is something that saves me a lot of money on a regular basis. I just started shopping at the dollar store for dog-related items last year. I wish I would have thought of this idea sooner. The dog treats are the same as those that you would find at a well known retail or grocery store. Along with this, all of the dog toys cost a dollar. To make this option even more appealing, it seems as if my dog actually enjoys treats and toys from the dollar store more than those that I paid twice as much for.

Don’t feel bad if you have overlooked these three tips. To be honest, I never thought much about them for the first few years of owning a dog. Even if you only consider one of the methods above, it is safe to say that you are going to save a lot of money.

Do you have any other tips on saving money on pet care?

(photo credit: chrissie_un)

If you own a business, big or small, you know one thing to be true: there are expenses that come up from time to time. This is true no matter what industry you are involved in. Although cash is king, there will be times when using a business credit card makes the most sense. Of course, you cannot do this until you have the plastic in your wallet.

Last month, I applied for my first business credit card. While the process was simple, for the most part, I learned quite a bit along the way. Below are five tips that will help you when applying for a business credit card:

1. Start with the financial institution with which you have your business checking account. Since you already have a relationship with them, applying for a credit card is a much easier task. Not only do they know you and your business, but they are more likely to accept your application and give you a great deal because you have been a reliable customer.

Tip: You will have to get in touch with the “business development manager” or another person in the business department. Speaking with a bank teller about business credit cards is not going to get you very far.

2. There are many options, so do not sell yourself short. It makes sense to first contact the bank that you are most familiar with. But of course, they are not the end-all. There are hundreds upon hundreds of banks that are willing to work with you no matter what type of financial product you are looking for. An established relationship can help in many ways, but it is far from necessary.

Although I ended up with a business credit card from my primary bank, I spoke with at least three others about what they could do for me. At the very least, consider all your options. This way, you can be 100 percent confident in your decision.

3. What are you going to purchase with your business credit card? The answer to this question will greatly determine what type of card you end up with. For instance, some business owners only need a credit card to purchase office supplies and other miscellaneous items. On the other hand, there are companies that will put tens of thousands of dollars on their card month after month thanks for equipment purchases, travel, and much more. If you don’t plan on using your business credit card often, you can afford to be more flexible with the terms. The answer to this question will also determine what kind of perks you should go for in your credit card. For example, get an airline credit card if you’ll be spending a bunch on travel.

4. What is the APR? Obviously, this is one of the first details that you want to consider when searching and applying for a business credit card. As the process unfolded, I learned a lot about this detail. For one, it seemed as if every bank had a different way of approaching the APR. Some offered a fixed rate, while others pushed cards with a variable rate. This may not be the only detail to consider, but a lower rate is almost always better than a higher one.

One thing that I found interesting was that most banks offered two types of business credit cards: one with a rewards program and one without. With the majority of them, the APR was higher on reward cards. You have to weigh the pros and cons of a lower rate against having access to a reward program. On this same note, you also need to decide if you will be paying your credit card off in full every month or if the card’s interest rate will play a big role in your payments. Really though, I strongly suggest not getting a credit card unless you know you can pay it off in full. Don’t use it as a means to rack up debt.

5. Credit limit. A business credit card is only helpful if it offers enough available credit. How much you qualify for depends on many details, including your businesses credit score as well as your revenue. Most banks requested a copy of my last two business tax returns to verify income. Make sure you have these ready before you ever start looking for a credit card.

On the surface, all business credit cards may appear to be the same. But once you get into the review and selection process you will find that this is far from the truth. Be diligent during the process of choosing your credit card and you’ll reap the benefits over the long term.

Do you have any additional tips on choosing and applying for a business credit card?

(photo credit: Andres Rueda)

One of the biggest benefits of using a credit card is the ability to collect reward points for every dollar that you spend. At some point, though, you need to make decisions on how to use the points that you have accumulated.

There are many strategies to follow when it comes to using reward points. Below are a few to consider, as well as some of my personal experiences:

1. Save your points for something big. As you know, you can cash in reward points for everything from small denominations of cash to flat screen televisions, cruises, and airline tickets. Rather than spend your points the first chance you get, why not hold onto them for something that you really want? Often, but not always, points will convert at a more valuable rate as you save up more and more points.

I am the type that prefers to hold reward points until I really need them, and can get something huge in return. Most recently, I cashed in 50,000+ points for a four night stay in a downtown hotel. While this was a lot of points, in return I received something that I really wanted. Not to mention the fact that it probably saved me close to $1,000.

2. Splurge because you are not spending your own money. Many people, including myself, often times find it difficult to spend money on things they “want.” While there is nothing wrong with being cautious, from time to time you need to treat yourself. Doing so with reward points is much easier because there is no real cash coming out of your pocket.

Every so often, I take a few thousand reward points and buy something small from the catalog that my credit card company sends me. I get to satisfy a guilty pleasure of mine without my wallet taking a hit.

3. Travel. Whenever possible, I like to use a large majority of my points for travel. My credit card company lets me cash them in for car rentals, hotel stays, airline tickets, cruises, and much more. Personally, I feel that my points get the most “bang for the buck” when I use them for travel related purposes.

As noted above, I previously cashed in several thousand points for four free nights in an upscale hotel. Along with this, my last vacation to Florida was partially funded by reward points. I was able to cash in my points for one free plane ticket and a rental car for three days. Sure, I still had to pay for other aspects of my travel, but this was a great way to cut costs while still having a good time.

How do you get so many points?

Obviously, you can only use reward points when you have them in your account. Although it may sound like I have hundreds of thousands of points at my disposal, it took a lot of time (and money spent) to accumulate them. Here are two tips I follow to increase the rate at which I gather points:

1. Always use your credit card for large purchases IF you can afford to pay the balance in full. This gives you the chance to accumulate large chunks in a short period of time.

2. Know the ins and outs of your reward card system. Do you receive one point for every dollar that you spend? Can you receive more than this for using your card at certain locations, such as gas stations and restaurants? The more you know about your reward card the easier it is to take full advantage.

This is only my opinion on how to best use credit card reward points. Over the years, it has worked well for me while helping save thousands of dollars.

How do you use your reward points?

(photo credit: nordberg25)

Anybody can put on a garage sale, right? All you have to do is throw some stuff on a table, sit on a chair, and wait for shoppers to arrive. While this is the basic theory, it is far from the truth. If you truly want your garage sale to be a success it is important that you focus on the finer details.

From start to finish, you need to know what steps to take as well as what you can do to improve your chance of a successful event.

Below are several tips that should put you in the right frame of mind:

1. Market your garage sale well in advance. The biggest mistake that many people make is forgetting about marketing, in hopes that word of mouth takes care of it for them. If you are going to have a garage sale you should market your event at least one month in advance. You can do this in a number of different ways, including in local newspapers and with signs. Of course, there is nothing wrong with word of mouth marketing. Just make sure that you combine it with other efforts. You don’t want to have put all this effort into an awesome garage sale only to have its success diminished by the simple fact that not enough people knew about it.

2. How are you going to set up your garage sale? A lot of this has to do with the amount of stuff that you are trying to sell. There are two things you can do to make the setup process simple. First and foremost, stay organized. The last thing you want to do is dump a bunch of stuff in your yard and hope for the best. Use tables when applicable and place large items in easy to access areas.

Along with the above, make sure you are in position to keep an eye on everything that is for sale. Although it is not common, there are people who will try stealing from your garage sale if they think they can get away with it.

3. Get some help. While you may be able to set up and run a garage sale on your own, you are putting a lot of stress on yourself. The more help you have the better off you are going to be. Even if you just have one helper, it goes a long way in making the event more enjoyable for both you and those who stop by.

4. Be ready to negotiate. The majority of people who shop at garage sales do so because they are looking to save money. For this reason, they will be ready to negotiate from the moment they arrive. Before your big day, have an idea of what you are going to ask for every item. On top of this, know the minimum that you are willing to accept. At times, you may have to turn somebody away because they are not willing to pay your asking price. This is all part of having a garage sale. Just don’t try to decide on a minimum price on the spot because you might be pressured into a price and regret it later.

There is more to a successful garage sale than lining up old junk and hoping to make a few bucks. If you follow the detailed tips above, your garage sale will be a success and you will make more money than you ever thought possible!

Do you have any experience running a garage sale? Any additional tips you can add?

(photo credit: Eastlaketimes)