Tag: money
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Five ways to save money on DIY jobs | Home improvements
Place your focus on the small jobs
The cost of materials for big home improvements such as loft conversions and extensions is soaring. Prices change all the time but Office for National Statistics figures show they are on average 26% higher than a year ago. In that period, the cost of steel bars, for example, has risen by about 58%.
However, you don’t need to extend your loft or replace your kitchen to transform your home. You can focus on smaller jobs such as replacing doors, handles and taps, and painting cabinets and wooden tables for a new look. There are lots of money-saving bloggers and upcycling influencers such as @crack_the_shutters, @ joannecondon and Shoestring Cottage that may offer inspiration.
Joanne Condon, the author of Furniture Crush, and an upcycling expert, says: “As the new trend of working from home collides with the rising cost of living, we need to look at how we can make better use of our homes without spending a fortune.
You can transform your home by focusing on small jobs such as replacing door handles or taps. Photograph: Peter Alvey/Alamy “We also need to think of multifunctional uses when we think of items we already have in our homes. For example, old drawers can turn into mini herb gardens, planting pots, pet beds and wall shelves. You can upcycle a wardrobe into a pantry press or bookcase by shelving it.”
Buy ex-display or secondhand
If you want to take on the big jobs, you can buy former showroom kitchens and bathrooms at a fraction of their original price. The Used Kitchen Company has a wide range of ex-display kitchens and bathrooms. For example, one kitchen listed had a recommended retail price of £21,000 but was sold for £7,900.
Here you can also sell your old units and furniture on the website, or try eBay and Facebook Marketplace. You can find secondhand bathroom suites on these sites, and save on items such as new taps and showerheads.
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at the consumer body Which?, says: “Buying a pre-loved kitchen is an environmentally friendly way to cut costs.
“However, you should make sure you check all the dimensions before purchasing, and arrange a viewing to check the kitchen yourself, inside and out.
“Be aware that if you’re buying from a private seller you have less protection than when buying from a trader – the goods must be as described but they don’t have to disclose any faults.
Get at least three quotes to compare the cost of the work.
Photograph: Pens Forms/Alamy“Make sure you check carefully for any issues when you see the kitchen and – if you find a fault and decide to go ahead with the purchase – find out whether they will be cheap to fix, as you don’t want to pay more than expected to rectify any significant faults.”
Plan your projects carefully
Get at least three quotes to compare the cost of any professional work, and request the total price including all the fixtures and fittings. Confirm the timeframe and the cost for the entire project in writing, too, so there are less likely to be nasty surprises.
The project cost will depend on several factors, including where you live, the amount of work needed and the size of your home. MyBuilder.com lists guide prices for standard projects such as loft extensions and double glazing jobs.
Noble Francis, the economics director at the Construction Products Association, says: “Plan and purchase the materials needed for the job in advance to avoid delays and cost rises down the line. The more materials that you or the builder will go to purchase from the merchant on the day during the project, the greater the cost.”
If you are buying several new fixtures and fittings, take the time to shop around and negotiate a package, with everything you need to install the parts included, too.
MyBuilder.com lists guide prices for projects such as loft extensions. Photograph: Sarah Lee/The Guardian Choose the right finance for your work
How you finance home improvements depends on the cost of the project. If you are painting your house, you may be able to finance the cost from savings. Alternatively, some or all of the cost could be put on a credit card on a 0% interest deal for purchases, provided you can get a large enough credit limit.
For example, Sainsbury’s Bank, M&S Bank and Barclaycard are currently offering new applicants up to 24 months’ interest-free on purchases.
Andrew Hagger of the financial website MoneyComms.co.uk explains: “You’ll also benefit from section 75 protection on any purchases over £100 and below £30,000. So if you have any faults or disputes that you can’t resolve, you can ask your credit card provider to step in.”
If you need to borrow up to £25,000, you may want to check out unsecured personal loans. Rates remain low at between 3.1% and 3.5% for the best-buy loans – provided you have a good credit rating. You won’t pay set-up fees, unlike with mortgages. For example, if you borrowed £20,000 over five years from Tesco Bank on a rate of 3.2%, you would have to repay £360.74 a month. In total, you would repay £21,644.
If you are borrowing more than £25,000, the cheapest option for many people is likely to be remortgaging. If you are arriving at the end of your current home loan deal, you can remortgage to release some equity and grab a fixed-rate deal before interest rates rise again.
Check energy efficiency grants
As energy bills soar, you may be thinking about insulating your home in the run-up to the winter months. You could do this for free if you are with a big energy supplier, receive certain benefits and have an annual income of £16,190 or less.
Are you thinking about insulating your loft? Photograph: DWImages/Alamy Under the Energy Company Obligation scheme, some people can get free or heavily subsidised loft and wall insulation if they claim particular benefits. There is a full list of qualifying benefits here. You can check if you qualify using the Simple Energy Advice calculator in England or Wales, or contact Home Energy Scotland.
Once you have checked whether you are eligible, you will need to contact your supplier to sort out a survey. You will either get the insulation installed for free, or receive a grant to cover some or all of the costs.
For the full list of suppliers signed up to the scheme, visit Ofgem’s website.
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Review: Is the Aura Digital Photo Frame with App Worth the Money?
When I received a press release about the Aura Digital Photo Frame, I responded straight away and asked if it would be possible to do a review of the product. I often do this if I see a product that intrigues me and that I think would be an excellent fit for my lifestyle or add some kind of value to our home life.
The Aura Digital Photo Frames stood out to me specifically because they had some functionality that I had not seen before and that I was keen to try out. Aura has revolutionised the digital picture frame by making it social. Not only is Aura WiFi-connected but it is powered by Aura’s photo sharing app so that family and friends can effortlessly add photos and videos from anywhere in the world and have them beautifully displayed on Aura’s premium connected frames.
We do already have a digital photo frame, which if I’m honest, we haven’t really used that much. It was gifted to us and we loaded it with images, but after a while, we stopped noticing the photographs and we didn’t keep it updated with new images. It ended up being retired to the tech drawer of doom.
I had a feeling that the additional features of the Aura Digital Photo Frame might just make it attractive enough to help overcome some of the reasons that our previous device ended up in the drawer. So let’s take a closer look at the Aura so we can decide if it is worth the money.
Why Should I Buy a Digital Photo Frame?
So, I guess the first question is why would anyone want a digital photo frame in the first place.? I don’t know about you, but I capture a ridiculous number of moments every single week. I currently have almost 4k photos and videos languishing on my phone not to mention the tens of thousands that we have stored on hard drives, in the cloud and which we have uploaded to Back Then (a baby photo sharing app that allows you to document your child’s journey and share it with a select number of friends and family).
I’ve written about my desire to set my photos free before as it makes me so sad that so many special moments are trapped on devices never to be seen again. My kids absolutely love looking at family photos and recalling or building memories. They are always asking to flick through the gallery on my phone.
Digital photo frames are a great innovation and a delightful way to access and view your digital photos quickly and easily. It allows you to show hundreds of photos in a slide-show of memories.
It is also a great gift for friends and relatives. It makes a perfect wedding present, a gift for a christening, a present for a young adult heading off to university or a fantastic Christmas gift for family members who live far away.
This is what attracted the Aura Digital Phone Frame to me. I thought it would make a fantastic Christmas present for my husband’s parents. They live in Poland and we don’t see them very often so they are missing out on so much of my children’s childhood and upbringing. A gift like this would ensure that they get to see so many more of those special moments that get missed because we are not physically together.
How do Digital Photo Frames Work?
Aura digital photo frames are much easier to use than other models of digital photo frame. Normally you’d have to download your photos from your phone onto your PC, copy them onto an SD card or USB memory stick and insert that into the frame.
With the Aura frames none of this is necessary and the process for getting your photos onto the frame is much more straightforward due to the app.
Why Choose a Digital Photo Frame with an App?
The app, which is available for iOs and Android, allows you to upload images directly from your camera roll or you can select a different location such as shared albums or Google Photos. There is also a web uploader so that you can share photos directly from your PC or laptop.
Once you have the app set up you can invite other members to join the frame. This is where it gets interesting. So imagine we send the frame to my husband’s parents for Christmas. If it is a gift, you can pre-fill the frame with images so it’s already loaded and working once they receive it. You don’t actually even need to open the box to make this happen as there is a QR code on the box that lets you set the frame up as a gift without needing to use the frame itself.
To invite friends or family members to upload photos you simply need to add their email address or phone number or select them from your phone contacts. They then have to download the free Aura app, create an account and accept your invitation.
Once complete, they too will be able to share photos directly to the frame from wherever they are in the world. So that means my husband’s brothers, who live on the opposite side of Poland, could also upload photos for their parents making the frame a beautiful way to share memories with the family.
It was the fact that the Aura digital photo frame can be updated remotely that really attracted me. No more downloading photos and uploading them to an SD card. You can share the photos to the frame as and when you take them so family members get to see them almost in real-time.
What’s more, all members of the frame can see the uploaded photos on the app. This means that my husband’s brother can see our photos and vice versa which will help keep us in touch better too without the need for our own frames. And this is much, much safer than sharing photographs of our children on social media, which we don’t do.
How Many Photos Can My Digital Photo Frame Display?
As the Aura digital photo frame uses cloud storage, the number of photos that you can upload is unlimited. This is another huge bonus for me. I didn’t like the fact that we would regularly need to clear off the SD card to add new photos to our old frame. It just made the whole task of updating the frame too time-consuming.
Can My Digital Photo Frame Play Video?
I think this is possibly the feature that I like most about the Aura frames. As well as displaying photos it will also display videos with sound coming through the built-in speakers. Photos are nice but there is something so powerful about video. The connection is just so much more personal.
I think this will be great for us as we can get our children to practice Polish by asking them to send video messages to their grandparents. They are often too shy and embarrassed to practice live on a video call but I think they would be much more likely to practice a message, record it and send it to the frame. I’m definitely up for giving this a go. Anything that will get them to practise their second language is a bonus in my book.
Does My Frame Need WiFi?
As Aura is a WiFi-enabled digital picture frame, it must be constantly connected to a WiFi network (2.4 GHz band only) and plugged into a power outlet to operate and receive new photos. You can unplug the frame from the power source without issue, as long as the same 2.4 GHz WiFi network is still available when the frame is plugged back in.
Will My Frame Use a Lot of Power?
The Aura frame’s power consumption is 10 Watts when awake and 2 Watts when asleep.
That means that if the frame is on for 8 hours a day, that will cost 4.16p when calculated using the UK: Price Cap for October 2022. That equals roughly £21 per year in total.
In order to reduce energy consumption, Aura will automatically go to sleep and turn off the display when you turn off the lights in the room or when you have set a schedule for your frame.
For anyone who is wondering whether the Frame can run on batteries, the answer is no. Aura frames don’t have a built-in battery and need to be plugged in all the time.
Are My Photos Secure on the Frame?
When you upload the photos to the Aura digital photo frame they are stored in a secure cloud database powered by Amazon Web Services. This uses the AES-256 advanced encryption standard which is the industry standard. If you add other members to the frame, they will only ever be able to see the photos you have uploaded to the frame. They won’t be able to see other photos in your phone gallery or on your PC.
How Much Does the Aura Digital Photo Frame Cost?
This depends on which model you get. I was sent the Carver Luxe which is currently on sale for £189 on the Aura website.
This is what you get for your money:
- 10.1″ Full HD 1920×1200 screen with best-in-class image quality
- Intelligent Photo Pairing: intuitively pairs two related portrait photos side-by-side
- Unlimited photo and video storage
- Effortless photo and video uploading from anywhere with the Aura app on iOS and Android
- Adjustable slideshow speed so photos change as fast or slow as you want
- Show photos and videos in chronological or randomly shuffled order
- The built-in speaker lets you hear sound from your videos
Review of the Aura Digital Photo Frame
When I received the frame the first thing that struck me was how premium the packaging was. This was really reassuring given how premium the price is for this frame. The box felt special to open and the branding also felt extremely premium.
Inside the box, the user manual was short and concise and very easy to follow. It contains all the information necessary to set up and operate the frame.
The power cable comes with the UK plug attached but included in the box are European and US attachments that can be swapped out depending on the country where the frame will be used. This is brilliant if you are sending it as a gift to loved ones in another country as there’s no need to worry about how they will power the device once it arrives.
The frame itself is very high quality. I received the white quartz version but it also comes in graphite. I really like the shape of the frame and the textured finish which gives it a premium feel. The rubber stoppers on the base of the frame make it feel very secure when you place it on a surface and the design of the power cable means it is easy to hide away behind the frame.
The set-up couldn’t be simpler. Plug the power cable in, download the app, set up your account and the rest happens quite seamlessly on its own. At first, I had a slight issue connecting the frame via Bluetooth and my phone didn’t locate the device. However, an on-screen alert prompted me to turn off my Bluetooth and turn it back on again and this immediately solved the issue and enables the frame to connect to my WiFi network.
I was then prompted to start adding photos and videos from my phone’s gallery and it was as simple as selecting which images to upload and hitting the button. From the app’s settings, you can then set how long you would like each image or video to display in the slideshow before it changes.
Once set up I was able to invite another member to the frame by simply adding a phone number. Within minutes of doing this, I received feedback in the form of likes coming through from my husband while he was at work. So obviously he was alerted to the fact that new images had been added.
This function makes the frame more interactive and similar to what you might experience if you were sharing images on social media, but obviously in a much safer, private environment.
The display is super sharp and clear. The image quality is brilliant on the frame and the sound quality is more than adequate for sharing personal videos.
Is an Aura Digital Photo Frame Worth it?
From my experience with the Aura Carver Luxe digital photo frame, whilst it is a little pricey, especially as a gift, you really can’t put a price on sharing memories with your loved ones. The fact that it is more than a photo frame and will show videos too makes it worth the extra money in my eyes. If you do have the budget to spend, it is a good investment.
I love the fact that it comes with an app which makes it easy to update remotely. And the unlimited storage is such a real bonus.
I really think this is a wonderful innovation, with a premium design and an excellent user experience even for those who may be less tech-savvy like myself. I can’t wait to see how we will use the frame to share special moments for our family.
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Looking for a new apartment? 4 ways to save money and hassle
Good morning. I’m Rachel Schnalzer, the L.A. Times Business section’s audience engagement editor, with our weekly newsletter. Renting is a fact of life for most Southern Californians. With renting typically comes the stress of moving, and there’s no getting around the fact that moving can be a great expense.
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For the record:
4:32 PM, Nov. 19, 2020This article incorrectly says that basic moving insurance often covers only 60 cents per pound for damaged items. In fact, that rate is not insurance but is what moving companies are usually liable for, under federal and state regulations, if the customer does not pay for extra protection or a third-party insurance policy.
Fortunately, there are ways to minimize moving and housing costs. The Times recently published a guide to rental housing that can help you throughout your tenancy. Here are a few key insights from the guide.
Move in and out efficiently
There are ways to trim the costs of moving your belongings from one rental to another. Ada Tseng put together some tips for how to transport your things with as little stress as possible — while keeping your budget in mind.
For example, if you’re renting a U-Haul, you may be able to save money by moving between Sunday and Thursday instead of over the weekend.
It’s worth checking with your rental or homeowner’s insurance company to see if your policy covers your belongings during a move. Basic moving insurance often covers only 60 cents per pound, whether it’s a pound of blank printer paper or an expensive piece of fine art.
If you’re hiring movers, pay a little more for professionals with good ratings, if you can afford it. They should be licensed and insured — which you can confirm by requesting and verifying their U.S. Department of Transportation number.
Working with movers can sometimes cost more than you anticipate, so ask for an estimate and “do not exceed” price from the company. You should also ask whether you might face any add-on fees. For example, some movers may charge extra if you have them move large pieces of furniture from room to room to find a place where it fits.
Get your security deposit back
Getting your security deposit back from your old landlord creates a financial cushion during the moving process. Jessica Roy compiled a guide to getting that money.
In California, you are entitled to ask for an inspection of your rental with your landlord two weeks before you vacate. During this inspection, the landlord must note what needs to be repaired or cleaned and provide you with an itemized list. Then you can address those issues before you move out.
If your landlord chooses not to do an inspection with you, take a video of your rental to show the condition in which you’re leaving it. Show that you’re leaving the place clean and that everything is in working condition.
In California, your landlord must return your deposit within 21 days after you and your belongings leave the rental. If your landlord does not return your full deposit, you are entitled to an itemized statement breaking down why: what was cleaned and fixed, as well as the cost of these services. (Fixing normal wear and tear is the landlord’s cost to bear, but if the tenant left damage — such as holes in the wall, cigarette burns or pet stains — those repairs can be deducted from the security deposit.)
If you’re moving into another rental, take photos and video of your new space while it’s still empty. Document any damage. When you eventually move out, you can use this as evidence that you didn’t cause those problems.
Pet essentials
Remember the pet stains I mentioned above? Our furry friends can be rough on rentals, which can come back to bite us when we’re moving. Tara Paniogue offers a guide to essential information about pets and rental housing.
Tenants typically must pay for any damage their pets cause in the home they’re renting. This includes broken screen doors, clawed door frames, chewed-on blinds and much more. When you begin a new lease, look at its pet policy to understand what responsibilities you’re accepting. Keep in mind that renter’s insurance generally doesn’t cover pet damage.
Landlords are allowed to charge extra money to allow a pet (as long as it’s not a service animal) to live in the home. This charge can come in one of three forms: an extra security deposit, higher rent or a one-time, nonrefundable fee.
The security deposit would be charged when the tenant signs the lease. All security deposits combined can’t exceed two months’ rent for an unfurnished apartment or three months’ rent for a furnished apartment. The pet deposit is refundable upon move-out, minus any deductions for repairs and cleaning made necessary by the pet.
Do you have difficulty paying rent?
With more than half of California renters paying more than 30% of their income on housing, demand for affordable housing programs is high.
If you’re interested in applying for assistance in paying rent, you’ll need to understand the requirements, wait lists and other protocols. Christian Orozco and Diego Medrano created a guide.
Generally, housing programs receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, known as HUD, and are administered at the city or county level. Some programs, such as public housing, are subsidized by the government to keep rents low. Others, such as Section 8, contribute money to landlords to offset rental costs.
If your household earns 30% to 80% less than the median income in your area, you might qualify for a housing assistance program. HUD considers $77,300 the median household income in L.A. County in 2020.
The first step of applying for a housing program is deciding where you want to live. Check whether housing is available there. These sites are places to begin your search:
◆ Affordable Housing Online
◆ usa.gov/finding-home
◆ L.A. County Housing Resource Center
◆ LowIncomeHousing.us
◆ Volunteers of AmericaNext, contact the local housing authority. If you would like to live in the city of Los Angeles, you can start the application process using the city’s Housing Authority website. Otherwise, HUD’s Resource Locator is a good place to find the right housing authority to contact.
Before you are approved for a housing program, you may need to participate in an interview or briefing. You will also need to supply documentation of your identity and income, such as your driver’s license, Social Security card and tax forms.
Visit The Times’ guide to rental housing to read more about these topics.
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One more thing
Have you heard of the Nugget children’s couch? Some 200,000 parents are desperate to buy this $229 multicolor sofa.
Nugget Comfort’s furniture can be configured into couches, forts, castles, beds and slides. They were already popular before the pandemic, and COVID-19 stay-at-home rules sent demand skyrocketing.
To get their hands on a Nugget, would-be buyers are entering a long-odds lottery or paying exorbitant markups on resale sites, Julissa James writes. One woman, who spent five hours last month trying to load the website to register for the lottery, likens Nugget culture to high school: “Everybody wants to be a part of that little clique.”
Have a question about work, business or finances during the COVID-19 pandemic, or tips for coping that you’d like to share? Send us an email at [email protected], and we may include it in a future newsletter.
