The internet is a design lover’s dream. Not only can you shop for home decor items from the privacy of your own sofa, you can also find some pretty stellar deals if you know where to look.
So to help you save some moolah, we rounded up a few of the most affordable design sources for you to check out the next time you shop online for stylish home furnishings. Read ahead for seven online design stores where reasonable prices reign supreme—without sacrificing quality.
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It starts with good intentions. How many of us have, in an effort to shake off the stress of the workday, ended up in a daze on the couch? Whether you spend your evenings bingeing on Netflix or mindlessly scrolling social media, the post-work lull can compromise productivity and, in the end, keep you from truly relaxing. So why not set your post-work self up for success? All it takes is a little intention.
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In a CNBC article, self-made millionaire David Bach explained that: “The biggest mistake millennials are making is not buying their first home.” He goes on to say that, “If you want to build real financial security, real wealth for your lifetime, then you need to buy a home.”
Bach went on to explain:
“Homeowners are worth 40 times more than renters. Now, that first home doesn’t need to be a dream home, it can be a very small home. You might literally have to buy a small studio apartment, but that’s how you get started.”
Then he explains the secret to buying that home!
“Don’t do a 30-year mortgage. You want to take that 30-year mortgage and instead pay it off early, do a 15-year mortgage. What happens if you do a 15-year mortgage? Well, one, you pay the mortgage off 15-years sooner, that means you’ll be able to retire in your fifties. Number two, you’ll save a fortune (on potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments).”
What will it cost to pay your mortgage in fifteen years? He explains further:
“For fifteen years, you got to brownbag your lunch. Think about that! Brownbag your lunch literally for fifteen years. You can retire ten years sooner than your friends. You’ll have real wealth, because you bought a home – you’re not a renter. And you’ll be financially secure for life.”
Whenever a well-respected millionaire gives investment advice, people usually clamor to hear it. This millionaire gave simple advice – if you don’t yet live in your own home, go buy one.
Bach is a self-made millionaire who has written nine consecutive New York Times bestsellers. His book, “The Automatic Millionaire,” spent 31 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. He is one of the only business authors in history to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek and USA Today bestseller lists.
He has been a contributor to NBC’s Today Show, appearing more than 100 times, as well as a regular on ABC, CBS, Fox, CNBC, CNN, Yahoo, The View, and PBS. He has also been profiled in many major publications, including the New York Times, BusinessWeek, USA Today, People, Reader’s Digest, Time, Financial Times, Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Working Woman, Glamour, Family Circle, Redbook, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Investors’ Business Daily, and Forbes.
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Richard Branson has officially ventured into a new field outside of cell phones and airplanes. Now Virgin is dabbling in cruise lines! The best part? Virgin Voyages won’t have buffets and it is adults only!
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How many times have you gotten into a fight with your significant other about them hogging the blankets and bed? We all know people that take up the entire bed when they are sleeping, even if there is someone else in bed with them. They spread out like a starfish, while you’re stuck sleeping on a small sliver of bed. It is uncomfortable!
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Ficus plants have been making dramatic statements in homes for decades. These are the same plants that we saw in our grandparents’ homes; but, with the resurgence of large, dramatic plants in the design world, it’s not surprising that everyone and their cousin now has—or desperately wants—some kind of ficus in their living space. Like some other popular trendy plants, there’s often more than meets the eye. To be honest, a ficus can be a total beast to care for. Here’s what you need to know.
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Maybe you’re afraid of racking up too much debt. Or, perhaps you fall into an “anti-credit card” category who loathes the potential of paying interest. It could just be that your debit card is at the front of your wallet and, by default, gets swiped far more than your credit card.
Whatever the reason, if you rely solely on your debit card for purchases—and, as a result, snub your credit card—you may have wondered how it affects your credit score—especially if you’re staying away from it in order to save up more cash for a down payment on a home. We asked financial experts to explain what happens when your credit card is idle, or doesn’t get used at all. Here’s what they have to say:
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If you’ve been to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in midtown Manhattan, you’ve probably marveled at its permanent collection, which includes some of the most iconic and immediately recognizable works, ever — there’s the melting clocks of Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, the soft-focus pastels of Claude Monet’s massive Water Lilies triptych, and everyone’s go-to poster from their freshman year, Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.
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If your tropical houseplants aren’t warming you up enough this winter and you’re pining for a full-blown paradise of your own, then you’re in luck. No, summer isn’t coming early, but there is a free beach vacation sweepstakes open now.
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Coming up with a down payment for your first home is no easy task. In fact, according to a recent study from HotPads, renters spend about six and a half years saving up before they have enough. (I personally predict I’ll be eligible for AARP before I could build up a nest egg hefty enough to become a homeowner.)
Finding clever ways to cut back and save everywhere you can is helpful, but at a certain point, you may realize that you simply need to rake in more dough. Short of getting a surprise promotion, negotiating a raise, or planning a Met Ball heist with seven of your smartest friends (please don’t do that!), is there anything you can do to pad your bank account?
Yes! Enter the “side hustle.” Unfortunately when it comes to saving for a big goal like a down payment, nine to five alone might not cut it. But these days, getting a side gig can be as easy as downloading an app on your phone.
If you’re strategic about your side hustle, it can be a great way to stash away extra cash for a down payment to make your homeownership dream a reality.
Before you dive in, take stock of a few things, says Emily Boothroyd, a Certified Financial Planner and private wealth advisor at Price Financial Group in Wilton, Connecticut. First, make sure that your side gig will not interfere with your main job, the one that you’ll likely depend on for the bulk of your housing payments. She also advises you consider any potential risks associated costs with your side gig (i.e. upping your auto insurance to drive for a ridesharing app) so you don’t spend more than you save.
Another factor to keep in mind? Make sure your extra earnings can be documented on a mortgage application, since your total income can affect the amount of the loan you’re approved for.
“Lenders look to a borrower’s last two months’ bank statements and any inconsistent or large deposits would need to be explained,” says Richard Barenblatt, mortgage specialist at GuardHill Financial Corp. in New York City.
Once you’ve got all that covered, it’s time to start hustling. Here are seven app-based side gigs that will get you one step closer to securing a down payment:
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