The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any house.

Everybody congregates in the kitchen. It sustains life.

Perhaps. you are getting ready to sell your home, just in time for spring. This is one of the best times to do that. Maybe, you are just looking to add a little activity to your life. You need a winter project and the kitchen is a perfect project. Maybe you just love your kitchen and want to add some more spice. A kitchen upgrade can add the most amount of value to your house followed by your bathroom.

Here’s a few low cost ideas to change the look, function and feel of your kitchen space.

1. change the faucets (for under $200 you can find a nice one)
2. while you are at it change the sink (between $250 to $600 for a functional, versatile unit)
3. redo the walls with a fresh coat of paint (even eco paint will cost you less than $50)
4. redo the backdrop with tiles or paint (depending on the size of the area and quality of tile about $50 to $250)
5. refinish your counter top (you can even replace with 10 feet of granite for $100 to $400)
6. repaint, refinish or stain the cupboards and drawers (less than $20 up to $200)
7. change the cupboards and drawer fixtures for a more modern look (as little as $1 each)
8. add a ceiling fan ($75 to $250)
9. under cabinet LED lights ($50 to $250 plus electrician)
10. replace the switch plates with permanent decorative ones (hand decorated ceramic could cost $30 or more but simple fancier plates can be found for less than $10)
11. reseal the windows giving it a fresh look (less than $5 in caulking & trim paint)
12. reseal the sink area and counter surface (less than $5 in caulking)
13. new curtains can be made or bought (if you are handy curtains could be less than $20 in material or as much as $100)
14. replace all old area floor rugs ($10 to $100)
15. replace a vinyl floor with tiles, wood or wood laminate (ranges from $200 to $2000)
16. change your baseboard, trim and all moldings (less than $50)
17. add a Lazy Susan or slide out drawers (less than $1000 can do it all, a Lazy Susan is $150 to $25)
18. create a hanging pan rack (probably need to do this custom)
19. buy a rolling island to give extra utility and tuck away when you don’t need it (as little as $200 to $1000)
20. buy or make a great butcher block go for quality here ($50 to $200)

The green in me always wants to find the most eco-friendly option. I am resourceful and often find quality used products that are in almost new condition. This saves a pretty penny. I priced the above on general costs from a major retailer to give you a general idea.

The time and skill is your biggest obstacle to make changes. Students and struggling people everywhere are always looking for quick jobs. Make sure your plumbing and electrical things are done properly though and don’t remove any walls without making sure it is safe.

While a full overhaul on your kitchen could cost you $50,000, anywhere from $100 to $2000 could brighten up the best room in the house.

Another year has come and gone. This was my first year working on living on a dime and I haven’t focused my efforts here but I’m pleased with the growth. I’ve got a good foundation to build relationships and help people in the new year.

In the meantime, I wish all of you a very happy holiday season.  Enjoy your festivities, play safe and be well. You can see my regular seasonal message over at simply stephen and introduce yourself to a greener, more frugal way of life.

This will be my last post until early January…until then. Peace.

After last week’s post on how to reuse every day items, I’ve decided to make it a weekly event. Instead of beating around the bush I’m just going to get right to it.

1.  bottle caps can make a great mud scraper for your shoes.
2.  shoe boxes make great storage containers.
3.  toilet paper rolls can be used to organize any cords.
4.  toothbrushes become great scrubbers. I use an old sonic one to clean knives and get in the cracks of items a cloth cant reach.
5.  ziplock bags can simply be washed and used again
6.  soap scraps can be kept and pressed into a new bar once or twice a year with your own new fragrance
7.  broken tennis balls can be used as door stoppers or I love the idea of cutting one in half and using it to unscrew a hot light bulb
8.  shoulder pads can be used as a dish scrubber or cleaner
9.  out of shape coat hangers – are great for roasting marshmallows or the hanging wire for the back of a picture frame

That’s it. Quick and painless. Share your ideas and we’ll do a round up next week.

We have a tendency to go out and buy new items and throw things out when we are finished with them. Often in the garbage since it is not a product we recycle. Finding alternative uses takes a big dent out of our impact on the environment.

There’s also the money saved. If you find a creative use for just 10 items a month that replaces a value of $5 you have saved yourself $50 a month or $600 for the year. There’s your money for Christmas gifts an annual purchase, removal of a debt or instant savings.

So, before you throw anything in the recycle bin or garbage, see if you can find a creative way to reuse it. Here’s 10 great ideas to reuse common household items after the first time round.

1.  envelopes can be reused as scrap for notes or to store and receipts for when you organize your taxes
2.  old cd / dvd cases can become a perfect stand for paper or many people make calendars with them.
3.  jars are great for organizing things and keeping loose items out of drawers. Items like screws and nails in your workshop; paper clips and tacks in your office; buttons in your sewing area ; candles.
4. broken wooden ladder can become a garden trellis
5.  clothes make great rags but you can also reuse the material to make bags, hot plates, dish cloths and scrap for sewing projects.
6. bath matts can be relocated to the workshop or even be made into strips for a mop.
7.  shower curtains become great drop cloths
8.  egg cartons are great to plant your seedlings. They also make great protectors when packaging things, especially for shipping as they are light weight too.
9.  tab from a can will make a great picture frame hanger with a simple screw

I’d love to hear some of your creative solutions.

Most household products are harmful to your health.

They also create an excessive amount of waste.

Marketers have you duped. Did you know regular everyday natural products can get the job done just as well, if not better, without all those toxins going into your family’s body? Don’t believe me, read Slow Death by Rubber Duck or visit The Story of Stuff and you’ll start to understand.

Wouldn’t you like to remove those risks and harmful toxins and protect your family?

The good news.

It’s really easy and very inexpensive to clean the natural way. It also gets the job done well. Save money with a few well chosen non-toxic and natural alternatives. You can purchase alternative natural supplies or you can save hundreds of dollars every year and make your own products.

no frills model

It saves a bundle. I’ve used it for years.

My total cleaning supplies are about $20 per year and that’s only because I buy a small eco-friendly bottle of liquid laundry cleaner about once a year for $6-8 dollars (it lasts for almost 50 loads and I do less than that) and a bottle of tea tree oil every couple for $10-15. No vacuum, no paper towel, no air freshener, low consumables, no toxins.

3 basic products (vinegar, baking soda, and essential oil). You can add a few other products to get more jobs done including make your own laundry detergent with soap flakes, olive oil and lemon. There are also some specific products that help with cleaning things that aren’t on the regular list such as polishing your silverware but we’ll visit that another time.

11 basic tools (if possible a stainless steel bucket, broom, dustpan, mop, rags, spray nozzle attached to reusable glass bottles, few glass jars, bottle scrubber, steel scrubber, natural scrubbers). If you buy a quality broom and wash the floor with rags you can eliminate the need for most supplies. For scrubbers you can scrunch together the mesh packaging that fruit such as oranges often comes in.

vinegar, baking soda and tea tree oil

Vinegar cleans everything. It’s a natural disinfectant too.

Add a couple drops of essential oil (I use Tea Tree which is also anti-fungal and a natural disinfectant too – about $10 will get you a tiny bottle that will last several years) to a spray bottle with one cup vinegar and one cup water and you’ve got the makings of an all purpose cleaner. You can dust, clean door handles, wipe furniture, car interiors, counter tops and all surfaces. There are a few surfaces not to use it on such as marble.

If you create a second bottle with a little baking soda you have a stain remover for fabrics and carpets – simply shake, dampen a rag and apply to the surface.

In the bathroom you can keep a bottle in your shower and spray after each use. This removes mold, fungus and makes the shower simple to clean. When you want to scrub the toilet, sink and tub sprinkle a bit of baking soda and use your mesh scrunchies or a rag. Always keeping it clean makes this much more pleasant and simple.

Use the same formula as your all purpose for your dishes and pour a little in the sink when you are ready to wash. I also keep a jar with a bottle/dish scrubber in it and add a bit of soap flakes. That way, when I have a couple quick dishes, I don’t even need to fill the sink or get out the detergent. I also a steel scouring pad for most dishes that lasts for months. Your dishes will be squeaky clean and bacteria free. So will your sink – no grime.

Before you clean, put a bowl in your microwave and turn it on for about 2 minutes. This makes it easy to wipe down and now you don’t need hot water for your cleaning. For your household floor cleaning just add it to an equal part of water and a couple drops of Tea Tree Oil. Get out your rags, the bucket and scrub your floors (after sweeping them).

You can pour the leftover in the toilet with a bit of baking soda and let it sit for about half an hour to help disinfect. A quick easy scrub and it keeps the toilet from clogging.

If you take off your shoes, keep your surfaces clutter free and clean from the top to bottom can takes hours off your cleaning time every month. Wipe everything down after each use too. Keeping something clean and well maintained is a lot easier than letting it pile up.

Other useful ingredients include lemon and olive oil. Lemon with bit of water and olive oil polishes wood and keeps other surfaces maintained. It’s also aromatic. You can use the rinds to take the smell out of any room or even your garbage can. Once it is done you can simply compost it.

Air freshener tip – lemons aren’t the only thing that will keep your house smelling fresh. Buy a variety of plants and filter all the toxins out of your home while providing fresh oxygen. I feel another post coming on about this.

getting started – the next steps

Hopefully, I’ve sold you on the merits of natural cleaning. I’ll post an article that goes into the specifics of cleaning items that aren’t every day use and expand on your options using laundry soap. A simple four step program will sum up everything from above.

Step 1 – Eliminate Toxins

Here’s a clue – if the product has a warning that says danger, poison, toxin or caution, you probably don’t want it in your house or on your body or near your family. You can find out from your municipality or Earth 911 about proper disposal.

Step 2 – Eliminate Disposables

Eliminate reusable products like paper towels which cost money and use trees. Get rid of sponges and scrubbers which not only harm the environment buy using unnecessary resources but are also known carcinogens. If you can’t get rid of your Swiffer, graduate to the reusable replacements.

Step 3 – Buy Natural Consumables

You probably have most of these things already but you can replace the toxins with biodegradable and natural products mentioned about – vinegar, natural soap, baking soda, lemon, olive oil and water (which you probably have in your home).

Step 4 – Get Eco Friendly Tools

For the full Monty you need a stainless steel bucket, broom, dustpan, mop, rags, spray nozzle attached to reusable glass bottles, few glass jars, bottle scrubber, steel scrubber and natural scrubbers

If you want some more specific examples please take time to comment and I will make sure I add a few more articles and postings with resources and suggestions.

Downsizing is a difficult thing.

It takes time to build up courage and decide what items can go. But I’m getting ahead of you.

I’ve talked about downsizing and voluntary simplicity in great detail but not on this site. Today I wanted to share some quick articles to offer alternatives to getting out of the poorhouse. These options may seem drastic initially but the lifestyle is not one you will regret.

Have a look around simply stephen where there is a wealth of articles on downshifting and lightening your burden. Here’s a few to get you started.

• what is downshifting
• simple steps to downshift your life
• downsizing your personal life
• what is voluntary simplicity
• first steps to a life of voluntary simplicity

For most people the hardest items are sentimental. Books and music seem to be high on the list. Photos and documents can become electronic. They represent a little piece of us. You may need to take this one slowly but I assure you that I am almost book free and my music is now exclusively computer driven…such a relief.

Ease yourself into a small collection of eBooks and eliminate books you will never read again. As for reference books…guess what, we have the web now.

You can make some extra cash and sell your used books and do the same thing with your records and CDs. Sorry guys, unless you find a collector it is difficult to find buyers for 8 Tracks and Cassettes! For those of you that don’t know what I’m talking about, just ignore this part.

If you reduce books, music, clothes, collectibles and sporting equipment you’ll probably reduce your stuff by over 25% and gain a lot of cash and freedom in space too.

There are so many ways to downsize.

Start now. Take it in little chunks. You would be amazed at the free space and extra cash you create.

Give your items and your lifestyle a rethink. Talk it out with friends. Hire an organizer. If you aren’t using it now, chances are someone can use it. It won’t happen overnight (for most) but it’s addictive. With each step you take, you will want to take another.

It’s invigorating. It’s freedom. Release your chains.