Summertime is often a time we see an unwelcome spike in our energy costs. Between air conditioning, fans, and pool filters running all day, we find ourselves looking for ways to cut our electric bills as much as possible. By adjusting our behaviors and making a few relatively simple and inexpensive changes, we can bring those electric bills down to a more reasonable amount.

Whether you moved into a new home or you’re just ready to begin a new project, starting a new garden can be a very satisfying endeavor, from start to finish.  With a bit of planning and hard work, the benefits will provide satisfaction and excitement for years to come.

You have gone through all the steps to purchase your new home, which can be a grueling process.  From finding a home you love, to securing financing, to enduring inspections and negotiations, to surviving the closing… you have gone through this process pondering ways to make the home “yours”.  Since it is unlikely you have purchased the perfect home, which needs no upgrades, improvements, or finishing touches, you have likely made a laundry list of tasks to tackle when you move in.  But instead of jumping in and tearing things apart, take a break and wait to renovate.

Whoever coined the phrase “lazy days of summer” didn’t have a full house-hold of family members on the go.  Whether you are a stay at home parent or you work full time, we all seem to have high hopes and expectations for our summer plans and projects.  We assume that since the kids are out of school, we will automatically have more time get things done while planning our summer away.  But how many times do you find yourself in the complete opposite scenario?  Between juggling daycare, camp, play dates, and appointments with scheduled day trips to the beach, camping, vacations, we find our time dwindling and there’s even less time for the day to day things we need to get done.

As the warmer weather creeps in, we all start thinking about vacation days, beach trips and long summer nights.  Besides all of the fun-in-the-sun things that are on all of our minds, we should also consider ways to get our homes ready for the warmer weather.  A little bit of preparation can save headaches and money later.  Consider following the below tips to be sure you are prepared.