How to Rent a Room

So we have this amazing house, but only the two of us living in it.  What are we doing with the extra space?  Renting out a couple rooms to help pay the rent.  This is great if you have extra space you don't use, or if you have kids that have left the nest.  Luckily my amazing man has rented out rooms in his previous houses so he knows all the ins and outs (let me tell you I learned a lot).

Here is your basic guide to rent out a room.

BEFORE DECIDING TO RENT
There are a few basic questions you need to address before deciding to rent out your room:
1. Ask if you would want to rent out the room yourself.  The best rooms are easy to get to in a house and your tenant won't have to go through to much of your area to get there.  Your far back room past everything else is not a good fit.

2.  Ask if you really want someone else in your house.  By having a tenant, your secluded home is no longer going to be there.  You will have someone in your kitchen, laundry room, and with full access to the entire house.  If you have young children I definitely don't recommend renting to a stranger (background checks don't catch everything.

3.  Make sure there are no major repairs that need to be done.  See how much it would be to fix anything wrong in the room (a fan, blinds, paint, etc).  If you have a crappy room, you will get a crappy tenant.

4.  Look up landlord/tenant law.  There are a ton of things you as a landlord are required by law to do, and trust me you could be sued if you don't follow the guidelines.

5. What will you charge.  Figure out what you will charge for rent each month.  Look at similar houses in the area to get an idea.  Furnished rooms run higher than unfurnished, same with having a private bath.

6.  Start thinking of the rules you want for your tenant.  Again look at the tenant rights.  You cannot give someone a curfew, but you can have quiet hours in your house (when you go to bed).  Remember, you have to follow these rules too.

7. Download your forms.  There are many forms you can and should use when getting a tenant.  Renter agreement, deposit, move in/out condition, etc.  There are many places online that have these.  Try ezlandlordforms.com for everything you need (and they're free).

READY TO GO?
Now that you've decided to rent, there are more steps to take.
1. Clean the common areas and make space.  Making sure your house is clean from the beginning will set a good precedent, and you are more likely to get a clean tenant.  You also have to make space in the kitchen for another person's groceries.  Our storage in the kitchen is divided by 4 (how many people will use it).  You may find someone who doesn't want to use the kitchen and that's even better for you.  Also make sure your place settings are easily available (yes this person will be using your plates, cups, silverware, pots, pans, etc).

2. If you haven't cleaned the room to rent while looking for repairs, clean it.  You could have someone coming to look at the house the day you put up the ad (Not joking, we did and we were not fully ready).

3.  Take pictures.  Think of what you want to look at when buying a house.  Take pictures of your best features.  Be sure to include: the room, bathroom, common space.  You can also add: yard, front of the house, kitchen, utility room, any other common area they can use.

4.  Write up a lease agreement.  How long will they be staying, how much for rent, how will utilities be divided, where can they park, can they have guests.  Get all your forms (#7 above) together and start writing!  Anything you want to have cleared up before someone moves in.  Remember your ideas from #6 above and implement them.

PLACE YOUR AD!
Go to craigslist and place your ad.  Be sure to include pictures and any information you think may be relevant.  Look at other ads to use as a guideline.
DEFINITELY INCLUDE:
-Rent
-Deposit Fee
-Utilities
-How long you want them
-If you have pets/if pets are OK
-Move-in date
-Major cross streets
-If there is a college or major office area nearby

Once you place your ad, you will start getting responses.  You can either show your house on a one on one basis (what we did) or pick a time and date for everyone to come look at it at once.  You don't have to settle for the first person interested either.  Be sure to tell them before they come what the situation is, and to bring proof of employment (last pay stub, or a letter from employer if they just moved) if they are interested in moving in ASAP.

That's about it. Please be safe, and good luck renting!

XOXO,

Sarah

20 Cheap Dates

So now that we are saving money, I decided to come up with a list of cheap (or free) dates we can do.  I looked at other people's ideas of cheap dates, and most of them involve driving around the city.  I don't think they took into account the price of gas. Lucky for you I have, and hopefully you can use these. I've also figured out the approximate cost of each (yeah we now have a date budget, so the more money we save on these, the bigger splurges we can take out). Give me your ideas of great date ideas!

1.  Movie Night.  Rent a movie on Netflix or through Redbox.  Make popcorn, have a soda, buy some candy.  Turn up the sound and enjoy your movie.  Total Cost: $5 (more if you buy a lot of candy).

2. Take a Hike (or walk).  Search hiking trails or go to your local park and have an afternoon out in the fresh air.  Bonus points going to a point of interest. Total Cost: gas to location.

3. Picnic.  Either in your backyard or your local park (even combine it with your hike) lay out a blanket and enjoy each others company.  Be sure to leave your phones inside.  Total Cost: $10 (depending on what you want to bring to eat).

4. Game night.  Pull out some board games (buy one from goodwill or borrow one from a friend if you don't have one) grab a beer or glass of wine and prepare to duel.  Total Cost: $5

5. Massage Night.  Learn how to give a massage from Youtube (there are a ton of videos), light a candle and take turns giving a massage.  Split this to two nights if you each want a night of relaxing.  One bottle of massage oil should last at least 4 massages each. Total Cost: $2.50.

6. Make dinner together.  Pick any meal that you can both work together to make and get to it. Try a new recipe from online if you feel extra adventurous.  Total Cost: cost of dinner.

7. DIY project.  What do you have in your house that needs to be fixed?  Find something and work together to fix it. Total Cost: Project.

8. Play 20 questions.  Think outside the box and ask questions you wouldn't normally ask about each others days. Total Cost: $0.

9. Bonfire.  Turn on your charcoal grill or fireplace, roast hot dogs and marshmallows and enjoy an evening in. Total Cost: $5.

10. Costco Sample Party.  We love Costco (or Sams Club if you're a member of that) because they have a ton of samples all the time.  Before you shop, try every sample and see what your favorites are, then do your shopping. Cost: $0 (since you're already there for shopping anyway).

11. Bar at Home.  Try making a new drink (or a few) at home.  There are tons of websites with different drink ideas.  Many of them let you put what alcohol or mixers you have at home.  Total Cost: $5.

12. Clean your Closet.  OK hear me out on this one.  While cleaning your closet is no fun, turn on some fun music and go through everything.  Try stuff on, take it back off, and start piling what you want to get rid of.  You can even make some money from this.  Total Cost: Free

13. Ebay party.  After you clean your closet, list your items on Ebay. Check other ridiculous stuff that people are selling. Total Cost: You're making money here!

14. Wine and Cheese.  Crack open a bottle of wine, get some cheese, salami, and crackers, and relax on the couch or in bed.  You can get very good wines for under $10 at all sorts of beverage retailers (I prefer World Market or Costco) and artisan cheese and salami that can last you 2-4 wine nights. Total Cost: $15.

15. Dive Bar.  Go to your local bar (find one with pool and/or darts), grab a drink and play a game.  Check their website for special deals and promotions.  Total Cost: $10.

16. Volunteer. Through church, soup kitchen, or anything else you enjoy.  Helping others can be fun and fulfilling.  Total Cost: Gas.

17.  Start a garden.  Not only will this help you save money, it can be a fun outdoor activity for both of you. Pick up some veggies you both like and get planting.  Total Cost: $2/ pack of seeds (it all depends on how much you want to plant).

18.  Draw pictures of each other.  No matter how poorly you draw (my stick figures are amazing) you will have fun.  Total Cost: Free

19.  Get a book on tape.  Go to the library or library website and download a book on tape.  Play it while you do other activities or snuggle in bed so you can both enjoy.  Total Cost: Free.

20.  Free in your city.  Search for what's free in your city (Google is amazing) and mark it on your calendar.  Cost: Gas.

Enjoy these dates!  I'll be posting more soon!

XOXO,
Sarah

Chicken Tacos From Heaven

So I found this recipe when I was a nanny for the kids, and it's so easy!  It also gets so many compliments any time I make it.  I have no idea where I actually found it, but if anyone knows, please let me know so I can give credit!  I promise you this will be the best chicken tacos you will ever make, and it takes you maybe 2 minutes to put everything together.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
3 lbs chicken breast
16 oz jar of salsa
1 packet taco seasoning.

Put chicken in slow cooker.  Cover with salsa and taco seasoning.  Cook on low 6-8 hours, high 4-6 hours.  The chicken will fall apart.

Put on a tortilla and top with your favorite taco fixings.

That is it.

This recipe is also very forgiving.  When it's only 2 of us I just toss 3 chicken breasts in, cover with salsa, and add a sprinkling of taco seasoning.  I don't think I've measured the exact recipe in over a year and it always turns out amazing.

XOXO

Sarah

Tasting Party

So the other night I had three of my cousins over to the new house.  What started as a little BBQ quickly turned into an amazing tasting party event!  The man and I bought a new pack of 4 BBQ rubs and we wanted to try them all out, so we made a chicken breast with each rub.

You will need:
Multiple rubs or marinades
Meat to infuse with said rubs or marinades
A fork for each person
Labels for each meat (or guess which is which)

Cook up the meat.
Place on a plate (or a different plate for each)
Start cutting pieces off for each person

We did one bite of each chicken per person, then we all went back and had our favorites.  We didn't remember which chicken had which rub, so it was really fun trying to figure out which was which (there was comparisons of colors what seasoning was in each rub).

Next time we will probably do a rub and beer (or wine, or mixed drink) where we ask our friends to bring the alcohol they would like to share with everyone.

You can also have a tasting party with anything you want (appetizers, sides, desserts, etc).  We may even have a battle of the best where everyone brings a dish and the recipe.  Incorporate that with a pool party, BBQ, or game night and you'll have a night at your house to remember!  As you can see, even my dog wanted to get in on the night!

XOXO Sarah

36 Real Ways To Save Your Pennies

From those of you who know me, I have never really been one to budget my money well.  I paid my bills, saved a little, and spent the rest.  I had a steady job with low expenses, and an enjoyment of going out to eat and designer jeans and heals.

That is all over.  I don't have a job.  We have 2 car payments, rent, and a wedding to pay for (among our other expenses).  Thankfully we do have a little cushion until I get a job, but I am mildly determined to never tough it.  Through a little trial and error I have found some ways to save money, and hopefully make a little extra on the side.  Give me your ideas too!

There are lots of little things you can do that really add up.  Like hundreds of dollars a month.  All of these are easy to do and start implementing 1 a day will really make the savings start to add up.

Save it up:
FOOD
-Coupons! OK so I'm a fan of clipping coupons. I probably use maybe 10% of the coupons I clip, but that's because I get anything that I may possibly need.
-Check what's on sale and stock up.  You can view all the store ads online.
-Never buy something just because you have a coupon or it's on sale, but if you find it is a good deal go for it.
-Buy store brands.  Most are just as good and cost less.  Every store I shop at also lets you return their brand if you are unsatisfied.
-Stick to your list. You may find some great deal you missed, but other than that keep to what you have planned.
-Plan your meals.  No need to have a whole month or the exact day you'll eat what.  Buy for a week or two and eat the food before it spoils.
-Have leftovers.  Cook enough to have at least an extra lunch out of it.  Even have a leftover night once a week to get through them.
-Buy bulk.  Meats, bread, cheese, and milk are among some of the foods that freeze very well.
-Manager special.  Stores mark down meat and veggies (the pre prepared bagged kind) that are getting close to expiring.  Go shopping after 7 when the new markdowns are and plan a meal or two around what you can find on sale.
-Freezer cooking.  Prepare meals in bulk and freeze them until you're ready for them.  You can use any meal that you put together and bake.  You can also bag slow cooker meals and thaw overnight before putting in the slow cooker.
-Stop buying bottled water or cans of soda.  Invest in a water filter pitcher and 2 liter bottles of soda.  If you can live without soda cut it out entirely.
-Garden.  Pick a few of your favorite herbs and veggies and start a garden.  It also gives you an activity to do.
-Eat out sparingly.  When you do use a coupon or deal site (like Groupon) to save more.
-Birthday Rewards.  Almost any restaurant has a birthday program that you can redeem the entire month of your birthday.  Sign up anywhere you eat (or want to eat) and see what you get for free.

HOME
-Turn your lights out.  If you don't need a light turn it out. Not only are you being eco friendly (I'm glad it's really trendy now), you're also cutting down on your electricity cost.
-Watch your temperature.  Try raising the AC a few degrees this summer.
-Use Mother Nature.  If it's breezy or colder at night open your windows to cool your house.  Close everything up in the morning or when the breeze dies to keep the cool inside.
-Turn off the TV.  Play a board game instead or go for a walk or swim.  Head to Goodwill and get a used game or two to mix things up.
-Don't dry clothes/dishes.  Skip the drying mode and open up your dishwasher to let your dishes finish drying.  Put up a clothesline and let your clothes air dry.  Use that summer heat to help save some energy and money.
-Get the best rate.  See if your energy and cable are giving you the best rate.  If not, try for a better deal or change services.
-Make your own cleaners.  They are more natural and a fraction of the cost.  I'll have links up soon for the ones I try.
-Fill your freezer.  The more stuff you have in there, the less work your freezer has to do to keep everything cool.  Bag ice and fill the empty spots until you have food to go in there.

ACTIVITES
-Groupons. Again they have great deals on tons of activities.
-Take a hike (or walk).
-Check out a book.  Libraries are amazing! Find a new book or series to start.
-Dollar theaters.  Go see a movie for cheap.
-First Showing.  AMC and other theaters offer their first movie showing of the day for around $6.
-Sports.  Check out your local high school for sports games.  If you have a minor league team in your area check them out as well.
-Game night.  Spread out some games, invite friends over (have they bring the food) and have a fun night.  You can also have them bring their favorite game for more diversity.
-Movie night.  Get a movie from Netflix or Redbox, make some popcorn, grab some candy, and relax at home.
-Search for free events in your area.
-Have a DIY (or pinterest) day.  Invite some friends over and get crafty and creative with things you can actually use.  Each person is in charge of bringing one activity.  Set a theme (household cleaner, baking mixes, etc).

OTHER
-Plan ahead.  See what errands you have to do and where you need to go each week.  Plan your route and time to make the most out of both.
-Stop impulses.  Some items seem amazing, and then you get them home and never use them.  If you don't know if you'll use it enough, don't buy it.
-Return!  Don't be too proud to return items.
-Use credit cards.  Find a card with rewards you want.  Make sure you pay it off every month!

Make some money:
-Surveys.  There are many survey sites that pay you for taking surveys.  I have a ton of free time now, so I'm only starting to explore this amazing concept.  I love inbox dollars because you get paid to click through emails they send you and search the web.  Try it out here, plus you get a $5 sign up bonus.
-Ebates.  Sign up here and I promise you won't regret it!  You get cash back for shopping at tons of stores that you probably already shop at.  You're also saving money on gas since you don't need to go to the store to buy your items.
-Sell your stuff.  After moving and looking back through my closet, I have found a lot of stuff I don't really need.  Take it to a consignment store or sell it yourself on ebay.  I'll probably have a post soon on my closet reorganization (thanks to Pinterest I have tons of ideas).
-Get Crafty.  I do all sorts of crafts (crochet, sew, make cards, etc).  With my free time I'm hoping to get some stuff together and create an etsy site to sell it on.  Etsy is this amazing website where anyone can sign up and buy and sell homemade goods.  By buying on there you are helping out small artisans (many have an amazing price).  Find something you're good at and start selling it.

Moving Tips

Now that I'm all moved in, I have a long list of things I wish I did, and some I actually did do, for this move.  I'm definitely going to look back here once it's time to move again.  Let me know if you have any other moving tips!

1.  Start packing early.  Like over a month before you move early.  My stuff multiplied while I was packing, and I couldn't believe I had so much stuff!  I ended up shoving a lot of it into boxes to deal with at this house and now I'm kicking myself.  I did start with some cold weather clothes and a few craft boxes a month before, and that seriously make it so much easier!

2. Sort before you move.  If you start packing early, you'll have the ability to sort through all your stuff before you move.  You'll also have plenty of time to itemize it and donate it.  Again I had some stuff, but I'm going through more now that I'm all moved in.

3.  Have everything packed and ready before getting the van.  The man and I were still packing and running around while we had our truck, and it really was stressful.  I was able to have the majority of my stuff packed when we brought the truck to my house, and twice the boxes loaded in half the time.  Also make sure you can lift everything yourself if you plan to move.  We had to get help at his house for a couple things we thought I could manage, but then once it got to the stairs I was useless.

4.  Pack heavy things in suitcases.  I did this and it was magical!  I had a ton of books in one of my suitcases and just rolled it into the truck.  We had a box with half as many books and I couldn't even lift it.  I had another one filled with candles, decorations, frames, etc.

5.  Pack food to eat.  The last thing you want to do when getting into a new house (especially after driving half way across the country) is go to the grocery store.  We had to and we both were so cranky and hungry at the point of breakfast it was not fun.  Dry cereal, spaghetti o's, easy mac, chips, bread, peanut butter, and instant coffee are my big suggestions. Anything you can eat as is, or pop in the microwave with water are great (make sure you have a microwave available if you're doing that).

6.  Create Box #1.  This had a few shirts, pants, underwear, sheets, and towels, really everything you need for a couple days without unpacking any boxes.  We had our toiletries out since we stayed at a hotel, but you may need those too if you're not stopping. It's just one less thing to worry about when you're in your new home.

7.  Map out your neighborhood.  Luckily the man already lived out in this area so he knew where everything was.  I, on the other hand, have found that I need to go different places, and miss some since I didn't realize there were two stores close together.  

8.  Unpack everything before going shopping.  Besides groceries, wait to go shopping until you know everything that you will need.  We keep finding things as we unpack that we thought we had, or we didn't think we had and now we've found it.  It will also save some trips to the store until you know everything you need and can map out what you want (plus it should save some money since you can shop around for the best prices).

9.  Wrap your fragile items in towels.  I used paper towels for the kitchen stuff, and then I had an amazing towel pile for cleaning and use until we could make it to the store for more.  I wrapped pretty much everything else in bath towels.  It was really nice to not have a giant pile of newspaper to recycle and everything was ready to go.

10.  Label your boxes.  This may seem obvious, but we ended up with boxes that we had no idea what they were.  Label the room they belong in on all sides.  If you're feeling extra organized, make a list of the stuff inside the boxes so you know what is in each, and what is important or not.

11.  Create a moving budget cushion.  Moving is expensive, allowing a cushion of money for the initial expenses would have been very helpful for our budget planning.  It never hurts to have more money available that you think.

12. Allow extra time.  Seriously.  You may think you only need so many hours or days to pack, but allow at least a few extra hours or an extra day.  It's much better to be sitting around fully packed then racing around last minute to get everything.

Here We Are!

So now that the man and I are almost settled into our home, I wanted to send out an update and start a blog for all my friends and family (and maybe new internet friends) to follow up on us!  We made it out in 2 days with the man being amazing at driving a truck with my baby Emmy (the Elantra) on a dolly in the back.  Why yes our cars have names.  The doggies love our big back yard, and we love our big house that is way too empty.  I'm sure we'll be figuring out all sorts of tips for filling an empty house on a budget in the future.

We worked out an amazingly possible budget to help us save for buying a house in a year and I found a ton of moving tips that I'll end up sharing with you later.  There's a whole list we made to help us save money and hopefully make our lives easier once we're both working like crazy.  Yes I don't have a job yet, so I get to experiment a lot in the upcoming weeks with ways to save money. Hopefully I'll get stuff that I can do once I'm working and can keep the savings coming (possibly starting some crafty Etsy shop or something to make extra money).

It's also time to get crazy on wedding planning and figuring out how to save as much money as possible.  While my wedding pins (if you don't know what pinterest is, you better get an invite from someone and get addicted) are awesome, we're finding some may not be as attainable as we originally thought.

If you have any ideas or recipes you want me to try out, let me know!!

XOXO

Sarah