Pests like ants, roaches, mice, and other critters can be a nuisance in your home. Calling an exterminator every time you see one can get expensive. With a few simple, low-cost solutions, you can take pest control into your own hands and keep your home free of unwanted visitors.

Buy Concentrate Pest Killer
One of the most economical ways to control household pests is to buy concentrated pesticides and dilute them yourself. This allows you to make gallons of finished spray for a fraction of what pre-mixed products cost.

Bifenthrin is an inexpensive, over-the-counter pesticide that kills hundreds of different insects. It comes concentrated as a liquid that you mix with water. A 32 oz bottle sells for around $30 online or at farm supply stores. Follow the label to dilute it into a gallon of ready-to-use spray. One bottle makes up to 100 gallons, so you’ll have pest spray for years to come at a cost of around 30 cents per gallon.

You’ll also need a one gallon garden sprayer, which you can find for $15-$20. Use it to spray the diluted bifenthrin around baseboards, under appliances, and other places bugs hide. This treatment will kill ants, cockroaches, spiders, and many other common pests. Reapply every few months for continued control.

Set Out Ant Killer Baits
Outdoor ant mounds and indoor ant trails can be frustrating problems. A simple fix is ant killer bait stations. These contain a sweet bait plus a pesticide that worker ants take back to the nest and feed to the queen, wiping out the entire colony.

Outdoor stakes like Amdro Kills Ants run under $10 for a package of 6 to 12. Place them near mounds and along areas where ants enter the house. Indoor ant baits like Terro Liquid Ant Killer run about $5 per bait. Put them along countertops, windowsills, anywhere you see ants. Replace every few months.

The active ingredient in most ant baits is either borax or abamectin. The store brand versions work just as well as name brands for a lower cost.

Apply Cockroach Killer
Scuttling cockroaches can make your skin crawl. Get rid of them with cockroach bait stations similar to ant baits. Harris Roach Tablets are some of the most effective and cost less than $10 for a box containing 145 tablets.

Put the tablets in the back of cabinets and drawers, under appliances, and anywhere else cockroaches like to hide. The bait will kill roaches that eat it plus any others they expose when returning to the nesting area.

You can also spray diluted bifenthrin in these areas for added roach control. Be sure to hit cracks and crevices where they hide.

Set Out Mouse Traps
Mice may be small, but they can damage your home and spread disease. Stop them in their tracks with inexpensive mouse traps. A 6-pack of basic snap traps costs around $5.

Place traps wherever you see signs of mice like droppings, gnawed items, or along baseboards and walls where they travel. Use peanut butter for bait. Check and rebait the traps every 1-2 weeks to catch any invading mice before they breed and multiply.

For a mess-free option, opt for live catch traps that trap mice humanely so you can release them outdoors. They cost a little more, around $10-12 each, but let you relocate mice without killing them.

Seal Cracks and Gaps
Pests need open access points to enter and move around your home. Sealing cracks shuts down their highways. Spend an afternoon sealing any openings wider than 1/4 inch, especially where utilities enter the home.

Caulk, expandable foam, weatherstripping, and other sealants cost between $3-$8 per tube. Target plumbing penetrations, gaps around windows and doors, attic entrances, and any crevices along the foundation or siding that could be mouse or insect entryways.

Sealing the exterior keeps new pests from getting in, while sealing the interior keep current pest infestations contained until other treatments like traps and sprays can work.

Clear Debris and Manage Food Sources
Pests won’t hang around if they can’t find food and shelter. Make your landscaping and home exterior less inviting with some DIY maintenance:

• Clear leaves, grass clippings, firewood, and other debris that pests use for hiding and breeding.
• Trim bushes and vegetation back from the house.
• Pick up fallen fruit and vegetables from gardens.
• Store outdoor cushions and pillows inside when not in use.
• Fix leaky faucets and pipes.
• Clean up pet food and water bowls at night.
• Seal trash cans and keep trash storage areas clean.
• Compost food waste in closed bins, not open piles.

By removing pest habitat and food sources, you force them to look elsewhere for a home. No need to use pesticides if they aren’t interested in sticking around anyway!

Know When to Call a Professional
While you can control many occasional invaders yourself, some large-scale pest infestations require professional treatment:

• Termite swarms emerging from your home require termite treatment.
• A bee or wasp hive growing under the eaves needs removal and exclusion.
• An active rodent infestation with dozens of mice or rats calls for more powerful rodenticides and bait stations.
• A carpet beetle or clothes moth infestation may take fumigation to clear.

DIY pest control works great for maintenance. But call the pros for severe or structural pest issues. Getting exterminators involved earlier rather than later will minimize damage to your home.

Use these affordable pest prevention tips and products to tackle minor pest problems yourself. With diligence and proper application, you can keep your home free of most unwelcome visitors and save hundreds of dollars yearly on exterminator fees. A small investment of time and money goes a long way when controlling pests in your living space.

Heading off to college and moving into a dorm for the first time is an exciting experience! But it can also be daunting when it comes to furnishing and stocking your small space while trying to stick to a student budget. Don’t worry, with some planning and savvy shopping, you can score all the dorm room essentials you need without breaking the bank. Here are some tips and tricks for affording everything on your dorm room checklist.

Communicate with Your Roommate
One of the best ways to save money when prepping your dorm room is to communicate with your roommate ahead of time. That way you can coordinate who brings what and avoid duplicate purchases. Items you may be able to share include:

• Cleaning supplies – you only need one vacuum, mop, broom etc for the room. Split up who brings what.
• Small kitchen appliances – coordinate who will bring the microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker etc so you don’t end up with multiples.
• TV – agree ahead of time if you want to split the cost of a TV for the room.
• Decor items – check if you have similar decor tastes and can share things like rugs, wall art, string lights etc.

Having an open line of communication with your roommate from the start will ensure you furnish your dorm room in the most affordable way possible.

Shop Discount Retailers
When it comes to stocking up on all the dorm room essentials you’ll need, skip the full-price stores and head to discount retailers like Walmart, Target and Amazon. These stores offer incredible prices on basics like storage bins, bedding, towels, organizational items, decor and more dorm room fundamentals.

Shopping these value stores can save you significant cash versus shopping specialty stores or department stores. Be sure to also keep an eye out for coupons and promos from these retailers around back-to-school season for additional savings opportunities.

Scope Out Your School’s Move-In Sale
Most colleges and universities host special move-in sales or thrift sales at the start of each semester to help students furnish their dorms on a dime. Keep an eye out for advertisements about when and where your school is holding its sale.

At these sales, you can scoop up loads of affordable furniture, décor, kitchenware, electronics and anything else you might need for your dorm room. Often the items are donated or left behind by previous students. So you can score quality furnishings for absolute bargain prices!

Buy Secondhand Furniture
In addition to move-in sales, check out local thrift stores, garage sales and Facebook Marketplace for used furniture and accessories. Secondhand stores are treasure troves when it comes to finding cheap dorm furniture like desks, chairs, shelving, small couches, end tables and more.

You can also post on Facebook asking if anyone is selling used dorm furniture or leaving town and looking to get rid of furnishings. Finding good quality used items is an eco-friendly way to furnish your dorm on a budget.

Rent or Borrow Large Items
Speaking of used furniture, consider renting or borrowing large furnishings for your dorm room. As a college student with limited space, you likely don’t want to invest in large furniture items that will be tough to transport and store over summer and winter breaks.

See if any local rental companies offer student discounts on furnishings. You may also be able to borrow items like mini fridges, TVs and futons from family or friends so you don’t have to buy brand new. This will save you a lot of money on big-ticket items.

Take Inventory of What You Already Have
Before you start compiling your dorm room shopping list, take stock of what you already have that you can bring. Look around your bedroom, office space, family common areas etc. Chances are you have plenty of items at home like storage crates and bins, bedding, decor, small appliances and more that you can bring to college.

By taking inventory first, you can cross those needed items off your list and focus spending on just the essentials you’re missing. This helps cut down on unnecessary purchases.

Seek Out Student Discounts
As a student, you have access to special discounts at many retailers both in-store and online. When shopping for dorm room basics, be sure to ask stores if they offer a student discount or show your college ID.

Sign up for newsletters from retailers so you can get alerts about student promos for back-to-school sales events. Check for student coupon codes online as well before making online purchases. Saving 10-20% can really add up over the course of furnishing your dorm on a budget.

Buy Store Brands
Opt for store brand versions of basics like cleaning and toiletry supplies, trash cans, laundry hampers, toolkit items and more dorm necessities. Store brand items are typically cheaper than name brands but the same quality.

For example, Walmart’s house brand, Great Value, offers everything from towels and shower caddies to notebooks and hangers for significantly less than the brand name counterparts. Get all the fundamentals you need while sticking to your dorm budget.

Watch for Freebies on Move-In Day
On campus move-in day, be on the lookout for freebies! Many student organizations and local businesses set up booths giving away dorm room essentials like mini first aid kids, laundry supplies, notebooks, coupons and more free goodies.

These free offerings on move-in day help stock your dorm room with useful items at no cost. Take advantage and grab as many freebies as you can carry to get your dorm fully furnished.

Minimize the Clutter
When shopping for your dorm, be selective about what you actually need. It’s easy to go overboard buying accessories and knick knacks that will just add clutter in your small space. Resist those tempting impulse buys!

Focus spending on the real dorm room essentials like linens, storage for organization, cleaning and bathroom supplies, laundry items and other necessities that make living in a dorm functionable. You can always add decorative touches later if you feel you need them. Avoid wasting money on non-essentials.

With this guide, you can furnish your dorm room in style while sticking to your student budget. Use these savvy shopping tips to snag all the college living essentials you need at an affordable price point. What dorm room finds are you most excited to shop for? Happy dorm prepping!

As a parent trying to afford art supplies for multiple school-aged kids, the costs can really add up. But with some strategic planning and smart shopping, you can get quality supplies for your budding artists without breaking the bank. Here are 10 tips for cost-effective art supply shopping for K-12 students:

1. Buy Cheapest Supplies for Elementary Students
Younger kids are still learning basic skills and tend to waste materials as they experiment. For students grades K-5, you can save money by purchasing cheaper kid brands, basic crayons, washable markers, and discount bundles. Materials don’t need to be high-quality at this stage. Focus on affordability and replenishing often as needed.

2. Prioritize Versatile Supplies
Look for supplies that can serve multiple functions across various projects and classes. Neutral colored construction paper, glue sticks, #2 pencils, erasers, rulers, and basic paint sets are versatile items to stock up on. Avoid purchasing single-use specialty items unless required.

3. Buy Store Brands Over Name Brands
The store brand glue sticks, markers, and paints work just as well as Crayola or Elmer’s for a fraction of the price. Let go of brand loyalty, especially if your child won’t know the difference. Do your own comparison tests if uncertain.

4. Shop Seasonal Sales and Clearance Deals
Timing your shopping to take advantage of back-to-school sales, teacher discounts at major retailers, and clearance events can mean major savings on art essentials. Shop off-peak seasons like winter for the best deals. Sign up for store savings clubs and promos.

5. Compare Prices at Multiple Retailers
What’s on sale at the craft store may be cheaper at the big box retailer. Compare prices online and in-store to find the best deal on each item. Use price matching policies to your advantage. Factor in coupons and membership savings as well.

6. Buy Quality Brands for Specialty Items
While it’s fine to buy cheaper basic supplies, invest in quality for specialty tools that will get heavy use. Higher grade paints, brushes, colored pencils, pastels, and markers are worth paying up for if your child will pursue advanced art.

7. Only Buy What You Need
It’s tempting to purchase bulk value packs to save, but too much excess supply leads to waste. Gauge how quickly your child uses up materials and buy accordingly. Start with smaller packs and restock as needed to avoid overload.

8. Shop End of Year School Sales
Near the end of the school year, many school art departments will sell off surplus supplies at steep discounts. This is the best way to score barely-used tools like rulers, scissors, paint sets and more for mere dollars.

9. Use Coupons and Loyalty Programs
Take advantage of coupons from craft stores like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby as well as Target Cartwheel discounts. Sign up for loyalty programs to earn extra savings on future purchases. Check for teacher discounts too.

10. Buy Recycled and Upcycled
Check second-hand stores, recycling centers and apps like Nextdoor for free or cheap recycled art supplies. Or upcycle household items like empty jars, food containers, paper rolls, fabric scraps and more into art materials.

Following these tips will ensure you get the most bang for your buck when supply shopping for student artists. Let your child’s creative spirit shine without breaking the family budget. With smart shopping, you can stock up on all the basic essentials and a few specialty items for them to explore their artistic potential.

It’s August 2023 and a new school year is right around the corner. As a parent, you know that means it’s time to stock up on school supplies and shop for new clothes and shoes. Kids’ feet grow so fast, and their running shoes take a real beating during recess, gym class, and extracurricular sports. With how quickly they outgrow their shoes, the costs can really add up.

The good news is there are some smart ways to save money when shoe shopping for your kids. With these tips, you can get quality, long-lasting shoes your kids will love without breaking the bank.

1. Buy High Quality for Longevity
It can be tempting to go for those budget-friendly shoes at big box stores, but they often wear out much more quickly. Spending a little more upfront on higher quality, athletic-specific kids’ running shoes will help them hold up better through active play and PE classes. Brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and Saucony have excellent youth options with features like mesh uppers for breathability, foam cushioning for shock absorption, and durable rubber outsoles. The extra investments on pairs that are well-constructed with athletic performance in mind means you won’t have to replace them quite so often.

2. Research Online Before Buying
Before you head to the store or shop any sales online, do some research on the best options in your price range. Browse reputable kids’ active footwear sites and read through customer reviews on styles that interest you. Parents will often mention how the shoes held up after a few months of use and if they were worth the price paid. Pay attention to any notes on sizing and fit as well. This will give you a better idea of the expected quality and fit before purchasing.

3. Shop End of Season Sales
Mark your calendars for end of summer and end of winter clearance sales. Stores will be looking to clear out remaining seasonal inventory like sandals in August and winter boots in January/February. Take advantage of the deep discounts up to 50-60% off or more. Stock up on shoes they can grow into at least the next size up and put away until next season. The savings are worth storing them for a few months.

4. Buy a Half Size Bigger
It can be tempting to buy shoes that just fit right now, but kids’ feet are constantly growing. Buy shoes that have at least a half size, or even full size, of room to grow into. This extra room allows their toes to stay comfortable as their feet get bigger. It extends how long they can actually wear the shoes and fit into them. Try to resist the urge to buy something too snug just because it fits that day.

5. Shop Clearance Racks
Don’t forget to always browse the clearance racks first when shoe shopping. Retailers will typically have a section dedicated to discounted shoes that are leftover styles, odd sizes, or last season’s colors. You can grab barely worn returns as well. It takes a bit more time sifting through the options, but you can find some incredible deals. The styles may not be exactly what they want, but you can get quality shoes at 50-75% off in some cases. Clearance racks are the first place to start looking to save.

6. Compare Prices Online
Before buying any pairs at full price, do some quick price comparisons online. Search for the exact shoe styles and sizes you are considering across retailers like Zappos, DSW, Rack Room, Amazon, and more. Include discounts, coupons, taxes, and shipping rates to accurately compare bottom line costs. You may find you can save $10-15 in some cases by ordering elsewhere or that store pickup is less than shipping fees. Taking a few minutes to compare ensures you get the best deal.

7. Avoid Trendy Styles
Trendy shoe styles featuring the latest Disney characters or flashy patterns may be appealing to kids in the moment, but they will shortly move on to the next trend. Opt for classic, athletics-focused styles in versatile neutral colors like black, white, navy and gray. They will coordinate with most outfits and uniforms. They can pass them down to younger siblings later rather than only being worn for one school year before being cast aside. Timeless over trendy will be much easier on your wallet and the planet.

8. Sign Up For Promotions
Take advantage of periodic promotions and loyalty programs from your favorite shoe retailers. Provide your email address or download their apps to receive coupons for percentage off or free shipping. Sign the kids up for birthday rewards programs as well to earn discounts and bonus points around their special day. Set sale alerts on styles you have your eye on for when the price drops. Loyalty, birthday freebies and app promos add up for extra savings all year long.

Finding deals on quality, durable kids’ running shoes is very doable with some savvy shopping strategies. Always make comfort and proper fit the priority before pricing when selecting their new kicks. With the right pair, getting through even the most active school days in style and comfort is a breeze.

The summer heat can take a toll on your wallet if you’re not careful. With temperatures soaring, your air conditioning bill climbs right along with the mercury. The kids want endless cold drinks and treats to beat the heat. And you just want to stay comfortable without breaking the bank.

The good news is there are lots of ways to save money when temperatures rise. With a little planning and creativity, you can survive the dog days of summer while keeping your budget intact. Here are 9 tips for saving money during extreme heat:

1. Set Your Thermostat Higher
One of the easiest ways to lower your electricity bills in summer is to keep your thermostat set at a higher temperature. Set it to 78°F or higher during the day when no one is home. You can lower it by a few degrees when everyone is home and wants to be cooler. But keep it at 76-78°F, not 72°F like you might in other seasons. Just those few degrees can amount to big savings over the entire summer.

2. Use Fans and Ventilation
Fans help circulate the air and make it feel cooler than it really is. Run ceiling paddle fans on medium or high speed to create a cooling breeze. Placing box fans near open windows or doors can pull in cooler outdoor air at night. And running bathroom or kitchen vent fans when cooking, showering, or doing laundry helps remove excess heat and humidity.

3. Cook Outside on a Grill or Camp Stove
On really hot days, cooking inside heats up the house. Take it outside and fire up the grill, use a camp stove, or plug in an outdoor electric griddle instead. Outdoor cooking prevents all that heat from getting trapped inside your home. And you can enjoy dining al fresco when the weather cooperates.

4. Dry Clothes Outside
Clothes dryers generate a lot of heat and humidity. On warm, sunny days let Mother Nature dry your clothes for free. Hang laundry outside to take advantage of the sun and breeze. Your clothes will smell fresh, and you won’t heat up the house running a dryer.

5. Seal Air Leaks and Add Insulation
One of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency is by sealing air leaks and adding more insulation. Start by using caulk and weather stripping to seal gaps and cracks around doors and windows. Then consider adding insulation to the attic, walls, and floors if needed. A well-insulated home stays cooler and reduces AC costs.

6. Use Appliances Strategically
Run heat-generating appliances like ovens, dishwashers, and washing machines at night when it’s cooler. Cook on an outdoor grill instead of the stove. Hand wash dishes and hang clothes to dry when possible. And microwave instead of using the oven. Planning appliance use carefully can minimize waste heat.

7. Swap Out Light Bulbs
Replace any incandescent light bulbs with LEDs. They use at least 75% less energy and produce far less heat while still brightening your home. Installing LEDs in fixtures that get heavy use will keep things cooler while also lowering your electricity bill.

8. Keep Blinds and Curtains Closed
During the hottest part of the day, keep windows covered. Blinds, curtains and drapes help block the sun’s rays and reduce heat radiating through the glass. For even more insulation, install thermal curtains designed to trap cold air and keep out heat. Close windows and coverings early in the morning before the effects of the hot sun begin.

9. Use Landscaping for Shade
Position trees, shrubs, patio covers, awnings, or shade sails to block direct sunlight on the windows and roof. Shading outdoor AC units can boost their efficiency too. Strategically placed landscaping creates cooler zones around your home, giving your AC a break from the blazing sun.

Beating the summer heat doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. With some smart planning and money-saving tips, you can keep your cool while keeping cash in your wallet. Stay comfortable, save energy, and reduce your utility bills during extreme heat with these creative ideas. The whole family will appreciate the refreshed indoor climate and lower spending.