If you’re planning any major home renovations, you might be asking yourself, do I do the job myself and save some 
money? Or should I hire a contractor and save myself the hassle. Saving money always has its advantages but sometimes it may not always be the best idea depending on the situation. Before you decide to manage your own home improvement project, answer the questions below:
1. Are you organized?
It’s one thing to know how to install drywall, lay tile or paint walls, but it’s another thing entirely to manage a project from start to finish. If the project is complex and you’re not famous for your organizational skills, you’d be better off hiring an independent contractor.
2. Can you manage a project budget?
Do you know how to set a project budget and keep track of running costs, so you’ll know where you stand at all times? Remodeling projects are famous for spreading from one area to another once people see how much better the improved area looks, and this can really have an effect on a home improvement project’s bottom line. If money is a factor at all for you, you’ll want to keep a close eye on how much is spent. Otherwise you might want to consider hiring a project manager or a contractor.
3. Can you set a schedule and stick to it?
Long-term projects require long-term commitment. That means you need to be able to set aside enough time to complete the project and keep pace with the ordering of materials required to finish the job. If you can only devote a small amount of time or you don’t think you’ll follow through with what is necessary to complete the job then maybe a “do it yourself” project is not the best option.
4. Can you let go of control when necessary?
Large jobs often require the use of subcontractors. Are you willing to bring others in to work under your supervision and allow them to do their jobs without hovering over them? If not, hire a contractor experienced with using subcontractors and ask in advance if they have a diverse network of them that can be accessed when needed.
5. Can you agree to give yourself regular updates?
A project manager or contractor would give you updates as a matter of course, and you should do the same. Scheduling a regular time, either weekly or biweekly, to review the project’s progress can help you determine aspects that aren’t on track. If you can’t or won’t do this, you might consider using the services of a project manager who can objectively guide the project to completion.
Moving can be an expensive, especially if you have a large home. Fortunately for consumers there are many options that allow you to reduce moving costs. Albeit, you may have to do more of the work yourself, but there are multiple moving companies that offer services making your move a little less stressful. These days there are self pack moving companies who offer storage “pods.” These companies give you the option to get some of the benefits of hiring a full service moving company while you sit back and save money. You will have to buy your own moving supplies and pack everything yourself but once you load the pod, the rest of the move is out of your hands. It’s an option that gives you both savings and convenience.
Give your home an “Energy Audit”
On average, households spend about 15 percent of their total income on food and drinks. Aside from clipping coupons, there are other ways to save. See the tips below to see how you can keep more green in your pocket instead of in a grocery store register.
Looking beautiful isn’t easy and it’s certainly not getting any easier in this down economy. The good news is that if you’re careful and look out for department store trends you can still be a fashionista without breaking the bank.
Cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar industry, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend that much to look fabulous. Take advantage of some simple ways to buy discount makeup:
Sometimes fixing up your home can be an expensive chore for a homeowner. Whether you’re trying to sell, rent or just want a change, there are a few easy do-it-yourself 
Think the only way you can save is by becoming a coupon addict? That is so not the case! Cut your grocery bill in half by simply combining the use of grocery discount coupons, store promotions and the sales prices of your favorite items.
All hail the return of the dollar theater. Okay okay, movie tickets just don’t cost a dollar anymore, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t perfectly good theaters that are less expensive than the popular hang outs. A group of four can go out for an evening at the movies and only spend around $10 for a fun family outing. Keep a list of movies you want to see, and then check the discount theater listings each week. These theaters often keep the movies for just one or two weeks, so stay alert to what’s playing. On that note, drive-thrus are also making a comeback. Pay 1 price for a group of family or friends to spend the night under the stars watching the latest blockbuster.
More than anything else, travelers want to find the best deal out there. It doesn’t matter if you’re planning ahead or are looking for last minute airline tickets. The trick about getting the best deal is the day you purchase.
Don’t trust banks anymore? More people are relying on personal money safes, instead of saving accounts. Sales of safes are doing very well in this recession, but is it really a surprise with the way this economy is?
For gamers, a smaller budget doesn’t mean that you have to cut back on the number of video games you play - just re-think how you get them.
Sometimes in our quest to cut costs, some important things go by the wayside… like our weight. It’s no secret that we tend to turn to fatty comfort foods and isolate ourselves when we’re under stress. Case in point? The only stock to rise when Dow Jones Industrial Average fell a record 778 points in September ‘08 was 
Gyms membership rates aren’t cheap, if you add up your monthly charge and the annual cost is usually around $500. Now don’t get us wrong, being healthy is extremely important. The last thing you want to add to your money woes is a doctor bill. If you know you’re really going to use that membership then don’t bother signing up. There are plenty of no-cost options for staying fit. Now if you really serious about getting into or staying in shape and you’re committed to taking a daily trip to the gym, then by all means sign up.
We’ve all seen the news… the Swine flu H1N1 virus is on the rise in the U.S. There are a few simple and free steps to swine flu prevention. That’s right I said FREE - no masks or gloves no $40 kits. Just a little common sense and diligence and you can prevent swine flu from taking over your life.
Millions of laid-off workers are being forced to make tough decisions about their futures. More than 5 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in 2007 and with no end in sight for job cuts, this is the time to recession-proof your career.
Here are some more low-cost and all-natural do-it-yourself recipes you can use to keep your skin looking youthful.
Week 2… Let Them Entertain Themselves