I discovered a great company called Savoy house.  They have the most beautiful lighting fixtures.  I was really impressed by their selection and range in price.  They have something for everyone.

I have had the hardest time finding a chandelier for my dining room  that I like at Lowes and Home Depot.  I have not wanted to order anything online because of the monstrous shipping fee.  Well, Savoy house ships many of their fixtures for free.  Time to go shopping…

It’s amazing how something as simple as a new bookcase or coffee table can change how a person feels about their home. Now that ready-to-assemble furniture (commonly called RTA) is so widely available, and the prices so much lower than ready-made, has society been given the gift of good taste or have standards been lowered?

“Do People Want RTA Furniture?”

A resounding “YES” answers that question. RTA sales have increased tremendously - especially in discount and do-it-yourself venues.

Stores like WalMart are increasing their offerings to a ready group of consumers while industry giant IKEA continues to spread the availability of stylish furnishings around the globe. According to market analysis reports, RTA furniture is one of the fastest growing segments of the furniture market in the world.

“Is RTA Good Quality?”

Ready-to-assemble furniture has made it’s reputation in simple storage items, like microwave stands and bookcases, which were often considered low quality. Price point and package handling have always been a big feature of RTA. You could easily take what you need from the store and put it together at home that same day.

On the other hand, consumers are beginning to demand more sophisticated design as well as durability. While the consumers’ standards may be increasing, their pocketbook still forces them to watch for price. Many younger consumers are looking to create stylish rooms that integrate with newer technology - the slim and modern designs common to RTA have a clear win over heavier, more expensive furnishings with this group.

The quality of RTA is also improving. Better materials can be afforded when the consumer saves on shipping costs by buying items flat-packaged.

“What About Putting It Together?”

More involvement by local manufacturers has improved the clarity of instructions available to the do-it-yourselfer. The common problem of RTA was often that instructions were translated by the foreign makers - leading to confusion and frustration. Improvements to the instructions lead to happier consumers, fueling the trend even further.

“What is Available in RTA Furniture?”

While RTA furniture originally focused on the home entertainment or home storage markets it has branched out considerably. Many office supply stores began carrying desk and office furniture to take advantage of the trend for home offices. RTA furniture has since expanded into dining room, bedroom and living room furniture.

Now you are just as likely to find a designer look bedroom set at your grocery store or discount department store as at an uptown furniture boutique. Store buyers know consumers want it and are increasing their display space to fill the need. While those who can afford to choose still turn to ready-made furniture, RTA makes a stylishly furnished home possible for just about everybody.

Time was when an air mattress left a lot to be desired in the comfort department. Now sure, an air mattress is very convenient for temporary usage. You can fold it up very easily when it’s deflated so it’s an ideal choice for a camp bed or even for that unexpected guest who has to sleep on the floor.

Early air mattresses could be so thin and flimsy that they were only good for giving you a very poor nights sleep. If you were sleeping on one on the floor then you would probably be left with the feeling that you had actually slept on the floor. Some of them also had the nasty habit of deflating overnight because they were so poorly constructed that they were leaky.

So, have there been any improvements lately compared to air mattresses from yesteryear? Well, compared to the basic types that were available years ago, many of the more expensive types of today feature such extras as a pillow top and soft upholstered panels attached to the top and bottom for a much more luxurious feel. Of course, there’s some compromise here in terms of storage and portability. These super-luxurious versions of the humble air mattress do take up more space when deflated and rolled up.

Are there any other advantages to an air mattress? In a word, yes. Because they are inflatable, they have firmness which is adjustable. Want it softer? Just don’t inflate it so hard.

It was certainly true that the very early air mattresses were only designed to be utilitarian and they were certainly very basic and no-frills. You certainly wouldn’t have considered these mattresses for regular use, but you just might be persuaded to rethink that point of view if you give a modern, deluxe air mattress a try.

Some of the better quality, modern air mattresses are so luxurious that they come with electric air pumps to inflate them - so that manual labor has even been taken out of the inflation process. They are also available in all of the popular bed sizes - twin, full, king and queen. These quality air mattresses are actually designed to be used as a permanent sleeping solution.

There are even people who claim to prefer an air mattress to any other type of mattress. That in itself should tell you exactly how many air mattress comfort improvements there have been in recent years.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress for your bed, it might just be a good idea to take the air mattress comfort test to see if this solution might just be the key to a good nights sleep for you.

Why do we turn a deaf ear when we hear the words ‘life insurance’? While nobody wants to contemplate a scenario that would require you to use it, have you ever envisioned your life – or your family’s life – if the worst was to happen and you didn’t have insurance?

Do I Need Life Insurance?

The purpose of life insurance is to guarantee an income to your spouse and children if you were no longer able to support them. This is the scenario you should think about; if something happened to you today would your family be able to live in their current home? Would they have enough money to maintain their current lifestyle? Would the cost of a funeral become a burden? Would the remaining spouse be able to support the family with little stress or would the combination of financial burden and loosing you cause unendurable hardship for them?

If you have saved and invested and prepared in other ways, you may feel certain that despite dealing with grief your family would have no financial concerns. But that is rare. Young families especially are at a disadvantage when debts are high, responsibilities for caring for children are costly, income may not have reached its full potential or one partner is no longer bringing in an income and in most cases savings are low.

This is the scenario that requires a family to purchase term life insurance.

Why Should I Get Term Insurance?

Buying term life insurance leads to more money in your pocket as it is the most inexpensive form of life insurance. It is priced based on your age and health and is usually purchased in terms of several years – 1, 5, 10, 20 or anything in between. This form of insurance will provide the highest coverage for the lowest premiums.

While term insurance is not ideal for older individuals since the price goes up substantially with age, it is the perfect solution for younger couples or families who have high debts including mortgages, life expenses and dependants. The insurance can cover you while your children grow and the mortgage is paid off. When the policy expires you should have invested, paid down your debts and no longer have dependants.

Who Needs to be Covered?

Since insurance is actually income protection – providing money if you cannot – you need only cover the individuals who contribute to the family financially. First and foremost the MAIN income earner needs coverage. If the main income disappeared it would be crucial for the insurance to cover the needs of the family.

Second, if any secondary income is relied on to cover expenses that person should also have an insurance policy. This includes the main caregiver if that person is a parent or unpaid family member. Why? Even if they don’t contribute an income, if they were not caring for the children you would have to pay someone else to do it. Insurance would cover that additional cost.

Third, only if you cannot afford funeral expenses (generally about $5000) should you take out an insurance policy on your children. There is no reason for children to otherwise be insured as they do not contribute to the family income.

Now You Know…

If you haven’t taken the time to understand the purpose of term insurance, now you can decide if it is in the best interest of your family to provide this protection. It will give you peace of mind and make all the difference to your family in a time of need.

The month of March is typically the time when families stop using their heater. It is also noted as the beginning of spring. Many people use this time to get a fresh start in their lives as well as in their homes. Spring cleaning is not just for homeowners. People who reside in townhouses, condominiums, and apartments can also take advantage of this perfect time to remove clutter and get organized. While some people will devote an entire week to spring cleaning, not everyone is fortunate to have such time available. You can spring clean your home in one as little as a day, and in such a way that it will last longer than the spring season itself.

Most people who start a spring cleaning project have good intentions. However, what often happens is that they only do half a job; often losing steam halfway through the project. Problems that creep up and sabotage your good intentions can often be traced to lack of planning. Before you pick up a broom, grab a pen and paper a couple of days in advance and design your plan for the day. Remember to make a list of the items you will need to perform each task. When you design your plan, make sure you include the tasks that each person will perform. Something else you don’t want to neglect to include in your planning is food. Pizza or other quick snacks can provide quick energy that will keep everyone motivated to work. You may also want to play some upbeat music. If you’re not sure what to list on your plan, the items listed below are ideas that can get you started.

Indoor Cleaning
A good place to start your spring cleaning is with actual cleaning. Filters and vents can accumulate dust and dirt particles that can cause them to become clogged. With the hot temperatures of summer just around the corner, the last thing you want to worry about is a broken air conditioner. Replace old filters and make sure all vents in the home are free of dust. Excessive dust can also cause allergy problems, especially in young children. Now is also a good time to have your carpet steam cleaned. You can pay someone to do the job for you or rent a steam cleaner at your local grocery store for less than $40. Other indoor cleaning tasks include vacuuming your furniture and draperies, flipping your mattresses, and cleaning all your windows. If you have household pets, you should freshen up the area where they spend most of their time. While you’re cleaning indoors, make note to replace anything you discover that is damaged or broken. Areas that people typically neglect include the dishwasher, shower curtain, and kitchen cabinets. Be sure to clean these areas thoroughly because bacteria can become a problem in these areas and cause a host of health problem.

Focusing on the Landscape
What people will notice first about your home is its outside appearance. Remove any weeds that have accumulated in your garden or in your yard. If the majority of your foliage is dead, you should replace them with bushes and bright spring flowers. Although you are probably already mowing your yard on a regular basis, be sure you don’t neglect to do so during your spring cleaning.

Getting Organized
There are two areas of a home that most people fail to keep organized: closets and garages. It is just too easy to store excessive amounts of things in these areas. Spring cleaning is a perfect time to go through both areas and throw away anything that you no longer need or want. You can set these items aside in a bag and give them to charity.