Black Friday is looming closer and if you're planning a list of things to get, be sure to avoid items without good discounts. Don't fall into the trap of thinking everything's a good deal during a sale.
Dealnews, a site that scours the web for the best deals, recently compiled a list of things to skip during what many consider to be the biggest sale of the year.
If you're looking for a small accent rug, it's not too difficult to find a budget-friendly, stylish option. But when it comes to large area rugs, it gets trickier. I have a friend who's been on the hunt for an affordable rug for his living room, and he's realizing it's not an easy task.
You can always try your luck at discount stores like Home Goods, go on a treasure hunt at vintage stores and flea markets, or scope out department store sales. To help you out, I've rounded up some of my favorite five-by-eight (or similar) floor coverings that are $250 or less, from seagrass to tufted, ethnic to modern. Some, like this Jungle Carving Rug ($250, originally $500) from Anthropologie, are deeply discounted — so grab 'em while you can!
I'm still mourning the demise of Budget Living magazine, which — in case you missed it — was one of the most wonderful and short-lived magazines ever. Guided by a "spend smart, live rich" philosophy, the surprisingly stylish periodical covered all things thrifty: cheap and chic fashion, entertaining on a budget, investing for dummies, and home decorating. The homes they featured were some of the most creative I've ever seen, and the fact that they were done on a budget made it even more impressive.
Thankfully, the editors left behind a book to remember them by, called Budget Living Home Cheap Home. I think it may be out of print, but you can find tons of copies online. If you opened to any page, you wouldn't know that this was an "on-the-cheap" decorating book: It looks more like a mix of stunning, chic design and DIY ideas.
Offering quick fixes and long-term solutions, the guide is divided up by room and style and features the best of Budget Living's home galleries. There's a crave-worthy living room that measures just 290 square feet, a Victorian mansion in the Catskills with a playful Addams Family look, and a bedroom decorated with massive collections of sock monkeys and ladies' gloves (trust me, it's awesome). I've gotten tons of ideas from Home Cheap Home about decorating and rearranging rooms, and it's also full of fun craft and home-improvement projects.
Did you ever read Budget Living? If so, have you checked out this book?
