feature image via shutterstock
Did you know that if there’s a power tool you need for a home project but don’t want to invest in permanently — a power drill to put up a shelf, a disc sander to refinish a table you found on Craigslist — you can probably rent it from Home Depot? It’s true! It’s likely affordable! You may also be able to use a local tool library, a community resource that lets you check tools out like books (although the one in my area only rents to homeowners, unfortunately).
Now that you know how to get tools on the cheap, maybe you feel empowered to take on these home repairs that are easier than you think, promise.
Do you have challenging or intensive grocery shopping trips, or are just tired of coming home from the store only to realize that you forgot seven things you really needed? Here’s how on person uses Google Spreadsheets to make a masterful grocery list.
I have a humidifier for the bedroom and even though it’s kind of loud and annoying to refill with water every night it’s still the best thing that’s ever happened to winter; when I turn it on, leave, and walk back into the bedroom later I can feel how much more normal and full of sweet moisture the air is. You should probably have a humidifier; this is the one I have. If you don’t want to do that, Apartment Therapy has some ideas that aren’t humidifiers for adding moisture to your air.
When was the last time you watered your plants? What about the ones at work/on the far windowsill/somewhere else that you always forget about? Take two minutes now and set reminders for yourself in your phone or your calendar to water them a couple times a week (or however often they need it). Trust me, there are few things more depressing than finding a plant and realizing you’ve let it die.
I discovered this a week or two ago and can’t get over it. I have it bookmarked and listen to it constantly. It genuinely helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvC4Yu3ILUc
Is your kitchen sink or garbage disposal cruddy? How do you even clean those? Here’s how. Also, I wish I had a garbage disposal so bad! If you have one, please honor your good fortune by taking care of it.
These resourceful people on the Internet have thoughts on how best to handle snow removal if a layer of ice has frozen the snow into place.
If you are lucky enough to be blessed with fresh, malleable snow instead of old snow frozen hard as a rock, here are 23 very detailed tips on snowman building.
Tax time is sooner than you think (in the US)! Here are your reminders to gather any tax forms you receive online or in the mail and keep them together somewhere that you’ll remember, and to plan to file your taxes well before April 15th so that if something unexpected comes up or it turns out there’s a problem, you won’t be scrambling at the last minute. If there’s anything less than totally routine about your taxes — you’re a freelancer, something odd happened to you financially this year, you’re getting some new and confusing tax forms you haven’t used before, you moved a lot or have lots of new sources of income — it’s a good idea to consider working with an accountant instead of trying to file your taxes alone. Their fee will likely be preferable in the long run to getting audited or overpaying/getting back less than you should. If you do think you want an accountant — or free volunteer tax prep through your state — now is the time to start making arrangements! Everyone will fill up very quick. Here’s some helpful tax links, including how to find free volunteer tax prep.
