If youre considering moving to a beach town, here are a few features that will ensure your home caters to your lifestyle.

Outdoor Amenities

Chances are youll be spending lots of time outside. An entertaining area and an outdoor shower are perfect after spending a day at the beach.

Extra Accommodation

Beach homes tend to be a gathering place for both friends and family. Its important to have ample accommodations to fit everyone comfortably.

Large Mudroom

This allows you to keep all your essentials organized by the door, like sunscreen, hats, towels and more, so its easy to pack a bag and head out for the day.

Ample Storage

Unfinished storage space can be a true luxury, as youll likely need somewhere to leave your beach chairs, umbrellas and larger items.

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Being pampered by someone else at a spa is relaxing”and expensive. If you dont mind doing the beauty treatment yourself, you can do your own spa treatment at home and save a bundle.

Here are some DIY spa day ideas you can do at home:

A Soothing Atmosphere
Clean and declutter the room in your home where youll be doing your DIY treatments.

To create a calming mood, turn on some relaxing music, light candles or dim the lights, bring in a few plants and turn on an essential oil diffuser if you have one. Dont use a cellphone on your spa day.

If you dont have a robe, pajamas, sweatpants or other comfortable clothes, buy some. And get some comfortable slippers.

Prepare Drinks
For a spa day, keep hydrated with tea, fruit juice or fruit-infused water.

DIY Facials
We wont go into all of the details of how to give yourself a facial on the cheap”you can find plenty of ideas by searching online”but it should start with a facial steam. This can be done over a bowl or sink of hot water, with warm towels, or a home facial steamer.

After that, create a mask to put on your face. It can be made with simple ingredients you find in your kitchen pantry: honey and oats mixed with hot water. DIY face masks can also be made with avocado, egg whites, milk and chocolate”though not all at the same time.

DIY Manicure/Pedicure
You may already have enough supplies to manicure your nails at home. If not, you can buy a nail file, cuticle cream, cuticle stick, nail buffer and nail polish at your local drugstore. You can make cuticle cream yourself at home, too.

For a pedicure at home, start by soaking your feet in warm water that you add Epsom salts or essential oils to. You can then do a Listerine foot soak to remove dead skin.

Once your feet feel refreshed, do a foot scrub. There are all kinds of recipes online that shouldnt cost much money or need many ingredients. And whatever you do buy, youll have plenty to do it again and again.

There are also other things you can do for a DIY spa day at home. Ask your significant other to give you a massage, or simply put some vitamin E oil on your lips at night. Whatever spa treatments you do at home, your skin and your bank account will thank you.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Some people are overwhelmed by the idea of preparing their own meals, while others are tired after work and stop at a restaurant or order takeout for convenience. Cooking at home is a better choice, and it doesnt need to take up a lot of time or add to your stress level.

Save Money
Meals prepared at a restaurant will almost always cost a lot more than ones made at home. If you have food delivered, youll also have to pay for delivery and a tip. If you make meals yourself, you can buy ingredients on sale and prepare extra so youll have leftovers for another dinner or to take to work for lunch.

Save Time
If you go to a restaurant, youll have to drive there and back and wait to be served. On a busy night, you may be starving by the time your meal arrives and realize you wouldve been better off whipping something up at home.

You can prepare meals your family loves in large quantities when you have the time and freeze the leftovers. Then, if you get home late or have a particularly stressful day, you can heat something up and have a delicious homemade dinner in minutes.

Eat Healthier
Restaurants tend to use a lot of salt, sugar, butter, oil and other unhealthy ingredients in their food. That can lead to weight gain if you eat out a lot. If you have diabetes, high cholesterol or food allergies, it can be hard to eat healthy at a restaurant. Some establishments are willing to make changes to accommodate customers with dietary restrictions, but others arent.

Restaurants also tend to serve portions that are too large for the average person, which can lead to overeating. At home, you can control portion sizes.

Explore Limitless Options
Sometimes you have a craving, but no local restaurant serves that particular dish. At home, you dont have to choose from a limited menu. You can make whatever you want, whenever you want, and you can alter it to suit your own tastes.

Relax and Learn New Skills
Cooking at home can be fun, whether you do it yourself or with family members. You can explore unfamiliar recipes and ingredients and learn new methods of preparing old favorites.

Even if you dont know how to cook now, there are plenty of cookbooks, TV shows, and online articles and videos to teach you everything you need to know. You may be surprised by what you can master.

Try Cooking at Home More Often
Preparing your own meals at home can save you money and time and improve your health. Many people also find preparing their own meals an enjoyable way to unwind and spend time with loved ones. If you currently eat out or order takeout most nights, make an effort to prepare more meals at home so you can see the benefits for yourself.

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Here are just a few reasons why a state-of-the-art smart irrigation system is worth installing.

Weather Responsive

A smart system will receive local weather data and adjust the watering schedule accordingly.

Reduce Water Consumption

Smart sprinklers reduce your water consumption, making them an eco-friendly option that will lower your monthly bill.

Mobile Control

If you do need to make manual updates to your lawns watering schedule, smart systems can easily be controlled through an app on your smartphone.

Easy Installation

Installing these systems is usually as easy as purchasing a smart controller thats compatible with your current irrigation system.

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Large, blank walls can be intimidating. Turn this empty canvas into a focal point or backdrop with these decor ideas.

Bold Wallpaper

Set aside the frames and instead, reach for a bold-patterned wallpaper. Choose a palette that compliments the existing paint colors and other decor around it.

Tapestries

Bring color, design and texture into your space with a unique tapestry. Create a unique focal point with fringe and unique materials, like wood and metal, or keep it classic with neutral colors and quilted designs.

Mirrors

If you’re looking to open up a space, instead of filling your empty wall with large artwork or a gallery wall, reflect with some mirrors. Transform a room to feel larger, lighter and thoughtfully designed.

Gallery Wall

With a few carefully selected frames running in size and quantity”this all depends on your personal aesthetic”you can fill your space with a focal point that feels a lot like a museum or art gallery.

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If you have small children, you know how hard it can be to keep your house clean. Here are some strategies to help you avoid getting stressed out and make your home presentable in case you have unexpected guests.

Set Realistic Expectations and Communicate Them
If you had high standards for cleanliness before you had kids, holding yourself and your young children to those same expectations will only leave you frustrated. Make keeping the house clean a priority but be realistic. Focus first and foremost on preventing chaos and accidents.

Have your kids play in designated areas and dont let them take out too many toys or books at once. Teach your children to clean up after themselves when theyre young. Even babies can be taught to put blocks and other toys in baskets. Once kids are mobile, they can return toys to the places where they belong on their own.

Have your children eat at a table or in a highchair, not on the couch, on the floor, or in bed. Teach them to put their dishes in the sink or dishwasher and to wash their hands after they finish eating so whatever they have on their hands doesnt get smeared on other surfaces. Sweep, vacuum or mop up messes quickly so they dont cause accidents or attract insects.

Teach Your Kids to Pitch in
Have separate areas for dolls, trucks, stuffed animals and other types of toys. If your kids play a game with multiple pieces, teach them to clean up before they begin playing with something else. When they finish using crayons or markers, remind your children to check to make sure they are all in the box. Teach your kids to put their jackets, shoes, backpacks and lunchboxes in designated areas when they come home from school. If you enforce these rules consistently, your kids will put their things away without being told.

If possible, do some cleaning when your kids are napping, watching TV, playing outside or participating in other activities. Set aside some time (10-15 minutes should be enough) for everyone to walk around the house and look for any toys, shoes or other items that need to be put away. Play cheerful music and make this a fun part of your familys daily routine. Going to bed with the house in order and not having to worry about picking up the previous days mess in the morning can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

If you have young children and struggle to keep your house clean, youre not alone. Setting realistic expectations, enforcing rules and praising your kids when they do a good job can go a long way. Be clear and consistent so your children can develop positive habits. Tell them that the less time you have to spend cleaning, the more time you will have to spend with them.

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Create an atmosphere that stimulates the magic and whimsy of childhood.Inspire playful adventures and peaceful nap times with these kids bedroom theme ideas.

Black, White and Green

A modern take on a “boy” theme, this color scheme is perfect for any child who loves sports and wants to bring their joy of the game into their room. Create a sports theme that your all-star will adore for years to come.

Nautical Nods

A nautical theme offers childhood fun with a grown-up approach. Create a nautical beach feel and sail the high seas with deep reds, navy blues and white paired with a dappling of seashells for a whimsical feel.

Jungle Vibes

What is more exciting to a child than the idea of exploring an untouched jungle? Feature an accent wall of banana leaf wallpaper paired with texture, like an animal print area rug, to ensure that your child can enjoy a jungle oasis.

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Looking to live a more environmentally friendly life? Here are six easy ways to incorporate green living into your household.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. If youre looking to save time, energy and money, get serious about waste reduction. Not sure where to start? Commit to focusing on the four primary recyclables: aluminum, plastics, paper and glass.

Switch Out Light Bulbs. Its a well-known fact that CFLs and LEDs use much less energy and last a lot longer than regular incandescent bulbs. While the initial cost may be a bit steeper, youll be saving money in the long run.

Conserve Water. Paying attention to the way in which water is used within your home is a good way to green up your routine. Whether its turning off the water when brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, only running the washer/dishwasher when full, repairing leaky faucets or installing water-saving toilets/shower heads, there are numerous ways to limit your water use”without affecting your routine.

Go Green When You Clean. A quick search on the internet will open the door to a vast array of all-natural, environmentally safe cleaning products. If youre feeling remotely adventurous, you can make your own cleaners with ingredients you most likely already have in the pantry.

Unplug Devices When Not in Use. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of your residential electricity is sapped by devices that are plugged in all day, every day. A little effort goes a long way when it comes to unplugging devices such as computers, stereos, coffeemakers, lamps, toasters, etc.

Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances. From washers and dryers to refrigerators and freezers, theres no shortage of energy-efficient products to choose from. By scoping out the ENERGY STAR label, youll help protect the environment (and save money at the same time!). And better yet, when it comes time to sell your home, energy-efficient appliances will surely work in your favor.

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Life insurance doesnt have to only be used when you pass away. A permanent life insurance policy gains cash value, which is money you can withdraw while youre still living.

The money you borrow from the policy reduces the death benefit of the policy if you dont repay the loan while youre living. If the loan isnt paid back before the insured person passes away, the loan amount plus any interest owed is subtracted from the amount the beneficiaries would receive from the death benefit.

Permanent life insurance policies, such as whole life and universal life, build up cash value that collects interest. Only a partial amount of the total cash value can be borrowed, unless you want to surrender the entire policy and take the entire cash value.

Where does the cash value come from? The monthly premiums paid into the policy exceed whats needed for the death benefit, and that money is invested by the insurance company. A cash value is created after a few years.

It can be borrowed against, and the policy is collateral for the loan. Common uses for these loans are paying off a mortgage, retirement income, paying debts and paying for college.

To start, verify with your insurer that you have enough cash value to take out a loan. They will give you forms to complete, and after you get the loan, you can keep up loan payments if you want. The loan amount doesnt count as taxable income and interest rates are lower than a traditional loan.

If the loan isnt repaid while youre living, the death benefit could be reduced. If the interest on the loan and the unpaid loan balance exceeds the policys remaining cash value, you could lose your policy.

A term life insurance policy, which is cheaper and used by most people, cant be borrowed against. Term policies dont have a cash value and the policies expire after a certain term, usually from one to 30 years.

Cash value from an insurance policy can also be used to pay the insurance premiums if youre short on cash, according to the Insurance Information Institute. This can happen if you face unexpected expenses, such as a hospital stay, and cant afford to make payments on an insurance policy. If you use all of the cash value funds, the policy could lapse, and your life insurance coverage could end.

If your beneficiaries dont need the money from an insurance policy, then borrowing against it can be a good way to pay immediate bills and fund retirement. But if you think they will need the money, then either find another type of loan or pay back the insurance policy loan over time.

Published with permission from RISMedia.