Susie Skog knows Lake Norman Real Estate Inside Out

Do you have a blank wall with no idea what to put on it? Rethink the boring family photo with these interesting ideas.

Get wordy. Whether youre a logophile or are just looking to amp up the playful vibe of your space, adding large text to your wall can be innovative and inspirational. You can purchase a variety of word hangings online, or create your own with stencils for a literal conversation starter right on your own wall.

Create a mirror collage. We all know a mirror on the wall can open up a room and throw lots of luscious light. But by using many smaller mirrors to create a pattern or design, you can add the benefit of a unique, boho vibe. Choose mirrors in various shapes or with different frames.

Hang a rug. Remember the old tapestries of your dorm room? Hanging a nice, well-made floor rug on the wall is the adult version of this decorating phenomenon. Whether you want a bold color pop or a bright design, pick a blank wall and go wild.

Vertical plants. Snag some aesthetically pleasing wall planters or sconces and create a botanical masterpiece by popping in your favorite succulents or hanging plants.

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Cutting down on energy use is great for the environment. It can also save you big bucks. Alternative energy proponent IGS Energy suggests four green and easy ways to do both:

Minimize ‘phantom loads.’ The term ‘phantom load’ refers to the energy that an appliance or electronic device consumes when it is not actually turned on. According to theU.S. Department of Energy(DOE), some 75 percent of the electricity in an average home is used to power electronics while the products are off. A report from the University of California Berkeley says thatphantom loads account for about six percentof all residential electricity consumption. You can eliminate phantom loads by unplugging appliances and electronics when you are not using them or by plugging them into a power strip and turning the strip off when they are not in use.

Upgrade your appliances. When shopping for new appliances, look for the Environmental Protection Agencys Energy Star label. These appliances use less energy and water than their conventional counterparts. They may cost more than appliances without the Energy Star designation, but, in most cases, they will more than make up that additional cost through energy savings.

Change your lightbulbs. One of the least expensive and most effective changes you can make in your home is replacing your light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL), which cost just a few dollars more and will save about $30 in energy costs over their lifetime. CFL bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Some people are concerned because CFLs contain mercury, but Energy Star says CFLs do not release any mercury when in use, and actually reduce mercury emissions because they lessen the need for electricity from power plants that emit mercury.

Install a programmable thermostat. These thermostats automatically adjust your homes temperature to your schedule, keeping it comfortable only when you need it to be. If you dont already adjust your thermostat throughout the day, a programmable thermostat could save you as much as 15 percent on heating and cooling costs.

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A master suite can be a private oasis in your new homebut it can also factor into your homes value.

Typical features include a large bedroom area, spacious closets, a luxurious bathroom and other amenities.

But a master suite can be expensive and affect the homes appeal whenever you decide to sell.

Before buying a home, ask how the property compares to others in the area.

You might not mind if your suite is smaller or less elaborate now, but it could leave future buyers underwhelmed.

On the other hand, if your suite ends up too customized or showy, that could also limit the pool of future buyers.

A real estate agent can help you make the best decisions about your master suite keeping your homes resale value.

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Keeping track of every single dollar you spend can be difficult, no matter how closely you track your spending and monitor your bank accounts. Automatic payments from your checking account to pay for a gym membership, for example, can be forgotten and leave a checkbook unbalanced.

But besides accounting for where your money goes, there are some invisible money leaks that you may not be paying attention to that can add up to wasted money. Here are four:

Unused memberships and subscriptions
A gym membership is a common example of an automatic payment that gets forgotten and is rarely used. But other things can crop up too.

An annual renewal for a magazine you no longer read, a razor subscription and a monthly subscription to a premier cable TV channel that you rarely view are some things that can drain your bank account without you realizing it.

Bank fees
The average overdraft fee at a bank is $30, up 50 percent from $20 in 2000, according to research by Moebs Services, a research firm that focuses on financial institutions. Fees at credit unions are also high, with the average overdraft fee almost doubling during that same period to $29.

Banks used to automatically enroll customers with overdraft protection " which covers a transaction through a debit card or check if the account doesnt have enough money.

The Overdraft Protection Law of 2013 changed that, requiring banks to ask customers if they want to opt in for the coverage. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found in 2014 that opted-in customers paid seven times more in overdraft and nonsufficient-funds fees than those who hadnt opted in.

Price creep
If youve ever bought a low, introductory offer on cable TV or internet service, or signed up for a new credit card, chances are youve been the victim of price creep.

After a year of service, the monthly fee rises. With a credit card, an annual fee may be charged after no fee for the first year.

These price creeps can catch you off guard, and you may not notice them on your monthly bill when youre no longer a new customer. Call the company that raised its fees and ask if it has a new deal available.

Wasted food
From grocery stores to restaurants, Americans buy food that they dont eat. The National Resources Defense Council found that Americans waste 40 percent of their food purchases, an average of $2,000 per year, per household.

Meal planning and only buying and cooking food youll eat can cut down on that money leak.

Every bit counts when fixing invisible money leaks. With some persistence and looking in the right places, that invisible money will soon be an expense youll notice and can do something about.

Contact me for more insights and info!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.