Nov
20
Holiday shopping tips to save money and reduce stress
November 20, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – Lines, crowds and stress – if that describes your holiday shopping experience, you’re doing it all wrong. The cost of gifts and decorations can add up quickly, but there are plenty of ways to reduce the dent in your wallet.
Here are six money- and time-saving tips from The Home Depot to minimize your shopping stress and get the most out of holiday sales:
Make a gift list
From your nearest and dearest to coworkers and teachers, write down everyone you need to shop for and assign a dollar amount next to each name. Online gift guides, like The Home Depot’s Holiday Gift Center, make it simple, with gift ideas categorized by price point. This will help you stay organized and setting price limits will keep your budget on track.
Review the deals
Collect all the ads from your favorite stores and use them to create your shopping plan of attack. When the day comes, get to the store early for the best selection and savings. At The Home Depot, these ads are also located on the online home page, and many items are also available for in-store pick up or delivery.
The Home Depot has many holiday deals, which kick off on Black Friday, including Special Buys on power tools and accessories from Milwaukee, Makita, Ryobi, Ridgid and DeWalt; Mechanics Tools Sets and Storage from Husky; Smart Home products from Google and Nest; among others. Check online for your local store for hours and availability.
Don’t procrastinate
The easiest way to overspend on holiday gifts is to wait until the last minute. Shopping at the latest possible moment adds unnecessary stress. For the people on your gift list who are impossible to buy for, a Home Depot gift card is a favorite that’s sure to get a smile. With so many tools to help you shop, you can get your shopping done quickly and spend more time with family and friends.
Follow brands on social media
Check out your favorite brands on social media, where you can likely find up-to-the-minute info on savings right in your news feed. Many companies post special promotions, news and last-minute sale announcements every day, especially during the holidays. The Home Depot keeps its deals updated daily online, including up to 40 percent off select power tools and accessories and up to 40 percent off appliance special buys.
Shop savvy with your smartphone
Before you head back for seconds of Grandma’s desserts, finish your wish list. Mobile apps, like Home Depot’s mobile shopping app, make it easy to search for your favorite items. If you find a gift in store that breaks your budget, use your phone to search for a better price elsewhere. Some stores will price match if you show them another retailer selling the same product at a lower rate.
Don’t overlook shipping costs
An online item might seem like a steal compared to the in-store version – until you see the shipping charge. Remember to take note of any extra delivery or service fees, as well. Many retailers offer free, fast delivery on many items; for example, The Home Depot will offer free shipping on all Christmas décor and live trees this holiday season.
Follow these tips to accomplish all your holiday shopping goals and get back to enjoying the season with loved ones. For more tips, visit homedepot.com/c/black_friday_savings.
Nov
19
Tips for using metals in home decor
November 19, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – While trends in home decor often change, there is one constant design feature that continues to shine, literally: metals.Today, homeowners can find creative ways to incorporate a regal touch that produces a timeless look with modern appeal.Take…
Nov
19
Tips for using metals in home decor
November 19, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – While trends in home decor often change, there is one constant design feature that continues to shine, literally: metals.Today, homeowners can find creative ways to incorporate a regal touch that produces a timeless look with modern appeal.Take…
Nov
16
For a no-worries Noel, follow these 12 holiday safety tips
November 16, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – The fun, festive activities during the holiday season make it a favorite time of year for many people.
At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, though, all that festivity can lead to unintentional safety hazards. For example, some 30 percent of all home fires and 38 percent of home fire deaths occur over December, January and February, reports the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
Fortunately, awareness is half the battle. As you enjoy the holidays this year, think about best practices for keeping you and your family safer.
1. Don’t let the holidays zap your energy. Not to shock you, but it’s crucial to keep your hands dry (and avoid standing in water) when touching decorations, gifts or other gadgets powered by electricity. You should install ground-fault circuit interrupters anywhere inside or outside water and electricity may come in contact.
2. Sleep tight, but electronics-free. Lying down for a long winter’s nap? Stash cordless and corded appliances elsewhere to rule out overheating. A hot phone under a sack of feathers could spell disaster.
4. Enjoy (but monitor) the warmth of the season. Space heaters come in handy for banishing winter chill, but they can overheat, spark, tip over and/or ignite combustibles such as wadded-up giftwrap if not used correctly. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
5. Get that holiday glow. Instead of the open-flame candles that inadvertently spark holiday décor each year, consider battery-operated candles. Remember to blow out candles when you leave the room.
6. Best gift for your family is to upgrade to Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter breakers or outlets. This smart technology temporarily disables circuits when detecting potentially dangerous electric leaks. It’s estimated that half of electrical fires that occur every year could be prevented by AFCIs. All upgrades should be completed by a qualified electrician.
7. Avoid getting frazzled. Worn-cord warning: Avoid pinching electric cords between windows, rugs, carpets or furniture, since that can wear them down and possibly cause overheating and ignition.
8. Even outlets experience holiday stress. Multi-outlet power strips and extension cords are handy for decorations, phones, cooking gear and new gift gadgetry, but plugging in too many things can over-tax your home’s electrical capacity. Never use an extension cord or power strip for heaters, as this could cause cords to overheat and result in a fire.
9. Decorate wisely. Consider fire hazards before draping that garland over a fireplace mantle, plugging in the frayed cord that lights up your vintage Santa or arranging pine wreaths around your candles. Check decorations for safety listing labels and never connect more than three strings of lights.
10. Give lit decorations a holiday break. Reduce the likelihood of fire by simply shutting everything off when there’s no one home (or awake) to enjoy them. Half of home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., reports the NFPA.
11. Be busy as an elf about damage control. When decorating, check for loose or bare wires, cracked or damaged sockets, wobbly connections, broken or sharp edges and other hazards. And it may be time to toss that cheesy 1970s version of St. Nick.
12. More Christmas tree, more water. If you put up a real tree, make sure you water it daily. A dried-up pine tree is nothing but kindling. And an unfortunate 260 home fires in the U.S. start with Christmas trees each year, on average.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International wishes everyone a safe, warm and happy holiday.
Nov
16
For a no-worries Noel, follow these 12 holiday safety tips
November 16, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – The fun, festive activities during the holiday season make it a favorite time of year for many people.
At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, though, all that festivity can lead to unintentional safety hazards. For example, some 30 percent of all home fires and 38 percent of home fire deaths occur over December, January and February, reports the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
Fortunately, awareness is half the battle. As you enjoy the holidays this year, think about best practices for keeping you and your family safer.
1. Don’t let the holidays zap your energy. Not to shock you, but it’s crucial to keep your hands dry (and avoid standing in water) when touching decorations, gifts or other gadgets powered by electricity. You should install ground-fault circuit interrupters anywhere inside or outside water and electricity may come in contact.
2. Sleep tight, but electronics-free. Lying down for a long winter’s nap? Stash cordless and corded appliances elsewhere to rule out overheating. A hot phone under a sack of feathers could spell disaster.
4. Enjoy (but monitor) the warmth of the season. Space heaters come in handy for banishing winter chill, but they can overheat, spark, tip over and/or ignite combustibles such as wadded-up giftwrap if not used correctly. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
5. Get that holiday glow. Instead of the open-flame candles that inadvertently spark holiday décor each year, consider battery-operated candles. Remember to blow out candles when you leave the room.
6. Best gift for your family is to upgrade to Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter breakers or outlets. This smart technology temporarily disables circuits when detecting potentially dangerous electric leaks. It’s estimated that half of electrical fires that occur every year could be prevented by AFCIs. All upgrades should be completed by a qualified electrician.
7. Avoid getting frazzled. Worn-cord warning: Avoid pinching electric cords between windows, rugs, carpets or furniture, since that can wear them down and possibly cause overheating and ignition.
8. Even outlets experience holiday stress. Multi-outlet power strips and extension cords are handy for decorations, phones, cooking gear and new gift gadgetry, but plugging in too many things can over-tax your home’s electrical capacity. Never use an extension cord or power strip for heaters, as this could cause cords to overheat and result in a fire.
9. Decorate wisely. Consider fire hazards before draping that garland over a fireplace mantle, plugging in the frayed cord that lights up your vintage Santa or arranging pine wreaths around your candles. Check decorations for safety listing labels and never connect more than three strings of lights.
10. Give lit decorations a holiday break. Reduce the likelihood of fire by simply shutting everything off when there’s no one home (or awake) to enjoy them. Half of home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., reports the NFPA.
11. Be busy as an elf about damage control. When decorating, check for loose or bare wires, cracked or damaged sockets, wobbly connections, broken or sharp edges and other hazards. And it may be time to toss that cheesy 1970s version of St. Nick.
12. More Christmas tree, more water. If you put up a real tree, make sure you water it daily. A dried-up pine tree is nothing but kindling. And an unfortunate 260 home fires in the U.S. start with Christmas trees each year, on average.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International wishes everyone a safe, warm and happy holiday.
Nov
15
4 unexpected bed bug hotspots
November 15, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – The term “bed bugs” might make you shudder and picture a mattress teeming with the bloodsucking insects, but don’t be fooled; the name is a bit of a misnomer. While almost 70 percent of bed bug infestations are associated with beds or items fou…