What are Some Home Office Storage and Organization Solutions?

Are you tired of the messy home office with piles of papers, half finished projects, and overflowing files?  It’s time to take charge and control the situation!

Tidy Up Your Desk- Start your organizing project at the command central.  Your computer might be the largest object on your desk but try to keep your cords and wires together and out of the way.  Keep all of your pens, staplers, and other office supplies in caddies.  Organize your bills into “Paid” and “Due” categories in labeled letter holders or write racks.

Get Your Papers in Order- Purge! Before you can organize your papers, you must know what is in your piles.  Go through each pile and get rid of the papers you no longer need. Organize your papers into the correct categories and file them into separate folders.

Straighten Up Your Desk Drawers- Just like your papers, purge your drawers.  Designate specific drawers for office or school supplies, use organizers to help even with the smallest items. 

Stay on Track- Keep your family schedule on track with label clips or clothes pins with the day of the week and hang them on a cord.  Attach notes to the appropriate day’s clip with appointment times, phone number, and other necessary information.

How to Brighten a Dim Room

Although most rooms come with a window for natural it may still make the room look dim.  Even some rooms in your home may not come with windows and even have dark characteristics.  Follow these techniques to brighten up your rooms!

See the Light- If your budget will allow, consider installing more windows to “see the light.”  Consult with a designer who specializes in home remodeling to find the solution.  You may even want to consider installing a skylight.

Artificial Light- Try using LED bulbs to give off more light.  Even consider adding table and floor lamps with colored shades to add style and light.

Glass Doors- Glass door will not only brighten your room but they give off a classic look.  They are great for internal and external use.

Paint- Steer clear of the darker colors and stick with neutral colors like white, beige, tan, and light grey.  These colors will brighten up your room and make it feel bigger.  Consider painting the ceiling white which will reflect any natural and artificial light.

Furniture and Accessories- Avoid adding dark, bulky furniture to dark rooms.  Instead opt for modern chairs and couches as well as metallic and glass table tops.  Furniture and accessories with neutral or bright tones will fit perfectly in your dark room.  Also add a large mirror for reflecting and bouncing light in the room.

Should You Borrow Money from Your 401K to Purchase a Home?

House hunting is an exciting time for most people but saving up for the down payment can difficult.  If you’ve found the perfect but don’t have enough to put down, you may be tempted to tap into your 401K.  But before you do that you should know that there is a serious downside to borrowing from your 401K that could really cost you down the road.

If you borrow from your 401K or have the thoughts of borrowing from there, chances are you may not even be able to afford your dream home.  You may need to ask yourself, where is the money really going, can I truly afford this, is there money to be saved from my entertainment budget?  If living beyond your potential means doesn’t turn you off or you still are unsure to borrow from your 401K here are 4 reasons you may want to consider:

·              ·      If you borrow from your 401K, you will still need those savings

·      ·     ·      A 401K loan can compromise your future wealth

·      ·     ·      You could be penalized for and taxed on early distributions

·      ·     ·      Borrowing from your 401K can start a pattern