Stripping, Decorating and Flooring - The DIY Makeover - Ray Prince

We've had enough.

Since moving into our new house 14 months ago we decided to bear with the decor until the wedding was out of the way. That in itself was challenging at times as, believe me, you've probably not seen curtains like the ones we've just taken down!

The good news is that it's now full steam ahead.

As I write, the decorator has finished the lounge and dining room and the carpets/flooring has been chosen.

The joiner will be here in a few days to 'revolutionise' the stairs and fit all the new doors.

So in 2 months or so the house should be looking pretty good! Obviously, writing the cheques for everything is painful…

On a separate note, it's all doom and gloom in the media regarding the economy. With the cost of fuel, food and utilities constantly rising, it's all too easy to join in with the negativity.

The way I deal with such news is to simply ignore it on a day to day basis, whilst still being aware of what's going on. After all, all media messages are an interpretation of what the actually facts are. Sometimes this interpretation is accurate, othertimes less so.

Many business people I know, whilst admitting that they've experienced a certain degree of slow down, all agree on one thing. It's at times like this to be more bullish and to work harder to be better prepared when the economy turns upwards again (which it will at some point).

Personally, I've had a close look at all my regular outgoings as when I've done this in the past I've usually been able to make savings without affecting my lifestyle. Examples are cancelling Sky, which I did 7 years ago and I can't say I've missed it, and changing utility provider.

If you have life insurance, it may be worth checking to see if you can 'rebroke' your cover for a lower premium. Even better, check that you actually need the cover. I see some new clients who've been paying for cover for years that they didn't actually need.