February 2015 ~ Dolphin Beach Apartments

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

5 Savvy Online Shopping Strategies to Know Before You Click "Buy"

Posted by Larimer Associates on 8:12 AM

Online Shopping something you love to do? Or maybe you dread navigating the online waters to buy a needed item? Either way you should peruse these tips for making your online purchases. Check out "5 Savvy Online Shopping Strategies to Know Before You Click "Buy""!

Even if you consider yourself a serious shopaholic, picking out the perfect thing online is a whole new set of skills. Lucky for you, we're here to help with these smart strategies so you can easily get what you need at the best price.

Adjust your monitor

It sounds too simple to work, but the first defense against buying the wrong thing is to simply make sure you're getting an accurate representation. Nothing can compare with seeing an item in person, but making sure your computer's colors are on point can go pretty far. If you suspect that the site's photography may be wonky, search that product to see if you can find another photo elsewhere for comparison.

Figure out the "real price"

Remember, your total charge will be the price you see, plus tax, plus shipping. If you need to return, that could be another fee. So do your math and determine if the savings you'll get online are really savings at all.

Double check the return policy

Even if you think you know it, check. Even if you know the store's brick and motar policy, check the site's language, too. The last thing you want is to get stuck with something that wasn't what you expected or wanted.

Brand loyalty will serve you well

That is, if you're familiar with a certain brand's sizing, finishes or fabrics, buying online will usually work out just fine. But if you're trying something new, it's more of a gamble. If you can make the extra effort to see your item in person, it might be worth the hassle of mailing back a return.

Price match

Our favorite dirty little online shopping secret? Stores want you to buy from them. So much so that they'll often match another, lower price elsewhere. No guarantees, of course, but it's well worth it to ask. Another get-the-right-price-trick? Alerts! There are tons of apps that will let you know when the price of an item you're eyeing has dropped to a must-buy amount. Use them. Use them now.

What else? Spill your online shopping secrets!

(Image credits: Jessica Isaac)

Original Article Here:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-savvy-online-shopping-strategies-to-know-before-you-click-215899

Smarter Storage: 7 Ways to Reclaim Usable Space UNDER Your Shelves

Posted by Larimer Associates on 9:14 AM

Got a little clutter in your apartment you'd love to turn into a more organized and clean space? There's plenty of places in your pad you can use for a little extra storage, like under the shelves! This article breaks down some clever ideas that can give you a more organized feeling, so check out "Smarter Storage: 7 Ways to Reclaim Usable Space UNDER Your Shelves"!

Always on the hunt for ways to reclaim space from your small or cluttered home? Look now UNDER your shelves — you can make use of that space for storing stuff, too. We've gathered a number of examples of ways that people have transformed the space under their shelves; grab inspiration for your own!

Small wooden boxes

Small wooden boxes attached to the underside of a strong and sturdy shelf create little miniature and functional drawers. Seen here as a great addition to an entryway landing strip. Image spotted on Seventy Nine Ideas.

Undershelf baskets

Particularly great for reclaiming space in your kitchen cabinets and pantry, undershelf baskets that hang or affix to your existing shelves can be found at most home organization stores. Though not always the most stylish, they add a lot of function to your shelves. You could also use this idea with plastic bins for more hidden storage. Example from The Container Store.

Maximize Storage Space: The Undershelf Basket

Mason jars

Screwing or gluing the tops to mason jars to the underside of your shelves can be magic for creating a series of screw-off, see-through storage jars that can hold just about anything from craft supplies, to seasoning to more. Seen on House to Home.

Metal strip

You could go streamline and affix a large metal strip to the undersides of your shelves, making it magnetic and able to handle the storage of all sorts of things, from metal jar tops to knives to anything magnetized.

Undershelf hooks

Such a simple, affordable idea that just about anyone can implement to reclaim extra space under their shelves. The best part is you can use hooks under your shelves for just about anything. From coffee cups to KitchenAid attachments to dog leashes and more, these handy and unobtrusive organizational tools could be used wherever you have shelves. Image via Design*Sponge.

From The Kitchn → Clever Storage: Undershelf Hooks for KitchenAid Attachments and More

Wire wine hanging rack

This easy fix turns any shelf into a professional looking wine area great for entertaining. Jen from IHeart Organizing affixed these wine glass racks to the shelves in her dining room, reclaiming space and making it easier to serve guests.

A hanging rod

Depending on the type of shelves you have installed, you might be able to rig up a hanging rod underneath, that could serve as hanging space for a number of items that need storing, particularly in the kitchen. Spotted on Better Homes and Gardens.

(Image credits: Sam McAdam-Cooper for Homelife Magazine via Seventy Nine Ideas;The Container Store; Spike Powell for House to Home; Design*Sponge; IHeart Organizing; Better Homes and Gardens)

Original Article Here:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/smarter-storage-7-ways-to-reclaim-space-under-your-shelves-215691