(NC) It seems like everyone is making over their home these days, from small additions to complete teardowns. Although it sounds pricey, there are ways to transform your home while sticking to a budget. Here are some renovation tips to help you get started:

Never underestimate the power of good lighting. 
Nothing says luxurious quite like the perfect mood lighting of beautiful fixtures. From gallery-style recessed lighting to illuminate your artwork, to pot lights built into a rustic piece of reclaimed wood for hanging over your dining table, light fixtures are a fun and functional way to create ambiance and show off your personality.

Accessorize with high-quality investment pieces. 
Achieve an expensive look by carefully curating accessories and decorative items. For example, some plump throw pillows and a plush area rug can elevate your living room. You can also try hanging curtains from ceiling to floor, even if your windows are small — this will elongate your walls and draw the eye upward. Splurge on custom framing to showcase your favourite photographs on a gallery wall or floating shelf.

Learn how to achieve the handmade look for less. 
Anything custom-made says luxury because it’s uniquely tailored, fitting your style and space perfectly. But customizing anything from scratch can be prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, there are many ways to get the same results on a budget.

For premium and tailored cabinetry in your kitchen and bathrooms, try working with Kitch. The company specializes in making high-quality doors, drawer fronts and accessories for popular IKEA systems. The result is fabulous and unique cabinetry that’s personalized for your home, style and organization needs.

Find more design inspiration at mykitch.ca

(NC) The return of warmer weather doesn't just mean the start of summer, it's also the kickoff to home improvement season. Every home deserves a light, airy refresh to embrace a brighter season ahead. Fortunately, transforming your space doesn't mean you need a big budget or a lot of time.

Elevate your home in just one weekend with these easy DIY projects inspired by Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore colour and design expert.

Go for faux wallpaper
From painting one wall a bold colour or adding interest with a stylish painted arch, there are endless options for creating a focal point in your space with colour. This season, accent walls are going graphic and taking inspiration from wallpaper — with a lot less fuss.

"Whether you choose polka dots, thin lines or an intricate pattern, this transformation is an easy way to give any space personality," shares Grech. "This project is perfect for those looking to get creative — use a stencil for flawless results in no time."

Make a statement with your staircase
It can feel daunting to paint an entire room, especially if you want to do it yourself. Instead, look for small projects that make a significant impact, such as painting your stair risers. Whether you want to add an unexpected pop of colour or take a tonal approach by alternating between shades of grey like Feather Gray 2127-60 and Pike's Peak Gray 2127-50, Advance interior paint delivers a durable, furniture-like finish on wood surfaces so that you can achieve professional results in a weekend.

Welcome with vibrant doors 
Painting your front door is an easy way to boost your home's curb appeal, but who says you can't make an immediate impact by painting your interior doors?

“If you lean towards a neutral palette, painting a door in an energizing hue like Marblehead Gold HC-11 can help you incorporate a splash of colour into your home without committing to an entire wall,” explains Grech. If you're hesitant to introduce a vibrant colour, she suggests Palladian Blue HC-144 for a subtle facelift.

(NC) Understanding how to manage your money and budget better is important for financial health, especially during uncertain economic conditions. Each person’s situation is unique and requires a personalized approach, but with education and confidence, financial planning can become a less arduous task.

According to the TD Financial Health Index, a national benchmarking survey providing a portrait of Canadians' financial well-being, women tend to have lower “financial health” than men – particularly among younger groups. Women received an average financial health score of 64 – lower than the average score for all Canadians. 

Regardless of financial management experience, taking small, thoughtful and actionable steps towards building your wealth management skills can help improve your financial profile in any circumstance.

Here are some resources to consider:

1. Read, review and reevaluate. Empowering yourself with the right resources can better equip you to make stronger decisions for your financial future. Online tools, like the TD Direct Investing Learning Centre, can walk you through the different types of investments, account types, risks and investment plans, and teach you how the market works before you get started.
2. Build your financial confidence. Ensure you are actively participating in the financial planning process. When learning how to build or elevate your investments, also take time to learn the language and increase your financial awareness. Knowing the basics can enable a better understanding of your investment options and strengthen your self-assurance in direct investing.
3. Create a virtual community. Learning from other personal and professional experiences can generate investment ideas, give you inspiration for your portfolio, and keep your investment goals on track. Participating in webinars, interactive sessions and master classes through the TD Direct Investing Learning Centre is a great way to build your skills and knowledge.

(NC) With the Bank of Canada recently raising its key interest rate once again, many of are concerned about the impact on our household debt and mortgages. Fortunately, there are many tips and tricks for saving and budgeting you can use for other areas in your life.

Try the three-category budget. It can be overwhelming trying to track all your expenses, but it is advisable to have a baseline to check your progress. Money experts recommend picking just three categories you want to focus and get a handle on, since most of us overspend in just one or two categories. The three-category system is an easy way to get started on trimming expenses.

Pay down high-interest debt. One in three of us sometimes buy things we can’t afford. If you’ve put a few too many purchases on your credit cards, a big portion of your monthly payment are going just towards paying down debt. To get out ahead, consider moving the debt to a low-interest option, like a line of credit. When paying off any debt, prioritize the higher-interest loans you have and work your way down.

Boost your education. If you don’t know much about personal finances, you’re not alone. A recent survey by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada revealed 49 per cent of Canadians grade themselves C or lower on their overall personal financial skills. But it’s hard to get your budget on track when you don’t have the right tools or knowledge. Do some research and work with an expert like a chartered professional accountant to get a better handle on your income and expenses.

Work together. If you’re married or are splitting expenses with a relative, you need to be on the same page about spending and savings goals. So, sit down to outline your priorities together and create a realistic budget you both feel comfortable with and can stick to. You can even try an online budgeting tool or app to help you both track and understand expenses.

Find more information and resources to get on a path of long-term financial health at cpacanada.ca/financialwellness and also request a free educational session for any organization you’re part of.