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Outdoor Living

Here’s some Summer safety tips

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Summer Safety tips.

Fun and safe in the sun!

For those old enough, you can remember the metal slides that burnt every uncovered part of your skin when playing. Nowadays, these constructions are bit more safe but in regards to playing and having fun in the Summer, need to remember some basic safety tips.

The sun. Much of skin diseases can begin prior to the age of 18 so be liberal with sunscreen for your kids and you too. Make sure to apply every two hours and be sure to get those places where the sun hits the hardest – the nose, back of the neck and even the top of the ears.

If you’re sunbathing or swimming then all of the uncovered parts and don’t forget the top of the feet. For some reason, that is one spot many people forget. Wear a hat and sunglasses. And, if hanging out at the pool all day, spend some time in the shade.

And if swimming in the pool, keep the “arm away” rule with little kids. That means you’re never an arm away from them swimming so you can rescue them if anything happens. And, remember, anyone can drown so keep an eye on everyone to be the safest.

And, water! No matter what you do, especially in the Summer, make sure you drink plenty of water. And make sure the kiddos drink plenty of water. Always ask them and don’t wait until they say they’re thirsty. That usually means they’re already dehydrated.

What about mowing the yard? If you have a riding lawn mower, the general rule of thumb is that no one under 18 is supposed to use one and no one under the age of 12 should use a push mower. For gas powered mowers, don’t touch the engine. Make sure it is off when refilling and always make sure the blades have quit rotating and are completely off when cleaning grass out.

Try not to back pedal when mowing. It’s the easiest way to trip, fall and get hurt. Always wear sturdy shoes and clean up the lawn of big sticks and debris so you’re not shooting off large dangerous chunks to you and others.

Now, back to the playground. Just because they’re not metal, test the slides and seats before the kids play. Plastic can still get dangerously hot. Remove anything that has straps to get caught on the equipment even helmets. Never allow children to attach ropes, leashes or anything that can strangle. Inspect playground equipment for long bolt ends that can make a nasty gash or an S-hook to get caught.

Just another ShopRTO be safe and home lifestyle tips.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Check out some Shop RTO gas saving tips

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Saving gas means saving money.

Try these gas saving tips to help your budget.

Summer means road trips with the family! Like the Griswalds, eh? Therefore we find ourselves in the car more which means using more gas. And gas means money and with gas prices being so unpredictable, it’s best to conserve no matter what.

Shop RTO offers the following tips regarding some best practices to keep the car fuel bill as low as possible.

Shop RTO stresses the obvious which is not to drive. Walk or use a bicycle whenever possible. If the bus or carpool is convenient then use that option.

Shop RTO points out riding a bus offers a less stressful drive and opportunities to get some work done, personally and professionally, while someone else is driving. Car pooling is another option. Split the driving duties amongst the group and save, literally, days of gas.

Working at home, whether full or part-time, is another good option. Even if it’s a couple days of the work week. Still helps greatly. You can remotely log in from home. Or have your work computer as a laptop to take with you wherever you go even the coffee shop. Communication via text, e-mails, video conferencing continue to make that a more effective option. Working at home is becoming more common and employers are becoming warmer to the idea.

If driving is the only viable option, Shop RTO points out the following gas saving tips when driving.

Remove the junk from the trunk. The less the car weighs, the less gas is needed. Many Americans leave unused and unnecessary items in the trunk.

Find the quickest route to the most common places and use regularly. Shop RTO points out that time in the car is more important than actual mileage. The more time spent in the car is wasting gas. Time several routes until the shortest is found. Use the many apps, google maps, mapquest or the local news websites as tools to help.

Shop RTO claims one of their best recommendations is to not speed up to stop. When approaching or knowing a stop sign or stop light is ahead, let off the gas pedal and coast to the stop. This tactic saves immensely on gas over time as well as wear and tear on the brakes.

Park in spots that are easy to get in and out. Most of those spots are further away but also avoid the energy wasted trying to wait or maneuver through the most crowded areas of the parking lot.

Avoid car idling by avoiding drive-thrus and waiting for passengers. Turn the car off to wait or park and walk in to get what is needed.

Use the air conditioner as less as possible and always check tire pressure to make sure tires are properly filled.

If you’re highway driving, use the cruise control as much as possible. Constant use of gas is better gas saver then the natural fluctuations driving without.

Just another Shop RTO affordable home lifestyle and gas saving tip.

About Shop RTO:
ShopRTO.com provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Some outdoor party tips for the Memorial Day celebration

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Some outdoor party tips

Throw a great outdoor party this Summer.

Memorial Day’s just around the corner so time to celebrate. And celebrate outside with friends and family. So here’s some outdoor party tips to help make the ultimate party.

Get a good handle on the number of people. There are all sorts of apps and web software to create invitations and manage the preparation for the party. These programs can tell you how and who to expect. You can customize the invites. Send out updates. Sign up lists if you need help or if it’s a potluck.

Theme. Memorial day is about remembering the fallen of our great American soldiers. Have some flags hanging or those commemorative small ones on the tables. If you have relatives who need to be commemorated, have photos of them properly displayed. And you can also push the red, white and blue theme in the decor.

Food. Make sure you have plenty is the obvious tip. You can go two ways on this one. Use the cooking of the food as the centerpiece. For the most part, that means outdoor grilling. Have people bring their own grilling delicacies and cook it for them or swap off. The smell of good outdoor cooking can make for nice ambience. OR, have everything ready prior and spend time just refilling or replacing. Recruit help to monitor empty trays.

Drinks. Know your audience is the best advice. This way you know how much and what kind to have. Even add that to the online invite to help. Or, many times, and is fine in an outdoor setting like this is to BYOB – bring your own beverages. Just make sure there are enough space in your refrigerator and coolers throughout the yard. Designate one cooler for the kid’s drinks. Make sure you have enough cups and napkins.

Make sure it’s kid friendly if it’s open to families. Have a dedicated room playing movies or video games. Especially those games that make them move like “Just Dance”. Have sprinklers, blowing bubbles, beach balls, squirt guns but make sure there’s something that keeps the kids happy and wanting to be there.

Make sure there’s enough seating. While many people will be standing and mingling, you want to make sure there are enough seats to sit and tables or stands to place drinks.

Music! Set up a minimum of a 2 hour playlist of the best and classics. From One Direction to Chuck Berry and everything in between. Make sure to mix it up. Don’t play one artist, genre or in the same decade more than 2 songs in a row. Unless it’s a themed party of course. You don’t want that person groaning twice who happens to not like that song or genre.

You want to tell guest that ‘don’t worry’ if you don’t like this song, you’ll like the next as they range all over decades and genres. Make sure they’re upbeat and make sure they’re popular. Parties are not the time to play esoteric music. You want people to smile and have fun and using songs to touch off good conversation.

Set the speakers high so they’re not blaring in people’s ears. Try to get four spread out. The high quality of wireless and small speakers are incredible and affordable these days so having good background music is not the monumental feat it once was.

Prepare for the clean-up now. If you’re worried about stains then make sure you have  plenty of paper napkins available. Make sure there are trash cans readily available but somewhat hidden so there are no eyesores. Designate your recyclable cans. And monitor them regularly to bag up when full and replace. You don’t want overflowing garbage. A good tip for readily available trash bags is to put a stack on the bottom of the trash can so when you lift the full one, empty ones are ready right there.

Make sure there’s enough light. If your party goes into the night time then you need to have proper lighting. String lights give off a good glow. Not too bright but enough to see well and for ambience. Use those string Christmas lights in your basement if they’re not too obviously Christmasy. String lights are also cheap. Another suggestion are those solar lamps and lights. They have a unique feel and look but can be a bit costly on the front end but they don’t cost any electricity from then on.

Make sure extension cords are secure. Use all of those extra wire hangers and cut them into U shape pieces to firmly plant the cord into the grass. For pavement, use heavy duty duck tape. You do not want guests kicking around or stumbling on the loose cord especially after a couple of drinks. Duck tape is now being offered in many different colors so you can still be festive as well as safe.

Create a slide show. Putting together a pictorial slide show on your computer and/or to your TV is fairly easy and can be loads of fun for the guests especially if they’re in them. Use one of the many slide show programs out there which many are free.

Keep mosquitos away and stay cool at the same time. Set up some fans. Get rid of standing water. Get some cintronella candles and have some spray or wipes readily available.

Rent it if you don’t have it. Go to your local rent-to-own store if you’re looking for furniture, sound systems, refrigerators or computers for that week or if you want to replace some of your old ones. Find your local party rental place for the specialty party items you’ll need. But, shop around! Many party rental places are expensive.

Just another ShopRTO Home Lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and when rent to own makes your Superbowl party, the party.

Summer to-do list for the home exterior

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A summer to-do list

Use the summer weather to paint the house.

Each season brings in a new set of chores specifically designed for those months. With summer, those months represent dryer conditions, warmer temperatures and longer days. That means it’s perfect for the outdoor duties. So here’s some of the most popular things to put on your summer to-do list.

Paint the outside of your home. Maybe it’s just touching up areas or painting the whole thing. But, temperatures are usually warm enough to be agreeable for outdoor paint. Experts say that ambient temperatures should be above 50 degrees. With today’s paint technology, some will allow down to 40 but make sure.

Make sure the wood is dry. If it rained, wait at least a day before painting.

Fix rotten wood. Summer are usually dryer and warmer providing perfect conditions to fix that rotting wood. Much of the time you can do it yourself by using epoxy wood filler. Grind out all of the rotten wood then apply the filler then sculpt, scrape and sand to fit the mold. The epoxy wood filler is good for smaller areas. Larger ones need replacement or more professional help.

Clean the gutters. It’s warm, sunny and dryer conditions so gives you those conditions to clean them out from those spring rains. Much wood rots because of clogged up gutters so always remember that ugly chore.

Trim the trees and get that yard in shape. Now that all of the leaves are on, you’ll be able to see perfectly which branches are dead or dying. You will also be able to see which branches are or going to be hurting your roof, fence or parts of the house. Get rid of them so the tree looks good, your house doesn’t get damaged and water is not wasted on branches that ultimately will fall off in the near future.

Clean out sheds or the garage. Check out our get rid of the clutter for some extra tips. It might take several days to bring everything outside to thoroughly clean out these storage spaces. Summer days can make that happen by giving you better weather or that longer day to make that painful chore happen.

Another ShopRTO home lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living, decorating, DIY tips and when rent to own can make your daily life better.

Just add flowers – some Shop RTO tips for a beautiful home garden

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Flower planting tips

Brighten your day with your yard.

It’s that time of the year which means flowers! Lots of them, too. Whether planting them for your home garden or putting them on vases or on the front door. There is nothing better for the home, family and soul like flowers when driving up to your home. Here’s some basic tips to get you started in the right direction.

When planting flowers in your yard, there’s several different factors you have to keep in mind. First thing you should look at is the USDA plant hardiness zones to make sure the money and time spent is worth it. Especially in the south. The southern states can handle most flowers during the spring but die the moment that summer heat comes.

Then you need to know their life distinction – perennials, annuals and biennials. Perennials are plants that live beyond three years with flowers blooming each season. Roses are a good example and roses can be hardy throughout the country. But, the higher north you go, roses can get much bigger, brighter and fuller. Look at Portland’s rose garden and all throughout the northwest.

Azaleas are another good example. In spring they burst with a brilliant purple color for about two weeks then gone until next spring. But they are hardy bushes that create an even,  green look especially against the walls of your house throughout the year.

Annuals are those plants that live, die then seed in one season. In the south bluebonnets are a good example. Beautiful for those three weeks then die and hope those seeds replant the next season, which they do. Other good annuals are marigolds, trumpets and daisies.

The trick with annuals is the sun/shade factor. Most annuals need a good amount of shade. And if those plants are going to last a short time, money is going to be a factor especially when on a budget which this blog is for.

So, the BEST ADVICE for cheap annuals is buy the seeds and plant each year. Planting seeds can make plant designs and little more difficult but is best for the budget.

Biennials are those plants that have a life cycle of two years so some planning is needed for their first and second year blooming. Pansies are the most common type of a biennial flower.

Hope those help. We wanted to give you the tools to best pick your strategy so quit reading and go get dirty for a pretty yard.

Just another ShopRTO Outdoor Decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Rent the Summer life

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rent to own grills, furniture

Rent summer gear to be debt and clutter free.

In many parts of the country summer living is only three to four months thus needing certain items only for that part of the year. Just a quick few are lawn mowers, air conditioners, power washers, BBQ grills and outdoor furniture.

Rent to own stores are the best location for renting ACs, riding lawn mowers, outdoor furniture and BBQ pits but power washers are best to find at a local Lowe’s or Home Depot. Make sure to check your local rent to own stores prior as every rent to own store rents different items. You’ll be surprised at some of the items they rent on a seasonal basis.

The beauty of renting these seasonal items is that you pay for their use and that’s it. So much of these items are left unused, further damaged or broken after harsh winters especially this one. If you rent them then when Summer’s over, your garage and home is clutter free and the next summer you get new rented items that are debt and worry free. The rent to own store will deliver, set up and come and get it when the cold winds come back and need to return to the inside.

With renting outdoor furniture for several months, you know it’ll be nice because you picked it out. If you have a good enclosed porch then you can rent higher end furniture since it will be only used for several months. But, if you like what you rented then buy them outright with rent to own’s early purchase option that include previous rental payments going towards ownership.

So many Americans are having to live in smaller homes and yards but still want to have the family barbecue, get together or enjoy the outside. Renting those key summer items means you get the full summer experience without so much of the headache. It all depends on the circumstances. Renting works perfect for some. Owning for others. And, again, rent to own stores give you both options.

Just another ShopRTO Outdoor Decorating and Lifestyle Tips.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Springtime is here! Some home decorating tips to spring into action.

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Spring Home decorating

Spring into Decorating for the season.

Now that the spring season is officially here, here’s some home decorating tips to spring into your home. So, where do you start? Let’s see.

Flowers and real plants. Time to got get a bunch of flowers and real plants to liven up the room. Nothing better in a celebration than flowers. And live plants are good for health and home. And it’s time to till the flower beds and vegetable gardens.

Paint your door a different color and make it something bright. That’s a fairly easy task and can make a huge difference. It’s also good for the psyche. Studies show positive change in the daily routine stimulates neurons in the brain making you more happy. Thus changing the color of your front door that is pleasing provokes a happy feeling as it is new and is one of the first things you see when driving up to your home.

Put the candles up for next fall. If you have been a staunch Shop RTO follower then you saw how candles make great winter decorations. It’s not winter so put them away and use the sunlight. Especially now that daylight savings time is here.

Change your bedroom pillow and blanket covers. Make them bright, flowery, colorful, sunny, etc.

And, most of all, hopefully retire that winter coat for awhile and enjoy some warmth and sunshine.

Just another ShopRTO Home Decorating and Outdoor Decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Whip that yard into shape with these simple tips

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TreetrimYour yard is ever growing and changing. And it’s a constant battle with weeds, overhanging branches and unwelcome sprouts. Here’s some tips and areas to keep that yard in tip top shape.

Trees: the shade keeps our summer energy costs down, the swing or hammock makes it the go to Sunday siesta spot and what kid doesn’t love a treehouse.

But for all their benefits, your personal forest does need tending from time to time.

Take those dead hanging limbs for example. Take a good look at those and see which ones need to be cut away, lest mother nature do the job for you. All it takes is a common thunderstorm and a brisk wind gust to break a branch and send it through your roof or windshield (or your neighbors) causing tremendous and costly damage.

Also, while you’re out there, prune any plants that might interfere with your AC condenser and trim bushes that might be too close to the house. They can trap moisture and cultivate rot and insects.

Don’t forget the bushes. If left untrimmed, they can trap moisture and invite termites and other home destroying critters. Keeping bushes trimmed can also eliminate potential hiding places for burglars or other unwanted visitors.

Vines come from the ground and grow on the house. They give your house a special look, but creepy crawlies come from the ground, too, and they can use those vines to get into your house. Vines also trap moisture against the house and they can eat away the mortar in between your bricks, jeopardizing the stability of your exterior walls.

So, while vines might be pretty they are not good for your house and you should trim them back regularly. If you really want to keep the vines hanging around, here’s a tip — install a garden trellis next to your house. They come in a variety of sizes and they keep vines away from your foundation.

Check out her for more Shop RTO outdoor tips here and:

http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/tips-for-summer-yard-maintenance/index.html

Just another Shop RTO Lifestyle and Outdoor Decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Outdoor winter decorations after the holidays

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Outdoor Winter Decorations

Lights make for great Winter decorations.

Holiday decorations are easy for outdoor decorating in the dark, bleak months of Winter but what about post-Christmas? Still need to keep the outdoors as fresh and pleasant as possible especially when the Winter blues are really weighing heavy.

Two of the most prominent themes are evergreen and light. The latest trends have been the winter urns and night lanterns. There are all sorts of winter urn decorations using the combination of evergreen bushes. decorative branches that are laced with pine cones and colored beads.

There are also many different kind of pots and urns to use that can be easily switched out according to seasons. And you can find those at any Lowes or Home Depot.

And for the evening, lights are the best way to brighten up the front of your home and hopefully even your spirit. The lantern cases in the Winter is usually bright colors. Many are white especially in those areas of much snow.

Strands of white lights are always good especially when aligned on a walkway so it looks winter decorative rather than being lazy and never taking down the Christmas lights.

In the south, there are many decorative flowers that are hearty and beautiful. Pansies and violets can be the most vivid. And then there’s sweet pea, honeywort, calendula, sweet alyssum, jasmine and honeysuckle.

But the best of the best outdoor winter decorations are snowmen and, if you’re really good, ice sculptures. But they won’t last that long unless you’re bunking with Santa in the North Pole.

Just another ShopRTO Outdoor and Home Decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Tips to a winterized car

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Be prepared for dangerous winter weather

Make sure your car is winterized.

With these arctic blasts coming each winter, it’s important to have a winterized car. You never know what will happen if the unthinkable happens being stuck in a car jam, pile up or stranded out in a broken car in freezing cold temperatures and wintery conditions. Here’s some steps to make sure you’re safe and warm.

While this is standard these days, you want to be double sure you have your phone with you and fully charged. Calling for help will be the best way to save you.

Make sure your tires are full and in good condition. Check the tire pressure and thickness of the tire threads. You may want to consider winter tires.

Have a mechanic check your battery to make sure it has full juice. Cold temperatures slow down the battery’s chemical charges and your car uses more energy from the battery during cold weather. A mechanic will also be able to clean off any corrosion and check the cables as well.

Make sure you have new windshield wipers. Very important. With snow, ice and cold rain you need to be able to see especially at night and on highways.

Check the anti-freeze and make sure the water to anti-freeze ratio is 50/50. You can use an inexpensive anti freeze tester yourself or have the mechanic do it.

Change the oil and check belts and hoses.

Have supplies stored in the car. In a manner as if you were going to be stuck for hours because getting frozen in a car jam, pile up or on a highway that iced over in a hurry happens more frequently than you would think. Just watch the news.

Make sure there are blankets, water, snack food like granola or power bars. Have jumper cables, fully aired spare tire with all of the tire jacks necessary. Have a flashlight. As a second precaution, load one of those flashlight apps on your cell phone so you have several sources. Emergency roadside triangles or flares. Have an ice scraper and first aid kit.

You never know what will happen. Even if you live south or especially if you live south. When those rare arctic blasts hit the southern states that’s where most are unprepared thus incidents can easily happen such as car pile ups and getting stuck on the highway in a car jam because the highway froze over almost instantly. It’s better to be safe than sorry and have a winterized car.

Here’s some tips to making sure your home is winter-ready as well.

Just another ShopRTO ‘we care for your safety’ lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and safety tips and when rent to own is a good option for your home lifestyle.

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