November Newsletter
Every November, we find ourselves reflecting on what we're most thankful for in our lives. And one thing we're certainly thankful for is you and every other person who makes our job (which we love) possible. So thank you for being here, reading this newsletter, and staying in touch!
This month's newsletter is all about getting ready for Thanksgiving and the holiday season—6 steps for preparing your kitchen for the biggest cooking day of the year, a few ideas for updating your dining room, and tips for keeping your holiday spending under control. You’ll also find a quick update on the national housing market.
Enjoy, and happy November!
6 Steps To Preparing Your Kitchen For Turkey Day
If you’ll be spending hours in the kitchen this Thanksgiving, America's Test Kitchen suggests following these steps to make sure your workspace is ready:
1. Clean out your refrigerator and freezer.
Create as much free space in your refrigerator and freezer as possible. Toss expired food, reorganize and wipe down the shelves and drawers, and clear a large space for the turkey—and that means horizontal and vertical space. You’ll also need extra room in your fridge and freezer for any side dishes and desserts you plan to make ahead of time. And afterwards—if you’re lucky—you’ll need space for leftovers!
2. Take inventory of the ingredients you already have.
Make a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to prepare your Thanksgiving dishes, then cross-reference them with what you already have. You might still have plenty of Crisco leftover from when you make that delicious apple pie back in September. But be sure to check expiration dates—you’ll want to toss and replace any ingredients that are past their prime.
3. Make sure your equipment is in tip-top shape.
Clean your oven and stovetop grates, and use an oven thermometer to test its accuracy. This is also a good time to invest in any tools or gadgets that would make your cooking more successful. If you’ve been dreaming of a new chef’s knife, immersion blender, or fat separator, you might as well buy it before the biggest cooking day of the year. Cook's Illustrated has a great list of essential equipment for Thanksgiving cooking.
4. Declutter your countertops.
If you’re not going to use it on Thanksgiving day, put it away. Clear off your countertops to create a large workspace for all of the dishes you’ll be preparing—and all of the people who will be helping.
5. Delegate some tasks to your guests
Because even if you’re the host, there’s no reason why everyone can’t pitch in and help. Some people can bring dishes they made at home (or bought at the store), others can help chop veggies or wash dishes while you head up the cooking, and the kids can be in charge of setting the table.
6. Replace your sponge
A wet sponge is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and you should really be replacing your sponge every one or two weeks. Arm yourself with a fresh, clean sponge for Thanksgiving—it’ll be one less thing to worry about.
Get started on these steps at least a week in advance of the big day, and you'll be ready to rock by the time Thanksgiving is here!
Our Quick(ish) Projects To Modernize Your Dining Room
Is your dining room due for an upgrade…ideally before Thanksgiving dinner? Then you definitely need to take a look at these 6 quick(ish) ideas from Martha Stewart!
1. Reupholster your dining room chairs.
Whether your old upholstery is threadbare, ripped, stained, or just so outdated it’s almost (but not quite) back in style, reupholstering your chair cushions can be a pretty quick project. Choose a sturdy and stain-resistant fabric, like leather, vinyl, cotton blend, or even velvet!
2. Paint the walls.
Nothing makes a bigger impact on a room than a fresh coat of paint. If you want a fresh and welcoming look, choose a warm neutral like khaki or gray. For a more modern statement that will really enliven the room, you might opt for a cheery shade of blush or coral.
3. Paint a piece of furniture.
Painting an entire room isn’t always a quick project, so if you’re short on time but really want to modernize your dining area, paint a piece of furniture instead. Matching dining sets have an old fashioned feel to them, so painting just one of those pieces will help it stand on its own.
4. Apply patterned wallpaper.
Make a bold statement—and add a bit of whimsy—with a modern wallpaper pattern. Jessica Geller of Toledo Geller Interiors says to look for “bright colors, happy patterns, and whites that are crisp white.”
5. Update your light fixtures.
If the light above your dining room table is old and outdated, swap it for something fresh and modern. For the farmhouse look, you might choose a wagon wheel style chandelier. If you’re looking for a more eclectic, contemporary vibe, consider a sputnik chandelier or one with geometric elements. And don’t forget about your other lighting options, like floor lamps and wall sconces.
6. Add wall panels.
Wall panelling is one of the most popular design trends of the year. It adds depth, character, and a feel of luxury to a room, and there are a variety of styles. For a classic look, you can add beautiful panel molding. Board and batten-style paneling gives off stylish farmhouse vibes, and pre-cut geometric panelling makes the coolest accent wall.
And if you don’t have time for any upgrades prior to Thanksgiving dinner, no worries. Everyone’s eyes will be fixed on that turkey and pumpkin pie.
7 Tips For Controlling Your Holiday Spending
Saving up to buy a new home? Don’t let your holiday spending set you back! Here are 7 tips from Investopedia to help you control how much you spend on gifts, food, and decor this holiday season:
1. Set a holiday spending limit.
Look at your finances and figure out how much money can safely come out of your bank account in the next couple of months. Set a limit and stick to it! If you want a little extra cash to spend on gifts and decor, you could also dip into one of your other “fun money” budgets, like the money you would otherwise spend at Starbucks or on clothes for yourself.
2. Trim your list.
If you find yourself planning to buy gifts for more than 5 people outside of your immediate family, trim your list to a more manageable number of gift recipients. For everyone you cut, bake a huge batch of cookies to deliver in festive tins. Try this recipe for the best ever gingerbread cookies.
3. Don’t try to match someone else’s holiday spending.
Other friends or family members might spend more than you do, and that’s okay. Everyone is at different places in their lives. Just because your older brother paid off his student loans years ago and always buys you an expensive gift doesn’t mean you have to reciprocate with something just as pricey.
4. Instead, give a thoughtful gift that doesn’t cost much.
Think about what that person enjoys doing. Maybe they’ve just started a new hobby, or bought a new house, or started a new job—what gift could they really use to help them with those things? If your best friend just moved into a new place, you could buy her a small, low-maintenance succulent to add some greenery to her otherwise empty condo.
5. Look for deals and coupons.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are great times to score sweet deals on gifts. But you could also be on the lookout for coupons that arrive in your mailbox or inbox—and don’t forget to search online for coupon codes.
6. Give the gift of your time.
If all you can afford is a plane ticket to visit your far-away family, buy the plane ticket. You could also create coupon cards—“One free night of babysitting,” “One home-cooked meal,” etc.
7. Consider a group volunteer day instead of a holiday party.
If you and your friends want to do something festive without spending a fortune, search VolunteerMatch to find a group volunteer project you can do instead. What better way to celebrate the holiday season than by giving back to your community?
There’s no reason why you need to go into debt this holiday season. Stick to your budget so you can start the new year with your bank account in good shape!
Housing Market Update
Here is the latest on the national housing market, courtesy of Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale and Fortune.com’s Lance Lambert:
Mortgage rates have been increasing since July, so the time to refinance is likely coming to a close (although it still might be worth looking into, says Hale, if you bought or refinanced more than 18 months ago).
We are seeing economic improvement as COVID cases decrease or flatten in 45 states. In mid-October, the unemployment rate was down to 4.8% (compared to a 6.9% unemployment rate one year ago) and measured earnings were up 4.6%.
Time on market is beginning to lengthen, as it typically does this time of year.
Demand is still outpacing supply. We are seeing fewer new sellers come onto the market, so the progress in getting more inventory has slowed. The market still leans heavily in the favor of sellers.
Price appreciation is still happening, but at a slower pace. Home prices grew 17.7% over the last 12 months. Over the next 12 months, home price appreciation is expected to slow. Zillow is forecasting an 11.7% appreciation, but CoreLogic is expecting only a 2.2% increase and Freddie Mac is predicting a 5.3% increase.