Whether you’re a baker yourself or not, baking cookies provides a good opportunity to involve your children in something both educational and fun.

The educational side comes out in reading the recipe, following directions and measuring the ingredients accurately. To bring in the fun, have your child choose the type of cookie and add in decorations such as sprinkles and frosting to add personality.

To ensure success, make a plan. Start by taking a good look at your baking capabilities. If you’re a regular from-scratch baker, go ahead and use one of your favorite recipes. If not, there’s nothing wrong with buying pre-made dough or a cookie mix. The important thing is that you and your child have good cookies at the end.

Prepare your kitchen for the mess that is bound to happen. Choose a place with very little clutter. If needed, bring a stool to help your child reach the counter. Make sure you have all of the ingredients and tools ready and in the order needed. Even with a kitchen’s flooring and countertop designed for spills, plan ahead for messes with paper towels or a stack of kitchen work towels for clean-up. You don’t want to have to stop the fun to fix any problems.

Once your cookies are in the oven, involve your child in the clean up. Take a simple four-step approach: put the ingredients away, put all the baking utensils in the sink, wipe off the countertops and clean up the floor. By the time your last batch is out of the oven, you should have a tidy kitchen.

Enjoy your cookies, but take one more step before wrapping up. Check your little one for any flour or batter on face, hands, hair and feet. After all, the rest of the house is not baking-proof the way your kitchen is. Above all, remember to have fun! You and your child are making memories as well as treats.

Are you interested in remodeling your bathroom, but do not have the funds for a luxury renovation? There is no need to worry! With our eight top money-saving tips, you can remodel your bathroom on a reasonable budget. Let’s take a look!

How to Save Money During a Bathroom Remodel:

Make a Game Plan.
A massive mistake during any remodel is not going into it with a game plan. You want to assess the situation and make a plan before you start anything. By going in with a game plan, you will be aware of the costs, you will be able to set a budget for yourself, and you can leave yourself some wiggle room for any unforeseen circumstances.

Do Not Discard It All.
Bathroom essentials can add up quickly and leave homeowners with a smaller budget. Instead of repurchasing items like a brand new toilet or a glamorous mirror, try to revamp your current pieces into something new. With a toilet, you can replace the lid and seat but keep the body. With a mirror, look at the condition of your current mirror. If it is in good condition, keep the physical mirror and replace its frame. By doing these two simple fixes, you can save yourself a lot of money to splurge on other items like the floors or backsplash in the shower.

Leave The Plumbing Be. The most significant way to clear out your piggy bank is by moving around your bathroom’s plumbing. Switching your toilet to a different wall may seem like a good idea at the moment, but you will quickly realize that it is not worth the hassle, time, and funds.

Upgrade Your Vanity. A great way to save money in your bathroom is by using an antique dresser for your vanity. You can search local antique and thrift stores to find a one-of-a-kind piece that will work perfectly in your bathroom. This way, you do not have to purchase an expensive vanity, and you will be able to have a unique piece.

Incorporate Open Shelving. Believe it or not, but open shelving can actually make your room look bigger and more open. Open shelving discourages the use of bulky and overwhelming cabinets by substituting them with a clean line and welcoming storage space. Try using open-facing shelves, bookcases, and stands to create a visually appealing and accessible space.

All of The Lights. Lighting can be an effective remodeling change without breaking the bank. By incorporating more lighting, you can ultimately create a better-looking room. Lighting makes or breaks a design but luckily, adding light fixtures is not terribly expensive, and it can quickly transform your space. Just be sure that you have plenty of natural light and fixtures around the room to open it up and create a welcoming atmosphere.

Do Not Underestimate Paint. Paint can entirely change the overall feel and mood of a room. A lot of homeowners underestimate its value, but it is an inexpensive way to improve the feel of a room. Be sure to swatch your paint colors on the wall prior to application to guarantee satisfaction.

Browse Online. If you think about it, plenty of homeowners have remodeled their bathrooms. The odds are that they have extra supplies that you could use for your own remodel. Before you go to make a purchase, check online resale sites to see if anyone is selling something you need for your project.

Do you have any budget-friendly tips to share with other readers? We would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section. Thanks for reading!