Photo: mrpbody33

Family fridge

If you have a large or growing family then you are going to need a larger fridge due to having to have more food in the house.  If you a couple planning on have children one day it is a good idea to buy a bigger fridge from the start because if you buy a good quality appliance it will last you many years and you don’t want to have to buy a new one due to running out of space.  Choose a fridge with a larger freezer, whether it is on the top or below the fridge section, or even think about buying a separate chest or standing freezer.  It is convenient and works out cheaper to be able to buy meat in bulk and store it.  If you have a new baby it can also save time to make food up in bulk batches and freeze it.

Apartment living

If you live in an apartment it is likely you won’t have the space for a very large fridge.  More families are starting to discover the benefits of apartment living but mostly it is singles or couples who live in inner city apartment buildings.  If you don’t have much space you should go for a smaller fridge but have a good look at all the different models available as there will be a perfect fridge that will not take up a lot of space but still have adequate storage room.

Busy couple

For a busy working couple you might not actually be home that often and you could be the types to eat out a lot.  In this case there is no point in buying a huge fridge, unless you like to entertain often. The larger the fridge the more energy it will use, so if you find that you don’t have much in your fridge you might want to down size and in the process help save on your energy bills.

Entertaining

If you plan on entertaining a lot at home then you should have a larger fridge.  You should also look at a model that maximises on storage space and can fit larger items, like your bigger platters and bottles of wine and other drinks.  You would be better off buying a fridge and a separate freezer so you have the whole fridge to store your food and drinks.  You can also buy much larger Westinghouse fridges that have double doors that open outwards from the centre.  These models are a lot wider and are great if you have lots of parties.  You might also want to buy a fridge that has an ice making machine in the front of the door.

Group things together

Photo: chotda

It is best to group food types together in your fridge so that they don’t contaminate each other but also so you can find things easily.  Keep the vegetables in the vegetables crisper and if you have a separate drawer for cold deli meats and raw meats keep these away from the rest of your food.  Have a shelf dedicated to your dairy foods, such as your butter, cheese, yoghurt, cream and extra milk.  Keep left overs together too and it is also a good idea to attach a label with a date to left overs as it is easy to forget when things are made and when they should be eaten by.

Condiments in the door

So they don’t get lost up the back of your fridge keep the condiments and smaller items on the shelves in the door.  They also fit well in the smaller spaces in the door, better than most other items that you keep in your fridge.

Clean it out often

It is important to remember to clean your fridge out regularly and throw away any food that is past its use by date.  It can be easy to forget food in the fridge, particularly when you usually buy more each week and the older things can get pushed to the back.  Then when you finally do clean it out you find horrible mouldy bits of half used vegetables and unrecognisable left overs in plastic containers.  You risk ending up with things like food poisoning, plus if you keep it clean you won’t forget things in the back of your fridge, food that is perfectly fine but you forget is there, then finally you do come across it and it is past it’s use by date.  Know what is in your fridge and you won’t waste food.

Containers

Store food in containers and keep it fresher for longer.  You can buy great plastic containers that are made especially for the fridge.  Some will keep vegetables fresher for longer and others are can be used in the freezer for things like peas, which often end up all through your freezer once you have opened the packet.  Having containers can also help keep some sort of order within your fridge.

Bigger items in the back

Keep your bigger items in the back.  That way you can see what is in your fridge more easily.

Photo: palindrome6996

Fridge freezers from Samsung boast of decades of experience when it comes to making quality appliances. As one of their top-notch products, their fridge freezers not only have the best form, but function as well. Fridge freezers can be classified into: the upright fridge freezers, American fridge freezers, chest fridge freezers, mini-fridge freezers and integrated fridge freezers. The upright fridge freezer is good for families with large storage requirements because of its height and space. The American fridge freezer comes in dual doors which is very trendy and fashionable.

The chest fridge freezers are good for ice cream parlors as they offer bulk freeze storage. The mini-fridge freezer is good for those who are living alone or for newly-wed couples. The integrated fridge freezer, as the name suggests, just have the fridge unit and freezer unit integrated into a single body. Aside from these classifications, there are also the standard one door, white half or full fridge, a fridge with ice box and newer designer models that have LCD TV screen integrated in the door and an indoor icemaker or water dispenser.

Fridge freezers accounts for 20% of the energy consumed in your home. It is important that you choose one that is energy efficient like the Samsung fridge freezers. Check for the energy efficiency rating which ranges form A to G, where A and A+ indicates the most energy efficient. They even came with one or two controls where you can control the fridge and the freezer unit separately when going out for the holiday.

Children see advertising for the latest game console or mobile phone and believe that it’s a basic necessity. Adults can become dazed and confused when deciding exactly what form of technology will enhance life or waste their money. But, from kitchen appliances to smart televisions, there are intelligent choices. Here are five for 2011.
Fridge

During the hot Australian summer a sturdy and stylish fridge is a very desirable object. Over the Christmas/New Year period Australians often entertain and hang-out in open air living spaces. Westinghouse fridges offer an extensive range of refrigerators and bar fridges that are both stylish and affordable. The bar fridges in this range hold up to 100 litres of food and drink; very handy over Christmas and providing much needed space for entertaining and parties.

Dishwasher

A reliable dishwasher is a must have for any busy family home. Bosch dishwashers look good and are renowned as dependable. With a range to suit all kitchen designs and budgets, the Bosch range of dishwashers currently available in Australia are well worth a whirl. Bosch stainless steel dishwashers are quiet, functional and sleek. They come equipped with Aqua Stop Plus, anti-flood protection and child proof door locks.

Digital Cameras and High Definition Camcorders

Digital cameras are a must have for most households and now, with so many photo apps for consoles and televisions, it is quite simple to create professional looking albums.  Canon cameras are dependable and Canon offers an extensive range of digital cameras to suit any modern home. Canon HD camcorders like the Canon Legria HF R26 come with a touch screen and offer premium quality HD video even in the most poorly lit conditions.

Sony PlayStation Vita

With the amount of exciting games being released for the PlayStation 3 in 2011 if you didn’t already have a Sony Play station 3 you’d be kicking yourself. The new Sony PlayStation Vita will be in Australian stores on the 23^rd February 2012. Vita is a hand held platform with a touch screen and has the desirable feature of compatibility with the PS3. If you save on one it translates to the other. If you want to claim the living room TV back off the kids or keep them entertained during long car/plane trips then consider the Vita.

3D Smart TV

2011 has seen the introduction of Smart TV’s or, internet connected ‘smart’ high-definition televisions. Smart TV’s enable viewers to stream video, obtain video on demand services, access apps for social networking, photos and sports and browse the internet. There are a number of good Smart televisions each with their own individual platforms that perform similar functions. Sony Bravia has internet video, Samsung has Samsung Apps, LG has LG Smart TV and Panasonic has Panasonic Viera Connect. Your purchase will ultimately depend on what features you value the most in the platform. For example, whether you are into sport or movies or how much time you like to spend using apps and social networking

Theft

Being robbed is one of those things that we all assume won’t happen to us and only happen to other people.  Thieves break into people’s homes and stuff things such as jewellery, money, televisions, stereos, computer equipment and even important documents.  Unfortunately it is not only the items that these thieves take but the damage they do to your home that is also a big problem.  A lot of the time they damage doors and windows due to having to force their way in or they just commit random acts of  vandalism to cause as much damage as possible. Your contents insurance will cover you against theft so after the break in has occured you will be able to go out and replace the items you lost.  Your home insurance will pay for any repairs indeed for any damage done to your home.

Fire

If there was to be a fire in your home it would be very difficult to replace your home and contents if you weren’t covered by insurance.  If you lost your home and all of your belongings there would be no way to recover quickly from this event if you didn’t have insurance.  If you think about how much items in your home, including all your furniture, appliances, clothes and other belongings you can see that it would cost a fortune to replace everything.  Fires can do an an enormous amount of damage and can start easily, either because of faulty wiring, from something being left on the stove or because of cigarettes that haven’t been put out properly.   Another threat to some people, if you live in a rural area or in the bush, is the bush fires.  Home and contents insurance is vital to have if you live in such a high risk area.

Natural disasters

Natural disasters are an unexpected event and can destroy people’s homes and livelihoods in an instant.  These sorts of incidents can include things like storms, floods, bush fire, earthquakes and even cyclones for those who live in tropical areas.  The damage caused by these events can completely destroy homes and without insurance it would be almost impossible to recover.

Inconvenience of losing everything

As well as it being financially difficult to recover from losing your home or contents if you didn’t have insurance it would take a very long time to recover and get your life back to normal.  If you were to lose your home you would probably never be able to afford to rebuild and the bank would continue to expect mortgage repayments on something you don’t have any more.  Even replacing things like clothing, furniture and appliances would be incredibly difficult.  If you have insurance you can be happy knowing that your material possessions would be replaced.

Photo: pinkhippodesign

Fridge freezers have been immensely popular ever since they were launched because they combine the traditional fridge along with the freezer which revolutionized the way food is being stored. One of its important features aside from the styles and designs is the frost free feature. Gone are the days when you have to defrost your fridge once the ice and frost accumulates in the freezer. With the frost free version, it will prevent the ice from accumulating in the compartments. Its many advantages include eliminating manual defrosting, improves the fridge’s efficiency, and the frost free technology can help cut down energy costs.

Next in cost and convenience is the practicality of the models. There are popular models that come in 20 cubic feet storage, adjustable glass shelves, meat keeper with temperature control, and vegetable crisper with humidity control, ice maker, and door bins. There are also some models with freezer located below the refrigerator which is good for people with back problems.

There are also the 22-cubic foot capacity side-by-side designs and water-and-ice dispensing convenience centers built right into the door which add further appeal. There are also the top-of-the-line built-in refrigerator-freezers, stainless models for luxurious looks or serious high-volume storage. A refrigerator works round the clock, so it is very important to choose one which is not only efficient but also uses less energy for operating in order to save on electricity costs. With the right kind of fridge, you will have longer lasting foodstuff and the constant availability of ice and cold drinks.

Photo: Polygon Homes

Air conditioners played an important part in many aspects. For one, working in businesses and office buildings without it will mean disaster as the people will not be able to work efficiently. It is very important to keep some machines, like computers, to keep them from bogging down. If the computers will not last long without it, picture the havoc it can create for people who are dependent on it for living. Studies have shown that there is a connection between depression and the heat of the summer. This condition is called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Also, few people can sleep when the temperature is greater than 90 degrees. Sleep can be very difficult, miserable, and sweaty when it is hot. It is for these reasons that when an air conditioning bogged down, people tend to panic. Air conditioning repair can be done by a repairperson, but it helps if you have some knowledge on how to do simple repairs and maintenance yourself.

Most air conditioners come with a manual, so learning how to clean it and to keep its maintenance will be easy. For problems out of your reach, be sure to contact a person who really knows how to repair it or does it for a living.

Photo: yvestown

The basic triangle
You should have your kitchen designed so that it is in a basic triangle.  This means that you should have the fridge, the stove and the main bench area all situated at one of the points of a triangle, so you can simply turn around and take a step or two and everything is easily at hand when you get your food, prepare the meal and cook it.

Sharp knives
Always make sure that your knives are kept sharp.  It is the blunt knives that are actually more dangerous because you start exerting more force on them to try and cut with them and then you can easily go on to cut yourself.  Have a proper knife sharpener or take them to be professionally sharpened every so often.  One thing that you should spend more on is good quality knives.  It makes preparing food so much easier and quicker and you don’t end up doing things like hacking up bread, tomatoes or your beautifully cooked roast dinner.  Buy a full set of knives with different ones for different tasks.

Clean appliances
Always clean your appliances after you use them as they can start to harbour harmful bacteria and lead to you or others in your family getting sick.  For example, get all the bits of melted cheese off the sandwich press, shake the excess crumbs out of the toaster and get the bits of food off the blades of the blender.  These little bits of food can take a bit of work to get off but it is worth it so your appliances last as long as possible.  Be careful when you clean them that you don’t immerse any electrical elements in water.

Everything works
Make sure that everything always works properly.  Replace the batteries in your kitchen scales, change the light globes in your rangehood and make sure that the gas is working properly on your stove.  As well as keeping your appliances safe it is also annoying when you go to use something while you are cooking and to find it doesn’t work.

Fully stocked pantry
Make a list of the basic ingredients that you should always keep in your pantry.  If you have a few recipes that you make in the week have the staples for these always on hand.  Things like flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, spices, certain tinned foods and cheese are always good to have in the fridge or pantry.

Clean out the fridge
Every week check your fridge and clean out any old food or half eating bits and pieces.  Don’t wait until they go mouldy and start walking out by themselves.

Photo: Jeremy Levine Design

Security doors
Having a security door on your front entrance will not only help keep your home safe but it will mean that you can keep your front door open in summer to let the breeze through yet still have your home locked and secure as you can leave the security door shut.  Open the back door, the front door and your windows and create a breeze through your home which will significantly lower the temperature in your house as the air moves around.

Security screens
Security screens are great on your windows as you can keep them open during summer without worrying that someone is going to be able to break in, which is great during the night.  They will also keep the pests out, such as flies and mosquitoes.  Your view won’t be interrupted by the screens either.

Veranda
Adding a veranda to your home is a fairly big structural change but it is really worthwhile.  It will give you somewhere to entertain guests comfortably during summer, create an area for children to play all year round out of the weather and it will also help keep your home cooler on the inside.  As a veranda will shade your windows from the sun it will stop the sunlight from heating up your rooms and it will also stop the sun from beating down on your bricks which does increase the temperature inside.

Photo: Kamal H.

Curtains or blinds
Curtains and blinds make an enormous difference to the temperature within your home during the day.  Before it starts to heat up shut your curtains or blinds to keep out the heat.  Simply shutting your blinds will keep your home cooler for a lot longer.

Fans
Installing ceiling fans or using a standing fan will reduce the temperature by a few degrees as a fan will move the air about which makes it feel cooler.  If you open your doors and windows and use a fan as well you will make it feel even cooler.

Shade
Planting plenty of shady trees in your garden that will cast a shadow over your house will also help keep the temperature down inside your house and reduce your need to turn on the air conditioner.

Photo: linda yvonne

Double glazing
You can have your windows double glazed which will help control the temperature inside your home.  The windows have two pieces of glass and in between the glass the space is filled with either air or a special gas.  The space helps trap the warm air therefore keeping it cooler inside your house.  It is more expensive than a normal single pane of glass so you might want to put double glazing on windows that either faces the north or the west, when the sun is at its hottest.

Photo: Th♥mås Lǔ

For most people, having a large screen TV and a hundred or so channels to watch has come to be regarded as essential.

It’s not uncommon for the average household to spend thousands of dollars on anything from a 42 LCD TV with surround sound up to a cinema projector system that wouldn’t be out of place at the local multiplex.

If you’re going to buy 3d TV or upgrade to a high definition set, though, your viewing pleasure is going to soon be diminished unless you take care of your purchase.

HDTV isn’t going to look as sharp as you’d like, if you’re watching through a layer of dust on the screen.

And your 3DTV set won’t continue to dazzle you if your toddler’s finger marks are all over it.

So do make sure that you clean your set regularly, with a soft, lint-free cloth and even some gentle cleaning solution that is geared for the job.

LCD screens can be easily gouged or scratched, even by fingernails, so they do require some TLC. A payday loan can help you get new 3DTV too.

Photo: wstryder

If you don’t want to buy specialist cleaning products, which do tend to be quite expensive, you can clean them with isopropyl alcohol – also known as rubbing alcohol – mixed with distilled water (never tap water, or you’ll get hard mineral spots on your screen).

You should dilute the rubbing alcohol with water, an equal amount of both, and pour the solution into a spray bottle that is capable of producing spray in a mist pattern.

Gently wipe the screen in a consistent circular motion, applying even pressure to the cloth.

Avoid using tissue paper, as it’s too thin. Some people use an old t-shirt as a cloth, which is absolutely fine as it’s best for the cloth to have a large surface area.