Me, My Shelf and I

Carly asks:

Hey Beth, I need to put a shelf in my pantry, where can I go to find one on the cheap?

"94.7thHStreetFestival.NE.WDC.17September2011" by Elvert Barnes licensed under  CC BY-SA 2.0

When looking for shelf to be placed in an exact amount of space, the cheapest route to take would be to make your own.  You may be able to find something pre-made to fit the measurements of your pantry, but unless it is a pretty standard size, you may not have much choice when it comes to cost.

In the Washington, D.C. area, I suggest checking out Community Forklift.  They are a treasure trove of reclaimed building materials and a DIYer's dream!  In addition to shelves or shelf pieces, you can also score some brass doorknobs, a claw-foot bathtub or a vintage light fixture.  The prices are incredibly reasonable and you'll be reusing instead of buying new!

The Rental Searching Blues

Hey Beth, I'm apartment hunting and I can't seem to find one that I like.  Help!

There are plenty of rental-searching websites out there.  Some of my favorites are Zillow, Trulia and HotPads.  They all basically work the same and have pretty similar results.

One thing that's great to think about when you're combing through listings is using multiple sites to get the information you need.  

Say you found the perfect place that's right in your price range but on Zillow you've only got a satellite view?  Take your search one step further and google the address of the place.  Chances are that the owner may have put up pictures of the inside on a different website or maybe the house was for sale online at one point and you can get an idea from those photos.

Taking this extra small step can really help you get a better idea of a place without having to go look at dozens in person.

(Photo from Fenway Triangle Trilogy in Boston)