Retro ranch: The backyard after

Matthew replaced the exterior wall behind the original kitchen sink with a series of large windows and sliding glass doors.

Shopping tips

Stay in the know: “I always sign up for mailing lists at my favorite stores, so I know when new items are available and on sale,” says Jennifer. She also searches for online coupon websites to find coupons for items she knows she wants to buy: “I’ve saved hundreds of dollars.” Her preferred sites include couponing.about.com, retailmenot.com, and fatwallet.com