I'm constantly thinking about upgrading our furniture, renovating the house, updating our appliances, or buying a better car but I hesitate to pull the trigger on big-purchase items. In the world of fertility treatment you never know when you'll need extra cash. So while it would be nice to have shiny new things, we don't need them so I pull back from actually spending the money. I still find it fun to search online for things I like, putting them in a cart, and then walking away. I find that my taste also changes over time, so sometimes I go back to the cart months later and I'm glad I didn't get them. I'm very aware of living within our means.
At the moment I'm trying to figure out how to renovate our bedroom furniture for less than $1,000. I want new furniture, maybe some hooks, and new sheets/blankets. Also we only have a clock on the wall so maybe some art. It's the dressers and nightstand that's taking up a lot of time searching. I can't find one I like that fits in the budget. Either it's beautiful and expensive, or affordable and crap. So the search continues.
I've also really relaxed my specifications for a car. My requirements are now: reliable, seat warmers, big trunk, and a hook for dry cleaning. If a car has that, I'm good. I don't care about brand, size, color, speed, look - none of it matters. I hope we get a second car by spring.
Sometimes I think about what it would be like if we sold the house and bought a condo. We'd pay off all our loans and live debt free. We'd have less space, but that's the point of living minimally. But I like my house and it's supposedly an investment that gains value over time so instead of having liquid assets, it's all in the house. I'd rather pay off my mortgage and stay here rather than go to a condo, even if living debt free is enticing.
Just some thoughts while reading this book.
At the moment I'm trying to figure out how to renovate our bedroom furniture for less than $1,000. I want new furniture, maybe some hooks, and new sheets/blankets. Also we only have a clock on the wall so maybe some art. It's the dressers and nightstand that's taking up a lot of time searching. I can't find one I like that fits in the budget. Either it's beautiful and expensive, or affordable and crap. So the search continues.
I've also really relaxed my specifications for a car. My requirements are now: reliable, seat warmers, big trunk, and a hook for dry cleaning. If a car has that, I'm good. I don't care about brand, size, color, speed, look - none of it matters. I hope we get a second car by spring.
Sometimes I think about what it would be like if we sold the house and bought a condo. We'd pay off all our loans and live debt free. We'd have less space, but that's the point of living minimally. But I like my house and it's supposedly an investment that gains value over time so instead of having liquid assets, it's all in the house. I'd rather pay off my mortgage and stay here rather than go to a condo, even if living debt free is enticing.
Just some thoughts while reading this book.
I would love to upgrade our house as well. I am always searching online for either home improvements or brand new houses! Haha. If you find a cheap way to renovate/upgrade let me know, because I haven't found one yet!!
ReplyDeleteI was always so hesitant to spend money during the brunt of our struggles but after our second loss I said "Screw it!" and I bought a BMW. Well, new for us - it was a 2013 and I bought it at the end of 2014. I was just so depressed and upset and looking for anything to "pick me up" so to speak. Not the most practical decision, but I do love it still to this day, so at least I don't regret it terribly. It would be nice to have the money I had plunked down on it but at the time I just wanted to feel better.