My hubby and I have been talking a lot recently about where we wanna be and what we wanna do in the next few years; how we would like our jobs to look and what we need in order to function and really be content. At first we thought, "well maybe we should start looking at apartments, find something close to work but with a little more space, a dishwasher, and landlords who allow pets". But the more we thought about it, we realized that what we have now really is the best thing for us. It's affordable and in a great location, and has enough space for the two of us. Yet we aren't quite happy.
We decided to make the most of what we have; to take what's already a great blessing and make it work for us. Step one is clearing out stuff that we don't need. When we got married, there was a limit to how much we could afford to buy for our place. So when people offered things from their attics, basements, etc. we didn't turn them down! But now we have a house full of other people's stuff, most of which we don't use or need! I will be a frequent donator at Goodwill this month :)
The next thing that we did was decide on a number: how much we would be willing to pay in rent if we were to move. Whatever the difference is between that number and our current rent is how much we will budget each month towards making over our current apartment.
As with all renters, we are in the fun situation of not being able to change certain things, like our lack of dishwasher, and not wanting to put money into a house that we don't own. However, there are some very affordable, practical ways to "renovate" your rental that will mostly benefit you in the future.
Remember two important questions when deciding what you want to do to your rental.
1. What drives you the most crazy? Make a list of all the reasons that you DON'T like your home and then prioritize them. Attack the worst flaws first, and then move down your list. If it's something that you can't do anything about, weigh it against the possibility of fixing other things that bother you. Is it really a reason to move?
2. Who does this benefit? While putting built-in bookshelves in the living room, or getting the carpet replaced may benefit your landlord, it does nothing for you in the long run. Focus on things that will benefit you now and in the future. For example, light fixtures from the 70's can be replaced with new ones. When you move out, put the old ones back on and take the ones that you paid for with you.
I am so looking forward to sharing our journey with all of you, and posting helpful hints along the way! Stay tuned for new fixtures, paint, affordable furniture, thrift store makeovers and more.
Bringing in the New Year with a new house,
LB
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