I know that almost everyone else is experiencing the affect/effect of our slowing economy in various ways - in our home, the increased gas expense combined with the increase grocery expense ($4.55 for a gallon of milk/$.67 increase in the cost of a bag of shredded cheese - it all adds up) combined with the added expenses for two trips to South Carolina etc., etc., ......have resulted in a sit down for David and me to re-evaluate our renovation budget for the year.
We DIY without financing - in other words, this is our retirement investment and we aren't going into debt to make the investment. We save our money throughout each year; we use bonus and tax returns etc and each March or April, we begin whatever projects we have planned for the year.
Each year, at least one project is begun but not finished due to budget shortfalls of some sort (emergency car repairs, vet bills etc) and we've come to just accept that fact. But, this year, one project isn't even going to be started! That's a little bit harder to accept.
We've been lucky enough to have purchased some of the materials needed for the job, but since it's a bathroom that exists in an add - on to the home (done in the 1940's or 1950's we believe) it is not a project that can be begun and then left until the funding is there to complete it. I mean you can't tear down the walls and expand the footprint (square footage) and then run out of money to complete that portion of the project. And with the increased price of lumber and other construction materials, we've decided that there is just too much risk of budget shortfalls to begin the project this year.
Thankfully, our upstairs bathroom renovation WILL be completed - all the materials are purchased and slowly are being placed in that bathroom.....soon it will be functioning AND beautiful.
In times like these, I've learned to count my blessings to avoid becoming depressed by the change in plans..........
Blessings........(no particular order)
We are not in danger of losing our home as are so many others......
We can put gas in our vehicles and food on our table.....
The outdoor shower project was completed and the upstairs bathroom will soon be as well...living in sunny Florida, we'll be able to shower outside for months yet and then we'll use our beautifully renovated upstairs bath....without danger of falling through!
The roof repairs were completed and we don't have water leaking down through our living room ceiling fans any longer.....
I have new matching kitchen appliances that save us money each month on our energy bill...and look great in the process.....
The house has been completely re-plumbed (except for the downstairs bathroom) and all previous owner contracted plumbing issues resolved......
Both my parents have had their respective surgeries and are on the road to recovery....
I've been blessed with more time to live with my adult daughter and to share in the joys and stresses of her daily life.....my son is doing well in college and my youngest is still a joy in every way.........
So, despite the frustration of putting off a much needed project until next year....I am thankful for the blessings I've received THIS year......
Signing off....Lori (who will be warning guests about the soft spots in the downstairs bathroom for another year!)
We DIY without financing - in other words, this is our retirement investment and we aren't going into debt to make the investment. We save our money throughout each year; we use bonus and tax returns etc and each March or April, we begin whatever projects we have planned for the year.
Each year, at least one project is begun but not finished due to budget shortfalls of some sort (emergency car repairs, vet bills etc) and we've come to just accept that fact. But, this year, one project isn't even going to be started! That's a little bit harder to accept.
We've been lucky enough to have purchased some of the materials needed for the job, but since it's a bathroom that exists in an add - on to the home (done in the 1940's or 1950's we believe) it is not a project that can be begun and then left until the funding is there to complete it. I mean you can't tear down the walls and expand the footprint (square footage) and then run out of money to complete that portion of the project. And with the increased price of lumber and other construction materials, we've decided that there is just too much risk of budget shortfalls to begin the project this year.
Thankfully, our upstairs bathroom renovation WILL be completed - all the materials are purchased and slowly are being placed in that bathroom.....soon it will be functioning AND beautiful.
In times like these, I've learned to count my blessings to avoid becoming depressed by the change in plans..........
Blessings........(no particular order)
We are not in danger of losing our home as are so many others......
We can put gas in our vehicles and food on our table.....
The outdoor shower project was completed and the upstairs bathroom will soon be as well...living in sunny Florida, we'll be able to shower outside for months yet and then we'll use our beautifully renovated upstairs bath....without danger of falling through!
The roof repairs were completed and we don't have water leaking down through our living room ceiling fans any longer.....
I have new matching kitchen appliances that save us money each month on our energy bill...and look great in the process.....
The house has been completely re-plumbed (except for the downstairs bathroom) and all previous owner contracted plumbing issues resolved......
Both my parents have had their respective surgeries and are on the road to recovery....
I've been blessed with more time to live with my adult daughter and to share in the joys and stresses of her daily life.....my son is doing well in college and my youngest is still a joy in every way.........
So, despite the frustration of putting off a much needed project until next year....I am thankful for the blessings I've received THIS year......
Signing off....Lori (who will be warning guests about the soft spots in the downstairs bathroom for another year!)
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