I don't need to keep up

[happymommy]

with anyone. This freedom feels great. For example yesterday I had a conversation with my sister in-law. I mentioned to her that
I had looked at vinyl flooring for our new kitchen addition and I was astonished to find out what we liked ranged from $31-$41
a sq. yd. plus $11 a yd. for installation. YIKES!
I told her I was in shock and started loving my plywood floors.
Dh and I have been browsing for things we need to complete our kitchen project and I can't tell you how many stores I've walked out and said, "NO way am I paying that much for xy or z'.

Well, to get back to my point. I was shocked when my sister in-law said, When will it be done"? I said, "Who knows I'm in no rush and I'm waiting, I don't want to waste our money in haste."
She continued to say, " Oh you deserve to have a finished kitchen. You will be so excited when it's complete."
Ummmm, NO! Not until we can buy in our budget and I don't owe anyone and can sleep at night knowing we didn't rack up credit card debt etc.
I also like the freedom and peace dh and i have now, I remember many sleepless nights, knots in our stomachs etc..

I refuse to overspend, I will take my time, I will not be pressured by outside people...........they don't pay our bills or feed our family.

Like my fil use to say, "Rome wasn't built in a day." A man of the great depression, who lived very wise.

Just wanted to share how good it feels to grow and learn from our past mistakes.
Oh and I am looking forward to our finished kitchen, when it's done it will be a blessing that will be enjoyed by us all....Debt FREE!

[frugalfarmwife]

You go! Hold your head up and know you're doing it the right way!

Doesn't it feel good to buck the system and do the work without going into deep debt? I know that family members look at my house and go "ewwwwwwwwwww", but hey if it's paid for it can be mighty attractive even if it IS from the 70's LOL

kj

[staceyy]

Good for you, holding your ground!

[happymommy]

Thanks. I've learned so much from this board, and can use the inspirations from all of you to make better choices.

[JustMegan79]

Good for you, wait until you find what fits your needs!!
As a side note, at home depot sometimes they have remnants. Also...try calling some general contractors in the area, many times they will have left over flooring from a previous job. Years ago on our addition the guy had extra tiles...4 boxes still sit in our shed. I am sure you will find a way!

Megan

[Emerald_Mommy]

The freedom to NOT keep up with the Jones's is definitely an overlooked pleasure for many people! Glad you've found it.

[Darlene]

Good for you! Sleep well!

[hollyhill]

WTG!

You are very wise!

[madhen]

I've always been an "instant gratification" person, from point A to point B and not even notice the scenery in between. But living out on my ranch, with the never-ending jobs that never get finished (i.e, fixing the fence), I've started to learn to try to enjoy the process at least as much as the result. I think it is overall much less stressful to me (although I'm still very "Is it done yet?" when I hire anyone to come do some work).

[madhen]

Good example of trying to enjoy the process vs. the result. THis is the back side of my property. As you can see, I'm in the process of clearing brush and am only about half way done. I finally gave up and had someone come in to help out, which is the only reason it is as far along as it is! This is two years' work (and about two acres of cleared land, another two uncleared in the back, and another six in front of the house).

P.S. The little white dots in the upper right are my goats.

[redmaples]

Replying because I can relate to the long-term kitchen project exactly as you describe!!
I lose track of how many years ago we started now.
Maybe 7 or more.... !!
I am on the same page with you all that it is about proccess. this project taught us that. We have spent only cash, and in different stages. It is a complete DIY project that we have done together every step of the way.............the kitchen is built on values.
There are still people who walk in to see the unpainted, mudded drywall & plywood floor who ask "when will it be done?"
There are other people who have come to appreciate our progress, like a story they are following & delight in the little steps we've made.

Everything will be new when complete, we tore out everything from floor, ceiling walls...one at a time. Maybe one wall one year, another wall the next year, ceiling one year, floor the next. We had no drywall up on one wall for about 6 months during warm season. You could see the guts of the wall & out through. All new electric with more lights, plugs & fixtures. Most of the hard work is done. Still more to go.

DH has done a fine job of making things look square in a crooked house. We have spent a lot of time together looking at what to do next & making plans.

sometimes you feel like this. when it gets near completion & you owe no $$$$, that is just the greatest sense of accomplishment. & pride!!

Some people I know who seem to have a lot, complain about $$ more than people who do not.

Good for Everyone who Lives Within Their Means & can have a sense of freedom!!! I have ALOT of respect for all of YOU!

[pecunierrant]

Good for you! Ive had similar conversations with family. All of them have no problem with buying on credit.
Once, my sister came over and asked when we were going to get the kitchen redone. I told her we'll do it when we're ready, we dont buy on credit we pay cash.
You'd have thought she had seen a ghost she was so shocked. LOL
Boy was she quiet, she then admitted that she & her DH were up to their eyeballs in debt and that it was causing trouble with their marriage.

Even after all that she still couldnt undrestand how we could do without this or that why we dont buy a bigger house, etc..
She thinks its kinda crazy.... sigh

p.s. We got our kitchen done from top to bottom ourselves on cash

to you!

[FrugalMomof3]

You go girl for holding your ground! People look at my kitchen which right now is in shambles (hubby is making the cabinets from FREE wood) and they say like "When is this gonna be done" I always reply with: "I dont care if it takes years, I know when it's complete it will be the best looking kitchen I've seen around"

I dont say it meaning to sound stuck up, I say it because I am proud that we're not using our CC's to finance this kitchen makeover, we're using free wood supplied from friends/freecycle, hardware we got at a yard sale for $5 for the box (40 knobs, 20 drawer pulls and atleast 100 door hinges....

My kitchen is only 10' x 10' so not many cabinets are needed but I am having hubby make me a HUGE pantry! I can't wait!

BTW madhen.... love the view... and the goats.

[frugalfarmwife]

BTW, my best friend is in the middle of a ton of remodeling projects and you guessed it, they're all going on the CC's, I about choked when she told me how high the cards are right now and even worse her hubby is now just using them all the time because he "needs" this, and that, and that, and that for the projects. She'll have her projects finished before I do, but I won't have the debt at a high interest rate like she does!

kj

[madhen]

My dream is a gourmet kitchen. Right now, it is apparent that whoever built this house didn't cook much! But I think it will be a good ten years or more before I seriously start working on the kitchen. Every time I build up a little nest egg for remodeling, it seems like the animals need something new! Right now, I'm shopping around for someone who can build me a stanchion so I can trim goat hooves a little easier!