Here’s How You Get a Money-Grubbing Addiction

Somewhere in the midst of apartment-hunting and gift-giving and holiday-merrymaking, I found time to take up an interest in home decorating. Okay, I take that back: more like I found time to develop an obsession with home decorating–an obsession that could be a big problem for my budget.

See, here’s the thing with me and obsessions: I seldom have a knack for whatever the latest craze is–knitting or scrapbooking or home decorating (and yes, I’ve done all three). I dabble, I try, I make one grand, noble stab. Then I see my lack of skill and withdraw.

For months now, I’ve been browsing articles at HGTV, skimming staging photos, reading interior design articles. The result is an inclination towards the aesthetically beautiful, indoors. And I can tell you what I like: rooms like this and this, for example. I can’t, however, tell you how the heck I can make mine look like that.

Lately I’ve gotten into the site “Rate My Space”–do you know it? All kinds of amateurs and professionals post their rooms and remodels, letting the Internet public rate them. Intimidating and inspiring, both.

I wish I were one of those talented people who could look at a design and mimic it on a budget. I fear I’m much more likely to go all shabby chic (emphasis on the shabby) or the other extreme: all brand-new and overpriced.

Sigh.

link worthy

When is A Good Time to Buy?

10 Cheap Ways to Have Fun

weekend recap and future questions

Friday lunch: $7
Ticket to see Wicked: $46
Friday dinner: $10
Saturday apartment-hunting and thrift-storing: $0
(Saturday meals at home, minus a snack someone else paid for)
Sunday lunch: $12

Total Cost: $75

All in all, a good weekend, though one that left me with a lot of questions for the future. I’ve been thinking a lot about moving out on my own. It scares me, honestly, but then: that’s what all these articles say happens to someone who’s emotionally immature. Am I immature? I don’t know. I have a great relationship with my parents and like talking to them. They don’t want me to move out, and they don’t want me to pay them rent. I like living here. But maybe I’m taking advantage of a pretty nice setup.

My biggest hesitation with moving out is that I’m afraid I’ll be lonely. Those of you who live alone, do you deal with this?

apartment research

The thing about the Chicago suburbs is they are so different. I was searching on Craigslist a little today, and here’s what I found. Each apartment is within the $1000-$1100/month range; some are new, some old; some are large, some small. It’s fascinating.

1. Far western suburbs (Plano) 2 BR, 1.5 Bath townhouse, brand-new:

2. western suburbs (Oak Park) 2 BR, 1 Bath condo:

3. Northern suburbs (Evanston) 2BR, 1 Bath, in 2-flat:

4. Southside (Beverly) 3BR, 2 Bath apartment:

apartment-hunting day

Today we toured three vintage apartments in the area I’ve been dreaming about. They were a little more expensive than I should be spending, but they’re all two-bedrooms. I’d booked these showings before I knew my friend was deciding not to move. My brother would be willing to rent a room from me, since it’d be closer to his job/school than our parents’ home is. He doesn’t have a lot of money, so I’d only charge him $400/month. Still, that would take a big chunk out of my cost.

#1 was fine, with a full set of recent upgrades. It was set on a quiet, tree-lined street, not far from where I work. Negatives: it was very small, with two teeny-tiny bedrooms and awkward-opening closets, and it was three long flights above the basement laundry area. Also, the basement was dark, creepy and fully exposed to the other tenant. Price: $1260/month. No go.

#2 was better, with much more space and great vintage touches. Solid doors, original molding, great windows with views of the quiet streets. Negatives: again three flights from storage, set on a kind of creepy street and with a half-size dishwasher. There’s no eat-in area in the kitchen, so the living room doubles as that. Price: $1250/month. Probably not.

#3 was perfect, oh was it perfect. Arched entryways, hardwood floors, crown molding, built-in bookshelves, loads of windows, a living room and a separate dining room plus an office. It’s set in the city’s best section: right on one of the two nicest streets. I could walk to the library, downtown, the El. Really, besides only having one bathroom, this condo was everything I’ve ever wanted and then some. Only negative: it’s a 6-month lease. The owner has had it on the market for a while, and his term just ran out. He wants to rent it until spring/summer so that he can make his mortgage payments a little easier. There’s the chance I could buy it at the end of the lease (I’m not ready now), but it’s a little expensive for having only one bath. Price: $1100/month (owner is paying $1500 mortage).

I’m glad we went because it helped get the whole apartment thing out of my system. I know that I can move out if I want to, but I’m just not sure if I want to. I imagine moving a sofa and tables and matresses up the two flights of stairs in #3, and I imagine moving them all out again in six months. Seems like a lot to go through, especially since I don’t have to move out.

And that’s where I’m at right now.

fortune

Last week, we celebrated my parents’ 27th wedding anniversary with dinner at P.F. Chang’s. At the end of the meal, we broke open our fortune cookies and found them strangely fitting. This was mine:

“You will move to a wonderful new home within the year.”

I, of course, took it as foreshadowing in my life’s story. Of all the people at the table…. That tiny white piece of paper is tucked in my wallet, right above my driver’s license. I hope it will motivate me to keep dreaming.

My latest idea is renting an apartment with a friend. Pluses: I found a town I LOVE that’s actually closer to my job, though farther from my family and church. It’s filled with vintage buildings and a great downtown area. If my friend and I rented a place for $1300/month, which is the highest I’ve seen yet, I’d still only be paying $650, well inside my budget. I’d get to start buying fun furniture and kitchen utensils. I’d be able to have people over for dinner or just to hang out. Also, I’d get to really know how much I like the area, good for future consideration regarding a condo/small house purchase.

Drawbacks: I wouldn’t exactly be investing into anything. Since it’s almost November, I’d probably have to move in winter, which I would hate. I don’t know for sure what the traffic would be like, since I don’t live there right now. I wonder if it’s smart to take a friend as a roommate; would we still be as close afterwards?

Nonetheless, I look at my fortune and dream.

the reality of dreams

An acquaintance of mine had a dinner party Friday night. She’s living in her parents’ home, where she has lived all her life, but now her entire family lives out of state. They moved about a month ago, leaving her to keep the historic, adorable house nice while real estate agents sometimes drop in with prospective buyers.

This acquaintance—well, friend, maybe now—is 23 or 24. She works as an accountant and makes $50K a year. Maybe because of her profession, maybe because of my interests, the subject of money came up a few times. Friend bought a couch, her first, last month and it should be delivered very soon. It’s her first furniture purchase.

When we ate the delicious soup she’d prepared, we sipped out of the cutest brown soup bowls you’ve ever seen, complete with a matching large bowl, from which to serve. She just got them at Crate & Barrel. She had green and white napkins, homemade bread and tiny silver spoons to go with coffee cups afterward. These items, along with her coming couch, are her beginnings of a home.

Friend has the unusual privilege of putting her first place together slowly, with the convenience of a home to live in while she collects. When the house sells, she’ll start renting, she says. The average price for a nice apartment/condo in the area: $800/month, not including utilities. She says that’s a little steep for her; she hasn’t been able to save much (!). But she’s got some time, which I relate to, and gets to wait and see what happens with the home sale.

Beyond the reminder about saving, the biggest thing I got from our chat was the fun in beginning to collect for a first place. Personally, I’m reluctant to rent for two years, when I could put that money away, planning for a home purchase. And even in two years, I won’t have the looming deadline above me, knowing my residence could be sold at any time. But I think I might start putting my dreams into action. I might start letting myself notice the dishes I love or the pitcher that catches my eye. It might be time to begin a little wish list.

home ownership thoughts

I go back and forth about my living situation. Right now, I live with my parents in a nice house. I have my own room and bathroom. I usually don’t buy the groceries, and I don’t pay for utilities.

All told, the savings is pretty remarkable.

Then again, I’m just investing that would-be rent/mortgage money in the stock market, which arguably may or may not offer a better return than home ownership would. Every now and then, I start looking around at real estate. It’s become one of those down-time habits: check Facebook, look at my bloglines, hop  online for new property listings. One particular house is quite nice. It’s a little out of my immediate budget and likely won’t be for sale next year when I could more seriously consider it. However, it’s fun to dream.

Out of curiosity, here’s a poll: how old were you when you bought your first home, and what did it cost?