During our attic cleaning a couple months ago I found a book that I used to keep track of expenses in the house we lived in before this one. I remember it costing a lot less and having less upkeep, but the difference in amounts was like a smack in the face. I know with inflation we will probably never get our bills that low again, but lowering them substantially will feel really good.
I've been doing some research on the McMansion generation. Why must we be competitive spenders? Why do we feel compelled to keep up with the Joneses? What happened to the commercial with the guy mowing his beautiful lawn in front of his beautiful house with a fake smile saying "I'm in debt up to my eyeballs"?
I've had trouble finding articles and other people I can relate to because it seems like a lot of the anti-super consumer lifestylers out there are more primitive than I want to be. I don't want to avoid the grocery store and live off my garden (I killed almost everything in the last one) and raise chickens and unhook from the world, only to ride my bike to the library and get on the internet once a week. Nu uh, not me. I want modern. I like the conveniences. I'd do without tv and catch the news online, maybe watch clips of my favorite shows since I really don't watch much tv... maybe load some vids into my Zune. Who needs a pool? That thing is the biggest headache. A hot tub is easier and cheaper by a landslide, plus it's better for old people's aching backs. Small car, less gas. Small house, lower mortgage. Lower taxes, lower heating cooling costs, less cleaning, less crap to buy to fill it up!
I use to look at big houses with 2 livingrooms, 2 diningrooms, 3 bathrooms, 5 bedrooms, showroom furniture and appliances, and I would think how cool that you can afford this! Now I think, can you afford this? Or are you just a nut job with 50% of your pay going to your mortgage and $30,000 worth of credit card bills?
I have to show you this adorable micro-cottage that I love. I know Larry couldn't deal with this small, but I love it. The only problem is there would be no escaping the occasional dog fart. It's 524 sq. ft. You can see the floor plan
here.
More realistically, the only house we checked out and like so far is a 1,100 sq. ft. ranch. Larry also got word today of another house going on the market next week at a scary low price that is in a neighborhood of houses assessed higher than the house we are currently in. I'm thinking it's not becoming available through a foreclosure, but due to a brutal massacre and ghosts haunting the place. I'm worried the taxes might be high, and the electric, but it would be more than offset by the low mortgage payment. Plus it could be quite the investment. The real estate agent is getting some info together and hopefully I'll get it tomorrow, plus we're waiting to hear back from a mortgage broker so we can get pre-qualified. I'm thinking no problem there, since we're scaling down, not up.
So, in our quest to find a smaller home, I've decided to start culling some of our belongings. Well, crap actually. All the stuff we can live without and will probably be a whole lot happier when it's gone. I want a low maintainence lifestyle.
Bills are all getting scanned and going on this. I have a milk crate full of folders, and a 4 inch thick binder. Buh bye! All going on this, with the exception of a few things that I need to keep the originals.
And this gave me a laugh. I started cleaning out the kitchen cupboards, and forgot to tell Larry. So, after limping out of bed at 4am and reaching for his coffee, this is what he saw. Sorry Hunny!! It was just to the left, in the pantry. No big deal, cept that it was pre-caffiene time at 4am.
Can you believe we have 22 cupboards? What the hell for? That doesn't even include the drawers or the pantry. We never did fill all the cupboards up so they are easy to clean. I think I have 5 that are completely empty so far.
And, I started wiping things down and packing them in boxes. I know it's a bit early but it makes me happy to feel closer to our goal. These are some of my favorite candlesticks. They pretty much sum up my taste in decor. Gold and ornate. I think I got these at Garden Ridge about 5-6 years ago for like $14.95 or something. I love stuff, it's just got to be low maintainence and affordable. And I gotta have room for it. I've been packing things with old rags and socks, then after the move I'll have to dig them all out and clean 2 houses. Fun fun, not.
So I want to tell you about a conversation I had with Brandon that seriously made my day. Seriously. I'm worried about how he will handle the move for a few different reasons. One, he's really gotten settled in at the local YMCA, and knows a lot of people there. This is like the only thing to do in this little town really. And 2, his room right now is 24 feet long. Yes go ahead and read that again... a 24 foot bedroom. I'm concerned that a 10x12 room will be a major shock to him. So we were talking the other night and he says to me...
"Remember the show we watched about the
teardrop campers? They asked a guy on there why he preferred such a small camper and he said.. You see the big 40ft Class A RV's pull in, the antennae comes up and the slides open, and you don't see anyone all week. People in teardrops get out and enjoy their surroundings." And I was like, wow.. my boy gets it.
After this move we won't have the supersize house and everything with it, but when we call friends over they won't make up excuses to avoid a long drive, and everything we need will be within a short distance. None of us get out much now cause everything's so far away. I'm sure soon that will change.
Less upkeep, less bills = More time, more money
Can ya tell I'm excited!!!!
