I lost my post! My own fault, so speedy recreation..
My rock bottom was 8 years ago. Ready to lose the house, high interest loans to the hilt, bills all overdue, no heating oil and winter coming! My partner didn’t have a clue! I was financial caretaker. In four years I had taken what should have finally been our time to become more comfortable and instead we were dead broke.
What should have been the beginning of family travel became a time of scrimping and scrounging.
I had to come face to face with what I’d done and fess up to it. No other choice. It took a long time to dig out of the whole and that was only with some pretty drastic changes and intervention.
So IDI, in the beginning it was very slow. I started with what I could. De-cluttering. Cleaning, donating.
The bathroom was an easier room to tackle for me. It was in good shape except the toilet. Small room to paint so that was relatively inexpensive. Sometimes you can buy premixed paint in a pretty colour and it’s cheaper usually. A new shower curtain. New toilet. A few fresh new towels to finish it. For less than $250 I had new bathroom. But I picked at it. $50 for paint and supplies. Then the next month the toilet $120 (cheap but new and didn’t constantly plug)! And that leaves $80 for towels and shower curtain, new soap holder etc. I shop in discount shops and sometimes you can find cheap curtains. I found mine for $7 for the window in the bathroom.
I can’t remember exact time line but it was extremely slow in the beginning. I think the first thing i got rid of was these horrid 80’s coloured blinds that were dirty and dusty and long over due replacing in the kitchen, living room and bathroom. I replaced them with cheap white blinds but they were clean and all the slats were in one piece.
My sons rooms were painted, new curtains and bedding. They asked for their bedding as Christmas gifts I believe. Themed for their change in ages. Camo and Songebob. Long since out grown again.
It’s taken me the past three years to have the living room, kitchen, and hall painted. New curtains as well. Really paint is the best way to freshen a place that is cheap. Then add some new draperies. Panels from the big box stores aren’t expensive. I picked up a second hand table set and recovered the chairs for my kitchen. Bought a cheap couch set just three years ago on payments. $28 a month! Now paid. Was finally able to accessorize with throw pillows and some very reasonably priced art! $40 and family photos.
It wasn’t done in a day but I’m very happy with it.
So today was about enjoying how I’m feeling. Physically I’ve had a bit of a reprieve. Today I cooked a big supper and apple pie. And it all actually turned out! My clean kitchen is now a mess but that’s ok. Tomorrow is another day!
To busy for gambling today!