slowly spending
We’re in an awkward spot at the moment - the partner and I have different things that we “need” for the house. He’s been spending money on some items that don’t rank very high on my need list and I’ve just been putting my scrounging mode into high gear. We talk about it, after I was getting a little nervous about the items that were showing up after short trips to the home stores. I think we’re at least on a similar wavelength now and will both be very conscious of the items that we’re buying.
It’s just way too easy to justify items when there is a need within the next few months to buy them and hard to figure out which items we should purchase now. This month’s budget is a little tight because of all the closing costs - next month, when we’re not paying rent and a mortgage payment, life will be a touch easier — just a touch.
Of course, after mentioning all these concerns about the partner’s spending, I’m heading over to a green building supply store this morning to check out some items for the house. I’ve already decided that if it is only $5 more for some earth/person friendly paint/finish products, then I’ll spend the money and get them there. However, I’m not sure what my plan is if they are $10+ more than the less desirable (though still high quality) items at the home stores.
I’m also checking out some alternative flooring options for the craft room. The problem with finding an acceptable option, is that I’ll then have to actually do a better job of installing it — something that isn’t in the cards now. Current craft room floor plan: ignore the hills and valleys and upward/downward slope and just throw down a large scrap piece of vinyl flooring. If I find a greener alternative to the vinyl, I’ll have to rip up unsalvageable underlayment and then spend a long time quasi-leveling the floor before installation. Green materials are the long term solution, remnant piece is short term.
I’m also hitting up all four local freecycle lists, a task in itself due to heavy volume. I have already found us some tomato plant solutions (a $20 savings)! I’ve not posted a wanted for a vinyl remnant, but am thinking about it. My goal is to be a green and thrifty as possible and reasonable!