Trying to keep up

RIght now is the time several homeowner projects are demanding my time. I love my rain barrels, but before I could install them, I needed to paint the siding they block when in place. Why? The exterior paint was cracking and to keep my home in good shape for the future, I needed to scrape off the loose paint, prime the surface and then put on two coats of paint. Each time I went outside, that was 30 minutes invested in painting, not including set up, ensuring all the tools were there and mixing the primer and paint. Luckily, the weather cooperated so painting done in two days.

Then the rain barrels needed to be installed. No rain is predicted for the next two days, but my area is dry and I will need all the reserve supply I can get for my garden. However, I had not cleaned the gutters and organic debris in the rain water collection barrels is not a good thing. My elderly neighbor was kind enough to loan me his ladder so I carefully made my way up and down to remove the leaves and debris from my gutters. A quick rinse with the hose and I am ready for rain to arrive.

Of course, being spring, I have several seedlings in the greenhouse, garden beds to prepare and sown peas peaking through the soil. The tender greens mean I need to protect them from dastardly rabbits who enjoy seedlings as snacks. So after some grassy trimming and some moved fencing, I had successfully enclosed the garden bed.

All this work I have done demonstrated I was prepared for all the tasks I needed to perform. Since I had previously painted the exterior of my home, I had enough painting supplies to apply any primer or paint needed. I also had a gallon and a quarter of paint expressly for repainting the exterior because I need to maintain my home's wood siding. Thus, I just needed to retrieve the items from my basement and I was in the painting business. The rain barrels were washed last fall and stored in my garage. It was an easy task to switch the diverter on my downspout to active and hook up my rain barrels.

As for protecting my gardens, because there were plants last year I needed to protect that this year are more mature, I had enough fencing and posts to cover my newly planted peas by cannibalizing what I had. Having all the supplies I needed on hand (with additional items on hand) and a kind neighbor, I was able to just tell myself "get started on this task today" and the project was accomplished.

Now I just need more composted horse manure and some time before the rain and I will plant more of my garden!

Fix it or buy new, that is my choice

I may write about how my savings accounts are growing and that my net worth is up but I still make decisions that may set me back. Recently, I had to decide between fixing my electric lawn mower or repairing the one I have. Let me set up the story:

I was reluctantly mowing my lawn and completed cutting 2/3 of my grassy area when I decided to stop and get a drink of water. After I came out of my house and tried to mow again, absolutely nothing happened. I did the basic troubleshooting: is it the power to the lawn mower? Fuse box was fine. Was it the cord? Second cord (with light on end) lit up but did not move the motor. What did the owner's manual say? Perform the steps I did and if that did not resolve the issue, take the mower to a Black and Decker service provider.

Two weeks later, I get the news that the motor was the problem, a replacement part was $150 and labor would be $60. I was advised to junk my lawn mower and get a new one. My dilemma was do I fix what I have and waste fewer resources or buy a new lawn mower and hope it lasts longer than three years? I was assured that the lawn mower would not simply go into the big garbage hole in the ground so that was one less burden.

After doing some looking around Amazon.com, reading specifications and consumer reviews, I settled on buying a new lawn mower for $205. However, it had been two weeks since I last mowed my lawn and while my neighbor kindly offered his gas-powered lawn mower whenever I needed it, I have not asked him for it. With the necessity of mowing my lawn (some areas definitely needed a trim), I paid extra for two-day shipping bringing my total purchase to $280.

Buying a new lawn mower was not in my sights at all. I was happy with my Black and Decker model--until it quit on me. I am disappointed I received just under three seasons of service before the motor came to the end of its lifetime. I am hoping my new Earthwise 20-inch electric mower has a longer lifespan than my other corded electric model. Luckily, I did have money in my home savings account that easily covered this cost but I did create a greater cost by paying for two-day shipping.

Do you agree with my actions?

Planning for a shady future

When people talk about the responsibilities of being a homeowner, items like mowing the lawn, cleaning out the gutters, replacing appliances and repairing roof shingles or siding are usually discussed. Still tangible but not directly related to the home are the trees around the property; specifically the mature trees. When I purchased my house, it had only one tree on the property, likely planted when the duplex was built. This means I have a ~40 year-old green ash tree on the southwestern corner of my house.

When I took ownership, one of the first things I did was plant another shade tree, Tilia americana or a basswood in Fall 2006. Aside from the Japanese beetles that like to defoliate the tree, my originally ~6 feet-tall tree is now nearly 9 feet tall. In the intervening years I have planted a total of four trees, all of different genuses and varying heights but always less than six feet. While some are slower than others (my Sorbus americana or mountain ash [excruciatingly slow] versus Ostrya virginiana or hophornbeam [definitely growing]), I knew I was planting for the future and to maximize the diversity on my small lot.

My first spring in the house, I had noticed that my mature tree had some dead branches and was worried the part overhanging my roof would pose a danger. After talking with three arborists, I hired one to trim my tree and lighten the load from the ends of the branches. The arborist I chose estimated I may have 20 good years left in the tree, assuming no other factors like weather intervene.

Last summer, I noticed the western side of my tree had leaves that looked scorched and were dropped early. While I had some concerns, I did not seek the advice of an arborist. In the face of slow leafing out and almost nothing on the western side this spring, I did ask an arborist to stop by and look at my tree. He diagnosed anthracnose, a fungal disease. While a healthy tree can live through this disease with some support, my tree is more like a shrub with no leader stem and many branches with leafy weight on the end. Furthermore, there is an open wound on the tree that may not be healing all that well. On top of all this, emerald ash borer is now present in my state. These factors lead the arborist I consulted to suggest I plant a tree right next to the green ash so there is an established tree when it needs to be taken down.

While there is no way to know if my tree will survive another five years or more, I was worried that the lone mature tree on my property was under threat if not in dire straits. Lacking a mature tree does affect the value of my home. However, I had already chosen another tree to plant just in case I had to select one to replace the ash tree. Therefore, I visited a local nursery, picked out an Acer saccharum (sugar maple) and planted it seven feet from my green ash tree. It stands about nine feet tall and based on my research, should be a good shade tree for the property.

I had hoped that my ash tree could last until I sold the property but having a new tree in place, ready to take over when other needs to be removed will help diminish the loss of my sole mature tree. If conditions are ideal, the sugar maple can grow up to 12 inches a year. If the ash tree lasts long enough, the sugar maple will make a worthy transition from small tree to shade tree.

Have you encountered similar tree-related issues?

Decorating the outdoor space for less

Before, I listed some ideas that would help a new (or not-so-new) homeowner in decorating and furnishing the interior of a house without going into debt. However, there comes a point where the inside is not all that needs to be refurbished. What about the green(ish?) space outside? Here are a few ideas that might get the creative juices flowing

Throw yourself on the mercy of your neighbors.
Well, maybe not literally as that might get you an unwanted reputation. However, neighbors may have been around the suburb, city, countryside for a while and have some plants that might need dividing. You might inquire if you can have some plant divisions in exchange for helping refresh their garden beds. You get something to plant around the house out of the deal, and a neighbor is happy that she had some garden work done and a sucker to take that plant off her hands. Plants that can be divided include hostas, coneflowers, daylilies, bleeding hearts, rhubarb (why not go for edibles?), chives and many more.

Shop curbside.
If you have never scavenged and live in a semiurban to urban area, you are in for a treat! People throw out the darndest things--garden hoses, rakes, lawn mowers, lumber, chairs, fencing and so much more. If you can make minor repairs, many of these items can be yours and functioning with minimal cost. Find a bench that has seen better days? Sand it down and paint it; now you have a seat for under the shade tree. Scrap lumber can mean a new raised bed for flowers or veggies. That leaky hose that someone threw out can become your drip irrigation system. Just add holes and lay it where you need it.

If the repair is outside your capability, offer the item on craigslist for free and let someone else have the joy of fixing it. You might even work out a deal where you pay a small fee and they fix it for you!

Check the classifieds (e.g., craigslist).
If curbside is not your thing (I urge you to try it as it is difficult to beat the price), shop from the comfort of your own home. People offer a wide array of items on craigslist and other free electronic classifieds. Plants, trees, animals, rusted old farm equipment, items the owners cannot figure out--all there for you to find and pay a small fee to bring home. If your neighbors' selection of plants do not satisfy you, I know you will find more on craigslist. Try the farm and garden section for most of your outdoor needs or use the search box if you dare. I have been lucky enough that some people will deliver items that I cannot fit in my car.

Use word of mouth.
People love being helpful. Ask around at work or the hardware store or wherever you can strike up a conversation about working outdoors or gardening. Someone will know someone else who has a son who runs a lawn mowing business. You lack a lawn mower but a neighborhood boy can help you out. The guy at the hardware store may recommend someone who hires himself out for small outdoor jobs or his truck for hauling things. Your work colleague may know where to get free mulch and compost in town. A neighbor might be in construction and bring you some scrap items you can assemble into a fantastic sculpture. Place a call to city hall and ask about whatever you want to know around town.

There you have it--a few strategies to keep the costs of lawn maintenance and installing foundation plantings and new trees from stressing the savings account. Remember, some creative thinking can allow you to see the potential in that pile on the curb or that worn-out bench on craigslist. Whether you are working on the interior or exterior of your home, you can beautify without heavy use of the credit card. Happy homeowning!

Interior decorating without breaking the bank

As a homeowner, I want to make the house I bought into a home I can enjoy. This comes down to creating a look inside and outside that I like and want to spend time in and around. So how to beautify the inside without losing a large amount of money in the process?

Paint with colors.
By the time I bought my house, I was eager to put colors on the wall rather than look at the eggshell white so prevalent in apartments. Other than my ceilings, none of my walls are white. I have green, yellow, blue, yellow sponged on green and rose walls. All are dramatic departures from off white. Painting is not all that difficult except for getting the color to meet between ceiling and wall or so I have experienced. Painting with friends and family make it go faster. And if you are not as particular about colors, save money with paint returned to hardware store. Painting supplies can be purchased secondhand or borrowed; the only item to purchase new is a cover to put on the roller.

Furnish with used items.
As soon as the house is purchased, many people go and buy new furniture to fill all the rooms in the home. While I did not feel there was a gap that I needed to furnish instantly, I did slowly add to my collection from craigslist and secondhand stores. Buying used saves money and pushes you to think creatively about what will work in the room you are decorating. Make your own curtains by sewing them from fabric or threading a rod through some lovely sheets. Start an pot collection for all your indoor plants. Use an old trunk as storage space and a coffee or end table.

Use texture.
I have an unhealthy attachment to my velvet love seat. It is purple and so smooth, I stroke it every time I sit in it. Many surfaces in my home are smooth but some have corners, some not. Some are made of natural substances, some are metal, plastic or ceramic. All the items from furniture to curtains to decorations on the all add to the ambiance of a room. Shop at different venues, see what you like and do not like, and judiciously bring the stuff you do like in the house. A rich fabric draped over the back of a plain chair can really add dimension to a room. Plants of different types and sizes planted in different pots all in a cluster will catch the eye, adding both color and texture to an area. Bring out that collection of glassware or figurines for decorations. I have a platter from my china collection hanging on my wall.

Bring in natural elements.
I love wood items. My bookshelf, my tables, my commode, my dresser--all items made of wood, all stained to show the grain of the item and all a welcome part of my interior. The items show up well against the painted wall and either blend or contrast with the curtains chosen for the room. My plants are happy in the living room but the one in the kitchen enjoys hanging out. (I have the plant suspended from the ceiling with a hook.) I love fresh flowers from the garden while interesting tree branches can be used in many ways--to hang curtains, entertain the cat or as a funky corner decoration.

Decorating your home can be a frugal endeavor. Think differently about that box or that globe and you may find the next treasure to adorn your home. I know some of you might be saying "but I am not creative!" While I might be better at sewing something for the house, you might find that oddly colored rock interesting and bring it home, or enjoy refinishing that small table that would fit in that corner you have trouble decorating. Reuse, repurpose and a little imagination can help furnish and decorate a home without abusing the credit card.

In my next post, I will offer some ideas for beautifying the outside of your new home.

The expensive reality of homeownership

When I started telling others I was planning on buying a house, I received my share of "You can write it off on your taxes" comments. My perception was my mortgage payment would be subtracted from my taxes, but the reality is the only items I can write off are my mortgage interest and my property taxes, and then only a percentage of these (based on my income tax rate).

When I bought my house, my mother said to me "Congratulations on owning a piece of real estate." However, signing up for paying a mortgage for 30 years did not prepare me for all the costs of homeownership. Here are a few things I knew about but did not truly think through the effect on my finances:

Landscaping and lawn mowing
Among the tree trimming (to keep the lone tree I had in good condition), shrub removal (because I hated what was on the property) and figuring out what plants and shrubs I wanted to install, the costs added up. I paid arborists to take care of my tree and remove unwanted shrubbery. While I may have planted the new landscaping myself, the costs were not cheap whether I purchased a plant, bare-root stock or bulbs. In addition, I had to spend extra money on appropriate amendments or fertilizers plus my time and energy to plant all these things around the house.

In the warmer weather, lawn mowing is one of those neverending chores, and when I first moved into the house, I did not have a lawn mower. My first (and only dip) into the water of hiring a neighbor boy failed badly so I ended up buying my electric mower before I saved the money for it, and mowed the lawn myself. I do not like mowing grass, but am too cheap to hire someone else. This means I have to spend at least 1.5 hours mowing my small lot and grumbling about the work as I bat away insects. This was not highlighted during the home-purchase process.

Home maintenance
Taking care of the home is more than fixing things when they break; it is also preventing catastrophic failure. For example, I am painting the siding on my house because it is starting to crack and peel. While I do not perform the job of professional, I am doing a patch job until I can convince my neighbor, who owns the other half of the duplex, to have the entire structure painted. By painting in between professional repainting, I prevent any damage from occurring to the wood exterior.

I also have to do things like change the furnace filter regularly, add salt to the water softener, empty out the bucket on the dehumidifier and have the furnace and AC unit checked. Again, these are reasonable steps to take to keep the house working well, but not detailed in that homeownership document it took over an hour to sign.

Utility bills
In my apartments, I was responsible for heat, electric and phone. Sometimes heat and electric were the same thing. While I had a number for water, sewer and natural gas from the previous owner, I did not realize how much higher these numbers were until I started paying these bills. In winter, the natural gas-fueled furnace means a high bill; in summer, the electric-powered AC unit means the electric bill reaches untold heights. On average, I pay at least twice as much for utilities (which includes water and sewer) as I did when I was in an apartment.

Mortgage and property taxes
I did make sure I could afford my house with the escrow included. My monthly payment came in just under what I felt comfortable paying. However, my mortgage (plus escrow and PMI) was more than my rent and with the increase in my utility bills, I found more of my income was committed to fixed expenses. While I can pay my mortgage and other bills with nary a wince, I realize that with so much of my money dedicated to these expenses, I have fewer resources to save.

While property taxes can be subtracted from a tax bill, they can also be raised in a dramatic fashion. While the payment on my house will never change since I chose a 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage, the property taxes do vary from year to year. Depending on the assessment or the financial strength of the city I live in, my monthly payment may be more than I wanted to pay and pinch the spending plan even more.

While I am happy to have a home and be able to decorate and customize as I would like, I did not weigh all the financial consequences of the purchase. I had taken into account what I could afford and knew my utilities would be higher, but the more irregular maintenance and replacement expenses were not considered. Many people consider a home an asset, but it has great expense associated with its use and maintenance even when divided over time. Truly look at yourself and your finances before diving into homeownership. It is a tough (and expensive) job, but you may find such challenges rewarding.

Spring means working outdoors

Now that spring has established itself (and summer is rapidly approaching), I have been spending much of my free time outdoors. This time investment has included mowing lawn (not my favorite homeowner's chore), landscaping and gardening. This is my third year in my house so I am still getting the greenscape up and running. What have I been doing?

Planting trees.
When I purchased my home, there was only one tree in the yard, shading the southwestern portion of the house. The summer sun is hot and I have no shade anywhere else. I planted one tree in autumn 2006 for more south shade, two in spring 2007 (for the east and west shade), lost the eastern tree and decided to plant two more trees. One tree would replace the eastern tree (the exact same species I planted before and lost) and one tree would be planted between the sidewalk and the street. Trees add value to the property so the more the merrier, in my opinion. Five trees reach the limit for my lot. Any more and I would really tangle up the cord for my electric mower.

Digging holes in suburban lots after a dry spell is no picnic, but I did work hard for the holes and both trees are planted.

Landscaping around the foundation and the front yard.
When I first moved into my home, the foundation plantings were the first things I worked on. In late summer/autumn 2006, I removed the unwanted juniper bushes and cotoneaster from the front yard, added some red and purple daylilies to the already present orange and Stella d'Oro daylilies around the house and put in five hostas around the foundation. In spring 2007, I gave away the Korean boxwood bushes along my driveway (they just broke under the weight of shoveled snow so really needed to go) and replaced them with plants that die back: two hostas and a bleeding heart.

However, the front yard had bare dirt where I had bushes removed. Spring 2007 saw me planting two wild rose bushes and two blueberry bushes in the vacant area, but these would not be enough to fill in the exposed dirt. I had plans to add more native plants, but did not get around to it. In fact, I was fighting bunnies for my plants (they liked chewing on the blueberries) and only planted some petunias at the perimeter to disguise the empty space.

Now I have covered the bare dirt with free bark mulch, helping keep the weeds down, and have slowly been accumulating native plants to put in the front. Right now, I have columbine, nodding onion and butterfly weed planted with some black-eyed susans waiting to go into the ground. I have determined I do not need to have all the space filled right now especially if I intend on putting in a rain garden this year. Future plans include filling in the remaining space, determining the outline of the garden space (the shape is quite irregular and not in a good-looking way), and growing some of the plants for the native garden.

Growing my own fruits and vegetables
I mentioned I have blueberry bushes and a raised strawberry bed, installed in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The blueberries will not be allowed to produce berries until the third year and the strawberries I might get this year in the later part of summer. With only 13 plants alive of the 50 planted, I am not sure how many strawberries to expect. However, the house came with a 9' x 9' raised garden bed on the southwestern portion of the property. It was a tired, unproductive thing I ignored the first year and started planting the second. My first try at gardening was not very successful. My stunted corn had smut on it, my pumkins were small and my onions from seed tiny. The volunteer tomatoes were good and the lettuce was fine if earwig-infested.

While things did grow, I tested the soil fertility and it was extremely low on nitrogen and moderately low on phosphorus, two elements needed for healthy plants. This year, I supplemented the poor dirt with composted manure, dried blood, good topsoil and any organic material remaining on the bed (read: weeds). I have started onion from seed, lettuce, cucumbers and planted tomato plants. I intend on adding green beans to the raised bed. I started tomato plants started from seed indoors with only two surviving. My current plan is to install them in a five-gallon bucket and add to the bounty. I would like to can tomatoes this year, making my own ketchup and sauce. My mom has a hot water bath canner and I bought pint-sized canning jars at a garage sale last fall. The green beans will be frozen, the lettuce and onions consumed (I love onions!), and the cucumbers both eaten and grated (and frozen). I do not have a chest freezer, but should have enough room for the small harvest from my garden.

What I keep on forgetting until I am in the middle of a project is how much time it takes. The soil amendments, the turning and digging of dirt, the planting, the watering and all the physical labor are strenuous. I could use a good workout and my outdoor work is giving me that. In the end, I am rewarded with food, shade and beauty even if the gratification is delayed. Of course, when there is nothing left to do around the house, then I should really be worried. Does this mean I need to find a new home?

The cost of replacement windows--wood trim

In an earlier post, I discussed the various window treatments I have added to my replacement windows and those purchased in anticipation of replacement windows. Without due consideration, these costs can break many budgets as window coverings are as much about fashion as about functionality, with similar price tags. I chose the latter criterion and my purchases reflected that, but these items can add 10% to the cost of the new window.

However, there is more to window replacement than the coverings--there is also the wood trim and the wood of the window itself. Unless you select vinyl windows, wood or fiberglass windows with wood grain need to be stained. This means that either the color can be added at the factory, a cost in addition to construction of the replacement window, or you can choose to stain the wood or simulated wood grain yourself.

Since my mom is an expert on wood refinishing, I decided to do it myself after asking her what I needed to purchase and how I needed to treat the unfinished wood. The color of the wood trim in my house is quite dark, but I did not want the new windows and trim that color. Based on my mom's recommendation, I tried to get a color that used on the new wood, would get close to the color but be a few shades lighter. The drawback is even if I use the same wood type, color is unlikely to look identical to the wood already in the house.

So I hit the lumberyard in my city for the first time, found that 2" trim is no longer made (the size used in my house), and had 2.5" trim cut to the lengths I wanted, about 6" longer than the area the trim would go around. Since the people installing the windows would cut the trim on mitered corners, they needed extra length to cut those corners correctly. Exact measurements of the current trim would make the trim shorter than the window frame.

Including the cost of supplies (wood trim, wood to finish between windows, varnish, stain, steel wool, sandpaper, foam brushes), I spend another 4% on my replacement windows. This does not include the time it took to put two coats of stain on the bare wood to get the color darker but not too dark, putting one coat of varnish on, staining the windows once installed (damn those tiny corners!) and then applying two coats of varnish. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on this and if you can, recruit some help. It took me over two hours to apply a coat of stain or varnish just on the windows and another 30 minutes or so to get the varnish or stain off the glass each time. (My window is made of four individual units, two casement, two nonfunctional.) My stained windows look great but I was not completely prepared for the time it took to complete the task. Staining the trim is nothing compared to the time invested in the window with its nooks and crannies.

However, one of the windows slated for replacement this year will reuse trim that was removed from my front window. While I have eliminated the cost of the wood, I needed to purchase additional items to remove the old finish (e.g., stripper, stripping gloves, coarse steel wool). In the end, I think the cost is a wash, but I wanted to reuse wood instead of throwing it away. The old trim is several inches larger than the window opening to be trimmed, again, a good thing for cutting mitered corners.

While both stripping, staining and varnishing require a well-ventilated space, stripper can be especially pungent and you may want to perform this task in an area like a garage. For most of the staining and varnishing, two saw horses in my basement with an open window sufficed. A similar setup will likely be useful if you choose to stain your own trim.

As for staining windows in place, open at least one window in the room where the finishing occurs and have a drop cloth on the floor to catch any drips. Believe me, you will have stain or varnish drip on the floor. A rag and some mineral spirits will help, but not so much on wood, laminate or rug.

Budgeting for the cost of replacement windows means more than the purchase price of the windows and paying two or more men to install them. It means debating how much to take on yourself--do you put on stain and varnish or let the factory apply a finish, do you put up new window treatments and then do you buy or make them? These costs can be 15% or more on top of the window purchase price and should be added into the budget when considering replacement windows for your home.

The cost of replacement windows--window treatments

I just had three more windows in my home measured for replacement. My house came with single-pane windows with the exception of the front window, which while double paned, came with broken seals and were fogging up. In fact, I did not know how badly my view was obstructed until the window was replaced and I noticed it looked a lot different from before, realizing after several minutes that my view was crystal clear!

The windows slated for replacement face the south in my living room and dining area/kitchen. The one in the living room is so damaged, I need a board to prop up the top sash. Both sets of windows are so leaky, a breeze comes through the windows. Yesterday, the wind was strong and cold, and I could clearly feel it in my house.

However, there are more costs than just the windows themselves and the labor to install them. There is also the trim around the window (which needs to be stained and varnished prior to installation), staining and varnishing of the window, and new window treatments. This can add at least 15% cost on top of the cost of the windows alone and depending on your choice, either quite a bit of time on your part or additional expenses. Today, I will cover the issue of window coverings.

When I bought my house, all the windows were covered with neutral-colored blinds--unexciting but functional. However, between the lack of functionality of the windows and the barely adequate window coverings, I had a lot of heat gain in the summer and not enough darkness during the night.

My front replacement window came with a low-emissivity (low-E) coating as I requested. With no tree in front of this East-facing window, my living room heated up quite quickly in the summer. The low-E coating has made a difference, but I also installed thermal-backed curtains as my window covering of choice. They would keep out the unwanted heat in the summer and help protect against cold in the winter. Since my living room also has a South-facing window, I believed the thermal curtains would be useful there even if it was a single pane window.

However, this purchase required me to do more than choose curtains that would work well with the colors in my furniture and that of my wall. I also needed to purchase and install a traverse rod for the curtain. This required a stud finder, measuring tape and a power drill, the most use I have gotten out of my drill since my dad gifted it to me five years ago. This was tougher than I expected, but I did manage to install a large rod spanning a 116" window and one for a 45" window.

With kitchen window replacement looming, I realized I needed to make a decision about with what to replace the cream-colored plastic blinds currently installed. I cringed when I realized the person who installed all these blinds choose to screw them into the wood trim. I refused to damage woodwork in my quest for new window treatments. However, curtains would not work in the space as the window trim is a few inches from a door and from a corner. After a lot of searching on the JCPenney web site, my source for window treatments, I decided on a cordless Roman shade.

I had installed two Roman shades in my bedroom, which really cut down in the light coming into the room. I also knew they did a decent job at insulating the window, but with a cord, it made it difficult to deal with in the tight space I had in the kitchen. The cordless Roman shade seemed like the answer and I chose a light neutral color.

Aside from the time needed to install the new window treatments, there is also the cost associated. If you make curtains or other window treatments, you are likely to save money. As it stands, my window treatments cost between 8-10% of the windows themselves. I chose to buy my window treatments for convenience. Plus, I am not confident in my ability to sew thermal curtains or shades. Window treatments can also be more expensive than what I chose, but I selected items I could afford and fit both my windows and my wall color.

In my second post, I discuss the issues involved with buying new trim (or stripping old trim), staining and varnishing both trim and windows.

Considering a roommate

I sat down during my convalescence and considered my financial situation. I am good financial shape with a decent total of liquid assets, nearly maxing my Roth IRA, keeping up with my mortgage, paying off my credit card bill immediately and keeping within my spending plan. However, there does not seem to be a lot of room to save more money. I could eat out even less, not spend money on clothing, not spend any money on entertainment and end my nearly nine-year relationship with my stylist, but these moves would make me feel deprived. I like having lunch with a friend once a week. I like having the option of saying "Damnit! I am tired of this lunch!" and buying something else. I could give up some entertainment funding, but to let my wonderful stylist go? I do not think so!

So, with a vow to try not spending for one month on items other than necessities, I looked for other ways to save. I could cancel my cell phone contract but I would get charged a fee. I would have to explore this topic more deeply, but I do not use my phone that often so I am considering when my contract is up to get a prepaid cell phone plan. That would save me about $20 month and that is decent money.

I also decided to look at going to basic coverage on my car. It does not save me a lot to drop comprehensive coverage, but it is a modest savings. I did look around a bit but should more aggressively pursue alternative insurance providers. The one company I queried had no savings for me at all.

So then I came to getting a roommate. There is so much wrong with this idea aside from the possible monetary gain. I like my privacy, running from the bathroom to my bedroom without clothing, getting up when I want, going to bed when I want, silence when I want it and my space arranged how I want it. This is my home and I should be able to do what I want! How would I feel sharing my space? I worry that I would consider my roommate an invader. I would have to give up kitchen cabinet space, refrigerator space, bathroom space, closet space, items all at a premium. The room I would rent out is quite small and I am uncertain if anyone would want to share a two-bedroom, one bath half duplex.

In addition, how quiet would he or she be? Would they snore? Would they keep the TV after I go to bed? Would our schedules clash? Would I need to go to the bathroom while he or she is in it? What to do then? Is this hassle worthwhile? I would miss my freedom, my default sloppiness and the privacy that goes with living alone. However, weighing additional money and potential labor saving (I would give him or her a break on rent for lawn mowing or snow shoveling), I still come down on keeping my living situation as is. If the basement was refinished, I think I could deal with having someone in my home easier. I really need to change my mindset before having a roommate is possible.

Still, I am keeping it in the back of my mind because if I do get into a financial bind, I think a roommate would be quite useful to have. I am likely to revisit this topic again and may have more roommate-favorable results.

The long view of home maintenance

During my first year of homeownership, I was covered by a home warranty. As a first-time home buyer, this was a nice security blanket. If there was an issue with any of the mechanicals (e.g., furnace or hot water heater), I would contact the home warranty company and they would call the appropriate approved company to come out and deal with the issue. There was a $100 deductible I had to pay but if the item would need to be replaced, that would be all I needed to pay. While the furnace in my home was new, most of the other large items were not.

One of the first items I had an issue with was my water softener. The nice gentleman came out, diagnosed the issue and replaced the mechanism that sets up the softener to run. Being the thorough person I am, I contacted the warranty company and asked who they usually send out for plumbing and heating and cooling issues. With these names in hand, I set up appointments to have my major mechanicals inspected.

My water heater was pushing ten years, but unlike most energy conservation recommendations, the plumber did not advocate putting a blanket on the gas water heater. However, he advised me it was getting to the end of its lifetime and when prompted, said it would cost $800 (including installation) to replace the heater. Not really what I wanted to hear, but I did know what a replacement was going to be.

I also had my air conditioning unit checked out. The home inspector said it was around 12 years old and the service technician agreed. He looked it over, made sure it worked correctly and that coolant was present. When asked about the cost of a new central air unit, he said installation plus the unit would run $2,500. I was hoping that it would break during the warranty coverage, but the unit is a trooper and it ran just fine.

Other than the inspection visits and the water softener repair, the only home maintenance I performed during the first year I lived in my home was painting the sun-damaged south side of the house. The paint was peeling and I worked a three-day weekend to scrape the loose paint from the house, prime it and paint two coats of color-matched paint on the house. This way, I protected the wood and extended the paint job until I could get the exterior professionally done. Since I own a half of a duplex, I need to have agreement with my neighbor before such a job can occur.

Lots of people seem to have grand plans as soon as they purchase a new home. I found something sound that worked well for me and worked up to the major improvements. During my second year of homeownership, I replaced the front window, the largest one in the house, as well as the exterior door on the garage. Since light was visible through the wood of the latter, this was a great improvement. I also patched up some peeling parts of the house's exterior with plans to finish off the rest of my portion of the building this year. The window, the door and the paint were all paid for using money from savings. I also had an exterior outlet put on my home since it would make it easier for me to mow using my electric mower.

Plans this year include replacing two more windows and some electrical work in the basement. I am replacing all my single-pane windows with double-paned ones on a three-year plan so 2009 will see the last of the window replacements with the possible painting of the exterior in 2009 or 2010, pending my neighbor's agreement. Otherwise, I am planning on refurbishing the bathroom, hopefully on a small budget (<$3,000) and considering what I would like a kitchen remodel to look like. Again, all these projects I intend to pay for using cash rather than a home improvement loan. If financial circumstances change, it is easy enough to keep the cash and live with outdated but functional cabinets and vanity.

Knowing my mechanicals are sound if aging with cost of replacement in mind, I feel better about my home, extend the life of the mechanicals I have with regular maintenance and slowly but surely improve the home by updating windows and planning for future projects.

The Fed rate cuts and my future fiscal policy

I am a saver and proud of it. However, with the Federal Reserve cutting rates by 0.75% and a projected 0.5% at the end of January when they meet, it has really dinged the savings rate in my accounts. My emergency savings are in high-yield savings accounts and CDs, rates that get dropped when the Fed cuts the overnight lending rate. I have some immediately liquid cash in a low-yield credit union savings and checking accounts (0.75% and 0.5% respectively, last time I looked but I am sure lower now) but that is it. I was happy to see my interest earnings from 2007 but 2008 does not look as promising.

However, mortgage rates have been on the decrease as well. My mortgage was locked in January 2006 and I ended up with a 6% interest rate for 30 years. I have been seeing rates around 5.5% for a 30 year mortgage and even lower if I want to consider a 20 or 15 year mortgage. Refinancing is a strong possibility for me this year. While there are closing costs, I am strongly leaning toward refinancing my home when 30 year mortgages fall to 5% APR. That may be a while or may never come.

I have been looking at 15 and 20 year mortgages but I do not think I will apply for one when I refinance. Why? The payments will increase enough that I will feel the pinch. Right not, I pay enough to feel comfortable and afford an extra $35 toward principle. Being in the start of the third year of my mortgage, this amount will not go far, but it is a balance between paying more on my mortgage and putting money in savings. I think increasing my mortgage payment (which does include PMI, property taxes and escrow) even by $100 will be uncomfortable. I could list lots of reasons for it and maybe looking more closely at my budget, I could fit it in with less difficulty than I anticipate. However, this means more of my income is locked into a fixed expense and although I have a savings cushion, the necessity to fix a furnace and replace a water heater plus several vet bills and that cushion would be diminished. If I had to get a new car on top of the increased mortgage and decreased savings account, I could not afford the auto loan payments.

Granted, the above is a worst case scenario, but as a single woman, I need to consider what the effect of my actions would be. Therefore, I need to carefully weigh a shorter-term mortgage and long-term savings against the possibilities of more immediate emergencies and the funds I would need to cover such instances. I was planning to refinance into another 30 year mortgage, but these other considerations did need to be measured to figure out what is my best path. A 25 year mortgage, if one can be found, might be a compromise between fewer years to pay and lower monthly payments. I will have to see what the future brings and how my plans for refinancing fit into it.

Finding the right house for you--part three

My earlier posts part one and part two of finding the right home discussed the steps I took from starting the home buying process up to the accepted offer. The next steps involved home inspection, resolution of any issues found during the home inspection, plans for packing and moving, closing on the house and taking ownership of the new home.

Home inspectors are an important helper during the home purchasing process. They help identify problem areas on the house, show you where shutoff valves are, recommend maintenance for various appliances (yes, you do need to change that furnace filter) and are a great resource to ask questions about various aspects of a home. Your buyer's agent can recommend many people for the home buying process from a mortgage broker to a home inspector. I chose someone based on my seminar experience who was certified to the highest standard in my state, was part of an inspection agency and encouraged me to be part of the inspection process. My buyer's agent would have raised the alarm if the inspector did not allow this but following the inspector around will give you the hints and suggestions about your new home that are priceless.

My inspector was polite, fielded questions from multiple people well and started from the top of the house and moved to the bottom. He had a binder to hold the inspection report when done, which included maintenance task lists and information on home repairs. I walked away with the knowledge my potential home was sound with minor, fixable issues. My agent and I asked for and received a small allowance for the inspection issues and moved on to a smooth and successful closing.

While I may have budgeted for my mortgage payments and felt good about covering my closing costs, I had not realized I needed to pay earnest money (which did go to closing costs) and did not budget well for inspection costs. I closed on my house and paid for movers without completely emptying my accounts but it was closer than I realized. The downside to my quick home purchase was I could not save a lot more money befor closing. The one month delay on the mortgage payment eased some of the pinch but better planning on my part would have been ideal.

Closing involves paying the title company a lot of money and signing lots of paperwork. My closing was completed in less than two hours and without the former homeowner present. I closed on a Friday and moved into my house on the following Monday. The intervening days were filled with fixing small things (e.g., replacing the showerhead), painting (no more off-white walls for me!) and cleaning. My parents and friends were kind enough to lend a hand and that really allowed nearly every task to be finished especially painting before move-in day. My mom's experience and expertise really helped as well (she brought insulation for behind my outlets and light switches).

Moving was hard. I had to pack in less than a month, hire a moving company, get it all into my house and then unpack. The bed was the first thing assembled and it was lovely to lay in my bed at night and marvel at the silence in my house. That made it all worthwhile. Not only could I color the walls as I wanted, I had no neighbors sharing a wall (other than the garage) with me. I had resolved my noisy tenant situation.

Although I had no contingency based on selling my current house, I had an apartment to sublet with several months left on my contract. That was stressful getting the place rented. Not only did I buy my house during the off-season, I was trying to sublet my apartment during the off-season. I tried lots of advertising (rental-specific publication, craigslist, newspaper), but finally managed to unload the place with a heavy incentive before the dual rent-mortgage payments became fatal. Three months of rent after I moved and then I was free.

Homeownership is not smooth sailing. I am not fond of cutting grass, and shoveling snow is not a favorite task. However, it is nice to have my own home with a 30-year fixed mortgage. I have learned much about the buying process including I need to have more money on hand for those unplanned expenses before and after purchasing. I know more about what I do not want in a home (avoid sidewalks, fire hydrants and steep driveways) and what I do (a linen closet). My home satisfies my need for space and accommodates my lifestyle even if I would like to change a few things. My journey from first-time homebuyers seminar to home ownership was a smooth if atypically quick one. I made a good choice for me and other than some minor complaints, I have the home that fit my search requirements.

Being frugal with home lighting

Many posts, blog and otherwise, have been written on the benefits of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and how they save energy, money and time (e.g., changing the darn things). I have several bulbs in my home that are CFLs, but not all fixtures and lamps are converted. I am a big believer in being prepared and have purchased several CFLs for when the incandescent bulbs give their final pop! Unfortunately, the previous owner believed in low wattage incandescent bulbs. Needless to say, when I replaced some of the bulbs in the light fixtures, the situation improved as the CFLs give off more light with fewer watts of electricity consumed (even compared to the 40W light bulb).

Many people are concerned about both the cost of purchase of the CFLs as well as the disposal. As my brother-in-law so eloquently demonstrated, many people still throw them out in the regular garbage. Since there is a small amount of mercury in the vapour trapped inside the twisty bulbs, CFLs are considered hazardous waste. Contact your city hall or private waste disposal company to ask how to recycle CFLs. I am lucky as the hardware stores in my city take back all fluorescent bulbs. The added benefit: my utility company will give a customer $1 credit per returned bulb toward the purchase of a new CFL. Check if your utility company has a similar policy. My utility requires each customer to download a form, fill it out and turn it in the same time the dead CFLs are recycled. Unfortunately, I found out about the form after I returned two CFLs for recycling.

When I moved into my house, two of the three outdoor fixtures were in need of replacement. My dad was a great help and replaced both with the fixtures I purchased. While both fixtures have incandescent bulbs, they are also motion sensitive (sometimes too sensitive), going on only when needed. Both also can be set to go on from dawn to dusk, but I refrain as it is unnecessary. The fixture by my front door is a relic of the 1970s, but once my dad and brother-in-law diagnosed the issue of bulb replacement (someone left the metal screw-in portion in the socket thus preventing me from putting in a new bulb), I put in two CFLs. The light is bright and more energy efficient. The cold does not bother the CFLs and it can get into negative numbers in my area. I was disappointed one bulb only lasted a year, but I read somewhere that having the bulb upside down may cause a problem with the ballast. However, my neighbor's CFL bulb (upside down in an identical fixture) is going strong for at least two years.

While saving electric costs is always a frugal measure, buying fixtures frugally is also worthwhile. I purchased a $10 used floor lamp for my living room from an ad on craigslist and a new lamp shade on sale at Target to replace the one that disintegrated on my table lamp. I am also looking to replace light fixtures in the dining room and bedrooms, and have been watching both sale flyers and classified ads for some. I am in the consideration stage, trying to find a fixture I like, deciding how easy it would be for me to change a light bulb and my backup plan if I am unable to install it myself. Hopefully, I will settle all these issues by the time garage sale season starts. I may find fixtures I like then, giving me another option.

When I first moved into my house, I received a new homeowner's packet of coupons to help me spend my money refurbishing my home. While I ignored ones from Linen and Things, I did use the 20% off my entire purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond coupon and a 10% off my entire purchase at Home Depot coupon. This saved me money on things I needed as well as stocking up on items I would need in the future. There are likely similar programs in your community and you might plan purchases but not buy until you receive similar coupons. Ten or 20% off your purchase especially if you stock up on things that are consumable and you will use (e.g., CFLs) will ease some of the pinch of maintaining your home.

While my home does not lend itself to using them, try the solar lights along the walkway to your door. Other than the initial purchase cost, the lights do not cost any money to run. I have also seen LED lights powered by solar for outdoor lamp posts. While a higher purchasing cost than the garden or walkway solar lights, the LEDs are certainly brighter and might be something to have right by the door to eliminate fumbling with keys and lock.