Everyone, at some point in their life, has taken some time to imagine their dream house, the perfect place to live out the rest of their life. It might be right here in Western New York or it might not. It might involve a certain amount of space, or depend on a very particular layout. Everyone’s idea of the perfect place to live is bound to be a bit different.
For many, home improvement projects are a way to inch just a little bit closer to their dream house. At the same time, regular maintenance is required just to keep the house standing. The problem is that this all costs money, and depending on how lavish your tastes are, it might fall well outside of your budget. Instead of giving up on your dream completely, maybe it’s time to start thinking about creative ways to save. Here are a few great places to start.
Start With Improvements That Pay Off
If you want to stretch your money as far as it can go, you should start thinking long-term right away. Instead of splurging on the sexy improvement that dazzles on the outside, consider tackling the less glamorous jobs that will start saving you money right away. Whether you improve the insulation of an old home, install energy efficient appliances, or address a structural issue before it spirals out of control, thinking ahead will allow you to save money for the fancier projects down the road.
Take the Family On A “Staycation”
Back in the midst of the 2008 economic recession, the “staycation” idea garnered a lot of press. Saving on travel expenses by pretending you’re a tourist in your own town might seem like a desperate way to save money. But by enjoying sticking around the house, you could get a head start on making those big improvements in the future. Give it a try—you might be surprised at how exciting home can be when you embrace it.
Set Clear Goals
The most important part of saving—for any purpose—is to have a crystal clear plan of attack. Decide which project is your first priority. Then, decide how much money you’ll need to save for it and when you’d like to see the job completed. Move on to the second, third and so on until you arrive at your dream house. You can always change the plan down the road, but having a concrete, long-term schedule will allow you to set clear goals and more accurately track your progress, both huge parts of building the habit of saving.
Separate The Cash
If you just throw your home improvement cash in with everything else, you’ll have way too many opportunities to absentmindedly take out a few bucks here and there. If you put it into separate fund, you’ll know that there are only two times you should be accessing it, when you deposit money and when you’re paying a contractor for a big step towards your dream house.
Thinking about the home improvements you’d like to make for your Western New York home? Contact Ivy Lea Construction to see how much you’ll need to save.