Home decorating on the cheap

After hiring an underemployed friend to paint my bedroom last summer I began, finally, to put art up on the walls. Probably my favorite piece is a cheap frame I bought on sale at Fred Meyer and filled with art postcards. Total cost was around $12.

But then there was this big blank space over my bed that I couldn't figure out how to fill. A mirror? A big art piece? A headboard? I couldn't decide, so it stayed blank for many months. Then one night I was laying in bed, looking at the blank wall and thinking about how I had no money for a headboard. I remembered that my friend Brad used two old doors for a headboard, so I started to riffle through my mind's files for things I already owned that might create a headboard-like effect. Suddenly it hit me: I had an extra curtain rod and a pair of curtains my mom had given me when I first moved in. Perfect!

It looks quite nice, if I do say so myself, though perhaps it leans a bit on the bordello side of decor. And because it's fabric, it has the added advantage of muffling *ahem* "bedroom noises."

Speaking of blank walls, there was one in my living room too, until I found an enormous (4'x5') painting of a zebra head out by the dumpsters. Amazing what people throw away.

Another time I found a 2'x3' gold-painted picture frame with the glass intact out by the dumpster. Snatched it up and used it to frame some mementos from Paris, so now I have a free piece of art that is also highly personal and sentimental.

It turns out I've managed to do quite a lot of decorating using items I found by the dumpster, filched from my relatives, or already had lying around. I've been challenging myself to open my eyes, look around, and think creatively about what I already own so I can re-purpose what I'm not using into something I actually will use.

What are your cheap decorating tricks? What do you have lying around unused that you could turn into something both functional and aesthetically pleasing?

The little things

In an attempt to shave every little last bit of unnecessary spending out of my monthly expenses, I recently downgraded from an Android phone to a flip phone, which will save me $40 a month.

And then I started thinking about all the other little things I've cut back on or cut out of my budget in the last two years and wondered how big a difference they're making.

In addition to downgrading the cell phone, I've cancelled my Netflix subscription, reduced the number of haircuts a year from four to one, stopped buying facial cleanser, cut back on the amount of wine I buy at the grocery store, and switched from doggie daycare to dog walking.

The result? I'm spending about $317 less a month, or about $3,810 less a year. Not bad!

Now if only I could figure out where all that "saved" money has been going instead...

Sharing the Loot

Does every homeowner need their own lawn mower? My five siblings and I were raised by my mom who didn’t think we needed our own lawn mower, neither did Carol and Don a few blocks away. My siblings and I took turns returning or picking up the shared mower on beautiful, muggy Minnesota afternoons. My mom, Carol, and Don saved on the initial purchase, our two families successfully cooperated and pitched in with maintenance and upkeep, and we became really close neighbors in the process. We were oddly connected by something as simple as a lawn mower.

There are so many items we're conditioned to believe we need to own and have all to ourselves, but, after taking a deeper look, owning may not be our best option (and it's certainly not our only option). How many families do you know who have a car for every licensed family member or more computers than family members? By the way, do you remember what it felt like to go to a computer lab? In all of this “need” to own, we've drained our savings and we've lost some of our community, which creates an insatiable loneliness. Sharing our loot might not be a cure-all, but it’s certainly worth examining.

That being said, what else can we share that will save us money, connect us to our neighbors, reduce waste, and strengthen communities?

Here are some ideas: Let’s start with internet access. I just moved into a beautiful little complex of bungalow apartments. According to my PC, I have “access” to five different wireless networks. Each of these network owners is paying $25 a month at minimum (likely much more) to have access to the internet. Why is everyone paying individually for something we can easily share? What about washers and dryers? In college I took a weekly trip to the laundromat. While I waited for my clothes, I’d smile and say hi to the regulars, get caught up on pop culture through magazines, study (ha!), or just sit outside to people watch and let the sun warm my face. I think we all grew up and swore to never again be inconvenienced by laundromats, hauling bags of dirty laundry, and being forced to hoard quarters. In some small but relevant way, we traded community and connection for that convenience. What about extending community sharing to cars? I realize there are plenty of community car share programs out there. But, what about doing it amongst neighbors, with one other family, or with a roommate? I’m certain there are a ton of logistical and legal obstacles. And, yes, everyone would have to sacrifice some convenience, but think of the savings of splitting the cost of insurance (I'm not exactly sure of the specifics here) and the initial investment? The environmental benefits go beyond having one fewer car on the road; it requires the creation of a mindset of intentional driving. It trains you to plan, coordinate, and decide what’s really worthy of a car trip.

I'm guessing the list of possible things to share and the associated benefits is only limited by ones' imagination. Sharing the loot and the cost of expensive items with trusted friends or neighbors is a great option when you're keeping an eye on your pocket book and/or are motivated to live more simply. At the very least, buyer's remorse can be shared amongst many.