Learned'd VIII: Less Bewbs, Same Nonsense

[WDRacing]

Will do on the dent repair stuff. I plan on starting to dig into it sometime in the next year or so, but it'll just be on a part-time basis. It's a great little money maker for a side business though and investment is very low.

I've been looking at some sort of side bizz I can do part time. I don't want to work a ton, but having some extra coin to blow on the kids or whatever is a good thing. Plus guns, cars and off-roading are friggin expensive hobbies!

[Kompresshun]

Hence the reason i'm wanting to do it. Plus I hope that someday I may be able to turn it into a full-time gig. If I buy a really good "kit" for the paintless dent repair, my initial investment will be $2,500-3,000. You can get a basic kit for around $300 though to get started with. Then if you really want, you can go somewhere and get trained/certified, which may or may not help you. Some say they will refer clients to you in your area if you attend the school, so I guess that would be a positive.

I've gotta have something to fund the Miata and the Pathfinder going forward anyways. I'm pretty sure the wife will appreciate that anyways, because boost, suspension lifts, paint jobs, body armor, and ect aren't cheap

[nissangirl74]

Sup guys!
+1 on hating to move. I swore when I moved to Surprise to marry Greg that I would never move again but it looks like I will eat those words. Granted it's the same town and only 3 miles down the road but you still have to pack up all your crap and move it. We are going to have a huge moving sale when we relocate. Everything we do not want to take with us is going to be left in the house and set up nicely in all the rooms with prices clearly marked. We'll even deliver within a certain distance.

We don't have a choice. We are down-sizing AND combining two households so it will be a challenge. We literally have (at least ) two of everything we will need.

[Kompresshun]

We're gonna have to have a garage sale before we move too. Not that we won't have room for everything, but we just have so much that we do not need.

I'm not that excited about the thought of moving, but at least it'll only be an hour away so it won't be quite so bad. Plus we will be getting a bigger place, so that's something to definitely get excited about. I'm really tired of living in a 1,300 sq ft house and barely having enough room. It REALLY sucks when we have family in to stay with us and then another huge complaint is that me and Kristen both like to cook. If we're both cooking, then we are constantly getting in each others way in the kitchen.

We plan on this being our last move. We knew the house we are in now couldn't last us for that long, but it's lasted us much longer than expected. The next house will be purchased with the intention of us never needing anything bigger.

My wish list is 1.5-3 acres of land, 3-4 bedroom single level ranch house on a basement. I would like for it to have a 3 car garage, but a 2 car is acceptable as long as there is room to build a bigger shop later.

[Bubba1]

We don't have a choice. We are down-sizing AND combining two households so it will be a challenge. We literally have (at least ) two of everything we will need.

But with kids getting ready to leave the nest, the duplicate stuff might come in handy to get them started.

I can't imagine moving from casa Bubba. We've been here for 30 years.

[numbnuts240]

i only want to move one more time, out of the current house and into the woods. that's still years away (if all goes the complete opposite as it is now), but we all need aspirations.

[nissangirl74]

But with kids getting ready to leave the nest, the duplicate stuff might come in handy to get them started.

Some will go with the kids but some of it is too nice. I know that sounds bad but we'd rather sell what we have and get all of the money for it, help them get something inexpensive (that WILL get trashed - it's inevitable) and pocket the rest. I don't have any needs for the new house other than a new bedspread and new towels to match our bathroom. Greg needs all the $ he can get because I have a feeling he's going to want lots of news toys for the shop.

[nissangirl74]

My wish list is 1.5-3 acres of land, 3-4 bedroom single level ranch house on a basement. I would like for it to have a 3 car garage, but a 2 car is acceptable as long as there is room to build a bigger shop later.

[WDRacing]

It REALLY sucks when we have family in to stay with us and then another huge complaint is that me and Kristen both like to cook. If we're both cooking, then we are constantly getting in each others way in the kitchen.

A big kitchen was a must have item for us when we bought this place. It has 9 friggin electrical outlets!

[nissangirl74]

That is an amazing space. I love my big kitchen. I will miss it when we move.

[WDRacing]

Your new house has an awesome kitchen though right Bex?

[nissangirl74]

It does but my current kitchen is absurd. So many cabinets, counters, plus an island. My new kitchen is plenty big, I'm just really, really spoiled in this one.

[Dattebayo]

I like the wood look you have in your kitchen.

We just had our kitchen redone a few months ago, and the island you have is one thing we avoided. The raised counter in the chair area over the main counter surface has caused a lot of problems at my sister's place, so we put in an L off the stove area which juts out into the next room. Since the next room has a lower floor, we solved all the standing/sitting height issues without having a higher level countertop. But we have countertops and cabinets on both sides...

[nissangirl74]

We went to a home show this weekend to check out all of the stuff we are going to be needing for the new house and holy crap, everything in a kitchen is bloody-freaking-expensive. It's ridiculous.

[WDRacing]

AGREED!

[Kompresshun]

Kitchens can break the bank really quick. Especially considering how much awesome stuff you can buy, you can blow a ton of money quick. It's not any more helpful when you're starting with a new house that has to have everything. At least with our kitchen we had a base to start with.

I remodeled our kitchen on a budget when we moved in and still laid down about $1,200. Now what I did with that money was pretty amazing, but like everything else in this house we've been very careful how we spend our money to see that we don't invest too much. It's a starter home for most people, so granite counter tops, upgraded cabinets and flooring just don't make much sense. We'd never see a return on our money and most people in the market for a house like that will not care.

I think since we've lived there we've maybe invested $3,000-4,000 in repairs, remodeling the kitchen, two bathrooms, putting in wood laminate flooring, and painting. We've lived there for almost 5 years, bought the house for $130k and should be able to resale it for $145k with the upgrades.

[frapjap]

People spend money on their kitchens! Thats honestly the one place I'd spend my money, too. Garage, living room, deck, and master bedroom follow behind that- in that order. A butt load of time is spent in conversation and dining in the kitchen. I feel like it should the focal point of the living space. Much like the campfire of our ancestors, we're primitively drawn to where the food is prepared and are comfortable there. Since most folks have an emotional attachment to the kitchen, and the companies know it, they'll charge the big bucks.

I'm amazed at the amount of money folks spend on a bathroom. I mean, you're barely in there. You sit, you s***, you shower, you leave. Thats it! There isn't really any lingering, no talking, you don't bring your friends in there for tea.

[Kompresshun]

I feel like the kitchen will always be our biggest investment as well. We both love to cook and we both like having plenty of space when we're preparing meals. Having a large kitchen in the next house is a must, then plenty of food storage too because we like to buy stuff in bulk.

I agree that the garage would be next in line, followed closely by my office area. I'm hoping the next garage can accommodate a lift, so I don't have to think about building a separate shop too soon. If I can get a lift in the next house though, it will eliminate most of my need to take my vehicles to a mechanic for repairs.

I think people way overdo it on bathrooms too. With both bathroom remodels i've come in around $500. The master bathroom also required a tile saw purchase, a oscillating tool, new subfloor, new backing for tile, new tile, new sheetrock, mud work, and new paint. Both bathrooms look like three times that much was spent. Now, I would like to have a much bigger bathroom in our next house and preferably a lot less spartan, but I would trade a nice bathroom for a nicer kitchen or garage any day of the week.

[WDRacing]

The kitchen is just where people gather. At least for us it is. Unless we're watching the game or something like that, we are always in the kitchen. My house has a decent size eat-in nook and it has a large sitting room with an open floor plan. I haven't purchased a new TV for the kitchen yet, but it's in my plans. I'm the family cook, but the family cook doesn't like to miss the Bruins or the Patriots!

I've actually been toying with the idea of a drop down flat screen. We have nothing but empty attic over the kitchen. Building an enclosure and rigging up a simple pulley/winch system doesn't seem all that complicated, in my head.

Then I can run a line from the kegerator in the basement up to a tap in the kitchen...

A bathroom requires an excellent shower area for me. By excellent I mean big enough for me to move around without my a** touching the walls. And a nice shower head! The wife requires a soaking tub, which is fine by me as well. We have a 2 person jacuzzi tub right now. I thought it was going to be awesome, until you realize it eats an entire hotwater tank full to utilize...AND then you waste all that water. So we're gonna pull it and install a sweet claw foot tub, one of those old skool ones! Pretty much has to be deep enough for me to sit in and only my head and neck to be above water. They are surprisingly affordable too! At least when compared with some of the friggin tubs I've seen for sale. Then give me enough room for my car magazines and a nice toilet. Color me happy!

[frapjap]

Houses and s***. Not what car mods are next, haha. James has a pretty sweet new house, too.

I'm with you, Chris. If it can be done by hand and I have the time, the job won't be outsourced. Theres always some learning curve, but if it were that easy, everyone else would do it. Now moving- I'm a bit tired of moving. Saving money is one thing, but the cost of movers is well worth the price.

[WDRacing]

You can find local people willing to do all the heavy lifting for pretty cheap.

[Kompresshun]

That or you can just feed a bunch of your friends to come help you move. That's what we usually do

I can't lie on the bathroom though - even though we went cheap on ours now, I wouldn't mind having a big walk-in tile shower in the next house and a claw foot tub for Kristen. Outside of that though, IDGAF about anything else it has.

I have learned a lot about remodeling houses and just general home repair since we've owned this house that I never knew before. While I still won't mess with electricity or A/C repair, i'll work on about anything else. I do contract people occasionally when I don't have time though and it needs to get fixed quickly. Typically when I do stuff, a simple project turns into a much longer ordeal

In our next kitchen I mainly just want plenty of storage and work area. I also want a huge fridge and an island in the middle with a cook top in it, then a double oven setup somewhere. Her aunt and uncles kitchen is like that and I absolutely love it. Then the island in the middle of the kitchen also doubles as an eating area for 6 people.

[WDRacing]

Exactly my thoughts! When I was over on Okinawa the main bathroom was a huge tile walk in. Like 8 by 8. It was friggin awesome. I have wanted one ever since...nothing else comes close.

[Kompresshun]

Yeah because small showers suck when you're trying to share a shower and "conserve water" too

So in other news, it seems like i'm averaging about 15mpg city in the Pathy. Not bad considering our old Jeep Commander got 10-11mpg city with a smaller engine and less HP. If I can squeeze 18-19mpg out of it on the highway, i'll be very pleased.

My father in law told Kristen the first day we had it "Tell Chris to be thinking of me and my pansy little Prius every time he has to fill up that tank."

I replied with "Actually it's a hybrid believe it or not. It runs on baby seal blood and whale blubber. It can also consume the souls of Prius owners when necessary. "

[WDRacing]

I replied with "Actually it's a hybrid believe it or not. It runs on baby seal blood and whale blubber. It can also consume the souls of Prius owners when necessary. "

I love referencing baby seals!

[Kompresshun]

It was actually something you referenced baby seals with somewhere that made me think of that.

I told him yesterday to be thinking of me this winter when his a** is stuck in a ditch somewhere. 50 mpg does not mean s*** when bad weather hits.

[WDRacing]

Morning...

[Kompresshun]

Mornings can EAD... I could use another 2-3 hours of sleep. I stayed up much later than I intended to last night.

[sx moneypit]

I can't stay up late,i HAVE to get my beauty sleep.

[Kompresshun]

Oh I need my beauty sleep too, but lately it just doesn't happen. Usually 6 hours sleep is about the norm for me right now, but occasionally i'll squeeze in 7 hours.

I usually just try to catch up on the weekend instead.