The Budget and Bella's Antics

Hi Everyone! If you read my entry on Monday, I talked about the bathroom remodel and I talked about the Bengay...but I don't think I mentioned too much about the Budget. When I say budget, it is not the budget that Steve sets up for me, it is the budget I set up for myself. Sometimes, that is a not so great a thing, because I have a hard time compromising that amount at all cost. (Get it?)

"Oh, brother, I am new here, but do I really have to listen to this again?"

If I let Steve set the budget, well...I mentioned he expected me to purchase a new vanity for under One-Fifty, and we know that was not going to happen, so there is no telling what the budget would have been.

It is not the fact that he is cheap, it is more like the fact he really does not have a clue on home improvement pricing, or any prices in general. If it is not the current price of a gallon of gas or possibly, the price of the phone bill, well....he is really not too interested. Truth. I swear.

So, I often find myself overly stressed in sticking to the budget I set in my mind for a particular project. And did I mention the fact that I am cheap. I may be even cheaper than Steve if the truth was told. I want a Champagne look on a beer budget. Seriously. I refuse to pay expensive prices for things, when with a little bit of research and effort, I can find exactly what I want for a much lower price. That is just how I roll.

"OK, Seriously, don't you think you could mention the fact that peeling wallpaper, drywall scraps, and a torn up vanity make excellent toys for growing pups?" "Well, I thought they made great toys until you took them away."

What was the budget for this project? Well, once I realized that I was going to have to purchase a new vanity and counter top that I was not counting on, I decided the budget for this project would be roughly around $900.00 for supplies alone. The labor, I figured separate, as we would do most of the grunt work, and I would pay our handyman hourly for his work. I really did not count that figure into my budget because I knew we would be doing most of the work ourselves. That to me seemed like a realistic budget.

No, I did not want to spend that much on supplies, but I was on a mission. I wanted a certain thing and I wanted it at a good price. Did I mention the fact that I can drive you nuts with my wild ideas and design thoughts?


"This is really boring, you have not mentioned one toy, one treat, or anything fun for pups...it must be my nap time."

Let me remind you, we replaced everything besides the tub. Everything.

What do you think? Do you think I stayed within my budget or went over? Do you think you could take a bathroom to bare walls, leaving only the tub and stay within this budget I set up for myself? Do you think you could have done all of this while not compromising one bit on design or style of the room?

I am going to tell you how this turned out, the trials of the remodel, the stress, the work......just not today.......check back.

"Well, we know how this turned out and we all could be bribed with a few milk bones and dog treats. There is really no need to wait, we know the answers....So, What do ya' say?"