A Different View

 It's been a while since my last post, and things are looking a little different! G. and I are still in the same apartment, but now the possibility of a house is out there. There's still a lot to learn, and there are lots of decisions to make! My looking, so far, has been online, but it feels more like a definite possibility! Stay tuned!

No Progress

G. and I have decided to renew our apartment lease for another year, so no progress on the home ownership front. I turned 50 this year, and am still in graduate school, so I'm beginning to wonder if home ownership is a wise move, considering the importance of saving for retirement too. One option I've thought about is saving for a small vacation/weekend home on a nearby lake. The more I think about that, the more I like it. No, we aren't really boaters or fishers, but I've always loved the calmness and beauty of a lake.


Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Any Downpayment Tips?

I've been thinking a lot lately about buying a house, and how much money it seems to take! I feel like it's going to take forever to build up a downpayment!! Now, how big a priority is it for me? Hmmm. I'm working my way through graduate school, and I'm saving for car repairs for a car with 150K+. There are other things I want to do, too, like travel. Can I have it all?

I've been thinking about whether to raise my salary or lower my standard of living. Saving money is a great thing, but my saving goals are spreading my money pretty thin at the moment. Should I go for one goal at a time, or is it okay to put smaller amounts in several goals for a longer amount of time?

Finishing graduate school is top on my list of financial goals, and it has the possibility of helping me raise my salary. Car repairs could be needed at any time, but then a newer used car will probably be next on my goals list.

Long Time, No Post

It's been a while since I've posted! Life has a way of shifting priorities. I'm about to start my second year of grad school in library science, so G. and I have continued to enjoy the convenience of apartment living. I still have a couple more years of grad school, and after that, I'd love to stay at the same library with a professional position, but want to stay open to the possibilities.

In the mean time, I have started a new home downpayment savings account. It's oh-so-small right now, but it'll grow in time, and more quickly once I'm out of school!

Renovation That Preserves the Decay

Thanks to Facebook, I saw a link to an article from the Home & Garden section of the NY Times about someone who's renovated an old building (in the town where I grew up) so that it still looks old! And he lives in it! Just fascinating! Check out the pictures here.

Sometimes it's the Small Things

Recently, I hosted a birthday party for myself (no gifts allowed!), the biggest shindig I've ever pulled off. We had about 25 people in our apartment throughout the evening, and it was so satisfying to have a number of firends and family members over for supper and good conversation! Our apartment's a little small for so many people (though normally it's plenty big for us, with three bedrooms and two baths), but everyone made it work! I wouldn't change a thing, but the experience made me look forward to the day when we have a home big enough for that many people, maybe more, to be really comfortable!

This past Sunday, a week after the party, my mom and two nieces came over and helped me hang pictures! Better late than never, right?! Amazing the difference it makes to have pictures on the walls! I wish it hadn't taken me so long!

Historic Preservation Alive and (Eating) Well in Durham

I was happy to see the following article from the Durham Herald-Sun on Preservation North Carolina's Facebook page about one of the awards that Preservation Durham has given out recently! King's Lunch Stand sounds very cute, and now I want to go check it out! In addition to preserving the architecture, a number of "old" menu items have returned, but (according to the article) they've added a zucchini, summer squash, and onion sandwich. Now that sounds yummy to me!

Check out the article below.

The Herald-Sun - PYNE PRESERVATION AWARD KING S LUNCH STAND