I missed that box!
This is bad. It's noon here in New England and I just realized it's Wednesday. You'd think preparing for a 7:15am meeting with the speaker for next month's brunch would have helped me notice the day. uuum, no. I suppose it would have been much worse to crawl in bed at 9pm or so tonight and realize I had forgotten to pop in and say hello. Well, let's not go there.
After this winter, I'm finally feeling alive again. I've spent the last week cheerfully catching up on painting, projects and making a huge donation pile for Goodwill. I'm a happy, happy woman! Yesterday we started tackling the current catch all black hole known as the family room. I'm pleased with our halfway progress.
Some of you may envy me for having a big house and get testy when I whine about it. I can appreciate that. Unfortunately, if you magically got one like it tomorrow, you would find out that big houses come with hidden and unrealized costs. By the way, those expenses have nothing to do with the mortgage payment, closing costs or taxes.
Despite my occasional whine, it is wonderful to have two extra bedrooms and separate bath for overnight company and a living room big enough to fit 15 or so comfortably. It's helpful because we entertain often. But with the benefits come the oft forgotten expenses. You have to have extra linens, beds and pillows so overnight guests don't have to sleep on the floor, cold and shivering. There are chairs needed to fill the living and dining rooms. And you have to buy toilet paper almost weekly because with three active bathrooms and a spare, you don't want to find yourself lacking - if you know what I mean. e'hem
Big houses also take more time to keep clean, cost more to maintain and, if you are not ruthlessly diligent about dumping clutter like I haven't had the energy to do this winter, they become black holes for stuff that can mess with your schedule, your productivity and your sanity. But you've already heard me preach about stuff and the cost per square foot. Fill wisely. Dump generously.
Houses aren't the only thing that have hidden costs. Cars have their own missed expenses. Family hobbies, such as historical reenacting, can cost as much as skiing. Anybody got a pet? My parents are conservative about what they spend on their dog, but I am shocked and amazed at what they do spend. I don't want to know what people who pamper their pets shell out.
I've found that there are frugal ways to handle hidden expenses. I pray a lot and God is always gracious to provide. I consistantly find needed things on clearance or at the thrift store. I now have plenty of dining chairs nabbed as a set at a church sale for $5. Yard sales and thrift stores abound with cheap dishes in old styles that make my heart skip a beat and mix and match wonderfully for a creative dinner table. Although I haven't mastered cleaning every room of the house in the same week, I have managed to train apprentices to do dishes, wash clothes and accomplish the fine art of toilet scrubbing. 
I've also found that God doesn't just provide, but he often provides abundantly. Two years ago we had someone give us like-new Ethan Allen solid cherry sleigh bed with a new mattress and 3 sets of Waverly sheets. And although I regretfully declined it, I was offered a grand piano that included moving expenses. Praying and waiting is a powerful resource.
What hidden expenses have you unhappily uncovered? Have you found a way around them frugally or are you still looking?
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3 Responses to “I missed that box!”
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
My heart sank when you said you declined a grand piano. i’m sure you had a good reason for not taking it, but i’d give up my bed for a grand piano!
It sounds like you’ve got a lot going on! i’m glad God is providing for you in such unexpected ways. He’s good like that.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Yeah, my heart sinks too when I think that I passed it up. I did have a very good reason. We had a lot going on at the time. It looked certain that we were going to be moving and would no longer have the space. Plans changed and the piano’s gone…
I have a full sized digital piano, so the grand would have been gravy. I’ll survive.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I truly believe God gives us what we need for how we are to live. I used to have a really big house and we used it to show hospitality in a bigger way.
Now I have a smaller house that is just what I can handle (with a chronic illness) and a different lifestyle. My daughter was at home when we had the big house and she loved having lots of her friends over. My son is much more of a loner and enjoys meeting his friends at a coffee shop.
I can already see (from your blog) that you fully utilize what He has blessed you with. I also remember how much work it is to clean and organize a big house.
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