Burning Question: Bonus Beans?
If you had an extra $100 laying around, how would you spend it to spruce up your house? Would you grab some gallons of paint and give a few rooms a totally new look? Would you splurge for some special accessory that you’ve had your eye on (like a fancy wall mirror or glass based lamp?). Would you snatch up a Craigslist table to transform with a bit of elbow grease? Would you put it towards some larger home-related purchase that you’ve been saving for?
We’re itching to hear where that loot would end up. In fact, we whipped up this handy little poll to keep everything tabulated:
[poll id="9"]
And we’d love to hear more about why you voted the way you did, so feel free to comment away with more details.
Image found here.
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Definitely towards our master bedroom. It only needs a few more items to be complete so that’s where my $100 would go.
I am so disgusted with my whole house…. maybe a few little accessories would help.. I wish I could start all over!!!
I voted for transformative and substantial because I’d like to use the $100 to buy materials to build my boys new beds and nightstands. So much cheaper than buying them for $900 a piece!!
We’re saving for a house – so I’d put it in our house fund for sure! :)
I would splurge on flowers for my outdoor planters and a few plants for landscaping.
If we had an extra $100, I would buy a decorative object because my husband and I don’t really get too many chances to buy them. We’re a year into our house and we’re still stocking up on paints, tools, etc., so to buy a home decor item is considered a treat since it doesn’t fall on the “need” list. We’ll get there tho, just takes time and patience!
I would put it toward the addition that we’ve been saving up for! We live in a small 1950′s brick ranch (similar to yours, but smaller!), but it is only 1050 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. We are saving all of our dollars up for a master bedroom/bathroom addition…which will open up lots more available space for a family – hopefully in the near future :)
I’m desperately in need of clothing storage in my tiny bedroom. It only has a small closet I don’t have a dresser in there yet. Last fall when I firt moved in my house, the neighbor was throwing away a decent sized dresser with an ugly mirror. I took the mirror of and the dresser is currently waiting for me to make a new life of of it (I’m still debating on if I should paint or stain it. Any suggestions?)
Hey Joanne,
It’s all about personal preference! For a rich and substantial look, go for the stain. For something a bit more airy an charming, paint is the way to go. And we have tutorials for both processes on our How To page. Good luck!
xo,
s
Sorry for all the typos there :P
Towards something substantial – a larger piece of furniture (or project). I’d actually like to get a bigger bed for us!
I have a mini sink hole that showed up in my driveway last week. I would put the money towards redoing the driveway. I know it would not pay for it all but it would help!
I would put it towards buying a house! I’m saving every penny I can these days so I dont have to rent anymore! :)
It would definitely go towards some paint. We are moving in a couple of months and I’ve already picked out the colours, but the cost to pretty much paint a whole new house adds up!
Paint! It’s so expensive but makes a big impact.
We are in desperate need of a new couch, I really want to throw ours off the balcony.
I’d love something modular, and the 100$ would go in my ‘new couch’ fund.
I voted for trans formative… we’ve only been in our house since November and are still working on making it ‘ours’!
I voted for something “green”. I guess part of it is that if ever I’m “gifted” something, I always try to put it towards something really beneficial. I’ve already got the composting bin (which I used up every last piece of for our new veggie garden), so I’d love to invest in some high-quality “green cleaners” and usually those are more expensive than the regulars (so weird, but what’re ya gonna do?!).
Great question! I always wonder what I’d do if I won the lottery (travel the world for a year), but if you just suddenly had $100 extra in your bank account, you have to be more creative ;-).
xoxo,
Lindsay
Hah! When I read the title in Google Reader I thought you had just found out you were having twins!
I voted “functional”, thought it would also qualify as “green”: I’d replace some of our lightbulbs with compact fluorescent – and good ones. I’m sick of the weak light coming from the Ikea ones in our bedside lamps.
Hey Paige and Kate,
THAT is hysterical. We’re cracking up over here.
xo,
s
When I read your title ‘Bonus Beans’, I thought you were about to tell us you were having twins. LOL.
I’d take my extra beans and invest in something substantial, like a new rug !
Kate
I would definitely buy something decorative like a cool lamp or an awesome rug!
I would put it towards new faucets. We’ve already replaced one bathroom faucet, but we need to tackle two of ‘em in the master bath plus the kitchen. Oh, and new satin nickel door knobs for the whole house (buh-bye brass!). Wait…all of that is definitely more than $100!
Towards decorative. We desperately need to get our whole house done and are slowly getting there.
I’d buy curtains for our MBR…really the only room left in our house that is unfinished. It’s been years, but I’ve wanted to work on other spaces first.
I would most likely run to my closest IKEA and buy wall shelves or frames or a mirror. $100 at IKEA can go a long way!
I have my eye on some new throw pillows for the couch,but then, I pretty much always do!
I would build a kitchen table to go with my new chairs :)
There are a few prints on Etsy that I’d buy and frame.
I have my eye on a telephoto zoom lens for my dSLR. I look at it on amazon every day … :)
I picked:
Towards something transformative- paint, stain, wallpaper Towards something DIY ready- a Craigslist table, a light kit
Paint and fabrics are two of the cheapest ways to breath new life into a space. Whatever is left over can be repurposed with the DIY ready item to make entirely new handmade and custom-to-your-space-and-taste decor items.
I was going for biggest bang for the 100-buckeroos!
And I am also not allowed to buy big furniture for our house anymore. :o)
Grace Hester Designs
Silhouette- and typography- based artwork and prints
Shop my designs at http://gracehesterdesigns.etsy.com
We would use it towards something functional. Our house sat for a year before we bought it and was horribly dirty and outdated so we have been slowly cleaning and making changes. Extra money always helps with those projects!
I’d like to think any “found” money is “free” money. Because it’s free money that you haven’t really worked hard for (recently) it can go towards “wish” things. Little extras and decorative objects you wouldn’t normally purchase because you are being conservative with your spending are now ok because of “free” “found” money!
:)
I would use it toward the nursery for our little nubbins!
Actually, I still a $100 left over from Christmas that I STILL haven’t used – I like to think long and hard before I spend those! But I do look on Craigs List A LOT for furniture that needs a facelift – I love transformations!
I would throw that $100 in the “house account” where we are saving for our down payment on a house!!
I think that qualifies as “something substantial”!
YHL – I sound some pavers and a cabinet I removed on Craigslist and am using the proceeds of $75 for a refinishing project.
So .. I just snagged a dresser at Goodwill for $30. I have sanded it and bought the new hardware, the conditioner and stain (another $20 bucks). I have $20 left to spend or save.
Originally, I was going to put it in my unfinished bedroom but am now thinking about using it as like a “buffet” type dresser in my kitchen/living room.
I’m more of a “go with the flow” DIY’er but could probably use some inspiration with fancier Craigslist refinishing projects.
I know that you guys refinished a dresser for Bean’s room. But, do you have any other blog sites or references of before and after dresser refinishing projects?
I’d definitely put the $100 towards a new couch – I’ve been in the hunting and debating stage for WAY too long and need to bite the bullet and finally get rid of my sleek-looking but SUPER uncomfortable sofa. I love sofas with an attached chaise but there are so many places/fabrics/shapes to choose from I keep finding another option to look into! :)
I’m so glad you’re doing this post :) It seems like so little that can benefit so much when you take into consideration what it can do! My husband and I would really like to spend some free time on our bathroom. It’s the main bathroom and also the family’s bathroom, and we’d really like to simply put in a new light fixture and remove the (broken) old one, as well as overhead fluorescent lighting, remove old wallpaper (from 1956!!!), repaint the entire room white, remove the paint on the sink cabinet (and then stain it), and replace the cabinet hardware.. Doesn’t seem like too much now that I think of it..
Unfortunately, we don’t have any extra time (or money, it seems) since our first baby was born in January! We’ll do it, someday :) Thanks for the post, it’s a good question, and it makes our goal seem actually obtainable in a sense ;)
YHL – I sold some pavers and a cabinet on Craigslist and am using the proceeds of $75 for a refinishing project.
So .. I just snagged a dresser at Goodwill for $30. I have sanded it and bought the new hardware, the conditioner and stain (another $20 bucks). I have $20 left to spend or save towards another project.
Originally, I was going to put it in my unfinished bedroom but am now thinking about using it as like a “buffet” type dresser in my kitchen/living room.
I’m more of a “go with the flow” DIY’er but could use some inspiration with fancier Craigslist refinishing projects.
I know that you guys refinished a dresser for Bean’s room. But, do you have any other blog sites or references of before and after dresser refinishing projects?
Hey NancyO,
We would just google it. We’re sure a ton of other bloggers have tackled it but we can’t think of one off the top of our heads. Happy hunting…
xo,
s
Definitely towards an area rug for the living room. I am aching to pull that space together; it just doesn’t feel grounded.
I would be buying something for my wedding! Probably on some milk glass vases and large chunky frames…you know, things I can use in my home after the wedding.
We’re gearing up to overhaul our kitchen in just a couple weeks so that money would go towards the new oven I’m desperately putting money away for! My largest burner refuses to work, the oven door is crooked and hard to open and I’m sure with it being so old, it is not a smidge energy efficient. I’m so over it!
I’m not sure, I would either spend it on our entryway/hallway redo (paint and wallpaper mostly + picture frames and some nice hooks), or I would try to find a nice large mirror to put in our living room, on the wall facing the window, as I’ve been quite inspired by these posts from AT and Little Green Notebook:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/inspiration/5-small-space-tips-that-actually-work-small-space-solutions–115544
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/04/more-thoughts-on-mirrored-walls.html
I’m ALWAYS craving accessories, but for some reason I just don’t pull the plug very often. I always feel guilty! But really, to be honest, if I won $100 I would put it in our adoption fund! The hubs and I are adopting, so we are trying to save every penny!
I’d go for something decorative….new curtains for my dining room. The ones hanging there came from our old house and are about 15 years old. I’d like to replace them with some great sheers I saw in ‘Country Curtains’. An extra hundred would go a long way for the three long pair I need!
I have my eye on a cute desk I want to buy for $85 this weekend. Say $10 for coffee and muffins for the road and $5 for gas and I think we’re set!
i’d really like to buy a new compost bin…maybe one of those fancy tumbling ones OR, a rain barrel, that would be nice too!
This was a toughie… I voted “Substantial” but I think it could also count as “Functional”: I want to replace my existing, dilapidated, rotting split-rail cedar fence with a new picket-like fence. The split-rail has a nice rustic look to it but I’d like something that will keep my pup safely in the yard without the need of welded-wire fencing stapled to the fence or worrying about large nails sticking out, just waiting for me to run into them. It’s a daunting project.
I’ve been saving up my pennies (literally- just dropped off rolled change at the bank!) for a nice 12-inch sliding miter saw, and $100 would get me so much closer to my savings goal. I keep daydreaming about all the projects I could build (furniture and shelves and frames- oh my!). Seeing Ana from Knock Off Wood hack your floating shelves isn’t helping me to cultivate patience, either. ;)
I’d put it towards paint or stain for our weathered picnic table. It’s seen better days, but it’s so well built that I’m sure I can revive it. Any thoughts on your favorite outdoor paint?
What I really want to do is repaint my whole house white but…what I’d do is buy some storage units for the basement-from-hell that sits underneath me and gets on my nerves!