Seeing the countdown to Christmas at right about gave me a heart attack this morning. I was going to do another post on decorating for the holidays, but since there are only a few days left, I've decided to skip forward to the new year instead.
To start 2009 off right, I thought I'd launch a series on value. With the economy the way it is, we're all searching for the best way to get the most from the dollars we spend. One really easy way to do that, is to develop a list of priorities for yourself so when you buy something it works with your lifestyle. Mine are:
Durable materials and construction
Easy to clean and care for
Hard to destroy
Fits with my color palette of red and neutrals
If I buy something that's a fashion statement, I rarely spend more than $100 on it
I have to admit to a few weak moments, but for the most part I stick to my list. Since I've developed this list, there are very few big investments I've made that I've regretted. A few little ones maybe, but the big money has been well spent. The iconic example that fits almost every requirement on my list was my kitchen table, which I've referenced often in this blog. 
It's classic in design, so it looks great and I'll still love it in ten years, it's got a rustic finish that gets better with use and abuse, and it's easy to clean. I think we paid about $2000 for it, which seemed like a big price tag at the time, but after six years of constant use, the table is still one of my favorite things in my house and looks better than it did the day we bought it.
I can't say the same for some of the holiday decor I've bought over the years, but that's a post for another day.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
From Fashionista to Recessionista
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1 comments:
Well, it is nice to see my daughter recognize the struggling economy. I mean, for gosh sakes, in her last post she was going to spend a gazillion dollars on some white board thingy to keep track of my grandkids activities. And she was going to hang it in the laundry room. The laundry room !! Gimme a break. No kid is gonna voluntarily go in the laundry room. So I guess the purchase and hanging location did not meet her basic criteria as outlined in this post cuz it ain't up yet. Hip,hip, hooray !!
She is right on the money regarding her kitchen table. That table is the gathering spot, the comfort zone, the happy place. I love that table. Over Thanksgiving, one group was at the table playing cards, another group was at the table creating Origami works of art and yet another group was there just gossiping. All at the same table, at the same time. It is the heart of her home.
As for this post, I just pray that the standards she has created for material purchases do not apply to edible substances.
Gramps aka dad
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