Number One and I feel extremely lucky and fortunate these days. And happy. We feel like The Universe has told us that we are exactly where we are supposed to be right now in this life. Case in point: this remodel has gone so well! There haven't been many disagreements, not many mistakes (not counting the electricians, of course), and whenever we've been worried about the budget, we find an awesome piece on clearance or Home Depot calls and gives us a huge, unexpected refund. Seriously, it happened.
I don't feel like it's a secret that ABEG is paying the bills on this remodel. They own the ranch, after all, it's their investment. But they are investing in our future, which is incredibly nice of them. It makes us feel good.
There are a few people, one in particular, who during the course of the remodel have commented snarkily, "It must be nice spending Other People's Money."
And that comment just hasn't felt right to me.
I feel like I need to address this issue, right here, in the open, with the blessing of The Universe behind me.
It is true, ABEG is footing the bills. And for that we are eternally grateful. But let me make this abundantly clear: no one in this economy, not even A Big Environmental Group, has money to spare. Once the contracting bid was negotiated and approved, we had a very specific, defined budget and very specific areas in which we had to spend this money. We were given the freedom to choose everything that went into the interior, as long as it fit in the limits of the budget. Number One and I have certainly not taken our responsibilities lightly, and from the beginning it has been our goal for this project to come in Under Budget.
Under Budget is practically unheard of in the construction industry, I'm sure anyone who has undertaken any sort of remodel, addition or new construction would agree. So it was an ambitious goal for us. Even ABEG was skeptical.
I can't give you the numbers of our budget, which is part of a confidential agreement with ABEG. Let me just say, it was meager. Minimal. Teeny tiny. In fact, most people couldn't even remodel a kitchen on the entire budget we had to use for a kitchen, dining room, pantry, mudroom and master suite.
Number One and I (especially) are good shoppers. We know how to find a bargain, and we can wait patiently and persistently until things go on sale or shipping is free. There are very few things that we purchased for this that were full price, and we are so proud of this! We got everything we wanted, including a tongue-and-groove pine ceiling, pine floors to match our old pine flooring, a fabulous kitchen, a bathroom that resembles a spa, and more.
I have kept meticulous records, to the penny, of how much we have spent on what. Our part of the budget would have come in more than $2,300 UNDER, had it not been for the seriously underbid flooring and ceiling materials, which our budget had to absorb. Once we had purchased everything we needed, we were happy to cover the flooring and ceiling with our budget, and we STILL came in almost $500 UNDER!
I'd say that is a success. Number One and I would like to thank ABEG and everyone in the organization who has supported us and had a hand in making this project happen. One person in particular, and She knows who She is. In fact, She will be the Double-Secret Guest of Honor at our fabulous Housewarming Extravaganza.
Oh, and thank you, Universe.
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2 comments:
From the pictures we have seen you & Adam have done an awesome job on a very limited budget & dealing with contractors who weren't always there as promised - it's good to know the lessons were well learned after all. Don't let anyone's negativity upset you. We can't wait to see the finished product!!! Love, Mom & Dad
We're not really upset by anyone, just trying to counteract with positive energy because we don't like those kinds of statements being "out there" when we have worked so hard at this. Ain't no one gonna bring us down! Our house is too fabulous!
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