Chasen Dreams

Before the start of the condo   renovation, we already had like P350k in our home sweet home fund, enough to cover the renovation contract price.   I thought we were financially prepared.     However, conversations like these happened. Me:   Parang mas maganda yung bathroom tiles na nakita ko sa net. Dan: Sige, punta tayo ng Binondo. Let’s check. Additional P30k plus… Dan: Pagawa na kaya tayo ng   bed frames and sofa Me: You sure? Additional P48k plus… Me:   Gusto ko yung may bathroom enclosure para di nababasa yung floor sa may toilet bowl.   And parang mas okay na may sliding mirror sa closet. Dan: Sige. You ask for quotation. Additional P15k plus At madami pang iba… So, our savings went down the drain.   My husband’s entire sweldo from January to April less the amortization of the condo went to renovation expenses.   Our everyday maintenance came from my paltry salary.    During Holy Week, while others were on vacation, we decided to

In my previous post, I told you that our home sweet home is the fruit of hard work (my husband’s…I never consider myself as a hardworking kawani) and frugality.   But, truth be told, it’s also the fruit of stress and discussions.   Renovating our house was ten times stressful than planning our wedding.    Perhaps because during the wedding preparation,   Dan, my husband gave me the general power to do whatever I want. He only had one request…no dramatic vows.   Generally, I   made all the wedding related decisions.     On the other hand, during the renovation, we were both hands-on (perhaps because we were both excited).   I bought Real Living  magazines and browsed internet sites for inspiration.   My husband consulted his friends for suggestions.    Being two different individuals, our ideas most of the time clashed.   I wanted white kitchen cabinets and he wanted black.   I wanted pink or lavender walls and he wanted neutrals. I wanted this, he wanted that!   When I was st