Good Deal

I'm just going to say it straight out: I'm poor. But this is a good thing as it has allowed me to think creatively about the money I spend. Soon (and hopefully very soon) Casey's will direct deposit my wages and I can begin to budget all over again.
In the latest book I am reading, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s" Fisher and Shelly explain that talking about your finances has become a taboo subject. And now I think I know why:

Step 1: Look for stuff at rummage sales

On Saturday I went with Kearsen and some of her in-laws to see what we could find for my new apartment and for baby clothes. I found a desk for $2. It was sturdy. It was the perfect size. But most importantly, it was $2.

Step 2: Modify the rummage sale stuff to make it yours

That same day I went to ACE Hardware. Now because there are a couple chips along the edges and because the desk is not real wood--covered by a glossy film of wood--my ultimate goal was to paint it white.

Step 3: Purchase the things needed to modify the rummage sale stuff to make it yours.

Josh told me he had a sander and I would just need to buy coverings for it. Oh, and I would need primer and paint. Oh, and brushes, too. He told me ACE Hardware was probably my best option. I walked up and down a few of the aisles, just looking. The paint lady was helping someone else, so I filed through about fifty types of white and settled on Cloud White, hoping it wouldn't clash with any other type of white wall it may sit against.
The paint lady finally saw me. "I just bought a desk at a rummage," I began, "and I want to paint it white...and I think I want cloud white. Anyway, it has a glossy film of wood covering over a type of ply wood, I think, and I need to sand it. What do you think would be best?"
She was thinking that this was definitely a newcomer to home improvement. And I was--am. (But I like to think I know a thing or two)
"Okay, first of all, you're going to need to sand it. Go find some coarse sandpaper. Aisle 7. Then I'll get you a quart of primer. Now this primer is oil-based so you're going to need to throw the brush you buy for it away unless you wash it out with gasoline. Then I'll get you your Cloud White paint. You're going to need a different brush for that. I'd say sand it down good, put on a coat of primer, then about two coats of your Cloud White paint. Don't forget to let it dry between each layer."
She proceeded to find my paint while I grabbed my sandpaper ($8). Then I searched for the cheapest brushes I could find (2 for $6). She finally gave me the primer and paint ($12).
"Don't forget," she reiterated, "you need to throw away that brush after you use the primer."
"Thank you." (To tell the truth I already knew half the stuff she "educated" me about. I only couldn't find my way around the store. So take that paint lady.)
Anyway, my total was about $30. So add that to the $2.

Step 4: Ask advice from home improvement professionals (ie. my sister who works at a flooring store and has put a lot of work into their house) about further improvements.

"Would you suggest anything else?" I was putting on my first layer of Cloud White paint.
"Maybe some desk handles."
"Are those expensive?"
"No, they're really cheap."
So today, as my second coat dried, I ran to ACE yet again (and asked a different guy) to find some desk handles. They all said $2.50 and up. I had to buy four. So I took the cheapest ones, after pondering for a long, long time.
When I went to check out the lady asked me if I would like an ACE rewards card.
"No, I don't shop here much."
She frowned. ($10)

Step 5: Put your masterpiece together.

This desk was definitely not $2. More like $42+labor.


I think I like the idea of renovating rummage sale material...beyond the fact that I get laughed at by ACE employees. It makes the artifact mine. But is it the cheap way? Well when you compare the percentage of what you spend to the money you still have left in your bank account, I just don't know.