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pugmama
April already?
Member since 3/06 5297 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
We also have only done the renovations that we could afford to do without loans.
Inside the house we put in new carpet and laminate and painted before we moved in. (3 years ago) This year we put in new doors.
Outside we did a little each year - new siding, new windows, new roof, new patios, new driveway.
If we stay in the house we plan on at some point adding a full dormer and redoing the kitchen and then we will have to do a HELOC.
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Posted 7/25/06 11:50 AM  |
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MrsJ
I love my Katie Bug
Member since 5/05 11357 total posts
Name:
Kathy
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
We aren't any of the 3 things your DH suggested 
DH was a contractor with his own company for over 14 years and we're able to do all the home improvements ourselves. Very rarely do we hire someone to do anything - unless we just don't have time - and that saves a lot of money.
We also do one project at a time, as we have the money for it. I refuse to be house-rich and money-poor.
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| Posted 7/25/06 11:54 AM |
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eroxgirl
My Loves
Member since 5/05 15697 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
Posted by schnapy
We didnt borrow any money. We made sure we had a certain amount set aside for what needed to be done right away. Other than that we do a little bit at a time...
I refuse to owe anyone so I can have a new kitchen
We're the same. We gutted and renovated our bathroom, had our floors refinished and expanded the bedroom closet. We've also painted half the apartment. However, I think I can win a prize for having the ugliest kitchen in America, but I'll live with it until we have the cash in hand.
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| Posted 7/25/06 12:04 PM |
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my3bugs
Mom of 2 Boys
Member since 5/05 4381 total posts
Name:
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
I vote no - we pay for everything ourselves. We both work/worked good jobs and save for everything 100% ourselves. Nothing is done on credit.
As for major home improvements:
We have done new windows, new doors, siding, roof (did all at once a few months after move in - we did buy a house slightly under our budget so we had the wiggle room).
We upgraded CAC and sprinkler system.
We are in contract to do our kitchen this year. Totally gut and redo. As part of this we are putting down hardwood in most of downstairs.
Message edited 7/25/2006 12:46:39 PM.
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| Posted 7/25/06 12:19 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
I put yes, because we put stuff on credit cards with no interest and paid them off right away. I don't really consider that borrowing, I think that may be what is confusing about the poll.
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| Posted 7/25/06 12:32 PM |
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Phyl
R.I.P. Sweet Mia ♥
Member since 5/06 28918 total posts
Name:
The Mystical Azzhorse! ™
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
I do. By the time I renovate and update from one end to the other it's time to do it again
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| Posted 7/25/06 12:51 PM |
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lilly
LIF Infant
Member since 1/06 313 total posts
Name:
Lilly
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
We're using our home's equity to fund improvements. I'm confused by "be honest" - is borrowing money considered shameful? 
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| Posted 7/25/06 1:16 PM |
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BabyAvocado
Happy New Year
Member since 5/05 17334 total posts
Name:
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
Posted by lilly
We're using our home's equity to fund improvements. I'm confused by "be honest" - is borrowing money considered shameful?
No not at all. The reason I put that in there is more like to say "include everything". Like some people wouldn't count borrowing from parents as "borrowing" because it's not a bank loan... some people may not consider 0% financing borrowing, I do. Eh, poor choice of words, I guess. 
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| Posted 7/25/06 2:02 PM |
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lilly
LIF Infant
Member since 1/06 313 total posts
Name:
Lilly
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
Posted by BabyAvocado
No not at all. The reason I put that in there is more like to say "include everything". Like some people wouldn't count borrowing from parents as "borrowing" because it's not a bank loan... some people may not consider 0% financing borrowing, I do. Eh, poor choice of words, I guess.
Ah, okay! I understand now! Thanks for clarifying! 
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| Posted 7/25/06 2:15 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
Minor things we pay cash however DH and I have some bigger changes we would like to make and will be taking out a HELOC (which you can claim on your taxes at the end of the year plus in most cases the interest rate is much better than credit cards).
The problem I have with opening new credit cards for home improvements at 0% is that most people do not pay them off before the 0% is up and then get hit with new huge payment. Plus opening too many credit cards hurts your credit score. This is just my opinion and what works best for DH and I.
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| Posted 7/25/06 4:11 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
Posted by Blu-ize
We have used 0% cards. Why not? It's worked out beautifully. We furnished our bedroom, living room and did new floors with 0% cards.
All done with cash:
Gutters
Painting
Carpets
Landscaping/Tree Pruning
Insullation
Anything we can put on a 0% card is doable as long as it has at least a 12 month grace period.
I have been thinking about a HELOC , but the thought of taking on debt with that interest rate makes me queasy. I would rather do it over time.
If we had to do major renos, then I would consider it. For now, we are doing things little by little, some things ourselves.
Big things like CAC or finishing the basement may never happen. If decide to stay in the house for longer than another few years, we may consider those things. Hopefully by then, we may have more money in the bank and/or there may be financing that suits our needs.
Not saying taking out a HELOC won't happen, I'm just too undecided and nervous about taking on more debt.
I forgot to mention that we had to re-hang our 4ft long bay windows because the previous owner did the windows themselves and screwed it up. We paid cash for that too.
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| Posted 7/25/06 4:19 PM |
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puppylove
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/05 561 total posts
Name:
Summer
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
No, honestly. We pay for everything in cash. If we do use our credit card it is always only amounts that we can pay off on the next bill. We refush to go into dept.
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| Posted 7/26/06 12:14 AM |
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Ang-Rich
Beyond Compare
Member since 5/05 17988 total posts
Name:
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
I voted yes but need to explain. We updated our co-op but the renovations we by no means anywhere near what a home renovation would cost. It was about 5k and we had saved up for that so we didn't borrow. BUT we will be taking out an equity line when we buy a home for renovations. No way we could do a thing without the loan.
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| Posted 7/26/06 9:40 AM |
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CkGm
They get so big, so fast :(
Member since 5/05 13848 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: BE HONEST - Have you *Updated with follow-up questions for those who voted no*
I had owned a condo before we bought our home that gave us a huge downpayment and my Dh was renting a rent controlled apartment for 11 years and was a saver. As a result we had both a down payment and considerable savings to do fix up the house.
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| Posted 7/26/06 2:15 PM |
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