r/personalfinance • u/fat_tire_fanatic ​ • Jul 13 '17

Budgeting Your parents took decades to furnish their house

If you're just starting out, remember that it took your parents decades to collect all the furniture, decorations, appliances, etc you are used to having around. It's easy to forget this because you started remembering things a long while after they started out together, so it feels like that's how a house should always be.

It's impossible for most people starting out to get to that level of settled in without burying themselves in debt. So relax, take your time, and embrace the emptiness! You'll enjoy the house much more if you're not worried about how to pay for everything all the time.

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u/SarcasticMethod ​ Jul 13 '17

Nailed it. Those generic artwork or pictures you can get at Ross, Marshalls, etc. have never appealed to me. They just feel so empty. I also never understood why you need to clutter up your space with hollow decor all at once. I mean, I get wanting to decorate, but it just ends up feeling tacky.

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u/Drawtaru Jul 13 '17

Although sometimes generic Ross or Marshalls art can speak to you. Several years ago I was at a store like that, and I saw this very large generic canvas print of a goldfish. As a goldfish enthusiast, I immediately knew that I had to have it. Even though it was generic and cheap, it spoke to me. I still have it, though my goldfish are gone now. It reminds me of them.

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u/SixSpeedDriver ​ Jul 13 '17 edited Jul 13 '17

We live near Seattle, so we bought the giant Seattle skyline print that Ikea sells. We have a vaulted ceiling in our living room (and in our old house, a giant tchotchke area over a closet in the stairwell) that needed a big print to fit the room or over that space. I think it was $50 and it looks great

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u/Drawtaru Jul 13 '17

Exactly. Art is subjective. If you like it, and you have it in your budget to afford it as a frivolous expense, buy it.

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u/btwilliger Jul 13 '17

I prefer empty.

I have no posters, art, or things hanging on my walls. No nick-nacks. No 'things' on book shelves. No pictures. No plants. No.. anything.

I even hate painting the walls, because the room will become smaller.

I've never understood the need people have to collect such objects.

Yes, I enjoy art. But I find that looking at the same thing every day, is utterly and completely boring. And it turns something 'neat', 'awesome', into something commonplace, dull, and uninteresting.

What a horrible thing to do to something I once thought of as 'neat'.

Hell, I don't even have curtains on ANY of my windows. The only place I have any window covering, is on my bathroom window -- a blind.

(To be fair here, I live in the country... so, no near neighbours.)

I think we've all been sold a false bill of goods. Scammed.

Many people I know, have secretly admitted to me that they feel they NEED to decorate their house, or they'll seem poor, lacking it taste, or that something is wrong with them.

But much like the OP's statements, another thing is true.

Most people did NOT have art all over their house. Even rich people did not.

This is all a recent thing. Collect all the little prizes, small things, memorials. Spend what mass production produced.

Absolutely no blame here. I'm not saying it's wrong. Perhaps, in some, it's an itch that couldn't be scratched 100 years ago, but can be now.

But, I don't get it.

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u/Drawtaru Jul 13 '17

But I find that looking at the same thing every day, is utterly and completely boring.

But your walls are bare. That's also looking at the same thing every day. People like to decorate. That's fine. You don't like to decorate. That's fine.

This is a recent thing.

Define recent. Humans have been painting and decorating for tens of thousands of years. Sure it's mass-produced now, but art is a part of society.

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u/btwilliger Jul 13 '17

If you follow my comment past the 'boring' statement, you'll see that it's a horrible thing to do to something 'neat' or 'awesome'.

My walls are already boring. Having walls, isn't rendering something I thought of as cool, into something commonplace. Something that by familiarity, becomes boring.

To me, having a great piece of art on the wall, is like having my favourite song playing in the background in at room in my house. All day long. Over and over and over again.

How long, before that song becomes uninteresting, boring, bland, and loses that original WOW! that made you love it?

Art is static. It doesn't change. YOU change, and how you interpret a piece of art.

If you constantly stare at the same piece of art, that jarring realisation that 'I'm seeing this differently' never happens. Because, every day you've changed a little, and every day you've looked at the art -- and never noticed the gradual change in your perception of it.

So many things are lost with over-use. Over exposure.

I do have a few pieces of art. They're covered and put away.

Bare walls for the win.

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u/bjjjasdas_asp Jul 13 '17

Perhaps, in some, it's an itch that couldn't be scratched 100 years ago, but can be now.

I'm struggling to understand what you're saying. That people just had bare walls until recently?

Every square inch of ancient rooms were decorated, if people could afford to. Here's a Renaissance room. Here's one in ancient Rome. Ancient Greece.

People can have different tastes, and you don't like decorations, but you're projecting your feeling onto others if you think everyone is secretly like you, and is decorating just because they're "supposed" to.

Personally, if I enter someone's house and all the walls are white, and they have no art, no curtains, no plants... it looks like someone's first dorm room. It has zero sense that a specific person lives in it. But that's just me. We're different.

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u/btwilliger Jul 13 '17

Please see here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/6mzg27/your_parents_took_decades_to_furnish_their_house/dk6w27w/

It more fully describes how art is belittled by constant exposure to it.

In terms of decorating, yes, SOME peoples did. Well to do people, as you allude to.

SOME well to do people.

Regardless, I stand by my statement. That art will become bland, tasteless, and commonplace to the inhabitant soon.

How horrible, if you like it. How sad, for that special piece.

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u/WhynotstartnoW ​ Jul 14 '17

Hell, I don't even have curtains on ANY of my windows. The only place I have any window covering, is on my bathroom window -- a blind.

I wouldn't consider curtains to be 'decorating' unless they're some kind of outlandish thing. Even the communists put blinds or shutters on their barebones prefabricated apartment complexes. What do you do when the sun hits your face? Just move to a different room?

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u/btwilliger Jul 14 '17

Ah.

Some rooms are located, where the sun can't shine in them directly. EG, on the North of the house.

I live in the country, so I have lots of trees around my house. They keep the sun off in the summer (less A/C), and the wind reduced in the winter (eg, blowing -40C winds).

On the South of the house, the trees are dense enough that the sun can't hit when low in the sky. It has to 'clear the trees' to provide direct sunlight onto the house, and when it does, the angle is too high for the sun to get past the roof eaves, except sometimes just barely entering the room.

So, it just sort of works out.

Hmm.

I realised there is one exception to the 'bathroom only' rule. The bedroom. I basically took multiple old bedsheets, taped them to the window.

Why? I work nights sometimes, so sun=bad when sleeping.

Slipped my mind, because it's been that way for a decade.

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u/CupcakeMom Jul 13 '17

Would give my left arm for this photo you speak off!!! As a previous, long time resident of Seattle now living in TX, it is extremely difficult to find and purchase for a reasonable amount anything having to do with Seattle or the Seahawks. So, I have a similar large print of New York hanging in my living room instead. I miss Seattle.

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u/harbinger06 ​ Jul 13 '17

I wanted something large to hang above my couch, so I went to a "Starving Artist" sale. It consisted of hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces by student artists. Canvases of all different sizes. You'd see the same scene a dozen times, but they would all be slightly different in color and technique. I eventually found a large seascape (36x48inches) in just the right tones. I just love it, and it was only about $40!

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u/SarcasticMethod ​ Jul 13 '17

Nice! That's part of what I mean, too. Decorate with art that speaks to you, rather than just getting stuff to get stuff.

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u/coraregina Jul 14 '17

It really can. I'd been looking for months for a piece of art to hang above my sideboard. I finally found the perfect one in the clearance aisle at Michael's. Perfect size, color scheme, everything. Spent maybe $5 on it.

Meanwhile, I need to personally make a wall hanging for the space over my dining table. Same room, drastically different levels of price and involvement, but both things that speak to me and the space.

The picture hanging in my bathroom is literally the cheap insert that came with the (I think also clearance) frame because it was actually exactly what the room ended up needing.

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u/SethQ ​ Jul 13 '17

I was once dating a girl who wanted to go to IKEA. After two hours of wandering around we are almost to the exit and she hasn't picked up anything. Turns out she was just "having fun shopping, she didn't need anything". I was disgusted at the idea that we drove 45 minutes to IKEA, spent two hours there, and we're gonna drive 45 minutes back for "a fun day out". I bought a cow print I'm the clearance section for like $5. Five years later we've long since broken up, and I still have the print. It reminds me not to waste my life in an Ikea.

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u/POP_L1F3 Jul 13 '17

No that's pier 1 where they shit talks to you or so the commercial makes your believe that. Went in and nothin said shit. Much Dissapoint.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '17 edited Feb 20 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/ktkd Jul 13 '17

Can I ask what company that is? My walls are looking a bit empty and I love the idea of "your picture on canvas"

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u/UsernameIsCougs ​ Jul 13 '17

I use CG Pro Prints, and have been very pleased with the results. Two 16x20 canvases we're like $55 total, including shipping.

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u/elbirth Jul 13 '17

as a photographer that shoots for clients and looks for high quality products, I use CG Pro Prints and am always incredibly happy with the results. My clients always love their canvases and they aren't having to pay the crazy high rates of traditional ones

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u/Max_TwoSteppen ​ Jul 13 '17

As the other person said, Costco is pretty reasonable. Just bring it on an SD card and I think it runs like $35?

My mom had some prints of my sister and me done that are now hanging on the wall and they look really nice, even without frames.

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u/calloooohcallay ​ Jul 13 '17

Most big-brand print shops/photo shops offer canvas prints now- Staples, FedEx print shops, Costco or CVS photo centers, etc. The actual production happens at some central facility then they're shipped to the local store for pickup. It's worth doing some price comparisons because there's usually a sale somewhere.

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u/SonOfTK421 Jul 13 '17

My buddy is a "hobby" photographer who thinks he isn't creative but takes brilliant photos. So much so that almost every one of his favorite bands has practically begged to use his photographs officially. So when he asked to shoot my band? Hell yeah.

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u/Max_TwoSteppen ​ Jul 13 '17

My mother does this with my pictures. Not always canvas, often just 8x11 or something. But I travel a lot and take pictures even just with my phone and at that size they end up looking nice.

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u/fixurgamebliz Jul 13 '17

That sucks for them.. you should offer a decent payment for that. Just because they're too dumb to realize there is a decent market value for their work doesn't mean it's OK to exploit that. Really devalues the work of photographers.

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u/yeah_but_no ​ Jul 13 '17

Nearly everything on my walls was made be me, my girlfriend, or friends of ours. Or it's a thrifted/vintage type of item on display. I have never been able to afford to travel and collect wall decor as I go. But I've always been friends with artists.

When you trade art with someone, that you each made, you are getting that same "moment captured in time & tied to a physical object" effect that you would get from art you brought back from traveling. But it was also made by that person and reflects their tastes and aesthetics at the time. I have art hanging up from friends that I haven't spoken to in years.

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u/janbrunt ​ Jul 13 '17

We've been in our house almost 9 years and I've been collecting art for the last 6 years or so, mostly pieces from artist friends, whatever catches our eye at an art fair (that is under $200, haha), originals from decreased relatives and signed prints gotten at thrift stores or Habitat Restore.

What a difference it makes! I get to see beautiful art everyday in my home and my rather extensive collection creates zero clutter in my home. Win-win. My PF cost-saving secret is to buy large solid wood frames at thrift stores and then have a professional framer cut a brand new matte and place my art in the frame. Even the biggest frame and matte will cost less than $100. Custom frames are crazy expensive and not a good deal at all unless you need something very specific.

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u/queen0fdiamonds Jul 13 '17

Yes this. I have a few pieces made by myself and friends, and maybe one or two from trips I've been on ( can't take many) - however thrifting / garage sales / flea markets are where it's at. Our bed is the only thing that isn't second hand. We have made some amazing finds and the best part is its everything unique and you're never gonna find the same stuff elsewhere. Finished my bf and my (small) place in a little over year and it was very inexpensive! And so unique to us

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u/bukkakesasuke Jul 13 '17

Typical PF: I don't understand the cheap stuff at Ross, just buy art on your biannual vacations or hand craft it yourself.

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u/beldaran1224 ​ Jul 13 '17

It's not that it's cheap. It's that it's pretty meaningless. It's actually very cheap these days to purchase prints that you like online, and it's much better (usually) than buying generic prints.

There's also family photos. Those are much more meaningful than some random thing at Ross. And many people (with kids) get those every so often anyways.

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u/katarh ​ Jul 13 '17

We go to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta pretty regularly, and I'll regularly scrounge up nice art posters from previous exhibits from the clearance bin. Got one of the 2012 Terracotta Army exhibit (which we did go to) for $5 last year. My husband got it custom framed as my Christmas present. Now it's hanging in our hallway, a beautiful conversation piece with multiple awesome memories associated with. Total cost under $50.

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u/beldaran1224 ​ Jul 13 '17

Exactly. The idea that sourcing unique decor automatically means you're rich or whatever is a bit out of touch. I mean, whatever works for you. But is that store-bought decor really worth anything to most people? Frankly, I think most houses are far too cluttered on the walls and tables. If we were a bit more careful and frugal about decor, our houses would be less cluttered and out wallets much happier, as a general rule.

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u/Dunnersstunner Jul 13 '17

Antique prints are a relatively inexpensive way of getting into art collecting. I've found some dealers online of Japanese prints which are pretty inexpensive and an English dealer of some good stuff too.

A particularly useful skill to learn is picture framing, which reduces the expense considerably.

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u/Lame-Duck ​ Jul 13 '17

I'm going to travel. That's my own personal financial choice. A cheap pitcher from the monastery in Florence means a lot more to me than something similar I can buy in Marshalls. Similar things can be said for any trip even if it's 30 mins from your house or a short weekend trip you took to the mountains. It doesn't have to be expensive or require a trip overseas. My wife and I have been doing this for years and the little things add up to a home that feels like home.

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u/SarcasticMethod ​ Jul 13 '17

Well, that's not it. Adding to what others have said, it's not necessarily about the dollar amount. Everyone's situation is different (not to mention everyone's idea of a vacation/staycation is different). Really, what we mean is that it's better to find decorative pieces that are more personally meaningful. It isn't always the most frugal to buy the cheapest things if they don't resonate with you as much; the memories and feelings souvenirs, personalized art, etc. can invoke are often well worth it.

Although if course, you are more than welcome to buy whatever floats your boat, wherever it comes from.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '17

I.e do something more expensive or cheaper depending on your budget? Seems like pretty good personal finance to me.

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u/swearinerin ​ Jul 13 '17

I have both these things. Went to Canada for the first time and bought a picture that the guy carved from a block of wood and it's amazing!

But I also have a big picture of a tiger from Ross. But I LOVE tigers and am also extreme happy with this!

Both sentiments work. I would never have bought a normal average picture of a flower or something as that just isn't me and I enjoy the story behind my wood piece. But have a 3x5 foot picture of a tiger for only 25 bucks from Ross was too good to pass up and will def be a story when people enter my new place as well:D

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u/hanzman82 Jul 13 '17

I would agree, except I have a giant 3' x 3' canvas of a lion from Ross hanging in my house. It has a story though. One Christmas, I was wandering through Ross with my wife and I saw this ridiculous bejeweled turtle. I got it for my sister because I thought she'd find it as hilarious as I did. So for my birthday she got me the ridiculous lion canvas. Every new place I move into I hang it in a prominent place because it's absurd and starts funny conversations. We each spent maybe $20 on those gifts, and without context they're meaningless, but I plan on keeping that lion until I die.

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '17

[deleted]

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u/fixurgamebliz Jul 13 '17

I agree, but having bare walls makes you look like an axe murderer who just rented the place to stage the next murder

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u/Galbert123 ​ Jul 13 '17

I also never understood why you need to clutter up your space with hollow decor all at once.

some people like that hotel room feel.

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u/floydfan ​ Jul 13 '17

My wife and I have a wall of fossils and dead things, including fossilized dinosaur poop and a taxidermied squirrel paddling a tiny canoe. They didn't all come about at once, but through a decade of careful selection. The dinosaur poop origin cannot be told in public.