Right-sizing Homes

A recent article on Market Watch looked into the growing trend toward smaller homes.  While the average new home is still over 2,000 square feet, the average size is down around 600 square feet from a year ago.  Obviously, the overall economy is having an effect on the kind of homes we will see built in the near future.

It is not only the size of the homes, but the frills that are being cut as well.  Granite counter-tops, upgraded landscaping, and luxury master suites are out.

I love the ability of Americans to market in every situation.  They are not calling this down-sizing (too negative and depressing I suppose).  This is “right-sizing” and “wiz-sizing.”  I am assuming they are pronouncing that “wise-sizing.”

Personally, I’ve never lived in a house over 2,000 square feet.  When my sons were growing up we couldn’t afford it and now we don’t need it.  Our present home is about 1,600 square feet.

So what is the right size home?  How have you made that determination?  Do you buy all the home you can afford, or only the home you need?

It is my opinion, that from a financial aspect home size needs to be looked at with the future in view.  Generally speaking, the larger the home the higher the ongoing utility costs (the exception may be the older home that is not well insulated, has older windows and doors, and has an old heating/cooling system).  The larger the home the higher the property taxes will be as compared to homes in the same city or county.  The larger the home the higher the insurance costs.  The larger the home the higher the long-term maintenance costs (it just costs more to replace the roof on a 3,000 square foot house than it does a 1,000 square foot house).

Too many people buy homes based on just barely being able to afford the mortgage, without considering the long term expenses involved in home ownership.

So what is the right size house for you and your family?

A People No Longer Capable of a Dignified Spirit

I read today that President George W. Bush was taunted as he arrived at the inauguration of President Barak Obama.  There was no applause, no respect, some boos, and a whole group of people singing “nah,nah, nah, nah…hey hey, good bye.”

I read some responses that suggested this was a Democratic, liberal classlessness.  While I’m certain that Democrats would have made up the the majority of that crowd, I don’t see this as being a strictly Democratic problem.  I see it as a cultural problem that has been building for some time.

We have forgotten that some events demand of us a little dignity and nobility.  I see it at weddings, funerals, graduation ceremonies and other events where one would expect the people present to have left their childish antics at home.  These events are not concerts, football games or parties.  They are serious, solemn and potentially meaningful occasions.

Unfortunately, too many people see every occasion as an opportunity to act like idiots and fools.  What ought to dignified events are turned into comedy routines and opportunities to show the worst side of our nature.

I find it reprehensible but not surprising what the mob chose to do toward President Bush today.  It is an embarrassment to the nation and those who were a part of the disgraceful display have diminished themselves much more than they did George Bush by what they did.  You don’t have to agree with a person to show respect for them.  You don’t even have to like them.  And when one finds themselves at a solemn and special occasion, they ought to try and have a little dignity and class.

Here is one vote, one voice in the wilderness pleading for an end to showing out at graduation ceremonies, yelling at weddings when a groom kisses the bride, wearing t-shirts and tennis shoes to funerals, and chanting stupid slogans when polite honor is called for.

My Kitchen Remodeling Project

Well, after spending  every spare moment working on other people’s home projects, I’m finally getting around to my own home.  Monica and I had discussed remodeling our master bath and then the kitchen later.  We flipped and decided to do the kitchen first.

I haven’t been blogging much.  Lack of time.  Every evening is spent working on the remodel.  I have gutted everything and am preparing to put things back.

I’m d0ing all the work myself, so it will take a little time.  But we hope to save a significant amount of money in the process.  So far I took out the cabinets; removed the walls between the kitchen, living room and dining room; chiseled up all the old ceramic tile; moved the lights and switches and add a couple of light fixtures; built a half wall between kitchen and living room; and patched all the drywall.  I am in the process of getting the drywall mud finished.  It is going to take a couple of more passes and a little sanding and I will be ready to spray on some texture.

Then I will start to install cabinets.  I built the boxes a few weeks ago.  I’m going to get those installed and then put down the new floor tile.  Then I can start building the face frames, doors and drawers for the cabinets.

I will post some pictures of the progress soon.

MPG and ethanol update

The last two fill-ups with ethanol free gas resulted in 16.5 mpg and 17.5 mpg respectively. I’m working on my fifth tank of ethanol free gas. The mpg has improved up 2.5 mpg to this point. I started at 15mpg while using 10% ethanol gas and the last tank was 17.5. I thought I had peaked at 16.5 since two tanks came in at that level, but it went up again.

So the experiment continues.

I’m wallowing in Sooner bitterness

The following was emailed to me by a reliable source who had it forwarded to him by his aunt’s second cousin’s bosses personal assistant – so there has to be some truth to it…

Subject: St. Tebow

Tebow Skips Senior Season, Ascends Directly Into Heaven

MIAMI (SP) — Shortly after leading the Florida Gators to a national
championship with a 24-14 win over Oklahoma, junior quarterback Tim Tebow announced that he would skip his senior season and ascend directly into heaven.

Tebow entered the press room to wild applause. A reporter for a 24- hour
cable sports network burst into tears when the 2007 Heisman winner entered the room. Another threw a pair of boxer shorts on the podium. Tebow smiled at the gesture and several sports reporters fainted.

“Sorry I’m late,” Tebow began. “There was a six-year-old boy with cancer
in row 54 and I had to make my way through the crowd to heal him.”

“I want to start by saying that playing quarterback for the University of
Florida, winning two national championships, has been a great honor. There has been some speculation about my future and I want to clear that up right now,” he continued.

“Don’t go, Tim!” a reporter shouted from the back of the room.

“After much consideration, I have decided to skip my senior season at the
University of Florida and ascend directly into Heaven,” Tebow announced.
Upon making the announcement, Tebow was bathed in a blinding white light and vanished.

In response to the news, ESPN announced they will have a month-long tribute to Tebow. ESPN2 will now be known as ESPN-TEBOW and will feature Tebow highlights (including home videos of Tebow’s childhood), re-airings of past interviews, Tebow-centric analysis by ESPN air personalities, a Tebow quiz show and a reality show to find the “most Tebow-like” person in America.

“He wasn’t just the greatest player in college football history,” said a
college football writer at the press conference, tears streaming down his
face. “He might have been the greatest person to ever walk on earth.”

“Get Rich Slowly” a Blog Recommendation

I don’t know how I came across this blog, but it has become one of my favorites.  I subscribed and now receive the new posts through email.  If you are interested in really helpful information on personal finance this is a great resource.  Check out “Get Rich Slowly.”