Because someday I’ll look back on all my saving and see a life well spent.
We get tired of the same old look year-after-year. Seasons change and sometimes furniture and furnishings need changing, too. The good news is it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to create a new look. My friend and co-host of The River, Jeannie St. John Taylor, is quite good at taking something outdated and giving it a fresh restyling. In fact, she tells me she gets more joy from finding cast-off furniture alongside the road and fixing it up than she does buying new.
“Just yesterday,” Jeannie said, “while driving, I spotted a wood bed headboard sitting alongside the road. I immediately phoned Ray [her hubby] to come over and get it.” An idea was already taking shape in her mind that this castaway could be something useful with a little refurbishing.
Another Jeannie do-over was an outdated pink leather recliner she’d had for years. For $44, restoration dye for leather or vinyl (bought online at Rub ‘n Restore), changed that old drab chair to a happy beige—fresh and restored.
Thrift stores, especially on 50% off days, are full of pieces to complete other projects at home. Garage sales finds are definitely a money saver. Jeannie spent one dollar for an 18×36 inch artist’s canvas that was originally painted with three textured stripes. Things were about to change when her artistic abilities got hold of that canvas. Soon she was hanging a lovely abstract painting with a face on her wall. She did the same with another much larger 6×4 foot canvas she’d bought for less than $10.
By having an eye out for bargains, a lot of money is saved over purchasing new and there’s a sense of pride that comes from creating your own makeovers.
God put so much creativity into His people. Summer sunshine, kids out of school and art projects go well together. Whether your makeover idea is from someone else’s throwaways, or a do-over of a tired patio table full of memories, it is the perfect time of year to express creativity with very little money spent.
Love your budget. Makeovers should always be budget conscious. Before the project is undertaken, discuss the costs in order to avoid financial stress. Then everyone can relax and enjoy the results of the makeover season.
In him [Christ] lie all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 NLT
