by Furnishly | Sep 14, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
I initially moved back home to the suburbs with a time limit. I planned on staying with my parents for a year to make a sizable dent in paying off my debt, then hoped to promptly return to the city — a built-in escape plan. But as I crept up on the one-year mark, I noticed my desire to leave had dwindled, and I started to recognize how much I had gained just from being out of the city. I was saving on the pricey lifestyle that can come with living in the city, from sky high rents (of course, buying a place in the suburbs would come with a whole different cost) to countless restaurants and things to do, sure. But the life I’d created was also undeniably more balanced, and a lot of it had to do with the fact that I moved to the suburbs. These are some of things that have changed for the better.
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There was no way I could afford living in the city without roommates, which meant I was always sharing both the kitchen and the fridge. Anyone who’s lived with roommates knows you have to be strategic when it comes to grocery shopping and cooking. Between playing Tetris with your one shelf of fridge space and doing the guesswork of whether someone’s already using the kitchen, cooking felt more like a timed chore. Meal planning becomes a lot easier when you can actually fill your fridge.
I’m able to invest more in my interests.
My original motivation to move to the suburbs had a lot to do with rent prices, but pretty much everything is cheaper outside of the city. Aside from paying off my debt, I’ve been able to invest in things that felt like luxuries before. I joined a powerlifting gym, picked up a few more instruments, tended to an ever-expanding garden — all things I never had the space or funds for. Even if I had been able to shove a drum set into my Brooklyn bedroom, there was no way I would have gotten away with practicing without complaints from the neighbors that surrounded us on all sides.
Hosting friends and family is a lot easier.
When I lived in the city I would have friends over, but mostly as a first stop on our way somewhere else. Occasionally, I’d get invited to dinner parties, or to that random friend’s house with an inexplicably massive apartment, or to someone’s place with roof access, but mostly we went out. As much as I loved constantly exploring new places, being able to invite a bunch of people over for a BBQ is an undeniably great time. Benefits include no wait for outdoor seating and only spending what I would have burned through in two hours at a bar anyways.
Part of what I loved about living in the city was its walkability and how much there was to explore. It’s easy to get around, but it’s not so easy to leave. People always joke about how New Yorkers never leave New York, and once you live there for a bit you realize it’s kind of true. It makes sense because it always feels like there’s something worth experiencing close to home, but since moving to suburbia I’ve planned a lot more trips. The extra funds certainly help, but I think living in some cities (the East Coast in particular) can make you feel like you’re constantly in motion, which can be exhausting. Since moving to the ‘burbs I’ve found myself much less exhausted by the idea of travel and more motivated to go to completely new places.
I’m sure other cats growl at the UPS guy and meet their parents at the door awaiting belly rubs, but my cat’s especially doglike qualities have made her especially appreciative of the additional yard space. Which, as a cat lover, is not a small reason to love living in the suburbs.
This piece is part of Transformation Month, where we’re showing off amazing home makeovers, brilliant tiny tweaks, inspiring before & afters, and so much more. Head on over here to see it all!
by Furnishly | Sep 14, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Kristen GaraffoContributor
Kristen is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer and homebody. She specializes in home and lifestyle content, and loves helping others live their best lives at home and beyond. Romanticizing her life since 1987, you can probably find her sipping on iced coffee, crushing a Crossfit workout, designing her next dream space, or blasting Taylor Swift.
by Furnishly | Jun 1, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
There’s nothing like stepping off the plane into an exciting new destination, especially in the summertime. But traveling is also expensive — not only do you have to pay for transportation, you have to fund accommodations, food, and activities once you arrive.
Here’s the good news: There are plenty of ways to travel for nearly nothing this summer, especially if you’re willing to be a little unorthodox. Here are five ways to travel for less.
Pick your destination based on flights — not the other way around.
It can be difficult to score a really cheap flight for your dream destination in a given timeframe, especially in the summer when demand is high. But if you cast a wide net for a range of destinations, you’re more likely to nab an excellent deal — and then you can plan your trip accordingly. Scott’s Cheap Flights is a bargain-hunting travel website that sends alerts for low fares via newsletter (with extra savings for premium subscribers).
Flights are also particularly expensive right now, so to the extent possible, approach travel with a flexible mindset. Keep an open mind when it comes to destinations and be prepared to jump on a deal when it arises.
Leverage your credit card points.
If you have a credit card that offers great rewards, you can often not only get cash back on travel-related spending, but redeem your points directly for flights and hotel bookings. With enough points, you truly can travel for free. One of the most popular travel cards is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which comes with built-in travel insurance for trip cancelation, lost baggage, and rental cars, among other perks. You can redeem the points you earn and book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, or use them to book with Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. (Here are seven other options recommended by experts.)
You can also sign up for airline or hotel-branded credit cards, which often offer bonus miles or points upon signing. But credit cards should not be opened impulsively: Carefully consider your credit score and ability to pay down the full balance of a credit card each month before opening a new line.
If you’re not already enrolled in a free airline loyalty program, now is a good time to start. When you register for a frequent flier program, you’ll earn miles on each trip you book — miles that you can eventually redeem for a “free” flight. If you earn enough miles to reach a higher tier of a loyalty program, you can also earn perks like free upgrades and checked bags.
The same is true for hotels: Make sure you take advantage of free loyalty programs and input your loyalty rewards number when booking to earn points on every stay. If you stick with one brand, you might be surprised at how quickly you can accumulate enough points to pay for your next vacation. Regardless of your budget for a given trip, you can probably book within your chosen loyalty program. For example, Hilton encompasses more than 18 brands, from the more budget-friendly Hampton by Hilton to the luxurious Waldorf Astoria. Make sure to check hotel websites for deals and promotion codes, too. You never know when a hotel might be offering offer a fifth night free if you book four nights.
Your miles or points could also be worth more if you travel on an off-peak day, so play around with dates and see how much value you can eke out of your hard-earned rewards.
Take a “working vacation” for free room and board.
If you spend a lot of time on TikTok, chances are you’ve seen Workaway pop up once or twice. Think of Workaway as a bit like Airbnb but for cultural exchange — travelers can choose from thousands of opportunities in 170 countries, where they work for their hosts in return for free room and board. The work involved varies widely from listing to listing: You could work on a farm in Switzerland, or be an au pair in Spain. Of course, you should only take on work you’re qualified to do, and vet listings and reviews carefully to determine if it’s the right situation for you. (There’s also an annual fee to access the platform, starting at $49 a year.)
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is another option that’s based wholly on farming, with placements in over 130 countries. WWOOF aims to foster cultural exchanges while also promoting organic farming methods around the world. Each destination country has its own site and associated membership (membership fees in Australia, for instance, are $70 for two years). Opportunities range from ranching to cheesemaking. Like Workaway, you’ll want to read the listings and reviews carefully to make sure your chosen destination is a good fit.
While both offer long-term opportunities (including months-long stays), you can also find listings for a visit that’s less than a week long. If you’re seeking adventure and a change of scenery, a “working vacation” could be a great option, as you only need to pay for your transportation there and back.
Another option for free accommodations is house-sitting (and pet-sitting), or participating in a home exchange. Trusted Housesitters, Nomador, and MindMyHouse are three platforms that allow house-sitters and homeowners to connect with each other. Each has an associated fee: Trusted Housesitters starts at $129 per year for sitters, Nomador charges $99 per year, and MindMyHouse charges $20 per year. This is a great option for those who love animals and want to find accommodations that are more unique than your typical hotel or resort.
If you’re willing to host visitors in your home, you could also participate in a home exchange. One popular platform is HomeExchange, which charges $175 per year (but the fee only kicks in once you’ve found an exchange you want to do). This is another great way to get free accommodations in far-flung locations, with home swaps available in 159 countries. While the fees for these platforms may seem hefty at first glance, if you find a beautiful home in your desired location, the benefit could easily outweigh the cost.
Katey Laubscher
Contributor
Katey Laubscher is a freelance writer from California. She’s passionate about travel, pop culture, and historically accurate period dramas.
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by Furnishly | Apr 4, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
For many renters, it isn’t the blank walls or the basic carpets, or even the neighbors that can disrupt that feeling of home sweet home. Instead, it’s the lighting. Whether your rental sports flourescent light bars that cast a jarring light, or those much-hated flush mount lights that seem dated and unoriginal, ceiling lights in rental units aren’t exactly envious.
But there’s a rental hack for just about anything. And where there’s a basic, ugly light fixture, there’s a DIY that makes everything better. Here, we’ve collected a few DIY ceiling light covers that are totally cool for renters, since for the most part, they don’t make any permanent changes to the existing light fixture. So don’t fret; keep reading for a few easy and inexpensive landlord-friendly fixes for ugly ceiling-mounted light fixtures.
If you can’t change it, hide it. As long as your ugly lighting isn’t too obtrusive (in that case, we’re so sorry for you), you can use one of these cheap methods to cover it up until you move out into a space of your own. Once you nail this, it’s time to spruce up your rental’s bathroom and wall-to-wall carpet.
In this YouTube tutorial, you’ll learn how to use cheap Dollar Store cutting mats to create a totally glam hanging fixture that’s suspended from your ceiling light. Just a few simple steps (and the most basic craft materials!) and you’re all set with a blingy ceiling light cover.
There’s something that’s both chic and rustic about rattan; it’s a natural fiber, so it lends that rustic vibe, but it’s also very of the moment. That’s why you might want to consider this clever ceiling light cover from Heather at TheHeatheredNest. She shows you how to take a simple rattan basket to create a totally upgraded look in your entryway.
3. Lamp shade lighting cover
Not in love with your ceiling light cover? Give it an upgrade with a lamp shade, like Heather does on her site, TheFeatheredNest. The great thing about this hack is that you can create a customized look for your space given the vast number of lampshades available at home decor stores. Just look for one that’s straight up and down rather than tapered for a clean, modern look.
Using only a hanging plant basket and a spool of sisal rope, Maegan at love…Maegan created a beautiful ceiling light cover that works perfectly in her beachy bedroom. Find instructions for this simple project on her site.
How can you create a boho or Scandi aesthetic when your apartment has those ugly gold and glass flush-mount ceiling lights? Answer: By covering them with this ingenious macrame-inspired ceiling light cover from love…Maegan, of course! Using little more than a skein of yarn and wooden craft beads, she’s created the perfect ceiling light cover for a boho style. Get the how-to on her site.
We’re guessing you didn’t realize just how glam a flush-mount ceiling light could be. But when you add a ring of black feathers to it, like love…Maegan did in this room, we promise you’ll be a total believer.
Taryn Williford
Contributor
Taryn is a writer, editor, content strategist, and homebody from Atlanta. I might have helped you declutter your apartment through the magic of a well-paced email newsletter. Or maybe you know me from The Pickle Factory Loft on Instagram.
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by Furnishly | Mar 28, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
A number of years ago, I left a career as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to pursue writing. I had sought out the medical field because as the first-born child of an immigrant family, I had to meet the expectation of higher education and a well-paying job. Yet, after a few years, I found myself in tears whenever I’d leave work. I thought that maybe I just needed a vacation. So, I chose a wellness resort that gave me some time to reflect.
One day, I was walking around the property’s labyrinth when I asked myself, “What do you want?” I tried to ignore the question, but it came up again. I eventually realized that I didn’t want to be an oral surgeon anymore — I wanted to write and tell stories. But a change that big was terrifying. When I got back home, the only step I took was to cut back on expenses and save more money in preparation for a potential career change. But my body began to revolt, imposing severe gastritis attacks that sent me to the emergency room. After a few of those, I decided it really was time to give my notice. While my salary was instrumental in helping me build my savings and feel somewhat safe with the transition, I still learned a lot from switching to a lower-paying career.
The shift dictated a change in lifestyle and taught me several lessons along the way, some of which required looking in the mirror. I didn’t always like what I saw, but I loved what I learned. Here are nine nuggets I picked up.
How little I could relate to others.
As a surgeon, I could go anywhere and buy anything I wanted. Posh gym and a personal trainer, check. Overseas trips, check. I remember recommending those activities to others or talking about my travels to people as if everyone had the same salary. It took leaving the field to develop an understanding of and compassion for people with different income levels.
How many unnecessary purchases I made.
On my days off, I made a habit of visiting my favorite shops and purchasing clothes, shoes, jewelry, and body products. Even a year after I stopped randomly shopping, I would find clothes with tags still attached in my closet. It was a waste of money and a disservice to Mother Earth, considering the damage the fashion industry does to the environment. I realized these extra purchases were a way to handle negative feelings, the sadness of my divorce, the stress of my work, and maybe a sense of loneliness.
I don’t need much to live a happy life.
Once I changed my spending habits and began focusing on needs rather than wants, I noticed how little I had to own in order to live happily. My 500-square-foot studio became my sanctuary. I continued my favorite activities of writing, drawing, and baking. A small living space required less time and effort to maintain. Being mindful of space meant choosing fewer, but good-quality items.
It’s important to live within my means.
We live in a consumerist society that constantly pressures and manipulates everyone to want and buy things we don’t necessarily need. I learned that I may need a car, but I don’t need a BMW. I need a place to live, but it doesn’t have to be a financial burden. I’m mindful of what I can afford. And if friends judge me negatively for doing so, I reevaluate those friendships.
Enjoying life doesn’t cost a lot.
For me, there is a way to live on a budget and still enjoy life. I take advantage of the museums’ discount or free days. Instead of buying books, I visit the local library, which also offers passes to cultural events (museums, the ballet, etc.) I buy in-season produce — it tastes better and costs less — and I check out free community classes at my local yoga studio.
Experience trumps stuff every time.
No matter how much I love an object, its novelty usually wears off in a day, a week, or a month. What stays with me forever is the memory of a trip, a lovely meal, or a skill I learned in a class.
When I’m down, I remember what I have achieved so far. Drawing upon my successes lets me know I can handle whatever comes next. Recognizing my accomplishments gives me the courage and strength to move forward.
Gratitude brings abundance.
There’s a saying that goes: “When you love what you have, you have everything you need.” I can’t agree more. There’s levity and joy in appreciating what I have and realizing that it’s enough. When I do, I feel abundant.
My choice, my consequence.
Having clarity in my decisions and autonomy makes me feel more confident. Once I chose the career path that was best for my life, I was willing to accept the consequences, even if they were slightly uncomfortable. I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and built anew.
