NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Our 3 secrets to affording home projects while building financial freedom

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I want you to have a beautiful home you love. But I don’t want you to sell your soul or your firstborn to do it. Actually, I beg you not to do that.

I want the money you spend to create a haven for your family. But I also want the money you spend to help BUILD your net worth and future financial freedom – not lead to you STRUGGLE TOWN living paycheck to paycheck.

Hiring a draftsman: How we saved thousands on a custom home plan

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If you want to save money on your custom home plans, hiring a local draftsman may be a great option. It was for us. If you have ever considered building a house, you’ve very likely spent lots of time scouting for your perfect house plan online. But, here’s the big secret: Your perfect house plan probably doesn’t exist online. […]

Building our own house: How much did it actually cost?

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Is it actually possible to build a new home on a budget? That’s the question we asked ourselves over two years ago when we were knee-deep in planning the construction of our new home. We had plenty of experience renovating homes, but this would be our first time building a home from the ground up. We […]

4 splurges we skipped when building a new home

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Do you know what one of the best parts of building a house is? FREEDOM! You can do whatever the heck you want. Theoretically, you could build a house exactly the way you want it. The sky is the limit. Sure – you (or your home designer) have to take into consideration basic construction and engineering […]

Forget the Joneses

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Home improvement projects and building are a delicate balance of wants and needs. And the process must come with some prudence – especially if you want to complete the project without becoming “house poor.” And if you want to come out the other end without massive amounts of debt, it will take compromise.

This means thinking about your family’s future and not worrying about what finishes your neighbors and friends can (or can’t) afford.

Tips for a successful yard sale (even when yard sales stink)

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Never again. Every time I have a yard sale, I say, “Never again.” Because it’s just too much work. And then someone haggles me over a $1 and I nearly lose it. (Or dozens of someones, in my case.) But, it was a necessary evil at this point in our lives. Because for over a year, […]