Sorry, but this isn’t a giveaway, competition or link to an e-book that will show you how to earn £1k in three simple steps.
(I wonder how many will stop reading now?)
No- it’s a “What if” post. Being of a somewhat nosy nature, I’m curious what you would spend £1000 on if it dropped into your lap today.
The rules of this virtual windfall are as follows:
- No spending on the kids (because lets face it – that’s where it usually goes!)
- No paying bills (as above!)
- You have two virtual weeks to spend it or lose it so no saving for a rainy day!
It’s not as easy as it sounds actually, deciding what to spend £1k on when anything other than the kids or bills seems a bit frivolous! However, if I need to spend it then I think I know what I’d do with it. You see, I’m a closet interior designer, closest mainly because I haven’t the dosh to be anything else! I love the “Home” programmes on TV, from Escape to The Country, and of course Relocation, Relocation where you can have a nosy around other people’s houses to home makeover shows (thank gawd for Sky and Sky+).
Given £1k and being let loose on this house would be like a dream come true. It’s a lovely house as it it but it could be so much more. I have three bedrooms, our room, Taylor’s room and Kieran’s room. Taylor’s Room is newly done out so nothing needs really doing there.
Kieran’s Room needs a lick of paint and a new bookcase, and perhaps some funky storage.
Our Room needs, everything! It’s tiny, and seems to be the house storage room – I’d love to do it out and have a proper room that feels restful and cosy!
The Kitchen was painted not too long ago but needs so new appliances with a more countrified feel I think, creams, spotty green oilcloth on the table, new chair pads (I’m having an Emma Bridgewater moment).
Outside
I’ve always wanted a proper outside seating area, a love chair or similar where I may enjoy some sun or curl up with a book on an evening in peace and quiet. I’m looking for something special though, something like these rustic log furniture pieces.
The Living Room. A lovely room with a fireplace, mid oak desk, lots of cream & white and a touch of duck egg blue . It’s basically a blank canvas and whilst I like the neutral feel, it really needs some character (and probably some more colour!). Oh I’d have some fun in there!
When I’d finished titivating my rooms, buying items from big and small retailers alike (I like big retailers for the discounts you get but some of the smaller businesses, like many of those I see through Twitter and the like, have such unique and gorgeous items, not to mention stellar customer service!). I would replace (assuming there was any cash left!) things like towels (for big soft ones that have colours other than muted and strangely grey) and tea-towels!
Clearly this is just off the top of my head and not something I have thought/ day dreamed about at all! So what would you do with your imaginary £1k – please comment and let me know!
I would spend £1000 on…..
– a trip to london’s west end to see a show with my girlie friends (£250)
– a weekend away at a luxurious hotel with DH (£200)
– a really good family photo shoot with photos in frames at the end (£300)
– a new set of wardrobes for our bedroom since it’s the only untouched room in the house (the rest)
Oh what a dream!
Now that sounds fab – a mix of instant fun and luxury and more solid stuff ie wardrobes and the pictures so you can have something to show for your spends!
New carpet for lounge & stairs, update kitchen cupboard doors & worktops & new drive if enough cash. Boring I know but desparately needs doing.
See I get a kick out of getting projects like that done. Roy used to go crackers with me, giving me birthday money to spend on myself only to find I’d come back with a new kitchen bin, cushion covers, new teatowels….!
Ooh hard choice my bedroom desperately needs doing again its where everything gets stored, I want a boudoir a place to get ready and relax.
Funny how the “master” bedroom always tends to be the “slave” to storage! I’m determined to make my room a room again at some point!
I would probably spend £500 on a new downhill bike,
£100 on a cheap second hand netbook, so wifie can leave mine alone ( i have to keep changing settings on it where she changes them every time she uses it.)
£200 on painting and decorating the flat again
and the last £200 on a new bed! (ours is dead. curse you damp flat)
We’d lived with damp in the past, a bloody nuisance!
I have to ask though Paul, what on earth is a “Downhill” bike. Surely they all go whichever way you point them? (I’m preparing for laughter, but seriously, what’s the difference?).
A downhill bike is designed for more abuse than a cheaper mountain bike. It’s also lighter and easier to chuck about (well, how I do it anyway)
If you look at the link you’ll see how easy 40mph is with little effort on a downhill bike (i have hit 63mph before on the same stretch before) oh and how i nearly killed the bike with low cornering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFptpDR2eog
Bloody lunatic lol. I was holding onto the sofa as you shot round that first corner.
Great answer – (and you didn’t laugh – I am impressed!)