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  • Writer's pictureGrace

The Renting vs Owning Mentality


I think most of us would prefer to own our home versus renting a home - I know I would! A few reasons I can think of right off that I hear most often is to be able to change things like paint, landscaping, redo a kitchen or bathroom, to have more stability, and to invest in something instead of putting money into a more or less temporary home.


We think that if/when we own we will get to truly make a place our own. A place to make memories, a place that is ours. We could replace the old carpet or change the awful <insert whatever thing you dislike> about your current place. I think it's about a place to belong but also about having some control over our living situation as well. It's never fun feeling like your rent can go up whenever a landlord wants to raise it or your place might be sold and you have to find a new place to rent when you weren't wanting to move. These are all very valid concerns and reasonings and I have had all of them myself.


As someone who has been on both sides of owning and renting and have had great places to rent and some that are less than ideal, I've been thinking about this a lot recently. We are yet again in a season of renting which, if I'm honest, is not my favorite. I will never forget how I felt when we bought our first home and the fun I had planning it all out and picking out flooring and paint colors. The sense of security I felt at knowing it was OURS and we wouldn't have to move unless we decided to was an amazing feeling.


I long to have a place that is ours once more and the waiting can be difficult. I know that many are in a similar place as well. I have been recently re-inspired to fully embrace this season and to make this space ours. It doesn't seem like buying will be in the immediate future for us and I do not like waiting for "some day" to come around. I am big on thriving and investing wherever you are and whatever circumstance you are in. This includes cleaning and caring for your space but it also goes beyond that to truly making a place your own and thriving there. Too often when we rent or something feels more or less temporary, we put off things we could do because they seem pointless. It doesn't feel like we will get enough value out of them because we will just eventually move on. We can get stuck in this cycle of "some day" and never take steps towards really thriving in the here and now.


Home is such an integral part of our lives and who we are and when we stifle this desire to really thrive where we are, we lose so much of what makes us come alive. I think we underestimate the importance of stewardship and caring for a home - whether it's ours or not. There is something to be said for investing in the place we are at even if someone else reaps the benefits later down the road instead of us.


Maybe this is repainting a room in your rental (if you are allowed to, usually you are if you do a neutral color) or painting the white trim with a fresh coat of glossy white paint. It could be buying an area rug to cover up flooring or carpeting that needs replaced. Some people do removable wall paper, or you can do wall decals. I did wall decals in our children's shared bedroom in one apartment we lived in and it made it so cute! Sometimes it's laying new contact paper in your pantry shelves or investing in pantry organization. Once you start looking, there are a million little things you CAN do to improve your space and make it truly feel like your own. Focus on the things you can change and the result will be astounding!


If you are like me, your frugal side can battle with your sentimental side. It can be hard to justify the expenses for something "temporary." When we think this way, we reduce the feeling and life-giving experience of home to a price tag. Now, I'm not suggesting that you throw out your budget or cost consciousness at all. Home is something cultivated and built over time as our budgets allow. You may only be able to set aside $10-$20/mo towards a home improvement fund. Do it. It makes a big impact. We must take small, consistent steps towards this lifelong cultivation.


If you are in a temporary home currently, here are some things I've found helpful:

  1. Focus on the furniture. This is something you have control over and will be moved when you move. Having furniture that is comfortable and fits the space will really help it feel homey and like your own. This does not need to be fancy or expensive, it just needs to be functional and inviting. Bookcases, plants, chairs or couch, side tables or wooden crates, lamps, rugs, and curtains. You can completely transform a place with furniture.

  2. Be realistic. What fits in the space you have? What are your most important things you need for daily routines? How can you make it a space you love in spite of the things you don't love?

  3. Organization. Now, sometimes we own too much for the space we have but sometimes storage and organization really are needed. Some simple storage hacks can transform an overwhelming space to a very functional area that makes us smile every time we see it. A cramped pantry can be transformed with some baskets, can organizers, and food storage containers. You can make the most of limited kitchen space by simplifying and getting some organizational items that can help make the most of the cabinets you have.

  4. Paint. A fresh coat of paint even if it is the same color can make a room feel new. Repainting white baseboards makes them fresh and cared for. We recently painted our kitchen and living room in our rental. Both rooms had 4 different colors as the previous people really liked accent walls. There was extra paint here at the house and even though it probably wasn't the color I would have picked myself, the rooms look so much better now that they are all one color!

  5. If you can't paint, you can do decals, removable wall paper, and wall decor. These things can transform a place so much and cover up much needed paint and repairs. Take time to get to know your style and what you are drawn to and then figure out how to emulate that in a way that fits your budget.

  6. Flowers. Maybe you aren't a big flower person but to me there is nothing that brightens a space like fresh flowers on the table or pots of flowers outside. I love driving by homes that have baskets of hanging flowers, or flower beds. It speaks of care and cultivation by the people who dwell there.

  7. Clean. This can't be stated enough. The most dingy place in need of repair can be transformed by just being cleaned. Maybe it still has old carpet or paneling, maybe the bathroom is ancient or the kitchen in need of remodeling, but a good thorough clean makes a place feel so much better. When we care for our spaces no matter how less than ideal they may be, we are practicing stewardship, care, and thankfulness. We are caring for the space that cares for us. I guarantee that regular, maintenance cleans will make your heart fonder of your space and the character that grows from stewarding a place is worth the effort.

  8. Thankfulness. This should probably be the first point on this list because without thankfulness it doesn't matter how nice your place is, you'll never be satisfied. Being thankful for the place that currently houses you is so important. It transforms our mindset and trains us to look for all the little blessings we might otherwise miss. We can be thankful in the least ideal places or ungrateful in the most ideal places. The choice is ours. I'd wager to say that if we aren't thankful for the less ideal homes, we will never truly be thankful and happy when we have a better home.


Remember, above all, that it takes time. It takes cultivation of your spirit and mindset as well as your home. It takes doing the little things over time that add up to a big impact. It takes stewardship of your home, even when it is owned by someone else. It takes investing where you are. Let's thrive and make our homes our happy place and stop waiting for the "someday" dream.


Happy stewardship,

Grace

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