UrbanBaby - Trying my best to be patient and calm bu...

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Trying my best to be patient and calm but we are living in a very overcrowded, dated 2 bdrm apartment that we bought 3 years ago before have twins. The place is not attractive (old kitchen and bath) and it's hard to have playdates in our cramped living space. We cant sell now b/c the value has plummeted. I am angry and bitter and feel that we deserve more. We both work so hard and I feel like I live in a slum. Now it's getting embarrassing. How can I make peace with where we are now? We want more kids but it's out of the question while living here.
11 replies
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02.22.09, 12:10 PM [ Flag ]
- Do some renovations.
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  02.22.09, 12:12 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- Can you afford to update the kitchen?
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  02.22.09, 12:14 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - Op: no and no (to both ?'s above)
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    02.22.09, 12:16 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- rent your place, rent a different place, spend an extra couple of thousand a month to live nicer. you can get a 3 brm now in the city for under $5K, you can get one in the 4;s If you rent your place for $2.5K or so, you can spend a bit more and live beautifully, until market picks up. If you can swing it - you might recoup in a couple of years if market picks up, you hold your place, and sell it for a bit more (covering the amt of money you spent in difference on the rental). Hope that makes sense.
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  02.22.09, 12:16 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - Op: not a bad idea. thanks! it just seems odd to rent again. but i like this idea.
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    02.22.09, 12:17 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- If you don't want to do a major renovation, do some cosmetic updates. Also it wouldn't hurt to a consultation with a designer to learn how to use to maximize the small space. A lot of those consultants charge reasonable prices and offer free consultations. They can find space in the smallest of apartments. Painting helps a lot. Changing fixtures on doors and cabinets and lights. A few new appliances can work wonders. I'm doing a complete gut overhaul of my kitchen and bath so I'm addicted to HGTV and DIY television. You can get ideas from the HGTV web site.
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  02.22.09, 12:17 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - good idea. can you rec a designer? in nyc?
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    02.22.09, 12:18 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    - I can't think of one and my "designer" is my husband and the contractor. LOL. But the Home Depot on 23rd street has been very very helpful with recommendations and so has the Container tore.
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      02.22.09, 12:22 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      - Container Store. You'll find ads for professional organizers in Metropolitan Homes. It's one of my favorite magazines for design ideas. Oh, the contractor is a separate person from my husband. LOL.
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        02.22.09, 12:23 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  - np: ita. I hated my kitchen when we moved in, and a paint job, new light fixture and new cabinet pulls made a huge difference for just a few hundred bucks
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    02.22.09, 12:23 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
- Hire a professional organizer.
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  02.22.09, 12:19 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]