If you consider yourself frugal, help advise on home reno

[Anonymous]

Our kitchen is the original from 1985 and a couple of years ago after getting kitchen remodeling estimates we came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it right now. A pull and replace job (not changing layout) with mid-grade materials and appliances from the big box store was going to cost $75K for an average sized kitchen. Though had saved the money, we are frugal and think about the opportunity costs of blowing so much money on a kitchen remodel. We have two young children. $75k invested in a 529 lump sum would be enough to pay for college tuition in state in 15 years. I think you really have to have money burning a hole in your pockets to spend this kind of money on a functional kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kitchen is the original from 1985 and a couple of years ago after getting kitchen remodeling estimates we came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it right now. A pull and replace job (not changing layout) with mid-grade materials and appliances from the big box store was going to cost $75K for an average sized kitchen. Though had saved the money, we are frugal and think about the opportunity costs of blowing so much money on a kitchen remodel. We have two young children. $75k invested in a 529 lump sum would be enough to pay for college tuition in state in 15 years. I think you really have to have money burning a hole in your pockets to spend this kind of money on a functional kitchen.

But when you sell the house, it will cost you. You will get less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the kitchen is functional as is, why renovate more than you have to? Full kitchen Renos are for people who love to cook and want a more functional kitchen; or want a more aesthetically pleasing kitchen. If your kitchen works layout wise for your family there is no need to do a 75k reno.

+1 If you start replacing cabinets, OP, you will have to do a full reno. There is no way you will get those countertops out in one piece. And once you do that, then you need a new sink, new hardware for the sink, etc. Then something will happen with the floors, because perhaps the new cabinets have the upper dimensions that match, but the foot and baseboard part are off by half an inch and now your floors don't meet the baseboards. It snowballs.

You would be much better off just painting the cabinets and using different cabinet fronts. Forget about the soffits. That would need to be saved for a full reno. Put your money into your bathrooms if you need to but save the $75k kitchen reno for when you know you really want to do it. When you get to resale, make sure it looks clean and spiffy, and offer a small allowance.

[Anonymous]

Our kitchen/dining area/family room are all part of one very large space so it is where we “live”. If we had a very dated kitchen I’d spend the money to get it just the way I wanted. But if I had an older house where the kitchen was a separate room I’d be a lot more cost conscious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kitchen is the original from 1985 and a couple of years ago after getting kitchen remodeling estimates we came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it right now. A pull and replace job (not changing layout) with mid-grade materials and appliances from the big box store was going to cost $75K for an average sized kitchen. Though had saved the money, we are frugal and think about the opportunity costs of blowing so much money on a kitchen remodel. We have two young children. $75k invested in a 529 lump sum would be enough to pay for college tuition in state in 15 years. I think you really have to have money burning a hole in your pockets to spend this kind of money on a functional kitchen.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

To me the way to be frugal is to recognize that almost everything is a want and then rank everything else according to your values, whether your values are not replacing things that still work, or aesthetics, or caring more about the master bath than the kitchen or any combination.

What combination of comes out that exercise will be unique to OP and her family. I think owning her own values and acknowledging she can't have everything (she said bummer above so it seems she's doing this) is the key. And I don't necessarily mean writing a list, although you can, but having a mindset. I think she's already done most of this exercise by coming here and posting in this forum.

For what it's worth, my kitchen is a mess, but it's not important to me. I know and own what else is important to me, which is how I know it's not right for me to update it now. Doesn't mean that's not right for someone else with their values and constraints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kitchen is the original from 1985 and a couple of years ago after getting kitchen remodeling estimates we came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it right now. A pull and replace job (not changing layout) with mid-grade materials and appliances from the big box store was going to cost $75K for an average sized kitchen. Though had saved the money, we are frugal and think about the opportunity costs of blowing so much money on a kitchen remodel. We have two young children. $75k invested in a 529 lump sum would be enough to pay for college tuition in state in 15 years. I think you really have to have money burning a hole in your pockets to spend this kind of money on a functional kitchen.

But when you sell the house, it will cost you. You will get less.

Unless by the time they sell the renovation is dated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kitchen is the original from 1985 and a couple of years ago after getting kitchen remodeling estimates we came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it right now. A pull and replace job (not changing layout) with mid-grade materials and appliances from the big box store was going to cost $75K for an average sized kitchen. Though had saved the money, we are frugal and think about the opportunity costs of blowing so much money on a kitchen remodel. We have two young children. $75k invested in a 529 lump sum would be enough to pay for college tuition in state in 15 years. I think you really have to have money burning a hole in your pockets to spend this kind of money on a functional kitchen.

But when you sell the house, it will cost you. You will get less.

Unless by the time they sell the renovation is dated.

You hit the nail on the head. In 7-10 years, any kitchen reno done now will be "dated" and will need to be "updated" or "refreshed" anyway. So OP should minimize her expenses now, since the kitchen reno isn't something she really needs or wants, and save herself the time and money. She will probably end up being better off for waiting than for pushing through.

[Anonymous]

None of what you describe sounds like something a frugal person would change, OP.

My kitchen was remodeled in 1993. I like it fine, Cherry and all. Some of my bathrooms are original from 1969 when my house was built. I have no plans to remodel anything except a deck that is definitely on its last legs.

If you love your house, why change anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kitchen is the original from 1985 and a couple of years ago after getting kitchen remodeling estimates we came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it right now. A pull and replace job (not changing layout) with mid-grade materials and appliances from the big box store was going to cost $75K for an average sized kitchen. Though had saved the money, we are frugal and think about the opportunity costs of blowing so much money on a kitchen remodel. We have two young children. $75k invested in a 529 lump sum would be enough to pay for college tuition in state in 15 years. I think you really have to have money burning a hole in your pockets to spend this kind of money on a functional kitchen.

But when you sell the house, it will cost you. You will get less.

But if they aren’t selling for 20 years, whatever they do now would likely be dated anyway.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm frugal. What I would do is

-have the cabinets professionally painted and new hardware
-new appliances as the existing ones are at least 10 years old it sounds like. You can always donate them if they are useable.
-I'd keep the counters. They might look really good with a new paint color.
-some new lighting if needed

You have kids coming up on college. After they're done, then I'd focus on a full reno, which it will likely be due for by then, and you'll have more funds available.

[Anonymous]

I think painting the cabinets always looks bad. And getting the granite out — you need a professional opinion on that. Maybe change the appliances. Everyone I know who painted cabinets ended up taking them out. A band aid solution. Maybe new cabinet fronts if you can find those. But your going to be in for sticker shock no matter what you do.

[Anonymous]

I remodeled my house almost entirely by myself. There's nothing I can't do. I saved thousands of dollars by doing my own work. I am a 50 yr old woman who does not need to ask a man for help. Labor costs the most. Do your own labor.

[Anonymous]

"Other" updates are not needed for a home built in 1992. Since I feel strongly about this ~ I suspect changing your kitchen is also unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The layout is functional and we would also replace backsplash and all lighting. The cost savings of new cabinets (vs the old) would nearly pay for our master bath…

Doubtful. Your master bath is going to cost a lot more than you imagine right now. And any paint job (even offsite) won't be durable for 7+years. If you're literally re-doing everything else, get new cabinets too. We did a reno and addition last year and my approach was to be frugal whereever possible, but to make sure that we did things right. Spending all that money (new counters, appliances, backsplash) on a kitchen and keeping 30 year old cabinets is a dumb way to economize. It's not just style - it's the hinges and drawer slides and your old cabinets probably don't include many drawers, which are better for storage and ergonomics.

NP.

Is it possible to replace hinges and drawer slides? Our cabinets are old but otherwise still in really good shape.