The first thing on my mind when considering a potential project is the budget. How much money should reasonably be spent on this project? How much am I willing to spend? Is this project really necessary? Is there a cheaper way? Admittedly, I have been obsessed with saving money my entire life. When I was a kid, my dad and step-mom gave all the kids $100 to spend at the mall for Christmas. Their only rule was that we had to spend all the money that day. Such an easy gift that every kid loves right? Nope, I agonized over my purchases and fought with them in an effort to get away with saving the money. I was worried that I would purchase one thing only to find something better. (I always spent it all on candy in the end anyways. Being a kid is awesome.) Now, a decade later, I still have the same problem — spend or save?. As I decorate my first home on a shoestring budget, I prefer to stick with simplicity for my decor. Using books and special trinkets that I’ve collected throughout my entire life, I’ve styled my bookshelves with pieces that make me feel comfortable. I would categorize my style as eclectic.

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