“Renise, RENISE, REE-NEEEESE, get up here right now!” The screech of my name abruptly cut into my concentration and bluntly reminded me of the hardships of moving back home after college. When I can stomach the nagging, invasion of privacy and shoving my newly acquired things into a space that I’ve long outgrown, living at home is a blessing. I’ve started to connect with my parents on a more mature level, I never have to worry about where my next meal is coming from, and money stretches a whole lot farther when you don’t have rent to worry about.

To date, it’s been eight months since I returned to my childhood home. Being here I’ve been able to build up an emergency fund, wet my wanderlust, and be more leisurely in my spending habits. But now that I’ve reached my savings goals and started to get my bearings on the life I want to live, I am more than ready to strike out on my own and give my redesign process a boost.

From my first couple weeks of seeking a home, I can already tell that this will be a bigger ordeal for me than I initially imagined. Call me thrifty if you want to, but I am very focused on getting the maximum amount of value for my dollar. At times I am so focused on finding the perfect place at an unbelievable price that I feel like I will never move. I’ve got lofty visions and limited income- for most people the two don’t seem to go hand-in-hand, but I am determined to get what I want. However, to make this happen I’m going to have to do some serious problem solving, think creatively, and learn when to stick to my instincts and when to cut my losses. The following are the preliminary dilemmas that I have to work through:

1) Figuring out what it is that I want out of my living situation: I know, I know, figuring out what I want seems like such an elementary step that it’s absurd to include on my list of dilemmas; but if you really think about it, lot’s of people struggle to figure out what they want and stay focused on that goal. I know myself well enough to know I need to give myself time to dream and feel before I start making objective decisions. This dream time must remain short so as not to sidetrack the process, but giving myself space to come up with creative options balances out my otherwise critical and pragmatic nature.

I’ve also learned to give myself deadlines. The following are the 3 deadlines I’ve set to help me find my road home.
• September 2-Create a dream list to include: what I need to live a productive life, what I would like to make me happy and what I envision in an optimal setting.
• September 23-Narrow down my top 3 living options and assessing how they fit into the larger scope of my aspirations.
• October 15-My drop dead date for moving (the latest date I will consider a move).

2) Deciding to rent or buy: With endless mortgage products it seems like just about anyone can buy a house these days. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should, but that logic is also true of renting. I personally hate the idea of renting, because although you are spending money on a place to live, you are in no way investing in your future. If I can find a town home that meets my desires and is within m price range I will buy, even if it’s not in an ideal location because it fits in with my ownership value. Otherwise I will rent.

3) Determining a workable budget: Among my list of values, my living space and traveling probably rank the highest of things requiring money. With that said I am comfortable spending a little bit more to live comfortably. However, I also know that I am very conservative when it comes to money. I don’t like to take risks, and I always like to know that I have money if I need it. I also need to consider that if I intend to work on my business full time, I need to be able to live on a bare budget to absorb the ebbs and flows of a less stable income. With that said my living expenses should not extend the suggested 1/3 of my income.

4) Hunting down the right location: After months of deliberation I’ve determined that I am happiest and most energized when I am near the action and the heartbeat of the city, but have a calm quiet place to retreat when I’ve had enough. With that said, I probably would not serve myself well living in the heart of an urban area; but to fulfill my desire, I need to be close by or in a location that has quick, easy options to the cultural options offered by an urban setting. Before I narrow down my top three I really want explore various neighborhoods. Discover the places that will help YS flourish, find potential neighbors who are intriguing and will contribute positively to my life and get a feel for what non-traditional housing options exist that I have yet to consider.