Living on a Fixed Income and Dreaming of New Curtains
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, I only share products and companies that I genuinely find interesting or useful.
When My Mom’s Favorite Saying Started Making Sense
When my mom didn’t want to do something, she’d say, “No, I’m a little old lady living on a fixed income.”
As a kid, I thought it was just one of her catchphrases. Now, years later, I finally understand exactly what she meant.
You never realize how spoiled you get when you can simply go out and buy something without thinking twice about how it will affect the rest of the month’s budget. Once you’re living on a fixed income, every purchase gets weighed against something else you might need later.
This time of year, I start thinking about taxes. It probably seems a little early, but I like to file as soon as possible. I usually get a refund, and if I’m being honest, I start spending it in my imagination long before it ever arrives.
Taking Stock of an Aging Condo
Lately, I’ve been looking around my condo and noticing all the things that could use some attention.
The “new” kitchen that I had refaced? It’s twelve years old now.
The folding door on the hall closet, which now serves as my pantry, is slowly falling apart.
The carpet? Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly new when I moved in twenty years ago.
But the project that’s been getting most of my attention lately is the window covering on my sliders.
They’re not standard-sized windows. They’re huge. When I moved in, the unit had vertical blinds, and I added curtains. Over the years, thanks to cats, everyday wear and tear, and the occasional household disaster, those curtains have disappeared one panel at a time.
Today, there’s exactly one panel left.
From certain angles, it looks like the Addams Family lives here.
Most days I don’t think much about it. Then somebody comes over, and suddenly I’m very aware of just how sad those window coverings look.
So as I daydream about spending that future tax refund, replacement curtains, blinds, or shades keep making their way onto the wish list.
The problem is that choosing window treatments can feel overwhelming. There are measurements, fabrics, colors, light-filtering options, room-darkening options, and about a hundred other decisions to make before you ever place an order.
One unexpected benefit of my affiliate marketing adventure is that I’ve been introduced to companies I probably would never have discovered otherwise. One of those companies is Joydeco, a brand that focuses on affordable window décor.
Looking for an Effortless Solution
As I started looking through their products, one phrase from their company description stood out to me. They talk about helping people reduce “decision stress” and making the process feel effortless.
I particularly liked that word: effortless.
At this stage of life, I’m all for effortless.
I’m still in the research phase, comparing options and figuring out what might work best for those oversized sliders. But it’s nice to know there are companies focused on making the process a little easier and a little less intimidating.
For now, I’m taking “before” pictures so I don’t forget just how bad things have gotten. If all goes well, maybe someday I’ll be sharing “after” pictures too.
If you’re dealing with your own window-covering challenges, I’m including my Joydeco affiliate links below. They’re currently gearing up for their Black Friday sale, which makes this a good time to browse and compare options. If you decide to make a purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
As for me, I’m still dreaming, planning, and prioritizing.
That’s life on a fixed income.
One project at a time.