I blame it all on hand-me-downs for my strong desire to own my own home.
Back then, reusing clothes was a way for our parents to be frugal and to save money. The downside is the other kids in school just KNEW if you were wearing hand-me-downs and teased you about it. Now days, it’s probably hip to wear hand-me-downs. After all, you are “upcycling” and “reducing landfill waste.”
All of this is good but who as a child has ever said, “I really like wearing my sister’s old clothes to school.” In fact, a poem has been written about this unhappy childhood calamity:
Hand Me Downs
I’m always wearing hand-me-downs.
I don’t get stuff that’s new.
My mom won’t take me shopping.
I don’t know what to do.
The dresses always fit me fine,
but high heels give me blisters.
It’s not that easy growing up,
a boy with older sisters.
Author: Bob Zanger
We want our OWN things. We don’t want someone else’s. This is very true with homeownership, and I blame my sister’s hand-me-down striped sweater for all of this!
Sharing is no fun.
If you are renting, you may be renting an apartment or a condo or a room in someone’s house but either way, you are sharing walls. Even renting a single-family home, you may find yourself with roommates where you are sharing a laundry room or kitchen, a parking area, an entry, a garden, and all the other things that homeowners may have as their own.
The desire to stake a claim and declare, “this is mine,” is a strong force in many of us. Remember when you purchased your first home? It was a major milestone and a major accomplishment. It took a lot of money and was scary, risky and exciting all at the same time, but in the end, you had your own home.
Our home defines us. It defines our tastes that we can express through decorating the home. We can personalize it, which is very empowering. Our homes are an extension of ourselves. It tells people who we are. Who here has a front yard that you don’t use (kind of like the formal living room that no one is allowed in)? And why do you maintain that front piece of lawn with precision edging and neatly kept flower beds? It’s an extension of you to the world.
I don’t need to be a REALTOR to be a fan of homeownership. Owning your home has many positives but the best reason is you don’t have to share! Congratulations to all the homeowners out there. You have accomplished a great feat that you should be very proud of!