The Income Reset: One Space at a Time — Kitchen

The holidays are quickly approaching, and this is my time of year! I love shopping for gifts and choosing a theme for each of my family members and friends. Give me ribbons, fun wrapping paper, and a good tutorial on making bows, and I’m happy. For me, wrapping is another way to add a little thoughtfulness to a gift.

The holidays are also a time to welcome family and friends into our homes and enjoy quality time together. I love hosting a good holiday get-together, but getting ready can take some work. There’s food to prepare, gifts to wrap, and then there’s the house!

This season, I looked around my apartment and thought, This place could use a complete overhaul. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to go out with the old and in with the new?

As I looked around, I noticed several things that could use some attention. In the kitchen, masking tape was holding the counter’s end caps in place. In the living room, we had recently gotten rid of a loveseat I owned for more than 25 years. The leather was peeling, and our dog had scratched it up a bit. We still have our couch, but it has seen better days, too.

Each room has a story to tell. I’m a visual person, and when things no longer flow well, it can be a bit of a downer for me. I like to see some order and a sense that everything belongs together.

A blank slate sounded wonderful, but I had a few things to consider. We’re thinking about moving within a year or so—those five flights of stairs are a killer! Buying new furniture now might not make sense if it doesn’t fit or look the same in our next place. And, of course, I’m on a budget and need to be mindful of my expenses.

So instead of trying to change everything at once, I decided to refresh my home one space at a time, starting with the kitchen. After all, I’ll be cooking my heart out soon, and I wanted a cozy, organized space to enjoy while I do it.

Starting With a $300 Budget

I gave myself a budget of $300 for the kitchen refresh. That wasn’t a goal to spend $300; it was a limit to help me make thoughtful choices as I worked through the space.

One area I wanted to tackle was the shelving around my microwave. It was holding a lot, and although the shelves were useful, the area felt crowded. I began looking at ways to make it more organized and pleasing to the eye.

At first, I considered replacing the shelving with a cabinet that cost $179. Another idea was to buy new bins and canisters for around $70. Both options were tempting, especially when I pictured how nice everything could look.

But before buying something new for that area, I decided to look around my home and see what I already had.

Shopping My Own Home

As I started sorting through things, I found three gray storage boxes I could use on the lower shelves. Two fit on the bottom shelf, and the third went on the shelf above. They gave me a coordinated look and a place to store items I wanted to keep.

I also found a bread box, containers, a candle, a little holly plant in a red container, and other pieces I could use to make the area feel warm and inviting. It was fun finding a new place for things I already had.

I did buy a four-pack of artificial flowers for $11.99 before taxes to use as part of the kitchen refresh. Seeing how much I already had made me realize that I didn’t need to replace the shelving or buy a whole new set of organizers to improve the space.

Here’s a look at the options I considered:

Option	Estimated cost before taxes
New cabinet	$179.00
New bins and canisters	About $70.00
Four-pack of artificial flowers I bought	$11.99

I decided to keep the shelving and containers I already had and order the four-pack of artificial plants for $11.99 before taxes.

More Than Moving Things Around

One thing I’ve learned is that getting organized isn’t just about putting everything into prettier containers. I’m also going through what I own, deciding what I need, and letting go of things that no longer serve a purpose.

That part took time, but now that my kitchen refresh is complete, the space feels so much nicer. It’s cleaner, cozier, and more inviting—and I feel good every time I walk into the room.

What I Spent on the Kitchen

While I reused many things, I also chose a few new items for the kitchen. I bought a rug, curtains and tension rods, a set of canisters for the top of the refrigerator, and the artificial flowers. I also purchased two decorative trees for the kitchen countertop.

Now that my kitchen refresh is complete, here’s what I spent, including taxes:

Item	Total paid
Rug	$32.66
Curtains	$22.58
Tension rods	$12.73
Canisters	$30.47
Four artificial flowers	$13.05
Two decorative trees	$28.29
Total	$139.78

My original budget was $300, so I spent $160.22 less than I had set aside. The rug, new canisters, and decorative trees are part of the overall kitchen refresh; they aren’t shown in the microwave-area before-and-after photos below.

One Space at a Time

I started this project thinking about everything I wanted to replace. Once I slowed down, looked around, and started cleaning and purging, I realized I could make a difference with less than I originally imagined.

There are still things I would love to change someday. But for now, I can enjoy the home I have and make it feel more like the space I want, one area at a time.

As you get ready for the holidays, is there a spot in your home you’d love to refresh? Before you buy something new, take a look around. You might find that you already have something you can use in a different way.

What’s one item in your home that you’ve given a new purpose? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

My Microwave Area Before and After

BEFORE

AFTER