40 days away, and it’s time to panic. Ideally I am supposed to run around like a crazy Godzilla, getting all my wedding details sorted out. But it’s me, wannabe un-stereotypical bride, I’m good okay! “mama cool” as I always say, and as everyone knows.
So what’s done and what’s left to be done? Tons. Although the main things have been looked into, with the completion of those “main” tasks, a whole bunch of tiny details that need to be looked into follow.
And that’s annoying and enjoyable at the same time. I’m complicated. Deal with it. And I actually have time to write this given that I have started work just 3 weeks ago! Well just so you know it’s not like I am icing during my work time being jobless ok? I try to be as hard working as it can get given my circumstances, but let’s face it I do have quite a bit of free time on my hands. But this I am writing at 7:15 in the morning at my workplace, I come early you know, mama cool like that.
It’s amazing how over 1 year of planning has come down to 40 days. We do not understand how time literally flew away and still is. It’s also amazing how everything just falls into place one by one; I still can’t believe that we have finished off so many of that never ending wedding list and now even have our own place!
I mean I know thousands of couples get married, have weddings, have homes and bla bla bla so it’s no big deal we have our own home, definitely not a big enough deal where you need to waste your time reading my ramblings, but you know it’s quite overwhelming!
Let me tell you, it’s not easy finding places! it’s not a perfect place but I like that it’s not, its small, cozy and potentially hot! But it’s our love nest, so what!
(Warning: Below is NOT Rocket Science)
So tips when looking for your love nest, start early as everything else! that’s crucial, that does not mean that you won’t find a good place if you start last minute, but you know it could save you a lot of running around, frantically!.
As everything else prioritize requirements of your ideal place, for example one of ours was that it should need to be fairly close to my workplace!
So that and budget. Be fair; don’t expect everything to come cheap in this case. But also don’t go overboard and pay for something more than you should cuz you have no choice! So make sure you have a wide choice, and I learnt this from Dimi, analyze the place and then make your offer, don’t go pushing your budget negotiating relentlessly cuz that would be plain pointless, we made that mistake and let go of an almost perfect apartment! I have listed below some things couples might look into before choosing the right place!
- Type – Annex, House or Apartment?
Annexes are fairly safe and easy as long as you find another good set of adjoining tenants. Make sure you have a separate entrance, you don’t want to start your lives almost as if living with some total strangers and disturbing them every time you go out and come back in!
House – depends on the size when you are starting out. I’m sure none of us want a mansion to begin with, with great mansions come great responsibility, namely cleaning responsibility.
Apartment – depends on your budget mostly. But size wise we believe it’s perfect for a couple, so tiny and compartmentalized. Look out for that maintenance fee!
- Furnished/unfurnished?
When hunting you'll see or must have already seen that there are so many places, mostly apartments that come in furnished! Very convenient, but of course more green if you know what I mean. But then it’s okay for temporary purposes if you want to buy your own stuff little by little without investing immediately. In our case, furnished was a no-no. not that we had all the money in the world to buy all the things we needed (because we don’t) but because the sooner you invest in your own big stuff the more beneficial it is to you. If you can’t afford, sit on the floor, wash your own clothes etc and manage. Just make sure you get a fridge though! You can’t without that one!
- Security
If you’re in a nice luxury apartment complex security is a bonus! But if luxury can’t be afforded you will have to make do with whatever security is offered, if this is a key requirement to you make sure to look into it thoroughly and find something that fits you and your budget.
- Advance payments – over 1 year is quite unreasonable in our minds. 6 months or lesser or no advance is ideal for anyone! Hehe.
- Lease agreements – skim through before signing, but of course that goes without saying!
- Utilities – electricity, telephone, water etc – most of the time you gotta pay your own bills!
- Distance – how far it is to your respective workplaces, respective parents homes and to the main road and other conveniences. So to start off its always good to keep in mind a balance of these 3 unless of course you want a good reason to get late to work, good reason to stay away from your parents and no need for a civilized area, go live near a jungle!
- Responsibility! At a marriage preparation course we took part in we were advised to talk about who is going to do what in your new place. Who does the cleaning, cooking and the respective timetables etc. it was emphasized that it’s good to decide it beforehand than jump in to work right away and see who needs to do what. Think it would save on a lot of arguments! But then again you know what best for you!
Not only did we check the papers every week for months but whilst driving almost every time Dimi would stop the car at so many apartment complexes around Colombo and ask them if there was anything vacant!
A very silly and lame reply of his for one of my "nooo dont go are you mad" comments was that "fortune favors the bold/brave".
He called brokers, he told all our friends, and just expaaaaaanded the network! There were days in the middle of a train wreck of a work day some one would tip him off about a good place and he would rush drive from work just to take a look at the place! And that ain't easy when doing the job he is doing!
Sometimes you gotta go the extra mile i guess, long hours, long miles just to find your very own little love nest.
oh and and, all this so called advice i have been giving based on our experiences is if you are renting a place not buying alright???!
P.S - Don't forget these are merely my ramblings! NOT rocket science.
Wow so I have obviously gone on and on here. and we are still missing a sofa! Sob sob. Floor it is. He he.
So here's to all the couples finding their own little place or have already found! wishing you fun and much responsibility!
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this article.. Interesting... I think everyone who is going to b a bridesmaid should read this.. :)
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