When Matt and I moved to Austin, we purchased a washer and dryer off Craigslist for $125. Having just sold our house without a realtor, we had too much going on to worry about researching and ordering a new set (I’ve heard that delivery times can take a while). 

But, we’re going to need a stackable washer and dryer for our new house, so I want to be on the lookout now for a good deal. I’m definitely going to look at the local scratch and dent store to see if they have anything good. But what else should I do to save as much money as possible? 

And

In today’s post over at 2000 Dollar Wedding, I delineate our financial goals for both the short- and long-term (and mention a financial blog that I have started reading from start to finish–thanks to a suggestion in the comments!). One of our long-term goals is to live in an eco-friendly, comfortable, and fun house. We’re homebodies much of the time, and we want to create a home that feels like a retreat, a sanctuary. We want to create the home that Henry (and hopeful his sibling) bring their friends to. We want to have casual parties and impromptu gatherings. I want our home to be the center of our

I belong to a couple different neighborhood list-servs, so I can get to know Austin better. On one of the list-servs, a woman talked about how her door had been kicked in (in the middle of the night while she and her children were sleeping). The thief was trying to grab the TV and run. Fortunately, her alarm (and her shouting) scared him off.

In response to the story, a fellow neighborhood mentioned a really effective deadbolt, called the Medeco Maxum 11WC60L. According to this article in Consumer Reports, it’s one of the best. I find the price to be reasonable, too.  

I definitely plan to get this lock installed