Stop spending on the wrong things during your HOUSE RENOVATION!

A friend gave me some advice before I begin the renovation of my new HDB flat....

"Spend more on things that will be used everyday....

1. Lighting - invest in LED. no need change bulb (I haven't change my LED lights close to 5 years, but those with normal bulbs, 7-8 times.
2. Bathroom
3. Wardrobes for all rooms
4. Master bed room (assuming this is where you going to sleep)
5. Living and dining area
6. Kitchen - if you do a lot of cooking

Things that need not spend a lot of money:

1. The other two rooms. (esp if you planning to have kids)
e.g. Some friends of mine spent five digit figures to renovate kid's room. But after a few years.....need to renovate again as the kid outgrow it.
Some design it as a home office/study but do not use it. And then they have kids and need to renovate again. Worse are those who make it into mini theaters but use it less than once every week.

2. TV
No point spending above $2000 just get the biggest screen. 2-3 years later can change.
Some people even spend more than $5000!!! Then 2-3 years later they change TV cause new technology come out or their current one is spoilt.....................that expensive TV can only make you look good during housewarming and Chinese New Year. Other than that its pure waste of money unless you spend more than 8 hrs daily in front of it.

3. Sofa
If you are planning to have kids, don't bother to spend more than $5000 on that sofa. No sofa in the world can withstand the vandalism from kids. Just get simple comfortable one and prepare to change every 2-4 years.

4. Gadgets
Technology changes very fast and most gadgets will be due for upgrade within 2 years. I'm always amazed by friends who spend $5000 on a computer only to replace it 2 years later....

People invest too little on their bed.

We spend at least 6 hrs each day sleeping. That works out to be one quarter of your life. In a year we'll spend at least 2190 hours sleeping.

So I'm always surprised when people complain that $3000 to $4000 for a bed is expensive but can spend the same amount of money on gadgets. They can spend $1000 on an iPhone but complain $4000 for a queen bed is expensive!"