Do a DIY home project together.

“My husband and I purchased our first home in Massachusetts in 2004. It was half of a duplex that had been maintained, but not updated. On two teacher’s salaries, we didn’t have the cash on hand to pay contractors to do any improvement work, but we did have time in the summer to complete projects ourselves. We dove into home improvement head-first, with pretty much zero experience. [...] Fast forward fifteen years, and we have accomplished many projects together, from window installation to digging a french drain system, to building a pergola. Has it always gone perfectly? Absolutely not. Has it gone well enough that we keep at it? Absolutely.”

“It took a few coats of paint + primer to cover the built in, and then it was time to install the hooks. And, like with any project, as soon as you think you only have about 1 hour left, it seems like there is suddenly 5 more hours of work. A couple screws broke off half way into the wall, which resulted in digging out the wood and twisting them out. Finally, after a few evenings of painting and touching up, the built in was completed! I cannot tell you how happy I become every time I look at it. I’m so impressed with the quality of it, how cohesive it is with the rest of our home, and how HAPPY I AM to not fill our bar stools with coats and vests and bags and junk.”