Moving out on your own after having lived a lifetime with your parents is no small undertaking. It is a wonderfully exciting time in any young person’s life and our heads spin with all the possibilities and options open to us. For those who have gone into the work world, there is always the inevitable early years of getting comfortable with a budget and outfitting a new home without breaking the bank. After all, you want to make your first place a home in which you are comfortable and that really reflects who you are as a person. But you don’t want to take out a loan to do it!

Some of the ways to make your home something special without going financially overboard include:

* Put in the elbow grease. Most things that can be done to spruce up a new place are a matter of work. Paint doesn’t cost much money but the time spent painting is certainly a commitment. Paint walls, strip floors, make curtains yourself, add decorative trim to doorways and chandeliers (can be found for a song at large home improvement stores) and call upon whatever do-it-yourself resources you can find to sink big time but little money into transforming your home.

* Hunt for treasures. Flea markets, yard sales, and antique stores are your new best friends. You can find great pieces by searching off the beaten path. These, paired with inexpensive accessories from discount chains can pull a room together.

* Buy some good pieces. When you’re just starting out you certainly don’t have the financial means to buy everything brand new and high end. Instead purchase one or two really good pieces and build your décor around them. Grandfather clocks, for instance, bring drama and high style to a room and add a focal point for décor. But don’t be fooled into thinking that this has to be your grandparents’ grandfather clock; there are online resources where you can find truly sophisticated grandfather clocks in just your style – modern, country, antique-inspired, or fun and funky!