At the age of 25 something really, really awesome happened. I was able to find my own home. I had worked for it, cried, spent countless nights hoping and trying to work towards something. I wanted my own place. I had lived in an apartment before, but it was with someone else. After that relationship ended, I moved into my parents basement. The exactly dreamy tale that every 20-something just LOVES to tell people. “I live in my parents basement.” I waited and waited and honestly thought that I was never, ever going to be able to have my OWN place. My own place. I can’t tell you how many messages I sent to my friends saying that someday I was going to have my OWN place and it was going to be so, so freaking worth the wait.
Normally I talk about clothes and funny stories, but today I’m talking about funny stories and how blogging truly helped me move into my own place and give a home tour that means so much to me. How did blogging help me? How did YOU help me? Yes, every single time that you clicked on a link on my blog that was of a clothing item, you most likely helped me be able to own my own place.
I typically use my affiliate money ONLY for college loan payments. However, I felt like I could justify JUST a three month break and save all of the money I was receiving to put together my living room on a BARE budget. I mean, cheap as it could get without looking like it. It actually became a game to me, how can I save money without making it look like I am sacrificing style just to have something there. Because of my blogging money, I was able to put down a deposit on my place and rest easy knowing I had money to make it a home without stretching my budget.
Here’s the breakdown of how I spent my blogging income:
Affiliate/post money from January – March = $375
Couch via Craigslist = $100
Table via Cragslist = $40
Rug = C/O RugsUSA (exact rug)
Mid Century Chairs = $100 for two (exact)
Mirror = $40 (similar)
Plant = $13
Pillows = H&M (one) Target (four) $75 (pink pillow) (striped pillow)
Vase = $7 via Target (another fun option)
That red velvet couch? I paid $100 for it. How? Craigslist. What was my secret? How did I not get killed? Every day for a few months I looked online at the recently posted furniture ads. I knew that I wanted a statement piece and as soon as I saw that a local company was getting rid of it, I knew that a red velvet couch was going to be it. I had to play coy, act like I wasn’t *that* interested, point out the flaws, express how it was used so I wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy it, in order to take about $40 off.
I did the same thing for the black piece of furniture. In fact, that purchase ended up being from my NEIGHBOR TWO BLOCKS OVER. Yep, I totally ended up taking a home tour of her place, look at her storage stuff and give her remodeling advice. All because of Craigslist and a $40 black entry table. At one point we basically were like, “ARE WE BFFS NOW?!” and then proceeded to talk about her home updates for the spring.
One of my favorite things about this room is that I feel like it’s so perfectly me. The wall cling from Walls Need Love Too is exactly what I want to see as I leave for work in the morning, The sign next to it that says, “I’m in the pursuit of happiness” is exactly where I am in life. The pillows are fun and comfortable but still stylish on a baller budget. Plus, the people could not have been more fun to work with!
Minted contacted me about some of their fine art prints at the absolute perfect time. I had NO idea what I wanted my place to look like because well, it was just a bunch of white walls. I chose two prints that I LOVED (the second will be featured later this week) and let the rest take care of itself. I cannot recommend them enough for art pieces.
I found that quirky little ceramic pretzel at a market in my hometown of Wichita, Kansas and actually got to talk to the owner and basically became BFFs. The coasters are from one of my best friends who bought them for me with the intention for me to be reminded to be KINDER to myself. To take time and appreciate where I am.
Everywhere I look in the room I see things that make me happy. Things from family, friends, sayings that have carried me for years and all of it has come together in the most amazing way for me.
Other Items:
Coffee table and Bar Cart: Ikea
Candle Holders: Gift from family
Wall Frames: Michael’s
Prints: Custom created in Illustrator
Glassware for the bar: Friends and TJ Maxx
I’ll write more about this, but 2016 and being 25 have been the absolute best time of my life. I really mean that. I don’t think that I have ever been happier and have truly begun an amazing time of my life that is filled with the most supportive, wonderful people that I know in real life and on the internet. I really want to thank YOU for the support that you have given to me and how you’ve been one of the best parts of this wonderful time of my life.
It’s not the most perfect place but honestly to me it is right now. It’s exactly where I want to be after coming from after a day at work and it’s exactly what I was working for while I was struggling and really thought that I would be out of my parents basement. AND I’m even more excited to show you the fun I had with my kitchen. I legitimately get giggling when I talk about my place because I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY and I really, really am thankful for everyone’s support and for YOU, even though you probably had no idea that you were making this possible.
Rachelle Pinksole
That's awesome girly and your home is beautiful.
xo
PinkSole
Tara | The Mix
Congrats! Your space looks gorgeous!
Bogi RedReticule
It's great to hear that things are going really well you! Congratulations on your new space! These photos look amazing!
Red Reticule
Whitney Damrau
Your house is adorable, you should be so proud! Not only for getting it, but for decorating it so well!! I am super afraid of Craig's list but my brother always seems to find the people that are giving away amazing stuff for free! Enjoy your new space!
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Ginny Clothed with Grace
This is beautiful, you have done an amazing job of decorating!
Leah Behr
Aww, that is really so cool! Love that you shared this breakdown. Also, those damnation pillows are to die for!!
xx Leah / http://www.eatpraywearlove.com
Allison
Your room looks great! Love that velvet couch the most!
http://www.velvetcrate.com
BLovedBoston
The snippets of your home are just gorgeous!! I love the tables!! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Victoria Fox
Seriously in love with your Home! Such fun details and fun parts about it! I love it!
xoxo,Victoria
http://www.coffeeandablonde.blogspot.com
Mary-Katherine
Um, please come help me decorate our new place!!! You have a knack for making things work – and that red velvet couch? HELLO LOVER!!
I love the concept of setting aside a certain number of month's income to decorating, what a great idea. And it all came together flawlessly!
xo Mary-Katherine | Gold-Hatted Lover
Elise Von E
Congrats on your new space! What an unbelievable job you have done decorating! Gorgeous!!
xx, Elise
http://www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com
Amanda Elizabeth - Meet @ the Barre
That is why I absolutely adore blogging and the opportunities it gives us! You go girl, I love how you turned all your hard earned work into this BEAUTIFUL space!
Karly @ Miss in the Midwest
Congratulations, my friend! Your place is gorgeous. Nobody deserves this more than you.
Lily A.
You have a beautiful home, thank you for sharing it with us! I love that blogging has so many opportunities!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lilyο»Ώ
Darcy
Yay congratulations! You scored on that red velvet couch, it's so pretty!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
Jasmin daily
LOVE your place! I turn 25 in June and my goal for 25 is to get my own place so it's awesome to hear stories like this where it has actually happened! So glad to hear how happy you are π
xo, Jasmin
http://www.jasmindaily.com
Laura Bambrick
You did a wonderful job of the living room! When are you coming to help me with mine?! I love all the touches and how bright it is in there! Congratulations on your hard work. Doesn't it feel better and well-deserved when you've worked so hard for something and you finally get it?
Shannon
That couch is gorgeous! I love bold colored-couches!
Nina Kobi
Love how you decorated your space, the couch is absolutely gorgeous.
Nina
http://www.ninasstyleblog.com
Adri Lately
Congrats girl! That's a huge accomplishment! I just sat down and wrote out a budget last night so I can start saving for a house. Your house looks adorable!
xo Adri
http://www.adrilately.blogspot.com
Bailey M.K. Knight
This is a beautiful space, and I am so happy you were able to create it for yourself. That red couch is INCREDIBLE; such a great statement piece, so vibrant.
Ali Hval
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!! You did such an amazing job decorating and I love being able to see all the little details that make it yours, like a ceramic pink donut. SEE AREN'T CERAMIC THINGS SO CUTE??!!!
Karen Szilli
Congratulations!! I'm still stuck living at my parents so I completely understand how you felt. Your style is fantastic!
jess
Congrats on your own place! I love the way you decorated the room. I really like the pillows. I'd love to have my own place soon.
Liz | Shopping My Closet
Beautiful space!
Liz @ ShoppingMyCloset.com
Alyson Seligman
That couch is such a KILLER find! Wow, I absolutely love your place and it's so perfect. Congratulations — so exciting to have earned all of this. xoxoxo
alyson
http://www.theaveragegirlsguide.com
Rachel
It looks so good! I love the cranberry velvet couch!
Holly
So cute and amazing finds! I'm in the middle of doing this right now too and it's stressful! I have to ask – how did you manage to get furniture home? That's my big issue – I see cute things on Craigslist I might like but have no way to get them home!
Marg B
This is such an awesome post. You are always so honest with us and I really appreciate that. Congratulations!
Kathrine Eldridge
This room is so pretty and I love all the touches you added! Those pillows are so eye-catching!
http://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Straight A Style
Congrats on your own place! Holy cow, it looks amazing. THAT COUCH!!! I'm obsessed and cannot believe you got it for such a steal. Well done.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
Shea Sayers
Your home is beautiful, congratulations! This was such an inspiring post to read. I'm so glad that this year is going so well, I hope 2016 continues to bring you all the good things π Also, I'm planning to scour Craigslist for a new couch as well, so your story gives me hope!
Shannon Jenkins
Omg!! Congrats girl!! Your place looks so amazing it belongs on Pinterest!! I can't believe you found that couch for $100!!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
Jennifer Doerr
Oh my gosh WHERE did you get that donut bookend? It is the cutest thing I've ever seen (besides the ceramic pretzel)! π Love your home! It is adorable!
Andrea jueong
Wow, congratulations! You worked hard for it, so you deserve it! Can I ask what affiliate links you use the most to monetize your blog?
http://fabuloustorture.blogspot.com
Swati Sharma
congratulations for your new home dear…..the place looks beautiful….
http://www.crazyaboutcolors.com
Kelsey Bang
so fun! looks like a great space! you did fantastic!
kelseybang.com
Miranda Baum
That couch is EVERYTHING! What a dang bargain! I can't believe how cute everything is! Will you come do my house?!
Fash Boulevard
Oh my goodness. Congrats on the new place. It is gorgeous. I love the couch and those pillows. You have great style!
Fash Boulevard
Priya
I love love love home tours (maybe it's because I'm nosy?) Your living room is such a fantastic space and I am SO impressed at how you pulled it off! That and the accomplishment of getting your own place (that looks lovely, btw! That arch!) Man oh man would I love to have a drink with you on that velvet couch. Can't wait to see the kitchen! And thank you for your really kind comment.
β₯ perfectly Priya
Ileana
Your home looks so gorgeous!!! Im loving the chairs (and the price!)
xoxo
Ileana
http://www.novelstyleblog.com
Aditi Oberoi Malhotra
Can't believe the prices babe. Everything is so beautiful!
Adi xx
http://www.fancycorrectitude.com
Shira
HOLY SHIZ it looks GORGEOUS! And it looks so expensive!! This is so beautiful and just looks freakin AMAZING.
http://asequinloveaffair.com
Kimi, Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair
Wow, your living room is gorg!!! Congrats on finding a place all your own! It's so cool that you were able to decorate with your blog income. π
Amanda S
Congrats!!! It looks beautiful and that's some awesome budgeting!!!
Chelsea Marrs
Loving your living room, it's beyond chic!! So happy for you owning your own house too, what a good use of blog income!
Chelsea
Chow Down USA
Instagram
Kristina
Yay congrats Alyssa!! Your place is super cute!
Kristina does the Internets
Head to Toe Chic
Congratulations!!!!! I love your place so much and the way that you decorated it seriously gorgeous!
xo,
Angela
Lisa Morice
Wow! That's awesome. Congratulations on your achievement and having a place you can truly call your own. Love the red velvet and the light especially. Great chairs and pillows too. May you have many, many happy times there and be inspired every day to go out into the world and enjoy your wonderful life. Much love.
Unknown
Oh my GOSH. I just want to come hang out and drink lemonade and sit on that red couch and paint my toenails if that's okay. But not ON your couch, because I don't want to mess it up. *agh*
Mlle Coconath
Lovely interior! Great design!
xx
Mademoiselle Coconath
http://mllecoconath.com
Pamela {Sequins and Sea Breezes}
Your new home is absolutely gorgeous girl! Can you come decorate mine for me? Haha! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
Elle Sees
i LOVE it!! congrats to you!! and anytime you wanna come ovah and decorate my place you are SO welcome to do so!! hehe. love the details of your place.
Liz
My goodness, your home is just so frakking CUTE! Love it. You have a great eye for this stuff. And having you own space is a HUGE step to feeling more "adult-y": at least more independent, capable, etc. Totally get it. Congrats!
Liz
http://www.stylishdisaster.com
Bree Aylwin
Congrats! Your decorating is so fabulous and does not look like it was done on a budget! It looks beautiful!!!!
Haute Allure
Obsessed with your braid in the top picture! So gorgeous! xo – Katie – hauteallure.com
Jodie Dewberry
I can't get over how cute this is!! I'm 24 and only dreaming of a place like this one day… unlikely in London! Great job π
Jodie x
alajode.com
Molly W
Girl, congrats on your new place! Glad the new year is going so well. It's very cute. But I am going to tease you about the Reader's Digest condensed books. They made me crack up.
I'm also impressed with your Craigslist successes. I have always been wary of it. But I don't really have very much "grown up" furniture because I can never actually make a decision about what to get, so that might be a fun way to not break the bank but getting something new.
Rachel Lynne
It's so beautiful Alissa! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! What a huge accomplishment and very exciting. I love love love your couch!
Maya McDonald
WAY TO BE A BOSS BITCH! I love you and I'm so excited about your home – these pictures are absolutely gorgeous! Sleepover soon? π xx
MΓ³nica - Mes Voyages Γ Paris
This style is so lovely π
xx
MΓ³nica Sors
MES VOYAGES Γ PARIS
NEW POST: STRIPED PANTS
Jeans and a Teacup
Congrats! Your place looks absolutely amazing! What an accomplishment!
~Jessica
Jeans and a Teacup
LyddieGal
First of all, congrats on owning a home!!! Second, your living room is gorgeous. Decorating on a budget can actually be kind of fun. When I moved into my apartment I checked Craig's list like it was my job and scored my kitchen table and chairs for $100. The velvet couch of my dreams was taking too long to appear (and I needed a place to sit) so I got that elsewhere.
And one more thing – tell me your secret to how you make that much in affiliate links! I earn $300 a year with reward style at most, and heck, a lot of that is from my own purchases.
Katie G
Your home is so beautiful! This is definitely inspiration for decorating on a budget. I also love when bloggers share where they spend the money made through their blog. Even when it's repaying student loans or a coffee addiction for smaller bloggers, I always find it interesting and it's nice, as a reader (and link clicker), to feel almost like an investor being updated.
Sara Strauss {Sincerely, Sara}
OMG love your home! It's so color and cozy! Exactly how I want my future apartment to look! Congrats on your new home!
~Sara
Pat
First off, think red. As in, red to die for velvet couch as opposed to red fricking heavy, wholy cow, when will we ever get this bucket load of bricks home? Now say Craigs list. Yup, our bricks vs your couch. Only difference? Our bricks were free (free? Yeah right! Who's ass got tighter…err tireder, hauling them). Your gorgeous, sophisticated first ever home is straight out of Architectural Digest, (pun intended)! It's show stopping, wholy crap look at how beautiful looking, kind of place every one (with any real taste) wants to clain as their own, down to every last loving, I love Readers Digest honestly, detail. I mean if someone were to say to me "I freaking love sprinkled donuts-lets buy that look alike book end & oh that white pretzle that might send me to the dentist one day" I'd be like on it! It's the little things that make a house a home, and you nailed it! Damn girl, show me your closet now! Seriously not only is your place beautiful but so are your photographs showing us. You should be giddy with excitement. Shall we pour a drink of Tito's Handmade Vodka & sit on "THAT sofa" while we dish on decorating & spray on lotions? It's a date!
Hillary @ styleinasmalltown
This is SOO exciting! I'm so happy for you, congrats girl on your first home! It couldn't be any cuter and from the little bit that I've gotten to "know" you through your blog, it looks just like you and is a perfect fit! I love that you broke down where everything came from and how it all just came together! I'm really excited to see the rest!
~Hillary
http://www.styleinasmalltown.com
Elegance and Mommyhood
OMG I am so truly happy for you. This post brought tears on my eyes because you are so deserving of all this happiness and of finally having your home. Love love the way the living room looks and cannot wait to see the rest of your place. I love how bright and airy it is with mostly black and white. The pillows, that hanger tree and your bar cart are my most favorite. I cannot wait to see and read more home decor posts like these. I am seriously so very happy for you and so happy that I click on several of your links often. I am glad you created such a cozy, gorgeous living room on such a budget!
Silex In The City
Love this post. Great message/content and living room. Love that reminder on your door! Clever.
Lorena
I loved reading this post π
So happy that blogging was partially how this came together.
I must add you have great taste and that I am totally envious of that velvet sofa. It a win !
Simply Alexandra // My Favorite Things
ummm so cute! How did I miss this! Loooove it! & love the black and white especially! π XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Grace Anne
I’m so happy for you!!!! Your place is adorable <3