Chris and I had lunch at Roosters yesterday with Scott, Brad and Rich. Brad had a home buyers guide with him, as he is looking at buying sometime in the future. Chris and I took a quick look at it, and we saw a couple of homes in there that we liked at reasonable prices. After lunch, we all went our separate ways.
Chris and I went to run a few errands, and then we decided to go looking at houses. After grabbing one of the buyers guides from Dominick’s, we drove around in the rain looking at a few of the Schaumburg-area homes. Unfortunately, none of them caught our eye. So, we decided to go back to the Beacon Pointe development where Mike is buying his new house. We really liked the Shenandoah model, and we took another look at the model.
When we finished looking at the model again, we went into the office area, and that’s when we saw the Rutherford floor plan. It has an additional 340 square feet than the Shenandoah plan, and it was not too much more expensive. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a plan that shares its name with a famous physicist 
We started talking to Christine, one of the sales consultants, and we have initiated the paperwork on purchasing ourselves a new home. This is about when people started calling us about going out tonight, and we couldn’t answer our phones while we were discussing such a big life change.
I know, you’re thinking that this is a pretty rushed decision. Just last week we were saying how we couldn’t afford one of these houses, and that we weren’t planning on moving any time soon. It just felt right, and after looking at our financial situation, I think we can do it with a lot of careful cost cutting.
For example, we will have not cable or satellite TV (we’ll watch over-the-air broadcasts and DVDs), no broadband internet (free dial-up from work or leeching a neighbor’s wireless), no land line (our cell phones will be fine), no eating out, and no big parties. That should help us save quite a bit of money. Hell, with no broadband, I’ll have no reason to have four computers running at all times. Without cable or satellite TV, our TiVo will be the only always on tuner, and it will only have to worry about recording five stations. We’ll rely on our parents and friends for a lot (I’m sure Mike will have broadband and cable), assuming that they won’t mind 
In the coming weeks, we will probably be talking a lot about our new house. We will not be going to see Wicked, nor will we be going on any trips. Anything to cut costs for us will be necessary. I mean, the floor plan starts at more than half a million dollars, and there’s no way we’re not upgrading a few things. Wish us luck in our new endeavor!
That is pretty amazing you guys. I can’t quite believe it just yet, but it will cut down on my house to house commute certainly. Let me know if you need help with getting your place ready to sell, moving, etc.
*looks warily at Mark*
I don’t trust you. I remember last year at this time and some other “breaking news” — hence, I don’t trust you. If I read about this again in like a month and how you guys are for serious moving, THEN I’ll congratulate you. But until then…
I don’t trust you.
D’oh! I’ve been caught, and by none other than Jessi! Of course, she was probably wide awake when she read my post. I was hoping all of the little details would help sell the story.
Happy April Fools Day!
Well, I might have had a better chance if you hadn’t posted it on March 31st…
wtf?! I posted it after midnight! OK, fixed it.
Actually, I was a little more inclined to believe it BECAUSE it was posted on the 31st. But I was still wary ‘cuz I thought that woulda been a pretty grand trick. The details did have me doubting…but I was still wary. Nice one, Mark.
You’s a liar! :p I would’ve *almost* believed it up until you said “no Wicked”. Nonsense!
GOD DAMMIT MARK!!!!!!!!! Two Years in a ROW I’ve fallen for it. YOU SUCK!!!!!! garrrrrrrrr
Ok…I didn’t read the blogs the past few days, but my immediate first thought when I read the line about you guys going out to look at houses was something to the effect of…”ok, ya, they’re buying a house about as much as they were having a baby!” Sensing bullshit in the vicinity, I then saw that there were 8 comments and my first impression was confirmed. I have worked hard since last year’s April Fools on my finely honed sense.
Also, I took my grandma to the card store on Sunday, and I almost bought you guys a congrats card on the new baby. Congrats again…this has been one helluva long pregnancy tho!
Im sitting here reading this thinking how I can politely say your #$%&ing crazy. Then I started to think to myself that you havent even finished your current home renovation so either your really impulsive or lieing.
Thanks Jessi for being smarter than all of us
Man! I was counting on Brad being fooled so I didn’t feel so alone.
No offense Brad…
@Al: Apparently, Scott actually did count Brad as having been fooled. That’s close, isn’t it?
@Scott: Aren’t I?
@Rich: another good use of the ‘@’ symbol.
@Scott: Isn’t it?
@everyone: Just wait until next year. I’ve got to come up with something to top off these past two jokes.
Yeah, but now we’ll be expecting it. Incidentally, I ain’t all that bright, just skeptical. I mean come on didya see the list o’ things they were giving up? I found that a bit hard to believe.
@jessi: You’re right. I could give up broadband internet at home, but I’m afraid the universe will collapse upon itself. Hell, when we were on our honeymoon, I couldn’t go the entire two weeks without getting online. When we were on vacation in Wisconsin last summer, I couldn’t go the entire week!
Perhaps my getting back online saved the universe. Personally, I wouldn’t want to tempt the fates and “push the big red button” by not having broadband at home for an extended period of time.
Ha…so a few weeks behind I finally read this post…
Since I’ve seen you since and felt confident that you hadn’t really considered moving I read the message with skepticism about a decision that you had seriously considered. Until of course the bit about no internet at home. HA! You with no internet?! I don’t even like computers and I couldn’t live without internet!!
Maybe I’ll buy that house….hmmmm…..