That I had to have a discussion with my therapist about moving must give some insight onto my feelings toward moving. I have very deep, anxiety filled feelings about packing my things and moving from one place to the next. Most recently it was down the street (seriously, I can walk the two blocks) and one would have thought that I was moving to San Diego with the theatrics and the Scarlet O'Hara drama that came forth from my person. Newsflash: I hate moving.

My therapist was less concerned about the move because really it's moving and it sucks either way; she of course wanted to look deeper because that's her job. She questioned how I would make this my home as opposed to just some place to rest my head once a week. And that was the kicker. It's how I treated my last home; like a hotel and the ones before were so temporary that it was hard not to feel like it was just a stopping place.

For two years I kept almost every possession in my bedroom and what wasn't strewn about on the floor there was safely kept in my father's basement. Near a ladybug lovemaking field (My father lives so far up north and in the wilderness that he might as well be in Canada) (but I digress). Now I would have an apartment of my very own and despite other reservations like how I would end up a reclusive, crazy cat lady there was the ever important, How will I furnish this place and still have money to like eat and stuff?

A daunting task at best when you are literally starting with nothing but a mattress and maybe a dresser. The dresser an excellent addition for that is a far better place to keep your socks and underwear than on the floor. But other than that? Nothing. As I hyperventilated into a paper bag because HAVE YOU ALL SEEN THE PRICE OF A COUCH? Highway robbery! I made lists and divided the furnishing and decorating of my home into three separate phases. The phases going from most pressing (a bed) to least pressing (photo prints to put up in my living room).

Step one: Order a bed. Depending on your age or lot in life a bed can fall anywhere from $150 to in the thousands. The decision largely relies upon your ability withstand reading the directions for Ikea furniture and how to use one of those teeny tiny wrenches. After two Ikea beds I've finally decided to say enough with wasting money every time I move and get a 'grown up' bed. Not that Ikea beds aren't grown up it's just that I've owned two and now they're both in pieces somewhere between Washington, DC and Albany. Not to mention that I might as well go for quality after wasting that much money.

Step two: See what you can get from friends and family. And by 'get' I mean bogart while your parents aren't looking. Survey what you might need and before maxing out a credit card at Bed, Bath and Beyond see what others have and are willing to give up. I ended up with a microwave from a friend who was going to give hers away and a bunch of furniture and drinking glasses from my parents who were glad to give stuff away. Though I'm not sure exactly how glad they were since everything my parents gave me they would pet fondly and tell me that they've had this dresser/table/mirror for longer than I've been alive and then wistfully think of life without me. But check out things like Craigslist and Freecycle even. People are always looking to give stuff away but people closest to you are always a great way to start

Step three: Ikea. Ikea. Ikea. Even though I'm done with wasting my money on something I have to sleep on that doesn't mean that I won't venture to this mecca for smaller items like a tv stand or a coffee table. Heck, I have a large cabinet from Ikea that has lasted me for more than a decade. There is some pretty great stuff there and if you are just starting out and have to purchase most everything else then I'd highly suggest a visit there. Reading this post from Amalah kind of made me drool every time she said Ikea and then I did this weird dance in my seat thinking about my upcoming visit and the lists I have for that place.

My budget - gotta have a budget - is driving this ship. I'm doing things in phases which leaves time for me to focus on a particular part of the house before moving onto the next. It also means I'm not buying everything all at once or nothing at all while I save. Taking it nice and easy and maybe setting an end date keeps you on track money-wise. You'll be more inclined to save money so that you have a place to lay your head at night instead of buying a pair of shoes. And coming from me, that says a lot.

Related reading for a little inspiration:

Design Sponge

The Etsy Handmade Blog

Decor8's shopping category

Heather B. also writes at No Pasa Nada where she will be documenting the decorating process. Send her some good juju as she attempts to paint her living room.